Being ripped apart is not a good way to die. This isn't how Alexei wanted to go out. He knew it probably wasn't going to end well, but he had hoped for something a little bit more than this. Maybe finally confessing to Eva and leaving a mark on the earth. But yet he didn't matter to anyone. He was great a mapmaking, but you can't make a map when you're dead. His heart would no longer beat and whatever remnants of who he was would be lost to time sooner or later. That limbo scared him the most. He opened his eyes.

He was in a casino that dazzled his eyes. He had never seen anything so lavish in his short life. The colors were mainly red and dark grey. What was wooden was finely crafted and had a similar dark stain. He was sat in a dark chair in the corner. He stood up and realized what he looked like. He was in a clean military uniform and in the reflection of the glass table in front of him he noticed his face. A wide uneven scar went from underneath the outer corner of his right eye and traveled down his neck and probably down to his back. It was where he had been killed by Volcra. He touched it. His scar tissue was rough, but it felt more like a burn than the thick scar tissue he had seen in the beginning of his military career.

The Volcra truly were terrifying creatures. Alexei knew something. Find the mirror. He just knew he had to seek it out. It was like orders hitting him with a stack of bricks that wouldn't go away until his satiated the desires that were out in his head.

Find the mirror.

Find the mirror.

Find the mirror.

Find the MIRROR.

FIND THE MIRROR.

FIND THE MIRROR!

These thoughts wouldn't leave his head. The casino wasn't fully closed off and the only thing separating it from the lobby was the fact that the floors were wooden to contradict the tile floors and there were support columns that met the wood and tile. He walked towards the support columns and looked around all of them. He walked in between them and scanned more of his area. There were other people there. Not many though. They ignored Alexei's behavior as if it was normal. He spotted the mirror.

Round. Beautiful. Surrounded by spikes that protruded from it. Alexei looked directly into the reflective glass. He saw Eva! She was watching something. Something important. She was looking at Alina Starkov? Her body expelled light. The Darkling was doing something to her. Alexei looked away. He couldn't bare to stare at it.

"So you sought it out. Good, it's working." Alexei turned around quickly and saw two people. A man and a girl. But wait. Why was he so familiar. "Hello Alexei Of Ravka, I am Ilya Morozova and this is Birgit, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"What's this tracker's name?" Kaz asked him.

"Mikhael, he and I were in the First Army together. We weren't too fond of each other in life, but there is no place for hate in death." Kaz nodded.

"I see," Kaz gazed off into the distance, staring at the peephole. "He'll be useful. He must of had experiences with the Darkling as well. And you should know where we can get to where his friends are being held, getting Matthias back seems reachable." Marie blinked twice.

"I thought we were over throwing the Darkling, not rescuing his friends?" Kaz looked back at her and glared intensely. Alexei could tell that Marie was very uncomfortable. Kaz was starting to make everyone at least a little uncomfortable. They would surely get used to it, but with his resemblance the Big Man it was kind of hard to trust him. Trust would be essential for this to work, but Alexei had seen some of his kind before. Kaz probably already had ways to subdue all of them in case they defected or something like that.

"Matthias is our first priority, then the Darkling. Matthias is strong. He just needs some extra motivation. When we get him back then we can proceed." Marie scoffed.

"Why? Besides he's Fjerdan and Fedyor and I are Grisha. Don't you think having a Drükelle will just hurt the mission?" Kaz shook his head. He and Marie locked eyes and Alexei could tell he was interpreting this as defiance.

"1. Matthias is a friend he will know how to get by the Darkling. 2. Matthias is one of the strongest people I've ever met. I couldn't break into the Ice Court without him. Don't tell him I said that. 3. He's shown a soft spot for Grisha before. If I say so, then he'll do it again. I need your powers not your input," Kaz looked away.

Marie hmphed. Her eyes burned in anger. Marie grabbed something out of her bag. And she swung at him with flint. Alexei had never seen Kaz fight before so what came next was a real surprise. Kaz easily dodged the attack grabbed Marie's hand and forced her to the ground. "I can't have people betraying me. You need to do what I say. I've done the impossible before I can do it again." Kaz then looked down and scowled. He sighed.

"What?" Marie spat out. She sat up and groaned in pain.

"I did have help. And none of you are telling the Dregs anytime soon..." Kaz looked so frustrated. He looked at all of them. And he walked out. Well more like quietly stormed out, after that display of violence Alexei wasn't sure if Marie was going to work with them anymore. Alexei did see the good in having someone ruthless lead them; it means he might able to handle the Darkling. Even if it was just for a little while. Alexei looked to Marie.

"He's crazy isn't he?" She asked him. Alexei shrugged.

"Aren't we all? Death makes us believe crazy things. You did attack him first."

"But still! It was so crude of him to say that. This is why Grisha are superior."

"I'm not Grisha. This is why no one liked the Second Army. You all were stuck up."

"Well the First Army was just expendable fodder!" Alexei saw red. Before he could do anything Fedyor blocked him.

"Go check on Kaz! I'll talk to Marie!" Alexei groaned and turned around to go get Kaz. Stupid Grisha and their dumb powers!

"Kaz!" He yelled as he opened the door. Kaz was looking at the elevator but refusing to get on it. Kaz looked back at him. He sighed and gave Alexei a nasty look.

"Go the fuck away." Alexei raised his hands.

"What the hell, Kaz? You're being really pissy?"

"I will kill you," he threatened. Alexei laughed nervously.

"Can't do that, the Volcra beat you too it," Alexei put his hand behind his head. Kaz continued to glare at Alexei.

XxX

"You're really starting to piss me off."

"I didn't I piss you off when I yelled to you like a minute ago?" Kaz rolled his eyes.

"Why are you here?"

"Well, I think it's time to find Mikhael, don't you? I mean we don't have a lot of time before we are exposed." Kaz nodded. For all Alexei was. He was right now. Kaz just hoped he would continue to be right and Mikhael would be receptive to their cause. This time Kaz decided to be more upfront with rescuing Matthias. You can't make allies like this.

"Fine, Let's go before I punch you." With that the two of them entered an open elevator and went back down to the hotel. Kaz didn't know where the tracker would be but Alexei immediately knew where to go. Right to where the most seedy gamblers would be, but it truly was tame compared to what Kaz had already seen. Most of these people were probably from the Second Army Of Ravka or they were just normal. Kaz recognized a few different people there though. He saw some Kaelish and Zemeni people as well. If there were Fjerdans there Kaz doubted they would ever be at the casino part of this place. Alexei waved to who seemed to be Mikhael. Then Kaz truly remembered. Mikhael was who Alexei was playing with before Kaz enlisted his help. Big, burly, he had red hair. If he was as good as Alexei said he was, then hopefully they could make do with what they had. Of course, he was no Inej.

If only she were here. She could sneak around so easy with Alexei's help. They could slit the Darkling's throat, grab Matthias, and be out by the next day. His Wraith. Alexei waved over Mikhael once he got his attention.

"Hey, Mikhael," when he saw Kaz, he flinched, but seemed to get over that quickly. Why does everyone flinch at me!? I mean these people have seen epilepsy getting ripped apart and I make them scared? I don't know whether to be impressed or nervous.

"Sup Alexei," he had this thick Ravkan accent. Almost hard to figure out what he was saying, but according to Fedyor this is Death.

"We need some help. It involves a little bit of revenge." He whispered the next part. "Pissing off the Darkling." Mikhael laughed.

"Of course! I would love to!"

I mean. The difference was shorter this time. I think it was. The chapter is longer than before. I would've finished it yesterday, but my grandparents are going back to India and we had a lot of work to do.
Gahhh it's so hard to write for Kaz. It's like he's three different people. Sorry for any inconsistencies with his character. He's just very hard to nail down. It proves how amazing Leigh Bardugo is. Anyway. I hope you enjoyed this. Expect some revelations in the next chapter. Something. Suspenseful.