I was in one of my rare moments of utter silence, pitch black clouded my vision as I awaited the next nightmare, but for once, it didn't come. But that scared me even more.

I had never been scared of death, I had always welcomed the concept of it, but right now staring it in the face as my body shut down, I didn't know what to think.

On one hand I could see my adoptive parents again, my whole village, I could explain what happend and say sorry, for what I didn't know.

But on the other hand, I had just made friends, friends who had saved me, well almost, and I had just met my apparent 'father', I still wasn't sure about that one.

In the back of my head I heard voices, they were rushing around my dying body, desperately trying to bring me back, is this what it feels like to have people that care for you around?

I felt my soul rush out of my body, and the next thing I knew I was staring at it.

It took me a moment to comprehend, I was starting at my own body. There was a healer beside me trying to check my pulse, while a heartrender, no, Koldan was helping push air into my lungs, Luka stood off to the side holding a crying Zina in his arms, there was nothing they could do, fire wouldn't help and Zina was too filled with emotions to try.

I felt my soul being tugged and I appeared in a dark room, there was a long table covered in books and figurines, the darkling sat by a desk looking over something.

He must have sensed me in the room because he gave a big sigh and put down his pen. "I must say I'm quite impressed Alin-" he turned around and saw me, his eyes gave a confused expression, "Shouldn't you be in the infirmary, who woke you up?" He questioned.

I looked back, just as confused, "I am in the infirmary, and I'm not awake," I said carefully, "At least I don't think I am."

He narrowed his eyes, "How are you here, I didn't show you to do this?" He questioned, "And I know for a fact no one else did."

I crossed my arms infront of each other, "I think it has to do with the whole 'I'm about to die' situation," I said nonchalant.

His eyes widened, "Wha-"

Ivan burst through the door gasping for breath, if he could see me he didn't take notice, "Sir, it's your daughter."

Our connection severed and I was back in my body, dying.

I don't know how long I was like this for, but after a while my eyes flew open, I didn't have the energy to move, but I gasped for breath.

The darkling stood over me and looked me over, he then turned to the healer who was at the other side of me, "What happened," he demanded, his voice deadly cool.

"We can't say for certain," they stifled, "It could really be anything, loss of blood, damaged organs, but we think that the bullet that hit her might have been coated in some sort of substance that if in the bloodstream for long enough could be fatal, it's a Fjerdan invention, tricky, but we should be able to fix it."

My head was flowing with all this information, but one word that stuck out was, fatal, it probably stuck out to the darkling too, "Do what you must," he told them, his eye caught movment at the other side of the room, "And someone help that inferni he looks like he can't see."

With that he turned and left with Ivan behind him, the healer also left, probably to help the inferni.

All of a sudden arms came on top of me. It was Zina, I could tell by her tear stained cheeks, "Don't you ever do that again," she mumbled into my shoulder.

"Uh, sorry, I'll try," I managed while she slowly let go allowing me to breathe.

Luka helped me sit up while Koldan sneaked something out of his pocket, "Oh my Saints, Kloldan is that what I think it is?"

"Yep, cupcake fresh from the kitchen's" he said smugly. He gave each of us a bit and the warm pastry warmed me up.

"Ugh," Luka moaned, "I don't think I'll survive eating herring and rye again after that."

We all nodded in agreement as we savored each and every piece of the delicious treat.

We talked for as long as we could, they caught me up on everything I had missed, like how an Alkemi accidentally blew up his table in class, Zina told us about how an older Squaller woman with glossy black hair had started teaching them new techniques and more.

We talked and laughed until the lamps burned low and by that time I had an unwanted visitor, "If you stay any longer, you'll miss dinner," his harsh voice cut out from the hallway.

We all stopped talking immediately, and not wanting them to get in more trouble than they already were I said my goodbyes and they left.

"How are you feeling?" The darkling asked me, standing by my bed.

"Like I just died," I responded, his eyes narrowed and I sighed, "That means I'm ready to leave this Saints forsaken place."

"The healer says otherwise," he stepped closer, "The bullet was coated in poison."

"Can I take it again," I mumbled, he looked at me shocked, "What? It's seems like the only thing that gives me peace from...."

"From what?" He questioned.

"What, uh nothing, can I leave now?" I asked.

"No, the poison could still be in your bloodstream," he informed me.

"Well I can tell you with extreme certainty that it's not, so if you don't mind me."

I flipped the covers off and made to get out the opposite side but I was once again pulled back, "You're not allowed to leave unless I say so," he explained, "So I suggest you watch your tone."

I slumped back into the bed, "If I'm stuck here I might as well try and get some sleep," I muttered to myself, "Goodnight general," I told him.

"Does it really pain you that much to call me your father?" He questioned.

"Truthfully? Yes, now if you don't mind-"

"We're not done here," he cut across me, I groaned and sank into the pillows. I sat up as he went to sit at the end of my bed, "Do you know how you ended up in my chambers today?" He questioned.

I had almost forgotten about that, everything had happened so quickly, but wait a minute, "That's your chambers?!?!" I exclaimed, "Saints it's very morbid in there, how does any joy ever creep into it-"

"Rena," he warned.

I sighed, "No, no idea," I told him, "I just saw black and heard people rushing around, and then it felt like my soul escaped my body. I was stood over there," I pointed to where I was standing before, "And then I just appeared in your room."

"Interesting," he said to himself.

"Who's Alina?" I asked.

His head snapped to me and he stared straight into my eyes, "I beg your pardon."

"When I appeared, you said 'I must say, I'm quite impressed Alina'" I depend my voice as I said it.

"My voice does not sound like that," he sounded astonished.

I laughed a little, "Does a small bit, now, who are they?"

His face became guarded again, "No one, forget you ever heard that name."

He got up to leave, "Rest, try not to die, and do not leave," he ordered, "Or I will have my guards drag you back."