A/N: I will come up with something for the made-up words later. I just need to find the energy to do so.

~Rissa

________________________________________________________________________

I stayed silent while I waited for Ruckur to finish thinking about... something.

I had no idea what the two holes meant, but I had a small feeling that something, or someone, had drunk her blood before they cast the dark spell that took away their soul and made them less of a person.

Could this person be a Vampire? I silently asked with pursed lips but immediately dismissed that thought because Vampire weren't real in this realm.

But what about different realms? Could one somehow cross over to this one? Were other realms even real?

I pressed my lips into a thin line while I stared at the marks on her body, questioning everything that I knew to be real or fake.

Ruckur stopped what he was thinking and listened into my thoughts. He pondered my question a bit before he cleared his throat. It might be a Vampire... he said before he trailed off and cleared his throat again. However, there are no other realms that we know of...

I blinked and raised an eyebrow. But it could be a Vampire, right? I asked and raised the eyebrow higher.

Ruckur hummed and mentally nodded. I believe so, he said softly, or something that is close to a Vampire.

I took a deep breath and nodded. Should we tell Michael what happened, or what we had found out? I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Yes, Ruckur replied and nodded. However, you should see if you can't find any traces of the blood sucker first.

I wrinkled my nose and pressed my lips into a thin line. How do I do that? I asked, confused. Are Vampires even real?

Ruckur stayed silent while he tried to come up with a way to explain this to me before he sighed. They are sort of real, he said, choosing his words carefully. There is some dark magic that requires blood sucking or a blood sacrifice of a virgin girl.

I bit back a small groan and wrinkled my nose further. Why does it always have to be a virgin girl? I asked with a small whine in my voice, and Ruckur chuckled amused. Why can't it be some pedo or something?

Because it doesn't require the blood of them, he said, amused. I will protect you as I had your mother once before, Director, he said and mentally bowed his head, and I breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, relieved.

Thank you, I said before I licked my lips and looked at the girl before I bit the inside of my lip. Now, how am I supposed to do this? I asked and furrowed my brows. What spell do I use to see if it was a blood sucker?

Ruckur sighed, and I had a feeling that if he had a face that he would be rubbing it. That is the problem, he said, tiredly. You aren't strong enough to do it.

I wrinkled my nose and pursed my lips in annoyance, biting back a small groan. Then why did you tell me to do it? I asked, letting him hear the annoyance in my voice while I moved a hand across my face while I shook my head. Or suggest it if I am not strong enough?

Ruckur sighed again, and I had a feeling that he would have rubbed his face again while he shook his head. Because I wasn't thinking, he replied tiredly. My apologies, Director.

I pressed my lips into a thin line, feeling slightly stubborn and wanting to do it. I want to do it, I said stubbornly. I have to do this.

N-

You and I bonded together, right? I asked, interrupting him from telling me no, and I could feel his annoyance through this stupid bond that I shared with him and pursed my lips in annoyance. You are a literal being inside of my head, no matter how much I want you out.

Ruckur stayed silent and tried to peek into my mind to see where I was going with my question, but I had no idea either, so I made sure to keep my mind blank. Yes? he asked, the confusion evident in his voice. However, what does that have to do with anything?

Do you still have magic? I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, not able to get my voice higher. Can't I use your guidance and whatever to do it?

Ruckur sighed, annoyed, and I had a feeling that he would have rubbed his face again. Let me think about this, he said tiredly. Do you know how dangerous this could be if we do it? he asked, and I had a feeling that he wanted me to change my mind.

I shrugged and pressed my lips into a thin line in annoyance. I mean, everything that we are going to do is going to be dangerous, I replied. What is one more thing?

Ruckur didn't say a word before he sighed annoyed again, and he shook his head. Let me think it over, he said again. I will let you know when I am done thinking about this.

I held back an eye roll but didn't say a word while I studied the body to see if there were any other clues while Ruckur debated with himself about my request. I had no idea how long he was going to take, but I didn't care as long as we were able to do something and help this girl not die in vain.

Finally, Ruckur huffed, and if he had a head, he'd be nodding. Okay, he said defeated, and I held back the small bit of hope that wanted to flicker in my chest.

Ok? I asked, making sure that my voice didn't quiver with hope. I narrowed my eyes and bit my lip, feeling slightly excited and nervous. What do you mean by "ok?"

I need to close your eyes, he said, and I took a deep, shuddering breath before I closed my eyes and released it with a small whoosh. And I'm going to need you to repeat after me. He paused and cleared his throat. Are you ready?

Yes, I said and nodded while I breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that he was going to do this with me. I opened my eyes again and looked around, making sure that we were still safe, and Ruckur chuckled.

Then close your eyes again, he said amused, that way we can get started.

I nodded and closed my eyes. My heart pounded hard in my chest while I waited for him to start saying what I needed to say and praying that nothing would go haywire or that I would lose my life.

I needed to do this for my brother... and to stop Carith from controlling him.

Ruckur sighed and cleared his throat. Ready? he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, feeling slightly nervous, and I set my jaw and nodded in confirmation. Good.

I stayed silent while he gathered himself and bit back an annoyed huff because he was taking too long for my liking.

Repeat after me, he said before he took a deep breath before he released it with a small whoosh, but he didn't say another word.

I held back an eye roll when he took a deep breath and kept waiting for him to say something. I had no idea why he didn't, but I had a feeling that he was nervous and didn't want to mess up or get me killed.

I trust you, I said softly. Whatever you need to do then we can do it. We just have to make sure that we get this done quickly before we are severely missed.

Ruckur bit back a small chuckle, and I could feel his relief while he bowed his head in respect and agreement. Ok, he said before he cleared his throat and grew serious. Now, repeat after me.

He paused a beat and took a deep breath and released it with a small whoosh before he cleared his throat again and said, relar.

I took a deep breath and let it out with another small whoosh before I said, "relar."

Perna.

"Perna."

Doshna.

"Doshna."

Alan.

"Alan."

Neara.

"Neara."

It felt as if Ruckur was guiding my hands with each word he had me do, and I wasn't scared because I knew that he would keep me safe.

Mom said that he would...

More and more power coursed through my veins while I followed Ruckur's lead, and my hands started to glow.

It felt as if my presence started to move backward in my mind while Ruckur's presence moved forward while he took control over my body.

I didn't tense like I thought I would, but I had a feeling it was because I trusted him and knew that he wouldn't hurt me.

Ruckur kept saying the words, and for some reason it felt as if my voice wasn't heard. He was in full control of my body while he did what I wanted to see if this person was used by a vamperic person, and I couldn't help but wonder if this would affect him in the end.

I hoped it didn't. I didn't want him mad at me...

Or to be left alone...

Finally, Ruckur stopped putting up the spell and let me have control of my body again, and I could finally breathe.

I opened my eyes again and looked to see a dark shadowy form with a purple glow on the edges. I bit my lip and hesitated when I didn't feel Ruckur as I once had, and I couldn't help but wonder if he was still "alive."

Ruckur? I asked hesitantly, my voice barely above a whisper. Are you there?

Silence...

I bit my lip and took a deep breath before I released it, trying but failing to relax.

Oh, Gods, what if this killed him? What if I am alone in facing Carith?

I shifted on my feet while I looked this way and that, not knowing what to do or who to turn to.

After a couple of minutes, something stirred in the back of my mind and let out a feeble, tired groan, and I couldn't help but tense and take a deep, shuddering breath, not knowing if it was him or if it was something else, even though I had no idea what it could be.

Ruckur? I asked, not able to keep the hesitation out of my voice, my voice barely above a whisper. My heart skipped a beat before it started to pound it hard in my chest. Is that you?

There was a small chuckle, and I couldn't help but take another deep, shuddering breath while a wave of relief washed over me because I knew that it was him.

He was alive.

Tears pricked the corners of my eyes, and I started to blink the tears away, praying that I wouldn't make a fool out of myself and start crying.

Ruckur chuckled softly as if he knew what I was feeling and said in a soft and tired voice, hello, Director.