Exquisite Corpse | Shadow & Bone

𝟖. 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞

season 1 episode 4; otkazat'sya

"So, do you have any plans up your sleeve?" Nataliya questioned Kaz as they looked at each other, but he didn't answer her as he just looked back ahead, a dark looks on his face.

"I mean, Kribirsk isn't the worst. We can open up a bar, brew East Ravka beer for the Westerners." Jesper spoke up but he was interrupted by the others.

They all interrupted him in sync, "Shut up, Jesper."

Jesper put down his drinks as he stared into the distance, "I miss Milo."

Nataliya gaze soften as she patted Jesper's back, "You'll see him again. I have a feeling you will."

Jesper smiled at the heartrender, "I'll take your word for it."

Suddenly Arken approached the four from behind smiling widely, "Friends."

"What are you so cheery about?" Kaz asked him as he turned towards the shorter man.

"This is Marko. He is the leader of the traveling group known as the Pomdrakon players," He introduced the man that stood beside him looking skeptical. "They have been invited to perform in this year's winter fete."

The man looked at them proud, "A lifelong dream."

Arken clapped the man onto his shoulder, "A chance to get inside the Little Palace. But they lost their star performer due to an unfortunate freak accident. They are in desperate need of someone with skills to replace their star performer, and as Ketterdam's premier talent manager, I had an idea."

They all looked at Inej and Nataliya but the heartrender looked at her friend and sighed knowing what it meant for them, "So who wants to go first?"

In the end Inej was going first, she turned around and quickly approached the aerial silks, the music started as she reached them making the woman quickly lift herself into the air.

She roped the silks around her body before she let herself fall, the silks stopped her in the air, and she spun around leaning her upper body back.

The crowed started cheering as they clapped, the black-haired woman pulled herself up again before she moved her leg elegantly in the air and spun around her own axis before she landed quietly on her feet. Nataliya smile grew as she watched how graceful Inej was. She even could hear how peaceful Inej's heartbeat was.

The crowd cheered again as they all clapped loudly while Inej approached the man. "The saints must have sent you!"

The heartrender simple smiled as the man approached her, "Do you do the same as your friend? Aerial skills?"

Nataliya locked eyes with the man as she creased his hand as she slowed his heart, "I'm a bit different, see I'm known as a La Sirena. I can practically talk to the dead, manipulate minds and so on with the simple use of my voice."

Nataliya heard a heartbeat skip a beat when she said the words La Sirena. That's what people called her, only the crows and Heleen really knew she was a heartrender. Kaz made sure there was no trace of a heartrender on his crew.

So, when people heard of someone who was able to get answers or persuade people, they were a part of the Crows. They assumed her voice was like a siren able to manipulate people with the sounds of her voice. Naming her La Sirena, a temptress.

The man was lost in a trance as Nataliya kept his heart at paste she liked as he spoke, "You're like a fallen saint. Can you sing like a siren."

"Of course, I can but I wouldn't want others to hear what type of talent you just secured. I promise I am worth it." Nataliya focused on the man in front of her as his smile grew bigger.

She wasn't lying when she said she could sing, her voice was particularly beautiful. However, she hasn't done that since she was fifteen. Nataliya would sing with her older sister, usually songs that were based on old stories they grew up reading or songs her sister taught her that came from their mother.

"Seems the saints of granted me two gifts." The man cheered as he quickly hugged the heartrender.

Nataliya smirked at the crew as she was meant with Jesper's shocked face and Kaz harden glared. But she noticed a quick smirk Kaz gave her back before he went back to the unemotional expression he always had on. Nataliya went to stand next to Inej as she allowed herself to relax for a second.

"Yes! The show will go on! Now-", he turned around and snapped with his fingers as another man handed him a costume who he then held for Inej to take. "Can you fit into this?"

Both Inej and Nataliya wrinkled their noses as they looked at the rainbow colors. Jesper spoke up before they could as he laid an arm around the man. "Of course she can."

"Those are her colors. But the thing is, we come only in a package deal," He pointed at himself as he smirked

"No free rides," the man told them clearly. "What are your talents?"

Jesper looked at the two woman who gave him an annoyed glance. They knew what he was planning. Nataliya did not want to participate in whatever he had up his sleeve. Last time she helped him she almost lost her eye due to him trying to throw a knife blindfolded.

"This one is all yours," Nataliya told Inej who rolled with her eyes and went to the silks again.

Jesper quickly sat down with his back turned to her as he looked into a small mirror. The young man pointed his gun behind him as Inej dangled in the air, a card in her mouth. He breathed out deeply before he shot over his shoulder, the bullet hit the card cutting it into two pieces. The crowd was impressed as they all started cheering and clapping again.

Jesper put his gun away again as Inej came back, the man chuckled as he hugged Jesper excited. He then turned to Kaz with an expecting look on his face, "Stage is yours, sir."

Kaz eyed the man seriously, "I'll make my own way."

A light smirk played on Nataliya's lips as she eyed him. They had finally found a way into the Little Palace and that meant there was little chance that they could really get the Sun Summoner out of there. 

Author's Notes

I finally finished another chapter!! I hope everyone is enjoying this fic! Please make sure you sign petitions that been going around to safe shadow and bone and the six of crows spin off. As well as Ceasefire!!!! I have been working on season 2 and I have more free time now that it is summer! I think I will update my books every Friday the best I can! How do you all like the story? Do you have any thoughts or opinions? Thank you all for the support and I love each and every one of you! Have an amazing day!