The group slowly approached the entry way. "So, how is this supposed to work?" Nadia asked.

"It's like a portal." Anna told her. "I don't know if we're supposed to activate it or if it works on its own."

Nadia stepped toward it. She could actually feel the energy vibrating. The second she tried to go through, it was like she hit a barrier, though. "Are you alright?" Rose asked her. Nadia was on the ground now.

"I've taken worse hits before." Nadia told her. As she got up, she was still clutching her side in pain though.

"How are we supposed to get in if that barrier's blocking us?" Trevor wondered.

"What are you doing here?" Everyone looked at each other. From the confusion, none of them knew who'd spoken.

"It sounded like it came from the other end of that portal." Pearl said.

Nadia stepped toward it again, but didn't cross. "Who are you?" She asked.

"I am the keeper of this dimension gate." The voice responded. "State your business."

"We're here to see Katherine Pierce." Nadia said.

"I cannot permit visitors to enter."

"We're not…"

"I am her daughter." Nadia told him. At least, she thought it was a him.

"Very well. I shall allow it this once." The symbols on the arches started glowing. The group entered quickly and almost couldn't believe what they saw. It looked almost identical to the tunnel they'd just come from. Aside from the fact that there were flaming torches on the walls, it looked almost identical.

"Well, guess we better get going…" Nadia turned. The others weren't with her. "Guys? Where are you?"

"Let me guess. You're little friends abandon you?" Nadia turned around. Katherine was standing there.

"How did you know I'd be here?"

"I've been waiting for you, Nadia." Nadia looked suspicious. Something didn't seem right about this. She decided to put her to the test.

"Do you remember what you told me when we planned to leave Mystic Falls after you passengered yourself into Elena?" Nadia asked her. "You said that you'd always wanted to visit India."

"Why wouldn't I? It's one of my favorite places to visit." That's when Nadia knew. This wasn't Katherine.

"Sorry to step out on you, Mother," She said. "But I know the real you would never set foot in India. Our plans were to stop by Paris, then trace our roots back home in Bulgaria." She closed her eyes and concentrated really hard, wrapping her hands around a charm Emily had given her.

When she opened them, she found herself exactly where she was standing, but the fake Katherine was gone. Then she heard someone scream, as though they were in pain. She looked to see the others had fallen to the ground. She knelt down next to Rose. "Rose? Can you hear me?"

If she could hear her, she didn't respond. She saw a cut appear on her wrist, though. Her eyes were closed. Nadia turned to Anna, who was a few feet away from her. She was in the same state. Same with Trevor and Pearl.

That's when she realized it was another one of their tricks. "Snap out of it, guys! It's all an illusion! Wake up!" Nothing happened. She closed her eyes and hoped for a miracle. "Okay, Emily, time to see if your magic really works."

She pulled a vial of powder out of her pocket, one of the many protection charms she'd given them. She sprinkled a small amount over each of her friends, then read the spell off the pamphlet she'd given them, hoping she was pronouncing all the words correctly.

Apparently, it didn't matter, because the second she was finished, everyone relaxed. "If you guys can hear me, please wake up!" After a couple of seconds, she heard Anna begin to stir. A few minutes later, they were all awake.

"Annabelle?" Pearl asked.

"Right here." Anna said. They clung to each other.

"That was some dream spell." Trevor said. He put his hand to his forehead. "This headache better pass soon."

"That was a nightmare." Rose said. "What happened?"

"The same thing that happened to me." Nadia told them. "It was all some kind of illusion spell. I'm betting they put us in it."

"How did you break out of it?" Anna asked.

"Please, even I know my mother isn't that polite." Nadia said.

"Looks like we're going to have to be more careful than we thought." Rose said.

"We should put on those charms Emily gave us." Pearl told them. "They'll keep us from falling under whatever spell this place throws at us." They all put on their charm necklaces. Nadia helped everyone to their feet and they started walking.

It seemed to take a long time to get through there. Suddenly, she could feel heat all around her. "Do you guys feel that?"

"Yeah, it's starting to get really hot." Trevor said. Nadia looked down the edge at one of the pits. To her surprise, there was a flow of lava.

"It's as though we're in some kind of volcano."

"Well, it is part of the Other Side. Who knows what else is here?" Rose pointed out. Suddenly, a new entrance appeared. The group entered it and found themselves in what appeared to be a volcano chamber.

"We can do this, guys." Anna said. Just then, there was a scream. Everyone froze in fear. The sound had echoed through the entire chamber.

"Anyone…anyone know where it came from?" Nadia asked.

"Too hard to tell with that much echo." Rose told her. "It's like this place magnified the sound."

"Well, we're going to have to find out." Nadia said. She slowly walked forward. The others joined her after a moment of hesitation. When they got a few feet from the center of the room, they noticed a form lying on the ground.

"What do you think? Is it real or another one of their tricks?" Anna asked her mother.

"That depends, are you seeing her, too?" Trevor asked. Everyone nodded.

"If we're all seeing the same thing…" Pearl began. The person on the ground was trying to sit up, but the effort seemed to be causing more pain.

"We have to help." Anna said. They all started to move forward, with Nadia in the lead and ahead of them.

When she was only a few feet away, she stopped, noticing the person's features. She could also tell it was a girl. Her brunette hair was a complete mess, her black jeans torn around the ankles, and her sweater was slightly ripped. Then the girl looked up at her. Nadia looked surprised. Even though her face was covered in ash and tearstains, she could recognize her anywhere.

"K…Katherine?"

"Nadia." Her voice sounded weak. Then, she collapsed.

"I need help over here!" Nadia called to the others. She held Katherine close to her. "You're going to be okay. Hang on." The others ran up to Nadia's side.

"Oh my God! Katherine!" Anna looked surprised to see her in that state.

"What's wrong with her?" Trevor asked.

"I don't know. She collapsed the second I got here." Nadia said. "Could she be under some kind of spell?"

"I'm not sure." Pearl said. "All I know is we have to get the girl out of here."

"I'm sure that's easier said than done." Rose pointed out. "If she's been through a lot, we're going to have to help her recover. After all, we don't know if what did this is magic or natural."

"Well, we better not take chances." Nadia reached into her pocket and pulled out a spare protective charm Emily gave them. She put it around Katherine's neck and held her. "You're going to be okay, I promise."

The others looked on, hoping that Nadia would be right.