My grandmother crouches in front of me and extends her hands to me, wrapping them around my shoulders. I hadn't even realized I had slid to the floor. I am trembling, and she folds me into a hug, running a soothing hand over my hair to smooth it down. She croons softly to me.

"It's alright Calli, you're safe, we're safe. It's alright." I sniffle, trying to hold in my tears. "Let it out Calli, don't bottle it up. There you go."

I break into loud, heaving sobs, staring wide-eyed over her shoulder at the dead body lying on the floor. There is a ripple from just past it and Kaienan appears, his eyes wide with fear of his own. Why is Kai afraid? He glances down at the body briefly before approaching me and my grandmother. My grandmother hears his footsteps and places a hand on her gun, twisting around to look at him. He instantly holds his hands up.

"I mean no harm."

My grandmother narrows her eyes at him, her voice guarded. "Why are you here?"

He looks to me. "I felt her fear. Calli, are you alright?"

I nod shakily, still trembling. Sekret seems to sense that and whines, shoving her head into my lab. I smile weakly at that and stroke her nose, instantly feeling better.

"I think so, my adrenaline is coming down at least."

He gives me a tiny smile at that, but he is still looking at me with eyes full of worry. "What happened? I got a sudden burst of emotion from you, intense fear. I'm going to assume it has to do with this one here."

He toes the dead body, and my trembling starts up again. My grandmother runs her hands over my shoulders. "Don't think about it Calli. It's alright, it's safe." She looks at him, her eyes sharp. "What do you know?"

He frowns for a moment and his hand twitches at the same moment as the air surrounding us ripples slightly. "I know you and your family are the last of the Romanov family."

My grandmother inhales and subtly shifts herself in front of me, her hand tightening around her gun. "What do you want from us?"

"Nothing." He steps forward and my grandmother raises her gun to point it at him. I jerk forward slightly, a wordless cry on my lips.

My grandmother risks a glance at me. "What is it Calli?"

"Don't hurt him. Please."

"Are you sure?"

"He saved my life, Babushka." I frown. "At least, that's what I think he did."

She lowers her gun, but leaves the safety on. "Tell me your story."

He lowers himself to the floor, folding his legs beneath him. "My name is Lord Kaienan." My grandmother arches an eyebrow at that, but doesn't speak. "I help oversee the land of the dead, the midway point at least between this world and that one. I was there when Calli dies from her heart attack, but I only just got there in time to save her. I managed it all the same and she woke up, and I've been visiting her since then."

"Why are you so invested in her?"

He hesitates. "That's between Calli and myself."

My grandmother purses her lips and Kaienan look towards me, a question in his eyes. I get a sense of what the question is and nods, letting him speak of whatever matter he thinks is between us. He sighs.

"She is my soul-bonded."

I join the conversation at last, still stroking Sekret's fur with one hand. "What does that mean?"

He looks at me directly, his green eyes soft. "It essentially means you're my soulmate."

My grandmother scrambles to her feet, pulling me up with her. She shoves me begins her, but in her haste, she jostles the chest out of my hands. I cry out as it tumbled towards the ground, but something strange happens. The chest disappears in midair and reappears in front of me, floating art the same level as my chest. I reach toward it, only for my grandmother to push my hand back, her eyes wide.

"What is this?"

Kaienan smiles. "Magic."

"Who are you?" He opens his mouth, but my grandmother cuts him off. "Don't say that you're Lord Kaienan, give me a real answer."

His eyes twinkle in amusement. "I suppose I am akin to a god, that's the closest human definition to what I am. My people call ourselves Immortals, and we each have different gifts. Mine encompasses many invisible talents, so I was appointed the leader of my people long ago."

I speak again, my voice quiet and shaky. "What do I have to do with any of this?"

"Light."

My brow crinkles in confusion. "Excuse me?"

"Besides the bond, I can sense it inside of you. In time, you will become one of us, and you're gift will be light. There is a reason that egg has been waiting for you."
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Here it is! I want expecting that little revelation at the end to arrive for a while yet, but it is what it is. What do you think he means by her power will be light? How did he sense her fear? Tell me what you think of this chapter!

Happy reading, and I'll see you next chapter!

~Goddess of Fate, signing out.