Nikolai x The Darkling

Aleksander

Nikolai Lantsov stood with his head held high, a grin peeling across his face that he was clearly trying to hold back. Like an arrogant sobachka he teased, "This must be embarrassing for you" he smirked. He looked impeccable, his golden hair and eyes sticking out in the dim candle light. He stuck out against the drabby room I'm being kept in. I was blindfolded and gagged before he came and removed them, lighting a candle that now sits a couple feet away on the ground. I can make out some shapes though, it's an empty room, no windows, one door, one poor excuse for a cot, and a chamber pot. I didn't answer, didn't pay him any heed. Focusing instead on latching onto my power.

They developed a new type of steel for grisha like me- really just me, no one else has powers similar to mine except for Baghra and Alina. Ironically, I'm not only cuffed with the steel, but it's also a collar around my neck. They most definitely made this out of spite. But it's not just some petty decor, It's supposed to detach me from my powers, I'm assuming. Seeing that for the past three hours, I haven't been able to get my grasp on the constantly writhing darkness inside of me. I've been trying the moment I woke up restrained to this chair. It's blindingly painful, the way it feels when you're being stretched to your limit, your skin and muscle being torn till your limbs are ripped off. Not to mention overwhelmingly nauseating everytime I nearly grasp it, it's pathetic. The only grisha who could develop such a nuisance is David Kostyk. A grisha much with much more skill in their expertise than the ones who healed me after the battle. Or maybe they wanted me to be weak and suffer. Yes, that's more logical.

I'm Aleksander Morozova, physical limits don't extend to me.

Lantsov seemed to see this in my eyes and stated, "You may act like you're invincible, but it doesn't change the facts". I stare up at the boy lamely. "You have been beaten, captured, and tied up. So stop trying to win the battle you've already lost and tell us what we want to know."

Biting down on my reaction, all but a feather in my jaw exposed.

Trying desperately to hide my self loathing, I ask "and what exactly do you wish to know, Sobachka?" raising a bloody eyebrow.

Nikolai doesn't have as much restraint as I do, shock at me surrendering so easily and then annoyance flickering in his hazel eyes. It's surprising how much I can see going through his head right now just by the angle of his lips. Imaging the things I could do to him that would provoke such reactions from him got me shifting in my chair.

He noticed, looking a bit shaken and intrigued."I can't read you".

I hope so. "And I can read you completely".

He gawked at this, "oh, really?"

Tired of this game, I look up, exposing my neck to show him I mean no ill intent, letting my eyes drift closed. After swallowing simply out the dried up desert that is my mouth at this moment, I explain, "everything you're thinking plays out on your body, you're like a theater." I pause, the exhaustion gnawing at my senses is making me lose my train of thought. "You don't trust me. Smart. But you are second guessing yourself. Your head is racking with thoughts and you don't know which one to start with. You know the things you should ask me for political reasons'' I look back at him now, staring him in the face, "and the ones with deeper meaning.." I grin at him now, letting my blissful arrogance show. It's worth the startled expression Lantsov is giving me.

"Please sobachka, you don't think I didn't notice you coming in only three hours after my capture to come see me while everyone else was in a rush to make sure everything's secure, I bet no one knows you're even here."

"You're spewing nonsense."

" Am I? " I lean forward, letting my voice drop to a lower, less raspy voice. Instead sensual, and knowing, "I'm not the one sweating in their boots and as flushed as a tomato. It's not hot in here, you aren't frightened of me...so that only leaves room for another, much more scandalous reason as to why you are here."

Aghast, Nikolai took a step back."That's enough."

"It clearly isn't for you"

Narrowing his eyes, he states "You're in dangerous territory."

"And you are acting as though you aren't, it doesn't change the facts, Nikolai." I reuse his earlier words against him, caressing and teasing the last string of his restraint. "You want me-" not a moment later, Nikolai lunges at me, grabbing at the collar at my throat and grinding out, "I want nothing more from you besides your blood on my hands."

"Then why haven't you done it?" I rasp angrily, "if you really wanted that, you would have had my throat slit the moment I was weak enough. Not have me taken captive. You already know the most valuable information. And don't tell me it's because it's someone else's right to off me, you all equally deserve to kill me. So why haven't you done it yet?"

His features searched my defying gaze, and released me. "I-" rubbing his eyes, he slumped against the wall, roving over me. Now that he's at a safe distance, I let my muscle relax and look back at the ceiling, letting my eyes drift closed once again. Tortuously so, the moment I begin to wander into the oblivion of sleep, he sighs, "Why can't it just be simple." I chuckle bubbles out of me at that, my head lulling to the side. Its hair cascades across my eyes as I smile softly.

'Am I such a comedian?" I could practically hear his scowling.

Muttering in a husky, fatigued voice I answer, "I'm not a simple being, Lantsov."

"Anything that has to do with you, never will"