The Seventh Crow

Part 19

I didn't get any sleep. After Kaz left the deck of the ship I stayed up. Even if I tried to go back to sleep, I don't think it would've worked. 

I checked up on Nina from time to time. Maybe I was waiting for her to die. She knew the risk. Said she saw what the withdrawals look like. Took it to save all of us. I should be thankful for that, but it's strange because I don't want her to die.

I just met all these people, found Matthias after all this time, but I owe them a debt. They saved me when they definitely didn't have to. 

They gave me my freedom.

"Nox," Kaz calls from behind. 

I turn around and see him limping over to me. His crows head cane making a small thud every time it makes contact with the floor.

"You're leaving tonight," he said.

"What?" I ask. Maybe he made a mistake. I can't possibly leave when there isn't land around.

"You are going with Nina and Kuwei to Hellgate."

Wait, isn't Hellgate another prison? Kaz wants me to go to another prison? I literally just escaped from one prison and he wants to toss me off to another one?

My heart rate starts to increase. My vision blurs. Don't panic. Not in front of Kaz. Taking in a couple deep breaths, I focus my gaze on Kaz.

"I'm not going to another prison, Kaz," I state.

"You owe us." Of course he brings that up. "You're going."

"Why? Why me?"

"You know about jurda parem, maybe not as much as Kuwei Yul-Bo."

"So, I'm babysitting Nina? Make sure she doesn't die?"

"If you want to call it that, sure." He turns to start to leave. I step in front of him.

"There has to be someone else to go. Send Matthias."

He pushes the end of his crows cane into my shoulder. I back into the wall from the pressure.

"It's you or I throw you over. You do your part or I will kill you."

I look away. It's just another prison, what could possibly go wrong?
Kaz walks down the hallway, his cane tapping the floor.

"Demjin," I whisper.

"Your brother has already claimed that," Kaz calls. "Pick something else. I suggest bastard."

"Piss off you shimkopper."

"Piss bucket? Very original."

With that he retreats into one of the cabins. The panic that I was trying to hide finally spills out of me. My knees give out beneath me, making me fall to the ground in small heaps of ragged breathing.

"You alright?" someone asks.

I look up and am met with Kuwei. He takes a seat next to me, bringing his legs closer to his chest.

"Wylan?" I ask. He nods. "Why do you look like Kuwei?"

"Kaz has a plan," he whispers. 

Of course he did. Does he ever stop scheming? Take a break? Maybe sometime in the country will help him loosen up. 

"I heard part of that conversation," he points out.

"Right. Going to another prison with Nina and the real Kuwei."

"I would say trust Kaz, but I don't think anyone should trust him."

"I certainly don't. Never will."

We both went silent for a while. It was nice having some company. I like Wylan. He actually cares about people. Something that seems like a rare occurrence around these people.

"Nox?" he said. "You're out of Fjerda now. Try to not let it overtake your life. You have years to gain back."

"You're really nice, Wylan." I gave him a tight smile, but something was nagging at the back of my head. "Why are you hanging around these guys?"

He looks down the hallway, something sad in his eyes. Maybe I shouldn't have asked. I'm new around here, it's none of my business as to why these people have chosen a life of crime.

"They're interesting," he says. "Better them than my father."

I don't pry. Maybe at one point I'll learn more about these people, where they came from, what they do for fun. But right now, we all are stuck in our own minds.

"I should go check on Nina again," I say standing up. "Maybe she will tell me about Hellgate or something."

"Yeah," Wylan said standing. "I'll see you around, Nox."