#summonshadcw

[sankta-alina-s]

@summonshadcw

Her light could slice through the nichevo'ya, yet another would just replace its fallen comrade. As much as Alina wished to take a stand and fight, the best option for the four was to get as far away from the Darkling and his creations as possible.

That was, until the nichevo'ya began to advance toward them. Alina gathered the light and pushed back at the shadows until the two forces could stand no longer. The blast sent her sailing, her body colliding with the wall as she slid down it. It took her a dazed moment to realize that the ceiling was beginning to crack.

Tolya and Nadia were still gathered around the injured Adrik, watching the cracks in horror.

"Run!" she yelled just as the ceiling began to fall. She saw a flash of movement as the two women dragged Adrik away before the fallen stone and dust obscured her view.

Alina staggered to her feet, left arm protesting from her collision with the stone wall. A harsh cough from the dust struggled its way out of her lungs.

The cry of pain couldn't be stifled even if she wished it. Her left arm, the first limb to meet the stone, hung limply at her side.

"No, no, no," she muttered under her breath, eyes refusing to believe the unusual angle of the limb.

Panicked eyes shot toward Aleksander, watching his movements from where she was up against the wall.

She'd go down fighting if need be.

[dhampiravidi]

The letter came unmarked, with no seal identifying its sender. That confused Jayn. Her father’s letters always were on fine paper, being from the Fjerdan nobility, but he never gave it a special seal, for fear that the letter would be intercepted. The wedding invitation that the new Queen and King (coronation awaiting) had sent her had the symbol of Ravka melted into the wax on the front. But what was in her hand was completely plain. After raising her brow, Jayn opened it and was completely shocked. Aleksander Morozova, The Darkling, her former soverenyi, had asked her to be his date (no, plus one) to the wedding happening at the end of the week. 

Rather than write him a response, Jayn got dressed and went to find someone to cover her classes at the Little Palace. Then, she left for Aleksander’s residence. It was a good thing that she had kept tabs on him since retiring as the head of his Oprichniki (who were now the King’s personal guard). She knocked on his door with urgency, calling for him by his first name. “Aleksander, it’s Janis--Jayn. I need to speak with you.”

@summonshadcw

[heartsbreaking-migrated]

yelena hummed a tune to herself as she walked about her kitchen doing the cleaning, every so often she'd do a small double step as she put away dishes and baking pans. her latest group of grisha stowaways had left, headed to their next stop. they'd be crossing the fold soon and she always worried about them when they did. the humming was all she could do to keep her mind occupied while she cleaned. as she looked up from the wash basin, she watched as a shadow passed her window. she tensed, the form unfamiliar and unwelcome. she wasn't expecting anyone. the sound of her dogs barking in the yard behind her cottage gave her pause as well. she set down the dish in her hand and wiped off the excess water before going to the door. "i'm not expecting visitors. please tell me what business you have here and i will decide whether i want to open my door to you," she called through the wood.

STARTER CALL | starter for @summonshadcw / the darkling *

[bcbliophile]

@summonshadcw Alina & The Darkling

The feeling of betrayal settled in her stomach for not the first time in the last few days. She had trusted him, believed him about how he wished to change the world, make it better and how they would be equals-- yet here she sat in her room on the ship, the collar he placed around her neck deforming her and reminding her that he never wished for the to be equals, he just wanted her power.

She heard the familiar footfall before she heard the knock, she didn't reply, it wouldn't matter, if he wanted to come in he would and a moment later she saw his smug face and the urge to slap him burned through her. "What do you want?" Her voice was venomous, but laced with a bit of sadness and exhaustion.

[noblehcart]

@summonshadcw cont.

"To admire family legacy?" Was the warm teasing response in kind as she glanced up to the lettering of his last name on the plaque across the hall. It was oddly silent for once. An eerie omen almost, but the silence felt altogether palpable. No IV pumps beeping, no phones ringing or call bells dinging from patients. Just them in a hall of his family's hospital wing. The Morozova's were something to be taken note of. The attendings, she and her other fellow medical students were shadowing, told them a few very important names in the hospital. His was one of them. A major patron and sponsor of different hospital needs, charities and programs.

"That's why I want to be a doctor. Maybe I can make a difference in someone's life forever or save it or-" She caught herself beginning to ramble before a soft smile managed to smother the unnecessary words. "Somehow I get the feeling though that your actions are going to last a lot longer than mine."

Dark eyes swept over his features, taken by the way he looked at her as though she was the first of her kind. As if...as if...there was the slightest tug in her chest, but she chalked it up to nerves. Talking to one of the major hospital donors. Play nice, the attendings had told them, because these patrons are why they have all the best technology. "Your family's legacy after all has stayed with this hospital for decades. That's very remarkable if I may say so. "

[sanctity-hollowed]

@summonshadcw

Sebastien rubbed his face.

"I can't believe you made a deal with Changelings Alexie."

Natalia huffed and went back to focusing on the fire.

"I am not surprised he takes too much after you."

Sebastien shot her a look, his voice carried in their bond.

But you like that he is like me, Tasha.

Pride slid through him as he saw Natalia's lips twitch before she turned fully to the fire.

Not in this Basha.

Sebastien sighed and looked to Aleksander. She was right, Aleksander made him proud in so many ways. He had hoped he wouldn't be as reckless as he'd been in his youth.

"I'm not sure if I should be proud or terrified for you. This war is -"

He sat down, pushing some coffee toward him. Ursula watched her father and brother. She frowned at her mother, trying to stand still.

"We are at war Mama why does it matter what I wear?"

"Because I will not have my daughter be dressed in rags. Now stand still so you do not bleed, girl."

Ursula's jaw set, and Sebastien turned to watch them. He tapped his finger on the table discreetly, getting his youngest attention. He held up a small bowl of chocolate. It was meager compared to the wealth and money they'd had in Nirtea. Sometimes, he was happy Ursula didn't remember when he saw how happy this simple thing made her. He put a finger to his lips, and Ursusla nodded eagerly. She finally stood obediently for her mother.

Natalia knew, of course she did. He'd found some for her, but that was neither here nor there. He looked back at Aleksander it still surprised him to see just Aleksander and not Azriel by his side. They'd been so close once before.

"The Changelings will play with you. I was betrothed to an Eyrie long ago. She was worthless to her kind, her wings to be clipped as she could not help them. She wasn't strong enough to bear a child, the thing she was meant to do."

Sebastien rolled his eyes at that and drummed his long fingers on the table.

"Her mate was away, and even when I contacted him to hurry home, we weren't in time. She died too weak to handle the procedure. Melkor was...he - he was a ruthless fighter, but this pushed him over the edge. He shunned everyone who knew him and left the island. Years later, once your mother and I had met and mated, we crossed paths again. He'd tracked down a Changeling Colony. A fledgling one by the sounds of it. He told us they could reunite him with his Marion."

Sebastien lips twisted, and he looked to his hands.

"I am not sure how or why it happens, but some mates who die do not pass on. They cling to their mates and appear as apparition only their mate can see and interact with. I - I confess it's far-fetched, but I have heard it happen many times. Or maybe the fae are truly insane, I do not know - they do not live long. Melkor lived far longer than any others I'd meet since him. Do you know how they fulfilled their request to him, Aleksander?"

He could still see the torn limbs, the viscera, the sheer violence, and carriage of it. Smaug had laughed and playfully lunged for him. If Natalia hadn't been there, he would have died out of sheer shock.

It had been the first real death he'd seen when the Revolutions began against the Daglan. He'd see Smaug many times over the next 100 years or war. He supposed he should thank him in a twisted way for switching sides in the end - without his support, they would have never won. At least they'd gone nearly 700 years without the Changelings appearing to cause trouble, till now.

"If you truly want to do this, we will support you. But I am not letting you do this alone, Aleksander."

[valkxrie]

summonshadcw

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐑𝐊𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐍'𝐓 𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒. For it to end this way. The blackness starts to descend on his sight, blotting out the sunlight. Funny that it's a sunny day, when he meets his end. And it is an end; the Darkling knows that. He can feel the cool embrace of Death, as if the force is just waiting in the wings...

ready to welcome him...

Or condemn him.

Maybe that's why he hisses at the pain wracking through his side, the blood bubbling up at his lips whenever he parts them to try and speak; maybe that's why his eyes feel like they're glazed over when he searches out the sound of those words.

please don't go.

His dark gaze turns towards that sound, even if it does sound too far off. Like it's through a fog, a muddy tunnel. He cannot pinpoint who it is, but his hand reaches for the blurry shape he senses close by. The one who spoke.

❝ I don't... I don't want to... ❞

mention // @valkxrie

She was a Valkyrie; death was not something she feared. It was not something she feared for others - but it was not his time. Not like this. Not in this place. Not without having done so much more. 

The Fold still stood. It still blinded Odin and wrought destruction. There were so many deaths that came before their time, that happened outside of what fate might dictate. 

Fate. So fickle. So fragile. So fucking malleable.

Brunnhilde watched the wound trickle blood. His mouth too. It likely pooled in places in his body, creating pressures where there should be none - causing damage.

I don’t want to. 

She was knelt at his side, blood around them. Not his, not hers. The blood of others. They were alone amongst bodies. Alone and far from the first aid the people of this realm were familiar with. 

Brunnhilde saw his hand come up but ignored it. Hers were too busy pulling off her belt; the leather thick and soft. She placed it between his teeth. This had to happen fast. She could see the shape of his soul; the shape of something she might carry to Valhalla. Some were yellow, or silver, or blue, or gold. His was like a night sky. Unusual. Powerful. Not yet unstuck. It hovered, lingering, holding on. 

“Bite.” She commanded him. This general. She was a general too. Her hands pressed against the wound hard, feeling for its edges. They were ragged and deep and slippery with blood. Battle triage was not pretty. 

Her eyes went to Kirigan’s face. Another order. “Don’t pass out.”

Brunnhilde returned her focus to the wound, to a prayer. To a magic granted to Aesir. Old magic. Made for another tongue. She spoke it out loud, the bells of her voice turning deep. Turning ancient. It was a tongue not heard in this realm for centuries. She called to Eir, requesting power from the God of Healing. 

The trees stirred with a great breeze, and her palms heated with a power that was not hers to wield. Ravens cawed nearby; a pair of them appearing from between the trees. Her gifts came from the balance between life and death. From fury. No doubt this hurt him; no doubt that heat seared through his body as it touched every edge of that wound. Old magic was not soft. 

The Valkyrie pressed harder on the man’s wound, her words still spoken in the old tongue. She wondered if he understood them; this man whose light was not dissimilar to hers. Whose power seemed ancient too. “Do not die. I did not come all this way for you to die.” 

[heirceleste]

@summonshadcw

cassidy can't sleep, hadn't been able to for weeks. it had been a few years since she'd first told the general that she would make a good spy and only two months since her first bout away from the little palace. she'd brought back valuable information as well as a few trinkets for her youngest siblings, knowing that them missing her had been the hardest part of it all. but now her bed at the little palace didn't feel right, and being in her own skin felt rather strange.

its what found her wandering the halls late at night. a fur lined keft draped over her nightgown, slippers on her feet as she followed the moonlight through the halls. its the sound of music that catches her attention, something soft and melodic. changing directions, cassidy moves towards the sound, finds herself in an event hall of sorts. a room she's never been in before, having always offered to babysit the youngest grisha whenever an event was held.

stepping softly into the room, she can't quiet make out who is playing. instead, she simply folds her kefta and places it on the floor, leaving herself in a simple black nightgown. it may be the general's color when it comes to keftas, but cassidy had come to be fond of something that wouldn't show wear so easy when she was away from the little palace. the black nightgown had become a staple in her closet.

with a soft sigh she steps out of her slippers and stretches briefly, letting the music take over her body. slowly she begins to move, her toes just barely touching the ground as she dances across the floor, her long braid swinging against her back. its easy to summon as she moves, flint in her nail polish allowing a simple snap of her fingers to ignore a flame. fire dancing on her fingertips as she move to the music, delicate in the twists and turns of her body as the fire moves across her skin.

its only when the turns towards whomever is playing the music that the combination of fire and moonlight show the general sitting at the piano. with a soft gasp she stumbles and stops her movements, panting softly as her feet fall flat on the floor and she lets the fire on her fingertips die. quickly she makes her way back to where her kefta has fallen, stepping back into her slippers and pulling the cloak around her shoulders. it would have been one thing for this to be one of her comrades, but instead it is her general, something she hadn't been expecting at all.

stepping back into the moonlight, she bows her head to him. "i apologize moi soverenyi. i couldn't sleep, i did not mean to interrupt, please forgive me." her platitudes fall flat even to her, its been far too long since she got to dance and cassidy feels wonderful, but there is a time and place and it is not in the middle of the night in front of her general. especially not when she found him to be the most handsome and alluring person she had ever met, despite knowing very little about him.

"i did not know you played, it was beautiful. i am...honored to have heard it," she finally says, voice barely more than a whisper as she meets his eyes with a soft smile.