INEJ

The city is disconcertingly still. By now, the sun is all the way up, making it nearly impossible to hide, even on the rooftops. I make my way carefully, looking for buildings that are close together so our groups can make as little noise as possible. Thankfully, I manage to find a route that works it's way through the city via buildings that are almost all practically touching each other. Only a couple gaps will require a serious jump. We'll just have to pray everyone can make it unnoticed.

When I reach the Slat, I pause, watching for signs of movement inside. The building is uncommonly quiet. I hope that means Kaz has put everyone under orders to stay silent and not that everyone inside has been slaughtered. I shake away the thought and the fear that comes with it. Now is not the time to get distracted by unfounded assumptions. I wait another minute more before jumping onto the roof. There isn't any movement that I can see inside but that may be because Kaz instructed them to keep clear of the windows. I can only hope. I crawl up slowly, keeping my footsteps light, until I reach the top window. I peer around the edge.

Nothing. I try not to let my imagination get carried away but the thoughts leak out anyway. I do my best not to let myself consider that Kaz and Ashiana may be dead; that I may have left them to die some horrible death. Dread fills me as my mind conjures up a multitude of possibilities.

Keep it together, Inej. If you lose it now, they may really end up dead. I take a breath and start to work on the lock. If they aren't already. With a click, the window slides open. I pull myself inside, my knives out as soon as I land. I check around me. The door is closed and I can't hear anything from downstairs.

If Kaz told them to be quiet, I wouldn't hear them. Not all the way up here. And Kaz is smart, he would've told them to be quiet. I try my best to convince myself that everything is alright. I open the door carefully, waiting for any sign of life beyond it. As quick as I can, I jump onto the rafters, studying the ground below me.

With a deep sigh of relief, I see the Dregs clustered together in small groups in the center of the room. Very few people are talking and those that are seem to be instructing their groups. I look around for Kaz but I don't see him below. I look back up in time to see him almost to the top of the stairs.

How did I not see him the first time? Perhaps, in my mode of apprehension, my mind missed his form; a potentially deadly mistake. I can't lead groups across the roofs if I lose my focus so easily. Missing another's presence could cost everyone their lives. I jump down and enter his room as he reaches the landing. I hear him come in behind me and close the door.

"The groups are ready to go." I focus on the desk in front of me, on his cane resting against it, on anything but his face. As much as both of us may want to ignore what happened earlier, I don't find it easy to forget. There are a hundred questions I want to ask. A thousand impulses firing at once that I have to fight, begging me to look up, look away, move toward, touch, run. A million possibilities, reasons why he is this way, that weave themselves into my thoughts. I struggle to push it all to the back of my mind so I can focus on the situation at hand.

"Have you decided the order? I'd like to go ahead and take the first group. The city is quiet and the streets are empty. It's going to be hard to keep our progress hidden in broad daylight without the normal ruckus below." I can see him nod out of the corner of my eye. I can't tell if he's looking at me, waiting to meet my gaze with one of his hard stares. I'm not sure I want to find out.

"I've divided the Grisha and our best fighters equally between the groups. Fen is going to be traveling with you as you go in between." Anger straightens my spine and I glare at him, all hints of nervousness gone.

"We talked about this, Kaz. I work better alone."

"It's a protection for everyone. He's a Heartrender and he can move fast. He'll come in handy if you run into any Grisha." I want to fight him on it but the look in his eyes tells me he isn't going to back down. I don't give him the benefit of an affirmation. I just walk to the door and start toward the stairs. He doesn't call me back. When I get to the bottom, a man approaches me, a group herding skittishly behind him.

"Inej, I'm Fen. It's nice to finally meet the infamous Wraith." He holds out his hand and I take it, trying not to sigh in irritation. It isn't his fault Kaz is being overbearing.

"Let's get moving. Stay close behind me and step exactly where I step. We're going to move as one under any cover I can find. We have one shot and if you want to live another day, we cannot let anyone stray away. Do not get close to the edge until you're ready to make a jump. I will check behind me before we go over a large gap. If anyone has an issue with it length of it, you raise your hand then. You do not speak. Ever. Understand?" They nod in unison. I hope that group mentality lasts until we reach Wylan's. They all look thoroughly petrified and I briefly wonder what Kaz told them. I turn to Fen.

"You stay until everyone finishes the jump and then follow." He looks entirely too relaxed. He gives me a lazy grin.

"Yes, ma'am. Sounds like this will be fun." I give him a look that I hope communicates how completely uninterested I am in any type of conversation. He seems to take the hint but doesn't look any more serious than he did before. I can only hope he knows how to keep his mouth shut and straighten up when it's necessary.

Why did Kaz saddle me with this kid? I resist the urge to grumble, knowing that if I want silence, I must be silent. Everyone follows me back up the stairs and through a window that provides the easiest access to the next roof. I crouch down and carefully peer over the edge. The alley looks clear.

The first jump is one of the longest, enabling me to see how confident and skilled everyone is. Only two members of the group struggle. They are the shortest so it isn't surprising. They look like twins despite the difference in their genders, their silvery blonde hair a perfect match. Neither of them look like they're totally out of the baby fat stage, their faces round and pink. The boy's stare is hard but the girl looks at me with such fear, I almost pull her into a hug.

Focus. I turn from them as soon as they make the jump, trusting Fen to follow easily. I don't even hear him land, which is encouraging. Maybe he won't be too much of a burden.

As I lead everyone over the route I chose, I grow slightly more comfortable. They're all following instructions well, not a sound beyond the occasional scrape of shoes as they land. We reach Wylan's house quicker than I expected. We drop from the last roof right into the garden and I make a mental note to make some kind of barrier there once we're done. No one else needs to be able to slip across the wall so easily.

I pick the lock to the servant's door and motion everyone to follow me as soon as it opens. Once the door is closed, I hear a collective sigh of relief exhale from the group. I don't stop until we reach the ballroom. They spread out slightly when we enter the large space and I can see some of them gaping at the murals.

Two servants girls enter from another doorway and stop short when they see us. They look ready to scream or run or do something else unnecessary. I step forward. I can clearly see the moment they recognize me because the twin looks of terror fade from their faces.

"Oh, Ms. Ghafa, it's you. Mr. Van Eck didn't say there'd be so many people coming."

"This is only the first group. Go get Wylan and tell him they've arrived. I need to go back." Wylan enters behind the maids. He smiles at me although the lines around his eyes give away his anxiety.

"I'm glad you're back, Inej. I see you've brought your comrades." He takes a quick look around. "Where is Ashiana?"

"She's back with the other groups."

"Groups?" This time, the tension is apparent.

"Two more about this size." He doesn't answer for a moment but does a fine job of taking in the details without overreacting.

"Please make sure they bring bedrolls if they have them and whatever other supplies they can carry. We don't have enough rooms for this group, let alone two others." I nod.

"I'll let them know. I'll be back shortly. Oh-" I glance over the group. "Wasn't one of you supposed to be a Fabrikator?" The female twin slowly raises her hand. Kaz gravely overestimated when he said she "wasn't much." This girl is tiny and terrified. I doubt she could work any magic right now.

"What's your name?" I ask as kindly as I can while cursing Kaz in my mind.

"Jeeni," her voice is so soft I can barely hear it.

"Alright. Let's get you some food and then we'll introduce you to Jesper. He's a Fabrikator too. You'll be helping him fortify the windows and doors." If possible, she looks more frightened than she did before. I hold in my sigh. Her brother steps forward.

"I can help. I'm an amplifier." I exchange a look with Wylan and I can see his face echoes my very faint hope. Maybe she'll be useful after all.

"What's your name?" Wylan asks, stepping forward to take control of the conversation.

"Jeph" is all I hear before I'm back through the door to the servant's staircase. I can feel Fen is close on my heels.

"Well, that went better than expected. From all your warnings, I thought we'd be moving through masses of mad Grisha." I don't even look at him as I continue up the stairs.

"Hey now, honey, try to be a little less tense. Let's enjoy a success while we've got it." My aggravation boils over for a moment and I glare at him.

"If you had seen half the things I've seen in the last 12 hours, you wouldn't be so flippant about this. Now, you can either straighten up and take this seriously or you can stay here."

"No can do, sunshine. Kaz says I'm to stick with you no matter what." I turn to him right before we reach the door.

"Call me anything other than my name again and I will personally push you off a building," my voice comes out as a growl and he finally looks appropriately put out.

"Got it. No more nicknames. I like Inej better anyway." His smile reappears far too quickly for my liking. I turn back around and push open the door, sending up a silent prayer that I don't kill him before these trips are over.

While he's exasperating, he isn't slow or loud, which is a blessing. We proceed swiftly over the roof tops, making it back in half the time. As soon as we arrive, Fen starts up his casual chatter again. I can tell the next group is antsy. I deliver the same speech, slightly more firm this time as my vexation with Fen continues to grow, with the addition of the need for supplies and bedding.

This time, we have Ryare, an Inferni and Anika, one of the few gang members with whom I'm familiar. I give her a tight smile as we move to exit. She slips next to me and whispers before we open the window.

"Try not to get too frustrated with him. He gets chatty when he's nervous." I'm surprised my exacerbation is so apparent. I suppose I'm slightly consoled by the fact that he's allegedly anxious. I nod once and open the window.

Surprisingly, this trip also goes well. I haven't seen any bodies strewn across the street and I begin to wonder if the attackers are more active at night. That would certainly be beneficial for us. As Fen and I head back, I can feel him getting jittery beside me. I soothe myself with the knowledge that we're almost done. When we arrive back, I look over the last and smallest group carefully. Kaz stands at the back while Ashiana approaches and pulls me into a hug.

"Goodness, you're tense. I didn't think you ever got stressed like this." I roll my eyes.

"It isn't so much the situation as it is the company." She looks over at Fen and I can tell she is enjoying the view.

"Oh, he doesn't look so bad to me." I give him another once over but I can't quite appreciate his good looks now that I'm well-acquainted with his mannerisms.

"Let's just get this over with." A man named Polian introduces himself and I take note of the guns strapped to his sides. I give him a nod. The only other members of the group are three women who look better suited for house service than gang membership. I take one last look around for supplies but the place looks like it's been looted. I roll my shoulders a couple times, trying to loosen up the muscles that are beginning to grow stiff from all the carefully-choreographed movements.

I head up the stairs, hopefully for the last time. By this time the sun has reached it's zenith and the heat is bearing down on us, my black clothes absorbing it's rays uncomfortably. I don't hear the window close but I can feel the group clustered close behind me. I make the first jump easily but I can feel my muscles beginning to tire.

Just one more time. Then I can rest. My internal pep talk continues as I make my way across the now rote route. Unfortunately, the thoughts distract me and I don't hear the sounds below until it's too late. Someone hits me from the side and we roll onto the next roof, taking cover behind the raised edge of the building.

A strong wind tears around us, whipping my hair into a frenzy. I look up into Fen's face, which is intently focused on the surroundings for once. I glance around, straining to keep my eyes open against the Grisha-made gale. Our group is separated. Ashiana and two of the girls are a couple feet from me. Kaz, Polian and the other girl are still on the opposite roof, which has significantly less coverage.

I watch Kaz pull the girl behind a chimney. Polian stumbles and Kaz grabs him by the collar, dragging him up next to him. Dust swirls around us and I have to blink several times, trying to clear my vision. I see Kaz saying something to Polian, motioning to the girl as he does so, and then pointing toward us. I know what he's planning before he moves.

Our eyes meet for one moment but there's no time for me to stop him. He rushes up the roof, away from our building. I can hear laughter somewhere below me, which is more terrifying than the wind. Polian is big and he manages muscles his way through the jump while clutching the girl, once the Grisha below is distracted. Even so, they end up rolling precariously close to the edge of the building.

The wind around us dies down as whoever is below chooses to chase Kaz. Once we're free, I push Fen off me and toward the next building.

"Take them to the house."

"I'm supposed to-"

"I don't care what you're supposed to do. I'm telling you to take them. You're the only other person who knows the way." I manage to keep my voice to a whisper but the look on my face must convince him because he nods once. Polian stops him, grabbing my arm.

"Kaz told me you'd say that. He said to make sure-" I shake off his hand.

"Those women need you. Now go."

"But-"

"I said 'Go!'" The memory of Kaz, yelling the same thing only a few hours before, wounds me. I refuse to let those be the last words of importance exchanged between us. Ashiana moves toward me but I jump, not to the previous building but one much farther away, ensuring that she cannot follow.

I scramble up the side and make another leap in the direction Kaz headed. All I need to do is find and follow that wind. It doesn't take long for me to catch the breeze that trails behind it. I take comfort in the fact that it's still blowing. If they'd caught him by now, I doubt they'd still be using their powers. Then again, I'm not sure logic applies to these Grisha.

Another jump and then I'm vaulting over the edge of another building. My body falls into a recognized rhythm as I climb my way up walls and over roofs. The wind growing stronger the closer I get. I can't tell exactly where Kaz is going. If the Grisha is still on his tail, it would seem he's heading away from the Slat. Nor is he making his way toward Wylan's.

But where? Where could he be going? Then I realize, while he isn't taking the most direct routes, he's steadily moving toward the docks. I try not to panic.

Is the Grisha chasing him this way or is he going there of his own accord? Is there more than one? If so, he may not have any choice but to be herded in that direction.

It's a trap. Once he gets to the docks, he'll have nowhere to go but the ocean, where the Council awaits with nearly certain death. I turn, choosing a different way to the harbor. If I can head them off, surprise them from the side, maybe I can distract them long enough for Kaz to get away. This plan in mind, I hurdle over obstacles, not even trying to keep my presence a secret. Thankfully, I don't hear any signs of pursuit. Yet.

A couple more buildings and finally, I can see the harbor. Wind is whistling around me, intensifying as I draw closer. I'm almost to the last building when I see him. He's beaten me to the street that lines the docks, usually filled with pigeons this time of day. He's the only one out there today and I watch as someone races out behind him. The Grisha must be losing power from the chase because the wind has died down to a peaceful breeze.

Either that or they have their target in sight and don't feel the need to continue to use it. I watch, powerless, as Kaz heads straight for the water. He reaches the end of a dock and dives in. Almost immediately, a wave picks up, increasing in size with each passing second. The pursuer, ignoring the monstrous wall of water that has risen taller than any of the buildings I've leapt over today, follows just as the wave crashes down right where Kaz has disappeared. I lean back on the roof, stunned, my breath coming in short gasps from overexertion and horror.

No. No. Nononono is my repeated mantra, growing more frantic as I watch the water calm, neither figure rising to the surface. After a moment, I jump down, heedless of the danger I may be exposing myself to. I run to the docks, the water sloshing gently under the wood. I don't jump in, watching, waiting, hoping to catch a glimpse of Kaz.

I move toward my ship, one of only three left in the harbor. I scramble up the side, knowing the Council waits until someone either enters the water or tries to reach the ocean beyond before destroying them. I look out over the water, scanning the falsely-tranquil waves desperately.

There's nothing. No sound. No sign of life. I try not to hyperventilate as I collapse against one of the masts of my ship, sliding down it until I'm sitting, but fear overruns me. Tears well up behind my eyes and I'm crying, sobbing, unable to contain my emotions after the all-out chase. My body is exhausted and I'm too weary to exert any kind of control over it.

If there are any more pursuers, I'm a sitting duck. I can't hear anything over the sound of my weeping but, in this moment, I don't care if I am attacked. I don't care about anything except the fact that I just saw Kaz leap into those deadly waters and not re-surface.

It's because of this that I don't immediately distinguish my own gasps from the ones that are coming from the dock next to me. As soon as I hear it, I'm on my feet, knives at the ready. I haven't quite made up my mind about the pros and cons of living without Kaz right at this moment but I manage to muster up enough gumption to stand. At least, I can try and take down one of the monsters that caused this. I look around but don't see anything on the docks beyond me. I step carefully to the edge of the boat, looking down at the water below.

When I see a hand barely holding onto the weathered wood, I leap down. I approach cautiously just as Kaz's head breaches the surface. Filled with an unexpected surge of strength, I'm on my knees, grabbing him by his shirt, and hauling with up with me onto the dock in one swift motion.

He rolls onto his side, a deep cough bringing up water. After a minute or so, the coughing tapers off, leaving him breathing heavily. With a groan, he flops onto his back.

"I hate that ocean. Did I ever tell you that?" His words are slow, his breathing laboring between each one. I promptly burst into tears again.

"You idiot! What were you thinking? You could've been killed! You should've been! I might still kill you myself!" Tears still blurring my vision, I can hardly see the faint smile that briefly crosses his face.

"You've clearly never gotten caught out in the ocean. You have to swim under the waves. It's calmer there." I collapse onto him, my head on top of his chest, listening to the slow evening out of his breathing.

"Oh, and you thought you'd just swim under a typhoon-sized wave like it's no big deal. Of course, you did." His hand comes up and rests on my cheek, his thumb brushing away a few of the tears that refuse to slow. His gloves are rough and cold against my skin but I don't mind. He's alive. That's all that matters right now.

"It worked though. And it would appear our Grisha friend has yet to re-surface. I call it a win all around." I lift up my head and glare it him with as much anger as I can while tears of relief are still running down my face. I grab a fist-full of his shirt and pull him up. His hands lay flat against the wood behind him, holding himself in a semi-upright position.

"Kaz Brekker, you are the most foolish man I have ever met. You play with your life like it's worth nothing when you know-" I shake my head and look down, unable to find the words that will fully communicate how damaging his recklessness could be.

"I've lived for a while under that exact impression," he says softly. My eyes widen as our gazes meet again.

"It's worth something to me! How much clearer can I make it? I told you-" I break off, not wanting to bring up our last encounter lest he hide himself from me again. I fight the urge to take him by the shoulders and shake him. I close my eyes, trying to regain a modicum of composure.

"Hey" I feel his hand at my neck and then on my shoulder. He gives me a little shake that is nothing compared to how much he deserves. "Hey, it's alright. We made it through another scrape. Isn't that what we've always done? We're risk-takers, remember?"

I pull away and stand with a sigh. I suppose it's true. I can't expect him to stop taking risks when I gave him a speech advocating it only a couple hours ago. I hold out my hand, which he takes. I lean back, trying to leverage my weight against his to help him to his feet. Once he rights himself, he looks past me, out over the serene waters.

"I really hate that ocean." I turn my head, trying to follow his gaze, as though I can see whatever it is that has caused him to detest this specific body of water so fiercely. He turns back before I can do so and catches me by surprise, his face right next to mine. His hands move so fast, I can barely tell when they reach the sides of my face, holding me in place while he delivers a hard kiss so short I'm left wondering if it really happened at all. By the time I get my bearings, he's walking down the docks, his limp pronounced.

"I dropped my cane a couple streets back. Let's see if we can find it and get to Wylan's before anymore of those lovely Grisha come out to play."