Blood and Water - The Darkling

Chapter 29: Bound

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Alina is my twin, my sister. She owns my broken heart. But she abandoned me, refused to trust me.

Aleksander is a monster. He's done terrible things during his long life. But he set aside his original plan to keep me by his side.

I know I don't have much time to decide. And yet, how can I possibly choose?

More gunfire goes off, coming from the sands below. So I stop thinking. My body moves before I realize that the choice has been made. I turn towards the gunslinging rogue, "You!"

He joins my side, "Name's Jesper, Star Summoner."

Sliding Alina gently to the ground, I stand and stare at him. "Tell her I love her and I'm sorry."

Jesper nods once. As I move to leap off the skiff, I pause and yell back, "I'll keep the dome up for as long as I can. Try to wake her up. I don't know what will happen to me next."

"What are you doing?" he asks.

I send him a sad smile, "Rescuing my beautiful monster."

Then I leap off, rolling into the sand. I quickly stand and run towards Mal and the Darkling. The tracker shoots at him and I leap in front of Aleksander. My friend stops firing and I order, "Go back on to the skiff and get out of here. Alina needs you."

He nods and does as I ask. His lack of worry for me should infuriate me but I turn to my lover instead of thinking about it.

I see the anger on the Darkling's face. He must think my actions are a sign of betrayal. But I know him too well. If Mal, Alina, and the rest do not leave us then he would get revenge. My love for my twin outweighs some of my loyalty to the man before me.

Before he can express his displeasure, a swarm of volcra descends upon us. I quickly release my hold on the dome protecting the skiff and surround us in one. Through the blue starlight, I see the vessel move forward, leaving us behind.

"What have you done?" Aleksander hisses.

"I don't know!" I yell. "I didn't think, I just acted."

He laughs, no humor in his voice, "You've used up a lot of power, Svetlana. I doubt you can keep this up for much longer. Thanks to your foolishness, we are doomed."

"My foolishness saved you from the clutches of your monstrous creations, Aleksander. So you're welcome!" I angrily reply.

But I know he's right. Saving the town and its people drained me. Even with the amplifier, I feel my light dwindling. What have I gotten myself into this time?

Then a memory surfaces. I remember the volcra that attacked us on the first trip into the Fold. How it just stared at me and ignored me.

Like calls to like.

The volcra swarm to the Darkling because they sense him. They are his soul made flesh. That's why they seem drawn to me as well but they also know that the light within me is more powerful than their claws and teeth.

"Aleksander," I mutter.

"What bright idea do you have now, Svetlana?" he answers.

"Like calls to like," I respond with fervor. "The volcra ignore me because they know we are the same. But they also sense my power."

"What's your point?" he impatiently replies.

"You created these creatures. They are yours to command. Dig deep. Call upon your power, use it and show them that you are their master," I suggest.

Aleksander's anger disappears and he sighs, "You wicked thing. Let's hope you're right."

I pull him into a kiss as my light starts to flicker out. "I know I am."

Then we are engulfed in darkness.

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The Darkling and I stumble out of the Fold. Our arms are around each other. Aleksander has slashes on his face from the volcra that first tore into my weak shield. Yet, my lover protected me from their attacks. He called upon his power, on the deep recesses of it. The darkness swirled around us and shadow creatures came to strike down the volcra. I remember mumbling a victorious statement that the man beside me ignored. But, regardless, with our new soldiers, we trekked through the Fold.

We pause in the bright sunlight and Aleksander turns to glare behind us. "Follow."

The shadow monsters obey.

As we march forward, the Darkling asks me, "Why?"

Tiredly, I respond, "I couldn't let you hurt them, and I know you would have."

"Why?" he reiterates.

In realization, I look at him. "I told you I would never abandon you. When I heard Mal shooting at you, I just reacted. Now I know that we are bound, Aleksander. I couldn't leave you even if I tried."

He grips me tighter, not to the point of pain but just to emphasize his next words. "The Saints couldn't even tear us apart. I fear for any mortal who tries."

"My beautiful monster, what have you turned me into," I whisper.

He ignores my question, knowing I didn't want a response. Instead, he continues forward and asks, "My wicked saint, are you ready for another hunt?"

The broken pieces of my heart and the now tainted parts of my soul respond.

Yes, I think I am.

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*So there's the end of the first part aka Shadow and Bone. Sorry it's hellaaaa short but it seemed fitting

*Thoughts? Opinions?

*Also some questions: should I pre type a couple of chapters so I can more consistently post? This would mean I'd need a week or so before I start posting the new part. Also, should I draw some fanart of Darklana/DarkStar?