Immortal Love - Darkling ff. -English version-

Chapter 1 - Cartographers

The cartographers got out of the car. I walked next to Alina and stretched my stiff bones. On the crest of the hill, however, we stopped. Ahead of us stretched a mile-wide black wall of black haze reaching into the sky. The Shadow Fold or also called the Unsea. In the valley, you could already see the military camp and quite a few people scurrying around there.

"We will never see it gone. This abomination will never go away."

The others were also slowly approaching, letting their eyes wander over the black monstrosity that rumbled as if a thunderstorm was coming, and here and there supposed flashes of blue light twitched through the darkness. The kind of breathtaking that is also creepy at the same time and sent a shiver down your spine. A cartographer, Ruby, stepped forward and looked at the boy who had spoken.

"Aren't you going to church. A saint who can summon the sun will destroy it."

"I'd like to see the one who isn't afraid of that."

"I think I know someone.... Mal. He's not afraid of anything."

With these words, Ruby turned and ran away. Earlier she had thrown a provocative smile at Alina. She rolled her eyes and smirked at me. I, too, could hardly bring myself to smile.

If only she knew.

Mal used to be afraid of everything and everyone. Alina and I had often had to save from a fight. And not too seldom. Over the years, of course, that had changed. He won his fights by himself and didn't need our help anymore. One could say he had grown up to a handsome young man. Already in the past the girls were chasing him and over the years it got worse. No wonder Alina's jealousy got to her. I, on the other hand, saw him as a brother, but hoped that Mal would finally realize his feelings for Alina.

Alina ran with her things through the camp. We looked around curiously. Many beige tents stood row upon row next to each other. The tents were kept simple, so the tents of the first army and not the alleged ostentatious tents of the Grisha.

"Alina! Rey!"

Turning around we saw Mal running towards us. Alina immediately started stealing and I had to suppress a giggle because of it.

"When did you get here?"

"Since yesterday. Everyone gets their assignments."

Mal was with the trackers, but was also a very talented marksman. He walked up to us girls and put an arm around each of our shoulders.

"I guess the cartographers are going south," he said.

"Yes, and apparently my unit is coming back to yours ... They're looking for a way through the mountains."

"Oh come on. And here I thought I was finally getting rid of you."

I looked at him with amusement and in a flash dodged his arm that was trying to put me in a headlock. Mal and Alina laughed. It felt good to know that my best friends, my siblings would be with me.

"But at least we're together and united."

"United as in good times, as in bad times. Through sickness and death," I said in a swollen voice, imitating a priest who had always spoken in this way in our village.

I had always been the one in our group who laughed the most, told jokes to cheer up the others or always tried to have a relaxed mood around me.

"They can't keep best friends apart forever."

"Does that mean you missed us."

"Well, I just need someone to take the rap for my minor infractions or someone who has a very great talent for making you mad."