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CHAPTER ONE
the crow club

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The sound of a gunshot echoed off of the walls of the Crow Club, but hardly anyone turned to see what the commotion was about.

Jesper Fahey's grinning like a cheshire cat when the cheating man in front of him is taken by security, leaving his money on the poker table.

Just as he's about to snatch the cash from table, the tip of a long and thin silver blade hit the table, just mere inches away from where Jesper's fingers once were, making the sharpshooter sigh, "Ruining my fun, Allaire?"

"No loud noises at the table, Jesper," She chided, watching the man collapse back into his seat, eyebrows raised, "You'll scare off the pigeons."

"Wouldn't want that." Jesper agreed, eyeing the glistening crimson ruby embedded into the hilt of the dagger as Celestine gripped the handle and yanked it from the table.

Celestine gave him a once over, twirling her weapon in her hands, "Shouldn't you be on the door? Like Kaz told you to be?"

"He send you to do his bidding, Cel?" Jesper questioned playfully, but the brunette wasn't in the mood for games, not today, and stood her ground, holstering her dagger before crossing her arms over her chest, "Jes—"

"Yes, right away, Sparrow." He grumbled and she nodded in affirmation, making her way towards the bar, where she was originally, before Jesper caused a small scene.

Celestine sat there for a while, just surveying the bar, keeping a careful eye on the pigeons and for any fights or commotion between overly drunk men.

Out of the corner of her eye, Celestine watched one of Blythe Tarasov's Viperidae sneak up to the bar and sit in the seat beside her.

"Hello, Roman," The Soulbearer greeted, staring down into her empty glass, "What does Blythe want now?"

"Too much." He jested and the girl shook her head, a breathless chuckle leaving her lips, "You're telling me."

Celestine turned to him, and the small smile on her face was wiped off in an instant, a frown taking it's place as her hand ghosted over his bruised cheekbone, "What happened to your face?"

Roman placed his hand over hers, "I'll be fine, Cel, I just had a run in one of the guys from the Black Tips— you shoulda seen the other guy."

She nodded slowly, her thumb moving to his eyebrow, lightly brushing over the gash that seeped blood.

"Hey," Celestine tapped her hand on the bar counter to grab the bartender's attention, "Can you get me a clean cloth and pour some alcohol in a glass?"

He does as told, and slid a small cup of vodka down the counter and then throwing her a clean cloth.

"Thanks," Celestine muttered before dipping the tip of the cloth in the cup and dabbing it over the gash on Roman's eyebrow, "Just making sure it doesn't get infected."

"Yeah, okay," He breathed, pulling something from his satchel, "But, uh, apart from getting medical assistance, Blythe wanted me to give this to you."

Once Celestine finished cleaning the gash, she set the now blood and alcohol soaked cloth onto the counter, taking a neatly folded paper from Roman with an eyebrow raised.

"She said it's something to do with your family— that you asked her to do some research into them and what happened after you left Ravka." He explained, watching the Soulbearer tuck the information into her pocket.

"Thank you," Celestine smiled at the teen, who returned the gesture, "So, who's out tonight? Lurking in the shadows."

Roman shrugged, "I think Irina and Lyon are out gathering information and collecting debts tonight with Mila and possibly Mikhail too— they were arguing about who was going where before I left, of course."

"Of course." Celestine agreed with a grin, ruffling the teen's already tousled brown hair.

The curls fall just above his eyebrows, green eyes glaring intensely at the Soulbearer as he ran his hand through his hand, pushing it back whilst Celestine watched him with an amused expression.

They had a good relationship ship, the two of them— Roman was Blythe's very first Viperidae recruits, no parents or siblings, he just showed up at her doorstep, whining and looking for somewhere safe.

Blythe, Gris and Celestine took it upon themselves to look after him— feed him, clothe him, make sure he stayed out of trouble that would cost him more than just a slap on his wrist.

Celestine never admitted it out loud, but Roman reminded her a lot of her brother, Dorian.

Curly brown hair, freckled skin, green eyes that lit up every time they talked about something they loved or whenever they found out something new and interesting.

She saw Dorian in Roman, and somehow, Roman knew that, without ever having been told what the boy looked like, he just knew.

"You gotta stop doing that," He grumbled, gesturing to his head of brown locks, "It takes hours to make this look perfect."

Celestine laughed, "Sure it does, love, sure it does."

Before Roman can get out some sort of rebuttal, one of Kaz's lackeys walk up to the bar, drumming their fingers against the counter.

"Boss wants you." The man informed, jutting his chin towards the staircase where, at the top, stood Kaz Brekker, watching his Sparrow and the Serpent beside her.

"Thanks." She muttered, nodding at Kaz before waving the man off beside her.

"I've got to go." Celestine turned back to Roman who was already hopping out of his seat, "Yeah, I should probably head out anyway, Blythe'll probably be wondering why I'm not back yet, it was only supposed to be an in-and-out visit."

The brunette engulfed him in a brief hug, "Stay safe, okay? Go straight back to th—"

"The estate, no detours, be extra careful, blah blah blah," Roman kissed her cheek, pulling away, "I know the drill, Cel, I know," He promised, "I'll see you 'round?"

"Of course." Celestine confirmed, watching him exit the bar before making her way up to Kaz Brekker's office.

The echoing of Celestine's heeled boots against the wooden floorboards let Kaz know she was approaching his office, but his head never turned in her direction, "Hello, Celestine."

"Kaz." She greeted, leaning against the doorway to his little office.

"Anything that I need to know?" He questioned and Celestine raised an eyebrow, "Apart from Jesper shooting a fake Zemini coin, no, the club's been somewhat quiet today."

Kaz hummed in response, flitting through the papers scattered on his.

"What does ten million kruge mean to you, Celestine?" He asked, finally looking to the brunette before him, picking at her nails with her shoulder leant firmly onto the doorframe.

"A lot, most likely, though I don't have a clue what I'd do with it— haven't really thought about it," She admitted, "What do you have up your sleeve, Brekker?"

"How much do you know about a man named Dreesen?"

"He's some sorta rich merch, right?" Kaz nodded, and Celestine followed before looking up from her nails and to Kaz, "Why?"

"He's looking for a crew to cross the Fold into East Ravka." He stated and the brunette's jaw clenched, "Saints— tell me you're joking?"

Kaz kept his face straight, emotionless, but his gaze drifted from hers, making Celestine scoff bitterly, hands tangling in her hair and pulling at the roots.

"Allaire—"

"You can forget it, Kaz," She snapped, "The Fold? I know you're smart, and this certainly isn't smart— we'll need more than just Inej's undying faith to the Saints and a few miracles, and besides, no one who steps foot in the Fold makes it out with every limb intact."

He rose an eyebrow, elbows leaning against his desk, "You did."

Celestine's gaze drifting to the floor for a brief moment, shaking her head, "Don't do that," She murmured, crossing her arms over her chest, "You know that is not the same."

"How so?" Kaz pressed.

"You know what I am," Celestine hissed, her eyes flashing a radiant yellow as if to prove her point, "And even I barely made it through the Fold unscathed— and I say this as someone who has been within that... that thing, it's not all sunshine and rainbows."

"It'll be a challenge, no doubt." He said and Celestine ran a hand through her hair, "No, Kaz, it's you signing a death warrant for yourself and the rest of us you're dragging along with you."

"Sounds to me like you're afraid, considering what you are... Soulbearer."

Celestine marched forward and slammed her hands down on the desk to grab Kaz's full attention, and it worked, because he stood from his desk, glaring straight at her, "I'm glad you're finding this amusing, Brekker, but this isn't nearly as hilarious as I'm apparently making it out to be."

"How did you cross the Fold?" He questioned, and Celestine narrowed her eyes, "My soul," She hissed, "And even then, even with the great amount of power my soul possesses, it was barely enough to get me through."

Celestine watched his jaw tick, the cogs turning in his brain, eyes settling on her own, and she suddenly realised what the purpose of her being in his office was for, "Are you trying to imply what I think you are?"

"What do you need to harness more power?"

The Soulbearer desperately wanted to swing right at his perfect face, "I'm not having this conversation with you, not tonight."

"The chance to have ten million kruge is balanced over your head, and you don't want it?"

"Anyone and everyone who has half a brain wants ten million kruge, Kaz," She snarked, before sighing, "Of course I want it, but what your asking of me— I'd need to train to be able to get us all through the Fold unharmed, to learn more about the power I hold—"

"You once told me that you could absorb—"

"No!" Celestine bellowed, and Kaz matched her tone, "I'm not asking you to drain entire life-forces, only a portion—"

"I said, no," The Soulbearer retorted, "Now listen to me carefully, Brekker," She whispered, her voice eerily calm, "You have two options, you either take the job, and find a way through the Fold without using my powers, or you can forget about it."

The brunette backed away from the desk separating her from Kaz, "We're done here."

"Celestine." Kaz called as she veered around the corner, out of sight, listening to the clicking of her boots getting further and further away from him, "I'll see you tomorrow, Kaz."

"Celestine—!" He called, limping over to the doorway but the Soulbearer's already out the door before he can utter another word.

Celestine bounded down the staircase with a heavy sigh, and walked through the crowd of people, catching Jesper's eye as she did so, "Cel! Celestine!"

"What is it, Jesper?" She sighed tiredly, "I just want to go home."

He handed her a necklace, one with a ruby-encrusted pendant— a real one, just like her knife.

Her eyes widened in surprise as he dangled the silver-chained necklace from his index finger, letting the crystal glimmer in the dim light the club provided.

"It's beautiful, Jes, where'd you nick it from?" She asked and Jesper raised his eyebrows at the accusation, "I didn't steal it!"

"Suuuuuuuuure you didn't." She taunted and Jesper grinned, "I didn't, I swear it!"

He nodded his head over to a man who's being escorted out by security, yelling over the man's shoulder, jabbing a finger in Jesper and Celestine's direction, the sharpshooter waving at him as he was thrown out.

"I won a game at the table— he got a little too cocky, and I was losing, until I wasn't." He explained.

"What are you gonna do with it?" Celestine asked and Jesper's grin only widened, "What're you going to do with it?"

Celestine's once foul mood had diminished, and shock rattled her bones, "Saints, Jesper—" She breathed, "Take it, it's yours for the keeping," He told her, wrapping her hands around the jewellery, "Consider this a gift in return for the gun you so kindly got for me."

He pulled his coat away from his hip to reveal a holstered, silver pistol with a wooden handle, the letters J.F. etched into the middle.

When Jesper looked up, bright brown eyes were already staring up at him, and his heart fluttered at the sight.

There was nothing more uplifting, more rejuvenating then when Celestine Allaire broke out into a smile.

It was like medicine for an incurable sickness, or something sweet you just couldn't get enough of.

Inej had mentioned it to Jesper once, about how whenever the Allaire girl smiled, it would make anyone's heart soar and their knees weak— including self-brooding criminals like Kaz Brekker himself, even if he didn't show it, he felt the effects.

It was one of the many reasons Kaz gave her the nickname Sparrow, but if course he'd never admit to it, even with a gun to his head.

Sparrows, despite being friendly and caring, are also vigilant and hardworking— the Crows never went anywhere without their Sparrow.

Even if it was just a one on one deal, anyone in Ketterdam knew that Kaz Brekker would bring his Sparrow, and for good reason too.

Celestine was always on high alert, always looking over her shoulder, and she never made the same mistake twice— not if she could help it.

"I could kiss you right about now," Celestine laughed, throwing herself at the sharpshooter who squeezed her tightly, "But that would be a little weird."

"I don't mind a little weird." Jesper joked as they pulled away and Celestine shoved him lightly, "Shut up."

The Soulbearer stashed the necklace in the inside pocket of her jacket, "I must be off, Jes— but words cannot describe how much this means to me."

The man smiled, waving her off as she walked towards the door, stepping into the streets of Ketterdam, Kaz Brekker watching her leave from the top of his staircase.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

chapter one, whoop whoop!

you're all probably wondering "why isn't
this a metanoia update," and, "where's a
dancing in the rain update," or maybe it's simply
"oh my god, she's actually fucking updating,"
i will never know, but, uh— yeah.

as of today, i have put metanoia on hold,
just until i get back into the swing of writing
for it, considering i have been focusing a lot
of my attention on kara's story and this current
one— jean and grey will be back eventually, though, so do not fret!

anyway, i hope you enjoyed the first chapter
of the crow and sparrow because i really enjoy
writing for celestine and kaz.

also, before i leave, just a quick rundown on
what a soulbearer is.

soulbearers are of Grisha descent. they have the ability to use the power of their souls to protect themselves and those surrounding them. the stronger the soul, the stronger their powers are. aristeia nadir was the original soulbearer.

SOULBEARERS ARE ALSO MY OWN CREATION,
SO IF THIS IDEA IS STOLEN I WON'T BE UPSET,
I'LL BE ABSOLUTELY FURIOUS AND I WILL
HUNT YOU DOWN. so please don't steal <33

thanks for reading,
don't forget to comment and vote pls <3

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