The next morning I didn't want to leave my room, I knew I had agreed to answer Zoya's questions today but that didn't mean I was happy about it.

When I was on my way to the dining hall she came up to me with Sergi and a rather reluctant looking David in tow. "Turn around," she ordered, I groaned, it was too early for this.

I followed them up the staircase where Zoya turned to me and asked where my bedroom is, I let out and annoyed breath and led them to where my room was, fishing out my key from the small chain that was hidden from veiw underneath my shirt. I flopped down on the small couch as David pulled out a chair, Zoya and Sergi sitting across from me.

I looked between the three of them, "Soooooooo, how do you want to do this?" I question.

"What do you mean?" Zoya retorted, "We're going to ask you questions you answer them, what did you think?"

I held up my hands in a sarcastic surrender, "Just making sure we're on the same page."

Zoya rubbed her temples like she already had a headache, "You can't take anything seriously can you?"

I couldn't help myself, this opportunity was basically a goldmine, "Was that question apart of this interrogation?" Zoya let out a frustrated breath while Sergei tried to suppress his snicker and David sat there thoroughly confused, "Okay I'll be serious now, I promise.... mabey."

Zoya rolled her eyes but started asking me questions anyway as Sergei clasped his hands together, "Where is the Darkling?"

This time it was my turn to roll my eyes, "Seriously? That's what you want? Information on him?"

"Answer the question," she scolded.

"Don't have a clue," she looked over to Sergei who just nodded, confirming that I was telling the truth.

She looked at me in confusion, "Then how did you manage to get here? And alive at that."

I tucked my legs underneath myself to get more comfortable, "That, is a long story."

"We're listening," Sergei urged.

I took a deep breath explained, but just the bare bones. I told them about the battle, but left out the tiny detail of the sea whip, I told them about walking up on Sturmhonds ship and breaking two guy's noses which I saw Zoya try to fight a small smirk from. I told them about how I woke up in a cell and saw the ship, but left out the fact that there was quite a few Grisha onboard. I even told them how I found out Sturmhond was prince Nikolai but left out the part about those first army soldiers I had run into.

They were all silent for a while, eventually Zoya spoke, "So Starkov is back?" I nodded, "With prince Nikolai, who kidnapped you then gave you a letter which helped you receive a pardon?" I nodded again, she turned to Sergei, "Is it true?" He nodded and she sat back into the chair, "Well, this is certainly going to be interesting," she mumbled.

"Rena," a small voice inquired, it was David, I had almost forgotten he was there, "Is- was Genya there, was she alright?"

My heart softened a bit, it was common knowledge to everyone but them that they liked each other, and to see them on opposite sides of whatever this was, it was heartbreaking. I nodded, "She was there, as for fine, if you don't count being sea sick, she's as content as anyone could be in her situation," I didn't want to lie to David but if the rumours were true- no, I refused to believe them.

In the days that followed, talk had spread about the return of both prince Nikolai and Sankta Alina, some people called it a blessing others called it a miracle, but I called it dumb luck.

I was allowed to continue my classes but it wasn't the same, everyone was wary of me, never making eye contact or getting too close. The only people who acted normal around me were Zina, Luka and Koldan but even they at times seemed slightly scared.

After our class was dismissed early because of a rogue Alkemi explosion, the four of us were sitting by the lake enjoying the afternoon sun on our backs as we finished up some of the work our teacher had set.

When we were putting the books into our packs a group of other students our age past us talking loudly, "Didn't you hear?" One of them said, "Prince Nikolai is after arriving at the grand palace with the sun summoner, some say the king might make her general of the second army," she exclaimed, they all started asking questions and talking as they walked but the girl drifted away from them and came over to us by the lake. "Are you alright, Rena?" She asked, "I can't imagine what it's like having parents on opposing sides."

I gave her a warm smile, "I'm just figuring it out, thanks Nina." Nina Zenik was just a few months older than me and we had never been that close but she was always kind, saying hello when she passed and always able to keep up a conversation.

"Well," she whispered, "If any of you four ever want some cookies and I'm in sharing mood, I know one of the cooks that will give them to us," she walked away laughing, leaving our spirits slightly more lifted than before, Nina seemed to have that effect on people.

"Wanna go check if what she's saying is true?" Zina asked mischievously, I put on a happy smile, I don't do half jobs, my walls have roofs, no doors, no windows of any kind, we packed up our bags dropping them off at our respective rooms and made our way to the winding gravel path.

I began to feeling jittery as we entered a small wooded tunnel, the trees casting a canopy of leaves up above, "Guys, mabey we should-" I started.

"Shhhh," Koldan interrupted, "Heartbeats," we dove into the bushes by the side of the path as four horses with riders upon them passed, completely oblivious to the children just a few yards away from them.

When they had passed Luka, Zina and Koldan started speculating who they were. Of course, I thought, they don't know who any of them are. We all noticed the kefta amongst them, and obviously that was Alina, and I won't lie I was surprised to see Toyla and Tamar here too, seeing as they hadn't been so keen on the idea of the little palace, and of course there was Mal, although he did seem a bit zoned out and down, his shoulders slumped and eyes staring out into the distance.

"We should get back," Luka said, "The place is crawling with first army at this hour, if we get caught sneaking about, it won't be good." We all nodded and started walking back to the little palace.

All too soon, we arrived back. From the entry chamber we could hear shouts from the hall, people were arguing and I had no doubts what it was about. The voices stopped suddenly, and a voice was heard over the silence, from where we were the words all muddled together.

The four of us ran into the domed hall just as the double black doors at the end of the room closed, I heard Luka mutter a, woah, under his breath as we all looked up, the domed roof of the hall had a wide crack in it, the sunlight streaming into the room.

I looked back at everyone, "What the hell happened?"

No, YOU