Interlude.
My name was Vitaly Rogoza.
It began when I walked through the park at night and suddenly sensed a darkness in the bushes. I was surprised, approached the bushes and then it launched at me snarling in the flight. Strangely, I knew what to do – I deflected it and said: ‘Do you want to meet the Night Watch? The Whites? Idiot.’
...
I began to remember myself in train to Moscow. I had a bag. There were US $ 100,000 inside it. I had no idea from where it came. It seemed that I had lived only for two days. There was just that feeling that I had to go.
...
In Moscow I knew where to go. I checked into a luxury hotel and registered with the White officer keeping an eye on Dark ones coming to Moscow. The White mage doing the check in looked at me with puzzled expression and mumbled: ‘Who are you? Sorcerer, warlock, vampire, werewolf...no, none of them...?’ I had also no idea and replied: ‘Sorcerer. It is complicated’.
...
I heard the call when I was sleeping. It was irresistibly tempting. Vampire attracting her prey. I got dressed and walked out. In the dark street I saw a shadow vanishing into the night. I went closer and there was a dead body, with a smile on the face and bite marks on the neck. Sweet surrender. White patrol came to the scene and one younger, but enthusiastic guy looked angrily at me and tried to arrest me. I felt a huge boost of power and realised that I had jumped maybe a level, but more likely two up. I could do much more than before. I replied: ‘Idiot, did you look at the neck? Do I look like a vampire? I am leaving now, you’ll find me from a hotel’.
...
I left my room and put protection in place. In the evening I found the same young White dead in my room. Protection had got the better of him. White patrol charged in and accused me of murder. I had only tried to keep outsiders out. They inspected my things (with my full cooperation) and agreed that that White had violated the rules. Dark ones who came to my assistance were stunned that I had put so much power into simple protection... I felt deep inside that everything was in the best possible order and that my next leap up in terms of power and awareness regarding myself was near.
...
Dark ones took me to their place, and again in the sleep I felt the call. It was from Whites. Very subtle, very powerful and only for me. Surrendering to it could have been the sweetest thing. But instead I overcame it and gained in strength again. Massively. I saw the White energy coming out of me and flowing into the floor. I decided to see who was calling me. In the dark park they were expecting me: two first grade White mages and two shapeshifting White fighters. Mages struck first sending two energy walls at me from two sides. I felt the pressure, but it was moderate. I spread my hands and sent it back – I saw two men sliding on their backs in the snow. Then the fighters attacked: a bear and a tiger. I shouted: ‘Can’t we talk?! Is this the way things are done in Moscow?’ I sent bear rolling over me and blocked the tiger’s attack. Mages tried again and this time I threw them farther into the snow. Bear stopped as if thinking, but tiger persisted. Apparently her boyfriend had died in my hotel room. I shouted again: ‘I don’t want to kill anybody! Can’t we talk?’. But she jumped. Then I struck. 150 kilos of strength and beauty transformed with a cracking sound of breaking bones into a bloody mass of meat. Totally squashed. They left. I was sure I had done it all right.
...
I had come into a contact with an ancient Dark artifact. It had an immense power. I sensed that the final realisation of who I am and why I am in Moscow was getting close. I knew that my power had grown beyond all measurable scales and grades. I could enter Twilight and get stronger while every other White or Dark one became slowly weaker. I kept it inside and felt how my mind was getting clearer and I could see lines of probabilities, destinies of people, slightest variations in power and I could use the energy of Twilight. I felt I had done everything right.
...
We were summoned (all Whites and Dark ones) to Inquisition meeting. I was late because one White had decided to stop me from going there. He created a car crash, but I walked out unscathed. He shouted at me: ‘Who are you?!!!’, and I could only reply: ‘The mirror of the world’. He ran away.
...
I still got to the Inquisition meeting. While entering, I saw Inquisitors removing all blocks from using magic in the room. I looked right and saw Svetlana looking like an infinitely bright source of light, like a lightning ready to strike. I realised, it was Anton who created a crash and Svetlana, the Great White Mage, thought I had killed Anton. She struck with all her might. My clothes went to shreds, my CD player flew to pieces, but I stood and absorbed all energy aimed at me...
I saw and understood fully. I was a Mirror. I never was a Dark, I was one without a colour and Twilight used me to restore the balance.
I was one without the destiny.
My work was done.
Two Whites killed and Great White Mage stripped of all her power for at least 30, but more likely for 50 years.
Balance restored between strengthened Whites and weakened Dark ones.
I had maybe minutes of life left before Twilight would accept me.
Anton entered the room and came to me.
He gave me his player.
I turned it on.
I listened.
Do not ask – I won’t take you with me.
Do not look – the meaning of life I know not.
Do not wish – to learn the secret of other.
And that’s all – spirit I am vanishing soon!