I tightened my red scarf around my neck as I set off in brisk walk back to the fountain. I cannot believe that Mal dropped the wallet! Not to mention sending me back to get it while he dealt with the grouchy innkeeper. Knowing Mal, they would probably be best friends by the time I got back. I scoffed at the thought, not because it wasn't true, because it was possible. I grimaced, what if I ran back into those insufferable, flirty washwomen? Yet, I felt my shoulders straighten at the thought of Mal affronting that particularly audacious woman. He chose me. Me, Alina Starvov, the Sun Summoner. A smile played on the edges of my lips. Saying it like that, I sure sounded impressive. In reality, I was hiding in another country, on the run from my greatest enemy, the Darkling. Involuntarily my thoughts went to a pair of granite eyes, pale skin, cold fingers, and a half quirked smile. But that wasn't all I remembered. Memories of a snowing forest, a white stage with shining eyes of onyx, an arrow flying into his heart, and the Darkling, capturing Mal and I to make an amplifier. Shamefully, my thoughts drifted to very different kinds of memories. Talking in a run-down barn, a kiss by the lake, and me, pressed against him in a moonlit room. A flush of humiliation colored the side of my neck. I shuddered with revulsion. What a monster, Black Heretic indeed. With the help of, Genya's Materialki crush, David, the amplifier was fastened around my throat in the form of an antler necklace. More like a collar. Killing the stag gave the Darkling control of my light. At least, that's what he thought until he dragged Mal and me into the fold. Quite a mess that was. Although we left him in the fold, I have no doubt the Darkling survived. "Like calls to like" after all, I am certain the Darkling escaped the shadowy Fold. Conscious of my amplifier, I adjusted my scarf once more. Who knew how many spies the Darkling had at his disposal? "Saints," I thought, sighing inwardly. A sea breeze carried through the streets, along with the smell of salt and fish. Gulls squawked impatiently over stalls and tents, diving with precision for the scraps. I reached the fountain were I found to my great displeasure the same group of women twittering to each other. With one look at me, a charged silence fell over them. They became engrossed with the prospect of folding laundry, backs to me. What a relief, I began to scan the area for the lost wallet when one girl spoke up,
"Looking for this, love?" I her hand was worn leather wallet, full with whatever we had earned since our evasion of the Darkling. We needed that money. I took a step closer.
"Yes, that's my wallet. Thank-you." I reached my hand out, but she shook her head.
"No love, I don't think that's right. Could it be your handsome companion's perhaps? Now what's pretty boy like him doing with… a girly like you. Don't suppose it's for money, certainly not her figure!" There was a collection of giggles as my cheeks flamed in outrage. "Careful," I chided myself. "The last thing you want to do is cause a scene. Just play it cool and get the wallet."
"Here's an idea, why don't you tell you companion to come get the wallet himself. He is welcome to… befriend any of us. Might actually get something worth-while." She fingered my scarf and I slapped her hand away. I regarded her with cold, detached interest. She had glossy golden hair, with a tiny freckled nose. Her eyes were brown, a muddy caramel at best. Cursed with a plain face. She was about my height, with admittedly a bigger bust, but nothing else that screamed superiority. Just where did she find this ego?
"Didn't you hear him the first time? He doesn't want anything from you." I kept my voice even, but inside I was seething. They thought I would crawl back to Mal and beg him for help? No way would I be humiliated by these drudges. One sullen-looking woman standing behind the wallet-thief scowled bitterly at me. "Ah, that is the one Mal rejected. Perfect." She was still wearing the ridiculously tight and short dress. Our eyes meet and she immediately cast hers downward, scowling at her sloppily folded linens. Still looking down, she grumbled,
"Can't see anything to keep 'im." She eyed me disdainfully. "Nope, Nothing there." I could feel my blood boiling beneath my skin, and the twitching of my fingers, eager for a knife, pistol, or burst of blinding light. Light? What was I thinking?! One slip up on my part would lead the Darkling straight to us, if he hadn't already found us. I couldn't think about that now, because the envious women beleaguered me from both sides, pushing me towards the fountain. Are you kidding me? What was the big deal? One friend got embarrassed, so what? I scanned their faces, paying more attention. Tight, angry faces with a stone-like quality glared back at me, but it was more than that. "Fear," I thought, "But fear of what?" Even the ringleader, on surface looked like she was enjoying herself, yet there was sheen of sweat on her brow. Why? Something was off; I needed to get out of here. I threw myself at a petite servant, catching her off guard and sending her sprawling to the ground with a shriek. The others dispersed in shock, and I took my chance. Sliding my knife from my pocket, I sprinted down the road, scattering the feasting sea gulls from their meal. I heard the unmistakable crack of a pistol as a shot whizzed past my ankle. "Saints! A gun, are you serious?!"Unfortunately for me, the city buzz covered the sound of the weapon being fired. I realized I should take out my pistol, but I would have no place to cover myself when I fired. My best chance was to keep running and get to the inn with Mal. My limbs felt weak despite the adrenaline fuel my heart desperately pumped with each thundering beat. I wished I had used my powers more often, then I would have had a fighting chance. As it was, I was soon crouching behind a crate, trying to put a stop my laborious breathing. Footsteps neared, and I found my pistol in the folds of my dress. Inhaling through my nose, I waited. My pulse throbbed in my ear drums, drowning out any possible sounds of her approach. I clenched my teeth and willed it to slow. Gradually, it reduced to a low thrum in my chest. Mindful of the silence, I carefully released the safety lock. Click. Silence. I counted ten seconds. Had she gone the other way? Another shot, just to my left. The girl was serious. Popping above my crate, I fired. She screeched and fell out of view. The shot had grazed her arm, though she probably was not expecting me to be armed. "Two can play at that game." I jumped out, pistol raised and charged. Still clutching her arm, she tugged down her sleeve to compress her wound. Seeing me, she froze, but I was just as paralyzed. On her left shoulder, there was a black tattoo of an eclipse. The Darkling's symbol. A spy, Saints, she was a spy! Had she already told the Darkling? Was he here? Swallowing down my panic; I grabbed her by the collar. She whimpered in pain, and I growled, "What does he know? What did you tell him?" Surprise of my detection stunned her at first, but a smug smile curved at her lips.
"You can't win, not against the Darkling. He's going to change things. He's going to save Ravka. I have no regrets."
No regrets? It was just a simple flesh wound, put a bandage on it and she'd be fine. I shook her, "The Darkling, what did you tell him?" She laughed giddily. "Too late love, you should have gotten your friend while you had the chance. Pity really." My stomach dropped. Mal, where was he? Safe at the inn or in the cold hands of the Darkling? I didn't have time to find out. I threw the girl against the crates with a satisfying crash. Darting out of the alleyway I tried to regain my bearings. I had long lost the map I had devised of city in the chase. How close was the inn? The Darkling could already have Mal strapped up or worse. I let instinct take over, controlling my every move as I steered through the bustle of midday market shoppers. I shoved and kicked past anyone who got in my way, earning what I believed to be a profound range of curse words in native tongue. In my head, all I could think of was Mal. Mal, with one arm around me, scratching the back of his head absent mindedly, laughing at something I said, the kiss we had shared not an hour before. Stop it! This is no time to be reminiscing about the past, I need to find him so we can leave. By some miracle, the inn appeared before me, just a block away. If I had any breath left in my chest to spare, I would have sobbed. Panting, I increased my pace with newfound strength. Then my luck ran out. All at once, every window in the inn burst, shattered by searing yellow and orange flames. The explosion rocked the whole street. There were screams, the smell of burning flesh, and the sound of wood crackling in the fire. My heart splintered as I screamed for the most important person in my world, "MAL!"