𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞

Ⅲ 𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍𝒅 𝒑𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆

ELVIRA STOOD BY JESPER AND INEJ AT THE BAR. Joe placed a pair of shots in front of the two as well as handing Elvira a match. Elvira downed the shot and lit her cigarette. "So... A saint," Jesper started in a low voice.

"I don't believe in saints, Jes," Elvira reminded, holding the cigarette in her fingers. "But if you'd like to call it that, I won't stop you."

Jesper downed the shot and ordered another round. Inej tapped her fingers against the table before speaking up. "He doesn't have a way across the Fold, and we all know it."

"I bet he'll figure it out," Jesper assured, pushing himself straighter. "Come on, take that bet. Bolliger won't play with me anymore, so..."

"Thank you," Elvira mumbled as the shots were set on the bar top. Inej snatched Jesper's shot and downed it at once. Jesper watched her with an offended face as Inej's tongue burned at the taste of the vodka.

"He's obsessed with taking down Pekka Rollins," Inej deduced and Elvira downed her shot.

"Of course he has to be obsessed with the one guy in town who's paid off the stadwatch so he can murder whoever he likes," Elvira spat, taking another puff of her cigarette. "Another one Joe, and a whisky."

"No, it's more than that," Inej continued. "I've seen the way Kaz looks when he says Pekka's name. Kaz wants revenge." A man walked to Inej's side, handing her a piece of folded parchment. Inej took the paper and turned her back to the bar.

"Of course, she calls for me now," Inej complained, turning back to face Jesper and Elvira.

"Off to the Menagerie?" Jesper guessed.

"Want company?" Ira asked as Inej turned and walked away.

Inej paused and turned to face Ira. "You'd risk seeing the Peacock?" Inej questioned.

"Rather me than you," Ira shrugged. Inej shook her head and continued on. The Wraith wasn't one for company, nor unnecessary chatter.

Kaz stanched to Elvira, pressing his hands against the bar top. "You all right, Brekker?" Elvira questioned, noticing the large red bruise forming on the side of his face. Jesper walked back to the bar as well, leaning against the countertop.

"No," Kaz said simply. Elvira quickly chilled the shot and Kaz downed it in one. "I've been warned off the job."

"By who?" Jesper questioned.

"Who do you think?" Kaz snapped, turning around, his back facing the bar.

"Did he remember you?" Elvira questioned, bringing the whisky to her lips.

"If he had, I'd be dead," Kaz reminded, consulting his pocket watch. Kaz clicked it shut and shoved it back into his pocket. "Sunrise is in five hours."

"Yeah, but we're off the job now, right?" Jesper questioned, he and Elvira following after Kaz as he moved to rest his hands against the bar's banister.

Kaz looked ahead, never moving his eyes from the crowd. "Never make decisions out of fear, Jesper. Only out of spite."

"Well, greed always worked for me," Jesper countered.

Kaz glanced at Jesper from the corner of his eye. "Go guard the door," Ka ordered simply. Jesper rolled his eyes and reluctantly made his way to the door.

"I'll watch the tables," Elvira mumbled, sipping her whisky and walking to a group of pigeons playing Makkers Wheel.

❅

"IRA!" KAZ CALLED, HIS CANE CLACKING AGAINST THE FLOOR. Ira straightened her back as Kaz made his way to the Fjerdan. Elvira set her glass down on the bar top.

"I'm working the tables, just grabbing another drink," Elvira explained.

"Well you can stop, new job," Kaz informed, stanching past her. "Let's go." Elvira slid her drink away and followed after Kaz. At some point, they passed Jesper in the streets and Kaz ordered him to follow.

"I mean it. We need a demo man," Jesper continued complaining, rushing after Kaz and Elvira.

"You're still on that?" Kaz questioned, looking over his shoulder at Jesper.

"I just brought it up tonight," Jesper defined.

"Jesper, you ask for an explosives expert on every job."

"Because I don't want to be the one you point to and say, 'Explode something for us'," Jesper exclaimed, throwing his arms out. "That is not a Jesper talent. I shoot things with style. And I look good. Just play to my strengths, boss."

"Our job is to get to the Little Palace, the place crawling with Grisha," Elvira reminded. "If you blow something up, you may as well walk into Fjerda or throw yourself at a Volcra."

"Then we should take Inej," Jesper offered and Kaz turned back to look at him. "She's a good investment. More quiet than I'll ever be."

"You know she can't stay here," Elvira agreed, looking up at Kaz who stood half a foot taller.

"Whoa. Hang on, aren't we on Pekka's turf now?" Jesper called, holding his hand in front of Kaz to stop his movements.

"I go to Heleen now and ask for her buyout, she knows I need Inej and sets a price I can't pay," Kaz explained, shrugging Jesper's hand off a little too quickly.

"That's evil," Jesper commented. "Well, how do you know that?"

"It's what I would do," Kaz admitted, looking between Jesper and Elvira. "Besides, Inej refuses to kill. Would you trust her in a matter of life and death?"

"Well, I'm still Ketterdam and for the most part living, so yeah," Elvira spoke up with a nod.

"Now, you want to tell us why we're scoping out a rival club?" Jesper questioned, his hands moving to rest on his hips.

"To have a talk with an old business partner," Kaz explained, looking over the entrance of the Emerald Palace.

"The bouncers will know you and Ira on sight," Jesper pointed out.

"That's why I brought you," Kaz nodded. "Make sure they don't see me." Kaz walked away, leaving Jesper and Ira in the alley. Jesper sighed and flicked his coat collar. "Handsome decoy is also not a Jesper talent," Jesper complained with a huff. "Wait until he's inside, then give me some cover." Ira nodded and slipped into one of the side buildings, making her way to the top floor and watching Jesper from the window.

Jesper quickly shot at a boot sign hanging from the wall. Jesper was quick and efficient, he was never that good at gambling but it would be idiotic to challenge him to a duel.

People screamed and gasped as they hear the shot as if they weren't in the center of the two biggest gangs in Ketterdam. Two of the bounces rushed forward, their shotguns trained on Jesper who stood with their back to them.

"You!" One bouncer called, pointing at Jesper. Jesper spun around, his hands raised in the air as he looked around with a fake sense of confusion.

"You heard that, too?" Jesper questioned.

"Was that you?" The man asked.

Jesper shook his head, his hands still raised. "No, I'm, uh... I'm, uh, bouncing for the Clipper," Jesper lied, his mind reaching for an excuse. Elvira moved her eyes to the shadows where Kaz started to sneak out of and towards the Palace entrance.

"Haven't seen you before," The second bouncer noted. "Where's Tombar?"

"Oh. Don't know," Jesper mumbled, nervously watching Kaz. The men started to turn, their gaze moving towards the door but Jesper called out. "Hey! Was that sign damaged before?" As the bouncers looked up, Jesper grabbed his gun again and shot at the Emerald Palace sign once Kaz was out of sight. "Saints! Where was that?" Jesper had his hands raised again and smoke poured from Jesper's gun.

Elvira pressed her hands together, and focused on the Zemeni boy. The moisture in the air mixed with Ketterdam's wet cobblestone floors, and the sweat of surrounding patrons. It lifted from the ground in a dark mist, covering people's feet and started to climb higher.

"Tidemarker!" A voice screamed and the bouncers ran further into the crowd. Jesper looked up at the window Elvira positioned herself in and she gave a quick nod. Jesper darted to the left, running off into the crowds.

Elvira ran to the other side of the room, opened the window and hung herself over the edge. She slid down the side, hissing slightly as her knees bent when she landed. Elvira ventured further into the crowds and headed for the Crow Club. "Ira!" Jesper called, running to catch her.

"Do you want to be any louder?" Elvira snapped slightly as Jesper caught up to her.

"How are you so good at that?" Jesper asked in a quieter voice, looking over his shoulder in the direction of the Emerald Palace.

"You know you are incredibly loud right?" Elvira snapped slightly and Jesper hung his head softly. "It's called an amplifier," Elvira answered quietly, her hand moving to ghost over the inside of her right wrist. "Now do not ask me anymore about it."

❅

❝ swim to deep and the 𝒊𝒄𝒆 will claim you ❞