prisoner (shadow & bone)

Chapter Twenty

DARKNESS

The skiff slowly skidded to a stop, making everyone in the lower level tense up. Jesper drew his guns, and everyone was looking up, straining their ears for any indication what was going on upstairs.

"What's he doing?" Inej asked with furrowed eyebrows, before being quickly shushed by Kaz.

"One more demonstration," they could hear the general's booming voice from upstairs, so loud that it carried all the way down to their hiding space. Tatia bit her lip upon hearing his voice. "You've seen what the Sun Summoner can do. Now bear witness to what I can do... with her power."

Tatia couldn't stifle the gasp that left her mouth, and she instantly shot her hands up to her lips to cover them. "Something bad is happening," she muttered, as the upper level went completely silent with shock. "I can feel it."

Her companions glanced at her worriedly, before returning their gazes to the ceiling. The silence from the upper levels turned into horrified yells and screams.

Jesper lowered his guns apprehensively. "What now?"

Kaz glanced over his shoulder at them. "We wait."

"Kaz, we have to do something." Tatia's voice betrayed how distraught she was, tears glistening in her eyes. "He's slaughtering people, Kaz. He's slaughtering an entire city."

"So you understand the scale of his power then? Good," Kaz snapped harshly, instantly regretting the words that left his lips as she flinched back from him, eyes still full of unshed tears. He softened his voice considerably, his eyes gentle. "I'm sorry. I know you understand the scale of his power better than anyone. But we have to stay put, at least for now. I won't risk your life for theirs."

"The bold move is to strike now," Mal spoke up, eyes full of bravery.

Kaz snapped his head over to the other male, eyes narrowing coldly as the gentleness he used with Tatia vanished. "And the smart one is to get clear of the damned Fold first."

"Um, Kaz?" Tatia spoke up timidly, still a bit startled. "I don't want to burst your bubble, but I don't think Aleksander is planning on getting rid of the Fold."

Mal wasn't listening anymore, for he had turned around and he was heading towards the upper level. "I never said I was smart," he muttered, before disappearing around the corner.

Jesper was looking after him, mouth agape. "Can you believe him?" he asked.

Inej took off her coat, handing it to Tatia. "I'm going with him." Her braid spun in the air as she too vanished to the upper level, to try and stop the general from ensuing his evil plans.

"Don't you dare-" Kaz started upon a glance to his right, but it was too late.

Tatia was taking off her cloak as well, placing it on the floor next to Inej's coat. Her eyes were apologetic. "I'm sorry, Kaz, but I have to. I have to save Alina, and if I'm lucky, I might actually be able to talk some sense into the general, convince him that what he's doing is wrong."

Before either of the others could protest, she had already dashed out after Mal and Inej. "You will expose yourself!" Kaz yelled after her, but it wasn't any use; she didn't turn back.

The only two people left glanced at each other, a mutual understanding passing between them.

"Well, we're not letting Tatia go out there all alone and unprotected, are we?" Jesper said, twirling around his gun in his hand and grinning, as he set off for the upper level as well.

Kaz wanted nothing more than to stay exactly where he was, in the safety of the lower level, but even he knew that he had to go after her. He grumbled something to himself before leaving after the others, cursing himself and his feelings under his breath.