V2Ch64 New Letter

I was alone for the rest of the day. Any light that was shining through was slowly dimmed. I tried to sleep. After only a few minutes of shuteye, I heard the door creaking. I opened one eye to see my visitor. Gert was back again.

"I want to tell you a few things."

She sounded solemn like she just heard some bad news. I sat up and made room for her to sit. She understood the intention and opened the cell to sit next to me. She was looking down at her feet, refusing to talk.

"Are you okay?"

She let out a sigh. I could tell that she was working up the energy to speak.

"I..." *Sigh* "Tha Cap'n isn't doing so well. Eny has been at tha Cap'n's side for a while now. She told me that age is taking its toll. Tha Cap'n means a lot to most of us on this crew. We been together for many years. We looked after each other, helped each other and killed for each other. Lewa? She's looked after us just as much as tha Cap'n has. I'm sorry that she doesn't like you but, for us, she keeps us alive. We've made it out of tough situations because she knew what we needed to do."

I reached an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. She seemed to be getting lost in memories.

"As much as I look up to Lewa, I don't want you to get hurt."

She was beginning to whisper.

"We should reach tha docks within a day or two. When we do, I will try my best to get you out of tha ship. Ideally at night. As long as you are on tha boat you are essentially our property. If you make it out and into Fricity, you won't belong to anyone and tha guards will protect you from confrontation."

"Thank you. I appreciate it. Why are you intent on helping me?"

"Tha Cap'n visited you last night but, you were asleep. Said you were someone we could trust."

"I've never met the Capitan. How would he know?"

"Sh.."

I heard Gert sniffle. I lifted her chin and found tears rolling down.

"Hey. What's wrong?"

"Eny said tha Cap'n probably won't last through tha night. Won't make it to shore. It's ju... just..."

Her jaw began to chitter as she sobbed. I pulled her head to my chest and comforted her as best I could.

"I'm sorry. I know how it feels to lose someone you care about."

Gert pulled herself as close to my body as possible. I welcomed the warmth. It was cold tonight.

I let her cry on me for as long as she needed. I think I started to feel more of a connection to her. It's hard for me to hold back tears when someone is in pain like this. I had to, though. All my tears could do is hurt her.

When her sobs were all used up, she sat up on her own.

"Thank's, Lake."

She stood up and started toward the cell door. She stopped for a second to look back at me. Her eyes were still wet and she had a faint, almost apologetic smile.

Something hit me when I saw her face. It felt like I had disappointed her again.

She looked down before she looked forward again. I refused to let her take another step. My hand was wrapped around her wrist. She looked back again. This time questioningly. I pulled her to the side and pinned her body against the bars. I brought my body close to her. I could feel her warmth. If she had resisted, I would have let go in an instant. Something in my brain told me that she wanted this as much as I.

I kissed her and she began to kiss me back. Once I confirmed that both of our hormones were in full swing, I began to undress her. She pushed me away. I was surprised at first but, I quickly caught on. She pulled my shirt away from my chest and began to cut it open with one of her claws. She dropped my shorts with her tail as she cut my shirt.

We found ourselves nude and wanting. I reached down and lifted up her left leg. I pinned her against the bars and made sure that she was satisfied this time around.

We laid down on my cot, face to face for a few minutes to catch our breath. It reminded me of Riksa. I wanted to see her so bad.

She pulled me close for a hug.

"Thanks. I'm feeling a little better."

I simply nodded with her hands still on the back of my head.

"For tha record, I've still had better, but..."

I pulled away from her embrace.

"Harsh."

"But! I said, but! You're a close second."

"Good. I didn't want to disappoint you again. I already felt shitty about the first time."

"Everyone has bad days. Maybe yours was just a bad night."

She left in a much better mood. I was able to comfortably get some sleep that night.

The next day was lonely in its entirety. No one came to visit. Not even for food. I could tell when dusk was near because of the bright orange light under the door. That was when Eny and Gert came to me. Their faces were both sulking more than Gert's from the night before.

"The Captain passed away last night."

Eny informed me.

"I'm sorry to hear that. It seemed like he was a good guy and looked after you all."

"She... She was a great woman."

"Oh. I'm sorry. I..."

"She gave me three final orders last night. The first was to give this to you."

Eny held out a sealed letter through the bars.

"For me?"

I reached out to grab the letter. I looked at the wax seal that I was about to break. It was a strange symbol that I had not seen before. I shrugged it off and opened the letter.

Suddenly, a hand with black scales grabbed the paper away from my hands.

"LEWA! The Capitan said that it's for 'em! Give it back! This was one of her last three wishes!"

Lewa looked at the letter with a confused look on her face. She rotated the paper and still seemed bewildered.

"Shit. I can't read it anyway."

She threw it back in my direction but the paper only did a loop before falling on the other side of the bars. Lewa left and Gert handed me the paper.

It was written in English.

[Dear, Lake]

It was addressed.

"What does it say?"

"Just a moment."

[Dear, Lake

When my crew found you, I knew who you were right away. I was so relieved to see you. I had waited for you for many years. I've aged beyond recognition, even though you haven't changed at all. After you went missing, I never gave up hope that you would return. At the same time, life goes on and I was eventually needed elsewhere. I formed an all-female gang and roamed across the Lizard Lands for several years. As things changed, we built a ship and took to the open sea. I named my ship, "Orcus." I collected more crew over the years and made myself a family that took care of each other.

I missed you, Lake. I wanted to hold you the other night but, I was afraid that you would be disgusted at the sight of me. I settled for just the sight of my love resting peacefully. I never forgot about you and I missed you every day. I only hope that you were not suffering over these past 58 years.

Please remember me as I was when we last saw each other.

My heart is filled with love for you, even until my dying breath.

Your loving wife, Riksa

P.S. Don't worry about Sophie.

I made sure that she could take care of herself before I left.]