For a long moment, several moments, she doesn't react - perhaps she's been away from Moscow too long, or she just assumes she's hallucinating after that hellhound gave her one of the worst headaches she's had in a while.



...

Suddenly she realizes that no, she's not hallucinating.

And for a brief moment she's nine again and wondering if she might possibly be able to sneak away from whatever trouble she's gotten into through the Twilight if she's very, very quiet.


"Hello, Olya." She says sheepishly, carefully, somewhere between remembering there isn't a chance in hell and before she bothers to put on the lights.