The Reaper's Wicked Obsession

Chapter 23: With The Sea Devils

(Music Recommendation: Smoke And Chains - By Colossal Trailer Music)

It was mayhem above deck, the periodic boom sound as cannons fired, the blast impact it caused to the ship, woods splintered violently, and shockwaves plagued the vessel.

The thick smell of gunpowder consumed the area making it difficult to breathe. A part of the ship was on fire as the sailors tried to put it out and resist the pirates but it was a hard feat.

Isadora was being dragged away, her vision spun and her head hurt from all the loud noises. Her body felt numb and everything else passed like a whirring background.

She was being taken away and yet she could not seem to struggle. Why was she like this? It can’t be because of that man, right? She cannot be worried about him, he’s dead!

She fought internally trying to block the unwanted thoughts from slipping through and causing a mass of confusion. For some twisted reason, she can’t seem to put her mind at ease.

One should feel at ease when her kidnapper/tormentor is dead right? Then what was this numbness to her body? Belonging to her and yet not? Like her soul was in a different body and her body refused to respond.

She shook her head once again and for a split instant her eyes found Rav fighting off a pirate, and then their eyes met.

Rav’s scarlet eyes in alarm as he chased after them but his advances were stopped as more pirates slowed him down. More flintlocks were fired and the heavy fire smoke blocked Isadora’s view.

Isadora didn’t even realize when they tied a rope around her waist and she was hurled to the pirate ship. Her senses kicked start the moment her body slammed on the floor hard, knocking out whatever had stunned her still.

She could feel the rain on her, clothes drenched and stuck to her body. It felt like she could finally breathe, drawing air harshly as best as she could, before coughing from all the smoke.

"We got the package. Sink the ship!" One of the pirates announced and a cheer followed by more battle cry.

An approaching footsteps caught Isadora’s attention and her eyes found dirty boots.

Her eyes trailed from it to a bald man with a big nose ring connected by a chain to his ear, his pointed ears were donned with round earrings too which Isadora thought might hurt.

He squatted to her size and yanked her by her hair causing a yelp from Isadora and her face to wrinkle in pain.

The man took an observed look around her features, noting her beauty and how unspoiled she was, but that was the least of what he searched for.

He let her hair go, grabbed her hands, and scrutinized them. His eyes glimmered triumphantly when he caught the red skull tattoo on her right wrist.

"The Pirate Lord will be pleased" he chuckled and then grabbed her hair again but this time to reveal her ears.

"The ship is resisting, Baldy!"

"How many times have I told ya not to call me that!" Baldy snapped, releasing Isadora and facing his crew. "And what’s this about the ship resisting, you should’ve sunk that thing below ages ago!"

"Well our men in there are yet to come out, mostly the first ones that went to get the lassie" he eyed Isadora on the floor. "Laughing Larry and Iron, I saw them dead"

"What you say makes sense" Baldy faces Isadora with a puzzled look. "How did a lassie like this fight off two of my best crew?"

Isadora couldn’t stop her teeth from chattering, her wide eyes on the pirates as they stared at her with curiosity like she’d all the answers to their bothered questions.

This stirred panic in Isadora’s heart for she had not comprehended her situation until now. She’s been sold to pirates and now on their ship as a captive... another scenario altogether. Why do the gods keep damning her further?

"Forget it! Cut contact and let’s move!" Baldy announced to his crew as they all got working. "The Pirate Lord loves punctuality" he grinned, flashing a look at Isadora that caused her to recoil.

With a whimper, she tried to crawl away causing them to laugh at her attempts.

"Where are you going, lassie? Nowhere to hide?" they barked in laughter.

Isadora forced her trembling body to her feet and tried to run but they gathered her prompting her to cease her advances.

However, that didn’t stop her from trying to push through but they grabbed her and she used that opportunity to take a weapon before pulling away.

"Whoa easy there lassie, wouldn’t want to pull your eye out would’ya?" Baldy pleaded. "Even though she pointed it the wrong way..." he erupted in a burst of hearty laughter and others joined in.

Isadora stared at the flintlock upside down. With a raised eyebrow, she set it straight and their laughter ceased. "Is this about right?!"

Baldy, having had enough of this play, stepped forward. "Enough games, why don’t you hand me that and I promise I won’t hurt ya"

’Men and their filthy promises!’ she thought as her insides ignited with rage.

Without batting an eye, Isadora pulled the trigger and the bang sound almost blocked her ears, she coughed at the puff of smoke. When the smoke cleared she glanced at what she did and a gasp escaped her.

A look of shock took over Baldy’s expression as he turned toward his crew standing beside him now having a hole in his arm. "She shot me!"

"Stop whining like a baby!"

Isadora dropped the flintlock like it was on fire and parted away as fast as possible. Her nerves were out of control. She just shot someone, she could have killed him!

"Well Thornfoot was wrong about this lassie" Baldy turned his eyes back to Isadora. "You’re not just some damsel in distress are ya?"

"INCOMING!"

A sudden shockwave found their ship and caused an imbalance.

Isadora held onto the bulwark for support, a sensation crawled up her spine, pulling her gaze toward commotion.

This sensation felt oddly familiar.