Chapter two:
The forest was dark and cold, as Alina clung to her crotchet blanket like a safety net, she trudged forward farther and farther, catching glimpses of creatures shifting out of the corner of her eye. She told herself the stories weren't true, she chanted it over and over again, like a prayer, as she heard snapping twigs and scuffling hooves all around her. Alina despite her best efforts of calming herself picked up her pace, speed walking giving away to an all-out sprint. Trees blurring in the haze of her dread, feet carrying her across the dark woodlands, it was becoming overwhelming, the fear was suffocating. The trees felt as though they were caving in on her. She saw an opening up a head and kept her eyes fixed on that view, not sure if she'd make it.
She tripped over, oversized roots and thorn bushes clawed at her legs, the adrenaline too strong for her to notice the assault. She finally reached a large clearing, with scraped knees and bruised palms. The moon, now fully visible above her, in all its crescent glory. She breath in deeply as the black fog dissipated in just this one little area of relief. She rested her hands on her knees as she caught her breath, looking up at the stars in disbelief. She did it, she ran away and conquered her fears.
She had finally won. She smiled at the stars feeling freer than she ever had before.
Sighing, she straightens her back, before walking slowly to the center of the clearing, confidence seeping back into her veins. She chuckled at herself at the fear she had earlier. She twirled around looking at the trees that encircled her, feeling invincible.
"Guess those stories weren't true! Where are you now, Darkling?!" Alina billowed out into the starry sky, a smile plastered on her lips, laughing once more, as she mockingly put a hand to her ear, pretending to listen for any sound.
"Why aren't you answering? Are you shy, Darkling?" Alina laughed with her belly at just how dumb she was for being so scared of this silly forest, that wasn't more than trees and animals. The adrenaline wearing off, making her feel drunk and relaxed. She breathed out, as mist fell from her lips in the cold night air.
" I wouldn't say I'm Shy." A deep rich voice echoed in to the opening, as the fog started to move inward, crawling closer and closer, licking the grass only a few feet away from where she stood.
Alina jolted, instantly felt ice pumping through her skin.
Turns out, instead of fight or flight, Alina's knee jerk reaction was the third and least helpful;freeze.
She stood there long enough to wonder if the voice was only in her head. A sick joke, her mind was playing on her in the light of the moon. But, she couldn't deny the presence she felt just behind her. It was causing goosebumps to raise on her arms and the hair to stand on her neck. The panic too all-consuming to let her check.
"You're pretty quiet now after all that shouting.." The disembodied voice chimed again sounding almost… Amused?
Alina gasped, nightmares now confirmed, or confirmation of a metal break. Regardless, she pulled her blanket tighter round her, before finally finding the nerve to turn around, agonizingly slow. Her eyes drifted with her, to reveal nothing but thick fog. Yet, she still felt eyes on her, almost like the instinct of prey that know they were being stocked.
"Hello?" Alina was so frightened by the voice she couldn't find it in herself to even respond correctly to the words. Tears stinging her eyes, searching the fog that continued to move in on her. The claustrophobia, began to set in once more, making her lungs tight. Her feet itched to run, but was stapled to the grass under her, rooted like the trees that surrounded her.
"Hello to you too." The voice called out again from behind her. She flipped around straightaway this time, but once again she was met with nothing, but more black clouds. Vision blurry from the water pooling in her eyes, she blinked viciously trying to clear her sight, as she frantically looked around for any sign of movement. She knew something was out there. As unbelievable as it might of seemed. She need proof that she wasn't crazy, she needed to make sure this was real. She shifted her weight, curling her fingers in the spaces of the stitches in the blanket, trying to gathering the little courage she had left.
"H-hiding from me now?" Alina tried her best to sound unwavering, but instead she stammered out her words in a meek tone, she was not use to using. She heard nothing, but a low chuckle that verberated all around her, enveloping her. She couldn't help but find the voice dangerous. She more than ever, felt the need to flee, as soon as she pivoted on her toes to dart away, she hit a solid force right behind her. The sudden contact, knocking the wind from her chest, sending tears streaming down her pale cheeks.
She paused as she studied the object that had halted her get away. Her hands were firmly pressed against a cold chest, covered by a beautifully sown black cloak, with gold stitching, and black silk shirt tucked under the thicker fabric. She every so carefully raked her eyes upward, finding the most gorgeous man she had ever seen. His raven like locks combed back elegantly, with pale perfect skin like marble, and chiseled chin that sported a well-trimmed beard that was thin enough to make out, pale red lips. Lips that tugged into a wicked smirk, seen even in the darkness of night.
She instantly snapped away like a rubber band shot from his fingers. She had her proof. The reality of her situation finally sinking in. She wasn't crazy, she felt him under her boney fingers. He was real, whatever he was. Now, further away she could take in his full body, with black leather pants and large black boots. He was so tall compared to her much shorter stature. He was indeed handsome, what she could tell in the shadows, but her horror still burned at her throat. She arched back, step by step, slowly at the feeling of black smog on her neck and back. She shook the tears from her eyes, racking her mind for a way out of this mess.
"W-who are you?" She whispered not even sure of what she was saying anymore. The fog fully engulfed them, as Alina's heart starts to pound, breaths becoming shallow and short. Her head feeling like it was going to explode. Everything was dark again, her eyes straining just to make out the simplest of shapes.
"Who do you think I am?" he asked from the darkness, as even the sounds of the forest had faded away. Like the fog had eaten everything, but the man and her.
Alina couldn't even respond, before she felt her body giving up on her, breathing was impossible now, let alone standing. She couldn't fight the on slot of thoughts and emotions that rained down on her. She huffed and gasped clawing at her neck, she couldn't catch her breath. Every fiber of her being screamed out to breath. She didn't know what was happening, like her body was forcibly shutting down in the wake of the terror, tears gushing out of her eyes.
Then, she collapsed. Her body going limp against the grass, unconscious.
The stranger just looked down at her, curiously.
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Alina watched as Mel was thrown in that same damn carriage, watched him cry through the window, then fading into the forest. She felt the same tears that streamed down her face, felt the same arms that held her in place. But, this time a stranger stood on the road, appearing out of thin air, right in the middle. Then, the arms faded away, with the orphanage, and the boy in the wagon, leaving her and the man on that rocky, dirt path. She didn't know why, but it was comforting, someone baring witness to the worse pain of her youth. She looked deep into his eyes. Before, it all faded to black and she was pulled from her dream, and the comfort was torn away with it.
Alina eyes began to flutter, the crust around her eyes, making them feel sticky as she rubbed at them, sitting up. Suddenly, she was painfully aware that her bed felt unusably plush and soft. She tried opening her eyes fully, still hazy with sleep, only seeing hazy figures of shapes in a room cast in shadows. The memories of last night starting to flood her all once, her heart pounding violently making her chest tight. Where was she..?
"I see, you are awake." That same rich, deeply warm voice melted over her as she strained her eyes, trying her best to see if it was indeed the man from the forest or if she was still within dreams.
"I-it's so dark, I-is it morning?" Alina muttered still trying to wrap her head around what was going on, as the darkness started to ease back almost like smoke being filtered out, her thoughts were answered then. That same, mysterious man stood before her, his hands planted firmly on the bed post at her feet. His solid black eyes that felt like voids, to hollow to actually be eyes, felt unrelenting. The young woman felt the need to pull the cover on the bed tighter to her breast, as if the soft fabric would protect her.
Finally, regaining vision she scanned the room. It was luxurious and ingenious. Like nothing she had ever seen. The ceilings were high and painted with roman goddess with flowing draped dresses and pinkish orange clouds. The floors were a dark sparkling stone, so smooth it reflected the murals above. The bed was a massive structure that felt more like a sea of dark black and gold blankets and pillows, with long translucent gold curtains that hung from the wooden banister that surrounded it. Every piece of furniture in the room was dark and elegant. The desk in the corner of the room, beckoned the most to be stared at. It was a large stone slab, with beautiful carved designs with a chair that could only be described as a thrown. It was a plush, wooden chair with curved arm rests, that would she assumed would be rather comfortable no matter how you chose to lounge in it. Alina had never seen anything so extravagant in her life. Hell, she could have barely imagined something that was this outlandishly ornate.
"Is the room to your liking?" He asked genuinely, but still with that same playful tone that made it seem even less real. She just looked at him almost as if she had forgotten he was there, in the presence of all this beauty.
Alina just slowly nodded up and down. As the strange man just chuckled once more, before strolling to the side of the bed dragging his fingers along the bed's pillar, as Alina simultaneously crawled to the opposite side from which he was standing. Despite, his very handsome appearance she didn't trust him. The devil was handsome once too, you know, the brown haired woman though as she stared daggers into him.
"Are you scared of me, Solntse?" The man all but, cooed, as he leisurely crawled on to the bed, stocking crossing the blankets and pillows, as Alina tried to move further away, before he suddenly, in one smooth motion, pulled her thin frame into him. He placed her in his lap, straddling his hips, as he held tightly to her waist. She gasp, not believing the speed and strength he had. What was he doing? How dare he touch her so flippantly. She hissed and flared her arms in protest.
"Let go of me!" Alina instantly struggled harder against him, "I'm not your Sio-Soln- Whatever!" She struggled with the unknown word as he only held her tighter, his grip growing painful on her waist and arms. What was going to happen to her, she knew she didn't have the strength to fight him off. Yet, she was as good as dead if she didn't do something. Why wasn't she already dead? That thought frightened her the most. She should be dead.
"Stop squirming." He said in a commanding way that left no room for protest. She still no idea who she was dealing with, he could just be a crazy rich stranger planning on killing her.. Who is she kidding, he's most defiantly The Darkling. The words he spoke was a threat, so she stiffened straight, as his stern face started to grow into a pleased smile. "Solntse, Is Russian for little sun." He said softly, as he looked down at her and tucked a single strained of her hair behind her ear. " There is nothing to fear. Now, please calm down.."
Alina wanted to scream, to slap his hand away, but couldn't. She remained frozen under his stare. A fire raged just under her skin. Nothing to fear? She wanted to scoff. She was taken from the woods by a man that controlled darkness, pure unwavering darkness. Yet, she was supposed to have no fear? He was crazy.
"You're the Darkling, Aren't you?" Alina all but hissed, glued to his eyes, noticing a small beauty mark right below his left eye, like an accent. How dare this monster be so beautiful , She thought annoyed.
"Some call me that, yes." He said flatly, face stoic, yet she knew the name was clearly not appreciated. His hands gave him away as they tighten around her arms.
"So, you are." Alina pressed earning her an annoyed sigh. "Why am I here? Why didn't you kill me in the woods?" She quickly added.
"Why would I do that?" He watched her intently, almost as if he was trying to read her mind, her emotions. "And I saved you, you would have died from exposure or worse, wild animals." He reasoned.
She thought about his words for a moment. He wasn't wrong, she could have died to animals or the cold, but she didn't- no, couldn't, believe that this monster that she's heard so much about would try to save her, just out of the goodness of his heart.
"What do you want? Why did you save me?" She asked leaning away from his face, trying to create as much distance as she was allowed, ignoring the feel of his warm hand on her back as he halted any further movement in that direction.
"Well, do I need another reason to save a young girl, alone in the woods?" The man signed but gave a halfcocked smile, with narrowed eyes. Almost as if, he was befuddled by the questions. She searched his eyes for any hint of malice or ill intent. She didn't believe him, and it showed.
"Then why hold me, as you do?" She tugged back, before being halted again, furthering her point. "If you just wanted to save me, you've done your job. Now, let me go." Alina's final words dripped from her lips more like a pled than the command that she so desperately wanted it to be.
The raven haired man broke eye contact for the first time since pulling her to him, as he shut his eyes and breathed out. His breath smelled of whiskey and mint. She didn't hate the smell and that thought made her frown.
"That can't happen.." He finally relented. "You can never leave."
Alina felt like she had been shot in the chest, all breath escaping her lungs. What did he think he was saying?
"And why's that?" She gritted her teeth, fist shaking at her sides. He peered back up into her doe like eyes, his hands at her back loosing slightly, but not enough to release her.
"Because when you leave, you will come back with others." His warm voice sounding tired, worn and all knowing. He reached his hand up to Alina's mouth and brushed the pad of his thumb over the fullness of her bottom lip, the touch searing her skin. "You will use this mouth of yours to tell everyone of the monster in the woods. The men will have no choice, but to come looking for me, with pitchforks and guns."
Alina knitted her brows together, as she yanked her face from his long fingers. With her face still turned to the side she asked, "And what will you do to me if I run?"
She stared at him feeling resentment boil in her belly. He was telling her she can never leave. She escaped one prison, only to fall into another? Was her fate to forever be a caged bird? NO. She'd rather die than be trapped once more. Come hell or high water, she was going to be free.
"Don't." He growled with warning. Shift her chin, to capture her gaze.
"Just, don't."
Alina's heart beat violently against her ribs, knowing the words left unspoken. He would kill her. Anger and fear finally over riding herself preservation. She bit his hand has hard as she could, feeling warm copper flow into her lips. The man howled in pain pulling his hand away, giving her enough time to land a hard fist against his temple, causing the man to release her all together. She flew out of the bed as fast as she could and made a dash to the door at the far end of the room. She raced towards it, but screamed out, as she felt cold metal bite cruelly into her ankle. Pulling against her so harshly, that she was wrenched back with such force that, she was dragged to the hard stone under her, with barely enough time to protect her face from also slamming down into the floor.
She wailed in pain, the wind had been knocked out of her by the impact of the hard ground, wheezing for a moment, before looking down at her foot confused. There on her thin left ankle was a black chain cuff. It looked to be made from the same material, that the man formed from his fingers. How had she not noticed a chain around her ankle? Was it not obvious before?
Alina drew her glaze slowly back to the man on the edge of the bed. He just set there watching the horror and realization spread across her delicate features. He was unmoving for a long terrifying moment, dark eyes glaring at her, through thick dark brows, before raising meticulously slow, into a standing position. "I had hoped that you could come to reason, and be civil about this situation, that we have been placed in." He walked closer to her, the fear building in her with every step, as she startled to crawl sideways, then backward. She could feel the murderous intent flowing from him, thick as the black shadows that danced around him. She continued her motions back picking up speed, till her spine hit the stone desk harshly.
"But I see now, that it may take a while for you can come to your senses." He finally reached her, as he kneeled down on one knee between her arched legs, tugging on her frayed nightgown. He lifted his bleeding hand to her face, as she whimpered feeling tears flow freely down her face from the helplessness she felt in his presence. He wiped a tear away, before fiercely grasping the back of her head, twisting into her long hair and arching her closer to his face.
"You will be safe here, Solntse. As long as you are polite." He gritted out, behind pearly clenched teeth. "I understand your fear but, I am not your punching bag, understand?" He waited a moment, before shaking the back of her head "Answer me!" He snapped voice booming and echoing off the walls.
"Yes!" Alina instantly blurted out, without a second thought, her life suddenly feeling more valuable than her stubbornness, in wake of his fury.
He loosed his grip on her hair, dropping his hand to his side, blood smeared on his pale hand, signing deeply. He looked relieved, clearly feeling calmer now that she relented. He stood once more, then walked towards the door, pausing right before he opened it. "I will be back with breakfast. Perhaps, a full stomach will calm you." He mumbled so quietly that Alina had to strain her ears to hear him over her own racing heart. Then, he was gone.
She instantly relaxed, now finally alone she breathed deeply, before being wrecked with sobs that broke freely from her lips. She sobbed miserly drawing her knees to her chest, hugging them tight. Trying her best to crawl into herself like a snail wiggling back inside of its shell. She wanted so bad to just disappear, to be far, far, far away from this situation. She felt like such a stupid girl, with stupid ideas. Of course, this all turned out like this. In fact, she was lucky to be alive. She could have been eaten by wolves, she knows she should be grateful for life. Yet, she couldn't stop the tears that flowed from her eyes. She felt so small and pitiful.
After a long while of her crying bitterly, she started to feel numb. The terrifying man, had not yet returned. She leaned her sore head against the desk to her rear, then stood feeling her shaky legs trying to buckle under her weight. She steadied herself then surveyed the room around her. Trying her best to spot anything she could use to free her ankle from her chains. She looked at the desk, spotting a small letter opener. She grasped it tightly, before sitting back down and looking at the chain once more. Useless, she thought bitterly. The key hole was much too small to try and fit the letter opener through and much too weak to try and break one of the chain links through leverage. She frowned, before sliding the opener in to the waist band of her underwear and slipping her nightgown back over it. She knew if she could just get him to let his guard down. She could stab him, grab the keys and be free. But she would have to be smart about it, wait for the right time. If she was going to attack him, she would have to kill him out right, because if not he will most defiantly kill her. That murderous aura that she had felt earlier was tangible. If she knew nothing else, she knew that he was not someone you wanted to provoke offhandedly.
Right as she was having that thought, the Darkling stocked back into the room, hand now wrapped with a bandage, carrying a food tray filled with cinnamon rolls with cups of something warm. Steam pooling from the mugs and rolls. The smell was so delightful, for a spit second she had a thought about forgiving him just for a taste. Just a second though.
Alina closed her eyes and breathed the scent in, as her stomach flipped and turned. She hadn't eaten anything sweet since her last birthday, when the children would be allowed a few cookies the chief would make. She asked for snickerdoodle kind this year and that flavor still haunted her.
"Guess, you're hungry." The raven haired man, smirked tilting his head towards her, as he place the plate of rolls on a small round table closer to the bed, along with the two cups of warm liquid, then placing the tray to the floor. Her rumbling tummy gave her away, gurgling loudly, in the resounding room.
"Starved." Alina mumbled, being completely honest. She really was watering at the mouth at just the sight of the delightful treats. He knew anyways, no use in hiding it now. As much as she wished she could deny the offering she knew her willpower was not strong enough. She was too hungry, too weak…
The man sat on of the large chairs next to the small table, waving a graceful, cloth wrapped hand to gesture her to sit across from him. She stood and slowly ambled her way over to the seat, aware of the letter opener firmly placed in her waist band, careful not to let it scrap at her ribs. She steadied her breathing, eyeing him cautiously, pushing the fear away, in the promises of nourishment.
She planted herself on the plush arm chair and sat crisscross, trying to adjust the small knife as nonchalantly as possible, as she gathered herself. The hilt digging into her hipbone. Once settled, she stared at the handsome person across from her and just waited, now noticing the cups contained brown milky tea. She hoped that there was no stipulations attached to the this meal. By accepting this token of peace was she accepting him? She desperately hoped that was not the case.
"Eat." He said commandingly, lifting a thick brow towards the overly sized rolls in front of her, picking up his tea cup and taking a long sip, voids still firmly placed on her unmoving stiff frame. He looked more warry of her than before, which made her strangely at ease, knowing he was just as unsure of her, as she was of him. Even though he clearly had the upper hand.
That said, She didn't need another word of encouragement, as she snatched one of the sticky rolls from the dish and took a large bite. She moaned the second that the sweetness coated her tongue, slipping her eyes closed to savored it. She didn't care if this cinnamon roll sealed her fate. She only cared for release from the hunger pains that she was so accustom to. The warm spices, round rich taste of brown sugar and butter melted away her resistance. Shoulders relaxing, sinking into the red over stuffed material that she rested on. This was so much better than she had expected, it was fluffy and warm, inviting her to take bite after blissful bite. Her speed of chewing accelerating with each mouthful. She was pulled from her own little slice of heaven when a low chuckled broke the silence.
"Is it good?" The Darkling asked with a pleased look gracing his stone features. Tearing a piece from one of the cinnamon rolls, then popping it in his mouth, licking the icing off his fingers. He was obviously entertained with her displays of affection towards the meal. "Glad to see this more docile side of you."
"Don't get used to it, but sure. They are quite good. Did you make them?" She mumbled around her bite, before washing it down with the tea that was just as delectable, flavored like flowers, honey and milk. She suddenly wondered if she should have worried about poison but thought it unlikely. If he wanted to kill her, she'd already be dead. Plus, she was having a hard time imaging a dark, cunning man like him, in an apron.
"No, I buy them from an older woman on the edge of the wood. She has been kind to me over the years." He took another sip of his tea and cleared his throat. "But, I do cook. It's the baking that I'm not too keen on."
Alina nodded slowly taking the last bite of her first roll, before grabbing another, and taking a big bite of that one too. She didn't care if she looked like a child with her cheeks filled to the brim like a chipmunk, icing coating her chin. All she knew was that her belly was being filled with something other than porridge. For the first time since this whole ordeal, she felt somewhat grateful for it, If only a little.
"You are nothing like I imagined you.." Alina said after a swallow, she couldn't take another bite, even though she wanted to. Her stomach too shrunken from years of going without. She resigned to just sipping her tea, letting it warm her inside and out.
"What did you expect? A beast with claws and fangs?" The mysterious man grunted as if the notion was something he was use to hearing and grew bored of.
"No, not quiet. I thought of you as a man. An old man, with long yellowy nails, and teeth, long grey hair and wrinkled face. Like a male witch, perhaps." Alina shrugged her thin shoulders, causing the sleeve of her nightgown to slip off her boney frame. She pulled it back into place as she pondered. She wasn't sure how she thought about the Darkling, but a handsome thirty something year old man was most defiantly not it. She pulled her eyes back to his, noticing them lingering on her shoulder, before retreating back to his hands that held his cup. Odd, she thought.
"I see. Well, sorry to disappoint." He scoffed, running strong beautiful fingers through his shinny onyx locks. He pushed the large chair back, drawing to a stand before starting to clear the table of the half eaten treats, picking up the tray that was on the floor next him. As Alina wiped the sticky sugar from her mouth with back of her sleeve.
"I wouldn't say I'm disappointed, merely surprised is all." The brown haired girl was indeed surprised. She felt truly confused, how this man, this beautiful man, had ended up being the monsters in her bedtime stories. He must have done awful, vile things to be betrayed as such a monster. The earlier display of wrath had, without a doubt, confirmed that for her.
"That's understandable. I was not painted in a very favorable light by you, humans. Not that it particularly matters." He sighed shaking his head, carrying the tray to the much smaller, yet similar table next to the door, before returning to his seat, picking up the tea cup, and placing it to his lips.
"You, humans." She repeated him with narrowed eyes. "Do you not consider yourself human? You say it with such distain.." Alina never thought that he wasn't human, but a human that did unspeakable things, using dark magic, maybe, But still human. Also, She could see why he was painted that way, after now being the target of his anger. He was terrifying, when he wished to be.
He seemed to bounce the question around his mind, behind this cup, shifting his head from side to side, eyes reaching above him. "Well, I don't age," head tilt.
" I call upon darkness whenever I will it," head tilt to other side.
" and most humans are fearful of me, more out of instinct than anything else..." He paused, placing his tea down, furrowing his brow. Then unexpectedly clicked his tongue, in revelation. "Like, how prey can sense a predator, despite the camouflage. So, I doubt I'm of human decent. I just look human." He gathered, looking like he just answered his own question rather than hers, placing down the teacup into it's saucer.
"So, you describe yourself as a wolf in sheep's wool, and yet, somehow surprised that humans fear you? How comical." She declared with no humor to be found. Rolling her amber eyes at the irony, letting her judgements of the man slip.
"No. I'm not surprised." He snapped. "Furthermore, I wouldn't describe myself as a wolf in sheep's wool.." He looked almost insulted at the suggestion, as he continued. " I am simply describing how I feel I've been treated." He says sternly, leaning forward placing his elbows on the wood in front of him, intertwining his fingers and resting them against his cleft chin. Alina felt a slight chill run up her spine, at the twinge of anger behind his eyes. She pushed the feeling down and breathed, suddenly sensing she was in uncharted waters.
"Forgive me, but let me get this right." She started cautiously, trying to do some damage control before things got heated again. "You separate yourself from humanity because you feel they treat you as inhuman? Not because, you are in fact, not human?" Alina pinches her eyebrows together, trying her best to understand exactly what he means, outside of the confusing animalistic metaphors.
He takes a moment to consider that question just as carefully as the one before. Despite, the answer seeming rather cut and dry to Alina. Either he was human or not, what could be so difficult to admit? It was a yes or no, kind of question.
Instead of voice her complaints, she just used this time to take in more of his appearance as she waited for his answer. The more she inspected his characteristics in the candle light, the more other worldly he seemed. More a kin to an angel of death than a monster of the night. His alabaster skin, smooth and radiant, His truly never-ending black eyes, ever amused but steady, pink thin lips, but not so thin to make them look rigid, and well-groomed beard. Just as dark as his medium length hair that curled behind his ears ever so slightly. She wondered what he would look like in the sunlight. Would his eyes be a shade lighter, revealing subtle browns instead of just voids of color. Are they really that black and empty as they seemed before her now?
She shook away the thoughts, blinking wildly forcing them away. What was she doing? Fawning over this creature that may not even be human. This form must just be a clever distraction from his ugly, twisted intentions. It must be..
"I don't know." He spoke finally, sounding exasperated, apparently not having found a satisfying answer. " I need food and drink. Crave the same things human do, feel the same things humans do." He mused over his own words as he spoke them. "What is a human really? But flesh and bone with some self-awareness mixed in. I would say I am that.. But also, different. I'm not quite sure what I am. To be frank." He finished with a sigh. "You ask so many questions of me, Solntse."
She rolls her eyes at his use of that ridiculous pet name. "Wouldn't you be curious as well? I didn't even think you were real only yesterday. Then suddenly, here you are. It still doesn't feels quiet real, yet. So, it's a little far-fetched to think I wouldn't ask things of this nature." She grabs her tea and takes a sip, frowning at the now cooler liquid. "And that's not my name, Darkling."
"And neither is that mine, But you never gave me your name, have you?" He retorted harshly, pulling the cup away from her grasp as the younger girl flinched at the contact of skin against skin. He ignored the reaction the best he could, but couldn't hide the frown on his lips. He still had a serious abhorrence for that title she knew him by.
"You never asked." She said firmly, watching as he walked over to the small fireplace in the very far corner of the room. He looked rigid and tight as he pulled a ornate teapot off the top of the stone, filling her and his cup again. She thought a fireplace was meant to heat a room, rather than be used as a stove, but it could be both. who knows, she thought. Alina knew she was not well versed on the things of the world outside of her orphanage.
"It's Alina." She said after a second or so, noticing as his strong back and broad shoulders, relaxed ever so slightly at the surrender of her name.
"That's a lovely name." He admitted turning around, placing the now warm drinks back down, reclaiming his seat, and crossing his long legs.
Alina took a sip of her now stronger and less milky, warm tea. "Thank you." She whispered, although she didn't really want to be polite, it was more out of habit. "And if you don't accept Darkling, What am I to call you?"
"I prefer, Aleksander. My birth name." He said flatly, leaning back. "And what are you, Alina ? I'm bored of talking about myself."
She blushed very slightly at the way her name rolled off his tongue, sounding somewhat more sensual from his lips, than she though it should. Clearing her throat not wishing to dwell to long on that thought.
"Well.." She considered how she should answer, placing her cup back down. "I'm nobody, really." She didn't really know how else to respond. She knew just as little about her history as this stranger did.
"Why do you describe yourself is this way?" He asked eyes turning curious, as he propped his arm over the arm rest on his left, leaning a loose fist to his high cheekbone. The air in the room seemed lighter now that the attention was drifted from the cryptic man.
"I'm an orphan. I don't really know my heritage or anything about who I am. Beyond my own thoughts, of course. I, also have no idea why I no longer have my parents, if they left me by choice or death. It's uncertain." She frowned pulling her knees under her chin, trying not to wince as the letter opener scraped against her skin, before resting off to the side of her hip. She let her hands rest on her bare feet, wondering if her shoes would be returned to her.
"Oh, so you grew up in that little orphanage on the edge of the wood. Explains, why I found you so close to there." He reasoned, intently observing the small woman across from him.
She nodded thinking of the only place she had ever known. She wondered if she'd ever see that decrypted, cold place again. If she would see the gnashed looks from Mr. and Mrs. Keramsov again or the ghostly faces of the children residing inside those cracked walls. She felt a lump form in her throat, as she was flooded by memories of her and Mel. It hit her that now her hopes of seeing Mel was now truly shattered. It's not that she partially wanted to go back to that horrible place, but it was the same place that Mel and her meet, it can't so easily be forgotten. She struggled to fight back the sting in her eyes, as tears started to well.
"Running away?" He asked after a long span of muteness from the teary eyed girl. There was no mistaking that she was remembering things she didn't like to.
She glanced up, regained her composer, almost like being snapped out of a trance. She didn't want him to see her cry, again. She couldn't let him view her as weak. She blinked away the water in her eyes, not letting them fall, as she breathed out the bad air.
"Yes, they were going to sell me. I turned seventeen last year, and apparently you cannot stay in an orphanage after the age of sixteen anymore. Not to mention, the head of the orphanage, is a greedy, pompous fool. That only cares of himself." She gritted out, her hatred of the man seeping into her words at just the thought.
"Sell you to whom?" Aleksander spoke with a slight edginess, like the notion irked him, yet he didn't move from his comfortable position.
"The local whore house, I assume. He didn't say it directly, but who else would pay for 4 girls? Not the sowing mill, I'll tell you that." Alina scoffed still annoyed, shaking her head, causing her hair to flow with the movement.
The dark man's nostrils flared hearing what he had hoped was not the case. He lowered his hand from his face and sat up slightly, with his hand falling to grip the armrest tightly. "What a disgusting man, indeed." He grunted, setting his jaw tighter. "No wonder, you ran." He relaxed his hand and rubbed his finger together, gripping the chair causing irritation to the bite wound. " But why into the forest? You could have used the road systems to get into town."
"True.." She blushed slightly at her own childish behavior, covering more of her face with her knees. How was she going to tell this perfect stranger that it was more to prove to herself that she wasn't scared anymore, than a properly planed escape attempt. "You see… There was something I was trying to prove… I don't know." She sighed. " I thought by conquering my fear of the woods, I'd- Ughhh.." She blanched pulling her hands to her face, in an attempt to wipe away the embarrassment. "It doesn't matter." She groaned, frustrated on how she couldn't put the thoughts into words, instead choosing to just giving up entirely.
"That being free of the fear, would set you free?" He filled in the remainder, his expression serious, yet kind. She parted her finger from her eyes, peering through them at Aleksander, then drooping them back to her feet.
"It sounds childish, I know." She slumped over her knees, not knowing why his opinion of her suddenly mattered. She felt defeated in some small way.
He shook his head gently. "Not at all. Sounds, human." He stated in a matter of fact tone, that left no room for disagreements.
Alina chewed on those words for a moment, as she just regarded the form of the man before her. He in that blip of time, looked like the wisest and most gentle man in the world. This person that she had viewed as nothing more than a monster only seconds ago, now seemed just as human as her. Sitting there, posed and elegant, with so much understanding swirling in those starless orbs of his. She felt so conflicted in her beliefs. That she wanted to hurl insults his way, hit and kick him, till he showed his true colors and she hadn't the slightest clue why. She was so frustrated by her own feelings and thoughts.
"Aleksander.." She began, the taste of his name feeling foreign and strange. "Why do all this? Wouldn't it have been easier just to wash your hands of me? Why bring me such good food and speak so kindly to me, if this is just so I won't run off and tell others of you? I'm so confused.." Alina admits, letting loose some of her true thoughts to him in the wake of her divided mind.
Aleksander lifted his chin, looking down on her blinking rapidly, lips parted like he, himself wasn't sure of his own intentions. Then, casting his eyes towards the ceiling, searching for the words. He took a deep breath, then exhaled the words, "I think, I'm lonely." He nodded gradual settling into his words, repaying her with the same honestly that she allotted him.
They both remained silent, the sound of the fireplace filling the room with the crackling of wood and the puttering of rain above. Both deep in thought as they merely basked in the presence of one another, neither knowing what to say. Alina repeated those words in her head, over and over. She awkwardly teetered under his gaze. She had no idea how to respond to those words. Lonely? He didn't kill her because he was lonely. She stilled, and really thought about it. This selfish, entitled man snatched her, from the woods, told her she couldn't leave, all because he was lonely. Nothing more. She felt anger slowly build in her belly, jaw clenching tight, as her eyes started to narrow, letting her legs fall to the floor. He inspected her face as it faded from a sympathetic one to one of malice.
"Was it not the answer you had hoped for?" He asked now showing his own expression of confusion. Had he not just been honest with her?
She rolled her eyes and glared with such distain, that he felt daggers. "You kidnapped me-"Saved." He corrected, features swiftly turning cold.
"Took me," She repeated. "Telling me I can't leave, for no other reason but, you are lonely. God, and I thought I was the childish one." She laughed bitterly, throwing her head back dramatically. "How selfish can one man be?"
Aleksander slammed his hands down on the wood under him, causing her to quickly jump and go silent, knocking the teacup beside him over. Its contents splashing everywhere, only rattling Alina's cup. She was acutely and rapidly aware that she just pocked the bear in a very tender spot. And she was about to see the price of her sharp tongue.
"You think loneliness is something to be mocked?" He snarled, veins pultruding from his neck and forehead, wrath and hurt bending the air around him, making it dark and heavy. Alina felt instant regret and wished she had just kept her stupid mouth shut, as she looked at him wide eyed, like a deer in headlights.
"RESPOND." He roared, flipping the table to the side, sending the delicate teacups flying and shattering, with a thunderous crash, shards of china skittering across the floor. She leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes and covering her ears as she curled tightly into a ball, waiting for an impact that never came. She remained frozen like that, till she heard him take a step backward. She peeked one squinted eye open.
He held there, fists clenched at his sides, looking down on her, as if she was a nothing more than a stain. "I'm not going to strike you, Solntse." He grew out the Russian name, purposely. Not giving her the respect of her real name, taking another step backward, looking through her, right into her soul. "But, I am going to teach a very ill-mannered girl, a much needed lesson, on just how crippling loneliness can be." He raised his hands and with one echoing clap, plunged Alina back into darkness. Alina screamed not knowing what was going to happen to her, grabbing at the chair that she set on.
"We'll see how long before your begging me to simply speak to you again, Solntse." His deep voice boomed and echoed around her as a door slammed, punctuating his departure.
Then, once again Alina was alone and scared in the dark. What had she done.. She just had to provoke him, instead of tricking him into false comfort as she planned. She ruined it and most of all made her situation worse. What on earth was she going to do, now?
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Hello beautiful people,
Thank you so much for making it thus far! I really am enjoying writing this, sorry it's another shorter chapter. I really hope you like the story so far, It is rather dark.. In more ways than one, if you catch my drift. *wink* *wink* But, please leave me all the reviews, I'd really like to know what you all think, and if you enjoyed this chapter or not. If you did, leave me a follow or whatever, it would be greatly appreciated. Once again thank you so much for reading.
-Katt =^.^=