CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
vol ii — home turf

DINARA WAS STUNNED, watching as the two men played the game, her eyes focusing on the guns that Jesper had laid on the table. She knew that she had a job to do, but the silence that encompassed them brought her an disgusting feeling. She knew what Kaz had planned, but she didn't like that Jesper had to give up his guns, but hey, it was all part of the plan. Dinara could do nothing about it, sitting in silence, her arm still wrapped around Smeet's neck, watching them play in silence. Every time Jesper lost a hand, she winced, knowing that they were getting closer to Smeet leaving the table and their plan going out the window. She had managed to pass the dog whistle to Kaz when he walked by, her pick-pocketing skills coming in useful. Dinara knew that Jesper had to stall long enough to make sure that Kaz and Wylan weren't caught in his house.

It was nerve wracking that was for sure, but it was barrel life and she couldn't wait to go back to their safe house and get out of the skimpy dress she was in. Don't get her wrong, Dinara thought it was gorgeous, but she wished that she was just wearing for him, not the aw she was seated on. Kaz and Wylan had to make sure that they left everything the way it was, nothing untouched or else Smeet would be suspicious, and the first thing he would do is try to find Dinara and question her about it. She really hoped that Kaz didn't run into Hanna, knowing that he would scar the poor child and cause nightmares of his face of appear night after night. She knew that he could be good with kids, giving some kruge to the skinny ones he saw on the street, always saying that he wished someone did that to him, making her wonder about his life before the Dregs.

Dinara glanced at the entrance to the waiters station, waiting for the moment Kaz or Wylan walked through those doors, handing her the whistle before Smeet realized it was gone. But as the time ticked on, Smeet grew more restless and Dinara couldn't do anything about it, watching as he raced out the door waiting a minute before following him. She hadn't brought a coat with her, figuring that she was going right back to their hideout. The cold air nipped at her skin, making goosebumps rise, her hair flowing behind her. The heels that adorned clipped along the cobblestone as she walked, pausing a moment when she saw Smeet run into Kaz and Wylan. Dinara held her breath, afraid of what would happen next, not wanting the boys to end up dead.

She watched from the shadows, Matthias behind her. Dinara knew he was there, not surprised, knowing that he had to show up at some point, being their bodyguard and all. Dinara watched with a baited breath as Kaz transformed into a boy who looked like him, but the mannerisms were all off. He had his polite face on, the scheming one tucked into his back pocket as he charmed his way through bumping into Smeet. To Dinara, Kaz looked like a twelve year old boy, embarrassed that he had walked into someone, having respect for people older than him. Dinara watched as Kaz handed Smeet the wallet he had 'dropped on the ground', the older man taking it thankfully. Clearly, Smeet felt indebted to the boy, handing him a five-kruge bill, a bill that Kaz took without any argument, Dinara knowing that he was crazy for money.

As Kaz drew closer to them, Dinara watched with a baited breath as Smeet carried on to his home, whispering to Kaz when he got close enough, "He has the stupid whistle right?"

Kaz's shoulders slumped as he let out the breath he was holding when Smeet pulled out the whistle and blew it. Matthias turned to say something to Kaz, but he stopped the Fjerdan before he could. "Didn't bother putting the whistle on the chain, you brute, he's to drunk to notice anything." He handed the kruge that Smeet had given him to Wylan, enjoying the smile that spread across his face. "Don't spend it on sweets. Let's move."

Dinara sent a wink to Wylan, letting the boy know that she was going to bring him to a sweet shop when they had a moment to spare, hoping that he would give her a little something in return ( something caramel preferably ). They followed Matthias down the narrow side canal, heading toward the small rowboat that they had commandeered. The Fjerdan handed Kaz the crow headed cane, the boy choosing to leave it in the rowboat to not attract attention, seeing as that he was the only one who owned it. Dinara settled into the boat, smooshed into Wylan's side as she tried to leave enough space for Kaz to settle down comfortably without having to deal with anyone touching him.

Matthias was growing annoyed with the silence that was encasing them as he rowed the boat back to where they were staying. "Well?"

"Hold your tongue, Helvar," Kaz snapped. He wasn't in the mood to answer any questions, too busy trying to formulate the perfect plan to get Inej out of the prison she was in without having her killed. "Words like to ride the water. Put yourself to use and row faster." He grabbed a oar, annoyed with the slow pace that they were going at and decided to help Matthias speed slow the water.

Dinara sat there, uncomfortable with what she had witnessed, trying to pat down any place on her body to see if she had managed to tuck a sweet into them. She let out a sad sigh when she realized that she didn't have anything, wondering what made her think that it would be a good idea to agree to end up with them and not have something to entertain her thoughts. She watched as the city passed as they glided through the murky canals of Ketterdam, noticing the Havenbridge, watching as the two men steered the boat towards the white willow. They always stashed the boat behind the dropping limbs, knowing that no one would ever think that there would be a rowboat hidden behind them.

Dinara had to take off her heels to get up the steep slope they were heading up, Kaz being the gentleman he was, he carefully took the heels form her hand and placed them in his own. Ignoring the confused look on her face, he continued up the hill, a small smile spreading across his face as he managed to catch her attention once again. He enjoyed doing the small things for her, leaving notes, buying her new clothes, or even taking her heels from her while she was holding up her dress and walking up a steep hill barefoot. And those were just the things that didn't involve blood dripping on the pavement.

The cemetery was just a eerie as it was in the daylight, the feeling of being constantly watched, the roaming spirits that were stuck in the in-between, business they hadn't completed. Cemeteries always managed to freak out Dinara, the stories her father would tell her as a child would always make her stay far away from them, not wanting to get tangled up in the mess that was a spirit. Spirits and guardian angels were something Dinara believed in whole heartedly, her father making sure that she knew that somebody was always watching over her, protecting her. And she knew that it wasn't just Kaz. She had always felt that there was someone watching her, making sure that she stayed alive ( despite being lifeless a few times ) and Dinara knew it was her father.

The place where they were staying gave Dinara the chills. She hated the vibe that radiated off the place, the creepy noises the foundation would make when the wind would blow hard enough. "Ugh. I hate this place."

"Why don't they use this place anymore?" Matthias asked when they reached the tomb that expanded beyond his eyesight at the center of the island — the center of their hideout.

"Plague," Kaz said simply, keeping his eyes on Dinara to make sure she didn't freak herself out too much. "The first bad outbreak was more than a hundred years ago, and the Merchant Council prohibited burial within the city limits. Now bodies have to be cremated."

"Not if your rich," Jesper said, joining them at the entrance. His hair was tousled from the wind that blew in from the sea, hat placed in perfect position on the side of his head, never moving despite the breeze. "Then they take you to a cemetery in the country, where your corpse can enjoy the fresh air."

Dinara heard Nina before she saw her. The Grisha grumbling about something about their hideout, thanking the Saints that no one would be able to hear them because she would have them caught in a second. "I'm so grateful that there is no one around. Nina would have us hanging in the middle of the city by now with those set of lungs she has," Dinara said to Kaz.

"I don't think you're showing proper appreciation for what I just went through," Jesper grumbled to Nina. He was staring down at her, hands placed on his hips and he tried to show her how upset he was about the night.

"You spent a night at the tables loosing someone else's money. Isn't that essentially a holiday for you?" She asked with a bitter tone. Dinara could tell that she was upset about being holed up in the hideout, being excluded from the events to get Inej back. Kaz had enough of them, whacking his cane against one of the tombstones, making Nina ready her hands incase she had to attack. "Oh, it's you," Nina said as she noticed the four of them coming out of the shadows.

"Yes, it's us," Kaz said in his monotone voice, not pleased with what he had just witnessed. He used his cane to herd the two that were arguing towards the center of the island. "And you would have heard us if you hadn't been busy shouting at each other."

"How did the mission go?" Matthias asked, cutting in before Jesper or Nina could continue their fighting. He had moved closer to Nina, standing so his arm brushed against hers in a gesture of comfort.

"It went splendidly."
"It wasn't a mission. It was a job."

"Yeah. Splendidly. Except that my revolvers are currently collecting dust in the Club Cumulus safe. Smeet was afraid to walk home with themzc the hopeless podge. Just thinking of my babies in his sweaty hands—"

"No one told you to wager them," Kaz snapped. His eyes were blazing as he stared down Jesper, not happy with the mood he was getting from the boy.

"You dealt me into a corner. How the hell else was I supposed to get Smeet to stay at the tables?"

Kaz snapped his head towards the center of the stone tomb when Kuwei poked his head out, interested in the commotion. "What did I tell you?" he asked, pointing his cane at the boy. Kaz shushed the boy before he could let out any protests, Kuwei putting on a confused face. "a don't run game on me, kid. Stay in the tomb."

Kuwei hung his head, embarrassed that he had been scolded, walking sulkily back to the tomb. "Stay in the tomb," he repeated in a mumble.

Dinara and the others followed Kuwei into the tomb, her body shivering as she crossed the threshold. She hated being in the cemetery but there wasn't anything she could do about it — this island being the safest place for them. The stained glass and the carvings were the only things Dinara liked about the place. They brought a sense of uniqueness to the shitty place, giving it a sense of color and brightness — fueling her hope to get Inej back. She was lost without her best friend by her side, granted she had Nina, but she needed the one girl who had been with her since the beginning. The one who knows everything about it, the one she can trust to have have girly moments with, tucked under a warm blanket and gossip about the men that walked the streets of Ketterdam. She missed everything about her.

Dinara sat down on one of the chair, ignoring the creaking sound that it made, accepting the heels Kaz was dangling in front of her. She stuck her tongue out at the boy, thankful that he managed to carry them for her, and placed them on the ground. As she had removed all of the pins except one that was holding her hair back, she turned around so her back was facing Kaz, motioning with her hand for the boy to help her. Nina glanced over at them, hearing Kaz's heart rate spike, a sly smile ghosting over her lips when she noticed the intimate moment between the two of them. Kaz's fingers trembled as he had gotten so close to her body, his gloves had been taken off so he could wash his hands of the grime and dirt form the night they had, pale fingers reaching out for the pin.

It felt cool underneath his fingers, the heat of her body giving him a shock as he felt the two of them mix together, a tingling feeling shooting through his body. Kaz felt like he could faint, the feelings that were running through his bloodstream invading his head and causing emotions to rise to the surface — emotions he had promised himself he would never feel. He placed the pin slowly in her palm, taking his time, relishing in the feeling of being so close to her. When the pin dropped and she went to close her fist around it, his fingers brushed against her palm, but he didn't move. He took a deep breath and then moved his hand away, acting like it didn't happen. But Dinara sat there watching Kaz with a confused expression, her mind racing with what just happened, not knowing if it was real or not.

sorry for taking so long, also i have to actually finish reading this book to write more chapters so don't expect a lot. BUT kaz and dinara had a cute little moment and i'm living for it.