Empyrean || Kaz Brekker

chapter one

A/N - Please read the prequel first if you haven't, and remember that this fic is a sequel! Check out Ineffable first and give it a read before starting Empyrean :)

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Elham scrunched up her nose as the stench of the Barrel filled her nose. The further her and the Crows walked into the city, the worse the smell got. It was enough to make the pigeons' eyes water, forcing them to find solace in one of the many clubs Ketterdam had to offer. Elham had nearly forgotten just how bad it was, wishing she had something to cover her nose with. The air was cold–but somehow humid, too–clinging to her bare skin like a wet blanket.

"I can't believe I forgot my coat on the ship."

"I don't know how you did that," Jesper snickered, throwing an arm around her shoulder. "You can borrow one of mine when we get back to the Crow Club, alright? Besides, it was high time you threw it out, anyway. It wasn't doing you any favors, darling."

Elham dug her elbow into Jesper's side, making him whine. "It was my favorite coat. I've had it for longer than I've known you."

"Then you definitely needed to throw it out," Jesper mumbled, running a hand up and down his side.

Barely five minutes off the ship, and Elham was already regretting stepping off. She rolled her eyes, increasing her pace to catch up to Inej. She linked her arm with hers, the two now walking side by side. Kaz led the group, with Jesper trailing behind, still pouting from Elham's attack.

"Home sweet home," Jesper drawled out, moving to walk next to Elham again. "Straight off the boat from Ravka, and no one was waiting to kill us as soon as we arrived. Yay! That's a good sign. I think I might celebrate with a little dice and debauchery."

"No debauchery," Kaz spoke for the first time since deboarding.

"Dice, then."

"No dice. We have stops to make."

Elham sighed, feeling her nerves beginning to increase. She didn't mean to sound so snappy, but being back in Ketterdam was making her skin crawl. Too much had happened since they left, and too much could go wrong with their return. Jesper was just trying to lighten the mood, as always, but it was only further souring Elham's mood.

She spoke through gritted teeth, taking a calming breath. "Jesper, darling? Dial it back a little, for my sanity, if nothing else. I just spent weeks babysitting you, and I didn't get paid for it. Let's focus, yeah?"

Inej ignored the bickering between her friends, letting go of Elham to match Kaz's stride. "What's first? Tante Heleen?"

Elham flinched at the name. Her eyes flitted to Kaz, who had a look of determination on his face as he kept his eyes forward. If he was anxious, he wasn't showing it. Elham wished she had his ability to hide her emotions like that. It certainly would make their return easier, especially with the consequences of her deal she made with Heleen beginning to catch up to her.

"We get to the Crow Club," Kaz said, turning down an alleyway.

The Crows followed close behind him, walking the familiar streets to their home. Elham had almost forgotten just how dark the city was, save for a few streetlights. It was a lucky thing the alleyways were shortcuts, or her paranoia would have doubled moving through rival gang territory. When they finally turned the corner to the street the Crow Club was on, Elham furrowed her brows in confusion.

The spot where the Crow Club sign hung was gone, replaced by a circular green sign with a crown logo interwoven in the center. Kerch writing wrapped all the way around the perimeter of the sign, and Elham had to squint to read it as they got closer.