Chapter 12: we'll find moonlit nights strangely empty.

——♤——

Both the grishas decided to go to the club to get to know each other and here was Zaria walking back to the House of the White rose with her arm wrapped around Nina's waist firmly.

Listening to her talk about a certain guy named Matthias Helvar.

"And if only you can see how frustrated he get easily!" Exclaimed the heartrender with heart eyes as she remembered Matthias reddening at every teasing word she uttered.

"Alright then, this Matthias guy will not like it when he sees you about to collapse, would he?" Asked Zaria with a small smile, Nina froze.

"No..."

Zaria ruffled the girl's hair softly and helped her inside the room, "you need some rest, darling. Go to sleep." She spoke calmly watching as Nina cupped both ber cheeks.

Zaria reddened under her hold.

"Pay me a visit tomorrow!" Exclaimed Nina with drunk grin, Zaria smiled, "I will, love, I will." With that Nina let go and was stumbling inside her bedroom drunkenly.

"Continue day dreaming about your lover~" Zaria exclaimed her boots clicking against the wooden ground as she lifted to fingers up waving back.

It started raining as soon as she reached the Slat, shutting the door quietly she took off her shoes and tiptoed inside.

As she walked up the stairs she suddenly heard shuffling behind her that made her turn around in a hurry, eyes slightly wide and hands in front of her with electricity surrounding her fingers.

"Wylan, you scared me.." She spoke softly putting her hand back down and walking towards the boy who was sitting on the couch hugging his knees.

She frowned and sat in front of him with crossed legs, Wylan shifted to look at her, "why are you still awake?" She asked once again warmly.

"Couldn't sleep..." he replied his voice low like a whisper which made her worried, she stayed silent for a while before getting up grabbing the leftover cookies and other sweets.

"Nightmares?"

She asked once again placing the bowl between them tilting her head softly, Wylan munched and nodded with a sigh shaking his head, Zaria not really knowing what to say.

"I understand." Wylan raised his head and looked at the older girl softly, "really?" He asked his voice soft and confused, he wanted to know why she was getting them.

"I get them too, every night." Zaria confessed, it's funny how not even Jesper knows about her nightmares and here she was telling it to Wylan, Jesper will definitely feel betrayed.

"So what's yours about?"

Zaria thought for a while trying to forget the hunting image, "uhm, my dad was executed in front of my eyes so..." Wylan froze at her words, he couldn't imagine the horrifying scene in front of her eyes.

"Oh saints- I am so sorry-" he started apologizing quickly making her chuckle softly, "it's alright, stop apologizing." Wylan didn't know what to say except scratch the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Let's not talk about me, what about you? What kind of nightmares do you have?" She asked scooting closer towards the boy who didn't think twice before telling her.

He could see the rage in her eyes as he told her about his psycho father and how he didn't even let him go to his mother's funeral, then he began verbally abusing him and estrange him from the household.

"I swear to every saint i'm gonna fucking kill him- just tell me where he lives and i'll kill him. Right now." She threatened with a death glare, jaw clenching as she replayed the boy's words.

Wylan shook his head with a small laugh, "i'm fine, I guess. You don't have to kill him Zaria but thank you.." he spoke pulling his sweater down to cover his hands.

Zaria watched his anxious self quietly, eyes softening slightly as she suddenly could see her younger self mirroring her, without a thought she grabbed the bowl placing it on the table and then wrapped her arms around him.

Poor Wylan went through a lot and was keeping it to himself the whole time, Wylan froze trying to blink the tears blurring his vision away.

His own arms wrapped around her waist as he hugged her back, she brushed the back of his hair sweetly.

"you are the smartest person I ever met, Wylan. I promise you, and that fucker will regret it. You will take his spot and be the smartest and richest person in whole Kerch and Fjerda and Novyi Zem—everywhere."

She spoke smiling at him once she pulled away, Wylan grinned back and nodded feeling confident, "thank you so much." She nodded with a shrug.

"I'm just stating the facts, but. If you want me to kill him, just say it and i'll do it immediately."

Wylan was smiling like an idiot, he always wanted an older sister and Zaria being one made him absolutely happy especially how protective she is, "I will."

Wylan noticed about Zaria and Kaz relationship since she got here, the way Kaz would look around the Club for her and always catch her eye, the way her ears reddened at the mention dirtyhands, both always trying to find a way to glance at one another.

It was obvious.

"So, what do you do when you can't fall asleep?" He asked with a cocked eyebrow, Zaria chuckled throwing her head back and replaying the past couple of nights.

"Well... I read, sometimes..." she trailed off trying to find the right way to explain it without anyone other than him finding out, "keep this between us, or Jesper will kill me."

Wylan nodded scooting closer to her, her voice lowered as she spoke, "i sometimes sneak inside Kaz's room to talk or read..."

Wylan's mouth fell open as he stared at her in complete shock muttering a 'no way' as he tried to stop himself from gasping or exclaim loudly.

She nodded with red cheeks and her lips tugged under her teeth as she shook her head at the conversation they had, "yes way."

"He never let anyone in his room!" He exclaimed whispering and yelling at the same time, Zaria laughed throwing her head back, "well, i guess he does now..."

Wylan nudged her shoulder with a smirk watching as she looked away trying to hide her grin, "oh shut up!" She punched his shoulder playfully but he could see the way her dark brown eyes sparkled happily.

She grabbed the bowl who was now empty, "you're in love with him, aren't you?" She froze, her? In love with the bastard of the barrel already? After 4 months of her stay?

"What?! No! No..." truth be told she didn't know, she never fell in love truly before except a crush on a Zemeni girl back then when she was 12 but now that she is 17...

'The alcohol must be starting to take effects' she thought shaking her head and fluttering her wyes shut, but the alcohol wasn't starting to take effects not when she had one drink.

"Yeah right, okay~" replied Wylan sarcastically while rolling his eyes slightly, getting up from the couch he fixed his sweater.

"Your secret is safe with me, lovestruck girl." He spoke with a teasing grin before making his way up the stairs, "goodnight, Zaria and thank you for tonight."

"Night, merchling."

——♤——

Kaz Brekker heard her tell Wylan about her father beung executed and he didn't know what to say, his heart sunk for her and felt so terrible.

Yet, here he waited for her to come to his room holding her book against her chest wearing her pyjamas, she was no where to be found.

After the whole day of not seeing each other, Kaz didn't know why he was getting frustrated by the minute, each minute felt like an hour as he kept glancing up at the door hoping to see her head peeking, but nothing.

Having enough he grabbed his cane and made his way out of his room, stopping just in front of her room thinking whenever he should knock or not but he continued his way to the roof.

She sat in the roof quietly staring at the night sky ahead, sharp cold wind slapped her cheeks but not once did she care or thought that she might get sick.

Her black inky hair was damp yet he could see the curls, she was wearing and white night dress that wrapped around her waist perfectly clinging, she wore a black short underneath but he could see her skin under the fabric.

There was a huge opening in the back revealing her scars which looked as if a lion scratched her back but no they were scars as if someone was hitting her with a belt (yes, her mother)

Kaz sat beside her relieved to see her, both enjoying the silence and hollering of thunder,

She got used to it the dirty streets, the smokey and foggy atmosphere, the loud chatting of people, the always cloudy sky.

She's starting to like Ketterdam.

She looked at him chuckling softly at his wet hair, he was staring ahead without a snarky look nor scowl, just Kaz being calm and enjoying the night, her presence mostly.

She fought her reddening cheeks and got up.

Kaz looked up sensing her movement and watched as she looked at him with a slight smirk, she turned her attention back to the sky in front of her, the thunder and sharp wind suddenly stopped.

She raised her hands, millions of lightning bolts covered the entire sky completely, Kaz felt like a flash of light blinded him but he didn't look away, not once.

To mesmerized by her ability and how strong she is, he has seen way too many Squallers in his entire life but not one was better than her.

Summer storms above the Slat.

He actually thought that Squallers only manipulate the wind by raising or lowering air pressure (fitting a ship's sails or move objects) but never thunder.

He looked at her, eyes narrowing and few strands of his now damp hair falling in front of his forehead, "summoning lightning is a trick that we can perform." she replied with a laugh, meeting his eyes for a second.

He watched as her dress flew everywhere slighlty raising exposing more of her skin.

Ketterdam on the other stared at the lightnings in the dark night sky, they thought it was just a saint doing that, but the saint was in fact talking to the demon himself on the rooftop of the slat.

She sat back down beside Kaz careful not to touch him, "Ketterdam is pretty at night cause stars are everywhere..." she muttered cutting off the silence, Kaz nodded, "well, at least we have something in common..." he replied calmly looking at her.

His breath hitching once he turned his attentin towards her angelic face, her eyes like doe's as she stared at the stars, her eyes shone like crystals she leaned in slowly, hands behind her, perfect kissable lips slightly parter as she followed the passing shooting star.

Black inky hair flying everywhere freely because of the wind, her right hand was dangerously close to his and not once did he move a muscle.

For the past few months not once did he touch her nor did she mind, sitting with Kaz was one of the most peaceful moments ever since she got here.

Silence fell and the sun was starting to rise, she frowned, 'the sun rises early here' she thought looking around from in front of them the sky was orange with purple and blue streaks.

And when she looked behind them, the moon was disappearing behind the tall buildings and the dark night sky from an hour ago was turning into blue and then getting lighter by the minute.

"It's already morning, I should go make some breakfast..." she whispered getting up accidentally touching his gloved hand.

The sun kissed her skin which turned gold, just as she was about ti walk away he grabbed her hand with his gloved one, her heart skipped a beat with a quiet gaso followed, eyes slightly widening at the feeling of the leather brushing against her skin.

His thumb caressing against her palm softly making her look at their hands before back up to his narrowed eyes with burning cheeks, his eyes were like coffee and she almost melted as soon as they met hers.

"I was.... worried. You went missing the whole day." He admitted and Zaria swore that there was a dust of pink in his cheeks but she stayed silent.

Zaria looked away, grinning.

Kaz fought the demons gripping him everywhere trying to pull him under water but he fought them, a war that he was between winning and losing, what he was trying to say was that he missed her and wanted to see her in his room, but he was scared.

Kaz Brekker was truly scared.

His hand holding hers made her feel warm, perfect enigma, warmth rushing through their blood and their hearts beating so fast it was about to jump out, but once they snapped out of thoughts, they pulled away.

Kaz let out a breathe he was holding and looked away grabbing his cane.

"Hey Kaz..." she called in a whisper, he turned to look at her, "thank you..." she grinned and with that she walked away climbing down to her room.