Sea Shadow (General Kirigan & Nikolai Lantsov)

Chapter 14

The Fold

Kaida was deep in her thoughts when someone entered the tent making her turn her head towards the door.

"What do you want?" she asked looking back at the floor.

"I need to prepare you for the crossing," she said.

"Go away," Kaida said.
"Please, don't make things more complicated," she begged,

"Or what?!" Kaida said, standing up from the floor abruptly. "You are going to kill Jake? Yes, I know, you've been telling me that since I'm here!"

"Is something wrong?" Ivan asked entering the tent.

"No," Genya said quickly.

"If there is any problem I'll bring the kid. Just tell me," he said leaving the tent.

"Come on, Kaida, if you don't get ready they will torture him," Kaida looked at her and accepted.

Genya did Kaida's makeup in a very discreet and natural way, then braided her hair with golden threads decorating it and then made a bun. She carefully pulled a few strands out in front of her face and then had her dress brought in.

The dress was black with a half transparent bodice. The skirt was long and had glitter on it, the straps were tulle and held in place by a bow. To match the dress, Kaida wore black shoes with the heel decorated with leaves.

"Lastly, I've been asked to exchange your ring for this one," Genya said, showing one with horns similar to the Stag's.

"What? No," Kaida said in fright. For nothing in the world did she want her ring taken away. "Genya, please don't, not the ring. I beg you," she said, holding her hand so she wouldn't take her ring.

"I'm sorry, for some reason I've been asked to change your ring," Genya said sadly, seeing Kaida's tears.

"He's only doing it because he wants to see me suffer, please don't make me take my ring off," Kaida didn't want to cry but just imagining being without that ring terrified her.

In the end, with a threat from Ivan, Genya managed to change Kaida's ring.

Kaida was escorted out of the tent where The Darkling was waiting for her.

"Let's go," he said, extending his arm for Kaida to intertwine with his. Kaida looked at him angry, sad and annoyed but did it anyway.

They were escorted to the front of the skiff, where there were Fjerdan ambassadors, a delegation from the Shu Han, and next to them, a group of Kerch tradesmen. An envoy of the King stood with them. Kaida wanted to scream at them and tell them to run, but she knew she couldn't.

"Alina," Kaida tried to get to her but she was pushed away by Ivan.

"Kip her quiet," The Darkling ordered.

The skiff shuddered and began to slide over the grass and into the eerie black mist of the Fold.

Kaida was never scared of the darkness and this time didn't change, she was just scared of what the man that controls the darkness was capable of.

There was only darkness around them, it was all silence. Kaida could feel every emotion of every person on the skiff. They were all terrified, but they also had hope. Kaida felt bad for them, they were going to see how The Darkling was going to kill more people.

The silence was broken with The Darkling's voice.

"Burn."

Huge clouds of flame burst from the Inferni on either side of the skiff, briefly illuminating the night sky.