Six Of Crows imagines

Pinkey Promise

It was raining. People walked hurriedly down the street and dashed into coffeehouses to avoid the water.

For once, the Barrel was quiet. All the pigeons were inside gambling and drinking the evening away in the warm parlours. Kaz was the only person outside.

Inej leapt over him and onto the roof on the other side of the street. He didn't feel the rush in his stomach like he normally did, as this job was a simple gathering of information, nothing big or exciting.

Kaz's roll was to wait outside the parlour while Inej got the documents. That was it.

He stationed himself by the door under the small cover the parlour offered. Kaz was soaked, his hair sticking to his forehead. He ran a hand through it in an attempt to look more presentable.

"Hera no! Get back here! Hera!"

Kaz didn't pay any attention to the girls voice. She was further down the street and he couldn't see her without moving his whole head.

"Hera Kingswood, don't you dare go any further! I seared to the saints if you so much as touch that man!" The girl said in a voice laced with an unspoken threat.

There was a tug on his coat and Kaz looked down. There, stood a girl. She was nothing more than a toddler with dark brown eyes and short blonde hair.

"Hello," she said flashing him a gap tooth grin.

Kaz raised an eyebrow, then glanced up at the other girl. She was older, maybe 10 or 11 with the same blonde hair and brown eyes. She was running down the street towards them. He only noticed after she got closer that she was shivering. Strangely, the smaller girl, Hera, wasn't.

"Sorry, sir..." the older girl said tentatively. "We didn't mean to bother, she likes to meet new people, she gets away from me sometimes."

Kaz looked at Hera who was staring right back at him. "Yes well, you'd better keep an eye one her. Not everyone is as nice as I am."

There was a sweet laugh and the older girl jumped, almost dropping Hera. Inej was behind them, the documents in her hand.

"You? Nice? You're nothing but a liar, a thief and a killer."

The older girl looked back towards Kaz, eyes wide.

"Cool!" Hera yelled.

Kaz looked at his spider. "Thank you, Inej, for making sure these two never get within 5 feet of me."

Inej smiled cheekily.

"Um," the girl said, putting Hera down and but holding tightly onto her hand. "It was a pleasure, really, but we must be getting home before father worries." She pulls Hera along behind her as she takes off down the street.

Hera turns back and gives them a small wave before she disperses around the corner. Inej waves back.

"She was such a cute little girl!" She gushes, "and she seemed to really like you."

Kaz grunted. He had no time for a little kid to be bothering him.

___________________

He hadn't expected to see the girls again, especially not so soon. But, here they were.

"I hate to ask this of you." Kiva says, eyeing Hera as she sits happily at a seat along bar being given water in shot glasses my Anika. "But I was wondering if you would mind watching her tonight? There is a situation at home that I need to take care of and..." the glances back towards Hera, "I don't want her to be there when I 'take care' of it."

Inej is practically bursting with excitement. "YES, yes of course we can watch her!"

Kiva looks at Kaz, for the official answer. He raises an eyebrow. Kiva seems to get the message and pulls out a small leather sack from her dress pocket. "This is all the Kruge I have, but I hope it does the trick..."

She waits, holding the pouch towards me.

I take it. Inej smiled wider and rushed over to Hera, bringing her over.

Kiva crouches does so that she's eye to eye with her younger sister. "Do not cause trouble. Do not go snooping. Do not do the thing. Do not talk to anybody who looks suspicious. Do not be a pain for Mr Brekker."

She gives Kaz a glance that tells him she knows exactly the type of person he is.

Hera nods, not listening. She then runs to Inej who takes her outside.

Kiva stands up. "An hour, at most. And if she does anything I apologise. She's got a bit of a problem with looking into people's souls and then telling them about it."

Kaz frowned. No grisha could do that. At least, he didn't think they could.