Idiots, the lot of them. I was suddenly thankful I hadn't told many people about my new found trick.

It was harder to focus sitting on the uncomfortable floor up against the cold steel bars, my hands bound, but after a while some shadows creeped their way from the corners, snaking towards me like a lion after a gazelle.

I let the shadows grow until they covered me, hoping that whatever I was doing didn't get the attention of anyone else aboard the ship.

I opened my eyes and they immediately locked onto his, the ghost of a smirk playing on his elegant features as he quietly dismissed the people around him, he didn't need raise his voice for it to be heard, for it to get the message across.

"Took you long enough," he commented coming closer to me, he closed the distance easily with a few short strides.

I looked down to my hands, "Damn it," I groaned, "I guess I can't escape these even like this."

He looked down to my hands, and frowned, his eyebrows scrunching together, "They put you in irons?" He questioned.

I gave him a sorry half chuckle, "It's not like I exactly cooperated."

"Why?"

"I broke two people's noses, what-" it dawned on me, "You didn't think I ran with them, did you?"

He looked back up at me, "I don't know what to think, Rena. Who to trust."

"Well," I said in my matter of factly voice, "You always said I could trust you, no matter what. The same applies to you."

He searched my eyes as if they would give away whether I was lying or not. He playfully crossed his arms over themselves, "Using my own words against me now are we?"

"Always," I smarted. After a brief silence I finnaly whispered, "They say she wants to see me."

He showed no reaction, "And you? Would you like to see her?"

"I don't know," I admitted, "It's just very.... surreal."

"Surreal, how?"

I looked down to the blurry ground, "We're completely different, I mean everyone looks at her like she's the answer, like she's a Saint, but if anyone bothered to look closer to take a peek over the walls she's built up they would see what I would." He leaned against his table and indicated for me to continue, "She's tired and scared, confused, she's fighting with herself, with her emotions."

"How's that so different from you?"

I scoffed, "You're kidding right? I don't do half jobs, those walls I built have a roof, no door, no windows, it's impossible for someone to take a look inside. And the way they look at and treat me is also completely different, I mean most of them are just confused and scared of me, but when I look closer I understand, they look at me like I'm.... like I'm you."

"And what's so wrong with that?"

"Not the you I know," I added, "The you their all terrified will cut them in half or move the shadow fold onto their land with their families."

He raised his brow again, "The shadow fold?"

"Don't tell me you haven't heard the rumours, I mean their everywhere."

"And do you believe these, rumours?"

"I haven't decided," I admitted.

He stood up from leaning against the table, "Let me know when you do," and with that he flicked his hand, sending my phantom like body back to my real one in the cold cell onboard the ship.

I spent the next day or two contemplating if I should agree to see my mother or not, I had tried to visit my father or even that old lady again but I was becoming weaker from being unable to use my power properly and refusing to eat any of the meals they brought me, so I had given up trying in the hope that I could conserve as much energy and strength as possible.

One day when I was lent against the wall across form the cell door, my eyes closed as if i was relaxing. I heard feet coming down steps and opened one of my eyes to see who it was, Sturmhond looked at me from the door.

I closed my eye again. "You haven't been eating," he commented.

Internally I rolled my eyes, "Really? I haven't noticed."

"You're killing yourself," he chimed.

I opened my eyes and stared hard into his, "No, but do you want to know what's really killing me? These," I shook my bound hands, "Ask any Grisha aboard this ship, we need to summon to stay alive, it revives us."

He looked like he wanted to laugh, "Let you summon? No, absolutely not, don't even think about it. For all I know you could chop us in half where we stand."

I played my last card, "If I agree to see my mother, will you at least take them off?" His eyes lit up at my offer and this time it was my turn to almost laugh, "She's really been that much of a pain in asking?"

His lips quirked up into a half smile, "You don't know the half of it. Will you really agree to meet her? I mean are you sure you want to?"

I sighed, "It's going to happen eventually, why avoid the inevitable? Better to get it over and done with."

"And then you'll eat?" He questioned carefully.

"And then I'll eat," I confirmed.

Hey guys, sorry this chapter is a bit shorter I've been having really bad writers block recently.

Also, FINALLY, after 31 chapters we get to properly meet Alina, I know some of you have been asking for it and what can I say, I'm a slow burn queen.

Thank you for reading this far, leave any tips you have in the comments and dont forget to vote.