Ash and Dusk

Chapter 10

The days passed and I felt worse. I haven't get out of bed for three days. Genya tried to make me feel better but I am so tired, even if I sleep all day.
"Come on, Alina! You look terrible. A walk will make you feel better" she said again, almost pleading.
Every morning is the same. Genya comes to get me out of bed and I refuse.
"No. I am tired" I said.
She sighed giving me a concerned look.
"Then can you at least eat?"
Genya put a tray of food on the table. I looked inexpresive at it. I barely ate those days.
"Alina, you have to eat." Genya waited for a reaction and when she didn't get one she burst up.
"Please, I don't know what to do anymore! I called the healers and they can't heal you, you don't want to get out of bed and you don't want to eat. I can't watch you fading slowly without doing something!" She stopped to breath and a single tear escaped from her eye. When she spoke again her voice was a whisper. "Please, let me help you."
I hate to see her this way but I can't lie to her.
"You can't."

I spent the rest of the day staring aroud the room. I have nothing to do because no one visits me. Not even the Darkling. He stopped talking or interacting with me from that day. I haven't seen him at all. Maybe he waits for me to fall asleep so I can't see him. A hoarse laugh escaped from my mouth at that though.
How right he was. I am alone. Without Mal. I laugh again at was I was going to think. Without him.
I sinked in the dark part of myself and pulled our connection.
I am really losing my mind.
He was standing at a desk writing without looking at me. The rest of the room was blurred.
"What do you want, Alina?" he asked me while he was still writing.
I answered truthfully.
"I wanted to see you."
He stopped and finally looked at me. Inexpresive. Cold.
"And why would you? Are you still trying to kill me?"
I haven't even flinched at his words. I approached him and stopped near the desk.
"No. Because I am alone."
A corner of his mouth raised.
"I see you're feeling good to know you were right" I said.
After some moments of indecision, he raised from the chair and came toward me, leaving a little space between us. Then he leaned to whisper in my ear.
"I love it when you say I'm right."
I haven't bothered to hide a shiver.
He smiled and grabbed my waist.
The room was now clear. But it wasn't actually a room. It was a tent.
"Where are you?" I asked.
"In an expedition. I'll come tomorrow for the party." He still hasn't let me go.
"Party?" I asked confused.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, a party where some representants from each country will come. You don't know?"
"No. I haven't left the room those days" I answered.
He tilted his head a little looking too innocent. It hurt me to see him this way.
"Why?"
I looked into his eyes. Grey quartz. Curiosity. And something I couldn't recognise. It was like a distant flame.
"Stop this" I said to him.
"What?" He tried to hide a smirk and leaned to kiss my neck. I let him.
"You know what" I whispered.
He raised his head just to whisper in my ear again.
"Only if you tell me to stop."
A mocking smile appeared on my face as I said "See you tomorrow, Aleksander."
I saw his eyes widened and then I returned back at the palace.

***

I finally decided to get out of bed and take a shower. His bathroom was huge and covered in black marble. The bathtub had golden designs on it.
I looked at the few scents which were standing on a small table and smelled a blue one. Icy flame. If that's possible. I poured some in the water.
After an hour I grabbed a bathrobe that must have been his because it was too large for me.
I exited the bathroom just to be pulled into one of Genya's hugs.
"Alina!" she shouted "You got up!"
"Yes." Suddenly, I felt horrible for her. "I'm sorry for scaring you."
She let me go to look into my eyes and a serious expresion was on her face.
"Don't do that. Ever. Again."
Hmm...sounds familiar.
I blinked at her without saying anything and her look softened.
"I've been so worried. I thought you were going to die because you haven't even eat and..."
"Genya" I cut her off "I'm better now."
She sighed relieved.
"Good to hear" she said guiding me to a chair. "Now sit. You really need some of my magic."
After I let her doing saints know what with my hair and face she finally finished.
"Done. You may look." she said with a proud smile on her face.
I looked at my reflexion and my mouth opened. Leaving the fact that I wasn't looking terrible like those days she made my hair brown. I took some hair in my hand and pointed at it.
"What's this for?" I asked.
She bit her lip and said "We are going for a walk. You don't want people to recognise you, do you?"
"But..." I started "are we going in town? Because there's no way the guards will let us."
She helped me to get up. I wanted to grab my black kefta when she stopped me.
"You don't want to wear that." she said.
"Why not?"
Genya gave me a frustrated look.
"Because it's black. And black is the color of..."
"Alright, I understand." I cut her off again.
She moved toward the bed and pointed at some normal clothes.
"Dress with this."
I took them and asked "How are we going to leave the palace?"
"Trust me, I know a way" she replied. "Oh, and your hair will be like this just for this night. You wanted to keep it longer?"
I examined myself in the mirror. I look like before, when I was a little map maker. When nothing was unusual and strange. And when my only power was almost inexistent.
I shook my head.
"No. I like white better."
Genya nodded and I noticed she wasn't wearing her kefta as well.
"Let's go then."

Done. Hope you liked it and thank you again and again for reading my story.
See you in two days.

Annie