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" It was the best of times, the worst of crimes,
I struck a match and blew your mind "
―WE ALL LET out a collective sigh of relief when the Darkling is long behind us, slightly awed by seeing Alina's ability at work to destroy the shadows that were headed towards us earlier, a blinding flash of light. A pure miracle mixed with the fact that we have the sea whip itself on our ship, gleaming scales and all. A peaceful hush falls over our group and I feel Yi's weight in my arms. I refuse to look down and see her tear-streaked cheeks or her ringlets of dark hair that cascade over my wrists like wisteria growing. Tolya walks over and takes her from my hands, even though everything in me revolts against it. He gives me a serious look and I release a heavy exhale, knowing that right now I need to comfort my crew instead of comforting a girl who isn't even conscious.
I exchange quiet words with all the Grisha on deck, thanking them and patting them on the back for their work today. There's a tone of disbelief thickly coating everyone on board, and no one can quite believe that we've just escaped the Darkling himself, a rather improbable feat to many. It didn't come without a price, though. We lost fifteen crew members today, two of them still alive and stranded, and the thought of them being tortured for information by the Darkling makes me regret having left them, but I firmly remind myself that if I hadn't, we'd have all been eaten by those shadow monsters sent after us. Everyone is soaked to the bone and shivering, the Squallers and Tidemakers clearly exhausted from their work. At last, I call a halt and then order for the sails to be trimmed.
We want as much distance between us and the Darkling as possible. The schooner slows after a while rocking gently like the aftermath of an earthquake, the realization that you've survived another day of your own stupidity and brashness, emphasis on stupidity.
"Keep a watch," I commend, and Privyet sends a sailor up into the shrouds with a long glass. I walk over to where Alina and her tracker are standing, withdrawing a long knife from my frock.
Alina immediately puts her hands up, and Mal steps in front of her, leveling his rifle at my chest threateningly. I slow my steps as my entire crew tenses, guns clicking and the sound of knives unsheathing filling the air like the hum of bumblebees.
"Easy, Oretsev," I warn. "I've just gone to a lot of trouble and expense to put you on my ship. Be a shame to fill you full of holes now." I offer Alina the blade hilt-first. "This is for the beast."
Mal reluctantly lowers his rifle, and if I didn't know better, I'd think he wanted to find something to shoot, just for the hell of it. "Stand down," I tell my crew, and they holster their weapons. I turn to Tamar and give her a nod. "Haul it in."
She orders for all the sailors to lean over the starboard rail and rope Rusalye. Slowly, like uncovering a cave of treasure, the sea whip's glistening body comes into view, looking like a sculpture crafted of gems and gold coins as it thumps onto the deck. It writhes around weakly, gorgeous fins swiping at the air, red eyes gleaming. Then it tries flopping across the deck and I raise my eyebrows when I realize it's trying to make its way over to Yi whose unconscious body has been tied up and placed against the railing, her head lulling to one side, soaked curls falling over her face. A droplet slides down her bronze skin.
