1) Hi. This is my first fanfic ever. I hope you enjoy it.

2) I'm not a native english speaker, so I'm really sorry if I made terrible mistakes. I did my best.;)

CHAPTER 1

I was starting to shake. "Please stop." (c) Shadow and Bone

And I ran.

Away from Baghra, from the Little Palace, from the Grishas. Away from all my doubts and fears. I stopped near the lake and a scream escaped me.

I didn't know how long did I stay there, but I was freezing in my thin silk dress. I touched the golden charm with Darkling's symbol, hoping to get an answer there. But I knew, that there was only one place where I can get my answers, so I headed back to the Little Palace. I crossed the domed room and stopped right in font of the carved doors with Darkling's symbol. When I opened the door I saw the hallway that I crossed once with Ivan and the door of the war room.

I took a deep breath and pushed it.

Everybody who was standing around the table raised their head and looked at me. I looked directly at the Darkling, trying to hold his gaze. I could see concern on his face.

"You can all leave. We will finish tomorrow."

They bowed and moved towards the door. As the door closed behind me and we were left alone the air became so tense, that I couldn't breath.

Since I was the one who came, he was expecting me to say something. I opened my mouth, but the words didn't come out.

"Something happened?", he asked in his usual tone. No anger, no annoyance.

I just nodded.

"Will you tell me what is it?"

I bit my lip. But before I said anything he continued.

"Is it about what happened earlier? If so I apologize. I shouldn't have crossed the line."

I realized what he was talking about and my skin began to burn with pleasure. I blushed, but answered. "No! It's not about that."

He sighed with what looked to me like relief. "Then what? The tracker? He was here. Did you see him?" He tensed again, as if afraid of what I might say.

"Yes, I saw him and no, it's not about him."

"Then what is it, Alina?"

That was strange. He had two explanations of my behavior and both were wrong. Now he was more at ease and the only thing I could see on his face was curiosity. Did it really bother him that he crossed the line? Did he care about me and Mal? Was he jealous? Don't be stupid, Alina!

Was Baghra lying to me?

"Why you didn't tell me that Baghra is your mother?"

The surprise on his face quickly changed to suspicion. "That's why you came here? To ask about my mother?"

I couldn't stand it anymore. The words spilled from me, telling him everything that happen, everything that Baghra told me. When I finished he studied me for a couple of seconds and asked. "After she told you all that, did she also tell you to come here and ask me if it's true or not?"

"No. She told me to run away."

"But you didn't."

"I didn't."

After a long pause he finally said, "Thank you."

The shock on my face must have been remarkable and he smiled.

"Come with me, Alina."

He turned around and walked towards the door, that lead to his private quarters. I was exited and scared at the same time to enter there. But my legs moved forward until I stood right besides him. He opened the door and gestured me to come in.

The room was bigger then mine. There was a big bed in the center, a small table near the window and lot of shelves with books.

"Please sit down." He led me to the fireplace, where I sat on the big and comfortable sofa. He sat next to me, but kept his distance.

After staring into the fire for what seems like forever he finally spoke.

"Yes, I did lie to you Alina."

I just looked at him.

"I told you that it was my great-great-great-grand father who created the Fold. That's not true. It was my father who did it."

I remembered the shame in his voice, when he was telling me about the creation of the Fold. Now I understood. "Why you didn't tell me that from the beginning?"

"I didn't want you to be scared of me. You were already freaked out after I did the Cut."

I blushed and turned away.

"The problem is," he continued "that my mother believes that he is still there, in the Fold."

"She wants to save him?"

He laughed. "No. She doesn't want me to die."

"Die? You can't die!"

"Really? I know some people believe that I'm not human, but I am. That means I can die. I didn't know you think of me like that…"

Despite his accusation there was a small smile playing on his lips. "I don't think that you are not human…" I said and blushed even more. Stop blushing, Alina!

I cleared my throat. "So…Baghra thinks he's going to kill you?"

"She thinks he will persuade me to help him destroy Ravka."

It was the last thing I expected to hear. "What? But you are not…"

"I am the Darkling" he interrupted. "I have the same darkness inside. I was born like this. The only difference is, that I didn't let it consume me… Yet."

Yet? When I didn't say anything he continued. "What do you know about the Darklings? Do you know how they appear?"

I shook my head.

"Darklings are not like Grishas. People without any power can have a child with Grisha's power. To have the Darkling's power the father must be the Darkling." He emphasized the word father. "It doesn't matter who is the mother."

"But you mother…"

"Yes. She has the same power like my father. That is why I am, as you have said when we first met, the strongest Darkling in generations. But my power comes from darkness. The legends say that all the Darklings that ever existed died because the darkness consumed them."

I didn't know what to say, so I just sat there and stared at the fire. Too much information in a such a short time. I was not ready to make conclusions yet, but the only thing I knew for sure was that Baghra was wrong. He wasn't the Black Heretic.

"Are you afraid of me now?", he asked quietly.

Should I be?

"No, I'm not." With that words I gathered all my courage and moved closer and when our lips touched, the felling of power and strength filled me again.

He was kissing me softly, but I could feel that he wanted more. I could feel his desire beneath. I moved and sat in his lap. His lips moved down my neck and a small moan escaped me. He put his hands on my hips and slowly pushed me away.

To say I was disappointed would be an understatement.

"You had a difficult day. I think it would be better if you go and rest" he said, looking straight into my eyes. "Tomorrow after the breakfast we will go to talk with Baghra together."

"Okay." I said and he kissed the word from my lips.

I stood up from his lap and went towards the door. Once there, I turned around and looked at him.

"Good night"

"Good night, Alina"