4. The Guardian of the Deep Strikes
Albel just sat still, his human hand trembled as it laid on her back. He tried to shake her awake but only herd her groan. Next idea was to push her off he sighed while grabbing her arm with his useful hand. Trying to peel her off his lap but felt a grab on his thigh "Ah. Dammit wench." he snapped as she cling onto him in her sleep. Narrowing his crimson red eyes he let go of her arm and tried to reach for his metal claw he removed before going to bed.
As he leaned over his body was close near the edge of the bed. When his good hand almost had the claw resting on the table beside the bed he lost balance and fell off the bed. Causing Nel to fall off with him, as he landed on his back she landed on top of him "Ouch." he snapped. Nel stirred and looked up at him but to her; she could only see a blur of him "Hey...why are we on the floor?" she asked in a sleepy voice. Albel tilt his head away feeling her breath reach his nose "Drinking? Like a bloody sailor? Honestly wench, how much of a fool can you make yourself over a night?" he questioned her more.
The tired Nel didn't reply because she was half asleep already. His body was much more warmer then the cold floor. Drawn to the heat she snugged up close to his chest and only causing Albel to stiffen under her. Growling he carefully got up and picked her up "Pitiful. I can't wait till you sober up. I sure am going to tease you for this" he laughed while throwing her on the bed. Sighing he glanced back over her sleeping form and realized her skirt hiked up when he dropped her.
He froze "...oh ugh.." he felt a lump in his throat honestly he didn't know what to do in this situation. The best thing he thought was to grab the blanket and throw it over her sleeping form and quickly walk away. As he walked away a hand with slender fingers wrapped around his wrist "No. Don't leave me daddy." she called out in her sleep. Albel just swat her hand away and quickly walked over towards the far corner and sat on a wooden chair. Leaning back in the chair and crossing his arms in front of his chest he started to think "Honestly, this wench will drive me to my grave before the end of this mission." he said to himself quietly.
Though how uncomfortable the wooden chair was he found himself falling asleep. The morning came rather harshly. The boat was rocking back and forth because of the strong waves. Albel grumbled while opening his eyes to see little fishes swimming past the small glass window in their room. As he got up and walked towards the table where his claw is he noticed Nel was still soundly asleep. Shaking his head he reached over to grab his claw and made his way back to the chair.
As he started to fix his wrappings around his bad arm he herd rustling sounds coming from the bed. Daring to glance up and taunt her about her actions last night "Wen-" he froze seeing her sitting up. Her maid costume's right shoulder sleeve was falling down lightly and the position she was in was utterly wrong. Getting a view of her undergarment he turned away growling lightly "Dammit, does women from Aquaria not act modestly?" he told her. Nel just grumbled while holding her head "Ouch. My head feels as if someone took a stick and smacked it against my head several times." she then eyed Albel suspiciously.
Albel just narrowed his eyes while he continued to wrap up his burnt arm "Don't look at me. Ask yourself, maggot. What was the last thing you did?" he told her. Moving from her sitting position she sat on the edge of the bed and wrapping the blanket around her "I went to meet Captain Ferioth...oh.." she sighed feeling her stomach turn lightly "I had a little wine." she admitted. He gave of a small grunt "A little? You smelled of a sailor man like on deck of this boat!" he told her as he placed his metal claw back on. She just narrowed her eyes "Alright. So I had a little to much to drink." she said then held her hand closer to her forehead "Ugh. It is pounding" she muttered. Albel smirked "Serves you right, forgetting about our mission and go drink yourself away with that captain." he paused then added "Pathetic maggot"
Nel just starred at him "So? What do you mean with the captain?" she asked him. Albel got up from his chair "What do you think? Are not Aquarian's easy?" he gave her a cocky grin. The temper was now boiling up in her as she got up she found herself sitting back down "Dammit. Your lucky my head is pounding so much. Trust me Nox. If I felt better I would be slitting your throat." she snapped his way and then her right hand balled into a fist as she herd him just laugh. "Trust me maggot. You would not even lay a finger on me before I severe your head from your body" he told her in a now serious tone. Soon there was silence filling up the room because it seemed either Nel was to angry to speak or Albel had nothing else to say.
The silence broke when the boat shook causing Albel to loose balance and he fell flat on his face. Nel could not hold herself from the sight and let a burst of laughing escape as she watched him get up grumbling "Shut up, Maggot!" he growled. Nel just kept laughing and this made Albel just more angry so he walked towards her sitting form and gripped her shoulder with his hand. Nel stop laughing but gave a glare at his hand "Nox? Don't touch me" she said in her serious tone and Albel smirked "Oh? Why because I'm not the captain" he smirked teasingly. Her right eye twitched "Nox! I did nothing with the captain. Stop saying I'm easy" she yelled as her hand reached grabbing his wrists pulling his hand away from her shoulder.
He smirked "Oh. Sure that is what all women say in your country. You know, back in the days when our countries were at war your subordinates would get captured just to get a round with me" he told her with a smirk. Nel glared "That is a lie. Who the hell would want to sleep with a self hating bastard?" there she said it and it crossed the line. Albel's eyes glared with hatred while his hand pressed hard on her chest causing her to fall back on the bed "What was that, wench? Speak it again" he said while leaning over her. Nel's eyes widen but then narrowed "Get off.." she struggled under him and managed to knee him in the stomach to remove himself. Albel caught his balance before he fell to the ground again and drew his crimson scourge from his sheath "Bah. Wench I should had killed you before entering Kirlsa."he growled.
"Shut up. I only speak the truth. Not my fault you hate yourself. I would hate myself too if I was you." she told him while sitting up she held her head. Albel growled "Stupid Aquarian wench. You know nothing of me!" he shouted while turning his back to her and sheathing his katana he walked out of the room. Nel was left confused and holding her head "Hm. What is his problem?" she said to herself then laid back down "Damn. I need to change out of this maid costume." she closed her eyes thinking another nap would do just right. Albel strolled along the deck of the boat watching the sailors give him a look.
Shaking his head he leaned against wooden pillar. He disliked how the boat kept moving it upset his stomach. A man like him able to with stand riding on a dragon with out complaining now was complaining about a non-living object. Not that the boat was the only thing on his mind right now "Aquarian wench" he muttered starring at his metal claw hand. Nothing more he could possibly hate is when people think they know him.
His crimson red eyes narrowed lightly "Bah." he didn't want to get worked up over some woman. Especially that woman who he hated particularly much because of her personality and background. Though to his dislike he couldn't stop thinking about that wench he clearly thought perhaps he been cursed. He sure knew it had nothing to do with love because that is not him and to fall for a Aquarian is pathetically weak.
Soon enough his thoughts were dismissed when he herd a scream "Leviathan! Leviathan!" moving his head up he glanced up at the watch post. The man was flailing his arms with haste and was pale. What was this Leviathan anyways he thought while walking towards the railing peering down at the blue waves. Something caught his eye a fin of some sort was poking in the ocean though to him "That is it?" he smirked "A pathetic small fish?"but still why would all the crew members be dashing about on deck. Glancing back he noticed Captain Ferioth come out of his cabin "Men. Grab the harpoons and stand your ground! We'll get through with this!" a harpoon? For a fish? Albel blinked his eyes and rest his metal claw on the railing.
Albel had not the slightest clue of the creature that swam under the rough waves. The fin he just saw was just one of it's small fins "Sir.Albel, get back down below into the cabins. It is dangerous out here" a voice called from behind him. Glancing back he gave a light smirk "Dangerous eh?" a long pause came when he unsheathed his katana smirking lightly "Well I could use some fun." he starred towards the sea. A scrapping sound could be herd from the right side of the boat bellow the water. One sailor rest his hands at a small harpoon shooter and faced it downward he gulped as he saw a giant long tail shot up from the water.
Nel grumbled as a annoying screech sound filled her ears. She sat up on the bed muttered and walked towards the little circle widow "Damn. What is that noise?" she peaked through the small window seeing nothing but blue but oddly no fish "Hm" but moved back suddenly when she caught a glimpse of a long scaley moving snake like body "What the hell?" she said. Quickly she grabbed for her clothes and began to change throwing the maid costume to the floor. She bent down fixing her boot but as she did so a loud bang could be herd from up on deck and a loud screech filled the air. The noise was horrible it sound like a dozen cats screeches in a small box she dropped to her knees holding her ears.
She quickly grabbed her daggers sheathing them and made way towards the door. Opening it to see a small puddle of sea water filled the cabin floor "Oh no!" she said as she quickly ran up the stairs leading towards the deck. A few sprawled out sailors laid on the deck and a wet Albel Nox was still standing up glaring down at a certain spot "Alright beast. Show your face. Listen Maggot throw whatever you got because I'll take you down." he shouted through the air. Nel noticed the captain who was now drenched and heaving himself over a railing near his cabin "Dammit men get back up!" he scolded his laying crew members. One by one they got back up to their posts.
Nel walked cautiously on the now rocking boat towards Albel's side "Nox, what is going on?" she asked him. Albel didn't bother to look at her he was to busy starring at the harpoon that was shot earlier sticking up out of the water. "Some creature called Leviathan is attacking the boat that is what. Heh, pathetic creature hiding under the water like that" he said with a chuckle. She eyed him oddly while taking her daggers out and getting in her fighting stance "Bah. Woman go back under deck to the cabin" he said almost comandly. She narrowed her eyes towards him "Nox, I am not no weak woman who will sit in the cabin in a corner shuddering with fear. No I will fight" she said to him and received a "Hmp. Have it your way but I won't save your ass, wench" he told her.
Nel was about to shot another comment his way but fell quiet when the boat suddenly stop rocking "Is it gone?" she said glancing towards a sailor near the harpoon shooter. The sailor moved away from the harpoon shooter and rest his hands at the railing gazing down cautiously "It mus-" before he could finish his sentence a huge dragon shaped head shot up from the water. The dragon's mouth was wide up and catching the sailor from shoulder up in it's teeth; the sailor yells could be herd as his legs flailed out. Suddenly it stop when the teeth came crushing down on the sailor leaving the bottom part down on the deck. Nel looked away in disgust at the leftover corpse left on the deck and felt her heart pounding in fear.
The Leviathan creature was bigger then the boat itself if it wanted to it could just pressure down all it's weight and sink the boat to the bottom. Nel backed away from the railing when the huge serpent creature left itself up in the open air it's long body remain under the sea. Albel smirked "Ah. Looks like he wants more to eat. Heh, well maggot come and get me you'll get a surprise" he thrust his claw as if challenging the creature. Leviathan's huge golden green eyes shot a gaze down at Albel while giving another loud shrike sound filled the air. Nel held her ears again and narrowed her eyes towards Albel who just seemed busy taunting the creature.
Captain Ferioth just shook his head "My. That boy sure does have a lot of guts. But I honestly don't want my ship sunk and my crew lost to sea" he shouted from the a higher deck . Ali walked out of the captain's cabin and glanced at Leviathan "He must had sense are presence. We must be close" she told him while resting her hand on his back. The captain almost lost his balance "Please don't sneak up on me while a creature like that is hovering it's head up from the water about to eat all of us" he told her. Ali shook her head "It was destiny for this creature to come attack us." she said to him. Leviathan again struck down at the ship this time it's tail whipped out from under the ocean.
The huge tail dropped on to the deck and shot to the right side. Nel got caught on this attack and tried to dodge but failed "Ah..help" she screamed while getting knocked off the side. She closed her eyes waiting to hit the cold sea but instead a hand was gripped her keeping her to the side of the boat. Opening her eyes she noticed Albel held a firm grip "Nox!" she struggled to say and Albel smirked "Keep talking I might have to just let you go, fool" he tod her. Another round of attack from Leviathans tail hit against Albel's back pretty hard he had lost balance and grip of Nel's hand "Shit" he hissed.
Nel felt herself falling and starring up as she did. Albel seemed rather panicky which she could not understand. Her body crashed in to the cold water and she closed her eyes while dropping her one dagger to the bottom floor. She felt being emerged in the harsh waves that moved her form she shot up in the surface gasping for air. With haste she tried to swim back to the ship but only stop where she was at for she was not alone in the sea at the moment.
"Oh..Apris" she said feeling smooth scales under her legs her eyes widen as she noticed she was very much on Leviathan's middle body. She grew in a panic state not really wanting to die being on her last mission with Albel the Wicked. Now she only had her one dagger and her runeology to support her. Albel noticed the fool had landed herself on the creature's middle body and he grumbled. There was no way he could go in that water he would sink right to the bottom with this claw he thought as he looked down at it briefly.
Captain Ferioth shouted towards a sailor "You. Dolt don't just stand there and watch her fall to her death. Save her" he shouted. The sailor gulped while jumping off the boat into the water the sound of a splash caused Leviathan to turn it's head towards the figure. The sailor tried to mad dash the opposite direction the dragon's head now moved for. "Ahhh.." he screamed when his legs were grabbed by it's teeth pulling the sailor into the air in it's mouth. Nel watched in horror holding her dagger up in front of her and looking away hearing the crunching sound and blood curdling scream.
Albel cussed at the sailor's sad attempt of saving the Aquarian wench. "Dammit. I'll do it myself" he snapped why quickly unclasping his metal claw knowing that would be to much weight for him. Captain Ferioth rushed down the steps towards Albel grabbing his left hand "No. Don't you'll waste your life!" he said. Albel shook his hand free "Heh. Like I have not done that already. Bah I won't let that maggot take that wench! That woman is mine to kill not him!" he pointed up towards Leviathan with his index finger. Nel starred in shock upon Albel jumping in to the sea "Wait..can't he not swim..?" she said to herself while keeping herself quiet.
Leviathan turned his head towards Albel but soon got distracted by another harpoon hitting in to his neck. The creature let out a loud shrieking roar then rocked his head back and forth because of the new wound soon turning his new direction the boat again. Albel watched as the creature swam towards the boat and moved Nel off him quickly. Albel swam with his good arm and narrowed his eyes at Nel who remained in utter shock still holding to her one dagger "Stupid woman. I told you to go under deck. Bah your nothing but in the way" he told her grabbing her free arm pulling her close to him.
Nel sighed "I lost my one dagger.." she said to him and he narrowed his eyes "Your lucky you didn't lose a limb instead" he snapped. He didn't bother to swim towards the boat because at the moment it was being attacked by the creature. It had already bit the stern of the boat with it's massive teeth causing it to snap in two. The stern fell in to the water and he quickly moved out of the way. A wave rose up from the impact of the stern as it hit the sea surface and the wave crashed over Albel who was holding on to Nel.
Finding themselves under the water again; Albel quickly pulled them back to surface. He grabbed on to the floating stern and lift Nel onto it. He got up behind her and keeping his hands at her waist. Nel starred at the boat "There goes the moon dagger mission.." she said watching the ship being destroyed by Leviathan. Albel just growled "Heh who cares! Who cares about him or his bloody lot" he said while just sighing "Now we'll have to just sit on this thing and be taken away at sea. Perhaps the creature my turn around now and eat us up." he said in a sadistic voice "I'll let him have you first that way I can escape." he told her.
Nel narrowed her eyes and weakly back elbowed him in the chest "Ouch. Wench I swear to you if you get on my nerves you'll be Leviathan food." he told her. Nel let a sigh and just moved back resting her head under his chin "I..am so tired" she coughed lightly because the salt was still in her throat and it burned. Albel froze "...don't lean on me. Maggot" he told her looking way and gave a sigh when she did not reply. Albel found himself falling asleep even after that ordeal, the piece of wooden stern carried them to a island. It floated in the surface water rocking gently back and forth in the calm little waves.
Captain Ferioth struggled on a piece of his boat that was left after the attack "Ugh..I think he is done." he said. He glanced towards Ali who clung to a wooden pole "Yes. But now we lost them. How are we going to get the moon dagger now?" she snapped glaring at him. Ferioth just shook his head "No clue, love. I doubt we actually need those two anyways. I am sure we could go get it ourselves. Of course after we get more men, seems Leviathan destroyed my whole crew" he muttered. Ali shook her head "We have no time. Sides how do you expect us to get to Greeton on this little drift wood?" she told him and gave a light sigh "We'll end up on some deserted island or die before we get the moon dagger. Your crew were a bunch of pathetic fools" she told him harshly. Ferioth glared "OH? So your saying my men just a bunch of wasteful tools? Listen here...I been with them for ages now. I would like to hear more respect for my men who died today."
Ali just let a laugh "I show no respect to a bunch of pathetic sailors who are suppose to be pirates. Remember Ferioth you are bonded to me until this mission is over" she snapped and no more was said between the two as they drifted along with the waves.
End of chapter 4.
A/N: I actually updated quick. I am pleased with this chapter and since exams are coming up. Along with my graduation and birthday I thought I should post that before all that. Oh yes if anyone knows Lady Nox's sister's pen name would be helpful. I am still trying to find the doujinshis still. So if anyone comes across them please post them along with the reviews or if you like just email them to me at shygryffindor it is aol sn.Thanks for the reviews!