Not About Angels || Jesper Fahey

Chapter Ten: High Hopes

Alessia woke up in the soft bed in the old room in the palace. She hated it here. She opened her eyes, rolling out of bed, before glancing around, seeing every fancy object that was neatly placed hurriedly after she returned.

She walked towards the window, spreading her arms across the window opening. "You thinking about jumping out again?" A voice asked her and she turned around to see Genya who smiled at her apologetically. "That is what I heard. Are you all right, Alessia? I heard about you getting involved in a gang."

Genya walked toward her friend and Alessia turned around. Genya waved her hand around and the scars that had been on Alessia's face were gone.

"Always missed that," Alessia stated.

"Is that the greeting I get?" Genya asked, softly.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to be a captive again." Alessia turned around, still staring out the window.

"I don't agree with him if that's what you mean," Genya stated, and Alessia turned back around. "You're not spying on me for him?" Alessia asked, confused. "No, of course not," Genya replied and Alessia brought her into a tight hug. "Then it is an honor to see you again, Gen." Alessia smiled, releasing her out of the hug. "I wish it was under better circumstances."

"Why were you staring out the window?" Genya asked her, confused.

"Because having high hopes that my friends made the right decision to leave will be the only way to survive this."

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"Not to be that person, Kaz, but are you sure that you can drive that thing?" Jesper asked, looking at the soldiers.

The three Crows were lying on the ground as they watched the soldiers and how the soldiers had found the train car they had traveled in.

"Yes," Kaz said with no hesitation. "On the way to Kribirsk while you were busy hugging bait-" He glanced over to Jesper.

"-Milo! The goat's name is Milo!" Jesper interrupted.

Kaz glared at him. "On the way to Kribirsk, I was memorizing Arken's timings." Kaz glanced over at the soldiers that were there.

"Not to gang up on you, Kaz, but Jes does have a point." Inej nodded towards Jesper, agreeing with him. "Arken's system was complicated and no one would blame you for missing a count."

Kaz raised his eyebrow, looking back at Inej. "Jes?"

"It's Suli! For friendship." Jesper piped in with a smile.

"No, it's not." Inej shook her head.

An explosion came from the train that they had been in. Inej gasped, staring at the machine that they had previously traveled in.

"Come on." Kaz sighed as he made his way up from the ground and walked away to come up with a new plan.

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"Hello, Alessia." The Darkling's voice entered her room and she jumped in shock, turning around to see him standing there with a familiar face. "I assume you haven't been practicing your powers."

"I won't do anything until you complete our deal." Alessia narrowed her eyes at him.

"A messenger has been sent to Heleen. Inej will soon be free. It will be up to Kaz Brekker and his Crows with how they will get back to Ketterdam." Aleksander replied. "We will be leaving for the Fold tomorrow. For now, I will allow you two to reminiscence."

The Darkling stepped out of the room and Alessia sighed, sitting down in one of the chairs before eating a grape from one of the plates on the table. "Don't bother, Alina, he's outside listening." Alessia muttered, "He doesn't trust the two of us, and he wants to make sure we don't make a plan to betray him."