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chapter four. ketterdam
Everything seemed to be going wrong.
For one thing, their ship, the Ferolind, was up in flames just yards away from where Aria Antonov hid behind a collection of barrels. Secondly, she had no source to spark her fire. No flint, no gloves, nothing. All she had was a small pistol that was low on bullets—and she was getting desperate. The odds were not in her favor right now, but, she pressed her lips to the cold of the pistol and stood—just as Jesper would. Casting her eyes towards the sky to her Saints, Aria said a prayer—for fuck sakes, don't let me die here. Something grazed her cheek—Aria stumbled behind a crate and placed her hand to the burn. She hissed at the slight pain. Through ringing ears and the sound of gunfire, someone called her name.
"Aria!" yeled Nina.
Relief flooded her, she checked above her before speeding off towards the sound of Nina's voice. Then, Aria hit the wood of the dock—hard. Her attacker grabbed her wrists, pinning her down. His knee pressed into her chest—and Aria swore she heard a crack. Aria cried out, throat growing raw as she screamed every name she could think of. The man bent in a weird way, stretching his leg to replace his his hands on her wrist, before unsheathing a dagger—glinting in the moonlight, reflecting the orange flames some ways away. Aria cried out again—before the man could act, he was dead on the ground.
Suddenly, Aria was being heaved up off her back, strong arms wrapping around her. "You do not die today, devil drusje." the Fjerdan tongue of Matthias Helvar bit at her, hauling her into his arms. "As much I wish you would."
When Aria became aware again, she was being set down on the deck of a ship—the real Ferolind. Kaz Brekker and all his schemes. Her head rested against the wall, hand on her chest. She found the blurry figure of Kaz, carrying... something. The black coiled braid gave it away.
Inej.
Aria wanted to move, but she couldn't. Not until Kaz ordered Wylan to help her. Kaz didn't even cast a glance her way, only focusing on Oomen, one of the Black Tips who had ambushed them. Wylan had an arm over her, helping her walk. He barged into one of the cabins, helping her onto the bed. "What can I do?" he asked, frantic.
Aria just laid there, struggling to breathe. "Just...watch over me. Make sure I don't die."
Wylan rounded the bed and fell into the chair beside it. "I—I won't. I promise."
"Don't fall asleep. Don't do anything." Wylan ordered.
Aria let out a pained laugh. "I've not been shot. I just...I need to breathe. I need to rest."
