𝕬𝖗𝖘𝖔𝖓𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖘 𝕷𝖚𝖑𝖑𝖆𝖇𝖞 - [𝗞𝗮𝘇 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗸𝗸𝗲𝗿]

𝐯. 𝘮𝘢𝘯-𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐕𝐄 — man-eater

━━━━━━━

 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐀𝐈𝐑 was cold against Aleksa's cheeks, and she was certain they were a vibrant and hearty red. The sky had darkened considerably, the moon hanging high like the DeKapple within Kaz's office, and Aleksa found herself nuzzling deeper into her coat, or rather, her Kefta.

 The clothes on her back, a few spares and the Kefta draped around Aleksa were the only things she had left from her time at the little palace; and the golden chain around her neck, of course

 The Kefta wasn't quite like any others that the Grisha within the second army donned. There were three variants of each Kefta; the silk Kefta worn by Grisha in the Little palace within the summer months, they were far lighter and breathable.

 There was the wool Kefta, worn in winter, and finally, the Kefta that was donned within combat; they were made with corecloth by the Materialki and had been designed to withstand bullets. Then, of course, there was the design. Each faction of Grisha had a different colour Kefta or embroidery to symbolise and dictate which order the Grisha belonged to and which particular power flourished at their fingertips.

 The white kefta made with golden cuffs were worn by servants within the Grand Palace. The purple keftas were donned by the Materialki, the red worn by Corporalki, dark blue for the Etherialki and finally, there was black.

 The colour of onyx was worn only by the General of the Second Army; general Kirigan; however unbeknownst to many of the Grisha serving under the general; Aleksa donned such a colour too. The black sleeves of her kefta covered her fingertips and the tail trailed down to her ankles.

 The one difference between Aleksa's kefta and her brothers was the lack of embroidery. Aleksander wore a grand Kefta; entirely obsidian with intricate embroidery crawling over him, much like the shadows he weaved. Aleksa's was bare and looked as plain as any old, black coat.

 It had been Alexander's way of concealing her, making sure that nobody knew of her abilities; she never really understood why. Perhaps he was frightened of the two being separated once more, maybe that was why she had been caged like a bird with clipped wings.

 Aleksa stared down at the sleeves of her kefta, imagining what looks would be sent her way had the sleeves and lapels been covered with crawling shadows made of thread and yarn. People would have sold her out, it was all people within Ketterdam knew to do. She'd have been sold for the highest price, whether that price was met by her brother, the Shu, the Druskelle or anybody else who was eager enough to hold a shadow summoner in chains.

 She hated the thought. But the kefta that cloaked her body from the bite of the nighttime air was a favoured possession; it reminded her of Aleksander, the brother she missed so dearly, and she knew it was a symbol of his protection. Even though she had run from him, the kefta he had given her as a gift still kept her safe in the midst of many a gun and knife fight.