AN: Very interesting chapter today. I meant to post earlier but I was a swim meet. (3 personal bests though :)

I also feel this chapter needs no explanation, and Alina is coming soon.

Please follow favorite and review.


I wake from my dreamless sleep to the sound of arguing from the street below.

"She's on this street I swear!" a young man's voice warily declares. I momentarily freeze, but I shake it off and swing my legs over the edge of the bed. I'm disoriented at the amount of books I have scattered around the room. In a stack lies twelve books neatly stacked and I remember what I was doing last night.

I groan and stand up, rubbing my eyes as I walk over to a blank book that lies on ground. I open it up and glance at all the notes I took in Russie. It only took up a page and as the writing goes on it gets thicker and sharper. I turn the page and blanch.

In my brother neat, crisp handwriting is a note.

Sister mine,

If you are reading this I do hope you have a good explanation. I remember telling you not to learn this language, but it appears you didn't listen. But I'll give you fair warning. I've met a very gifted tracker, and he, like you, is in very hot water with me.

Take that how you like.

The entire thing is written in Russie, and I can feel his irritation. I drop the book to the ground. If I run he'll know I've read the note, and it will be awful when he catches me but I have a chance of escaping. If I stay I'll get caught, but I could feign ignorance about the note. He'll know I'm lying but if play it well I avoid the repercussions.

"I suggest you figure it out quickly Tracker. Your dear Alina is in trouble," I hear my brother's voice waft up from the street.

Too late.

I look around the room, searching for a place to hide. But all there is my bed, and they'll definitely check under there. I clutch my chest, trying to control my heart beat.

Oh Saints, he probably has Heartrenders.

My hands shake and I search desperately for a way out. If that Tracker is any good I'm doomed. My breath comes out shakily and I feel my chest tighten. I open the door, mindful that it's early. I tiptoe down the hall and I slip into the linen closet. With a shaky breath I climb up the shelves, mindful not to disturb any of sheets.

I stop on the top shelf, we don't keep anything up here because it's so high up no one can reach it. It's higher than the door and you have to twist your neck to see if anything is even over the edge. I press myself against the wall, knowing that they would have to climb up here to even see me. For good measure I summon a bubble of darkness around me.

Not a minute later I hear the front doors burst open.

"She's somewhere in this house," says the man I'm assuming is the Tracker.

"You better be right," my brother snaps. "Ivan search the downstairs, if you see anyone from Ravka bring them to the foyer. Tracker, you're with me."

I feel guilt blossom in my chest, I led the Darkling right to the people who were running from him. I curl my knees to my chest, trying to keep my breathing even. I listen with rapt attention as the Darkling and the Tracker climb the stairs. I freeze as they walk right by my hiding place and they enter what I think is my bedroom.

"She isn't here," the Darkling hisses.

"She moved, but she's still in the house," the Tracker appeases, his fear echoing mine.

"Find her," the Darkling commands and I hear him kick a stack of books over.

They walk out into the hall and the Tracker must be obeying because I hear stop in front of the door to linen closet. I don't move a muscle, not even daring to breathe, as he slowly opens the door.

"She's in here," the Tracker whispers, as if I'm an animal and I'll jump at the sound of his voice.

"Search the closet," my brother demands. The Tracker obeys and starts throwing pillowcases out into the hallway. I can only see his blonde hair as he feverishly searches the shelves. I can't help but smirk at his actions.

"Hurry Tracker, Alina is waiting," my brother drawls.

Take all the time you need…

"I don't understand, it's like she disappeared into thin air…" the Tracker trails off. Then his neck snaps up and I can see his eyes. My veil of darkness dissipates as I lose my focus.

"She's up there," the Tracker declares. I fight the urge to spit on him.

"What are you doing!?" I hear Anthony exclaim, but I hear a grunt and I know he's been knocked out. I peek over the edge just as the Darkling walks in and cranes his head up.

"Come down here Elodie, before I make you," he croons, but the steel in voice is still obvious. I shake my head and retreat against the wall. I hear him sigh and I can tell he's rolling his eyes.

"This isn't a request," he growls and I hear him slam his hand down on a shelf. I peek over the edge and spit at him. He snarls and I hear him climb up the first shelf. I narrow my eyes at him and stick my tongue out.

I know deep down that this is a losing battle, but I'm going down without a fight. The Darkling goes up another level of shelves. This is my last chance to climb down, because if gets any higher he'll just drag me down.

"Last chance," he glowers echoing my thoughts. I simply give him an obscene gesture. Whatever calmness snaps and faster than a bolt of lightning he snatches my forearm and pulls me closer to the edge. I struggle and hold on to the shelf with everything I have. I'm halfway off the shelf my hair is in my eyes and I'm upside down when I start attacking him.

I hit his arms and I thrash so his hand has to bend backwards to keep his grip. I don't scream for help, the only person who possibly can is the Tracker, and he isn't even moving. The door slammed shut somewhere along the line, plunging us in darkness.

With one final yank I fall off the shelf. His grip on my arm prevents me from falling, but I'm still dangling. I peddle my legs, trying to squirm free.

"Elodie where are you?!" I hear Karen's panicked cry from where my bedroom is. I freeze for a second and so does my brother. He recovers first and drops me on ground and I land in a heap. He jumps down and pulls me up. He kicks open the door and drags me behind him while I dig my heels into the floor.

Karen runs out of my room panic written all over her face. She sees me and she stops. I can tell she wants to run over and help me, but the Darkling is enough for her to not say a word as he drags me into my room.

"Now, Elodie let's address your recent behavior," he calmly states while throwing me forward and slamming the door. He looks different than he did when I was little. He's thinner and paler with four faint scars that run over his cheek.

"I simply don't appreciate you mentally stalking me," I hiss. He gives me a sardonic smile while he grabs a suitcase I kept under my bed.

"Don't be dramatic," he drawls while he opens the case on the bed.

"Don't be dramatic? Why? I'm just copying you," I mock.

"Still have that cutting tongue I see," he clucks as he opens my dresser. I watch as he throws some clothes and other essentials in. I scowl and rip a dress from his pale hands.

"What are you doing?" I snarl at him.

"Packing. You're going home," he states, as he's speaking about the weather. I blanch and drop the dress. I shake myself and straightened my spine.

"No," I say, firm and resolute. I'm not a child, I'm not his anymore.

"You don't exactly have a choice," he chuckles mockingly.

"That's where you are wrong Brother," I affirm. He doesn't saying anything. With all my might I throw a book at him. He dogdes it and continues packing. I snarl and as he walks by I kick him. He just grimaces and picks up the fox statue and then slips it in his kefta.

The one he gave me for my seventh birthday.

He snaps the suitcase close and then grabs my arm and drags me out of my room and to the foyer. All the Grisha refugees were lined up, their heads down and a few had bruises.

"Let them go," I breathe, stopping my struggle.

"They deserted, now they must pay the price," he says dispassionately. I look at him in horror. I know the punishment for deserting. Death, usually after torture.

"No, you can't do that," I cry.

Don't prove me right…

"It's out of your hands," he mutters while he drags me out to a waiting black coach. I keep fighting, even though I know that he'll win. He picks me up and places me on the plush seat. He climbs in after and shuts the door. He sits across from me and runs a hand through his hair. I realize I'm still in my nightgown, but I don't say anything.

Soon after Ivan and the Tracker enter and sit down. The Tracker sits next to me and Ivan sits next to the Darkling. I scowl at the Tracker. Ivan chains his wrists and I soften a little. He did what any man would do.

The coach begins to move and I refuse to look at any of them.

"Elodie, sit up straight," the Darkling orders. I shoot him a glare and purposefully slouch. His eyes flash but the Tracker distracts him.

"I found her, now where's Alina?" the Tracker scowls. Alina…where did I hear that?

"She's aboard a ship that you will be on," the Darkling says while looking out the window. The Tracker sighs with relief.

"Along with me," the Darkling says after a few seconds. The Tracker's face falls and he slumps in his seat.

"Why are you crying Tracker," Ivan mocks.

"My name is Mal," the Tracker, Mal, hisses.

"At least you have actual clothes on," I sigh as I stare out the window. After that we fall into silence. The rocking of the coach makes me tired, even though I had just woken up. My eyelids begin to droop after three hours and I start leaning on Mal. He looks at me but doesn't react.

"Ivan, switch with Elodie," the Darkling orders. I jerk up and sway again. The Darkling grabs me and pulls me onto his lap. Mal scoots over and Ivan takes his spot. The Darkling doesn't remove me from his lap though; he just leans back against the seat and turns me so my head rests on his chest.

I struggle to stay awake, refusing to fall asleep. I don't bother moving off his lap either. I'm still soothed by him petting my hair, even after all these years.

"Hush now my dear little fox," my brother croons just as I'm about to go under. The last thing I hear is Mal scoff.