The Apparat is a priest who serves the and the . initially hates and fears him: he smells like a musty graveyard and seems like an unhinged fanatic who’s far too interested in Alina. At several points, the Apparat seems to try to warn Alina against cooperating with the Darkling, though due to how strange the Apparat’s behavior is, Alina never confirms whether she’s reading these warnings correctly. In the end, the Darkling elevates the Apparat to rule in the ’s stead; he once told Alina that the Apparat “has his uses,” and this, Alina believes, is what he meant.