Bad Blood
My body was on fire. The stretch of my skin being ripped apart with every step. The warm blood dripping down my legs caused my clothing to stick to my skin. My wraps that mind my breast felt loose, but I was not feeling shame at that moment. My hair was loose and wild in the blowing breeze. I may have looked like a mad woman to the eyes of men. My Hazel eyes were only focused on one target. Through all the pain of dodging swords and bodies, I could see through the blur of the sweat dripping from my brow. My heart was racing hard against my chest. My breathing was labored with the sword held tight against my grasp.
My muscles were cramping. I could feel my strength trying to leave me. I knew I was losing blood. But, Damn it! I had to push through with the pain burning inside.
'Keep moving.' I told myself.
'Keep Fucking moving!' I gritted my teeth.
"Keep fucking moving!" I found my shaky voice. A side of me that not many saw. K have never been so close to death. Never been so close to victory. All these years have passed by. What I have learned. The knowledge inside of me.
My eyes focused. Every movement a blur to me as I could feel the blood rush through my veins. My heart pounding loudly that I could hear it. Like a beating drum of war, it matched the steps of my feet. I could not fail. I could not let this torture my family any longer.
All these years of training- of following in the footsteps of my father- I was close to ending this. The line of pirates will cease to exist. No longer will Grey Eye terrorize the sea. No longer will my father be the target. Our fate as father and daughter has been brought here. To stop Grey Eye and to protect the Ark.
The Ark.
This thing. This ancient relic was the cause of misery. They wanted power. They wanted to control. It was a device that drove men to murder. It drove my father mad. Yet, I was chosen to protect it. I had to keep it out of the hands of those who wanted to use it for control. Blood had already been spilled in search of the Ark. Was it truly as powerful as men said? Was this the reason my father went mad all those years ago?
Those villagers who tried to fight them. To keep them away from their secrets.
"They do not know what power comes from it." He whispered.
By my side I could see his shadow. His presence resonating in my blood. Robert De Sable was by my side, leading me on through the battle. His eyes focused on Grey Eye with a heavy scowl upon his lips. I could feel his determination through his spirit. My ancestor whom I knew so little about was guiding me. He knew it had to end here. Whether I lived or died, the Ark had to be safe.
"I failed my brothers long ago. I became blind to my ambitions. I failed my king."
The images around me had flickered. Showing me images of a battle and a hooded man striking down Robert.
"You cannot fail, Seliah."
"Seliah!" My name was shouted from a distance. Wiping away the sweat from my brow, the urge to continue was burning inside. I have never felt my body move on its own with this deep a wound. It was of any wonder how I continued to dodge and deflect oncoming attacks. Maybe my will to end this madness was keeping me strong.
I could see them not to far away from my sight. The ship was moving like a wild horse. Throwing bodies left and right. It was as if the Sea wanted Her due with blood. I could hear men grasping at the edge of the ship and fall to the depths below. Certain that sharks swam in the waters and could smell the blood in the water. They clashed hard against each other in a dance for dominance. Their eyes locked on one another while the chaos around them was nothing more than noise.
I clenched my teeth hard and raised my sword arm in the air. He was within my line of sight, but he was trained. He had many years on him and his movements we're like that of a man possessed. Grey Eye took his sight off my father for a brief moment. I could use this distraction and my blood was boiling for revenge.
I swung it hard when it clashed against his very own sword. The vibrations sending signals through my body had paralyzed me for a moment. This gave Grey Eye an advantage to kick me where I was hurt the most. His foot made contact against my wound with much blood spilling onto his black boots. I screamed to the top of my lungs as he grabbed me once more by the throat. My father shouted my name but was held back by Grey Eye's pirates.
The pain. The pain was excruciating. My free hand held know to his arm and scratched at his skin. My legs swung widely like I was some animal. I was done. This had to end. I was certain I looked wild, but these men were depending know me to kill Grey Eye. I could not fail.
"End this now, Grey Eye! You are not going to be victorious." Shouted Elliot.
The hold on my throat became tighter. I gasped for breath, but I put in a good kick to Grey Eyes' side. I was not going to give up just yet. Grey Eye slammed me hard against the railing causing my back to shot pain throughout my weakened body. How much more pain will I have to go through? God's, do not forsake your daughter.
Elliot kicked one of the pirates down and slashed at his back. With another pirate dead, adding to the number of casualties, my father stood on his feet. The pirates surrounding both men we're not so easily intimidated. Victory seemed to be in our grasp, but Grey Eye and a few of his pirates still remained.
This battle was not yet over until one captain was dead.
"You are a burden. Why won't you die?" He screamed in my face. His hold on my throat tightened. Grunting, I looked around me through the blur. Seeing the faces of the sailors who were fatigued. There were so few pirates left aboard the ship. Many of the bodies either fell into the ocean or laid still on the floor boards.
"Look around you, child! You think they can save you?!" Grey Eye had gone mad.
I closed my eyes when I saw Connor and Haytham with swords held high. Connor will not save me. No one but myself could. I trained for years and lost fingers. I shed blood. I am a Jaguar warrior.
"You are like Salty. Too stubborn to die! Can you not see that death will embrace you? Like many before you, child, I will have you see death."
I gasped for air and realizing I still held my sword in my hand, I thought about an opportunity that was racing in my mind. The Gods have protected me this far. My ancestor had guided me. I had the power of the Jaguar within my veins. I am a warrior!
"If you kill me, you will never find the Ark!" I quickly stuck my sword in his arm, causing an angered scream from the old pirate. I opened my eyes to see the blood sliding down my sword. Grey Eyes arm was wounded. I had dug deep into his flesh.
"This is your chance! Take it!" I shouted. My voice hoarse as his blood dripped on my hand. His tight grip never loosened on my throat.
"You bastard!"
The pirates know Grey Eye's side had the pack mentality to protect their captain. My father pushed through the pirates and pushed his sword into Grey Eyes side. The old captain gasped and with his free hand reached for a pistol that was within his reach. I pushed the sword within his arm harder to try and sever the limb. But, I was too late. I heard a shot ringing through my ears and my father falling back.
No! No! No!
I screamed and took the sword from within Grey Eyes arm and swung it across his throat while he had a sickening grin upon his lips. I could feel the tears fall down my cheeks with my heart beating harder and harder. His blood poured down his body. That grin that was there upon his lips had faded to one of shock. Those on board stood still for a moment; trying to grasp at what happened.
His hold on me began to loosen. I could feel the fresh breath of air filling my lungs.
He gasped for breath, but in retaliation, he threw me over board.
"Seliah!" They yelled, but I was too weak to stop the impact of the water.
The Ark…
They no longer shouted. I could hear them chanting in a rhythm that I could not understand. It was soothing somehow. Their language was like listening to an ancient song being sung from one generation to the next.
They no longer kept to the shadows. They began to take shape. Blinding me with their light as they began to take human form.
My body was free falling into the abyss. I was warm. I was in a safe place. Was I dead?
…
He ran to the edge of the ship and dove into the water. Holding in air within his lungs, Connor had to take a moment to adjust himself. The sea was calm under the surface where fish swam frantically away from small slim sharks that were swimming and taking bits from the dead. Though it seemed that the predators were taking little to no interest in human flesh, Connor had to find Seliah. Time was wasting away fast and Seliah needed to rise to the surface for breath.
The salt water burned his eyes, but he was thankful for the clear water. With bodies floating to the surface and sharks investigating the dead, Connor had to be cautious. He has never fought these sea creatures and knew many of them could be as large as a small rowing boat. Sharks were vicious and Connor was searching the waters for her.
In the distance, he could see her struggling to swim up. The blood swirling around her from her wound had attracted some of the sharks. Her struggling seemed to have enticed the predators to go in for the kill. She swung something at one of the smaller sharks and slashes it's side. For the moment, it would draw the attention away from her.
With the sharks a few meters away from Seliah, Connor moved towards her. His lungs were burning from not being able to take in breath. She was so close to him. She was struggling to keep moving up to the surface after defending herself from the predators. She was tired from fighting. Her body was giving up. Connor would not allow her to drown in the sea.
When she was within his reach, he grabbed her quickly. She reacted violently against him, but the fight within her was weak. He could hear her muffled grunts under the water. He placed his hands on her face and caused her to focus on him. Her eyes were wide and red from the salt water. Small bubbles were coming out of her nose.
Connor pointed up to the surface. She seemed to have calmed herself for the time being. Seeing a familiar face from the water of the dead, she held on to him while he snaked his arm around her. Moving quickly up to the surface- with Seliah's assistance- they were reaching the surface to quickly. Connor looked to Seliah for a moment. He made sure she was still calm, but he knew she might have swallowed water on her impact.
She was losing conscious quickly. Her legs had stopped kicking, leaving Connor to bring them both to the surface. He was grateful for the fresh air coursing through his body. His vision was blurry with the Suns light shinning down on them. There was a faint call coming from a short distance. Disoriented from the lack of air and fatigue, Connor knew he could not leave them in the open. The sharks still lurked below and waiting to strike at them.
He held on to Seliah tight as the waters threw them about in every direction. The sea had tasted her blood. The sea wanted her. A daughter of a pirate. So few woman knew the embrace of the sea. The waters became rougher as they tried to play a tug of war for Seliah. The sea wanted her prize and she would be damned if Seliah got away.
But the Gods were on their favorite this time.
She was turning pale. Her lips blue of color. Seliah was close to dying. It was of a miracle she lasted as long she did with a bullet wound. Stubborn. Her will to fight and protect those around her. Connor has never met such a stubborn woman in his life, but she was his.
He shook the thought from his mind. When his sight cleared, he could see the ship within distance. Connor had to move his body. Within a short swim from his fatigued body, the ship was a godsend.
Reaching the ship, Elliot lowered rope and Connor took hold. With a pull, he was lifted with Seliah held close to his body. Whatever strength he had left, it was to make are he would not let Seliah fall. He took most of the force of the ship when being raised. Their drenched clothing was also weighing them down. It took much for Connor not to focus on Seliahs bandaged chest. It was strange that she did such a thing to herself.
Don't die on me…
Once they reached the deck, Elliot grabbed Seliah and laid her on her side. If the water within her lungs were growing her, maybe laying her on her side could try and drain out of her. He examined her closely to see her taking shallow breathes. This was not a good sign. She took in told much water. He feared as much and knew of one way to get it out. Connor watched closely to the side. To tired to protest Elliott plan, he placed her on her back trying to wake her by lightly tapping her cheek.
"Seliah! Damnit, wake up." Elliot placed his lips on hers.
Connor could see her chest rising then falling with every helping of breath. His eyes were only focused on her and praying that she'd pull through. Connor had not come out of the fight unharmed. Like everyone around him, his body was bruised and spirit drained for rest. His eyes were closing with heavy sleep settling in. It took him moments to notice that there was no fighting. There was no blood being shed.
There was a stillness that lingered heavy.
Those aboard the ship were no longer in the fighting spirit. They were fatigued. There was no point to continue fighting when Grey Eye was lying lifeless. The pirates were without a captain and without further fight, they surrounded. Their weapons were on the floor boards and they were on their knees.
The pirates code was something they held close to heart. Most- if not all- were bond to Grey Eye for many years. It had occurred to Haytham that when their captain was killed, Seliah was the one to have struck the killing blow. Curious, he wondered if the girl would take the role as captain as Salty did. It was in her blood after all.
But, maybe she would not. She might take the path of an assassin or something more.
Haytham watched as Elliot attempted to waken the girl. For a brief moment he held Connor's gaze, but looked away to see Salty by the edge of the ships deck. What was going through Connor's mind would be his own business and not one for Haytham to dig into. There was worry within his dark eyes,but also something that should not have surfaced. A weakness perhaps?
While eyes were focused towards Elliot, Haytham moved to Salty to see if there were any life left within him. By the looks of it, Salty still held a fighting spirit. His eyes were on his daughter as she coughed up sea water.
"She is like you." Haytham spoke softly.
Salty looked to his side to see Haytham kneeling by him. Slowly blinking, Salty could feel his life slowly slipping. His body was shaking lightly. His fingers had grown cold. The sea had calmed herself and began to gently rock the ship into a lull slumber above her waters. Salty could remember a time where the sea had granted him safe passage.
It has been so long since he sailed calm waters.
"You… could say… but, she… she…" He closed his eyes tightly. His wounds making it hard to speak.
A small smile was placed upon his lips that were stained with his own blood. He knew this was the end. Somewhere, Salty had always known he would die on a ship. For one last time, he looked to Seliah. She was surrounded by those who called her a comrade. Those she saved. And the assassin she might just become.
He closed his eyes with a sense of warmth beating softly in his heart. Death was standing there and waiting to take his soul. His sins forgiven and the massacre only but a fleeting memory. The light was bright, but the air was fresh. He could feel the reeds tickle his skin. His fingertips sensing the world in which he will begin his travel to the afterlife.
My Adolfa,
I love you.
"Rest easy, Salty." Haytham whispered by the former pirates side.
Salty could no longer feel the pain. He could feel nothing really. It saddened him for that brief moment he still had on this earth. To know he had fulfilled his task. It was the reason he had escaped death many times. He had a reason to still be here, but now it had all come to pass.
"In another life, I would have chosen to become something far more." Salty took his last breath.
There was a loud scream coming from Seliah. Tears were falling from her cheeks as Elliot held her closely to his chest. His chin on the top of her head and hand behind her head. Haytham could see the struggle she was giving. Her eyes were red and the look upon her face was that of pure agony. Was she even conscious at this point?
Haytham backed away from Salty's still body. Seliah had found her strength out of Elliot's hold. Running towards her father as she shouted in Spanish. Her desperate hold on him. Shaking him. Wanting him to wake up. Haytham looked around the ship to see some sailors sitting on the deck. Tired and worn. Most turned away as Seliah continued yell and cry. She called to her Gods. The ship had become a shadow. Tired and weary souls watching a woman cling to the body of her dead father. And there was nothing anyone could do.
It was too late for her. Salty was dead. She had to accept it.
Drifting in the winds of a warm breeze, she stood by the docks waiting for the sun to set. Her hands held together and pressed against her breast. She waited for their return everyday with the waters calm and gentle. Never a passing moment where within the horizon, ships would sail peacefully in the waters. The stories that were passed down from one man to another had been told for many generations. When the sea called for them, her voice could not be ignored no matter how hard they tried to keep away from the waters.
Every last goodbye. Every wonder if they would return home. War looked in the distance taking away many young men. But out there in the sea. Out there she knew Salty would return. Her hair tied behind her head and moved with the calming wind. She listened to the gulls fly above her. Their wings outstretched and moving with the wind. Down in the waters were the fish swimed were the secrets of the sea.
She never understood the calling of the waters. She could never hear her gentle whispers. A song that was sung that only her husband and daughter could hear. It had captivated them for so long that she fears Seliah might go after that song she could not hear. Since her birth,the sea was her refuge. The sea was something that was alive. The sea had taken much from mankind, never to return what belonged to them.
She would never understand the song of the sea. But deep in her heart she knew Seliah. She knew she would say goodbye to her only child. It was only a matter of time before Seliah decided that it was her time to leave. To a destination that called for her over there. To a land that called her. Adolfa had talked with Achilles many times about her worries. Though the older man may not had the best of comforting words, he understood loss.
His wife. His son. Achilles may have been sharp around the edges but if you dig deep enough, he had a soft heart. It was of any wonder how he could out up with two growing adolescents. Now adults and if she knew better, something that was growing between her daughter and the assassin.
Soon, she would be alone in the world. She just felt it. The Gods were telling her. They were giving her a sign.
When the sun was just barely kissing the waters horizon, she turned her back to the waters. The once gentle breeze that made the gulls glide in the air had become still.
Landing before her feet was a small bird looking up at her.
It was something deep within her soul that made her fall to her knees. Her heart had shattered inside of her body. The sun had settled in the horizon of the sea. Where the last voyage of a ship sailed into its bright light never to be seen again.
'Cause you brought out the best of me
A part of me I'd never seen
You took my soul wiped it clean
Our love was made for movie screens
