ARSONIST'S LULLABY ¹ | shadow & bone [ON HOLD]

TWO

( 𝗔𝗥𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗧'𝗦
𝗟𝗨𝗟𝗟𝗔𝗕𝗬 )

KATERINA HAD NEVER BEEN afraid of the dark. She had grown up surrounded by it. As a child, wherever she went, the small tendrils of shadows would follow her. Unseen by the naked eye, completely hidden in plain sight. But she had seen them. She had even confronted them, fire burning in her hands, but they had not backed down. Most things usually did. She could only guess that they were Aleksander's. They had to be. Only that protective mother hen would go to such extents.

But now, mere yards into the Shadow Fold, she had never been more afraid of the dark. It was too dark. If it weren't for the small blue light at the mast, she would've been entirely blind. The silence seemed too loud, no wind and no smell. She wondered if the others could hear her heart beating. The claps of thunder got louder. And then came the growling. Distant, yet so close.

"Marker one." A voice whispered.

"How many are there?" Another voice joins, Katerina doesn't turn to seek out who it was.

"Thirty seven." She answered.

Thirty seven markers. Outside the Fold, mere thirty seven markers would sound easy, quick and efficient. But in the Unsea, it seemed like eternity.

A rhythmic beat of wings passed overhead, instilling a fear in Katerina that she hadn't felt before. Another figure flied by the skiff, casting a dark shadow. The soldiers took out their rifles, taking position. She turned back and took a place by the mainmast, spreading her arms before her. She would not go down like this.

She turned away from the mast when a swift shadow passed by, and that was her mistake. She didn't notice as the blue light beside her went out. But when her vision went dark, she turned back to see Natacha sprint towards the lamp, pleading it to come back.

A click of a lighter rang out, and then a flicker of bright light crossed her vision. A wave of relief went through her, thanking the Saints. But a beat passed, and Katerina remembered where she was and how bright light meant certain death.

"No, no, no! Blow it out!" She whispered, commanding the soldier.

But it was too late. A thud shook the skiff, and time seemed to slow down. Katerina watched in horror as a volcra landed behind the soldier who held the lamp. And then time sped up again and with a quick snap of it's jaw, the vicious creature took a hold of the man's shoulders and ascended up. Shots rang out, aiming towards the sky.

No, she would not go down like this.

She steadied herself, taking a deep breath and called on the fire brimming in her veins and and crossed her hands. Summoning fire had always been easy for her, too easy. And it was also easy to lose control. But she didn't need control now. She needed decimation. The high that came with it was euphoric.