Just a one-shot. Doesn't really follow the Book or the Show. Could be considered canon-divergent or alternate universe depending on how you perceive it. If you do wish to read... proceed at your own risk and Enjoy!
"…Only if I fail, they'll turn on me… and I'll be the brand new Heretic." Each of those words left Alina Starkov's lips like she was realizing the dangerousness and the intensity of her new reality.
With a heavy heart she turned to face the fountain once more. Disappointment already seeping through the blood streaming in her system. The sound of the general's footsteps indicated that he was closing in on the distance between them. And he did! He came to stand beside her.
"If you believe anything, believe I will not let that happen." He promised, in a voice so thick that somehow it gave her assurance.
Alina looked at him, now feeling more at ease. To put it simply he made her feel safe, but still there was this uncertainty.
"I appreciate the sentiment but…" she couldn't finish the sentence as she didn't know how to word her thoughts.
"I shall be right by your side," He added, leaning closer. "You and I are going to change the world, Alina."
The aforementioned female looked away, unable to hold his gaze any longer. Her heart started to race again. An action that's been reoccurring in the recent times, and it also happened every time he uttered her name. It was a foreign feeling, yet she was getting accustomed to quite easily.
"I should get you back. Bhagra does hate tardiness." With that said the general walked back to the horses and the Sun Summoner tossed the coin in her hand into the fountain, a shy soft smile gracing the ends of her lips.
Only then...
"Aleksander…?!"
His name was uttered, but not from her mouth.
Confused, Alina turned. But all she could see was the general's back facing her. The new comer was hidden behind his tall frame.
"You've changed so much, I could hardly recognize you." The person softly, her accent—quite posh.
From the tone of the voice it was obvious that it belonged to a young female. Alina grew curious to catch a first glimpse. But damn his height!
It was as if her prayer was heard, soon enough a ghostly pale hand came around to caress the hair behind the general's head.
"The hair… the beard… you look so much like him."
"Zora..." He muttered the name like it was something he had gifted this person. "...Where have you been all these years?" He sounded confused, extremely confused. Something so uncharacteristic of him.
"Does it matter where I've been all these years? I have not come back to stay, just to retrieve something—"
"You're coming with me!" This time he cut her off, firmly.
"That's impossible! I cannot step into the general's mansion."
"The general's mansion that you once knew no longer exists. I've built a new home for all Grishas, the Little Palace. It is the safest place in all of Ravka. No one will attempt to harm you there."
"Aleksander…" she sighed tiredly. "Like I said I'm not here to stay. All I want are his letters."
"You will not get anything, unless you come with me."
"Aleksander please." The hand that was on his hair moved back to caress his face.
"You're coming with me Zora, that's final!"
Alina who has been standing in the background, somewhat forgotten, decided to make her presence known by clearing her throat.
Immediately the conversation between the two came to a pause. General Kirigen turned, revealing the person who hidden behind him.
Alina felt something turn in her stomach.
Just as she guessed, the new comer was a strikingly young beautiful female. But with odd features that really made no sense— small framed face with sharp facial features, shiny black hair, complexion so pale that it looked ghostly. Amongst all these features what stood out the most were those red, feline like almond shaped eyes; surrounded by dark long dark voluminous lashes.
The Sun Summoner gulped. The uneasy feeling in her stomach surging. Something about this person wasn't normal. Alina didn't want to jump into conclusions about someone whom she just met. But couldn't shake away the gut feeling either.
This girl, Zora, looked like the very definition of— a wolf in sheep's clothing.
"Alina, come closer." General Kirigan beckoned and Alina obeyed.
"Zora, meet Alina Starkov—" He was about to introduce. But she cut him off before he could finish.
"Luda's replacement?"
The general scoffed. "She is the Sun Summoner."
The term 'Sun Summoner' seemed to strike a nerve within Zora. But it was so vague that Alina wasn't sure whether it really happened or was she just imagining. Another interesting detail didn't escape Alina, it was the first time the Shadow Summoner uttered the term 'Sun Summoner' with a hint of bitterness. Also, he was clutching onto this Zora's wrist quite tightly.
Not being able to figure out what was going on further enhanced Alina's uneasiness.
"Oh the Sun Summoner… how fascinating!" The red eyed female addressed her in a tone which made it harder for Alina to understand whether she genuinely fascinated or being sarcastic.
"What are the chances his soul is trapped in there…?" Zora asked looking at the general.
"Whose soul?" Alina intervened with wide eyes.
"Shouldn't I be the one asking you that? After all, you are the wife." The general's reply was even more confusing.
But Alina didn't have time to dwell on the rest. Her brain only focused on one particular word— Did she hear him correctly? Wife!
He is married?!
All hopes that have been building up inside, suddenly crumbled like house of cards.
"Anyway, allow me to formally introduce myself," The female with the demonic eyes spoke bringing Alina's attention back. "My name is Zora. I am—"
"General Kirigan's wife!" Alina finished the sentence for her.
"—widow."
There was a moment of silence before the super confused Sun Summoner pointed her finger at the Shadow Summoner.
"But he is right there."
Zora arched a brow. Baffled, her mouth parted and as expected, no words came out. It was as if she was taking the time to process everything.
Immediately she turned to the man beside her and interrogated. "You are General Kirigan?!"
For response all she got was silence. She hardened her glare; those demonic eyes demanding an explanation. Only to have him look the other way.
"…Why am I not surprised. It all makes sense now, the hair and the beard. Not to mention the ring on your finger…" Using her other free hand, she slightly lifted the sleeve of his left hand and noticed the black beaded bracelet.
"Aleksander, you're even wearing the bracelet that I made him for him."
"I'm a little confused."
"Apologies for the confusion Miss Statkov. He is not my husband," She even pointed a finger, almost poking his chest in the process. So that going forward there are no further confusion.
"I am actually his brother's widow."
"Hold on! So General Kirigan is—"
"— WAS Aleksander's twin."
A shiver ran down her spine. The uneasy feeling crawling like insects all over her body.
Fear.
Rage.
Hatred.
Emotions she was starting to become unfamiliar with, suddenly came coursing through in full-force.
Alerted, she turned. And for the first time in a long time felt compelled to leave her cave.
Once out of the cave she saw the General and his Summoner has returned from their trip. However, the sight of the new addition made her world come to a stop.
"I thought I sensed something horribly unpleasant, turns out… it was you!"
All three entering the Little Palace halted in the footsteps. The first to turn was the Sun Summoner, followed by the Black General and after him, it was her!
Baghra had many names in store for her— Red eyed Viper, Whore, Demon, Witch, Murderer, Man Eater. But wasn't sure which one was appropriate for the given moment.
Not even remotely it occurred to her that after crossing all these centuries Aleksander would walk on the same path and make same mistake, yet again.
A mistake that he made and his brother paid the price for.
Baghra remembered the moment she met this redeyed viper for the first time so vividly that even the memories of her earlier life such as giving birth to her children, meeting their father or even the memories of her own childhood seemed to be blurry images in comparison to that.
At first glance Baghra felt herself hypnotized by the gaze of the bright red eyes. It drew her boys too, almost immediately.
Never had she seen something or rather someone so beautiful. But soon enough she learned there was nothing truly beautiful about this girl. Not her perfectly featured facial structure, her long silk like hair or her rare eyes nor the waves of madness that accompanied each of her steps. Her beauty was curtain that concealed her ugly heart.
However, back then, she had known none of this. And her lack of knowledge cost her eldest son's life!
"Why delight us with your presence now…?" The older woman demanded, taking a step closer to the supposed young one.
But her son stepped in, his usual attempt to be the queen's knight and shielded her completely with his body.
"Not here." Warning dripped from his icy cold voice.
Each challenged the other with the glare of their eyes. To Baghra it was the first time Aleksandar looked so much like his brother. So much that...
"Head back to your hut, we will follow!"
Seeing that crowd was starting to gather Baghra did what was asked.
"You might as well return to your room Alina. Baghra is not in the right mind to have a session with you."
With that said he proceeded towards Baghra's hut, tugging the person with him along.
No one dared to move until the General completely disappeared into the darkness of the cave. It was after he was gone that the crowd shifted their focus on the Sun Summoner; silently demanding an explanation.
"Alina, what happened?" Asked Genya, that Tailor whose company the Sun Summoner genuinely enjoyed in the Little Palace.
The Tailor was on her way to the vezda suite. But the gathering of the crowd right outside the palace building caught her attention.
"So… has he discovered a Moon Summoner now?" The squaller standing closest to Alina taunted.
Alina bit the inside of her mouth, pondering what to tell. She wasn't sure if it was her place to say anything but with all eyes on her, some with very intimidating gaze made it harder for her not the say anything.
"She… she is his brother's widow."
Almost everyone exchanged a glance with the person next to them.
"That's ridiculous! General Kirigan has no sibling." Said Ivan. Obviously not believing her.
The Heartrender had every reason to feel that way. He was the General's second in command and even he wasn't aware of his leader having a brother. As a matter of fact many of the Grishas have been residing in the Little Palace for many decades now, and never had they seen or heard of their leader having a brother. And now a brother's widow is the picture?
"Why don't you ask him when he comes out?" Alina retorted back in full confidence.
The look on the Heartrender's face darkened.
Very quickly the situation turned quite conflicting. While some in agreement with Ivan thought the Sun Summoner was lying, the rest didn't know what to think.
It was indeed rare for Baghra to wish ill upon others. Let alone expect anyone's death. But that changed when she met her son's corpse. Her handsome, powerful boy laying motionless, in deep slumber from which he would never ever awaken again.
Not too far from the mortal remains of her deceased son stood his beautiful wife, with an unusual gleam in her eyes. There was no sign of sorrow nor any hint of mourning on her face that day. Aleksander stood by her side the entire time, like a knight awaiting his queen's command.
Around four hundred years ago the creation of the Shadow Fold killed many humans and grishas. Back then Bhagra prayed, she prayed days and night for this demon to be among one of the casualties.
How unfortunate, that her prayers fell into deaf ears.
"I wish I could have said that I am glad to see you alive. But I do not have a forgiving heart."
"On the contrary I am happy to see you alive and well, mother."
The term 'mother' was emphasized. And it earned a reaction out of the older woman. Baghra was forced to close her eyes. The blood in her veins boiling, the rage she felt was burning her alive.
The nerve of this whore…
"Why have you returned, Zora?" It was time she got straight to the point rather than beating around the bush.
"I did not wish to come. Aleksander found me in the forest and he—"
"He always manages to find a way to get to you… Never caring about the result it would bring." Baghra finished the sentence moving her disappointed gaze to her son's stiff form.
"Let me rephrase the question, why have you made yourself be found?"
This time Aleksander's gaze also travelled to Zora's form. Wordlessly wondering the same thing as his mother.
"I want those letters… my husband's, the ones he wrote to me during his last days."
"And what good are they now? If you had cared for him half as much as he did, perhaps things would have been different. He would have been here, alive, leading the second army."
"Are you insinuating that Aleksander is failing at his task…? Tell me something mother if I were Alaksander's widow, would you have been less harsh on me?"
The woman's glare tried to stab her. But Zora was quick to dodge it.
"I'm aware that I failed to be a good wife to such a wonderful husband. But you are no different. I had one husband and he is gone, my chance at redemption is finished. But for you it still exists. Your other son is still alive."
With her sugar coated words once again this Witch successfully widened the invisible wall that stands between her and Aleksander.
"Take her out of my sight!" Baghra hissed, turning to her son. Both of hands balled to tight fist.
As Aleksander guided her out of the cave Zora turned, to have one last look at her mother-in-law, Baghra Morozova— The bitter and scorned mother of Kirigan Morozova, the light that was born from darkness, alongside another darkness. The irony!
Zora could not bring herself to completely hate Baghra. Although a part of her felt certain degree of disrelish towards the woman, but the rest fell into the category of pity.
Zora could feel him coming. His presence undoubtedly one of a predator.
It was precisely why she deliberately slowed her footsteps while Aleksander led her to her designated suite.
She took her time in the room-tour. All the while carefully avoiding her late husband's brother, whose watchful eyes refused to leave her form. He had questions, many of them and she wasn't in the mood to answer. Therefore this small game of pretence was the best temporary solution.
"Is it to your liking?"
She said nothing, because she did not know the fitting answer to give him. So instead she asked. "Which maid worked in this room?"
"This is the only area in the entire palace that is closed off to everyone. Not even a cleaning maid is allowed to enter. All work in here is done by me. The keys stays with me at all times." He told her, coming to stand by her side. "I wanted you to be the first person to enter this chamber… your chamber."
To be honest Zora did not like the suite she was stationed in, even though it was quite beautiful and of course very luxurious. Then again she did not hate it either, but that was a whole other matter.
"Are you saying that you knew I would return some day...?"
Gently grabbing her forearm, he made her turn. Just so that he could caress her face.
"All I'm saying is that I never gave up hope. Not back then, not even now."
She could tell he was trying to memorize the softness of her skin under his fingertips.
"Aleksander…?"
"Zora…"
"Were you ever able to love Luda the way she loved you?"
He opened his mouth only to close it off immediately. As any sensible words refused to come out of his throat.
"Come, let me show you the closet." The hand caressing her face slid down to take hold of her hand before he led her towards the large white cabinet that was placed on the right side of the dresser.
"See… everything is just as the way it was."
He pointed towards clothing of her and her husband, hanging side by side. The red eyed girl gave into the temptation and brought her husband's night robe to her face. With hardened jaw and dark envious eyes the Darkling watched his brother's wife as she buried her face into her husband's robe and took a deep breath, taking in his scent.
"It still smells like him."
The gleeful smile that immediately made it to her lips brought a big wave of sadness into his heart.
"I hate to be the bearer of bad news but I have worn this robe multiple times and had the Fabrikators work on it. Therefore the chances of his smell lingering there is highly unlikely." He added smugly.
Her smile turned mischievous as she brought the robe near his nostrils. "What does it smell like?"
He sighed, "…Roses."
"And your brother used to smell like…?"
He accepted his defeat. "…Roses. Anyway… you should change into something more comfortable." He threw in the suggestion as his hand worked like a machine to quickly pick out the red slip dress and shove it into her hands.
"I don't think red is suitable colour for me anymore, especially now that I'm a widow. And by any chance your mother comes to know—"
"That woman lives inside a cave, that is far from the palace. I highly doubt she will ever come to know of this. Now go and change!" He turned her around and gave her a slight push of encouragement.
.
.
.
Zora examined her reflection in the mirror. It has been so long she looked into one that she almost forgot what her face looks like. The dress was made out of pure silk that ended good few inches above her knees, around mid-thigh. It wasn't something that was generally worn by ladies around here as night attire (well at least that was how it was during the time she spent as thatman's wife). As it showed lot more skin than necessary. But her husband was a man with vulgar taste; therefore he made sure to have all her night attires designed in such fashion.
Zora took another careful looking at herself. The discomfort in her face now showing. What made her so uncomfortable was the essence lingering all around this suite. Even so many years after his death his prying eyes never left her. They watched her like a hawk from all corners. In this particular section of the palace his presence seemed to overflow in all directions and felt like the calm before a storm. Menacing like a Volcra ready to pounce on you inside the Shadow Fold.
For moment Zora wondered how Aleksander could not feel it? Or has time made him get used to it?
When she stepped out of the bathroom, Aleksander had moved. He was standing in front of the shelf located on the other side. With his eyes focused on the ceramic container placed at the centre.
"What are you looking at?" Zora inquired as she filled up the empty space to his left side.
"…My brother …Your husband."
She understood the former General's ashes were kept in that container. While she continued to admire the container, her husband's brother's focus fully settled on her. His heart stopped for a moment before it started to accelerate. The Darkling could only hope his eyes and body wouldn't betray him at such crucial point.
A silence fell between them. A silence so thick that it could be sliced with a knife.
"Aleksander?"
He liked the way his name sounded in her voice. He loved the tingling sensation his inside felt and the goosebumps it spread along his skin every time she called him.
"…Yes…"
"When will you give me his letters?"
All those exciting feelings he was feeling, suddenly numbed. Jealousy. It could be such an ugly thing.
The next moment passed in blur...
"What are you—?" She felt his hands circle around her hips and lift her body off of the ground and move towards a particular direction. "—doing?"
Instinctively, her arms wrapped around his shoulders, tightly clutching onto his black kefta.
The flesh under her skin tensed when she felt her form being placed on the soft mattress. She tried to get up but he prevented with his large palm on her chest that firmly pressed her back down to the bed.
"Aleksander?!"
"General Kirigan." He corrected, sitting himself at the edge of the bed. "That's who I am now, to all of Ravka… to everyone."
"Well, you're also the Darkling now." She added in light hearted tone. Just to tune down the darkness in his voice.
"But that isn't what I am called."
"Perhaps not to your face, but definitely behind your back."
He flashed a small broken smile before releasing a sigh that revealed all his pent up emotions.
Zora ran a hand through his hair and automatically his eyelids closed at the sensation. She watched him enjoy her ministration.
Some things changed, while others always stayed the same. In a shallow way Aleksander was always like General Kirigan. They were two sides of the same coin. Always apart and yet still the same.
Balancing himself on one hand, the Darkling hoovered over her. His other hand moved to play with her hair that was sprawled over the pillow.
"It's been almost five hundred years since he passed. More five hundred years will pass. Soon that five hundred will turn to five thousand, but he will never return. However…"
He kissed her forehead and rested his own forehead against her.
"… I am still here."
"What are you saying all of a sudden?" She caressed his bearded face and he tried to melt into her touch.
"Would it hurt too much to think of me as him… even if it is just for one night."
"Please… stop it."
"One night is all I ask for. Just one night to show you, what your existence always meant to me. Just one night to show you, how much I can love you. Just one night to show you, that I will be waiting till you are finally ready to move on... doesn't matter how much longer it takes."
The pair of red eyes continued to stare at him. Under the intensity of her stare his dark heart started to race once more. Her silence pulled the muscles in his body together. She could feel them beneath her palm.
"Please say something." He was losing patience, she concluded.
"In that case, Alaksander, may I have one night… to think about it?"
He nodded in acceptance and ardently kissed her head and forehead for few times.
"Rest for now, I will see you in the morning." A happy smile curved up the corner of his lips.
"Alright…" Zora however kept her face blank, absolutely blank, as it should be.
Taking it as he queue to leave the Darkling left the bed, carefully tucked her under the cover before finally heading to the door. But upon reaching the door his footsteps came to a pause. He turned, casting her one last glance he stepped out and closed behind him.
Zora remained unmoving from her position until the sound of Alaksandar's footsteps completely faded away. Once it did…
"What a relief I thought he would never leave."
She quickly kicked off the cover and hopped down the bed. Then in quick long strides walked over to the shelf. Eyes settled on the same ceramic container she was admiring earlier. After a careful moment of examining Zora collected the container and uncapped the lid.
"There there, no need to panic, it's just me… yourwife. You're back in the arms that always held you so tenderly."
She hugged the container like it was her child and slowly made her way into the bathroom... walked passed the bathtub and went over to where the toilet seat was.
The expression on her face changed. Her innocently dimpled smile transformed into one of malice.
General Kirigan…
There were no words in the world that could describe how much she hated that bastard.
Did she come here to retrieve his letters? — Oh no. The main purpose of her visit was to say goodbye to her husband, in a way he so deserved.
"I'm sure you heard the conversation I had with your brother. What do you suggest, I do?"
All it took was slight tilt and the ashes inside started to pour out like the water out of the mouth of a fountain...
"Ravka has a Sun Summoner, once again. Her name is Alina Starkov. Not your type though, she is part Shu. Funny thing is people believe she is the first of her kind. Then again can you blame them...? After all, you existed so long ago that you're not even mentioned in the history books. Five hundred years is a long time indeed."
...Her smile widened at the sight of the toilet bowl becoming full with his ash.
"Bottom line is, while Aleksander has become General Kirigan, Alina Starkov is the Sun Summoner. Both of them have completely wiped out your identity. It's like you never existed… just like I wanted it to be, husband.
On another note: thank you for taking my secret to your grave, it is very much appreciated."
Once the container was completely emptied out her hand reached out and pulled down the chain of the flush tank and very calmly watched his remains get flushed down the toilet to a destination… unknown.
"Farewell General Kirigan, Moi soverenyi, may you rest in eternal peace… somewhere in the gutter."
A.N: Thank you for reading. Hope you it was worth your time.