𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐖𝐄'𝐑𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐓 - Shadow and Bone/ Grisha series (ON HIATUS)

𝚂𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚙𝚑𝚒𝚖 - 𝟶𝟹

╭━ ⋅𖥔⋅ ━━✶━━ ⋅𖥔⋅ ━╮

ser·aph

/ˈserəf/

noun

plural noun: seraphim

an angelic being, regarded in traditional Christian angelology as belonging to the highest order of the ninefold celestial hierarchy, associated with light, ardour, and purity.

╰━ ⋅𖥔⋅ ━━✶━━ ⋅𖥔⋅ ━╯

Kribirsk

The morning sun had risen long ago, and as I lay on my cot, my eyes stapled open, I let my thoughts wander.

I remember the lieutenant, his voice calm as he spoke to senior cartographer, Petya. He'd done well, keeping his rage on a tight leash. Today was not the day to let his emotions overtake him. "Petya, how did this happen?" he had asked, keeping a keen eye as she shuffled through the pages.

"We don't know," she said, standing straight, "We were extra careful to secure all the lanterns," she had stated like that would change the outcome.

A flash of pride echoed in my chest as I stood beside the tent, listening to every word the two exchanged. "And what was damaged?" he urged, shuffling his weight from foot to foot.

"Nothing major," Petya reassured, "Just some records of the western coastline, Os Kervo, and the river system that runs through it. It's really not-" Before she could finish her sentence, the  lieutenant interrupted, "Critical?"

"Geographical data of the territory on the other side of the damn fold? Those records?" he seethed, taking a couple of heavy footsteps. I could hear the senior cartographer swallow dryly.

She'd hesitated, "Yes, but I'm sure the First Army on the other side has an-" Once again, her offer was cut short. "You think I trust anyone else's intel? Now someone has to cross the Fold to redraw these maps." 

I took a deep breath and stepped inside the tent, deciding to step in before the lieutenant could cut Petya down with a sharp tongue. This wasn't going as planned, so I knew I had to improvise. "I'll do it," I paused, watching the lieutenant spin on his feet, "Put me on the skiff. I'll go."

He stood there for a moment, before walking around the stretch of the table, towards the entrance. 

"Yes, you will. Your whole unit will."

.

.

.

Oh. 

This was definitely not what I had in mind. I hadn't meant to put the cartographers in danger. Guilt had blossomed in my chest as I looked at Petya's face, which had paled immediately at his words. I imagine I'd looked the same.

Maybe I should've waited until I was sober. 

But it was too late. Now, we'd already been given the order. Instead of heading south as planned, we were to board the skiff and sail west. As I lay in my cot, I could hear the confused murmurs of the rest of the cartographers. 

Nobody liked the idea of going into the Fold. And it was my fault.

As I sit up, I try to shake the dread from my bones. Hundreds of possibilities flooded my mind's eye, the flashes of my teammates' gruesome deaths engraving themselves into my mind. But the one thing I didn't want to see was Alina. I didn't want to see the lifeless eyes of my sweet sister hanging motionless in the arms of the Volcra.