Author's Note: Terribly sorry for the wait loves! I've been working on my cosplay shit for Anime Fest, which is coming up Labor Day weekend, and my husband's 21st birthday was today so obviously I was stuck taking care of him, ha. Enjoy! (And thank you for all the beautiful reviews. If not for the few of you that take the time out to give them to me, I doubt I would still be writing this story. =])
Chapter Ten: The Isle of Mihandrogs
When I woke, my body ached and my thigh throbbed uncontrollably. I felt slightly sick to my stomach, though not enough to cause a ruckus over it, and yearned for more time to myself. My heavy eyes move towards my left, finding Reaver passed out beside the bed in a chair, leaning on his elbow with his eyes closed, a soft noise coming from his lips.
I smile despite my current fatigue, rousing from my bed and trying to recall what exactly had happened and when I had gone to sleep. 'Oh, that's right. That damnable sea witch took a bite out of me.' Giving forth a soft mewl as I stretch, my body pulls itself up and grabs the light sheet that was at the foot of my bed, obviously kicked away during my rest. Without a second thought, I drape it over the slumbering pirate king, pulling my boots on and exiting the room.
Of course, I had taken a moment to appreciate just how human my immortal companion seemed, laughing to myself. Once I am out in open air, I see my crew busily mulling about, trying to clean up the ship and get it in working order as it sailed further towards an island on the horizon.
What a minute! An island? I grin wildly, at last noticed by my first mate as the man comes running towards me. "Capt'n, you gave us a right foul scare. Sucked the poison out myself, I did. That selfish bastard refused and offered to put you out of your misery. Nearly threw him overboard, the crew and myself, but figured you would not be so happy once you roused."
"I would not put such a thing out there, mate," I chuckle, heading towards the helm where my Auroran sailor and medic steered us towards the land. "Tell me, how long have I been out and is that our destination at long last?"
"Nearly a day, though not more," Shaei murmurs, keeping his eyes glued on the land in the distance and effortless maneuvering my vessel forwards. "I believe it is, my Captain. She's been getting closer for hours, since just after we got out of the fog of the pirate graveyard and those nasty mermaids."
"Good job love!" I whack him on the back, strutting towards the side of the ship and realizing we could not have been more than an hour away from the island. "Hale, give me a bit of your pipe would you? I lost mine in the shuffle of things, I'm afraid."
He offers up the asked substance, allowing a few hits from it before it is returned. I am given a mug of clean water from below the ship, knowing it was a commodity at this point and surprised we were not completely out by now. Shaei was by my side in an instant, pulling the bandages from my leg and ordering me to take a seat on a nearby barrel.
The man proceeds in dressing the wound, still deep and trying to scab over. Even my heroes blood could not heal it quickly, which made me realize just how serious it was to be bitten by the creature from earlier. A dose of alcohol is poured against the flesh, burning for a few moments before wrapped in a new cloth.
"You are lucky Captain," the Auroran murmurs, his accent heavy but his literacy astounding. He did not speak as the pirates did, which was impressive with the amount of time he had been sailing with me. "In my country, it is said that if a woman is bitten by a siren, she will become one if the poison is not removed. I am surprised you don't have a tail yet, but that is thanks to Hale."
"I've heard. Thank you, Shaei," I sigh, ignoring the threat and angry that my favorite pants had been ruined. "Get ready to drop anchor. We do not need to venture too close to the island, seeing as we do not know what is lurking on it. We also need to keep to waters that are clearer as well. I don't want to have a fond greeting from that kraken again."
He nods, heading back to the helm as I scream for all to be wary as they begin dropping our various anchors. I could see clear to the ocean floor with where we were at, and noticed the strange formations of coral beneath us. Everything was glowing, and I was sure it would be a beautiful sight, should it be darker outside. Thankfully, it was early morning and I was well rested, which meant we had a bit of time to discuss our strategy and set out on the island.
"I suppose it is up to me to wake up the sleeping pirate," I laugh, heading back towards my cabin when I was certain things were coming to a halt with the ship. The crew could handle the rest from here, at least until we sailed to the mysterious island. It was much larger than I had imagined, honestly.
I was cautious to keep quiet when I approached Reaver, placing my hand on the hilt of his weapon to avoid an accidental death. Well, knowing him it might not be accidental at all. . . I lean forward, brushing some hair from his face and blow gently in his ear. It was an annoying way to wake, but a light method nonetheless.
"Reaver, it is time to get up," I coo. His hand juts forward, grabbing me around the neck and pulling me down in his lap with a start, glaring viciously. When he realizes just who was now wrapped around him, sitting firmly against his nether regions, he grows a tantalizing smirk.
"My, my, what sort of enchantress have I caught here? If you wanted a go with me, darling, you merely have to say so," he chuckles, releasing my throat and running his gloved fingers against it. I do not move, lavishing in the warmth he emanated and sigh softly. "Oh, falling for me already?"
"Only in your dreams, love," I remark sarcastically, rolling my eyes and keeping firm in my seat. "I suppose you watched over me all night then? Why in the world would a pirate with such a prowess for loving only himself want to watch over little old me to make sure I wasn't dying?"
"Ah, merely to make sure you did not grow a tail and start trying to devour the men," Reaver waves his hand around lazily, his face rather close to my neck. "If you would have, I had the honors of placing a bullet between your eyes, should you become too bothersome."
"Oh, how dreamy of you," I smile, closing my eyes when I realize he cannot see the action, too engrossed in my skin and hair. It was a delightful sensation, the beating of my heart and the tingling of my flesh wherever he touched. It almost worried me, though I knew I could not fall for such a man. He had a few tendencies that were far too much like my own. "Now, come dearest pirate. We have arrived at Isle of Mihandrogs, the son of Skorm. It does not bode well, honestly."
Reluctantly, I pull myself from his lap, feeling the resistance he put up. It did not stop me, and I brush his wandering hands away, grabbing him by the forearm and pulling him to his feet. A grand smile was on my face, and a chuckle passes his lips. "Why the grin, pet?"
"I smell adventure, my lovely consort. And its aroma is invigorating!" With this said, I run from the room, heels clicking after me.
-:.:( To The Age of Ages ):.:-
Reaver's Point of View
First Persons
I had not wanted to let her go when I had at last captured the creature in such an intimate, conscious moment. My body had reacted of its own accord, nose planted in her neck and inhaling the wafting scent of the ocean in her locks. She noticed, of that I was certain, but did not dwell on things as I had hoped.
"I smell adventure, my lovely consort. And its aroma is invigorating!" Her voice was no longer wretched from the rains and the sickness, musical and like that of a sea nymph. I smirk, eyes locked on her rear as she runs from the room, then run a hand through my hair.
"Just what in the world is wrong with me? I must be coming down with something!" I laugh off the idea of anything other, knowing I could not get sick or attain any sexual diseases because of my pact with The Shadow Court, thus my theory was flawed. I honestly did not have the time or the patience to think of anything other.
I followed Alouette onto the deck, watching the woman help secure a few boats to sail to land. Half the crew would remain and the others would follow, meaning to search the island out for anything amiss. With such a dreary name and the horrid trials we had passed just to get here, I did not doubt that things of magnitude lived within the trees.
My eyes only strayed away from Alouette- ironic that from her grandmother on, all of her family were named after birds- for a moment, but immediately took their place back on the lively beauty. I still could not fathom just how much like Sparrow the woman was, and it brought back old memories. My last memory of the woman had been after the death of Lucien and when the old witch was sending all of us on our merry ways. I still recalled the last words she had spoken that final day, the end of his ties with the woman and long after we had bedded back in Bloodstone.
"Reaver!" She called to me, and I turned easily towards the woman, slowly making my way to the light. My smirk was devilish, and nearly grabbed her up to take with me on my various future adventures. "I just want you to know, it would have never worked between us." And now I truly did laugh, but before I could make another comment, she continued. "Besides, fate has already spoken and I am not the one you'll be with when you finally realize what love is. She'll come, and a lot sooner than you really think, my immortal pirate." With that, she had pushed me into the portal, blowing a kiss after the dashing pirate.
I was surprised I even remembered such a moment, mainly because her words had made me laugh at every thought of it afterwards for many, many years. Yes, I felt differently for the woman, but love? Oh my, no! I did not have a single bone in my body that could experience such a foolish, mortal thing! But for some reason, I had to wonder if the odd way Sparrow's eyes twinkled, that tear that slid down the demanding hero's face, if she had been speaking about someone she knew I would meet in the future. I felt as if she spoke of the charming Pirate Queen, but that just made me laugh even harder inwardly. Why in the world would anyone think I was falling for the little mirror image of Sparrow? And even then, I had strongly disliked how conservative Alouette's grandmother had turned out to be, and it stood to question if she would be just like her ancestor in the end. In a way, it was hard to believe that the sea nymph could ever be turned away from a life of debauchery, as she lived. Also, why would I want to ever love- see, I even hate thinking the word- someone when I would have to watch them grow old and die, a very unattractive image.
"Reaver?" A set of stunning blue eyes pops up in front of my own, the stained lips turning into a delightful smile that caught on to my own face, though in a more sinister fashion. "Are you about done having your day dreams about my ass? We are close to this artifact, and in turn my freedom. Just think, we can go off our separate ways once we get this damn thing and get back to Bowerstone."
I would absolutely need to break away from this woman before things got too serious, and that would mean we needed to hurry along this excavation. She was not even willing to put out! How ludicrous that Sparrow would ever suggest I wind up with this woman! That is why she is dead and I am still very much alive. Well, that and my usual sacrifices and so forth. . . But who's counting those?
Alouette grabs me by the hand, nearly throwing me with that inhuman strength into the rowboat. She jumps in afterwards, the gleam in her eyes nearly shining brighter than the very sun as it reflected off the clear waves. Excitement was obvious for the woman, and I wondered if it was for her freedom that was coming closer, or for the treasure we were about to discover somewhere on this island. We had nearly died so many times already, and it would be no different. This treasure better be well worth the troubles.
"Calm down, my dear," I chuckle, condescending attitude returning with a vigor. "You must not be so overwhelmed in my presence. If you need to release that energy, then hop on. Forget that they can see."
She leans over, whispering in my ear with a soft breath against the shell, "If I wanted to fuck you, I would want all of them to see. Now shut the hell up and let me have this." With this said, she was back to the front of the small boat, jumping on shore once she could clear the water to the sand.
"Don't worry mate," a delicious, but dirty, member of her crew murmurs to me, "She needs it, ye'll be getting it. She be a right wild partner, that I know personally." He smirks, and I feel as if he was trying to get a one-up on me in some way. Unfortunately for this man, I was clearly not in the mood for such matters, and a bullet later he was bleeding out on the sand.
"Reaver! Don't shoot my men! We might need more on the journey home!" Alouette screams, but does nothing to help the dead man's dignity out. "Now, I want everyone to split up and find a job to do. Some need to set up a camp, some need to find fresh water, and others need to take up arms and help search the area around us for any signs of danger. When we camp here tonight, I would like to know I am going to wake up without a Balverine in my face. NOW!"
I grin, standing next to the charming woman while she surveys her stock of weapons, ghosting her hands across her Wolfsbane sword and of course the Dragonstomper .48 at her hip. One of my hands glides around said hip, resting there casually as she stiffens, giving me a pointed look from the side.
"Reaver, whatever you are planning needs to stop. We are on a strange island in an ominous place, now missing a whole ship and half of that crew from just the journey here. I have a lot on my plate," she sighs, and I could not allow the beauty to fall so deep into despair when her mood was so chipper only moments ago.
"Ah, but all the more reason to be excited, my Alouette," I chuckle, though notice how I had staked a claim to her in my words. Such ridiculousness! She was my Alouette after all, for I was the only one worthy of her time (Yet, was she worthy of mine? Hardly.) and her bed, even though I had not shared such an experience yet. Yet, being the word. . . "We are in a place where no one has returned alive to tell their tales, and we are both heroes. Remember, Hero of Skill after all, and you are born from the Hero of Brightwall and a long ancestry of ridiculously masculine women and men."
"I suppose," she rolls her eyes, but leans in against me after this for a few moments. The two of us enjoy the small silence before she pulls away and begins walking towards the forest, her normally heeled boots replaced for something with less of a height to them for the sand. "Come on Reaver, we need to scope out the area before we find some fresh meat to cook."
I eagerly join the minx, leading the lady around and into the exotic trees. Interesting. . .
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