The Red Gates.
Since Golden Hind wanted me to meet me here, I had quickly headed out to find her. The Ballista can easily navigate these stacks of red rock jutting out of the sea, probably iron salt deposits reacting to the air. You can even see them 'bleeding' sometimes in rainy weather, more superstitious people say evil spirits were trapped inside the rocks, being tortured for past sins, hence the 'bleeding' effect. I scoff at myself as I steer past the stacks, but then again I'm magically bound to a woman with octopus limbs, so what do I know?
The entrance to a rather unassuming cave lies behind the stacks, its big enough for the Ballista to pass through, 10 feet of clearance on either side with a sharp bend to the right about 20 feet from the cave mouth. Wanting to more clearly see where I'm going, I will the sails to stow themselves away, rigging wrapping around the sheets to secure them like snakes ensnaring prey, its not like the sails will work in here. I also ready the ship's oars to give myself more manoeuvrability and control.
Walking to the Ballista's nose, I carefully inch the ship further into the Red Gates cave. Once I turned the ship to head down the bend, I illuminated the lanterns, bathing the rocky walls in a forbidding yellow glow. I look back at the entrance, and see the sunlight slowly fade from view, its not even that deep, but the sharp bend was keeping this part of the cave protected from the sun, which is why it just looks like part of the cliff from further away, and not many people want to get too close to the 'bleeding' stacks outside.
I return my gaze to look up ahead, just noticing that the cave now turns to the left. I'm about to turn the ship into the bend when...
THUD!
I hit something! Fortunately I wasn't going too fast, so I only lean forward involuntarily before regaining my balance. Damn it, must have glanced the wall or something. I look down into the water where I heard the bump. I could feel the blood drain from my skin when I saw it, I was not prepared for the sight I was seeing: A giant, blue, tentacle. Near identical to Golden Hind's limbs, just MUCH bigger, almost as wide as the ship I was standing on, and god knows how long it was. I broke into a cold sweat seeing this monster arm blocking the way.
"Ara~ you're here darling~ Heehee!" I look around, Hind's voice echoed all around, seeming to speak from everywhere. "I see you've bumped into Serena, isn't she adorable~? Don't worry she's a big softie, your ship will be fine where it is." Hind called to me. Serena? Really? Who names their pet KRAKEN 'Serena'? God that sounds bloody insane. I sighed as I tried to look deeper into the cave, but since 'Serena' was blocking the way, I couldn't see round the bend.
"How am I supposed to get to you? Your...urgh...'Serena' is in the way!" I called out to Hind. I just heard Hind giggling in response, before I heard the sound of something breaking the water's surface next to the Ballista. I step back in shock as another giant tentacle shoots from the water, throwing spray and water droplets across the frigate's deck. Oh no...no way...nope! I fell backwards as the tentacle hovers over the deck, the tip coming towards me.
"Oh no...no nonono FUUUU-" I tried to get to my feet but it was too late, it wrapped around my chest and grabbed me tightly, hoisting me several feet into the air. Holy shit this is terrifying! The first tentacle, the one blocking the Ballista then slipped back into the water. I felt a shiver go through me as...Serena's body...a massive dark shape under the water, seemed to shimmer under the surface down the cave's length.
After I calm down a little from the initial shock of seeing her, I realise Serena's not holding me that tightly, just enough to make sure I'm not dropped, I look ahead and see where she's taking me. Its another ship, black hull, deep navy blue sails and golden highlights along its sides and top. Golden Hind's ship, or hull...I think its called since its...part of Hind herself? I had no idea, I'm no expert on kansen, but I recognised it since that's the damn thing that always chases me out here.
Serena slowly lowered me onto the deck of the black ship, letting me go as my feet touch it. I look back and nervously chuckle as the tentacle waves at me, I awkwardly wave back as it leaves. "Uh...thanks?" I called to her as the tentacle fully submerged.
"Aw~ She really likes you! She normally only waves to me~" Hind declared from the other end of the ship. "Glad you could make it darling, we have so much to discuss!" She added as she disappeared into the Captain's quarters.
"Discuss? What exactly?" I called after her, quickly following her inside her hull, whoa...unlike the quarters on the Ballista, the Golden Hind hull was far more luxurious. Jake did say Hind was rich, but I didn't really believe him. After all she is a pirate, so the chances of her having just stolen this stuff was more than zero. Hind was sitting on a huge, red curved couch in the corner of the room, beckoning me over to her with her hand, her tentacles meanwhile seemed preoccupied with something behind the couch itself.
"You have a pet Kraken just lying around?" I asked, still in disbelief, and a little shaken as I was walking over to her. Hind smiled up at me mischievously before two of her tentacles brought cups of tea over the couch.
"I found her inside a reef cave, tea?" She offered as one tentacle slowly passed me a teacup. I chuckled nervously again before taking it. Hind patted the couch beside her, inviting me to sit. "She was looking after her unborn babies in there, keeping the eggs clean and scaring away predators that would otherwise feed on them, she hadn't left that cave for a long time it seemed, she was so tired and hungry." Hind seemed to get down for a moment, rubbing one of her eyes. "She would have starved to death waiting for those eggs to hatch...I still get sad thinking about that..."
She choked a little, on the verge of tears almost. "So you saved her? That's...incredible." I was admittedly impressed, sipping my tea as Hind kept telling the story, regaining her composure through a few deep breaths.
"I didn't do much." Hind replied modestly. "I just brought her some creatures to eat while she focused on the eggs, it took a few days of carefully bringing her food, but she eventually got better and started to trust me more." She moaned quietly, hugging herself as she reminisced this apparently emotional event. "Eventually her babies started to hatch...she let me into the cave to see...oh Ken...have you ever seen baby krakens? They're so CUTE!" She squealed, making me flinch.
"Uh...no...I didn't even think they even existed, let alone seen one myself." I replied. Hind sighed happily, putting her hands on her cheeks.
"Serena wouldn't have seen them either if it wasn't for me, as we watched her babies swim away, she hugged me, that's when I knew we would be best friends forever~ Haaah~" She sighed again. OK...I had to admit; that story is pretty heart-warming, I'm not made of stone. I smiled with her, happy that she had put herself in a good mood. Wait a minute...
"How were you doing all this? Can you hold your breath for an insanely long time?" I asked. She just giggled and said:
"Oh I can breathe under water, all kansen can. Oh and catching sea creatures to feed Serena? Well I have tentacles too you know~" She giggled some more, waving said limbs around for emphasis.
"I'm...I'm happy for you, How long ago was this?" I ask, now a lot more curious. Hind looked surprised for a moment, but it quickly turned into a big grin, I guess she's happy I'm interested.
"About 10 years ago now, she's gotten MUCH bigger since then, so big that no other sea creature ever challenges her any more, as a result she's gotten much calmer and wiser in her old age, no need to be aggressive if nothing is ever aggressive to you right?" Hind explained, sipping her own tea.
"What about hunting? Doesn't she still need to eat?" I asked, wondering how a creature so massive can keep itself alive this long. Food that fills you up must be hard to come.
"Oh yes, of course she still hunts, but since she's had her babies, her metabolism and general activity has slowed down immensely. So Serena doesn't need much food any more, usually just the odd whale, pack of sharks or another cephalopod every few weeks." Hind caught me rasing an eyebrow at that answer, she must have picked up the implied question as she replied with a scoff. "OK fine; yes, she HAS eaten people too, but ONLY the worst of the worst people I've come across." She admitted.
"So...other pirates basically?" I suggested as possible targets for Serena's hunger.
"Sometimes, the most of evil pirates and the most corrupt of navy officers...mostly."
"Mostly?!" I exclaimed in shock.
"Well...once she attacked a yacht and ate the one person on board, I did learn later he was a convicted child molester that was trying to escape Thalassopolis." Hind explained. "I still have no idea if Serena knew that at the time, but her sense of character has never let me down before."
"I heard about a guy like that, Tony Veckon, a convicted felon, rapist and child molester, he stole a yacht and disappeared before anyone realised what happened, you think he's the one Serena got?" I wondered. Hind just shrugged.
"Must have been, she does seem to have a sixth sense when it comes to sensing what people are truly like. After all..." She gave me a sideways smirk. "...she likes you~" She chuckled as a tentacle pulled me into a hug with her. I blushed at the intimate contact as one of her breasts squished up against my chest, she was wrapping another tentacle around my thigh and brushing my cheek with her hand. I could feel my heart thumping harder with how close she was.
"Hind...wait I...I need to tell you something, its important." I quickly say to her. Hind slowly let go, looking at me concerned.
"What is it Darling? This isn't about your new look is it?" She asked me kindly, gently brushing my cheeks still. "Sorry I should have warned you, the pact accelerates your healing, cleanses your body of impurities, and refines your muscles and bones, making them slightly bigger, hence why your skin is smoother and you're a little taller now." Hind explains, pointing out my thicker thighs and biceps.
"Well...thanks for explaining but no, its not that." I reply. She seemed confused, looking at me oddly. I thought for a second how to tell her about Lord Vickers, did she already know he was here in Thalassopolis? How would she react to that? I took a deep breath as I decided to just get it over with.
"Lord Vickers is here in Thalasso." I bluntly tell her. Hind gasped in shock, jumping up she put her hands over her mouth, her already pale face seem to get even whiter, her pupils shrank into pinpricks and her tentacles started to agitatedly spasm and writhe. Just when I was starting to think nothing could phase her, but right now she was terrified!
"No... did...did he track me here? Does he know about the Red Gates? Oh no..." She looked around frantically, darting her eyes all around the room for a few minutes. "I need to get moving fast, I...I need." Her eyes settled on me for a moment, I was already freaked out by her reaction, but now I'm really worried she's not thinking straight. "Ken...you... you didn't talk to him did you...no..." Her expression seemed to darken for moment, did she think I told Vickers everything?
She suddenly shoved me onto the couch on my back, and pinned me down by the shoulders, laying on top of me to put weight behind her arms. I grab her just to steady myself, but her tentacles seized my arms by the wrists, pulling them above my head. I cry out in discomfort and suddenly yelp as my ankles are given the same treatment, pulling my legs taut and straight. Clearly she's too emotional to be careful, after I finish cringing from the pain of being restrained, I opened my eyes to see Hind glaring down at me, I couldn't tell if she was angry or scared, but she clearly wasn't calm.
"Did he speak to you?! What does he know?! What did you say to him?! Ken you have to tell me!" Holy shit I've never seen her like this! She's really not herself! I was still reeling from how she caught me just now, my voice caught in my throat as I tried to answer. I was so afraid of what she might do that my mind just want blank, refusing to form words. Clearly I was taking too long to reply, I felt the tentacles tighten around my limbs and Hind started shaking me.
"KEN ANSWER ME! WHAT DOES HE KNOW?!" She screamed, almost pleading with me to speak. I shrieked as the tentacles started to dig into my skin, I couldn't think, the pain was too much for rational thought any more, all I could focus on was getting the pain to stop, my chest was hurting from how hard my heart was working, blood and adrenaline slamming through my veins as I struggled uselessly under Hind. Even if I could tell her what Vickers had said, I'm not sure she was really listening any more...god I was so afraid she'd accidentally rip me apart if this lasted much longer. One sentence came to my mind, desperate to keep my limbs from being torn off, I just said it to her:
"Hind...you're hurting me..."
Silence. Everything stopped, Hind stopped, her tentacles stopped, the only thing I could hear was my own heart beat, and Hind's heavy breathing. She looked up and down at what she was doing to me with a horrified expression, quickly getting off my body. Her tentacles just as quickly pulled away, freeing me. I pulled my arms back and discovered red sucker marks along my wrists and forearms, as well as my shins and ankles. They didn't look permanent but they did sting a bit.
"I'm sorry..." I heard Hind utter quietly. I looked up and saw Hind was standing up now, not looking at me. Her tentacles were drooping and limp, and I could see tears coming from her eyes. "I'm so sorry Ken...I shouldn't have done that...you didn't deserve that...I'm just...so scared." She dropped to her knees and shoved her face into her hands, full on bawling now. "That...horrid man! He's been hunting me and my friends for years! Not one other person in the whole world frightens me as much as he does!" She explained through body shaking sobs of anguish.
"Something tells me that's not why you're really crying though..." I comment, rubbing my wrists to numb the aches. My voice was still shaky from my own fear. I had never seen Hind so...hysterical, I just had no idea she could... snap like that. Hind looked up at me, looking at the marks on my wrists, guilt written across her face, clearly she regretted what happened. "Hind..." I get her attention and she looks at my face. "Vickers's doesn't know about this cave, he doesn't know Thalasso like we do, all he knows is that you operate here and that you're here now, in the Thalassopolis sea, that's a big area." I told her, trying to give her as much information as I could remember, while trying to sound reassuring at the same time.
"He doesn't know where I am? You didn't tell him?" Hind asked me hopefully, getting to her feet.
"No of course not, I just think you're annoying, I don't want to get you killed." I admitted to her honestly. "'Rule 3: allow your true feelings to flow naturally' that goes both ways right?" I asked her, she returned a small smile and nodded.
"Yes, but I shouldn't have attacked you like that, I...I." I could tell she wanted to start crying again, but was holding her tears in, gently touching the stump where her severed antler used to be, while I was scared of her freak out from before, I just couldn't be angry with her, clearly she's extremely frightened of the man to react like that. Hind closed her eyes, choking up as the tears started to return. Feeling sympathetic, I stepped over to her and did something I never thought I'd ever have the guts to do.
I gave her a hug, she quietly gasped feeling me this close to her, but she didn't back off, this felt quite nice actually, being this close to her, I blushed a little at squishing into her cleavage, but I didn't stop.
"Its OK, let it out, I forgive you, Rule 3 remember?" I gently remind her, looking up into her misty eyes. Hind looked surprised, but then couldn't have looked any happier as she hugged me back, wrapping her arms around my neck. She still needed to cry some more, but at least she could relieve her feelings in a more positive way. She started sobbing again as she wrapped her tentacles around me too, making me sink further into her embrace. Those tits were really pressing into my face now.
"You're such a good person Darling...I knew you were from the moment I first saw you." Hind admitted through her tears, wiping them away as she spoke.
"Is that why you chased me across the sea over 10 coins?" I asked semi-jokingly to lighten the mood. Hind chuckled a little, wiping her tears with one of her tentacles.
"Maybe~ Perhaps I was after something more than those 10 coins~?" Hind huskily replied, clearly she was feeling better as her natural smooth tone was returning. She wrapped one of her legs around me, coming out from under her dress meant all that covered it was her stocking and garter belt. I blushed even deeper as she also jiggled her breasts around my head. This felt wrong, she was just upset before and now she's horny? No... I won't be that guy.
"H-Hind...you were just crying...I can't do this...not right now." I told her honestly. Her smile faded a little, and she put her leg down. I didn't feel as...closed to sexual relations as I did when I first signed the pact, but she was vulnerable right now, I wasn't going to take advantage of her just as she opened up to me. "Maybe later...when you're feeling better?" I offered, I thought it was better to leave this door open so I didn't upset her again. Hind let me go and sat back on the couch, leaving me covered in her ooze once again, somehow it seemed less gross than the last time she hugged me.
"Alright, Darling...can we just cuddle instead then? You can lie on my bosom." She asked me innocently. I went quiet for a minute, wondering if I should really do this. "I know you feel conflicted about me right now, but I won't hurt ever you again, I promise." She lay back on the couch and shed her dress off. Exposing her giant tits and stocking covered long legs.
"No sex right, just cuddles?" I clarified, my clothes needed washing anyway since they were covered in ooze, so I also stripped down to my underwear.
"Just cuddles, I want to prove I'm not just after your body darling, as cute and fuckable as it is~" Hind teased with a giggle. She opened her arms, legs and tentacles to me, presenting me a tempting profile of her beautiful body. "I won't do anything but cuddle you, you can trust me darling, come lie down with me... please?" She batted her eye lashes at me, like that would be the thing to finally convince me.
I rolled my eyes at her playful behaviour, and carefully crawled on top of her. Now that I'm touching her skin to skin, she feels so warm to the touch, this feels so nice, and as I got to her breasts, she gently pushed my head down to them. "Mmmm...these are so cosy~" I purred, earning a snicker from Hind as I put my hands on her boobs.
"I knew they would be Darling~" She agreed, her tentacles wrapped around the two of us, holding me closer and pressing our bodies into each other. She rested her arm around my shoulder, rubbing my back while her other hand rubbed the back of my head. Whoa...I must have really needed this cuddle, my whole body started to decompress, releasing its tension as Hind gently dug her fingers into my muscles.
"Hind...what...did you want to discuss before...all this?" I asked her quietly, too comfortable in her embrace to move my head to face her. She softly hushed me before replying.
"Not now Darling, we can talk about that later, lets just relax now." She gently commanded me, I'm not sure why but I obeyed, the two of us stayed like that for a long time, the initial shock from Hind's panic attack slowly but surely leaving our bodies, eventually I felt so relaxed I could feel my eyes getting heavy. The tentacles were surprisingly gentle with me, they didn't just cover my body, they were massaging me, working out all the kinks and knots in the muscles Hind's hand wasn't reaching. Hind's breasts were the perfect pillows, soft and warm, but perky enough to resist deflating beneath my head.
"I'm so tired..." I state with a drowsy tone.
"Me too, we should get some rest, go to sleep Darling, Serena is protecting us." Hind whispered to me, I felt her lean her head back, presumably going to sleep herself. I didn't take long to follow, I could use the sleep after last night.
