In The Name of Shadows - A Darklina Story

Chapter 8: The Havoc Summoner Alina

Publishing date: 03/06/2022

Alina Oretsev felt like she had been deceived.

Everything she had struggled to build had just fallen apart like a house of cards. Her longed-for normality was now just an empty slogan. It was just a memory of many beautiful moments filled with the ordinariness and tenderness of Mal.

And to think that until recently Alina sometimes had missed being Grisha, that she had missed the time when she had been someone special. Now she regretted her recklessness and cursed the day she had decided to keep the knife with which she had killed Aleksander Morozova.

"Don't worry, my little Alina, I haven't come to terms with it either. Understanding will come with time, just be patient. I admit that you complicated my plans a bit, because I needed you as the Sun Summoner. But I'm sure I'll use you even better in this more powerful form you are now," said Aleksander, wanting the girl to look at him.

But Alina wasn't listening to the Darkling's monologue.

She was focused on what this situation meant for her marriage. Could it be that, in fact, the death of any of them three would cause the rest of them to die as well? Alina would have willingly sacrificed herself for the sake of this world if her passing would also mean Aleksander's death, but she couldn't just take Mal's life like that. She couldn't do it to Mal, who was a man who was willing to give up his own existence for Alina just to let her survive and defeat this monster – the Darkling.

The girl felt that Aleksander was manipulating her as always. That perhaps his story had just been made up only to keep her by his side. But was it the right decision? Should Alina stick to someone that cruel and just follow his orders?

Will I... trust him just like that? After all that he did to inhabitants of Ravka? Am I really that strong to forget about everything which made me sick of him and believe that it may save Mal?

"I hope you have already given up the thoughts of escape, my dear. We have a lot to do, and most importantly, you must learn to control your power as quickly as possible. I would like you to have control over it so that you could help me effectively in my mission in Kribirsk," said the Darkling. "But I know it is impossible now, so I have to rely on my own powers."

In Kribirsk? What are you planning, Aleksander Morozova? Thought Alina.

"We will go there tomorrow. I just need to make some adjustments to my plan which I had established before it turned out that you are now the Havoc Summoner, my little Alina." The Darkling grinned ominously at the white-haired girl, then he walked over to the stone bed on which he apparently had been sleeping during his stay in this cave. "Forgive me that we don't have the luxuries you remember from the Little Palace, but I promise, it will change soon. Then you will be treated like a queen. Just be a little patient and for now, if you want, you can sleep with me." Aleksander made a cute face, giving Alina an unambiguous look. "You are welcome here, so please feel free to join me..."

His offer somehow had brought the girl down to the earth. For a moment she forgot about Mal, and instead she concentrated on expressing her contempt for the immoral offer of the Darkling.

"I will sooner die than I will come near you when I don't have to," hissed the Havoc Summoner, clenching her fists and marching toward the farthest end of the cave. Alina sat there with force, leaning her back against the wall. "It's quite comfortable there, much better than anywhere near you. So, thank you very much, but I am okay here. Thanks for asking, though."

Aleksander smiled politely, then he shrugged.

"If you say so, I won't argue with you. That's your choice. But if your buttocks go numb after a few hours, you know where to find me." The man winked at her, then he lay down on the stone bed he rested on every day since Lizabeta and Katya had brought him to the cave. The Darkling clasped his fingers behind his neck and then he turned to the side to face Alina. "Are you sure you won't take my offer? I can give you one last chance and then you will have to beg me for it."