Rea 17

TW// Violence

Rea woke up finding her whole body bond tightly to the front mast of the ship. Her cheek was still numb. Emxios. It was so simple. Just a drop on a blade and it made your opponent sleep for days. Fortunately, it's hard to get by and it's really rare.

She looked around the ship. It was night, so she couldn't know if they were near land or island. Rea figured, she had to be asleep for at least two days. She had to get back to Naydawin. Not just because of the ball. Rea tried to move any part of the body, but it was no use. She couldn't free herself.

"There's no use blondie." Rea looked to her left to see the man who ordered to slaughter her crew. "Ya can't escape these ropes."

Anger rushed through her. She forgot she was tied up as she tried to launch at him. "Listen here, you lying ass. Release me now."

He stepped closer to her. "Now why would I do that, huh blondie?"

Rea wanted to slam the heel of her boot into his ugly face. He reached his hand to her chin and made her look into his eyes. "Yer beauty must be treasured."

Rea tensed. She hated the touch of his rough fingers on her skin.

"Oh, don't ya worry. I won't hurt ya." He grinned and leaned closer. "For now."

"That's enough."

In a second, he released Rea and looked to his right. Rea followed his look to see the woman who poisoned her, sitting on the ship's rails, her coat laying over her shoulders.

"I won't tolerate this behaviour on my ship."

He looked at her with resentful eyes but didn't say anything to her. He just silently turned around and left them. Rea didn't take her eyes of the woman. She was so elegant, her body straight and tough, like nothing can hurt or offend her. Rea never quite believed in Saints, but she was certain that this woman was one.

The woman walked to the other side of the ship, pass Rea. A scent of freesia flowers filled her nostrils. Gosh, she even smells like a divine being.

"T-thank you."

The woman turned round, surprised. The startled expression soon disappeared, replaced by a big grin. "Don't think I did that for you. I just don't tolerate that kind of behaviour here."

"I still think, that a thanks is appropriate."

She stayed silent. She crossed her arms over her chest and walked towards her, stopping a foot away from her. "If you think I'll let you go if you say thanks, you're wrong."

Rea only now noticed her eyes. Deep brown, dark as the night. She felt her face heating up. "That was not my intention."

"Hmm." She turned around. "Tell me, what's your name?"

I shouldn't give her my true name. She already doesn't recognize me, it's better she doesn't know who I am.

"Lily."

"Lily?" She smirked. "That's a boring name."

"Excuse you?"

She turned back to her. "How did you manage to steal the kingdoms ship and made yourself a Captain?"

"Steal the ship?" Is this woman for real? "I didn't steal it. The kingdom entrusted it to me."

She burst out laughing. "Did they? How generous of them."

"It's the truth." Said Rea sharply.

She stepped closer to her. "Look, I don't know much about Naydawin, but I know its rulers are misogynistic inadequate freaks. The King would never put a woman as a Captain of his ships."

"The King is no more." Hissed Rea. "The kingdom was given to a princess."

"Oh, very progressive." She stroked her finger over the wound on Rea's face. "If they did trust you the ship, tell me, where did that decision lead them to. A dead crew?"

Rea didn't say anything. The woman smiled and turned around to leave. No. Rea wouldn't let that. If she could mock her, then Rea could certainly mock her back.

"I thought that woman on ship bring bad luck. I had never seen a pirate ship with a female Captain. Why is that?"

She stopped. "My place was earned."

"How? By chopping of your hand?"

Rea didn't even see when or from where she pulled out a knife and pressed it against her neck. Rea knew it was a low blow, but she didn't let her guard down. "Finally stepped on a nerve?"

She pressed the knife closer. "Say one more thing and I will- "

"Kill me?" Rea smirked. "Would you really?"

Rea was sure she wouldn't hesitate to kill her. For some reason she enjoyed it. She liked the thrill of it.

"Don't test m- "

"Hey. Hey!" A short figure appeared out of nowhere, pushing the woman off Rea. "Stop mocking each other."

The woman pointed a knife towards Rea. "She started it."

"What? No, I didn't."

"Neirin, I don't care who started it." They had short layered brown hair and green eyes with grey flecks, face covered in little freckles. They were dressed in white baggy pants, a belt with a kerchief tied behind it. Their boots were black, reaching over their ankles. A beige shirt was topped with a corset and a brown vest, its sides embroidered with sun coloured thread. Their hand was resting on a silver longsword.

"You both need to stop."

Neirin pointed a finger at them. "I'm the Captain here. I can throw you off this ship at any given time."

They crossed their arms. "Okay than do it." They grinned. "I know you won't."

They just stared at each other for a whole moment. Just as Rea was about to say something, Neirin turned around and stormed off. "Fine. You win this time Amari."

Amari smiled and turned to Rea. "Enjoy the stay on our ship."

They patted Rea's shoulder and headed below deck.

Our ship… Come to think of it, Rea hadn't seen banners or flags to even remotely indicate what ship this was. The only thing she was sure about was that they were pirates and that she needed to get off it as soon as possible.

She tried to move her hands again with no luck. Rea would either have to trick someone into untying her or she would have to wait for the royal army to find her. Both things required time. And she was already running low on it.

The sun was shining directly at her, the heat of it intolerable. They must've been sailing south, hopefully to an island. Rea was used to not eating for days, but without water, her body wouldn't survive for long. She hadn't had a drop of it in days. Dehydration and the heat were making her delusional.

Rea looked in front at the sea. There were no islands, no land, just endless water. She squinted her eyes. There in the distance she could see something floating on the surface towards them. As it came closer, she recognized the body of the boy with scars.

Another of Luana's ship destroyed.

More bodies appeared, slowly approaching them. Someone behind Rea shouted an order and they started throwing ropes overboard. They began pulling out something. It was a body of a woman. When they turned her around Rea's heart dropped.

"Elysis?" Her throat was so dry, she could barely speak.

It was her aunt's body, a blade stuck to her chest. What is her body doing here in the ocean? And she doesn't look like she had been in water for that long. Her skin was still smooth, her body not bloated. She had been buried. Rea remembered her body being lowered into the ground. Why was she here?

Rea tried to call for her name again when she suddenly tasted water on her lips.

She opened her eyes to see Amari tilting a flask to her mouth. Rea leaned closer and drank the water.

"Easy, easy." They whispered.

When Rea finished, Amari closed the flask and fastened it to their belt.

"Thank you."

They winked. "Just don't tell anyone. Nobody is on deck right now. What's your name?"

"Re-, Lily. It's Lily."

"Unusual name for these lands."

Rea cleared her throat. "Why are you helping me?"

Amari smiled. "I may be a pirate, but I am still a human being. If someone needs help, I will offer it and besides, you were getting delusional. You kept saying someone's name."

"Elysis," She swallowed down. "my aunt. It's a long story."

They nodded and walked pass her. "Nobody knows, I gave you water. Okay?"

Rea nodded. "Thank you, again."

They left. It was weird to Rea. Usually, pirates don't treat their prisoners like that. She never knew there were any good pirates. Well, Elias was, but he was still a pain in the ass. Amari genuinely was kind and didn't look like they would ever hurt a single soul.

Rea straightened her back and breathed in. She would make it. She would figure a way out of this and maybe by some miracle Amari would help her.

A storm was approaching them, as the sun started setting. Rea was still tied to the same spot, waiting for someone to get her in a cell, because she sure wasn't going to be tied up to a mast in a storm. The wind blew stronger as the crew gathered on deck, preparing the ship to sail into the storm. They started to talk louder like they were arguing about something. Rea looked over her shoulder. She could only see the crew gathered in a half circle, waiting for something.

"Put me down!"

It was Amari. The one holding them dropped them on the ground.

"Yer helping her."

"What are you talking about, I did- "

"They saw ya."

An agreeing ay rose among the crew. Rea felt the ropes loosening. Someone was untying her. They made sure to leave her hands tied and brought her to Amari. Their hands were also tied. A thunder struck, waves getting bigger.

"Ya helped her."

Rea looked at Amari. She saw the barest of a nod. Rea looked up and screamed. "They did not!" They may be a pirate, but they helped Rea. She wouldn't tell on them. "Nobody helped me."

"Like we will listen to ya. Ya both of yer are liars." He pulled out his sword and looked around the crew. "And what do we do with liars, comrades?"

"Into the sea!" They shouted in union.

"Wait, no!"

They pulled both Rea and Amari on their feet and pushed them towards the ship's railings, where they already put a plank. They pushed Rea first. She struggled to keep her balance on it.

"Come on blondie, jump."

Rea looked up and nodded towards Amari. "I jump and you leave them."

He pushed Amari on the plank. Rea had to steady herself to not lose balance.

"Blondie, ya don't make the rules here."

"Maybe she doesn't, but I do." They looked up at Neirin on the Quarterdeck. She garbed a rope and jumped down towards Rea and Amari. As she landed on the plank in front of Rea, she handed the rope to Amari and when she made sure they grabbed it, she pushed them off. And in that moment, Rea lost her balance. She reached her hands towards Neirin and grabbed her coat. The ship crashed into a big wave and Rea and Neirin fell down the plank into the deep dark sea.

Rea hit the water with her back, pain spreading through her whole body. She pushed herself upwards, but another wave crashed into her, sending her back into the water. Rea needed to untie her hands. She swam to the surface and gasped for air before another waved crashed into her. She grabbed the rope with her teeth and squeezed one hand through the ropes. When one of her hands was free, she untied the other and swam back up to the surface.

Rea looked around – the waves had already pushed her far away from the ship. Her eyes darted around in hope to see any kind of land. She spotted an island, so small, she barely noticed it. And then she saw Neirin. She was struggling to keep herself on the surface. She doesn't know how to swim.

Rea didn't think, she swam to her and wrapped her hand around her waist.

"Get off of me!"

She pushed her away, a wave pulling her under the water. Rea dived in and pulled her back up. "Put your pride away for a minute and let me help you."

She coughed out the water and held Rea by the waist. Rea managed to swim them to the island, struggling against the waves and pouring rain. As soon as they hit the shallow waters Neirin pushed Rea away. Rea fell on her knees, coughing out the sea water.

When she managed to catch her breath and looked to see if Neirin needed help, Rea barely dogged a knife to her head. Neirin pulled out another knife and launched at Rea. Rea had nothing but her hands to defend herself. She managed to disable her hand and pull the knife out of her hands. Neirin pushed her on her back, and they started rolling down the shore, pushing and punching at each other.

"You n-need me if you want to g-get off this island."

"I don't need you!" She shouted pressing her knees in Rea's thighs. "I'm here because you pulled me in!"

She pressed her hand on Rea's neck. She was starting to choke her. Despite having one hand, her grip was strong. Rea glanced at her hook. Her hand…

Rea looked up into her furious dark eyes. "I c-can get you a h-h-hand." She could feel the slight hesitation in Neirin when she loosened her grip. "I h-have the m-money."

Neirin tightened the grip and Rea could see the dark spots covering the corners of her eyes.

"Ugh, fine."

She released Rea and walked away from her. Suddenly air ran back through Rea's throat. She sat up, gasping for air, rain still pouring down. She looked to Neirin who was angrily walking to the little forest on the island and sighed.

I'm probably making one hell of a mistake not killing her.