Torture. That what it had been for the past week. Seven days in the dark cell with nothing but pain and yearning. That's all Alina felt and she had reached her breaking point. Kirigan had said it would feel like this; like dying.

Day one. She had the most energy that day. After Kirigan had left, Alina felt her mark start to sting, the pain keeping her awake at night and she barely got any sleep. The guards didn't leave their posts, only to change over and she felt like a zoo animal. Her only source of entertainment was the small mirror and window which was accompanied by thick bars. The lanterns in the room flickered and she felt herself becoming accustomed to the glow.

She had paced back and forth, trying to distract herself from the sting in her shoulder but nothing could stop it. She tossed and turned that night, getting little to no sleep and the next morning she woke with heavy bags under her eyes. And Mal, he had been on her mind. She hoped, prayed he was alright. She had tried to locate him through the window but she couldn't make out anywhere that might be a cell.

Day two. The pain stayed the same but she felt empty and alone. She longed for someone to speak to her, someone to interact with her. The guards said nothing nor did they turn to look at her. She was brought three meals and day and plenty to drink which surprised her at first but then she realised that she couldn't be left to die of starvation and dehydration. She and Kirigan were soulmates now, he wouldn't throw everything he's done to get Alina away but not letting her eat.

Alina thought at first to refuse to eat, the idea that she may get some demands in if she threatened her life but the hunger took her over. Was it the pain in her shoulder that made her hungry, the loneliness? When she hadn't eaten her first meal for two hours, she had experience something new and surprising to her.

Eat

That was his voice, inside her. she felt it and heard it at the same time. Her shoulder twinged when she heard his voice and she instantly grabbed the mark, feeling it pulse underneath the skin. She ran to the mirror, inspecting it but it stayed the same, the dark black scar bleeding through her skin. That was the only time she heard him.

Mal was in the back of her mind but not forgotten. She imagined he was in his own world of pain but it couldn't be anything compared to what she was feeling. Nothing could compare to this.

Day three. The pain was now starting to get worse. Not only in her shoulder but her whole body felt like it had been thrown down the stairs. She barely slept that night as well. It was like she was on a detox from a drug. She was hot and cold at the same time, the blanket serving no use in either department. She tossed and turned, her body shivering and she longed for the feeling of Kirigan. She wanted to feel his arms around her, his warm breath on her skin, his fingers touching every inch of her.

Inside her head she screamed to herself to ignore it but it didn't help. She knew the only way to get rid of the pain was him.

She had almost forgot about Mal. she remembered Kirigan's words. She would forget him until she no longer knew who he was. She thought harder than ever before, thinking of the memories she had with him, back at the orphanage when they were growing up, trying to reminisce about the funniest times they had. She wasn't going to let Kirigan be right, she wouldn't let him win like this. But every day was becoming harder.

Day four. Constant pacing the cell made her feet ache but she ignored it. It was doing some good, helping her to forget her pain of being alone and afraid here. Yes, she had become afraid. Not of the dark but of the feeling of nothing around her. Even with the Oprichniki standing guard, she still felt alone. They didn't talk to her, probably due to the orders of Kirigan. Her body shook as she felt that tug inside her, the want and the need for him to be here with her. She tried to use the window as a distraction, hoping to watch outside the little palace for something to entertain her but the only thing she saw was Oprichniki patrolling the palace, the short neighs of horses as they came and gone.

On this day Alina had forgotten Mal. The constant ache inside her meant she didn't have time to even think of him and she only thought about one person; Kirigan. Only he would take this pain away. His words were becoming true, she ached for him, she felt like ant that had been stepped on and left to try and fend for itself. This is what he meant; her alone time to think.

But how could she think straight when all she wanted was to be held, all she wanted was for this to go away.

Day five. Alina shivered in bed, her arms clutching her body. Her kefta only provided some protection. The black material made her think of Kirigan. Black was his colour only but now it was hers. She had imagined the kefta to be him, giving her some sort of embrace but it wasn't the same. She didn't have the energy to beg the guards to help her and even if she did, they wouldn't do anything. They were under strict instructions from Kirigan.

Mal had been pushed out of her mind. He was nowhere to be found in there. She hadn't truly forgotten about him but he was not her priority. Alina found herself talking to herself that night, whispering to herself to make it stop.

"Please".

Nothing came.

Day six. All she did was stare up at the ceiling. Her body lay limp on the bed, the pain in her shoulder had taken over her and she felt like she was losing herself. She couldn't move, she couldn't speak, she couldn't go on. When her food had arrived, she stared at it for ages, contemplating the idea of picking up the knife and ending it all. Ending this pain and heart ache. But even then, she didn't have the energy. She only closed her eyes and sunk deeper into the bond, searching for him, hoping to find him, calling for him to come and save her. but he didn't.

Day seven. Was it going to be like forever she thought? She didn't know how long she was going to be able to carry on like this. She had reached it. She had understood it all now. At first, she felt strong, she felt she could overtake him, over rule him, escape him. She didn't believe the mark on her shoulder, thought it was one of his manipulative lies, something just for show. But she was wrong.

Everything Kirigan had said was true. She felt like she was dying without him there. She yearned for him to come. She only wanted him. She wanted this pain to go away forever. She was his now and he was hers. Did he feel like this as well? Did he feel the pain she was feeling or was it only one sided like the stag? Was only she able to feel the loneliness and emptiness inside while he could live on more powerful than ever?

And where was Mal in all this. He wasn't. He wasn't there. Would she remember him after the pain was removed or would this be permanent? She didn't know anything anymore. She only knew that she needed Kirigan.

Alina laid on the cot, her body shivering. Not because she was cold but because she was alone inside and out. Her back faced the cell and she stared forward into darkness. Her legs were curled beneath her, her arms clutched to her chest. Her eyes were half open half closed and quiet, shuddery breaths escaped. She hugged herself tighter, her kefta grazing against her cheeks and she leaned into more. She hadn't a wink of sleep since day four and she now felt her eyes starting to close, her surroundings becoming a blur around her.

The cell door opened with a creak but Alina felt a tug inside her. and then it went away. The pain she knew and only knew had vanished and it was almost as painful as it was when it was there. Her eyes fluttered open but she stayed still. She felt him, even if she didn't know he was there.

An arm wrapped itself around her stomach, a soft nuzzle in the back of her neck, a deep groan escaping and she felt the tug inside her release. Alina pushed herself off the cot, turning around to stared up at him. He looked fresh and clean, not a single bag under his eye or tiredness on his face. He blinked down at her, searching her eyes and without a word, Alina pushed herself into his chest, feeling the warmth radiate from him onto her.

She clutched him tighter, her fingers gripping his kefta, breathing in his scent. Kirigan held her close, one hand on the back of her head, the other on her back, his cheek resting on the top of his head.

Alina no longer felt the pain inside. She felt free, she didn't feel alone and she complete. She clutched him tighter, wanting more and more. It was like a drug, becoming addictive with the further she pushed herself on to him.

"Shhhh, I'm here, I'm right here" he whispered and Alina buried her face deeper.

As the pain had vanished, her senses came back to her. memories flooded back to the beginning of the week. She remembered it all. Trying to escape through The Fold, David dying at the hands of Kirigan, battling him, his shadow creature binding him to her forever.

Mal., He had emerged from deep inside the archives of her brain, lighting up in front and her eyes shot open. He was still here; he had been captured like her. It dawned on her then… he wouldn't have been able to take this pain away, no one would. Only Kirigan. Mal would have only made it worse for her.

Alina felt guilty and disappointed with herself, allowing herself to forget about him. But this pain was too powerful. She had no choice in the matter. She prayed he was alright. In any other circumstance she would have shoved Kirigan off her, demanded to know where Mal was and if he was safe or not, unharmed. But instead, she only let herself fall into his embrace, clutching on to that release.

"Do you understand what I meant, that you'd feel alone and empty when I wasn't here, that nothing would take this pain away except me" he whispered softly to her, his hands never leaving her but Alina didn't respond. She closed her eyes, sinking deeper into him and holding on.

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