Elementals || Grishaverse

Chapter 44: Resurfacing

The Darkling remembered everything.

He remembered her smile, her tears, her laugh - everything. He could think of himself holding her face in his hands as both of them. He could see himself walking the town and secretly brushing his fingers against her hand when they were trying not to let anyone know that they had feelings for each other.

"I wish I could hold your hand." He had told her.

She gave him such a soft smile that warmed his heart more than the sun itself. "I wish so too."

He remembered her saying his name, her kiss on his lips, her hair falling on his face when he lay on her lap. She would do it on purpose to make him laugh and he would let her. He had told her that he liked her hair open. He didn't mind her playfulness. In fact, he loved her more because of it.

The Darkling couldn't take it anymore. He stormed out of his chambers and made his way to the one person who would have the answers. "So you finally remembered." Baghra said.

"You knew about this!"

"I cannot play with destiny, even if I wanted to."

"Do not talk to me about destiny! Whatever has happened, it cannot be this cruel. I cannot kill her in every single life. I cannot kill her every single time that we meet." The one thing that he had learnt his entire life was that he should never let anyone find out his true feelings. But this was Adaline that he was talking about.

"Then risk losing your life." Baghra spoke the truth.

The Darkling wiped his face with his hands, trying to figure out a loophole. His breath was catching up to him. She was the Morana and he was the Black Heretic. Neither could live peacefully while the other was alive. It was one way or the other.

"There has to be another way."

She shook her head slightly. "There isn't." She said. "Why are you here? It's certainly not because of who I am to you."

She asked him a valid question. Both of them had decided not to talk to the other until it was absolutely necessary. An eternity with someone is more than enough to know how you really want to spend your life.

"I don't know what to do." It was one of the only times in his life that he didn't know which was the right thing to do. He may not have a straight moral compass but that didn't stop him from doing what was right for his vision. All he wanted was to make Ravka a safe place for Grisha to live peacefully....and the world eventually. "I cannot face her like that. Not again"

"You have to. It is either you or her. You always make your decision." She picked her cane in her hand. "I don't see why the decision differs this time."

"I will not kill her again. Enough has happened. I will not make that decision."

For the first time in a really long time, he was Aleksander Morozova, seeking help from his madraya. But the choices before him were very clear. It was him....or her.