Midnight Thoughts ~ Shadow & Bone

25

It was several hours before we reached the outskirts of Ryevost, and I was quite sore and tired of sitting by the time we stopped. Jesper had told us all that the Sun Summoner was locked in the truck attached to the back of the carriage on the way there, so once we stopped, we walked around the back of it and waited. We could see the lock heating up from the inside, so instead of unlocking it, we simply waited for her to break herself out.

Eventually, the lock was punched from its place, and the lid of the chest opened quickly, revealing the dark-haired girl we had carried with us. She glanced between us, furrowing her brows as she stepped out of the chest.

"We don't want any trouble," Jesper assured her, though I could see his hand resting on one of his pistols just in case. Alina held up her hands, showing that she didn't want a fight.

"Neither do I," she said cautiously, "so I'll just be on my way." She went to move towards the town, but Kaz held up his cane, blocking her path. I sighed and stepped forward, holding my hands up reassuringly as well.

"Clearly, you want out of East Ravka," I said calmly. I smiled a bit, hoping I could get her to trust me. "We can help you." Jesper nodded.

"We have a secure route through the Fold."

"I prefer to travel alone," she claimed.

"Don't be rash." Jesper shrugged. "You stick with us, everybody gets what they want." She shook her head lightly.

"I'm not being anyone's captive ever again." I stood up a bit straighter and furrowed my brows. She looked up at Kaz, glaring at him. "So step aside and let me pass." He sighed.

"I'm afraid we can't let that happen," he said. Jesper's grip on his gun tightened, and Alina noticed, throwing her hands up and shining a blinding light. I went to throw my hands up to block it, but unfortunately being able to see well in the dark meant that bright lights were essentially demon spawn.

By the time I was able to see even a little bit again, the girl was gone and Kaz was in front of me, staring down at me with visible concern in his eyes. I groaned as I blinked a few times, looking up at him.

"Goddamn it," I muttered, looking around. I squeezed my eyes shut and shook my head to clear it.

"Are you okay?" he asked quietly. I sighed and nodded.

"Yeah," I assured him. "Just threw me for a loop." He nodded and took hold of my elbow gently, moving me towards Inej and Jesper before letting go.

"Come on," he said as we approached them. "If there's any chance of finding her, we need to move now." We nodded and split up, each searching a different part of the city for the runaway summoner. Instead of taking the slow paths between buildings, I scaled one as quickly as I could and took to searching from above. Eventually, it worked, and I caught sight of the half-Shu girl we were looking for. I ran along the rooftop and jumped over the edge, landing on the ground in front of her. She jumped and turned to run, but I quickly held up my hands to show that I wasn't a threat.

"Wait, please!" I begged quietly. "I want to help you!" She froze and looked back at her, confusion clear on her face.

"You... what?" I sighed and dropped my hands.

"How much do you know about the general's plan for the Fold?" She stood up straighter and frowned. "Please, I need to know." She glanced around and sighed.

"I know he intends to expand it, to use it as a weapon," she told me. "I know he tried once before but was stopped, and I know the lieutenant is helping him bend everything to his will." I furrowed my brows. The rest I had known, but I had no clue that Katya was helping him. Perhaps she was another innocent girl he had manipulated. Or maybe she was completely aware of his intentions and chose to help him regardless. "Who are you? How do you know about Kirigan's plans?" I clenched my jaw and sighed.

"What do you know of his bloodline?" I asked her. "Or the girl he tried to use before?" She furrowed her brows, wringing her hands together.

"I know that only his bloodline produces Shadow Summoners," she said quietly. "But I know nothing of the girl or who she even was." I stared at her sadly and held up my hands, drawing the shadows closer together and enclosing the alleyway in darkness so we could only see each other. Her eyes widened. "You're-"

"I'm his daughter." I rushed forward, dropping the shadows under my control and grabbed her wrist, pulling her down the cobbled path. "He tried to use me to strengthen his own power, but my grandmother told me the truth and got me out before he could." I glanced back at her and shook my head. "You have to get out of Ravka before he catches up to you. Go to Kerch, to Ketterdam, and find the Crow Club. Ask for Karlin, or Tryne if I haven't returned. Tryne is a Heartrender under my wing that can tailor you and help you disappear." I stopped as we got close to the edge of the city. "I'm sorry my father dragged you into this. Please, for both of us, get out while you still can." She stared up at me for a moment before nodding.

"I will," she said softly. She hesitated before hugging me quickly. "Thank you."

And with that she was gone. And I knew I would have hell to pay if Kaz found out.