"No!" A scream pierced through my frozen shock and I saw Viktor throwing himself in front of me and I wanted to scream for him to save himself, but everything happened so fast. My heart sank and Katerina's remark echoed through my mind. I don't know what it is, but there is something that tells me you will play a part in what is to come. This was all pointing to Viktor dying to protect me.

Too wired up to shut my eyes, I watched, helpless, as the electric bolt zeroed in towards us as Viktor raised his hand out in front of him blocking the bolt from my field. Just as I thought I would see my friend incinerated to a crisp in front of me, a miracle happened.

The lightning bolt seemed to reach an invisible barrier about half a meter from Viktor's outstretched hand, it sizzled and frazzled for a fraction of a second before expanding and dissipating.

Then it was like everything snapped back into real time and I launched forward, managing to catch Viktor before he fell back on his butt. There was total silence for a moment, like everyone was taking in the shock and then the shouting began.

My head churned, and a million moments fluttered through my head and fell together like a puzzle. Viktor, who remembered me saving him even though everyone's mind was supposed to be wiped; Katerina's vision changing when he was involved. He was like us all along. He was a POE; and he was immune to others' powers.

"Is this your answer to our peace?" Chungkit Wong's angry growl echoed through the charged air, and I helped Viktor get back to his feet. The ex-head boy was staring at his shaking heads, his eyes wide as he too, tried to wrap his head around what had happened.

The Legres started talking to each other, and I could tell immediately that the Turtle and Whale were not happy with what the Eel did.

Making sure that Viktor could stand firmly by himself, I stepped forwards towards the sea. Chungkit's face was a steely shield, and the concrete beneath him cracked and wobbled as his anger manifest. The Original, right now, looked as formidable as I had ever seen in any living creature, emitting a kind of aura that had me shuddering.

I hope that what happened was just a misunderstanding. I called out with my mind, shoving my anger and fear into a back corner and putting the bigger picture first. Like I always had. But in truth, I felt no animosity to the Legres despite the attack, though I still don't understand why the Eel would want to kill me. However, this was the ticket I needed to get them on my side.

We apologize. The Turtle looked at me, its eyes softer than when we first met. I could feel that most of the Legres were shocked at the Eel's actions, and most, but not all, were pleased that I wasn't currently a piece of charcoal.

I understand that this wasn't something you plan to happen. But this wasn't the best first impression for us and we need to know that you are serious about peace between us. I declared, standing firm and tried not to wince when the Eel sent me a deadly glare.

We want to maintain the peace. Whale cut in, and as soon as said that, I knew I could play this out in our favour. Even if it went a little against my morals, but a little guilt tripping is necessary in such times.

Then prove it. I retorted, making sure I sound resigned, though to be honest, I was rather resigned at this point. I didn't really see the purpose of me being here, if peace was never out of the question, except to possibly get killed by an eel. But then, why would it wants to kill me?

You are in no position to question us. Eel's thought boomed, and I tried not to let my brain wander off when I looked at him. Now was not the time to freak out, or get scared. In fact, it seemed to be better if I just don't react to anything at all nowadays.

Perhaps, but we need to learn to trust each other again. I answered, What we had wasn't peace anymore, it was a standstill, wasn't it?

Everyone fell into silence, and Chungkit Wong's mouth twitched at the corners letting me knew that I had hit the bull's eyes. Whatever peace we had, it was tainted by the passing of centuries and the wariness we had of each other. We needed something that would allow us to establish a long lasting peace; something that the Originals had or offered that allowed this to be established the first time.

"We need an exchange." I breathed out loud, drawing on the peace that we managed to achieve with the SMS. However, doing this with the Legres would be much, much harder. They were all looking at me now, and I needed to think fast.

"We will build a center right here." I started, just letting my words flow and running with it. "Where POEs, humans and Legres can interact with each other. It will be run by a council with equal numbers of people, and you can monitor the situation as closely as you want. It will give us a platform to understand each other better."

Words are pretty, but how do you make good on a promise like that? The Eel eyed me suspiciously, but before I could formulate any form of reply, Chungkit stepped forward.

"I will stay with you as a show of faith." He answered, and raised his hands up to stop the protests that were forming on my lips. The smile tugging at the corner of his lips had widened, giving him the boyish appearance he had before. "Victoria had managed it, I am sure I can too."

Still eyeing us a bit uncertainly, the Whale opened its ginormous mouth and some sort of a bubble came out. I didn't even have time to process what he meant by that statement about Victoria, and I shoved that into the back of my head.

"Wait!" I shouted before Chungkit could move, raising both my hands out. "I need your help, because if those people that are poisoning your ocean ruins this world, there will be no peace left to build on anyway."

What do you need? The Turtle asked, and I knew that I got them. Quickly relating to a rough plan that I had, the Legre Lords and Lady nodded and bombarded me with a few questions here and there. Chungkit Wong had taken a step back and was conversing softy with Viktor as I liaise with the intelligent creatures, and I couldn't help but wonder what they were talking about.

If you have misguided us, daughter of Victoria. The Eel stared at me, its yellow eyes sending shivers down my spine. I will come back for you.

You have my word. I answered, and the Eel turned around and disappeared back in the ocean, still not any clearer on just why it was so intent on killing me. The Turtle gave me a friendly-ish nod before diving into the sea as well, and the rest of minions scattered as Whale waited for Chungkit Wong.

"You don't have to do this." I said to Chungkit as he came towards me, even though I knew full well that he had to. I hated these moments; I had to leave Tom, I had to leave Casey and Diego, and now I had to leave Chungkit. In a well ordered world, I would be able to save everyone, but I guessed this isn't one.

"You are something else, Abigail Beckett." He smiled, then planting both his hands on my shoulders and looking right into my eyes. His eyes soften, and he gave me another smile that made him seemed years younger.

"Don't blame yourself." He continued, "This day had been coming for a long time. Living for the past three hundred years hadn't been easy, and there isn't a day that I don't miss my times with the others. I guess I was so focused in my own bitterness that I couldn't even see the Legres were getting agitated, that they weren't as they were when Victoria was around. But you, you are exactly what they needed."

"What is going to happen to you?" I asked, eyeing the weird bubble thing skeptically. It was about four, five meters in diameter, and seemed to be made up of a water layer with a hollow interior. "Will you be okay?"

"I will be fine." Chungkit answered, but I could detect a hint of nervousness in his voice. "I had told Viktor what to do. I guess if I don't see you again, this is farewell."

I had to chant to myself to stop from lurching over and pulling Chungkit back to the Jeep with us. Viktor came up behind me and laid a hand on my shoulder, probably afraid that I would do exactly that. I didn't know what to expect when the Original turned back towards me right before he entered that bubble.

"You know what? I think Akram and Victoria would be really proud of you. I know I am." He smiled and stepped into the bubble. The Whale sort of smiled at me before tossing the bubble into the ocean and disappearing with it.

My heart was still beating like crazy a full minute after all the Legres were gone. My legs had turned into jelly and I knew that if I moved, I would collapse. What were we going to say to Lei An?

"Hey, it's okay." Viktor patted my shoulder like I was a wounded bird and I didn't have the energy to tell him to stop, and it was actually oddly comforting. "I know what to do."

With one hand around each other, the two of us started to limp back towards the bend where the Jeep was parked behind, both of us too exhausted. I could use my telepathy to get Grandpa Hugo to come out and collect us, but I needed as much time to think to myself as I could get.

"What is it? Are you hurt? Where is Chungkit?" Lei An was out of the car and running towards us as soon as we were within sight. My brain froze and I didn't know how to break the news to this girl who was looking at me with such terrors.

"Actually..." Viktor let go of me and placed me in the arms of Grandpa Hugo, who had run out soon after Lei An. I was ever so grateful for him for taking on the explaining role, because I honestly didn't know how to explain the situation.

"Are you alright?" Grandpa Hugo asked me and I nodded, letting him help me back into the car. I watched as Viktor gestured frantically while explaining to Lei An what Chungkit Wong did, and the girl nodding and shaking her head with tears streaming down her face. Her two side kicks had now gone out of the car and were flanking her sides, offering her tissues and what I assumed were words of comfort.

I didn't need any powers to know that the Balikova gang was all eavesdropping on Viktor's explanation, which was probably for the best as it would save him having to recount the event, again.

The drive back towards the Hong Kong Citybase was painfully quiet. Nobody spoke and it felt as though we were driving towards a certain doom. I let my mind rest and left it blank, not wanting to dwell on anything. I felt like all of my emotions had been drained and that trying to let myself feel anything would require more energy than I have in my body.

"Hey, can I talk to you for a second?" Viktor asked when we all piled out of the inner gate of the Lion Rock Tunnel. I nodded, the two of us hanging back a little distance away from the group in front. The noises around us were loud enough to stop anyone from eavesdropping, and I hoped that the Balikova clan would be mindful and not listen in on our conversation.

"So..." He started, then paused again scratching his head. I waited for him to gather his words and walked on, looking around at the vibrant activities of Hong Kong Citybase. These people had no idea just how close they were from the most powerful Legres to ever walk the planet.

"Ok, Chungkit Wong told me something, something about Akram de Silver." He blurted, forcing his words out in a mad rush. I blinked, and he took that as encouragement and continued blurting.

"Before Akram left, he told Chungkit that he was working on something." Viktor raised his hands up so fast that I had to duck out of the way. "Sorry! Oh, and it was something about the Apocalypse and their origin."

My eyes widened. Why wouldn't Akram mention something in his video? In fact, he barely gave me anything useful that I could use on the situation apart from motivation. Then it hit me, he didn't know who would get their hands on the thumb drive. He couldn't put anything important on there.

"Okay, what about it?" I prompted, knowing Chungkit Wong wouldn't leave us with useless information. I tried to think like Akram – why would he store this information away from his family? Surely the de Silver would know about it.

"Whatever it is, Chungkit said that Akram only ever told him and Anastasia. He didn't trust it with anyone." Viktor continued, "Chungkit didn't know exactly what it was, but that it might be important and might just be the thing that would help us defeat the Apolcapyse."

"Where is it?" I asked, knowing that we had to at least find out what this would be.

"It's hidden in his home. In London Citybase." He answered, gulping as he said the name of our home. My heart fluttered and squeezed.

"Well." I said, swallowing the lump that formed in my throat. "I guess it's time to go home."

-----------------------------------------

Sorry for this chapter being shorter - I was having the biggest writer block and somehow managed to power through it! Whoop whoop - but then it ended up being shorter than the previous ones :(

Anyway - Gail is FINALLY GOING BACK TO LONDON! How cool is that? I didn't expect Chungkit to sort of sacrifice himself, but it kind of just happened... bless him.

What do you think Akram has hidden? Them going to London means we are only one step away from the grand finale (at least, it is in my head - but this story does have a mind of its own)

Let me know what you think of this chapter in the comments down below - and don't forget to vote!