I enter the ballroom and a crowd forms around me, separating Genya from me. I run into Duke Keramsov.
"Hello Duke Keramsov," I say.
"Who are you?" he asks.
"I'm Alina. Do you remember me?"
"No."
"Oh. Well I'll be on my way," I say heading on my way scanning the crowd for the Darkling.
I can't don't spot him among the crowd and I make small talk with the people around. As I start to get bored talking to others, I excuse myself.
"Please excuse me, but I have to perform," I say walking to the stage.
I get to the stage and wait where I can still see the performances. The Inferni go first, tossing fireballs across the room. There are some partygoers who duck out of fear and others look up in amazement.
The next act is the Squallers and Tidemakers working together. The Tidemakers make shapes out of the water and have them float. The Squallers then cause the shapes to explode, turning them to mist. I summon light and have it shine through the mist causing rainbows to cover the room and the crowd is in awe.
Someone walks up next to me and I see that it's the Darkling. The Squallers and Tidemakers walk off stage and one of the Tidemakers says to me, "Nice touch Alina."
"Thanks."
As they walk away the Darkling asks, "Are you ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be."
We walk onto the stage, the Darkling on my left. He claps his hands and the ballroom is covered by darkness. I take a deep breath and summon three large balls of light, changing one to blue, another to orange, and the last one green. Simultaneously I shape the blue orb into a large stag, the green one into a sea whip, and the orange one into a firebird. I have the stag walk through the crowd as they partway for it and I have the sea whip go around the people in the crowd as if it was in the water and the firebird is flying above them.
I look at the Darkling and see that he is looking at them with slight awe. After a couple of minutes, I turn them back into spheres of light and combine them into one giant sphere of white light, raising it to the ceiling of the ballroom. I expand it and let it explode into thousands of colors. The way they fell, it looked as if all the stars from space were falling to the ground.
The Darkling pulls back the shadows and the room is filled with light again. We walk off the stage and the Darkling says to me, "That was one grate demonstration. I didn't know you could do that."
"Remember that night you found me coming in from outside? Well, that was me practicing for the Fete. I've been practicing every night."
"That was impressive."
"Thanks," I say as we head out into the crowd.
We're immediately surrounded by nobles and the Darkling excuses us and then we're not bothered anymore. It's as if we're invisible. I rationalize that if I can make myself invisible with my light, he can make himself and others invisible with shadows.
He pulls me along leading me towards the Little Palace. As we get there, he leads me to his chambers and pins me against the wall.
"Are you sure you want this?" he asks.
"Yes," I respond, my heart beating so fast I'm sure he can hear it.
He puts his hands on my face and kisses me passionately. I feel the warmth and surety that comes when he touches me. I part my lips. I feel his desire, but something else, something like anger. I pull back.
"You don't like this, do you?" I ask, a hint of hurt in my voice.
"This is all I want to be doing."
"And you hate that."
"So what if I do?"
"Why?"
"Why?" he repeats. "Do you know what Ivan told me before our demonstration? He told me that my men found Morozova's herd. The key to the fold is right in our grasp. I should be in the war room right now. But where am I? I'm here with you. I'm not there, I'm here with you." He lets out a sigh of frustration. "The problem with wanting," he whispers, trailing his lips along my jaw until they hovered above my lips, "is that it makes us weak."
When I thought that I couldn't take it anymore, he finally pressed his lips against mine. His hands started to creep up my legs, lifting my skirt a bit. Instead of pulling away, I pushed into him. He wraps my legs around his waist and lifts me, carrying me to the bed, and sets me down. I franticly start to unbutton his kefta as he does the same to mine.
•••
"I have to go to the war room now," the Darkling says as he gets out of bed and pulls on his kefta. "You should head back to the party. Can I come back to your room later?"
"Yes."
"There's a door so you can leave without anyone noticing you," he says as he points to the wall and leaves.
I get out of bed, putting my kefta back on, and head to the mirror. I smooth out my hair and wrinkles in the kefta. I head out through the passage he pointed at. I end up in the hall that leads out of the Little Palace, heading back to the party.
•••
When I get close to the ballroom, it's as if the Apparat appeared out of thin air. His brown robes flapping behind him as he rushes towards me. Please not now.
"Alina!" he calls.
Saints. "I have to get back to the party," I say in a cheerful voice.
"I must speak to you. Things are moving far too qui-"
I slip into the ball where I'm instantly surrounded by nobles wanting to congratulate me on my demonstration. Sergi and the other Heartrenders run up to me apologizing for losing me in the crowd.
I did my best to be polite and make conversation with the nobles, but it was hard with my mind occupied elsewhere.
•••
With the Fete coming to an end I finish up my conversation and tell the Heartrenders, "I'm going to retire for the night."
The other Heartrenders nod in acknowledgment as Feydor follows.
"Long night, huh?" He asks.
"Yeah."
"I can imagine."
I really hope not. "I can go on my own now. You can go back to the ball."
"I have to escort you."
"No, really, I'm fine."
"The Darkling said that I have to."
I let out a sigh, "Fine. You can walk me to the Little Palace. But that's it."
"But if I don't-"
"Don't worry about that. You won't get in trouble."
"Fine."
He walks me to the Little Palace. I go in as he turns around to go back to the ball. I walk down the hall and look into the dining hall with the large doors that leads to the Darklings hall. I am looking at the eclipse on the doors when suddenly, they open. Then someone walks out. As they walk closer to me, I suddenly realize who it is.
It's Mal.