Shadows and The Sea - The Darkling

Amplifiers & Headed to the Fold

Aleks' POV

The sound of fabric drew my attention away from my thoughts and before I knew it, a tan coat was tossed on my legs. I moved the article of clothing to the side and sat up, narrowly avoiding a sword from landing on me as well.

My demigoddess seemed distressed and between the need to cry or hit something. Before she could make that decision, I intercepted the beginning of her pacing and pulled her close.

Persephone's hands gripped the back of my black Grisha-made coat firmly and after a deep breath, I started to feel her smaller frame start to shake.

Small sniffles and irregular breathing filled the air, which caused me to pull her as close as I could while raising one hand to rest on her head. She took to the gesture of affection by nuzzling her head into my chest as if trying to hide herself in my kefta.

I softly pet the dark locks under my head in hopes of soothing the powerful woman with me but once I felt more of her weight lean on me, I could tell that she wasn't going to last long. Then, finally, small sobs broke through and caused my heart to hurt for her. Slowly walking backwards, I moved the two of us to sit on the bed.

Once on the cushioned mattress, I sat on the bed and Persephone sat next to me while swinging her legs over my lap. I wrapped one arm around her back and used the other to slip her boots off so they didn't get the sheets dirty. Plus it was a pet peeve of hers.

After she settled on the bed with me, I took the chance to quietly try and assess what had happened in that tent with Alina.

"What happened, Persephone?"

"S-she won't listen. She doesn't w-want to listen at all. She got angry when I tried to explain and yelled that she felt like she didn't know me. I-I don't understand, I'm not the one who changed. And then she kept giving e-excuses why she kissed you but didn't j-just own up to what she did," the girl on my lap explained with small sniffles breaking the sentences apart.

I didn't interrupt because I knew that she needed to let her feelings out, "It's so irritating! And when I brought up what she said to Genya that night, she didn't even say anything. I wanted her to at least say that she was sorry or that it was a spur of the moment thing. Anything. I wanted anything but all I got was a sad look. Ugh! I just... I just wanted to make up with my friend."

I rested my left arm over her legs, gently tracing circles over her knees in a soothing manner. When she didn't continue, I softly stated my best to try and comfort her through the ever growing anger I had with the Sun Summoner.

"Shhh... it's going to be okay. Alina's stubborn and if she has her own opinion of me then that's not something we can do anything about right now. Maybe when we let her cool down and process everything she's learned, she'll be more willing to talk. But for now... what do you want to do? Do you want to stay here while I take care of the amplifier?"

The beautiful woman on my lap didn't answer right away, choosing to fiddle with my hand that was on her knee while the other kept her tucked into my side.

"It's okay if you want to stay here. Once we're done we're going to stay the night here, then go back to the Little Palace in the morning."

"... Yeah... I think I'll stay here," she said softly.

I gave her a peck on the head and started to slide out from under her. Persephone took my movement to crawl to the top of the bed and rest her head on the pillow she decided she liked more. As she got comfortable, I couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped my lips.

She looks like a cat.

The sound made the demigoddess on the bed look up at me, "What?"

"Nothing," I said through another chuckle.