MORTAL NIGHTS . . . kaz brekker

02. ugh - boys.

chapter two

NEFERTARI TORAKZOV

present time...

[Hellgate]

AS NIGHT had fallen, so had heavy rain. It hammered down against Nefertari's small window, blurring her vision of the city outside, yet it was slowing now and beginning to stop. Her last customer had just left, not saying a word to her, just leaving a few kruge on her desk, not batting an eyelid at the tears that streamed down her face.

Even as the man shut her door, light still streamed through in little lines from the peepholes in the walls. The peepholes were a feature of all brothels, they were a way to keep all employees safe and honest, and they offered a thrill to anyone who enjoyed watching others take their pleasure, which Effie thought was disgusting.

There was a stadwatch guard outside, soaked to the bone, patrolling the streets. The hour had just turned ten and flocks of people were milling around, coins being tossed, cards being dealt and laughter that was heard throughout the West Stave.

The House of Exotics was alive with noise, and outside there was a sea of silks and feathers containing many pleasure girls from the Menagerie, the Blur Iris, the House of Snow, the Willow Switch, the Obscura and even some of the men from places like the Forge or the Bandycat.

The West Stave was thrumming with people, there were many folks that were familiar to this part of Ketterdam and some new faces, pigeons waiting to be plucked into Tante Heleens manicured fingers, willingly handing over their wallets.

Nefertari's tears dried, leaving her eyes red and cheeks wet.

Many people chose to visit this part of the Barrel in disguise - in veils or masks or capes with nothing but the glint of their eyes visible. They bought their costumes in one of the specialty shops off the main canals. They dressed as Mister Crimson or the Lost Bride , or wore the grotesque, goggle-eyed mask of the Madam - all characters from the Komedie Brute. And then there were the Jackals,  a group of rowdy men and boys who cavorted through the Barrel in the red lacquered masks of Suli fortune tellers. A lot of tourists never entered the brothels of the West Stave, many just came to watch the crowds in their costumes.

Tonight, there was a different feeling in the air, something was happening. Neferatari recalled the conversation she'd had with Kaz Brekker, the Bastard of the Barrel. His offer and what she would have to do.

Nefertari's door creaked shut as she adjusted the clothes that she just changed into, some black trousers, a large white shirt and a corset vest which she had stolen from the girl that lived in the room next to her, Anastasha, and a cloak that had a hood so she could sneak out without anyone seeing her. She also tightly secured her two long Zemeni axes that were strapped to her back.

The rain by then had stopped, with only some drips falling from pipes overhead and puddles on the ground, reflecting the lights of nearby lamps or lights. Effie blended into the crowd almost immediately, ducking and weaving around the people still milling about late into the night.

She arrived at Fifth Harbour at midnight, waiting for her was Brekker, as he had said, there was a large man behind him, a man she knew as Muzzen, and a girl that was tall and built like the figurehead of a ship carved by a generous hand, she was pretty and Effie recognised her immediately, she was Nina Zenik, who worked at the House of the White Rose, which was another pleasure house nearby the Menagerie. The two hadn't formally met but they'd seen glimpses and heard whispers from passersby and customers.