**Dmitri and Aleksander Volkov**

RECAP:

"Alix, if Dmitri were to grab the girl would the outcome be the same? Would he die?" I asked in a rush.

I could feel all of their confusion but I didn't have time to explain every little detail to them. 

"Um-" her eyes fogged over. The vision didn't seem to affect her any way. The emotional atmosphere surrounding her did stay the same but I could detect a smidgen of hope.

"He should be fine," she spoke seconds later as the vision disappeared. "I think everything should go according to plan but-" I hated that word. "There's a very small chance he could die."

Aleksander tensed again. The anger that was radiating off of him was driving me insane. I had never felt as if the two brothers were close but Aleksander was feeling almost murderous while thinking of losing his twin. Before Aleksander could remove his arms on my waist and place them on Alix's neck, Dmitri spoke.

"I'll do it," he said with conviction, "There's only a small chance. This girl's life is depending on us."

"Dmitri this isn't the weather we're talking about!" Aleksander snapped, "It's not like Alix is saying there's a small chance of rain. There's a small chance of death! Your death! You have to take that seriously."

"I am," Determination shined brightly in his eyes, "I've always wanted to be a hero and here's my chance."

Aleksander was going to argue further but his brother was already disappearing. His existence was slowly slipping away from us, as he teleported into the apartment complex. A window shattered into pieces as the flames grew taller. Faintly, I could still hear the girl's pleas for help. The fire continued to crackle and hiss- like a giant snake waiting to go in for the kill. I only hoped Dmitri wouldn't be its next victim.
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Caddie's POV:

Why couldn't I have gone? I questioned in my head.

It had been five minutes since Dmitri teleported into the burning apartment and he still hadn't return. My anxiety began to rise as the girl's sniffles diminished. Either the child was dead or Dmitri saved her. But if he did save her why didn't he leave the building?

The other heirs were only fueling my anxiety attack as they continued to stare at the apartment. No one moved, breathed or blinked. Their attention was focused solely on the flickering flames that continued to consume the building. I had a feeling if Dmitri didn't teleport out of the building soon one of us would be going in for him. The danger of the situation no longer mattered. We all knew there were two lives at stake and every passing second only meant they were in danger.

The only person who wasn't afraid was Alix. I couldn't tell if she simply didn't care if Dmitri died or if she was confident in the outcome. If the vision did change and Dmitri was in trouble she wasn't making any moves to tell us. Giving her the benefit of the doubt, I decided the outcome must have stayed the same. Alix was supposed to be a protector not a killer.

"That's it I'm going in!" Aleksander growled and loosened his hold on me.

Mira's eyes popped out of her sockets dramatically as Aleksander stepped forward. Wrapping her arms and legs around his body she tried to stop him from moving. Aleksander would not be swayed though. He ripped her off of him and continued to make his way to the apartment. All of our complaints muddled into the background as he stood in the doorway.

The deadly flames licked at his jean clad body. The fire was waiting to feast on him just as they had feasted on his brother. I didn't want to watch. My mind could not handle the possibility of three people dying today. Haven't enough people already died? I wonder. Whoever this mad man was, he needed to be killed fast. He was playing a game that none of us knew the rules too. It was unfair and I refused to be another victim!

"Aleksander please!"

Upon hearing my hoarse cry, Aleksander stopped in his tracks. The look in his eyes was enough to make the Queen's Guards crack. Even if Dmitri was perfectly fine- that wouldn't stop Aleksander from searching for his brother. I was touched by the newly formed bond between the brothers. Aleksander's position as an heir might have driven a wedge between the two but the blood bond was impossible to sever. I almost felt bad for trying to stop Aleksander.

Yes, it is sweet that he cares about his brother. But I couldn't stand by and let him get himself killed. Later, I would come up with a perfectly good excuse for why I stopped him. But in the present moment I just wanted to keep him out of harms way. My heart ached painfully at the thought of him dying.

"Please," I begged again, "Don't go."

His electric blue eyes stared intently into my own. He was digging for an answer- trying to figure out why I cared so much. Shaking my head slightly, I answered his unasked question. I didn't know why I felt the way I did. But my heart felt like it would explode if he walked into that apartment. The angle of his feet shifted slightly as my emotions began to effect his own. The others stared silently. Alix and Mira seemed angered by our odd exchange but Ryder had a knowing look on his face. I mentally noted to ask him about it later, when people weren't dying.

Taking a timid step forward, I held out my hand and hoped that Aleksander would take it. I don't know what pushed me to do so but I was glad I did. Aleksander's defenses crumbled as he stared at my waiting hand. Pushing himself away from the doorframe, he walked back to our little group and grabbed my hand. My blood became electrified when our palms touched. I was used to the tingles being present whenever he was near but I had never been effected that way.

"I don't understand," I murmured while staring at our intertwined hands.

"This is the first time you ever willingly touched me," Aleksander spoke softly- with a hint of affection. "Perhaps now that you've accepted our connection it will grow stronger?"

I always knew I was I intensely attracted to him. When Dmitri started to speak of my connection with his brother I used it as an excuse. Nobody could blame me for falling for him if it was already written in the stars. But just because I went along with the foolish idea- that didn't mean I wanted it to be true. We're too young, I thought to myself, we both need time before we accept it.

The world wasn't going to give us time though. It was so unfair but then again life was unfair.

"I- um I-" Didn't know what to say.

Thankfully Aleksander's attention was stolen when a loud thud sounded behind us. We all spun around. Shock and relief seeped into the air as we stared at two forms lying on the cobbled road. Dmitri's chest heaved as he tried to inhale as much clean air as possible. The little girl was covered in charred bits of her home, black smudge marks covered her face. She released several throaty coughs before flopping onto her back.

Questions began to spew from our mouths as we ran to their sides.

"What happened?"

"Why did you take so long?"

"Are you okay?"

We would have continued the Spanish Inquisition if blood didn't start to seep from Dmitri's nose. Upon further inspection, I could see his eyes were red and watery. He was trying not to cry, I realized. Releasing Aleksander's hand, I knelt next to Dmitri and scoured his body for any injuries.

A horrified gasp escaped from my lips as I stared at the humongous burn on his chest. I could only see parts of it through his ripped t-shirt but I knew it was going to be fatal. All layers of the skin were completely destroyed. His once smooth tanned skin had become leathery and blackened. It literally looked as if his body been left on a grill for too long.

"Oh Dmitri..." I cried as fresh tears appeared in my eyes.

He noticed the flash of pain on my face and grimaced. Extending a scarred hand towards my face, he cupped my face and caressed my cheek softly. I felt so guilty staring into his eyes as the light began to fade. This is all my fault! I just wanted this insanity to be over. The deaths needed to stop, the pain needed cease. I couldn't take it anymore. My strength was starting to fade with Dmitri's life.

Aleksander fell to his knees. Dmitri's free hand clasped Aleksander's. They shared a long look filled with pain and suffering. The pain we shared in our little triangle was unbearable. I wanted to scream as I felt Aleksander's agony trickle into my system. The pain he felt was much stronger than his brother's. Not only could Aleksander feel the effects of the burn but he was also suffering from the pain of losing a brother. That scar would never fade.

"The pain will go away," Aleksander whisperer to Dmitri as he held his hand tightly.

Dmitri nodded weakly, "Yours will too someday."

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Maddox approaching with Kimone beside him m. Their faces had transformed into masks of terror but they didn't comment on Dmitri's burn. They let the two brother's say their goodbyes.

"Don't worry about me," Dmitri sighed when Aleksander refused to let go of him. "I got what I wanted in life. I played the hero and saved someone's life. Now that girl can grow and become a better person then I was."

"H-how can you say that," Aleksander choked out. "You have always been a good person and a hero to me. You threw away your life when I disappeared and then you risked it when I needed to be saved. Y-You're my little brother, I can't lose you."

Dmitri turned his attention to me, when Aleksander began to ball his eyes out.

"I can save you Dmitri," I croaked. "Say the word, and I can stop this from happening."

He shook his head adamantly. That was the last thing he wanted.

"Take care of him," Dmitri ordered, "We're all tired of you two running around in circles. Go save the world, prove your not the villain and kiss your Prince Charming." I wouldn't call Aleksander my Prince Charming but I understood what Dmitri was asking of me.

"I'll do my best," I promised in a small voice, trying to avoid his gaze.

"I know you will. You're Caddie Böse- nothing can stop you from accomplishing anything."

My breath was caught in my chest. Did he really think so highly of me? For the past two years I had tolerated Dmitri's existence, barely considering him a friend- and yet he spoke of me as if I were a goddess. The urge to break down and cry hysterically became overwhelming. Dmitri's hand slipped out of Aleksander's as light in his eyes began to fade.

I stared at the other heirs and Alix. My voice was void of all emotion as I vowed, "We're going to kill this witch or warlock and we're going to set things right. It's time to show him who the real Dark One is."

**Chapter 29 is complete but very unedited. Dmitri's dead so you can officially take him off of your lists. Also tell me what you think of his death. I apologize for not editing but I am very overwhelmed with packing.
XOXO,
Ro**

TWO VERY IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS BELOW!!

This upcoming week I won't be able to update because I will be attending Interlochen Arts Academy- I don't know if I'll have time to update while I'm there. But when I come back I will update! Also please help me!! I need your votes on my short story, Judging Covers. If you haven't already voted please help me out- I can't win without you guys!!