Chapter 20. Prisoner

A week passed and Dominick was still a prisoner on the Black Siren. He was certain his crew believed he was dead. They had watched Captain Drake run him through on the Siren's deck. They were not coming for him.

He had been bound to Captain Drake's bed for his entire stay, the only exception to this being when he needed to relieve himself. Even then she would accompany him for the full trip to the ship's water closet, not taking her eyes off of him for a second. He was thankful she made no crude comments, and if she did, she kept them to herself.

For the most part, he was left alone. Captain Drake would come to him periodically to change his bandages and feed him stew. She was pleased with how well his would was healing and hoped she would be able to put him to work soon.

"You've got to pay for the damage to my ship somehow." She said. "I just had her repaired and you come along and blast a whole right through her!"

He was dreading that. God only knows what she'd force him to do in the name of payback. He dared not cross her now. Not with the power she held over him.

...

"Commander, you're looking quite well today." She was on one of her afternoon visits. Dominick huffed. He had nothing to say to her.

"Oh come now, Commander. Don't act so childish. I'll make you a deal. You answer my question and I'll untie your hands while I'm here."

Dominick thought for a moment. Judging by the tone of her voice he already didn't like where this was going, but his wrists were chaffed from being tied all the time. It would be nice to be free, even if it was just for a short while.

"All right," he said slowly. "What do you want?"

She reached into his jacket pocket, she wore it all the time now, and pulled out a piece of parchment. Dominick's eyes widened. He cursed under his breath.

"I'd like to know more about this." She held the sketch he'd done of her. "And many others we found when we searched your ship."

Dominick struggled to keep his face neutral. Not even his crew knew about the other drawings. Tracking her down was their commission so he was able to get away with the obsession that her very existence created within him, but now… Now, he was screwed. He racked his brain for a good excuse, anything he could tell her that she might believe.

"I, uh, well-"

"Commander." Her voice was soft. A smile tugged at her lips. "Is it really that hard to admit that you're in love with me?"

He nearly choked. He couldn't tell if she was being serious or not. "What? No! That's not it at all!"

"Well, if you're not in love with me, then what is it?"

"It's just-" He struggled to find the right words. "Something I do with all my commissions." He lied. That sounded good enough.

"I see." She didn't sound convinced. "I'll take your word for it. For now."

"So, you'll untie me now?"

"Of course." She leaned over him, her chest brushed the tip of his nose. "I always keep my promises." The rope loosened and Dominick could move his hands once more. He immediately began examining the bruises on his wrists.

"I'll bring you something to help with that." Captain Drake said, nodding towards his bruises. "Though you shouldn't struggle. Unless, of course, you like struggling."

Dominick ignored her. He was becoming rather accustomed to her crudeness.

She didn't stay for much longer; she had to get back to running her ship. When she rebound his wrists, however, the knot was looser. Not enough for him to escape, but enough to prevent the bruising and chaffing on his wrists to become any worse. Provided he heeded her advice and didn't struggle. He wasn't sure why this small kindness bothered him as much as it did, but he tried not to let it show. Especially when she returned several hours later with dinner.

...

Me thinks Erika is starting to confuse our poor Commander now. I wonder what he'll do to try and prevent that. Or what she'll make him do to help pay for the damages to her ship. Find out next week!