Dear Alina

I'm not sure how to start this off, I have so many questions and I feel like writing them won't give me the answers. I miss you. Everything happened so quickly. One minute I saw you being carried off by the Volcra and then you were riding in general Kirigan's coach off to the little palace. Not to mention the searing burst of light. Was that really you… are you Grisha. I wish I could see you. Everyone has been talking about you, saying you're the sun summoner. I don't know whether to believe them or not. I've known you your whole life. Could this really be true? I know your probably even more confused than I am and I hope soon that I will see you.

Mal

Dear Alina

A week has gone by and I haven't heard from you. I would have expected my letter to reach you by now but perhaps it got lost on its way. You can never trust those postmen. Every day I think of you and what happened. The look on your face as you were being taken away. if only my leg weren't injured I could have caught up to the coach and freed you from its hold. How is the little palace? I'm still trying to rack my brain on this whole thing. I don't understand how you could be Grisha if you had been tested all those years ago and nothing show. It's hard to picture you in a kefta. I've been trying to find a way to see you but getting to the little palace has proved difficult. Non-Grisha aren't particularly welcome there… but I'll find a way. You and I have some catching up to do. I hope to hear from you soon… little friend.

Mal

Dear Alina

I'm not sure why I still haven't heard from you. Maybe your just having too much fun. I can't imagine you sitting in a top notch suite while servants tend to your every need. But I'm sure it's better than Karemzin. Who would have thought you, a simple cartographer would wound up in the little palace? I'll be honest, I'm still trying to get the grip of what's happened. It all happened so fast and I never got a chance to even say goodbye. I don't know if you've read my other letters but if you had you would have replied by now. Unless something has happened to you. I hope the answer to that is no and that you haven't replied because you are too busy. But don't worry, I'll be seeing you shortly. I've been sent on a mission for general Kirigan to find Morozova's stag. I know right… the famous mythical Morozova's stag that everyone thinks is a legend and fairy tale. If I'm honest, I only took this mission so I could see you. I have no idea the reasoning behind this mission but if it means I can see you again then I promise to find it. if you've read this then you know I'll be at the little palace soon and if you haven't… well you are in for a surprise. See you soon.

Mal

Tears well up in Alina's eyes and started to pour down her cheeks. The tears balanced on her lips, hanging on the edge just waiting to fall. The cold breeze froze her cheeks and her hands, clutching on to the letters. The box laid in the thin layer of snow on the ground, letter's discarded everywhere.

Her eyes scanned every letter, every word, every sentence, reading them with Mal's voice in her head. Her heart was breaking. Guilt washed over her, believing that the reason Mal hadn't written was because he didn't want to, because he didn't want to know Alina anymore because she was Grisha and yet it was all untrue. Nowhere in these letters did it say that Mal didn't want to be her friend anymore. That he wanted to abandon her because she was Grisha now.

It was Kirigan… it had always been him. he kept the letters, he kept them apart, he made her believe that she was the reason Mal didn't write to her. Everything he told her was a lie and it made Alina sick.

Mal had always been there for her, heck he had even come to the little palace. Had Kirigan kept her away that night so she couldn't see him. she had the chance to see her friend and yet she was in Kirigan's war room with him, doing what she had wanted to do with him. Mal was there this whole time. But where was he now? And why was he searching for the stag…the amplifier that Kirigan had told her about. One of the most powerful amplifiers that a Grisha could consume and he was searching for it for Kirigan.

Baghra had laughed at her when she said about it but Kirigan was certain she needed it. They hadn't spoken much about it lately and to be honest, Alina had forgotten about it until she read it in the letter. Did Baghra have something to do with Mal. Was she and Mal together? is that why Kirigan didn't want her to know where she was, because of Mal? Everything was so confusing to her and she wished she had the answers.

I can't imagine you in a kefta?

The words replayed in her mind from the letter and Alina looked down at her black kefta. Black… Kirigan's colour. She had chosen to wear this for him. She believed he was there for her, told him about how Mal hadn't written to her. He had told her he sent word out but now that Alina was here with her letters, she thought back to it.

Did he really send word or was that just another one of his lies?

Alina stared down at the kefta, her hand running over the stitching. Her gold on top of his black. It was a symbol she was his… but he never said it. Alina dropped the letter and ripped off the kefta, tugging out it quickly. It felt disgusting on her. She didn't want it on her, she didn't want him on her.

She ripped her arms out the sleeves, throwing the kefta into the snow, breathing heavily as she did. Now that the kefta had been removed, Alina looked down at her arm she had cut open, blood staining her long sleeve blouse. She pulled it back and hissed as a large gash was now present. Oh how she wished she was a healer right about now. The cold wind made her shiver and she wrapped her arms around herself to keep any warmth inside. She'd rather be cold than wear that thing.

He betrayed her. Made her think he was doing everything for her. But he wasn't. Alina wished she knew the real reason why he kept the letters and a pang of guilt washed over her again for running. If she had stayed, she could have confronted him about it but then would he just lie and manipulate her more like he already has.

Alina sighed, collecting the letters. What pained her more was that her own letters were here as well. Kirigan had obviously read them as well and invaded her privacy. And Genya… had she read them or only gave them over to the possession of Kirigan.

The sun was setting and Alina was getting colder by the minute. She shivered on the log, holding her knees close to her. if only she were an inferni, she could make a fire. Alina grabbed the box, safely tucking the letters inside before stepping up. Her hands and feet were frozen. Her face felt like she had been lying face first in the snow and her cheeks were flushed red. The snow was settling down on the ground, falling on top of Alina's head and she kept her head down as she trudged through the forest. She dragged the kefta behind her, hoping to use it as a blanket… as much as she didn't want to.

She was hoping to find a smaller spot, not so much in the open so she could catch the warmth. The forest grew darker as she ventured in and soon she found a small area with some bushes and rocks. It would have to do. Alina settled down in the ground, leaving against the rocks. Alina flung the kefta on top of her and then balled her hands together to summon a small ball of light. Her hands being frozen made it difficult to summon and when she tried to hold it steady, it disappeared with a puff, smoke blowing in the air. Alina puffed her hands to melt the icy layer around and she summoned again, this time managing to hold it.

The light was warm and instantly made her relax. Her back felt cramped from shivering and she held the ball closer to her face to warm it up. The kefta along her legs was doing some help and the gold stitching bounced off the light, reminding her of that day… the winter fete. Alina closed her eyes, forgetting that night and her body soon fell into a slumber.

…

Kirigan pushed open the doors to his office, stomping through as the two guards he had assigned to watch over Alina stood behind his desk. They turned with wide eyes, slinking back as Kirigan glared past them. Ivan stepped in behind, standing in the corner casually.

"You wanted to see us Sir" one of them said uneasily. It was clear Kirigan was not happy and when he stood behind his desk, a hard look at both the guards, they instantly sunk back even more. An awkward silence came in the room and the two guards were almost shaking with fear before Kirigan spoke.

"Tell me, are you two… deaf" he said lowly, his voice menacing.

The guards gulped at each other but didn't say a word.

"Are you… blind" Kirigan spoke again and the guards were still silent.

"Are you… unintelligent" Kirigan raised a brow, waiting for an answer. His blood was boiling inside and the room was starting to darken, shadows creeping on the walls like black ink flooding a piece of paper. The guards were sweating under their uniforms and they looked to each other before answering.

"No Sir" they both said quietly, fearing what was to come next.

"THEN WHERE IS MY SUN SUMMONER" Kirigan screamed, storming around his desk to stand in front of the guards who jumped out of their skin as Kirigan's voice boomed in his office. He could be heard from down the hallway and as guards wondered the halls, they stopped and stared at each other, each having the same thought in their head. Ivan didn't move an inch as he waited patiently, an almost smug look on his face as he watched the two guards being grilled.

The guards stuttered to give an answer but Kirigan beat them to it.

"I gave you specific orders to make sure nothing happened to her and yet I find her missing" he yelled.

"W- we were- ".

"You what?" Kirigan snapped. He was almost ready to unleash his cut on these two but he kept his hands by his sides, fighting the urge to rip their heads off.

"We are sorry Sir" one of them said and Kirigan turned to him, standing closer now, towering over him as he was just a few feet taller.

"Does it look like I care about your apologies, I want to know where Miss Starkov is" he gritted and the guard nodded, trying to look brave in front of the fuming general.

"We didn't see anything last night; we were posted outside her bedroom all night like you ordered Sir" the other said. Kirigan took a glance at Ivan who nodded, signalling that the two were telling the truth.

"Well someone must have got inside her room otherwise she would have been there this morning" Kirigan said and the awkward silence came back. The guards sucked in a breath and dared to say something.

"We are deeply sorry Sir and anything we can do to make this up we will do" one said.

"Good because you two are going to find her and you do not come back until you do" Kirigan ordered and then stepped closer to the guards, glaring down with anger and fury.

"And if she is hurt in any way, you two will face the consequences" Kirigan said quietly, which was more terrifying than when he was screaming. The room had gone dark with his shadows and as he stepped back and relaxed, the shadows disappeared slowly.

"When shall we leave Sir" one of the guards said, trying to sound like he wasn't afraid.

"Now!" Kirigan ordered with his back towards them and the guards scurried off like frightened gazelle. The guards walked past Ivan and caught the smirk on his face as they left, red with embarrassment. The office doors shut as the two left and Ivan stepped closer to the desk.

"I want those two demoted. Have them cleaning the stables or in the kitchen" Kirigan ordered and Ivan nodded.

"We'll leave in the morning. It's most likely she'll be going to the forest. The latest letter said he was looking for the stag so she may be going that way but our priority is to find her before she finds them" Kirigan said.

"What if she finds them first?" Ivan asked and Kirigan took a deep breath.

"As long as they don't find the stag, we'll still have a chance of finding it and I can kill it before they do. I have no doubt Baghra will tell her everything and the tracker will help her claim the stag" Kirigan gritted.

"The team are still searching for them, I made sure they arrest the tracker when the find him" Ivan said and Kirigan smiled.

"Good, recruit Maxim, Andrie, Felix and David. if we find the stag, I'll need him" Kirigan said and Ivan nodded once more before turning on his heel and leaving the office. Kirigan sighed and turned to the window, staring out over the little palace. He just hoped that Alina was okay.

Hey so I hope you like it, what do you think will happen next, let me know in the reviews.