01||BIRTHED ANEW IN THE HARBORS OF KETTERDAM

KETTERDAM'S harbor wasn't always kind to it's people. There were three kinds of groups, those who the harbor spat out like a plague and those with their noses pointed to the sky and enough kruge lining their pockets, whether they got it legally or not. Or you could be one of the rare ones, those who survived something they wish they had never experienced in the first place, and took on a new identity. Those who were birthed anew in the harbors of Ketterdam.

Sand clumped in Anya's hair, sticking to her skin, stuck on her kefta, as she laid there unconscious, avoided by the many footfalls of most people that passed by. Even though she was unconscious, the raven-haired could feel her throat burn, her face feeling like it was on fire as salt picked at her wounds.

Yet, a rare pair of kind eyes landed upon the Oryalen woman's form. "Kesh? Where are you darling?" A voice sang from above her, its false sense of kindness making the young girl cringe. "I- I have to leave now. Your time is up and Heleen wants me back soon." She shouted up. A sleezy, older man's face popped out of the window, winking at her. "I'll see you next time love." He replied before he disappeared. Once he was gone, the brunette let out a deep sigh. 'Finally.' she thought.

The inferni woman started to stir with a groan, her onlooker shooting fleeting glances left and right before darting to the young grisha woman. "Hey." With a tentative hand, Kesh reached for Anya before turning her around. Her eyes widened at what she saw. Horrid scars ripped across her face, old enough to not be bleeding as they started to cover in scabs but young enough to still look tender. "A-are you okay?" She wondered. "Just dandy." the raven-haired remarked.

The brunette reached out once more, hauling the Oryalen woman up with an arm around her shoulder. "Where...where the hell are you taking me?" The young grisha woman demanded, her words coming out rather exhausted. "Somewhere better then here. You might never know who's watching."

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The room was cluttered, small, and Anya was hidden behind a divider and an enormous pile of clothes, slowly coming back to her senses. A cool wind billowed through the room, Kesh sliping in through the window with a bundle underneath her arms. "What's that?" the raven-haired asked warily. Pulling the scarf down from her face, the brunette rolled her eyes as she stalled out swabs and disinfectants from the bundle onto a small table. "I asked a friend for this, seeing as you're probably going to need it." the young girl started, grabbing a soft and damp cloth to clean the wounds on the inferni's face.

The Oryalen woman's hand snaked around Kesh's wrist without thinking, holding it far out of reach. The brunette looked at the other woman, seeing the distrust and fear in her eyes. 'Why didn't I think of this sooner?' she asked herself. 'These aren't your average accident scars.' The young girl backed away slightly. "I'm only here to help." The inferni narrowed her eyes. "Why?" Kesh bit her lip, unsure what to say. "Because I wish that someone could do the same for me."

A heavy silence fell upon the room, the young grisha woman regarding the brunette. She was dressed in dark clothes, ones that made her able to slip into the shadows of the streets, much different then the robes Anya could vaguely remember from earlier. "How about a trade? You let me clean your wounds and I'll answer some questions. You are bound to have some." the young girl mussed, the stranger nodding at her words. "Where am I?"

"Ketterdam. The menagerie to be precise." The raven-haired bit her lip, flinching hard as the girl started to wash the sand away with the cloth. At least she's far away enough from Fjerda. "The menagerie?" She repeated. Kesh's eyes were down cast, not daring to look the Oryalen woman in the eye as she continued to clean her scars, the water fall of words suddenly stuttering. "It's a...it's a brothel. I was sold to the owner a few years ago." If the inferni could look at her without cringing in pain from the alcohol swab stick to her face, she'd look at her with sympathy because no child should go through this. Kesh couldn't be older then 16, just a few years younger then the grisha woman herself.

"What's your name?" The brunette asked. "I thought I was asking the questions?" The other woman joked. "Mine's Kesh by the way. And," she stepped back, looking at Anya's face to see if she missed anything. "They should be clean now." The raven-haired nodded, sitting up with a slight wince. "Thank you. And to answer you question, my name is Anya. Anya Oryalen." The brunette's eyes widened at her name, realization striking across her face. "You...you're one of Inej's saints!"

The poor girl looked like she was about to have even more of a meltdown, the Oryalen woman slightly fumigation her words. "Don't. Say something like that." The inferni hissed through her teeth. Her reputation in the second army, her accomplishments, it had brought her nothing. "I am so sorry! Saints, I'm keeping a, well, almost sankta hidden in the menagerie. Fuck." Kesh rambled nervously, a hand sliding down her face. "How did you even get here? If Heleen finds you, I don't know what she might do to you." The brunette stepped closer, tugging at the young grisha woman's shoulder in terror.

'She was afraid of this woman. And scared for my life.' Anya thought to herself. "I won't burden you any longer. I'll be gone." The raven-haired motioned for the window quickly, Kesh whirling around. "Wait! They might be law enforcement but don't trust the stadswatch! I've heard rumors of Kerch grisha disappearing. And besides, where will you go, in that? They'll definitely spot you in the crowd." The brunette pointed out, eyeing the Oryalen woman's once bright blue kefta. She looked down before looking at the worry in the 16 year old's eyes. "Fine, I'll stay a little longer. But the kefta is bullet proof and as much as I am angry at the second army, I am keeping it. Especially in a city like this."

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Water flowed down her face as the inferni scrubbed the sand out of her hair. By the gods, she'd almost forgotten what a proper shower felt like. Grabbing a towel, the young grisha woman dried herself of, not a single trace left of what she had endured. Anya saw a mirror across the room, looking into those of her reflection. Her once bright eyes now looked like they were tired, as if the life got sucked out of them like those of her friends. The only difference was that her heart was still beating and blood was still flowing through her veins. 'You should've died with them.' A taunting voice in her head whispered.

It was the first time she had seen her face since that day, her eyelids screwing shut as she tries to push the memories back down like the waves almost did. She wasn't ready to confront it all, not yet. A soft knock on the door lulled her out of her daze, a kind voice chirping on the other side. "Psst. Anya. I got you some clothes." The door nudged open slightly, an awkward hand dangling through at it handed her another set of dark clothes. "These should fit." Kesh added quickly as the raven-haired took them, smoothing the fabric over with her slightly calloused hands. "Thank you."

As the Oryalen woman got dressed, she looked down at herself. Being in similar attire as the brunette on the other side of the door, the inferni started to look like an entirely different person. 'Maybe the harbors of Ketterdam do that to a person.' she thought to herself. Her slightly damp hair was dropped over her shoulders as they framed her face. 'Might as well go all out.' The young grisha woman riffled through the drawers in the small bathroom, hands clasping around what looked like the hilt of a sharp dagger. She twirled it between her fingers, the blade feeling ever so light before she grabbed her dark hair together, setting the dagger to it. The proximity made a chill run down her spine before she grit her teeth, her gloved hand cutting off a large part of hair with one fluent motion.

Kesh had perched herself ontop of her window sill, sadly eyeing the ripped stitches on the kefta that she hadn't fixed yet. The brunette's brow furrowed, unsure what to do. She didn't know what to do. She couldn't remake the stitching, she was skilled in many things, but not that. A simple fix would have to do then. The hand stroke it down, the now black fabric soft but strong between her fabric. 'No wonder she wanted to keep it.' the young girl thought to herself. The bathroom door softly creaked open, Anya stepping through slowly. "I hope you don't mind that I used your dagger." As the 16 year old's gaze diverted from the kefta, her dark orbs landed on the Oryalen woman, her once long, dark raven colored hair now cute short, dangling just ontop her shoulders. "Your hair!" She gasped, both astonishment and excitement present in the tone of her voice. "Yeah yeah. It's not that great I know."

Kesh quirked her eyebrow, looking at the raven-haired intently. "It looks good." she insisted, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "I finished your kefta by the way." The young girl stood up, holding it out infront of the inferni as she closed one eye and stuck out her tongue to the side as if it would help. "The blue was pretty obvious so I hope you don't mind that I dyed it black. Lied to Heleen about how it's a new trend just so I could get a bottle." She giggled, handing it to the young grisha woman.

Anya held it in her hand, viewing it perfectly now. The red, orange and golden stitches that once adorned the kefta's shoulders, sleeves and neck were long ripped off, the damage almost completely gone. It looked like it was also slightly shorter, so it'd be easier to maneuver in it. The bright blue that it once was, even the faded kind, were now replaced with an inky darkness. "Don't you like it?" The brunette inquired with worry. "I love it. It's just...it reminds me of someone." Kesh eyed her, confusion written across her face. "Were they anyone special?" The raven-haired didn't look at her, folding her arms, a faraway burning brewing in her eyes. "No, they aren't anything special."

The young girl looked at the Oryalen woman, taking a subtle note of the shift in her mood. "I'm going to get some food, I'm starving. I'll sneak you some before..." Kesh's words died on her lips, an unbearable weight on her chest and her eyes downcast once more. It had been a short-lived adventure of a day, yet it felt like many months that were over all too quick in comparison to her daily life. "Kesh, are you okay?" the inferni urged the young girl, slight concern filling her tone as she laid a hand on her shoulder in comfort. Tears started to brim the 16 year old's eyes. "I'm...the saints brought you here to me and however shortnit may have been, it was so different from my normal life. Now you are leaving again. And I...and I can't!" Kesh sobbed, words filled with anger, her body shaking violently as she clenched her fists. "I am stuck here."

The young grisha woman's eyes screwed shut, her nose scrunched up as she bit her lip. This girl before her had the courage to open up to her, a stranger, had the courage to help her get back on her feet. It was something Anya admired,the fact that for someone dared to be like that in a world like this. And it was in that moment that the raven-haired knew, she needed to repay the favor, preferably in the form of the girl's freedom. "Don't worry. I'll take care of it."

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That evening, it was a dark, rain pouring down from the sky with buckets onto the streets of Ketterdam. The woman sighed deeply as she looked onto more and more staples of paper. 'Being a successful businesswoman comes with pro's and cons.' Heleen thought, a cruel smile making its way onto her face as one of her hands stroke the expensive necklace that was danglingaround her neck.

A knock echoed into her office, pulling the blonde woman's attention away from her work. "Who is it?" her voice inquired, the annoyance palpable. When no response came from the door, rushed to it Heleen with a huff of irritation before almost ripping it open. "What no-" her brow furrowed as she was not met with anyone's face but a bouquet of chrysanthemums, lying lonely on the hard wood floor. "Huh." She mumbled as she picked them up.

The blonde turned around just as she wanted to put the flowers away when the clattering of rain through her window drew her attention. A wild storm was brewing outside and in the split second that lightning flashed and thunder rumbled in the distance, the older woman saw a figure perched in her chair as they turned around. "Who the hell are you?" She screamed in shock, the chrysanthemums dropping to the carpeted floor with a thud. "We need to talk."

The Oryalen woman eyed Heleen from behind a scarf tugged to cover half her face or rather, the biggest parts of her scars. As she observed her, all the inferni saw was a horrible woman that feasted on the pain, thrived off the misery of those that did not deserve it and filled with as much greed as her outer shell was decorated with an utter garbage style. The young grisha woman could see it all in one glance, read what kind of person stood in front of her. "If you are looking for a job girl I don't think you'll get one. Especially with a face like that." The blonde remarked mockingly.

Anya rose from her chair, a soft and dark chuckled leaving her lips as she stood eye to eye with the older woman's much taller frame. "Good thing I'm not looking for a job then. Especially in a shit place like this." she replied, spreading her arms to gesture around her. "How dare you!" In a flash, Heleen's hand rushed up, ready to descend down and backhand the raven-haired infront of her before she had snaked her hand around the blonde's wrist, squeezing abnormally hard. "Now you listen to me very, very closely."

The older woman's hazel eyes had seen a lot of things, almost everything possible, she probably thought. But the moment that when the Oryalen woman started to squeeze her wrist, pain unlike any other radiated through her body. A filthy burn smell was slowly reaching her nostrils, as they did with the inferni's, smoke rising from where her hand met the others wrist as Heleen cried out in pain, knees buckling to the ground. "There's a girl in your possession, Kesh. You will let her go." The blonde's jaw clenched, her lips turning into a sneer. "I will do no such thing!"

The young grisha woman's deathly grip increased, crushing the older woman's wrist with a sickening pop. "Oh you will. You will set her free. You will let her go and won't go after her. If you don't do as I say, you can try to run. But I will find you, light this place on fire and kill you. Do you understand?" Solemn tears slipped over Heleen's cheek, as if they could convince Anya to not stay true to her word, but when she saw it didn't work, she just nodded.

"The girl is free." At her words, the raven-haired released the clutch on the blonde's wrist as she threw her even further to the ground before turning to the window to disappear that evening once more. "Oh and Heleen?" The older woman flinched at the sing song words of the Oryalen woman as she held her damaged wrist. "I lied about waiting to light this place on fire." Even though the blonde couldn't see it, a wicked smile grew on the inferni's face. "It has already started."

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A man with a cane walked up the stairs calmly, his mind mulling over the info of a stolen painting he had just gotten before opening the door to his room and smiling at the fact that it was hanging right there. He turned around the corner, eye to eye with his tired face in the mirror as he put his cane aside. Water trickled against the open window as he looked behind him before turning back around, slowly slipping of his gloves as the hairs in the back of his neck stood up, sensing a figure behind him. "Hello Inej. What information do you have for me tonight?"

The wraith pulled down her scarf, smiling. "A lead on a job. Enough money to change lives." The bastard of the Barrel snorted softly at her words. "It doesn't take much to change someone's life in the barrel." Inej quirked her eyebrow, sure that her gathered information would grab his attention. "Even a million kruge?" Just like the Suli woman had expected, the movements of dirtyhands immediately halted. "His name is Dreesen, a wealthy merchant. He's looking for a crew willing to cross the fold and bring back something." Brekker's brow furrowed. "The fold? Of course certain death pays a million."

"Dreesen if taking meetings starting midnight. He brought someone in from a ship and took him to his house through the garden district so he could avoid attention. But I couldn't follow them inside, they had extra security. A Zemeni man named Tendo." The wraith continued. Kaz's nose scrunched up slightly in recognition of the name. "He gambles at one of Pekka's clubs so I won't have any leverage on him." He replied as he walked back behind his bureau, sinking into the documents on the table.

"There's more. I got this lead from a girl named Kesh. She's skilled like me and she's from the menagerie. Well, she was." He looked up for Inej had his attention once more. "What do you mean was?" The Suli woman beamed. "She said that an inferni, the almost sankta, helped her. Kaz, she burned half the menagerie down." He looked at her, mulling it all over as he started to form a plan. "She could get us across the fold. But we need to be quick because if we're not fast enough, Pekka might beat us to it."

Kaz Brekker didn't need a reason. But as soon as the bastard of the Barrel heard those words, he knew that something strange was afoot.

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So I hope you all liked this
chapter! I worked pretty
hard on it. Anyways as
always, here are some memes!

Anyway, I hope you
all enjoyed this chapter!