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swanimagines · 1 year ago

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The Bastard and the Blood Princess [Chapter 3]

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A click of a cane and a rough jab on your side woke you up, the faint light from the kitchen barely illuminating Kaz. You sat up slowly, fiddling with your hands.

“Will… will you help me?” you murmured, and he took in a deep sigh, clenching his jaw as he looked up.

“My Wraith told me there’s a job,” he said slowly. “A dangerous job that could kill us, but that would bring us a million kruge. To test your loyalty, you will accompany us to that job.”

You narrowed your eyes at him. “What kind of job?”

“Will you take it or not?” he retorted, placing his cane in front of him.

You let out a breath, nodding. “As I said, I’ll do anything to get rid of Pekka.”

He stared at you for a moment, and then, a faint nod rocked his head. “We will leave soon, as soon as I figure out how. Come.”

You nodded, standing up from the bed. “Of course, Mr. Brekker.”

You walked to the Crow Club in slight rain, Kaz looking over to you as you groaned and shifted your hand to clutch your ribs. You were pretty sure your father’s men had broken something - not that it was necessarily a bad thing, considering what Kaz next said. “I will get a healer for you before we leave.”

Your eyes widened slightly, before you nodded. “Thank you.”

This was going to be easier than you thought.

—

The light at the office flickered a few times as you entered Kaz’s office, and he went straight to the back wall to peer out to the Club main area, before taking off his coat. “There’s an alleged Sun Summoner.”

You stared at him for a moment, your lips parting. “A… Sun Summoner?”

“Alleged. There’s a man named Dreesen, who will pay a million kruge if we get her and bring her to him.”

“You mean, kidnap her?”

Kaz turned around, eyeing you from under his eyebrows before he took out a golden pocket watch, looking at it. “No, we offer her a cup of the finest Ravkan tea and carry her on a golden throne through the Fold.”

You huffed. “Okay, then what?”

Your eyes met again. A flash of a memory ran through your mind again as you looked into his dark eyes.

“Remember, don’t get attached, we’re going to pluck them,” your father’s voice echoed in your head.

You shook your head slightly, blinking your eyes. Probably a flicker of a dream you saw before you got woken up?

Then, Kaz's voice penetrated your haze again, “Failure is not an option. Your father is also after this job. If you stay loyal to me during this job, if there won’t be any tricks - I will make an alliance with you.”

He had turned back to the hatch, looking down at the club again. Customers were loud, their talking and cheers faintly echoing through the office.

“Good,” you nodded. “I’ll prove my worth to you.”

A creak. Kaz's eyes shifted to the doorway, before he sighed and picked up his cane. He glanced at you. "Leave."

You stood up, taking a few steps towards the hallway before you heard a clink, and the air stood still. You turned around to see three of your father's goons standing in front of Kaz, and the moment you turned around, one of them, Riagan, growled at you.

"Who do we have here? Our little traitor," he snarled, taking a few steps towards you.

You weren't sure if he knew what was the real deal - Riagan had never been a good actor, but he was great at fighting. A huge man, barely fitting from doorways - you had suspected he was half Fjerdan since you first met him. If he was acting, he had exceeded himself, but you couldn't take risks.

You had agreed with your father that only a couple of his most trusted men would know you were sent to assassinate Kaz, the ones who had beaten you up. Otherwise, it would be too much of a risk - Riagan most likely didn't know.

So you smirked at him. "So, you've heard about it."

"That you're no longer one of us? Yeah. I heard. Didn't think you'd turn into Brekker's bitch, though," he growled and on that moment, the two men attacked Kaz and before you could lunge in to "help", you were snatched by Riagan, making you cry out as he pulled your arm behind you until you felt your shoulder pop out of its socket - even if you would have managed to fight his grip, even if you were trying to actually fight him, there was no way you'd be able to get yourself free while not getting yourself detained again, unless you wanted to receive permanent damage for your shoulder.

Kaz trashed and a chair got knocked over, before he stilled, seemingly admitting his defeat at that point.

Then, your father walked in, offering a mocking smile. "Evening."

Kaz's body twitched slightly at the sight of your father, and you scoffed. "Evening, papa."

Your father lifted his eyes to you, and you knew he felt triumph, seeing you there - in Kaz's office, detained, in your role. He let out a long breath. "So you ran to Brekker. Hm. Disappointing."

You craned your neck towards him. "Not as disappointing as you."

He narrowed his eyes at you, before turning his eyes to Kaz. "Mr. Brekker, is it?"

Kaz spoke then, his voice strained and slightly shaking. "You're a long way from home."

Your father smiled. "Am I? Like you were earlier. Taking that Grisha from the Orchid."

Kaz spoke again. "The Orchid isn't Dime Lions turf."

"It's a new acquisition," your father smiled again. "Now."

Harris passed Kaz's cane to your father, and Kaz trashed around again - but was quickly detained by Harris, who took him by his vest. Kaz's breath hitched as he sank lower on his knees as he immediately stopped moving, and you frowned slightly at it. You'd think he'd try a little harder.

"I know you saw Dreesen," your father said, leaning on Kaz's cane. "You got whatever job he has. I don't know the details, obviously… but you will give the job to me. You will forget about it, walk away from it."

Kaz stared at your father silently, and you could almost see the air crackling around him from all the hate he carried.

There was definitely something personal. Something you had to dig up.

"The other option is," your father continued, "that I will cave your head in with your own cane and throw you into the canals - let your new girlfriend here watch as you drift away to the sea. A fair deal, isn't it?"

He placed the cane on the desk, before meeting your eyes for a moment. "I'm very disappointed in you, you had big potential."

You scoffed. "For what? Serving Alby? Being the torture lady at the basement?"

He paused as you mentioned Alby, but you knew he figured out that it was part of your plan after a fraction of a second. "Feared. Respected. But now, instead, you will be forgotten, along with Kaz. Hmm," he sighed, turning to his men. "Let's go."

"Tell me," Kaz suddenly said. "Have we made a deal before?"

Your father frowned, and then shook his head. "You and me? Nah. Otherwise you'd know better. Or you'd be dead."

Then, he turned again, waving his hand. Riagan pushed you on the ground and Harris let go of Kaz, and you groaned as your injuries protested. You placed your arm between the desk and the wall, and forced yourself to push forward. You let out a cry of pain as your shoulder returned to its socket with a sickening crack, and then saw Kaz on the ground on all fours, breathing heavily.

This could be a great chance, you thought as you eyed the cane on the desk. A hit on his head. Digging the beak of his cane into his skull. Cave his head in, like your father had just said.

But something in your gut told you not to do it. You just watched Kaz whimpering there, and a strange feeling washed over you.

Too much of a risk, you then decided and picked up his cane, placing to his side, leaning against the desk instead.

You licked your lips. "Are you okay, Mr. Brekker? Do I need to fetch someone?"

He didn't reply at first, and you heard him swallow. Twice. Thrice. Then he opened his mouth, his voice coming out as strained and shaky. "Leave."

You nodded, turning on your heel and stepping out of his office - the club silencing once again when people saw you. You saw the Wraith and the Sharpshooter - Inej Ghafa and Jesper Fahey their names were - standing in front of the bar counter. The Sharpshooter spotted you and nudged the Wraith, pointing towards you. She, too, turned to look at you and you three stared at each other for a moment, before the Wraith got handed a letter and she made a prompt leave from the club. You contemplated for a moment, but then slowly made your way to the bar counter and sat one tool apart from Jesper.

He just stared at you, his brows furrowed tightly as he watched you order a drink. The bartender eyed you for a moment, but then complied. Kaz had probably told everyone that you’re not a threat at the moment.

Then, Jesper opened his mouth. "Is it true you're the Blood Princess? The Blood Princess? And not a copycat?"

You glanced at him and shrugged. "I don't go by that name anymore."

He laughed, but his laugh wasn't a happy one, it was more like one of disbelief. Something between a snort and a huff. "And Kaz, he's hiring you? To snatch the Sun Summoner?"

You received a drink and nodded at the bartender, before downing it. You then slowly turned to Jesper. "Yes."

He snorted. "Unbelievable."

“Why?”

He shook his head, turning his eyes away from you and ordering another drink by a flick of his hand. “After all Pekka put Kaz through, he’s hiring you. Pekka’s daughter.”

“I want to get rid of Pekka just as much as he does, I just don’t know his reasons for it,” you sighed, trying to keep frustration off your tone. “Pekka killed my parents, my real parents. I need him to pay.”

Jesper narrowed his eyes at you and apparently didn’t even notice the bartender pushing the shot in front of him. Then, he shrugged. “Well. Kaz always knows what he’s doing, so…”

You both sat there in silence for a moment, before you glanced towards the stairs leading to Kaz’s office. “What did Pekka do to him?”

Jesper shook his head. “He doesn’t talk about it. All I know was that he was younger when it happened, and it was something really bad and his hate has been building up all these years. He's been obsessed with taking Pekka down for all these years when I’ve known him. But he’d probably have my head for telling you about it if I knew more… he doesn’t trust you, in case you haven’t noticed.”

You huffed, a small smile appearing to your lips. “Yeah. I’ve noticed. I hope to prove my worth to all of you during the job.”

Jesper looked at you for a moment, searching your face. Then he shrugged again, and at that moment you heard steps - Kaz's steps - hurrying towards you.

A bruise had started to form on the side of his face - Harris had hit him pretty hard. He was still distraught, a look of pure rage in his eyes. Jesper reached for his shot but Kaz took it before he could, downing it. Jesper lifted his hand in front of his mouth, and you peered Kaz from behind Jesper by leaning forward across the counter.

“I’ve been warned off the job,” Kaz said, turning his head towards Jesper a little and Jesper frowned.

“By who?”

“Who do you think?”

Jesper’s eyes widened, standing up as Kaz turned away from the counter. “Did he remember you?”

Kaz stared forward for a moment. “I’d be dead if he had.”

They walked a little further away, and you decided not to follow them. You didn’t want to seem too clingy - it could raise suspicions. So you sat there, swirling the empty shot glass in your hands and letting your thoughts wander.

—

“Papa, why would my real papa and mama abandon me?” you asked, sitting on the floor with your storybook. Pekka snorted, straightening his tie.

“For money,” he replied. “You were a liability to them, not a son they had hoped for.”

His words stung you every time, even when he had told you that same story over and over again all your life. “But why? Why wouldn’t they love me?”

Pekka took in a deep breath, and you immediately regretted your words. “Why does it matter? I’m raising you. I offer you food. A warm bed. I even let you play with toys. I’m going to make you strong. You will be the Queen of the Barrel one day, everyone will fear you.”

“But I don’t want to be feared–”

Pekka raised his hand, his voice raising in volume. “Weak people say that.”

You swallowed. “I… I’m sorry, papa.”

Then, he turned away, leaving you sit there, on the floor, thinking about what the future would bring you.

—

“We’re leaving. Come along,” Kaz’s voice penetrated your thoughts and you barely caught up before standing up and hurrying after him. The night of Ketterdam greeted you as you walked side by side with Kaz, barely keeping up with him.

Saints, this man was fast with his cane.

---

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