Against Fate - A Darklina FanFic

You And I

The sudden knock interrupted us and I wanted to scream. Every nerve in my body was electrified. Pulling away from him was worse than the first day I arrived in the Little Palace.
"Go", I raised my eyebrows and mouthed at him. A little smile inevitably played at the corners of his mouth. The Darkling, the most powerful of all Grisha, their protector, their leader, kissing ME.
The realisation made my fingers trace the lips which were on his just a few seconds back. I smiled as the heat rose up to my cheek.
His raven eyes looking into mine and his strong hands finding my waist, was on constant loop at the back of my mind. He was painfully beautiful.
Aleksander's approaching footsteps snapped me out of my daydream and I looked up.
"Is something wrong?" I asked. He looked tensed. Nervous, even. I furrowed my brows and rested a palm on the side of his face. A feeling of warmth instantly passed through me and I craved to let go. But something was bothering him and it was obviously the one who had knocked at the door.
He shook his head, "It's nothing", he paused to look at me. "I'll leave my guards outside until I return", Aleksander added.
I had been here long enough to know that it wasn't "nothing" that bothered him, but I didn't push further.
"I'll be waiting", I said instead and meant every ounce of it.
His eyes softened and he brushed his hand across my cheeks as he backed away.
I let out a small smile and rested against the desk. He will be the death of me.
Before I could gather my thoughts together, a pair of dangerously familiar hands grabbed my face, turning it towards him and a set of lips, the taste of which I could recognise even if all my senses were lost, settled upon mine. My heart sped up and I let him in, devouring the moment for as long as it lasted.
It was in a hurry but it carried in it the same burning passion that Aleksander always had.
I was left in awe. My brain took a fairly long time to process the whole thing. He had left, but he came back for a last taste. He came back for me.
A shy giggle escaped my throat as I heard the door finally being shut closed.
The tingling feeling in my stomach just won't go. I think I didn't want it to, either.
I remember the night I snuck into his room. He was standing strong, a glass of wine beside him, and he was examining some kind of a map.
"I couldn't sleep", I had told him. He had assumed that it was because of the place and my sudden part in it but it was really him. I couldn't sleep because he was conquering my every thought.
That night I had met Aleksander and the loneliness that he hides beneath his demeanor of The Darkling.
He let himself be vulnerable. He let his guards down for me and I loved every bit of him then.
"You're not alone", I had assured him. I am here now, I wanted to add. I would never let you be alone again. I touched his arm and the whole room had lit up as if it were bright morning. A golden ball of light surrounded us both. I hoped that he felt what I had been feeling.
When he looked up at me, his eyes were glassy.
"I have waited a long time for you, Alina", he said almost in a whisper. I whimpered. I could have stayed in there forever, holding his gaze. I never felt like I belonged somewhere more than I belonged at that moment, with him. He was the only thing holding me together.
There was a stern knock that brought me back to reality. But it wasn't from the door. I faltered. Another sharp noise. It was coming from behind...the wall?
I took a step back. Should I shout for the guards?
Before I could decide, Baghra's crooked figure came into view, making my shoulders relax. This old woman will give me a heart attack someday soon.
"Follow me", she ordered.
"Wha-" I let out, clearly confused at her barging in through some secret passage and ordering me around like she owned the place.
"Come with me, child, we have no time to waste", she replied with a much sterner voice. If I didn't know better, I'd have thought she was about to wrangle me.
"What is this all about, Baghra?" I quickened my pace after her as she led us into the passage.
"Where are we going?" I demanded in a slightly higher tone.
"Not we. You. You're going to go away", she said but she didn't slow down.
The passage was dark save for a few lanterns lit around the corners. The air was pungent and sticky. It was damp.
"What do you mean? Alek- the Darkling has asked me to wait!" I exclaimed and stopped in my tracks.
What exactly did she think she was doing? Has she finally gone mad?
"We don't have all day, you stupid child. I must get you out of here before it's too late", she snapped when she noticed I wasn't following her anymore.
I stood my ground.
She slowly shook her head and brought the lantern she was holding close to me.
"He is not who you think he is", she finally blurts out.
What?
"I think you need to rest, Baghra."
"He isn't going to destroy the fold", she paused, trying to read my face.
I looked back at her. She doesn't know what she is talking about.
Ofcourse he is going to destroy the damned thing. And I will be beside him when he does that. He needs me.
"He is going to expand it and use it as a weapon with your help", she adds.
Baghra has evidently lost it.
I let out a small laugh. Right.
"Listen, Baghra, let's get you out of here, okay? I don't think you are well-"
At that she shoved me hard.
"What is wrong with you?" I screamed.
In the dim light of the lanterns, her aged face looked..ageless.
Her eyes were burning and for a split moment, I was terrified of her.
If anything goes downhill, I thought, I can fight her. I am the sun-summoner. Ofcourse I can fight her. But it came out more as a reassurance for me.
To my surprise she turned around and resumed walking. Against my better judgements, I followed her. I was determined to prove her wrong.
"The black heretic raised the fold hundreds of years ago and it was a mistake!" I raised my tone behind her, quickening my pace to keep up.
"Maybe you're dehydrated from all the heat in your hut", I added. She was hardly giving an ear to my tantrums.
"He wanted to make a chain so I could get stronger! Strong enough to destroy The Fold!" I tried my best to draw a point here.
"Did he?" Baghra stopped and turned. Her face was furious. "Or did he want you distracted by your dreams of your future with him?"
She had struck a nerve. Blind rage flowed through me. I couldn't believe she just said that. Has she gone delusional? Does she not know who she is talking about? Or maybe that's the reason. She doesn't know who she is talking about. No one knows him like I do.
"Did he want you dependent on him and his fabrikator's tricky little gloves?" she added. With each word, my skin burnt. I could churn her alive right now.
"No! No", I blurted out but something in me faltered.
"Child," Baghra's voice softened. "Aleksander is the Black Heretic."
That was enough to send my head on a spin. The room was beginning to blur away at her words. Was she joking? Does she know the weight of her own words?
But she did not stop.
"He chose a nobleman's name to hide after he made the Fold."
"You're lying", my voice cracked.
"Look at me, girl", she said and with a swift motion of her hand, the room around us darkened.
Oh my-
Did she just summon the... shadows?
My stomach turned and bile rose up to my throat. I felt like I was going to throw up. This can't be happening.
My knees were about to give in and I almost wished that I was back in Keramzin, away from all of this.
"You..You're in Kirigan's bloodline", I whisper and then the realisation hits me.
"You're his mother", I say. Tears welled up in the corners of my eyes and I just wanted to break down.
"My son tried to create his own army with all that he had. He didn't care about the people and what that power would do to them, turning them into the twisted evil things that attacked you", she explained.
"The volcra were men", I said softly, almost as if I were talking to myself.
"And women. Children", Baghra completed.
My chin trembled. I could still feel the warmth of his lips on mine.
No. No.
I was there when he held me. His eyes cannot lie.
Baghra was on the move again.
"That happened centuries ago!" I reverted back to his defense.
"And since then, he has had many names. Served many kings. Faked countless deaths. Waiting for you", Baghra replied. Her cold tone was back.
I have waited a long time for you, Alina.
"If you're at his command, he would be able to enter the Fold and weaponise it as he always planned. He would be unstoppable."
"But he told me he wanted to make the country whole again."
"He's had centuries to master lying to naïve girls. Did he tell you how lonely he was? Give a glimpse of the wounded boy?" Her tone was mocking and it pricked my skin like countless little needles.
I pressed my teeth together hard, only realising it when my jaws began go ache.
"He isn't a boy. At all", Baghra continued. "He is eternal. And you never stood a chance."
Her words were like bullets to my skin. I think I had always known that this was too good to last, or to actually exist, but to hear it from someone else struck at my very fragile pride.
"Do you think it was just about you? He has been obsessed with power. Hunting all of Morozova's creatures. You nearly gave him the Stag."
The Stag.
Baghra took a step towards me, "And I am telling you, you must hide."
Aleksander's voice rang in my ears.
You and I, we are going to change the world.
It can't all be true. I knew there was a part of him that felt something for me at least for a minute back there. He might have had centuries to prepare for the day he finds me but I knew this in my heart, Aleksander wanted me. And not just for his personal powers but for himself. I was his equal.
There might have been others but none of them were me. None of them could look him in the eyes and challenge him. I am what he needed all along. And he is mine.
"No", I say, trying to sound as firm as I was able.
Baghra turned towards me. Her face showing annoyance and pity all at once.
"Even if your words are true, I need to hear it from him."
Baghra aggressively walked up to me. I clenched my jaws together.
"Stupid girl. You think he is going to fess up because he is in love with you? You're going to get yourself killed."
Tears stung at the back of my eyes but I blinked them away.
"So be it", I said, "But I won't run away. I won't hide from him. You weren't there with him just a few minutes ago. I was. I know him. However little that might be."
Yes I did. She knew The Darkling. The Black Heretic. But I know Aleksander. The Fold was a mistake.
Baghra glared at me. I relaxed my shoulders a bit and softened my voice.
"If his motives are what you say they are, I would fight back. I would not let him destroy everything. I promise", I said in what I assumed was an assuring tone.
However, I did mean it.
I turned back before Baghra could say anything else.
"She thinks she is powerful enough", I heard her scoff after me.

The passage was fairly confusing. I summoned some light as I did my best to make it back to Aleksander's room without breaking down or thinking about everything Baghra had said to me.
For all I know, they might not even be true.
But they've a fair chance to be.
In the silence of the passage, I could almost hear the drum beats of my own heart thumping against my chest. I took this decision by myself. I did not think it through before deciding to trust him. Whatever happens, I will need to make it right. Or like Baghra thinks, die trying.
I knew I was close by when an echo of Aleksander's voice reached my ears.
"Alina? Alina!"
My mouth instantly went dry and I speculated running back for a split second.
It's Aleksander, I scolded myself, he'd never hurt me.
I followed his voice which soon led me to the stone door that Baghra had used to bring us in here.
I took a deep breath and pushed it open. I can do this.
The familiar scent of his body instantly filled me up as soon as I stepped inside the room.
"Ali-" Aleksander stopped in his tracks as he saw me standing near the passage door. His face was flushed and he looked like he was going to lose it.
He immediately relaxed his shoulders, half running and half walking towards me.
He pulled me into his arms and locked me there as tightly as he possibly could. As if loosing his grip on me would mean losing me.
My vision blurred. This can't be the man Baghra was talking about.
I wrapped my arms around him and let myself relax for a little bit. I am not ready to let go of this feeling just yet.
I am not ready to let go of him.