The Fox and The Crow [Kaz Brekker]

chapter 2

Italics - Sign Language

It had been a day since the taking of the DeKappel painting. Daemon was growing quite bored of sitting idly in the club, flicking through decks and managing tables. The only thing of mild interest to her was Jesper ditching his place at the door for a seat at one of the tables she was at.

Daemon gave him a look, signaling with her hand low, "Kaz won't be happy if he sees you here, Jes."

Jesper grinned, "You gonna tell on me?"

Daemon snorted and rolled her eyes. An obvious 'no'. Jesper and Daemon were thick as thieves. They were the mischievous troublemakers of the bunch. Though Jesper often joked that Daemon was such a 'mommy's girl' when it came to Kaz. If he told her to jump, she was already 100 feet in the air. That didn't mean Daemon didn't like to stir things up though. She could get a rise out of people like no other.

"Hey, you take Zemini coin, yes?" one of the patrons at the table asked.

Daemon held out her hand with a firm nod and the man tossed her a few coins. Her brow twitched at the odd scent that came with it. A copper smell. It was weird when associated with this particular coin.

Jesper rose a brow, "Let me see that."

Daemon gave him the coin and he inspected it, "Counterfeit?"

Jesper simply gave her a quick wink in response, "The Lucky Nine casino up the block has had trouble with counterfeit coin lately. Heavy, but brittle."

The man laughed, "Oh, come on now. I've been here for hours. My money is good, no?"

Daemon gave a hard look in return. If Jesper said something was up, she would believe him. She clicked her tongue and motioned her head at Jesper with a quick jerk, telling him to continue.

"Zemini coin can take a bullet. But the knock off...cover your ears, darling," Jesper warned.

Daemon placed her hands over her ears as Jesper flipped the coin in the air and shot it. As it landed on the table, they all saw the hole in the middle of it.

"Busted," Jesper grinned, twirling his gun and putting it back in its holster.

"What does that prove?" the man asked angrily.

Daemon simply nodded her head towards two men and they dragged him off. Jesper reached to the middle of the table for the rewards, but a cane smacked down right in front of his hand. Daemon made a delighted noise as Kaz came up by her side.

Kaz gave a warning look to Jesper, "No loud noises at the table, Jesper. You'll scare off the pigeons."

Jesper drew back sheepishly, "Wouldn't want that, boss."

"Shouldn't you be on the door? How many times do I have to tell you to stop bothering Daemon?"

"Right. Sorry Daemon. Right away, boss."

Daemon waved him off with a two finger salute. Kaz motioned for Daemon to follow him and another man took her place at the table. Daemon flicked her eyes up and down Kaz' figure, looking for any signs of discomfort or anything to tell her what he wanted. However, it wasn't unusual for Kaz to take her away at a moment's notice just for her to sit with him in his room. He liked her company.

"Early for action, innit, Kaz?" a man named Rotty began to follow the two.

Daemon made a face to show her confusion and Kaz gave her a quick look in return. The two were amazing at communicating silently. They could have an entire conversation with a single look at each other. This one simply said, what the hell does this man want now?