Like Calls to Like: a Darklina soulmates + Political marrage AU

Alina

I feel numb, beneath the hands of the healer who checks me for wounds, beneath the Darkling's quartz gaze. Somewhere far inside of me, I feel outraged. How dare he! How dare he take everything from me- my home, my friends, my family- and now, to expect me to go along with this marriage!

When the corporalnik leaves the room, the Darkling brushes a hand against my cheek and I realize I'm crying silent, angry tears. I flinch away, grabbing his wrist tightly.

"Don't. Touch. Me." I spit. "You- you monster."

I want him to attack me, to fight, for his face to twist into an ugly sneer instead of that insufferable mask of indifference. Alas, he does none of those things.

"You may call me Aleksander, or moi tsar, for I am your king. I really hoped we could have been able to get past this... petty feud."

I drop his arm in disgust. "You killed my friends. You killed my soulmate. Was all of that really nothing more than a petty rivalry?"

The Darkling just laughs, and turns to leave the room. "Get ready, you have your first appearance in... half an hour." He says, letting the door close behind him.

I stand up, then wobble and fall back down. Closing my eyes, I try again, and again, before I can finally stand on my own. Gripping the wooden bed frame, I head towards the washroom. As I look in the mirror, I gasp. Where amplifier meets skin, the skin is gray. Slate veins surround my eyes. I cannot move, frozen to the spot in horror. What has he done to me? I think. What has he done to me, what has he done to me, whathashedonetome.

I feel myself getting overcome with panic, and I barely make it to the toilet before I throw up. I feel weak, and suddenly I notice the absence of light inside me. I sob, new tears for whatever I was before mixing with the old one on my face for Mal, Genya, Zoya, Nikolai, and everyone else I've loved.

When the maid comes in, she finds me curled up on the floor, sobbing. She doesn't seem to notice my gray skin or white hair, things that would draw attention to me otherwise. She has a blank look on her face as she nudges me towards the tub, fills it with warm water, and scrubs until my skin is raw.

Then she lifts me out, dries me as roughly, and dresses me in a black Kefta with gold lining, a gold cloak with a part to cover the lower half of my face (A common accessory brides-to-be often wear on the days before their weddings), and an obsidian headdress.

As soon as I am dressed, she leaves, and I wait silently for Alek- the Darkling. It's as if all the fight has suddenly drained out of me, and all I am is tired. That's what I hope everyone will think. Because I am making a plan- I will destroy the Darkling and get revenge for every life he's ended- no matter what it takes.