Sorry for the reallllyyyyyyy late update! I've been super busy with summer classes and sports because I'm going into high school! Anyways, I hope you enjoy! :D
Scarlet Farer
"Madame? Are you in there?" Percy's voice echoes through my door. I shiver and press myself against my covers, mortification still gripping my stomach. My hair is still damp from the icy water, and the siren's songs echo in my ears, bringing back the horrible memories and the whispers of nightmares I had long forgotten.
"No," I moan from my pillows. The door swings open.
"You must come quickly," Percy says seriously. "We are approaching our haven, but there seems to be more news." I shudder a little under my garments and motions for him to go on.
"Good news, I hope?" I say, and Percy's eyes darken.
"The boat with the sailors we encountered was dropped off by a larger vessel that was too far away to attack."
"And? Do they have the payment?"
"They—," Percy clears his throat. "They were dead." My stomach drops to my feet. I know what we had to do next; it is clear. We are to kill Prince Jason. Somehow a little part of me finds this wrong, but I have to show my crew: I am not the lenient little girl who was tortured by her past. I'm Scarlet Farer, the most successful and terrifying pirate in the Mediterranean.
"We need to kill him," I say slowly, like I'm speaking through a mouthful of molasses. Even as I say it out loud, it feels as if I'm being stabbed in reverse. It's wrong, a small part of me screams. Percy hesitates.
"That's the thing, Madame." He shuffles uncomfortably. "They were sent back with a note. The King, ah… He's sent Lucas Castellan after us. And it said that if the prince is found dead, we are all to be killed immediately." My stomach drops lower to somewhere below the ship.
If there is anyone a pirate need fear, it's Lucas Castellan. I'm convinced he was a pirate once; I've heard of his torture. He stabs, bleeds, hangs, strings, drowns, throws to monsters, and much more. He's the only being who comes close to being my equal in famed stories.
"How far away are they?" I deadpan, and Percy swallows.
"Not far. A few days' journey. We must pick up the pace, milady, or he will soon advance on us."
"I see." I try to speak calmly, though my stomach is twisted into knots. "Notify the rest of the crew immediately, and do not speak of this to the prince. We don't know what he will do. Perhaps he shall kill himself to get the rest of us killed— the possibilities are endless."
"Will do, Scarlet," Percy says. His nervousness shows through once he salutes me— he's almost never formal with me, but his frequent use of "milady" and "madame" gives him away.
The shuts behind him with a click, and I sink to my bed. This is not good. Not good at all. I don't doubt Castellan's tracking skills— he once tracked down my old ship from miles away when he was employed by another ruler. My last precious ship was destroyed. I run my hand absentmindedly, fondly, over the boards near my window as I recall the memory.
I sit bolt upright quickly, realizing something. I tear out of my room, my door slamming shut behind me, a thousand little wind chimes slapping me in the face.
"Percy!" I cry, breathless. "Percy!" I whip around in a full circle, only to be met on my second spin by a golden head of hair. "Damn you, Will," I breathe once my heart has ceased thumping so loudly.
"Anytime, if it'll win you over," Will says with a wink as he drops down from his ropes. His mouth is inches from mine, and I feel his gaze boring into my skull as I glance away. Heat gathers under my cheeks. "Where's your hat, Scarlet?" Will murmurs, making a tsk-tsk noise. "You can't have us see you without your hat." His hands find my braids and they quickly untie them. I feel my stomach turning as my hair tumbles out and over my shoulders and down my back. I can even feel Will's surprise.
"Back off, you stupid lug," I chortle, taking a step back. Will just laughs.
"You'll come around," he says with an impish grin as he tugs himself back up his rope and out of sight. I feel a rush of air leave my lungs as footsteps quickly approach me.
"Are you alright?" The voice is firm and brisk and formal, and as I whip around, knotting my hair back up on top of my head, I'm met face-to-face with the prince.
"What are you doing out from below deck?" I say quickly. He looks surprised.
"I never was below deck. Ever since the sirens—" He breaks off, and I see color dancing across his face. I raise my chin indignantly.
"Well, I'll send for someone to get you there." I bite the inside of my lip at his hurt expression. "Though I'm grateful for your concern."
"I'll take him down," Will says, appearing again.
"Damn you," I mutter again, and I'm met by a wink from Will. He grabs the prince's arm, whose eyes meet mine once more, and leads him away to the deck below. I stalk off after them, hoping to find Percy there as well.
The corridor down to the deck below is dark, and the steps are wet from Percy's and the prince's retreating, sopping wet figures earlier from the sirens.
"Percy?" I call out. "Percy?"
"Scarlet?" comes his voice. He sounds confused. "Where is the prince?" I almost laugh aloud.
"Coming down as we speak," I call back. Soon he walks into sight, looking flustered. Once I see him, all of my giddiness evaporates. "We must speak immediately." Prince Jason turns to glance at us, and I quickly motion Percy over.
"We aren't safe," I tell Percy in a low voice. He glances around quickly as if others can hear him.
"What do you mean? The safe haven is our best—"
"Percy, he knows where the safe haven is. He found out by tracking my last ship. It's the first place he'll go." I'm speaking hushed, quick tones, and as I do, Percy pales visibly. "Damn him. Once he knows where we're headed by following our trail, he'll go straight to the haven."
Percy curses like the sailor he is. "Damn!" he finished, stomping his boot hard on the ground. I shift my weight quickly, thinking.
"The prince's goddamn uncle is corrupt," I mutter, glancing up at Percy. "But I have a hunch that the prince himself is a good man." Percy raises an eyebrow slowly, unsure as to where I'm going with this. Even I'm not completely sure. "Maybe if we assassinate the king, the heir will be Prince Jason."
"How do we know to trust the prince?" Percy scowled, crossing his arms. I hesitate to answer.
"Give him time. He saved me from the sirens when he could have left me to drown out there. He barely knew me. For all he knew, I was some psychopath who only wanted him for the reward." Percy nods slowly in understanding.
"Very well. We'll wait, Scarlet, but not for long. Luke's ships will be here soon, and when they are, it'll be a bloodbath." A shiver goes down my spine upon hearing the familiar phrase. My mind reels into a flashback quickly, and I try to shake it away. "Are you okay?" Percy mutters in a lower voice. "You're having the flashbacks again, aren't you?"
"I'm—" I begin, but I look into his sea green eyes and can't help myself. I soon find myself face-to-face with the scared, lost, teenaged orphan I had claimed nearly as my own child off the streets of Atlantoss. "Percy!" I cry out at the blood blossoming at his shoulder where a knife had grazed him after he had stolen the loaf of bread. So much suffering just for some bread—
"Scarlet!" Percy shouts, and his hands are on my shoulders, shaking me. "You need to rest. You're having them again." He looks worried and frightened, and it takes all of my willpower not to think back to when I'd found him.
"I can't," I say, a firm fear gripping my stomach. I clutch onto his arm after making sure no one is watching us. "Nightmares." Percy sighs, running a hand through his hair, releasing my hands.
"I must watch the prisoner," he says, though there's pity in his eyes. I feel my own flashing; I don't enjoy pity from others in the slightest.
"I'll watch him," I say firmly, and Percy looks a little relieved.
"Just don't fall asleep, alright?" he asks, raising an eyebrow. I nod, a weight lifting off of my shoulders.
"Thank you," I say, and Percy kisses my forehead before exiting. What a lucky girl Annabeth is to have a noble man like Percy.
I turn to the grates of the prison. Will is nowhere to be seen; he must have left earlier. I'm about to turn away when I notice the electric blue eyes watching my every move.
"Are you engaged?" a small voice asks, huskier than usual. It's the prince. I can't see his face, but my stomach twists.
"Of course not. Don't be ridiculous." My accent clicks as I stumble over my words. The prince pauses for a moment. Why is this of his concern?
"He kissed you," the prince says quietly after a few moments. I turn to him.
"He's not my mate, if that's what you're implying," I scoff. "Believe me, Prince Jason, that ship had sailed long before I realized it wasn't my destiny to be with him. He deserves better than I can offer, and Anna—" I cut myself off, remembering that it's supposed to be kept a secret.
"You can tell me who Anna is. I don't know her, but I do know of an Annabeth on this ship who works below deck here." I glare at the prince, but he continues. "Who am I to tell, Madame? I'm only a prisoner here." Something in my stomach shifts, and I reach over to touch the metal of the prison bars. I hear a sharp intake of breath.
"I'm truly sorry it had to be this way, Prince Jason," I say, trying to sound remorseful and only half-trying to change the subject. In truth, I feel slightly sorry for him. "Your uncle is a scheming, murderous liar, and yet you are different."
"Different?" His voice is strained. "Different? I am a monster. My bride-to-be does not love me, and I cannot think of any way to release her from me. My uncle stole her from a far away land, true, but he is not murderous."
"Think again, Princey," I shoot back icily. "Who do you think ordered the deaths of all of the pirates in the seas around your kingdom? The gods?" I laugh, throwing my head back. "He killed my friends, and you're complaining about a case of a bad bride."
"He killed pirate scum," Prince Jason says too confidently. I shoot him a deathly glare and feel anger clouding my mind.
"I would not say such things, Prince Jason. You're talking about my family," I hiss, and the prince falls silent. I can feel the fear in his eyes even through the near darkness. It's comfort to know that I can at least feel strong around him. "Get some sleep. We're about to hit a rough patch in our little journey."
"What do you mean?" the prince asks suspiciously. I shut my mouth and stand, afraid I'll say too much.
"You said it yourself. You're a prisoner. Your life isn't going to be easy." I begin to retreat, but I pause as the prince slams his hand against his bars, making a loud, rattling noise.
"You're not even the least bit grateful that I saved your life?" He sounds desperate, but as I listen, it sounds more like hurt. My mind throbs painfully.
"For that I am grateful," I say slowly. "But you really need to sleep, Princey." Prince Jason chuckles softly, a little bitterly, muttering something under his breath as I retreat to the kitchen to nick some food. Fear eats away at my stomach, but it has subsided due to my conversation with Prince Jason. He has made me feel stronger, even if it is only temporary.
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