Chapter 9: Broken Melody

The pirate's ears heard a voice...the most beautiful voice he had ever heard...the crimson savior. Would he at least get to die in her arms? What a blessing that would be...might actually make dying worth it...especially if his head was in her lap.

"Get the hell away from him...NOW!" The red head yelled not giving a damn about ogres.

"Whatcha gonna do about it, Miss Savior? I reckon that ya ain't one because the Savior wouldn't be some cowardly little girl. She would go after what she wanted but not you. You're so scared of what this piece of trash might say or do. Ya disgust me, ya filthy yella bellied bitch." Rem said really pissing off the pirate.

No way in hell was he going to let her...Rem screamed and there was a distinct thud not far away. He felt a rather small sized hand touch his arm softly but he jerked away instinctively. Shit...he was acting like a wounded animal.

He whimpered in pain, pushing his face into the ground. Sweet lord...it hurt so much. He couldn't breathe because every breath was another stab into his already damaged lung. He was practically suffocating, internal bleeding for sure, and the pain was so fierce that he was actually in tears.

Then that heavenly voice returned and this time it was singing...his goddess was singing to him. A final send off...he could live...crap, terrible pun.

"Flower gleam and glow, let your power shine. Make the clock reverse, bring back what once was mine." She began her voice soft...melodic even.

A gentle warmth poured over him, into him, and through him. The pain decreasing and it was getting easier to breathe. Was she using her magic to heal him? Was he not going to die?

"Heal what has been hurt, change the fates design. Saved what has been lost, bring back what once was mine. What once was mine." She sang her voice drifting away.

His vision began to clear and the blood vanished. He could feel his rib sliding back into place and he no longer felt like he was suffocating. The last of the pain faded away as did the warmth. He was alive...he wasn't dying...he was alive and then a terrible thought shot straight through his relief, turning it into a fearful dread.

He didn't dare turn over, he couldn't...he knew, he just knew that she would recognize him. He wasn't sure how she would know but he was absolutely certain that she would know exactly who he was.

When she did...she would hate him. She would regret saving him because of his rather deplorable history and his insanely cruel, sexual exploits. For the first time in his life, he regretted becoming a pirate, for becoming something that most people either hated or feared.

He wouldn't be able bear it...if she looked at him and her beautiful sapphire eyes were filled with hatred. He honestly believed that it would break him.

What the devil has come over him? Why did it matter if she hated him? She was just the latest in a long line, his newest obsession...yet he knew that he was lying to himself. He didn't know why he cared so much about the ginger goddess...but he did. Please...just leave...dont look at him.

"I healed you with magic and you won't look at me. Do you hate me that much?" She spoke her words soaked in sorrow and loneliness.

Don't...please dont think that. He didnt hate her...he couldnt hate her even if he tried. She had just saved his life...but he couldn't let her see who he was. He hated himself so much right now. He was hurting her by trying to spare himself the memory of her hate filled eyes.

Small, gentle hands slid across his arm and back in a soothing manner. Why wouldn't she just leave? Those hands brushed through his hair and he found himself relaxing. There was something very familiar about this...like a dream...or a memory of a dream...so familiar and soothing...why?

"Will you let me sing for you? You don't have to look at me and I won't try to look. Is that okay?" She requested softly and he found himself nodding.

He couldnt deny her request...at this point, he couldn't deny her anything. If she asked it of him...he would look at her even though it would kill him to do so.

"Cruel and cold like winds on the sea,

will you ever return to me.

hear my voice, sing with tide

my love will never die.

over waves and deep in the blue

I will give up my heart for you

ten long years I'll wait to go by

My love will never die

Come, my love, be one with the sea

rule with me for eternity,

drown all dreams so mercilessly

and leave their souls to me

play the song you sang long ago

and wherever the storm may blow

you will find the key to my heart

we'll never be apart

wild and strong you can't be contained

never bound nor ever chained

wounds you caused will never mend

and you will never end

Cruel and cold like winds on the sea

will you ever return to me

hear my voice sing with the tide

our love will never die."

He loved it...a song of the Sea for a child of the sea. The beginning and end were soft but he really liked how the middle had been so strong, so certain...it was how he felt when he was at the helm during a particularly vicious storm...man vs. nature.

The beginning was like watching the sun rise up from the sea, bathing the water in an orange glow and the ending...the twilight...the first stars appearing. He wanted so badly for her to keep singing...he would never tire of it, he was sure of it.

She continued to brush through his hair while her other hand remained on his arm. He couldn't do this...all day he wanted to be with her, to guide her, and help her. This wasnt him, was it? This sentimentality and lovey dovey crap wasn't him...anymore...right? Then why did it hurt so much?

The notorious pirate renowned for his cruelty and bloodlust...was afraid. So much within him was changing and the intensity of his deeper emotions has thrown him into disarray. Why...the ever elusive question that all sentient creatures have asked. The answer...a rather mischievous goddess.