My Lady Inej (six of crows fanfic)

Inej

Inej was sitting on the dirty floor in her prison when she heard a scratching sound at the door. She crept forward and bent her head down to look under the door, trying not to press her face directly against the floor. She made out two black paws before she was temporarily blinded and the paws were replaced with feet.

    "Inej?" a voice whispered from the hallway.

    "Genya?" Inej pressed her hands against the door and laughed quietly in relief. "Are you here to get me out?"

    "I can't. The key you have goes to the dungeons, it doesn't work for this door, and Dunyasha is carrying the key that does open the tower around her neck. I just wanted you to know that I'm working on it and I'll try to have you out of there soon."

    Inej saw a flash of light under the door and knew Genya was leaving. She bit back a sob, feeling alone and helpless. Dunyasha planned to execute Kaz tonight and the sun was already setting, she had to find a way out quickly. Inej glanced around the room again, but the only form of escape she could see was the window. She walked over to it and looked down. Scaling the wall seemed like a possibility, but surely someone would see her and Dunyasha would have guards waiting for her by the time she reached the bottom.

Growing frustrated, Inej clenched her fists and walked back to the middle of the room. She collapsed on the floor and held her head in her hands as she started to cry for everything that she would lose by this time tomorrow. She cried for her mother and sisters knowing Dunyasha wouldn't spare them. She cried for Jesper, who she still had yet to properly mourn for. She cried for Nina, hoping she was somewhere safe. And she cried for Kaz, who turned out to be a better man than she originally thought and who didn't deserve to die for something he had no control of. She failed not only those closest to her, but all of England.

Inej suddenly felt a shift in the air and when she looked up the room suddenly felt a lot bigger. She looked towards the door and realized she was now eye level with the crack underneath it. Glancing down at herself, she realized her hands were now tiny paws and she had fur covering her body. She tried twisting to get a better look at herself, but she couldn't tell exactly what she was. After a few more twists she stopped and regained her bearings. She needed to get to Kaz—everything else could wait.

She looked around and found the key she had been keeping on her person a few feet away. Scrambling over to it, she tried to pick it in her mouth but it was heavier than it had been when she was a human. Inej gave up trying to carry it that way and chose to drag it with her towards the door. It was difficult, but eventually she made it to the crack where she pushed the key out before squeezing her body through after it. In the hallway she looked around and listened to ensure there were no guards nearby. Satisfied with the quiet that enveloped her, Inej grabbed the key and started to drag it towards the stairs. She made it about halfway down when she heard the door at the bottom of the stairs clang open and the sound of boots echoed toward her.

Inej quickly looked around for somewhere to hide and started to bounce back up the stairs as a hand clamped around the scruff of her neck and lifted her into the air. She tried to cover her face with her hands as she heard a voice say, "Put her down, Matthias. You're scaring her."

Inej felt herself being set back on the ground and she looked up to Nina bending down next to her with her arm outstretched.

"It's you, isn't it?" Nina asked as she gently ran a hand down Inej's body. Inej pressed her face into Nina's hand and relished for a moment the feeling of having her friend with her again before she turned to Matthias and bared her teeth. She felt herself being lifted into the air again and cradled against Nina's chest as she said, "Hold it, Inej, it's okay. He won't hurt you or me. We came to rescue you, although I see you didn't really need our help."

Inej suddenly remembered the person who did need help and she started to squirm in Nina's arms until Nina set her back on the ground. She then walked over to the key and pointed at it with her paw. Nina bent down and picked it up, frowning. "I'm glad you held onto this, but it's useless here."

Inej shook her head and scurried down the stairs. She heard Nina following after her, calling for her to stop, but she kept going until she made it to the door at the bottom of the stairs and crawled through. On the other side she paused for a second as her eyes adjusted to the darkness and it gave Nina enough time to catch up to her and snatch her up again.

"What are you doing?" Nina whispered, clutching Inej to her chest.

I have to save Kaz. She didn't know how to talk to Nina or explain anything, and she couldn't waste time trying to figure it out. She pointed at the key in Nina's hand and then pointed in the direction of the castle before sliding out of Nina's grip and making a run for it.

Inej made sure to stay along the walls and in the shadows as she made her way to the palace and she hoped Nina and Matthias were being discreet behind her too. When she made it to the door that led to the dungeons she immediately darted through it and started checking the cells for Kaz.

She was looking into one with a girl who looked a few years younger than her, tears streaming down her face, when she heard Kaz whisper, "Wraith?"

Inej turned and ran towards the sound of his voice until she reached his cell. His eyes immediately fell on her as she neared and his eyebrows raised. "Is that...you? Or am I really that far gone I'm talking to a rat?"

At the thought of being a rat Inej bristled and started to panic, which led to her running around in circles in front of Kaz's cell. She was lifted into the air again by Matthias as he said, "You're not a rat. I'm not entirely sure what you are, but it's definitely not a rat so calm down."

Inej relaxed and took in Kaz. He looked slightly beaten, but the fact that he was still alive sent relief crashing through her body. Dunyasha had threatened to force her to witness Kaz's death, but she could've just as easily changed her mind and killed him anyway. She squirmed for Matthias to release her and approached the bars of Kaz's cell when he did. He reached his hand out and she slipped through the bars to scurry up his arm and settle on his shoulders.

Nina glanced between Inej and Kaz as she asked, "Who is this?"

"I'm her husband," Kaz replied as Inej nuzzled his cheek.

"I see," Nina said as she stepped forward and used the key to unlock the cell door. "So she managed to grow attached to you after all."

Kaz stepped out of the cell and as Inej looked around she had another idea. She crawled down Kaz and ran up to Nina, gripping at her skirts. Nina peered down at her and Inej pointed at the key before pointing at the other cells.

"You want me to open all of them?" Nina asked. "Are you sure?"

Inej nodded and Nina looked down at the key in her hand before sighing and turning to start unlocking the other cells. Matthias stopped her with his hand on her arm and silently took the key from her, unlocking the cells himself. Only a few of them immediately ran out the door, most hesitated clearly wondering if it was some kind of trap. Since she didn't have the ability to reassure them and she wanted to leave as quickly as they could, Inej started running back the way they came, looking over her shoulder to ensure the others were following.

They quickly caught up to Inej and Kaz scooped her up before they exited the castle and started running for the woods. Inej jostled against him with every step and she clutched onto his clothes as they ran. Eventually they slowed to a walk and Inej was able to sit more comfortably in Kaz's arms. No one spoke as they walked and soon Inej was drifting into sleep.