Awakening of the End: Chapter 3

"Shy, we should go right now. This place is freaking me out," Lee tensely said.

"I am not leaving." He turned to look at the tomb. "Not until we look inside."

"What? You can't even get the top off, so how do you expect to look inside?"

"Sure we can get the top off.” He smiled to himself, not listening to a word being said to him. “We'll just have to use all of our strength."

"Hold up, where do you get this we stuff from? I'm not going to help you. Jade and I are leaving. If you want to stay down here and try to get a look inside that damn grave, go ahead, but count us out." He grabbed Jade’s arm to drag her away. We have to leave now, he told himself.

Not noticing the warm flesh gripping hers she stared at the tomb. Through the haze in her mind she felt something coming.

"Jade, let's go," he told her, needing to leave right now.

She easily slipped out of his grip as she was drawn closer to it. "No," she whispered, barely opening her mouth to get to word out.

"You heard her; she wants to stay," Shy pointed out as he moved towards them. "Now why don't you go home or back to school and let a real man take care of this." He smirked smugly at him as he wrapped his arms around her. "Don't worry about Jade. I'll take good care of her, I promise."

The cocky expression on his face was the last straw. Lee’s muscles tightened as his jaw set. "Get your hands off of my sister." He roughly grabbed hold of her hand to pull her back to him "She's coming with me rather she likes it or not."

Letting her go, Shy did as he was told. Darkness filled his eyes as he watched the younger man take his woman. Let‘s do this, he mentally said. He lowered his upper body before he lunged at Lee to tackle him to the ground.

Not wanting to drag Jade with him he let her go. He barely had time to brace himself as he hit the wall. Loose dust rained down on them. He gasped for air as Shy rammed his head into his stomach. He knew he had to do something. He pushed the pain deep down inside as he brought his right knee up to collided his face. Driven by pure rage he threw him off of him.

Shy's head painfully jerked back. He felt his anger well up inside of him, and he let it explode onto Lee.

Jade didn't see nor hear any of their fight. Her eyes were glued to the tomb as white light spilled from the crack in the middle of it. The floor rumbled as the walls shook. The boys stopped fighting. Confused, they glanced at each other for the answers neither knew. When they turned to ask Jade what was going on they saw the tomb and knew right away what was happening.

"Oh my God," Shy whispered. “It’s true." He glanced at Lee, half hoping he’d say it wasn’t.

Shaking his head, he turned to look at him "I hope not," he admitted as he wiped the blood from his lip with the back of his hand. He looked at the tomb with a weary eye. "Because if it is, we just woke her up."

They watched in fear as cracks appeared all over the tomb. The light pouring from it quickly filled the room. "I'm getting out of here.” Shy reached for Jade. As soon as his fingers touched her cool skin she spun around to face him. With a vacant look in her eyes, and in a voice much harsher than her usually sweet one she said; "Let me go." Words spoken she turned away. The tomb rattled and small pieces tumbled off. Stunned by the wicked look on his sweet gentle girl’s face he did let her go.

Lee looked at her right hand. His concern filled him when he saw that it was swollen and irritated. The bite looked twice its original siz,e and he could literally see it throbbing. He moved closer to Shy. This is bad, he thought. Fear wrapped itself around his heart. This is really bad. He tapped Shy’s shoulder to get his attention. "See; I told you it wasn't a rat," he pointed to her hand.

"I think you'r-" He never got the chance to finish what he was going to say as the tomb finally exploded.

Huge pieces of shattered concrete flew everywhere. Lee was the closest to the crack in the wall. He could have easily made his escaped but he couldn’t leave his sister. She was still standing in her spot, and didn't seem to notice the football-sized piece of concrete flying towards her head. Mentally cursing to himself he covered his face with his arm as he went for his sister.

She‘s a fucking nut, he thought as a dime-sized piece hit his lip. Fresh blood quickly followed the pain he felt from it. Damn it. He closed his eyes as he wished this were all a bad dream. But it wasn’t, and he wasn’t going to be able to just wake up to make it all go away. He grabbed her arm and dragged her to the ground with him. The piece heading towards her flew over them as they hit the floor.

It was hell for the following minutes before everything to calm down. The backside of Lee got hit with concrete as Jade beat on the front side of him. She needed to see what was happening. She needed to see her wake up. The air stilled around him. He no longer felt any pieces of the tomb adding to the welts on his back. It’s over, he thought as he relaxed. His arms felt like rubber as he pushed himself off of his sister to slowly rise. His back was to the ex-tomb as he scanned the room for Shy. "Your dick of a boyfriend ran off," he informed her. The room was lit with the light from the tomb. Dread filled him as he turned to see the source of it.

Though the air was thick with dust he was able to see her standing where the tomb had been. She was wearing a very simple white dress that fit her body perfectly. She was as beautiful as the legend had said. Her hair was wild from not being brushed and when she smiled he saw the teeth. Her canines were long and sharp, and then she lunged. The only thing he was able to say was, "God." Then she fed.

Food, power, life, was all Ragana could think as she felt the beautiful thick liquid flow down her throat. She had never enjoyed the taste of blood or a kill like she did now. When there was nothing left in him she tossed his body aside. It took her a few moments to notice the shocked girl sitting on the ground.

Sometime during the death of Lee Jade had fallen to her knees. She had watched as Ragana drained her brother of life. She couldn't believe she was real, that the story of the vampire princess was true. The thing standing before her was the most powerful being on earth. She could literally feel the power Ragana had, and it made her heart stop and her skin crawl.

"You're real," she whispered, feeling cold inside. What‘s happening, a distant part of her wondered.

"Yes I am," she replied as she stared down at her. Trousers, Ragana thought as she eyed the outfit Jade wore. Girls do not wear trousers? Something is not right here. "What year is this?" she asked in a demanding tone.

"2013.”

"2013." Now it was her turn to be shocked. "It cannot be. It was just 1850." Confused, Ragana wasn't looking at her anymore. She looked around the room as she tried to figure out how this could have happened. Then she remembered. She saw Dionsus, the only man she had ever loved, betraying her. She saw the wine he had put the spell in for Mandrake, the one person she truly hated. She felt the anger come back as she remembered lying on the ground while Mandrake stood over her laughing. She watched Dionsus stand there with Mahr, who had once been a friend. Hell, she thought she had loved him at one time but then he had also betrayed her.

Jade’s throat closed when she saw the darkness in her eyes. The savage hunger for blood sparked within it. Ragana wrapped her fingers around her throat as she lifted her off the ground and started to squeeze. Jade could feel the strength in her hand as she begun to tighten her fingers, cutting off her air. This was the first time today she realized the danger she was in. She felt her heart stop as Ragana’s fingers closed. Oh God this is it, she squeezed her eyes shut. Lee I'm coming.

Surprisingly, the tightening around her throat stopped. She refused to open her eyes until she heard Ragana speak. "Where am I and who are you?" Her eyes were as cold as ice as she stared into Jade's. "If you answer true then I shall let you live." She tightened her fingers again, but just enough to let Jade know she meant what she was about to say. "But if you lie, you shall join your brother." She nodded towards the mangled body.

It hurt Jade to swallow. "Brakerstin," she answered, trying to make her voice as sweet as possible.

Ragana’s eyebrows met in confusion, as questions filled her eyes. She didn’t know this town.

Jade was breathing fast. She licked her lips. "That's where you are. In Brakerstin, well, underneath it at least. You're in a sewer." Her heart was beating so hard she could've sworn it was going to pop out of her chest.

Ragana inclined her head to the right as she let the girl go. "A sewer?" She looked at Jade. "They put me in a sewer! Me? The ruler of all vampires, in a sewer?" She held her head high as she promised, "Oh, they are going to pay." It took a moment for her mind to get back on Jade. "And you? You have not told me whom you are yet."

"Jade," she answered as she rubbed her throat. "My name is Jade."

"Are you working for Mandrake?" She hovered over her, ready to strike.

She shot Ragana a queer look. "Who?"

A smile touched her lips for the first time since she woke up. "No one. 2013?" She sat down on a piece of concrete across from her. "Tell me about it. Or do you wish to die. Being the," she paused as her left eyebrow went up. "Person, shall we say that I am. I will let you choose."

Jade stayed on the ground as she put her hands in lap, and tried to stretch a fake smile across her face. She really didn't want to make Ragana mad. "2013 is great. There are cars, planes, and computers."

She didn't get any of it. "What? Rars, planes, and compoters."

She couldn't help but to laugh. This monster from the past didn't know a thing about today. "No cars, planes, and computers," she said it slow so she would be able to hear how to pronounce it. "See, cars are big and you sit in them. They take you places like horses did, only they’re smoother and faster."

She still had a lost look on her face. Gracefully she rose to walk to her. Looking up Jade wondered what this lost soul from the past was going to do. "This will be easier," she answered her unspoken question. She put her left hand on her forehead and she closed her eyes. "Just relax."

That was hard for her to do. It was like asking a deer to stay calm as a hunter pointed a gun at it but she did her best, and surprisingly enough she actually started to feel calm. It was as if a river of calmness was flowing through her, and it started at her forehead where Ragana's hand was. It worked its way through her body. Her eyes slid shut as shut and she felt a tingling sensation at the mouth of the river on her forehead.

Ragana was reading her mind. She saw a dark skin girl with two braids who looked about ten. Her lips were a little bigger then, but that was because she hadn't grown into them yet. She had the same deep brown puppy dog eyes as she did now. Only now they had more fear and sadness in them.

She used to be so innocent, she sadly thought. I cannot remember when I was as innocent as that. I wonder what happe-... Then she remembered. She had killed this girl's, Jade's, brother right in front of her. A stab of guilt burned through her.

She started a mental search for these cars, planes, and anything else of this time. She saw flashes of big metal machines with wheels going by. Cars, people use these to get around, she told herself. She was certain about this, after all, she had been reading minds for hundreds of years now. Next she saw huge flying machines called planes. The flashes started coming faster as she saw computers, television, clips of wars that Jade had learned about in history, and everything else she had every seen, heard, or learned.

Ragana let go of her as she stepped back. Jade swayed forward. She put her hands on the ground to keep herself from falling over. Her head was swarming with images of everything she could remember. Looking up, she slowly pushed herself back into a sitting position. She was still trying to get her head on straight when Ragana said, "Let's go. I have to get some clothes and find a place to stay." Her feet moved then stopped as she realized she would have to wait for young human.

Slowly, Jade got up. She froze when she saw how Ragana was looking at her. With such intensity that it made her go cold. "What?" she managed to get out. Her heart was sore and her body was tired, she was just wanted to go home.

"We have to take care of something first." She moved to stand in front of her.
Jade’s arms fell to her sides as fear held her in place. Ragana pulled her by the shoulders, and tilted her head to one side to expose her neck. Nervous sweat lightly covered her skin. She watched as her canines grew. Her eyes became more silver than blue, but the blue that you were able to see was the color of the sky. She thought she was going to die of fright.

"This is going to hurt," she warned her before she dug her teeth into her neck.

It stung at first. Jade could feel her sucking her blood. She wanted to fight but knew Ragana would kill her without hesitation. Closing her eyes, she let her finish.

When Ragana pulled away Jade swayed forward again. She caught her since the poor child was too dazed to help herself. "You'll be okay," she assured in a soft tone. Slicing her left wrist she placed it to her lips, "Drink." Jade did as she was told. Ragana’s blood had a sweetness to it that tasted like honey. Before she knew it, she was enjoying it. "That's enough. I don't want you getting sick." Ragana gently took her hand away. Feeling dizzier than ever, Jade suddenly felt weightless. The floor beneath her feet rocked as the walls continued to switch sides. Ragana had to carry her out of the sewer.

Awakening of the End: Chapter 2

Gasping Dedra sat up, holding her throat. It was just a dream, she told herself. But it seemed so real; too real. This simple fact bothered her. The fear of the blade coming at her throat scared her more than it should have since she was a vampire hunter. “I have to get over this human flaw,” she mumbled to herself with a soft, disappointing, shake of her head.

She looked at the digital clock on her nightstand and seven thirty shined back at her. “I’m going to be late,” she cried as she jumped out of bed. In her hurry her foot got tangled in the sheet. She tumbled to the floor and banged her elbow on it. “Ouch, shit!”

What a way to start the day, she mentally sighed as she lay on the floor, staring at the ceiling. Pulling herself up she quickly hopped in the shower. With her robe loosely tied around her she ran to her closet to throw on her undergarments, blue jeans, a white fitted tank top, and a pair of comfortable shoes. After her last lace was tied she grabbed her books and ran for her car.



“You’re late again Miss Jones,” Mrs. Nelson said in a critical tone as Dedra interrupted her class.

“I know. I’m sorry,” she replied as she sat in her seat.

“I know. You always are,” she said before she returned to her lessons.

Ivy leaned forward to talk to Dedra though her eyes stayed on the teacher. She didn’t want to get caught in her taunting. “At least you could have had the decency to wear something nice for once in your life.” She smugly smiled as she sat back in her seat. Though her comment was childish she felt extremely good about it.

“She does look nice,” Eddie quickly came to her defense. “Of course you wouldn’t know that. After all, you did wear that today.” He eyed her outfit with his left brow raised in awe of her bad taste.

She was wearing ankle high white boots, a white skirt, and a little pink top. “Excuse me, but this is in,” she motioned to her outfit.

“Maybe where you’re from, but here on earth, it’s out.”

“Fag,” she spit the insult at him.

“Do you two mind? I’m trying to teach a class here,” Mrs. Nelson interrupted in an irritated tone. She quickly put a end to whatever fight was about to begin.

“Sorry,” they apologized.



After school Dedra and Eddie quickly found Geneva so they could go to Dedra’s house. “So what happened last night?” Geneva asked. She helped herself to a bag of chips she found in one of the kitchen’s cabinets.

“Something happened last night?” Eddie asked. He took the chips out of her hand to place them in his mouth.

She shot him a dirty look before answering. “Yeah, but she won’t tell me what.”

”I didn’t say I wouldn’t tell you. I just wanted to wait until later," Dedra corrected her as she sat in a chair at the table.

“Well, it’s later,” Eddie pointed out as he sat next to her. “So do tell.”

She told them of her adventure of the night before and of her strange dream. She left out the details of Dionsus though. That was one thing she wanted to keep for herself. “Wow, now that’s what I call a night,” Eddie said. He dropped the last crumb in his mouth as he finished Geneva’s bag of chips.

She got up to get a soda. “Yep; I’m your regular party animal.” She turned to look out the window and saw a woman standing there. Shocked, her fingers lost their hold on the can. The woman had a creamy complexion with short black hair with red streaks in it. She was wearing gray slacks and a purple sweatshirt. Her darks eyes were focused on Dedra.

“Dee, what is it?” Geneva asked, jumping out of her seat to help her friend. She rushed forward and gently placed her hand on her shoulder. “Dee, what is it?” she repeated as she looked out the window, not seeing anything.

“Don’t you see her?” she asked, never taking her eyes off the strange woman outside her window.

“See who?” Eddie asked with a hint of worry in his voice. He stared out the window, not having a clue what was wrong with her. Women, his wondered. “I don’t see anyone,” he admitted. He grew tired of looking out it and looked back at her. He stepped between the two women to gently grab her shoulders to he turn her to face him. “Look Dee, there’s nobody out there.” She started to protest but he continued; “You had a stressful night and now you think you’re seeing people who aren’t there.” He searched her eyes in hopes of seeing reason in them. His eyes were pleading with her to stop this nonsense. “It could happen to anyone,” he tried to assure her as well as himself.

“Not me,” Geneva said with certainty.

His back straightened as he told her to shut up with a hard look. “It could happen to anyone,” he tensely repeated. She could hear the warning in his voice. She wouldn’t dare say another thing.

“What are talking about? She’s right the-“ She stopped mid-sentence when she realized nobody was there. “She was there,” she said as she pointed out the window. Over her head Geneva and Eddie shared a doubtful look. Stubbornly, Dedra stomped to the door. She would prove them wrong. She would! “You have to believe me. She was right there, just outside the window.” She stood in the doorway, and looked up and down the street for the mystery woman. She had to be out there somewhere; Dedra wasn’t the kind of person to see things.

Geneva moved to stand behind her so she could pull her back inside the house. “Sure she was,” she said it the way you would say to it to a child whom you were trying to comfort. Eddie shut the door as Dedra continued to claim she had seen a woman across the street.

When they were back inside the woman headed to her car.


“Why are we doing this again?” Jade asked as she crept closer to her boyfriend Shy.

“To see if the story is true, once and all,” he glanced over his shoulder just as long enough to remind her.

“Not to mention we get out of school for a day,” Jade’s younger brother, Lee, added.

They stopped when they came to a fork in the sewer. “So, right or left?” he asked. He shined his flashlight down the right tunnel then the left one.

“Well the story goes ‘to right her wrongs is why they buried her along’ “Lee quoted.

He held the beam of light to shine on him. “What’s that suppose to mean?”

“I don’t know but that’s what it says,” he admitted as he covered his eyes. “Now get that damn thing out of my face.”

Feeling a surge of anger his jaw set. This is not the place to get lost. Damn him, he bitterly thought. “What do you mean you don’t know?” His voice grew louder with each word he said. “I thought you knew what the hell you were doing. If I-”

“It means go right,” Jade calmly intervened. She was bored with the way the guys would always try to dominate each other to be the alpha male.

The guys looked at her. “How do you know?” Lee asked.

She didn’t take her eyes off of the right tunnel to address him. “ ‘To right her wrongs is why they buried her along,’ ” she re-quoted. Her face was a cool mask as she kept her steady gaze onto him. “Don’t you see, right her wrongs? Right,” she stressed the one word. “As in down the right tunnel.” Her attention slipped back to the tunnel.

“Okay; right it is,” Shy proclaimed as he headed in that direction. He didn’t wait for either of his traveling buddies to follow him. The water lapsed over his shoes with every step he took. The further he went the deeper and darker it became.

Somewhere down here she was buried and Jade knew it. She could feel it. It was like a great hand was pulling her towards the lost legend. It was crying out to her. It wanted and needed her to free it. She tried a number of times to stop walking, but her feet wouldn’t listen. They continued to move forward, taking her closer and closer to this evil forsaken thing of the past. She tried to speak out, but found she couldn’t open her mouth. She was too scared of what they were about to find.

“Dang, how much further do we have to go?” Lee asked as he covered his mouth and nose. The air was the foul odor of rotten trash. “It sticks down here.”

“Of course it does dumb ass,” Shy replied as he continued going deeper into the tunnel. “It’s a sewer. What did you expect? For it to smell like roses?"

He stopped walking as his body tensed. “Man, I’m tired of you disrespecting me.”

“Oh really?” Shy stopped walking as well. He turned to completely face him. “And what are you going to do about it?”

He took a threatening step towards him. “I’m going to teach you a little respect. That’s what I’m going to do.”

Jade drifted away during their argument. She had seen them fight so many times that now it meant nothing to her. She noticed to the left the wall seemed to darken. As she stepped closer to it she saw it was because it was cracked.

“And how are you going to do that?” Shy asked, also taking a step forward. He was about the same size as Lee but he had more experience in fighting, and they both knew this.

“Guys,” she called over her shoulder. She eyed the darkness inside of it as she stood next to the crack. She was too afraid to poke her head into the unknown. She needed Shy’s flashlight; bringing only one had been a mistake on their part. “Guys, look at what I found.”

Neither of them wanted to back down from the fight but in the end curiosity got the best of them. “I think we found Sleeping Beauty,” Lee said, looking into the hidden room Shy’s light easily filled. It was painfully small. It had rough rock walls and to the left stood a concrete tomb. “So which one of us princes gets to kiss her and wake her up?” he asked in a mocking tone.

Shy’s eyes slid to look him. “You can smart ass. I’ve already found my princess.” He shot Jade a sideways glance before stepping through the crack. As she entered it she stumbled over her own feet. He easily caught her. “You’ve got to be careful sweetheart.” She gave him a thankful smile as she pulled away to get a better look at the place.

“You know, I expected something bigger,” Lee confessed from behind her.

“Sooo, she’s in there?” Shy asked. Disbelief covered his face he moved closer to the tomb. “Well, let’s get the top off and take a look at the old hag.”

“Tsk, tsk,” he said, shaking his head he slowly moved closer to the tomb. “So much disrespect, it’s Ms. Hag.” The guys shared a smile before focusing on the tomb again.

Jade stayed in the background as she watched them. She was lost in a state of bewilderment. She felt distance, as if the ground was splitting between them. The strange images clouding her mind didn’t allow any room for thought.

The guys used all of their strength to try and pry the tomb’s top off, but it wouldn’t budge. Shy let go of it to rub his stiff shoulders. “Damn, I think I pulled something.”

Lee set one of his elbows on the tomb’s top as he rested his chin on the heel of his palm. With laughing eyes he watched him rub his pains. “What a hero.”

The sound of loud tapping invaded Jade’s twisted mind. ‘The black rose stop wilting as a hammer nailed her coffin shut.’ No, she mentally screamed as her mind filled with dead blackness. Looking around she was determined to find the source of the irritating noise. She sighed with disappointment when she found nothing because rock walls surrounded her. Where could it be coming from, she wondered.

Don’t give up, a strange voice commanded. Fear gripped her heart as she did as she was told. Her free will was gone. She was now a doll for beings more powerful than herself.

Tap-tap-tap. Her eyes narrowed on a five-inch hole in the wall off to the side of Shy’s head. That’s where that awful tapping is coming from, her anger said. Her feet seemed to move by themselves, and she couldn’t stop herself from walking towards it. What’s in there? As she got closer her head throbbed. Tap, pain. Bright red merged with the blackness behind her lids with each blink she had. Determination filled her. She knew she had to stop it

Lee and Shy were too busy cracking jokes to notice her sliding by them. It wasn’t until she was on the tip of her toes that Lee glanced in her direction. “What are you doing Jade?”

Squinting, she wasn’t able to see inside the hole. It was too dark. Tap-tap-tap. But she could hear it, and that was more than enough to keep her motivation to keep inspecting it. “I’ve got to stop it,” she said to herself in a much softer tone than she normally used. Her right hand started to sink into the cold hole.

“Stop what? I don’t hear anything.” The intense look on her face worried him. Something was wrong with his sister.

“I have to stop the tapping. The awful tapping.” Her hand sank further into the hole. He watched as a little figure leaped out of it to bite her hand. She screamed, snapping her hand back to look at her new wound.

Rushing forward he tried to get to her first but Shy beat him to her. He gently took her hand into his own to inspect it like a good boyfriend. “Jade baby, are you all right?” he asked as he searched her dazed face for any sign she was okay.

“Of course she’s not. She just got bit,” Lee answered for her. His eyes darted across the ground for whatever had bitten his sister. Slowly, he leaned forward to look inside the hole. It wasn’t there. “Where is it?”

“Where is what?”

He looked at Shy as if he should have known what he was talking about. “The thing that bit her. It’s not in the hole anymore. Which means it’s somewhere out here.” He scanned the room again.

Shy wasn’t worried about the creature that had bit her. “So? It was a rat.” He watched as she slowly walked to the tomb. “If it try’s to bit you, step on it.” His eyes ran down her body. He would have it tonight. A small smile curved his lips as he went to be by her side.

Lee was sure it hadn’t been a rat. But what was it then, his mind hurt with the question. Taking a small step, he moved closer to them. “Shy,” he said in a tense voice. “It wasn’t a rat. It was something else, and I really think we should take Jade to the hospital to get it looked at. After all, it could’ve had a disease.”

Shy grabbed her hand to roughly inspect it again. A little blood ran from it but that was all. “It’s not bad. She’ll live.” Dispassionately he dropped her hand. His job was done.

Lee was shocked at how uncaring he was being to his girlfriend whom he so called loved. Jade didn’t seem to notice. She was still in that strange dazed state. It was starting to scare him.

Her bleeding hand slowly rose. With her mind locked on the coffin she felt numb to the world. Some unknown force was pulling her strings. Now she only did what she was made to do. She ran her lightly bleeding hand over the top of the tomb and down the crack across the middle of it. Lee’s heart went cold in his chest. He didn’t know how he knew but he did, that she shouldn’t be doing that. Jade, his mind whispered.

Numb

Jamie stood at the counter oblivious to her world. The customers came and went, never making a permitted impression on her. Large popcorn, small nacho; they all wanted the same.

In her mind dark thoughts painted with pain and longing kept her immune to anything anyone would say. She watched their mouths move, not caring for the words. Interesting is all she would think as she watched their lips push out and then pull back.

Weird. Her brows frowned. Do mine do that? She wanted to see, but she was already considered strange. Best for her not to do anything to make her co-workers think she was crazy.

Her body felt numb as she waited for the beat of her heart. It didn't come. I'm already dead, she mentally sighed, secure in the truth of the words. Standing in her spot she hid within herself, not wanting much but for the pain to end. The sky softened to velvet and she finally got to go.

But where, she wondered as she walked to her car. Keys in hand she honestly didn't know. Her stuff was scattered. She had no place to call home. Her men used her and her family smiled as they let her go.

I don't want to be here, she realized as the houses went by her window. It was all-fake. The world was fake. None of it mattered except for the life in the trees and the blood in the veins. But even that would pass. Her flesh felt cold.

She parked in her parents' driveway. Inside her mother slept, like always. She had given up on the world long ago, but not before it stole the strength she needed to finish the job. Jamie had the strength. She knew this world was bullshit. Filled with nothing more than lies and tears, and at nineteen she had seen more than her share of both.

She smiled at her cats as she walked to her room. She wanted to touch them, feel their soft fur one last time. But she wouldn't. Her fingers were numb like the rest of her. The thought of not being able to feel the few little beings that truly loved her was almost too much for her to take, so she decided not to think about it.

In her room, beneath her pillow, laid her savior. She had thought about this night for days, mentally preparing for the quick sting ahead. She didn't believe she would really do it. But after witnessing the mindless use of her body by others, and the neglect of her heart and mind she knew she couldn't stay in a world so cold. It was her choice, and she was making it.

One last shower and one last change, she was ready. The cold steel didn't penetrate the lonely cape she had wrapped around herself years ago. The red was beautiful against her creamy skin. A slight smile crossed her lips as she laid down to rest. Her soul was tired. The relaxing, forgiving music that was sleep filled her.

How much as she suffered at others' hands? How many fights had she gone through that wasn't her own? Too many; too much. This was her own. It was her choice and her doing. She left no note to explain. Why should she? No one had ever explained to her.

The beautiful music filling her soothed her mind as it healed her wounds. Yes, she had made the right choice. She was sure of it as she faded into the blackness filling her.

The blood soaking into her bed and sheets never bothered her as she mentally whispered her final goodbye to the world; the world that didn't care for the ones that lived in it. It couldn't, and if it couldn't then how could we?

Not Today

Janet stared into the unknown, wondering if she should go. No she would tell herself when the urge was too great. It may be dangerous. Someday she would care. Someday she would be brave and run out into the unknown to face the world she belongs to now. Someday; but not today.

Closing her window, she sat back on her bed and closed her eyes. She covered her ears. She became deaf and blind to all that was around her, and ignored the shame that filled her. This was her choice. Why should she be ashamed?

Feeling cold inside she wrapped herself in her blanket. This would warm her; heal her. It would make her feel strong again. This was all she could do to feel normal and right.

What had made her this way? She didn't remember. Had it been the lovers that had abandoned her after the harsh ways they used her body? Or was it the insults her family so easily threw at her in their drunken state? She really didn't know. But she did know that this was not the day she was willing to find out.

Ducking her head in the covers she closed herself off. Someday she would care. Someday she really would be brave and forgive, but that was not this day.

Awakening of the End: Chapter 1

Today

I have to find him, Dedra told herself. She was worried she wouldn’t find the guy she had been following as she looked down the street. It had to be him. I know it was. And I lost him; her reminded herself with disappointment.

The dirt bag she had been following was the last person to see Satet alive. Dedra recognized him from the description in the police report. When Dedra saw him for the first time what really caught her attention were his eyes. It wasn’t the fact they were hazel green, but that his pupils were outlined with a ring of bright emerald. She had never seen a human with eyes like that, at least not natural that way. That’s because he’s not human. He’s a bloodsucking leech, she told herself, halfway down the crowded street.

Satet’s body had been found in a field outside of town. There was no blood in her veins and no sign of how she was drained of it. The doctors and police working the case were at a loss, but Dedra knew what happened. It was her job to know what happened. This sap she was looking for had seduced Satet to join him on a ride out of town. He was probably laughing and joking until they were far enough away that no one would hear her scream for life. Then this monster, this leech, this vampire fed. Fed until it was satisfied, which ended up leaving poor, unsuspecting Satet dead.

What a pig, she thought as she eyed the people walking by her. She stopped when she spotted him. He was leaning on a building as he watched her with his un-nerving eyes. Her heart froze in her chest when she saw him turn to go down the alley.

She hesitated for brief moment before she pushed her fear aside to rush after him. As a vampire hunter she wasn’t going to let her doubts stop her from facing this beast in a dark, dead end ally. In fact, she preferred it. This way there would be no witnesses and she would have no reason to explain the way the world really was, and the coward wouldn’t be able to run from her.

She kept her eyes straight ahead as she avoided the trash that laced the ground. She could see the end of the alley was cluttered with beat up boxes and a dumpster. She slowed her pace when she walked by the dumpster in case he was hiding behind it. The rotten smell escaping the open lid knotted her stomach. God, she thought with disgust as she turned away from it. Not wanting to get dirty, she turned her attention onto the tall stacks of boxes. There were a few stacks he could hide behind. Her left hand hovered over her coat; ready to grab the stake in her belt.

From behind her came a male's voice singing "Dreams End" by Spiral Dreams. She felt her heart stop beating for the second time tonight as she silently cursed herself for being so dumb, she should’ve checked behind the dumpster. Damn her vanity.

How could I let him sneak up behind me? What kind of hunter am I, she wondered, as doubt suddenly shadowed her confidence.

Digging her heels in the ground she turned to face the vampire. He boldly stepped toward hers. She didn’t see any fear in him, though she was a hunter. Her pride pushed her chest out as she silently vowed to make him fear her.

He stopped singing to smile at her. It was a smile that meant trouble was coming. "Well Missy, it looks like you’ve gotten yourself into quite a mess here." He eyed the solid walls that surrounded them. "Doesn't it?"

"I guess it does," she coldly agreed, as she wrapped her left hand firmly around the stake.

She saw him look at her hand that was in her coat before meeting her eyes. His head tilted to the side as questions filled his eyes. "What do you have in your coat little one?" The smile was no longer on his face as a dangerous spark flashed in his eyes. He was a very deadly being.

Why am I here? She sometimes wished she could forget about her up bringing and not go after the kill. But vampires were predators that fed on her kind and it was her job to stop them, no matter how much fear they caused her. "Nothing," she replied, keeping her eyes on his. "I'm just having cramps. But you wouldn't know anything about that, now would you?"

He flashed her his dazzling smile again. He seemed to find her very amusing. "Actually no, I wouldn't.” He took a few long steps towards her tp fill in the gap between them.

Dedra felt her heart speed up. She was mentally preparing herself for the fight and the kill. I am the slayer, she reminded herself.

He let the smile slide from his lips as dark lust filled his eyes. "But I could help you get rid of them," he gently whispered, allowing the lit breeze to carry his words to her.

She eyed the dirt on his pants before looking at his face. She could see his canines had already lengthened as they slightly indented his lower lip. No matter how many times she saw them she couldn't get over how they looked. Sharp, yes they had to be, but they also looked delicate and thin. As if one gentle push from a finger would knock them out. But of course it took more than that, and Dedra knew that because she had tried it. Not all vampires she came across she killed right away. Some she experimented with; toyed with them for her own pleasures the way they toyed with humans.

He was so close Dedra could feel the body heat coming from him. "You're never going to have problems with them darn cramps again."

He reached out to restraint her arms, and was surprised when she bought her left hand up to shove the stake cleanly through his heart. His hands tightened on her before going limp as he fell to the ground. His body was finally able to catch up to his age. She watched as his hair fell out, and his muscles shriveled up. His skin rapidly decayed, making him appear as if he had been dead for years rather than just a few minutes.

She smiled to herself as she stared down at him. "Damn, I guess you can't help me with my cramps. Now can you?" Watching a vampire she killed die always filled her with a sense of power and pride. She felt a sense of self worth as well. She was saving people everyday. She knew she was important, and that facing her fear was worth it.

As her eyes slid over her kill she saw a tattoo above his left collarbone and then it was gone. She stared at him a few minutes wondering if she really saw anything then decided it didn’t if she had.

The sound of clapping coming from behind her stunned her for a second. After she collected herself she turned, ready to fight. No one was there. She was faced with only the brick wall. Clap, clap, clap. She turned again, but again, no one there. She spun in a circle, no one. Clap, clap, clap. Then she knew where it was coming from.

Looking up she saw a handsome man standing on the fire escape. He had short, silky brown hair and two slits for sad brown eyes. His soft lips were pulled back in an amused smile, meant to taunt anyone e turned it on. He had on a pair of black jeans with a black button up shirt. Black was defiantly his color in Dedra’s option.

He jumped off the fire escape and landed perfectly in front of her. She took a step back and almost fell over the dead body lying there. His head tilted to the side as he looked down at the deceased vampire. "Good job," he told her in a flat tone, unimpressed.

When he looked at her again he took the time to look her over. She had straight mid-back brown hair with hints of red in it. Her skin was soft and tan, she had almond shape brown eyes, and he couldn't help but notice, her bottom lip was slightly fuller than her top.

"Thanks," she whispered. She couldn't explain why but her heart wouldn't slow down. It’s because he surprised you, she assured herself. She didn’t want to admit that it could be anything more.

His eyebrows bunched together in confusion as he looked at the sap again. “I didn't know it took so much out of a person to just stand still, and drive a stake through someone else." His eyes twinkled at her with amusement. "Unless you’re really, really out of shape."

“I'm not out of shape! You just surprised me,” she protested, feeling very offended by is words.

"That's bad."

Now it was her turn to be confused. "Why?"

"Because I could have killed you." There was a hint of disgust on his face when he looked at the stake sticking out of the corpse. “And aren't hunters suppose to be ready for anything at anytime?"

"I don't think people popping out of nowhere counts."

“People popping out of nowhere is exactly what you deal with on a daily basics and should not surprise you,” he corrected.

“How did you know I was a vampire hunter?" she asked as she crossed her arms over her chest. This man was cute but annoying.

His looked at her as if she were dumb. "I don't know, maybe the stake was a little hint." He pinched his fingers together. "Or is that the new rave, carrying stakes around to stick into random people’s bodies?”

Feeling dumb she let her chin dip with slight embarrassment. Change the subject, her mind quickly ordered. "Where did you come from?”

"I was planning on talking to David, about what he did to that girl Satet.” His amused smile returned to its place on his face. "But instead I got to have the pleasure of watching you kill him."

"You’re a vampire hunter too?" I thought there was only one, she thought in amazement. She slowly looked him up and down and found herself measuring him. How many vampires had he killed? How long had he been a vampire hunter? Why had she not known about him? “How many of us are there?” she asked as she met his eyes.

His eyes lowered as he snorted to himself. “I was not going to kill him, I was going to talk to him.”

“He deserved to die.”

“Everything deserves to die. It is why we are here.”

“Not me,” she said shortly. She pushed her nose up into the air as she refused to believe otherwise.

He shot her a cold look as something dangerous glittered in his eyes. “Even you,” he whispered. He saw her swallow her fear. He took a calming breath as he looked away. “I should be going.”

"Wait." She didn't want him to leave. She had never met another hunter before. He looked at her with a what-do-you-want look upon his face. Embarrassed, she looked at the tip of her shoes. "I don't even know your name," she finally said, trying to ignore the knot growing in her stomach. Why did I say anything? she wondered, feeling rather dumb at the moment.

He smiled a genuine smile this time instead of the amused one he had used this whole time to mock her. She liked how it made him look, but she could still see the sadness lingering in his eyes. “Dionsus." He turned and left.



"Mom," she called as she entered the house. "Mom are you here?" She went into the kitchen and right away she noticed the note on the refrigerator.

Dedra,
I had to go to a dinner meeting. I'll be back later tonight. There's chicken in the microwave if you're hungry. Love,
Mom

Great, she bitterly thought as she put the note aside. Her mom was never home. She sighed to herself before she headed to the microwave to get some chicken, but then decided she wasn't hungry after all. As she was passing the phone it rang. "Hello," she said politely into it, in case it was someone important.

"Dedra, where have you been?" It was Geneva, one of the two good friends Dedra had. The other one was Eddie. "I've been calling for over an hour, and you and I both know it doesn't take an hour to walk from my house to yours."

"I know. Look Geneva, it's been a long night and I just want to go to sleep. So could this wait until school tomorrow?" She rested her head on her arm as she leaned on the wall.

"No, this can’t wait.” Dedra could hear the anger in her voice but didn't care. "I was worried about you Dee. So tell me, what happened?"

"I will. Tomorrow; goodnight." She hung up the phone before Geneva could say anything else. With her body heavy with sleep she went to her room to let it rest.


She felt herself slip into blissful sleep mode. She dreamt she was in a white room with light mist floating in the air around her. While she was walking through the mist a dark figure appeared. She slowly drew closer to it and saw it was Dionsus. He was dressed the same as when she saw him for the first time tonight. He even had the same damned, amused smile on his face.

A cold chill ran up her spine as she approached him. "Dionsus, where are we?" she asked in a quivering voice, never taking her eyes off his.

Why am I so scared, she asked herself, not sure what was going on.

"Nowhere.” He raised his brows as he admitted; "Everywhere. How am I supposed to know? It’s your dream." Suddenly she felt cold all over. Hiss face-darkened as he looked passed her. "Don't turn around," he warned her.

She couldn't help herself; she had to turn around. Behind her stood a beautiful average size woman with long curly hair. She had on black pants, combat boots, and a fitted white tank top. Dedra’s eyes narrowed as she looked at the wooden dragon on her necklace. Who wears wood as jewelry, a distance part of her asked.

Out of the corner of her eyes she noticed that in the woman's hand was an old fashion dagger, but before she could get a good look at the details on the hilt the strange woman in front of her smiled. "You should've listened to him." With a quick movement of her wrist she slit Dedra's throat.

Will of the Waves: Chapter 1

The Death of the Girl

The wall painfully met her shoulder as she crashed into it. She was sure it was going to leave a bruise. She grabbed the top of the oak cabinet, trying to steady herself. This storm was much wilder than expected. The door opened, stealing her attention. Sinn walked in. It took the weight of his huge body to shut it again.

“Sinn.” She stumbled towards him. “How be me father?”

He ran his hand over his wet baldhead to sweep the water off. His lips turned into a smirk. “Well, as always.”

Relief slumped her body. “And t' ship?”

“A sail be down.” He shrugged, showing he was not worried about it. “It be nothin' we cannot handle.”

“And t' crew?”

He laughed. His lids lowered, hiding his amusement. “I be happy t' hear you care.”

Gentina scowled at him, her hands going to her hips. A wave hit the boat and knocked her to the side. She threw out her arms to balance herself from falling. “I care.”

“Only after t' ship and your father.”

She playfully shrugged. “Of course.”

He shook his head as he lovingly watched her approach him. His muscled arms crossed over his chest as he forced his face to harden. ”What be you doin'?”

“Goin' out t' t' deck.”

His eyebrows rose with interest. “Oh, you believe you can better me?”

She stumbled some more. If only the damn boat would hold still she’d be fine. “Of course.”

His chest bounced laughter. "You be a arrogant one.”

She fell but caught his arm before she hit the ground. Her smoky eyes met his. “I be me father’s daughter.”

He had never heard truer words spoken at sea. “True,” his eyes softened as he pushed his chin up. “But you be still not goin' out thar. Your father will feed me balls t' t' shakes as he nails me feet t' t' wood meant t' weight me down.”

She laughed because she knew it were true. “You be silly.” She held onto his forearm as she swayed with the ship.

“Am I,” his brows wrinkled with disapproval.

Her face sobered. She knew her father just as well as him. “Why be you not gettin' knocked around?” She inched closer to the door.

“It takes more than our precious sea t' get t' better o' me.” His lips pinched together in stubbornness as he noticed she was still trying to get out.

Her hand settled on the knob. She felt Sinn’s presences close behind her. “I just want t' glance outside once. I want t' know how it be t' truly be a pirate, instead o' a protected lass.” She stared at the door. She wanted to open it, but wouldn’t until he said she could. Her feet were spread, holding her steady for the moment.

“Okay,” he softly gave in. “But only a look.”

“Only a look,” she promised, turning the knob. The wind threw her back into him.

His strong hands grasped her shoulders, determined to keep her safe. The rain attacked her face. She slightly turned her face away from it, but refused to turn completely away.
The sky was gray and ugly as the waves battered the ship, tossing it left then right. A few men fought to control a loose sail. They didn’t want to lose it since it was the center one.

Her father stood with his back to the rail as he shouted orders. She saw Jove slip on the wet deck. She took a step forward, wanting to grab him before he slid off the ship. He saved himself by grabbing the rail. He feet were off the ship but thanks to his hold he was still onboard. Her father was the only man to look at him and see what had happened. The others were too busy trying to save the sail. Jove’s left hand slipped.

“No,” she screamed, unaware when she did it. One of the men was going to fall to their death, and all she was allowed to do was stand here and watch. She struggled against Sinn’s hold to no avail; he was much too strong.

Her father’s eyes met hers. Her brows lowered in distress. His face was a stone. He knew what he had to do for his daughter, if for no one else. He braved the slippery deck for another man’s life. "Continue with that sail," he yelled to the crew.

She calmed as she watch her father play hero. Jove had a hold of the rail with both hands again. His feet slid and kicked off the side of ship. It appeared as if he was going to fall. Her jaw set in worry as she watched her father only slightly struggle to pull him up. Both fell back onto the deck of the ship. She smiled, resting her body on Sinn’s.

“Let us close t' door,” he said over her head as he stared out the opened door.

“Just a moment more,” she said, a hint of a plea in her voice.

His eyes drifted down to her. She was seeing her father as a hero, a way no pirate should ever be seen. Except, perhaps, by a daughter, his mind whispered. “A moment more,” he caved.

Her father shouted at Jove, chasing him away. He proudly rose to his feet as he watched his men. He knew they would beat this storm, as they had done many times before. He met his daughter’s smoky eyes through the rain and gave her a small, reassuring smile. She was the best thing in his life; no pirate should ever be as lucky as him.

When he broke their eye contact she chanced a look at the sea. It had clamed. Her feet swayed less. We have won, she mentally told it. Her lips smugly curved.

If she had heeded the past warnings of her shipmates she would have known better than to tempt the sea. She was a moody bitch. In the distance the water gathered beneath the surface. When none expected it, she struck.

Fear closed Gentina’s throat as the wave rose out of the deep blue sea. Her father turned as the wave crashed down on him. She almost collapsed as she watched in horror as he was knocked off his feet. If Sinn hadn’t had a hold of her she would have fallen, possible being tossed around as the sea raged on.

“No,” she screamed when he father disappeared over the rail. Sinn’s fingers dug into her flesh as he held her back from running onto the deck. “Father!”

The crew froze. One of them let go of the rope as he stepped towards the rail. “Our captain,” he mumbled, feeling and looking lost.

“Let me go,” she screamed, her throat pinching in protest.

“He be gone.” Sinn bowed his head in respect. Lost in thought he wasn’t ready for the pain that exploded in his shin. “Shit,” he mumbled, holding his leg instead of the girl.

She slipped and stumbled to the rail. The wind tried to push her back, but she tightly held onto it. Below, her father was nowhere to be seen. Her warm tears merged with the rain, hitting her face. Her anger rose like the wave that stole her loving father. She violently reached down snatching a piece of wood from the broken mass to throw it into the sea, wishing to hurt it as it had hurt her.

Her fingers painfully dug into the rail as she fought to get her breathing under control. Her eyes burned with tears that hadn’t fallen yet. She was a pirate no matter what anyone else said, and pirates didn’t cry. They cut their loses and moved on.

Sinn stayed back as he gave her the space she needed. She squared her shoulders, as she got ready to face the others. When she turned he saw a difference in her. Strength, not there a moment ago, a distance any one could cross. A mist formed over her eyes, closing her off from everyone.

“Get back t' work,” she yelled at the men. She took a step and slid a few feet. She refused to acknowledge it and continued forward. “Hank, get t' rope and help t' others get control o' that sail. If it be lost it will be on you!” She clenched her fists at her side as she dared him to challenge or disobey her. He did neither.

Sinn stayed where he was, watching the girl become the woman before his eyes. The wind sent her brown hair this way and that, but it could no longer toss her. Watching her father die had steeled her back. She could do this.

The sail was tamed and tied to the mass. It was secure. “Go down below, except you, Pevake. You will stay with me at t' helm.”

He obeyed. They all obeyed only Chicory, who paused to look at her. He stared at her with narrow, angry eyes. “Is somethin' amiss?” Sinn asked, stepping in his way so he couldn’t watch Gentina.

He forced himself too look away from her to look into the bigger man’s eyes. He pushed his resistance aside, now was not the time. ”No Sinn.” His feet shuffled as he went below deck with the other men.

She braved the rest of the storm, as a good captain would do, at the helm. Sinn stayed as well and was amazed that she held herself together. She had never been so hard. What happened within her he could only imagine, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to.

The stars slowly came out to fill the sky. Her skin goosed as the cold settled around them. She swallowed. “All is calm,” Pevake told her, feeling awkward. He glanced uneasily at Gentina. “Captain.”

Her eyes dropped at the sound of the title. Her father was captain, not her. Your father is dead, her mind reluctantly reminded her. A knife twisted in her chest. “Good,” she replied.

“Captain,” he turned towards her. “You can go rest. It has been a long day for all o' us, but especially you.” Her fiery eyes snapped to his face in warning. He dropped his chin to look at the deck. “Sorry ma’am.”

Her eyes drifted to the calm sea that now appeared like glass. Now it was beautiful when before it had been terrifying. She suddenly felt sick. “Are you sure you will be okay?”

“Positive.”

“If you need any help then come and get me.” Though she wouldn’t know what to do. He father hadn’t taught her much about running a ship.

“Do you want me t' come?” Sinn asked as he took a step towards her.

“No,” she said softly. “I can take care o' meself.”

She went to the cabin her and her father had shared. Her bed was in a small private room, while his was in the main one. Everything looked different to her after she lit the candles. His stuff was everywhere.

The bed she chose for him in Italy. The table he had forced someone to carve for her in France, so she could decorate herself the way all girls do. Her eyes drifted to the top of the table. The diamond-laced necklace he had taken from a Spanish ship shined up at her. A strained smile touched her lips. The jewels were cool against her hot flesh when she picked it up. She carried it with her to the bed, his bed.

With her free hand she gently brushed the blanket as she slowly circled the bed. Her feet stopped when there was no more room to step. She stared at the pillow, the pillow his head had been on every night before this night. The pillow he would no longer use.

Her knees gave way as she slowly sank onto the bed and stared at it. The mattress was curved to match his body. She caressed the silky fabric of the pillow surrounded by his scents. His pipe smoke laced the walls. He had enjoyed his tobacco.

She raised the necklace to her chest, to her heart. Her brows met with sorrow as she rested her head on his pillow, staring at the wall he had always stared at.

Never again will he lay here. Her face crumpled as her strength left her. No more on this night would she be the woman she had to be. She would be the girl one last time, one last time to grief for her father properly. One last time to weep for the love she has lost. One last time before she buried that side of her for good to embrace the strong, brave, possibly cold, being she was going to have to be to make it at sea.


Sinn woke her the next morning with a heavy heart. He wished he could let her sleep. He wished he didn’t have to watch her go through all she was going to have to go through. He wished he could do more for her than hand her, her father’s old deadly sword. He wished for many things, but at sea all that meant nothing, except weakness. The strong never wished because they took what they wanted as she was going to have to learn this day.

“Come young one, it be time t' prove yourself worthy o' this room.”

She wiped the sleep from her eyes as she pushed herself up. “What be you sayin'?”

“Our captain be gone. He left no first mate.” She stared up at him with blank eyes. He rolled his eyes as he looked at the wall above her head. “One has voiced a challenge against you t' be captain. You and him must settle this before t' crew does.”

She rose to her feet to stare him, still not taking the sword from his hand. “Who would do that? I am rightfully captain!”

His eyes burned into hers, with s fire she didn’t understand. It was the pirate’s fire; she didn’t have it yet. But she will, his mind purred, if she lives long enough. ”Chicory believes he should be captain.”

“He would,” she whispered, pushing her hair off her forehead. “T' others?”

“Are choosin' t' stay out o' it. Not all agree you should be captain, but all have too much respect for your father, and all he’s done for them t' betray you.”

She nodded to herself. “So if I take care o' Chicory I will not have t' worry o' them?”

“Probably not, but no one really knows t' mind o' another man. No matter what he says.”

She sighed as she dropped her shoulders in disappointment. “I suppose I have t' go out thar.”

“I suppose you do.”

Her eyes slid up to meet his. A sheepish smile touched her lips. “No matter what, you will stand beside me?”

“I stand beside whoever has t' ship,” he said with curved lips.

She raised her chin with pride as she took the waiting sword. “That will be me.”

“Then I be beside you.” He inclined his head as he bowed like her servant.

She bucked the belt around her waist as she walked to the door. Before walking out to face Chicory and whoever else wanted to stand against her she took a deep strengthening breath. “Father, be with me,” she prayed.

“He is,” Sinn whispered, standing close behind her.

She nodded to herself as she turned the knob. Outside the sun was bright and harsh on her just awakened eyes. When the crew saw her they parted just enough so Chicory and her could see each other

His feet were spread and his hand rested on his sword. A cocky smile touched his lips as he watched her approached. She slowly, calmly walked towards him. She eyed the crew as she did. Their eyes fell with shame. She placed one foot in front of Chicory and then the other. Her chin rose as she looked up to meet his eyes. “Chicory,” the name was crisp coming from her lips. “Do you disagree with somethin' that you would like t' brin' t' me attention?”

His lids lowered with distaste. “No, perhaps you do since I be now captain.”

Her brows rose as her head inclined to the side. "Oh really, how so?”

“No one knows this ship and crew better than I.” He eyed the men with a confident smile. His hand was still resting on his hilt of his sword. “And I can sail.” His eyes fell on her. “Can you?”

“Me father was captain!”

“And?”

Her brows fell with dismay, she felt herself sinking. “What?” Her brow smoothed as she collected herself. “What o' last night?”

His smile dimmed. “What o' it?”

“No one but I took control. No one but I was able t' lead us out o' t' storm.”

“I,” he started to protest.

She cut him off with her own cocky smile. “Were starin' after me father like a lost child. If not for me brains t' sail would have been lost.” She crossed her arms as she leaned back on her heels. ”See Chicory,” she spoke as if he was a child. “If thar be nothin' here,” she tapped her skull. “Then t' sailin' really be pointless, be it not?” Her eyebrows rose and fell in acknowledge me that she had won. Her point had been made. She eyed the crew, only their thoughts mattered. They looked at her with acceptance and him with distaste. She was captain.

“Fine. If words will not prove my point then this will.” He drew his sword. He bowed as he spoke his next words; “See little sea princess, brains do not matter with pirates if thar be no fire. And I do not believe you have it.”

The sight of the un-sheath sword had startled her but she quickly regained herself. Slowly she drew her own. “We do not have t' do this,” she calmly told him.

He wickedly grinned at her. “You mean, you do not want to?”

She held her sword to his with her eyes darkening. “But I will.”

The crew stepped aside. The winner would be captain, and the loser would be whatever the captain chooses. This was a deadly dance meant for two. He tried to lead, but was not strong or swift enough. Her father had not taught her to handle a helm, but he did teach her how to handle a sword. All women should be able to defend themselves, especially at sea he had said.

She blocked his sword with her own. Putting her body weight behind hers she pushed him back a few steps. His anger took charge of him, making him act without thought. He raised his sword and opened up his mid section. It was only for a second, but that was all she needed. She stepped aside and lashed out with her blade. It cut the skin above his ribs.

His chin dipped so he could look at it. She cut me, he realized as the blood appeared on his shirt. She used the tip of her sword to raise his head so she could meet his eyes. “Drop t' cutlass,” her voice held no emotion.

His wide eyes stared into hers with disbelief as he dropped his sword. His hands rested at his sides. “Now what?” He breathed a soft mocking laugh. “You kill me?”

Her lids lowered as her hand tightened on the hilt of her sword. “Step back.” His thick brows frowned in question as he did as he was told. “And another.” She kept her sword to his throat and added pressure to keep him going. He stopped when the rail pressing against his back refused to budge.

His throat pushed into her point and his skin was cut when he swallowed. “Now what?”

“Climb.”

He cocked his head, not understanding what she meant. “What?”

She pushed the tip deeper into his flesh. Her eyes were cold. “Climb,” she repeated.

He eyed the others for help. They weren’t going to help. At sea you were on your own. He straightened his back before doing as he was told. Holding onto the rail he looked at her because he didn’t want to look over his shoulder into the sea below. He had seen enough of his fall during the climb. “Now what?” he whispered.

She flicked the sword to the ocean. “Take a walk.”

“We be miles from land. There be sharks in these waters,” he pleaded, his pride now forgotten. Her eyebrows rose, un-amused. He had never seen her this cold and uncaring.

“Then I suggest an early start and as for t' sharks,” she smiled a heartless smile. There was no hint of her old self in it. “Walk quietly.”

Their eyes held as he tried to find mercy in hers. Finally, he smiled. “All be well, sea princess, I will walk. But when we meet again, I will be takin' back this here ship.”

“Never,” she promised him in a heavy voice.

He took a breath before, releasing the rail. She looked down to watch him hit the water. She didn’t lower her sword until he was swimming away. She forced herself to not care about what was going to happen to him. I am a pirate, her mind commanded of her.

She turned to face her crew. Sheathing her sword, she rested her hands on her belt. “Anyone else disagree that I be captain?”

“No,” numerous shouts said as their head shook.

She nodded. “Hank, take t' helm. Pevake, you can go rest.” She walked along the deck, her deck, to Sinn. She eyed the crew as they eyed her back. Her face relaxed as she rolled her eyes. “T' rest o' you get t' work. There be a fallen mass that stills has t' be removed from this ship and Hank cannot sail this ship by himself.”

Feet ran as they got to work. Sinn and her stood next to one another. “Well done.”
She licked her dry lips. “Thanks.” She didn’t feel like she had done a well job.

“Now what?”

“Now,” she stared into the horizon. “We continue on t' way me father would.” A smile touched her lips. “Did he not say t' Spanish treasure ship would be on route soon?”

His lips curved in return. “Aye, I do believe he did.”

“Then let us go make our names.”

He loudly laughed, glad to see she seemed okay and up to the task of being their captain. “You heard her men, time for another lootin'.” Howls of encouragement filled her ears. I can do this; she knew deep inside herself that these words were true.