Shadow and Bone - The child of shadow and light

Chapter 7

*11 months later* Anja is now 18 months*

*Alinas POV*

"Hmm, I wonder where Anja is? Where could she possibly be?" I said dramatically loud as I walked around the house 'looking' for my daughter. Even though I already knew she was hiding behind the curtains in the kitchen. Like she always did. Time really passes by quickly. It felt as if it was yesterday she took her first steps and said her first words.

Now she's running around the house like someone was chasing her. I was pulled out of my thoughts when I heard a loud giggle coming from the kitchen. "Oh, what was that?" I pretended to say to myself as I walked into the kitchen. Still pretending to look around. I even made a show of looking under the table, and the chairs, before finally stalking over to the curtains.

"Got you!" 

"No mama!" Anastasia said giggling like crazy, trying to run away. 

"Now I'm going to eat you for dinner!" 

"Noo!!" We spent our time together just like this. And it was these moments that really reminded me why I loved being a mother. I loved that smile and that laughter. To see Anastasia grow. To see her happy.

I might not be able to provide her with the best toys and clothes but she didn't care. Though I planned to pick up a second job as soon as Anja started school. During the spring and summer, she loved helping me plant and take care of the seeds we had grown in the backyard of our home. And I had recently started to teach her how to draw. Though it was mostly circles and shapes that she draws, I still hung them up like the proud mother I am.

We were interrupted by a loud knock on the door, and I immediately grabbed Anja and lifted her up in my arms as I walked toward the door. "Anastasia, stop it," I said sternly showing her that we were not playing anymore. I opened the door after the second knock, revealing a young woman with a little girl by her side.

"Can I help you?" I said as I looked at her suspiciously, trying to discreetly look around the street for anything or anyone unusual. 

"Oh no, we're just stopping by to say hello. We are your new neighbours across the street."

 "Oh hello, my name is Sofia and this is Anastasia," I said as I let out a sigh of relief.

"My name is Tatiana and this is my daughter Maria". My heart always seemed to still at the mention of that name. My friend Maria had died to keep me safe. So in the end, I ended up inviting them in. It might have been risky but keeping to myself was only going to draw more attention to myself and Anja.

Anastasia seemed to like Maria and got along with her very well. While the children played, Tatiana and I sat down by the kitchen table and talked about pretty much everything. Though I made sure to keep my mask on, not allowing myself to reveal anything about Alina Starkov.

*THE DARKLINGS POV*

"Moy tsar, the council is gathered and is awaiting your arrival" I mumbled in acknowledgement as I gathered my papers for the meeting. I had been working on ways to modernize Ravka like Shu Han and Fjerdan, now that there was no king to stop me. Ravka is far behind in modernization but it's not like I don't have time. You know what they say ''Rather sooner than later.''

The Fabrikators have already started to work on the production of trains and which have begun to show great progress. Soon people will be able to travel through Ravka, both faster and safer. The rising of factories had also begun as we have to increase the number of goods that we export and sell off to other countries if we're ever, to pay off Ravkas large depts.