-

ONE. damn kaz brekker
new monsters , -lantsov
"dirtyhands and his serpent"
˖⁺ 🪶⋆ ୭ ⚔️ .⋆｡⋆༶⋆˙⊹

WHEN VERA MERZLOTA first started working with the mysterious Kaz Brekker, it had been on formal terms. She had skills that no one else possessed, and Kaz was not interested in letting her pass him by. The means of acquiring her was, albeit, tricky, but no price was too tall for the famed Serpent. If anything, Kaz believed he should have paid more to receive her.

As the time passed and Vera grew more familiar with the vengeful bastard with a brain too big for his head, their partnership changed. It was no longer a strictly formal deal. Vera was no longer just Kaz's lie detector, and Kaz was no longer Vera's boss who could damn well sell her back to where she came from. Maybe it was the familiarity with one another that made it easier for Vera to shift into his trusted accomplice.

With this closeness came the unfortunate state of being one of Brekker's closest confidants. The elusive title didn't always pay well, especially when Vera would find herself slinking off to strange places to meet odd people in the middle of the night and report back to Kaz on whether or not they were lying to him. It was also quite an unfortunate title to have when he was scheming, and saints, Vera hated scheming Kaz.

Being a 'firm accomplice to the boss' had landed Vera on a wild goose chase that particular evening. She wasn't sure what they were investigating for, but she, Jesper Fahey, and Inej Ghafa were all trailing behind Kaz like lost ducks, waiting for him to give them commands. With every interview she had pieced together more information, trying to understand what Kaz had dragged her on this time.

The first woman had been useless in Vera's opinion. She had simply told them that in trying to bring girls over to Ketterdam from Os Alta, she had lost a few on the way. Anyone could guess you were bound to lose some passengers on a trip through the Fold. That was common sense really.

The second person was also useless. They were an unskilled scammer, spinning lies about easy ways to cross the Fold to get a few kruge out of tourists. Lazy and stupid. Vera could've scammed better than that with her eyes blindfolded and her hands tied behind her back.

The third person was at least a little bit helpful. He was a Fjerdan fighter, wrapping his hands before his next match, his answers blunt and thick with a Fjerdan accent. The information taken from him had at least let them know that going through Fjerda and around the Fold would be too long. Take your time, or take your chances.

When Kaz had finally decided to let them sit down and regather their thoughts, Vera was already spinning up an idea of what exactly he had enlisted her for that evening. From his persistence, she could figure it was a job, and based on the questions asked, it was a job that would require travel through the Fold. Knowing Kaz, he would never accept a job like that unless it was good pay, but then that would raise the question of who wanted what so badly they were willing to pay such a high amount for it? That one stumped Vera.

Jesper, unfortunately, beat Vera to asking her questions. "Here's what I don't get."

"We're going to be here all night," Inej stated, her fingers nimbly twirling one of her knives against the tabletop as a teasing glint filled her eyes.

"Rude," Jesper responded. He pulled his legs off of the table and leaned forward. "Why haven't they tried going under it? Just dig a tunnel."

"Tried that. More than a century ago," Kaz replied. "Something... heard them digging."

What an understatement that was.

"It was made hundreds of years ago by that crazy Grisha-"

"The Black Heretic," Vera named.

Jesper nodded. "The one who controls shadow. They've got one in their army now, don't they? General Kirigan?"

"Your point?"

"Well, if one of his kind made it, can't he unmake it?"

Vera shifted in her chair, recrossing her legs and looking up at Jesper with a blank stare. "That's not how it works. You can't destroy shadows with more shadows."

"So how do you do it?"

"A Sun Summoner," Inej answered.

Vera wouldn't consider herself a big believer in myths, but she had seen some interesting things in her life, so she humored it. Did she believe the Sun Summoner could one day exist? Sure, but she knew they very well wouldn't be a saint. They'd be normal, scared, and a pet to the throne, but Inej's belief in saints didn't bother Vera whatsoever.

"Doesn't exist," Kaz said over Jesper's confused murmuring.

"Doesn't exist yet," Inej restates sharply.

Kaz leaned forward, hands resting on his cane, a new fire in his eyes as he pointed out, "Dreesen comes into town, doesn't waste a minute. Sends out for a crew to steal something but doesn't specify what. What is it heavy, large, worth more than a million on the black market? Maybe he doesn't know."

"We can let this one go, Kaz," Inej said.

"Sounds like a trap anyway."

Vera stayed silent with her thoughts.

"A trap would sound easy," Kaz replied. "This is something else."

Heavy footsteps catch Vera's attention before she can hear the panted 'boss, boss' coming from the man approaching them. The man was Big Bolliger, one of Kaz's more trusted bouncers. He was big enough to throw men out but too clumsy and uncoordinated to do any real damage in a fight. Despite that, he was kept around, occasionally doing good for Kaz and proving his worth.

"We intercepted a note from Dreesen," he said.

"Did you now?"

"It's for the owner of the Orchid. Says they require the services of a Heartrender. Tonight."

Vera's gaze snaps over to Kaz's, who briefly meets her eye before flitting back to Big Bolliger.

"A Heartrender? Why?"

"Doesn't say," Big Bolliger replied. "Just they need it before midnight."

Kaz was clearly thinking now. "You don't bring in a Heartrender unless you need an answer out of someone who isn't willing to talk or you don't have Vera on your side. That's how we get this job before anyone else. Bring Dreesen a Heartrender."

"Boss, just one problem."

Kaz turned.

"Pekka Rollins knows."

˖⁺ 🪶⋆ ୭ ⚔️ .⋆｡⋆༶⋆˙⊹

IT WAS DAMN near insulting that Kaz had brought a Heartrender onto the job. It was a waste of time, a waste of money, and a waste of Vera's patience to have to hear the woman rattle on about the confines of her job and the time she had left before she needed to make her return. It's not that Vera had anything against Grisha, it was just that she knew she was better at getting good answers out of people than their Heartrenders were.

"I really appreciate new business," the Heartrender said for what felt like the ninetieth time, "but you've only paid for an hour of my time, then I have to be back at the Orchid."

"The Orchid isn't safe tonight. Your life's in danger with this job," Kaz replied. "Make yourself scarce for a few days afterwards."

Vera rolled her eyes. "This is why we shouldn't have brought her. She'll just complain."

Kaz glanced to his right where Vera was walking alongside him. "Are you a Heartrender? No."

Vera rolled her eyes again, annoyed by Kaz's attitude. Damned idiot he was. She was better than a Heartrender, and if he kept on insulting her, she would hurt him in a way no Heartrender ever could.

"Mr. Brekker, are you threatening me? Really?" The woman asked, ignoring Vera's pissed-off mood. "Even if I'm nice, my boss will call the stadwatch on you."

"It's not me you're in danger with," he said, turning around. "It's Pekka Rollins."

"My boss would call the stadwatch on him as well."

Vera hid a snort of amusement. "Your boss is likely dead, zaychik."

Kaz headed forward towards the gate as Inej, Jesper, Vera, and the Heartrender stayed behind. The Heartrender had fixed Vera with a nasty glare brought upon by the girl's use of Ravkan. It obviously didn't sit well with her that a heathen like Vera could speak her language.

"Who are you lot?" The man at the gate asked.

"We're here to see Dreesen."

"You're not in Pekka's crew."

"And you're not in Pekka's pocket anymore if you don't owe him."

The group was allowed through the gates, thoughtlessly waved on by the guard who was much too concerned with the sack of coins Kaz had tossed him to pay much attention to the group. The bloody fool didn't even realize the coins were fake until Kaz was ushering everyone inside the house and slamming the door shut behind them.

Inside Dreesen's office, Vera was overwhelmed by just how self-righteous the man appeared. Her eyes darted to the hideous ring on his right pinkie finger first, a scowl crossing her lips as she looked at it. The cocky expression on the man's face made her want to hurl. Her gaze shifted to the decorations of the room next, drinking in the strange columns and weirdly placed lanterns. Dreesen obviously did not have the same flair for interior design that any level-headed person has.

"One look and I can tell," he said as soon as they walked into the room. "Criminals. I'm not meeting anyone 'til midnight."

"We heard you needed a Heartrender," Kaz countered.

The Heartrender in question raised her hand and wiggled her fingers, filling Vera with the sudden urge to snap the woman's fingers off. Cocky bastard. Vera could've done this herself.

Dreesen stood up and leaned forward onto his desk. "Alright. She stays, the rest of you, out."

The Heartrender began to move forward, only to be blocked by Kaz's cane held in front of her stomach.

"She stays. And we have an exclusive on this job."

"Mr. Brekker," Dreesen sighed. "No businessman worth his salt hires his first applicant."

"No. No, I understand. Of course, I will have to report you to the guild for kidnapping and harboring a prisoner without chain of title."

Vera's eye caught Dreesen's henchman reaching for his gun, and noticed Jesper doing the same as he noticed the action too. Vera's hand slipped down to her waistband where her gun sat holstered. Just in case.

"You wouldn't," Dreesen sneered.

"No businessman worth his salt bargains for what he can take."

Dreesen, clearly caught in Kaz's words, slowly walked towards the bastard. His breathing was labored in a way that made Vera mildly uncomfortable, and his nose was backed up to where she could hear every single breath.

From the other side of Kaz, Vera noticed the Heartrender raise her hand.

"I have to be back in an hour," she said again.

Vera would've damn near fought the woman if Jesper hadn't firmly gripped her wrist and shaken his head 'no'.

"Alright, come on," Dreesen finally caved.

Dreesen led the group down a twisting staircase into a wine cellar. Cobwebs clung to the shelves of untouched liquor and dust was layered over every visible surface. Across the room was the shape of a man tied to a chair, a burlap sack thrown over his drooping head. He was motionless but clearly alive.

"Who's this?" Kaz asked.

"So you don't know everything after all. This is Alexei Stepanov."

The hood was taken off, revealing a scared-looking blond with blood dried all over his face. Dirt clung to his pores and the blood had dripped onto the neck of his shirt where it dried a dark red against the sandy white. His hair was a mess, his expression confused and nervous. Alexei Stepanov was in fear.

"Two weeks ago, young Alexei here crossed through the Fold on foot." Vera watched disdainfully as Dreesen patted Alexei's shoulder teasingly. "Alone."

When the words that had been spoken finally clicked, Vera asked, "how?"

"Well, they're keeping it quiet," Dreesen responded, "but allegedly he was one of the few witnesses to... an event."

"Water," Alexei croaked.

Vera moved before Inej could, taking the pitcher of water from Dreesen and pouring a cup.

"What kind of event?" Kaz asked.

Vera squatted down in front of Alexei and carefully helped him drink the water. She used her free hand to push the hair out of his eyes, her touch bringing the man visible comfort. Although she knew she shouldn't, she pulled a handkerchief out when Dreesen wasn't looking and used the extra bit of water left in the glass to clean the crusted blood off of his eyes.

"I know an expedition was swarmed by volcra. Should've been a total loss but something happened. Some device detonated. Obliterated the volcra, lit up the dark like a forest fire. I know it wasn't a fire or else no one would have survived. This was some invention no one had seen before. He knows," Dreesen stated. "But he doesn't seem to be able to articulate his account of events. Some form of traumatic lapse. So..."

Vera stood up and moved away from Alexei as the Heartrender drew closer. Her hand found a bottle of kvas and she took a swig straight from the bottle, not even bothering with the formality of a cup.

The Heartrender sat down on a stool in front of Alexei, her tone soft and careful. Something I could have done, Vera bitterly thought.

"You're safe now," the Heartrender cooed. Her fingers caressed the man's wrist, slowing his heartbeat down. "Now you can just speak and I will just listen."

"Alright," Alexei rasped.

"Tell me what happened in the Fold. What saved you?"

Vera's eyes closely inspected Alexei for signs of lying.

"You won't believe me, but... it was a Sun Summoner," Alexei replied.

Vera's brows furrowed and her back straightened. The hand clutching the neck of the bottle of kvas tightened.

Dreesen moved forward, "who was it?"

"If I tell you, you'll set me free?"

"You have my word, I'll set you free. You're in Ketterdam now, Alexei. You can go anywhere in the world from here. Just imagine. Come on."

"Her name is... Alina Starkov."

Vera's posture stiffened once more.

"Alina Starkov?" Alexei nodded. "Good boy."

Dreesen moved away, and Vera could see Alexei relax at the distance reestablished between him and his kidnapper. Vera continued to watch the petrified man as Dreesen went over a manifest, scanning and checking for the name 'Alina Starkov'. When he found it, he let out a sigh of content, his eyes raising to look back at Alexei.

"You'll set me free now?"

"Thank you, of course," Dreesen said before turning around and firing a shot straight through Alexei's head.

The Heartrender let out a scream and fell away from Alexei as he toppled backwards in his chair. A clean entry wound on his forehead signified a quick and easy death. Blood was beginning to pour out of the exit wound in copious amounts, painting the floor beneath Alexei's head red like a demented halo.

Vera's hand clutched onto the hilt of her gun as Dreesen inspected the now dead Alexei and said, "we are now the only people west of the Fold with this information. My ship sails for West Ravka at dawn. If you can prove that you have a way through the Fold and back, I'll put you on that ship with an advance. If you don't, I'm giving this job to Pekka Rollins."

"Give me a day," Kaz demanded, "I'll have a plan."

"You have until sunrise, then your ship will have sailed, Mr. Brekker. The prize is one million kruge. Now bring me Alina Starkov."

Dreesen turned on his heel, heading upstairs with the two henchmen he had brought down with them. Vera turned, gaze settling back onto Alexei, on the bullet in his head.

One million kruge. Alina Starkov. This was sure to be interesting.

˖⁺ 🪶⋆ ୭ ⚔️ .⋆｡⋆༶⋆˙⊹
Episode One : A Searing Burst of Light