"How did he escape?" Kirigan spoke calmly, staring into the empty cell where the tracker had once laid. His fingers itched to summon a shadow out of anger but he held back, keeping his fury contained. The tracker had been nothing but trouble but Kirigan refused to let him go… that would be the easy way out. He needed him for his special abilities and he knew it was the way to get to Alina. Bearing in mind that he could have Alina any time he wanted now he had full control of her powers, he still wanted the tracker. He wanted to watch him grow old and rot away while he could spend eternity with Alina.

"Not sure, the door was wide open when they arrived to remove the Fjerden" Ivan responded.

Kirigan took a deep sigh, nose flaring and eyes hard. He stepped into the cell, searching for a clue that could lead to his escape. The cell was full proof and locked at all times. The guards were careful to not give any items that could support in escaping.

"Who was the last one down here?" Kirigan asked.

"Ashton".

"And where is he?" Kirigan turned back to exit the cell, his eyebrows raised waiting for the answer.

Ivan shrugged his shoulders, unable to answer. Ashton hadn't been seen since he came down to give the prisoner his daily meal of stale bread and dirty water. That was all Mal was ever fed, enough to keep him alive but little to keep him weak and sick. He was a prisoner and a traitor, he didn't deserve luxury.

Kirigan's eyes wondered to the Fjerden trapped in the cell beside Mal's. Perhaps he knew something about the escape. His boots clunked on the hard ground as he appeared in front of the cell, peaking through the bars.

"You… tell me what happened?" He demanded, voice calm but dark.

The Fjerden scoffed and cursed in his own language, spitting to the side in disgust. Kirigan wasted now time in giving a quick nod to Ivan who lifted his hands and pulled a force onto the Fjerden, his power grasping his throat and squeezing tightly, causing the Fjerden to wheeze and panic as his air was being cut off. Kirigan was in no mood for this sort of thing. The Fjerden clutched the floor and his eyes began to pop as he felt the impending doom being brought closer to him. His hands scratched as he desperately tried to take in a single breath of air.

"I said… tell me what happened?" Kirigan replied more slow and quieter. The Fjerden's face began to turn a shade of blue and his lips were drained of all colour. Suddenly he was released and he fell to the ground, sucking in the air as quickly as he could. He pushed himself off the ground and looked up in fear.

"So- someone came down, brought a tray with them… he hit them, knocked them out, stuffed them over there and escaped while the door was open' the Fjerden gasped, afraid of what might happen if he didn't follow the instruction given.

The two Grisha turned to where the Fjerden had gestured that Mal had stuffed the body of Ashton. Swiftly, Ivan padded over to inspect and as promised, an unconscious Ashton had been stuffed in the corner of the room, huddled under a dirty mat and a bleeding head presumably from where he was attacked.

"He's right Sir" Ivan said.

Fire rage boiled inside Kirigan, his fists turning white as he held back his displeasure.

He just couldn't stay put

"What shall we do?" Asked Ivan as he came back to stand beside Kirigan.

Kirigan took a few seconds to think about what he wanted to do with the tracker. He could just as easily let him go but he didn't want to do that… he wanted him to suffer. He had nearly taken away his sun summoner from him and he wasn't going to let that happen again. He knew Mal had more than likely escaped to find Alina and he wasn't going to let him get anywhere near her.

"Find him, bring him back and make sure he stays put. If he get's anywhere near Alina… put him down" his order was clear and deadly. Without another word, Kirigan turned on his heal and stormed out the cells.

Alina waited in the chambers, pacing back and forth as her mind went crazy.

Mal had escaped and he was probably somewhere in the Little Palace or had managed to flee and make a run for it.

Please let him be okay

She wasn't sure whether she was in a dream or not when she heard the news he'd fled. How did he get out? Was it her presence down in the cell that motivated him to make an escape. Seeing him down there brought back memories of their childhood, at the orphanage and growing up together. The best times she had were with Mal… before she was a Grisha. Alina often wondered what life would have been like if she never had been on that skiff. She wouldn't have shown her powers as the sun summoner and she wouldn't be under Kirigan's control. None of this would be happening. She'd be back to her old life as a mapmaker and she'd be with Mal.

Alina sighed and slumped down on the bed. Kirigan had left to see the damage done and of course she was to stay behind. She was not permitted to be anywhere near the tracker.

He will never understand you Alina, he is not your equal… I am, I am the only one who will be there for you, be by your side, he will never appreciate you for who you are

Kirigan's words repeated in her head and she groaned softly, shaking the voice out of her mind, ignoring his twisted words.

No, Mal is the only person who understands me

After everything, he had stayed there by her side, helped her find the stag and even risked his life on the skiff to save her. And now he was spending the rest of his life as a prisoner to the Darkling for her.

Alina stood back up and paced. There was no way she could even go out there and look for him. Guards would be stationed outside to prevent her from leaving and they would surely bring her back if she did manage to escape herself. Her feet were starting to hurt from all the pacing she was doing and she felt flushed and hot. She turned her way to the beautiful bathroom just on the other side of the bed and ran the cold tap, filling the basin. Her hands cupped the cool water and she splashed her face, instantly cooling down and feeling a sudden burst of awake. Her hands gripped the sides as she took a few deep breaths, in and out through her nose.

"Oh Mal, please be careful" she whispered softly to herself. She didn't want to imagine what Kirigan would do when he finds him.

"Trust me I will" a sharp squeak escaped Alina's mouth as she heard a voice behind her and turning suddenly, she raised her hands, ready for a burst of light but stopped herself when her eyes met the figure standing behind her.

"Mal" she breathed and he stepped forward. The darkness of the cell had been hiding his true appearance and seeing him in the lighting of the bathroom caused Alina to gasp and hold her hand to her mouth in shock. He was even worse than she thought. His face was nearly black from dirt and the bruise was much worse. The whole of his right side was purple and swollen, his eyes closed slightly and a cut on his lip which had cracked open and blood seeping through. His dull eyes were lifeless and the clothes he wore hanged off him. The smell coming from him was damp and pungent but Alina didn't back away.

"Oh my god, Mal" she whispered and stepped forward, her hands instantly reaching up to touch his swollen face. He flinched from the sudden pain and her heart broke.

"I can't believe you are here… how did you escape?" She asked, eyes wide and Mal smirked to himself.

"Those guards should really watch what they are doing. I managed to overpower one, whacked him around the head and stuffed him in the corner so I could make a break. I managed to flee in here and hide in the bathroom, then I heard…" his head dropped down and Alina searched him for his answer.

"Heard what?" She asked desperately but realisation kicked in. He heard them… Kirigan and Alina. Just moments ago in the bedroom before the news had arrived of his escape.

"Oh" she whispered and Mal shook his head. He didn't want to think about it. Alina felt sickness inside her, the thought of Mal listening on the other side of the walls as Kirigan kissed and touched his sun summoner.

"I could have fucking killed him Alina, I wish I had" he gritted angrily and his eyes wondered over her outfit. The black Kefta hugged her tightly and Alina looked down at herself, reassign what he was looking at. His eyes turned hard and he looked as if he was going to punch something. Seeing her in his colour just made him more mad. He wanted to rip that thing off her and burn in. Alina reached her hand up to cup his swollen cheek and turn his attention away from the kefta, focusing on her instead.

"Mal it's too dangerous, he would have got you before you could do anything" she murmured. Kirigan was too powerful for the both of them, especially Mal who didn't have any powers. Kirigan could end him in a second.

"But with you we can defeat him, we need to go now if we have a chance of getting out of here" he said and Alina narrowed her eyes in confusion.

"What are you talking about?" She said in confusion.

"Alina we have to go now, they'll be looking for me, come on" Mal grabbed Alina's hand but not with force. He tugged her forwards to lead her into Kirigan's bedroom and over to the door.

"No!" She pulled back suddenly and Mal turned with his eyes wide and mouth dropped open.

"What do you mean no?".

"No I- I don't mean no… we can't Mal, if he finds out I'm gone he will…" Alina couldn't finish the sentence.

"Alina we can't stay here anymore, look at what he's done to you, you can't stay here as a slave to him for the rest of your life" Mal had no idea what was running through her mind at the minute. He was sure she'd be willing to run away with him.

"I know that but I can't let him hurt you Mal, at least I have something to fight back with but you don't have anything, he could destroy you and I can't have my best friend die" tears were threatening to escape her eyes.

"He's already destroyed me, keeping us apart, turning you into his slave for your power, keeping me prisoner, his control of The Fold, I don't think there's much worse he could do" Mal shrugged. Why wasn't Alina coming with him?

The moment he saw her from his cell, that connection they shared as friends, knowing exactly what she was saying just by looking in her eyes. He couldn't just sit there and do nothing… he needed to escape The Darkling's prison and he was taking Alina with him.

"You should go, run and escape this place but I can't go with you, I can't risk your life" she looked up into his sad eyes, her fingers gently grazing over the bruise. Mal looked forward into her, his hands reaching to wrap around her waist and pulled her closer, their lips just centimetres away. Alina rested her other hand on his shoulder, looking up into him and she reached onto her tippy toes, her eyes closing as she pressed her lips to his. Mal pulled her closer, keeping the kiss there for more than a few seconds and gave one back, his nose bunching up on her cheek.

"Alina" he whispered and she pulled away.

"Go, I'll find a way to get out of here but we can't leave together, it's too risky" she shook her head. As much as she wanted to just run with him, flee this place and escape the hold of The Darkling, she needed to keep him safe which meant staying behind and living the new life she had grown to.

"Promise me" he urged.

"Promise what?" She searched his face for the answer and he laid it on her.

"Promise me you'll be careful" he whispered, staring down at her, his hand reaching to cup her face.

"I will" she nodded and gave a small smile.

Mal pulled Alina back to his embrace, pressing another kiss to her soft lips and she breathed in hungrily, grasping the back of his neck and wanting more but she had to resist… he was wasting time.

"Go, you don't have much time" she whispered and took his hand, pulling him over to the double doors. She held a finger to her lips to instruct him to be silent and he nodded.

"Ahhh" Alina screamed, throwing herself to the floor to catch the attention of the guards outside. As promised, the guard burst through the door, eyes wide and immediately caught the sun summoner on the ground. Alina pretend to rub her knee as if she had tripped by mistake and not on purpose.

As he stepped forward, Mal sneaked behind him, giving Alina a smile and a nod. She gave one last look at him before diverting her attention to the guard at hand. He seemed oblivious to the tracker escaping behind his back.

"I'm fine, I just tripped" she murmured and pulled herself up, brushing her clothes from any dust and dirt that may have attracted on to her.

Before the guard could speak, a commotion outside caught both their attention and a loud groan sounded. Alina's heart tightened and she couldn't stop herself from venturing out the chambers and down the corridor.

Mal

She stopped abruptly as she turned the corner. Mal was lying on the ground, face contorted in pain and hands gripping his chest as Ivan stood a few feet away, hands in front as he twisted and tugged on Mal's heart, torturing him inside. Blood was starting to drip from his nose and his mouth was pouring with saliva, dripping from his chin to the floor. Groans escaped as he lay on the floor in agony.

"No!" She cried and threw her hands out to send a ball of light in the direction of Ivan but her wrist was grabbed and twisted round, a yelp sounding from the pain. Her light was pulled away and vanished in a second from the grip of the hand.

"No you don't" his voice was deep and dominant. Alina looked up to see the dark irises of Kirigan standing before her.

Hey so I hope you like it, please leave a review and let me know what you think