The Dying Light (Bloodwitch #1)

‘Going somewhere, Carroway?’

Before Charlie had time to think, Kovalev had grabbed two fistfuls of his sweatshirt and thrown him straight against the opposite wall of the passageway. He heard someone scream as the back of his head hit hard rock. A racking cough surged through his body at the impact.

‘I knew you would lead me to her,’ Kovalev said, glaring at Charlie as he strode towards him. ’All I had to do was give you enough rope. You’re all coming with me – now.’

‘Seren, run!’ Charlie yelled. ‘Alya, get her out of here!’

He had no time to react before Kovalev had pulled him to his feet and pressed one forearm tightly across his chest, pinning both of his arms against the wall. He brought his face close to Charlie’s, his teeth gritted.

‘I’m starting to think that keeping you alive is more trouble than you’re worth.’ Kovalev’s dark eyes flitted across Charlie’s face as though in search of something. ’I’m warning you, you’re this close to making me lose my patience.’

‘I’ve got some good news for you, then,’ Charlie gasped, struggling for breath. ‘Because I’m telling you right now – if you want Seren, you’re going to have to kill me first.’

Without easing up on the pressure against Charlie’s chest, Kovalev used his boot to force Charlie’s legs further apart and placed one foot on Charlie’s shin. ‘Your loyalty to your new witch friend really is quite touching,’ he said, his voice low and dangerous. ‘I wonder, would you still have the same resolve to save her if you had to crawl on broken legs to do it?’

‘Let him go.’

Both Charlie and Kovalev’s heads snapped to the side, to where Seren stood by the entrance to the alcove. Her breathing was ragged. The arm she was using to lean against the wall to steady herself was shaking. She had fixed Kovalev with a look of such vicious loathing that Charlie found he could not meet her eyes. It was only now that she seemed truly frightening.

‘You’re not in any condition to fight me,’ Kovalev said, his voice losing some of its harshness. ‘Stay out of this, witch. I’ll deal with you later.’

’I said let him go!’ Striding forward, Seren flung out her arm in front of her, and Kovalev was thrown back against the opposite wall of the passageway. He fell to the floor at Seren’s feet, and she dropped to her knees beside him. ‘If you ever threaten to hurt Charlie again,’ she said softly, ’I will hurt you. I know how to hurt you, Vasco Kovalev.’

‘Wh-What are you –?’

Charlie watched as Kovalev clutched a hand to his head. His eyes grew wide and horrified as he seemed to become aware of something that Charlie could not see. Seren released her hold on him and wrapped her arms around her knees, her entire body trembling. She offered no resistance as Charlie helped her up, draping her arm over his shoulders to support her weight.

Breathing deeply, Kovalev got to his feet. Charlie could not help the grim smile that came to his face when he saw that Kovalev took a few steps back from them all.

Alice cleared her throat. ‘Please listen to me,’ she said, casting Kovalev a grave look before turning her large eyes to Charlie, her hands clasped at her heart. ’He didn’t come here to fight you. I don’t want to fight either of you,’ she added, glancing at Seren before returning her gaze to Charlie. ‘You may not believe this, but Vasco has been trying to help you.’

’Help me?’ Charlie repeated, looking incredulously from Alice to Kovalev and back again. ’You’re not serious? Did you miss what he just did? Besides, it was him and that cracked-out headbanger Dragomir who arrested me in the first place.’

‘Who was it that stopped him from slitting your throat right there by the Gate?’ Kovalev shot back, his fists clenched at his sides. ‘Who do you think gave the order for you to be placed in the isolation cellblock so he couldn’t finish what he started that night with those lowlife hoods in Penumbra?’ At these words, his shoulders sagged, and some of the tension seemed to leave his body. He gazed at Charlie, a strange, unreadable expression on his face. ‘You crazy kid, you seriously act like you’ve got a death wish or something.’

’Vasco,’ Alice muttered, looking pained. ’Can’t you at least try?’

Kovalev crossed his arms and scowled, scuffing the floor before continuing. ‘Arron Dragomir wants you dead, and I’m the only thing standing in his way.’ He glared at Charlie, some of the edge gone from his voice. ‘Believe me when I tell you that if it weren’t for me, you’d be six feet under right now – or worse, back in that interrogation cell with him.’

‘You hate me,’ Charlie said. The words came out of his mouth without emotion. ‘I’ve known that from the very first time we met. Why would you stick your neck out for me?’

Kovalev cast him a dark look. ‘Not owing to anything especially virtuous on my part, I assure you.’ He put his hands in his pockets and scowled at the wall. ‘You have a friend in Elysia, Carroway.’ Kovalev glanced at Alice, and when he met his eyes again, Charlie flinched at the loathing raging in them. ‘I’m simply doing what I’m told. That’s all there is to it.’

‘A friend in Elysia?’ Charlie murmured. ‘You mean … Alice?’

‘My real name is Alexandra Ignatieva,’ Alice said. ‘Please, call me Alya.’

A muscle worked in Kovalev’s jaw. ’I had planned to bring her to speak with you in the isolation cells, where there would be no risk of anyone learning anything about it. But since you two decided to take matters into your own hands so spectacularly …’

Charlie’s lip curled. ‘Oh, well, forgive us for not sitting around waiting for you to deign to brighten our stay in the dungeon with a personal visit,’ he spat back. ’I’d guess people like Seren aren’t too popular with Hunters like you and Dragomir. Wait – Alexandra Ignatieva?’

‘We don’t have time for pleasantries,’ Kovalev snapped. He took a deep breath and pinched the bridge of his long nose with his thumb and forefinger. When he continued, his voice was clipped, but calm. ‘Look, she’s in no condition to fight,’ he said, indicating Seren. ‘I don’t know what’s happened to her, but I’d like to know how she managed to get inside my head like that. I’m no stranger to witches. She shouldn’t be able to do that.’

‘From what she’s told me, you Elysians imprisoned her and turned her into your own personal lab rat,’ Charlie answered savagely. ‘That’s how.’

‘I don’t know anything about that,’ Kovalev said dully, shrugging. ‘I just hunt them.’

‘What do you mean, Charlie?’ Alexandra frowned. ‘What have you found out?’

‘What game are you two playing?’ Charlie demanded. ‘Look at the scar on her head. Do you expect me to trust you? You can’t think I’m that stupid?’

Kovalev threw a quick glance over his shoulder and began to speak more urgently. ‘You’ve got to listen to me. The soldiers are coming. They will find you, and when they do, they will kill you. You want to keep her safe?’

Charlie glanced at Seren, whose body was slack against his. Her head was lolling on his shoulder and her eyes were closed, a pained expression on her face. He nodded.

’Then follow me – and do exactly as I say.’

In one curiously graceful movement, Kovalev swung the rifle strapped across his back into his arms. Charlie watched him stride quickly to the end of the passageway and scan the one adjoining it in both directions.

Without looking back, Kovalev indicated for the others to follow him. Once they had all caught up with him, he began to lead the way back down the passage towards the large antechamber, his sharp features set in a grim expression.

‘We already came this way, genius,’ Charlie said under his breath, recognising the route they were taking. ‘You realise you’re leading us back towards the soldiers?’

Kovalev tapped his left ear, and Charlie noticed for the first time that a black, bullet-shaped object was sitting in it, camouflaged against his thick, wavy hair. ‘I know exactly where the soldiers are,’ he said quietly, ‘and, if we can avoid drawing attention to ourselves, we won’t need to worry about them.’

‘Where are we going?’

‘Library.’

‘I’m not a big reader.’

‘You surprise me.’

‘Remind me again why I should trust you?’ Charlie asked, smarting. ‘How do I know you’re not leading us straight into a trap?’

Kovalev heaved a deep sigh. With a shake of his head, he turned to look at Charlie, a bemused expression on his face. ‘You heard me say her name, didn’t you? Don’t tell me that name means nothing to you, or have all those punches you’ve taken done a number on your brain?’

‘Then he and Alexandra …’

‘The Great Protector is my father,’ Alexandra said softly.

Charlie was silent for a few moments, allowing this information to sink in. A painful wave of shame washed over him, twisting his insides, at the thought that the First Daughter of their country had seen him at his lowest point. It made him cringe to think of the way he had spoken to her at the Infirmary Station, and what he had said to her in his anger.

Besides that, there was a more pressing matter he would now have to deal with. The hard fact was that Alexandra Ignatieva knew things about him that he had no intention of sharing with anyone else. She knew he was living on borrowed time. He had not once thought about her since he had learnt he was dying. He had not thought he would ever see her again.

‘I still don’t understand how you fit into this, mustang,’ Charlie said.

’What does that mean?’ Kovalev snapped. ‘Besides, there’s nothing to understand.’

‘Every other soldier in this place is running around trying to recapture Seren and me,’ Charlie said. ‘You’re the only one who managed to find us, and instead of turning us in, you’re acting as our personal escort. She’s got to be the most heavily guarded woman in the country.’

‘Do you intend to come to your point any time soon, or can I stop listening to you?’

‘Your priorities seem a little off, that’s all I’m saying.’

Kovalev had come to a halt and was scowling at him again. ‘What was that?’

‘Vasco, don’t.’ Alexandra stood between them, her hands outstretched. ‘Charlie, stop.’

Kovalev backed off, glaring at Charlie. ‘This punk kid needs to watch his mouth.’

‘You brought him with you to Penumbra, to the Infirmary Station,’ Charlie pressed on, a reckless smirk twisting his mouth as he rounded on Alexandra. ‘You were pretending to be a nurse, right? What was that – some kind of wish fulfilment fantasy? I thought this guy was supposed to be a renowned Witch Hunter. Seems more like you’re her own personal guard dog …’

Kovalev’s hands had curled into fists again. He raised one to Charlie’s face. Then, without breaking eye contact, he lashed out to the side, his knuckles connecting with the wall instead. ‘I swear to you, Carroway,’ he said, his voice soft, ’once this is over, you had better keep away from me if you like having your head on your shoulders. If you ever –’

‘Lieutenant Kovalev, is that you? Have you apprehended the prisoners? I must have missed the comms update.’

Charlie’s stomach dropped as a slight Elysian soldier hurried eagerly towards them. He caught the warning look Kovalev threw at him. Against his better judgement, he stayed still and silent, merely tightening his grip around Seren’s waist. Alexandra had ducked behind them.

‘My equipment is out of action,’ Kovalev said. ‘I’m bringing them in now.’

‘Would you like my assistance, sir?’ the soldier asked, beaming with enthusiasm.

Kovalev looked from the young soldier to Charlie, a cold smile curling one corner of his mouth. ‘Take the witch. Leave the Penumbran mutt to me.’

‘Yes, sir, right away!’

The young soldier turned towards Charlie, who flashed Kovalev a look of mingled confusion and anger. He pulled Seren closer to his body. Kovalev waited, motionless, until the soldier had passed him by.

Then there was a flash of movement. With a sickening crunch, the butt of Kovalev’s rifle connected with the soldier’s head, and he collapsed to the ground, clearly unconscious. It had happened so fast that Charlie had had no time to react.

Grudgingly impressed at the speed and ferocity of the Elysian lieutenant, he looked up from the prone body on the floor. ‘Uh … remind me not to turn my back on you in future.’

Something close to a real smile flitted across Kovalev’s features. Slinging his rifle to the side of his body, he bent down and pulled the young soldier across his shoulders before carefully getting back up to his feet.

‘We can’t risk him being found like this,’ he explained, noticing Charlie’s doubtful look. ‘He won’t remember what happened, but it won’t take Dragomir long to put two and two together if he’s discovered. I’m still planning to get through this without being court-martialled myself. Come on, we’re almost there.’

They moved on in silence, until they reached a steel door in the wall. Beside the door there was a plaque, on which a single word was written, although Charlie could not read it.

‘Get in,’ Kovalev ordered, holding the door open for Charlie, who was still supporting Seren, before following Alexandra into the room. Once they were all inside, he closed the door and bolted it behind him.

The library was illuminated by soft lights hanging from a chandelier set into a vaulted ceiling. Specks of dust glinted in the air above them. Rows and rows of wooden shelves were crammed tightly into the available space, each one of them packed with books. There was an antique mahogany desk near the door, chipped and worn with age, around which four wooden chairs were arranged. Carefully, Charlie eased Seren into one of them, fighting to contain the fear that had been building in his mind since she had first started to seem ill.

Her eyes fluttered open and a tired smile passed across her face. She nodded at his unspoken question. ‘I’m fine,’ she said, her voice small and weak.

Kovalev had eased the unconscious soldier off his shoulders. He was busy propping him up against the wall in a corner between a bookshelf and a wastepaper basket. ‘So, Alexandra,’ he said, folding his arms across his chest as he leant against the locked door, ‘what was it you wanted to talk to him about so badly?’

Alexandra fixed him with a stony glare, one eyebrow raised. ‘Is it any of your business, Lieutenant Kovalev? I wasn’t aware that I now required a chaperone to hold a conversation.’

‘Ouch.’ Charlie raised an eyebrow too, smirking again. ’She sure told you, hey, Vasya?’

Kovalev scowled. ‘It is when it involves Penumbran prisoners and escaped witches.’

Alexandra sighed before turning back to Charlie. ‘I’m sorry for all this secrecy,’ she said, ‘and I’m sorry for anything the soldiers did to you when you were arrested.’

‘How did you know about that?’ Charlie asked, perplexed.

Alexandra chewed on her lip before answering. ‘Because I ordered it. At least,’ she added quickly, at Charlie’s furious expression, ‘I ordered Vasco to find you and bring you to Elysia to see me. Arresting you was the only way to get you into the Castle compound without arousing suspicion. I needed to speak with you. There was no other way. I hope you can forgive me,’ she added, in a small voice, ‘and Vasco too.’

Charlie glanced at Kovalev, who was watching him intently, his expression unreadable.

‘He was only doing what I told him to do,’ Alexandra continued. ‘I don’t blame you if you’re angry with us. But I hope that now you’re here, you’ll listen to me.’

Charlie frowned, but said nothing. Her black eyes were shining, and there was a look of desperation in her face that she did not betray in her voice. ‘I’m listening,’ he said slowly.

Relief seemed to wash over her at his words. ‘I want to help you,’ she said, her voice returning to its usual confidence. ‘Both of you,’ she added, her eyes lingering on Seren.

‘Alexandra,’ Kovalev said quietly, ‘what are you talking about?’

‘And I know someone who can,’ Alexandra pressed on, ignoring him. ‘I have a plan for how to get us out of this place, and I know somewhere we can go where we’ll be safe.’ She turned back to Charlie, an almost frantic gleam in her eyes. ‘There’s just one thing I want you to do for me in return.’

‘Oh yeah?’ Charlie did not attempt to hide his suspicion. ‘And what’s that?’

Alexandra met his gaze fiercely and did not look away. ‘Take me with you.’

‘What?’ Charlie blinked. Of all the things he had expected her to say, that was not it.

Kovalev’s arms had fallen to his sides. ‘I can’t believe I’m hearing this.’ He strode towards Alexandra, his jaw clenched. ‘Come on, I’m taking all of you straight to your father, right now. I’m not indulging this anymore.’

‘Stop!’ Alexandra cried, throwing out her arm, her eyes tightly shut. ‘Listen to me!’

As though caught in a strong wind, Kovalev was slowly forced back against the door. His mouth open, Charlie tore his eyes away from Kovalev’s bemused expression and took in Alexandra’s determined face. Beads of sweat had formed on her forehead, and her hands were shaking.

‘You can’t be serious,’ Kovalev murmured.

‘How can you do that?’ Charlie asked, astounded.

Alexandra raised her head, her fists clenched. ‘Because,’ she said, ‘I’m a witch.’