A/N: hey,

Sorry for the long update but college kind of got in the way. I hope that this chapter was worth the wait.

Thanks for all the reviews last time.

Oh and this chapter is in the Darkling's POV. I got really inspired to write a chapter from his point of view after reading 'The Demon in the Wood'. If you haven't read it i will post a link at the bottom of the page for you to read it online.

Human

Darkling's POV

Everything was dark. The only light was from a distant candle, slowly burning in its holder. I didn't know where I was. I was alone, utterly alone. I heard a whisper from in the distance. A voice beckoning me to move forward. I followed the burning candle, my legs moving with caution. When I got closer, I noticed a figure sitting beside the light.

"Who are you?" I was curious to know.

Its face turned towards me. I saw my own eyes reflected back at me.

"Do you not recognise your own mother?" Its voice sounded just like hers. "Have you truly forgotten me, my boy?"

"You're dead." I heard my own voice cracking. My own fears escaping me.

The chair she sat on rocked back and forth. "Because of you."

I wanted to leave, to run, but my feet were plastered to the ground.

"No," I said shaking my head. " I'm dreaming. This isn't real."

"This is very real."

Suddenly her eyes changed and they were replaced by black pits. I robbed her of them. I took her light, her salvation. I was a murderer. Her chair stopped rocking as she got up. when she was standing, I noticed the chair disappear and so did the candle. It was just the two of us alone in this black void of nothingness She walked slowly towards me. She stopped just inches away. Her ghostly hand cupped my cheek. " My poor boy, What have you become?"

"I am what you made me."

"Did I raise you to be this way?" Her voice echoed.

"You didn't raise me at all," I said, removing her hand. " I never had a home or a friend or a father. I remember the countless villages, the countless names of the people I would pretend to be."

"I am not the one that made you evil," she said. " You did that yourself."

I shook my head.

"Do not deny It, my son." She stepped forward. " You cannot change it. Evil lives within you. It festers in your veins, your very heart."

"No," I screamed at her. "You know nothing. You are nothing."

I felt the darkness escaping me. It circled around her throat, hovering, waiting to kill. I felt the blackness tighten, taking on a life of its own. This was my own doing, but I had no control. I heard her breathing become faint. The darkness continued to strangle her, devour her. I didn't know how to stop, I didn't know control. She deserved this. She made me do it. My sense came back to me. I pulled the darkness back and soon it faded away. Her body didn't move. It wasn't her. I knew it wasn't, but it felt real, very real.

"Mama." My voice was weak. I knelt down beside her and gathered her body in my arms. "Mama."

I shot up in bed. Sweat was plastered to my forehead and my heart pounded rapidly. I looked to Alina sleeping next to me and for a moment I wondered if she was real. I laid back down, trying to steady my racing heart. I felt sleep beginning to pull me under once more. I let myself be taken by the darkness, hoping that this time I would be alone in my dreams.

My eyes fluttered open and were greeted by the sight of Alina studying me.

She smiled. I loved it when she smiled.

"Morning," she whispered.

"Morning," I whispered back.

She continued to study me. I felt exposed, open, as her eyes took in the sight of me.

"I like seeing you this way," she said.

"What way would that me?" I asked curiously.

She reached out her hand and stroked my cheek. "Human."

I could only focus on her hand on my cheek. No one has ever touched me like this in a long time and I welcomed the feeling of being wanted. I felt the softness of her lips meet mine. I pushed her back against the bed and placed my body over hers, our lips never parting for air. I should stop and leave, but I could not control myself, and besides I wanted her. I wanted her in every way possible. My lips began to trail down her body. I felt her hands in my hair, on my back. Her fingernails digging into my skin, sharp enough to draw blood. It wasn't enough. Nothing would ever be enough. Our lips met once more and I felt her tongue dive into my mouth. "What are you doing to me?" I whispered against her lip. I felt her smile. I didn't need an answer. I knew what she was doing. Our bodies began to move together. A slow intoxicating rhythm that left me breathless and hungry for more.

"It could be a trap," Mikhail said.

I looked down at the letter in my hands. The west has requested for us to join them in their annual summer solstice ball. The city was known for its summer parties, where men and women danced on the streets and said goodbye to the long, cold nights.

"It most likely is," I said, raising my head to meet Mikhail's eyes. I looked around the table at the faces of the Grisha, they sat patiently, all their eyes were on me.

"But yet you still plan to go," Mikhail said.

"And if I don't I look like a coward and so does Ravka," I said, my fingers running over the ink. "I will not have that."

"It will be a slaughter," Mikhail said. I sensed fear vibrating off him in waves.

"Do you doubt your king?" My voice was dominating.

He shook his head. " No, Your Majesty."

"Good," I said. "That will be all for today."

All the Grisha departed.

I made my way towards Alina's chambers to tell her that we would be departing soon. When I got there I found her room empty and a maid said that she had gone to the gardens. When I got to the gardens I found her alone, walking amongst the rows of rose bushes. I stopped in my tracks and studied her. I couldn't shake the touch of her lips on my skin, her hands exploring me in ways that were foreign to me. I wanted her to moan my name again. Just to see the shape of the letters form on her tongue. I wanted her again and again and forever. She turned in my direction and caught me staring. Her cheeks flushed red and underneath the light of the setting sun her hair looked like real gold. She made me weak in ways I couldn't fantom. I closed the distance between us.

"You are meant to take guards with you when you go exploring," I said.

"I can handle myself," Alina said.

I smiled. "I'm sure you can."

"Why are you out here at this time?" I asked her.

We began to walk down the endless rows of flowers of unique kinds.

"I wanted to be alone," she replied.

"Do you still wish to be alone?"

"No."

Moments of silence transpired between us.

"The west have invited us to join them in their annual summer celebrations," I told her.

Her face became serious.

"Are we to attend?" Her voice was one of caution.

"If we don't we look weak," I said.

"It could be a trap," she said.

"I know."

"I thought the west were no longer a threat to us now that Nikolai is ... gone." I saw the way the way her face dropped at the mention of the prince's name. Jealousy gripped my heart. I wondered if she would ever miss me the way she does him. Such Foolish thoughts.

"The west still hate the idea of Grisha sitting on the throne and Nikolai only made matters worse," I said.

She nodded. "When do we leave?"

"Tommorrow morning."

She nodded again.

"What's it like?" Alina said.

"Ketterdam? It's been beyond years since I was last there," I answered honestly.

"Where else have you been?" She asked curiously.

Do I tell her? Do I let her close? I shouldn't.

"Too many places for me to even try and remember," I said.

She stopped in her tracks and turned to look at me. I should leave now. I should leave now before I tell her my story. A terrifying and horrid one.

"Its a good thing we have forever then." Her words sent chills down my spine. I hated how she affected me this way. I hated how she made me feel like a stranger even in my own skin. What am I going to do with her? Underneath the light of the setting sun, I told her of a time when I wasn't known as the Darkling but a boy. A boy who would constantly change his name and fear one day he would forget himself completely.

We took the north passage and crossed the True Sea. The journey lasted three days and by the end of it most of us were tired and wished never again to witness the harshness of the waves of the True Sea. A carriage was waiting for us when we docked and took us into the heart of the city. As we passed, merchants and dealers were already closing up their stalls in the marketplace ready for tonight's celebrations that would soon begin.

The carriage stopped and the side door opened. I got out first and then offered Alina my hand. Her touch burned me.

There was no denying the beauty of Ketterdam. The palace alone was a masterpiece of art that no description would ever do it justice. A servant told us that the King was waiting for us in the throne room and that we should follow her. I took the lead, Alina by my side and a dozen guards following close behind. The doors to the throne room came into view. The oakwood polished and the golden door handles shone brightly. The doors opened and the throne room came into view. The throne room was two storeys high, every window sparkling like diamonds. A long, red carpet ran the length of the room to where the King lounged in his throne. Look at him. He's a child.

A hush fell on the members of the court as we made our way down the red carpet. My eyes never leaving the King's. I sensed their fear. I would not make it easy for them. We stopped before the base of the dais. The King sat up straighter. He looked to be in his early forties, his black hair and beard cropped short.

He waited for me to bow, but I did not. I would never.

"Darkling." The King's voice was loud as it bounced off the marble floors." Sun Summoner, welcome. I'm so pleased that you accepted my invitation."

"It was not without caution," I replied.

The King was silent for a moment before he burst out laughing. "Please go and rest. You must be quite exhausted from your long journey," He said. " And prepare yourselves for tonight. The celebrations are going to be quite unforgettable."

A/N: I know another cliff hanger. I hoped you really liked this chapter and please review.

The link to read 'The Demon in the Wood' is here: doc/251062814/The-Demon-in-the-Wood#scribd