~ Warren ~

They'd healed his body some days or weeks ago. Only for them to ask more questions, and break it again. So the cycle went on, he couldn't track the comings and goings of the sun, all he knew was that they kept him in a dark, damp and silent place. The only noises were from the men who came and went and from the rats that scurried within the walls at night. There was also incessant dripping, at first it brought him comfort, knowing he was somewhere near water, and then the noise only added to his discomfort.

He missed the open seas, the feel of a ship rope in his hands as he released the sails and heard the whip of the wind against it, dragging the ship faster across the seas back and into charted and more excitedly, into un-charted waters. He'd stopped thinking about the girl with the red hair and fantastically wicked mouth. She was trouble and he should never have accepted that deal, amazing how hindsight can torture a man.

He heard a key in the lock to his prison and didn't bother to stand or scurry away, they only found him anyway and they were all so strong.

"It is time to leave this place boy" the handsome one said, Keir he thought his name was. "Now, how you leave is your choice" he didn't miss the smile in those cruel words, but he continued "you can get cleaned up, and walk out of here as a man under my… employ. Do what I say, when I say it, deceive your previous associates and never return to this place again. You will have gold, and as many ships as you wish" Warren grimaced, for he knew somehow that this creature was not going to simply give him those things without making him drench himself in blood.

"You'd simply find the girl you were already tasked to follow, and you will insert yourself into her life. After that, you will await instruction and report every last thing you see and hear to me" he said, gripping the back of a wooden chair that had been used to smash into his back.

"Or," Warren could make out the wicked grin and the pearly white teeth, "you can leave here in bags, in pieces, over a long time…it is your choice"

Warren shivered, he was cold, wet, and hungry and his body ached like it had never done before, his dark skin had lightened already. He was sick and tired and Keir knew that, he counted on it, had preyed on him.

He sent a silent prayer to the gods and bit his lower lip as he struggled to stand, held up only by the cold stone he leaned on. "I won-won't hurt her" he stuttered. Kier laughed.

"I won't ask you to deliver any fatal blow to the human, you have my word" he knew the fae had tricks and curses and other means of hurting humans. Why did he need Warren, why not simply go to her and do whatever he wished to her, his damned self? But, he didn't dare ask that from the cold faerie.

"F-fine" as he said the words, he squeezed his eyelids shut, picturing the sea in his mind, close enough to touch - home calling out to him. And swiped at the tear that trailed down his cheek when the image was replaced with pain filled, green eyes.

~ Brianna ~

"I think this will work" Brie declared, gripping Mor's slender hand and pulling her towards the docks. The weather was chilly, the sky clear however, a perfect day for setting sail. So she hoped. But the faerie stopped and sighed; Brianna turned to face the hooded woman staring into the warm uncertain eyes. She decidedly did not notice how her heart quickened at the prospect of being so close to the otherworldly gorgeous woman.

"Brianna, I really believe we need to think this over, we have no idea who bought that ship from your friends family. Let's scout the area first, see what we are dealing with." Brianna worried her bottom lip, Mor was right, she'd only heard from people in the tavern that the ship and her contracts had been bought by a group of sailors. But no one really had anything more to add about who they were, only that they mainly dealt with delivering, buying and selling cargo and supplies from land to land.

"We don't have time Mor, we can't stay here much longer, it takes one local to recognise either one of us and then the torches and pitchforks will come out. These people do not stop to ask questions, trust me, I was one of them for a brief time" Brianna shrugged, "we need to be quick, get out to sea and put some space between us and this place".

"Are you afraid someone will see us or are you afraid of facing your demons?" Mor questioned, head tilted. "There is a lot at stake Brianna," she said softly, leaning closer to her "peoples lives for one" she placed a palm to Brianna's shoulder, and even through the soft leather, Brie's skin seemed to heat at the gentle touch. She forced her mind to stop imagining how her body would react to the faerie touching her in more intimate areas, and swallowed.

"I promise I will be cautious" Brianna ignored the question hanging in the air, it was suffocating enough but Mor simply nodded, the trust she afforded her unnerved Brianna, who was so accustomed to trusting nothing and no one but herself. She hoped it was not misplaced.

As they approached the vessel, Brianna tugged at her leathers, it had grown colder so she'd opted for warmer clothing, Mor still dressed in her strange leather but her cloak was wrapped tightly around her face and shoulders. Masking the power, and any outward telling of her heritage. Brianna, knowing how the wind loved to play with hair as she sailed had pulled hers into a loose bun at the top of her head, having noticed it had grown a bit and the waves were insufferable to manage, especially when she was under time constraints. Nevertheless, some loose curls folded around the sides of her face and eyes.

"You can't be here, trade has come and gone and we set sail in a few hours" a man grumbled, he was short, slightly muscular and bald and his skin was so dark Brianna imagined it was beautiful when the sea reflected the stars and moon on it at night. He reminded her of the man she'd bedded those days or weeks ago. Time seemed to be moving so quickly, ever since that gods forsaken storm. This man was not so handsome, and his skin much darker but he held himself the same way as Warren had, tall and proud. The kindness was also missing from the eyes of this stranger; Warren had had kindness in his eyes.

"Are you the captain of this ship?" Brianna spoke with confidence. "I want to ask for passage to…Hybern" his eyebrows shot up and he rolled his eyes.

"You people and your curiosity," he spat over the side of the dock, "there is nothing over there that you want to see, nor any riches or men you can use to get whatever it is you want" She felt Mor bristle beside her, but Brianna spoke before the woman had a chance to correct this man and his assumptions.

"Actually, I want to go home" she dropped the confidence in her tone and laced it with hope.

"I don't have time for this, I've to prepare to sail and we're down a man"

"We can help, we're stronger than we look, we'll not be any trouble I swear I just want to see what's left of my home. Please" begging was normally reserved for the desperate and brazen, and if she were being honest with herself, she was a little of both. "Please" she said again, in her home language, the word felt so strange in her mouth, it somehow tasted wrong. His eyes rolled again.

"You know how to sail" it was less of a question and more of a statement, but the pair nodded. "Captain" he shouted, voice rough as he spat over the rail again, "got some new recruits for your approvals". That sly, lying dog, he wasn't even the Captain!

A shadow from behind him started towards them, the steps unhurried, as they got closer, Brianna realised this was the figure of a woman. Interesting. She thought. As she got closer, Brianna could just make out her very short hair, spiked in all directions atop her head, she carried the captains cap, and wore sturdy looking brown leathers, neatly stitched with a sword swinging on her curved hip.

Before she knew what she was doing, Brianna had the small dagger in her hand and she whirled around the man. It had left her hand with a sharp flick of her wrist, flying toward the Captain.

The man's eyes widened and he grappled her to the floor with a speed she did not expect, damp wood met her face as he squished her into it, she heard Mor unsheathe her weapons right as she was hit in the stomach and all air left her body, and again swiftly in the chin. He had terrible aim for a sailor.

"Stop" she heard the Captain shout. "Get off Fiorello" the authority in her tone left the man with no argument, so he huffed and heaved himself off her, rubbing debris from his knees. The Captain's black leather boots stopped beside her as she rolled onto her back, she winced as she spat a bit of blood from her mouth and watched as the wood soaked it up greedily. She ran her tongue over hear teeth and sighed when she didn't find any missing.

"Elle" Brie frowned deeply; she didn't dare look for Mor but she knew she was nearby, gripping her weapons in both hands, like a bear ready to pounce at a moment's notice.

"What are the odds?" Elle breathed into the sky. The only answer came from the wind, as it whipped past and tugged at Brie's loose strands, whipping them around her face as she stood, glaring at her old friend, and traitor.

~ Morrigan ~

They were crammed in the Captains quarters below the main deck, in all her years of life in this world, she'd never felt so uncomfortable as she stood by the door, checking the small round windows and deciding if she should just grab Brianna and throw her out of one. She'd have no trouble getting off the ship herself.

Get to that damned island her own way. The female's past really was catching her up at a speed Morrigan feared she could not keep up with. She'd no idea who was a friend and who was a foe, not that she strictly blamed Brianna; save for the dagger she'd thrown at the Captain. What was she thinking?

The very pretty captain, with her high cheekbones, symmetrical face, and toned body from years at the sea no doubt. Morrigan was ill impressed with the events that followed from Brie's grand plan of simply bartering her way onto a ship, although to the female's credit, it had appeared to almost work for them. Almost.

Morrigan did not sheathe both of her weapons, needing the comfort the illiryian blade gave her. She let out a long breath and watched the Captain closely as she doused some alcohol onto a long cut on her left shoulder. She slowly moved her eyes onto Brianna and couldn't help the amusement as she openly wiped her dagger clean and sheathed it to her thigh, smiling sweetly all the while.

What she wouldn't do to be in Athelwood, her home in Velaris, sitting in her long armchair and laughing at something Feyre or Cassian had said. She felt a swelling in her chest as she thought of her family, her court, so close and yet miles from her, she hoped they were moving forward with the plan of peace negotiations with the humans and that her father was not riling up the Court of Nightmares too much in her absence. No doubt, Amren was keeping her eye on them all.

Elle pulled out a chair and pulled a cork from a glass bottle, the gold liquid sloshed as she tipped it back into her mouth, wincing at the burn.

"Captain" the dark skinned fellow, Fiorello said, "why are we entertaining these women? One of them tried to kill you" Brianna scoffed, and Morrigan tightened her grip on the weapon, loving the feel of it in her palm. But cheekbones simply smiled, it was crooked, she had a long scar down the side of a cheek, it somehow made her prettier. Morrigan hated her.

"If she wanted to kill me Fi, I would be dead. Isn't that right my friend?" she took another swig, "question is, what are you doing on my ship? And who is your…friend?" Mor desperately wanted Brianna to take her hand and storm out of the small cabin; her power was tickling under her skin. It sensed confrontation, and she really didn't want to cause a scene. It would definitely delay her getting to the island.

"I'm not your friend Eleanor, and I'm on this ship to gain passage to Hybern, obviously" she said nonchalantly. Morrigan could swear she saw a flicker of pain in both faces, and she hated how it made herself feel. She knew who this female once was to Brianna, she'd felt the truth of it with her powers long ago, whilst Brianna remembered the buried memory. How the abandonment had tore her apart, she'd seemingly blamed her for all of the wrong doings in her life since. Morrigan understood, and didn't really blame her either.

But, Brianna could never know how she understood why she might feel overwhelmed, hurt and furious. This was a different scenario to the one in the ally; it was a wound that perhaps cut Brianna deeper, whether she knew it herself or not. As while one feasted at her self worth and her innocence, this one lived soured her deep within her heart. She could taste it almost. The sheer agony of being so close to someone she once cared so deeply for. That trust shattered into oblivion, she could swear she felt what Brie felt, as intimately as if they were her own feelings. Which was insanity, Morrigan knew her powers were strong, but not that strong.

"As for Mor" Brianna glanced over at her, the green eyes seemed to be trying to tell her something, and swiftly the female made her way towards her. She took her hand, interlocking her fingers between her own; she stared into those cat like eyes, searching for answers. Morrigan's heart beat so quickly she had to swallow to gain control of her senses. "She is my companion". The implication was clear, and Mor felt panic grow inside of her. If these humans thought she was with a faerie, intimately, by choice, they might not react so kindly. Friend or not.

She didn't move, she couldn't move. She was THE Morrigan, bringer of death, powerful fae, and yet, she was terrified of these humans hurting Brianna. That cursed female! Why couldn't she ever listen to anyone but her self? Brianna squeezed her hand softly and whispered "it's okay, please don't hate me"

Hate her? Why should she hate her? She scoffed at herself, how could she possibly hate the female that made her heart beat so quickly she feared it might burst from its cavity in her cursed chest?

This mission was cursed, she decided. The female, whose loose red curls sent literal shivers down her spine, she was so beautiful it made her stomach spin. She'd seen many females, she'd bedded many beautiful females even, but none had a light like the one holding her hand.

This mission was cursed indeed.

She glanced down at the hand, ignoring the Captain as she raised her brow and glared at them. She could smell the jealousy from her distance, it was bitter and cold and it burned. She knew it, because if she were being honest, she'd felt it. As soon as Brianna had uttered the word 'Elle', she'd felt it consume her being as she realised, perhaps this is precisely the reaction Brianna wanted from the Captain. Did she even know that herself? She cursed her power.

Damned her idiocy, there were lives at stake. Her loved ones at home, her family, and the world she'd foreseen was so close, they were all so close. She stared again at the callused hand, which gently rubbed her own with her thumb, that was a habit for Brianna, Mor noted, was it meant to comfort Morrigan or herself? She stopped listening as the females spoke.

Sighing, she dropped Brianna's hand, and walked toward the cabin door.

"Find me when you're done" she said, not quite clipping all of her frustration from her tone, and exited the room before filling her lungs with clear, salt scented air.

"What are you doing Morrigan?" she asked herself, leaning against a wooden panel.