☼☼☼☼☼☼

☼☼☼☼☼☼

THE FOLD surrounded her. Shadows swirling in patterns she didn't recognize, screams and shrieks mixing together in a cacophony of fear, accompanying the horrifying sight she saw before her. Volcra swarmed the skiff, like vultures swooping down on their prey, tearing them limb from limb.

The darkness was growing bigger, stronger, enveloping all of them until...

Light burst forth and pierced the darkness, silvery and golden and all the colors she never dreamed of.

It wrapped around her, engulfing the curves of her body, taunting her. She screamed.

☼☼☼☼☼☼

REYKA JOLTED AWAKE coming face to face with the man who'd insisted she'd ride with him. The coach jerked back and forth, the rocky road an indication that they were finally reaching their destination near the edge of the Fold.

The Darkling was staring at her, nothing behind his eyes but his lips perking up in a small smile. She wondered if it was real.

"Sleep well?" He asked, causing Reyka to fidget under his gaze. She straightened up and pressed her hands against her kefta, smoothing it down.

She nodded, "I would've slept better in the Etherealki carriage," She shot at the General for good measure, making it clear that she did not approve of him switching up plans like this. He chuckled at her comment, and a bubble inside of Reyka's chest popped, soothing her as she relaxed into her seat.

The Darkling could laugh? Sometimes she forgot that just like the rest of them, he was human. That he felt laughter and sadness and anger like they all did. "This coach isn't the most comfortable I'll admit," He spoke quietly, a smile dangling on the edge of his lips. Reyka couldn't help but furrow her brows at the gesture. The smiles he wore had always been small, conniving things, but here he seemed to actually be enjoying himself.

"So why do you use it?" She asked, the words falling from her lips before she could stop them.

The Darkling's lips turned downward and his gaze remained fixated on her. "I'm the General of the Second Army and advisor to the King, it is what my status demands."

"Don't you ever get tired?"

His brows knit themselves together at the question and Reyka continued to speak.

"Of pretending to be something you're not?" She didn't know what entity had possessed her to talk this way to the man who could end her life with a clap of his fingers, but it emboldened her, "You clearly despise the King, but yet you continue to act like his lapdog, why?"

The Darkling inhaled deeply, biting down on his lower lip, "Because I have no other choice. I want to see Ravka become a safe place for the Grisha and that means following the King's orders."

Reyka could hear the unspoken 'for now' tagged on the end of his sentence. She gulped and picked at her kefta. He sounded like her. Exactly like her.

Because for people like them there was no other choice than to sit idly by and wait for their chance to strike. To wait for an opening of some kind.

He was right. It was the only choice they had.

The coach stopped and she was the first one to climb out, the camp before her messy and undisciplined. Men were shaving their beards and mustaches using the pewter plates they'd been provided with, a clear difference in the way the Second and First army were treated. For some reason it didn't bother her as much as she expected it to.

Zoya was back at her post, teaching the Inferni and the Squallers to work together just a couple hours before the skiff was set to launch. Reyka broke away from the Darkling and his oprichniki, moving over to greet her friend.

"You made it," Zoya smiled, pulling her in for an embrace, "And you managed to survive the General's presence."

Zoya's teeth clenched along with her fists, grip growing tighter before letting Reyka go. She cocked an eyebrow at the Squaller, "You're still his prized Squaller, Zoya," The two girls shared a look and Zoya nodded, straightening her posture. Reyka furrowed her brow, "besides, I would've thought you'd have tumbled someone else by now"

"I almost did," Zoya explained, a coy look on her face before something else settled over it, "But he refused."

Reyka's brows went from furrowed to raised, eyes widening at the admission, "Someone said no to you?"

Zoya playfully shoved Reyka's shoulder before turning back to her recruits, "AGAIN!" The Suli girl let out a sigh and nodded, "Apparently he had someone else he needed to tend to. AGAIN!"

Reyka shook her head and smiled, trying to imagine someone saying no to Zoya of all people for another First Army runt. "You're good at that," She gestured to the training yard and Zoya moved her gaze to meet Reyka's, a hint of pride in her blue gaze.

"You think so?"

Reyka nodded and watched as Zoya dismissed the group, giving them one final pep talk before the skiff set out. Reyka's chest constricted at the thought of sending all those Grisha into the darkness. Into the sea that would swallow them whole. Most of them were Squallers of Inferni who had newly left the Little Palace. The most populous of the Grisha Orders, but something uneasy still settled in her gut as she watched them board the skiff to certain death. A healer stood on deck already, there to help erase any wounds that the Grisha would take on their ride over.

Something nudged Reyka's shoulder and she found herself poked with the edge of one of the oprichniki's spears. "Come on," He ordered, "The General has requested your presence."

Reyka's lips twisted themselves into a frown as she followed the men in black toward the edge of the docks, where the Darkling stood staring out at the creation of his ancestor, a hopeful gaze written across his face.

His cape fluttered in the wind, much like Reyka's brunette curls did and as she moved to stand by his side, his lips curled upward.

"Remarkable isn't it?" He asked, still staring out at the inky blackness that had split the country in half, "Nearly half a millennium and still it stands, unable to be destroyed."

"You almost sound as if you admire it," Reyka commented, her gaze fixated on the brooding man beside her. The Darkling continued to stare out into the void, almost like he was seeing something nobody else was.

"It is a feat unlike any other," He responded, "A representation of the true power a Grisha has." He finally turned to meet her stare. "Of the potential we have."

She cast a sidelong glance at the Fold, watching the skiff disappear into the shadows, never to return.

All she could do was stand there by The Darkling's side as they watched the Fold rage on, and then...she saw it.

It was only a few minutes into the journey when it reappeared, causing Reyka to drop her mouth open in shock, arms falling to her side. "Is that..."

The Darkling looked just as surprised, brows furrowed at the sight before him, "It is."

"But...how?"

The two of them were speechless, staring out at the impossible sight.

☼☼☼☼☼☼

PERSE STOOD with her brother and his co-workers in the finely furnished room, arms crossed and hip cocked. Tamar stood behind her, arms behind her back as she waited for Perse's signal. She would not move until it was safe, and Perse knew that Tamar wouldn't be needed until after negotiations.

So they waited.

It's a good thing Sturmhond was only stopping in Ketterdam for a supply run, it would give Tamar a sanctuary from the gangs and mercenaries who could potentially interrogate her for information. Perse knew that the Shu girl could handle herself, but she felt better knowing that Tamar would be with Toya on the ship, safe and far away from whatever this million kruge deal was.

Dreesen was a fat man, a white handlebar mustache spreading across his face like a milk stain that would never go away, his robe and dressing gown exposing everything wealthy merchants like him tried to hide. Perse's stomach rumbled and churned, blood boiling at the thought of this man able to afford such good meats and pastries that he could die from the food clogging his veins, instead of the hundreds of slaves and indentures that flooded the streets of Ketterdam, starving and beaten.

He just sat up here in his ivory tower, waiting for criminals to call on him and collect his wealth.

His thick lips split into a wry smirk, "One look and I can tell. Criminals."

Perse and Jesper shared a look. Dreesen waved them away, "I'm not taking any meetings until midnight."

"Well that's a shame," Perse tilted her head, drawing the attention of everyone in the room, "You only have a heartrender for an hour and by then...it's too late."

Dreesen perked up at the mention of the Grisha, standing up and placing his hands on his desk. Perse's hand remained on her pistols.

The merchant narrowed his eyes, "The Heartrender stays, the rest of you go."
Two men moved to collect Tamar and Kaz held up his cane, blocking them from moving any further. "She stays..." Kaz began, his eyes betraying nothing, "And we have an exclusive on this job."

Dreesen chuckled and gave the group a saccharine smile, "Mr. Brekker, no businessman worth his salt hires his first applicant."

Kaz sent the merchant an equally authentic smile, the gesture not reaching his eyes, cane staying in place. "No, no I understand."

The cane fell to the ground, Kaz gripping the crow's head with two hands as he peeked out from under his hat, his smile turning into a wry smirk, "Of course, I will have to report you to the guild for kidnapping and harboring a prisoner without chain of title."
Perse chuckled softly, grip tightening on her pistol in case it got ugly. Jesper did the same. Kaz had balls she had to admit.

Dreesen strolled over to meet them, his limp jaw clenching itself furiously, "You wouldn't."

Kaz leaned forward, his smirk growing wider, "No businessman worth his salt bargains for what he can take."

Perse couldn't help but smile. As much as she despised gangs and the corrupt system of Ketterdam, she was happy Jesper had thrown his hat in with one of the smart ones. Silence hung between the two men, and Dreesen inhaled deeply before waving his men down.

"Alright then, follow me."

They descended into darkness, moldy wood creaking beneath their feet as the walls grew closer and wet with moisture with each step they took. The air around her grew thick, and Perse had to breath through her mouth to avoid gagging at the smell.

A door slid open and Perse's eyes widened, her hand slowly falling from her nose as she caught sight of the body that had been tied up to a wooden chair in the center of the room.

She traded a look with Tamar, a similar horrified expression on the girl's face.

Kaz looked unperturbed and Perse felt Jesper's warm hand embracing her own.

"Who's this?"

Dreesen smirked and moved toward the body, "So you don't know everything after all," The hood was removed and Perse squeezed her brother's hand tighter. Tied to the chair was a boy, younger than her and Jesper, with blonde hair and blue eyes that looked as if they'd been through an entire war and back.

She resisted the urge to gasp.

"This is Alexei Stepanov," Dreesen explained, staring down at his captive, "Two weeks ago, young Alexei crossed through the Fold on foot," The merchant turned toward the group, an expectant look on his face, "Alone."

"That's impossible," Perse burst out before she could stop herself. Dreesen merely shrugged. No one got through the Fold on foot.

Tamar fixed her gaze on the boy before her and slowly moved forward, "Or maybe just improbable."

The Shu girl pressed forward, eyes glassy as she knelt before the young soldier, pressing her hand to his wrist. Perse knew what she was doing. She'd done it to many of the newer sailors joining them. Just when they were starting to get their sea legs.

"You're safe now," Tamar lied, a curious glint in her gaze, tilting her head at the soldier, "Tell me what happened in the Fold."

Alexei's breaths echoed off the empty walls of the cellar, soft gasps turning into deep inhales as Tamar slowed his heartbeat down. Perse could only stare in horror. The kid shook his head.

Tamar placed more pressure on his wrist, "Just talk, and I'll listen. What saved you?"

For a moment the only sound was the soldier's deep breath, pupils dilating before he breathed out the impossible words. "You wouldn't believe me but...it was a Sun Summoner."

Perse's hand fell out of Jesper's and she pressed forward, both Tamar and Inej making the sign of the faith across their chest. "What?" She breathed.

Dreesen got there before she did, kneeling down right by Tamar, "Who was it?"

The entire room took a collective breath, holding it in as they waited for Alexei to give up the name of their mythical saint.

His breathing grew slower, "If I tell you, you'll set me free?"

Dreesen nodded, and Perse's heart sank into her stomach. "You have my word," Dreesen lied, "I'll set you free."

Tamar nodded, even though she knew just as well as Perse did that it was a hollow promise at best. "Please Alexei," The Shu girl pleaded, eyes wide as her grip grew tighter, "Who is it?"

"Her name is..." Alexei choked out, as if resisting the urge to speak the name. Perse leaned in, everyone else disappearing as her vision locked onto the young boy, his gaze never leaving Tamar's, "Alina Starkov."