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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟕
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐇

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Night had fallen and it was soon time for Alina's demonstration of her abilities. Inessa was usually allowed to stay in her room during events like this. In fact, the Darkling preferred for her to stay out of sight. But he insisted that she was there tonight. Even though she had already seen it, he wanted her to witness what the Starkov girl could do. That was why she found herself standing with Ivan and Fedyor near one of the dessert tables.

Inessa nibbled on a cookie, not having much of an appetite as her thoughts bounced around in her head. Beside her, Fedyor was trying one of the macarons while Ivan was scanning their surroundings as if looking for threats. It didn't take the Kaminsky man long to realize both Inessa and Ivan were on edge, causing a sigh to pass over his lips. But it only took another second for him to come up with an idea to change all that.

Fedyor soon picked up another macaron and showed it to Inessa, earning a confused look from the girl. But before she could question him, the Kaminsky man attempted to get Ivan to try the dessert. The youngest Heartrender couldn't help but laugh as the Bozic man turned away, irritated by his partner's actions. Ivan soon took a step away and continued to survey their surroundings, only for Fedyor to grab his face and force the treat into his mouth. Inessa let out another laugh at her friends' actions, earning a large smile from Fedyor and a playful glare from Ivan. But her joy soon faded when a familiar face came into view.

Standing in front of them was the oprichniki Inessa ran into earlier. The same boy she was almost certain had no affiliation to the Darkling. The Smirnoff girl just watched as the boy's eyes moved between the three Heartrenders in front of them. But only she seemed to notice his gaze lingering on her for a second longer. What felt like an eternity passed before the boy cleared his throat and began speaking. "The Kaelish ambassador is clumsy when he's drunk."

"You can't wear that in here," Ivan declared while staring at the stain before his attention moved back up to the boy's eyes, "get a replacement from laundry."

"My order are to-"

"You heard me," the Bozic man said with a look on his face that showed their discussion was over.

"Yes. Sorry," the false oprichniki responded before turning and walking out of the room.

Inessa kept her eyes glued to the boy until he was out of sight, debating if she should make her worries known to Fedyor and Ivan. But once again, something deep down told her to keep her suspicions to herself. And once again, she listened.

It wasn't long after that when the Smirnoff girl followed the elder Heartrenders into the main ballroom. She did her best to avoid making eye contact with her uncle, aunt, and cousin as they entered. For once, she was grateful for the crowd because it allowed her to blend in better. The three of them wove through the large group of people unit finding a good place near the perimeter. Various conversations were happening around Inessa, which gave her nothing but a headache. But she forced herself to force her discomfort away, knowing it wouldn't bring her any good to showcase it.

What felt like an eternity of standing around listening to constant chatter passed before the world grew silent. Confusion flowed through Inessa's veins as she watched everyone turn toward the door behind her. When the Heartrender followed their gazes, she found Alina walking into the room. Despite everyone's eyes on her, the Starkov girl kept her confidence as she walked through the crowd. The Smirnoff girl wasn't surprised when she saw them clear a path for her that led to the royal family and the Darkling. Inessa couldn't help but watch as General Kirigan had an inaudible conversation with the Sun Summoner.

Shock coursed through her veins when she once again felt protective over Alina and wanted nothing more than to get her away from the Grisha General. But just like any other time before, the Smirnoff girl did nothing about it. Instead, she focused her attention on the Inferni siblings who were putting on a show for the crowd. Gasps could be heard throughout the room as the brother and sister played catch with a fireball. That lasted for another moment before they extinguished the flame, earning applause from the crowd.

It was at that moment when Inessa noticed the unfamiliar oprichniki standing on the other side of the room. He was talking to two girls also dressed in oprichniki uniforms and who were strangers to Inessa. They were having a hushed conversation while keeping their attention glued to the Sun Summoner. But what the Smirnoff girl didn't expect was for their eyes to land on her, as if sensing she was watching them. The four of them held their gazes for a long moment before Inessa looked away. As she watched the Darkling and Alina have another inaudible conversation, Inessa was beginning to second guess not telling anyone about her encounter with the stranger. And yet, she was still keeping her lips sealed.

Everyone's attention was soon drawn to Alina when she and the Darkling stepped up onto a pedestal. Inessa could barely make out the nerves in the Starkov girl's eyes, which she almost masked perfectly with her confidence. The Grisha General stood with his back to the crowd for another moment before slowly turning to face them.

"Her name is Alina Starkov. And she will bring liberation to us all," the Darkling announced to the crowd in front of him before stepping down from the pedestal, giving everyone in the room a view of the Sun Summoner.

Inessa's nerves instantly skyrocketed as she watched General Kirigan hold his arms out in front of him. His eyes scanned the room for another moment before clapping his hands once, sending everyone into darkness. Despite knowing that Fedyor and Ivan could sense her rapidly beating heart, she did nothing to disguise her fear. Her hands balled into fists at her sides, causing her fingernails to dig into her palms.

But then a small ball of light appeared on the other side of the room, taking Inessa's fear away. She watched in awe as Alina brought the light higher into the air before creating a matching one in her other hand. A small stream soon connected the two balls of light before Alina sent them into the center of the room. Inessa was in awe as she watched the light change from a bright gold to a cool blue, something she never knew could be done. It wasn't long after that when Alina made the balls of light burst into a ring, almost like a halo.

A large smile instantly appeared on the young Heartrender's lips as she looked up at Fedyor, who had a matching smile on his face. She couldn't help but laugh at the bewildered look on Ivan's face, something she would tell Alina later. And just like that, the light vanished as quickly as it came, leaving the room illuminated by the candles on the walls.

It wasn't long after that when the crowd began kneeling to the Sum Summoner, including Inessa and the other Grisha in attendance. The Smirnoff girl was surprised that she felt at peace, then again light was the opposite of dark. While one brought her fear, the other brought her calm.

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Inessa was surprised to be summoned to Baghra's hut later that night. She almost refused to go, knowing that the Darkling would be suspicious if she disappeared. But her curiosity outweighed her fears. That was how the Smirnoff girl ended up walking alone down the dark path toward her destination.

When she walked into the hut, she found Baghra sitting alone in front of a small fire, which didn't surprise Inessa in the slightest. She just stared at the Grisha teacher for a moment before walking across the room and sitting down in front of her. Inessa kept her mouth sealed, wanting Baghra to be the one to speak first. But the gray-haired woman didn't say a word. Which led to silence surrounding them for what felt like an eternity. Just when the Smirnoff girl began to squirm in her seat, the Grisha teacher finally began speaking.

"Do you know why the General keeps you locked away?"

Inessa hesitated for a moment, unsure as to why she was being asked this question. It felt as though she were being tested for some reason, and she didn't want to fail. Thankfully, the conversation from when she was training with Fedyor and Ivan came back to her, giving her a solid answer to Baghra's question. "General Kirigan keeps me under his supervision to ensure my safety. People would come after me if they found out I was the King's niece."

Chills ran throughout the Smirnoff girl's entire body as Baghra studied her. She had no idea how long they sat in silence before the Grisha teacher spoke. "Do you really believe that?"

Once again, the Smirnoff girl hesitated. She had no idea where Baghra was going with their conversation. And yet, something deep down told her to trust the gray-haired woman with her life. "Not at all."

"Good," was all Baghra said in response before practically jumping to her feet, "now, come with me."

The confusion within Inessa did nothing but grow as she followed the Grisha teacher to the back of her hut. Baghra handed the young Heartrender a lantern before pressing a stone on the door. The next thing the Smirnoff girl knew, the wall disappeared before her very eyes, revealing a dark passageway. Baghra didn't hesitate to grab another lantern before walking into the tunnel. Inessa hesitated for a moment as she watched the gray-haired woman walk away from her. But that only lasted for another second before the Heartrender followed. It wasn't long after that when the door closed behind them, sealing them in the passageway.

The Smirnoff girl didn't know how long they walked until Baghra stopped in front of what looked like a stone wall. But just like before, she placed her hand on a rock and pushed it inward, causing a large door to open. A familiar bright light emitted from the other side, indicating to Inessa who was there.

"Come with me," Baghra said in a hushed tone as the bright light faded, only to receive silence from Alina, "stupid girl! No time to dawdle."

The next thing the Smirnoff girl knew, the Grisha teacher walked further into the room, revealing the Heartrender to Alina. The Starkov girl just stared at Inessa with confusion in her eyes. But before she could question anything, Baghra continued speaking. "You both need to leave this place. It's no longer safe for either of you."

"What are you talking about, Baghra?" Inessa finally asked the question bouncing around in her head since their first conversation.

However, instead of answering the Heartrender's question, Baghra forced both girls into the passageway. As soon as the door closed behind them, the gray-haired woman led them deeper into the tunnel, ignoring both girl's questions along the way. But their voices soon became too much for Baghra to bear, causing her to turn around to face them. "I'm trying to save both of you from living the rest of your lives as slaves."

Inessa and Alina shared a confused look while Baghra walked past them and further into the tunnel. It wasn't long after that when the girls quickly followed. They climbed down a set of very unsturdy stairs until reaching the lower floor. As they crossed what looked to be a very poorly built bridge, Alina let out a long sigh, indicating that she was tired of being left in the dark.

"Whatever's wrong, I should go back and find Alek...General Kirigan. I'm sure he can help."

"I'm trying to save you from Aleksander," Baghra told them before turning a corner that led to another tunnel with the girls close behind her, "he intends to expand the Fold and use it as a weapon. That's what he created it for in the first place."

"The Black Heretic created the Fold. Hundreds of years ago and it was a mistake," Alina argued as the three of them continued down the passageway toward a destination only one of them knew, "maybe you're dehydrated from all the heat in your hut. He wanted me to train so I could get stronger."

That was all it took for Baghra to stop in her tracks, causing the Sun Summoner and the Heartrender to stop as well. They stood in silence for a long moment before the gray-haired woman turned to face them. "Did he? Or did he want you distracted by dreams of your future with him? Did he want you dependent on him? On his Fabrikator's tricky little gloves? Child, Aleksander is the Black Heretic. He chose a nobleman's name to hide after he made the Fold."

"You're lying."

"Look at me, girl!" Baghra exclaimed before waving her hand through the air, sending them into darkness.

Inessa couldn't help but jump and grab Alina's upper arm, not expecting the world around her to fade. But soon her fear faded and was replaced by utter shock. She had always known Baghra was Grisha, but she had never known what kind. The Smirnoff girl never would've guessed she was a Shadow Summoner. And yet here they were, standing in a pitch black tunnel.

"You can...but only Kirigan's bloodline..." the Starkov girl trailed off after a wave of realization washed over her. She kept her eyes glued to Baghra while Inessa took her hand away from Alina's arm. They stayed in silence for another moment before the Sun Summoner continued speaking. "You're his mother."

"My son tried creating his own army with merzost," Baghra explained as the tunnel filled with light once again, "he didn't think about the people who lived there, what such power would do to them. Turned them into twisted, evil things that attacked you."

"The volcra were men?"

"And women. Children. I warned him there'd be a price."

"But that happened centuries ago," Alina retaliated, still unwilling to accept the fact that the Darkling was the same man who created the Fold.

"He's had many names, served many Kings, faked countless deaths, waiting for you. With you at his command, he'll be able to enter the Fold and weaponize it as he always planned. He'll be unstoppable."

"He told me he wanted to make the country whole again."

"He's had centuries to master lying to naive girls. Did he tell you how lonely he was? Give you a glimpse of the wounded boy?" Baghra continued while tears began forming in Alina's eyes, "he isn't a boy at all. He is eternal. And you never stood a chance. Did you think this was just about you? He's been obsessed with power...with hunting all of Morozova's creatures. You nearly gave him the Stag. And I'm telling you, you must hide."

Inessa just stared at the woman in front of her with shock coursing through her veins. She had always known the Darkling had a secret plan hidden up his sleeve, but she never expected his. They let the silence surround them for another moment before the Heartrender gathered enough courage to speak. "What does any of this have to do with me?"

"Part of what you said earlier was true, Inessa. Being the King's niece puts you in danger. But the person you should be worried about is General Kirigan. The King may not care about you as much as you would've liked, but Nikolai does. And the Prince made his father promise to keep you safe. The General used that against the King to get what he wanted for the last five years," Baghra hesitated for a moment, unsure if she should say more. But after seeing the curiosity in Inessa's eyes, the gray-haired woman continued. "He planned to turn you into his puppet, just like Ivan and Fedyor. He just never expected you to be as strong-willed as you are."

"What are you talking about?"

"Maximus Nowak," Baghra stated, making Inessa's blood run cold, "Aleksander thought that having you be the one to kill him would pull you closer to his goal. He never expected it to make you fearful of your abilities."

The gray-haired woman's words were enough to make Inessa look at the stone floor. A million thoughts bounced around in her head as she tried to make sense of Baghra's story. But one question stood out among the rest. One that had been eating away at the Heartrender for the last year. It wasn't long before a shaky breath passed over Inessa's lips as she looked back up to meet Baghra's gaze. "If Nikolai cares so much about me, then why did he leave me behind?"

The Grisha teacher held the young Heartrender's gaze for what felt like an eternity before responding. "Who do you think sent Maximus to kidnap you?"

Just like Alina, Inessa was left in a state of shock. But Baghra knew they had no more time to ask any questions. She didn't hesitate to walk past them and further into the tunnel. The two girls didn't move for a moment as they replayed everything over again. After exchanging a quick look, they hurried after Baghra. It wasn't long before they arrived at what looked like an underground bunker. Items that looked as old as time filled every inch of the room, including a very dated portrait of General Kirigan.

The Starkov girl just stared at the painting while Baghra opened a door that led to another tunnel. Inessa began to approach the Grisha teacher, only for Alina to say two sentences that made them stop in their tracks. "I won't help him. I'll fight back."

The gray-haired woman instantly turned around to face the Sun Summoner with a blank expression on her face. "You're far from strong enough to face him. I thought I had more time to prepare you, but it'll have to wait."

Baghra then gestured for the two girls to enter the tunnel. While Inessa didn't hesitate to walk inside, Alina hesitated before looking back the way they came. She didn't move for another moment before following the Heartrender. As soon as they were in the tunnel, Baghra began speaking once again. "Stay on the main path until the fork. Take the path to the right. You'll find food storage. Wait there. There are some Grisha who are loyal to me. They will help keep you safe until I find a plan."

Once she finished her directions, the Grisha teacher closed the door. Alina instantly summoned a bright ball of light to her fingertips, creating more than enough light for them. That caused Inessa to put her lantern down before they walked further down the passageway. They remained on the main path until reaching the fork, just as Baghra said. Only instead of going right, Alina hesitated. She just stared at the tunnel that would take them to their destination with a blank look in her eyes. It wasn't long after that when she began walking down the path on the left.

Confusion flowed through Inessa's veins as she watched the Starkov girl take a few steps in the wrong direction. But she didn't make it much farther when the Heartrender grabbed her wrist, forcing Alina to stop and face her. "Baghra said the path on the right. You're going the wrong way."

"Do you really want to stay here? Where Aleksander can easily find us? After everything we just learned?" Alina retaliated with a hint of fear in her voice that she was trying and failing to hide.

"Where are we supposed to go, Alina?" Inessa questioned without bothering to hide the shakiness in her voice.

"We'll figure it out together. But anywhere is better than here."

The two of them just stared at each other for a long moment before the Smirnoff girl nodded in response. It wasn't long after that when they walked down the left path. Neither of them said a word as they traveled down the tunnel. They didn't know how long they had been walking until they finally reached a small door. Alina didn't hesitate to push it open, revealing the stables. She instantly extinguished her light before the two of them walked further inside, the door closing quietly behind them.

They didn't take too much time in the stables, only enough to change out of their keftas and into much more discreet clothing. While it was easy for Alina to discard her kefta, the Smirnoff girl had a harder time with it. She had worn her kefta since she earned it five years ago and it held some value to her. So instead of tossing it aside like the Starkov girl, Inessa tucked it into a bag to take with her on their journey.

Once they were finished changing, the two of them headed outside and into a courtyard that contained one carriage. Alina didn't hesitate to make her way toward the wagon while Inessa was a bit more skeptical. But just like the Sun Summoner said earlier, they couldn't stay at the Little Palace. So after letting out a long sigh, Inessa quietly followed her friend. While Alina hid in the trunk secured at the back of the carriage, Inessa went inside and lifted one of the seats. She was relieved to find it had just space underneath for her to fit inside.

A shaky breath passed over the Heartrender's lips as she looked back at the Little Palace, the place she had called home for the last five years. Despite knowing she'd miss some things about her life, like Fedyor, Inessa climbed into the small space. Her eyes stayed glued to the carriage's ceiling for a moment before placing the cushion over her, sealing her fate.

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