𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐢𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧

ⅳ 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒇𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕

JESPER GLANCED BETWEEN BREY'S FADING FIGURE AND KAZ. Jesper shook his head, checking over his guns a final time before grabbing his coat. "We wait!" Kaz snapped, slamming his cane against the ground.

"The action's up there," Jesper joked.

"They have the advantage," Kaz countered.

"Only because I'm not in the game," Jesper smiled before his face dropped. "I'm not leaving Brey up there." Kaz thought it over, his mind wandering to Inej. Kaz tightened the grip on his cane and followed Jesper.

.

Mal jumped up to the top of the boat, bursting through the people and firing at a guard, grabbing another and shooting his side. Ivan reacted quicker and sized a hold on Mal's heart. The Heartrender twisted his grip on Mal's heart but suddenly froze. Brey walked out her hands extended with the green rings following. "I killed one of you without my power, want me to show you what I can do with it?" Brey snapped her eyes jumping between him and The General.

The members on the boat stepped up, the Kaelish woman Brey talked with earlier, leading. "General Kirigan, this will only turn the world against you and all Grisha. You'll be seen not as a saviour, but a heretic."

"Remember what I said about hiding?" Brey called her power running low as she took in Kirigan's darkening stare. "This would be the time. This is a Grisha fight." The Kaelish woman reluctantly sighed and stepped backwards and downstairs, but the others held their place.

"This is a Grisha fight," Kirigian mumbled in agreeance, raising his hands. Kirigan pulled the cut up. Brey dropped her hands grabbing the cut and releasing Ivan. Ivan quickly pulled his hands back, the patrons of the ships dropping. Brey ducked under the cut and let it hit the wood of the boat. Ivan doped his coat and stood in front of Brey. Brey jumped up and swung her dagger out. Ivan caught her wrist and threw her against the side of the boat. He reeled his arm back but Brey grabbed his wrist as well, effectively pausing their fight.

"Zoya?" Kirigan called and they all looked up to the top of the ship. "Zoya!" Ivan tossed Brey down and stood to look at Zoya. Jesper ran out from the boat, Kaz behind him. Jesper trained his gun on Ivan, shooting his chest and sending him back. Kirigan brought his hands up again, another cut sent towards them. Jesper's bullet collided with the cut and Kaz grabbed Jesper, pulling them to the side. Jesper's head slammed into the side of the boat and he slid down the side of the skiff, unconscious.

Inej reeled her arm back, flinging a knife towards Kirigan. Her knife pierced the centre of his chest. Kirigian wheezed as he looked up. Kirigan's veins flooded with dark shadows and he reached for the bade. He gripped it tightly and pulled it from his chest, drops of blood falling to the deck. "It will take more than this!" Kirigan yelled, looking up at Inej. Kirigan raised his hands, twisting his palms together.

The fold raced forward, consuming the boat. Brey brought her hands together, summoning a large circle and pushed back against the shadows, halting the darkness before they consumed the boat entirely. Brey breathed as she fought against it when her heart started to squeeze. "Can you fight us both, Time Wielder?" Ivan questioned, pulling at Mal and Brey's hearts.

.

Zoya looked around the darkness, volcra swarming around. One dived down, hitting itself against Zoya's chest and she was flung from the top deck and slammed against the second-highest deck below. "Zoya. Zoya," Inej called, running to her and gently shaking her shoulders but Zoya remained unconscious.

A volcra dived back down. Inej stepped to the side, dodging its claws. Inej grabbed different blades, throwing them out at the volcra piercing its skin. The volcra screamed as different knives dug into its skin. The volcra swung down, landing on the wooden railing. Inej tapped her corset, looking for another blade but there was none.

The volcra stalked towards Inej and she slowly stumbled back. It screeched and tried to bite her but a cane swung into its skull. Kaz fought against the volcra, the head of the crow dug deep into the beast's head. Kaz grunted and pulled the cane out, a disgusting scream echoing from the volcra. It swiped at its head, trying to wipe away the blood but it just convulsed on top of the banister.

.

Blood started to leak from Brey's nose as Ivan continued to pull her heart. Brey took a wheezing breath and threw her arm back, slowing Ivan. Brey lost a slight hold on the fold as she focused on slowing both, but it was noticeable they were both slightly moving. Ivan's power still pulling at her, but not as aggressively and the fold crept forward in inches.

Brey fell to her knees as fought against both powers. Kirigan slowly stepped to her, looking down at her. "You are losing Brey," Kirigan called, as Brey choked on blood that bubbled in her throat. "What a waste." He grabbed her collar, making her lose focus. Ivan relased Brey as Kirigan pushed Brey closer to the edge of the boat. Brey kicked his shin, and but her head against his nose. He stumbled back and Brey dropped to her knees. "You are Kaelish, you should know the dangers of Otkazat'sya people."

Brey grabbed her dagger and sliced up, cutting the edge of his cheek. "What would you know?" Brey snapped. Kirigan hissed and threw his arm out as Brey struck him again. A small cut raced out of Kirigan's palm, slicing across her torso.

"All that power wasted," Kirigan hissed as Brey fell against the deck. He waved his hand and the Fold crept forward again. Brey bit her tounge and held the fold once again.

Kirigan stalked to Alina, looking down at her that lay across the floor of the skiff. "It's just you and me now, Alina," Kirigan spoke gently. "And we are all we need, anyway." Alina pushed herself onto her knees, eyeing Kirigan.

He extended his hand and Alina cautiously took it. "You may have needed me... but I never needed you." With Inej's knife in hand, Alina slammed the blade through Kirigan's hand, the piece of deer antler flying from his hand. Kirigan stumbled back, knocking into Ivan, and sending them both to the floor.

Alina stood straight, a dark glare cast down at Kirigan, "Your first words to me were, 'What are you?' This is what I am." Alina brought her hands up, a bright glow forming on her body. Alina pushed her hands out the fold was pushed away as Alina extended the shield. Brey gasped and fell to the floor in exhaustion, looking up at the bright lights. The volcra that snapped at Kaz and Inej was pulled away into the fold, its skin singing at the sun.

"How do you claim such power?" Kirigan demanded in a weak voice, pulling the knife out and tossing it away. Alina lit the glow leave her body, setting the shield in place. "I am the one who killed the Stag."

"I didn't understand before, but I do now," Alina called. "You cannot claim what was not given to you. The Stag chose me." Alina brought her hands together, the antlers of the Stag melding into her bones completely.

"You chose to betray our people," Kirigan spoke, standing once again. "I was trying to save us." Kirigan raised his hand but Mal ran at him, knocking him over the edge of the boat. "Mal!"

Alina grabbed at the side of the boat, readying herself to jump over when she halted and bled from her nose. Ivan stood with a grip on Alina's heart, "How dare you? He gave you everything." Alina gagged and fell to the floor, her shield falling in. Brey tried to raise her hands but fell backwards in exhaustion. "Remember your place."

Jesper rose from his unconscious state and fired at Ivan. Alina fell to the floor and Jesper continued his shots. Ivan slammed against the side of the boat and Jesper flicked his gun as he readied his shot. Ivan spun grabbing onto Jesper's heart. Jesper grunted and screamed in pain as Ivan squeezed his heart. 

"Jes," Brey panted. Brey grabbed her dagger and three rings covered the handle as she tossed it at Ivan. It buried itself in Ivan's neck and he grunted. Jesper spun, shooting a bullet into Ivan's chest and he fell over the edge of the boat.

Jesper spun around, no witty remark escaping him as he slid next to Brey. He slid his gun back in place and dragged Brey into his arms. "Brey! Can you hear me?" Jesper called, brushing her hair back.

"Jes..." Brey whispered, but she couldn't move much.

"Saints," Jes whispered in relief, his head falling to press against hers.

"The Kaelish woman- downstairs," Brey sputtered softly, trying to sit up.

"Brey-"

"Jes, please," Brey groaned. Jesper huffed softly and set Brey down before rushing downstairs. Brey pulled herself onto her knees, spitting out a heap of blood onto the boat.

"Brey!" Inej called. Inej ran to Brey, supporting her as she sat up.

"Alina," Brey called. Inej helped Brey move to Alina and she fell next to Alina.

"What happened?" Mal called running back on the boat.

"It's Kirigan's Heartrender," Inej explained.

The Kaelish woman ran to Brey, Jesper following behind him. The woman fell next to Brey, cursing under her breath. "You said my mother healed your daughter. How?" Brey questioned, ignoring the look from Kaz.

"My daughter was cut, your mother moved it forward," The woman explained quickly.

"Can you do that?" Jesper questioned, kneeling beside Brey.

"Hopefully," Brey mumbled. Brey moved her palms together, creating a ring of circles. They ran up Brey's arm, and she gently grasped her own wrist, turning in an clockwise direction. The blood that leaked from Alina's nose absorbed into her skin, leaving no marks or stains as it disappeared.

There was silence as Alina stayed on the ground. "Please come back," Mal begged, reaching for Alina and cradling her head. "Please. Come on, please." The volcra's screeches grew louder as they swarmed around. One dived for Inej, but Brey grabbed her sword, slicing through the volcra. "Please," Mal mumbled, tears rolling down his face. Another volcra swung down grabbing the woman. Jesper tried to shoot it but it brushed the bullet off, flying away.

"Bint," Brey mumbled.

Brey turned back to Alina and she gasped softly. "Mal..."

Mal sobbed softly and smiled in relief, "I'm here. Don't you dare say, 'Meet me in the meadow'." Alina smiled softly but her eyes wandered to the volcra around them. Alina extended her hand, a massive shot of light disintegrating the creature and expanded her tunnel again.

Zoya rushed back to the top of the boat, weaving her hands and flew the ship from the fold.

𓅨

❝ 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 is a funny thing ❞