Alina struggled against the hands of the Oprichniki dragging her on to the skiff. Two were on either side of her, her arms gripped tightly and pushed by her sides to stop her from summoning. Her boots scuffed and kicked the dust of the camp ground leading to the skiff. It was quiet and frightening. The camp hadn't been in use for a while since that day on The Fold and Alina was shocked to see only a handful of Grisha loading on to the skiff.
Kirigan was walking closely behind her, his boots clunking on the wood plank leading to the centre of the skiff and once he and Alina boarded, the plank was removed and the side sealed off, keeping Alina enclosed. She was brought to the very spot she knew, the spot that she had been in twice on The Fold. The first time was when Kirigan pushed The Fold to Novokribrisk and the second when he captured the Volcra. The wooden floorboards creaked as she stomped her feet, flinching against the guards hold on her.
As soon as she defied Kirigan in their bedroom, yes, their bedroom, the one they now shared with their eternal bond, Kirigan ordered the guards to bring her by force. He was not going to play silly games with Alina. She was coming and that was final.
Alina was shoved down on the floor, hissing as her knees hit the hard floor and pain shot through her legs. She glared up at the guards under her lashes, a hard scowl on her face and suddenly her hands were caught back in the guards, the other placing cuffs around her wrists that were chained to the floor. It didn't immobilise her but she wouldn't be able to leave her spot. Kirigan needed her power so he couldn't keep her hands from doing so.
The guards stepped out the way and Alina caught Kirigan watching from where he stood, his chin held high and he then stepped over to her, standing only a few inches, the tip of his boot nearly touching her leg. Alina kept her eyes down, mouth turned up in grimace as he spoke down to her like a child.
"As soon as we enter The Fold you will summon your light" he said.
"And what if I don't" Alina snapped, as if she had a choice in the matter. Kirigan had control of her power still and if she didn't summon, he could easily call her light himself just by the touch of him. Alina had no doubt that if she defied him on the skiff, she or Mal would to reprimanded for it.
"Do you want to risk being eaten by the Volcra for the sake of defying me" he frowned and Alina stayed silent. It was a big risk and certainly not one she wanted to take today.
"I didn't think so" Kirigan said smugly and turned around, walking lazily on board. The squaller at the top of the skiff nodded down to the one on the bottom who confirmed they were ready to sail off. Kirigan stood in the middle of the skiff, Ivan off to the side of him standing patiently with his hands in front, the Oprichniki on the other side, and the remaining Grisha occupying the rest of the skiff.
The skiff gave off with a push, dragging across the sand and wind gushed behind. Alina's hair blew in the wind behind her, the wind making her eyes water and she shivered slightly. In the midst of standing her ground against Kirigan, she had left her cloak on the floor of their bedroom from where she threw it with defiance. She had wished now she had kept it on her but that was the least worrying thing on her mind. The skiff reached closer to The Fold, the shadow wall cracking and thundering as they neared it.
Alina felt sick inside and wanted to throw up but swallowed the hard lump in the back of her throat, keeping it down and keeping her head focused on the darkness. The Fold opened up as the tip of the skiff pierced it, the screeches already filling the ears of the people on the skiff and Alina took a nervous breath in.
The skiff entered The Fold, darkness immediately invading them and the climate changing dramatically. It was colder in here than out there and Alina shivered again, her back and shoulders shaking as she did. She heard the boots of Kirigan step closer to her, spurs clinking as he walked and she knew what he was coming to tell her.
With only a silent look at him, Alina huffed softly and held her hands up, pulling out her light which created a dome around the skiff. The darkness was now shielded by the glowing light, Volcra screeching harder but avoiding it at all costs. Alina held her hands up to push it further to envelope the whole skiff, the light expanding more. Alina started to bring her hands down but Kirigan placed his hand on her shoulder, giving it a squeeze for her to expand it again.
"More" he ordered and Alina pushed her light so that it was trailing down The Fold, lighting the path for them. She felt her power burning inside her, pulling against her as Kirigan used it, expanding it until he was happy. He let go of Alina to inspect the work and a small smile appeared on his lips. Alina was panting as if she had been running for miles and was out of breath. Having not used her power for a while, and with Kirigan using his amplifier on her, it made her body tired and weak. Although using her power was keeping her alive and not aging, it was a strain when Kirigan used it. She was a puppet on strings for him, a doll to be played with and she had no control.
"I trust you will behave until we get to Shu Han" Kirigan said and turned to leave her there but stopped and took a small glance over his shoulder.
"But just to be sure" a shadow started to form on the ground, forming one of his shadow army creatures on all fours. It's legs grew to a body and head, shadow claws and teeth as sharps knives and low growls coming from it. it stood in front of Alina, taking guard as Kirigan silently commanded it. Alina scooted as further away as she could until her back hit the step of the front of the skiff. Staring at the shadow creature brought back the memory of her near escape through The Fold. The creature was exactly the same as the one who bit her, binding her to Kirigan for the rest of her life.
Kirigan stepped away, meeting with Ivan, talking but Alina couldn't hear a thing. The journey through The Fold was more relaxed than the previous ones. Alina sat in her spot, watching the shadow creature intently as it guarded her. It was laid on the ground, back towards her but it didn't mean to say the creature wasn't aware of her behind her. if she made a single move, the creature would attack.
Alina sat deep in thought. An idea contemplated in her mind as they sailed through The Fold. She toyed with the idea of bringing down her light purposely and letting the Volcra attack Kirigan. She'd be able to defend herself with her light and keep herself safe but the others didn't stand a chance.
But it was risky and with Kirigan close by, he'd surely use her power himself to regain the safety of it from the Volcra. Then she and Mal would be in trouble for definite. She also ran the risk of being attacked by the Volcra before she'd be able to defend herself and then not be able to at all. Did she want to risk her life now and never see Mal again. if she died now, he'd be locked away in that cell forever with no one to find him.
Alina also was thinking about what would happen when they got to Shu Han. Kirigan mentioned there were new laws to follow and she wondered what they were. Obviously, they were related to Grisha and mostly likely about how they were to be treated. Alina feared that Kirigan would be expanding The Fold on Shu Han but if he was, why would he be going to all that trouble to introduce the news laws he had designed if he was going to destroy them within seconds.
Alina caught looks from Kirigan every now and then, his dark eyes fixed on her for a few seconds before returning to his conversation with Ivan. The shadow creature hadn't moved in some time and Alina wondered if it was still alive or active. She didn't want to risk awaking it so she stayed still. The skiff started to slow down and Alina looked over the edge to see they were nearing the harbour of Shu Han. She heard Grisha shouting commands and instructions to one another to make a stop as they reached the harbour.
Alina braced herself on the floor as the skiff gave a sharper push as it went through The Fold and it opened like a pair of curtains, tearing a hole to sail up to the pier. The light from outside almost blinded Alina as they reached natural daylight and her light dome gently disappeared as they made it out The Fold. The skiff reached the pier and was stopped by the squaller, the sand rustling at the bottom like waves in an ocean and the Grisha immediately started exiting the skiff.
Alina heard his boots clunk on the floorboards once again and she looked up. The shadow creature disappeared as Kirigan came to her and Alina felt relieved that she was no longer being guarded by that thing. Kirigan reached down, his fingers brushing against her wrists as he unlocked the cuffs, the chains clacking on the floor and he took her hand in his softly, pulling her from the floor.
"We're heading to the Shu Han palace now; the emperor will have someone pick us up and we will meet him there to discuss the new laws. I'm sure I don't have to tell you what will happen if you disobey me" he said softer than Alina thought he would.
"I already got you across The Fold, why would I disobey you now" she answered, her answer genuine. Alina didn't have plans to disobey or defy now they were in Shu Han. In fact, she was actually nervous to be here. She was Shu herself, only half but still a part of it. She wondered what people would think of her as she was Grisha and the sun summoner.
"I don't know, perhaps you might think you can run from me… or attract the help of the Shu against me" he shrugged, throwing the options at her. Kirigan wasn't stupid in that there were going to be Shu soldiers with the emperor and others standing guard, the potential of an assassination attempt on him. He brought along his best Grisha for this trip and he wasn't taking any chances. He also debated whether to bring Alina with him to the palace or leave her here. There would also be the chance they might try to take Alina from him but also kill her as well.
"I won't" she demanded and Kirigan smiled softly.
"Good" he said and he gave a nod to Ivan as he turned to walk off the skiff and seconds later, Alina felt a push behind her, leading her off behind him.
Hey so i hope you like it, what do you think will happen next, let me know by leaving a review.