The Fold cracked and thundered, small bolts of lightning peeking through its shadow. The sand gently flew across by the wind, swooshing in the air. It felt like time had stopped. Alina felt like she had been staring in front of her for an eternity, her eyes fixed on Kirigan.
He stood there, tall and tensed. His kefta blew behind him in the wind and his eyes did not leave Alina's. Ivan stood beside him, hands in front as he used his Heartrender powers to restrain Mal. His face was equally as hard and deadly as Kirigan's. Two Oprichniki stood behind Kirigan, rifles at the ready.
Alina's heart has stopped completely for a second before it started thudding inside her. All her adrenaline and energy had disappeared, her hands turning numb. Her breath hitched in her throat and turned dry and sore when she swallowed the phlegm lump that was stuck at the back. As she stared forward at Kirigan, she felt that pull inside her, telling her come forward, to give in to that feeling. But she resisted. And when she did, it hurt her inside. She kept a straight face even though the pull was pulling against her resistance.
Mal groaned beside her, clutching his chest and blood started to drip from his lips, soaking the sand beneath him. Alina finally dropped her gaze from Kirigan and she turned to Mal, dropping to his level to comfort him.
"Mal" she whispered again and her head shot up when she heard his voice.
"Did you really think you could take my sun summoner away from me" he spoke calmly. He was addressing Mal even though he couldn't reply due to the strain on his heart. Alina watched in fear as Ivan twisted and turned his hands, tugging deeper on Mal who was becoming weaker. Was his intention to actually kill Mal or only hold him down so he couldn't help Alina.
"Stop it" Alina yelled, her face contorting in an angry glare and she stormed up, holding her hands up to summon a ball of light. Kirigan made no move of surprise or flinched and when Alina sent the ball of light his way, he quickly blocked it with a shadow, the darkness engulfing the light immediately. She went to summon another ball of light to throw but Kirigan stopped her.
"If you use your light, I'll have Ivan kill your friend now" he threatened and Alina stopped the ball from growing, dropping her hands down. She didn't want to be the reason he'd die. She hated this, hated how he had so much power and control over her even without using her light. If Mal's life wasn't at stake, she'd have thrown the biggest light she could have at him, Ivan to. She breathed shakily and Kirigan held his head up high, chin protruding slightly.
"I'll forgive you Alina if you come to me now" he called but Alina made no move to accept his offer. She would not be leaving Mal and David.
"No" she said, her eyes narrowed hard. She saw him sigh but he kept his gaze forward.
"You know that he can't be there for you, he'll never understand you the way I do, he's a child and you are Grisha" Alina shook her head at him. He was wrong.
"He's the only person there for me, it doesn't matter if I'm Grisha. He's been there every step of the way and he'll never leave me" she fought back the urge inside her telling her to come to him. She planted her feet deep in the sand, preventing her from walking forward.
"He's never appreciated you for who you are. He will hold you back, make you forget who you are, hide your powers. He'll be like the rest of them, treating Grisha like it's a disease" Kirigan sneered.
"I thought you were finally understanding that only we need each other, no one else will be like us" he reiterated. The pull tugged on her once again but Alina held it back.
"Why would I want to spend my life with the person who enslaved me and my power" she gritted.
"I did that for you, for us, so we can conquer all of Ravka and take control. I was saving us, our people" his eyes grew angry and his voice started to raise.
"You were doing it for you, so you could be more powerful" Kirigan took a deep breath, fighting back the urge to scream and shout. He kept his rage inside, not wanting it to erupt and cause Alina harm. He'd never hurt her intentionally but right now she was getting on his last nerve.
"You can try and convince yourself what you want Alina but deep down you know how this should be. You may have been trying to fool me but you know yourself you gave in. You can feel that pull, that voice inside you telling you I am the only one here for you, you want me and only me and that's something your tracker will never make you feel". Alina stayed silent.
She had given in to the pull, even after trying to convince herself not to. She had given herself to him, accepted the urge and when she was there, in his embrace, she felt his warmth and shelter. It scared her, knowing that he was right. He'd be all she ever needed and no one, not even Mal, could make her feel that pull. A tear came to her eye and dropped down her cheek, staining her face and she noticed the sides of Kirigan's lips curl into a smile.
"Come to me Alina" he said softly and slowly raised his hand out for her. Mal watched with wide eyes due to his heart being held tightly by Ivan and he stuttered a reply.
"N-no aaa-lina" his fingers grabbed handfuls of sand as the pain inside his chest felt like a heavy weight on top of him and Alina turned her gaze at Mal. Tears filled her eyes more now and she sniffled them back as she watched her friend and love clutch on for dear life. She wouldn't do it; she wouldn't subject herself to this manipulative murderous monster. She turned back to Kirigan, face hard.
"No" she murmured but Kirigan heard her loud and clear. With a frustrated sigh, he dropped his hand and turned his head to the side.
"Bring her to me" he said, addressing the Oprichniki who started forward towards her. Alina looked with wide eyes and stepped backwards from the advancing guards, standing in front of Mal to protect him.
"No!" a voice called and David jumped out in front of the guards who stopped suddenly. Kirigan looked with shock and Alina reciprocated. It's almost as if she had forgotten him. He must have been hiding behind the carriage. David stood in front of Alina, blocking her from the oncoming guards who looked back at Kirigan for further orders. Alina dropped to her knees to comfort Mal as he spat more blood on the ground.
"David" Kirigan murmured and he himself stepped forward, passing the guards.
"I won't let you take Alina" he said harshly and glared at Kirigan who was now smirking. He found it almost laughable that the Durast was trying to stop him from having Alina.
"Why, did she promise you something, promise you a happy life on the other side" he taunted.
"You don't deserve her, after everything you did to her" David spits and Kirigan flashes anger.
"Need I remind you, you put that collar on her, if anyone is to blame it's you" he sneered.
"You forced me to do that, I never would have done it on my own regard".
"So, what, this is your repenting your sins, begging for forgiveness from her by helping her out of here" Kirigan stepped closer, his boots kicking the sand. Alina watched as the two argued and she noticed David had his hand behind his back, slipping underneath his kefta. She wondered what he had planned. He'd be no match for The Darkling.
"Alina has forgiven me and I'm forever grateful, she'll never forgive you" David sneered.
"Alina will forgive me, she won't be able not to" he said softly and glanced over at Alina, giving her a sweet smile. Alina looked up, her heart beating ever so fast and a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"So, what, you going to try and kill me then?" Kirigan taunted and David held his stance.
"I'm going to make sure Alina gets out of here free" he said with all the confidence and it was then Kirigan laughed.
"You've always been a coward, David. always trying to please others like some love sick puppy. When are you going to actually do something worthwhile? The only thing you've done right was make that collar" anger built inside David and suddenly he yelled as he charged forward, his hand bringing out the knife he made from the wood and fence, pointing it at Kirigan. Alina and Mal watched with fear as David pulled his hand back to attack Kirigan but Kirigan got there first, reaching up and grabbing his wrists, using his other arm to elbow him in the ribs.
"David" Alina called and she yanked herself up to run over only to be attacked by the Oprichniki and held down. She thrashed in their arms and was pushed on her knees into the sand. They held her hands apart so she was unable to summon her light.
David fell to the floor, coughing and clutching his stomach from the blow. Kirigan held a look of fury and he stepped forward, yanking David up from the ground, his fist gripping the collar of his kefta. David stumbled on his feet and Kirigan glared at him, his face close.
Kirigan gripped the knife he had taken off David and with a hard thrust, stabbed it into his stomach, digging it in. David gasped, his eyes popping wide and mouth open as he struggled for breath. Kirigan dug the knife in harder, blood spluttering out and onto the ground, draining from his stomach.
"You traitor" Kirigan hissed and yanked the knife out, throwing David to the floor. He landed in the sand, gasping for breath. His body shook and low whimpers sounded. The life slowly drained from his body and his hand shook uncontrollably on his stomach, trying to stop the bleeding but the cut was too deep and he was already dying.
"I never cared for you for anyway" Kirigan threw the knife to the side and turned his gaze to Alina.
Hey so I hope you like it, what do you think will happen next, please leave a review and let me know what you think