INIQUITY- kaz brekker

One

Ketterdam was a hub of activity.

Granted the activity wasn't necessarily legal, the vast amounts of kruge the merchants racked up was enough for anyone in a position of power to turn a blind eye. Ketterdam was formed from the foundations of corruption but the people of the city fed on it with hungry mouths. You cannot put out fire with more fire and you cannot end corruption with more of the corrupted. Ketterdam was destined for ruination.

If the city was corrupted then the people were even more so, those born and raised in the dirt ridden cobblestoned streets soon learned that being swindled was a daily occurrence and to stay alive, all you could do was give in to the corruption. There was no easy way out in Ketterdam.

The day Iris Zusak was left sheltered on the steps of the Emerald Palace was the day the corruption consumed her whole. Her mother, an unnamed face had swept off into the night leaving an innocent child in the hands of a certain Pekka Rollins.

She had learned as she grew, the man hadn't been kind to her exactly but he hadn't shot her dead that night so she believed she was of some use to him. Pekka taught her to steal, to lie, to cheat, to kill and to fight. Granted her never taught her too well, for truly he was afraid of her, afraid she would grow too strong and then he would be the one cowering on the steps of his business, abandoned and alone.

Iris had an eye for beautiful things in the world. She would enter jewellers, a bright smile on her face, fingers itching and flexing towards the gems on display. She would tiptoe cautiously and gracefully fumble with the door catch to her side leaving the jeweller to rush over in a flurry of coats and furs. While he was busy she'd take a fancy to the diamond necklace behind him and brush gently past with a mumbled apology and light fingered hands. Stepping from the shop, entering the murky depths of Ketterdam's smog, she'd smile successfully like a child at the funfair who'd just won a goldfish for their efforts.

Iris had always had a gift for chemistry. Pekka had watched amazed as the seven year old girl formed molten liquids from almost nothing and his eyes almost flew from hi head the day she started a fire with simply a piece of rope from the docks and her bare hands. Call it passion or abomination, Pekka knew the girl was special and he'd do anything to keep the world from seeing just who she was.

Iris did not agree.

So that morning when she had once again fallen out of her window attempting to risk the streets of Ketterdam she had a clear idea in mind. Either set something on fire or make some new friends.

Sauntering up to a crooked run-down building in a twisted alleyway, Iris smirked at the sight of the Slat and it's ragged exterior. Waltzing inside like a girl as light as air, she cast her eyes around the darkened area, searching for some excitement.

"Hey, you take Zemeni coin, yes?", a ragged man, hunched over a table of cards rasped.

Iris had found her entertainment. Sauntering over, she stood behind a lanky Zemeni boy who had his back turned to her.

"Let me see that", he called and caught the coins that were thrown at him with ease. "The Lucky Nine casino up the block has had trouble with counterfeit coin lately. Heavy, but brittle"

Iris raised her eyebrows, he certainly knew his metals.

"Oh, come on, now. I've been here for hours. My money is good, no?", a sudden panic crossed the mans face as a sheen of sweat appeared on his brow.

"Zemeni coin can take a bullet. But the knockoff...", the man spoke, flipping the coin into the air with a daring wink before shooting upwards with cat-like reflexes, burning a hole of veracity through the counterfeit money.