Good as Gold

The closer Cain got; the better Siren could see him. He was much taller than Siren and looked ticker built that most of the other solders. His armor was almost exactly the same except it was a gaudy gold that stood out against his olive complexion. He had dark drown hair that had sandier tints in the sunlight and hard dark eyes. Hooded by his brows they looked even colder up close. Siren didn't particularly want to stare at Cain's face, but she needed to distract herself from the sword clanking at his hip and the equally sharp smile on his face. Standing squarely in front of the girls now, Siren studied the stubble on his face before risking a look at the man that accompanied him down. Siren was startled to find him looking directly at her. She decided it was the man that had unchained her originally and she looked more closely at him now. He looked about as young as Cain, mid-twenties maybe, but had a lighter complexion and sandy hair. He was a hair shorter and leaner than Cain, but his eyes seemed much more hesitant than outwardly hostile. One of the two smelled like leather polish.

Cain directed his attention to Kahsel, "Youre a long way from Aquinas, girl."

Kahsel laughed, "That wasn't really my choice, now was it?"

"That sharp tongue is going to get you in trouble one day." He observed.

Kahsel smiled, "I've only got three days left, might as well live it up now."

Cains voice softened, "Why do you assume that?" He seemed genuinely curious to Siren.

Kahsel seemed to sense it too as she softened her voice, "Death is the best option. All it is going to take is one bad man. One bad man, he hears about all of us stranded there and we will be abducted, killed, sold or worse. All over again." She looked at him with pleading eyes now, "If you really want to help us, take us to somewhere we are familiar at least".

Cain seemed to consider this, "Don't worry…." He trailed off.

"Kahsel"

"Thank you, don't work Kahsel. You will find yourself in no such dangers at port" Cain chuckled and Kahsel nodded. Siren could tell she was still worried but she looked slightly more reassured. "Alright then." Cain stepped back and smiled, "Now you can kill her."

Before Siren could process his sentence, the soldier had already pulled his sword and slit Kahsels throat. Siren could hear the sudden screams of some of the women but was too shocked herself. She was dragged to her knees by the shackles as Kahsels body hit the deck. Cain didn't even bother to step backward out of the blood pooling around the girl, instead he looked at the group of women again.

"This is an example women. Hear me well, your freedom is a gracious gift to you from the Thyrus Kingdom. If you do not wish to have such a gift, then we will take it back. Now everyone back to your quarters".

The soldiers started roughly pulling women back towards their cells and suddenly the deck was full of cries of protest. Done were the soldiers with their false pretenses of kindness. But Siren could not hear anything, she sat staring at the girl's body. Shocked by how easily Cain had killed her and exhausted the spirit she admired so much. Kahsel was right, from one imprisonment to another, this was not freedom.

Cain had almost forgotten about the girl chained to the unruly one. Steeping closer he nudged her with his boot, "What, you'd like to be next?" The sound of his voice turned Sirens eyes unwilling towards his. As she caught his eye, despite the grime and obvious shock she was in, he could tell he'd found the reason they had to stop this vessel.