Privateer ~ Nikolai Lantsov

I wake up to a knock on my door. "If you don't open this door soon I'm going to knock it down!" The person outside yelled. I groaned and slipped out of bed. I totally forgot about my arm until I felt a sharp sting. "Crap, that hurts," I sigh.

I walk to the door my face puffy from just waking up. "Well finally!" Genya snapped.

"Good morning Gen can I help you?"

"Uh yes. First off you look dead. Secondly, I met the Sun Summoner. She has got quite the attitude. And lastly, it's afternoon not morning don't you have to guard for The Darkling?"

I gasp and run to my closet I grab my red kefta. I get dressed as fast as I can stumbling around the room. Genya stands there looking at me amused. "It's not funny! Please help me can you touch up my face a little? Please!" I beg her.

She nods and walks towards me. She takes her hand and takes the eyes bags away and makes my hair curly. "Do you want me to fix those scars you have? I saw them when you were getting dressed. What happened while you were gone?" She asked in distress.

"Oh no, it's ok. I look cool with them. We just had a little problem with fjerdans," I smiled.

"I wish you weren't a guard for him. You get hurt too often."

I ignored her and changed the subject. "So the Sun Summoner? She does have an attitude let me say spending a couple of days with her in the coach was... I don't even know. She can be very kind sometimes!"

"Yes, I had to fix her up to meet the King," Genya sighed.

"Oh."

"Yeah... so you going to tell me who was in here the last time I saw you?" She said changing the conversation.

"Uh heh... itmayhavebeenthedarkling," I say really fast.

"I'm sorry? I didn't get that."

"It may have been the darkling..." I said more slowly.

"What?! Amelia!" She gave me a disgusted look.

"I'm sorry! I know! It's horrible..."

"I'm just saying he's a very very powerful man. You could be one of his playthings. Like you were to Vasily," she grabbed my hand gently, "do you have feelings for him? I thought you might still like Nikolai... I know it's been a while but I know you liked him. A lot."

"Genya, I have to go I am so late!" I say irritably and yank my hand out of hers. I walked out of my room and away from her heading to find the Darkling. Genya was right. I had caught feelings for the Darkling. And what is she talking about me liking Nikolai? Still? No. No way. He left me so it was time to move on.

So I had moved on with The Darkling.

Mhm, that's it.

I ran into the Darkling on my way to find him. "Amelia, I was wondering where you were. You were supposed to be with the other Grisha. We had to show the King Ms. Starkovs abilities," He said firmly.

"I'm sorry Darkling, It was an accident I'll never do it again," I apologized.

"You greet me saying moi soverenyi, not Darkling. And it better not happen again, now I want you to go train with Botkin. Sergei, Nadia, and Marie all be waiting for you I told them that you needed more training. You got way to hurt when we were attacked. Now go."

I was confused. Why was he being so rude? He told me to call him Darkling. I just nodded my face looking hurt. I walked away towards Botkins at the West Stables. Maybe he was just having an off day. Yeah, that's what's wrong with him.

Ok. Time to train with Sergei, Marie, and Nadia. They were other Grisha. Younger than me but not much. I got to the grounds and Botkin our Combat training teacher. We began training and I worked as hard as I could.

Days went by and the Darkling didn't even acknowledge me. It would be the occasional 'guard there' 'Ivan blah blah' 'amelia do this' 'amelia do that'

The Darkling only cared about the Sun Summoner.

Alina Starkov had been training so hard with Baghra and Botkin. I frequently spoke to Alina. We've become friends.

Genya helped Alina with her looks so I naturally was around her too.

Alina was a very nice person. Every time I would see her she's asked me how I was and If I needed anything. I would simply answer I'm good and that I should be asking her if she needed anything because I was a guard. And she was the Sun Summoner.

So life just kept on going. I guard. I meet with the second army. I eat. I sleep. And I do it all over again.

It was now winter and still nothing from the Darkling. So I decided I would stand my ground and go see him. I marched up to his room. Yes. You heard me right, his room. I knocked on his door.

Nothing.

I knocked and knocked and knocked. Until he opened the door. "What?" He said then realized who was in front of him, "Oh. Amelia, can I help you?"

"Yes, you can actually. I need to talk to you. Now."

"Very well, come in," he let me in and closed the door.

"You are very confusing!" I shout at him.

"I'm sorry?"

"Do you want me to say it again!?"

"No, I know what you said I'm just confused what do you need?"

I scoff and pace around his room. It was how I expected dark. Black. A fireplace. Plain and boring.

"You kissed me! Twice! And decided to ignore me after that! You said we would lead the second army together! You said-" I realize I grew feelings for him. For the Darkling. For the past couple of months, he paid attention to Alina. Alina was all he cared about. He left me found a Sun Summoner and decided I wasn't good enough.

"Amelia- please-"

"You are an idiot!" I immediately regretted that. He walked closer to me until I backed into a wall. He held my waist with one hand and squeezed my face with the other.

"I don't need your power anymore. You can't help me get rid of the fold," He sneered, "I only kissed you because you were a pretty Grisha that could help me. Now you are useless." He threw my face to the side letting go of me. "Get out. You are here to protect me and this country not to get hung up on a man. Go!" He pointed to the door and a tear ran down my cheek.

I've never seen him like that. He-he looked like a psychopath.

I thought he was going to hurt me. I fled and ran through the little palace I snuck into the grand palace trying to find my sister. The Darkling was right. I was useless and he wasn't the idiot, I was for thinking he liked me. For thinking he actually wanted me. I slam into someone's chest not paying attention to my surroundings.

"Amelia. What a surprise."

A/n: i'm sorry for this short and very messy chapter! I just wanted to update one last time before I stress myself out with finals and exams. lols Ok i really hope you enjoyed this chapter

Thank you so much for reading/voting! 💞