Blood and Water - The Darkling

Chapter 14: Sobachka

*Unedited

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𝕾𝖙𝖚𝖗𝖒𝖍𝖔𝖓𝖉 brings the ship around in another low arc. Then he shouts, "Tolya, Tamar, grenatki."

The twins roll out two cast-iron shells and heft them to the edge of the rail.

Another wave of dread and anticipation wash over me. They're volcra, I remind myself. Look at them. They're monsters. Be wary, don't forget to be cautious and aware.

"Squallers, on my signal," Sturmhond says grimly. "Fuses!" he shouts, then "Gunners, drop heavy!"

The instant the shells are released, Sturmhond roars, "Now!" and cuts the ship's wheel hard to the right.

The Squallers throw up their arms, and the Hummingbird shoots skyward.

A silent second passes, then a massive boom sounds beneath us. The heat and force of the explosion strike the Hummingbird in a powerful gust.

"Steady!" Sturmhond bellows.

The little craft founders wildly, swinging like a pendulum beneath its canvas wings.

I hold fast to the railing, tensing my core to stay balanced. The light thrives around us as I keep my focus.

Finally, the ship stops swaying and settles into a smooth arc, tracing a wide circle high above the burning wreckage of the skiff.

Sturmhond's crew is howling and barking again. Mal joins in, raising his rifle in the air in triumph. Above the cheering, I can hear the volcra's screams, helpless and human to my ears, the keening of mothers mourning their young.

I close my eyes briefly but open them immediately to focus on my steady light.

"Enough," Alina whispers beside me. No one else seems to hear her. "Please," she rasps. "Mal, Svetl—"

You've become quite the killer, Alina.

That cool voice. Is this real?

The Darkling stands before us, his black kefta rippling over the Hummingbird's deck. My twin gasps and steps back, staring wildly around us, but no one else is watching. They are whooping and shouting, gazing down at the flames.

Don't worry, the Darkling says gently. It gets easier with time. Here, I'll show you.

He slides a knife from the sleeve of his kefta, and before I can cry out, he slashes towards my sister's face. She throws her hands up to defend herself, a scream tearing loose from her throat. The light disappears, and the ship is plunged into darkness. Alina falls to her knees, huddling on the deck, ready to feel the piercing sting of Grisha steel.

It doesn't come. People are yelling in fear around me. Sturmhond is shouting our names. I hear the echoing shriek of a volcra. Close. Too close.

Immediately, I brush the shock off and throw power into a glowing blue dome which expands in a shining cascade. The volcra scream and scramble to avoid it's unforgiving warmth.

"Alina!" Mal's voice this time.

My sister seems to come back to her senses. Her power buffers mine, turning the light a blinding white.

Thank the Saints for Baghra's training. If my focus had shifted even a bit longer then who knows what could have happened. A shiver wracks me at the thought.

"Alina, Svetlana, don't let that happen again!" Sturmhond orders. I nod briskly but the captain doesn't look at me as he holds fast to the wheel, yelling orders to the crewmen working the sails.