It had been a little over a week since we left the harbour at Novyi Zem, where we were headed? I had no idea.

My father had been keeping me busy with books and quizzing me on them from time to time, saying 'it was for my education' but in reality we both knew it was an attempt to distract me from the elephant in the room, or on the ship in this case.

One day I had snuck out of my room, and read my book in the crows nest at half mast, Tamar and Toyla were there working the ropes and keeping a look out.

It was a beautiful day, the air was fresh and the sun was shining down on everyone's faces.

I caught sight of a splash of back ink in the sea of colourful keftas and sailor attire below me. My father had walked to the top of the ship and was looking out over the sea, something was going on, he rarely left his quarters, he had too much paperwork to do, and his presence also put some of the crew on edge, he hadn't noticed me in the crows nest, that's what I loved about it, I could see everyone but they couldn't see me. He said something to Ivan who was nearby which sent him below deck to carry out the order.

After a while the sound of struggling and heavy boots on the steps brought my attention to the hatch Ivan had disappeared to. Everyone who looked over, which was most people, had the same look as me on their face, pure absolute shock, at least that let me know it hadn't happened before while I was confined to my room.

My mother, the sun summoner, Sankta Alina, Alina Starkov, was being led towards the Darkling by two Grisha in blood red keftas, Ivan and Genya.

She looked around frantically, nothing but ocean for miles, neither Ivan or Genya would meet her stare but for different reasons. They left Alina standing behind the Darkling and left, I could only hear snippets of their conversation from where I was but i could see everything, the otkazat'sya who had been questioned when he first arrived was at the other end of the ship, flanked by heartrenders, his hands bound but his gaze never leaving the girl, who was this man?

The wind died down a bit and I heard some of their conversation.

"And if he were, would you throw yourself into the ocean?" My father said, slightly irritated.

"Only if I could take you with me," obviously that's where I got my sarcasm from.

"At ease, Alina, turn around," he said coldly.

She whipped around and her eyes immediately went to the boy who was still staring at her, she started forward but was stopped by a firm grip.

"No further," the Darkling ordered.

"Just let me see him," she pleaded, desperation evident in her voice.

He shook his head and the rest of their conversation was inaudible, eventually the unknown boy was punched in the gut, causing him to let out a painful grunt when Alina tried to resist, apparently it made a point, he was dragged away, and after a few more words, so was Alina.

Every day after that she would be brought up to the top of the deck where she could see the boy from afar and get a gulp of fresh air, her hands were still bound in Grisha cuffs day in and day out, after about half an hour she would be taken back below deck until the next day.

One day while we were sailing through some questionable terrain, I had once again snuck up to the crows nest for some fresh air and to read, Tamar was on look out, she had stopped questioning why I always came up a while back.

I saw my father standing at the top of the ship and heard someone tripping on the stairs to the lower deck, it was Alina, Ivan deposited her behind the Darkling and stood a respectful distance away. For once, she spoke first, I couldn't make out what they were saying but the whole ship seemed to stop talking once it became obvious they were arguing, "Bring the boy," I heard the Darkling order.

I had completely forgotten about my book now, my attention was fully turned towards what was happening at the top of the boat.

Alina grabbed the sleeve of his kefta, "You said you wouldn't hurt him," her voice full of desperation.

He ignored her, after a while the man who was on the deck the night they came aboard, was dragged towards the Darkling.

Alina and the man looked at each other until the Darkling broke the silence, "All right, tracker," the Darkling said. "Track."

The man glanced from the Darkling to Alina and back again. "Track what? We're in the middle of the ocean."

"Alina once told me that you could make rabbits out of rocks. I questioned the crew of the Verrhader myself, and they claim that you're just as capable at sea. They seemed to think you could make some lucky captain very rich with your expertise."

The man frowned. "You want me to hunt whales?"

"No," said the Darkling. "I want you to hunt the sea whip."

I zoned out of the conversation, the sea whip was an ancient animal, a myth, everything I had ever read stated that it wasn't real.

My attention was drawn back to their conversation as the man voiced my own thoughts of it not existing, I could see the slight changes in my fathers composure, he was starting to get fed up with this man.

The man glanced at Alina and she gave an infinitesimal shake of her head.

The man peered out at the waves. "I wouldn't even know where to start."

"For her sake, I hope that's not true." The Darkling pulled a slender knife from the folds of his kefta. "Because every day we don't find the sea whip, I'll peel away a piece of her skin. Slowly. Then Ivan will heal her, and the next day, we'll do it all over again."

I saw the blood drain from her face. I had to even put a hand to my own mouth to stifle myself from gasping.

"You won't hurt her," the man said, but I could hear the fear in his voice.

"I don't want to hurt her," said the Darkling. "I want you to do as I ask."

"It took me months to find the stag," the man said desperately. "I still don't know how we did it."

The stag? What stag? I found myself wondering.

Sturmhond stepped forward. I'd been so focused on the man and the Darkling, I'd nearly forgotten him. "I won't have a girl tortured on my ship," he said.

The Darkling turned his cold gaze on the privateer. "You work for me, Sturmhond. You'll do your job or getting paid will be the least of your worries."

An ugly ripple of disquiet passed over the ship. Sturmhond's crew were sizing up the Grisha, and their expressions were not friendly.

I heard Tamar kneel down next to me, "Stay quiet and stay out of it," she whispered.

"Give the tracker some time," Sturmhond said quietly. "A week. At least a few days."

The Darkling slid his fingers up Alina's arm, pushing back her sleeve to reveal bare white flesh. "Shall I start with her arm?" he asked. He dropped the sleeve, then brushed his knuckles over her cheek. "Or with her face?" He nodded to Ivan. "Hold her."

Ivan clasped the back of her head. The Darkling lifted the knife. She tried to cringe back, but Ivan held her in place. The blade met her cheek and I saw her suck in a frightened breath.

"Stop!" the man shouted.

The Darkling waited.

"I ... I can do it."

"Mal, no," Alina said with false courage. Mal must be his name I thought.

Mal swallowed and said, "Tack southwest. Back the way we came."

I stayed very still, not wanting to be seen just yet. Had he seen something? Or was he just trying to keep Alina from getting hurt?

The Darkling cocked his head to one side and studied him. "I think you know better than to play games with me, tracker."

Mal gave a sharp nod. "I can do it. I can find it. Just ... just give me time."

The Darkling sheathed his knife. I exhaled slowly, would he have actually hurt her?

"You have a week," he said, turning away and disappearing into the hatch. "Bring her," he called to Ivan.

"Mal-" Alina began as Ivan grasped her arm.

Mal lifted his bound hands, reaching for hers. Their fingers grazed briefly, then Ivan was hauling her back toward the hatch.

The Darklings eyes met mine briefly as he passed the mast, I pulled back, almost knocking Tamar to the ground. "You okay, kid?" She asked.

I blinked at her for a moment then finnaly found my words, "Ugh, ya, I'm fine," I stammered, "I-I'm just going to go back to my room."