And, after my rather lengthy hiatus, I return with the appearance of, as the chapter title says, a mysterious visitor. Creativity to the max.

"Shit!" Lyn exclaimed, glaring bitterly at the sign hanging above the small apothecary. "Those assholes shouldn't even be considered doctors!"

Cassandra felt equally frustrated, but chose not to show it. "I agree. We had a productive afternoon. Let's head back."

"How could you even say that?!" Lyn exclaimed. "You're going to give up on your crewmember just like that?"

"We are not giving up. We are taking a break. Help me carry these groceries; they're heavier than I expected."

Instantly forgetting the misunderstanding, the first mate grabbed an armful of bags, not staggering despite the fact that she had taken the majority of the load. Smirking victoriously, she began marching down the road, ignoring the lecherous looks thrown in her direction. Cassandra, now only carrying supplies with one arm, placed her hand casually on her pistol, ready to act on a moment's notice. Her paranoia was still running strong, even though they had only been bothered a few times. She would not be killed in such a place as this.

"Is this the way back to the ship?" Lyn asked after a few minutes. "I don't see any docks…"

Cassandra raised an eyebrow. "You mean to tell me that you just walked off in a random direction?"

"Yup," Lyn told her cheerfully, shifting the load in her arms. "I thought you knew where we were going!"

"I trusted you with the direction. I was busy watching out for us."

Waving the matter aside, Lyn looked up at the sky. "Well, do you know where the docks are from here?"

Cassandra carefully noted where the sun was located, glad that the rim of her cowboy hat shielded her eyes from the harsh sunlight. "Turn completely around. We're going the wrong way."

Lightly flicking Lyn's temple in irritation, Cassandra picked herself up and began striding back towards the docks, shaking her head as she resumed watching their surroundings. She heard the person dashing towards them and instantly dropped her bag. Before they could hit Lyn, she moved in their path and was knocked head over heels. Her mouth twisted downwards and she rolled to her feet, instinctively aiming her pistol at her opponent and tightening her finger on the trigger.

"Watch where you're going!" a small, old woman screeched, waving a wooden cane around erratically.

"You were the one who ran into us. You should watch where you're going."

The next thing she knew, she was flat on her back, staring dazedly at the sky. "Respect your elders, brat! Don't be so insolent!"

A light hissing sound hung in the air, and a large shadow appeared in Cassandra's vision. Rubbing a trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth, Cassandra sat up again, her grimace darkening. To her surprise, Lyn was standing protectively in front of her, pointing her rapier directly at the woman's forehead. Amazingly, she was holding the entire bundle of groceries in her other fist. What surprised Cassandra the most was the hardened glint in the first mate's eyes. It was a glare filled not with killing intent, but with a firm resolution.

"Touch Captain again," Lyn challenged. "I dare you!"

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

"Where… is… Cassandra?"

The voice was as empty and devoid of humanity as an unhallowed grave. It was like listening to death itself. Alexander didn't move a muscle, too terrified to speak.

"Where is she?" The person behind him pressed the knife harder into his neck.

"Sh-she's out," he managed to say.

"Out where?" the voice asked coldly.

Alexander gulped. "I-I don't know."

"How unfortunate," the voice murmured. "You are of no further use to me."

"Wait, wait!" he shouted in panic. "Please don't kill me! I-"

The knife began to glide across his throat, about to end his life. He instinctively turned the blade into water and twisted away. Before he could turn around, he found himself in a headlock, another sharp object pressing into his jugular. "What was that?"

"Listen, I'm part of her crew," he said frantically. "She's off getting help-"

"What kind of help?"

"Could you get your knife away-" he tried.

"What kind of help?"

"If this is to be an interrogation, may I at least face my interrogator?"

"Do you swear on your life you know Cassandra?"

"Yes! Yes!"

"If you are lying, you will spend five days in agony begging me to kill you." A woman that Alexander didn't recognize stepped out from behind him. She barely came up past his chin, but seemed far more threatening than Damien usually did. She was clad in a full-body outfit blacker than night that clung to her like a glove, complete with a piece of black cloth covering her mouth. Her hair, as dark as her clothes, trailed behind her in a single ponytail that ran almost to her knees.

But what frightened Alexander the most were her eyes: twin pools so black that light seemed to vanish within them, never to return. Her black irises contrasted sharply with her sclera, giving her a piercing and analytical stare filled with a soulless quality that made him shiver involuntarily. It wasn't that they were intimidating; it was that they were so emotionless that she seemed completely inhuman.

Gulping audibly, Alexander knew that the woman could kill him in an instant and never think twice.

Damien, please wake up. For my sake, for everyone's sake…

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

"Touch Captain again. I dare you!"

The old woman stared right back at the steely first mate, holding her cane as if it were a sword. Lyn didn't move a muscle, still possessing that protective glare in her eyes. Suddenly, they both erupted into a series of attacks, barely moving their feet at all. Lyn's conviction never wavered, not even when the cane whizzed within a hairsbreadth of her head. It was as if she had turned into a completely different person.

The old woman gave a toothy grin as her attacks sped up, occasionally flickering through Lyn's defenses. Lyn, for her part, was doing an admiral job of parrying the majority of the blows, showing knowledge for her weapon that belied her peaceful years in her convent. Nevertheless, she was forced backwards and would have treaded upon Cassandra's prone body had the captain not rolled sharply out of the way.

The attacks ceased as abruptly as they had begun. Panting slightly, Lyn lowered her rapier and cocked her head quizzically. "What was that about?

"Pirates these days are weak and pathetic!" the elder woman announced, drawing more than a few unpleasant stares. "Only caring about themselves! It's refreshing to see an almost-forgotten breed. Plus, I think my granddaughter Sabrina'd like you!"

Lyn nodded politely as she sheathed her rapier. "That was an impressive display of… what do I call it? It was like you were using a sword. But you were using a cane, which isn't a sword, but you used it like one, so-"

The old woman threw her head back and gave a raucous laugh. "You amuse me to no end! I'll see you two around!" She walked away, still chuckling merrily to herself. Just as she was about to vanish around a corner, she paused and turned. "That was just a good ol' swashbuckling style, even though I didn't have a buckler! If I find you again, I'll see that you fight my granddaughter!"

Lyn stared after the woman, a look of complete confusion lingering on her face. Then, like the sun coming out from behind the clouds, her face split up into a beaming smile. "That was fun!" she commented, swinging the groceries over her shoulder.

Cassandra stared around, completely disagreeing with the first mate's statement. Whether she had meant to or not, the old lady had practically painted a target on their backs by elevating them above the other pirates. It wouldn't even be useful killing the crone, as tempted as she was to do it. If she were the initiator, the grandmother wouldn't have stood a chance. She felt like grinding her teeth together, but decided to maintain a placid expression. It wouldn't do to alert her enemies of her irritation, after all. "We're leaving."

"What? Wait- Captain!" Lyn stumbled after the swiftly retreating pirate, oblivious to the looks being cast in her direction. Cassandra had her hat lowered over her eyes, giving her a more dangerous appearance and hopefully warding off some of the less intrepid pirates. Of course, this still left her with the more dangerous ones, but in her opinion, the less people that crossed her path, the better.

So concentrated was she on appearing intimidating that she walked forward almost mechanically, paying more attention to the people than her surroundings. As they arrived at port, Cassandra turned back to where her ship was docked. She was about to board it when something gave her pause. She cautiously climbed aboard, wondering what was causing her to be so tense. She made her way over to the galley quietly opened the door, trying to make as little noise as possible. Never ceasing to amaze her captain, Lyn picked up on her movements, also treading as lightly as she could.

"What is it?" she whispered as she gently set down the supplies.

"I… don't… know," Cassandra responded quietly.

"Do you want me to investigate?"

Cassandra shook her head. Silently exiting the galley, she ascended the stairs to the women's quarters, pushing the door open with the tip of her boot. Her preliminary scan revealed no disturbances, but she still felt uneasy. Choosing not to investigate the room too thoroughly, she instead went to the men's room, hoping that Alexander and Damien had picked up on the threat. But when, she slowly opened the door, all hell broke loose.

Something black came at her fast at an incredible speed. If it weren't for her sharp senses, she wouldn't have detected it at all. She threw herself backwards, barely avoiding the silver flash that whistled through the area where her throat had been a split-second before. Executing a tight backwards roll, she sprung to her feet and took a quick deep breath. "Voluntas Carnae!"

She unsheathed both of her shoulder knives just as her attacker came for her again. This time, the black blur was much more clearly defined, showing a short black figure with a knife in one hand and a spike in the other. Cassandra parried the knife with one of her own and pushed the spike aside with her knuckles, barely avoiding being stabbed both times. She thrust forward with her right hand, but that was easily deflected to the side, threatening to throw her off balance.

"Not yet," she muttered, spinning swiftly around and driving her elbow towards her opponent's face. Unfortunately, the figure had somehow turned with her, staying at her back the entire time. She cried out in pain as a blade cut deeply into her fingers, forcing her to release her knife. Still turning around, she fumbled for her pistol and brought it out in the nick of time, using the barrel to prevent the blade from penetrating her side.

Then, much to her surprise, the attacks ceased. Spinning around, she aimed her pistol and drew her knife-bearing hand back, ready to throw it at a moment's notice. Her chest was heaving with exertion and her breath came in deep gasps, reminding her that her adrenal system still wasn't used to combat situations. She paused and frowned in confusion, standing up straight as she recognized her attacker. "Raven?"

"Yes." The short woman was crouching on the railing as she stared stared evenly at the pirate captain. "I have found you at last."

Raven has found Cassandra at last. You're welcome.