The Pool of Souls

Chapter 14

"No sail!" Alex shouted upward.

"Wait a minute belay those last instructions give me half sail, Nicky face the port side of the ship towards the rocks I want to have a better look."

Nicky did as ordered and the ship's broadside faced the enormous rock formation. The rocks were jagged and sharp, rust colored, tall like towers making the Widow seem much smaller, and dense. Alex could not see a clear pathway to sail straight through not without the sharp rock edges impaling the Widow. One wrong turn could sink the ship.

Piper came up behind Alex, folded her arms, and scrunched her face thoughtfully as she looked at the large wall of rock "So what are you thinking?"

Alex's hands were on her hips as she looked at the obstacle before her "I'm thinking…how the fuck are we going to get through this? We can sail through but we would have to move slowly. And we don't know the width of it I can't see the other side so we don't know how long sailing through it will take."

"What if we sent a small group on a rowboat. We can send them in they find the clearest path and then report back to the ship."

"Not a bad idea but I'd rather we do it in a single trip. We'll stop here for today and then in the morning we'll sail through but we'll tread lightly. If we get an early start we'll have the whole day to get through it."

"Mind if I make a suggestion?" Piper and Alex both turned around and saw Stella standing behind them looking at the rocks herself.

"I'm willing to bet that we've probably come in contact with one of the more denser parts of the rock formation."

"Really, you think so?" Alex said sarcastically. Piper gently nudged her arm as a signal for her to relax.

Stella ignored it "I'm saying what if the rocks get thinner in a different spot, might be a little easier to get through if we traveled further down. Maybe look for a weak spot somewhere else. There has to be one. Either look for a weaker, thinner spot to sail through or we can search for the tail end of this thing and travel around it."

The other gang of pirates all crowded around the deck to listen to the small debate.

Alex crossed her arms "And just how far down do you suggest we sail. These rocks stretch for miles if we travel around that might take days. We don't have days and we don't know if the rocks do get thinner down the line."

"All due respect it doesn't sound like it would matter if we sail straight through right here or if we spend a little more time sailing along the edge of these rocks looking for a thinner and safer way in. Like you said we don't know how long it would take to get through."

Alex spoke in a matter of fact tone "Sailing around these rocks will not only take longer but it could take us further out and away from our destination. We don't know how far down these rocks go."

Alex tossed the hair away from her face and Piper could tell Alex was getting impatient with her.

"We don't know how far in they go either. Why not just take the extra time to look?"

Alex spoke through her teeth "For the last time. We don't have the time. We don't know what lies further down from here. We're here now at this spot all we have to do is proceed slowly. I'd rather waste time sailing through than waste time on the uncertainty of looking for another way in."

Stella lifted her hands in defeat "Alright fine, don't mean to step on your toes Vause, just a suggestion is all. I clearly see how it is around here: what you say goes nothing is up for debate."

Piper shut her eyes and let out a breath knowing that was certainly not the right thing to say.

Alex made a face at Stella and pulled the glasses from her face "Listen, you're new so I'm going to make this plain for you to understand, and I'm not going to mince my words because that's just not my way. You're absolutely right what I say goes, while I do consider the thoughts and opinions of my crew even you, with your stupid dingo fucker of an accent…"

Stella squinted her eyes and cocked her head to one side at the insult.

"I'm the captain and I have the final say so I'd appreciate it if you didn't challenge me again by throwing out disrespectful antagonizing quips like what you just said."

"I apologize" there was a measure of impudence in Stella's voice " I didn't mean to come off as antagonizing." She looked around at the crew "I'm just the kind of person that feels that everyone should have a say without being made to feel like a fool for having an opinion. No need to lose your temper."

"I don't have a temper. Believe me you have yet to see me lose my temper."

"Are you sure you don't have one right now because you seem a bit riled up. How are you sleeping?"

"That's none of your fucking business." she snapped at her.

Piper immediately stepped in "Alex stop! Stella, shut up! Enough. Tomorrow we'll sail through it alright. now stop it." She gently stroked Alex's back to calm her down. Her body felt tense.

Alex's eyes glared at Stella before she decided to place the glasses back on her face "Drop anchor!" she shouted "We're done for the day."

Later that evening it was dinner time below decks and the crew flooded in towards their tables. Alex and Piper both came down together and sat at their table with Lorna and a couple others. The new girls found their own places amongst the crew. As Piper watched the others take their seats she focused her attention on Alex she saw the nervous look in her eyes as she watched everyone. She looked uncomfortable and distant and it made Piper feel sad inside. Later on she would do what she could to comfort Alex but for now she did the only thing she could think to do in the moment. She took Alex's hand and held it firmly in hers on top of the table and gave it a reassuring squeeze to remind her that everything was fine and she was here if she needed her. Though Alex didn't look at Piper and she still had that tense look in her eyes she still squeezed back in appreciation and continued to hold onto her. That at least told Piper that Alex was still there with her and it eased her worry, if only just a little.

Several tables away from them Valla and her minions watched. Valla's arms were folded tightly on the table and she used her first fingernail to scratch at the wood while she eyed Piper over at Alex's table.

"I swear I bloody hate that fucking bitch."

"You might want to keep it down." said Mina "Vause has sharp ears these days. You don't want her to hear you. Besides I'm really hungry tonight and I don't want to risk any sort of punishment because of your mouth again."

"Fuck her I'm so sick of this." Valla said in a harsh whisper. "Can't say anything foul about the captain's piece, I swear she must have diamonds in her twat or something."

"That's a horrible image actually. Diamonds in your twat just sounds painful." said Lollis.

Valla made a face at her "Shut the fuck up Lollis."

"Still, I can't stand her pretty highborn ass and here's our captain always jumping to that bitch's rescue. Always! Our lives put in jeopardy because of her."

Mina put a hand on Valla's wrist "Valla just let it go. Let's just stick to the plan. We get to Tylassa we get our share of the gold, we have Vause drop us off at the next harbor, we get the fuck off this ship and start our own. We can leave all these bitches behind and start anew. We just have to deal with this a little while longer. Focus on the prize."

"You're right, this treasure chamber better be as big as Vause says it is."

Stella suddenly came strolling by and calmly sat herself down at Valla's table. "Hope you all don't mind if I sit here, everywhere else is pretty crowded."

Valla, Lollis, and Mina all just looked and Stella with confused and sour expressions "Can we help you?" Valla asked.

"I'm just here to eat ladies. I saw a spot at your table figured I'd help myself. Hope you don't mind."

"What if I said we do mind, this is our table, we sit here. Everyone knows not to sit here."

"Well I'm sure it's certainly not because of intimidation. Judging by the scowls on your faces you're just not very good company and probably not very good conversationalists either."

"For a new fish you certainly got a lot of balls to be talking this way towards us."

"Believe me you have no idea how big my balls are." Stella said with confidence.

"And what's with your fucking accent, where are you from? The southern isles?"

"Born and raised. I was a foundling but I won't bore you with that story."

"We can appreciate that. You can leave now."

"I'm quite comfortable thanks. So uh… you lot have names?"

Valla turned her face up at her and looked to her girls "I'm Valla, this is Mina and Lollis."

"Pleasure. The name is Stella, Stella Carlin. So as I was walking by I couldn't help but over hear you talk about a treasure chamber and talks of gold. Is that where this ship is headed?"

Mina spoke up "Vause is leading us to the greatest treasure chamber known to man. The great island of Tylassa, that's supposed to have a treasure chamber so vast and enormous that we could fill the entire ship with gold and the chamber would still look untouched. At least that's what she says."

"Sounds like quite a prize, we've got quite the adventure ahead of us then."

"If we make it there. I'm starting to question our leadership." Valla said in a venomous tone.

"Really? Why is that?"

"Why you going to run back and tell the captain? Piss off."

"No, no of course not and I get the feeling the captain isn't to fond of me anyway so she and I don't really have a whole lot to talk about. I'm just making conversation. You seem pretty smart, everyone has a right to an opinion don't you agree? You should be able to voice your concerns."

Valla gave Stella the tiniest hint of a smirk. She shook her head and scoffed and looked over at Alex.

"I remember what it was like in the beginning when I became a part of this crew and back then I had a lot of respect for Vause. She was unlike any woman I had ever met before, a strong leader that rivaled any man. She exuded power. Spoke up for the poor and less fortunate, made us all feel powerful, made us feel as if the world was ours. And then…"

"Then what?"

"Then all of that changed the day she kidnapped Byll Chapman's daughter. Our first plan was to kidnap her for ransom, but then Vause decided otherwise and things have gone downhill ever since. She went and fell in love with that privileged bitch, Piper. And if you ask me her decision making has been compromised because of her. She's a dangerous influence. She's the reason we were all branded and Vause still lets her walk!"

"I suppose I can understand your disappointment about Vause I too admire her. I heard about her, became fascinated by her I had even hoped to meet her one day. She became like a heroine of mine. You can imagine my disappointment when she put a gun in my face."

"I remember, I saw."

"In fact ever since I've been here she's had nothing but harsh words for me. She didn't even bother to thank me for saving her life. But I suppose it may be as Piper says and I simply caught her on a bad day."

"Don't fool yourself, I get the feeling anyone who isn't Piper is going to have a bad day."

Stella's eyebrows furrowed together curiously "Vause loves her that much does she?"

"Like a sickness." said Mina.

"Well my question is if you're so unhappy with the way things are now why do you stay? Is it the promise of gold that keeps you three around?"

"It's the only thing keeping us around." said Lollis

"This is our last voyage after this we're abandoning this crew. We're commandeering our own ship and starting from scratch, sail the world all our own with a new crew."

"That'll be a little hard don't you think. Three women out in the world, starting over. Even with the coin you'll have. Vause's reputation took years to develop, her ship, The Black Widow has become legendary, all passerbys have to do is see the red spider on her sails and they will turn tail and run. That didn't happen over night. And I have to be honest I don't exactly take you as charming person with an alluring personality. Someone like you would need to rule with fear."

"Are you saying that I couldn't be as good a captain if not better than Vause."

"I'm saying no such thing, I'm simply saying it would be hard is all."

Stella shrugged innocently "Just a thought. Now let's enjoy tonight's meal shall we food's coming around."

Valla's eyes squinted at her as she considered her words. All three women exchanged looks with one another, they seemed to read one another's thoughts. None of them asked Stella to leave again.

As the plates of herring came around Piper paused before digging in and looked back up towards the steps.

"Hey, where's Nicky?"

Everyone around the table looked up and shrugged. Piper looked at Lorna "Lorna have you seen Nicky?"

"She said she wasn't feeling very good, she looked pale, said she wanted to go to bed early this evening." Lorna said sadly.

Piper immediately looked at Alex who had that sad knowing look on her face that told Piper it was pretty bad.

"She's not hungry?" Piper asked.

"She didn't say anything about eating." Lorna said "She's been vomiting. I don't know if she can keep anything down. You think maybe she's seasick?"

Piper looked at Lorna. She saw how worried she looked and she felt horrible knowing the actual truth of it.

"Yes. Maybe she's seasick. I'm going to go and check on her."

With each step Piper took, the floorboards creaked beneath her feet as she walked towards the bunks with a plate of tonight's supper in her hand.

"Nicky!" Piper called out.

"Nicky?!"

Piper heard a loud irritated groan "Who is it? What the hell do you want? You know what never mind I don't care."

"Nicky? It's me Piper. I brought dinner. Red made herring. I thought you might want some."

Piper didn't hear an answer so she took it as permission to keep going. Piper reached the door to Nicky's bunk. It was cracked open with the glow of candle light coming from inside. She slowly pushed the door open and saw the lump of Nicky's body huddled underneath blankets and facing away from her. Beside her bed there was a rusted steel bucket. The inside of it was stained dark red. Piper recognized the smell.

"Nicky?" She said softly as she placed the plate on the worn wooden counter top beside the bed.

"What do you want?" Nicky asked in a low groan.

"I just came to see you. See how you were doing. I also brought you dinner."

"You wasted your time. I don't want it. What'd you say it was? Herring? I hate Red's herring. Don't tell her I said that."

"Don't worry I won't. Lesson learned." Piper almost laughed as she nodded. She took a seat on the stool by the bed.

Nicky drew back her covers and sat up. She turned over to look at Piper. Her skin looked clammy with gray circles around her eyes.

She let out a few harsh wet coughs and reflexively drew up her hand. Speckles of blood covered her palm. Piper saw this as Nicky motioned quickly for her to hand her the bucket.

"You look awful." Piper said.

"'Awful' doesn't begin to cover it." Nicky said. "I'm coughing so hard it's a miracle I still have all my guts."

"Alex told me everything… about her plan…what you agreed to do. How could you just give up like that?"

"Was bringing me food just a ruse for you to come down and lecture me. Save it I don't want a lecture. At this point I just…I just want to live out my final days in peace. And it seems like I don't have a whole lot of 'em left. At the rate it's going I might not even make it to Tylassa."

"How long have you been coughing up blood?"

"Not long. This is something new. I've been hacking away at my insides. And I can feel my body wasting away."

"But why give up Nicky? Maybe we can still help you."

"I thought you said Alex told you everything. We have. The only thing that can help me now is some divine fucking miracle. And anyway I'm done trying."

"So fuck it then huh?"

"Something like that. I don't want help anymore. Nothing works. I'm done. You really got to learn to let things go Piper. You can't control everything."

"Why did you even agree to do this?"

"Just wanted to do something nice for Vause I guess. One final good samaritan act. Alex is my friend why should she waste her time trying to find someone to kill and toss into the pool when I'm almost out the door."

Nicky coughed again "Oh fucking shit." she groaned.

Piper's face became sad and she grew silent as she thought "You remember when I first met you?" Piper asked lightheartedly.

Nicky scoffed " Aye, I remember. I remember a little blonde woman who was so scared she pissed herself when she saw us. You were a pain in the ass to get out of that castle. You were a little feisty and I liked that about you but you were also just a real pain in the ass in general, you complained a lot, you screamed a lot too. Ehhh to be honest I wasn't exactly sure what it was that Vause ever saw in you. I thought you would be trouble, I warned Vause that you would be trouble…and I was right. "

Piper rolled her eyes and had a look on her face that said she couldn't argue.

"But you got better. You're not that bad. And for what it's worth, I've forgiven you for that whole Litch thing."

"You have?"

"I got a short life span Piper. I could be dead tomorrow or in a week. I'm not holding grudges."

"Thank you Nicky."

"I am sort of glad you came down here though. I've been meaning to talk to you about something. Something important, just couldn't decide when. But I guess now is as better a time as any."

"What did you want to talk about?"

"Peep outside make sure it's all clear then shut the door. I don't want anyone to hear this. You never know who might be listening. Walls have ears."

Piper did as she asked and pushed the door closed until it clicked shut. She sat back down on the stool.

"What I'm about to say now stays right here in this room you got that. You tell no one. Tell Alex if you feel it necessary but no one else do you hear me. This conversation stays here."

"God, Nicky what is it?"

Nicky took in a deep breath and let it out " A part of me thinks I'm a fool for doing this but in some strange way I think it's the right decision."

Piper sat silently waiting.

"You and Alex are together now. And since you're together you're going to have to do more Piper."

"What do you mean do more?"

" I mean you're going to have to be more than just her girlfriend, you have to be her partner, her friend. You have to be stronger, tougher, and smarter. Your old life is officially over, out here is no place for a princess. Step out into the real world and get out of the one that's inside your pretty blonde head. This is a new game you're playing now, different rules. People out here won't show you mercy simply because you're a woman."

"So I'm learning, but what does this have to do with Alex and why are we whispering?"

"Alex needs someone she can depend on, someone who's going to have her back no matter what, someone who will tell her what she needs to hear and not what she wants to hear."

"You don't have to worry about that Nicky."

"Listen to me. You can't be the Piper you were when you first got here, timid and unsure."

"I feel like you're leading up to something will you just say it already."

"Fine. I don't have much time left. Like I said I could be dead any day now but I will try to hold on for Alex's sake until we get to Tylassa. But should anything happen to me before then…"

"Wait a minute…"

"Piper…"

"No."

"I want you…"

"No, Nicky."

"To take my place as quartermaster."

Piper jumped up from her stool "Are you out of your mind?"

"No I am completely sane. And lower your god damn voice."

"No Nicky, no. I can't be quartermaster. Everybody hates me, are you trying to get me killed?"

"It sounded crazy to me too but the more I thought about it the more it made sense. Normally the position of quartermaster is decided by vote, with the captain having the final say."

"Well there you have it. I can't just be quartermaster."

"You can if you assert yourself."

"Nicky quartermaster is second in command to the captain. If I'm quartermaster that means I would be in charge of overseeing the crew. How do you think everyone is going to react to this? A lot of these women still don't like me, Valla for example would rather see me dead. Imagine her face when she finds out I've been appointed quartermaster. Why can't we just do the vote?"

"Fuck Valla, fuck a vote, sometimes Piper you have to say fuck the rules. Trust me you being quartermaster after I'm gone will be for the best. I'm choosing you because I know you'll have Alex's best interest, you love Alex, you care about Alex, and it's not horseshit it's real. And because it's real I know you'll do whatever it takes to make sure Alex is okay."

"I see how fucking crazy Vause gets when you're a concern. I see how fucking reckless and crazy you get when she's a concern. Basically both of you are just fucking insane for each other. But I guess love does that I suppose. You being quartermaster is probably the best thing because you won't be in it for selfish reasons. You'll have Alex's best interest."

"My point is Piper, you have to really step up now. Truthfully it's because I'm worried about Alex. I got a bad feeling."

"I know, I'm worried about Alex too. Ever since she found out that Kubra was hunting us she hasn't been the same. We talked about it but I'm still worried, she's scared…really scared. I've never seen Alex that scared before."

Nicky looked at Piper wide eyed "Hold on a second, Kubra, when did this happen?"

"Alex ran into one of her old shipmates back in Holston, Fahri, he says Kubra's back and he's hunting us, he intends to capture Alex…and kill me."

Nicky continued to stare at Piper "Wow, that's something that I was not expecting. Definitely explains the paranoia. We might be more fucked than I realized. There's only one person in the world Alex is truly afraid of and that's him. Fuck, guess this is a bad time to bring this up then."

"Bring what up? What's going on?"

"Nothing… yet anyway. We may have a problem. A lot of these women are loyal to Alex, they believe in her. But then you have some that only follow her power, if that power shifts they shift with it. If they see or sense any sort of weakness in her they will strike. And that's how mutiny's are born."

" I don't understand. You really think there would be a mutiny?"

"All it takes is one person and it will spread like a disease, one will turn to three, then five, then ten, next thing you know the whole god damn crew will turn. Alex will be all on her own the rebels will outweigh the loyalists and the rebels will kill anyone who won't turn to their side."

"You're talking about Valla. But you told me once that Valla was afraid of Alex."

"The key word in that sentence is "was" her little outburst back in Holston proved that her fear is slowly waning. She's testing her limits with Vause. Honestly Alex should've killed her back there…if only just to make an example out of her. She'll just keep testing her limits with Alex and if Alex doesn't start making good on her threats, others might follow suit. They might think her soft and weak. This is where you come in and why I'm asking you to take my place."

"Nicky I hear what you're saying I do…but I can't be quartermaster I don't know the first thing about being a quartermaster. I only just learned the different parts of the ship just about half a year ago."

"C'mon Quartermaster Chapman has a nice sound to it and so what you don't know the first thing about being a quartermaster, you think I did? I didn't know shit. It's all about how you carry yourself. If you believe you are, eventually the crew will too. Despite what you might be feeling show no fear."

"Nicky…"

"If you're not going to do it for me do it for Alex. There's a storm brewing on the horizon. I'm getting weaker everyday. Alex is going to need all the support she can get. You can't run away when things get hard."

"You don't have to worry about me supporting Alex. I'm going to be there for her. I'll never betray her again."

"I hope not."

"I won't."

Nicky looked at Piper in silence for a moment as if to consider the weight of her words. "Good." She turned herself in the bed so that her feet touched the floor and she looked Piper in the eyes.

"Give me your fucking hand."

Piper hesitated a moment but clasped Nicky's hand in hers.

"Promise me right here and now, that should anything happen to me between now and getting to Tylassa and after when I'm gone, should anything happen to Alex where she is unable to perform in her duties for whatever the reason, that you'll say fuck that and step up and assume the role of quartermaster, no matter what you're feeling, no matter your fucking fears, no matter what these other bitches have to say about it."

Piper's eyes glistened "Nicky…I can't"

"Yes you can. And you must. Alex needs you now more than ever. Promise me that you will do this. Promise me!"

Piper's answer was a long time coming "I promise."

"That you'll say 'fuck that', no matter how scared you are, 'fuck that'"

"Fuck that."

"And fucking say it like you mean it."

"I promise, Nicky."

"Alright then." She released her hold on Piper's hand "Now go away, I'm tired."

Piper stood up from the stool and started to walk out. Nicky crawled back under the blankets and turned her body away from the door. Just before Piper could close the door behind her Nicky called out to her again without looking at her.

"Hey, Piper." Piper stopped and looked back from he door.

"Thank you."

Piper didn't trust her voice instead she nodded and softly closed the door behind her.