Chapter two: The festival.

--♤--

She stayed in the hotel for the night because of some money she stole.

The bed weren't very confortable so she couldn't sleep, the night soon came and here she was preparing for the festival.

It is said by Karina that half Ketterdam came and a lot of foreigners from Ravka just to see her performance which was very surprising.

"Are you ready, love?" Asked the girl while fixing Zaria's black hair with the warmest smile, most performers hated the fact that most Ketterdam came just to see the Zemeni girl dance.

Except Karina, she was actually proud of the girl, nodding she grinned and the woman sent one of the performers so they can start the music.

"Alright remember, they will throw money, honey, pick it up. You will be rich tonight." Nodding she walked out of the room letting out a sigh.

As soon as her shadow appeared, everyone started cheering and whistling, with every move she did, money rained down on her and with each hip trust made everyone scream and cheer louder.

And with every slap she does everyone would follow in sinc, her dress flowing around freely, Kaz Brekker thought he was hiding in the shadows as always watching with a frown.

But once she caught his eyes shooting him a wink, he knew that she knew about him sending Inej.

Soon the festivals ended and everyone went home, Zaria picked up all the money from the ground and handed some to Karina as a thank you before walking out.

"are you stalking me right now?"

"Stalking you? no...I'm not that type of person." he said, dusting his jacket calmly and stepping towards her.

He didn't have his hat anymore and had the same scheming scowl he had earlier, "just looking out for new people." he said with the fake grin, she raised her eyebrows before scoffing.

"Thank you, love. You're cute and all, but I'm capable of taking care of myself."

With that she walked away, "and next time please stop sending people to follow me!" She exclaimed with a chuckle, her voice echoing around the empty street and for a reason he could hear the grin in her tone, Inej walked towards him in silence.

"She knows that you sent someone after her.." she trailed off watching Zaria disappear into the dark streets, she cleared her throat before resuming her words, "me, of course." Kaz turned to look at her.

"You're my wraith, but what's surprising was that she noticed you." He replied with a slight smirk in the corner of his lips, Inej feeling quite offendedz crossed her arms and rolled her beautiful eyes.

"She didn't notice me, she sensed my presence."

Kaz let out a quite chuckled before walking away with Inej close to him, "so? Are we going to bring her to Jes?" She asked the bastard of the barrel, his cane tapping against the stone with every step.

"She is very flirty, just like him." He said remembering her calling him cute, "but I want you to become her friend." She nodded, "I already plan on doing that." She replied.

"Good. We will take her to Jesper when she settles down, she's new and I want you to find out why she came here?" Inej nodded without a word listening quitely.

"Alright."

Inej despised stalking a young girl her age especially knowing that she was in that position before, and that she is Jesper's bestfriend and like an older sister, oh how happy will be when he finds out she is here.

--♤--

That night when her life fell down on her, Jesper was the first she went to.

His kind and beautiful mother made her hot chocolate that night and comforted her like every mother should.

Wiping her tears.

Jesper on the other hand would do everything to stop her from sobbing, he was 7 and she was 8.

The way she would do everything to protect him from every danger and so would he.

Their friendship was beautiful, his mother used to say, she would always find them playing together until they end up falling asleep on one another, his head on her shoulder while hers on top of his.

When they would stay up the whole night during summer until the sun comes up, talking about everything, horror stories, their future.

What a life.

Jesper was her heart and if anything happens to him it's like it happened to her and she would burn the whole world of it was for him to stay safe.

Same for him.

--♤--

Yet here she sat on her money on the bed, her legs crossed as she thought about what she should buy and find a home, she always loved silk, might as well buy some blouses.

A knock suddenly snapped the girl out of her thoughts, putting the money away and she walked over to the door opening it, Karina stood outside with the most beautiful and kindest grin, "I heard you are staying here, came to chat."

Zaria smiled and opened the door wider for her to walk in, the redhead walked in, blue eyes sparkling like a diamond, "take a seat, do you want me to dress so we can go downstairs to drink some tea?" the redhead shook her head at the Zemeni girl's words.

"Are you asking me on a date?" she asked the girl who shrugged and sat on one of the couches.

"Perhaps."

Karina being easily bashful could feel the blood rush through her veins, "o-oh! uhm, thank you.." Zaria laughed, throwing her head back before getting up with a smile that made her eyes sparkle beautifully, "relax, love. and you're welcome."

Karina grinned back watching as the black-haired girl came back with snacks from home, "try one, it's from Novyi Zem." the girl did as told and tried to find the perfect words.

"I'm leaving Ketterdam." she suddenly said watching as Zaria frowned in confusion before frowning, "someone bothering you? I can kill them for you if you want."

the blue-eyed girl chuckled softly before shaking her head, "oh no, please. My sister has fallen ill and she needs me by her side" nodding in agreement she smiled, "I am so sorry, I'm sure she will be so happy to have her sister by her side and will recover immediately, where tho?"

"thank you, Os Alta, I'm a Grisha and need to be with people like me." Zaria raised an eyebrow with a small smirk, "a Grisha? I'm a Squaller myself." Karina, clearly surprised, exclaimed, "A squaller? oh wow, I never thought you were squaller, I'm an Inferni."

Zaria nodded, "of course, matches your pretty red hair." the zemeni girl flirted with probably every person she met, just like Jesper, both always knew how to make people blush and win them with a pleasing smile or a wink.

Flirting was one of her charms.

"yeah, I'm leaving tomorrow and wanted to say goodbye, you are my first friend Zaria." she said with a soft smile, Zaria scooted closer towards the girl with a kind smile, "oh my darling, you are my first friend as well. you are the kindest person I ever met and I wish you all the luck, may the saints be with you."

Karina, trying to hold back tears, got up and Zaria did the same thing, grabbing her hand. she smiled, eyes glossy as she tried not to let them spill, "I really thank you with all my heart." a tear fell and Zaria was quick to wipe it away.

"Please don't cry, I hate seeing someone cry."

pulling her into her embrace she hugged the redhead softly, seeing someone cry was her weakness and she despised it, "but, we're gonna spend the night together then I'll accompany you to your boat."

nodding both the girls pulled away grinning at each other.

They indeed spent the night together talking about each other's past and making jokes, Zaria didn't want to be alone, Karina who was her only friend was leaving for Ravka, the redhead promised to write to her every month and every week if that's possible.

Both walked down the empty street of Ketterdam laughing like angels as the sun was rising, Zaria watching as the boat was heading towards the sun, taking in all the glory of colors, as the landscape lights, this will probably be her favorite moment from now on.