10- Melting Gold

Inej

Inej was hungry. Like, Nina hungry. And damn thirsty.

She had slipped out of the Lord's room quickly after he had mentioned they were on a time limit.

Inej was in a wild mood, tempted to try and threaten anyone with her claw just for a drink. Technically, Inej guessed she was quite like a fabricator. She had been able to melt the metal of the knives and control how they reshaped. But she felt powerful. She felt lethal.

Inej was running down corridors, using her newly found sense of smell and ability to see in the dark to guide her closer to the humans.

She could smell Kaz.

And not in the normal way she smelt him. Kaz had been city smoke and a fresh sent in the dirt of the Barrel. Now, he was human. So human.

So monstrous and worth protecting.

Inej could smell the fear on him and she didn't even know where he was.

Fear and longing?

What could Kaz possibly want right now?

Inej's thoughts groaned as she was hit with the thought. Stupid little boy.

The golden plate.

If Kaz ever wanted something it was either revenge or money.

Stupid boy.

But Inej knew he wouldn't leave without it and it was nearly twelve bells. She could make it.

The expanses of the corridors spread out before Inej. It was so dark she thought she could see stars blinking above her. Using her other sense, Inej set off again.

She followed the power she felt and the human smell, all the way down two flights of stair. Then when she knew she was close to the- was that Jesper?- she veered right, down a tunnel she knew led to the throne room.

The golden plate was humming for her. Her blood sparked. Thrilled. She felt thrilled.

She could feel how close she was to it.

Inej stopped running. She had reached a door.

The throne room was empty and silent. She knew before she'd even entered. That plate was power.

Inej had paused at the door but then heard bells.

She rushed. Anxiety pricked at her. A human feeling, her mind tusked.

They were going to be too late. What if Kaz hadn't even made it there yet? What if they close even earlier?

Inej dashed through the room and grabbed the plate. Stopped. Gasped. Continued. She ran back the way she had come, blindly following his sent.

Not stopping or slowing to think, Inej pushed open another door and rushed inside.

Kaz whirled, wide-eyed, his coat fanning out behind him. Behind him stood a doorway and a beautifully made door. And Jesper.

Kaz looked back at the doors and then to Inej again.

"They closed." He said. Jesper gave out a low whistle.

Inej didn't think she'd ever been more relieved to see his lanky frame. Jesper was home, normality. "What are you holding?" He asked.

A claw in one hand and the golden plate in the other, Inej was only slightly surprised by the look of shock on Kaz's face.

"A plate that someone might have been after."

"That's a cup, Inej."

Inej looked down. Sure enough, the plate she'd been holding had moulded into the shape of a cup. "I'd just wanted a drink..."

Inej didn't know how to explain it to them.

"Gold." Kaz sucked in a breath. Typical Kaz, they were going to die, she wasn't even human and still hr was overjoyed with the prospect of money he might not even be alive to receive.

Inej stared at the exquisite doors behind them. These two had seen them open. What if they didn't lead to home? Inej thought suddenly.

'You'll go where the universe deems you need to be.' A voice in her mind whispered. Mind shatterer.

"Yes, gold, Kaz. But how are we going to get home?" Jesper asked.

Kaz spun around grinning and said slowly: "Inej, dear, where did you get those claws?"

"I grew them."

He chucked. "Grow us a golden key, would you, dear. One that looks just like that." He pointed to an ornate design on the wall that was set above a large keyhole. When Inej and Jesper looked confused, Kaz explained- very briefly- about his encounter with a prisoner and a guard and the need for a golden key to open the portals.

Inej didn't realise she had even started. She concentrated on the design and could soon feel the gold melting, though it wasn't hot.

For a few seconds, Inej felt a part of the material. Lethal, animal and gold, all in one night.

Inej looked up to find Jesper staring with his mouth open quite ungraciously.

She looked to Kaz, who of course was unfazed, and handed him the key. He swirled around and inserted the gold into the keyhole.

He was confident as ever, but it was odd to watch. This had ever reason not to work. But still, he turned the key expectantly.

Inej wasn't really sure why, but she didn't want to see whether it worked or not. She turned away.

And noticed something.

More home. More familiarity.

Kaz's cane was propped up against the wall. Inej couldn't imagine how it had gotten there. But then again, she couldn't imagine being able to manipulate the very fabric of matter.

As Inej slide over the cane, the room got brighter and brighter. The portals were opening.

Jesper made a noise, probably covering his eyes. Kaz simply said, "Oh how nice of that Rowan kid. Come along Inej," When he observed Inej getting his support.

Stupid boy.

Inej felt a little saddened at the thought of not having this amazing power back in Ketterdam but quickly decided that she was power anyway and if anyone had anything to say about it, they could meet her newly acquired claws.

And so, they ran once more towards the light; only this time there were three.

And a reason.

Hey, thanks for reading

There will probably be another chapter or two (exploring Inej and Kaz's relationship more) so stick around

Vote and Comment just 'cause yeah that'd be great and I'd really like to know what you guys think about this

Bye x