Calloused Hearts

Chapter 6

Let's just say sometimes you're too impulsive for your own good.

You were currently surrounded by armed men and some Grisha, in an alleyway, exhausted and out of breath from trying to escape this very group for the past hour.

You were out of practice.

A day ago, this seemed like an amazing idea.

Going to find Wylan, without any backup.

Just because you couldn't stand being around Kaz anymore.

Not when his intentions were so damn unclear.

One day you feel like you're everything to him and the next day he doesn't even care?

It hurt like hell. And so despite your initial apprehension, you'd decided to go save Wylan and then leave.

You didn't know what you wanted from Kaz anymore, but this definitely wasn't it.

Now, stuck, with no help, 2 Inferni, a Squaller, a Heartrender, a bunch of angry gangsters and a very satisfied looking PR, you started regretting the "saving Wylan" part of your plan. Maybe you just leaving would've been enough to get Wylan back to the Crows safely.

"You should know better than to run from me, kid."

You laughed, "You really think you can beat me Pekka?" You sounded way too confident for your own good.

Fake it 'till you make it right?

"You're largely outnumbered and up against some of the strongest Grisha. How you see yourself getting out of here alive is beyond my imagination"

You looked at the Grisha then, something dawning on you. You knew all of them.

"Pekka please. There's a reason Kirigan is going through so much to get me back to the little palace." You raised an eyebrow at the Heartrender then, smirking, "I've defeated all of them before." You watched the Heartrender's eyes widen, as she looked to the other Grisha.

You had defeated them.

On multiple occasions. Together, alone. Every single Grisha in the Little Palace had fought you.

And you had never lost.

You had never allowed yourself to lose. Even though they often begged you for it. Because losing for them just meant more rigorous training. Losing for you meant not being able to see Kaz ever again.

Or so you had thought.

How foolish of you to trust the General.

He'd promised you a safe haven. He'd promised to bring Kaz to you. He'd promised to be your guardian and to protect you. He'd told you his story. About the everlasting pressure of having to undo what the Heretic had done. He'd taken care of you like an older brother would. You'd loved him.

But then you'd started to realize the truth of it all.

He was just using you.

Your powers. Your ability.

And then you ran.

And now you were here.

Honestly, you couldn't tell which was worse.

You heard Pekka laugh, drowning out your thoughts.

"You've got confidence, I'll give you that."

Your jaw clenched.

You hated seeing him laugh. Men like him didn't deserve to laugh.

"But you shouldn't be that way." He nodded to one of the men standing at the end of the alleyway and he disappeared behind the building.