Hearing the raging noise coming from the stables, the young stable boy pushed the wide barn doors. A lantern in his hand to illuminate the darkness overtaking the stables. Making his way forward, he checked each horse looking for the one causing all the ruckus. Sounds of his angry neighs had the boy jumping in fear. The pounding of his hoofs on the floor rang like explosions. The kicking against the stall had the other horses riled. He wasn't surprised when it lead him to the black stallions stall.

He was a magnificent horse. Blacker then the darkness. He stood tall and proud and angry. His nostrils flared, hot air mixing with the cold winter, making it seem as if it was a dragon hidden beneath. In a way he was. Fierce and tameable only to the hands of his master. Everyone was aware of who this horse was and who it belonged to. For no horse lived in the stables such as this one. One of a kind just like his master.

Hanging the lantern on the hook by the stall, he approached with caution. "Easy boy." He was startled back as the horse lunged forward with an attempt to bite him. "Saints!"

"He's been like that all night." Iran, a Grisha solider appeared beside him. "No one has been able to calm him. Bit three others and kicked another."

The stallion reared on its back legs, making his emotions clear. A cold shiver ran down his spine the moment his eyes caught the beasts. The light causing a reflection within his large pupils, flashing red blood color. "We can't leave him like that."

"And what would you have us do?" Iran grumbled. "The heretic is dead. That beast has no master and he knows it."

Biting the inside of his cheek, he stared at the beast for a few moments. "Like you just said, he has no master." Reaching for the latch on the stall, he pulled it open. To avoid being tramped by the horse, he pulled Iran back with him.

"What are you doing Miran?!" Iran shoved the boy away, chasing after the galloping horse. Stopping at the barns entrance with an annoyed snarl. "That horse-"

"Is where it belongs." Miran cut him off, placing a hand on the man's shoulder. "His master is dead. No one would dare try and claim him. The king would have ordered his death. Let him be free."

The stallion dashed through the woods, leaping over thin winding creaks and the slippery rocks. He dodged and zipped past rotting oak trees and under lowered and snapped branches. Everything blurred into a dizzying blend of earthly colors. The earth was wet and moist under his hooves. He jumped into a muddy brook, swollen by the recent rains, soaking up his legs. The woods began to widen and thin layers of fallen pine needles and sentinels disguised the perilous and rocky terrain. He ran beside the twisted creek which mirrored the deep green of the trees. Leaping over a fallen pine tree, which had damned the flow. He raised his gaze to the top of the treetops and listened to the trees, as they came to life.

He continued on for two days without rest. Invading many who tried to capture him the moment they were privileged with his presence. Water nor food were important to him. He needed to get home. And for him home was his master.


Rolling to the side, he groaned at the pain rushing up his abdomen. Rolling on all fours, he pushed himself to his knees. Exhaling deeply, his eyes fluttered open to find himself in darkness. Screeches all around him from the creatures circling the skies. His eyes darted across the dark planes, not a living soul was around him. Staggering to his feet, he gripped his side, frowning at something wetting through his fingers. Looking down he cursed at the blood staining his hand.

"What in the saints happened?" He tried thinking back, but he found himself in the dark. Last thing he remembered was the battle with the kings army. The death of his loving Luda. It went blank after that. "I must find a way out of here." Limping his way forward, he frowned upon seeing the multiple ships wrecked around him.

What was this place? In a way it felt familiar. Like he's been here before. But he's never seen it in his life. Was there even a way out of this place? Before he could ponder any longer a loud screeched had him turning towards the sky. A large fly creature was coming towards him, it's large talons open for the snatch. Before he could muster up the cut, a large beast made out of pure shadow emerged catching the created and ripping it in half.

Aleksander was stunned. His eyes wide as he watched the shadow disappear within his own shadow. After being alive for so long he knew the extent of his power. What he can do. That was not something he was capable of doing. "Show yourselves." He commanded the creature. To his astonishment they obeyed him. Three large shadow beast stood before him. Each identical. No heart beat. No breath. Just pure shadow. Slowly he reached his hand out towards one of them and as predicted he felt nothing. "Follow." He wasn't sure what happened to him, but he has never felt as powerful as he did in that moment.


Genya shivered from both fear and cold. The Otkazat'sya had captured multiple of Grisha's including her. They beaten a few of them, before handcuffing their hands to the top of the cage they were kept in. They stood a few feet away from the fold as they drank, taunt and insulted them. She wasn't sure what they were planning on doing to them, but seeing the fold grow even more, gave her an idea. As their leader continued on with his drunken slurs, she heard what could only be the sound of hooves pounding on the sand. Looking over her shoulder, she frowned at the riderless horse galloping at full speed towards them.

She had seen that beast one too many time not to recognize it. General Kirigan's stallion. Those red eyes were unmistakable. Her eyes followed as he rushed past them and to her horror into the fold. The men around them laughed. Insulting the horse for it's stupidity and wish to die. Genya had only ever once seen that horse reacted the way it was doing so.


Flashback

Genya jumped back as the stallion reared against its capture. The young stable hand nearly loosing his footing and grip. "What has gotten into him?"

"I don't know." Ivan growled. "He's been like this since General Kirigan left this morning." He had a piece of mind to end that animals life, if it didn't mean the end of his as well. "Miran get a hold of him!"

"I'm trying sir." The boy jumped to the side avoiding the bite aimed at him.

Genya cringed at the loud painful noise the horse did. I was almost as if it were pleading to be released. Before she could say anything, Genya gasped at Miran being tossed to the side. The stallion waisted no time in running off.

It was near midnight when the beast returned. Genya was crossing the courtyard towards the grand palace when she spotted him. As she approached him with caution, she was greeted with a soft nickering. "Where have you-Gerenal?!" To her shock the darkling was slumped over the horses back. "Guards!" She yelled as she carefully pulled him off the horse and onto the floor. His blood soaking up the entire front of his clothes. "Guards, bring the healer!" Her hands shook as she pushed his hair away from his face.

"Genya?!" Zoya came running out. Her steps abruptly stopping at seeing the general bleeding and unconscious.

Genya growled at the lack of movements from the girl. "Don't just stand there! Get a healer and get the bloody guards down here!" She glanced down at man that both saved and cursed her. "You're going to be alright." Her eyes drifted to the horse standing nearby. No longer the raging beast he had been before. Not when his master was back home.

End of flashback


She yelped at something being thrown against her cage. Looking down she found one of the Otkazat'sya dead with its head cut off. Forcing her gaze away from the bloody man, she gasped.

Three large shadow beast emerged from the fold. Without wasting any time the things aimed for the humans. Their bullets did nothing against the Nichevo'ya because that's what there were. Nothing. She cringed and flinched after every death. Their screamed forever embedded in her mind. But she did not feel pity or remorse for their death. As everything quieted down, she looked over to see the Nichevo'ya standing idly. As if they were waiting for something.

Or someone.

A loud neigh was heard from within the folds. Everyone watched in both fear and awe as the same stallion walked out unharmed. No longer riderless as a dark shadow sat upon him. Genya strained her neck, to try and get a glimpse of who it was. The rider jumped off the horse, the black kefta on his back could only belong to one person.

One man.

He reached for the hood, pulling it down to reveal himself.

General Kirigan.

The Black Heretic.