Two Sides of the Same Coin

Kirigan

Katia's skin crawled as the Grisha descended upon her and Alina after their 'performance', their hands brushing over her shoulders, strong hugs stealing the breath from her lungs. People were not like that in the First Army, they had a job to do, and they did it. Nothing more. Here...the Grisha felt something more for each other. Like they were kin. It was too much, too quickly for Katia. Apart from Alina and Mal, she couldn't even remember the last person she had touched in a gentle manner.

And the Darkling, she realised.

With his dark eyes invading her mind once again, Katia twisted to find him speaking to the King by the throne, lost in a heated discussion. The Queen sat politely in her chair, running her fingers through her silky hair, which appeared a little too bouncy to be real. Genya's work. Katia wondered what else the Queen had the redhead do for her—

"The Summoner Sisters" A voice murmured, as the smell of death hit Katia like a wave.

She turned to see the man who she assumed was the Apparat slithering toward her, dressed in a long brown robe, his yellow teeth on display as he smiled at her. His eyes didn't match the tight upturn of his lips. If Katia felt uncomfortable before, now it was taking all of her will not to run out of the room. The Grisha who had surrounded her seemed to feel the same, as they slinked away to huddle around Alina instead.

"Excuse me?" Katia frowned.

"That is what the people will call you. The sisters who can summon the light...and the dark" The Apparat stated, in a low tone.

"I don't believe we've been formally introduced" Katia pointed out, feigning ignorance.

"I am the King's spiritual advisor. A most important role in these troubling times" The Apparat exclaimed, as Katia's eyes narrowed.

"I think the battlefield is where help is needed the most" Katia huffed.

"Spoken like a true killer" The Apparat replied, causing Katia to flinch at his harsh words.

"...I've killed to serve the King. To protect the whole of Ravka" Katia muttered.

"How noble of you" The Apparat grinned, mockingly.

"I hear there are plans to build altars for your sister in the border villages. A saint come to life" The Apparat explained, taking a step closer to Katia, as the stench of incense threatened to overpower her.

"I do not think they will worship you the same. We can but hope you will not become the new Black Heretic" The Apparat continued, as she gave him a look of disbelief.

"Well, Priest...if I do, I will make sure you are the first I call upon" Katia hissed, before shoving past the old man, her eyes fixed on her sister.

Her forehead wrinkled as she watched none other than Zoya pull Alina into an embrace, a sly smirk on her lips, as she whispered something in Alina's ear, only audible to Katia and a few of the Grisha who had been lining up to hug the Sun Summoner.

You stink of the orphanage, half-breed.

Katia's blood boiled as she watched Zoya twist around, the satisfied smile still on her lips until her eyes met Katia. From the expression on her face, it must have been clear that she had heard the disgusting words. Zoya tensed, half expecting a slap or a punch to follow. Instead, Katia forced an overly sweet smile onto her own lips and leaned forward, pressing a kiss to Zoya's quickly reddening cheek.

" Now, so do you " Katia whispered, as Zoya appeared lost for words.

The woman pursed her lips, the blush on her face now creeping down her neck as she was quick to excuse herself. Alina came to stand beside her sister's side, muffling a laugh behind her hand. Katia's eyes found themselves drifting back to where the Darkling was still speaking to the King, whose own gaze was set firmly on Katia, his shoulders rigid, a storm brewing on his handsome face.