In the darkened tavern you would have never seen her, she clad her lethal frame in an abyssal black leather, slim fingers covering in gloves with a ring on nearly every finger. She said not a single word only watched the people of the sea port town as they laughed and went about their business, her ever watchful eyes covered in shadows, leaving her lower face slightly visible. No smile nor smirk lay upon her lips, she remained unfazed, her attention never lasted long on anyone. A group of farmers in the middle of the tavern laughed and joked, almost (rude or loud and shrill). Next the pub owner whose daughter was hustling about giving food and drink to people, a small girl maybe late teens or early twenties, with deep brown hair that curled near the ends. Nearly at every turn she was grabbed or gropped, it was common everywhere for such to happen, it didn't mean she had to like it. It was when she went to walk back to the bar that she was pulled into someone's lap, the girl gave a shriek as she tried to get up but the man would not let her go.

"come on now honey, let's go have a bit of fun."

the girl shook her head and once again tried to get up but he pulled her back down gripped her side hard.

"it wasn't a question."

the girl looked terrified and tried to call for help but before she could he covered her mouth and stood pulling her toward the door.

she tried to fight back but he wouldn't let her go, as he neared the door and gunshot rang out, and a bullet pierced his shoulder. The man let out a scream as he dropped the girl to hold his now wounded shoulder. the tavern was silent as the people looked at the man and the blood that fell from his wound.

"now is that anyway to treat a beautiful young lady?"

the woman that hid in the shadows emerged, a gun in hand as she walked over to him, the barrel of which was still smoking. Her footsteps were light and made little to no sound as she moved. Thick coal black hair hung over her shoulders and swayed as she walked, the people around her moved aside as she took her place before the man; whose anger was clear as day.

"you fucking bitch! you shot me arm you whore!"

In a flash she drew another gun and shot him in his leg, causing him to drop to knees.

"and now i've taken you leg, shall i go for the throat next?"

wide eyed the man shook his head and tried to scoot back away from the gun wielding woman.

"thats right no you don't, you want to live, just like everyone else, so i'll give you proposition. i let your filth live but you'll crew my ship."

the woman knelt down in front of the bleeding man and lifted his chin so he could look her in the eyes, his pale blue eyes meeting her sea green eyes.

"savy?"

the man nodded quickly and again tried to move away, but she stopped him.

"i need my crew alive now sailor."

the woman stood and nodded to a few men who took the man by the arms and walked him out of the tavern The woman followed behind them.

When the man woke the next morning he found himself on a ship, the smell of salt and water as every where. He sat up groggy and sea sick, with white bandages on his right arm and leg, a reminder of his deplorable actions the night before. That was when he remembered the woman, the one in the shadow he had not seen, she had taken him into her service, panicking the man bolted to his feet and tried to get to the door but he couldn't see one. he looked to his left and saw only the deep brown wood, it was same on his right, but there was a bucket there as well, most likely for his bathroom needs. when he looked up he saw the hatch to deck above, he could hear men shouting and the wind on the sails. Blue skies and hungry sea birds loomed over him, none of this made sense to him, who would she need him to crew this ship? by the sounds of it she had crew enough, what did she need him for? or was it because he tried to rape that girl? was this his punishment for being drunk and letting his cock rule his mind? was he now bound to the services of a pirate?

The man dropped to his knees with a thud that caused his injured leg great pain, he let out a hiss and skirted from his knees to his bottom to relieve his leg of the pain. His blond hair covered his eyes as he dropped his head, his body ached and his mind was clouded with regret and despair.

In the misted of his self wallowing the hatch on the ceiling opened and young boy peered in.

"oi the cap'n want to see yah, get off 'er ass now sailor."

the boy spoke like one of men and to his surprise he didn't seem to know any other way to talk. What kind of ship was he now in service to if they let a child run around the ship.

"come on, i ain't got all day and nor does thee cap'n"

the man slowly stood wincing as he did so, the boy shook his head and lowered a rope ladder down the hole to him. He took hold of it, giving it pull before looking back up to the boy who seemed unfazed by it. slowly he placed his foot on one of the bars and heaved his pained body up to top deck. it was slow but he made it after some time, with the boys help he pulled himself out the hole.

upon standing he looked around and saw men and women bustling about, some cleaning the deck others climbing the beams to work on the sails, but everywhere he looked he saw people working. never in his wildest dreams did he think that would ever see so many people working in damn near perfect unison. he felt a small tug on his sleeve and looked down, the boy trying to get his attention.

"cap'n's on the top deck. whatever you do don't piss er off,"

the boy then pointed to some stairs that led straight up to top deck, he looked back down at the boy giving him a small smile before heading for the stairs. he tried to keep off his right leg as much as he could, it hurt enough as it was. each step he took made his leg scream and made him wince, it took a while but he finally made it to the top, where he was greeted by the hard face of the woman who had shot him. her coal black hair was pulled up and without he being covered in shadows he saw that she had a well built upper frame with an overpowered looking lower body, a woman used to hard work. she was tall, at first glance she looked like a rugged human, its when you got to her ears you would have done a double take, they were long and pointed, coming to a point at back of her skull. An elf, she was an elf, most of her kin don't wander the seas. they mostly stay with their own kin but some go live with humans, elves are beautiful and graceful, the embodiment of all the natural beauty in the world, in kind they saw humans as wonderful, wild and free creatures. elves and men often fall in love, but the child they make is considered even more exotic than their parents. This woman didn't look to be a half elf but it was normally difficult to tell at first glance.

The man stepped forward and approached the captain, his leg felt like it was on fire, he reached down to see what was wrong but before he could look the elf spoke.

"i see you're awake, Jay took good care of those wounds dont worry."

the captain nodded over to one of the men that was standing to her right and he came and took the wheel from her. She smiled at him before turning to face him, she looked very elvish straight on, slanted cat like eyes, a narrow pointed nose with a matching chin and high cheek bones, but she also had human features, her nose wasn't as fine pointed as most elves he had seen, her chin was slightly rounded as well.

"i hope you remember why you're here?"

"i do, i'm not proud of it but i understand why, how long will you keep me in you service?"

"hm that's a very good question."

the captain gestured for him to follow as she walked past him and down the stairs. The man followed close behind her, limping down the steps and hissing at the slight movement that jarred his wounded leg.

"many of the men you see here have done something along the lines of you, all have tried to be better. i have to be honest, i don't normally shoot people, i shot you mostly cause of what you were doing. it sends a clear message."

The Captain looked over her shoulder at him, he was watching his feet, most likely to stop himself from falling over. His blond hair fell over his eyes and blocked the view of his eyes. but she knew what they were, they were human,almost the same as the ones she looked up at as a child. she shook her head to shake the memories free.

"i won't keep you here longer than necessary, once i've made sure you have become a better man then you can go,"

she patted a man on the back as they walked by, her hand lingered on his shoulder as she whispered something into his ear. the sailor nodded and went back to work.

"i hope you enjoy your time with us. Jay is my first mate and he'll show you the ropes. You'll come to call me Captain but the names Mellina, welcome to the Sleeping Dragon crew…."

Captain looked at him, hoping he'd tell her his name, her left eyebrow slightly rose as she looked at him expectantly.

"William, Sir William Cortes."

"Sir William? well seems to be a common theme of late to pick up nobels, well don't expect the crew to treat you any different, you're one of them now so don't start cryin for your servants now lad."

Captain Mellina sighed and placed her hands on her waist, she cocked her hips out a bit before nodding toward a door behind him.

"head down to the lower deck, the boy will help you find an empty bed. i'll send Jay to change your bandages and then you'll help boy tell your heal. that clear ?"

Will nodded and slowly shuffled around and headed for the door