𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐘 — general kirigan

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 "𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐋𝐀𝐑𝐌 𝐈𝐒 set." Jesper's docile tone rang out, finally bringing Aleksa back to the table.

 Kaz hadn't said a word to her from the moment she'd left to meander about the bar; he'd sneered behind her back as a lovely young woman with ruby-painted lips gushed to the Grisha, flapping her arms and fluttering her lashes all the while plying Aleksa with diluted drinks.

 The bastard had moped whilst his carefully crafted scowl rested heavily on his sharp features. Those who met his eyes across the room were quick to divert their gaze. Inej had rolled her own at him, leaving him behind to wallow.

 That is until the delightful sight of Jesper Fahey had graced them at the bar. His boney fingers had easily swiped a drink from Aleksa and without hesitation, he had chugged it and dragged the girls back to Kaz.

 "The horses are ready and I've stashed the rest of our gear." Jesper finished, restless fingers drumming at the sticky wood of the table. He was more than ready to bolt; anything to avoid a formal meeting with Aleksa's brother.

 He had set their timer, a bomb stashed away in the carriage they had stolen. He was certain the Darkling would send forth his loyal band of Grisha to stake out the area, and whichever poor unfortunate soul would pry open the carriage would certainly receive a loud shock.

 Kaz sniffed, hands curling together atop his cane, "If we don't move soon, the Black General with be on top of us." he glanced at Aleksa who had yet to unfold her arms as she sat slouched in her chair, "We can't waste any more time looking for the girl."

 "Well," Breathed Inej as she nodded towards their resident Shadow Summoner, "We had no tab to settle, thanks to this one... So we still have a handful of coin."

 Jesper looked around at them all as he picked at his own fingers, anything to keep his hands busy. Whilst he agreed with Kaz in regards to the General, the thought of returning to his debts was not ideal. He regarded Aleksa, "No chance of a nice family reunion? Introduce us to the brother? No?"

 "Jesper, dear," Aleksa began, leaning forward as her voice grew grave, "He'd likely kill you with a single look."

 "Oh... How nice of him. Does carnage run in the family?"

 "Wouldn't know, would I? He's all I have."

 Warmth encircled her fingers as inej reached over, a light smile on the Wraith's face, "You have us." It was a means of payback for the words Aleksa had uttered earlier, for the safety she had granted Inej, the care and love that she so desperately craved.

 Aleksa's heart warmed as she stared into those impossibly dark eyes of her friend; she could always count on Inej to offer solace and patience whenever she needed it.

 As for Jesper, well the fidgeting sharpshooter tossed a wink her way, "Course you have us, bug."

 Kaz said nothing. He couldn't bring himself to; it was like his throat closed upon the words building on his tongue, words of reassurance not unlike Inej's and Jespers. He doubted at that moment that Aleksa wanted to hear them from him. But oh how wrong he was.

 Disappointment flooded the Shadow Summoner as Kaz remained fixated on a chip in the table; she shouldn't have been surprised really, Kaz Brekker wasn't known for his compassion, after all. Still, it stung like a knife.

 "Darling Inej, and my dearest Sharpshooter —" Aleksa couldn't finish her sentence that was likely to be filled with a profession of love that'd likely warm her friend's cheeks.

 A loud, earth-rumbling explosion rattled from outside the tavern. The patrons around them clattered about, screams tearing through their throats as they clamoured to stand and push their way out of the rickety wooden door.

 The sound alone was enough for each of the Crows to vault to their feet. Inej pulled her hood over her magnificent head of raven hair, a sliver of purple obscuring the view of her face. Jesper tipped his hat, the shadows drowning out his eyes as his fingers skimmed the oiled barrel of his pistol.

 The Darkling had arrived and Aleksa could feel her heart hammering behind her ribs. She was sure the others could hear it too. Nobody had seen her, nobody had any reason to suspect that she was with the Crows... Unless their lovely Arken had spilled her name from his lips; it was the only conclusion she had come to, that Arken had been taken and was likely dead already with his secrets free in the air.

 Kaz clutched his cane in one hand, "Split up, it's much easier to take a Grisha one-on-one than a whole squad of them. We rendezvous at the fountain."

 Inej was the first to leave; she was nothing but a blur of black and purple as she swiftly disappeared through the crowd, no doubt finding a window to hop through as she curled her fingers around the hilts of her knives.

 Aleksa, whilst not one for falling to her knees for the Saints — nor one to utter meaningless prayers — hoped that the very blade she'd gifted Inej would protect her.

 Jesper had twirled on his feet and his tweed jacket billowed around him. As ever, the lanky boy tossed a wink towards Aleksa, and a nod towards Kaz as his hands gripped at his guns. He almost breathed a sigh of relief when he cradled them in his hands, fingers itching to pull the triggers.

 Before Aleksa could move to follow, the beak of Kaz's Crow-headed cane latched at her wrist. It was sharp, likely to split her skin if he so much as tugged her forwards. But he didn't. Instead, he remained silent and removed the silly hat that covered his glinting hair, placing it gently upon her head.

 His fingers remained curled around the brim as he tugged it down her forehead. Bitter coffee bore into cerulean blue, "Keep your face hidden."

 His breath was warm on her cheek as he muttered softly, far too softly for it to have really been Kaz Bekker. Yet there he was, the Bastard of the Barrel uttering soft words of caution before he straightened and regained any slipping composure.

 Aleksa swallowed as she pulled her — Kaz's — coat closer, "See you at the fountain."

 "Aleksa." He called once more, stopping the heavy thud of her boots. He spared a pointed look as his eyes seemingly darkened beneath the swaying light, "If you see your brother, run."

 He knew she felt the urge to return to the Darkling, her brother, but there was something within his gut that told him nothing good would come of it. Kaz often relied on facts and figures, not the silly twist of his belly or odd little words that rattled in his skull.

 They all knew that if the General so much as caught a glimpse of his dear little sister, she'd be lost to them; tossed back inside the Little Palace to rot in the darkness until the world deemed her worthy enough to step forth and banish the Fold alongside her brother. But would that happen?

 The Sun Summoner had fled within months of staying inside the Palace walls, Aleksa had remained for years until she finally took her chance to see daybreak. That was what made Kaz rethink what the General would do; would he really smile as he took his sister home? Or would he punish a Grisha who abandoned her own kind?

 She was far more important than the others; two Shadow Summoners walking the world at one time — it had been unheard of for centuries and yet there Aleksa stood, treading the very same ground as General Kirigan.

 He watched her run, boots slamming against the wood, dark coat rippling around her calves... His stupid hat bounced on her head.

 For Aleksa it was easy to dash through the night without the fear of somebody catching her; she'd done it for months now. Racing along cobbled paths that were sure to trip her one day whilst the sleeves of her puffy shirt rippled and ruffled as she ran. Hair would weave around her, coiling in the breeze as she twitched her fingers and tightened her hold on the shadows.

 Tonight, however, whilst she was safe beneath the cloak of shadows she could so easily call; her friends were not. Inej was skilled and had enough knives to turn even Big Bol into a pin cushion... But no amount of steel and resolve was enough to fight a Heartrender or counter the flames of an Inferni.

 Jesper could land any shot he took with a grin on his face, yet would he even be able to pull the trigger if Ivan curled his fingers and took a hold of his beating heart?

 As for Kaz... Those outside the dull streets of the Barrel saw only his uneven gait, the cane in his hands and a young face. They saw no knives in his belt, no gun for his fingers to grasp; he was just a boy with an ugly cane.

 In the Barrel people knew better; they knew that the golden crow head of his cane had caved skulls and shattered arms. They knew his knuckles were scarred from punches that had broken noses... and they knew his hands were likely the colour red beneath his gloves.

 But Ketterdam was different to Ravka. The Grisha that roamed through Kerch were no threat; if a single spark of embers, a measly twist of a puddle was caught, the Stadwatch or the Council of Tides would deal with them... that is... if they were not sold for the highest price first.

 Aleksa's charming crows had little experience with other Grisha; she had taken her time to delve into the if's and but's of each known Grisha ability, but words were not enough to prepare somebody for a wall of flames trailing towards them, nor the feeling of one's heart constricting as a Heartrender grinned.

 Even despite having readily showcased her own magnificent powers to the Crows, it would never be enough to prepare them for her brother; the very brother that was prowling beneath the same shadows as she.

 Aleksa had taken to the rooftops; it was far easier to curl the shadows around her like a blanket when there were no eyes searching the gutters and shingles. She walked as quietly as she could in her crouch, slow steps taken to quell the dull thud that often resonated from the soles of her boots. She had seen a billowing flame erupt to her left; it was likely that the Inferni was after Inej.

 She had seen Ivan and that familiar sneer on his face as he crept through the night, choosing to disappear into an old shed that looked ready to crumble... Whilst the mere thought of coming face to face with Ivan stirred her stomach into something twisted; the thought of seeing her brother was far more poisonous.

 She knew what Kaz's parting words had entailed. He knew how much she desired to see Aleksander again, to relive her youth alongside her only blood... But none of them were naive children. Aleksa knew her punishment for abandonment would be grave, but it'd be far worse if Aleksander saw her standing beside the very Crows that had pinched his Sun Summoner.

 A shiver wracked her spine; he wouldn't be kind.

 Even so, she had already made the decision that if facing Aleksander would allow her Crows to fly free, she'd do it in a heartbeat. It had been almost a year since she'd seen her darling brother last, and in such time she had grown from a sheltered and well-mannered girl into something far more monstrous.

 The skin of her knuckles was pristine when she'd left; now they were the colours of pearls from the fights she'd been in. Her eyes had once been wide and full of wonder, now they narrowed at every sound and glittered with an unspoken threat. She still looked like the sweet girl he'd known, but beneath it all, she was no less a monster than Kaz Brekker.

 There was a pause as she heard a sound, her head tilting towards it like Cas's would whenever she'd whisper... Speaking of the damn bird, she'd seen him swooping above her, cawing in delight as he peered at the woman who had fed him scraps against Kaz's wishes.

 Click, click, click. Oh, she'd know that sound anywhere. The tapping of Kaz's cane against the cobble was a relief to hear. His steps were uneven and it was clear that the combination of the winter chill and the running he'd forced himself to endure was taking its toll on his leg.

 But then the sound stopped abruptly and Aleksa dropped even closer to the roof; perhaps he'd noticed her just as he always managed to. He didn't call out, nor did he scoff under his breath... He didn't even toss a stone in her direction, ready for the pebble to return dangerously close to his skull.

 "I know you kidnapped my Sun Summoner."

 There was no mistaking it. The Bastard of the Barrel had found himself face-to-face with the Darkling; no tales from Aleksa could have stifled the nerves in Kaz's stomach. No recollection of the way Aleksa's face would flood with joy upon mentioning a training session with her dear big brother could possibly help him now. This wasn't Aleksander, Aleksa's big brother. This was the Darkling, the General.

 Aleksander continued, entirely unaware of the shadow crawling along the rooftop. His eyes were glinting dangerously, voice low and raw as he narrowed his gaze on Kaz, "From what I've heard," He took a single step closer, black cloak dragging along the moss-lined cobble, "There are four of you. Now, who might be the last of your little... Crew?"

 Aleksa's hands tightened, balling into fists as a pale white spread on her knuckles. The simple sound of his voice was enough of a chokehold for Aleksa to remain rooted to the spot. How could it be that the only two things in the world that terrified her, were also the very things that brought her comfort? The Fold was merely a wall of the very thing that tangled around her fingertips, and Aleksander was her brother. So why did her throat have to tighten around them both?

 Kaz wanted to scowl at the man before him but he knew it would do him no good. Kirigan was a man of power and he expected Kaz, the leader of the Crows to be the very same. The only way to catch him off guard was to be the boy that those outside of Kerch saw him to be.

 He leaned heavily on his good leg, fingers tight around his cane as he made a show of swallowing harshly. The General almost smiled at the sight. Kaz let his voice waver, "We didn't take her. She fled on her own." With every step that the General took, Kaz stepped back. But with those last five words, Aleksander paused.

 Aleksa watched his eyes glint, and though he and Kaz were not far off in height, Aleksander still managed to look down at the Bastard with a scowl on his lips. She had only ever seen him sport such a look whenever she had misbehaved or underperformed and yet it still made her hands shake.

 "Where is she?" Aleksander asked, "I won't ask you again."

 "I don't know." Kaz's voice had hardened, though a desperate edge was still tacked on for show... But even in the presence of the Darkling, Kaz couldn't resist making a sharp jab, "It was pretty clear that she wasn't interested in being a captive anymore... She's probably halfway to Novyi Zem by now."

 Aleksa felt it before she saw it. The darkness that spewed from the narrow path behind Aleksander began to grow. Billowing coils of smoke crawled along the walls like a smattering of incessant bugs that were insistent upon reaching Kaz.

 Aleksander hadn't moved, yet Kaz had taken a further step back; he was perfectly in line with another alley that would lead them to Saints knows where.

 Kaz was no stranger to the shadows anymore. His office had been flooded with them whenever Aleksa would drape herself over his chair and twirl her fingers beneath the candlelight. She would dim the lights as he worked, staving off the migraines that would make themselves known after a night of leaning over his papers.

 She used them so often that he found it odd when they didn't move or ripple around him.

 But Aleksa could feel the growing bundle of darkness around her brother. She could sense the shadows coming together in a single sliver that would leave Kaz in two separate pieces. Aleksa had a choice to make; she could hop from the gutter and theatrically give herself up to her brother as Kaz made his escape... Or she could do something he'd likely have her head for.

 The Darkling crept forwards, his shadows following like loyal dogs, "You should have stayed in Ketterdam, Mr Brekker."

 Aleksa couldn't wait any longer and as Aleksander brought his hands forth, commanding the shadows to form a thin line, a blade made of nothing but the darkness, Aleksa clapped her hands together. The sound echoed through the winding paths and bounced on each wall like a crack of thunder.

 Aleksander could so rarely be caught off guard, but even he had yet to grow accustomed to having another Shadow Summoner walk the same dirt as he did. He almost stumbled as he reached for the shadows to remain in his grasp.

 Aleksa's hands hung in the air as she teetered on the edge of the roof, her fingers were lightly jostling, caressing the dark and willing for it to abide by her rules. They granted her wish and with what sounded like a rumble from high in the sky, a wave of darkness washed over her and trailed forth like a crashing wave on the open sea.

 The enclosed path was doused in darkness.

Kaz stumbled, blinking furiously as though he'd manage to see through the night just as Aleksa claimed she could. Then his stomach lurched as a pair of hands pushed at his back.

 "I'm sorry," Aleksa whispered as she pushed him forwards, willing him to run as fast as his legs would carry him. She repeated the words as she pulled the edges of her sleeves over the fingertips of her left hand, using the cloth as a barrier to guide the Bastard through the darkness she had summoned.

 Her right hand was held high, weaving through the shadows and gently caressing them as though she was consoling them, offering her apologies for making them fight against her own blood.

 Their hearts were pounding, throbbing within their chests in unison. Kaz's leg ached and with every slam of his foot against the cobble, a flare of fire biting at his bone. His stomach was in knots, his throat tight and unable to form words as he tried to think of anything but Aleksa's hand at his back. There was no skin on his own, only that coat Aleksa had borrowed brushing against the wool on his back, yet even still he almost lurched for air.

 Aleksa carried the shadows with her, cloaking them within a veil that was impenetrable. There was almost a sigh of relief that built on her tongue as she and Kaz curled around yet another corner; growing closer and closer to the fountain they had agreed to meet at.

 But then her heart dropped to the ground as a bellow threatened to shatter the night, "ALEKSA!"

Big brother knew she was within arms reach.

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DATE: 30/11/2022

:･ﾟ★ oopsie, now aleksander knows aleksa is the fourth and final crow (for now hehehe) y'all aren't ready for the skiff scene between them i SWEAR

don't forget to let me know what you think; and remember that i now require a particular number of comments and feedback before i consider releasing the next part (this is just to ensure people remain engaged and supportive, as well as to allow me to see what you all enjoyed most!), and please do NOT leave comments telling me to update; they'll be ignored and you'll be muted, much love <3