Lemme tell you, editing in your phone is almost as painful as having cramps. Rest In Peace, fingers.

Oh, and before you get to the chapter, I've been writing a new book for sometime now!

It's called Clarity, and I just published the prologue and character's introduction!

Check it out! (If you want to)

~

[ a l i n a ]

Dinner was bland.

Liana kept sending me death glares throughout the whole night. Aria isn't talkative like usual. Nathan, well..

His eyes were fixed on Liana.

Although I felt eyes on me when I refused the wine, everything else seemed fine. All I really wanted to sleep.

As we were in the hallways, post dinner, Liana had come up to me. She didn't say a word, she only fixed me with her lifeless eyes.

What is she up to?

I couldn't help but feeling that something was off. And the fact that I had felt weaker than usual. I just need sleep.

~

3:25 am.

I perked up, turning off the classical music as I heard my doorknob rattle.

I sat up, tidying my nightgown, gasping as two bulky guards walked in.

"On whose orders are you here?!" I snapped, the two guards standing by my door.

One of them turns around, locking the door, whilst the other one strides towards me, quickly. Too fast. They were moving too fast.

I couldn't comprehend anything. But in the end, did I ever?

The guard held both of my arms, holding me tightly. One wrong move, he might snap them in half.

I pushed him away, but it came to nothing. He was strong, I had to admit.

"How dare you? What are you doing here?!" I snap, pushing again.

I reached my hand forward, but nothing came. I didn't stop reaching, but the result was the same.

What happened to my powers?

"Let me go!" I seethed, as one of them jolts me forward, gripping my shoulders tightly, putting me in place. What the-

My eyes widen in realization as the other one holds a rope in his hand, tying it around his fingers.

They were about to strangle me.

"NATHAN!" I screamed, trying to get away, but failed as the one behind me held me in place. "Let me go! LET ME GO! YOU BASTARDS!"

Where was everyone? What was happening? I couldn't use my abilities.

"I numbed your powers, Alina. It was in your food." A voice spoke, and a figure emerges from the shadow.

Talia Al-Ghul.

Her dark, lifeless eyes stared back at me. She looked at me, completely taking me in. She shots me a wry smile.

I should have known. She would've never backed out on a deal.

"I'm sorry. I just couldn't lose you. Your abilities will give many advantages to the League of Assassins." She mutters, nodding at the guards.

The other guard goes behind me, tying the rope around my neck, and I felt the my throat tightening at the hold.

Coughing, I try to battle it off, but the rope around my neck cuts my breath short. I'm scared of the dark. Of dying.

I'm almost out of breath.

The guard keeping me in place looks at me, his eyes as dark as night. His hold strengthening, as I frantically try to push him away.

My baby!

I couldn't let this baby die. Not now, not ever.

"Close your eyes, darling. It'll help." Talia speaks again, standing in front of me, behind the guard.

"Da-mian!" I screamed hopelessly, my voice strangled. I gasped for air, closing my eyes. It didn't help. Tears are starting to form. I'm not ready for this.

My vision slowly fading away, as my lungs are weakening. They're struggling to hold me. But after a few seconds, I start to let go; my strength fading away.

The air turned cold, as my vision went dark. All I could see, was my parents' dying bodies as I found them that night.

"Damian!"

Talia's sword pierced through my mother's chest, as my father laid beside her, eyes opened wide, yet lifeless.

I remember Talia's words, ringing clear in my head.
"You're next."

I remember my father teaching me how to stand up for myself. I remember everything about him. The way he smiled, the way he frowned, the way he loved me.

I remembered everything about him. How he didn't want to be King. How he wanted to be normal. Things don't always work out the way you want it to.

All I could think now was my baby, and Wayne.

"Da..mian.."

I never stood a chance, did I?

Talia looks at me with hunger, she's hungry for blood. The same look she gave my parents the night they died.

No.

I'm not letting them die for nothing. They died protecting me, and this time, I'll be protecting myself.

With the remains of my strength, I lift one of my legs up, kicking the soldier in the face, getting him by surprise.

This'll be a hard, a powerless one against three, but I'm not dying without a fight. At least I knew how to fight well.

I slam my head into the man's chin, and he lets me go instantly, groaning in pain. I grab the gun in his pocket, and shoot him. He's dead.

I gasp for air, as the rope falls. I choke, holding my chest, taking deep breaths.

The other soldier gets up, but before he could get to me, I shoot his waist; and he drops to the ground, bleeding.

I'm sorry.

Talia walks towards me, seething.

"Fine. I'll finish you myself." She strides quickly towards me, aiming her sword.

I can't win this.

"Wait. Wait." I breathed out, stopping her. I regained some of my strength, although I felt an odd sensation.

A tingling sensation cursed through me. My powers are coming back. I know it. But I need more time.

"What could you possibly want?" Talia groans, her sword still in the air.

"I'm pregnant."

"Congratulations, you're about to be a grandmother." I smile weakly, still catching in on my breaths.

I obviously didn't want to tell her, but I needed more time. I knew something like this would set her off guard for a while.

Talia stands still, a bewildered look on her face. She says nothing, she just stares at me blankly.

"I should have known." She mumbles weakly, still taking it in, letting go of the sword.

"Well, then. I'll take your baby instead."

"Like hell I'm giving the baby to you. I won't even allow you to get near it." I snap at her once again, my breathing hard.

"Well, then. I guess I'll kill you now." She mumbles, grasping the sword once again.

"You know you'll have to deal with a furious royal family, and an angry assassin if you kill me, right?"

"I can handle a Royal Family. I've done it before." She smiles, mentioning my parents.

"But can you handle your son?" I smile back; knowing that Damian can easily beat her. I can easily beat her, If I had my powers.

"Can you handle me?"

"What?" She laughs, mock in her tone.

"I was trained by Ra's. I can fight you."

"What do you mean you were trained by Ra's?" She snaps, aiming her sword high. The contract stated that once I'll be given to Talia, at the age of seventeen, she'll be the one training me.

"I would love to tell you that, but meanwhile we had our fun talk, my powers came back." I smile, raising my hand, feeling a surge of energy throughout my body.

Talia stands still, gripping her sword tightly.

"And now, it's finally time to embrace it. I'm not holding back anymore." I grit, and launch myself at her.

| s e v e n   y e a r s   a g o |

at the lazarus pit

"How did you bring me back?" The old man coughs, gripping the ground, as he struggles to breathe.

The water of the pit still engulfing half of him, he struggles to get out. He won't make it out alive. The water can't save him completely.

But I can.

With a flicker of my hand, he is back to normal, his body regaining the strength he once had. He looks at me with his sharp eyes, a raging fire behind them.

"The lazarus pit isn't strong enough to bring you back from the dead. But with my abilities, it can."

"I want you to train me." I spoke loudly, walking towards him, my head held high. "Or else, you can go back to the state you were in."

"Are you threatening me, child?" He raises his voice, standing up, walking towards me with slow, threatening steps. His breathing is ragged, and he still struggles.

"Yes, I am. Train me, or else you'll find yourself with a burnt body. Again." I grit, handing him a cloth, to cover himself up.

"Well then." He coughs, taking the white cloth from my hand, wrapping it under his body.

"Tomorrow, 4 in the morning." He breathes in, bloodshot eyes staring at me.

"Don't be late."

_________________________

Plot twist! Alina was the one who brought Ra's Al-Ghul back to life.

Who did you think it was?

Also, don't forget to add my other story if you feel like it!

Love,
Sophia