The Fox and The Crow [Kaz Brekker]

chapter 29

Italics - Sign Language

Daemon walked up the steps to Kaz's temporary office at the Dregs Club, only to pause when Inej stormed out of the room.

Daemon quickly caught her arm before she could leave, "What's wrong?"

"Ask him," was all she said before ripping her arm free and leaving.

Daemon sighed and walked the rest of the way to the office. She guessed Kaz still wasn't in a good mood. So now wouldn't be the time to start any conversations about her problems.

Daemon slipped into the room, pausing in her steps when she saw the new bruises on Kaz's face from Pekka's harsh beating.

"What?" Kaz snapped at her.

Daemon didn't take his attitude to heart and sat up on the edge of the desk. She stared down at him, just waiting for him to talk. And if he didn't want to talk, that was fine too.

"If you have nothing you need, then leave."

Daemon laughed under her breath, tilting her head back. That wasn't going to happen.

"Daemon!" Kaz slammed his fist down on the table.

Daemon jumped, looking down at him. Oh, he really was serious. He wanted her to leave.

Daemon slipped off the desk, "Thank you."

Then she left, just as quick as she came. She wasn't going to stay where she wasn't wanted. Her mind just wasn't strong enough to handle it right then.

Daemon walked down the steps to see Nina sitting at one of the tables alone, a mug in hand. Daemon sat right across from her, folding her arms on the table and laying her head down on them.

"I think everyone in Ketterdam heard that one," Nina commented.

Daemon rolled her eyes with a half-hearted smile. It seemed like she and Kaz were just going back and forth these days. Everything was unstable and unsure and she didn't know what to do about it.

Nina leaned forward, "What's going on with you? Clearly it's something more than all of this. And you still haven't told anyone. I know I told you to tell Kaz, but he's not listening, is he? So you can tell me."

Daemon blinked away the tears that came to her eyes. She felt like that's all she did anymore. Cry. She was just in so much pain. And no one was coming to hold her in her agony. No one but Nina.

Daemon opened her mouth, struggling to try and speak. All that would come out is strangled noises as she tried to force it.

Nina reached forward and put a hand on her arm, "Hey, don't force yourself. I'll find you some paper. Ok?"

Daemon nodded and signed slowly, "Thank you."

Nina, recognizing the sign, smiled as she stood up, "You're welcome."

Nina found a pad of paper and a pencil behind the counter and sat back down with Daemon, giving her the stationary, "Alright. Take your time."

Daemon slowly took the pencil in her hand and began to write everything down. She left out no details as she went through pages of the pad. From the fight with Kirigan, to her dreams, to the twins, to the Shadows, and to Freya Navar. She wrote it all. And then she handed it over to Nina.

Nina read everything and her heart began to hurt for the girl in front of her. There was so much pain in the words on the page and in Daemon's heart. She never imagined it would be something like this. She paused when she saw the name at the end of it all.