Lyn hadn't been so excited in almost a full day. She was practically bouncing with energy, barely managing to walk normally down the street. Her bright eyes were gazing around, but mostly remained on the woman beside her. Jordan was a full head taller than Lyn, long blond hair shining in the streetlights. The assassin had just copied the shape of Lyn's body and scaled it up a bit. Her wine-red dress clung tightly to her frame, drawing no few looks from passersby. Lyn's outfit was similarly skimpy, allowing the cool night breeze to wash over her skin. She hummed happily to herself as she walked, simply enjoying the moment.

As happy as she was to be with Jordan, she was also a little nervous. Jordan could pass as her twin sister, but Lyn knew how dangerous the assassin really was. She wasn't dangerous like Damien, whose temper could flare up without any provocation, or like Raven, whose heart was completely sealed away. She wasn't even dangerous like Morgan, who was still too proud to let slights pass by. Jordan was as lively as Damien and as sure as Morgan, but as detached from killing as Raven. She was a person who, had it not been for Captain's word, Lyn would have been as careful as she possibly could around. As it was, she decided to treat her mysterious companion like she treated her crazy navigator: keep smiling and show no fear.

"Do you know why I asked you out after meeting you only yesterday?"

"Hmm, I dunno. You wanted to show me a good time?"

Jordan gave a throaty laugh at that. "Oh, we'll get to that. But out of all of Cici's crewmembers, she cares about you the most. Did you know she put a knife at my throat just for mentioning you too close to a certain fiasco us Moon Sisters have to deal with?"

The first mate laughed loudly. "Sounds like something Captain would do! She's very protective of those of us who aren't as strong as she is!"

"She is a strong woman, one of the strongest I've ever met. But I know her. Even if she seems to have changed, she's still the same on the inside. But that's not what I wanted to talk to you about."

"Then what is?"

Jordan indicated a nearby bar with her head. "Can't I show some sisterly concern? I want to know the kinds of people she has on her crew."

Lyn frowned. "Well, why don't you just ask her? She knows better than me."

"No, Cici might not tell me the bad side, and Raerae doesn't see the emotional connections. That's why I wanted you."

"Fine with me! I get to ask you all about Captain too!"

Jordan glanced down at her. "What are you talking about?"

"She doesn't like talking about it because it makes her sad, so I don't. But I'm reeeeeeeally curious!"

"Fine. We'll exchange stories. Either way, I get to find out more about the woman who stole dear Cici's heart."

"Who stole whose heart?" Lyn's eyes widened as she remembered something. "Wait, whose power do you have right now?"

"Well, I wanted to have your abilities and be closer to you," Jordan said suggestively, "but Cici would have my head if anything bad happened to you. I can't take Didi's without him finding out I don't only copy Devil Fruits. So I've taken Caicai's. That man is amazing. Over five meters tall and the strength of a giant. Impersonating him would be so much fun."

"Framing him, you mean," Lyn corrected. "Cain doesn't do anything fun, so we'd know it was you."

"Sadly, I cannot grow that large. Yet. His tattoo would also be a bit tricky."

"Oh right, Cain has a tattoo! Wait, why would you have trouble with it?"

Jordan's lips widened slightly. "I'm not a magician. I can't just change my skin color to whatever I want. Even when I'll be able to, tattoos are tricky business. I have a special ink that doesn't need a needle to be applied. Of course, it fades more quickly than a real tattoo, but still looks fine for a month or so."

"But what if you have to change?" Lyn asked. "Like, if you were changing from me to Alexander?"

"I have an agent that removes it quickly. Stings like hell, but does the trick."

The assassin pushed open the door, and Lyn couldn't help but relish the liveliness of the bar. There was a jovial atmosphere, though there were still a few broody people in the corners. Lyn saw there were seats available at the bar and immediately moved towards it. She waited as patiently as she could for Jordan to amble up beside her and pressed her lips together when she realized why the assassin had taken so long.

"You shouldn't smoke," she stated matter-of-factly.

Jordan cast a weather eye in her direction. "Is that so? Are you my mother too?"

"No, but you still shouldn't do it!"

The genderfluid woman flipped her lighter closed and exhaled a large cloud of smoke. "And why is that? It's bad for me? It'll cause my lungs to rot?"

"No! Well, yeah, but it also makes your mouth taste like an ashtray."

Lyn very abruptly found Jordan's mouth against her own. She twitched to see if she could wiggle free, but Jordan had Cain's strength. The first mate couldn't budge an inch. Remembering the need to seem fearless, she did her best to appear to enjoy it. She was the last person to be adverse to physical affection, but there was something to be said for consent. Half of her mind was focused on how exactly to explain this to Captain while the other half was distracted by the two tongues in her mouth.

Finally, Jordan relinquished her hold and licked her lips. Lyn managed to speak before the assassin could. "Don't do that again."

"What's the matter, Lynlyn?" Jordan said coyly. "Don't like kissing?"

"Kissing is fine." Lyn put on her most serious face. "Being kissed is not. Don't do it again."

Jordan's smile gained a sinister quality. "Or what?"

"There's no 'or what'. I won't threaten you."

"You can't threaten me," her companion said. "I can take on-"

"It doesn't matter!" Jordan looked surprised at Lyn's shout. "It doesn't matter whether or not I can threaten you. I'd never threaten anyone so close to Captain. Please, Jayjay, just don't do it again."

Jordan stared at her appraisingly for a long while, then finally nodded her head. "Well, I know Cici doesn't choose her first mates lightly."

Knowing that the issue was resolved, Lyn was all smiles again. "She's smart, isn't she?"

"That she is." They both stared at the bartender, who was still busily serving the other patrons. "What did I taste like?"

The artist bit back her instinctive reply and actually thought about the question. "Minty," she said in surprise.

Jordan took a drag of her cigarette. "Minty and not at all like an ashtray. Could I have a Bloodball? Lynlyn, what are you having?"

"Mai-Tai." The bartender bowed his head as he began preparing their drinks. They sat in silence for a moment. Jordan looked calm and collected, the complete opposite of what Lyn felt. Still, she trusted Jordan to keep her word. Even though she was an assassin, Jordan hadn't shown herself to be someone who went back on her word. She wasn't above playing pranks or forcefully getting her way, but Lyn was used to people like that. She enjoyed pestering people too.

"So tell me about yourself," Jordan said. "Assassins know everything about your history, but reports don't really go into personality. I mean, I know you were a troublemaker before you left with Cici, but the reports from nuns don't really cover everything."

"Oh, Alamentia was so much fun!" Lyn hadn't gotten to talk about her hometown in ages. None of her nakama were as interested in the past as she was. "I got to go all over the city and meet all kinds of interesting people!"

"I'll bet. What kind of teenage nun hangs around in bars?"

Lyn's grin widened. "The kind who got money for drawing more customers! It also helped that my thief friends relieved some of the meaner drunkards of their possessions."

"I see. And what about swordplay? Where did you pick that up?"

"I bumped into a merchant and wound up helping with his stall. He said a girl like me should be able to defend herself. So I got a rapier from him and started practicing when I was sure the nuns wouldn't find out. The rest is boring, so it's my turn!"

Jordan raised her eyebrows. "Your turn for what?"

"To ask a question!" Lyn suddenly realized that she wanted to know more about both Captain and the assassin at her side. "Hmm. What was Captain like when she was growing up?"

The assassin's face fell slightly. "We all lived shitty childhoods, Lynlyn. We didn't really get to be kids. Even though we're all Moon Sisters, we didn't like each other at first. Assassins don't have friends, especially when you're as important as we are. But even considering all that, Cici was amazing. She was the first to figure out the connection we shared. She was hated and scorned for being the eldest daughter of the most powerful assassin in the world, but she never let that stop her."

"Stop her from what?"

"Reaching out to all of us." Jordan donned a nostalgic smile. "She was the first to see past Shishi's inner demons, to get Pypy to talk to beings other than her pets, to get Jenjen to climb off her high horse, and me to actually keep a consistent face when around them. She was the only one who wanted to reach out to Raerae."

Lyn ticked off the names on her fingers. "That's only five, six if you include Captain. What about the seventh?"

"Well, Yinyin was actually pretty friendly from the get-go. She has anger management issues, but nowhere near as bad as Shishi does. She just has a short fuse." Jordan laughed to herself. "Still, Cici was, and still is, important to us. That's why we were hoping she would find some way to get herself un-banished. After all, she was a trained killer who didn't have real friends other than us. We thought she'd bum around as a pirate or a mercenary for a while before plotting her way back in. We never thought she'd stick with it."

"She loves being a pirate!" Lyn said cheerfully. "But you were right too!"

Jordan looked confused. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you should know if you kept up with her progress! Sure, she took a few stops, but look what she's done since becoming a pirate. She killed the son of one of the Seven Warlords, she butted heads with that bandit king, and she killed that Reichmann tyrant! I guarantee that she's known all over West Blue at the least! And even if she doesn't shake anything up, she always has to know about everything on every island we visit."

"See, that was our point. She can't just be a pirate."

"She's not just a pirate! She's gonna be Queen of the Pirates!"

The assassin only let her surprise show for a moment before she burst into laughter. "Queen of the Pirates! Oh, that's rich! Jenjen did mention something like that, but I didn't think she was serious!" Lyn was about to interject angrily but Jordan continued. "Queen of the Pirates. If she won't be Crimson Glove, that's definitely a fitting title for her! Always aiming for the top!"

"That's my captain!" Lyn stated proudly. "She's gonna take me to see the whoooooole world!"

Jordan ran her hand along Lyn's bare back, sending involuntary shivers down the first mate's spine. "You'll stay by her side, no matter what?"

"Yup! No matter what?"

"Not even if I told you all of the horrible things she's done?"

"Nothing in this world would make me leave her!"

"Are you sure?" Jordan's voice took on a cold chill. "She's not an angel like you. She has killed innocent people to get what she wants. Not just adults, but defenseless children as well."

Lyn shook her head. "She's not like that anymore! She regrets what she did! She's changed!"

"People don't change, Lynlyn."

"People do change!" the first mate insisted. "And how can you say that? You change all the time!"

Jordan scoffed. "Appearances deceive. What is inside stays the same. I know that better than anyone. Cici is a natural-born killer. Why does someone like you-"

"It's good that she's a killer!" Now there were words Lyn would never have expected to come out of her own mouth. "Not that she kills people; that's bad! But if she hadn't been a killer, the crew wouldn't be the same! Only a killer could handle Damien or empathize with Raven!"

"You only say that because you're friends with them. I'm sure if you and Cici had set off in a different direction, meeting other crewmembers instead of Didi and Alal and Caicai and Momo, you would care about those other crewmembers just as much."

"Yes, but… no… but…" Lyn was doing her best to contain her distress. "It's true, but it doesn't matter! What matters is what led up to here and now!"

"Here and now, you, a woman who shows affection for everyone she meets and has never taken a life, are having drinks with a person who has claimed more lives than she has faces. Your best friend has hands so drenched in blood that she has nightmares. You have crewmates who tear bystanders apart for no reason and torture their own allies."

Lyn wanted to deny the accusations with all her heart, but she knew she couldn't. "I know that they do terrible, terrible things! But they're still my nakama!"

"The worst you've done would land you in a local jail for a year or so. Your nakama have already committed enough sins to be imprisoned for life or sentenced to death. It's a wonder someone like you stays with people like them."

"I will never leave them, not for anything!"

Jordan rested her hand on Lyn's shoulder, but the first mate flinched away. "I'm not trying to scare you, Lynlyn. It's best for me if you don't leave. But even putting that aside, you took Cici away from us. It's up to-"

"Wait, what?" Confusion clouded her despair. "I didn't take Captain away from anyone!"

"Well, not directly. As I said, the other Moon Sisters and I were hoping Cici would return to us. We wanted all of the heirs to be the seven of us, but we can't without her. But after she met you, all chances of that vanished. So we want her to be as happy as possible as a pirate. You are the one person who cannot turn her back on Cici." Jordan leaned in, her eyes turning a terrifying shade of red. "If you do, your suffering will be legendary."

It took all of Lyn's inner strength to hide her fear. Her mind scrambled to find something comforting, something to say. If she didn't start talking, she knew she wouldn't be able to contain herself. "I will never do that. Never. She's my captain. I will follow her no matter what. I trust her with my life."

Jordan continued to stare at her with blood red eyes, before nodding slowly and pulling back. "I just wanted to be sure, Lynlyn. Now, let's talk about something better. Tell me something positive about all of your crewmembers."

Lyn tried to instantly switch to her happy mode, but couldn't quite pull it off. She was smiling on the outside, but still wary and cautious within. "Well, who do you want to hear about first?"

"How about Alal? He's the second mate."

"Well, he's a stuck-up prude with no sense of fun." Lyn couldn't help but smile at her own mean description. "But he's the one closest to Captain other than me. He's really smart and really good at playing music. He also knows a lot about spirits, even though how he and I interact with spirits is really different. Plus, he has that super awesome Devil Fruit. He's kinda weak, but he always uses that to his advantage. He's almost as sneaky as I am! Oh, and don't tell him I said any of that. Except for the stuck-up prude part."

Jordan's smile showed genuine amusement, but, in the assassin's own words, appearances deceive. "What an interesting man. And the one who's strength I have, Caicai?"

"Cain's just awesome! He's so huge that I can only barely jump up to his shoulder! And he's still growing! He's so strong that he can lift the Howling Knave without breaking a sweat! He's really nice too. But I've seen when he gets angry. He doesn't lose his temper like Damien, but stops holding back as much. He absolutely only kills when it's necessary to protect us, and even then, if it's unavoidable."

"So he's not completely against killing," Jordan commented. "That's reassuring. He has to be so careful not to hurt anyone, but if he can let go to protect Cici, that's all right. What about his former charge, the princeling?"

Lyn mulled over what to say while she sipped at her second drink. Maybe her third. She hadn't really been paying attention. "Well, Morgie's kinda tricky. He's pretty strong and has that super cool element thing, but he's still too proud. He doesn't get along well with anyone other than Alexander and Cain. He keeps thinking that I shouldn't fight. He does have good fashion sense when he doesn't go overboard with the jewelry. Even if his crown doesn't always fit with his outfit."

Jordan ticked her fingers as she mentally ran through the list. "So that leaves Didi out of the men."

"Well…" Lyn trailed off as she thought of how exactly she was going to describe the navigator. "He's… crazy. And not in a good way. He's really dangerous. You never know when he's going to be angry because he doesn't really need any reason. He'll be all smiles and without anything happening at all, suddenly be all angry. He's really strong, and he attacks Captain and Raven all the time."

The assassin frowned. "So why does Cici keep him on the crew?"

Lyn couldn't help but laugh. "Everyone asks that. Well, first of all, he does hold himself back. Sorta. He didn't really go all berserk on Captain until he learned about her Devil Fruit. And one awesome thing about him is that he doesn't lose. Ever."

"I'm pretty sure the Albino Panther managed to take him out without too much trouble."

"Well, that guy cheated. Anyway, he hasn't really hurt me or Alexander too much. He doesn't like being around people most of the time, but he's pretty relaxed sometimes." Lyn pursed her lips. "Well, he is. We're all still trying not to make him angry, but he usually won't go off when he's drinking or something."

"I see. And with that, I'm only left with the three ladies. I know Cici and Raerae, but what about you? How did you manage to win her affection?"

"Win whose affection?"

"Cici."

Lyn stared at her companion, trying to figure out what on earth she was talking about. "What on earth are you talking about?"

"Well, how did you, a nun slash street rat with no real combat skills, manage to seduce the heiress-to-be of the most powerful family of assassins in the world? What's your secret?"

"I didn't seduce anyone, and there's no secret. I just do what I want!"

"Didi does what he wants. Cici would never put a knife at my throat if I mentioned going for drinks and a potential bedroom visit with him."

"Damien can handle himself no matter how much trouble he gets himself into!"

"Well, what about Alal? Imagine if I proposed going with him. Would Cici still threaten me then?"

Lyn actually had to think about this. It was true that Alexander was one of the weakest crewmembers. For the life of her, she could not picture Captain acting so protective for the second mate. "Welllllllllll, I guess not."

"So, what makes you so special?" Jordan asked. "And that's not a demand. I'm just curious."

The first mate couldn't think of a good reason. "I'm her best friend? Well, Captain's always yelling at me for acting without thinking. That's not true at all! I act because I think it'll be fun!"

Jordan laughed loudly enough to startle the other patrons. "I guess that'll do for now." She beckoned the first mate towards her with a finger. Knowing that Jordan could just as easily have pulled her close, Lyn immediately leaned in. The assassin put her mouth by Lyn's ear and whispered softly, "I think we have some unwanted company. I won't be able to check without looking around."

Lyn was no stranger in having to fake a scene to try to find a target or pursuer. "Okay, okay. Hmm. I'll be happy, then you be happy too and spin me around?"

Jordan backed off slightly to press her forehead against Lyn's. "I'm beginning to see why Cici likes you so much. You sure aren't as innocent as you appear to be. Ready?"

"You still have Cain's strength," Lyn reminded her. "Don't snap my neck!"

"Sounds good."

Lyn began cheering loudly and clapping her hands. Jordan leapt from her stool and hoisted Lyn aloft as if the first mate weighed no more than a feather. They spun merrily, both shouting enthusiastically without a care for the other patrons. Lyn was surprised when the assassin planted another kiss on her lips, but welcomed it with much more enthusiasm. Without Jordan's previous aggression, it was much more enjoyable. She let it last even after the assassin put her back down. Jordan gave a grin to match her own and brushed a few strands of orange hair from her face.

"Your lipstick's a bit off," Lyn informed her.

"So's yours." Jordan leaned in for another kiss, but the first mate stopped her by pressing their foreheads together.

"Aren't you forgetting something?" she asked. "What about our pervy watcher?"

"Aww, we're done so soon?" Jordan whined.

Lyn's smile was the brightest it had been all night. "Now, who said that? All I mean is that you're not the only one who Captain'll yell at if trouble happens!"

"Afraid of a little scuffle?"

"As if! I think it's fun!"

Jordan shook her head in amusement as she picked at a splinter on the bar. "Busty, but a little too trusting and gutsy. I should have known better than to question her protectiveness. Cici's always been one step ahead of all of us. Unfortunately Lynlyn, these pervy watchers aren't the type you're used to."

The first mate cocked her head to the side with a frown. "What do you mean?"

"I mean…" Her hand flew out with incredible speed. Lyn's eyes practically bugged out as the entire front window of the bar burst outwards. Jordan had done that with a simple splinter? What kind of power did Cain truly have? The assassin's lip curled with displeasure as she stared through the hole. "Someone is here a little earlier than I wanted. Those freaks always show up when you don't want them to."

"Who are you talking about?" Lyn asked impatiently. "What freaks?"

"You!" the barman shouted, fury in his voice. "You're the freaks! Pay for those damages this instant!"

"I don't want to," Jordan said. "I think it's time to find someplace else anyway."

"You have to pay for both the cocktails and the window!"

Jordan leaned in, resting one elbow on the bar and leveling her glare at him. "You want money? Here's a hundred grand. You'll need it to fix the counter too."

The barman only had a moment to look confused before she slammed her stack of bills down hard enough to obliterate the bar. Nearby patrons were blown backwards, slivers of wood peppering the ground around them. Lyn thought the action was wholly unnecessary, but wasn't disapproving enough to speak up. Jordan hadn't killed anyone, after all. The assassin put her arm around Lyn's shoulders and they began walking towards the exit.

"Hey, get back here! You can't just break this and expect to scurry off scot-free, you filthy dyke!"

Jordan chuckled darkly. "Strictly speaking, that's not entirely true. However-"

"Don't, Jayjay," Lyn said. "You did enough. Leave them be."

The assassin turned her head, her gaze burning into Lyn's. The first mate stared right back without the slightest trace of fear. After a few moments, Jordan let out a low laughand shook her head. "I think I'm beginning to see why Cici stayed with you. Come, let's find a more pleasant place to enjoy ourselves." She threw one arm around Lyn's shoulders and led her towards the newly-expanded exit. Just before stepping outside, Jordan turned and fixed her glare on the bartender. "And don't think I've forgotten this. I am nobody and everybody. Be careful with your attitude, insect. You never know who you might be talking to."

\\'/.\\'/.\\'/.\\'/.\\

One issue Raven's crewmates brought up was that she never felt emotions. She was very aware of this fault, but could not do much to change it. She did not feel happiness or sadness, anger or fear. It made interpersonal relationships tricky for her, as she felt no connection to her family members or fellow pirates. She did feel the need to keep Cassandra alive by any means possible, even if it meant directly disobeying the pirate captain's orders, but that was connected to their previous life as assassins. Aside from that, she only had duty to fulfill.

It was this contradiction of duty to her family and duty to Cassandra which kept her from doing any of her usual night activities. Despite the fact that dawn was rapidly approaching, she had not checked a single vial of poison or studied a single page of the thick medical tomes in the medical facility. Of course, she had gone through her nightly technique practice, but that was out of absolute necessity. Regardless of whether she left with her family or stayed with the Black Glove Pirates, any possible deterioration of her skills was unacceptable.

As she had finished her exercises an hour ago, she simply perched on the flagpole protruding from the crow's nest and stared at the black sea. She would ordinarily watch the city on the extremely slim chance that someone would attempt to board the ship, but she felt the need to totally concentrate on her current conundrum. Should she stay or should she leave? She had not consulted her crewmates yet, as she was still trying to figure out Cassandra's motive for asking them. She was reasonably certain that she could predict their responses, but Cassandra's words had dampened her sureness.

Her thoughts were interrupted as she heard something so faint that she was unsure as to whether she had heard it at all. The uttered word was something she hadn't heard in months. It was a word that only a handful of people alive knew. Her eyes roved around as she tried to find the source of the noise. When she heard it again, she knew her family had arrived. Only they knew her true name.

As she landed soundlessly on the deck, she found herself face to face with someone she was completely unfamiliar with. She knew in an instant that he was weaker than she was, far weaker. He was probably one of her cousins or uncles. If she was to be named Granddaughter of the Eighth, there was no way they would send in someone too distantly related. Yet even with half of his face covered by cloth and thick black bangs framing his eyes, she should have been able to recognize him. She did not know what to make of this newcomer.

She stared impassively at him as he dropped briefly to his knee. "Daughter of the Son of the Eighth," he breathed in the language known only to the core members of the Eighth's Assassins. "It is good to see you are unharmed."

"Introduce yourself," she said without preamble.

He uttered his name, which Raven did recognize. He was a first cousin once removed that she had never interacted with. "I am also called Spiral."

"State your business," Raven said. She wanted to know what the situation really was instead of Jordan's version. She did not trust her genderfluid Sister's information and wanted to keep Jordan's presence a secret. If she did choose to remain with the Black Glove Pirates, she would need Jordan's help.

"The situation is grave, milady. A new Bloodrage has risen, and the Son of the Eighth had to name an heir. Your elder brother has not been seen for months. We do not know of his location, but we did know of yours. The Son of the Eighth has named you as Granddaughter of the Eighth. It is imperative that you return with us at once."

Her pitch black eyes surveyed her surroundings. "You did not come alone."

"Milady is as observant as ever. I have a companion keeping watch over this ship and several more watching the pirates."

Before Raven could respond, the door to the women's quarters banged open. Spiral departed instantly, but not quickly enough. Displeasure was evident on Cassandra's face as she leaned on the railing overlooking the main deck. "I know you're there, scum of the shadows. You can't hide from me. I can smell your vile stink and hear the beating of your empty heart."

Spiral returned to his position before Raven, his black eyes fixed on the pirate captain. "I see the traitor is still alive. Her light should have been consumed by the darkness long a-"

As fast as he was, Raven was faster. She had a vise grip on his neck and a dagger at his throat before he could kick the ground enough times to speed away. "Assassin or not, you will show her respect. It is because of her that I am still alive, unless you had forgotten. Were it not for her decision, you would be stuck with my younger brother as Grandson of the Eighth."

The male assassin continued to stare at Cassandra before bowing his head once. "I withdraw my statements. They were ill-mannered."

Raven released him and stashed her weapon away. Spiral did not bother moving backwards, knowing that she could catch him regardless of how much space he put between them. Cassandra descended the stairs, her bare feet creating almost no sound. She carried no weapons and was clad in her usual tank top and pajama bottoms. Her expression of irritation was not dissimilar to Damien's usual appearance. "And what do you want with Raven, scum?"

"The Granddaughter has asked that I show you respect," Spiral said tonelessly. "It is only right that you show me-"

"I will show you the respect you deserve." Clearly, Cassandra did not think Spiral deserved any respect at all. "I don't know your name, and I don't know your face. I do know that you are as insignificant to me as any of those people in your accursed family, Raven excluded."

"I should kill you for insulting us," Spiral breathed.

"I should kill you for setting foot on my ship uninvited."

Spiral continued to stare at her as she crossed her arms and leaned against the mast. "We should conduct our business elsewhere," he said to Raven.

"We will conduct our business here." Raven spoke so Cassandra could understand as well. While she would not understand Spiral's words, the pirate captain could definitely guess their meaning.

"I do not think it would be wise to do so, especially not in our tongue."

"What you think does not matter to me. Speak."

Spiral's gaze remained level with hers, and he refused to speak for the longest while. None of the three budged an inch. Finally, the black-clad man continued with his explanation. "The Son of the Eighth demands your presence immediately to confirm your title as heiress to his position."

"I can see why you arrived here. What would you do if I chose to remain with Cassandra?"

"I would give the order to my companions to kill the navigator, cook, and first mate. They would then arrive here to eliminate the rest of the pirates, the Traitor Duchess included."

"That would be a very unwise move. I would not permit such actions."

"The Son of the Eighth anticipated this. Based on the information gathered recently, you would have trouble handling two of us, even if the Traitor Duchess aids you. Handling the five of us present on the island is far beyond your abilities. Even if you somehow managed to kill us all, your uncle is coming to retrieve you."

"I have many uncles, and most of them do not pose a threat to me."

Spiral bowed his head and told her who was arriving.

This was news to Raven. Jordan had mentioned one of her father's more talented assassins would be arriving within the next few days, but Raven had not expected her father's brother and right-hand man to come personally. He almost rivaled her father in strength, and what he lacked, he made up for with mad devotion to the family. She was not even close to being able to engage him in combat. "I did not think my father would send Star."

Even Cassandra was impressed by the new bit of information. "Whoa there, Raven. Why is Star the one coming to pick you up?"

Spiral's gaze focused on her once more. "We did not speak about her retrieval in a tongue understandable to you."

The pirate captain scoffed at this. "You fools think that just because I'm a pirate, I don't keep an ear out for things that might concern me or my crewmembers? It seems you have forgotten who I was before my exile."

"You have been putting your fingers in places they do not belong," Spiral told her. "This is business of the Eighth's Assassins."

"Raven is a Black Glove Pirate as well as one of your assassins. What concerns her concerns me as well."

Spiral remained silent for a moment before turning back to Raven. "If you refuse to come with us, I will have no choice but to give the order to kill the Traitor Duchess' pirates. You may kill us, but you cannot stop your uncle. It will be easier if you come with us now."

"You are not a threat to me. I will wait until my uncle arrives to give you my decision."

"Respectfully, milady, it seems you do not understand. There are no decisions to be made when your uncle arrives, save for whether or not he kills the Black Glove Pirates. You will come with us regardless. If he learns of your initial refusal, he will not likely be lenient."

"Leniency is not required. Cassandra may not be an assassin, but she still has connections with the other heirs. Our family is powerful, but it cannot withstand pressure from all six other families."

"If he acted to help you choose, there would be nothing to pressure. It would simply be acting to protect the Granddaughter of the Eighth."

"I have given you my answer, Spiral. I will tell Star personally. Until then, do not do anything unnecessary, or you will regret it."

Spiral knelt once more in farewell. "The Log Pose for this island takes one and a half days to set. As you have been here for almost two days, the Traitor Duchess can set sail whenever she pleases. But if you leave before your uncle arrives, we will follow you. You cannot escape your duty, Granddaughter."

"I never said I would," she said evenly. "Tell Star that I never shirk my duty. I-"

"Oi, Blackie!" Damien's thunderous roar shattered the quietness of their conversation. His voice echoed down the docks, but the navigator never concerned himself with the well-being of others. He did not care if his shouts woke everyone in his vicinity. "I never pegged you fer a fuckin' coward, mingemuncher!"

"It seems the madman has returned," Spiral said. "That means Rumor is here as well. Are you sure you do not wish to depart with us immediately, Granddaughter? Three of us will be most difficult for you to kill."

Raven completely ignored her relative. "What are you talking about, Damien?"

"If ya wanna kill me, fuckin' do it yerself! Don' send shitty pansies."

Raven still did not understand. "What are you talking about, Damien?"

He tossed her something that she could barely make out in the darkness. Nevertheless, she managed to catch it, the strong stench of blood filling her nose. Raven noted Cassandra's grin and the slight stiffening of Spiral's muscles. In her hands was a disembodied head, blood still leaking from the ragged remnants of its neck. Its mandible was completely missing, and most of its scalp was scorched off. The blackness of its dead eyes left no clue as to the head's previous owner.

"How did you kill her?" Spiral asked as Damien leapt aboard.

"You do not appear to be heavily injured," Raven noted as she began tending to his wounds.

Damien's gaze roved from one black-clad relative to the other, his lips drawing back to expose his sharp teeth. "Oo th' fuck are you?"

"He is a relative of mine," Raven explained, "as was the woman you killed. Why are you only lightly injured?"

Damien gave a bloodthirsty grin. "Cunt may 'ave fuckin' looked like you, but she was stupid as a fuckin' tree. She fuckin' tried ta kill me after I burned tha' cuntin' 'ouse down. Did most o' yer fuckin' tricks, but not as well. 'Twasn' no problem t' tear 'er fuckin' 'ead off."

Cassandra laughed loudly. "Ah, Damien. It seems you were unintentionally involved in a little fiasco happening to Raven. She wasn't the one to send that woman after you, though I'm sure this person didn't expect you to put up that much of a fight. This is one of the very, very rare times when I approve of your unnecessarily brutal retaliation."

The navigator rested his hand on her head, his sinister grin widening. "Like I give a flyin' fuck about yer fuckin' approval, bitch."

"Did you by any chance see Morgan on your way back?"

"I don' fuckin' care about the smegma-chugger, an' th' feelin' is fuckin' mutual."

"Yes, well, you're not the only one he wants to prostrate themselves before him on penalty of death, but I'll be damned before I let up on him. Anyway, I'm glad you had fun tonight. Any other plans?"

The scarred pirate shook his head. "Sleepin' is great after drinkin' an' fightin' and fuckin' and shit. I ain' comin' t' save yer dumb ass if any of those cunts show up and ya can' fuckin' 'andle it, cocksuckin' Cap'n."

"Like I'd need your help," the pirate captain said insolently back to him. "And if you're going to keep returning without pants, go shopping at least once for some replacements."

Damien laughed wildly as he put Cassandra in a swift headlock before entering the men's quarters. As the slightly burned door closed behind him, silence fell upon the deck once more. Raven handed the disembodied head of her relative to Spiral, making sure not to get any blood on her bare hand. "Consider this an example of what will happen if you attempt to kill any of them. You think that five of you were sufficient. You were gravely mistaken. I will give Star my response when he arrives. If you treasure your life, I would not tell him about Rumor's demise."

Spiral departed without another word. Cassandra pushed off of the mast and walked over to Raven. "Remember, make your choice after talking to the rest of them. As for me," she cut herself off with a wide yawn, "I need to get some shuteye."

"Are you not worried for Lyn and Morgan?" Raven asked.

"Not in the slightest. Damien is the only one they would want taken out instantly, other than yours truly. Besides, Jay's with Lyn. They'll be fine." Cassandra squinted at a distant clocktower. "Even if it is almost dawn. When Morgan gets back with fresh ingredients, make sure he starts breakfast immediately."

Raven nodded. After watching to make sure her captain went to sleep soundly, she washed the blood off her hands and returned to her lofty perch. She had even more to think about now. She did not care either way if the rest of her crewmates were killed, but she knew Cassandra would. Furthermore, Raven was the crew's doctor. It was her duty to keep them alive and healthy. If the only way to do that was to leave with her family without resistance, the logical choice would be to do so. However, that would not be in the crew's best interest in the long run. None of her previous confusion was gone. She settled for thinking about something else and talking to her crewmates the following day. Only then would she be able to talk to Cassandra and find out her Moon Sister's opinion.

\\'/.\\'/.\\'/.\\'/.\\

Like all of the Eighth's Assassins, Spiral did not feel emotions. Despite this, the tiniest desire to seek retribution on Rumor's killer hung on the edge of his mind. He had no attachment to the woman, but it was a slight against his family that could not be ignored. He had discarded the head shortly after leaving the ship, but the knowledge that the traitor had acquired a crewmember that spat on his family's reputation was galling. He had to reunite with the remaining assassins. Combined, they could not hope to kill the Black Glove Pirates, but perhaps killing was not the solution to this particular problem.

With that in mind, he sought out his companion, Rain. She was his equal in combat and shared his ideals. His other partner who had been watching the Howling Knave from a nearby rooftop, Solemnity, was meeting up with Stone, who was monitoring the first mate. He found Rain on crouched on a roof overlooking a farmer's market, her black eyes fixed on the pirate below her. The cook was clad in dark robes to hide his identity, but the jangle of his jewelry gave him away. After briefly explaining the situation to Rain, they both darted towards the pirate.

"Greetings, Prince Zematsal," Spiral said evenly as he landed silently. Zematsal's cool grey eyes only rested upon the black-clad assassin for the briefest of moments before they turned back to the fruits in the stalls before him. Spiral had not expected to be ignored so thoroughly. Clearly, the navigator was not the only one powerful enough to disregard his opponents. "You do not seem surprised that I know your name."

"You remind me of Raven," Zematsal said simply as he inspected a large tomato. "She knows far more than she should. It is not surprising that someone probably related to her would know as much."

"And what do you know of her past?"

"Other than that she was an assassin? Nothing." The pirate scoffed to himself. "That witch of a captain never tells me anything."

This reinforced Spiral's plan. Previously, he had assumed that if the Granddaughter of the Eighth had changed enough to be protective of her crewmates, all of the Black Glove Pirates would be equally supportive. However, the pirate captain had let slip about the prince's dissent. It was time to see how far he could go. "You do not show respect for your captain."

"She does not show me the respect I rightfully deserve," the prince spat angrily. "I must show her respect when I am around the others, but that does not mean I will remain permanently on bended knee."

"What if I told you I had the ability to remove Raven from the crew? Would that help your predicament?"

Zematsal lowered his groceries and met Spiral's gaze for the first time. "That would help immensely. That wench would not be on her high seat without the doctor. Of course, that would not be enough. That beast who calls himself the navigator might not defend her, but she is still not someone I can confront on my own."

Spiral had one more fact he wanted to learn. "And how averse would you be to the death of your captain?"

The pirate looked slightly unsure. "Well, her death would be problematic."

This seemed to contradict his previous statement. "Why would it be problematic? I thought you did not enjoy being her subordinate."

"I am not her subordinate!" Zematsal seethed, crushing the fruit he held in his hand. "I do not care for her well-being. She has all of my money, and I would not have enough funds to continue on my journey."

Any other man would be jumping for joy. "My family is extremely wealthy. I'm sure we could find a satisfactory amount for you."

Zematsal's previous anger swiftly dissipated, leaving in its wake a smile that showed all of his pearly teeth. "Now that would be a much easier decision."

"We will negotiate the price later," Spiral said. "For now, tell me everything you know that would aid in the death of Cassandra Negras."