Inej was by Kaz's side as he released an unconscious Kinker onto the cement floor. She turned to Umberto. "Umberto, unhook the chains, and go help Jesper bring down Ms. King's body. And Umberto, not a word of what you have seen here to anyone, or I promise I'll find you in your sleep," she warned him.

Umberto was still scared of repercussions after hitting Kaz, and preformed his orders with haste, trying to impress his boss, and avoid Inej's wrath. She knew he wouldn't dare talk of what he had witnessed.

Inej collected Kaz's lock picks and placed them and the chair next to Kaz. She leaned the cane against it, hoping Kaz would take the easy solution for once. Afterwards she searched Kinker's body. She found his gun, some money, a gold watch, a pen and some receipts from a carriage company that operated out in the high-end housing district. She pocketed everything. As she worked, she heard Umberto unwinding the chains and the scrape of the chair, thanking her saints that Kaz had taken it.

Kaz's bravado had cost him, and left him even paler than before. He struggled with the lock picks, his hands shacking. He wanted to collapse on the floor, let himself rest for a day or two, but he had to settle for the chair, knowing his end game was still to come. He needed to finish Kinker, and he needed the address for Wylan.

The swelling on his neck had thankfully gone down, making it easier to breath, but the pulsating pain in his side had increased, and it was making it hard to concentrate on anything else. He knew it wasn't a good sign. Whatever concoction King had made didn't seem to adhere to the effects Kinker had descried. Either King had misled him on the intended effects of the drug, or she wasn't as good at mixing drugs as Kinker believed her to be.

He took his cane, the familiar weight and feel grounding him. He rested his hands and upper body on it, closing his eyes to concentrate on steadying himself and pushing through the pain that wanted to send him to oblivion. He could feel his body trembling, his energy spent, and muscles overtaxed. He probably wouldn't even be able to fight off Wylan in his current state, struggling enough with just keeping himself upright and conscious. He knew he was a sorry sight to see, but right now he didn't have the energy to care. Only Inej and Jesper would see him, and Umberto, but Inej had made sure he wouldn't dare tell a living soul. Kaz knew her threats wasn't real, but thankfully the Dregs didn't.

He let his mind drift to Inej, finding strength in her, his very own saint and protector. Without her he probably wouldn't have survived. She had stayed, and fought by his side like an avenging angel. He owed it to her to find a cure and survive this. Inej's voice made his eyes open.

Inej was kneeling in front of him. "Kaz, before the others get here, I need to know, are you okay? And no bluffing or lies this time", she implored him as she stared at him with concern and affection.

Kaz looked back at her, her earnest worry for him softening his resolve to deflect her question. "I've been better," he offered, too tired and worn to try to hide his pain and exhaustion from her.

"That's not enough," Inej scolded, getting aggravated that he was keeping things from her. "Did you at least get the information you needed? Is it connected with King's drug? Why did you need it? Is it serious? Tell me, please!"

Kaz sighed. "King injected me, but with less then half the concoction. I can feel it, like my mind is fighting trough water. The fact that I'm tired, thirsty and have lost too much blood probably isn't helping. I needed to learn more about the drug and what Kinker's end goal was, and from his description and the fact that he didn't want me dead, I think we are good. I have Wylan looking into the drug as a precaution, but as I only got a small dose, I am sure it will pass. It would be good if you could make a note of the intended effects Kinker mentioned so that we can give it to Wylan. Only thing I am still missing is the address to whatever mansion they are occupying as it holds King's green recipe book, and an easy and quick answer for Wylan," he offered, intentionally hiding the real effects of the drug from her as he knew there was nothing she could do for him at this moment.

Inej nodded. She was thankful for what he had shared, but she felt he was still holding back, still shielding her from the truth. She didn't want to fight him, letting the issue drop for now. She instead offered him the receipts she had found in Kinker's pockets. "Maybe these can help?" Kaz took them, and started studying them, gears moving in his brain.

Jesper and Umberto came down with King's body. "Where do you want it boss?" Jesper asked.

Kaz looked up. "Place it behind the chains. And Umberto, I would like you to string up Kinker in the chains for one last conversation. I also need you to collect Kat Valdez from the bakery at 7th. Tell her that Kinker has returned to his old ways, and that he is waiting for her and her crew at this address."

Umberto was still eager to please Kaz, and worked with haste, soon disappearing off to collect his target.

Kaz turned to Jesper. "I need a favour from you as well."

"I hope it's something more exiting this time then just sitting in a room waiting for the action to finish," Jesper sulked while twirling his guns, still dismayed at missing the action. Kaz raised an eyebrow at him, causing Jesper to stand up straighter and holster his guns.

"I need you to take Wylan to Heisinger street 5. He should find Miss Kings workshop there. Inej has a note for him, and tell Wylan to look for a green diary or recipe book. It contains whatever he needs to finish his task," Kaz informed.

"Cryptic much?" Jesper drawled, annoyed at only being given partial information.

Inej looked up at Kaz, head tilted. "How do you know that is Kinker's and King's residence? The receipts only revealed the area, not the house."

"All the houses there either have permanent residents, or have been rented out. I always keep tabs on new pigeons that come to stay in Ketterdam in a legal and proper way, so I know that none of the rented ones are let out to King or Kinker. However, the previous residents of the house at Heisinger street up and left about two to three months ago. According to the street talk they decided to take a long trip to see the world now that the fold is gone. But no one saw them leave, and no carriage or luggage has been seen leaving their house. I suspected the place, but once I saw the area on the receipts, it was apparent Kinker and King had taken over the residence," Kaz explained.

"It's scary how much you know" Jesper said impressed.

Kaz looked at Jesper. "You've got your mission. I trust it's more to your liking then the previous one, and feel free to shoot any thugs that may guard the mansion or try to stop you from entering the residence. Kinker might have hired some for protection."

Jesper whooped. "Now we're talking!" and started heading for the stairs, but paused at the bottom step. He stood still for a few seconds before taking a few step steps back, stopping a few meters from Kaz. "Here goes nothing," he mumbled, and started to undress.

Kaz and Inej looked bewildered on as Jesper took off his jacket, then his west, and was now working on his shirt.

"By the saints, what are you doing?" Kaz finally manged to get out, mortified by the strip tease happening in front of him.

Jesper ignored him, and kept going. Once he was completely bare on his upper body, he started putting his clothes back on, everything but his maroon shirt. He bundled it in his hand, and stepped over to Kaz "Here".

Kaz looked from Jesper to the shirt and back, clearly confused. "Take it, you need it more than I do" Jesper offered.

Kaz carefully took the shirt, still staring at Jesper, unsure of how to respond. He had never expected Jesper to offer him the shirt of his back, let alone his maroon shirt that Kaz knew was one of Jesper's favourites.

"Just don't get too much blood on it okay, I am going to be taking it back once we get to the Slat. I didn't want to keep staring at that pale body of yours, one could be blinded by less. You really need to start working on a tan, man, maybe our next mission could take us to a sunny beach or something similar," Jesper joked, lifting his arm to scratch at his head, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

Kaz gaze rested on the shirt. His own shirt was ruined beyond repair, leaving his skin and wounds exposed to the world. Jespers's shirt offered him warmth, protection against touch, and would hide his injuries, making it easier for him to keep his façade in front of others.

He looked back at Jesper, letting his features soften. "Thank you. Truly".

"No biggie," Jesper smiled, happy Kaz had not only accepted his shirt, but understood the gesture. Even tough Kaz could be hard and secretive, he was still his friend, and he would do whatever he could to help him, just like he knew Kaz would do for him.

"I'm off then! Be sure you two don't do anything I wouldn't do," he called as he winked at them before bouncing up the stairs.

"There's pretty much nothing you wouldn't do!" Inej yelled after him, chuckling at her friend, impressed by his actions. She turned to Kaz. "I told you he cared. I mean, he loves that shirt."

Kaz was still starring at the shirt in his hands, baffled by Jesper's unexpected actions. "I guess so…" He said quietly as he spread the shirt out over his lap.

He started to struggle out of his old, torn shirt, but he was stiff, and it was sticking to the wounds and partially dried blood.

Inej saw his pain and frustration growing and stepped in. "Let me."

Kaz resigned himself to her help, knowing he needed to reserve what strength he had left for the final part of his plan.

Inej pulled out her blade. She easily sliced up the fabric, and let it fall to the ground. She cut around the fabric that was stuck to his wounds, knowing that ripping it off would only cause the wounds to open again, and leak more blood. She would deal with the wounds when they were back at the Slat, and had proper equipment.

Kaz gave her a grateful nod when she was finished, and slid on the shirt from Jesper. It was still slightly warm. It felt good against his chilled skin. He normally never wore flamboyant colours like this, but he much preferred this to his old, ruined shirt as his skin was once more covered, and his wounds hidden. Inej had collected his coat for him, offering him another layer. With his protective layers back on, he felt more like himself, and like he was ready to take on the world again.

Inej appraised him. "The colour suits you" she said with a mischievous smile.

Kaz couldn't hold back a smirk, but his reply was cut off as Kinker gasped awake.

Inej quickly vanished into the shadows, unseen.

Kaz turned towards Kinker. "Good morning, I hope you had a pleasant sleep," Kaz said, the words reminiscent to Kinker's earlier greeting.

Kinker was bewildered at first, then furious when he saw the tables were turned. "You dirty boy! I had planned to spare you, keep you as my personal pet and slave, using you to do all my dirty work. No more, I will have your head for this!" Kinker yelled as he fought his restraints.

Kaz remained calm, leaning casually on his cane, enjoying the feeling of control.

Kaz's calm only infuriated Kinker more. "You think you are so clever! You even have a new fancy shirt somehow! What did you mean before when you said you lied?!"

Kaz lips curved upwards, amused by Kinker's helpless frustration. "You fell right into my trap. All I had to do was play on your insecurities. Despite your new appearance you are still that ugly looking monster I created, scars and all, underneath. We both know that no one can love a monster, no matter how hard you try to fool yourself. All it took was placing an idea in your head, and you were lost, believing everything I told you, not realizing it was all lies designed to trick you. Despite all your studies of the human brain, yours doesn't seem to have evolved from the last time we met."

"You'll pay for this!" Kinker yelled, tearing at his shackles.

"No, this ends tonight, and if you are expecting Miss King to save you, I suggest you turn around for a minute," Kaz said calmly, lifting and folding his fingers over the crow's head on the cane, knowing the pain he would inflict on the madman.

Kinker spun around in his shackles, and let out a sob as he saw her body. "No, No! What did you do to her?! She was going to get me my old life back. She was my ticket to glory. Now it's all lost. You… you monster!" he sobbed, head falling to his chest as tears started flowing.

"It takes one to know one," Kaz replied as he got to his feet, a grimace of pain shadowed over his face as his injures and drug induced pain fought for his attention.

"How? How could this happen? I've got the better, more educated, well read and experienced mind, not you. You're just an uneducated boy from the gutters. I'm supposed to beat you," Kinker sobbed.

"As I said earlier, the Barrel made me, and no book can teach you how to survive as well as growing up in the cruel realities of the world. One of the lessons you taught me as a boy was to never show mercy when monsters roam, and I learned it well," Kaz said before turning his back on Kinker. "Inej, let's head out".

Kinker looked astonished as he saw her appear from the shadows. "You dark skinned witch, you did this!"

She stepped close to him, her hatred for the man glittering in her eyes. "No, the crows took you down. You mess with a crow, you get a murder," she said coldly before taking her place next to Kaz.

"Are you just going to leave me here? Not man enough to finish me yourself? Still too scared?" Kinker yelled after them mockingly.

Inej looked questioningly at Kaz, also curious why they were leaving while Kinker was still alive.

Kaz paused, and turned slowly towards Kinker. "I would like nothing more than to slowly rip you to shreds, piece by piece, like you did your victims, but I have more important issues to attend to, and I've promised this revenge to someone else."

"Who?" Kinker asked, confused.

"The ones that never forgot their lost ones," Kaz answered before once more limping towards the stairs.

Inej stepped in front of him, and pulled her knife as they heard several people enter the building. Kaz gloved hand pushed Inej's knife down, letting her know that they were in no danger.

The people came down the stairs, a young woman leading them. Most of the people were older, but their ages varied greatly. Some of them looked like they belonged in a gang, some looked poor, others looked like they were business people. It was an eclectic bunch with no apparent likeness.

The young woman walked up to Kaz. "Thank you again for saving us, and for looking after me when my mom passed. She isn't here to take her own revenge, but I will do it for her. Thank you for keeping your promise to us. I promise you in return that this man will pay for his crimes ten times over, and that he won't leave this cellar alive."

Kaz nodded at her. "A deal is a deal," he said as he offered her his gloved hand. She shook it, and then walked off towards Kinker.

"Who were they?" Inej asked.

"Kat was the little girl I rescued from Kinker a long time ago. Her mother never fully recovered from Kinker's experiments, and died not to long after the ordeal due to illness. I found a new family for Kat, and made sure she stayed off the streets. Kat made me promise that one day she would get her revenge for the pain Kinker caused her and her family. The others are also people who have lost loved ones due to him. Kat found them, and made sure to honour the ones that everyone forgot, except for the people of the Barrel."

"Good" she answered, hoping it would bring the people closure knowing their nightmare monster would be gone from the world, never to return.

They both looked apprehensively at the stairs. Having his cane back, a new shirt and the rest on the chair had helped, but they both knew he was still reliant on her aid to get to the first floor as he wasn't ready to accept any one else's help while still conscious.

She stealthily slid under Kaz arm, steadying him. She was glad she no longer had to worry about accidently touching his skin as Jesper's shirt now covered him. She knew Kaz didn't like it, but he put his arm over her to let her take some of his weight. With her aid, and the cane, they slowly moved up the stairs. His hurt leg was trembling bad, and was threatening to send them crashing down, but Kaz ground his teeth together and managed to focus till they reached the first floor.

By the time they reached the top they were both breathing hard, and Kaz was swaying, needing Inej to keep him upright. They paused at the top, both relishing that they had won, and made it out alive.

As they opened the outer door, they heard Kinker scream. They let the door shut behind them, leaving the nightmare behind.