In The Name of Shadows - A Darklina Story

Chapter 21: This Overwhelming Lust

Publishing date: 05/06/2022

Warning: In the end of this chapter appears soft mature content. Proceed it carefully!

The ancient Grisha, also known as the Black Heretic, during his long, routine life had managed to get used to insomnia. When the following evening had found Aleksander Morozova in his usual state of arousal at night, the Darkling had already returned to Os Alta from his forced trip to Poliznaya and he was just walking briskly along the long corridor of the Little Palace, heading towards his quarters.

The Shadow Summoner felt that he had to see her. The dark man knew that he had to do it right now, otherwise this unsatisfying desire would prevent him from focusing on the urgent matters that had to be brainstormed right now to implement the plan to take power in Ravka as soon as possible.

Saints, why can't I resist her? Baghra must be turning over in her grave, the Darkling smiled a little at the thought of it, remembering the moment when his rage had made him blind his now dead mother.

Aleksander realized that he could not act rashly, but at the same time he felt that if he wanted to, he could soon overthrow this ineptly ruling monarchy without the slightest difficulty. However, the costs of these too hasty proceedings may have turned out to be too high. Experience had taught the Darkling that hate should not be allowed to overcome his common sense.

Calm and composure. Methodical operation. No violent emotions. Me and my little Alina. Two of us. Together. And we are all we need anyway.

The first episode of the creation of the Shadow Fold had been strongly connected with the overly strong emotions of Aleksander Morozova, which not only had drawn on his head nothing but worries, but also had forced him to grapple with successive generations of inept rulers of Ravka, where each next dynasty had dealt with governing country even worse than the previous one.

They are a bunch of bunglers and ordinary weaklings.

Aleksander regretted that then, many centuries ago, he had not managed to use the Shadow Fold as he had wanted, because the mighty Shadow Summoner had overestimated his own abilities at the time. The Shadow King not only had not freed Grisha then, but he also had exacerbated the conflict between Ravka and the neighboring countries, which had been leading to considerable confusion and disorientation of the authorities in the capital.

It is a burden I will never throw off myself, thought the undoubtedly handsome Grisha, feeling his anger re-fill his shattered soul.

Therefore, it would seem, that the disappearance of the Shadow Fold after the death of the Darkling had been an unquestionable salvation for Ravka. That Alina Starkov had become the national heroine of her country then, bringing an end to the many years of suffering not only of otkazat'sya, but also of Grisha.

But nothing could be more wrong.

The disappearance of the Fold not only had not helped the inhabitants of this tormented country, but it had also turned its ordinary citizens into passive prisoners of the new monarchy, which had turned them into birds accustomed to captivity, and locked in a metal cage where the outside world had done its best to kill them. For today it had become more than obvious that Lantsov dynasty was not interested in the fate of ordinary citizens. What mattered the most was to stay in power at all costs, while proving to neighboring countries that Ravka should not be taken as a weak country.

Since the dawn of history, the dynasties which had ruled in Ravka had their imperialist aspirations. The problem, however, was that the neighboring countries had been no better than Ravkan monarchy in this sphere.