Dark of the Tide [Shadow and Bones]

Chapter 30

I stood in the doorway with Inej as we leaned against the frame of the door, watching Kaz as he played a soft tune on the piano.

    "Since when does Kaz play piano?" Inej whispered to me.

    "No idea. But I like this side of him."

    "Yeah. Definitely beats his murderous side."

    We watched for a little while longer before he stopped playing abruptly and turned around on the bench, looking startled to see us.

    "How long have you guys been there?" He asked us.

    "The whole time." I answered.

    "Relax, Kaz. It's not like we caught you in some scandalous act just now." Inej laughed, "It's rare that we ever see this side of you."

    "It's more common now than before." Kaz pointed out with a smile at me.

    I smiled back. "I never knew you could play."

    "Yes, well, it's not something I talk about often. It's more of a way to . . . express myself? I don't know."

    "You could always talk to me." I said.

    "No offense, Bella, but sometimes I just need time to figure things out by myself." Kaz replied.

    "Oh, no, it's fine. I completely understand. Everyone has those moments." I nodded with a shrug of my shoulders.

Jesper ran around the corner and skidded to a halt by me. "Hey, Arabella. Milo needs to be taken out."

    "Then why can't—oh. Oh. Yeah. Forgot. I'll be back soon, guys." I said as I saw Jesper's expression.

    "Why do you need to take Milo out? Why can't Jesper?" Inej questioned.

    "I am. I'm taking Arabella also so we can have bonding time. Bestie bonding time!" Jesper answered, panic settling in in his voice.

    "Okay, Jes. We gotta go. See you guys." I waved goodbye to them as I pushed Jesper down the hall ans walked down the stairs with him.

    "I panicked." Jesper said, picking Milo up in his arms and walking out the door with me.

    "I can see that."

    "I'll be at a bar. Hopefully they have poker or something."

    "Okay. I'm going to see if I can help the Darkling be less murderous."

    "I doubt that's ever going to happen. But, good luck." Jesper smiled and walked away towards town as I walked towards the thickening fog of the Fold in the distance.

———

"One more question before you go," The Darkling announced, holding up a finger.

"This isn't 20 Questions, but, fine." I muttered, gesturing for him to continue.

"What keeps you up at night? Do you still have nightmares? Like the ones that plagued you during your time at the Little Palace?" He asked.

I lifted my eyebrows in surprise that he remembered that far back. It had been almost a year since my departure of the Little Palace; he knew about my dreams, having had caught me wandering the halls or sneaking into the Royal Kitchens for a late midnight snack.

"Arabella? You still with me?" He asked, looking at me.

"Huh? Oh. Sorry. I'm just surprised is all. That you remember that far back, that is." I said, once I realized I was staring into oblivion.

"I do. Now, would you mind answering my question?"

"Um . . . I've still been having nightmares. But less so now than before. They're always about the same thing: a grey beast. I watch helplessly as the beast tears into Kaz and the others. And I'm not able to do anything about it. I just watch . . . . frozen in place."

The Darkling sighed and wrung his hands, looking down. "For years, my own mother—adoptive mother, I suppose—saw me as nothing more than a monster. And she was right."

". . . do you enjoy bringing fear to others? Being feared by everyone for all your life?"

". . . . . . no. I don't."

"Then why do you continue to do these things? Why can't you be the good person. Just for once?"

"Because it's the only thing I know how to do. When you're a good person, others expect to see good. At least with the situation now, others aren't expecting certain things out of me."

I nodded slowly and stood up from the boulder, making my way to him and hesitating before raising my arm from my side and taking his cold hand in my warm one.

He looked up and stood up as well, looking at our hands—one consumed by darkness, the other light—and smiled a little.

"This doesn't mean that I'm okay with your life choices . . . but, for whatever counts, I don't think you're all bad. You were a whole other person at the Little Palace. You were a kind and caring person. I think that person is still in you. No matter how buried deep he is."

"Please tell me you're not about to burst into song."

I chuckled lightly and shook my head. "I'm not. You're safe from that."

A bell rolled in the distance, chiming out nine times before falling silent.

He gently took his hand back. "You'd better be getting back. Your friends will be waiting for you."

"Yes. I should. Goodbye." I turned around and headed up the hill, but his voice stopped me.

"You may call me Aleksander again. If you want." He called out, "Sister."

———

I poked Kaz with my foot and he looked at me with a slight smile. We were lying in bed, enjoying the silence of the quiet motel for once since we've gotten here.

"Why'd you do that?" He asked.

I turned my head to look at him and smiled back. "I wanted to see you smile."

He smiled again and rolled onto his side, wrapping his arms around me and holding me close to his chest.

"And I also wanted cuddles." I added, nestling closer to him.

"You could have just asked. I wouldn't have been able to say 'no'."

"When are we going back to Katterdam?"

"Acker should have the metal death-trap up and running again by late afternoon tomorrow. So that means no sneaking off, or you'll miss the train."

"You don't have to worry about me. It's Jesper you should watch out for."

"I've got that all planned out, Bella. Inej will keep an eye on Jesper. While I get a few hours with you. Just us two."

Thanks to everyone who's still reading this. And chose to read this. Hope you liked this chapter! Vote and comment. Have a great day/night!

Question of the day: Do you think the Darkling/Aleksander should get a second chance?