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Started: 01/11/2021

Last Updated: 05/24/2021

Total Works: 2

☽ angst ♡︎ fluff

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Grishaverse

➪ I Found Series ☽ (now available in wattpad)

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I Found [1] - a crackle of electricity

Summary: Nadia Lisitsa was the lightning and thunder of Ketterdam. She was sent on a mission by her boss, but things took a turn when an incident happened and a certain Heartrender discovers her.

Warnings: Violence, Spoilers of the Netflix show obviously

Word Count: 1321

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I Found Series Masterlist

Next Chapter: I Found [2]

important: this is owned by @moonstars-marie (which is me technically) and pls don’t copy the story, it’s considered plagarism and it’s disrespectful. someone pls notify me if the story is copied. and i don’t own the grishaverse except for nadia lisitsa.

NADIA LISITSA was the thunder and lightning that terrorized Ketterdam. The accompaniment of rain and the darkness. The thundering clap that scared children at night. She was a force that swirled around in the shadows and hid in them, only catching the glint of silver from her katana or the golden crow head on her dagger that was stashed on her right thigh and the glittering silver individual sequin from her navy blue scarf that covered half her face and her curled hair. Jesper Fahey was one of her first few friends in Ketterdam after being trapped in the White Rose. Although she was treated better than the girls in the Menagerie, she still hated being there because people treated her like trash for looking like a Shu Han despite growing up in Ravka.

All her life she was treated like that wherever she went. Jesper didn’t see her like the other people of Ravka or Ketterdam thought of her, he saw her as a girl who was tired of being treated like trash and so she hid within the darkness and lurked and terrorized those people. Besides her hard exterior, he saw a gentle girl who was hurt and abandoned and alone. At one point in one of their meetings, she saved him from a guy who was furious at him for stealing. Seeing her skills of fighting and the pipe she swung around perfectly, the Zemeni boy told his boss about her.

The night she met Kaz Brekker was a rainy night in Ketterdam. She was walking home from working at the parlour and he spoke up from a corner near to where she stayed. Unknowingly, he watched over her, watching and observing her every move. He saw that she can move swiftly and quietly from the way she carried herself when walking, he saw her katana and how she moved like the flow of a river with it.

Despite not knowing each other and having only met once, he was willing to pay her indenture from Onkle Felix and have her be a part of the Dregs. One of his Crows. One night, he promised that he’ll pay her off and have her work in the Crow Club. And he did. She now resided in the club with Kaz and Jesper, working as a barmaid and guard as well as gaining information. Kaz gave her a dagger with a crow head on the hilt he had gifted her after joining as well as a new leather belted saya (sheath) for her katana that will be placed on her back like a bag instead on her hip. She gained a new title among the Barrel, the Vixen.

After being a month with Kaz and Jesper, Nadia was walking back from her missions until she felt a lingering stare near Tante Heleen’s brothel. There she discovered one of the girls, a Suli girl named Inej Ghafa. A year younger than her, but she was quiet as a mouse. No one couldn’t hear her and even Nadia couldn’t the first time, but she noticed. She had seen her lurking about and Nadia had learned that she was skilled at getting information for Heleen, skilled with the daggers.

And so Nadia went back to Kaz and told him of a girl who was short and small enough to hide from people and can get information. That was the day Kaz approached Heleen. Where Inej had heard him. Where he got Inej to work for him and pay her indenture, and so Inej became a part of the Dregs. There, it started the friendship between Inej and Nadia. There, the Wraith was introduced in the Barrel.

A couple months had passed after Inej had joined the Crows, Nadia was being sent by Kaz to Novokribirsk and steal jewelleries as Inej was unable to leave Ketterdam because of Heleen. She wanted to free Inej from the brothel. Kaz and Nadia were doing everything to free her from the Menagerie and so the Bastard of the Barrel sending the Ravkan girl to Novokribirsk was a way to get more money for them.

Walking about the city she saw vendors, fruits, vegetables, and jewellery around. Being sneaky, she took a couple of jewels and rings and wallets and watches left and right with a few fake smiles and sweet words. Though some seemed to spat at her for her Shu Han looks. She was doing well and was about to leave until she was caught. Saints, she thought as she started to run. Jumping over wooden boxes and ducking under fences to get away. Her panting was the only thing she was hearing by the time she got to the edge of a forest.

She successfully got away from them until someone grabbed her from behind, feeling a hand going around her waist holding her there. She grunted and tried to get out of the grip her captor had on her. She suddenly slammed her head back causing her captor to let go of her. She screamed as she tried to pull away from them and tried to reach for her dagger or katana by her side. She felt a knife on her leg and she let out a screamed pain from the cut that was made. She gained strength back and fought until a sudden light from her hands went towards her captor and she fell unconscious.

Nina Zenik finished walking about Novokribirsk and was already in her room until she heard a thundering clap behind the room she was staying in. She went out to her balcony to see flashes of silver white light in the woods. Her eyes widened, it can’t be. She began to run towards the source of white light and saw a young Shu Han girl fighting a couple of guards. She was good at fighting, she had to give her that. But what was concerning and amazing to her was the little electricity currents going through the Shu girl and dancing around her body. She knew the girl hadn’t noticed her change with also the white light that she was giving off.

Nina watched as the girl knocked out two more men with the butt of her katana. She was doing well, until she was tackled and pinned down on the forest ground. Nina was about to help her, but was interrupted with a lightning strike towards the girl’s captor. Her eyes watched in astonishment, it was her. The girl fell unconscious after her fight with her captor, lying still on the ground. Nina didn’t hear a heartbeat from him and she knew he was dead.

With strength she had, she caught sight of two more men who were advancing towards the girl. She stepped out and held her arms up, her hands in a triangle shape with her index fingers, middle fingers, and her thumbs up. She waved her hands delicately and slowed their hearts.

Nina walked towards the Shu girl and heard her slow heartbeat meaning she was asleep. She was still breathing. Grabbing the katana and putting it back to where her saya is, she placed the dagger back to the girl’s thigh holster. She saw a cut on the right thigh and she slowed the blood flow from her thigh to keep it from bleeding more blood out. She would need to patch it up first before continuing the normal blood flow through her leg.

Hoisting the girl up, she dragged her towards the inn and up to her room where she’ll be kept safe until she sends a letter to her General and be ordered with her instructions. The girl’s dagger was taken by her and kept in her luggage so the younger assassin couldn’t reach it and attack her if she was ever to wake up. Nina smiled, she had found a rare summoner. A Lightning Summoner. Her General would be pleased to meet and see the girl.

I Found [2] - where goes the little fox?

Summary: Nadia journeys to the North in the Fjerdan Border with the Darkling’s personal guards while Kaz wonders about her whereabouts. (Many POV switches)

Warnings: Violence, blood, language

Word Count: 2399

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I Found Series Masterlist

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a/n: no one asked for a part 2 but i’m still going to do it yayy!! and i don’t own the grishaverse except for nadia and her plot in the story.

important: this is owned by @moonstars-marie (which is technically me) and pls don’t copy my story, it’s considered plagarism and it’s disrespectful. someone pls notify me if the story is copied.

IN THE LITTLE PALACE, the Darkling had read the letter Nina had sent regarding a female Lightning Summoner in Novokribirsk and he had immediately sent Fedyor, Ivan and a healer to retrieve the girl by going around the Fold. He had told his Heartrenders to be careful around the Fjerdan border as that was where the Drüskelle resided. He would have to go and retrieve her himself to make sure there were no Grisha hunters to hurt her. He was pleased to know that the legend of a Lightning Summoner had come true and he finally had another solution for Ravka. He was planning to meet up with the party halfway in the North where a carriage was waiting for the Summoner to make sure nothing went wrong with the few oprichniki he had here with him.

He had been waiting for the Lightning Summoner, the legendary warrior, and now all he needed was a Sun Summoner to get rid of the Fold and end wars. Of course, he had to test her first and make sure she was the Lightning Summoner, but there was no way he could go and test her to Novokribirsk without his enemies on the other side wanting a war with him. He had to trust Nina enough that the girl she mentioned was the Lightning Summoner she thought and believed to be.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧☆☼☽ϟ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

From the other side of the Fold, Nadia laid on the bed Nina had tucked her in. The young girl stirred a little before opening her eyes to see light coming out of the balcony windows. Her eyes wandered around the room and saw her katana at the foot of the bed, a light breeze going in the room from the open balcony door.

“Morning.” A voice beside her suddenly spoke up and Nadia was about to jump and grab her katana until she felt a searing burning pain from her thigh. She grunted in pain and clutched the leg. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to uh scare you.”

The girl felt her heart beating a little slower. Heartrender. She looked over to see a woman with light brown curls on top of her head, pulled by pins to stay in place and light blue eyes looking back at her with a soft smirk on her lips.

She tensed up and asked, “Who are you?”

“I’m Nina. And you should say you’re welcome for saving you.” The unknown female, who introduced herself as Nina, sassed to her.

“I had it.” Nadia grunted as her hands went back to her leg. Nina hummed sarcastically and stared at her leg which was under the blanket she had placed on the Shu girl.

“You should heal in a few days. The cut on your leg wasn’t bad, wasn’t deep or anything. A healer should be here to heal that, they should be here in a few.”

“How long have I been out?” Nadia asked.

“A few days, give it or take.” Nina replied back. She seemed to be organizing her clothes in her luggage.

“Thank you. For saving me.” Nadia said to the female softly, her gratitude showing. The Heartrender merely smiled and she took the young girl by her arm, helping her up and towards the table in the room that had bread and a few fruits for her. The young girl reached hesitantly towards the strawberries on the bowl and sniffed it carefully. It looked fine to her, but she was still cautious. Despite the nice gesture of patching her wound up and helping her and saving her, the girl didn’t know Nina well enough to trust her. She had to go back to Kaz, Jesper, and Inej. She needed to bring the jewellery she stole back to buy Inej off. Her bag.

“Do you know where my bag is?” Nadia asked her saviour.

“Over there and I didn’t look.” Nina gave her a knowing glance which Nadia blinked in surprise. The Shu girl reached over and rummaged through it to see the watches, rings and valuables she had stolen still there. Her letters to Kaz, Jesper and Inej were still there.

“Do you remember what happened?” Nina asked.

“I saw a bright light like lightning and it killed him.” She frowned as she saw the flashing images of the light she saw.

“Good.” Nina smiled, she remembered. “That was you.”

Nadia looked up at her in surprise, the frown on her pale face still there. “What?”

“I’m sure someone will explain everything to you.” Nina patted the girl’s shoulder. There was a knock on the door of the room. The Grisha female walked towards it and there was whispering that Nadia couldn’t hear as she was still processing.

“Your ride is here.” Nina smiled before helping the girl get up from her chair and they walked down towards the outside to see a group of disguised soldiers with horses. “You’ll be safe with them, I promise.”

She looked towards the Heartrender in confusion. She simply smiled at the girl in reassurance to keep her there.

“Can I at least get my katana?” Nadia asked Nina, she knew she couldn’t leave without her weapons. Nina sighed and looked towards Fedyor who nodded.

“I’ll get it—”

“No, it’s fine. I’m not completely useless.” Nadia sighed and limped towards the inn and walked upstairs, not paying attention to the burning pain on her leg. She had to power through the pain. Looking around the room she was just in, she grabbed Kaz’s letter and started writing to him on the back with the pencil she had with her.

Kaz

By the time you get this letter, I’ll be gone. But I’m fine and I’m safe. Tell Jesper and Inej that too. I promise, I’ll come back. The Crows are my family. You guys mean something to me, you bought me from the White Rose and I don’t think I could ever repay you for that. But someday I will when I get back to you, Jesper, and Inej. The jewels are still here in my bag if you haven’t seen it. One word: Grisha.

Nadia

She rolled the letter back into a scroll and caught sight of the golden crow head of her dagger and she felt joy to see one of her precious weapons and grabbed it. She grabbed her silver sequin blue scarf and wrapped it around her neck. She took the thigh holster of her dagger and wrapped it around on one of the leather straps of her saya. She took her katana and put it back in its sheath and she wore it on her back, the dagger was on her left shoulder and completely hidden by the blue scarf she wore. She took off one of her fox rings and slid it on the letter that was rolled for Kaz to read. If Kaz saw one of her rings, he’ll know about her and her whereabouts and stuffed it back in her bag where hopefully her boss will find it.

She could still fight, but she knew she was outnumbered out there and she was still injured. With a Heartrender and soldiers out in the front, she couldn’t fight them off despite her skill with a dagger and her katana.

Limping down towards where the Grisha were. They were still there waiting for her. She was helped on the back of the horse where she sat uncomfortably, especially the pain on her leg getting worse. Saints, she did not want to be another Kaz Brekker with her leg.

“My name is Fedyor and that’s Ivan.” The man with brown hair smiled at her and she was still tense. His accent was thick and his smile was soft.

Another guy on horseback was frowning with a stoic face. He didn’t seem happy at all. Or was never happy. A girl on another horseback on the other side of her and Fedyor smiled at her, the unknown girl’s toothy grin was white and bright.

“That’s Sonia.” Fedyor pointed to her. She approached Nadia and the Ravkan girl seemed to tense up again. The half Suli girl smiled softly in reassurance before she looked around and waved her hands in intricate and delicate movements. She felt the cut on her leg start to stitch together, the pain now gone and her realization kicked in. They were Grisha. She was definitely not getting out of this now that she was on a horse with them.

“Hold tight.” Fedyor smiled before taking off towards the North.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧☆☼☽ϟ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Back in Ketterdam, Kaz looked over at the map on his wall. His blue eyes trailing towards Novokribirsk where he knew the little fox was. He hadn’t heard from her and she usually sent letters to Inej and Jesper and occasionally to him to update him on her missions, but no letters came from the Vixen of the Barrel.

He was getting worried and it was something Kaz Brekker did not like because he wasn’t usually like that at all. And that itself was worrying. He would have to ask Jesper at some point about Nadia to see if he received letters. He had already asked Inej from one of his meetings with her about anything in Ketterdam. She responded that she hadn’t gotten anything since a few days ago. Her letters had stopped altogether and he knew she always sent letters to inform him and the Crows about anything she found. It was usually everyday, not once a week.

Now it was all gone, not a word from the Vixen. Quiet, but it didn’t mean it was peaceful. More of a warning for Kaz, an alert.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧☆☼☽ϟ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

From Nadia’s journey to the North, Fedyor smiled at the girl while Ivan looked outside of the carriage they were in, looking at the Oprichniki that his General had sent with them. Both wore their signature red keftas with black embroidery, marking them as Heartrenders. When Nadia looked outside from the window of the carriage, she saw the Healer that mended her cut together wearing a red kefta with silver embroidery. “You don’t know about the legend regarding the Sun Summoner?”

“I know, but last I checked I’m not a Sun Summoner.” Nadia frowned, shifting uncomfortably from her seat. Her scarf was still secure around her neck and still hiding the dagger.

“You aren’t, but you’re something more special.” Fedyor told the girl, leaning in. “They call you the warrior. The protector.”

It had been two days since she left Nina and Novokribirsk. Two days of her complaining as to where she was going. She couldn’t send a letter to any of the Crows and she was stuck with two Heartrenders surrounded by guards, travelling around the North. It was night now and she was still stuck in the damn carriage they had gotten in a day ago after reaching the Fjerdan border.

“Stop. Incoming. Enemies.” Someone yelled outside. Her two companions with her in the carriage became alerted and Ivan got out.

Fedyor turned to the girl, “Stay here please.” He smiled and took off, closing the door behind him.

“Hell like I will.” The girl muttered and went out with her katana and dagger still close to her body. She found a group of men around her waiting for her to get closer and attack her. An ambush.

She pulled out her katana and twirled it around gracefully. One of the hunters advanced towards her and she immediately swung her katana and sliced his arm, blood now adorning her silver weapon. She kicked him and he was down on the snow. Another advanced towards the side, but she sidestepped and kicked the back of his leg causing him to fall. She caught sight of one of the hunters having a whip-like trap and began to whip it towards her, the silver wolf with red ruby eyes at the end of each rope and she swung her sharp blade up, slicing the rope in the middle. She grabbed one of the broken ropes and ran towards another man. Using the rope as a cuff, she twisted it around his hands and pulled him down, tying it around his wrists to render him useless.

She ran to another and swung her katana to block his axe. She quickly grabbed her dagger and punctured it in his thigh and kicked him to the ground. Grabbing the dagger again and throwing it to another. The fight was quick and her jumping from one enemy to another with her leg healed from a few days ago. The stark white snow around her was adorning a dark red from the blood that was spilling from her enemies. She moved swiftly and gracefully with her sword, the weapon becoming a part of her, moving like one.

But she was caught off guard when a rope had seized her from swinging again and wrapped around her figure causing her to be defenseless. She saw the same silver wolf pendant. She knew the other Heartrenders she met and the Healer were out there with the guards fighting others. She tried to reach for her dagger that was on her left side of her chest. She felt a whip catch her ankle and she was slammed down on the snow with leg being dragged towards them. She grunted and tried to plant herself down, but she knew it was useless with her weighing lighter.

Suddenly darkness took over the area and she felt the atmosphere change. She looked up to see a dark figure with shadows behind them, dressed in black. She saw shadows gathering together and a blade was created and was sent towards the Drüskelle. She turned to lay on her back and looked down to where she was supposed to drag to see the Grisha hunter already dead on the snowy floor.

She looked up when she saw a shadow of a man. The General of the Second Army.

“Are you alright?” The Darkling asked the girl who was still on the snowy ground.

Nadia panted and looked up at the General with wide eyes. The General, who had the power to summon shadows, was here. He was here to retrieve her.

I Found [3] - her beliefs, her saints

Summary: Kaz is wondering about Nadia, Kirigan tells her of her true identity and what she is, and Dreseen makes an offer to the Crows that they can’t refuse.

Warnings: Violence, death, language

Word Count: 2436

Main Masterlist

I Found Series Masterlist

Previous Chapters: I Found [1] I Found [2]

a/n: i know kaz in the books have brown eyes but i decided to keep freddy carter’s blue ones bc his are so pretty, we don’t appreciate it enough XD and also malen’kiy molniya is little lightning

important: this is owned by @moonstars-marie (which is me technically) and pls don’t copy the story, it’s considered plagarism and it’s disrespectful. someone pls notify me if the story is copied. and i don’t own the grishaverse except for nadia lisitsa.

KAZ BREKKER DIDN’T NEED A REASON, but he needed a reason as to why the Vixen hadn't returned from her mission from Novokribirsk. She had told him she’ll be back after four days, it had been 2 weeks now. He hadn’t received a letter from her either, Inej and Jesper haven’t received a letter as well. Kaz caught sight of Jesper by the bar and he limped towards him, his cane thumping against the wooden floors of the Crow Club. He was wearing his neat and tailored suit, he looked like a rich merchant. Although he dressed like one to mock them, he added his leather gloves he always wore to prevent from touching anyone.

“Any word from Nadia?” Kaz asked him. His blue eyes burning at the side of Jesper’s face, his gaze suddenly switched to the sea of drunk people. Their yells of frustration and joy echoing the club from their losses or wins from gambling. It was never quiet in the Crow Club, one of the reasons why Kaz would be cooped up in his room. He would only leave for a mission or meeting. He knew Nadia would occasionally join him with reading a book in one of the collections he retrieves from his missions, the girl would sometimes go with Inej to spy on people or practice daggers and on an occasion, she would join Jesper with gambling and win him money.

“Nothing from Nads.” Jesper shook his head as his elbows rested on the counter of the bar.

“Nads?” Kaz looked towards the tall Zemeni sharpshooter, who was fiddling with his precious revolvers that seemed to be a part of him. His blue eyes focused on one of his Crows.

“Kaz, she’ll be fine. She has a badass sword and her dagger with her. There’s a reason why she’s called the Vixen of the Barrel or Brekker’s Fox.” The sharpshooter gave his boss a charming boyish smile, his boss' face remained cold and impassive.

Kaz knew the fox could take care of herself. She had the taste of the real Ketterdam streets since she was 12 years old. She may act ruthless to those who would underestimate her or anyone who would harm any of her friends, but she still had the same soft heart he knew she had since he met her and since Jesper knew her. He didn’t know how she kept her kindness or innocence within her, Ketterdam turns you into a criminal with no innocence left in your body and somehow she still had it in her. She was stronger than she looked, stronger than most people don’t give her credit for, especially with her brown doe eyes and curly black hair as well as her pale face and the bags underneath her eyes. She always looked sick or exhausted since he met her, but she had strength and agility within her.

When he first met her, she had the face of a nice and pretty girl with a picture of naivety and purity which was unusual in Ketterdam, but he knew it gave her an advantage. People would fall for the lies that fell on a pretty girl’s lips, which was why he chose her to be a part of the Dregs. A Crow.

“You better be right or else the money I paid her off from Onkle Felix will be of waste.” Kaz hissed and sauntered off to his office, the thumps of his cane fading.

Jesper was left by the bar with a sheepish smile on his lips. His hands were still holding his precious revolvers. He knew he didn’t make the situation better because he was also worried about her.

Nadia was the one to send letters to people to assure them. He didn’t know why, but he had an inkling that she sent letters because of Kaz. She only sent letters when she’s far away and that she couldn’t make it in time to report to Kaz. First, she sent letters to prove her loyalty to their boss. Second, to send them updates on where she was and alert that she was still alive. It worried him that she hadn't sent a letter to him or the others.

“Jesper.” A voice suddenly came out of nowhere and it scared him.

Jesper jumped in fright with his revolvers pointing up, “Don’t do that and how do you do that?” He turned around to see Inej with her hood up.

“Hello, love. What brings you here?” Jesper greeted the Wraith, drinking one of the shots he ordered.

“There’s a word about something from Dreseen. A life changing one.” Inej started.

“Better go see boss man then.” Jesper smiled at the girl before strolling off towards one of the gambling tables.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧☆☼☽ϟ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

From Kirigan and Nadia, the two stopped in a nearby forest to rest for a while. She was helped down the carriage that she and the General were in to stretch and walk around for a bit. The two stood and watched their surroundings, the light breeze touching their skin. Nadia didn’t talk that much to him, rather she stayed quiet and looked out of the carriage to avoid eye contact or a conversation. The General suddenly turned to her.

“Do you know what you are?” The General asked the short girl. His grey quartz eyes scanning her face to see an impassive emotion. He seemed surprised by this, he would usually get a moment of confusion or fear from others, but not her. He gave her a calculating look, trying to figure her out. She came from Novokribirsk, she could be from anywhere. From Novyi Zem, to Kerch, to the Wandering Isles, anywhere. But that meant someone had been sneaking people through the Fold. Specifically, Grisha. His people. Smuggling them out.

She finally shook her head to answer him.

“You are what they call a Molniya Koroleva. Also known as—” The General continued.

“A Lightning Queen.” Nadia cut him off. A look of disbelief on her face. She shook her head, “But I can’t be Grisha.”

“Then that must mean you’re from here if you can understand the language of the people here.” He squinted his eyes at her, intimidating her. She didn’t squirm or anything because she saw the same calculating look that Kaz gave her on some occasions, but she gulped because she made the mistake of translating his Ravkan words.

“Have you ever been tested?” He asked again. This time, she willingly answered no. “Where did you grow up?”

“I grew up in Ketterdam. My mother was Ravkan.” She told him tensely. She had only told Inej about her mother and Jesper on an occasion when he asked because what was a half Shu Han girl doing in Ketterdam and he learnt that she grew up in the streets. Her mother had taught her Ravkan at a young age as well as a few Fjerdan words. Her father was Shu but according to her mother, he had died. She had never met her father, she was just a baby when he died. Her mother died when she was just 12 years old and she was left to fend for herself and at the time, Onkle Felix had taken her.

He watched her as she suddenly shifted at the mention of her mother. There was more to her than her hard exterior and her skills with the katana that rested on her back. She didn’t trust him, that was obvious to him. So, he had to gain that trust.

“We had a name for you. We always had. The Lightning Summoner. The protector of the Sun Summoner. Repels the volcra of the Fold.” The Darkling’s quartz grey eyes trained towards her and he saw her scrunch her brows together. “With unique powers of thunder and lightning, electricity.

“But I can’t be a lightning summoner.”

“Why not?” He retorted. She didn’t answer. She didn’t have an answer because she didn’t know how to answer. All her life, she had to grow up in a shit pile of city where children shouldn’t grow up in. Her loving mother died and she was taken to the White Rose and at some point during her 16th birthday, she was sold to another who was the same age as her, but he made her useful and she felt like she belonged there in the Crow Club. Onkle Felix didn’t need her and so he sold her off with a price. Inej was the same and she wanted to do the same thing Kaz did to her. But Heleen was proving it to be difficult.

He pulled the ring on his right pinky finger. She looked at the ring, it seemed to be like a claw. She gulped nervously. He slipped the ring on his thumb. Don’t show fear, I am the one who inflicts fear.

“May I?” He asked as he touched her navy blue sleeve. She reluctantly gave her arm to him, something about him seemed to draw her in. Drawing her to him like a magnet. He lifted her sleeve and pulled it up and the claw of his ring dragged down her arm by the sharp edge. Then sparks of electric current started to flow through her body and something inside her ignited like fire. Hearing buzzing in her veins, it was giving her adrenaline. The crackling of electricity in her ears and suddenly a thundering clap in the sky boomed throughout the air, the clouds suddenly darkening.

He gazed down at her in astonishment, his lips started to curl up. He felt the electricity flowing through her, the electricity didn’t electrocute him like he was expecting. Instead it was giving him adrenaline like a drug that gave you ecstasy. It was like enhancing his senses in a way like an amplifier, but more for his emotions. Promoting overwhelming pleasure as well as excitement. She was shining in his eyes, the white light electricity giving her a glow.

She let out a gasp as he released her from his grip. The fire inside of her dying and the power suddenly hiding again inside of her.

“You are one of a kind, malen’kiy molniya.” He gazed down at her.

One of his oprichniki approached the two, but the Darkling’s eyes were trained towards Nadia. His gaze never strayed from here, looking at her in amazement.

“General, news of a Sun Summoner. The Summoner is discovered from a skiff crossing the Fold.” He said to his General.

The General looked over at him in surprise as did Nadia.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧☆☼☽ϟ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

Back in Ketterdam, Kaz stood in Dreseen’s cellar with Inej, Jesper and the Heartrender he retrieved and stole from Pekka Rollins. He watched as an unknown man that Dreseen’s men had acquired was sitting in a chair, tied up with a sack on his head. The sack came off from the head of the captive. The Crows saw his face beaten up and blood on his face and bruises all over it, taking Inej and Jesper by surprise as it was a horrific sight while Kaz remained inexpressive. Milana, the Heartrender from the Orchid, had taken her place beside the boy named Alexei and started using her powers with just a touch on his wrist.

“You won’t believe me, but it was a Sun Summoner.” Alexei’s eyes were trained towards Milana. Inej inhaled shakily, her eyes wide in shock as she turned to Kaz and Jesper. Her lip curled up a little as her hand went up to her chest. Her beliefs. Her Saints.

Dreseen walked towards the captive and kneeled down to look at him at eye level. “Who was it?”

“If I’ll tell you, you’ll set me free?” Alexei asked. Kaz rolled his eyes a little. Never trust a man who has captured you and tortured you. But he knew the boy was under the hypnotizing and soothing touch of a Heartrender.

“You have my word. You can go anywhere in the world from here. ” Dreseen nodded. He pushed on. “Just imagine. Come on.”

“Her name is,” Alexei started, but hesitated. Milana saw this and pushed on with her powers. “Alina Starkov.”

“Alina Starkov?” Dreseen asked once more with Kaz’s calculating gaze on the beaten boy. Alexei nodded and Dreseen stood up, turning to the young criminal prodigy who worked for Per Haskell.

“And another word has come from the edge of the Fold.” Dreseen smirked at Kaz, who was confused but his face showed nothing. Inej and Jesper looked towards their boss in confusion. “A half Shu girl. With a katana.”

Kaz stood straighter at the mention of her weapon, his grasp on his cane tightened. Inej’s eyes widened along with Jesper’s.

“A Lightning Summoner. A warrior to protect the Sun.” Dreseen didn’t know who she was, that much Kaz knew. She was known around the Barrel because of the White Rose and her association towards him and the Crow Club, but some rich merchants wouldn’t know about her or the Crows because they’re only known in the criminal world.

Her mother was Grisha as Kaz remembered from one of the conversations he heard from Onkle Felix and it was one of the reasons why (besides Jesper’s word and her natural abilities with sneaking and fighting) he had paid her indenture as well as bought her. Although she didn’t show any Grisha power, it was still in her veins and she had the skills none had. And now he knew what kind of Grisha she was. A Lightning Summoner. If that even was true.

Inej gasped quietly. Not only the Sun Summoner existed, but her friend was a Lightning Summoner. Her Saints.

Kaz squinted his eyes towards Dreseen.

“You said only the Sun Summoner, I’ll see what I’ll do with the Lightning one as I please if I do find her.” Kaz hissed at him, the underlying anger seeping through him a little but he kept it in. Jesper had his hands placed on his revolvers and Inej towards one of her many knives.

Dreseen saw this and he knew he couldn’t win if he tried, especially if the summoner was important to the criminal and his pathetic little birds. He didn’t know why she was important to them, but he rather let go of this and got the Sun Summoner instead. The Sun Summoner, the most important piece to Ravka.

“Fine, but you bring me Alina Starkov.” Dreseen grunted in dismay at the thought of not having the Lightning Summoner, but he had a plan to get her. He took a gun and shot it towards Alexei, killing him in an instant.

✨ hair game is strong ✨

Kaz : I want nothing more then vengence.

Also Kaz : To hell with revenge, to hell with his schemes. If Rollins had done something to Inej, Kaz would paint East Stave with his entrails.

no seriously we deserved to see blonde alina i’m so sick rn

DARK BLOOD AND LIGHT | MASTERLIST

The Darkling/Aleksander Morozova x OC

Summary: Anna has always been the odd one out with a nasty mysterious scar across her neck. She cannot remember how she got it and growing up her only goal was: to survive. During a expedition through the fold she catches the eye of the most ruthless man in all Ravka, the darkling. Although she cannot deny that he is a terrible being, there is something between them, something familiar. When the word got around that a sun summoner has been found as well their life’s are turned upside down. What will the future hold ?

Come and follow Anna into her new adventure through Ravka and find out about the secrets hidden in the long forgotten past.

Warnings: Violence, blood, adult themes, spoilers, angst, hurt, comfort

Before you start reading, please read the foreword for further warnings about the story!

Dark Blood and Light — (Series)

Dark Blood and Light: Foreword

Dark Blood and Light Playlist: Spotify

Dark Blood and Light Maps: Grishaverse

Dark Blood and Light: Cast Inspiration

Act I

0 | Prologue, Chapter I, ……..

Masterlist

Cast Inspiration

Dark Blood and Light Masterlist

This cast is inspired by the actual tv-show "Shadow and Bone", but a few actors have been switched out by me, because I imagined them differently while reading the books. This is not suppose to be hate directed at the actual actors or regisseur who picked them out (personally I love them as well, but like I've said I imagined them differently).

Main Characters

Elisabeth Olson as ANNA SOKOLOV

„Sankta Anna“

Ben Barnes as ALEKSANDER MOROZOVA

„The Darkling“

Main Side Characters

Evangeline Lilly as GENYA SAFIN

„The First Tailor“

Bruna Marquezine as ZOYA NAZYALENSKY

„The Storm Witch“

Jessi Li Mei as ALINA STARKOV

„The Sun Summoner“

Dylan O‘Brien as MALYEN ORETSEV

„The Otkazat‘sya“

Eddie Redmayne as DAVID KOSTYK

„The Genius Materialki“

Sam Claflin as NIKOLAI LANTSOV

„The Sobachka“

——————————————————————————————————

For Mal I am not quite sure how I imagined him, but definitly different from the actor in the series. I thought Dylan O'Brien fit the role really good, but I am not quite satisfied with the actor for Mal (yet). Hopefully it doesn't bother any of you!

Maps

Dark Blood and Light Masterlist

This is the general map of the shadow and bone series, but it will manly play in Ravka.

In the map below this, the main places (for the first act) are marked (example: Os Alta, since the majority of the first act plays there).

Playlist

Dark Blood and Light Masterlist

Throughout this story I am going to add a few new songs, so do not be surprised if the Spotify playlist will gain a few more. As a fun fact, I actually listened to these songs while reading the actual books (not in the same order, but still every time I listend to them I can’t help but associate them with the shadow and bone books). I hope you enjoy them as well, maybe you’ll listen to them as well while reading the other books.

One song that I couldn’t find on Spotify is „Paint it Black“ a cover by Ciara, but I highly recommend listening to it while reading shadow and bone (especially in the first book)

If you want me to write down all the songs, because you do not have Spotify, you can write me and I will do it as fast as possible.

Omg! They're here!

I've been so exited to finish my collection! And now I even have the collector's edition!

On 19th September the first part of the story is going to be published! It’s only going to be the prologue, but I’m so exited!

Dark Blood And Light (Pt.1)

(Grishaverse, Aleksander Morozova / The Darkling x OC)

SUMMARY: Looking back at the time before the era Sun Summoner, to a childhood in a orphanage in Kermazin.

TAGS: hurt, childhood, mean adults, food, abuse, fear, nostalgia

PAIRING: Aleksander Morozova / The Darkling x OC

W/c: 6.7k

A/n: The first chapter is partly (mostly) written from a narrators point of view. In the following chapters there will probably be paragraphs that are partly written from that point of view as well, but the majority will be from my protagonist’s kind of view.

All translations at the end of the chapter are from an internet webside. I do not speak russian, so if I by accident said something inappropiate or insulting, please tell me immediantly!

Masterlist Dark Blood and Light Masterlist

PREVIOUS . 1 | CHAPTER . NEXT

Part One: Before the Beginning

In the beginning everything was black, uncontrollable darkness that swirled around my body and covered me like a second skin. There was no light, only an endless void of nothingness. I can still remember what it felt like. Maybe I might have forgotten it over the years. I mean what it felt like.

Indescribable heat had creeped up my legs towards my lower abdomen and then slithered upwards to my chest. My skin blistered underneath the darkness as smoke had filled my lungs. My body clung to its last bit of strength, struggling to dispose of the toxins, but only to be met by more. I remember fighting against the pain under the heavy darkness that kept me in place. The screams that had wanted to cry for help was something that never came over my lips as if deep down I had known fighting against something that cannot be controlled was a waste of time.

The unceasing blistering continued to feed on my already painfully raw skin. I wanted it to stop. It hurt. It hurt so much. My body twisted as it tried to escape the darkness, but every time I felt it loosen its grip, it only resulted in coming back tighter and stronger than before.

Even though fighting appeared to be hopeless my body didn’t accept its fate. My mind, on the other hand, already found peace in the suffocating silence. In the silence that would have been my eternity. Its clutches pulled me deeper into the furious inferno that I now called my own. It felt horrible, but at the same time like a long-forgotten dream. The painful heat grew hotter and hotter until my vision went white and the only thing my eyes were able to make out were the colors of white and blue. What have I felt back then?

I remembered, at least I did back then. Or have I already forgotten how my heart had cried out for something? What was it again that I felt? I can't remember. Why can't I remember?

__________

Drenched in sweat a young girl's alert eyes flew open in a fit of panic. Her voice betraying her with profound silence as her mind caught up with the rest of her body. Two small hands tightly gipped the light scratchy bedding below as her eyes hastily sought around the tiny room she had slept in. Her radiant skin felt raw against her searching hands, who naturally wanted to get rid of the still burning feeling from her dreams. Fresh winter air swayed against her, but only reminded her of the darkness that continued to surround her. The darkness of her room terrified her, and the voice that had once betrayed her finally found a way to escape. Moments later a blood curling scream left the girls throat as she mistook the safe walls around her with the living nightmare that had felt so real inside her unconscious dreams.

Heavy footsteps heaved against the marble floors, rushing towards the odd sound. Candle lights illuminated the plain room and four people came rushing in. Multiple hands held the girl down, but that only made her struggle more and more, convinced that in a matter of seconds everything would come to an end. An older looking woman stepped forward; a small syringe laid within her rough shaking hands. Wanting to quickly end what played out before her own eyes she, without a second thought, came rushing towards the small girl’s frame. As the youngling kicked and screamed her soul out of her lungs, the elder woman forcefully plugged the needle near the girl’s heart. She hoped the sedatives would soon work their way through her blood system.

Slowly the young girl's screams died, barley being able to stay awake she fell into a peaceful slumber.

__________

Maybe it had been fate that a few years later the young girl met her two most trusted companions.

Neither of the two girls were per say popular inside their small community or at least the place where it came closest to one, considering the majority of the proclaimed “community” consisted of children. If both were to speak about their honest thoughts, you'd quickly realize that neither felt like they truly belonged. Both were often called out for many things, their actions, their behavior, but most of the time their looks in general. The younger one of the two had been far too skinny for people liking and on top of that was often mistaken for a Shu, which only brought her more mockery. The other girl had been no better, she was in no way extraordinary pretty, not like others in their small village. Had it not been for her many flaws one would most likely find her beautiful, but as always that image would quickly falter once one looked more closely at her frail neck. A long deep nasty scar went around her lovely neck, a mark many often mistook for a bad omen, typically resulting in people staying far away from the red head.

The only one of the three that could be considered liked or at least normal had been the lad that was often spotted with both outcasts. He had stayed with them and tried to endure every piece of mockery, taunt, that was thrown their way. Knowing how boys his age where he couldn't keep his mouth shut for long, a trade that people admired and hated at the same time. Referring to him as a brat, because he stood up for his two beloved friends, quickly became a norm for the elders that watched the trio as they grew older with each passing year.

During the short warming summertime, you'd most likely find all three of them huddled together under the hot sun, letting the warm summer breeze sway through their hair as they laid, hidden from unwanted guests, in their meadow. Sometimes after they completed the many chores they`d go into the forest hunting or swam in the refreshing cold water of the rivers. However most of their time was spend near the orphanage they grew up in.

The orphanage, as it was known to the children, had been the mansion of Duke Kermazov, an older man who found his passion in providing homeless children with a second chance for a better life.

It would have been unusual to see the tired looking Duke in his old house, considering he'd rather stay in his house in Os Alta. He'd never say much against the children playing behind his old mansion that was now considered an orphanage, thus stopping the housekeeper Ana Kuya from lecturing the three for straying too far away from their home during the summer.

It also happened to be a reason why Alina liked that time of year the most, aside from her favorite flowers being in bloom. She loved that with his arrival, there was no stopping her and her friends to experience a new adventure, that waited them around every corner. Now that Alina was older, she enjoyed looking back onto those precious memories, a time when everything had been far easier for her than it is now.

Thinking back, her most treasured memory would have to be around the summertime of her sixth birthday, at least from what she could still remember of her time in Kermazin.

At the time, Mal and herself had got to be around five, nearly six, while their older friend had to be around eight. To be honest Alina was not sure how old Anna had been back then, maybe two or three years older she guessed, but it didn't matter anyhow.

Silently they had pulled off their old, hardened shoes and tip toed down the marble staircase, careful to not make a sound. Sneaking towards the old mahogany door had been nerve wracking, since none of them wanted to run into Ana Kuya, knowing they'd receive a lecture for leaving without permission on her part. When they had been children, the door that led outside the orphanage had looked so large and heavy, which as she knew now wasn't the case. Back then Alina had feared, that standing before the door meant that their plans had miserably failed. But the again she was proven wrong as Anna pulled out the key, unlocked the door and pushed it open. Slyly they swept through the small creek and rushed downhill towards the bustling village they lived in. All three of them were so excited that at some point one of them tripped and they had started to roll down the little dune. Grass stained their clothes, but melodic laughter rang through their midst as they simply enjoyed being one with nature. At the end of the hill, all of them laid flat on their backs, arms and legs stretched out in every possible direction, as they caught their breaths. Although considering they couldn't stop themselves from laughing it had proven to be a difficult task.

Once regaining their breaths, the trio had strolled further to their destination, grins plastered onto their young faces. The memory of holding each other’s hands to not get lost within the steadily growing crowd brought out a smile from Alina. She remembered how warm Anna’s hand had felt holding onto her much smaller one and how distracted she had been by everything she laid eyes on.

The delicious smell of freshly baked bread and the heavy yet calming smell of blooming Gerbera flowers had hung in the refreshing morning air. Smelling those had both eased her nerves but at the same time had undoubtedly made all of their stomachs growl with fierce hunger. Embarrassed she had persistently tried to hide the fact that even she felt the need to find the source of the heavenly smell. Both Anna and Mal had laughed hysterically at her antics and afterwards often reminded her of it.

As they pushed their way towards the old bakery, to which they were originally headed to, Alina hadn't been able to oppress the need to get closer to the older girl as the growing crowd kept pushing them from left to right. She had had a strong grip on her friend’s hand and had been scared to get lost, but once the smell grew stronger her fear faded away as well and was replaced with a childish giddiness.

In a small matter of time, they had finally reached the tiny bakery called “the bird’s nest“ named after a saint that once thrived through their small village centuries ago. Like every child her age Alina had absolutely adored the saints, the ones she'd later on forget about. Her giddiness had only grown once she came to realize the saint the bakery was entitled after, had been her favorite for various reasons. Back then Alina had always begged Anna to read her story to her, in secret of course. It had remained their secret for many years, since Ana Kuya did not take to kindly about them, thinking the saints were once Grisha or as she called them 'witches'.

In the story Alina had adored the saint, that took the form of a woman but was never given an exact name. She has remained unknown for most of her life, but was adored in every village she had lived in. The drawing of her had to be her most favored thing about the small book. The saint stood in the center of the page with closed eyes, arms held out before her figure, a halo glowed behind her ginger hair and flowers fell downwards to her naked feet. Unlike most pictures hers showed neither any animal nor any tragic death, maybe that had also been a possible reason why Alina genuinely liked her story, because it had ended well.

Most ravkan published editions of the small red book and her story never mentioned her official name and so she was given the title 'the nameless saint'. Although in the far west of Ravka there corresponded rumors of a rare copy with her actual name in it. As an innocent child the though excited her, to go and find the lost copy herself, but later concluded it would be impossible to instantly find a single copy all alone. But the sole reason behind her passionate adoration and childhood dream had been her sincerely believe, that the nameless saint had been watching over Alina her whole life till that point, however she had quickly dismissed the thought at an older age.

Once they finally stood in front of the peculiar bakery, it had appeared to be a farfetched dream and Alina had had to pinch her arm in order to believe she did not dream of coming here again. The bakery was truly peculiar, it was similar to an old stone cottage but at the same time was not actually one to begin with. To be quite honest the only actual thing Alina remembered about the bakery was the sign. The sign her big doe eyes starred up at. The fancy metal sign of a bird’s nest with a small bird above the front door had looked extremely breathtaking in her eyes.

Anna had happily pulled Alina and Mal inside the already open door. Muggy air had hit them in the face, but it wasn't unpleasant, quite the opposite. The hefty smell of bread combined with the sweet sugary smell of pies, pastries and what not made the youngers mouth water. Both children had rushed forward trying to catch a glimpse of the rare goods they would never be able to afford with the little to no coins they were given by the orphanage.

If Alina said she couldn't remember what happened next, it would most definitely be a lie, she just tends to ignore the question resulting out of it.

As it was their turn to buy something, both kids had expected something small like a loaf of bread for all three of them to share. To their joyful surprise Anna had already ordered two heavenly smelling piroshkis* for each of them and had promptly pulled out a full bag of coins from her skirt pockets. She remembered how she had asked Anna how she had gotten so much but her only answer had constantly repeated inside Alina's mind. “It’s your birthday after all, isn’t it? And every single one of those should be celebrated, don’t you think?“ Anna had chuckled gleefully. Afterwards Alina's childlike mind didn’t think much more of it, after all no one else had cared about her as much as Anna eagerly did.

Throughout their walk back to the orphanage Mal had constantly whined that Anna had clearly shown favoritism as she’s never done that on his birthday. Both girls were only able to laugh merrily at his miserable attempts to get Anna to buy more piroshkis once he turned six years old.

Looking back at her childhood Alina cannot remember a happier birthday that she's ever had.

Surprisingly sneaking back into the orphanage without informing anybody had proved to be incredibly easy. There had been no one looking for them this early in the pleasant morning and so they tip toed towards their shared hide out under the grand staircase. After they had made sure nobody would call on them, they, to both Mal's and Alina's favor, dug into their still warm goods, that laid within their small hands.

It had probably tasted horrible compared to the bigger bakeries’ piroshkis in Os Alta, but for Alina there had never been something better than that first bite on her sixth birthday, where she had eaten her first piroshki.

Sometimes Anna’s melodic laughter still rings in her ears as she thought back to those moments, when her soft fingers had carefully wiped her mouth clean from the crumbs. Or when her gentle voice read to her at night or when she had laid next to her in order to calm her during the loud thunderstorms. Anna had been her rock; Alina had thought she’d never lose her. But she hadn't known better, she had been a naive child back then and she came to regret not appreciating those moments when she had been a child or noticing the signs sooner.

_____

Because a few days later, Alina had patiently waited for Anna's return. Like every night Anna would have carefully tucked her in bed and would have gently told her ravkan tales to lull her and Mal to sleep. Alina had waited eagerly, but there was still no Anna.

Anna had wandered around the cold dark corridor, trying to find the kitchen to steal something sweet in order to sufficiently satisfy her 'small' sweet tooth. Her small feet glided across the floor as she tried to orientate, which obviously wasn't one of her strengths.

Luckily she instantly found the kitchen door and snuck inside. Happily, she carefully took one of the chairs to climb up on and her hands began to fumble upon the cupboard surface. It took forever until she found what she had been looking for, the small chak-chak balls that Ana Kuya always made during this time of year.

Out of nowhere something grabbed her from behind and harshly pulled her off the chair she had been standing on mere seconds ago. Through the dark Anna couldn’t make out the youthful face or even the silhouette of the person that had practically kidnapped her, but she had been pretty sure it was Ana Kuya. She was certain she'd receive the biggest lecture of her young live and was already able to her caretakers nagging inside her head.

As they walked and walked farther down the long corridors the only light illuminating the two had been the full moon shining through the windows. The girl’s heart raced as she noticed the person, the woman that kept a tight grip on her arm was not Ana Kuya.

It had been Sister Eunice. A decent woman or in her case nun devoted to some kind of saint church near Kribirsk. She had come to them the day before Alina’s 'birthday' searching for asylum from a heavy rainstorm. And ever since she had laid eyes upon her, she had started to act strange to say the least. Anna knew she had followed them the day they went to the villages bakery and kept a close eye on them. Frightened the red head looked up at the woman.

The moment they had reached the music room and closed the door behind them it had been dead silent, a deafening silence had hung in the air. Sister Eunice back was turned towards the already nervous girl as she looked outside the huge window wall. Without warning Sister Eunice whipped around, her hand flying to Anna's left cheek, turning the pale cheek bright red. Swiftly after Anna was pulled into the woman's chest as she started to caresses Anna’s face with such fondness. It could only be described as motherly or rather lovingly. Something unknown to the girl, it had creeped her out, but she was too scared to move out of her grasp.

“Moi prekrasny iskupitel”** the woman had whispered as she rocked Anna’s and her body back and forth, evoking the picture of a fond mother calming her own child. It had genuinely frightened her more and every bone inside her small body had told her to get away from the nun holding her captivated. However, she still didn't dare move a single muscle. Anna was sure she would have already peed her pants if it weren't for her shock-state making her body freeze. She had never thought she'd fervently wish for Ana Kuya to catch her, to lecture her and save her from the most likely insane woman dressed in black.

Tears trickled down the woman's face and stained Anna’s nightdress as she kept her hold on the small girl, rocking back and forth. The nuns voice, sounding scratchy repeated a mantra over and over again, as she had yet to let go of the red-headed girl.

The words “iskupitel”*** “nakazaniye”**** repeated themselves from her lips. The young girl didn't know what it meant, but it didn`t matter as Sister Eunice`s voice grew louder each time the words left her lips. The moment the nun took a closer look at Annas face, that she squished between her soft long hands more and more tears started to stream down her face. Lovingly smiling down at Anna made a shiver run down her spine as it turned into the exact opposite once again.

The now emotionless, harsh facial expression had made Anna curl into herself. Her gentle hands felt clammy as her feet tumbled backwards while the woman practically pushed her away to stand up. Anna's behind fell onto the cold floor tiles and slightly scraped her elbows. Visible blood tripled down her fresh wounds.

Sister Eunice's heels clicked against the floor as she walked to the closet in the right corner of the music room. Harshly yanking the doors open her eyes roamed the many rows inside the tiny compartment. Letting her eyes linger on the young girl for a little bit longer she grabbed the thing she had been looking for.

Anna could barely see a thing but was able to hear the clicking of heels closing in on her. Terrified she scrambled backwards until her back hit the cold end of the wall. She tried crawling away as silently as possible but was stopped by the nun pulling her back by her struggling feet.

The young girl's hands were yanked forward, followed by brutal strokes that hit her delicate hands. Anna whimpered and cried under the painful feeling of hard wood hitting against her skin. She tried pulling away, but the woman's nails only dug deeper inside her tender flesh, preventing a possible escape. In a last attempt to free herself, she stretched her hand out and  slowly balled it into a fist.

Captivated Sister Eunice ogled her expression, bowed down and soft and gently petted her bruised cheek “chistyi”***** she softly whispered into Anna's ear. Finally letting go of her, Anna didn't waste any time to run as far away from the nun as possible.

The moment Anna returned to her sleeping chambers she tried to maintain her usual routine:

Tucking Alina into her bed, reading to her, and then going off to sleep herself. Acting as if nothing happened. In the end she had somehow lulled Alina and Mal to sleep, indulged in the warmth they had given her.

She had never told Alina or Mal about it, but to this day Alina regretted not seeing the signs sooner. The signs that had led Anna to be taken away from her years later.

__________

In one of the coldest winters Ravka had ever witnessed, storms raged and brought everybody into an uproar. The cold snow had suddenly fallen over night and covered everything from east to west, and as the days grew by the layers grew thicker and thicker making it impossible for people to escape their houses for a little bit of freedom. It had not been something out of the odds to experience such a harsh season, but for many children it had begun to be the most feared time of the year. The coldness would sneak up to their already chilled bodies. It seeped through the window creeks and laid upon them like the lifeless corpses that were often found during this time of year. For the most part, the ravkan citizens were able to prevent frostbite by simply wearing more clothing layers than usual, making all of them look like they've gained 100 pounds. But for facilities like the older orphanage upon the hill it has proven to be much more difficult, considering how many orphans lived there up until now. They had been most affected; they were trapped inside the walls of their home with no way of going out and only more chores to do. Even the teachers slumped from the beginning of the colder weather, choosing to end lessons and gloat themselves on a bottle of kvas. So instead of their usual teachers one of the older children, or at least a few selected, tried to uphold the lessons themselves. In other words, their time during the cold season was usually filled with three things: fear, exhaustion, and most of all death.

Many might not remember, due to being so young, but there was a time when they prayed for a lighter season every year right before it started, in hopes that their saints would fulfill their wishes and sometimes they did. Sometimes they did, but this specific year had not been one of those.

As the raging winter coldness kept on turning the colorless dead landscape into a breathtaking winter wonderland three figures road in slight, a troika, towards the far-off orphanage on the small hill. It was nothing outlandish; they had come every year, examining the children if one of them showed any signs of being one of them. Grisha examiners are what they were called, one of each order was present during the test. Nobody knew what exactly they were searching for, not like many of them cared anyway. Aside from that, up until now not many were even lucky enough to actually be a Grisha. Thus, the reason why they had stopped coming a few years prior, but apparently that did not sit right with their higher up and resulted in them coming back once again.

On the day of their arrival, three children, two girls and a boy, had been perched at the dusty window, trying to catch a glimpse of the mail coach, but instead were met with their delicate slight that was pulled by three large horses. The children obviously did not know who it had belonged to, at least not until they saw the three figures emerge from their ride. They were all dressed in fur hats and a heavy wool kefta, one in each color of their order: one in the color of crimson blood, one in a blue as dark as the depths of the ocean itself and one in the most vibrant purple similar to the sweet plums they used to eat during the festival in summer. Elegantly they heaved their bodies towards the once bright looking, but now rusted, old metal gate. With a flick of his hand the male in blue let the gates burst open, creating a dramatic entrance that they thought they deserved.

“Grisha!” exclaimed both girls in a whisper-yell.

“Quick!” said the boy.

Both girls unwillingly followed behind the boy, fearing they would get caught sneaking around by their caretaker Ana Kuya. They had been caught on several occasions and were not willing to live through another lecture of hers. Quickly all three ran as silent as mice down the long-stretched marble hallways. Pushing open the door to the music room, the boy and the girl rushed towards the column that overlooked the gallery where the Grisha examiners would most definitely be welcomed in. But as they rushed forward to hide behind the column, they failed to notice the scared look the older girl had in her eyes. She had known what would happen if one of them were to be tested and would turn out to be a Grisha and remembering the events a two years prior didn`t help in the slightest. Her hands shakingly clasped around her skirt as she made her way forward to stand behind her carefree younger friends. Hesitantly she casted her gaze downward over her friend’s shoulder.

Ana Kuya had already been there, she poured tea for her three new “honor” guests, her black dress framed her bird-like statue, and her face was pulled into a sneer as if trying to scare the examiners away from her home.

Unfortunately, neither children were able to make out the faces of the three silhouettes standing in Ana Kuya’s receiving room. The only thing sticking out were their extraordinary cloaks that kept their identity hidden, although they most likely did not need such dramatic get up to begin with.

A low woman's voice questioned firm if there were only three children to test this year. She wore red and sat with the handsome man in blue by the illuminating fireplace, watching the crackling flames as they burned the old woodblocks. The apparently youngest of the three, a blond man dressed in the vibrant purple kefta strolled around the enormously large receiving room, stretching his legs after the long ride. While he eyed the seemingly boring artwork on the walls, the young girl made the mistake of looking directly at his head as it turned towards her direction, catching her eyes with his. A smirk had creeped up his lips, but no words left them, he only put a finger in front of them to signal her to be silent and then turned towards his companions. Poor little girl believed her heart stopped for a second as he had caught her red handed, but luck was in her favor.

“Yes” answered Ana Kuya. Unsure of their reaction she continued “A boy and two girls. Except for one of the girls, they are one of our youngest, by quite a lot. About the age of eight and the other, the older one about the age of ten we believe.”

“You believe?” exclaimed the man sitting by the fireplace as he slowly stood up. Panic was written all over the housekeeper’s eyes whilst her words came out quivering “They were all found dirty and alone. What happened to their parents, we don't … ” A gentle hand placed itself on Ana Kuya`s shoulder and the woman dressed in red gently soothed her by slowing down her heartbeat, emphasizing that they understood the circumstances.

She felt it. She had heard it. The panic that had settled within Ana Kuya’s chest mere seconds ago before it had slowed.

“We greatly admire your institution, and it's cause. We only wish more of nobility would show this kind of compassion.” The woman admitted, immediately waltzing to her next question on what the three children, were like. Naturally Ana Kuya interpreted it completely wrong and listed their talents or their preferences, whilst indirectly taunting them as the woman interrupted her by repeated question, but this time while empathizing the last syllable like

.

Nervously all three bounced from one leg to the other, as the man in purple laid his chocolate brown orbs on the three troublemakers once again.

“They are listening to every word we say” snitched the man in purple, staring directly at their hiding spot behind the columns. Swiftly they all shrank behind their hideout and tried to ignore the fact that he knew they had listened to them from the very beginning. Ana Kuya`s voice lashed out like a whip. “Alina Starkov! Malyen Oretsev! Anna Sokolov! You three, come down here at once!”. The three children sank into themselves and cautiously made their way down the narrow spiral marble staircase towards the end of the gallery. Whilst they had reached the bottom of the staircase, their gaze was cast down, suddenly finding the old tiles of the gallery to be the most interesting thing. Awfully long they awaited they shrill lecture of their caretaker, but it had never gotten that far. Silently the woman in red approached the small children and gestured them forward with the tip of her boots clicking against the floor. “Do you know who or rather what we are?” the woman carefully asked as her steel grey hair fell into her perfectly framed face, making it the most beautiful the girls had ever seen.

“You’re witches!” blurted Mal.

Her face twisted into one of disbelieve and disgust snarling “Witches?” “Is that what you put into their heads in this institution? Lies and superstitions?” almost growling she now stood before Ana Kuya, piercing her with her hate filled glare.

Ana Kuya flushed at being exposed, embarrassed she turned her head away from them. The woman in red’s glare flashed towards Alina, Mal and Anna. All three of them visibly shivered and curled into one another, fearing she might commit murder the moment somebody said something. Her dark blazing, approximately deep brown, red eyes started down at them, displeased, maybe even annoyed and angry. “We are not witches! We are practitioners of the Small Science. We are the reason you are able to live in a safe country, a kingdom without having to worry about experiencing war.”

“As does the First Army” interjected Ana Kuya silently, unmistakably in a bitter undertone. The tension grew at the statement and the woman in red stiffened, but later on concluded “As does the King's Army.” Young Anna fiddled with her fingers, not quite believing either side, being one to witness firsthand that both and neither exclaimed the truth.

Years before they had come to test them; Anna had accidently encountered a group of Grisha herself, they had been the ones bringing her to this orphanage.

They were fascinating, and Anna had only been able to stare at them in amazement. However, that amazement quickly faded as she experienced them eliminating (to her) innocent people. The group had worn the same color as the beautiful Grisha-Examiner, that had lost her temper at Ana Kuya`s remark. Red had been the only color she saw that day, be it kefta or blood. It didn't matter as she ran away as fast as she could. It had felt familiar as she looked behind her and didn't see the body in front of her, making her collied with somebody extremely tall. Afraid she had buried her head against the stranger’s body in attempt to hide from the Grisha, unbeknownst to her the stranger had been one too. Gently he had patted her head and crouched down, consoling her as she cried.

After a while her tears had stopped flowing as the stranger's thumb had wiped them away from her eyes. He had not said anything and instead plugged a single flower from the ground giving it to her chuckling that strong girls like her shouldn't cry. Happily, she had taken it from his hand without hesitation, and her eyes had practically sparkled at the sight of the forget me nots. Slowly her eyes had wandered upward, and she took a closer look at the stranger, now noticing the black wool he wore as well as the black eyes that stared straight at her. Intimidated she stepped back, wanting nothing but to hide, but something had pulled her back as the stranger stretched his hand out towards her retreating form. Like a scared deer she had timidity walked closer. Nonetheless the stranger had been patient and stayed by her side as he watched her with soft eyes.

Anna remembered his hands grasping hers in his as he showed her his powers in order to make her fear disappear. Shadows had swirled around their hands and formed a flower similar to the one she had been holding all along. That had been the first day where a Grisha had proven to her that not all of them were out to kill. She had understood the deeper meaning behind them, after the stranger reasoned that they had done so to protect them. And even though her heart calmed, she has remained cautious by the mere sight of red-keftas, ever since she had witnessed what they were able to do.

Thus, it had been no surprise that Anna was the first one of the three to step back from the still fed- up woman, fearing there would come more.

Gently the young man in purple now began to kneel before the orphans and smiled. Softly he whispered, “When the leaves decide to change their colorful dress, do you mistake it with magic?” Or what about your steadily healing injuries? Do you call something magic that happens naturally like boiling a pot of water? Is what come’s natural for us such as breathing something to be feared?”. Both girls kept their mouths shut and silently looked up at him blinking their eyes, but Mal quickly shook his head as his eyes widened.

Alina narrowed her eyes at their friend and corrected that everybody was able to boil water, which in return made the man chuckle in response. Their mood brightened as they further asserted “ You're completely right, my dear. Anybody is able to boil water. But not everybody can master the Small Science. That`s the reason for our visit on this day, it's why we are here.”

Promptly the slender woman in red turned to Ana Kuya, waving her hand “Leave us alone” she gestured and reluctantly the housekeeper started to take her leave.

“Wait!” exclaimed Mal. “What happens if we're Grisha? What happens to us?” A question that had been burning on the tip of Alina's tongue the whole time, but Anna only stepped back from her loud friend. Grisha were rare nowadays, at least in Ravka and they were aware of it, but it still hurt as the woman in red mockingly looked down at them “If, by any small chance, one of you is Grisha, then that child will go with us back to Os Alta, where it will be given the chance to go to a special school and master their talent to its full potential.”

“You will receive the finest of cloths, finest food, like-minded people and whatever your heart desires shall be yours.” Interjected the handsome male dressed in vibrant purple as he held out his large hand towards their small ones. “Would you like that?” he curiously asked, belittling the younger children. Anna calmed a little, seeing the man wanted to include their decision, even though it probably did not matter to the other two Grisha who were staring at them. Heels clicked on the marble floor as Ana Kuya halted by the entrance door, her gaze hovering over her younglings. Her voice sounded scratchy as she told them it was the greatest honor to serve their current king and home. Instantly the woman in red agreed, gaze softening and willing to make peace with the woman that insulted them minutes ago.

One last time Ana Kuya took in the sight of all three, before she closed the heavy entrance door behind herself. Troublemakers, that’s what she had called Alina and Mal every time she complained to the cook, while hiding her secret love for all orphans she had taken care of over the many years she had already served Duke Kermazov. She would have been embarrassed to find out all three usually hid inside the cupboard and spied on her. At first it had only been a game for them, which it still is, but as time flew by it became more and more interesting hearing her late-night confessions. They swore one time they heard her admit that she had stolen the duke’s seal right under his potato nose. Although it shouldn’t have been such a big surprise considering she had once lived in Ketterdam.

Longingly Anna's eyes stayed on Ana Kuya’s retreating figure as the woman had quickly fled the gallery, knowing her presence would have only caused more problems to arise. None of the adult now paid any attention to the children as all three broke out into a heated argument about the fleeing woman, because if they did, they would have noticed the three of them clasping their hands together, desperately trying to find stability in the imminent test that was about to take place. Because if the Grisha had noticed they would have recognized the look that passed them. A look that Duke Kermazov knew all too well. He had seen it several times as he fought in the war, the eyes of people who had nothing left, but were willing to fight for the small things the war had left in their possession. He knew the look of a man fighting to defend his home with every ounce of energy he had left, with nothing but a mere stone clenched in his hand. If he had been there, things might have taken a different turn, but as always fate has its special way of messing with people.

* pironshki, a common fast food in Armenia and Azerbaijan. In Armenia it often contains a potato or seasoned meat filling.

** meaning: my beautiful redeemer

*** meaning: redeemer

**** meaning: punishment

***** meaning: clean, pure

Written in 2021. Do not copy, translate or repost without my permission.

I am a hater of the strong woman loses power at the end of the series and lives a normal domestic life to my bones but I will always defend that ending for Alina Starkov and Katniss Everdeen, it makes perfect sense for their story arcs and literally can be argued to be their driving force at times.

~ Shadow And Bones ~ Aleksander Morozova X F!Reader

Point de vue Asteria :

J’entre dans la chambre de Aleksander et claque la porte derrière moi, il sort de sa chambre et me regarde en fronçant les sourcils. 

-Quand comptais-tu me mettre au courant ? Ai-je tonné.

Il plisse les yeux, faisant un léger mouvement de tête sur le côté. Il le fait exprès pour m’énerver, il sait très bien de quoi je parle.

-Aleksander Morozova ! J’exige une réponse !

-Tu exiges ? Je n’ai aucun compte à te rendre, je suis ton Général.

-Je ne te parle pas en tant que Colonel mais en tant qu’amie ! Pourquoi tu ne m’as pas prévenu de l’arrivée d’Alina Starkov ?! Pourquoi je n’ai pas été prévenue et invitée à sa première rencontre avec le Roi ?! 

Il contourne sa grande table centrale avant de se placer en face de moi, me surplombant de bien deux têtes voire trois. Il pose délicatement une main sur ma nuque avant de me rapprocher violemment de lui, me faisant geindre de douleur. Ses yeux sont sombres de colère me faisant déglutir difficilement. 

-Je sais qui elle est pour toi. J’ai simplement voulu te garder loin d’elle.

-C’est ma sœur…

-Et tu sais ce qu’elle fera de toi ? Elle fera ce qui est dicté dans la prophétie.

-Alina ne sait même pas se servir de ses pouvoirs, comment veux-tu qu’elle me tue ?

-Elle est puissante et apprend vite. Obéit. Reste loin.

-Alors le temps qu’elle est au Little Palace je n’ai plus le droit de revenir ?! C’est ça ton super plan pour me sauver la mise ?! 

-Arrête de réagir comme une enfant. Garde le contrôle sur la Seconde Armée. Tu peux faire ça pour moi ?

Il m’embrasse le front alors que je ferme les yeux pour profiter de la sensation de ses lèvres sur ma peau. Alors qu’il allait se détacher de moi j’attrape son kefta noir et l’attire à moi, enroulant mes bras autour de son torse. Je le sens soupirer avant de me rendre mon étreinte. Il m’embrasse le sommet du crâne avant de venir chuchoter à mon oreille.

-Je viendrai te rendre visite mais s’il te plaît, obéit à mes ordres. Reste loin de Alina, d’accord ?

-Tu pourras lui faire passer un message de ma part ? S’il te plaît, juste un seul.

-Asteria.

-Je t’en prie, Alek. S’il te plaît. Pour moi.

Je pose mon menton sur son torse et le vois lever les yeux au ciel, observant longuement le plafond, réfléchissant à sa réponse.

-Bien, juste un seul. Quel est ton message ?

-Que je l’aime et qu’elle est et restera toujours ma petite-sœur. 

-Asteria, oublie ce lien…

Il soupire, prenant mon visage entre ses mains, caressant doucement mes pommettes de ses pouces. 

-Dors ici ce soir, tu repartiras demain, à l’aube.

-Tu feras le chemin avec moi ?

-Je dois rester ici. Tu le sais.

-Je peux dormir avec toi ?

-Tu n’es plus une enfant…

Il ricane alors que je lui fais les yeux doux, il finit par soupirer, le sourire aux lèvres.

-Très bien, mademoiselle Fell. Il est tard, allez vous laver dans ma salle de bain, je finis mon plan d’attaque.

-Merci Alek.

tbh, I'm kinda scared right now because the darkling looks like a taylor swift fan