WICKED GAME [shadow and bone] ON HOLD

she is the fire

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐋𝐕𝐄:

"and you should've stayed in the attic, where all the shadows are hiding"

Katerina rode all night and most of the day. She had no plan where to go yet the redhead did not falter for a moment, she only rode forward. Her intentional plan was to go towards the Fold yet her mind unbeknownst to her led her West. Towards the city called Ryevost.

The redhead arrived there just when the darkness started to cover the skies. Katerina had a suspicion that no one knew about the fact that the girl had run away from the General, therefore she still used the privileges that her black-colored kefta provided. No one asked anything from her, no one thought her suspicious. For now, she was safe.

While walking down the street, something caught her eye. She stopped and turned towards a coach that was left behind a stone wall. Upon closer inspection, she deduced that it had come from the Os Alta. Only then Katerina recalled her conversation with Kaz Brekker when she was helping him escape the Little Palace.

"I believe you have a way how to get out of here?"

"Jesper had to take a coach; I hope he will be ready."

Her thoughts suddenly disturbed a noise. Upon turning her head, Katerina widened her eyes and ran for the nearest place where to hide. She crouched down behind a stall where horses were kept. The redhead looked at the street. There in all its glory was Aleksander's coach. She watched how a few Corporalki and Etherealki unmounted their horses. Among them were Zoya and Ivan, Katerina also noticed Polina, yet her brother was nowhere to be seen. Strange, they always were together.

Katerina observed how Aleksander exited the coach, a dangerous aura surrounding him. The redhead could literally see the darkness and shadows that lurked around him, ready to pounce at anyone who will defy him. She also noticed someone else exiting the coach, yet they quickly disappeared back inside. Katerina didn't manage to catch their face, but she saw the purple-colored kefta. What does he require a Materialki for?

There were so many questions in the redhead's mind. It felt like she had been away for months for she had no idea what Aleksander is planning. She felt a pang of anger and disappointment, yes, also sadness, because she realized that Aleksander had never trusted her completely.

An explosion suddenly forced her back from her thoughts. Stealing a glance at the stolen coach, Katerina noticed it had been blown up. Could it be some sort of signal? The redhead Inferni had no idea of the ways how thieves worked, and she could only guess the bomb was the signal so they would know when will be the right time to run. Katerina watched how a group of three exited the tavern not far from where she was. The luck was not on their side because the Grisha soldiers were moving in their direction.