Alina stared down at the scar running across her palm, her fingers circling the bump.
It will be okay Mal, we'll get out of here
Now that David was on her side, Alina had a fighting chance in being able to escape here. She wasn't certain on what the plan would be but it was early days and she needed to wait for the right time first. Kirigan had calmed down recently. She hadn't mention Mal to him which she thought was a good idea as she needed to be on his good side.
Currently she was sat by his empty throne, wrists chained to the floor and sat silently in the empty room. She felt like a vase of flowers on display to be gawked at as Grisha and Oprichniki walked by. They all stared at her, everyone single one of them. She glared back at them. Kirigan was currently occupied in his war room with his Grisha, catching up on the latest updates on the war of the nations and what they were to do about it.
She now had hope inside her. David was a good man, kind and caring. He certainly didn't deserve to be treated the way he was around here. She could offer him a better life… hopefully. Alina hadn't even thought about what her life would become off after escaping Kirigan. What would she do? Where would she go? Keramizin?
Kirigan would certainly not stop looking for her so she'd have to travel far enough so he would't be able to get to her. Where could she go that he wouldn't be able to get to?
The Fold. The only way he could cross it without being attacked by the Volcra was with Alina. The whole reason he needed her in the first place was so he could enter if. If she managed to get through The Fold before he reached her, she'd finally be out of his control. Of course he could risk sending his Grisha on a skiff using only small lights but did he want to risk his life and his Grisha. However he was immortal, alive for eternity and so even then he might be able to survive it but it was doubtful.
I could light the way with Mal and David under my protection
Her fingers stroked the scar again and a small hint of a smile appeared on her lips.
"Alina" a voice whispered and she turned her head to see David hiding behind the wall, his eyes scanning the room for anyone. Alina looked herself, fearing that Ivan or Kirigan's guards could be around the corner and she looked back over at him.
"Is everything alright?" She asked and David scurried over, crouching beside her.
"Look I down have much time, Kirigan is in a meeting with his men" Alina looked with hopeful eyes at him, waiting for his intel.
"I know where they are keeping Mal, he's been put in one of the cells across the palace. A small dark room with two guards there, I think I may be able to talk to him but I'll need to get the guards away" he said in a hushed voice.
"Oh please, if you could, how are you going to do that?" She asked and he sighed.
"I'm not sure, I'll need to distract them" he said.
"What about at night, are there guards there?" She asks and he nodded.
"Always, I think Kirigan wanted to make sure he couldn't escape like last time" it was going to be hard to distract the guards to get to Mal.
"We'll think of something, I think I have a plan to be able to get out of here, we need to cross The Fold, the three of us, I can guide us with my light and if we're quick enough, Kirigan won't be able to enter without me, he won't be able to cross it unless he has my power" she said.
"Are you sure" he said hesitantly.
"Yes, he immediately attracts the Volcra to him, he's an easy target for them, he won't risk his life like that" she said confidently.
"How will we get there though, the palace is heavily guarded and you're barely able to leave without being spotted".
"I haven't figured that bit out yet, maybe if I get Kirigan to ease up on me, he might start to trust me more, then I'll have a chance" she said softly.
"Okay, what do you want me to say to Mal?".
"Tell him the plan, tell him I'm going to find a way out of here for us and he needs to stay good otherwise we'll be stuck here" she said and David nodded, standing up and turning quickly to rush off so he wasn't seen. Before he could completely vanish from the room, Alina stopped him.
"Wait, David… tell him, I'm sorry he had to see that, and that I he's the only one I want" she called and he nodded before scurrying off. Alina took a shaky breath, her stomach tied in a tight knot and looked down at the scar once more.
It will be alright
Mal stared into the darkness across him. He hadn't taken his eyes or attention away from the Volcra since he met it. Even though he had the safety of the cell bars, he was still fearful it might claw through it and attack him. The Volcra had grown in size now and was becoming more and more vicious. However, the second KIrigan was near it, it was tamed and docile. Like a puppy and its owner.
Mal would watch as Kirigan would call it over, showering it in shadows and treat it as his own pet. He found it almost sickening to watch. He wondered how much longer until Kirigan would finally use it for what he intended. It dawned on him that he may be running out of time. The sooner Kirigan had the Volcra create his shadow army, the sooner Alina would be bonded to him for life and then he would be out of time.
He hadn't stopped thinking of Alina. He hoped she was okay. Hoped she wasn't hurt in anyway. One good thing was that Kirigan wouldn't hurt his sun summoner which Mal was grateful for but it didn't mean he liked it.
Mal picked up the steel cup and drank the last of his water, his throat dry and hoarse. It was all he was allowed; that and some stale bread. He was often hungry and found himself forcing down the food so he would't die of hunger.
The door sung open and the sound of Kirigan's boots echoed as he walked in, the door shutting behind him immediately. Mal said nothing, only watched as he walked straight to the Volcra and placed his hand inside the cell. The Volcra crawled over with excitement, like a dog being given a treat and the smirk rose on Kirigan's lips as he stroked it.
"I think you are ready" he said and Mal watched with wide eyes.
No, not now… please no
Kirigan stood up, taking a deep breath and his hand moved to the cell door. With a flick of his fingers, his shadows unlocked the cell and he opened it. Standing there silently, he lifted his foot to move forward when a loud commotion outside caught his attention and turned his head. Mal turned as well, wondering what it was and looked up to see the displeasure of Kirigan.
The cell slammed shut and he stormed out, leaving Mal and the Volcra. Mal sighed with relief. He thought it would be over. Kirigan was ready to use the Volcra and that meant Alina would be stuck here forever.
He wondered what the commotion outside was and when the door opened suddenly, his stomached clenched as he thought it was Kirigan, coming back to use the Volcra. Instead, a tall man with dark hair and dressed in a purple kefta came to the front of the cell.
"Mal" he whispered and Mal looked with confusion.
"Who are you?" He said and the man knelt down in front of the bars.
"My names David, I'm a friend of Alina, well sort of, I'm helping her" he said and Mal scurried off the floor and over to the bars.
"Is she alright, what happened to her" he was flustered with so many questions but David held his hands up to calm him down.
"She's fine, nothing happened to her, well she was locked away in the cells for a few days" Fury steamed in Mal.
"What" he spat.
I'm going to kill him
"Well she hit the general that's why but anyway she's fine, listen I don't have much time, the distraction won't last long" he glanced at the door and Mal furrowed his brows.
"Distraction?" He said.
"Yes, I needed something to distract the guards so I could talk to you. Alina has a plan, she thinks she has a way of getting away from the general. If you cross The Fold with her before the general can reach her, he won't be able to pass it, he'll be stuck on the other side".
"Alina said the Volcra will attack him like that" he clicked his fingers to show the ease of the attack and Mal blinked.
"How are we going to get there though" he said.
"She isn't sure but she said she might need to get the general to trust her a little more" Mal frowned at the thought of Alina subjecting herself to him.
"If only I wasn't stuck in here" Mal whispered.
"How comes your helping her by the way" Mal said with concern. He wasn't sure whether to trust him or not and only then thought if he should even be talking to him. He could be a spy for Kirigan.
"Well… it was me who made the stag's collar… not because I wanted to but because the general and… well I can't let Alina be slave for the rest of her life" David said sadly. Anger flashed in Mal knowing this man was the cause of her slavery but then he realise he probably only did it because of Kirigan.
"You mean that?" Mal asked and David nodded. Mal gave a short smile to him and a slight nod.
"Well if we're going to get out of here we need to do it quick, Kirigan has plans for the Volcra over there. He's going to create a shadow army or something and then use it to bind Alina to him forever, soulmates so that they'll never be apart" David's eyes widened and he whispered something to himself that sounded like a swear.
"I must tell Alina, she'll need to think of a way to escape here without the general knowing… look I should go, I'll try and come back if I can" David stands and rushes to the door but then turns back and presses against the bars.
"Oh and Mal, Alina told me to tell you to be good otherwise we'll be stuck here" Mal smirked and chuckled to himself.
Of course she would say that
"And that she's sorry you had to see that, you are the only one she wants" David continued softly and Mal blinked in shock.
She's talking about the kiss with Kirigan.
Before Mal could say anything else, David rushed out the door and Mal moved back to his place by the wall. He couldn't help but smile to himself.
She wants me, not him
Hey so I hope you like it, please leave a review and let me know what you think