Warning: the following few chapters are gonna have a lot of blood and gore. Also cliffhangers. Continue at your own peeeeerriiiiiil! But I am keeping up with my self-imposed deadline, so that's good! I apologize now, this chapter is one of those with a cliffhanger. I didn't want to interrupt the pacing and it was a brilliant place to stop. Well, seemed to me that it was.

Alright, mah peeps. Let's get this ball rollin'! Also, this hasn't gone through as much proofreading as I would have liked, so hold on to your hats. I'll hit my deadline, then I'll go back and finetune everything.


The next time I woke up, I was surprised to see it was late afternoon, only a few hours until sunset. Usually, one of the crew woke me up a little after noon, so having slept this late struck me as strange. At least I felt plenty rested.

I was just putting on my boots when I realized something was off.

There was a…tension in the air I had never felt before. A grim, yet almost expectant atmosphere.

Carefully opening the door, I was surprised to see Reíno trotting up just as I stuck my head out.

"Blue! You're awake. Excellent-"

I cut to the chase before he could continue. "What's going on?"

Reíno grimaced. "A ship was spotted only a short while ago, but it matches the description of a known pirate vessel. The capitán ordered pursuit and we'll be intercepting them within a few hours."

Unease tightened across the back of my neck. I knew I'd been lucky so far not to have encountered any more pirates, and it only seemed on par with everything else that it happened when I was already feeling sick. "Where do I need to be?"

Reíno paused as he thought for a quick second. "I would say your quarters, but since it's so close to the deck, I think you would be safer down in the galley. I will ask the capitán for his orders. Come."

I followed Reíno to the wheel deck, feeling extremely out of place amongst the serious-looking officers. Magda was there as well, grim-faced as he surveyed the bustling crew with a hawk's eye, all traces of the man who'd teased me with mantecados completely masked. Even Lesaro had a steeliness that I'd never seen before.

But Salazar was truly a sight to behold.

Resplendent, almost blinding in his uniform, strong, tanned hands gripping the wheel with his gaze fixed squarely on the distant target of his prey. A cold, hard air emanated from the intimidating El Matador del Mar. The air of a man who killed, without hesitation.

And this was the same man we glomped last night. Not to mention that dinner…

Are you trying to make this better or worse? Cuz you're definitely succeeding with the latter.

Uneasiness tickled down my spine as I edged slightly behind Reíno, trying not to remember that he was a trained officer as well.

"Capitán."

I flinched when Salazar snapped his gaze to me, not even glancing at Reíno. He blinked, the iciness immediately thawing from his face when he saw me trying to hide behind the smaller man.

"Capitán, the señorita will not be safe in her cabin," Reíno murmured, stepping closer so he could lower his voice. "Where do you wish for her to be?"

My ears flexed back nervously as Salazar's eyes, black in the bright sun, remained pinned on me. He opened his mouth to answer, but there was a sudden shout from the crow's nest.

Salazar stepped forward, Lesaro instantly moving to take his place at the helm. One of the other officers immediately held out a spyglass that Salazar took, pulling it open to peer at the faint dot far in front of the Mary.

A word slid between his teeth as he snapped the spyglass shut before barking a string of commands that sent sailors scattering to follow his orders.

I jumped when he suddenly spun to face where I stood, trying to make myself smaller, unnoticed. It was almost unnerving just how often he did notice me. As if there was some part of his attention always focused on me.

He held out a hand towards me. "Ven aquí."

I briefly hesitated, aware of more than one pair of curious eyes on me, but I quickly moved over to where Salazar stood against the railing, relieved when he shifted to stand between me and the stares burning into my back. The burning, however, didn't abate, and I was glad no one could see my face from having him stand close enough that his chest pressed into my back. And that uniform-

Get yourself together! Now isn't the time to be thinking about how attractive he is!

He pulled the spyglass open again and held it out, motioning for me to look through it. I shut one eye and peered through the lens, waiting patiently as he positioned it so that I could make out the vessel that had become his prey.

"Pirates?" I whispered apprehensively, noticing just how much smaller the other ship was than the Mary, having only one deck of cannons versus the Spanish warship's three.

"," Salazar snarled. I could feel him vibrating with tension, the rigid muscles against my back powerfully restrained as he took the spyglass back.

"Reíno," he snapped sharply, turning to address the younger officer. "She may remain on deck until we draw closer, then escort her to the galley."

Reíno dipped his head in response, which I took was my cue to leave the wheel deck. I nodded respectively at Salazar as I edged past him to rejoin Reíno, only to pause when an arm slipped across my stomach, a strong hand clasping my hip to hold me still.

Salazar lowered his head until only I could hear him murmur, "Stay belowdeck, por favor. You will be safe there."

A warm pleasure suffused my chest at his promise, easing the swell of anxiety that had sprung to life upon seeing the pirate ship.

I slid my hand over his and squeezed, feeling almost cold when he withdrew his grasp to twist around and resume his place at the Mary's wheel.

Tension immediately permeated my muscles as soon as he let go. I shook off the strange, uneasy feelings and followed Reíno down to the main deck.

He led me to a small spot close to the rail where I wasn't in the way, but I was also close enough to the stairs that I could run belowdeck if I needed to. I was told to stay put before he disappeared to assist some of the other officers.

Long, tense minutes passed by as the Mary gained slowly but steadily on her prey. The unpleasant tension continued to ratchet up a few notches, and my anxiety was climbing in response.

I shouldn't be here. I'm out of place.

Time seemed to stretch until the silence was broken by the watch calling more sails on the horizon.

I snapped out of my downward spiral of introspection at the shout, squinting to just make out another ship far in the distance slightly off course.

Whoever it was, the pirates changed course to intercept them, even with the Silent Mary still relentlessly giving chase.

Salazar abruptly ordered the change in speed, full sails, and the Mary lunged forward like a racehorse out of the gates.

The tension shot up several more notches.

My arm began to cramp and I rubbed it hard to try and ease the ache to no avail.

I could hear the distant echoing thunder of cannons as the pirate ship opened fire on what Reíno informed me appeared to be a merchant vessel when he stopped to stiffly stand next to me. His face was set in grim lines that told me without words how this was going to turn out.

The Mary was simply too far away to be of any help.

I was suddenly struck with how much technology was taken for granted. An aircraft carrier could have already launched planes to eliminate the pirates. A destroyer would probably already be on top of them, capable of traveling at much faster speeds than a ship powered by sails.

How easily things could turn out differently.

And suddenly, the thunder stopped.

Smoke spiraled in a thick column as the massive warship drew steadily closer, yet it still felt like forever until the Mary finally came to the edge of the debris.

The fleeing vessel was gaining distance again, but Salazar ignored them in favor of a quick investigation of the wreckage of their victims.

It was even worse than I'd imagined.

I made sure I was out of the way as, silent and still, the crew peered into the waters, scanning the debris, looking for survivors.

I almost wished they hadn't.

A shout rang out and movement blurred across the deck, one of the sailors who knew how to swim climbing down to paddle over to a floating hulk still above the water. He collected a small pale bundle in his arms, then swam back to Mary to be pulled aboard.

Salazar took the survivor, a young girl, who looked barely eight, in his arms, holding her close as Magda hurried forward, a huge black bag in hand.

There weren't any other survivors, but there were plenty of bodies.

I turned away for a moment, looking down into the water, and fought the urge to vomit.

Living, breathing human beings, reduced to so much floating white chum, intestines and chunks of limbs gently bobbing in the bloody waves.

My heart skipped a heavy beat when I realized how easily that could have been me amongst those waves, if Salazar hadn't found me. Hadn't come across that ship in time.

It was sickening, what a person could stand to do, if they wanted to. Rape, dismember, skin, gut…that someone could see nothing wrong with slicing a person from collarbone to groin, just to watch their insides fall to the floor, made me wish the human race had never crawled out of the primordial ooze.

What about ripping someone's throat out to watch them bleed? I did it in self-defense, sure, but I felt nothing. No regret, no remorse…no guilt.

Does that make me as bad as them?

Bile rose in my throat and I had to look away from the water, turning instead to see Magda shake his head slowly at Salazar, withdrawing from the captain and his burden.

We had been too late.

I shifted out from under the stairs, slipping closer to see the little girl was still breathing, but it was so shallow and slow that I knew it wouldn't be long before it stopped altogether.

Salazar didn't move, continued to cradle the little girl in his arms, talking softly to her, not once looking away as her breathing grew fainter and fainter.

Quietly, she slipped away until her chest remained still, and she was gone.

A keening whine built in the back of my throat and tears burned behind my eyes, but I swallowed and blinked, refusing to give in. There was no telling once I started bawling when I would stop.

My jaw clenched with unspent misery. I wanted to howl at the unfairness that something so innocent, so young, had been tainted by such depravity and slaughtered with less mercy than for an animal.

Lesaro dispersed the crew with a quiet order, leaving just the three of us, until he gripped Salazar's shoulder, murmured softly, and left as well.

Leaving me to keep vigil with the captain.

My ears were flexed back unhappily. I didn't like situations like these. I never knew what to say, what to do…always felt stupid and awkward when someone needed me like this. In the end, I couldn't say anything, do anything, just stood there, offering silent comfort as best as I was capable of.

Why couldn't I know what to do? Why did I never know what to say? There had to be something, but I simply didn't know what it was.

Salazar carefully lowered the little body to the deck, covering the too small form with a blanket one of the crew had left, his movements precise and measured.

I knew it affected him. How could it not? It affected me, and I was seriously fucked up in the head.

But I didn't know how to react, how to offer comfort. I wasn't even sure if he wanted comfort, if he'd allow me to touch him. So I just waited, and kept silent.

He rose to his feet in a smooth, deliberate motion, then turned to look at me. I met his turbulent gaze steadily, but I couldn't decipher anything, couldn't tell what he was feeling. I had never been able to read emotions well, a flaw I hadn't felt as keenly before as I did now.

I didn't know what he wanted, but I knew what I could offer.

Without a word, I opened my arms.

His face went blank, and I immediately felt stupid, felt I had done the wrong thing. But before I could back away, he took two strides and enveloped me in his arms, burying his face in my neck.

The position was excruciatingly uncomfortable. I was forced to bend backwards to accommodate his height, but I didn't ask him to adjust his grip, didn't shift to ease my aching spine. I was afraid if I asked him to move, he'd completely withdraw and I wasn't going to allow that to happen.

I squeezed him as tight as I could, trying to give everything I had, and he took it. I felt his face press harder where my neck met my shoulder, as if he was trying to burrow into me to escape the horrors that tainted everything they touched.

Wet streaked my skin, and my hand sank into his hair in response, dislodging his hair ribbon, but I grabbed it between my fingers before it fell. Silk ran over my hand as I stroked through his hair, letting him take what he needed.

His shoulders rose and fell deceivingly steady under my arm as I hugged him close, arched at an awkward angle, not giving a damn as pain lanced up my spine.

But I couldn't control my involuntary spasm, even as I held him tighter in case he thought I was trying to let go.

He must've realized he was bending me at an angle the human spine was not meant to bend and adjusted his grip, relieving the pressure on my back. I didn't say a word, just continued to thread my fingers comfortingly through his hair, instinctively pretending not to notice as his breath shuddered shakily along my throat.

"Thank you."

The quiet whisper against my neck made tears burn in my eyes, one almost slipping free before I blinked them back.

I nodded and gently disentangled myself, handing him the ribbon to put his hair back up.

Stone-faced, he fixed his appearance, the ruthless el Matador del Mar once more being brought to light. He flicked a glance at me as he straightened his uniform jacket and I shivered at the ice frosting his gaze. "Go to my quarters and lock the door. Your cabin is too close to the deck, you'll be safer in case we get boarded."

Studying his face for a quick moment, I wondered how I'd ever thought of him as uncaring.

"My quarters will place you furthest from any point of entry." Hand firmly clenching the hilt of his rapier, he looked so dangerous I almost pitied the men he was about to slaughter.

Murmuring in acknowledgement, I moved aside as he strode past to bark commands at Lesaro. Movement caught my attention behind me and I looked back to see one of the sailors, the marine I talked to at night, carefully lift the little body in his arms.

I quickly glanced away, not wanting to know what would be done it. As I jogged along the deck, the Silent Mary turned and began her pursuit, her speed gaining with a cold sense of ruthless purpose reflected in her captain.

xxxxx

The pirates waited until the cover of darkness to try to take the Mary head on.

I was curled up in the armchair tucked next to the bookshelf facing the windows, too nervous to read, instead watching the sunlight grow dimmer until it vanished altogether, when the first cannon shot rang out from the Mary.

I was startled from grim memories at the sudden noise, all of my concentration aimed to listen intently.

The bang had sounded far away and muffled from inside Salazar's quarters, but it was only the beginning.

Thunder ripped through the air, concussive waves of sound, one after the other. Most were accompanied with vibrations through the wood that told me which shots came from the Mary's cannons, and which were from the vermin she was fighting.

It didn't sound like el Matador del Mar's opponents were faring too well.

Yet that didn't help the crippling anxiety. Just thinking about all the things that could happen to the men I'd come to think of as friends was enough to send me into a fit.

The cannonfire grew sparser until it died out altogether, the skirmish having been rather quick for being so brutal.

Instead, it was replaced with the sound of shouting and tinny clangs of what I realized was swordfighting, and my worry was suddenly replaced with an odd surge of confidence.

Those bastards picked the wrong ship to board.

A high-pitched shriek suddenly came from below the floor, making me jump out of my skin.

What the fuck?!

The scream came again, only to be cut off into a bonechilling silence.

Lady BeKatt.

I warily crept to my feet, wondering what to do. Salazar had explicitly told me to stay in his quarters, but if she was in trouble, would anyone else be able to help her?

She certainly wouldn't help us, my inner voice said snidely, though there was unease in its tone.

I thought of the almost innocent longing on her face when she'd thought about getting a kitten.

A hoarse shout that was distinctly feminine ended my indecision.

I'm not her!

Without stopping to think of how utterly stupid this was, and how I was beyond out of my element, I darted towards the door, threw it open, and bolted down the hallway to the nearest stairwell.

Blood was sprayed all over the hallway walls outside her cabin, splattered like a paint bomb had exploded. It was like some grisly scene from a horror movie, but this was no movie. As surreal as it sounded, this was real.

I need a weapon. Something sharp.

Frantically glancing around, I saw boots laying limp on the floor around the far corner.

Moving cautiously, knowing I didn't have time to waste, but not able to make myself move any faster, I peeked around the corner, hoping it wasn't what I thought it was.

There was a good two feet of space between the lower part of the sailor's body and the detached upper torso, intestines trailing over the floor in the gap.

Bile flooded my mouth at the sight, and the smell was enough to make me gag. The wet shininess along the coils of intestines made my stomach heave violently and vomit splattered on the floor.

I gagged again, legs trembling with an alarming shakiness, but I tried only to focus on the long dagger lying on the floor, too close to what appeared to be an exposed liver for comfort.

The relief that swamped me that the deathly pale face was nobody I knew almost canceled out the nausea and I wrapped my fingers around the handle of the dagger, the blade heavy and unfamiliar in my hand.

Glancing at the body again, I murmured a silent apology and had one quick second to hope that Salazar was okay before I scurried through the open door of Lady BeKatt's quarters, following the muted sounds of struggling.

She had tried to hide under the bed before one of the pirates found her.

A huge beast of a human had one meaty hand gripped around Lady BeKatt's throat, keeping her silent as he pinned her down, and was in the process of ripping her upturned skirts.

Not pausing to think of what a bad idea this was, adrenaline fueled my thundering pulse as I silently darted forward, jumping up and slamming the point of the dagger deep into the gap of the man's collarbone.

Not deep enough.

Instead of keeling over lifeless, he brayed out a roar and ripped the knife out of his neck, sending a huge stain of blood rolling down his clothes. He staggered to his feet and whirled around, his beady eyes locking on me.

With an enraged bellow, he charged forward, hands outstretched and I barely made it out of his reach, operating on pure instinct, to slide next to Lady BeKatt and grab the pirate's forgotten sword.

It was heavier than I had expected, but sheer adrenaline and survival instinct made it possible for me to lift it as the man came at me again. I slipped underneath his arm and managed to get an awkward swipe along his leg, slicing muscle and tendon.

He let out a bloodcurdling screech as he crashed down on his useless knee, the damaged joint unable to support his weight. He growled and glared at me, sucking in huge pants through his teeth. "Fuckin' bitch!"

"Bring it on, cocksucker," I hissed, made reckless by emotionally detaching from the situation, my self-preservation kicking in. "Or did your daddy like it in your ass better?"

He howled in rage and somehow managed to stand, dragging his dead knee behind him as he lumbered forward like a wounded bear.

I felt like I was watching someone else. Someone else who was brave and ferocious and not afraid to leap into the fray, everything I knew I wasn't, yet I also knew that that was me, holding a sword and facing down a charging beast fueled by bloodlust.

Don't get distracted!

Baring my teeth in a loud snarl, I clumsily swung and he dodged the blade, but I didn't miss with my downward swing back, carving a patch of bloody flesh off his other leg.

The bear crashed to the floor again with a roar of pain, droplets of coppery fluid sprinkling on my face, into my eyes.

I wiped my sleeve quickly across my face, ignoring the strong stench of pennies in my nose, and watched stupidly as he began to crawl towards me.

Finally realizing what was happening, I plunged the sword towards the beast's chest just as he reached out to crush me in his grip.

Somehow managing to get lucky, the blade slid between ribs, but I couldn't drive it deep enough to bring him down.

Wet screams gurgled from his mouth, spraying me with bloody spit, as he grabbed my hands and tried to pry them off the hilt.

A shrill, panicked sound clawed out of my throat as I frantically heaved the sword across his chest, dragging the sharp metal sideways through skin, muscle, cartilage and bone, carving open a gaping hole. Ivory white gleamed at me from his chest, pale pink flesh of organs peeking from behind it. For a long second, my brain wildly tried to click together what that was.

Realization struck with sharp clarity.

Lungs. Those are his lungs.

Bile immediately surged upwards, dripping down my chin and onto the floor as I continued wrenching the blade in a macabre sawing motion until with a wet crunch, the massive man shuddered and went still, having long since stopped screaming.

I gagged and more vomit splattered on the floor, mixing with the crimson puddle slowly expanding on the floor.

Burgundy fluid flowed silently from the man's mouth as he fell face forward.

Muscles were frozen, refusing to move as I watched him fall, my skin twitching as ruby liquid splashed on my legs, still warm.

All the hair on my neck and arms stood up at the grisly feeling, yet I still couldn't move.

Lady BeKatt huddled next to her bed, whimpering in fear while I stood on rubbery legs, everything trembling as I sucked in gulps of air. My body felt strange, alien, as the adrenaline slowly drained away.

Finally, my muscles unlocked enough that I could take a few shaky steps backwards, my bare feet leaving bloody footprints on the rug.

Unfortunately, I didn't get any reprieve as two more pirates stormed through the open doorway of the main, staring at the gruesome scene in shock.

Don't think, just pay attention. It's a large, venomous snake at the end of your bush-axe. Blink and you'll get bit.

Grimly, I reached behind me and picked up the long dagger that suited me better, the sword still stuck in the bear's chest.

"She killed him! Fucking whore killed Rousy!"

With angry cries, the two rushed at me. I knew I was outmatched, but I had nowhere to run. No choice. Adrenaline surged anew as I braced myself for the oncoming onslaught, readying my dagger with a snarl.

I somehow managed to dodge a slash from the first one and the second had just grabbed my wrists when a shout from behind deflected their attention.

The one I was struggling with went slack as the pointed end of a rapier suddenly appeared through his chest.

The pirate's corpse slumped to the floor to show Magda standing behind it with a twisted grin of cruel delight. He quickly slipped between me and the remaining pirate dog who lunged, spewing threats and curses, but was waylaid by Magda's rapid swordplay. The scum managed a hasty dodge, then began exchanging rapid blows with the Spaniard.

If I'd had attention to spare, I would have been surprised that the parasite was faring so well against Magda, but movement caught my eye.

Another weasly excuse for a human came slinking through the doorway and Magda couldn't see him from where he stood, doing his best to cut down the skilled pirate in front of him.

But I could.

I circled around the two combatants, ignoring the strange pain firing up and down my leg as I crept forward, staring fixedly at my prey who was only intent on Magda's unprotected back.

The weasel slunk forward, raising a wicked looking saber and I darted low, aiming high, my dagger carving a chunk along the bastard's belly just as he began to charge.

He squealed in pain and backhanded me, the force of the blow staggering me through the doorway and out into the living quarters, my head pulsing with hollow thuds from the strike.

I saw the sword rise into the air and come arching down, and I recoiled in heart-stopping fear, almost frozen with panic even as I somehow stumbled backwards to try and avoid the blow.

The deadly weapon moved as if in slow motion, but I couldn't move fast enough. My entire body felt like I was underwater as I struggled to process I was about to die.

Seriously? This is how I die?

My focus narrowed to the shiny glint of light on steel, even noise itself fading to a faraway hum.

After Salazar's promises to keep me safe? The very man that all pirates fear?

Distantly, I heard a deep voice yelling.

What an irony.


Ven aquí - Come here

I know, I know, hate me all you want, but the next chapter is only in a few days! Hey! Hey! Put down that pitchfork!