Kaz fought the shackles and chain, trying to get the inches he needed to reach either his cane or lock picks, but there was no leeway to find. He tore his wrists trying to slip his hands out of the shackles, blood dripping down his arms, but they were too tight. As he strained, his shoulder started bleeding again, the pain from the wound making his arm near useless. He wanted to scream in frustration as he was well and truly helpless to stop Keller in his current position.
"Kaz, please stop… you are only harming yourself. Save your strength. We will find a way out together, I'm sure, we just have to wait for an opportunity to present itself," Inej said, trying to soothe his anger.
Kaz let his head hang down, hating how Inej was right. He had only succeeded in weakening himself further, and with how poorly he was already feeling, that was the last thing he needed. He was reminded of how bad it was when he was forced to raise his head again, his breathing becoming strained if he kept his neck bent.
He let his gaze slide to Inej. She was seated on the cot, the blanked he had used in her lap, hands playing with the fabric. He wished he could hold her, keep her safe, but he knew it wasn't only the chains, bars and distance between them that was keeping them apart, it was also his own trauma. She was in danger because of him, and she hadn't left when she had an opportunity, all out of loyalty to him. He needed to banish all thoughts of Inej from his mind, and finally let her go. This dance of feelings and dreams they had been doing was dangerous. Inej deserved better, she deserved happiness, a home, safety, love and someone who could hold her, none of what he could offer. If an opportunity presented itself again and she refused to leave, he would have to force her, letting his monster loose on her. It would hurt him just as much as it hurt her, maybe even kill the last bit of good he had in himself, but he would be cruel if that was what it took to save her, giving her a chance of finding happiness, free of him.
Inej noticed Kaz was staring at her, a cold glint in his eyes she usually only saw directed at his enemies. She felt a shiver of fear run down her spine. "Kaz, are you all right?" Inej asked, casting worried glances his way.
"I'll live," Kaz answered curtly, his voice cold and dead.
She didn't know what was going on with Kaz, but she didn't like it. She got up, and walked to the bars, meeting his dark eyes. "Kaz, no matter what happens, promise me you won't give up, okay? Promise me that you'll fight? I need you to survive this. Our story doesn't end in this pit of a basement. We have more to learn, more to experience, more to live. If you don't make it there is no more happiness for me out there, okay? So fight, for you, for the Dregs, for your crows, and for me, please," Inej pleaded, trying to force Kaz to understand that he had people who cared for him, and that relied on him.
Kaz's eyes widened at her request, trying to make sense of what she was asking of him. He always fought, even when everything looked hopeless, that was what the streets of the Barrel had thought him, vengeance his driving force. He would take down Keller as well, even if it killed him, but Inej wasn't really asking him to fight, but to survive. That was something different. His goal had always been winning, no matter the cost, even his own life, taking whatever risks necessary to win. She was asking him to hold back, to live for tomorrow, to live for the people around him, and for her. In his world his death would free her, but maybe she saw it differently. They always said "no mourners, no funerals", but had they moved passed it? He knew he had passed that border a long time ago, willing to sacrifice himself if it meant Inej lived. But she was different, she had so many other things to live for. Her happiness couldn't possibly be reliant on him. But still, always weak to her request, he softened. "I prom…"
His words were cut short as the cellar door opened again. Keller and the two thugs were coming down. One of them seemed worse for wear as he shared Kaz's breathing issues, just more aggravated as his breath was wheezing constantly, red chain marks plainly visible on his throat. Kaz couldn't help but smirk at the sight, proud of his Wraith's work. The wheezing man positioned himself behind Kaz, holding Inej's knife tight to his lower abdomen. As the man was close enough for Kaz to reach, he considered trying to fight him, but he found it would be smarter to wait and see if an opportunity with more gain presented itself.
The other thug stood by the cage door lever, awaiting Keller's order.
"Now, Miss Ghafa. I know your skills well from my sweet Ursa's tails, but I expect you to behave yourself properly, or Mr. Brekker will get a new hole in him. Play nice, and you'll soon be on your merry way back to your friends," Keller said in his sing-song voice.
The thug behind Kaz, pushed the knife closer to Kaz's skin, making sure they all understood he would delight in using it. Inej squared her shoulders, and walked to the cell door. As it opened, the thug by the door grabbed her arm and led her in front of Keller who was once more seated on the chair.
"Ah, such a lovely creature, I can understand why Mr. Brekker bought you to have for himself. He may have started to care for you in the end, but how does such an innocent creature like yourself feel like when you are bought to be the sex slave of a murdering criminal?"
Kaller's description of her and Kaz's relationship made her angry, but she bit back her retort, not wanting to antagonise the man while he was threatening Kaz. Kaz had never once touched her or asked her to do anything that could resemble the work she had been forced to endure at the Menagerie. When she first learnt of him, she had thought he was a cold man, that didn't care for anybody but himself. But as they learned to know each other, she had learned a new truth.
He cared, especially for his crows and loyal members of the Dregs, but he hid it well. He was strict, but fair, looking after his own. He demanded loyalty, and only punished the ones who wronged him. His justice could be swift and brutal, even deadly at times, but always deserved. She didn't like it, but accepted it was part of their survival in the Barrel.
For her it had been the little things that revealed she had become more than just an asset to him. The way he would sometime look at her when he thought she didn't notice. The way he would shield her from certain tasks or situations, even though he knew she would have done it if ordered. The small gifts he would leave for her, a set of clothes, a knife, even bird seeds by her window despite claiming she shouldn't feed the crows. Even the way he would punish anyone who dared even make her feel uncomfortable, let alone hurt her, keeping her safe, just like he was trying to keep her safe from Mr. Keller.
"Tick tock – the clock is ticking. How about a little incentive, Mr. Turnboat?" Keller said while turning towards Kaz. The thug with the name Turnboat let his knife slash a shallow cut in Kaz abdomen. Kaz remained still, refusing to show any pain.
Inej's eyes widened, and she hurried to reply to Keller. "No, stop, I'll answer. Our relationship was purely business. My duties as a work girl in that capacity were over once I left the Menagerie".
"So he didn't sell you like Tante Heleen does her girls, but surely he himself took pleasure in you? Or at least let some of his crew use you? I mean, he owned you, and you weren't in any position to refuse. I'm sure there were plenty of men that wanted a taste of your skills from the Menagerie."
"No, he never used or touched me in that way, or let others do it. I was his Spider, and that was it," Inej protested, furious at the accusations he was throwing at Kaz.
"Mr. Brekker, Dirtyhands himself, never laid a hand on you? I find that inconceivable. Even I can hardly refuse your beauty, and I am a well educated and socialised man, not some crippled trash from the Barrel who owns sex slaves. Mr. Turnboat, again if you please" Keller commanded. This time the slash was longer, made on Kaz's upper torso, shirt revealing the trail of blood. Kaz refused to react, not wanting Inej to blame herself for his pain.
Inej grew more desperate. "Stop it, I'm telling the truth. He would never harm his crows. His violence and vengeance are reserved for those who deserve it, like yourself!" Inej nearly shouted, eyes flickering between Kaz and Keller, hating how he was using Kaz against her.
Keller studied her. "Hmmm, interesting, but still not quite believable. I could be convinced to believe he was a man who swung for the other side of the fence, or not at all, but not with the way he looks at you and protects you like you were a golden goose, not just a boring, common crow. A shame I haven't got a third crow to test my theory on, but oh well. Either that boy is madly in love with you, your family or there is something else that is valuable about you. We'll have to dig into this matter some more, but first, remove your clothes".
Inej froze at the request, eyes filling with fear.
Despite the chains, Kaz strained trying to reach Keller, ignoring the knife digging into his flesh. Keller looked at him with bemusement.
"You didn't like that did you? I thought so. No reaction to my statements about you, but the minute I make your girl uneasy, you react," he said while smiling at Kaz. "But no matter, Miss Ghafa, take your outer clothes off. I'll allow you to keep any inner clothes you may wear as I don't need to see you naked."
Inej was still frozen, memories of the Menagerie ghosting over her face.
Keller gave another pointed look at Turnboat. Kaz was focused on Inej, and missed the signal from Mr. Keller, the pain catching him unaware. He released a small groan of pain when Turnboat pushed his fingers against the bullet wound in his shoulder, sending spikes of pain shooting from the wound. Fresh blood started to leak from it.
The pained sound from Kaz brought Inej back from her memories. His face was scrunched up in pain, breath coming in small pants. She knew he was already weakened from his previous injures, and the new wounds were causing him to lose more blood, weakening him further. She looked at him apologetically, and started to undress slowly. She heard Kaz mutter a soft "no…" in defeat, but they both knew he couldn't stop her. She could handle this, for Kaz.
She took of her wrappings until she was left standing in a tight, soft woollen top and shorts. Kaz averted his eyes, offering her what little privacy he could. He would look at her if she decided she wanted him to, when it was her choice, not like this.
He would make Keller pay for this, for making Inej relive her nightmares. He knew Keller was doing this to torment him as much as Inej, wanting to see their reactions, and he knew they were playing right into his hand, but it was hard to control his emotions when Inej was involved.
Keller smiled. "Lovely! I knew a little persuasion was all that was needed. Now, dance for me."
Inej took a deep breath, and started doing small movements, trying to hide herself away as best as she could. Another look, and 2 deep slashes were added to Kaz's skin. Turnboat was getting bolder with the knife, making the slashes longer and deeper, but Kaz refused to acknowledge the wounds, eyes locked on Keller.
Inej blocked out her surroundings, imagining she was back at the circus with her family, doing a routine in her acrobat outfit, allowing her to dance and move more boldly, adding little acrobatic tricks into her moves.
"Enough", Keller called out after a few minutes. "Thank you for the delightful show, Miss Ghafa. Even studying your movements and body up close, my mind still can't figure out how you move so gracefully and silent. I guess it's the reason why my field of study is the brain, and not the body," he joked. "Not to worry, I promise that this interrogation is soon over for your part. Now that I have my main target, I can get the rest of my information from Mr. Brekker directly, and there is no need to trouble you for it. But I am still curious to know the answer to our initial line of questioning."
Keller got up from his chair, and walked over to Inej. He put his hand out to touch her torso. Inej slithered away before his hand could make contact. A look, and two more slashes were added to Kaz's body, one on his torso, one on his back.
When Keller moved again, Inej let his hand make contact. She trembled under his touch, feeling bile rise in her throat, but she forced it down, enduring the touch. He slid behind her, letting his other hand touch the bare skin of her upper back.
"Hmmm, so you can be touched, but you don't approve, understandably enough. Why a man like Dirtyhands would care on the other hand I don't understand. According to my sources that man should be incapable of kindness, so could there be something different that is behind his so-called unwillingness to touch you? Could it be that he finds you ruined and disgusting after your work at the Menagerie? That he only wants fresh-faced, unsullied girls?"
Keller kept his hands on Inej's body, but shifted his focus to Kaz. It appeared that Kaz's body was shuddering as well, but not out of fear like Inej, but of pure hatred and rage. If looks alone could kill he would have been killed and quartered several times over by now. Curious, Keller let his hands drop. "Let's try something different."
"Miss Ghafa. Go stand in front of Mr. Brekker."
Inej did as she was told. Kaz lifted his gaze to hers, focusing on her face, not letting himself see anything else of her. She could see the worry for her in his eyes, and she tried to convey that she was okay, that she could handle this, but her trembling body was betraying her.
"Miss Ghafa, you talk of never touching, but at the same time, you both fight for each other like only lovers or family would do. When I hurt him, I hurt you, and when I hurt you, I hurt him. I trust you can understand why I find your previous statements so hard to believe?" he asked.
Neither of them spared him a glance, finding strength in each other instead.
"You two are indeed quite the interesting pair, and as Mr. Brekker is a bit tied up at the moment, it's up to you to finish your final test - touch him."
Both their eyes widened at the order.
Inej didn't know the full story behind Kaz's aversion to skin-to-skin touch, but she knew she risked sending him tail-spinning into his nightmares if she touched him. It would also reveal his weakness, the chink in his armour, for all to take advantage of. And these people would surely use it against him, possibly also reveal the secret to the rest of the world. She couldn't allow that, but not touching him didn't seem an option either as Keller would just keep cutting away at Kaz till she obeyed. She chose a middle path, hoping it would suffice.
She put her hand gently on top of his thin shirt, where his heart was, hoping it would lend them both strength. She could feel he was holding his breath, his heart racing underneath her palm. The touch steadied her, letting her forget about Keller's previous actions. Kaz was different from other men. He respected her, cared for her, and would never force her. She did her best to try to steady him, holding him with her eyes, trying to make it easier for him to endure her touch. She could feel him starting to breath again, letting himself relax a bit again as he focused on her.
Keller tilted his head at the lack of reaction from them. He had expected some kind of fireworks, but this was just a whole lot of nothing. "Huh, nothing much to it seems, no sparks of love or disgust. This is just plain boring. From the difference in birth and colouration I am struggling to see how you two can be family, but maybe that's all it is after all, adopted maybe? I mean, even Dirtyhands may frown at going down on family. For safety's sake, lets take it one step further. Mr. Turnboat – open his shirt, please."
Their contact was broken as Turnboat with a jerk spun Kaz around to face him, the chains digging deeper into his wrists, causing blood to slide down his arms. Turnboat efficiently slashed along the buttons of Kaz's shirt, purposely slicing skin along with the shirt. Mere seconds later, he swung Kaz back around, the front of Kaz shirt open, revealing a beaten and bloody upper body. Inej wanted to jump at Turnboat, finishing the job she started with her chain, but she forced herself to stand still. With no weapon and three men against her she was likely to lose as long as they could use Kaz against her.
Keller walked closer to get a good look. "Now that is a fine piece of meat if I ever saw one! Surprisingly well built for a cripple," he said wile appraising Kaz's body.
He turned to Inej. "Your final task shouldn't be a hard request to fulfil, Miss Ghafa. Give Mr. Brekker a proper hug and kiss goodbye, and you'll be on your merry way."
Inej stared at Kaz, searching for an answer. Kaz shook his head, panic in his eyes. He knew if she touched his skin, he would drown again, his struggled breathing already having him halfway there.
He had dreamed of them touching one day, but not like this, not with the taint of threats and Keller. He couldn't let these men figure out his weakness as they would use it to break him. It was settled in his mind, he couldn't wait any longer, he needed to fight, no matter the consequences to himself.
Ignoring his restrained breathing, pain and exhausting, he used the chains to lift himself up in one quick motion, bad leg kicking out at Inej's shoulder, effectively knocking her away from him, and spinning himself around. He felt a white-hot pain in his side as Inej's knife entered him, but he ignored it, finished his movement, letting his knee smash into the side of Turnboat's head, putting all his force into the blow, and following it up with another blow from his other leg. Pain exploded behind his eyes as his hurt leg connected, and he fell back down, chains ripping at his wrists. The sound of Turnboat hitting the floor was worth it.
Inej had taken the kick easily, using the momentum to roll backwards and onto her feat again. Plan E it was.
Keller let out a scream of frustration and pulled his gun at Kaz.
"Why can't you two play nice?! I've been nothing but polite, with reasonable requests, and yet you both keep fighting me, and force me to be nasty. I abhor this! I should be at my mansion, sipping my fine spirits in my comfortable chair by the fireplace. You, Miss Ghafa, should be gone, and you, Mr. Brekker, should be lying prone on my sofa, offering up your mind to me on a silver plater. Is that really too much to ask? None of my other clients have ever been this much trouble. I am starting to think that you, Mr. Brekker, may not be worth the effort I am putting in!" Keller screamed in frustration and anger while brandishing his gun.
Inej muscles was coiled for action, the gun aimed at Kaz the only thing holding her back. Kaz had used Keller's long-winded speech to recover, standing once more, head held high, smirking. "They don't call me the bastard of the Barrel for nothing".
Keller's body was shacking with rage at Kaz's retort, and Inej was worried he would shoot Kaz just out of pure spite, but instead he turned to her. "Miss Ghafa, please leave. I have all that I need from you, and would like to be left alone with Mr. Brekker now." He said coldly, before signalling to the only thug left standing. "Mr. Gergel, make sure Miss Ghafa doesn't try something before she leaves."
Gergel walked closer, aiming his own gun at Inej.
Inej hesitated, eyes flickering between the three, landing on Kaz. He mouthed "go" to her, but she still hesitated. Kaz was in a bad way, and Keller was getting more and more irate, taking bigger and bigger swings at Kaz. If Keller thought he could get Kaz to lie on a sofa and dish, he was sorely mistaken. Kaz would fight him every step of the way.
She wanted to stay for Kaz, but at the same time, she knew she couldn't. Keller hadn't yet realized that Kaz would take any punishment on himself, but that he would break if the same was done to her. If she stayed, they would use her against him like they had used Kaz against her. Kaz had known this from the start, and it was the reasons he needed her to leave. To protect her, but also to protect himself.
She sprinted to the stairs, pausing before exiting the hatch at the top, sending one last look at Kaz. He offered her a single nod, supporting her choice. Inej let the hatch close behind her.