Staying in the infirmary was unbearable.

The Healers were forever coming and going, and the only person who I had for company was a half blind inferni who wouldn't talk to me.

Every time when I stood up to stretch my legs someone would rush over and force me to go back to bed. The bags under my eyes were slowly getting deeper and darker from being unable to use my power, apparently the only people permitted to use their power in the infirmary were Corporalki and the Darkling.

I'd spent almost two weeks in the infirmary now and I was beginning to get restless.

I wasn't allowed any visitors and I felt stronger than I ever had, apart from the tiredness I felt from not using my power, but besides that I wasn't weak.

I was nearly certain that the Darkling was just keeping me here to annoy me now. I had begun to take note of the watch changes and when different healers would come.

So every afternoon at the change I would sneak out, unnoticed, until I was caught and brought back, every time I would get further and further, until one evening instead of getting caught by a guard I literary ran straight into Ivan, I stumbled backwards when I bumped into him.

He glared at me and sighed, "How many times is that this week," he scolded me.

I didn't respond.

"Come on," he grabbed me by my sleeve.

"What are you going to do?" I mocked, stumbling after him, "Send me back into an unwelcome sleep?"

"No, but I have contemplated stopping your heart every time we pass," he smirked.

"How kind of you to keep me in your thoughts," I retorted, wiping the cocky smirk right off his face.

"I don't have time for this," he muttered with gritted teeth, "You," he said to a pair of passing Oprichniki, "Take her to the Darkling," he pushed me towards them.

"Seriously?" I exclaimed.

"Your the one that kept leaving," he commented, "Have fun," and with that he left me to be dragged to the Darkling by the guards.

The guards pushed me through the dark doors and shut them flanking the sides as if I would attack the precious leader of the second army.

"That's the fifth time this week you've snuck out of the infirmary, Rena," he commented putting down his pen and leaning against the desk, "And it's only Friday."

I stared down at my bare feet, not daring say a word, the only thing that would come out of me was a sarcastic comment, and that was not what was needed right now.

"It's almost as if you don't, want to get better," he continued.

"Well if care to look, you can see I'm perfectly fine, the only thing that staying in the infirmary is doing for me is shrinking my patience," I snapped.

"Careful," he warned, coming closer, "Don't lose your temper with me."

I took a deep breath, he knew he was annoying me, and he relished in it.

"I just want to leave the infirmary," I finnaly managed, "Please."

He considered this, "Address me correctly, and then maybe I might consider it" he whispered in my ear.

I stared at him, mortified, I couldn't do it, I couldn't give him the pleasure of me calling him that, expesily infront of others, even if it was just the guards.

"No? That's fine, you'll come around, take her back to the infirmary," he ordered the guards.

He turned on his heel and began to walk back to his desk, I cursed myself, he won this one, "Fine" I exhaled.

He stopped in his tracks, not looking back, but his head turned to the side slightly, I knew he was listening.

"Please, father, please" I begged, even though I could barely see his face but I could tell he had that cocky smirk on him, knowing he had won. He nodded to the guards and I was escorted back to the infirmary.

The next day a healer told me I was able to leave and gave me back my kefta.

Zina was waiting outside the infirmary doors for me, "Finally," she exclaimed embracing me in a big hug, "They told me you got out today, and- ew, you stink of sick people, you need a bath."

I laughed, finally, someone who was honest. We headed back to my room while she caught me up on everything I had missed.

She told me all the latest gossip and then when we were in the safety of my room I could just see the excitement jumping off of her.

"What is it?" I asked anxious to hear what had her so excited.

"Well," she started, "You know how usually when we've finished our studies we usally go out and help nobles in their efforts with the war?"

"Yes," I nodded, keen to hear the rest.

"Well, a select few get the honor of staying at the little palace and finishing our studies under the Darklings service," she was basically shaking with enthusiasm now.

"Well it's basically a given that you're going to stay," she sighed, "I mean you're his daughter and all, but guess what!!"

"What? Tell me," I laughed.

She was jumping now, "Well a handful of Grisha got chosen from our class to be scouted," she explained, Including, myself, Luka, Koldan and you!!"

I could tell this meant a lot to her, and even though I didn't really understand what 'the Darklings service' was I gave her a big hug.

She pulled back from my hug after a while, "And also," she told me, "That stupid genius Koldan got himself an apprenticeship with that heartrender Ivan."

Now that I was shocked at, "Oh my Saints, Zina that's amazing, I'm so proud of all of you," we hugged again.

She pulled back again and pushed me towards the bathroom, "Now, come on and get ready, I told Luka and Koldan to meet us at the lake."