Chapter 2
The shot fell short.

"Oh God." Rin whispered in shock as the roar of angry waves threw themselves at the side of her defeated ship. Blinking back the tears that threatened to escaper her lids, she cursed herself for her impatience. For if she had waited for him to travel closer to her, then, and only then would she have hit her target.

Of course to make matters worse she noticed him just staring at her. Blankly, purely in amusement. Rin didn't want to wait for the humor to ware off. Grabbing her heavy skirts she turned and ran around the first hatch to the one that the seamen used. She scrambled down the ladder, realized she was in the sailors' cramped, malodorous quarters. She was briefly appalled at how horrid they were, but when she saw another hatch at the far end of the space she pushed her disgust away and continued to flee. Soon she found herself descending even lower below the sea.

She didn't like being below the ocean. Rin couldn't breathe and panic began, but she fought it as she fought for air. Nto far from the bottom of the ladder was an open doorway, through which was utter darkness. Virginia wished she'd had the wit to bring a candle, but one forgets things in the face of death. She went cautiously forward and found herself in a small hold filled with crates and barrels. Virginia crouched down at the far end and realized she still held her pistol, now useless.

She didn't toss it aside. Her eyes adjusting to the black hole, she reversed it, hoding the barrel now in her right hand.

Then her knees gave way. He had seen her take a shot at him. She felt certain of it.

Although she hadn't taken the time to make out it his features. She still had an idea of how he must have reacted. Suprised, and yet not, for he must of guessed that no woman could properly shoot, and she had just convinced him further.

What would happen now?

Just as Rin realized that the puddle of water she had been standing in was slightly higher -she prayed it was only her imagination- she heard shots above her. Musket fire, and also swords being clashed and clanged. Her gut churned. The soldiers, the pirates, whatever they were had obviously boarded her ship. It was only a matter of time before they found her, them, or the void of the ocean. Neither were her choice pick.

What was her fate to be?

She was siezed with fear. Her first thought was that she would be raped. She knew what the act entailed. She'd seen horses bed, she'd seen slaves naked as children, and she could imagine the gruesome act. She shivered and realized the water was now knee deep.

Then she stiffened. The gunfire and sound of swords had stopped. The decks above were eerily silent now. Good God, could the battle be over already? Could his men so quickly subdued her ship? The deathly silence continued.

If he hadn't seen her, maybe he would loot the ship and sail straight back to the hellish place that he had come from.

But what would he do if he had seen her attemt to shoot him?

Rin realized she was trembling, but she told herself that it was just the frigid cold that bit at her from every direction. The water was slowing climbing up her body and was now mid thigh, she had no choice but to stand.

Would he kill her?

For once, Rin gloried in the fact that she was so skinny and small. She was often mistaken for a child of fourteen, not an eighteen-year-old women. Thank God she didn't look like Ayame.

Rin froze.

Footsteps sounded directly above and then tothe right of her head. Rin began to shake even more. Someone was traversing the hold where the sailors slept, just as she had in order to find her hiding place. Trembling again, unable to stop it, she glanced at the hatch and sunk down as far as she could into the now hip deep water.

Wood creaked.

Rin closed her eyes. Icy salt-liquid seeped into her skin and chilled her to the bone. She gripped the pistol just above the water and aimed towards the same hatch she had entered. Although she knew the gun would not shoot again, the person coming after her would not.

On the other side of the hatch a light flickered from a candle.

She blinked, sweat now blurring her vision, and made out a white form across from her, it was turning slowly and thoroughly assessing the space there. Rin couldn't breathe and feared suffication. She watched him step through the hatch. She didn't move because she could not, unfortunately for her the seal level was itching its way up her neck and tickling her chin. He held up the candle, saw her instantly and their gazes locked.

Rin could not look away. This man was the ruthless monster who was responsible for the bloodshed above her. Yet she was not prepared for the sight of him. He had the face of a Greek god, dangerous and disturbingly handsome. High planes, hard angles, piercing silver eyes. But the face, the face of a strong angel, was carved in granite, somehow transforming the angel into a sea devil instead.

He was also far taller than she had assumed. She could tell that her head would just reach his chest. Broad-shoulders equipped him with the look of pure strength and terror. His hips were lean. His legs, while impossibly muscular from the days he spent riding the sea, were encased in bloody britches. Blood covered his white linen shirt as well. He wore a sheathed sword, a dagger was in his belt, but otherwise, she saw no other weapon.

Rin bit her lip out of habit, finally breathing, the sound loud and harsh in the small space they now shared.

"Come here." He said, breaking the tense silence.

She did not move.

"I am not going to hurt you. Now come here."

His tone was one of authority and she sensed that he was never disobeyed. She continued to stared into his cold eyes. She was incapable of looking away, as if she was hypnotized. He looked angry. She saw it now, because he was glancing at all of her. Her mouth, her hair, her small waist, her sodden skirts, and his eyes were turning an almost stormy gray, his jaw flexed, his temple ticking visibly. It was very clear he did not care for the sight of her.

She took another huge breath, seeking courage, her hand still holding the pistol fell in defeat. She wet her lips. "What...what do you want?"

"I already told you. I want to you to come here. And as I never give an order twice, and this is my third time, I am still wondering why you are still over there." Impatience edged his voice.

Rin saw no other alternative. But stubbornly, childishly, she wanted reasurance from the least reassuring human being she had ever had the misfortune to meet. "What are you going to do with me?" She asked hoarsely.

"I am going to take you to my ship." he answered flatly.

"No."

"What do you mean no."

"No. I don't want to go. Leave me be." She gurgled as the water filled her mouth. From under her she felt her body go numb and begin tingling. She wanted to stand, but her legs forbid it, she couldn't rise above the water.

"Right." He stepped once, making waves crash around him. The water was only at his waist and he was forcing his way towards her.

Rin screamed and tried to raise her hands in defense, to move her legs backward, to do something, but her limbs played dead and mocked her attempts.

The dangerous man advanced on her as did the height of the water. Both scared her, both froze her, and she didn't want to face either of them. Stuck by fear Rin's eyes closed along with her train of thought. She lost herself into a black night.

for all those who are worried...yes i am still alive...and finally over my writers block...this will not be the last chapter for years...i should update this month. please forgive me for this slow chapter but i needed to add the suspense and stuff...

ok well i'm out

love

the sick

disturbed

redrizen2hell