Shadows and The Sea - The Darkling

Interrogation & Fedyor Leaving

Percy's POV

Movement in my shoulder was what first woke me up. Gentle shaking that told me that it was someone who was close enough to me to wake me up slowly so as to not trigger a fight or flight instinct.

My eyes fluttered open to meet warm, dark eyes that looked down at me from where he was seated on the bed. However, I could tell that something wasn't right.

"What happened?"

Aleks looked troubled for a minute but replied nonetheless, "Alina is missing."

I felt myself stiffen and my mind started to cloud with thoughts of worry and fear for her, "What do you mean she's missing."

"I searched the entire palace and had the oprichnik do another full sweep of the palace and grounds. She's nowhere to be found. I was going to pay a little visit to the person we have in custody from earlier tonight but wanted to know if you wanted to come as well?"

I thought back to the man I had knocked out and felt my neck heat up when I recalled what he tried to do to Marie and Alina. It didn't take much brainpower to realize that his target was Alina so it would make sense to interrogate him as to where she might be.

I looked at him after my moment of contemplation, "Let's go."

Aleks smirked before holding a hand out for me to take as I got out of the bed and before I realized it, he brought the same kefta I wore to the fete out. Of course I didn't want to go in the robe but I was slightly shocked to see that kefta again. The Shadow Summoner's smirk turned into a genuine smile at my confusion.

"If you do not object, I would very much like for you to wear this one more often."

My cheeks turned pink but I slipped on the kefta anyway. Once the bulletproof coat was on and secure, Aleks looped his arm with mine and proceeded to lead me to where the suspect was being held. We walked through the halls of the Little Palace but then went down a direction I had yet to explore due to the doors of this hall always being locked. As we climbed down a stone staircase, we were met by one of my least favorite Grisha that seemed no more happy to see me than I was to see her.

"General," Zoya stiffly greeted the man without even so much as giving me a glance.

Aleks gave her a nod but continued to walk past her with me still by his side, "Has he talked?"

"A lot of lies. Ivan's with him," she said from behind us.

We walked through the torch-lit hall and before we turned the corner, Aleks paused and gently brought me behind him. I did not question it and we continued to see Ivan standing behind the man who attacked Marie and Genya tied to a chair. He no longer wore the opricknik uniform I had seen him in but now had on a button down shirt and pair of grey pants. His skin was gleaming with sweat and he looked out of breath, no doubt Ivan's work trying to get him to talk.

Aleks brought us to a stop a few paces away from the man who now started to plea his sham of a story, "I've been swindled. Hoodwinked."

Oh gods I want to punch him.

"My guards tell me that they caught you at the scene of the crime with a bloody knife and empty gun in your possession."

"Yes. I followed them."

"Followed whom?" the general asked the lying man.

"They come from the other side of the Fold. From the start, they seemed, just, a bit off to me, so when they left our stage, at the fete, I followed them to see what they were up to, and at the time that I walked into that room, they were gone and...Saints, it was...unspeakable. So I ran. I... "