INEFFABLE | kaz brekker

chapter twelve

Elham was seated next to Jesper, across from Kaz, and Inej soon followed, landing next to her. Kaz was making it a point to avoid looking at Elham, not that she minded, considering the events of the past few minutes. Instead, he was facing Jesper.

"If we don't move soon, the Black General will be on top of us. We can't waste any more time looking for the girl."

Jesper sighed. "We're really gonna leave empty handed then?"

Elham nodded. "We don't have much of a choice, do we? Alina would never let us catch up to her, and I'm not facing the Darkling again if I don't have to. I say we come up with a plan, and quickly. Let's get out of here while we still have a slight advantage."

Suddenly, a loud explosion came from outside where the carriage was parked. The Crows flinched, turning their heads to the door. Elham moved to stand, but Jesper stuck his arm out, blocking her from investigating.

"Our alarm."

Kaz quickly spit out orders. "Split up. Much easier to take a Grisha one on one than a whole squad of them. Rendezvous at the fountain. Elham, follow me, we don't know if they found out about you coming back to the palace."

She nodded, and they filed out the door, scanning outside for threats. They came face to face with the Darkling's most trusted Grisha, staring straight back at them.

The Inferni, the sister to the man Elham had killed, eyed her, before turning her gaze to Inej. Elham knew what it meant. Elham had killed someone she loved, and she was about to return the favor.

Elham moved to block Inej, but Kaz put his cane out in front of her. He murmured to her, before shouting at the rest of the Crows.

"She's got it, she'll be fine. Move!"

The Crows darted out in different directions, a Grisha hot on each of their trails. Elham led the way in front of Kaz, a small flame pooling in her palms as she ducked down alleys, doing her best to set a pace Kaz could keep up with. But she could hear the uneven steps and the click of his cane begin to falter. He was slowing down.

"Saints. Shit, shit, shit."

"Calm down and be quiet, keep going. We're fine."

Elham shakily nodded, turning down another alley, one that was better lit. She let the flame lessen in her palms, now only dancing across her fingertips. She had slowed enough for Kaz to now walk in stride beside her.

Now that they were more visible to enemies, Kaz took the lead, slightly shielding her from whatever could be in front of them. Elham noticed this and rolled her eyes. The thought was sweet, she would have even blushed if she let herself think about it long enough. But only one of them was Grisha, and her power would do them a lot better against an attack than Kaz hobbling with his cane would.

Slightly out of breath, eyes wildly looking around, they rounded a corner. Kaz walked a few paces, before stopping completely. Confused, Elham moved to stand next to him, ready to question him, when the words died on her tongue. Her breath had hitched, her stance became rigid.

The Darkling was stepping out of the shadows, coming up the end of the path.

He was no more than ten or fifteen feet away, and getting closer every second, but Elham couldn't get her feet to move back. Instead, she stepped closer to Kaz, letting the flames in her palms grow.

The Darkling smirked. "I knew it was you. Hello, Elham. I didn't recognize you at first, you've grown so much. You've gotten better with your powers, I see. Have you come to join me again?"

Elham felt like the breath was knocked from her longs. She tried her best to make herself sound strong, but it didn't sound so convincing. Still, her voice was laced with venom.