𝕬𝖗𝖘𝖔𝖓𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖘 𝕷𝖚𝖑𝖑𝖆𝖇𝖞 - [𝗞𝗮𝘇 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗸𝗸𝗲𝗿]

𝐢𝐯. 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘭

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑 — warning bell

━━━━━━━

 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐒 𝐒𝐀𝐓 silently at a concealed booth tucked away in the darkest corner of the club; neither patrons nor workers bothered them, for they knew not to. People passed them by, throwing waves and hello's towards Aleksa who'd tip her head and offer a dazzling grin. Kaz scowled every time.

 Inej had a knife perched between her slender fingers; an impossibly black hilt with a silver, thin blade. If anything, it looked more like a letter opener, an extravagant one. The symbol of the moon was embedded within the onyx handle, and a small line of vines were carved into the gleaming blade; it was the very knife Aleksa had saved the crows with, and later, offered as a gift to their favourite Wraith.

 The Suli girl spun it between agile digits, then planted the pointed tip into the already chipped and scratched wooden table that sat just higher than their knees. She had been twirling it absentmindedly as she sighed and listened to the bustle of the club. The busyness, the overlapping voices and cheers of both win and loss comforted her somehow.

 Jesper was reclined against the back of the booth, his head lolling from side to side and Aleksa could almost see his ears twitch each time a cheer rang out. She knew he was fighting the urge to leave them in the dust and settle around a table.

 Kaz was seated directly across from Jesper. His eyes were smoothing over the club, narrowing here and there as he watched the pigeons pluck their cards and deal their hands. His leather-covered fingers spun his cane, twisting the head of the golden crow. Once, twice, and then his long fingers curled around the head and drummed away on the gleaming bird.

 Aleksa had her head firmly planted upon Inej's lap. Mousy-brown, loose curls pooled over the Suli girl, tumbling down her legs and brushing against her calves. The Shadow Summoner's wide blue eyes watched as Inej spun the blade, eyes blinking whenever the light hit the silver and bounced into her iris', tingeing them a shade lighter.

 She sighed to herself and closed her eyes. Her foot bounced on the booth chair as she recalled their endeavours to find a plausible way to cross the fold.

 The quartet of unlikely allies and friends had traversed the slick, soot-sodden streets of Ketterdam in search of leads and peeps of information. Their first stop had been at one of the brothels; the wonderfully dull owner had chirped and simpered behind her desk, twirling golden curls between her smoke-scented fingers. The stench of cheap perfume and old plums had lingered in the air as she evaded the questions Inej had asked her.

 The woman had smoothed her eyes over Inej, watching every movement, assessing her bronze skin and strong build until she flicked her sights to Aleksa. The Shadow Summoner rose a single, dark brow until it rested high on her forehead. Her lips had tugged up, unafraid of the woman watching her. She'd tossed her hair over her shoulder, offered a magical smile and planted her hands on Inej's shoulders.