MORTAL NIGHTS . . . kaz brekker

01. kaz brekker has an attitude problem much?

chapter one

NEFERTARI TORAKZOV

two days ago...

[Ketterdam , The Menagerie]

SUNSHINE streamed from the sky in a cascade of light; wreathing the paintings on the wall in gold; making the harbour sparkle, lighting up the decorations that were dotted around the corridor, making the prison of a place look almost relatively beautiful.

The echo of heels sounded from along the small corridor, and an average sized woman appeared, long blonde hair that was tied up on the woman's head had peacock feathers sticking out wildly that waved around dangerously.

Tante Heleen pursed her lips as she looked at Nefertari's appearance; half-awake, clothes askew - clearly been thrown on minutes before, but still latched her manicured hand onto Effie's wrist and dragged her into her office.

Brightly coloured curtains framed large windows, and mirrors were stationed everywhere around the office. Fitting, Nefertari mused as Tante Heleen never seemed to tire of her appearance.

Nefertari fixed her eyes onto those in her reflection, dark chocolate eyes blinking back at her. The setting sun glided against her dark cheeks, nose and hair, her dark tresses in neat twists down her back, with rings of gold wrapped around each braid, the ends of her coming to sit just below her waist.

Tante Heleen's office was ugly and a mess. To put it simply. Bright and moth-eaten curtains draped by the dirt stained windows, random bits of clothing covered the floor and the shelves had a coating of dust which seemingly hadn't been touched in a while.

She did not hear the horrible blonde woman leave the room but she did hear the clicking of a cane down the hallway. She turned quickly from where she had been staring mindlessly at the wall, her hair flying around her shoulder. She knew who it was. Everyone in Ketterdam could tell you who it was just by the click of his cane.

Effie steeled herself as the handle of the door twisted and the door creaked open slowly.

From the doorway the Devil smiled at her, secretly, like he knew something she didn't.

Nefertari sighed exasperatedly, ''Oh. You.''

Kaz Brekker. It was often said that Kaz Brekker didn't need a reason for anything, but in that moment Nefertari was curious, what did he want with her? For Kaz Brekker showing up at your door was hardly ever going to be a good thing.

His cane knocked the door shut, with a sharp snap of his wrist. He sat contentedly on one of Heleen's awful chairs, then looked back towards her. The Bastard of the Barrel spoke, his voice a rock salt rasp ''What do you know of jurda parem?''

Nefertari sat down onto the nearest armchair, leaning back, and tilting her head at the boy that sat before her, ''jurda parem.'' She tested the vowels on her tongue. ''I've heard whispers but— but I never dared to believe them to be true. The gossip that comes through here would surprise you.''

''It isn't just gossip, it's real.''

''What?'' She laughed disbelievingly. ''Tidemakers turning to mist? Tailors maki—''

He nodded, ''All real.''

He leaned forward, his cold eyes following her every move. ''You might want to listen closely — hear what it does to people like you.''

Nefertari held her breath, willing herself not to make a sound — of course he knew, his little spider would have watched and whispered all her secrets. What else did he know?

''Tell me.''

He did. He told her all about Bo Yul-Bayur, jurda parem, the recent theft of Ravkan military documents, what he wanted of her, what the Merchant Council had done; set up a reward for Bo Yul-Bayur, what Van Eck had said, what and who he needed.

''We're retrieving Bo Yul-Bayur, and I need a Etherealki, so I want you. If Bo Yul-Bayur is alive, someone will try to break him out of the Ice Court. Why not take our chances?''

Neither of them said anything for a moment, and Brekker looked like he was getting impatient as he cleared his throat loudly.

''Sorry, it just takes me a moment to process so much stupid all at once.'' Then she paused, looking out the dirty window. ''What's in it for me?''

''Five million kruge, and I could get you out of here,'' He waved his cane around, pointing to the office they were in, the building, the Menagerie. ''No promises, we might have to send you back here in a box, but if all goes well...''

She smiled a little, despite the situation, ''You're a manipulator.''

''I like to think of myself as an outcome engineer.''

To get out of the Menagerie would be what she wanted more than anything, but the Ice Court being her way out? More like her way out of life.

I can do this, she thought. Then: And even if I can't, I have to.

When she looked up Brekker was looking through Heleens drawers, picking out a few pieces of paper, chucking bits of feather onto the floor.

''Fine. I'll do it.''

Brekker walked slowly to the door, his cane clicking, not bothering with pleasantries as he opened the door with a gloved hand. ''I'll see you by the docks, 12pm sharp, don't be late.''

Brekker threw a red silk bunch her way, and she recognised it immediately — one of the Comedie Brute costumes. She looked at it oddly for a moment before it clicked — that was what Brekker meant when he said he needed someone that knew it inside and out, Zeniks druskelle boy.

She had met him once, Heleen had taken some of the girls to Hellsgate, he had stayed in his cage, obviously not taking his chance to enjoy himself with some of the girls. Had faced his wall and blocked out the sounds of his prisoner neighbours. They hadn't spoken but — enough to know he was odd, a strange young man.

Kaz Brekker was playing a dangerous game of chess, and she was going to be the deadliest piece on the board. Because in Ketterdam? You play to win.

EVA SPEAKS !

also this is severely unedited and i will probably come back later and cry about it but - whatever.
hope you are enjoying this so far :)