"Bring the witch here!" Said the young boy, trying to sound as demanding as he could, but his voiced trembled at the last word. In his head was going "Father would have know how to say it, but father is dead, so is mother". They weren't just dead, they were murdered...

"Bring the witch to us!" another person said. The voice was determined and controlled. Albena did not raise her voice, she never does, she just looked the old servant in the eyes and said the words. How was she always able to do it.

"Grandfather Stoyo, you are the oldest servant here, please help us! We have no time to lose, she can be saved! We... we beseech you!" He can't show his tears. Not now, he has to be strong for his sisters. For mother and father.

The old man's eyes were leaking, his sight has gone worse with age, so you could never know if he was actually crying or not, but his look... he was feeling sorry for them. They did not need that, they needed action. He took a breath and opened a door and started walking as fast as his ageing body could. Vulcan watched as the last bit of light from his torch was gone. He took pride in knowing the castle as the palm of his hand, how could he miss this secret passage. Did his parents hide something from them?

He turned towards Albena. She was shaking because of the storm outside. The storm had woken her up, afraid she went to their parents' chamber only to find their lifeless bodies, as well as Kalina - wounded, barely breathing. She was holding her body, both covered in blood. Her mask of courage had fallen and her tears were flowing.

"Why do we have to be so mature, we are just kids?"

He was not prepared for this question. He kneeled next to her. Thinking it will comfort, he put his hands on her shoulders.

"Everything will be fine... I promise you. Kalina will live. I will make the witch save her, no matter the price!" Yes, he is the oldest, he has to take care of everyone - his sisters, the servants... the whole region of Kostica. He is the knyaz now, not just anyone. He is one of the 12 ones - the highest among the bolyars in the country.

"We have to cover the mirrors." he continued.

"It is just superstitions. Old people's tales."

"The servants will be disturbed and afraid if we don't. They will start rumours. Those about how mother and father died will be enough. We don't need ones about vampires too."

"You are right." She wanted to add "I am sorry" but Vulcan knew that by her eyes. They had the Petrosinov eyes - turquoise. Her's were even more beautiful than usual, because of her tears. What a weird family they were. "We would also have to open up the windows and stay with them until dawn." The old man had covered the bodies with a sheet, so the children would not torture themselves when looking.

"More candles, we need light in case they burn out". He had already covered all the mirrors, but their mother's big one. It was a very old and big mirror, at least 100 years old.

He froze up. A figure was getting bigger and bigger, approaching him from the inside of the mirror itself. He started backing up, trying not to get its eyes off from it while looking for something to protect the girls in case. And then the hooded figure stepped out of the mirror.

"Good. You know what to do when there is a dead in the house." It was a woman. She removed her cape's bonnet and revealed her black as a raven's wing hair.

"Who are you?" Asked the very much scared Albena. Vulcan was holding a blood-stained dagger. His father must have used it to protect himself and his wife.

"You are acting rather rude for someone desperate enough to ask a witch for help! Put that away, boy!"

"You are the witch?! Asya! How did you get here so fast?!"

"Very good!" She approached him and patted him on the head. He started to think that she was mocking him. "It seems I am not what you expect. I apologize, my chicken legs house is not travel friendly when it rains - the odour is rather unpleasant." By the tone, you could definitely tell she was mocking them. "You are wrong. Asya is my sister, I am a Delyana."

"Where is our servant?" Alбena knew that people will be suspicious of the old mаn if he is not here by morning.

"With Asya. He is sick and old, he needed urgent rest. Do you not care for those who serve you, that you treat them like this?"

Vulcan had to look high and up to meet her eyes. He was told that he was told for a boy of 12, but this woman was tall for a woman. At least two heads taller than him.

"I don't care who you are! I just care if my sister lives! Can you save her?"

His eyes were fire, while her grey ones - ice. She rose her eyebrow.

"I can. However, you should ask me if I want to save her... Luck is on our side. I liked them." She turned her head towards the bodies. "Such a gruesome and unjust death. You'll have to be extra careful - wrap their bodies with tight ropes and put heavy stones over them when you bury them. They don't deserve more mutilations."

"What price must we pay for it?" dared to ask Albena. She was hugging Kalina even tighter.

"I don't need money or whatever else you were thinking to offer me. I just need her." She lifted her finger and pointed Kalina, who by now was fighting for every next breath. Albena and Vulcan's eyes opened wide. She was going to take her. They will never see her again!

"For half a year at least. She is wounded quite badly and will need to rest for a while. A calm place, warm and safe. Like Zhegavica." She took off her cape and wrapped Kalina with it. "But you see, it won't be just one time. I will need her to come every year in order for me to check her health."

"Good. I agree... I agree!" This woman probably has never met someone as desperate as these children.

"Good! But I will need you to swear that you will keep this promise!"

"I will! I WILL!"

She grabbed his hand and her nails sank into his flesh.

"Say it with me boy! I... I ... swear...swear... that ...that...my sister...my sister...will spend...will spend...the spring and summer... the spring and summer...with the witch Delyana in Zhegavica...with the witch Delyana in Zhegavica."

Delyana took Kalina in her arms and headed towards the mirror.

"One last thing, that you can take from one adult to a child forced to act like one - you may have had luck with me, as a witch, I am bound when I make a deal, but those 11 vultures are not. Don't make deals without thinking of what you'll lose!" And with that, she walked into the mirror.

Vulcan and Albena looked into each other's eyes.

"Do you think I did the right thing?"

"I don't know, I don't know anything..."

As they broke into each other's arms, the morning star appeared into the sky - the deceiver.