LACUNA [ THE DARKLING ]

00. - the beginning

Ravenna Chernoff is screwed. 

She was sure of it. Wandering alone in the woods without her two best friends might have lead to her very own kidnapping.

She enjoyed walking through the woods to find peace and quiet from the bustling army that is surely going to be her death. However, it all seemed to go downhill the minute she encountered a group of Fjerdans that were roaming around the woods. Suddenly all she knew is, she has been captured and tossed to a filthy wagon.

She felt like losing her mind. 

The army was not going to be what led her to her death. It's her own stupidity. Who in their right mind will go alone to the woods where there are lots of Fjerdans spies roaming around. Her, apparently. 

Thinking about her impending lousy death just doesn't sit right with her. What story will they share about her after her death? Ravenna Chernoff, an amazing friend, was killed by the Fjerdans because she is so stupid to walk alone in the woods. She will be a laughing stock. 

So she started to kick up a fuss, hoping that the one guard who is sitting near the wagon door is stupid enough to come near her. She never used her power again after one of the orphans who kept on bothering her two bestfriends went crazy and was to be admitted to the asylum. But if her power is going to be the only thing that is going to keep her alive, beggars can't be choosers. 

Preparing for an attack, she didn't realize the commotion that was happening outside. She was too focused on the guard that she didn't even think that she might be getting rescued. When the guard moved to open the wagon door so he could help his fellow comrade, Ravenna pulled her plan into action and lurched forward. 

Her hands glowed black as it hovered around his head, eliciting fear into him in a form of nightmarish hallucination. With the guard being incapacitated, she kicked the door open and crawled out. 

Bumping into a hard chest rather than a soft grass, she looked at the figure and noticed that she was in fact being rescued. His strong arm wrapped around her waist as he steadied her, his dark eyes staring into her soul. The sunlight shines his features, it made her think that he is definitely a piece carved by god himself. 

"Are you okay, love?" the man spoke softly, his finger swiping the dirt from her face.

Ravenna's eyes stayed at his face, admiring all of his features that just scream dark and handsome. He really does look like her type of man.

After moving her eyes away from his face to his chest, she realized he is wearing a black kefta. What a beautiful day it is for her to meet the darkling. The person she needed to stay away from the most.

Ravenna backed away from him as if his touch burned her. She is even more screwed than before. If the general found out about her, she is definitely going to be shipped to the little palace.

"I'm fine," she replied whilst looking around at the other Grisha who were cleaning the mess, to avoid his gaze. "Thank you for rescuing me." 

General Kirigan pulled his lips back in displeasure at Ravenna's lost touch, clearly displeased that someone was not charmed. His gaze drifted from her eyes to her body, trying to assess if she was harmed. 

"If you want to stare at me forever, I could always give you a painting of myself," Ravenna retorted sarcastically after realizing that the General's eyes never left her. She knew she was beautiful but his staring started to creep Ravenna out a little bit.

"But for now, if you don't mind, it would be lovely if I can go back to the first army base after a day of being kidnapped," she added.

Her words made the general smile softly, if she's not paying attention close enough she would have missed it, "I'll be waiting for that painting then." 

Ravenna never grimaced so hard before. Is he flirting with her?

"Ivan!" The general suddenly called for the Heartrender while still staring at her. This time Ravenna was sure he is playing with her.

Kirigan is interested, very interested in fact. When he first looked at the girl, he noticed that she was pretty but beauty never roped him in; power does and he felt great power coming from her. Power similar to him. How he felt that, he was not sure thus the staring. 

"Please escort the lady to the first army base," he ordered Ivan when the heart render stand near him. "It's been a pleasure, miss.." 

"Chernoff, Ravenna Chernoff," Ravenna responded quickly. She just needs to get out of there and away from him urgently. 

"Then, I hope we meet again, Miss Chernoff," the darkling took her hand and kissed it softly as if he's trying to court her.

"I hope not," Ravenna whispered lowly enough for the general to not hear it.

The general let her hand go with a charming smile before  turning away to check out the aftermath of the commotion. What a weird day she had, she definitely couldn't wait for it to end.

Next to her, Ivan grunted, hated being escort duty to a non-grisha; however order is order. He looked at Ravenna and beckoned her to follow him. The faster he get this done, the faster he can go back to the real work. 

Grinning that she finally could escape from this whole mess and her power hadn't been discovered, she forgot that she had to shut off her power from the guard she attacked earlier.

Although she did not give him any terrifying fear, the longer it stayed on him, the more intense it got. 

It didn't take her farther than 3 steps before the guard started to scream like crazy. He trashed around on the ground, as if he was trying to get something away from him. 

"Shit," Ravenna muttered, shutting off her power on him in an instant. 

The general mouth parted, his eyes flickering about. He was genuinely lost, not sure what was happening. No one did anything to the guard, he just suddenly screamed and now shivering like a child being haunted by a nightmare. He clenched his jaw before realizing that no one had interacted with the guard except the girl. 

"You," he said to Ravenna who looked like a child that got caught with her hands in the cookie jar. "You're coming with me."

Before she could even run, the general already caught up to her and gripped her arms tightly. She never regrets something so bad ever in her life.

Her old life is going to be left behind in the dust it seems.

♕

author note

welcome to the first chapter of lacuna. what do you think? i love hearing your feedbacks. 

i hope you guys will enjoyed this story and like ravenna. 

comment and vote for more, thank you!