Ravens and Crows

Chapter 22 ~Wylan~

Of course Jesper had to say we lived in the Van Eck mansion in the middle of the Crow Club. There was a millisecond of hang time. Where the drunk man stared me down. He saw my soft skin and strawberry curls and blue eyes, my stupid blue eyes that looked just like my stupid fathers'. I was obviously a merchant to anyone who looked close enough, and this man was looking close enough.

When the millisecond passed the man spit in my face. It wasn't enjoyable, but I was surprised it wasn't a punch.

I wiped it off and was pleased when he started to walk back to his seat.

Then Jesper stood up and grabbed his shoulder. "Hey, Jackass, when you spit on someone, you're supposed to say sorry."

"Sorry?" The drunken man slurred.

"Yeah, sorry."

"Say sorry to this," His fist went flying and hit Jesper square in the jaw. Jesper stumbled back than returned the punch.

Some of the other men and women in the bar got up and advanced on us, some of them moved to our side to help. Another man started toward me. I grabbed my water glass and smashed it against his head. He stumbled back.

A man advanced on Ronan from behind and pinned Ronan's arms behind him. Ronan thrashed in attempt to shake his grip.

A woman grabbed Jesper's arm and twisted it behind him, his sleeve coming up. "This one here's a Crow."

A man seized my wrist and pulled up my sleeve. "This one's not. Still a clean, sick, little merchling."

"And what about you?" The man holding Ronan asked. He had Ronan almost bent double. "Are you a Crow?"

"No," Ronan snarled, his voice venomous. "I'm a Raven." And with that Ronan kicked the man in the crotch and then twisted to punched him in the nose. The man staggered away and Ronan took the opportunity to grab his arm and throw him over the bar counter.

I stepped on the toe of the man holding me, trying to remember some of the fighting skills Jesper had taught me. The man laughed at my efforts. I grabbed his pinky and pulled till I heard a sickening pop. He howled in pain and let me go.

Jesper grabbed the hair of the women holding him and pulled. She let go with a shriek.

The fight exploded. Fellow Dregs fought with us and Ronan held his own nicely; a devilish smile plastered on his face the entire time.

After what felt like forever the rest of the rival gangs fell or left and only the Dregs were left standing. Kaz popped out of his office momentarily to shush us, saying nothing about the unconscious, possibly seriously injured, bodies around us before going back inside.

Ronan rubbed at his bleeding knuckled and laughed. "I guess there are two good things about the past."

"You did good," Jesper complemented Ronan. "I would give you a high five but my hand got cut by some glass and is all bloody."

Ronan shook his head. "Only here can you say that and not get arrested."

"Speaking of getting arrested we should probably head back to the house." I said and we trudged back up to the Van Eck mansion.

~-~

When we got through the door the sound of a baby crying drifted from the kitchen.

Ronan raised an eyebrow at us. "Did you guys adopt or..."

Jesper was about to say something when mediocre singing accompanied the sounds of crying.

My shoulders sagged. I knew that voice. "Are you kidding me?" I mumbled walking toward the kitchen.

Sure enough, in one of the newly replaced dining room chairs, was Alys Van Eck- my step mother- and her baby.