WICKED GAME [shadow and bone] ON HOLD

fire and wind

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐎:

"if looks could kill"

Katerina had no idea if that was only her, but it felt like since Sun Summoner started to live in the Little Palace, everything seemed to be exceedingly brighter. People were happier, and she could have sworn the servant that walked past her the other day had a little skip in her steps.

Katerina was not used to so much positivity in her life, therefore the drastic changes in everyone started to creep her out.

The redhaired Inferni liked to visit the training grounds, she liked to observe the young Grisha training and see how they grow and learn how to master their powers. And that was exactly where she was right now.

"Sun Summoner!" Botkin's booming voice turned Katerina's attention from a few Tidemakers who were repeating their movies in sync, to the opposite side of the courtyard where Alina Starkov walked forward with two other girls, an Inferni and a Tidemaker. "All of Ravka's foes want to kill you before you can destroy the Fold." He walked closer and even more and more Grisha came forward to see what the Sun Summoner can actually do. Katerina had a doubt that not much.

"It's a great honor to have so many enemies." The redhead noticed that Alina was saying something to her friends. "You must learn to defend yourself fast." Katerina rarely agreed with Botkin yet this time the man told the truth. Alina was a Mapmaker and as far as Katerina's knowledge went, Mapmakers were not given combat training. "Do you know how to fight?"

To Katerina's surprise, the girl nodded her head.

"I've had some training."

"Show me. Pick an opponent."

Alina's eyes slid past the faces around the courtyard. For a moment they lingered at certain red-haired Inferni, yet Katerina immediately noticed that and slightly shook her head. Oh, darling, you don't want that. It seemed that Alina understood that it would be the end of her if she would fight against Katerina Kozlowski therefore her eyes continued to search for an opponent.

However, when the redhead noticed who Alina had picked, maybe picking her wouldn't be such a bad idea.

"Zoya Nazyalensky." The said girl stepped forward. "I've been training her since she was ten."

Katerina watched how Zoya put the poor girl on her back a couple of times. Part of her pitied the girl yet the other half believed that this way she will learn how to be better.

You need to fall if you want to learn how to get up.

After seeing the girl fall for the second time, Katerina already moved forward to stop the fight when the Sun Summoner delivered a nasty punch to Zoya's perfect face. The action halted the Inferni in her tracks and caused a small smirk to appear on her face.

What Katerina did not expect was that Zoya will lose her compose and use her powers against Alina. Now, that made her furious.

"Zoya Nazyalensky!"

Everyone in the courtyard froze upon hearing her voice. Even Botkin flinched. Some of the Grisha was so occupied with watching the fight that they didn't even notice that Katerina was observing the whole situation. And Zoya was one of them. The dark-haired Squaller was standing with her back turned to the redhead and slowly turned around. Only when she did, Zoya wished she hasn't.

The redhead's eyes did not leave the girl for a second. If looks could kill, where Zoya was standing would be only a pile of ashes, nothing more. Some of the Grisha who was standing closer to the Inferni could have sworn they felt heat coming from the girl, even though she hadn't produced a single spark.

With steady steps, Katerina moved closer to Zoya and when she was directly in front of her, she spoke.

"Do you have a single reason why you just used your powers in combat training?" The redhead Inferni was speaking in such a calm voice that Zoya would have preferred her shouting at her. All this time the dark-haired girl did not dare to look into Katerina's eyes. "Look me in the eyes when I am talking to you."

Hesitantly she tilted her head and looked into her eyes only to feel shivers run down her back. Just for a second Katerina's usual green eyes flashed in the color of fire. At first, Zoya thought that she had imagined it but when that happened again, she was convinced that it was not her imagination.

"I have no reason why I used my powers in the combat training." Katerina almost missed the silent confession. After that, the Squaller's gaze dropped down to her feet. She glanced over Zoya's shoulder to see that Alina is back on her feet and all seemed to be alright. Her eyes returned to the girl in front of her, she leaned closer so no one would be able to overhear her next sentence.

"Get out of my sigh. General will decide what to do with you." Without sparing another look, Zoya rushed away Saints know where. Katerina one last time looked at Alina, then quickly glanced over the crowd until her eyes stopped at Botkin. "Continue the training."

Without waiting for any comment, the red-haired Inferni turned around and left the courtyard.

Alina had woken up shortly after she was knocked down, therefore, she witnessed the whole ordeal between Katerina and Zoya. The girl that Alina encountered when she and the General were escorting her to Os Alta was the complete opposite of the girl she just saw. Everything about her was different.

After the ride to the Little Palace Alina had wondered why everyone had claimed that Katerina Kozlowski is just as dangerous as the Darkling.

Well, now she knew why.

⸺

𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫'𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞:

' I'm sorry for the short chapters but because of the fact that show has only one season (for now), I just can't afford to have longer chapters. (otherwise, the whole book will consist of only ten chapters max)

so now we can see both sides of Katerina, the funny and sarcastic side and the dangerous/badass side. which one do you like better? 

Moony x