𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧

Ⅺ 𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆

BREY PANTED AS JESPER ROLLED TO THE SIDE. The only thing preventing them from laying in the hay was their coats and extra pieces of fabric they had thrown down. "Saints," Jesper groaned, looking over at Brey. Their bodies were coated in sweat and indents from each other's rings.

Brey looked back at him, a smile forming on her face, "That was-"

"Yeah," Jesper nodded, his breathing still fast. Brey closed her eyes, letting her head roll back. Jesper sat up, leaning back over Brey. "You alright, love?"

"This is... The closest I'll get to heaven," Brey joked and Jesper's smile turned into a smirk. "But, next time... you take your rings off. They were cold."

Jesper's eyebrows shot up, his smile coming back. "Next time?" Jesper questioned.

Brey pushed herself up, meeting Jesper's height. Brey grabbed her face and pulled him into a quick kiss. "Next time," Brey nodded, pulling her lip between her teeth. Her eyes wandered to her dress shirt, the white shinning in the moonlight. Moonlight? Brey's gaze wanders to the barn window and cursed, "Shit!"

"What?" Jesper questioned, his head following her eyes. The sun had gone completely and the moon was high. "Fuck!"

Clumsily the two pulled their clothes on. Brey rolled the dress into a satchel, shoving the jewels on top. "Seriously?" Jesper scoffed slightly.

"I did not pay for any of this and they're worth a lot of money," Brey reasoned, tugging on her clip corset and locking it in the front.

"You are amazing," Jesper breathed, with an impressed smile.

Brey walked to him and pulled his face closer to hers, pressing a quick kiss to his lips. "As are you," Brey smiled. "Get the horses, I'll get the carriage," Brey ordered swiftly.

Brey threw her bag over her shoulder and snuck out the side of the stable. Brey jogged to an abandoned carriage. Brey tossed her bag in the compartment and waved Jesper over.

.

Jesper fastened the horse's reigns and Brey flexed her hand every now and then to count time. "Stop doing that," Jesper ordered quietly. "You're stressing me out."

"Somethings wrong," Brey spoke, looking over her shoulder, her hair still in its style the Tailor gave her. "It's taking far too long."

"It's Kaz and Inej, they'll-"

"He's over there!" A guard called and the two ducked behind the horses.

"Quick! Get in there!" A second guard yelled as they ran through the palace doors. Their sudden movements made the horses whine softly, but Jesper ran his hands across their heads, calming them down.

"Keep patting them," Jesper encouraged and Brey nodded, scratching the tops of their heads. Jesper wandered to a statue looking around, smacking his gloves against his hand.

.

Brey had calmed the horses down enough and wandered to Jesper, resting against the statue beside him. "We are screwed," Brey mumbled, looking to her right at the Little Palace entrance. Jesper sighed and relaxed next to her, nodding softly and pursing his lips slightly.

A door clicked from the stables and the two spun, hoping to see one of the crows. Jesper gasped softly and pulled Brey further back into the shadows the statue. "That's her," Jesper whispered, watching Alina step out of the stable.

Alina looked around for a second before she walked on. Brey brought her hands up, ready to slow time and grab her. Instead of running away, Alina paused by their carriage, pulling up the lid of the luggage trunk. Brey dropped her hands and she and Jesper stood in shock and bewilderment as Alina jumped into the box.

Jesper scoffed slightly before breaking out into a quiet laugh. "Did that... just happen?" Brey asked, looking up at Jesper.

"Yeah, it did," Jesper nodded. Footsteps grew closer and they turned to see Kaz and Inej approaching. "What happened? You okay?" Jesper questioned looking at Inej's shaking figure.

"She's real, Jesper," Inej breathed. "She made the light sing." Inej looked at Brey who nodded softly. "Like how you made time dance," Inej noted, a slight edge to her tone.

"We lost her," Kaz grumbled.

"Did we?" Jesper scoffed and spun around, throwing his arm over Brey's shoulder, leading the way back to the carriage.

"We don't know where she is," Kaz explained, following behind them.

"Don't we?" Brey teased, glancing over her shoulder and making Jesper laugh.

"Just ask," Jesper encouraged.

"Brey, Jesper..." Kaz warned in a dark tone.

"Just ask," Jesper repeated, pulling himself onto the carriage and offering a hand to Brey to hoist herself up. Brey moved and stood behind Jesper on the step. "Just ask." Jesper nodded and Inej climbed on, standing beside Brey and Kaz pulled himself up.

"Fine," Kaz sighed once he took a seat. "Do we have a fix on where the target is?" Jesper looked back at Brey, then the others.

Jesper grabbed the reigns, hitting them down twice and making the horses speed off. "Brey, my love," Jesper called. "Would you do us the honor-"

"Oh my saints, spit it out," Inej cut in.

"She's in the trunk," Brey spoke in a soft tone, leaning back on the wood carriage roof. "Pulled herself in just before you caught up to us."

𓅨

KIRIGAN WALKED THROUGH THE CONCRETE HALLS, HIS WAY ILLUMINATED BY BY TORCHES. "Has he talked?" Kirigan questioned Zoya, who walked behind him.

"A lot of lies," Zoya informed, her voice confident. "Ivan's with him."

Kirigan walked into the room. Arken was tied to a chair and Ivan stood behind him. Small cuts and bruises coverd his face, signs of the harsh beating he received. "I've been swindled," Arken lied, shaking his head. "Hoodwinked."

"My guards tell me that they caught you fleeing the scene of the crime," Kirigan informed, his being completely composed.

"Yes, I followed them," Arken nodded.

"Followed... whom?" Kirigan interigatted, his tone dropping slightly.

"They come from the other side of the Fold," Arken started. "From the start, they seemed, just, a bit off to me, so when they left our stage, at the fete, I followed them to see what they were up to, and at the time that I walked into that room, they were gone and..." Arken stuttered. "Saints, it was... unspeakable. So I ran. I-"

"How much of that is true?" Kirigan questioned, looking over at Ivan.

"He did cross the Fold with the others," Ivan relayed, glancing down at Arken. "The rest were lies."

"What? That's- No," Arken sputtered, not knowing what to say.

"Your heart gives you away," Ivan informed, looking down at him.

"Do you know we keep records of everyone who crosses the Fold?" Kirigan questioned, his eyes focussing back on the Conductor. "For the winter fete, we had ambassadors from Kerch, Novyi Zem, the Wandering Isle, but you didn't cross with them, did you?" Kirigan paused as Arken shook his head. "No, you and your crew, you have another way."

"I don't know what you mean. I-" Arken cut himself off again.

"He does," Ivan spoke.

"I'm an entertainer," Arken called. "Oskar, Oskar Krepkov."

Kirigan walked to Arken and slammed his hand down on Arken's. Arken grunted in pain as Kirgin forced his arm over and pulled up his sleeve, revealing Arken's scars. "Well, that is certainly entertaining," Kirigan hummed darkly. "You are the Conductor, Arken Visser, are you not?" Kirigan released Arken's arm, slowly stepping away. "You smuggle Grisha out of my palace! You help them abandon the war effort."

"No. I deal in legal indentures. I don't mess with Grisha," Arken denied.

"Lie," Ivan called.

"I don't need him to tell me," Kirigan spoke. "I had a spy. Nina Zenik. Ring any bells?"

"Nina?" Arken questioned.

"Last report we had from her was that she'd be crossing the Fold with the Conductor and four rogues from Ketterdam," Kirigan spoke slowly. "What their mission was, she didn't know. She was waiting to meet you all. Now, poor Nina... has not been heard from since. Might that have something to do with you, Mr Visser?"

"No," Arken denied. "I don't." Kirigan looked to Ivan and he shrugged, confirming Arken's words. "See? I don't know what happened."

"My guess, you struck a deal with these four thieves to kidnap Alina Starkov," Kirigan spoke up walking around Arken. "But you have a stronger relationship with a certain West Ravkan general who has notions of ruling his own country. So long as the Fold separates him from us. So, you made another deal. You put on a disguise. And you played at being assassin."

"That's right," Arken confirmed, moving his tone to imitate Kirigan. "The prize to bring her back to Ketterdam was a million, split five ways. But Zlatan offered me the same number... to kill her. So... give me half that, I'll get revenge for you. I can get close to Zlatan."

Kirigan looked behind him, silently ordering Zoya and Ivan to leave with a brief nod. They walked from the room, leaving Arken alone with Kirigan. "No," Kirigan said simply. "I think I'll handle that myself."

Kirigan turned, walking away from Arken and raising his hand. "They have a Grisha!" Arken shouted, trying to convince Kirigan. "A rare one. Another Saint." Kirigan paused turning back to face Arken. "Let me go, I'll tell you who she is."

Kirigan turned, staring down at Arken. "You will tell me now, and I will give you the money," Kirigan lied, his voice covered in a calm tone. "Or I can have my Heartrender pry it from you."Arken let out a long breath, looking up at Kirigan.

"Brey... Brey Foley," Arken mumbled not noticing the flash in the General's eyes. "She controls time, I saw it myself. She froze a volcra in the air." Kirigan breathed through his nose, turning away again. "No, no! I can help you find her!" Kirigan brought his hands up, summoning the shadows and consuming Arken.

𓅨

❝ 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 is a funny thing ❞