CHAPTER 04

Chapter 04: Deal

Cold, my body is freezing. I couldn't bring myself to open up my eyes due to my fatigue. Too heavy. I can feel my entire body screaming in pain.

I know.

I know to myself that this isn't a dream. I already cried a bucket but it didn't change anything. Why did all of this happen to me? Is my messed up life still not enough that I have to experience this too?

Yes, I did ask for freedom. Freedom from my family, the people, the responsibility. But not like this. I don't want this. I did not sign up for this, it's too much for me to bear. Because of this, I lost someone important to me. I hope that Clara survived but as I stayed here, I couldn't help being hopeless in life.

"Here, wipe your tears with this." a calm voice said. I opened my eyes as I get up in a wooden bed.

A mullet- a black-haired guy and very deep black eyes. I know him but I wish I didn't. No friend would want his/her friend to be in danger. His eyes are full of guilt and dismay but somehow I can sense that he's kinda glad about something.

"I never taught we'll be seeing each other again. Though I didn't imagine that it'll inside our ship," he said. I looked at him dryly, I just couldn't bring myself to look at him like before now that everything got much clearer in my head. I'm not just angry because he is a pirate but also because I thought he is my friend yet he is part of the people who destroyed the port. They killed my people, and I'm not even sure about Clara.

"You can keep that filthy handkerchief of yours. I don't need that." I coldly demanded.

"Then at least eat your share. It's been two days and you didn't even try moving your food, even a single bite. Just so you know, You're sick." he said as he withdraw his hand from giving me his handkerchief.

"No thank you." I replied. " you shouldn't have saved me back then." I added.

"Vienna."

"Stop calling my name."

"Then at least something."

"Can you just please shut up!? Mr. Jake the pirate?" I angrily shouted. And looked down. I hate to do this but what they did was completely crossed the line as a human being.

I heard him cussed and heavy footsteps then the next thing I knew was him slamming the wooden door as hard as he could.

My tears started racing in my face again. For these past days, I always found myself crying. I want to run and escape but the moment my body feels the ship's movements and look at the window and saw the ocean's scary waves as if it's want to eat me alive, my knees would start trembling. I always have trauma with the ocean waves but then I realized. The scariest thing in this world is not the ocean but the humans and their capacity on doing things. They can do good as well as bad. They can kill someone easily.

Oceans are scary but the people living in them are much scarier. To be honest, I don't have any ideas what's pirates truly are since I only did read them on a piece of compiled paper with a dusty cover lying at the topmost shelves in our library. But those burning manors, the weeping of the people in the port is enough for me to know that pirates are purely cruel. They didn't care about what will happen to the people and they only think about their greediness and selfishness.

They are thieves, they kidnapped people and sell them to make a slave to someone, somewhere we don't even know if it's safe. Especially for me, I don't know where they will sell me and who will buy me. I am scared about the fact of being a slave, they can easily kill me just because I am a slave. I am not alone, other people were caught too.

I don't know what to do. What should I do? What am I supposed to do? I couldn't even help myself, how can I save my people?

I want to help them but even I couldn't help myself in this situation. I was trained. I skipped playing and just focused on studying and training again and again and now, I don't know anymore already. I'm so drained. But it's not the time to feel hopeless, I have to fight back. Not by force but by my wits.

I looked up, wiped the tears on my face, and wandered my eyes around the cabin I'm in, surprisingly it doesn't look bad at all. A study table with at least three to five books on top of it. A lamp, a quill pen, some pieces of blank paper, and a knife. A kitchen type one. Then I suddenly remembered, who changed my clothes? It's better to be a woman or else I won't be able to foresee what I'm gonna do to them. No one is supposed to touch other than some chosen maids.

I coughed and felt a little dizzy as I walked inside the cabin. I looked at the window and saw a much calmer ocean and lots of busy workers. I wonder if they are all captive by the pirates or there are the pirates themselves. You can never really identify which one is the pirates or not, they all look the same. Maybe if this doesn't happen to me I might think they are all benevolent and righteous.

I saw my dress hanging beside the cabinet. I took it and wore it, it's not that dry but bearable enough. I also took the knife and hide it in my dress, I'll do anything just to get out in this mess even if I have to befriend those pirates. I mastered the skill of acting for political purposes, I can also use it here.

I had enough of all of these things, I just can't cry like a baby in here and do nothing. I am the future ruler of my empire, I should be bold and strong for my people. 

As I was about to open the door, it suddenly swung open, and there a man almost 6-foot tall stand in front of me, staring at me directly in the eyes. His messy ponytailed hair covered his hazel-nut eyes gives familiarity in me.

This time, I also looked at him in the eyes not planning on losing in this staring contest. This time I will win but to my surprise, he avoided my eyes and stepped back, I saw him gulp. I don't want to say this but he kinda looks hot while doing it. 

I coughed and sneezed, I still have a mild fever and I haven't eaten anything. I turned around and return to the bed and sat back. He entered and locked the door and stand next to the cabinet facing me.

He just stared at me for seconds and sighed.

"So you and my brother knew each other huh, do you also know he's a pirate?" 

"If I knew he was then I shouldn't have helped him before and let him fall in that goddamn water but well my help will still be useless since he can just save himself because he is a pirate right? Pirates do live in water." I sarcastically replied.

"I see, you are different from the others." He said and took the bread on the plate that was placed at the table.

"You didn't even look scared talking to me and you even became friends with my brother who is known for being picky." He added.

"We're not friends anymore, for your information." I coldly said and stared at him. He walked towards me and gave me the bread he took.

I stared blankly at him.

"Take it and eat it." He ordered. How dare he ordered me. But I refused to budge.

"What? Don't you noble's eat bread and just meat? " he said dryly. Is he insulting me? 

"Noble? How can you be so sure?" I coldly asked.

"Your smooth hands, your milk-like white skin, even your silky wavy ebony hair that as dark as the night, and your delicate dress too. Anyone can say you're from a lady in a noble family." He described. I can't believe he said that, it's too detailed.

"I must be so valuable, like thousands of golds if you sell me huh," I replied and took the bread in his hand. I'm hungry and I have no other choice but to eat it.

"If that's what you think, drink those medicines. No one would like to buy a sick noble lady." He commanded.

I did what he said, he looks surprised that I obeyed him. Well, this is the start. I can swallow my pride if it means surviving this tide.

"Let's make a deal captain," I said after I finished eating the food. He looked interested.

"Speak."

"You are right, I am a noble lady, and I not like others, your words not mine."

"And your point?"

"You need some information about the neighboring town right? To be exact, the West City, Zraidfield. You are lucky enough that your men kidnapped me." I said while emphasizing the word kidnapped but he didn't even care.

"I knew everything inside and outside the borders, especially the towns. I can provide you with anything you want to know. You need me, with the two days I stayed inside this room I already knew what was happening. Your next stop is Zraidfield right?" I said then smirked.

"You are right. Then how are you gonna help us then?"

"Well, it depends on what you need captain. My knowledge is not for free." 

"Like, how to avoid the towers and knights? Name it." I added trying to lurk him.

"Why?" He asked and looked directly at me.

"Why what?" I asked confusedly.

"Why are you going to help us? You loathe us, pirates, keep mumbling how cruel and merciless we are and now you're dealing with us. Perhaps did you lost some bolts in your head when you fall in the water before? " he said that widen my eyes.

What the hell is he thinking about. I massaged my temple and looked deadly at him.

"I still do and will always do. You already said it, deal. A deal is a deal. We both can get benefits in this deal." I said.

"In short, provisionary concord," I added.

"Okay sure, provisionary. Your word, not mine. Then what do you want from us?"

I inhaled deeply before continuing. 

"My protection. I want to secure my protection while I'm here." I confidently said. I heard him chuckle.

"Is that it?" He asked while smirking and crossing his arms. 

"No of course not. When the time I find the best time to escape here, you will never chase me. You'll ignore it and just let me escape." I added.

"Is that it?" He added. I raised my eyebrows at him.

"Ah yeah?" 

"Okay then follow me." He said and started walking toward the door and walked out. It took me seconds to digest things and started following him. I never knew it's that easy to make a deal with the captain.

I followed him and walked behind, hiding in his back. Lots of eyes are staring at me but when I started back, they'll start trembling and abruptly look down. A guy with a black eye patch in his left eye maybe around 50s waiting nearby the stairs. The Captain nodded at him and he nodded back and laid a gaze at me and nodded at me too. I nodded back and bowed my head a little and when I looked back at him, surprise screamed in his face. 

He smiled a little bit at me before ringing the giant bell attached to the giant wooden post. And after a few minutes, everyone gathered around the small platform. The Captain stood up on the platform.

I wandered my eyes a little bit and saw Jake together with that one-eyed man. I caught Jake staring at me but he automatically looked away. I kinda feel bad about what I did at him in the cabin. He just want to help me but I kept pushing him away.

3 o'clock to where I am standing, a familiar blonde girl with lovely blue eyes is standing. It's the one who's busking in the town of Shadense. She's with the same guys too. After wandering, I looked back at the captain.

"I called you all to tell all of you that starting today, that lady will be joining us. Any objections?" He said while pointing at me made everyone look at me at the same time. I looked down not because I'm afraid but because I'm uncomfortable with their stares.

Someone raised his hands.

"Captain, we want to know why you'll let her join us, The Hellbender?" he asked. 

The Hellbender? That aquatic salamander?

"A deal happened between the two of us. A deal that both of us can benefit." He answered honestly. Is he that opened all the time with his crew? 

"She'll join us and she'll guide us in Andra's border. She'll help us avoid those knights in exchange for her safety inside and outside of this ship. As long as she's with us, we have to make sure of her safety." he added.

"How can you trust her?" A guy with a large scar on his face interrupted.

"Trust doesn't need to make a deal Regor. If she'll try to disintegrate it, she will have to pay for it. And you all know I that charge big." He coldly said.

Many agree with their captain but some still don't look satisfied. I don't need their opinion though.

"Then I'll be showing in front of you all the lady we are all talking about. Come." He ordered. I sighed deeply and started walking confidently toward the platform.

With all my might, I faced them all. I feel like any minute by now my knees will betray me and will collapse on their own. I'm about to cry but I stopped it and controlled my emotions. I don't want to cry anymore.

"Let's seal the deal in front of them then." He said and took his knife and cut his palm with it making it bleed. I gulped when he positioned it in front of me. He handed me the knife he used but I refused to used it instead I remembered the knife I hid in my back.

I'm scared but still took the knife that is hiding at my back. I hesitated but still choose to closed my eyes and cut my palm too and shook his hand. A blood compact. After we shook hands, we both licked our palms to complete the contract.

Blood started dripping from my face down to my clothes. 

"Welcome to the Hellbender pirates. Lady?" He asked.

"Vienna," I replied.

"Vienna. Welcome, I'm your captain. Drake Maldice. Welcome aboard." He said and everyone started shouting in glee and lively music started enveloping the whole ship.

"Thank you, Captain," I said and fakery smiled. 

This is just the beginning. I will make sure to find my way back home and find my freedom. My greatest dream is to be free. I'll do anything even if it'll change me.

Even if it'll cost my life.