A/N: getting close to the end, for better experience listen to 'To love someone else- Avery Lynch', love you guys <33 enjoy this chapter.
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"𝕴𝖋 we don't move soon, the black General will be on top of us. We can't waste any more time looking for the girl." Kaz demanded coldly while skimming at the trio in front of him, "I just settled our tab with the last of our coin." Inej spoke softly from beside Jesper watching as he stared at his boss with disbelieve written all over his face, "We're really gonna leave empty-handed, then?" Delaney suddenly appeared from behind him scaring the living shit out of the poor sharpshooter, "will you stop doing that!" Delaney chuckled before ruffling Jesper's hair who huffed in annoyance, Inej giggled silently. "I love your outfit." Both the sharpshooter and the wraith exclaimed while staring at the beautiful girl in awe, she looked absolutely stunning, beautiful yet powerful— she looked ready for vengeance that even the king and queen would bow to her if he saw her.
Her lips were painted a dark red, the color of blood, malice, danger, and confidence, her aesthetic. She also wore a dark red blouse with a deep V-neck, an expensive black satin waist corset as usual where all her daggers hid, and black pants that stopped at her waist.
Kaz didn't know what to say, he could feel how hot his body suddenly was, his palms were getting sweaty and a drop of sweat raced down his neck like rain racing down the window when he was in Ketterdam. She looked beautiful. Kaz never in his entire life thought red was a beautiful color until she wore it. His breath hitched as he couldn't help but let his captivating blue eyes linger down her body up to her black hair which was messy but still exquisite. Kaz finally looked away after approximately 10 seconds of staring at her, he hated how she made him feel to the point that sometimes he just wishes to kill her and stop this feeling that always speeds through his veins like a wave whenever she's around— It was irritating yet one of the most euphoric feelings Kaz Brekker ever felt.
Delaney smiled softly at her friends not expecting expecting Kaz Brekker to say the same, "thank you guys so much." a sudden explosion echoed as Jesper looked at everyone who also seemed to be startled by the sudden alarm, "our alarm." Jesper spoke with narrowed eyes, Kaz nodded "Split up, much easier to take a Grisha one-on-one than a whole squad of them. Rendezvous at the fountain. And Raven you come with me." rolling her eyes she got up following behind Jesper, "I'm surprised you still remember my name, Dirtyhands." spoke Delaney while opening the door of the club, Delaney immediately reacted once she noticed the group of Grishas in front of them, the Black haired girl grabbed Inej before pulling her from in front of them, flames came out of Delaney's hand as she death glared the group in front of her speaking coldly, "you don't know what your doing, now back the fuck up." Delaney spoke coldly watching as an Inferni eyes looked down to see the daggers around her corset, a familiar one caught her eyes, the one she remembered was stabbed in her brother's waist, killing him. Inej had the same one.
Delaney watched as the Inferni named Polina screamed at Delaney before charging at her, Kaz screamed at the girl to move but she stood still glaring at the Inferni, "Inej, Run!" Delaney screamed at the Suli girl who stood beside her wanting to fight by her side but was pulled by Jesper, Polina was the first one to charge, fire came towards her but it didn't touch her since Delaney immediately controlled it and shot it back at Polina who fell down in pain, surprised by the sudden force and how strong the fire was.
Delaney glared at Polina one last time before turning around on her heels running, following where Kaz disappeared, "That Barrel rat killed my brother. I will reduce her to ash" exclaimed Polina in anger as she was about to follow the black haired girl who disappeared, Zoya nodded before speaking calmly, "Fine. Be smart about it, but you don't know who did it, both those girl have the same knives. Think before taking your anger out." with that Polina ran after Inej instead who disappeared in a blink of an eye.
"You really love to get yourself killed, huh?!" Kaz called out while peering over to the girl who looked behind in worry to see if anyone was following them, Delaney turned to the boy with a smirk on her lips, "Oh no, Brekker, I am all for these types of games, it's not getting myself killed." Kaz watched as she walked ahead of him, a small smile was on the corner of his lips as he shook his head. Delaney suddenly stopped dead in her track as her hand found a dagger before pointing it at the person in front of her with nothing but rage in her eyes, Kaz stood beside her death glaring the General in front of him, shadow followed him as Kirigan walked closer to the two teenagers. Delaney and Kaz stepped back in unison with harsh looks in their eyes, Kirigan eyes were only on Delaney, "I know you kidnapped my Sun summoner. And now you're going to tell me where you stashed her." Delaney chuckled, "Well, well, look who we have here, General Kirigan. You don't recognize me do you?" Kaz was confused, what is going on? Do they know each other?
"Your Sun summoner, the last time I checked you didn't have a Sun summoner but a Healer who died and an Inferni named in which you killed back in Fold, Esmeralda. We didn't take her. She fled on her own, who wants to stay with a lunatic who uses young girls for their powers?" Delaney spoke coldly while twirling the knife in her finger watching as the Darkling stopped dead in his tracks, no one knew about his past and all this information. A dark chuckle left her lips as her eyes turned black the same way his, matching. A wicked grin was placed on her lips as Kaz listened to their deadly conversation, not understanding what they both were talking about. Kirigan stared at her with deadly eyes, he tried so hard to remember who this girl was but she looked familiar to the woman he once fell in love with and soon killed after she tried to run away from him. "Where is she? I won't ask you again." Kirigan's eyes snapped form hers to Kaz who coldly responded, "I don't know. It was pretty clear she wasn't interested in being a captive anymore. She's probably halfway to Novyi Zem by now." Kaz cold voice always seemed to send a shiver down Delaney's spine, he raised an eyebrow challenging the Darkling, Delaney nodded beside him at the Shadow Summoner watching as shadow came out from behind him as he started using his powers. Both the teenagers stood still not caring about the shadow coming from behind, "You should have stayed in Ketterdam, Mr. Brekker." As Kirigan pulled his hands out and was about to do some Grisha hand movement, a knife was suddenly in his shoulder earning a painful groan from him, "To remember me!" yelled out Delaney while laughing, a sudden explosion echoed around the whole place as Kirigan covered himself, Both the teenagers disappeared.
The Darkling hand went towards the knife before pulling it out carefully out of his shoulder who was bleeding heavily as soon as the knife was out of his shoulder, a name was carved on the knife 'Delaney Esmeralda Zenovia' then it clicked, she was the daughter of Esmeralda Zenovia, the Powerful Inferni he fell in love with and killed inside the Fold. "Oh, I will kill this bitch." Kirigan whispered harshly with murderous eyes as he swore if he saw her again, she's the first he's going to kill.
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Here they are walking towards the fountain as Kaz tried to get her to talk and explain to him what was going on between the Darkling and Delaney, "We can't work as a crew if you won't tell me what is he to you!" Kaz raised his voice at the girl watching as she turned on her heels pointing her finger at his face, "Oh now you care, after 26 hours of ignoring me and you expect me to tell you what happened? well guess what Bastard, I won't tell you." Kaz stared at her eyes with guilt in his eyes, her dreamy dark brown eyes showed nothing but pain and anger. "Fine. I don't fucking care anymore." Kaz spoke coldly watching as Delaney death glared him, "of course, you never did! where's Inej?" Delaney argued back but her voice softened once she reached Jesper who looked at the two arguing in front of him, the sharpshooter shrugged in response as he also waited for Inej. Worry pulsed through Delaney's veins as she tapped her feet against the floor biting her nails, Inej grunting suddenly snapped her out of thoughts as she looked at the Suli girl, "Oh Inej!" Delaney ran past Kaz bumping his shoulder harshly as she pulled the Suli girl into her embrace, "you're hurt! Shit.." Jesper held a supportive hand on Inej's arms as Delaney had the injured girl arms wrapped around her shoulder. Kaz also was worried but he couldn't do anything to help his wraith but to only stand and look at her in worry, "The Inferni, she's dead." Kaz nodded at the wraith while gulping, he knew how hard it was for her to kill someone—but she did it.
Inej let out a pained shaky breath as Delaney looked over at Jesper for help, "You can't manage a horse. Not even riding double. We'll have to come up with another plan." Jesper spoke while looking over at Kaz who looked around, his eyes landing on a carriage, "That's a pretty nice ride." he said while looking back at Jesper who had a handsome smile in his lips, "Yes. Indeed it is." Kaz made his way towards the carriage while Delaney helped Inej walk over she was thankful for Jesper support. Inej leaned over the black haired girl in pain watching as Delaney kept her eyes on her full of worry and pain, "I'm sorry, it should've been me..." Delaney voice came out in a whisper as she held the girl in her arms tightly, her hand on top of Inej wound as it became bloody, Inej shook her hand while grabbing Delaney cheek with a smile on her beautiful face, "No, it's not your fault, stop saying that!" exclaimed the Suli girl in annoyance before looking back at Jesper who opened the door, a man was sitting and reading a book quietly. "Oh, hello!" exclaimed Jesper while greeting the guy who looked at him with wide eyes before throwing his book at him and leave from the other side of the carriage, both the girls chuckled at Jesper narrowed eyes.
David was so stressed tot he point where he didn't see Kaz hiding beside him until he turned his head towards the Bastard of the Barrel who hit him with his cane, knocking him out with one hit. "He threw a book at me." Jesper shook his head while looking at the unconscious David on the ground before glancing at Kaz who nodded at the boy. Delaney carefully helped Inej climb the carriage with her hand still pressed against the girl's wound.
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"Is this all we have left?" asked Inej while looking at Kaz who didn't respond, Inej groaned softly as she ordered Jesper to get her bag, Jesper handed her the bag as he looked at the wound gagging, "Mother of saints." Delaney helped Inej sit on the ground as she took the bag from Inej hands who stared at the girl in disagreement, "I'll treat your wound. It's not healing on it's own, I'll have to stitch it." Ordered Delaney while taking the supplies out of the bag before lifting Inej blue blouse, in which was soon opened. Kaz looked at the two girls with sorrow in his blue eyes, Inej was hurt and then Delaney. "How long before you can travel?" asked Kaz while looking away from Delaney eyes who were like daggers shooting at him, it was a stupid question of course. "Not long. Where?" Responded Inej while looking at Kaz who immediately responded without a second thought, "Ketterdam." Delaney stopped fiddling with the supplies as she snapped her head at Kaz with wide eyes, "Between our dwindling funds, lack of time and conflicting interests, it's time we cut our losses." Kaz spoke coldly before opening the barn door and walking out leaving everyone speechless, Delaney gulped before looking at Inej, "It's going to hurt." "I guess the Bastard misses the Barrel." sighed Jesper while looking over at Delaney who turned to look at him, "please, don't talk about him, it pisses me off." Delaney turned back to Inej before nodding, breathing heavily she slowly yet gently stick the needle into her wound earning a pained gasp from Inej and a gag from Jesper.
"You can watch a bullet tear through a man, but a needle's too much?" Inej tired to light up the mood and brush the pain away, "It..Yeah, well, you see, bullets are bam, in and out, that's...That's just..." Jesper stuttered as he looked away from the wound gagging for the third time today, "Where'd you learn to do that?" Jesper asked Delaney who shrugged in response, "was watching a man do it and soon learned." Delaney responded without looking away from the wound "Yeah but why would you- Oh, that's dark." Delaney chuckled at the sudden change of tone, "Which is why I can't go back." Inej spoke watching as Jesper was about to speak, "Jesper, don't you dare say his name. And no you won't go back." Delaney voice grew cold as she peered over her shoulder to look at Jesper who was playing with Kaz's cane.
"You make this a lot harder, you know." Both the girls spoke in unison, Jesper smiled sadly at the girls in front him before shrugging, "I know. I'd miss me, too. I'm fantastic." Jesper watched as Inej gave him a pained grin while Delaney nodded her head chuckling softly, "Yes, you are fantastic, Jes." Jesper was surprised to hear such thing coming from Delaney, and he wanted to give her a hug and thank her for being his friend and coming to his life but couldn't knowing she was still treating Inej's wound.
"Hey, you probably will hate me for this but- Why did you and Kaz fight earlier?" Jesper asked the girl softly who washed her hands from the blood, stopping once she heard Jesper question she turned over to Jesper who sat on the ground tilting his head to look at the girl sorrow expression, "I don't know, when we were making our way here, the darkling was in front of us and him and I seemed to have a interesting conversation he didn't quite understand, I knew about his past, and Kaz wanted to know what is going on between The General and I, after 26 fucking hours of treating me like shit and ignoring me you expect me to tell him what happened ." Delaney sat beside Jesper while fiddling with Kaz broken cane, thinking of a way to fix it. "I'm not good in those type of situations, but, you don't know how worried he was yesterday when you disappeared, he searched everywhere for you, if only you saw his angry expression and how worried he was." Silence roamed around the barn as Delaney thought about his words carefully. "Then why ignore me? why yell at me that he doesn't care anymore?" Delaney eyes met Jesper as he could hear her voice quivering a bit but there was no sight of tear.
"That's Kaz, he always was like that and say that he doesn't care about us, but I know he do...he mostly cared about you ever since you became part of this job, I know for a fact that he fancies you." Delaney scoffed while rolling her eyes at the sharpshooter who had a serious look in his face, "Yeah, right. You're not joking?" Jesper shook his head with a small grin before wrapping his arm around her shoulder as he pulled her closer to him. "Go talk to him."
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"Are you hungry?" Kaz asked while peering over his shoulder expecting Inej or Jesper but it was Delaney holding something in her hand, "Jesper and I fixed your cane." Delaney handed him the cane that looked brand new watching as his gloved trailed towards the cane looking at it with sparkly eyes, "listen, I only came here to say that Inej will not leave, that's all." Delaney spoke watching as Kaz eyes met hers, they were beautiful and she could feel herself once again melting but kept herself together, "and why not?" Kaz asked with a low soft tone, Delaney struggled to find the words but only moved to sit down beside him and play with her fingers, "I got the crow club back from Heleen and swore that I will pay her when I get back, so, if Inej got back, she's going to take her from you and I- us. And she is the only family I have left and I will not let you send her back to Ketterdam until I pay her Heleen myself." Delaney finally managed to speak as she stared at the fire in front her, ignoring Kaz burning stare.
"You got the crow club back? from Heleen? and how will you pay her?" Kaz asked while trying to keep his tone low and not show how happy he actually was at her words and how proud he was, "I kind of, stole something from the royal family." Delaney pulled out an expensive Emerald necklace that costs 100 million kruge, Kaz hands trailed towards the expensive jewelry letting his fingers fell how heavy the crystal is. "Kaz, what do you believe in?" Delaney asked him in a soft voice watching as he looked at her, their eyes meeting but neither one of them decided to break the eye-contact this time. "Myself." Kaz responded earning a scoff from her as she was about to get up and walk away.
"You. I believe in You." Delaney stopped dead in her track as she tried so hard to fight the smile and blush creeping up her cheeks, but couldn't help but let them but let her smile out, both their heart racing as Kaz watched as the fire of passion flamed in Delaney's face. "and also Inej and Jesper, my crows."
"well, then, I believe in you too, Kaz Brekker."