I spent the next few hours attentively examining the vines that ran on the walls inside our tiny hole.

Vincent was busy poking his head through the narrow slit in between the twisted shafts that hid us.

Occasionally, Ethereals passed by. Seemed like none of them noticed us.

I craned my neck and saw an Ethereal. It was still carrying Apple's severed arm like a trophy. I had to bite my lower lip hard to keep from screaming. All I could do was take deep rapid breaths and sink back into the hollow.

More hours passed, I lost track of time. Everything was so still and quiet I dozed off leaning on the trunk.

I woke up to a long high pitched whistle followed by two short ones. It was Vincent. I rubbed my eyes and watched him as he did the whistle again.

"What's that for?" I murmured to his shoulder as he squeezed right back in.

He seemed a bit surprised that I was already awake. "Rosario taught me that whistle. If she heard it, she'll know we're okay and hopefully she'd try to find us," he answered blankly.

I gave him a weak nod. "Assuming that she finds us, what then?"

Vincent's eyes were vague when he averted his gaze, the shadows playing on his face. "We'd just have to stay alive. And you'll just have to trust me."

In frustration, I sighed and shoved the small vial of SirenSoul into his hand. "Here. Rosario said you'll know what to do with it."

Silently, he stared at the vial, then at me as if some brilliant plan just popped into his mind. Probably, he and Rosario had planned ahead in secret.

"What time is it?" he asked, reaching into his pockets.

"I don't know." On impulse, I looked outside. It was impossible to tell since it was always night in this realm. "We've probably stayed here for more than twenty-four hours. Past ten, maybe close to midnight."

A sad faint smile shone on his face-the kind of smile you see on your parents' face when they send you away to college.

I felt my forehead crease upon hearing a rustling sound not too far to my left. My heart pounded inside my throat. I started to summon my Cataclyst but thought better of it. With the lack of space, I would most likely cut Vincent or myself.

I knew Vincent heard the noise too, but he ignored it. Whatever he was pulling off, it better be good.

"Midnight," he murmured thoughtfully, taking his time. Then, looking at me, he took my hand and placed something cold and round in it. "I know it's a bit late but... Merry Christmas."

Perfect time to celebrate. I thought my jaw just dropped a notch.

"Seriously," I hissed, torn between incredulity and annoyance. When I opened my hand, Mom's tear-shaped crystal locket was in there, glistening weakly in the dark as if it had its own source of light.

"It's the only present I'd ever give to you, so take extra care of it," he said, his silver eyes melting.

I faked a muffled cough and fixed my eyes on his chin. "Uh, it's my mom's. So technically it's mine. You can't give me what's already mine."

A simple thank you would have been overrated.

One corner of his lips pulled up into a lopsided cryptic smile. "Ever heard of the phrase, it's the thought that counts?"

"Maybe," I replied in an undertone. Letting out a soft grunt, my eyes distractedly shifted from his face to the forest then back. "Too bad I don't have something to give you."

His smile widened a little. "I'd have my present soon enough."

I raised a brow. It was just then that I became aware of the sound of feet beating against the grassy ground coming closer.

"If we ever survive this hell, I'll give you anything you want. I might even consider chewing your food for you," I muttered with unenthused scorn.

He raised a brow. "Anything?"

"Anything."

Seemingly satisfied, he nodded, pushing me aside so he could take a peek outside. "Fair enough," he whispered to me. "It's a deal then."

He whistled again. The high-pitched tune echoed twice against the stark silence of the labyrinth.

I stood on my toes and peered over Vincent's shoulder. All I could make out was a lone figure approaching us. I tried to make my breathing more silent but it seemed as though even my heart could be heard from a mile away.

Vincent pushed me back. "Someone's coming."

Touché.

The figure halted several yards away from our hollow. Then I heard a snapping sound like when you click your tongue against the roof of your mouth. The click came three times like a Morse code.

Next thing I knew, Vincent was already dragging me out of the hollow. My head bumped twice on the protruding roots. I staggered after him, blinking as I tried to recognize the person hunkered behind a large boulder.

"Rosario," Vincent called in a hushed voice, sounding positive.

Seconds later, Rosario's head protruded from the side of the rock. She darted to us like a cat, careful and quiet. Her once beautiful face was now blotted with blue and purple bruises, emphasizing the pallor in her tan. Even her beige Nysmic dress was frayed and torn in places.

"We have... to get out... of here," she blurted as she caught her breath, her hand clutching hard on her chest. "Cairo... he's after me."

No time for chitchat.

We sprinted deeper into the woods, draughting as far as our feet could carry. With every step, my thighs ached. I struggled to dodge the trees in our way. I didn't know if my joints could take it anymore.

Two minutes later, I noticed that Rosario kept glancing behind. When I caught her eyes, she looked scared out of her mind.

"Master Vladimir... They captured him. They captured the others." The words were forced out of her throat like ketchup from the bottle. "Even the Herondales. I tried to help them but it was futile. Cairo and Irvine were already doing the search themselves. If they're willing enough to dirty their hands just to find you, they must really want you dead."

Vincent shut his eyes and growled as he dashed past us, pouring all his pent-up anger in draughting. He was so fast, he left a trail of blustering leaves behind him. So much for stealth. His reckless actions could give our enemies our location.

If I could, I would stop him. Make him calm down. But this time, I knew it was impossible. Vladimir was his only family. Knowing that his brother was in the clutches of the enemy must be torture for him.

There was a twinge of pain in my stomach when I pictured Vladimir being locked up in some dungeon, tortured and possibly, executed. Fragile, gentle Vladimir. I banished the thought and focused on running.

"Master Vladimir would do anything to keep his brother alive." Rosario swallowed down the bitterness, her voice in the brink of breaking. "I would do the same if I was in his place."

Suddenly she slowed down and doubled over. She coughed, clutching on her chest for a while then spat blood on the ground. A tinge of crimson seeped through her clothes in a diagonal line.

I stopped in my tracks, gritting my teeth. I just lost sight of Vincent.

"Vincent! VINCENT!!!" I shouted at him. But there was no sign that he would come back.

Frantically, I grabbed Rosario by the waist and hauled her to sit under a tree. The old gnarled roots were enough to conceal us from plain sight. I rubbed her back as she continued coughing her lungs out. Small clots of blood kept coming out of her mouth. I thought I was going to black out.

It was the first time I cursed like a pirate. "Damn it, Rosario! I thought you already healed that wound by this time!" I knew I wasn't helping but I just couldn't contain myself.

After a little while, the episode seemed to subside. Taking long deep breaths, she wiped the side of her mouth on her palm and rested her head on the rough trunk of the tree. The upper part of her clothes was already drenched with blood.

"I couldn't waste all my energy... healing myself," she began, her voice papery. "...when I know that Master Vladimir needs my ability the most. Have I told you that he's in bad health because..." She paused and coughed again.

"Because he took more familiars than his life-force could actually support? You did."

Rosario mustered enough energy to give me a fragile smile. "You understand me because you feel the same way about Master Vincent as I do to Master Vladimir." Again, not a question.

It was the hardest thing to admit. But since we were all going to die anyway... To heck with it.

Painfully, I nodded. "It's still stupid," I muttered, glaring at her.

Out of the blue, she let out a rickety chuckle. For the first time, there was no hint of sarcasm in it. "You should find him."

I shook my head and that was the end of the conversation.

Rosario might not be my most favorite person in the world, but I wasn't going to leave her to die. Instead, I sat with her in silence, focusing on the transference link.

Vincent. Come back here.

Looked like he wasn't in the mood to answer. All I could pick out were glimpses of what he was seeing-a thicker part of the forest, a long narrow stream cutting across the foliage. If only I could carry Rosario to that stream, I could wash he blood from her wounds, give her something to drink.

Through the link, I saw that Vincent stopped at the edge of the stream. He seemed to be looking for something. He backed away a little, raised his left hand and summoned his Cataclyst.

Concentrating harder, I saw men on the other side of the stream. There were three of them, all wearing white monk robes. Two of them were Caucasian with long mousy hair tied on the back of their heads while the other one, the tallest was dark-skinned and bald.

Get out of there! I shouted in my mind, hoping it would finally reach him. Don't be stupid!

I focused harder, screaming at him to stop. It was no use. He had no intention to listen. Vincent automatically shut his mind from me. All I could sense from him was a new level of anger. Wrath. The need for vengeance. The thirst for blood.

Suddenly, Rosario snatched my arm, shattering what little concentration I had left. I opened my eyes to see her face an inch away from mine. Her hazel eyes were wide and vacant. Blood oozed from the sides of her mouth, frozen in a mid-scream yet, no sound came out from her throat. Her head dropped, her chin falling onto her chest. Then I saw the blade that was protruding from her stomach.

Behind Rosario, stood a blond boy in a tailored suit. It was no other than Conrad, thrusting the sword deeper into Rosario's back.

I froze there, imbecile for the moment.

Conrad twisted his sword and wrenched it out of Rosario's body. Blood gushed from Rosario's mouth, drenching the dirt down her knees with sickening crimson. Just like that, she fell to the ground with a dull thud.

As he scrutinized the stains that were left on his slender blade, Conrad sneered at me.

"CONRAD!" I screamed with boiling fury, leaping off the ground.

A scorching pain bubbled under my skin. In an instant, my left hand transformed into a Cataclyst. I grabbed his sword with my normal hand, its blade biting into my palm.

He tugged it back, pulling me with it. Before I knew it, his knuckles had already landed on my face.

I staggered back, the pain shooting from the bridge of my nose to my right eye. It blinded me for a few seconds. But I didn't let go of his blade. Instead, I jerked him closer before raking my talons over his chest.

Conrad snarled. He seemed madder about his ruined suit more than his lacerated chest.

I couldn't feel my right hand anymore. Blood trickled down my elbows as Conrad's blade dug deeper into my palm. Screaming, I kicked him on the shins and leaped backward to avoid a punch he just threw.

He charged, closed his hand around my neck and lifted me up. Without warning, he slammed me to the ground.

The whole forest whirred around me as though I was inside a giant blender. I thrashed about with all the energy I had left, fighting back. But the hand that prevented air from entering my lungs kept tightening.

It was starting to get darker. The thrashing became weaker until my hands and legs ceased moving altogether.

Vincent. Help. I called through the link, but even that proved to be hopeless.

Conrad raised his blade right in front of my face. I let my head fall to the side and I caught a glance of Rosario. She was desperately crawling to me, painting the ground with her blood.

A tear fell from the corner of my eye. "No... S-stay there." My voice was barely a whisper.

As Conrad was about to plunge the blade towards my heart, I made one last struggle and caught his blade with my hands. It was a weak attempt. Blood trickled down my face. My arms trembled.

My resistance only put a kind of sadistic amusement in his dark eyes.

Slowly, the point of the blade drew near to my face. What little power left in me slowly seeped out.

Just when I thought all hope was lost, Rosario was able to snatch Conrad's leg and jerk him a little, just enough to get him distracted. The tip of his sword dug into my chest, just below my left shoulder blade. My scream tore through the silence of the labyrinth. The pain nearly had me unconscious.

I couldn't breathe. I was thinking maybe that was it for me. But still, I was hoping for a miracle. Or at the least, to see my master for the last time.

Goodbye...

Suddenly, I heard a chorus of vicious giggles coming our way. Blue figures started drifting toward us.

We were as good as dead. They found us and they were coming.

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