Love and Lies

Chapter 1

He is the Black Heretic," she said furiously, her face mere inches from mine.

"Of course he is." With some effort, I pried her fingers loose and stepped past her to the door. "I'm going to find you a Healer and then I'm going to bed."

"Look at me, girl."

I took a deep breath and turned around, my patience at an end. I felt sorry for her, but this was just too much. "Baghra-"

The words died on my lips.

Darkness was pooling in Baghra's palms, the skeins of inky blackness floating into the air.

"You do not know him, Alina." It was the first time she had ever used my name. "But I do."

I stood there watching dark spirals unfurl around her, trying to comprehend what I was seeing. Searching Baghra's strange features, I saw the explanation clearly written there. I saw the ghost of what must have once been a beautiful woman, a beautiful woman who gave birth to a beautiful son.

"You're his mother," I whispered numbly.

She only nodded her head and the dark tendrils had disappeared.

"Now, you must go before disaster will happen," she said in an urgent voice but I did a double take. This woman who had trained me harshly and yelled at me and hurt me with her stick was telling me that the Darkling was the Black Heretic.

Why should I believe her? I had already told the Darkling that I trusted him.

I shook my head.

"No, you're insane. He wouldn't do that. I know he wouldn't. Even if you are his mother, he isn't a monster that you think he is," I hissed at her and she looked taken back.

"Don't act foolish, girl," she strictly said and I rolled my eyes.

"I think you really need a Healer," I said and I started to leave but she grabbed my arm.

"If you choose wrongly than whatever happens is your entire fault," she stared at me and I shook my head again. I yanked my arm from her grip and ran out of the secret passage way.

I ran to the domed room and I walked straight to the Darkling's quarter. I took a breath. Mal and the other trackers had left already, so I had nothing to worry about. The name of Mal gave my stomach a twist. I shook it off and opened the door and walked down the hallway that was familiar with me and opened another set of doors. I looked around and saw the Darkling at the end of the table having a talk with Ivan. He looked up when I had entered. He whispered something to Ivan and he got up and left, giving me and nod of acknowledgment.

"Alina is everything all right?" the Darkling asked me. I was going to tell him what happened but I couldn't help but glare at him.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I hissed.

"Tell you what?"

"That Baghra was your mother," I said and he stood up and walked towards me.

"So she told you," he said and I gave him a scowl.

"You're not answering my question." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

"It wasn't worth telling," he said softly and I saw something in his eyes that disappeared quickly.

I took a breath, "Baghra told me that you were the Black Heretic."

His eyes flickered to mine. "She told you that."

I nodded. He shook his head.

"I knew she was insane," he muttered.

"What?" I asked him. He sighed again.