Chapter 4
Screams and yells echoed through Natasha's head. Natasha yelped has a shot of pain flared over her back. Yelling she awoke, cold sweat lashing off her face. She gulped and looked round the cabin. Ash was sleeping in a corner of the cabin, her head lolling onto her chest as it rose and fell with her breathing. Soft breathing came from the floor beside the bed she was lying on. Popping her head over the edge of the bed, she saw Rei curled up in a ball on the floor. Smiling Natasha got off the bed. (She hadn't been under the covers.) Creeping past Rei and Ash to the window she stared out and thought deeply. Her dream that night; it had felt so real - and it had seemed real enough. Rei was in it and by the looks of things if it had been real, it would have be recent. Bryan was talking to him in angry tone about something Natasha couldn't hear and Kai had stormed in. Rei had said that if he didn't have to hurt her again he would give Ash back to Kai. After a pause in which Kai was not looking convinced, Rei was saying something with some hesitation but the dream dissolved into a black hole. She never heard it. She had woken up. What was it that Rei had said if it was real? Natasha felt worried; she had sick feeling inside her.
"What are you doing up?"
Natasha jumped, surprised as a hand touched her shoulder. She looked up into two amber pools.
"Rei," she gasped. She had been so wound up in her thought she hadn't noticed him.
"You shouldn't do that, you startled me…"
Gazing at his wrist, she saw a new bandage. "Rei, what happened?"
Rei pulled his hand back and turned away, holding the bandage to his wrist.
"Rei?" Natasha whispered walking round to face him. "What happened?"
"It… it's nothing," murmured Rei looking at the ground. "Just cut myself last night by accident."
Natasha could tell he was lying but if Rei didn't want to tell her, she didn't want to press the matter. Natasha decided to change the subject.
"Mmm so how did I get here?" asked Natasha thinking back to last night and not remembering how she actually got to the cabin.
"I carried you here. You fell asleep as you were walking back to the cabin," Rei said simply. "I guess the beating knocked a lot out of you."
"Rei, why did you go and see Bryan? Tell me the truth," whispered Natasha not looking at Rei, getting that sick feeling in her stomach again.
"How did you know that?"
"Heard you talking to Ash last night," replied Natasha now staring deep into Rei's amber eyes.
Rei didn't say anything but just looked into Natasha's light blue eyes, his heart thumping in his chest. Should he tell her or not?
'No,' he decided; that would hurt her too much and make her do something stupid.
"He just wanted a word with me, not much," said Rei lying through his teeth.
Natasha had a feeling that the bandage and the going to see Bryan were some how connected but she felt it was a bad idea to ask. She put a hand on Rei's shoulder with some hesitation.
"If it was something you would tell me, right?"
"Sure, you know I would," replied Rei, surprised at the question.
"Yeah…sure you would," remarked a voice from the corner causing Rei and Natasha to jump slightly.
"Ash! Don't do that," gasped Rei. "You know I hate when you do that."
Ash chuckled looking at the pair of them with a raised eyebrow. Natasha drew her hand way from Rei's shoulder feeling embarrassed as a heat wave blossomed across her cheeks, turning them red as her heart thumped in her chest. What was wrong with her? She never did that before. She had never felt it before so what was it? Ash saw this and smirked.
"So, what are you going to do today?" asked Ash grinning at Natasha. "You seem to be a magnet for trouble."
Natasha thought for a bit but Rei interrupted her thoughts.
"She's not going to get into any more trouble. Are you Natasha?" said Rei in a stern voice, glancing at Natasha.
"Yes Sir," said Natasha rolling her eyes.
Rei raised his eyebrows.
"Don't call me Sir, Miss Hiwatari. I know you're my 'slave' and all but just call me Rei," smiled Rei.
"Fine, Mr Rei," said Natasha, a cheeky smile edging its way onto her face.
He just grinned.
Natasha felt a squeeze in her stomach as he smiled at her and that feeling came over her cheeks again making her feel sort of feverish.
"Natasha, you ok?" asked Rei, checking her forehead.
"I'm o...ok," stammered Natasha pulling away from Rei's hand. "Just a bit hot."
Ash eyed Natasha suspiciously and then looked back at Rei.
Suddenly there was a rap at the wooden door. Rei walked briskly over to the door and opened it. Kai was standing in the doorway, his scarf blowing in the sea air.
"Rei, I want a word with you. Alone." Kai glared at Ash and Natasha as he said this.
Rei nodded and walked out of the cabin shutting the door behind him. Natasha and Ash dashed over to the door and each bent down to a crack in the door. They were just outside, standing on the deck in the sunshine.
"You better keep your word Kai or Ash comes back to me," Rei's voice was stern.
"When have I verily broken my word? More like you better keep yours, Cat Boy, or they'll be hell to buy in blood," the sneering of Kai's voice so close to Natasha it made her jump. The dream it was real. Natasha bit her lip. What was Rei doing to stop him from hurting her?
"I will." Rei's voice which was shaking slightly.
Natasha's eyes widened in realisation of what Rei had said.
"It was real," she whispered gently, moving a foot away from the door.
Ash stared at Natasha, her head still to the crack.
"What?" questioned Ash not turning the volume down on her voice. Totally forgetting that Kai and Rei were on the other side over the wood door.
"It's this dream I had last night. And it seems to be coming true," whispered Natasha.
"But dreams are dreams; they can't come true," said Ash taking her head away from the door. "What do you mean, Natasha?" Ash stared at the girl-warrior, red eyes glowing sullenly in the dark. Quickly, Natasha recounted the dream, high-lighting the connection she felt with the bandage on Rei's wrist.
"What do you think, Ash?" The two girls stared at each other for a long time in the gloom.
"I think…." Suddenly, the door was thrown open, and Kai was framed in the bright sunlight. Natasha readied herself.
"Listening in were we, girls?" Kai mouth curled in a cruel smile as he stared at the girls.
There was silence in the cabin; the only thing you could hear were the floor boards creaking and the men working on the deck. After a minute or two Kai spoke,
"Rei, I think you need to go and see Bryan again and Ash...You come with me."
"And what about me?" asked Natasha hesitating a bit.
"You can just stay here," said Kai, scowling at her.
Rei walked out the door again without looking at Natasha. Kai pulled Ash to her feet and dragged her out the cabin roughly.
Natasha sat there staring after them, disbelief written on her face. Why does Rei have to go and see Bryan again? And WHY hadn't she been punished? The new Kai would have punished her for breathing if he got the chance. It was good that she hadn't gotten punished but why hadn't she? Natasha sat there for a long time in her thoughts. Try as Natasha may she couldn't tell herself that the dream was just a dream like Ash had said. She had a bad feeling inside. Natasha got up and ran over to the window and opened it quickly, breathing the sea air in deeply. The thoughts in her head were running round like little dogs.
"I think I'll go and check that Ash is ok," whispered Natasha closing the window again and walking to the cabin door, before wrenching it open.
Ash stared at Kai a small glint in her eyes, Kai knew that look. He had seen it many times before. Kai didn't bother calling Tala this time. Ash began to smile as Natasha entered. Ash dropped a dagger she was holding up her sleeve into her hand and ran forward six steps before she froze where she stood.
"WHAT THE FUCK?!?" yelled Ash looking as if she had turned to stone.
Kai smiled at Ash (this always meant bad news.) Ash seemed to be struggling with herself. She slowly brought the dagger up to her own throat and held it there.
Her eyes widened, she felt scared, sick, helpless and cold all at the same time.
"What…?" muttered Natasha, her blood running ice-cold.
Kai walked right up to Ash so his red eyes were staring into hers. Kai smirked as he spotted the fear in Ash's eyes.
"Cat Boy was once your master, Beast," Kai stopped at this point to enjoy how helpless Ash was. "But we traded. What I would give to kill you right now…But I believe you could be of use to me." Ash lowered the dagger, collapsed to the floor, and stared at Kai. "Of course you will have to be punished as always."
Kai turned and pushed past Natasha and out of his cabin. Natasha ran over to Ash, who was shaking on the floor like a nervous wreck.
"Wha… what just happened?" asked Natasha looking nervously at Ash.
"I made an oath that I would protect my master no matter what," replied Ash in a trembling voice.
Natasha had never asked Ash, but it felt like the right time to ask it now.
"A…Ash what exactly are you?" stammered Natasha sitting next to Ash.
"I'm a dragoness," she said simply.
Natasha clicked her fingers remembering something she had read.
"So that's why you couldn't attack Kai. Because he's your new master," groaned Natasha.
Suddenly Natasha's eyes widened in fear.
"The dream, it must be real," moaned Natasha, feeling sick again.
"I don't think it was a dream, Natasha. I think it may have been something more. Is there a history of Saiga blood in your family?"
"What would that have to do with anything?" Natasha asked, frowning.
"Traditionally, the Saigas have been able to sleep-sense," she stopped short at the confused look on Natasha's face. "I mean that they can recall incidents that they haven't been shown, or taken part in – like you dreamt that Rei was talking to Bryan – and it turns out that he was. It's almost like telling the future, but you're recalling the reality. Do you understand?"
"I think so. My grandmother came from one of the outer islands, so that may be the link. Mind you..." she pondered, "If I did have Saiga blood, would Kai not have it too?" She asked.
"Maybe, maybe not. Originally, it has only been the male members of the Saiga that could sleep-sense, but occasionally a female has received the talent. And when they do, they are usually stronger than most at sensing."
"I see..." muttered Natasha thinking hard. "So then what else did Rei say to converse Kai?"
"I don't know," said Ash biting her lip. "But I have a feeling its not good."
At that point Kai walked backing into the cabin follow by Traffic lights, who was dragging in a massive iron tub of water. Ash eyes widened in fear as she saw the transparent surface of the water, which was reflecting the evil glints in Tala's ice blue eyes and Kai's crimson eyes ones.
"Now Beast, this is your punishment for trying to kill your master and the caption of this ship. Tala," Kai said briskly with a smirk.
Tala strolled over to the two friends who were sitting into middle of the room and grabbed Ash and started to pull her over to the tub. Ash put up a good fight, scratching and kicking Tala but it was no good. Tala was too strong and rough. Natasha got to her feet, thinking fast and punched Tala in the face causing him to let go of Ash, who promptly scrambled back a bit, getting away from Tala. Tala recovered and slapped Natasha back. She fell to her floor and clutched the red mark on her cheek. Tala stormed over to Natasha full of anger, about to strike her again but…
"No Tala, just bring Beast here," hissed Kai narrowing his eyes.
Tala turned from Natasha to grab Ash and pulled her roughly the rest of the way to the tub and made her knee in front of it and he held the arms behind her back. Stopping her from fighting back.
"Leave her alone!" yelled Natasha getting her bearings back again.
"No Natasha, just stay out of this!" said Ash glancing back at her comrade.
Natasha was taken a back. Ash wouldn't have normally done that.
"Wise words, Beast," sneered Kai looking at Natasha. "And you better do it."
Ash looked at the water as it sloped around in the bottom of the tub splashing with the movement of the ship. Ash's eyes filled with fear, staring at it.
Kai grabbed one of Ash's arms out of Tala's grasp and held it out in front of Ash.
"Unmarked skin? Now that won't do will it," smirked Kai before shoving the arm in the water.
An unearthly scream filled the cabin. Ash was screeching like she had her arm in the worsted acid in the world. Steam issuing off the waters surface like mist on the early morning sea. A burn welled up on Ash's arm but Kai still holding it there. Tala standing there behind Kai, smiling seeing Ash in such pain. After a minute Kai realest her arm and Ash draw it out sharpish. Natasha stared at Ash's arm. It was all burnt, every inch of it. Kai smiled satisfied to see that his work was done here; he turned on his heel and walked out of the cabin followed by Tala who was acting like a dog following a bone. Natasha sprinted over to Ash who was cradling her burnt arm.
"Don't touch it," whimpered Ash shielding her arm from Natasha.
"I'm just going to bandage it up," whispered Natasha soothingly.
Taking the arm gently, Natasha pulled out a hand full of bandages from the back pocket of her ripped trousers.
"Where did you get those?" asked Ash.
"I always take one or two when I can. Just in case, you know," smiled Natasha bandaging Ash's arm up carefully.
"Thanks," said Ash looking up at Natasha.
"Its ok, you helped me before," grinned Natasha giving Ash a pat on the shoulder. "So what did he stick your arm in anyway?"
"Water, it's the only thing I can't touch without burning myself on because I'm a dragoness," sighed Ash holding her arm tenderly.
"I see…but why did you stop me from helping?" asked Natasha.
"I didn't want you to get hurt as well," said Ash getting to her feet with Natasha still on the floor.
"We better get back to the cabin before Kai decides to come back," said Natasha starting to get to her feet.
"But we have to cook today. Don't you remember?" stated Ash.
This remark caused Natasha to fall flat back on the floor with a loud thump.
"Cook?! We have to cook for the whole crew?!?!!" croaked Natasha her voice very small staring up at Ash in disbelief.
The most Natasha had very cooked was for Mariah, her mum, herself and Li; nothing like the some sixty members of the craw not including the caption, first mate and second mate.
"Yup," Ash declared clapping her hands together. "That's one of the things slaves do so come on lets go." Ash dragged her very reluctant companion to the door.
