Darling || JesperxOC || Shadow and Bone DISCONTINUED

V

Lorelei's POV:

As the dust settles it becomes apparent what has gone on. A single bag of flour falls backwards, tied to the chair in Alexei place.

I look at everyone's expressions as they stand there, covered in flour, staring at the chair. The white contents of the bag pours out through a whole made by the impact.

"What in the-" Dreeson starts

I quickly pull Jespers hand as we walk out of the house.

I don't look back until we are standing just outside the gates of the building.

I remove my hand from his as I dust myself off. The white substance flying off and entering the air around us.

"Right, you owe me one now considering I helped you get Milana" I say as I cross my arms and watch him stare at me still in shock.

"What- How?!" He says "Did you not just see the same thing that I did?!!!!" He raises his voice as I see the girl and Kaz exit the house.

"Of cause I saw what you saw!" I say "Maybe thats what they've evolved into on the other side of the fold" I say "Maybe it's what all of them do when they get scared" I suggest

"What, they turn into flour?" Jesper asks

"Well.... Yes" I say

"Well whatever happened it let us have a lead on the case" Kaz says dusting his long coat off

"A sun Summoner" the girl mutters

"Inej, we don't even know that she exists yet" Kaz mutters and seems to falter when he sees the corners of her mouth dip from their previous uplift.

Inej... nice name. I think to myself.

"He gave us until sunrise" Kaz says

"Sunrise?!" I ask with a shocked expression "that's... 7 hours away!" I speak everyone's minds

"Well, best to stop chatting and start figuring out a plan" He says as he stares at me like i'm some little girl who's wanting him to play dolls with her.

"Who says I don't already have a plan?" I say, crossing my arms in defence

"Oh? Do you?" He asks. I stay silent. "I didn't think so.. and besides you're not coming with us anyway" he says

"Says who?!" I call as he tries to walk away and the others stay put.

"Me" he says, turning around to face me again with his hands on his cane.

"And why the hell can't I come with you?" I ask

"Because you're not a part of the crows. I'm not just letting anyone string along. This isn't a free for all" He says

I'm silent for a second before I blurt out "Let me join the crows then"

I know it's foolish. The crows. I couldn't be a crow... could I? .... No I couldn't not after everything with him, no. And what about my gift? Ha. No way they would let me in when they discover I'm Grishan.

"Why should I let you become one of us?" He stares me up and down with his cane firmly held in his right hand with his left on top of it. "You've not proven that you're of any worth to me at all" He finishes as he keeps his eyes fixed onto mine, as if judging my reaction

"Kaz!-" Jesper says as he goes to step in between us, clearly snapped out of his previous haze, but I quickly stop him by putting my hand onto his arm

"No, he has a point, I've not proven myself." I say slowly "And how exactly do I prove myself to you?" I ask

Without a second of warning, Kaz pulls Jesper towards him and quickly raises his cane onto Jespers neck.  Without hesitation I take out my gun from my back pocket and I hold it at Kaz.

"If you want to be a crow, you have to prove your loyalty to me" He says calmly while he continues to press on Jespers neck as the boy starts to panic.

I'm acutely aware of Inej looking panicked.

"Why has this got anything to do with Jesper?" I question as I hold the gun in front of me

"I'm not blind, you looked to him when things turned sour back there- you only want to join because you want to stay wherever he is. So I will be using him. It's either my crew or him" He says as he looks at me.

Suddenly he raises his cane as if he's going to smack Jespers neck with it.

Without so much as a thought going through my brain, I pull the trigger.....

*roll the credits my dudes*

———————————
EXTENDED CHAPTER:

*Moments before when Alexai was about to be shot, Loris pov*

I had to do it.... I know I shouldn't have but I couldn't let him die. Not when I could have stopped it.

I quickly steady Alexai to his feet as we appear in a new location: no longer is he tied to the chair in the basement, we now stand in the middle of Ketterdam.

I look around in the town and I spot a huge bag of flour sitting ready to be hauled into the bakers shop.

I grab it and I go to leave when he grabs my arm.

"You saved me" he comments and I cringe

"Don't thank me yet" I comment " you've got to find a way to live on this side of the fold first" and then I take that as my cue to leave.

Before I know it I'm back in the basement and the flours replacing the boys body as I stand next to Jesper and the clock starts moving again.