Chapter 3

Carnassier's Torture Course

Pell woke up the next morning when something hard and sharp smashed into his back. He opened his eyes to see a large pirate standing over him. The pirate was holding a large spiked whip that was dripping with Pell's blood.

"Get up maggot!" the pirate yelled. "You need to get ready to head to the mess hall in 3 minutes!"

The pirate stalked out of Pell and Tyri's cell and was gone in minutes.

Pell's back seared with pain. The whip's spikes had punctured many deep wounds in his back and were gushing blood. He groaned loudly in agony.

Tyri, who was asleep, now sat up and looked up from under Pell's arm to see Pell's back spurting blood.

"You're hurt again!" Tyri cried.

"It's nothing Tyri…..I-I'm fine…. Aaaaagggh!" Pell yelled in pain.

His back stung even more and spurted more blood.

"Relax Pell…" Tyri said softly and put a hand on his back. "Lie down on your stomach…"

Pell obeyed, and Tyri tenderly began to treat Pell's back.

"Is this a habit of yours?" Tyri asked softly.

"What?" Pell asked.

"Getting injured so much. Is that a habit of yours?"

"No… ahhhh….. Yes right there…."

Tyri's hands caressed Pell's back softly and she pressed poultices on his wounds.

"That feels so goooood…." Pell said softly. "Thank you for caring about me so much….."

"You're welcome Pell….." Tyri replied as she pressed bandages on his back.

Pell sat up and stretched. His back was numb and painless.

"Much better….." he sighed.

He put his robes on and stood up. Tyri got up too and stretched. Pell's eyes widened. Tyri's torn shirt revealed a lot of her cleavage and her toned stomach was revealed as well. Tyri looked at Pell's red face and smiled.

"What's wrong?" she asked playfully.

Pell shook his head and turned even redder.

"Sorry…. I shouldn't have looked….." he said, embarrassed.

Tyri laughed, and Pell was surprised when she came over and lightly cuffed him in the ear.

"It's okay! What's wrong with you? You act as if you haven't seen a girl before!" she said and tried to cuff him again.

Pell caught Tyri's wrist and pulled her forward so she was face to face with Pell.

"I have seen many women before….. Not like you though…" Pell said slyly and cuffed her playfully back.

Tyri laughed and stuck out her tongue.

"Whatever….." she said biting back a smile.

There was a rustling from the cell across, and Arias lifted his head from his bed.

"M-morning already?" he groaned rubbing his eyes.

Tyri looked away from Pell and grinned at her little brother.

"Yes. Morning little one." She purred.

"Morning….." Arias murmured.

Suddenly, the door to the prison room opened, and a large number of pirates entered, led by Blitz.

"Alright everyone, time to head to the mess hall" he said.

Every pirate opened a cell, took a prisoner, and pushed them out the door. A large pirate and the same pirate that had injured Pell took Tyri and Pell by their arms and took them out of the prison room.

Outside, Pell was astonished. The ship was the size of a small city. By the looks of it, the many pirates glaring down from everywhere could have taken a whole country easily. The pirates led the prisoners down a stairway to a ballroom sized mess hall. Many tables were in the room. A table had many bowls on it and small plates as well.

"Line up for breakfast" Blitz ordered.

Ever body lined up and one by one received their breakfast. When Pell got to the front of the line a tall dark haired man in chains stood by a bubbling cauldron. He cracked a wry smile.

"Hey newbie. How'd your morning go in Tyri's cell?" he asked looking over at Tyri and Arias.

"Why do you care?" Pell shot back staring at the man.

"She's a good friend of mine, that's why." The man said and extended a hand to Pell. "Name's Vilks. And you are…?"

"Pell…." Pell replied shaking Vilks' hand.

"Nice to meet you. Sorry about today…. I could only make soup and hardtack…. Be careful with the soup…. It's hot…." Vilks said spooning some soup into one of the bowls, taking two pieces of hardtack, and handing the food to Pell.

"I'll take my chances…"Pell replied and found a seat next to Tyri.

Pell stared t his soup for the first time. It was blood red, and had lumps of all different sizes in it. It was still bubbling. He poked around in it and when he pulled a spoonful up to his mouth he was shocked to see a tiny bird's skull in his spoon.

"What kind of soup is this?" he asked in shock. "Pirate bone soup." Tyri answered. "Vilks doesn't always have much to work with. The pirates usually give him whatever bones they could find such as those of rotten animals and chickens, fish, birds and dead men."

"That disgusting…." Pell said staring at his soup.

"It's not as bad as it seems… I know Vilks. He seems to make delicacies out the worst ingredients. Try it."

Pell stared at his soup again and looked at Arias. Arias looked back at him and nodded. Pell looked at Tyri.

"Do I have to…?" he asked.

"Yes. You need the energy and food will help you heal." Tyri said and before Pell could reply, she dipped her hard tack into her own bowl and began to eat.

Pell looked around and saw everybody eating regardless of what was in the soup.

"Come on! You're a warrior! You can't be afraid of this!" He thought and finally scooped a spoonful of soup and shoved it into his mouth.

He was astonished. The soup was salty and satisfying, with bits of tender meat that sang with flavor. Tyri smiled at him.

"Good?" she asked.

"Ish grea! Oo wer righ!" Pell said with mouth full.

Tyri and Arias laughed at him and they dipped their hardtack in their soup and ate happily. But suddenly, a look of terror crossed Tyri's face. Pell noticed and looked at her with concern.

"What?" Pell asked.

"This isn't a good sign if Carnassier made Vilks make this dish…" Tyri said shaking her head.

"The better the food, the more torturous the course." Tyri answered.

"Course?"

Tyri and Arias exchanged looks of horror and alarm. Tyri nodded, and looked at Pell.

"Every morning, Carnassier makes prisoners do these things called Torture Courses. He makes all the prisoners do it and when everyone is done, the prisoner who does the best is ordered to kill the person who does the worst." Tyri said looking at the floor.

"How many times have you done the best?" Pell asked.

Tyri bent her head sadly and shook her head.

"You… don't want to know….." she said.

Arias, who had said nothing finally talked.

"Tyri has won about 90% of the time. If others win, it's only out of pure luck, but Tyri has killed everyone who fails when she wins. She was even forced to kill her best friend…" Arias said quietly.

Tyri fought back tears and bent her head even lower than before. Pell watched Tyri trying hard not to cry in front of him. Arias held her sister's hand. Pell wiped some of the tears that had escaped from Tyri's eyes out of her eyes.

"Hey…. It's okay… stop crying." Pell said softly.

"It's not okay Pell…. I've killed so many…..I'm a murderer" Tyri sobbed.

"It's not your fault…. Please don't cry…."

Pell put her arms around Tyri and hugged her warmly, getting wet from her tears.

"Don't cry… I don't like it when you cry… be the happy young girl I know you are…." Pell whispered gently.

Tyri looked up at him with her large green eyes, which were glassy from tears. She hiccupped and looked down at her hands.

"But I'm a monster Pell….. Everyone except Vilks hates me for what I've done…." Tyri murmured.

"I don't…. I don't exactly approve…. But you had to do it or you might have been killed…." Pell said quietly.

He wiped more tears from Tyri's eyes.

"But don't cry about it….. It's done…" he whispered.

Tyri hiccupped again and a small smile appeared on her face. Pell smiled back.

"There's the Tyri I know!" he said grinning.

Tyri laughed and wiped her eyes.

"Thanks Pell," Tyri whispered.

Pell tussled Tyri's hair and grinned.

"Don't mention it," Pell said.

The door to the mess hall burst open and Carnassier strode in, followed by Sinn.

"Vilks! Where's my breakfast?" he growled.

Vilks was released from his chains and he left the mess hall. He quickly returned with a large tray a small flask of rice wine with a snake inside, a steaming bowl of soup with many small black things in it, and another small bowl with many small sea animals swimming around in it. Vilks grimaced and handed the tray to Carnassier.

"Here is your breakfast Captain Carnassier. A bowl of live octopus, scorpion soup, and a flask of snake wine." He said looking at the floor.

"Thank you Vilks…." Carnassier said and greedily grabbed the tray. "You might be as good as my last cook….. If you follow my orders…"

Tyri shook her head staring at Carnassier as he ate his breakfast like an animal.

"He's disgusting…" she whispered to Pell.

"Yes….. Very…" Pell whispered back.

Suddenly, they heard Carnassier cry out in pain. He stuck out his tongue, which had a scorpion stuck to it. It had its stinger stuck in Carnassier's tongue, and its front claws pinching his tongue. Carnassier tore the scorpion from his tongue, losing some taste buds in the process. He yelled again and threw the scorpion on the floor and stomped it violently. When it was nothing but a small pile of bug guts and black shell, he glared at Vilks who was trying hard not to smile.

"Sorry about that Carnassier….. Didn't know that one was still alive…" Vilks said rubbing the back of his head.

Carnassier's hand was a blur as it made contact with Vilks' jaw. A deafening sound like a bone breaking echoed through the mess hall. Vilks fell to the floor, blood trickling from his mouth, his jaw loose and wobbling.

"SO YOU THINK IT'S FUNNY TO THROW A LIVE SCORPION IN YOUR CAPTAIN'S SOUP!" Carnassier bellowed angrily.

"I didden meam for tat to 'appen!" Vilks said with some difficulty, wincing at every word.

"SHUT UP!" Carnassier roared. "IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU, YOU SHOULD SHUT YOUR TRAP BEFORE I SHUT IT FOR GOOD!"

Carnassier brought a giant club from his side and hefted it.

"You wouldn't want this piercing your side do you?"

"N-no sir…."

Carnassier sneered at Vilks and went around the mess hall, knocking over trays and snarling at prisoners.

"Be careful…. Don't try to fight him….." Tyri said to Pell as Carnassier made his way to their table.

He braced himself as Carnassier stood over them. Then, he was shocked to see Carnassier straighten up and smile at Tyri.

"Morning Tyri…. Did you…. Did you have a good breakfast?" he asked, and Pell was shocked to hear him talk normally, and not snarl.

"It was okay…" Tyri murmured. "Thanks for asking."

Carnassier turned his attention to Pell, sneering at him mockingly.

"So how did your night go?" he asked in a sing song voice.

"Just fine thanks!" Pell growled angrily.

Tyri grabbed Pell's arm and shot him a look that said "don't". At Tyri's touch, he lowered his arms and the fight went out of him. Pell looked at Tyri and then glared at Carnassier towering over him.

"Is this your breakfast?" Carnassier asked Pell.

Before Pell could answer, Carnassier had taken the bowl of soup and smashed the bowl into Pell's face. Pain seared through Pell's cheeks as small pieces of china stuck in his cheeks and hot soup burned his face. He heard a throaty laugh and saw Carnassier laughing and pointing at him, and other pirates were laughing as well. Now, Tyri could not hold him back any longer.

With one quick motion, Pell got up and struck at Carnassier. He was shocked to see a huge hand catch his own, and looked up to see Carnassier's dirty face.

"You're a troublemaker aren't you?" Carnassier snarled and reached for his club. "I'll see you broken… and dead!"

He lifted the club with one arm. Pell closed his eyes as Carnassier was about to bring the club down, when he heard Tyri.

"STOP!"

Pell felt no impact. He opened his eyes to see the club only centimeters from his face. Carnassier turned his attention to Tyri.

"Why?" he asked.

"Because… Because….. Because he hasn't done the Torture Course yet." Tyri answered finally.

Carnassier scratched the bristles on his chin pondering it for awhile.

"Okay… sure…." He murmured. "I'll let him go for now…. He'll die at the Torture Course."

Carnassier motioned to Blitz and Sinn and walked out of the mess hall. Tyri slid out of her seat and ran over to Vilks.

"He'll be back soon, for now I have to treat your injury," Tyri said looking at Vilks' jaw.

"I-I think itz bwoken….." Vilks said.

Tyri examined Vilks' jaw. She nodded and took her backpack off and started rummaging through it.

"It's broken. Badly broken really….. Somebody go me a wet rag!" Tyri yelled.

A few minutes later, Tyri got a wet rag and was pressing it against Vilks' jaw. He sighed with relief and Tyri smiled.

"Keep it on there, and try not to talk, okay?" Tyri said.

Vilks nodded, and Tyri got up just as Sinn came in. he stared at the rag on Vilks' jaw, shook his head and yelled.

"Alright prisoners, time to go!" Sinn yelled.

The prisoners were taken by their arms and hustled outside to the upper deck and led to the mast where Blitz and Carnassier were waiting.

"About time you showed up…" Carnassier growled. "Oh well… your torture course today is simple. All you have to do is climb the mast, which is made of a special material. I would like you to scale the mast, grab a flag from the crow's nest, and come down." Carnassier said.

He walked over to Tyri, Arias, and Pell. He locked eyes with Pell, sneering. Pell met Carnassier's gaze, matching him eye for eye.

"Would you like to go first?" Carnassier asked in a singsong voice.

Before Pell could fire the retort on his tongue, Tyri stepped in front of him. She had a smile on her face and she batted her eyes.

"Carnassier, I've changed my mind about this prisoner. Let's not have him do a Torture Course today." Tyri said sweetly.

To Pell's surprise, Carnassier blushed a deep pink. He giggled to himself and stroked the bristles on his chin.

"Tyri, are you sure? I mean…. You don't have to do the Torture Course, but he should." Carnassier said gesturing to Pell.

Tyri batted her eyes.

"Can't we let him do it another day? Pleeese?" Tyri cooed and her eyes became round and big.

Carnassier's face was now a bright pink and was still getting pinker.

"Okay m-my sweet….sure." Carnassier stammered.

"Thanks Tyri said winking at Carnassier.

As Carnassier walked to mast to observe the prisoners at the Torture Course, Tyri turned to look at Pell, who was gaping at her in amazement and shock.

"How did you do that?" he whispered.

"It's easy….um….you know why I was kidnapped?" Tyri whispered.

"Why?"

"Carnassier has a huge crush on me. He tries to make me happy any way he can and does whatever I ask…..because he plans to marry me…."

Pell's eyes widened. Tyri was here because a lovesick pirate was going to marry her!

"I don't even like him….he's so cruel and terrible….and this place is practically a bloodbath!" Tyri whimpered. "I want to get out of this place so bad!"

Pell looked into the eyes of his sad friend. She was terribly sad and miserable. After only a day and a half experience, Pell knew this place was virtually a bloodbath like Tyri said.

"Tyri…. I'll help you get out of here with Arias and Bulu….you can come with me to live in Alabasta…" Pell said softly and lightly wrapped his arms around Tyri in a warm, comforting hug.

Tyri smiled and looked at her Pell's kind, affectionate eyes.

"Really? You mean it?"

Pell nodded.

"Thank you Pell…you're too much…." Tyri purred.

"No worries" Pell replied.

Suddenly, there was a shriek that was terribly familiar to Tyri. Pell and Tyri quickly turned to see Arias hanging from a large spike that had grown from the mast. Arias was thrashing around, wailing for help.

"ARIAS!" Tyri screamed.

Within mere seconds, Tyri had left Pell's side and was climbing the mast. As if the mast knew Tyri was climbing it, large spikes shot out at Tyri. She twisted in the air in full Zoan form and grabbed one of the spikes. She swung from it gracefully and jumped onto another spike, then another, until she was an arms length away from Arias, but before she could grab him, a huge spike barrier blocked her way. She unsheathed giant white claws, and slashed through the barrier as if it were nothing. She grabbed Arias and jumped to the deck.

"Are you hurt?" Tyri asked.

"No, but it ripped the shirt gave me…." Arias said.

"Where's Bulu?"

"He…..was on my shoulder….."

Tyri looked up at the mast and a look of sickening horror crossed her face. Bulu was hanging limp from a spike. The spike had dug through the monkey's stomach, and a line of blood was trickling down its chin. Arias followed Tyri's gaze and froze. his bottom lip quivered, and tears ran down his face.

Pell flinched when he heard a throaty cackle. He turned to see Carnassier cackling with Blitz and Sinn.

"Hahahahahaha! The poor monkey! Sorry Arias!" He sneered. "You are the only one who failed the Torture Course…."

He turned his gaze to Tyri.

"So you get the honor of killing your brother." Carnassier said to her.

Every pirate stopped what he was doing and stared eagerly at Tyri. Arias looked up at Tyri in fear. Tyri stared back at him. Then she glared at Carnassier.

"No" she growled.

Carnassier blinked.

"What?" he asked.

"NO!" Tyri yelled. "YOU'VE MADE ME KILL SO MANY! YOU TORE ME, MY BROTHER, AND MANY OTHERS AWAY FROM OUR HOMES! I'LL NEVER KILL MY BROTHER! I'LL NEVER BE A BLOODTHIRSTY KILLER LIKE YOU!"

Carnassier's face was frozen with shock. Sinn was wringing his hands, his eyes darting from Tyri to his captain. Ray was rolling up his sleeves. Carnassier finally looked at Blitz and nodded.

Blitz ran up to Tyri and seized her by her neck and lifted her up by her neck. Carnassier stalked up to Tyri writhing in Ray's grasp.

"I thought you loved me Tyri…guess not….there's no reason to treat you like a princess anymore…I'll just have to get rid of you…." Carnassier growled.

He nodded to Blitz and a evil grin crossed his face and he yelled.

"ZEUS' LIGHTNING BOLT!"

Almost immediately, an incredible amount of electricity shocked Tyri. It sizzled and popped in everyone's ears, and a terrible scream of pain rang out.

"That should do it" Carnassier growled.

Blitz nodded and let Tyri drop to the deck. Smoke billowed from Tyri's body and a few tiny bolts of electricity jumped around on her back. She wasn't moving.

"This is what happens when insolent worms defy me!" Carnivoro snarled. "Tyri is your example! She will be executed tomorrow at dawn! Sinn, round up the prisoners, and take that rat back in its cell!"

Sinn nodded and picked Tyri up by her neck and carried her away. Arias hung onto Pell's robe and cried as his sister was taken away. Pell watched in shock as everything happened. Now he fully understood why Tyri was miserable and scared.

Suddenly, there was a push from behind, and a duo of pirates ushered Pell and Arias back to the prison room and into their cells. In Pell's cell was Tyri, unconscious. Pell picked Tyri up carefully. Arias fidgeted worriedly, holding the bars of his cell watching Pell as he held Tyri.

"Is she dead?" Arias asked fearfully.

"I don't know. She's not moving" Pell whispered to his worriedly.

He stroked his friend's hair and lightly shook her.

"Tyri? Are you okay? Say something….." Pell whispered in her ear. "Please wake up….."

Tyri did not answer but she stirred and groaned. A few minutes later, her eyelids fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.

"Huuuuuuh? P-Pell?" she groaned.

Pell sighed with relief, smiled, and embraced Tyri in a soft hug. Arias let loose a sound of relief and smiled at his sister.

"Tyri! You're alive!" Pell sighed.

"Yeah….but not for long…" Tyri said quietly. "I'll be dead tomorrow…"

Pell shook his head and held Tyri closer. Tyri was surprised at how Pell held her, but didn't think about it, feeling fuzzy all over.

"I won't allow it. I'm not going to let you or your brother die. I'm getting you two out of here." Pell said softly stroking her hair gently.

Tyri looked up at Pell and tried to move, but her whole body stung and burned.

"My body hurts…." Tyri said.

Pell nodded and carefully picked her up and laid her in their bed.

"You need some treatment. Do you have any other medicine in your bag?"

"Yeah…there's a small bottle in there….it has some green liquid in it..."

Pell rummaged around and found it. He helped Tyri sit up and sat by her.

"Where does it hurt?" Pell asked.

"My stomach and back hurt the most." Tyri said. "Could you splash medicine on them?"

Pell hesitated, and then began to treat Tyri's wounded body, caressing and massaging her with his medicine wet hands. A few minutes later, he was wrapping bandages gently around Tyri's stomach.

"Thanks" Tyri purred.

Pell stroked Tyri's hair and she smiled at him.

"You should get some rest for tomorrow. You'll need as much strength as you can get." Pell said.

Tyri nodded and lie down in the bed. She looked over at Arias.

"Go to sleep Arias." Tyri whispered.

Arias nodded, curled up in bed, and was asleep in minutes. Tyri sighed and laid her head down on one of the pillows in the bed and watched Pell until she finally fell asleep. Pell sat by Tyri watching her stomach rise up and down.

"I think I understand why Carnassier kidnapped you of all people, Tyri…" Pell murmured stroking the girl's thick black mane.

After awhile, he finally decided to turn in for the night. He got in bed with Tyri and pulled the blankets over the two of them.

"Good night, snow flower" Pell whispered and he closed his eyes to sleep.