𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧

Ⅶ 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈

BREYDON SAT IN FRONT OF A MIRROR IN HER ROOM AT THE SLAT. A Serpent Tailor girl Yara, a shorter girl with short brown hair held up a piece of orange fabric, dyeing Brey's white hair a more common Kaelish red. "Why am I doing this again?" Yara asked.

"If I gave you five Kruge will you be quiet?" Breydon asked, raising an eyebrow at the girl in the mirror.

Yara shrugged, a smile pulling at her lips, "Ten." Brey pulled out a note and set it on the table. "What else do you need?"

"Green eyes and freckles."

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PEOPLE LAUGHED AND CHEERED AS BREYDON WON ANOTHER ROUND OF CARDS. She sat around one of the gambling tables, the Tailoring with a touch of makeup disguised her enough and the green dress and mask hid the rest of her most recognizable features. "Excuse me, love," Breydon called raising her hand to one of the waitresses. "Can I get a whisky?" The girl nodded and Brey reached for her kruge but a man stopped her.

"A lady should never pay," He said with a sweet smile though his breath stunk of smoke and kvas.

Breydon smiled and held her tongue from whatever comment wanted to make its way from her mouth. "Thank you, how-"

The doors slammed open, saving Brey from whatever trap she was bound to get stuck in. Nina pushed a bloody Kaz forward. He sputtered on his own blood as Nina's powers pulled at his heart. Brey pushed herself from her seat, gasping in surprise. Nina dropped Kaz on the floor and he let out a pained moan. "Tell your boss I have what he wants," Nina spat at one of the Dime Lions.

He disappeared into the crowds for a moment before reappearing with Pekka Rollins. Breydon swallowed the lump in her throat and watched them closely. "No match for a Heartrender, are you, Brekker?" Pekka mused, taking his hat off and tossing it aside. "A real boss knows how to inspire loyalty in his people. Isn't that right, boys?" The men around him hollered slightly and Pekka smiled. "Good job, lass. I got it from here," Rollins nodded at Nina.

He motioned with his hand and a man on his left pulled out a gun, training it on Nina. "Hey!" Nina shouted, raising her hands,

"Move those hands and you lose 'em," The man warned.

Pekka started to remove his coat, glaring down at the blood-soaked boy on his floor. "I'm gonna make you regret the day that you crossed me." Kaz barely lifted his head as Pekka threw his coat aside.

.

Night had settled comfortably and the city of Ketterdam was lively with drunk patrons and celebrations of Sankt Emerens. Inej and Ace crept quietly onto the boats that docked at Fifth harbor, hiding on the sails until the crew members left. Once the crew left the ship, Inej slid the mask over her nose and used the ropes to slide onto the wooden deck, landing silently. Inej gave the boat a once-over before signaling up to Ace. Ace followed quickly, her boots creating a quiet thud. Inej motioned behind her and Ace turned, pulling out the vials of the compound and spraying it over the handles, ropes, and anything that would be at hands reach.

Ace had taken a pair of Breydon's gloves to cover their hands and Ace couldn't help but think they looked a little similar to Kaz's but they didn't mention it.

Ace turned to look at Inej who gave a swift nod and they slipped below deck. They sprayed railings, cards, candles, and old food and left out cups of liquor. Inej turned to leave when the echo of a crying baby bounced around the wooden walls. Inej looked up at Ace before moving in an instant, looking for any hidden door or compartment. Ace ran their hand along the walls when a golden lock caught the light of a candle. "Wraith," Ace called quietly.

Inej spun and ran to Ace's side, looking toward the door that blended in almost seamlessly with the wall. Inej walked closer, pressing her ear to the door. "Hello?" Inej called softly.

"Help us, please," A woman on the other side begged and Inej's eyes widened.

Inej pulled at the handle and cursed. "Move," Ace ordered softly. Ace pulled a small vial from their neck, popping the cork off and drizzling it over the metal lock.

"Hey!" A man called making Ace jump. Inej pulled the crow knife pin from her hair, spun and threw the knife into the man's throat. Molten parts of gold metal dripped onto the floor and Ace ripped the door open, Inej quickly moved to stand at their side. Inej ripped her mask off as she looked down at the three women crowded together, one rocking a crying baby.

Ace took a breath, their eyes bouncing between each woman. "It's okay," Inej soothed, smiling softly. "I'm going to get you off this ship." Inej stepped back and Ace followed her. "Take this to Pekka's driver," Inej ordered, handing Ace the note.

"Wraith-"

"You are a fox," Inej said quickly. "Be quick, be clever. Do not get caught." Inej turned back to the girl and Ace sighed through their nose before rushing up the stairs.

.

"Get him on his feet," Pekka ordered as he rolled up his sleeves.

"We had a deal. I did my part," Nina hissed.

"We'll get to that," Pekka muttered but the Heartrender was the least of his worries. Two men walked forward and hauled Kaz to his feet. Kaz stumbled slightly as Kaz slapped their arms off. "First, I need to make an example out of this rat."

Kaz grumbled and turned to Nina. "You'll pay for this, you double-dealing witch!" Kaz growled, his voice horse as another heap of blood spilled over his lips.

"No, she won't," Pekka mused. As Kaz turned to him, Pekka struck the center of Kaz's torso, making him yelp in pain. Brey winced as Kaz keeled over, kneeling on the floor, coughing through the pain. Pekka pulled Kaz's head up by the roots of his hair as he still sputtered. "After I beat you, I'm gonna hang your body on a post as a reminder to anyone who forgets that I'm king of this city."

"Do your worst," Kaz growled. Pekka punched Kaz's nose, twisting it awkwardly. Kaz crumpled to the floor and Pekka repeatedly kicked his torso. Brey waited for the crack of his ribs to echo through the room. Pekka grabbed Kaz's hair, pulling him up once again. Breydon's stomach churned at Kaz's beaten face. Kaz please, Brey thought, just give me a sign. I'll make it stop. Just make it stop.

Brey wanted to scream as Rollin's cracked his fist against Kaz's face sending him back to the floor. Rollin's rings had torn into Kaz's skin making him bleed from his temple. Brey tried to take a step forward but Kaz's eyes opened ever so slightly. Even with the Tailoring to Brey's face, Kaz could see her. He shook his head softly, a small twitch but Brey complied, taking a small step back.

A siren cut through the murmuring of the crowds making people look around nervously. People looked at each other, their skin going a sickly green or ghostly white and suddenly no one was worried about the beaten boy splayed on the floor. One of Pekka's men slammed the door open and closed and rushed to get to Rollin's, pushing others out of the way. "Boss. Firepox is back."

"We can all hear the bloody sirens, Edyck," Pekka snarled. "Hope you brought more than that."

"Word is it started on the Drakonasha," Edyck continued.

"Docked in Fifth Harbor," Pekka realized.

"Yeah. The Council of Tides shut down the harbor. No ships in or out."

"Damn it!" Pekka cursed.

"Ashe said he saw the ghost girl at Black Veil," Edyck added.

"The Viper?" Rollins questioned. Breydon glanced at  toNina whose eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Mm-hmm told Shay to leave her," Edyck said. "He got back and said the Menagerie and Sweet Shop both got hit bad."

"Sweet Shop?

"Yeah.

"That's not near the harbor," Pekka muttered.

Pekka was so consumed with his business and the odd patterns of the breakout that he didn't notice Kaz push himself to his, clutching his stomach in pain. "There will be outbreaks at all of your establishments," Kaz spoke up, his voice slightly shaky. "And only yours. The path of contagion will be clear. A ship in your harbor spread the disease to your clubs."

Pekka took a cautious step closer, "What did you do, boy?" Nina smiled to herself and looked up. Her eye caught Brey's and the girl sent her wink making Nina chuckle silently.

Kaz stood straighter, his gaze darkened as he stared down Pekka. "There's nothing an island nation fears more than disease," Kaz spoke smoothly, his voice confident. "The Merchant Council's going to want a proper investigation."

Pekka retrieved his revolver and took the bullets from a lion as he quickly loaded it. "Hmm. You got my attention," Pekka hummed, clicking the safety off. "But you're not worth the time it'll take to put a bullet in your head."

"Fifth Harbor is shut down. Your businesses are tainted," Kaz mocked, lifting his head higher.

"My businesses will be fine," Pekka nodded. Neither noticed as the entrance door opened and Jesper slipped in. He moved to the bar, sitting beside Brey, though he didn't it was her. Nina looked over her shoulder, watching Jesper take an abandoned drink. "But you?" Pekka lifted his gun and the crow's head snapped up.

"I'd reconsider," Kaz snapped. He glanced at the gun once more. "If you want to see your Kaelish prince again."

"Oh. What are you gonna do? You gonna blow it up again?" Rollins scoffed. "You need to learn some new tricks."

"Your other Kaelish prince," Kaz corrected. "Fond of sweets. Blond hair. Alby."

Jesper set the drink down, trying to move from the chair and Breydon held her hand out. "Sit down," Brey ordered.

"Brey?" Jesper whispered.

"Sit," Breydon repeated.

Breydon looked back up at the panicked Lion. His hands shook slightly as he struggled to hold the gun on Kaz's figure. His eyes were blown wide open and his breath came out in short huffs. "I will kill everything you love, Brekker," Rollins taunted.

"The trick is not to love anything," Kaz said simply and Pekka's arm dropped, the weight of the gun growing impossibly heavy to hold. "Your mistake was that you let someone get in. Someone you'd sacrifice everything for and it makes you weak." Kaz's growl sent shivers down everyone's spine but Brey stayed still, waiting.

"Then I'll just kill you," Rollins threatened.

"Do that and you'll never find your son in time," Kaz taunted.

"What did you do?"

"I buried him. Six feet deep." Kaz Brekker was gone, and Dirtyhands had come to see the rough work done. Kaz's head rolled to the side as he taunted Pekka. "He went into that box so easily." Kaz tapped his pinky sagsint his leg twice and Brey released her hands, the clock that had been growing beneath her hands pausing the moment.

As Time slowed and Kaz furrowed his brows watching as Pekka's eyes stilled before they closed. "You didn't slow me first," Kaz observed, looking over his shoulder at Breydon who now stood behind him. She stepped out of the crowd, her eyes nervously glancing at each of Kaz's injuries.

"Learning new tricks," Breydon shrugged before covering her face with her hands. Shots of green and gold light sparked, reversing the effects of Yara's work. "Fuck," Brey cursed as the lights blurred her vision. "That was uncomfortable." She took out a toy train from her coat pocket and tossed it to Kaz. He spun the toy painted a glossy black and matte red between his hands and looked up at Brey. "The boy would not stop yelling about his train when he noticed it missing."

Kaz nodded and slipped the train into his pocket. He met Brey's eyes which look at him so differently than he had ever seen. "Go outside," Kaz said, ignoring the stare, "wait a few moments, come back in, look dirty, and cover your hands."

"Isn't that your job, Dirtyhands?" Brey challenged. She spared Kaz another glance but turned around nonetheless. She stepped outside, resting by one of the windows, still letting her hear Kaz speak. She tossed the costume off and aside. Brey raised her hands speeding time and setting Kaz as he was a few minutes prior.

Brey watched as Kaz reached into his pocket, pulling out the train. "Didn't even cry, until I took this from him," Kaz continued, unknown that he had a whole conversation between each moment. Brey walked through the doors, her hands covered in dirt, she brushed a hand along her cheek, spreading the dirt. Ashe said he saw the ghost girl at Black Veil. Nina glanced back and moved aside, stepping into the crowd and toward Jesper.

Pekka looked between Kaz and Brey of them, his breath growing more erratic. "Where's my son?"

"Make smart choices," Kaz said, pointing at Rollins with the train, "and you might just reach him before the air runs out." Kaz flipped the train in his hand before tossing it back at Breydon who caught it without moving.

"You trifling piece of Barrel trash," Pekka snarled. "What the hell do you want?"

Kaz's taunting nature and darkened humor slipped away as easily as paper getting caught in the wind. "I want you to remember."

"Remember what?"

"A con you ran on two farm boys. Orphans. A promise to replace the family that they'd lost. And then you duped them out of everything. They ended up on the streets and they both died. But one of us was reborn." Breydon realized quickly that every horrific thing, every monstrous thing Kaz Brekker had done was out of pain. A void in his chest that could never be filled, an endless pit in his stomach, a shattered soul and darkened heart. He was broken.

Rollins shook his head, the story Kaz relayed to similar to so many others. "Too many pigeons to remember? Let me help you. Jakob Hertzoon."

The name seemed to click in Pekka's brain and he sifted uncomfortably on his feet. "That was a long time ago. So that's what this is all about? Why you look at me with murder in those shark's eyes of yours?" Kaz stayed silent, waiting. "You were just two pigeons who I just happened to have plucked, and if it hadn't been me, it would've been somebody else."

"Bad luck for Alby that it was you."

Rollins snapped. He barreled towards Kaz, grasped him by the collar of his jacket and slammed him against a pillar on the wall. Rollins was sweating like a moist plum, his face livid with desperation and terror. Kaz drank it in. He wanted to remember every moment of this. Pekka raised his gun to Kaz's throat, trembling as he yelled. "You... you tell me where to find my son!"

Kaz smirked. "It's a simple trade, Rollins. Speak my brother's name and your son lives."

Pekka tore his arms back, huffing as his panic grew. "How about another hint?" Kaz pushed himself off the wall and walked around to face Pekka. "You called your daughter Saskia. She wore red ribbons in her hair."

Rollins shifted his weight back and forth on his feet, his find running through every con that he had ever played. "Okay, two b- Two boys from Lij," He said frantically, searching for the memory. He looked up at Kaz, pointing a finger at him. "Yeah. You had a piddling little fortune. Your brother, he fancied himself as a trader, wanted to get rich quick like every other nub who steps foot in the Barrel."

"I want you to say his name," Kaz growled, his voice almost demonic as he stepped closer to the trembling man before him. Pekka stammered, his hands shaking as his mind ran blank. "Come on!"

"I- I don't remember his name!" Pekka shouted, his voice breaking as tears gathered in his eyes. Kaz stood straighter, releasing a long breath through his nose. "I just want my son. He's all I have. I'll give you whatever you want, Brekker. I'm begging you."

"Are you?"

Pekka glanced at his men. Each one stared back. Then slowly, torturously so, Rollins fell to his knees in front of Kaz. Kaz spared a glance up at Brey, quickly and simply. She had the same look in her eyes. She knew it. Everyone knew it. Every part of the King's reputation was gone. In one simple movement. Rollins wagered all of his pride, and his reputation to know where his son was, the boy he loved so much. The story would spread across the barrel like wildfire, Pekka Rollins begging on his knees to the bastard of the barrel. Kaz supposed that should count for something. Maybe to someone else, it would have.

Pekka looked up at Kaz and he stared back. Brick by brick. Kaz reached into his pocket, pulling out two papers. "A confession for the murders of Tante Heleen and Constable Sem," Kaz announced, displaying the paper to everyone. "And a quitclaim deed for Inej Ghafa." Kaz threw the papers to the floor and like magic he willed a pen to his hands. "Sign both... if you want to find your son alive."

Kaz dropped the pen to the floor and Pekka watched. In a quick second Pekka had signed both papers and held them up to Kaz. His head turned down, refusing to meet and look at Kaz. "Where's my son?" Kaz's eyes shot up, looking at Pekka with murderous eyes.

"Black Veil Cemetery," Kaz answered. "You'll need all your men digging to find him in time. My Viper is a tricky one." Pekka spun, moving faster than anything they had seen. Moments later his men followed, leaving the place barren as the patrons took their cue as well.

"Will he get there in time?" Nina asked after a beat of silence.

"For what?" Kaz asked, flipping the paper in his hand.

"To find his son!" Nina shouted.

"No," Brey said stepping forward. "The Stadwatch will get to him before he realizes his son is tucked away nicely in his bed."

"What?" Nina whispered.

"You didn't do it," Jesper realized. "You didn't bury him."

"I've never seen the kid," Kaz confirmed.

"Then how did you know? You miraculously have the train?"

"My Viper," Kaz said.

Nina turned back to Brey who shrugged. "The kid is fine Nina." Brey looked up at Kaz and stood straighter. "When everyone knows you're a monster, you needn't waste time doing every monstrous thing."

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❝ i am never bound by 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 ❞