00. A Saint Is Born 

•

  IT WAS THE CRY heard around the world. East and West Ravka held their breath in anticipation. The birth of the Sun Summoner. The day had finally come. Inside the walls of a chapel, Katja Antonova screamed in agony as she clutched the hand of a nun. With one final push, her little girl had come into the world. Everyone cheered as the infant cried and kicked. She was strong and healthy. Nun's ushered the baby away to clean while others fixed up Katja. "I did it..." The breathless woman huffed, smiling weakly. 

From the very back corner of the small bedroom, a man dressed in a dark black kefta stepped into the light. His smile was eerie, but Katja was too dazed to feel the chill it sent through the room. "You did," The Darkling nodded. He moved swiftly to her bedside and looked down at the woman. "We won't know for sure until she is old enough to be tested, but if the prophecy is correct, the world just welcomed the Sun Summoner."

The nuns had returned, the young baby wrapped in a pure white cloth, cleaned from head to toe. Katja's arms shook as she held them out, the need to hold her baby strong. Softly, she was placed in her mother's arms and Katja choked out a soft sob. "She's beautiful," 

The baby's eyes were closed and all fussing stopped as soon as her skin touched Katja's. The Darkling peered down at her, his gaze unclear. "What will you name her?" 

Katja's breathing slowed, her eyelids drooping. "Viktoriya..." She sighed. 

"...Viktoriya," The Darkling repeated. "Lovely."

There was a beat of silence. The room was calm and still. That was, until, Viktoriya began to cry. Katja suddenly looked sickly, her head going limp. A nun gasped. "Get the child!" They all acted quickly, taking Viktoriya from her mother's arms, causing her to cry harder, the shrill sound causing even the Darkling to cringe. He stepped back, allowing for the nuns to work on poor Katja, who seemed to be dying. 

All part of his plan. She could not interfere with anything, she had to go. The Healer that stood at the door in a red kefta, was, in fact, not a healer at all. She was a Heartrender. Her orders were simple: if Katja Antonova did not die in childbirth, she would make it so. 

The Darkling stepped towards the nun holding Viktoriya. "Allow me," He said, holding out his hands. The nun did so without hesitation. Calling over what she thought was a Healer to Katja, they tried to resuscitate Katja. The Darkling looked down at the swaddled baby in his arms, still crying, her eyes squeezed shut. He bounced her lightly, shushing softly. "Hush, little one. There's no need to cry. I am here for you." Viktoriya may not have understood him, but she would learn in time that she could rely on no one but the Darkling. He would be the only one who understood her, the only one who could make her powerful. 

"She's gone..." A nun pronounced sadly. She looked to the Darkling. "What about the girl?" 

The Darkling looked down at her, still crying and trying to kick free, but too small and too fragile to do so. "I will take her. She will be safe with me." 

AUTHORS NOTE 
I know this is a short prologue but AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I'm still so excited! I'm finally making a s&b fic after all this time and I couldn't be happier to share it with you all!