A Love Like No Other

Part 37

The two follow Marei's instructions. Coming to a stop when they finally find the wreckage of an old church. Something about the ruins made Artie nervous, but Kir was determined to get his hands on Morozova's writings.

"Are you sure your mother didn't lie to us?" Artie asks Kir.

"She'd have no reason to lie to me."

"That doesn't make me less nervous…"

Kir walked into the ruins. Moving loose rocks out of the way in order to ensure they were looking in every crevice. Marei told them that there was a hidden room somewhere inside the church, at least there was before its untimely demise.

Artie and Kir searched for an hour before Artie found something of interest. A circular handle embedded into the wall, leading to nowhere.

"Kir," she calls. He was at her side in an instant. "Why would they place this here?"

Kir leans forward, his eyes intently scanning the wall for something. Artie watched him with deep interest. 

Kir smiles. "Because it leads somewhere." He turns to Artie, she returns the look with confusion. There was no sign of an opening anywhere on the wall. "Come on. Look closer."

Rolling her eyes, Artie obliged. Only because he asked so nicely and she couldn't resist his perfect smile. Very faint outlines of a door, almost as if a Fabrikator had mended it shut. Shocked by the craftsmanship, Artie took an admiring step back.

"How do you suppose we get inside?" she asks.

In an instant, the intacted wall crumples. Kir recovering from performing the Cut.

"That's one way."

The two walk deep into the room. The only light coming from the dim light Artie was producing. The walls were stacked with shelves. Some were broken and crooked, no doubt from the damage of the fall of the church, others were collecting dust. There wasn’t much left.

"Split up," Artie said. "I'll take this side, you take that side." Kir nodded his agreement.

Artie went to her section, focusing so the light she was making would be bright enough for Kir.

There wasn't much. A couple papers that didn't have any important details, the rest were completely blank. Dust settled around the broken wood. Rocks and rubble seeped into the cracks.

"Look at this," Kir said.

Setting down the papers, Artie heads over to Kir. The moonlight followed after her. In Kir's hands was a paper that had drawings along with instructions or riddles. But one thing was certain.

"Merzot." Artie read. "This is what we're looking for?"

"Finally at our fingertips," Kir replied. "Oh, how I longed for this moment since my darling mother told us that story."

The story of Morozova. Of whom Aleksander and his mother descend from. Why they possess the rarest talent known to Grisha.

"Keep looking," Kir states. "There has to be more."

"If there is, we will find it."

Artie searched high and low, coming up with nothing. The places they searched only came up with disappointment, leading to Kir getting upset.

As always, Artie ignored it. Knowing it was best to leave him to dwell in his own demons for the time being.

Artie stops when she sees a paper with the words The Dark Witch written across the top. There was only one person who would've been called that and in Morozova's things.

Marei.

So there was truth in what she said about her sister and Morozova after all.

After another hour of finding nothing, Kir relented in his search for more of Morozova writings. Particularly anything that had to do with Merzots. Saying they had lots to plan with the material they have found.