Chapter V - Governor Rochester’s Manor

The stone walls and floors were made of expensive looking material. As if it were moulded from gold and silver, with various patterns of plants and animals. A tiger, bear, and some kind of fish were on variously placed stone tiles on the floor with flowers around them. The walls formed a kind of epic portrait of men building large towers in the middle of the sea. Chandeliers hanged from the ceiling with oil wells in each well there was a small funnel which sent up a bright but small flame. The chandeliers light made the gold like material on the tiles glow like the sun, as the silver parts glowed like stars. Almost blinding but all it did was give a sense of the awesome task of creating such an effect.

Green and red styled carpets made its way across the tile floor like a road, up a grand staircase with glass railings. With brass handles and decor which wrapped around the bars.

The glass was a almost like still water, though at the time I have never seen ice. So it was the best reference I could've made to describe its grand quality. The guards took me to the left along the carpet through a one man stone doorway with gold stones forming an arch around the doorway.

Going through the doorway was like day becoming night, in the sudden darkness I was brought left through a doorway. The faint glow of the room came from a dying torch, which was placed on the wall. The guards I could tell knew the inside as if by memory, I on the other hand was almost blind. What little light there was did nothing to show me what laid ahead. Being pulled and pushed in each hallway seemed to be a new unknown kept silent in the darkness.

Coming finally to a room with light, it was alight by a large fireplace with large wood logs. The room was almost entirely illuminated in a dark orange light of the fire. Wood floors, marble walls with tapestries hanging up on them, red and green rolling down close to the floor. In the room was a large wood table made of white painted wood with gold trim with a large buffet of food. Roasted pig, wine, and fruits laid about with a fat man seated at the table. Reminded me of the cook on the Tropic Cancer but with thin arms and solid muscular legs. Looking as if he was made from the limbs of two different men legs from a strong man, and the arms of a thing one. Sitting on his thick iron chair with cushions on them he was eating pork from a plate and drinking wine.

A man with dark skin like those I was with who were sold into slavery was standing beside him. Nicely dressed and had an appearance of dead eyes and an emotionless face. No light was even reflecting off the servant's eyes.

Or slave most likely, but he looked so distinguished and well groomed it was hard to tell.

"So", said the large fat man "you are the bumpkin who scarred the captain eh? I don't see how that could've been done. Seeing you I don't see him losing you unless he wasn't paying too much attention. Rather fucking careless but…" he paused as he was chewing a mouth full of pork. Drinking straight from a glass pitcher of dark violet wine he smacked his lips as he seemed to savour the taste.

"Blood Teeth is down on the beach dealing with his men and induct Slur's men".

I was curious as to what he was talking about inducting Slur's men. "What do you mean"? I asked as I was a bit curious. I was more interested however in getting some of the pigs meat on the table.

A guards didn't seem to mind my question, they seemed to do only what they were told. Not to anticipate their governor's commands but to respond to them, I wondered if they were actually stupid. It could be as it would make sense a smart man would stand above the others to earn favor. Stupid or well trained I probably would never know the the reason.

"Well", said the fat man I now assumed was the governor "Captain Slur met his end sadly quite recently. In my manor unfortunately".

I heard a sinister tone in the fat man's voice, it made me hesitate to ask what happened. A itching sensation went at the back of my mind so I had to ask.

"What happened to Captain Slur"? I asked.

The Governor looked at me with squinted eyes beneath the folds of fat. Rising from his chair he picked up some pork fat before chewing it as he walked towards me, standing over six feet tall. Well fed, overly well fat as his stomach stuck from the bottom of his shirt and the neck collar. Tight white shirt with large shiny white buttons. The trousers were stretched to a the point of ripping with any great movement. The dark skinned man followed closely aside the governor. At first I thought he was bald but then I saw he had hair but it had small spread out strands which he combed back.

Large lips violet with the wine he drank as it was around his mouth and down his bulbous chin. Like a toad inflated as he croaks.

Standing near me he looked me over eyeing my neck area, then he seemed to be displeased.

"Slim neck, no use" he muttered. "Captain Slur had nice arms I always found he did..." said the Governor pausing as he held up his hands. Making fists with them then spreading out his hands. "had lovely hands and arms. He wanted too much I thought for delivering you when he lost you but he did have something else I couldn't let him have".

To which he said as he held out his right hand and the servant handed him three familiar looking cards. Showing them to me he widened his eyes which had more white than color in them, with very small pupils.

"As you see I have these relics now, and I intend to put them in a safe place after I show them off to you. I justed wanted to see if I could pick at you before sending you to the chambers below my manor. Forgive me my fine young man you were asking what happened to Slur. Well he and I had a disagreement as I was saying. Then Captain Blood Teeth chopped the man's head off his shoulders. I then sent him to the beach to deal with Captain Slur's men and ship for a decent price mind you. Luckily for me though I needed more parts anyway. Now two of you men take this charming man to the chambers below and lock him in a cell. Captain Blood Teeth will see him after he is done, as for me I must be going to my laboratory. The rest of you men while I am in there go and put double guards around the slave pens. I have a feeling this young man is a diversion and I don't want any of my property having a uprising".

After saying that he dismissed his men as he walked with his strong legs through an open double doorway. The servant followed close behind him as I was taken the way me and the guards came into the room. Two of the governor's men took me by either arm and led down a hallway that was pitched black. As the rest of the guards went the opposite way.

The governor I remembered smelled terrible, like the bucket on the slaving brig but only stronger. The way he walked about needing parts made me wonder how he got those various limbs. Was it possible to steal another mans arms and legs? The thought horrified me but I didn't take any mind to that kind of thinking. I wanted to concentrate on the future, my future. What the Twin God was planning for me was something special and I needed to belief in their plan. I just hoped it was for the better, but I did seem kind of important to their machinations.

I didn't think at the time I would've been used the way Matthew and Peter had such faith inspired my own. Even though the Gods of my home island didn't seem to have the same effect on people like the ones I have met. Everyone seemed to pray to them differently or become better for their beliefs. My own Gods never asked of such but I wished they did, as I hoped my Grandfather was nearby. The guards brought my down some stairs to a hallway lit by many torched with a door across from the wall of torches. The first door was opened so they pushed me inside the darkened doorway.

Then the door became locked as I fell onto the floor my arms, face, and stomached scrapped on the rough stone floor. At least it was dry and not so cold in the dungeon compared to the one at Fort Dagon.

I wondered then if Peter and Gorm were going to do? Peter will probably urge them to free the slaves on the Swift Wind Isles. The one with what the Governor calls his manor then after liberating the island will go to the rest. Still even if they did escape are their enough to overpower the Governor's soldiers. They looked well armed even if Captain Blood Teeth does 'take care' of all of Captain Slur's men there is still the pirates.

Blood Teeth himself is not only intimidating but seems to have some kind of demonic power as I had seen while on his ship. Even if it could be explained away I was afraid still of the man, the cards seemed to tell of hope. The Twin God doesn't want me to to run from Captain Slur then again what hope was there if I didn't?

A God wants me to face the Captain head on for what purpose? Possibly for the gain of the faithful or even the Twin Gods own benefit. Either or doesn't concern me as I sat in the darkness awaiting what the Gods deemed my fate.

Crawling around in the dark I found a pile of hay. A large pile which itched my bare skin and had bugs crawling around. Hating the feel of the bugs long legs I swatted at my skin which skull had that crawling sensation. Then sat against the wall away from the hay. Waited thinking of what was going to happen, how would the Twin God deliver me from Blood Teeth? Telling me to go to him was madness if not delivered to me in person.

The cards I kept save under a rock, where no one would find them hopefully. Still I was trapped in the home of a evil cannibal who is hosting pirates of a monstrous captain. My skin still burned, itched, and felt pain as it oozed from having the flesh peeling off my body.

Tension rose and anticipation as I waited to see what was planned for me, then came the sound of loud footsteps. Familiar loud booming, even on stone they had a way of making each footfall sound as though walking on something hollow. A key rusty turned in a lock grinding as the door opened in the darkness a bright golden light came from a lamp. Held up by a tall figured the smell of coppery blood and the slurping sound made me certain. Captain Blood Teeth had entered my prison cell, my eyes adjusted and I saw his burnt face. As it looked ahead not looking directly at me, it took a moment before I saw his bloodshot eyes dart down. Not tilting his head the Captain looked at me with a toothy bitter snarl on his face.

Blood now dripped more heavily from his mouth, as he licked at his almost non-existing thin lips with his black tongue.

"I found you didn't I traitorous worm", said the Captain as he walked towards me closing the door behind him.

Scared silent I had nothing to say, nothing to do but look almost hypnotized at his dead skull face.

"Almost worried that you got away again when Captain Slur told me you escaped from his rowboat. Then there you were on the beach as I came down to do my pleasurable business for Rochester. I half expected you to escape or run off but no you stayed here quietly. Even walked up to the beach from what I hear, that makes me curious. Why did you come here you could've found a way off this island"?

He asked me a question but I couldn't speak, fear gripped me and I felt it tightening around my neck. Choking me to the point of passing out from the fright.

"Speak up worm"! Yelled Captain Blood Teeth like the cracking of a whip. Still I was too scared to talk. "Could it be something to do with these"?

The words had a wet sickening tone to it as he held up the two cards I hid under the rock. Before coming to the beach I made sure to hide them, how did he find them?

"I am not unaware of all your misadventures. My blood is inside you, flowing to your hands, feet, skin, and eyes. I see what you see and know how you feel. I know what you know and can tell what is going in your brain. Not all the time mind you, just when the waters calm and we're fairly close. I felt you coming to this island, and watched you and who you left in the cove. My men are now looking there for Peter and Gorm. I told the Governor to expect them so I wouldn't bet on the Twin God for delivering you from my vengeance".

Foaming and bubbling from his mouth his mouth sloshed with the blood from his mouth. Eyes popping out more from his skull like head he seemed to be in frenzied as he held up the dagger with those many ends.

I was scared, what was the point? In the faith of the Gods if their intention was to let Captain Blood Teeth know everything about the plan? What kind of ploy like that would benefit me at all? It wouldn't it would just lead me to my eventually end at the hands of the man who cursed me with his blood.

My faith broken and brought to tears from fear and a shattered belief I was pulled to my feet by a strong grip. Around my neck Captain Blood held me up as he took the dagger and I felt pain as it stuck into my heart. I let out a terrible scream as my whole body became wrecked with a terrible pain. Soon my scream was muted as if my mouth melted off my face.

Limped and without the will to hold onto what I thought would be my last breath I let it out as everything went black.

Moaning in pain the blackness only lasted moments for me as I awoke and saw the first thing in a glowing white light my hand. Clawed and red like a deep scarlet, a crabs claw my hand was that of a crab. The moaning from my mouth stopped as I was processing my emotions as I saw my hand was inhuman. Like the cards the Twin God gave me I was a crab.

Rolling over I felt myself unable to stand and that I was placed suspending from the ground in a cage. Like a bird cage, moving around I saw Captain Blood Teeth holding up a face mirror. Inside was me, with the body of a red crab with two clawed hands, only my head was human. Tears came down my face and closed in the torment of my grief.

Unable to control my deep anguish I let out a mournful wail as I slammed I claws around my cage.

"Pathetic little thing now aren't you"? Captain Blood Teeth said with glee in his loud voice.

Taking the cage from the hook he carried me around in one arm. As I looked around I saw I was in a circular chamber with a high roof. All around were objects made of iron with many different colored lights. At one table I saw Governor Rochester was working at a table with his servant beside him. He was wearing glasses that strapped around his head with black lenses. Lightning was spraying from the metal pen he was using to write on a piece of metal. I couldn't see what he was writing but he seemed intent on writing it, Captain Blood Teeth walked closer to the Governor.

"Rochester any word from plantations"? Asked Blood Teeth as he sucked his teeth.

After finishing a sentence I assumed Governor Rochester turned and shook his head.

"T don't overstock on slaves despite what I buy my good Captain" then his cheeks bloated as he let out a wet belch. "My men have been ordered to keep on eye on all my plantations they outnumber my slaves three to one and are more well armed. While your men are searching the island I doubt they'll surprise us even if one of the two is from the Coats of the Leviathan".

A splutter of blood and spit came out of Blood Teeth's mouth ruining what the Governor was doing. Giving the Captain an ugly grimace look I heard the Captain say something perplexing at the time.

"Don't go underestimating those Coats. If I had I would've been dead by now. You fool are too overconfident and foolish to believe one Coat isn't worth a more serious attitude. I'll let loose the Behe-Moth". Captain Blood Teeth said as he turned.

"Don't you bastard"! yelled the Governor who rose from his seat. "The creature can't be controlled, please! It'll destroy the island"! Pleaded the Governor as he moved towards Captain Blood Teeth quickly.

Captain Blood Teeth pulled out from his jacket a pistol and pointed it at the Governor who stopped in place. A cracking sound thundered in the room, and I looked at the Governor expecting him to be dead. Instead his servant had blood pouring out of the hole in his head as he laid slumped to the floor dead.

Looking at the servant Governor Rochester looked bothered as though a chair was broken. "You know how hard it is to train one of those slaves? To condition them just right".

To which Captain Blood Teeth replied, "at least you live long enough to do it you fat oafish bug. The Behe-Moth will seek out the Coat for the blood they all have, it'll need to devour the Coat. Even if the Coat manages to kill it, we'll know where they are, and if it kills them I'll kill it for a price".

The Governor looked frustrated, wanting to object but fearing the Captain. Walking up some stairs along the wall the Captain moved down a hallway to the next door. It was a large iron door with a guard standing beside the door. Not preventing the Captain from opening it and going inside, we were then in a large chamber with many cages. Locked with heavy iron locks with daylight coming from a circular hole in the ceiling. A drain grate was in the floor for the rain, as the Captain walked he started to talk to me in his rough gutterly voice.

"Once I have killed Gorm and Peter I'll take you to Rock Island worm. Once there McSwilling you wretch I'll give you to the devil in the ritual. You haven't fully transformed I assume it'll still work with you. You're blood must be quite unique. Either way I will be enthralled once I cracked open your shell".

Blood spluttering at me through the bars of my cage as my small size of a crab made the blood drops feel like heavy rain.

"Now here we are the Behe-Moth", said the Captain as he looked into a,large cage with a cow shaped shadow inside. Taking out a rusty key with a skull shaped handle he unlocked the cage and swung the door open.

At that point I figured I should be scared but I was still wrapt in apathy similar to when the Dragon came. Only this time it was from a deep sadness which peeled away at my heart. There was no hope for me, I was let down by the Twin God. Used for some sick agenda I couldn't understand.

Captain Blood Teeth then rushed full run to the iron door opening it up wide as a screech shrilled in the open air. Going through the door he tried to close it but the sound of wind piercing movement followed. Slamming against the door a sharp clawed hand of a monster was through the opening in the door. A human hand with gray scales but black clawed nails, and malformed fingers. Captain Blood Teeth quickly dropped my cage but sadly it didn't cause the door to open. Then with a free hand he grabbed the Governor's guard at the door and put him into the grasp of the monsters claw.

The guard tried to struggle but the Captains grip was too strong and kept him from running away. Clutching the guard the nails pierced his chest plate and pulled him into the door. Quickly closing the iron door Captain Blood Teeth locked it; as the man screamed in pain as the water sounds came. With sounds of flesh ripping and blood squirting from the body and bending metal. Picking up my cage Captain Blood Teeth ran down the hallway and climbed up the stairs as the man's screams silenced.

Going up stairway after stairway we came to the entrance hall, going up the grand stairway we moved upwards. Down hallways through doors, until I saw daylight down a stairway leading to the outside. Going to the top of those stairs we were outside standing over a parapet of the fort like manor.

Regaining some of my sense I started to get out of my shocked state which brought me a depressed apathy. The sight in the afternoon sun of the island was one of the most fantastic sights I've seen. I remembered Babylon Island and the sight of it as I was being taken to fort Dagon.

The island from above was smaller than Babylon but had lush green trees and brush with a sight of the plantations. Green with small specks of color in the green brush. Red, yellow, and orange it looked like it was harvest time as many of the dark and white skinned slaves were picking. Putting the colored parts of the brush into pockets they were almost even if the guards standing ready keeping on eye on the slaves. The guards seemed to stand out in the sun as they glowed in the sun unlike the slaves. High wood fences with barb wire stretched all around the plantations.

Guards walked along the fences on either side and at least ten were at the gates. Beyond the island I saw the other ones. The other isles were smaller but I could see the plantations with speckles of light from the shiny armour.

In the midsts of sandy light brown sand and green of plants the other islands seemed to lack slaves. Looking more intently I saw only a few, I suppose the main island needed the bulk of the labor. Being close to the Governor's manor I didn't find that hard to believe.

The sun was hot and Captain Blood Teeth was dripping blood like rain drops from his mouth. He must have been quite eager for what happened next, looking through my bars I saw his eyes were staring outwards. Not even in the direction the Behe-moth came from but towards an empty horizon.

What was wrong with him? Did he see so much more that he can't see it with his own eyes all the time? Or did he not find it useful to see things with his own eyes.

Shaking me in my cage roughly my new shelled body was whacked against the bars.

"Quite your thinking of me you little scummy worm or I'll bite off one of your claws"! Snarled Captain Blood Teeth as blood pour forth from his mouth.

I knew he'd do it so I kept my mind blank and just observed what was going to happen. Handling low around his thigh I could see over the parapet wall but I couldn't see high in the sky. Due to the roof of my cage, then cave the sound of wind picking up and and monstrous cry.

Rising up in the sky I saw something with dark scaley skin and wings like a wasp. I couldn't see it clearly in the bright pre-sunset daylight but it had many eyes. Thick limbs and sharp claws. Fluttering about it gave a cry like a wicked bird with the snarl of the lion. It looked like a lion, a bug, and a bird made into some monstrosity.

The Behe-Moth was swift and flew up into the sky so I couldn't see it from my cage. Then in a large and powerful gust it flew feet above Captain Blood Teeth over the parapet. Powerful winds shook my cage and rattled me about its inside, the thick bars of the cage started to crack me shell skin. A small amount of water liquid came from my cracks which stung horribly. Once the cage settled I looked on the other side of the cage I saw the Behe-Moth was circling the manor.

Looking as though the monster was searching for something it soon got whiff of something. Flying so fast it looked like it just vanished it darted for the trees. The wind it gathered in its flight was like a hurricane. Powerful gusts tore the trees from the roots and tore the brush apart. Captain Blood Teeth moves towards the direction as if to get a better view.

Placing my cage on the parapet wall I could see what was happening down below quite well through the bars.

"The Behe-Moth will find and kill them. It has my blood inside of it, it knows what I know and what you know. Still an wildly creature I will have to kill it when it's done it's task. It knows this, it'll savor this hunt knowing it will be its last", gutterly and deep was the Captain's tone.

"When that is done I will take you to Rock Island then tonight the ritual will begin. You'll join the others and fulfill the purpose set for you".

I was afraid of what was awaiting me, the Twin God lead me to the fate in the cards. Did I really have a choice? What might have been really a possibility for me? Or another me? Another time or another world were these thing possible? Was I deceived or merely guided to the ultimate conclusion?

Such things confused me and irritated me as I felt myself feel unnatural in my new body. A creeping sensation went up the back of my shell, a deep rooted crippling sensation.

Human? Am I still a human man? Or something else? I was supposed to be fully a crab or maybe I am what I am, the whole point of me leaving home was experiencing things for myself. Legs cramping I found my many legs were stiff except for two, my former legs. The other ones would just be dead limbs grown simply for my new form and no functional use at all.

Watching the Behe-Moth destroy the forest I saw it had found something landing on the ground it dashed around. Ripping at the brush and at trees that were still rooted. Finally I saw Peter! Still it looked like any other slave from the distance but who else would be hidden in the brush.

The Behe-Moth tried to claw at him but hidden in the brush a arrow was shot. Hitting the Behe-Moth in the side the arrow stuck momentarily before dropping to the ground. Giving out a threatening cry towards the brush the Behe-Moth rushed inside and disappeared in the green coverage.

While there was the sound of fighting in the brush I saw Peter rise up from covering and go into a full dash. No longer in his stupor he ran towards the plantation he seemed to be armed also carrying a sword with him. Just like the card, would the Twin God not desert me after all? Will the slaves overthrow the island and save themselves and possibly me?

"Don't trust those cards", said Blood Teeth threateningly. "The cards only show possibilities the day is still young and he is but one man. The guards outnumber the slaves on this island three to one. He'll die even if I have to bring it about myself"!

The splash of blood coming from his mouth seemed to have increased. I tried to avoid thinking too much as I loathed hearing the words coming from the Captains constantly bloody mouth.

Peter was seen by the guards who stayed at post as if they expected the Behe-Moth to be released. The guards outside the fenced in groups of threes and twos converged at Peter.

Not shying away from his run he went straight for them as the first group of guards were but feet away. Trying to surround Peter they were slowed down by their armour. Peter left through the gap back to where he came from as the guards drew their swords.

One guard aimed a pistol and let out a thunderous crack which missed as Peter hanged himself low to the ground. Eager to get him the guards chased after him, the guards at the fence were gone. Both sides of the fence were not patrolled at the guards left their posts to chase Peter. As they were chasing him through the barren trees and brush he came from I wondered what he was doing?

He wasn't leading them to the Behe-Moth it was fighting in the brush I could hear its cries and the sounds of fighting. Instead he was running through open forest as the guards tried to give chase weighed down by their armour.

Holding out pistols they couldn't get a good aim being too far off or just missing him. Coming to the other side of the torn brush and trees Peter seemed to be walking cautiously through a patch of sand. Moving towards the rocky hill I awoke from after the vision of the Twin God and the demon.

The guards corning him in a sweep formed a long line as they drew their swords ready to corner Peter. Standing against the wall of the rocky hill it was too steep to climb. Looking tired from the running he looked as though he had giving up, holding his arms up in surrender. This didn't seem to be accepted as the guards moved closer forming a tight line. Preventing escape it was clear they wanted to kill Peter. Moving shoulder to shoulder they walked on the sand and as the line grew tighter as they got closer so did their sure footing.

Some didn't seem to be walking on solid ground, only until they got too far in did some figure out the trap. Falling as the sand gave away they landed in a not too deep pit with many spike pieces of wood sticking from the ground.

Most of the guards were pierces in the arms, legs, and head dying instantly or shortly from bloody loss. Those that didn't were severely injured Peter taking his sword went to each of the surviving guards and stabbed him with his sword.

They must have planned it! Peter and Gorm dug that trap hole for Peter to lead the guards away. For what purpose though? The guards were still in the plantation guarding the slaves.

As Peter finished killing the slaves he started moving towards the plantation. Moving in a full dash through the ruined forest so did Gorm emerge from the trees. While riding the Behe-Moth its wings were damaged. It struggled like a mad bull kicking and clawing around as Gorm held chains which he-she used as reins.

While trying to keep hold of the monster Gorm managed to guide its anger and break through the fence of the plantation. Alerted by this the guards kept the slaves in line moving them back to their huts. As many went to keep the Behe-Moth at bay at a safe distance. With pikes and pistols, shooting at it and poking it trying to get at Gorm or managed to control the monster in its frenzy. Using the monster's rage and bloody thirsty nature against it, Gorm used it as a weapon. Wielding it wildly as he-she guiding it with the chains inside its mouth and around its neck at the guards.

That was when in the chaos Peter came with his sword and started killing guards and cutting the slaves chains. With the sword he held which looked like the guard I saw he cut the chains free some slaves. The guards trying to avoid the Behe-Moth and herding the slaves didn't see Peter move around quickly.

Once freed many of the slaves were overpowering guards in mobs. Taking one down with five or six of them men and women tearing out guards eyes disarming them and killing them with their own weapons. Mutilating in their anguish having suffered greatly because of the Governor and his men.

Seeing as the slaves were not armed and the guards were losing control many lost heart and tried to retreat. The ones with the sashes tried to keep them in line and managed to keep them from deserting. The Behe-Moth was kept behind the slaves but the guards used the slaves as a barrier between them and the monster. Knowing that Gorm wouldn't go through the slaves to get to them they tried using their superior numbers to subdue the rebellion.

Information guards with pikes and pistols kept the slaves from charging. As it looked like the guards had the upper hand Peter told the slaves to run through the hole in the fence. Not all were free some were locked in the huts, but they had to go running through the hole in the fence. As the slaves were running the guards tried to give chance but Gorm brought the Behe-Moth between them and the slaves. Then as the guards were halting their chase Gorm managed to tear apart the first line of guards using the monster.

Foaming red at the mouth the monster tried to get the rider off of it as the guards attacked it; piercing it with pikes, swords, and shooting at it the monster was riled up beyond self control. As the monster was about to flop on its back and crush Gorm, Gorm leapt from the back as it was up on its hind legs and ran off. Leaving the monster dazed and without any focus of mind it just attacked what was closest to it, the guards. Who tried and failed to kill it or flee the Behe-Moth, it tore them apart, crushing them, massacred the men.

Silent for all of this Captain Blood Teeth didn't move or make a sound until that happened. Letting out a gurgling shrill scream deep but becoming high pitched he in a rage slammed my cage against the ground. Hitting my cage against the stone again and again made my shell shake and bruised my head. Eventually I felt my back shell crack loudly, and a body shaking pain made me wail in pain. As more watery liquid oozed from the crack. After dropping my cage I looked up my eyes glassy with tears of pain I saw the Captain looking towards the monster. Moving his mouth nothing came out but blood seemed to flow towards the direction momentarily in the air.

Speaking in soundless words the Captain must of used his powers to do something to the Behe-Moth. For not long after speaking the monster gave out a squealing scream and then came a loud thud. Over the sounds of men dying and in pain the monster made no more sound.

I wondered if Captain Blood Teeth managed to kill the monster because they shared the same blood? I didn't dwell on the though as the Captain was foaming at the mouth in rage. Picking up my cage the Captain took me down the stairs from the parapet. I saw for a brief moment the spread of blood on the sand. The beast dead and the slaves charging at the guards who were in no shape to fight back. They were retreating but then I couldn't see anymore as the Captain took me down the stairs.

The sunlight was becoming a light orange as it was beginning to set. Looking up the stairs from my cage I saw the faint image of the moon was out. It was full and it went according to the cards given to me by the Twin God.

The manor was a bustle with men moving and things banging around through the walls. Captain Blood Teeth moved swiftly going down below, taking us right to the main door of the manor. Coming down the grand staircase there were guards trying to barricade the door.

"Imbeciles! Do you not see what you've done"! Yelled Captain Blood Teeth at them raising a fist at them in anger.

"Those worms have cut you down to their numbers! You are now trapping us all in this posh home by blocking the only exit! Get out there right now and secure the gates before they get their asses in order! I want the outer gate manned damn it"!

Most of the guards did as the Captain ordered but one man with a sash stood firm.

"We don't take orders from scum like you", said the sash man defiantly. That made the guards pause and second guess the Captain's orders.

That was when he reached in his jacket pulled a pistol and shot him in the eye. Falling down to the ground dead his armour made a clunk sound on impact.

"Now do as I say worms before those dark skinned bastards outside come rushing up to the door! Do you think they'll let you surrender from what you've done to them and their women!? Hold the gate men and I'll take care of those vermin specks of scum". The Captain's words resonated with the guards.

Taking action they unbarred the door and went to get rifles from the armor. Thinking of overpowering the men with long ranged gunfire.

"Get up on the battlements and get those cannons working I want them bombarded as soon as possible", said the Captain. Making a guttery horking sound he spat bloody mucus.

The mucus hit the glass on the railing and marked the beautiful surface that no other blemish. Guards went to the gate and the ones who worked the cannons followed Blood Teeth up to the battlements.

On the way up the battlements Blood Teeth stopped two guards and took them to the side.

"Listen bugs go to Rochester's lab and bring that fat simpleton to the battlements. Hurry before I gut you with my bare teeth"! The threatening words gave the men a expression of complete horror.

Rushing off I heard their armor clank with each hastened step. Moving swiftly again with his footsteps making a loud booming sound. Going up more stairs than the last time he went up into the battlements we went through a doorway. As the sunlight was dying in a dark purple and the guards were lighting torches along the walls to see in the dark.

Placing my cage on the calls of the battlement Captain Blood Teeth looked out towards the plantation. The slaves were arming themselves with weapons from the dead guards and the armour shed placed outside of the fence. Dying out their torches the slaves seemed to want to hide their numbers in the approaching darkness. The cannons placed on the battlement did not face the direction of the plantation but the open water. There wasn't a way for the cannons to safely fire at the slaves unless they did a direct approach. Built on a slope the manor rose upwards, the only way to get inside was the outer gate. Where the guards stood on top of the walkways preparing their rifles and reinforcing the heavy wooden gate.

The outer wall of the gate was built upon the slope which went upwards along the stairs. Which ended at the main gate which housed the Governor's manor entrance. The main gatehouse Captain Blood Teeth had stationed the guards to ready their cannons.

I tried not to think about how the Captain was most likely worrying about the Coat hiding in the darkness. Gorm could easily come through the darkness and stab him or hit him in the darkness with an arrow.

Captain Blood Teeth read my mind and hit my cage for me having such thoughts. The torch lights showed Captain Blood Teeth's intimidating figure. Suddenly he took a step to the left as a large arrow flew where he was standing and struck a guard behind him.

Gorm obviously could see him and he could probably see he-she in the deepening darkness. Soon only the moon and many stars were the only natural light, the firelight in the plantation died. Only three torches were left lit, the island was completely dark. Even the moon and stars didn't reveal anything, but they made the water look like an ocean of stars.

Soon Governor Rochester could be heard struggling up the stairs breathing heavily despite his powerful legs. Coming to the top he paused and came to through the doorway seeing the blood on the ground in the torchlight. He seemed mortified but was most likely bothered having a dead guard with a arrow sticking from the back of his neck.

"Blood Teeth why did you call me up here? What if one of those savages below hit me with a stray bullet or arrow as this dirty corpse here"? Asked the Governor frantically.

"Do you have the three cards with you"? Asked Captain Blood Teeth who didn't move but peered out into the darkness head leveled as if was staring out into empty space.

"Well yes Captain but why would you ask that the cards can't do use much good, especially with that Coat rousing my property"?

The Governor seemed panicked, obviously he didn't have to be bother much with his slaves. They probably never had to deal with the Governor's slaves uprising so successfully. It wasn't so easy dealing with men who weren't in chains.

Captain Blood Teeth smacked my cage again, "it be like that for long worm".

Stepping to his side against as an arrow flew by past him and flew off into the darkness. Nearly hitting a man who was bent over checking the fuse on a cannon.

"Any case you fat gut of shit I think its time to end this misconception you have about us", said the Captain. "I am not a partner to you. I am not a lackey and frankly you are too stupid, picking off the limbs of a man you didn't bother checking".

A gurgling sort of laugh came from the Captain's mouth as he went to the Governor and looked in the man's tight jacket. Finding the cards in his breast pocket he put them with the other two he found. Then pulled out a dagger, in the torch light the Governor didn't see the dagger. Until Blood Teeth was raising the multi-tipped dagger in the air.

"Help"! Screamed the Governor as the dagger was coming down. The Guards looked away too afraid of the Captain to help the Governor. The dagger pierced Slur's former right arm as the blood game through the jacket the Captain stuck the cards on the wound.

"There that should do just fine you fat scumbag" said Captain Blood Teeth as he lifted up the fat Governor.

The cards stuck to his bloodied arm and his arm started to ribble and the sound of oysters being cracked open. The Governor screamed in pain and horror as Blood Teeth flung the Governor from the battlement. The heavy man was thrown like from a catapult into the darkness towards the plantation. Landing somewhere in the darkness the screams of the Governor continued until the sound of the impact. A resounding thud, then silence.

For awhile there was silence, then there was a distant sound of flesh tearing, blood spilling, and bones cracking. Then came a roar, the Dragon. Captain Slur had his leg eaten by the Dragon, thus becoming under the control of that demon. Captain Blood Teeth using the cards summoned the monstrous entity to destroy the slaves and Gorm.

Looking out into the darkness I tried to see the dragon, it didn't appear in the darkness. Until I saw its glowing white eyes which brought light into the darkness. Looking around it stopped at a distant figure in the darkness. Gorm, it spotted him-her in the darkness and was coming towards her fast. Something about her must of attracted the demon as she-he ran towards the trees for cover.

The dragon spouted blood red fire which burned at the sands and nearly got Gorm but she-he leapt out of the way. That was when a shot was fired, a guard fired a rifle seeing the slaves approach in the darkness. I looked over at them it in the darkness looked like they were wearing guards armour and using wood planks as shields. Soon more guards fired at them as the slaves approached the gate a large group appeared. In the torch light it looked like they were ramming at the gate with a tree they cut down. The guards were poking at them with pikes from over the gate but more slaves came and flung rocks and shot at them with pistols.

Then they came over the wall with makeshift ladders made from the fence and the huts. Coming over they engaged the guards with swords and pikes. The guards had a tight formation and managed to fight them off, but slaves were moving along the wall. Climb the slope, they were going to climb over higher up where the guards were less dense.

"Fire the cannons"! Shouted Blood Teeth as he grabbed my cage and left the through the doorway.

The sound of the cannons was like thunder of an approaching storm. I tried to look back and see what was happening but it was leaving my sight. Only the darkness of the manor remained, was Blood Teeth going to the outer gate and fight off the slaves?

After a few hallways he seemed to move deeper into the manor. Where was he going? To the chamber to unleash more deadly monsters? Or the lab to get a weapon? I didn't know eventually the sound of fighting outside was becoming more quite as did the lights inside the manor. No more candles or torchlight.

Sounds of moving water were coming as we descended a pair of stairs. Blood Teeth closed a heavy iron door behind him and locked it tight with a bolt.

"You're thinking that there is only one escape, the main gate right"? The Captain asked me as he descended some stairs. "But you're wrong, the Governor told me that there is a way out of the manor. In case he needed to escape a siege there is a secret waterway under the manor to the ocean. With a rowboat ready, I told my crew to wait for me there after they were done searching the island. Goes to teach you something boy, don't trust me with your secrets. Even while drunk, foolish fat fuck", said the Captain as he made a slurping sound.

"One I get to my ship we are going to Rock Island, where I'll sacrifice you. Then I'll move the island again and set sail, they'll be searching the seas but they won't find me", then he gave a deep laugh. Sloshing, wheezing, and loud he made a horrible laugh that made me shake in my cage.

The sound of fighting was soon almost silent in compared to the moving waves. Water was nearby, then I felt the Captain shake a bit like he was going onto a boat. That time I felt frightened, Peter and Gorm would never save me if Captain Blood Teeth escaped. What could I do though? The man was monstrous, almost a demon himself and I was a crab. Depression set in as I felt myself helpless, the Twin God lead me to the fate I most wished to avoid. What was there purpose in the gate or on Babylon Island? Was this some sick joke? Did the Gods play with mortal lives and lead them around by the noses just to make their lives more miserable? Sadistic bastards! That was all I could think of the Twin God.

My faith in them turned to anger and defiance, the sky appeared overhead as I became absorbed in hate. In anger I whacked my claws against the bars of the cage. Making a great racket and apparently annoying the Captain. Kicking my cage onto the floor of the boat he gave a threatening growl. In the light of the sky I looked up and saw a sight that soothed my rage.

Stars many stars, the stars of the twins, because of the two lines that ran parallel one another in the sky. Lines of black sky gaps of the stars in the Twin Sea. I remembered seeing that in a drawing my Grandfather drew for me, to show me where I was if I ever left home.

Of course I knew it was the Twin Sea but that certainty of knowing where I was came from my Grandfather. A sense of calm came over me as I looked up at the sky, trying to enjoy the last parts of my life before the end.

My life will end on Rock Island looking over towards Captain Blood Teeth I saw its towering monolith body. A rising black figure into the sky, even at a distance it was towering. Made me feel small even though I was a tiny crab.

Rowing swiftly in the water the island came closer into view. Something in the effort of each row that the Captain did made us move quicker in the water. Looking back at the island we were leaving I could see fire had spread. The sounds of fighting seemed too distant to be heard. Muffled by my growing disconnect with the world and the sound of the water.

Where the slaves winning? I hoped so, even if I died or worse I wanted those people to be free. The Captain will probably leave the island quickly after the ritual. Leaving the slaves free to help the others on the other isles. Those isles were still dark, those people didn't have a leader like Peter or Gorm to aid their rebellion.

"My ship is ahead once we get there we'll dock in my special harbour on Rock Island. Don't worry crab you won't life to see the sunrise". The Captain seemed quite gleeful about my upcoming demise.

Looking up in the sky I tried to have comfort in that sight. Until I heard a roar that shook the night, rising from the island was a black form. Breathing blood red fire it flew in the sky. Moving around like it has gone mad, it was the Dragon. Like the Behe-Moth it seemed to have gone frenzied, but in its rage it was being guided. Towards the sea, but like the card in the Dragons rage the sky grew darker. Stars were turning black and it spread. Only stars spaced out were untouched by the spread of darkness.

Was this the end? Peter and Matthew spoke of this, a end of time. The Dragon in my belief was the bringing of the end of all life on Earth. Gorm had enraged the beast to bring about the world's end. The ocean became darkened like the sky and only the moon's glow lit the sky brightly.

Following the black form in the sky it seemed to arch overhead. Captain Blood Teeth before seemed to see things without looking at them was now following the dragon. Eyes stuck to the sight of Gorm once again steering his beast but where?

A blood freezing scream came from the Captain's mouth as the dragon started to dive towards the shadow of a ship. That was the Tropic Cancer, the dragon was going to crash into the anchored ship. The pirates aboard didn't have the time before they figured out the coming danger it was too late.

With an pillar of water shot upwards as the dragon crashed into the ship. Screams of men came before the impact but afterwards it was like the water swallowed the ship whole. With all the men aboard into the water depths, the dragon stayed afloat awhile. In its jaws was Gorm who struggled but was too weak and wounded.

Even though he-she did awful things to me on Babylon Island I felt grief as the brave soul was devoured whole. Dying as well the Dragon gave a loud cry as it sank into the water to die. For a long time the Captain didn't move or spoke neither did I the shock was still too fresh. The ship was gone was the grew and the Dragon. Gorm was probably dead inside the Dragon's belly. A terrible fate, the sounds of the Slaves fighting the Guards continued but did seem to be dying quite a bit. A victory was probably close at hand, hissing with blood spluttering from his mouth he continued rowing the boat.

Heading towards Rock Island now that his ship and crew was gone.

"Fuck, at least Slur's brig is docked at the island. My more useless men aboard it however", said the Captain bitterly.

Continuing rowing moving even faster we moved past the spot where the Tropic Cancer sank. Somewhere down below the once feared rotting ship was in pieces lost in the very depth of the sea.

"Stop thinking such things you foul crab", again the Captain kicked my cage dented it further. The lock of the cage was heavy and wouldn't break with such blows. "One more unpleasant thought in that scum brain of yours and I'll suck out one of your eyes and eat it"!

My mind was a blank then as I looked up at the now dark sky. Was this the end? Nothing seemed to be going right for me, maybe Peter had better luck. I stopped thinking of the Slaves winning as I feared it would anger the Captain. With my body gone I cherished what human part of me was left. Losing one of my eyes would be a terrible thing for me, and I didn't want it to happen.

The row was smooth as the night deepened and the darkness made me completely blind. Only the moon reminded me that my eyes were still open. The stars all seemed to disappear into the darkness, I struggled to see them in the sky.

I was tired, so tired. I wanted to sleep but my eyes wouldn't allow me to, my mind was tormenting my need for sleep. The thought of being dead before morning was weighing on my mind. How would I waste the few moments of my life sleeping?

I did on Babylon, but in that dungeon it was cold and it forced me to get some rest. The heat was sweltering and irritated my human skin. My cracked crab skin was in pain and I was suffering from pain of the body and mind. Hoping we didn't reach the island till sunrise I was shocked when we hit the shortline.

With unnatural speed we made it to the island, some force propelled us further with each row. We must of row five times over with each effort made by the Captain. He must be supernatural although what he managed to do before that I saw with my own eyes should've brought me to that conclusion. I found it stranges that the waves of the island didn't push us as we rowed up to the island. All the islands had that same push back when rowing towards them on a boat. This one seemed to make everything around it still in the water.

Unmoving, stuck, like a pin in a lock that was still and rusted shut completely solid. Demanding all things else was the same when near it, that was eerie for to consider.

The island must of had some haunted presence about it, for it to have such a foreboding atmosphere. Picking up my beat up cage I had to stand slanted wise since the bottom was kicked inwards at a slant. After spitting on the sand Captain Blood Teeth walked on the sands of the island towards a path leading upwards.

Towards the large tower of a rock that gave the island its name assumingly. Rock Island where I was going to die.