Sea Shadow (General Kirigan & Nikolai Lantsov)

The beginning

Three years had passed and a lot of things changed in the Little Palace and the main one was the relationship between The Darkling and Kaida. It wasn't anything official but Kaida now was wearing a black kefta, she spent some nights in The Darkling's room, they rode every morning together, he started to consult all his decisions with her... The people noticed the change in The Darkling when she was in a room, he would smile, relax.

Kaida's relationship with Genya and Zoya improved a lot and they became really close friends.

"General, Kaida is missing again" Ivan told The Darkling.

"It's fine, I know where she is" he said calmly. "She did the same thing last year. It's almost her childhood friend's birthday, he is in the First Army so she is going to the Fold the same as we are, she's just going to arrive earlier than us" he said.

"She didn't take her kefta" Ivan informed.

The Darkling sighed with frustration. "Put it with the rest of the things that we are taking to the Fold." he ordered. Ivan nodded and left the room.

✴✴✴

"Jake!" Kaida shouted, getting off her horse and running towards her best friend.

"Kaida!" he ran towards her and lifted in the air in a really big hug. "Oh, my God, I missed you so much," he said happily.

"Me too, just seeing each other once per year shucks" the brown haired said.

"Oh, do you remember Mark and Linda?" he asked, pointing to his other two friends.

"Yes, of course" Kaida said with a smile. "How are you guys?"

"Well, tomorrow they..." Linda started to say but Jake cut her.

"How are the things in the Little Palace?" he said walking away with Kaida.

"Pretty normal and boring, but okay" she answered.

The night fell and while all the soldiers were eating Kaida decided to go and see her friend.

"Hello, Zoya" she said with a smile.

"Kaida, What are you doing here?" she asked, looking at her with a smile.

"I wanted to see Jake" she answered.

"Oh, it makes sense," she said. Kaida frowned with confusion.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"He is going inside the Fold tomorrow, the same with that sexy tracker. I thought you knew" she explained.

"No, he didn't tell me anything. I have to go, but thank you for the information" Kaida ran out of the tent looking for Jake. "You asshole" she said, punching Jake on the arm. "You didn't tell you are going into the Fold tomorrow"

"I didn't want you to worry" he said, trying to calm her down.

"You can't go, it's very dangerous, and tomorrow is your birthday. I'll talk with The General Kirigan and..."

"Kaida, no, you can't do that. I know it's scary but I have to do it. Everything would be alright" he said, hugging her.

✴✴✴

The next morning Kaida woke up before everyone, and even though she knew that Jake or The General would be really mad at her she hid on the boat that was going into the Fold. She wasn't willing to lose Jake.

A few hours later the boat was moving and Kaida left her hide spot to try and find Jake. When she finally saw in the distance the brown hair of her friend she walked towards him.

"Happy birthday" she whispered.

"Kaida. What the hell are you doing here?" he asked worriedly.

"You are crazy if you think I'm going to leave you alone" she said madly.

"For the love of the Saints. Rave, what are you doing here?" Zoya asked, walking towards her.

"I wasn't going to leave Jake alone" she said.

"Saints, you are not even wearing your kefta" she said worriedly. "If we get out of here alive, I swear to all the Saints I'm killing you" Zoya said before returning to her place.

✴✴✴

It was all chaos, the Volcra started to attack everyone on the boat.

"Jake!" Kaida screamed searching for her friend. "Jake!" she screamed again.

"Watch out!" someone screamed jumping on top of Kaida. It was Jake. The boy with brown hair started to shoot towards the Volcra trying to save the life of his mates.

A fire started to burn making Kaida capable of seeing what was going on. She saw how Zoya was trying to protect herself from a Volcra and without thinking she got up from the floor and ran towards her, grabbing a gun from the floor.

"Are you okay?!" she asked Zoya. Zoya was about to answer when a scream made Kaida's head turn. Jake was being taken by a Volcra. "Jake!" Kaida ran and with her Small Science sended a purple mist to the Volcra, which started to scream and let go on Jake. "You are bleeding a lot" Kaida said worriedly.

"It's fine, go and help" Jake told her. Unsure, she left Jake's side and started to fight with the rest, trying to survive.

"Right now I'm really happy that you are here!" Zoya screamed at her.

"It's not the time!" Kaida screamed back.

"Kaida!" Jake screamed seconds before a Volcra took Kaida from her shoulder making her scream in pain. Jake took Kaida's hand on time so the Volcra wouldn't disappear with her.

"Don't let me go!" Kaida screamed terrified.

"I won't, I promise!" Jake said, trying to hold her. Out of nowhere a light as bright as the sun appeared inside the Fold turning everything white and making the Volcra run away. The one that was holding Kaida let go of her, making her fall to the ship floor strongly and leaving her unconscious.