At the sound of footsteps Inej abruptly shoot up to a seated position. Her eyes went to the spot Kaz had lain, but it was empty, the blanked he had used resting over her legs. She searched the cell, finding him standing in front of the cage door, both hands leaning on the cane. It fascinated her how he could manage to be nearly as silent as her, especially with his disadvantage, but she knew it cost him, his bad leg punishing him for it if he did it for a longer stretch of time. He turned his head slightly as she rose, catching her eye. "Stay back," he whispered. It was a warning.
The hatch to the cellar opened. Mr. Keller walked down, followed by six of the brutes from the church. Keller was wearing a navy suit with an orange shirt with a intricate patterns, pocket square matching his shirt colour. Keller looked towards them, smiling.
"Good morning! It's nice to see you are both awake. I hope you had a good night sleep. I do apologize for there only being one bed. I only intending on having one person here at a time, but I trust you found a satisfying solution to the problem."
Some of the brutes laughed and jeered at that, most likely imagination different solutions of the sexual kind.
Kaz ignored them, focusing solely on Keller. There was something off about him, something that wasn't as it should be, something he couldn't quite manage to pin down.
Mr. Keller stopped in front of the cell door. The brutes shuffling in behind him. "Mr. Brekker, I am glad to see that you are in fine form despite yesterday's events. I feared they might have gotten a bit too rough on you, but I guess they were right when they said you could handle a beating," he said while chuckling slightly.
His cheery disposition and voice were jarring in their current circumstances. Kaz thought that it might be another sign of how out of touch this man was with reality. People who lived in their own world could be dangerous as they didn't play by the normal rules.
"Now, if you wouldn't mind taking a few steps back or to the side to let Miss Ghafa past. I never got to finish my study on your Wraith yesterday as she wasn't being very cooperative, but I am sure she is in a better mood today," Keller said while trying to catch Inej's eyes, but Kaz was blocking his view.
Keller's gaze returned to Kaz. "I've heard you are a man of your word, and that a deal is a deal. As such, I will also be a man of my word today. As soon as I am done with Miss Gahfa, she will be released as promised, free to go enjoy her freedom however she likes. That unfortunately means our little chat will have to wait till later today, but I've heard you are a patient man so I trust that shouldn't be an issue for you," Keller said in a cheery voice.
Kaz didn't move, his face showing no emotions. "I actually do mind," he replied in a dangerous tone.
Inej then realized that Kaz had anticipated what Keller had planned, and that it was the reason he had warned her to stay back.
Kellers's smile faded, aggravation starting to show. "I'll ask you one more time to step aside willingly, or I am afraid I'll have to ask my new friends for some aid in the matter. And I am sure they are less pleasant than me."
Kaz remained still.
Keller huffed, his earlier cheerful disposition replaced by frustration. "And here I had planed a pleasant day with fun and engaging conversation for all of us, but you never make anything easy, do you, Mr Brekker? I promise, no one will have to get hurt if everyone just play nice, and do what they are told. So for the last time, please step aside".
Kaz remained motionless, face and body reminiscent of a statue.
Kaz's lack of response and lack of cooperation clearly irritated Keller. Inej wondered what people Keller normally worked with if he thought that this environment would be conductive to cooperating. She also wondered what was in store for them if they didn't get out as she knew Kaz would never cooperate, no matter how much Keller cajoled or threatened. She tightened her grip on the knife, feeling a fight was nearing.
Kaz quickly shot her another warning look, telling her to stay out of it. She wanted to object, saying they would be stronger together, but this was not the place or time to challenge him, so she remained still, but ready to act if needed.
Keller threw his hands up, frustration having morphed into petty anger at not getting his will. "Fine, the painful way it is! I guess I shouldn't be surprised to learn that Dirtyhands chooses pain, as I've heard you enjoy basking in it. Men, take him out, and bring Miss Ghafa to me, but remember to not harm that precious brain of his, but do what you need with the rest. I am sure it won't take long with him being a cripple and all," he said, trying to undermine Kaz with his words.
Keller stepped behind the men, and worked the mechanism for the door.
The gang looked at each other with glee, happy to be given another chance to beat up the bastard of the Barrel, thinking it would be an easy win with six against one. They were sorely mistaken.
One of the larger brutes stepped forward as the cell door slid open. Just before he stepped inside the door, Kaz struck out with his cane before settling back into his old position, the move almost to quick to follow. The man's eyes were wide and confused, hands flying to his neck, blood spilling through his fingers as he gurgled.
Inej realized Kaz had used the beak of the crow on his cane to slit the man's throat. The man would be dead in seconds.
The man took a few stumbling steps backward, crashing into the others before crumbling to the floor. He was dead, blood still oozing from his split throat. The rest of the men looked between the dead man and Kaz, shock and fear on their faces, Keller included.
Kaz smiled smugly, his position unchanged, hands resting on his cane.
Kaz's act enraged two of the men, and they stormed against the cell door, murder in their eyes, Keller's orders forgotten. The first one launched himself at Kaz.
Kaz easily sidestepped the man, but left the lower part of the cane behind to trip the man, sending him sprawling to the ground. Before he could rise Kaz swung himself around, letting the crow's head crush the man's scull. He continued his swing, using the momentum of his movement and swing to land an equally devastating blow to the side of the other man's skull as he entered the cell. He toppled over the other man, both dead on the ground. Kaz returned to his previous position, once again leaning on his cane, challenging his opponents with a grin.
The three men remaining looked uncertain, glancing between Kaz and the exit. It seemed they were smart enough to know that money was of no use it they ended up dead.
Inej had to hold back a smile. Kaz's plan and intimidation tactic was working. By positioning himself just inside the cell door he forced the men to come at him one by one, instead of being able to gang up on him. He appeared untouchable, giving of an eerie feeling of death, immobile and unescapable. But she knew him too well, had spent too many hours studying him from the rooftops and shadows. She could see the small changes that let her know the actions had cost him. He was breathing harder, a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead. His posture wasn't slightly crooked, his muscles straining to keep him upright and alert. His weight was leaning more on his cane, hands holding it tighter. His hurt leg was holding him back and starting to slow him down, struggling to keep up with his weight and movements. It was tiny differences that no one else would know to look for. It was enough for her to know that he was still very much in the game, but that she should be ready to disobey his orders if he faltered.
They all looked at each other, waiting for the next move. The intense atmosphere was broken by Keller clapping his hands in applause. He was smiling like a little child who had just received a lollipop.
"Oooooo, what an interesting turn of events. Who could have predicted that a cripple could fight in such a way. I have heard stories of how you killed without hesitation, but I must admit I thought they were exaggerated, especially after seeing you for myself," Keller said while looking curiously at Kaz's right leg and cane.
"The stories of violence and death just didn't go along with a morose, angular, injured man with a cane. You, sir, are a trickster, and I can't wait to learn more about you, how you tick and what made you. Ss fascinating as ever," Keller said while staring at Kaz like a dog stares at a treat.
Keller turned to the last three remaining men. "As he has proven to be a bit more of a handful than first anticipated, and much less cooperative I must ad, I'll allow you to use weapons this time. I trust you three can manage to take on an unarmed man when you are allowed weapons? After all, I am paying you for this," Keller stated.
The three men looked at each other, determination and glee overtaking their previous fear. One pulled a chain, while the two others pulled out large knives. Inej was cursing inside. Kaz was still calm, but she knew the chances of their plan succeeding had just taken a massive hit.
One of the knife guys started circling the walls of cage, dividing Kaz's attention, but remained on he outside. The other two were sneaking forward together, the reckless moves of before abandoned in lieu of a more tactile approach.
The man with the chain led the approach, keeping his chain swinging in front of him so that Kaz couldn't strike with his cane without it getting trapped. They forced Kaz to retreat a step, closing the distance to Inej.
Seeing her chance, Inej quickly slid down to the ground, sending her knife flying in high speed at the man who was brandishing his chain. The man cried out and stumbled as the knife slipped beneath his swing radius, and buried itself deep into his inner thigh, his chain swing faltering.
Seeing a possibility Kaz surged forward. His cane found his target, knocking the man out, but before he fell the thug behind him pushed the now toppling man hard towards Kaz. Kaz dodged the incoming dead weight, but landed on his bad leg, making him unbalanced.
The thug noticed this, and pushed his advantage, bringing his knife down to stab Kaz.
Kaz managed to block the strike with his cane, but the force and weight of the brute pushing down was too much for his leg, sending them both crashing towards the ground and cell bars, the thug on top trying to push his knife into Kaz.
Inej picked up the downed man's chain and leaped on the back of the man fighting Kaz, utilizing it to strangle him. The man rose, trying to make his arms reach Inej, but she was out of his reach. He dropped his knife, and started scratching and pulling at the chains, but Inej fought hard, not letting him ease the pressure.
Kaz rose from the ground, and was about to push of the bars when the last thug who was on the outside grabbed Kaz through the bars, latching his thick arm around Kaz neck, effectively shutting off Kaz air. Before Kaz could fight back, the man kicked him in his bad leg, eliciting a strained yell of pain from Kaz as he fell to his knees, allowing the man to tighten his hold.
Kaz's eyes met Inej's, none of them were ready to give in, the will to fight still ablaze.
Inej pulled even harder on the chains, needing the brute to go down before Kaz was out of breath. She could the man's energy was starting to dwindle, his body trembling. From her side view she saw that Kaz was still struggling to get free, the man's arm lock holding him in place. She could see he was preparing to use his cane to crush the arm holding him, effectively freeing himself. The man underneath her started crumbling to the ground, fight leaving him. They were winning!
"Oh, for heavens sake, must I do everything myself?!" Keller yelled in anger from outside the cell.
As Inej leapt off the falling man she heard a deafening boom, causing her whole body to flinch. She saw Kaz's cane clatter to the ground, his other hand shooting up to his shoulder, wet blood slicking his glove. His eyes met hers as he mouthed "run" to her.
For the barest of moments it felt like time stood still as she hung in the air, unsure of her next action. Stay with Kaz, or follow his order to save the day later. Kaz's eyes rolled back in his head as he slipped into unconsciousness.
Keller stepped closer. "If you run, I'll make him pay for it. I'll make him pay in blood and pain, maybe even in body parts as it's only his mind I want. I hate such unnecessary violence, but I will if forced too. And you know I am capable of it," he said while staring meaningfully at her, referring to his killing of Ursa.
She shed a tear as she slid to the floor, catching an unconscious Kaz as he fell. Plan E had failed. So close, but in the end, foiled by a bullet from a crazy man. She prayed to her saints that Jesper and Wylan were close to finding them.