❝ she loved him,
but she kept pretending
she didn't because
she knew he didn't
love her the same ❞
In which the Snake of Ketterdam slithers out from the cracks of the Barrel to raise her head and break some bones.
【 Kaz Brekker x OC】
【 Grishaver...
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∘☽༓☾∘
𝕬fter leaving Inej to find Nina and Matthias, Stasiaj and Kaz returned back to the church so that Stasiaj could see the downfall of Van Eck as he promised. They returned just in time to see Van Eck being dragged from the steps of the stage by the stadwatch.
"You stay away from her," Stasiaj's eyes widened before she turned to grin at Kaz. "Alys, don't listen to him. You're going to need to get Smeet to put up the funds for bail. Go to—"
"I don't think Alys will be able to help with that," Stasiaj resisted the urge to start slapping Kaz's arm, in glee, at his words and the look of abject horror on Van Eck's face.
"Brekker, you wretched little thug. Do you really think this is over?" Van Eck straightened, attempting to reclaim some of his lost dignity. "By this time tomorrow, I'll be out on bail and setting my reputation to rights. There's a way to connect you to the Rietveld fund and I will find it. I swear it."
"By all means, swear," said Kaz. "Make a solemn vow. I think we all know what your word is worth. But you may find your resources somewhat constrained. The custodian of your estate will be in charge of your funds. I'm not sure how much money Wylan plans to devote to your defense, or your bail, for that matter."
Van Eck laughed bitterly. "I wrote him out of my will as soon as Alys conceived. Wylan will never see a penny of my money."
A murmur of surprise went up from the members of the Merchant Council as Stasiaj looked between the pair with growing happiness. This was even better than expected.
"Are you certain?" Kaz said. "I'm sure Wylan told me you two had reconciled. Of course, that was before all this ugly business."
"My will is perfectly clear. There's a copy of it in—" Van Eck stopped midsentence, and Stasiaj smiled wider. "The safe," he whispered. "There's another copy," said Van Eck. "My attorney—"
"Cornelis Smeet?" said Kaz. "Do you know if he breeds those watchdogs of his? Funny thing, when you train an animal to obey. Sometimes they get too easy to command. Better to keep them a little wild."
"Kaz, you're brilliant," Stasiaj muttered. "You're almost at my level."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
"No," said Van Eck, shaking his head. "No." With surprising strength, he shook off his guards. "You can't give this cretin control of my funds," he shouted, gesturing to Wylan with his shackled hands. "Even if I'd wanted him to inherit, he's incompetent to do so. He can't read, can barely string a basic sentence together on the page. He is an idiot, a soft-minded child."
