The Oprichniki roughly threw Mal into the dank cell, his body landing like a sack of potatoes and a grunt escaping him. His elbow had hit the hard floor and he groaned, grabbing it and giving it a rub. The clang of cell door echoed and the two guards left without a word. Mal turned on his side, glaring around the room.

It was a different cell this time. The room darker than ever and only lit by two small candles. The cell was the same however. Small, cold, wet and hard. The Oprichniki hadn't bothered unlocking the shackles on his wrists. Mal couldn't tell if there were any other cells apart from his in the room but he doubt there was anyone else here. He managed to sit up but at the cost of his body aching. He leaned up against one of the walls of the cell and rested his head back sighing.

He couldn't get the image of Alina kissing Kirigan out of his head. He thought it was odd that the guards had come and took him out of the previous cell and then being dragged through the little palace. But then he knew… he knew it was punishment for what he and Alina did in Kirigan's bedroom.

That was it, Kirigan's payback for kissing her. He wanted Mal to watch as the two of them shared a sweet moment, further proving Kirigan's point that they were going to be soulmates. It made Mal's blood boil inside.

Why did she lean into him, why did she look like she wanted to kiss him?

Mal knew deep down that Alina would never want to be Kirigan's soulmate deliberately, not after everything he has done. But he couldn't help a small part in his mind screaming at him.

He's right, they are equals, both summoners

Your a fool to think a summoner and a tracker could be together

You'll never be enough for her

Mal, furiously smacked his head with his hands, running his fingers over his buzz cut hair and took deep calming breaths.

No, Alina would never, he must have used some sort of Grisha power on her to make him kiss her

Mal couldn't stand this any longer. He was going to have to come up with a plan to escape this nightmare and destroy The Darkling once and for all. But he'd get nowhere being chained in the cells. He now wondered why he had been taken to this cell instead of the other. He could barely see anything through the dark shadows and there were no windows or any sources of light except for the two candles.

At least it gave him time to think.

Mal closed his eyes, trying to remove the thoughts of Alina and Kirigan, imagining his life with Alina, away from Ravka and back in Keramzin, where they had better times then they were having now. Yes, it was hard growing up there but anywhere was better than here.

A short growl behind him made his eyes shoot open and he turned his head, sitting up from the wall and trying to peer through the darkness. Something on the other side of the cell was moving. Sharp claws scratched on the floor and he heard cackles and low growls. A rattle of chains made him jump and he scurried away from the bars, schooching as far away as he could. A loud jolt and the sound of wings flapping alerted that the creature on the other side was distressed and the monster roared.

"Saints" Mal whispered to himself and as he swallowed hard, he took a inch of bravery and squinted through the darkness. He could see nothing but only hear the creature and a low sniff came, the edge of what looked like pale grey skin peaking through the shadows. Mal took a closer hard look to try and make out what it was. Suddenly, a clang of the chains boomed and sharp claws reached through the bars and Mal jumped back with a gasp, running to the edge. The Volcra.

It clawed and screeched as it tried to get whatever it was smelling on the other side of it's cell and Mal breathed heavily, panting as his heart thumped on his chest. This must be Kirigan's orders. Having Mal imprisoned next to a monster that if it wasn't chained up and held back by steel bars, would have ended Mal's life there and then.

A swing of the door opened and quickly shut as Kirigan walked inside. The darkness moved as he walked in and Mal shot a look of daggers at him. The Volcra continued to act in a distressed manner and Mal pressed himself closer to the wall.

"This your idea of punishment then… feeding me to the Volcra" he spat and Kirigan chuckled.

"No… you've already received yours, you obviously have trouble listening" Kirigan stated.

"I told you killing you would be too easy, your life remains here in darkness" he smirks and Mal scoffs, shaking his head.

"I bet that was hard, seeing Alina like that, but I hope you realise now that she is starting to understand all this, starting to accept that we are to be soulmates".

"Alina would never do that on her own behalf, you must have done some Grisha science to her to make her kiss you and then drag me out to watch, that's your idea of revenge" Kirigan quirks a brow up and smiles.

"I didn't make her to do anything, she wanted that, she wanted my touch, she wanted to feel my lips on hers, soon enough she will want nothing else but me, a moment away and she'll feel like she's dying, like her heart is being crushed into a tiny million pieces, what you saw there was real, no Grisha science, just the truth" he says softly but darkly.

"So you told her your sick plan then, to bound her to you forever, keep her as your slave" Mal spits.

"No I haven't, there is still so much more she needs to learn… and forget" Kirigan says with a hint of disappointment and Mal looks at him confused. What could she need to forget?

"You'd be pleased to know you are important to her still, but in time that will fade, the sooner she forgets about you we can all move on with our lives" Mal stands and comes to the bars, eyes hard.

"But she won't, she won't forget about me, she has something special and Alina and I will spend the rest of our lives together the second you are destroyed" Mal seethe and Kirigan chuckles.

"You think you can kill me, I've lived for centuries and once I've obtained all the power from the Volcra, nothing will be able to stop me" Kirigan slowly walks to the front of the Volcra's cell and crouches down. Mal watched as Kirigan summoned a small ball of shadow and it caught the Volcra's attention, the beast leaving the bars and crawling over to him.

Kirigan smiled as the creature came to the bars and he gently started to pet it, a purr growling from it. Mal stared in shock at The Darkling giving the dreaded Volcra affection.

"So now you are treating them as pets… saints you really are messed in the head you are" Mal scoffs.

"If I'm going to obtain power from the Volcra I need it to trust me, I'm a beacon for these creatures. The young ones are easier to train and once it's ready I'll then be able to use it" Kirigan gives the Volcra a scratch under it's wet chin and proceeds to stand.

"And then, Alina and I will become one" he strolls back in front of Mal's cell and looks him straight in the eyes, head high and chin slightly protruded.

"If I were you I would be careful around it, it doesn't take well to non-Grisha" and with that, Kirigan leaves the shadow cells, the door slamming and locking behind him. Mal looks back into the cell next to him, the creature wandering into its home of darkness and settling.

…

Alina glared up at Ivan who slammed the cell door and locked it, keys jingling and with heavy steps exited the cells. As punishment for hitting Kirigan, he ordered her to be put away in the cells. Apart from the fact she would be confined to eating stale food and trapped in the damp cell, it was better than sharing Kirigan's room. She finally felt like she could be herself for a little bit, away from her 'master' and could think and act accordingly.

She was pleased with herself, standing up to him like that. Although it cost her the luxury of staying in the king's bedroom, she wasn't complaining much. She knew it wouldn't last long though. Kirigan would hate to be away from his summoner for more than a few days.

Alina perched against the wall and looked down at her hands. Her hand was stinging still from the force of her slap and it brought a smile on her face to see him in pain like that. Her chest was throbbing from the actions of the Heartrender. If he wasn't there, she might of had a chance of fighting back… possibly even escaping.

Alina sighed and as she stared down at her hands, her thumb traced over the scar on her palm. Memories flooding back to that day when the testers came. She wondered what life would have been like for her if they had found out she was Grisha back then.

Would I have ended up how I am now… a slave to the most powerful Grisha in Ravka

Alina didn't want to think about it. I'm fact, she didn't want to think about anything. She was just glad she had something different to look at besides black Kefta's and shadows. Even if it was just blank walls and steel bars.

Her thumb traced the scar over and over and she thought of Mal.

Oh god, he probably hates me right now

Kirigan had done that on purpose, kissing her in front of him like that. If she had known he was there, she would have fought back with every strength inside her. But the scariest thing was that Kirigan was right. She did feel an ache, a sense of loneliness. She felt that pull, telling her she needed him, wanted him. Being the sun summoner meant only one thing could balance her light… his darkness.

It terrified Alina and she desperately wanted it not to be true.

Why, why did it have to be like this.

If only Alina had killed the stag herself, she'd be in full control right now and could have torn down The Fold. Alina held her hands tightly together and sighed.

Don't worry Mal, I'll find us a way out of here

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