Chapter 1
The Rescue
The soft, repetitive sound of heels against the wooden deck started again, then stopped, only to start again after a few seconds. The red haired man sitting a few feet away, his back rested on the bulwarks and his eyes no more closed, fixed his gaze on the person that kept pacing around the deck for a while now. Once more she stopped and looked over the prow and towards the lone island very far in the distant. A sigh of frustration escaped full, cherry-red lips.
"They are late."
The man smiled reassuringly although he knew she wouldn't notice.
"They will be here soon, I'm sure."
She answered with silence, but the man knew that deep inside her were kept words itching to get out. It was obvious to him from the first time he met her that she was in a constant struggle with herself to hold the countless secrets she possessed, hidden. If it wasn't for that deal he made with her to be given answers in exchange for offering his help, the man was sure this girl currently standing with her back facing him would be even more of a mystery. Not that he managed to learn as much as he would prefer but, at least, he now had a better understanding of her. He only wished the rest of his crew could see her the same way he did. A mysterious and secretive woman, true, yet also a strong, determined one. Instead they were mostly avoiding her, muttering behind her back about how mad she was. Only the oldest of his crewmates, the ones he too was closer with, treated her as they would a long-time friend. Shaking his head to end those sad thoughts he looked at the girl again. She hadn't moved a bit from where she was standing before. Her body was slightly bended over the prowl and her eyes were scanning the horizon, but it was her hands that betrayed the worry that was, moment after moment, engulfing her, turning her knuckles white and causing her nails to dig into the wood. The pirate was almost sure that, if he didn't act soon, she would simply jump overboard and swim all the way to land, leaving him to deal with the consequences.
"How do you know Ace anyway?"
She didn't answer and so the man was ready to ask another question but, before he was able to find a proper one, the girl took a deep breath.
"I don't."
He stared in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
In an instant, sharp heterochromic eyes were locked with his yellowish brown ones. The pirate was, once more, taken aback by the sight of them. This girl's eyes possessed a somewhat otherworldly strength. Not only were they uniquely colored, they also seemed as if they could see right into someone's soul, something that reminded him of a friend he had a long time to see. Like that friend, she too gave the feeling that the whole world looked different to her than it did to other people. Maybe that was the reason behind her strange actions and puzzling words. For a full moment the girl was staring at him until, suddenly, as quickly as those eyes were on him, they turned towards the sky where a big raven was flying in circles over their heads.
"It's simple. I have never met him before. Not once."
"Then what you came to me for?"
She waited a while before answering, her right hand moving to her face to brush away some curls.
"I guess I just wanted to see him once. The boy that started a war."
"Seeing him is one thing. Wanting to save him is another."
She had an answer ready this time, but the loud footsteps hurriedly coming their way instantly got her attention, the previous conversation forgotten.
"Captain!"
He turned towards the newcomer to see one of his crew members was standing there huffing slightly from climbing down the crow's nest and running to find his captain.
"What is it?"
"They are in sight, Captain!"
Hearing the message caused the girl to throw a last glance to the horizon and, upon confirming the truth of the sailor's words, start running to the spot where it was predetermined for the small boat to dock alongside the bigger pirate vessel. The red haired pirate was right after her, his hand moving to rest on her shoulder when they stopped at the beam of the ship to watch the rope ladder descend to meet the small boat with the two sailors that were steadily rowing their way closer and closer. On the boat there was a third person, this one sitting on the back of the smaller ship, his body limp and his head hanging low. A white sheet was dropped over his shoulders, contrasting with the black mop of hair the person had. Soon, the two ships were side by side and, once the smaller one was securely docked, one of the sailors, the bigger one, carefully grabbed the sleeping person and started climbing the ladder. The second one was following close behind.
When they were both aboard Shanks motioned for the first man to place the boy he was carrying down and then dismissed him.
"Any orders?"
The voice of his first mate, Benn Beckman, caused the one-armed pirate to turn to his left and smile.
"Get some of our men to take Ace to Calypso's room and help her with everything she needs."
The man just nodded and turned to fulfill his Captain's orders, leaving the man to fully focus his attention at the girl that was previously stranding next to him. The girl was now kneeling next to the unconscious body of the raven-haired boy, her previous worry evident again but, this time, accompanied by something else too. Something that made Shanks' smile grow bigger.
"What are you planning to do with him?"
"Protect him the best I can."
The answer was probably something she had no intention to say out loud because, the moment she did, she covered her mouth with her hands, a slight blush decorating her cheeks. The pirate couldn't suppress the desire to tease her and he would if he wasn't stopped by the girl's raised hand. Looking down he noticed that all the previous evidence of embarrassment had disappeared and concentration was now the only thing present on the face of the dark skinned girl who kept looking at the distance as if hypnotized. The feeling became more intense when the raven in the sky started cawing loudly and ominously, making everyone on the ship to stay unnaturally silent and to hold their breath. In the end, the girl looked straight at him, her eyes possessing a strange gleam.
"You have to hurry."
"To do what?"
"Go there."
She pointed towards the island in the distance. Shanks looked at where she was was showing him and back at her with a frown.
"Calypso, what are you talking about?"
The gleam in her eyes seemed to grow brighter as she talked.
"The winds have changed. They bring death on their wings. You have to hurry."
As if to support her words, the raven flew down and sat at her shoulder, turned to look at Shanks with its bright black eyes and cawed loudly, its wings opening wide. A wave of murmurs followed this last, strange incident. Unfazed by them the girl stood, raven still on her shoulder, and walked towards her cabin. Just before she disappeared from their sight she stopped, never looking back.
"Don't you think we have enough unnecessary deaths already?"
Shanks' eyes widened at the question. If she meant what he thought she did then it was only natural that he should hurry. Feeling slightly unsure the red-haired pirate turned at his first mate and closest friend.
"We both know what she meant and we both know we must act quickly. I'll make sure myself that Ace will get the right treatment, so you just make sure we are getting there in time."
Shanks just smiled at his comrade and, with a friendly pat at his back and a quick thanks, run to issue orders at the rest of his crew, leaving Benn to carry the still unconscious boy at the mysterious girl's cabin.
