Sothshore stared at me in bewilderment as I finished my third plate of food before I moved onto my fourth. Cheese, bread, fish, chicken, and so much more were piled into my stomach while Ellen read off the ship's report. I could kind of tell she was...curious as to my behavior, but I couldn't help it. As soon as I had woken up this morning, I had been hungry. If ye could hazard a guess, then I'm sure ye could figure out why.
That said, I wondered why everything I ate seemed to be dropping into some type of abyss from which there was no substance. I could only eat, and eat, and eat, but nothing filled me up. It wasn't until my sixth plate that my stomach actually felt something akin to being full. I placed the sixth wooden plate down and exhaled.
"Did you really just feast upon a meal fit for seven or eight men?" Ellen asked.
"I cannot desire to have my hunger sated?" I asked. I found joy in the look that Ellen gave me. How was I to know that a night with the witch would drain me of so much energy? Hell, I ought to count my blessings that my soul wasn't sucked out of my mortal confines. I'd rather not say it, but I wondered if Liara actually tried to do that last night.
I heard Sothshore snort. "At least I got to see the witch limp from your quarters. I needed the hearty laugh," she replied before she finished off her report while I continued my ways into alchemy. The green liquid which I had concocted before Liara drove me into a sex-induced coma had gone cold. Of course, for what I was making, this was no big deal, but it only served to let me remind me that my regular business had awaited me after the pleasure.
If I had to give one disappointment about this morning, then it would have to be that Liara had not been with me when I woke up. As I perhaps said before, I do enjoy the sounds a woman makes when she awakens from her slumber next to me. Plus, the extra body makes the sheets warmer during the cold nights.
"Give it a few more days and you will be the same," I said, taking down jars and vials for my use.
I was quick to notice that Ellen's tiny laughter had faded away into silence. I crushed some leaves into tiny fragments before I poured them into the sticky cauldron as well. Thankfully, the fluids hadn't solidified yet. It made it much easier to weave into the mixture.
Next, I heard the distinct sound of Ellen sucking her teeth. "Aye, you never fail to remind me. Will you be expecting an apology from me for the previous comments before this little voyage of yours? Shall I puffer your ego when you demand that I tell you that you were right? Shall that be your reward for my doubt? Well, just to let ya know, I ain't apologizing for what I said before! If that be your desire, then you were clearly rewarded with the wrong person!"
I judged the way the water rushed through Ellen's body. I spared her no glance as I continued working. No doubt my silence must have infuriated her. Within the confines of me own mind, I wager I knew what she might have been trying to do. Perhaps even she knew as well, but refused to acknowledge it.
"You're dismissed, Ellen," I said. I then proceeded with a small show of juggling the formerly green, now dark blue liquid. From the cauldron, I tossed it up and jiggled it like some slimy toy that children might play with.
"Dare I ask what you want from me? I'm not some noble count's holy maiden daughter seeking out love from some gallant knight fucker! You clearly got no qualms fucking any other piece of spread legs on this ship! Why should I be any different?! Maybe I'll just go fuck someone that ain't willing to deign me a jester's toy!"
I heard the slam of my door behind me. I chuckled. Aye, still the fiery bitch that I love so much. However, Sothshore needed correcting on but a few things. I held no need to puff up my ego about being right. I already knew I was. Additionally, though I be a right bastard and a man full of Ares' lust, I don't just fuck anything with two open legs. Though I had dreamed and fantasied about dumping load after load of cum into her welcoming cunt, that was not all I desired of her.
Clearly, the fiery businesswoman held some resistance to understanding that. As I leaned back in my chair, I thought about her words. As I had stated before, I had no issues if my lovers had other partners. I rather find a thrill in it, but something in Sothshore's words made me reconsider these things. It served to remind me of Leah and my death. Her sweet kisses upon the lips of other men, her cunt massaging cocks like some cheap whore, and their hands caressing the body that had been my desire, filled my mind.
I continued to juggle my mixture in silence before I swirled it back into the cauldron. I dropped small pieces of iron ore into the pot and watched a significant amount of steam release itself. I scrunched my nose from the rather strong smell.
A knock on my door alerted me and I spoke. "Enter," I said.
The door opened and I noticed my mother open and close the door. She quickly placed her hand over her nose. "What manner of foul shit are you mixing with this time?" She asked.
"Something that should prove most meaningful in the days to come. Now, how might I aid you?" I asked.
My mother stared at me for a long while. She then glanced back over the door. "Something happen between you and Sothshore? She grabbed one of the workers by the scruff of his neck and led him to the lower decks," my mother replied.
I wondered if I had turned around fast enough that my mother would not have noticed the way the smile that had been on my face had lessened. "Mother, come here," I said.
The sound of her steps grew closer and closer until I grabbed her and pulled her into my embrace. I think by this time my mother was used to me doing this. She offered no resistance and simply shifted her ass for a better position. Ya might not think it possible that blood would even desire to rush into my cock, but it did. Soon, my dick was prepared for that old mating dance once again. That said, it did hurt a bit.
"Mother, if I wanted you to fuck or suck some other bastard's cock in front of me, would ya do it?" I asked.
My mother stared at me for a number of moments as if to gather her thoughts. I could tell that my question had upset her even if she didn't have the face to show it. What type of face would a woman who has sucked more than her fair share of cocks to keep our home running aught to have made?
"AUGH!" I groaned as I felt my mother punch me in the arm rather painfully.
"You're lucky I did that instead of entertaining my thoughts of blasting a bullet between your eyes, you piece of shit," she replied.
I settled for a chuckle as the sting in my arm began to make itself known. That said, despite the pain, I took notice that my mother still did not remove herself from me. Instead, she leaned forward and her head rested in the nape of my neck. I enjoyed the smell and feel of her auburn hair. Her hands rested on my thighs and she tenderly stroked them. Admit I will, it was hard to focus.
After some time, my mother spoke. "I'd do it if it made yer fucking ass happy. I already said you be the head of our house. I also stated that I would follow your orders, Eric. If ya want me to fuck someone then I will. If ya want me to parade naked across the ship for the rest of the voyage, then I'll hate you for it, but I will. As you've told me, it's not my body, it's yours. I suppose I'm just taking care of it," she said.
I didn't speak for a moment and simply allowed my mother to finish when she pleased. Instead, I settled for caressing her arms. "I hope ya get this through both your shitty heads. I'll do what makes you happy, but you're the only piece of shit whose cock I want to fuck or suck. I've sucked enough men off that I can't really stand anyone else, but you. That sate your ego?" she asked.
I chuckled. "And the fact that I take women other than you into my chambers doesn't bother you?" I asked.
My mother rolled her eyes. "I welcome the fucking help. I pity any woman who captures the heart of a horny bastard like you. Besides, you keep fucking me, and the only crew you're gonna have is gonna be suckling on my teets," she said which made me laugh.
We sat in silence for some more time. The only sound that was heard was the sloshing of my fluids in my cauldron. "So...whose cock am I sucking to make my son a happy sailor?" My mother then asked.
I smiled and shook my head. "None this day, mother. Perhaps none ever. Now that I see it, the thought doesn't appeal to me like I assume it might," I said. I didn't have to look at my mother's face to know that she was smiling. No, ever since I had tasked Maeloson and Aesteal with turning Dorin into food for the gulls and creatures on the sandy shores, I had desired no man other than myself to lay a claim to my mother.
Regardless of how our relationship had turned out, I do still hold the highest forms of respect for my mother. One should say that if not for her, I might not be this shitty bastard than I am right now. That said, I was aware of just how much she trusted in my judgment. Whether by my desires, or my title as captain, she submitted herself to me and trusted that I would take care of her. I held doubts that I could live up to that trust if I was back in my original age with my original hotheaded young adult mind.
No, perhaps what I felt with my mother, Aesteal, Ellen, Diane, and even Liara perhaps, was something even I was continuing to uncover about myself.
"Mom, kiss me," I ordered.
Without word of acknowledgment or complaint, my mother raised her head and I stared into her lovely eyes. I then found my vision of my cauldron obstructed by her face as her lips laid on mine. Her lips were soft and the sting of saltwater laid upon them, but I could also taste the lingering drops of her breakfast. She tasted of some berries that we must have bought from one of the markets.
My mother's tongue sought out mine and I gave it to her without trouble. Her lips suckled on it while she pulled up one of her hands to caress the side of my face. My skin tickled from her touch and her tongue slid across the surface of my teeth while I held her in my arms. Her body, this body that I had refined from its decrepit state, seemed so perfectly attuned to my own. The thought does occur to me that perhaps there is a tying aura that brings parents and their children together should they undertake this unholy route which we have. I feel a sense of ease when she is within my embrace.
Aye, my mother, my woman.
We parted and I decided not to point out the erect nipples stabbing my mother's shirt. "Has that sated you?" she asked.
I laughed. "Not quite," I replied. I lifted up my hips and pushed my erection against her mound which made her stiffen. Clearly, I be a glutton for punishment. Either that or my cock is the one that enjoys such a thing. Perhaps the lingering effects of my lust from my night with Liara still permeated the air which fueled the fires of my usually spent cock. I'd imagine that my time with Liara had granted me some sexual awakening. Well, perhaps more than what I was used to anyway.
My mother pulled down her pants and tossed them to the side. I did the same and it wasn't long before we both groaned as my cock filled up her lovely cunt once again. Seas, if I could somehow live with my cock forever buried in the body of my mother then I'd be tempted to say I'd try it.
"Mmmmmmph, you might be a bastard, Eric, but your mother can't deny that she loves your cock," my mother said as her tight hole engulfed my cock until her pelvis had met mine. She then slowly began to grind her hips rubbing, caressing, and tightening her walls around my phallus.
"Enjoy it, mother. It shall be here for you should you ask, or if I'm ever in the mood to fuck you," I said. My mother slapped my arm, but she didn't stop her movements before I lifted her body further on my chair. Then we both began to rock our hips as we surrendered to the pleasure. Aye, I know I had some important things to do, but allow me to say that my cock tempted me too hard this once.
Anyway, as I held my mother in this way, there was no indication of the relationship that I had established with her before. I sought my own pleasure not in her submissiveness, but in her warm, willing, delicate body. By the eyes soaring in the clouds of lust on her face, I can tell she felt the same. Her arms around my neck, her chest in my face, and her breath on my forehead, we enjoyed this moment as mother and son in the throes of incestuous rapture.
"Oooooooooh! Oh god Eric!" My mother exclaimed as she continued to hold me. My arms on her hips, I matched her movements. My cock slid in and out, in and out from her soaked mound. She leaned down to kiss me and I tilted my head up. Her lips caught my own and she panted with great need in them.
We fucked slowly. There was no aggression to be had within this act. We cared not to fuck, but rather I made love to my mother, this woman who had birthed me. My legs trembled and my cock was graced with a thousand flames and shudders of lightning. "Haaaa...ahhhhhh...yessssssssssss! Ooooooooh goooooooods! Yes, fuck me! Fuck your mother, you horny piece of shit," she urged.
Her hips continued to bounce on my cock as I pushed mine up to meet hers. Still, we did not move much faster. We enjoyed this rather slow pace. This slow movement fulfilled us both. I kissed her neck while her arms cradled my head. "Forever, mother. I'm gonna fuck you forever!" I proclaimed.
I noticed her pussy had squeezed my flesh pistol when I said that.
"Does that excite you, mother? I bet that excites you well, Ira. To know that your son desires your body so much that he'd like nothing more than to deposit his seed into it endlessly. To fuck you, breed you, take care of you, and satisfy you all the days of your life," I said, nay whispered into her ear.
Her cunt squeezed me again.
"Oooooh fuck! Oh god yes, Eric! F-Fuck yes, I'd keep your cock inside me all the time if I fucking could! Mmmmmmmmaaauuuuuugh, the pits of Hell await us for this, but I'd swim in them as long as you kept fucking me!" she said. Her tongue tickled my ears as we slowly increased our rhythm with each other.
"Dear mother, not even Hell shall keep you from me," I told her as the sounds of my rocking chair filled our ears.
"Ooooooh...ooooh my god. I'm gonna cum! I'm gonna cum from your fucking cock, Eric!" My mother announced. It wasn't long before I felt her cunt clamp down like a killer crab on my tool. Rich sex juice spilled onto my lap, but I did not cease my assault. My mother continued to hold me and kiss me ready to ride these feelings we shared with each other.
Pretty soon, it wasn't long before I too felt the call of nature's coital embrace. I leaned my head back and groaned as my legs lost all sense of feeling. The chambers of my cock had unlocked the sticky, potent flames of my cum into my mother's waiting body. I could feel her pussy cling to me desperate to not let my seed hit the floor. It might have been because I was delirious from the pleasure, but when I came, I could have sworn my mother's eyes had turned solid white. They were as pure as clouds.
"Mmmmmmmmmoooooooo, your cum is so hot!" She stated.
"Keep up that talk and I won't get any work done except if it be on you," I replied.
The last vestiges of my cum filled my mother and my vision slowly returned. Her eyes were not white at all, well...none more than any regular human's be. I wondered if I had just imagined it in the time that my brain had felt her take me away.
"I wouldn't be averse to it, you horny bastard," She said. I smiled. Aye, I bet she wouldn't.
We stayed like this for a little while as if to settle ourselves. Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on some factors, my lust was not so high that I could handle another round so eagerly. When she stood up, my flaccid cock slipped from her body. We kissed once more and she reached for her shorts. When she moved to pull them up, I stopped her.
"Gimme the panties. Walk around without them on. I can't resist the thought of my mother traversing a ship full of horny bastards and bitches with a belly full of cum," I said.
My mother stared at me for a moment before she exhaled. "Ya make it real hard to not want to shoot you, Eric," she replied. However, she stepped out of her shorts and handed me her cotton material all the same.
As I suspected, it was full of her musk and her leftover fluids. She then pulled up her shorts and buttoned them while I did the same. Then, I teased her by stuffing her panties in my pockets.
"Enjoy the rest of your day, mother. Also, in two hours, bring the crew together for me," I said.
"Yes Eric," she replied. She then moved to straighten her messed up hair as well, but I stopped that as well. I doubt it took a scholar to know what I was going to say.
I smirked. "Keep it that way. I want you looking freshly fucked when you leave my quarters. I might not let other men fuck you, but imagine how hard their cocks will get when they see my mother and wonder of all the depraved things I did to you not knowing my seed swims inside you at this very moment," I reasoned.
Despite the glare from my mother, I could tell that the idea turned her on that she cared to admit. So, with wrinkled clothes, messed up hair, a cunt full of cum, and no panties to aid her, my mother opened the door. The sounds of the people filled the decks and she walked outside.
"WooooooooOOOOOooOOO!"
I heard the cheers of my crew as they no doubt took appreciation of my mother while I continued my work with a smile on my face. My thoughts were a tad...restrained due to the knowledge of what Ellen was most likely doing, but I tried not to let it bother me too much. That was a losing battle mind you.
Anyway, the two hours that passed me by didn't go as long as I had desired. Between my work, which had begun to bear fruit and the understanding that the darkening skies meant the fourth trial was upon me, I had not much time for anything else. The dark blue liquid had turned light red. Empty jars littered my desk while I held my hands over the cauldron and chanted archaic words into it, releasing the magic from my body into its surface. It was only when the sound of heavy thunder enough to quake the air and lightning, green with ghastly magic essence, flashed through the sky did I stop my work.
I pushed myself from my chair and stood to my feet. As I grabbed my coat, I felt a tense shiver of horrific, yet magical power. I had no doubts that Liara had felt it as well.
I stepped outside and, just as I had ordered, everyone was present once again. They all stood around the deck of the ship watching the turbulent waves crash against the side of the ship. Tremendous waves roared in the distance and we all watched the sky scream in agony.
I stood before my crew. I stood before them all. They all were ready to hang onto my every word. I wished I could grant them a confident expression, but I could not. I'm not exactly sure what emotion I had on my face, but it wasn't a pleasant one. I oddly found it fitting that should we all die then the one I had spent the most joyous time with had been my mother.
I stared at Ellen for a moment, but she refused to meet my gaze. I then turned back to everyone else.
"Alright, ya fuckers, this...should be the last trial. Steel yourselves and fasten your guts. This...is where we shall either seek fame...or seek the Realm of Hades," I said. They all swallowed, but none spoke a word.
I remember this trial well because only I and fifteen others had survived it.
I inhaled and exhaled. I spared a glance at Liara and she paid appropriate attention to me just like anyone else would. I spoke. "Whatever tales you have heard of this sea, or whatever bard has woven a song for you, then you most likely know...of the Father and the Son. What...what I be about to tell you ain't pretty and you shall think me insane, but if you wish to live...then you will do as I say!" I exclaimed.
Everyone nodded and I scanned my memories one more time as quickly as I could. "For the next 24 hours, do not...open your eyes. Do not scream. Do not whimper. Don't even shed a tear. If you do any of those then Hades would be preferable to what shall befall you," I told them.
I then pointed out into the sea. "Out there, the father and son seek the mother, yet they do not know the mother's voice nor do they know her face. I ain't gonna lie to ya, I don't know shit if that tale be real or not, but there is a horror out there, one that has collected and pulled countless souls into its clutches. It's comprised of two beings, one large and the other small. Do. Not. Tremble when you hear it pass. This barrier won't stop it, but it will stop those who it has taken," I said.
"C-Captain, what are we in for?" someone asked.
"What's your name?" I asked.
"Out, Sir. Out Saqual," he answered.
I nodded. "I'll tell ya, Out. That horror is a being older than anyone on this ship combined. It will float through the ship and then it will pick people. Should it pick you, you will know from the stench of something vile filling your nose, but...do not cover it. If ye do, then ye will be dragged into the sunken waves where the ghouls will feast on your vitality, picking it apart slowly as you fall into the abyss," I warned.
I could tell that everyone was afraid. They had every right to be. I was concerned as well. As much as I wished otherwise, my powers could not kill what laid here, only incapacitate. I could hardly fight Spirits and Wraiths with water under normal circumstances. The type of water I would need, and I doubt that even with it I could fully succeed without casualties, would have to be divine water blessed by a celestial priestess. Allow me to say, I had not even come into contact with divine water in my previous life. Nevermind this one.
"If it picks you, slowly open your eyes. When you see it, do not scream. Do not shout. Utter no damnable word. If ya do, then not even Liara will be able to recover your soul. The horror will ask you many questions. Some from the tall one, others from the short one. You'll be happy for the barrier because it uses those it has taken to shout and ask questions as well to disorientate you. No matter what it asks, no matter if it begs, pleads, threatens, wails, or swings at you, you must only answer this...'Why does thou share this with me? That has nothing to do with me!'" I explained. Like babes listening to some horrific bedtime story, everyone continued to heed my words.
I caught my breath for a moment as everyone gasped from a flash of lightning and a boom of thunder. "Don't stutter any of those words. Say them just like I did! I'm trying to save your asses here. If you wish to return home then DO AS I TELL YA, GOT IT?!" I asked.
"AYE AYE, CAPTAIN!" They roared.
I slowly nodded. "Good. When it fades away from you, close your eyes and continue to do nothing. It will move on to someone else. If it doesn't believe you, then feel free to scream till your lungs explode. Zeus shall not deliver you," I said as I could already see men and women praying to foreign, heathen, or official gods of whatever they believed in.
Someone else spoke. "But Captain, how shall we sail? These waves look like they're gonna crush us even before this...thing does!" the person said.
"I will handle the voyage and the waves. All ya have to do is do as you're told!" I said.
Everyone nodded with determination. Even if they didn't, it wouldn't matter if they wanted to go back. They would not survive the swim back to any sort of land anyway. I nodded in return. My gaze then turned back into the open sea. Already I could see the limbs of ghouls clawing at my ship, attempting to climb aboard my ship. Unfortunately for them, the magic barrier would not allow them to get too close. I'm sure they'd love to come and suck the vitality from our souls, but this was not to be their day.
As my ship continued sailing, I walked over to Liara. As much as I might enjoy her presence for more...personal talks, that would need to be put for another time. "Liara, tell me, have you any divinity stones?" I asked.
The Witch seemed to humor my question for a moment before she decided to answer. "Had you asked me that a century ago, I would not have minded the question. Unfortunately, such objects are currently beyond my reach. 'Twould take dealing with a certain being that I'd rather not. Even the patience of one such as myself can only extend so far," she answered.
That knowledge annoyed me, but it was hardly Liara's fault. I had hoped that my Liara would have some answers, but once again, the only thing which filled my mind was fog to that question.
Anyway, unlike with the Taker of Voices, everyone continued to work amidst the crashing waves and thundering skies. Towering waves ready to devour us were broken apart as I wove my hands and fingers. Men stared in awe of my abilities but being the sexy and strong-willed women that they were, my mother and Ellen quickly reorganized them with shouts and commands.
The further we sailed, the more turbulent the weather became, and the more angsty my ship grew. In the distance, we could see vicious cycles of wind touch down into the waves creating angry waterspouts that...when struck by the green lightning rolling across the sky, gave it an almost eerie color. One might think that what we sailed on was no longer the waters of mortals, but the River Styx itself. Some might think this a blessing, but no...for the river carries a terrible curse to all races that venture within it.
Sweat poured down my face and the sides of my body as two waves came from the side to devour my ship. Though everyone was worried, still they worked as pulled walls of water from the deep. The waves crashed against the walls and I extended my arms to push them away.
As I lowed my arms, I panted. Were the seas this treacherous when I had last come here? I sure as hell didn't think so.
"Hold the sail! If that tears, the captain's gonna be responsible for protecting and driving us!" My mother called as able-bodied men pulled on the ropes of the sails. Maeloson and Aesteal rested in the Crow's Nest, surveying the sea for miles.
Soon another wave came, and this one was at least a couple of sizes larger than the others. It towered over my ship like the maw of a beast, ready to sink us all and leave us as food for the ghouls. Under the flashing lightning, I could even see a couple of groaning, writhing undead swimming up its colossal frame.
I moved my arms and I felt the pressure of the force of the wave against my own powers. Aye, it should have been easy for someone such as I to contain, but I felt a problem that this wave seemed to take in the force of every other wave which crashed against it. I breathed out and pushed my hands from the right side of the ship to the left. Everyone paused in their work to gawk like crying gulls at the side of the waves sailing over our head by my hand. The dangers which laid within it remained isolated from my crew. One might think that like a giant stuffed pastry with a filling hole, we passed through this wave by my command as the water crashed to the other side of the ship. I could even feel the waves carrying my vessel a few feet into the air before it crashed back down with a heavy rocking that made us all lose balance.
The salt in the air, the growling thunder, the dark clouds, and the crashing of lights, I saw and smelt them all as we continued to sail. I think everyone must have thought we got lucky that no spirit had come upon us yet, but I knew otherwise. Of course, no being comes before you when ya expect it to. It waits, it lingers, it desires for ya to drop your guard, to assume that you've made it out alive. It wants ye...to hope.
As the last wave passed us by, Liara and I felt a shiver of magical terror. I breathed out and steadied my uneasy lungs. Though it drained me well, I pierced everyone's mind simultaneously. With but one word, I crushed their hopes and their dreams. With but one word I forced them to acknowledge...that we would not escape from the trial. It was not that easy to obtain glory in this world or any other.
"Quiet," I said within everyone's mind. Soon, the only sounds people heard were the creaking of my ship and the flapping of my sails. I knew we were to be tested now because the storms had calmed. Even now, for miles, I can see the vicious sea scream and roar unto itself almost as if...this was a place that natural forces could not tread.
I closed my eyes and all work stopped. Thankfully, I still had my own magic sense just like Liara. By expanding it once again, I could see everyone had begun closing their eyes as well. Soon, the entire crew was without sight. I gently moved the ship along the calm seas with a pull and tug of two fingers.
As we quietly sailed, the silence was nigh maddening. Like a giant serpent, it seemed to coil around my vessel, trying so hard to suck the very life and air from our bodies until nothing remained. I wondered how some would fare just from this growing unease and tension. I hoped they prayed to their gods. They would need it.
As I pushed us along, first came the screams. The shrieks of the dead and wails of the damned flooded these waters with their unholy voices. There is a tale that the souls which linger here writhe in utter agony, their forms tortured by the stinging strikes of the water they have no choice but to reside in. Perhaps like the strike of a harsh master, or the blow from a dungeon torturer, they were unable to escape their pain. All they desired, if one wayward person were to peer before them, was to drag that person down with them to endure the unending suffering of their own sunken torment. Truly, this trial be the Sea of Wailing Graves like I had always known.
Then came the smell. The putrid stench of death stung to my nose as I felt the twisted magics swirl about in the air. It was the vilest, most wretched thing I ever had the displeasure of knowing. So strong was it that I could taste it and I could hear the sounds of sliding chains across the desk of my ship.
Within my mind's eye, I could see the tears falling down the side of someone's cheek as my ship was invaded by something not of this world. I prayed they stop their tears soon, for crying would only damn them further. It stood about as tall as the average man. Open sockets where eyes once laid stared upon my crew as if it was ready to devour our souls where we stood.
Off the starboard bow, within my mind's eye, I could see a young boy, his body pale and his eyes as soulless as the man's. Yet, this body was also thin. So thin was he that I could make out the very bones of his frame. It seemed like his body had sucked away every piece of life that it once held. His body seemed to contort in an unnatural way of this and that. Each step seemed like a click and creak of bones snapping into place or out of place. Either way, his steps were grating on the nerves and so were his moans. It was as if we could hear the sounds of a thousand tortured souls within his body.
The man stared at us all before he walked over to one of my crew members. The poor bastard shivered something fierce. No doubt Liara and I saw him open his eyes. Even as I see the horror on his face, I wondered about what he must have seen, when the face of Death looked upon him.
"I seek my wife! Is she aboard this vessel?" The wraith asked. I be unsure of this was actually that tale of the father and son cursed by Hades that I had spoken of before, but it was greatly convincing.
"W-W-Why does thou share this with me? That ain't got nothing to do with me!" The man replied.
As the waters pulled my ship along, I closed my senses to the magical realm for a moment for I did not wish to see the pictures of the screams that followed the man's statement. Though I have seen much, and sailed to many places, I dare not wish to view what happens next for I had seen it before. The sounds of bones being ripped from a corpse, the screams full of vibrancy that slowly turn hoarse, the smell of blood in the air as flesh is flayed from the body. Then comes the snapping of the neck as the body fall to the deck. The soul is then ripped from the body and collected by the wraith.
Though everyone was scared, I commend them for not uttering a sound despite what they had no doubt heard.
"DARE NOT A BOY DESIRE HIS MOTHER?! WHERE IS SHE?!" The wraith yelled to someone else.
"Why does thou share this with me? That has nothing to do with me!" Someone responded, a female I'm sure. Though I heard the shiver in her voice, she had spoken the words just as I had.
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" The wraith roared. None of us could move to cover our ears from his wails of anguish as I heard something heavy strike the wood next to the woman who had responded to it.
"DARE THEE LIE TO ME!" It wailed as it revealed to her its grotesque insides. I could feel her gaze indirectly upon me, asking me for assistance. All I could do was appease her with the subtle movements of one of my fingers.
"Why does thou share this with me? That has nothing to do with me!" She replied with no less vigor than the last time. I prayed the spirit did not hear the quiver in her voice, for I did.
The ghostly man circled around her, sludges of decayed ooze and rotting skin seeping down onto my ship's wooden deck.
"Where be the lad's mother?! HATH THEE TAKEN HER?!" It asked.
In and our the woman breathed. "Why does thou share this with me? That has nothing to do with me!" She replied. He screamed at her once again.
Over the next two hours, I felt pity for the woman as she was subjected to the whims of the cursed spirit. It seemed to settle on her longer than most from the last time I had ventured here. It pleaded with her, threatened her, screeched at her, and did all manner of vile things that a spirit can do without laying a single hand upon her body. I admired her strength. Aye, that be the only defense that a mortal not adept in the arts of mages, sorcery, and other mystic powers has against such beings. Every spirit contained a rule by which it must follow to interact with the physical world. If ya don't give it an excuse to break it, then what can it do but intimidate you?
The young boy was not motionless either. He pulled on the pants of many adults asking if they had seen his mother. One stupid shit moved his leg. He passed away soon after and his soul was laid with the rest that banged on the magical barrier which protected my ship. Perhaps I should say that the woman was lucky that all she had to deal with was the main spirit. I'm sure her mind would have been twisted beyond all redemption if the other ghouls and demons of those damned away were involved.
He then moved onto another who shivered. That person too was taken. As I kept my eyes closed, I could feel my anger rising further and further. The thunderous clouds boomed with great intensity. Rain fell down from the sky like a flood from the heavens and the seas quaked in response to my hatred.
No one gets to tread across my ship without permission!
Not...even...ZEUS!
I flicked two fingers upward and I heard a burst of water filled with the souls of millions rise into the air. Though I could not kill this damn thing without some divine essence, I could annoy the fuck out of it! As I thought about it, this water was indeed laced with its vile devilry. If I blasted its own magic back at it then I was quite literally making the bastard hit himself.
I swirled the waters around and slammed it into the wraith. The adult male screamed as he was shoved off my ship.
"Eric Drakclaw, what are you doing?" Liara asked me.
"If that bastard truly be Persephone's stupid affair, then I'm about to give him the second-worst day of his life!" I exclaimed.
Unfortunately, the fucker's unholy spawn was still on my ship. That prevented me from just blasting us through this sea as I wished. I assume that it had some way to view us all because it stopped harassing the crew and started looking around for who had attacked its...father.
"BAAUUUUUAUUAAUAUAUAUAUAUUGH!"
Out from the depths, I felt the Wraith explode into the air. I give thanks to my anger this once. The rain made it much easier to perceive this damnable thing without the use of my eyes. Then I had a damn brat observing us all which made my next moves rather troublesome. Tis a bit harder to do, but...it's not like I needed my arms and legs to command the tides before me.
I summoned three pillars of vile water from beneath my ship. With ghastly roars, vile, ancient curses, and anger enough to fuel the chambers of Hades, the wraith dodged my strikes and flew through the air. I sought to only cause general mayhem.
"ASKVAKAHGAIL! Voc hi andu revie galmeio! Han gal mal thro!" The wraith roared.
I grunt within the confines of my own mind. I had not thought it possible, but this water is heavy, very heavy. The weight of thousands of souls reside within it and their agony weighed my abilities down like wretched chains. Nevertheless, I be not one that shall take adversity lightly.
I thrashed the waves and whips of water I had constructed violently over the screaming of ghouls, this wraith, and his demon spawn of a son. All of this I had to do while I simultaneously guided the ship forward. Between the crashing waves, the moving of the ship, and the strain of keeping the damned apparition away from my ship, I had to hope that my crew still remained still for if they moved then my mind was already too taxed to try and save them.
If this was anyone's first voyage, I pitied them greatly that this was what they had to contend with. A vengeful spirit though this was, it could not approach my ship carelessly. I believe at this point it must have assumed that something was keeping it from landing down to reap the souls from the bodies of my crew. Instead, it circled around and decided to wait.
Six hours passed and some people lost their lives to completely stupid reasons. For some, their damn stomach growled which allowed the boy to claim them as well. Unfortunately, I held not the privilege of even thinking of my hunger since all of my attention had been preoccupied. My head was beginning to hurt and I found that I needed to...allow the piece of shit on my ship if only to give myself reprieve from the mental strain.
Now yes, I have grand and experienced use in my abilities, but I do not recall a time where I have used them in such an extremity for such a long time.
"mAmAAAAAAAAaaaaAAAAaAaA!" I heard the boy cry. I knew not who he held his focus with. To recover from my mental fatigue, I didn't even grant myself access to the magical world. I think Liara was subtly aiding in my recovery because I felt some form of healing magic washing over me.
If ya be wondering why the almighty witch isn't aiding me more than this, then I think ya would be surprised. In order to make sure that the curse put on Persephone's lover couldn't be broken, Hades enchanted the waters where the father and son died. Anyone who ventures into this sea constantly has their magic essence drained. Aye, it be a rather stupid thing to do I admit, but what does one know of the gods anyway? Even I could feel the magic within me fading which left me with only my abilities over the ocean and seas.
Additionally, though she's not aiding in the most upfront ways, I know Liara's presence is there to help my ship continue sailing. The ghouls which touch the ship's magic array had lessened. Some of them burn in the divine flames of Ashriona, a being who's fires are said to burn so hot that they can cleanse lesser vengeful spirits. However, I am unsure of how long she can keep that up. Her mana drains fast and mine is no different.
"Please, tell me! Don't you have your own mother, father, or child to call your own? Surely, you know a boy needs his mother! Tell me where she is!" The spirit bellowed.
"Why does thou share this with me? That has nothing to do with me!" another voice called, this one more masculine. By its rather flutey tone, I figured it was Maeloson. I heard something far off on my ship crash. The sounds of water also told me that whatever had crashed had fallen into the ghost-infested seas. I knew not what it was, but I could still feel the water circulating through my male elf's body. He still lived.
"Who holds your tongue? Who commands your silence! Aid me and no harm shall befall you! Give me that which I seek close to me! Unless you should tell these sailors your real identity!"
The fact that Maeloson didn't respond instantly worried me. I figured I had relaxed enough so I used what I could of my magic senses and observed my ship. For as long as I've known him, which isn't very long, Maeloson hasn't been the type of elf that wears his emotions on his sleeve. It's why my mother and I were so surprised that he could crack a joke back in C'ula. He never seemed to enjoy the banter of piracy. So I was concerned when I noticed the way his fists clenched. The rhythm of his chest was unsteady. I knew he would not survive if he did not answer soon.
I reached for the seas and pulled up another pillar.
"MOooOOOOOOOOOOOooOOooOOOOM?" A voice asked.
My pillar of water paused as I felt something small grab my legs. By the voice, I knew it was the brat of this spirit that had stuck to me. Though I effortlessly pulled the water further out, I could feel his grip on my leg tightening. By some notion, this spirit had discovered, or at least assumed that I was the one behind the interference. I tried to ignore its cold, lifeless touch, but I could also feel the way it bore its unholy gaze into me. I didn't even have to open my eyes to know the piercing torture of distorted voices coming from its maw were aimed at me.
"Granteth our desire! Appeeeeeeeeeeeease the souuuuuuuuuuls within! Stareeeeeeee into our eyeeeeeeeeeees! Granteth our desire! APPEEEEEEEEASE US! We grant thee safe passage should thee sacrifice thine vessel of living blood! SPEEAAK TO US! OOoOOOOOoOOOooOOUUUUUWWWAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Perhaps now, I ought to thank my Liara, because if not for her trained resistance to the magical and spiritual world, I doubt even I would have last so long against such an assault on my senses. So damaging was it that I could feel my ears bleed from how close this bastard's voice was to mine. Persephone if you be listening, then you best pray that I not meet you in the pits of Hades' underworld. Your brat for a son is more of a screamer than ye are rumored to be. Then again, I suppose if I had the souls of a thousand victims within me then I'd scream as well.
"...Why does thou share this with me? That has nothing to do with me,"
Through the screaming void of madness that was next to me, I managed to make out Maeloson's voice as he responded to the vengeful spirit.
"AAAAaAaAAAAAAaaaaAaAaAaAaaAaAaAaAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaAAAAAAaaaAAAaaaAAH!" It screamed in an orchestra of pained and suffered souls.
...Clearly, it wasn't happy.
From the total eight hours that passed before, another eight were racked up and I sailed the ship. Eight more hours did we have to endure and I wondered if some of these people could. To keep the eyes closed, to remain as still as possible,t has a way of disorientating the body. Additionally, I could somehow tell that everyone was getting tired from standing for so long. I knew because I was the same. My legs burned and my feet cursed at me angrily, but pain of the soles was preferable to what I heard if I could not keep still. I think for some of the tougher ones, that applied as well.
There was also the mental strain upon some of my other crew members. They held not Liara's resilience nor mine. Some of them broken down into insanity, laughing and giggling before their lives were taken. Though I was drained of mana to the point of passing out, I still found the strength to comfort my mother on more than one occasion. I'm unsure of the adventures she's had, but I doubt many of them could bear on the mind such as ones like this.
As the last hours seemed to roll by, the limits of my body were tested. My legs were sore, I was tired, my mana was completely drained. Granted, unlike Liara, I didn't have a whole lot to begin with. Though I had Liara's knowledge, I did not have her nigh-infinite pools of mana. I merely knew how to utilize what I had. Aye, perhaps I should have trained in the arts, but magic is a fickle practice. One must be careful in delving into it, especially when one holds the knowledge of the Witch of Draegnar.
"TELLlllLLlLL MEEEEEEEEE!"
"Why does thou share this with me? That has got nothing to do with me!"
"KAVIACHIASHIA! NALL HADFIVAKWAH! ONRA MAN'HAL ULTUL!"
"Why does thou share this with me? That has nothing to do with me!"
"I shall grant thee treasures! Fame! Glory! The finest kingdoms within the lands! Swim the seas free of fear from the horrors below!"
"Why does thou share this with me? That has nothing to do with me!"
On and on, the ghost wailed, and on and on my crew responded. Some were fortunate and others were not. Though time seemed to slow like a century had passed, though my crew's minds had been torn and tortured, though their bodies and mine ached from physical strain, the long day was nearly over.
The last hour fell upon us as the sounds of my sailing ship urged on those of us who survived. Not once had I been spoken to by the spirit, but I'm sure it had gone through everyone else at least once. I'm not sure how much of my crew remained. Any mana that my body tried to restore was done in by the boy still attached to my leg. Liara attempted to supply me with her own but between her healing my fatigue, my mana, and keeping up her record as a purger of ghouls, I wondered just how much her body had taken a toll on the excessive mana use.
As we try to avoid our deaths, allow me to gather a moment to explain something in regards to Liara. Aye, she has the mana to sustain us. Hell, as I now know, she has more mana within her body than the entire Hæňgaram empire. She ain't hurting for the stuff, but even she would feel the backlash from a constant use of it over such a long period. Had this been any regular spirit, neither Liara nor I would ever have such troubles, but...that be the weight of the curse of a god. Some even dare think that the Immortal Witch gained her title as a curse from Athena and Hera.
"Why does thou share this with me? That has nothing to do with me!"
...I'd have to be rather stupid if I couldn't tell that the voice which spoke was Ellen's.
"Care you not for a child and the reunion of his mother? Care you not for the intimacy of a husband and wife? What stays your tongue? Tell me and I shall free you of it! Yessss, I see within your eyes the loss of your own will! Desires unfulfilled, a life unlead! Grant me what I seek that I might grant thee what thou seekest most!"
Ellen did not respond immediately with the phrase that everyone else had. This worried me. No, not because I could tell the spirit was clearly tempting her to release herself from our arrangement. I already knew Ellen didn't much like what I put her through, but I doubt she could deny that her body enjoyed it. She knew that and I knew that. Perhaps she despised herself and me because she had enjoyed herself so much under my care. Though I had yet to embrace her as a man does a woman, I still showed her just as much attention as I would my mother or Aesteal.
No, what worried me was that I could not see how she handled these honeyed words.
"Yesssss, I see it within your eyes! Why sail beneath an inferior captain? A boy, a child, and brat known better for his swift hand of a pouch than the stern hold of a ship's wheel. Tell me and I shall allow your vessel to sail forth and gather the riches which lay beneath the tides! Cooooooooooooome to meeeeeeeee," it said.
I waited.
And waited.
And waited more.
The only thing I was graced with was Ellen's silence. I was a tad confused because from what I knew of the last time I had traversed this trial, no one got to remain silent in this thing's presence for as long as Ellen did. She had not spoken for at least a full two minutes which was way longer than any other bastard or bitch this wraith had spoken with. I feared for Ellen. If need be, I would fight the spirit. I still had the means to do so.
However, true to her form, Sothshore again impressed me.
"Eat a Halgarian dick, ya fucker!" She exclaimed.
As soon as those words left her lips, my eyes shot open. I know I should have taken into account many things. I should have handled the matter a bit differently. I should have done a lot of shit, but the only thing I did was stare at the spirit's deranged, greedy, maniacal, and twisted grin. Ellen stood before it with her middle finger right in front of its soulless eyes.
The brat on my leg did not bother me. The ghouls did not bother me. The only thing that bothered me was the thoughts of what I was going to do to Ellen's ass when we were all out of this!
Little vengeful spirit bastard or not, I channeled the waves to my command and they rose along every side of my ship. "Open your eyes, ya bastards! Prepare to sail!" I hollered.
Those still breathing opened their eyes. The older spirit growled upon hearing my voice before I wove my tired hands and arms. Two pillars of the sea filled with lost souls crashed into its body and propelled it away from my fiery Quartermaster.
The wraith roared as it fell off the side of my ship. What came next was a piercing wail. I could feel the swirls of the mystic arts around Liara's body.
"An Hol Dam'Ain!" she called. The boy who had been attached to my leg for the past several hours was torn away by a hidden force of magical pressure. Ah, I suppose now that we've all obviously failed the test, there be only one course left to us. The most fun one.
Resist!
"Release the sails! All hands on deck, ya bastards! If ya wish not to be a corpse then get your ass moving! Stop for nothing!" I shouted.
"Aye, Aye, Captain!" Those alive hollered. The thunderous sounds of footsteps on my deck came forth. I'm sure everyone was still terrified now that I take account of over what I could see, I probably had only fifty or sixty able-bodied men and women left.
I tapped my mother's shoulder. "Mother, you shall command the ship while I'm gone. Keep straight along this path! Do not stop for about forty or fifty minutes!" I told her.
I saw the concern on my mother's face. "Eric, don't be an idiot! You be the one that needs to...Eric?! ERIC! What are you doing?!" My mother screamed.
Everyone watched me stand on the ship's railing. "Protecting my crew, ya sexy slut!" I said as I jumped off.
I crashed into the cold, turbulent seas. Whether the water was cold from the waves themselves, or from the souls that slithered through it trying to claw and nibble upon any piece of my body that they could, I don't know. What I did know was that I could not stay down here. I wrapped the tides and souls around me and flew into the air with a great pool of the seas to steady myself. No sooner than me appearing, did the wraith and its offspring appear as well.
"ERIC, YOU BASTARD! Get back to the ship!" My mother hollered. Had this been a more intimate time, I would have enjoyed her screams in my ear.
I waved my arm and I summoned a grand wave which pushed the ship far until it was out of my view. If one might think it would be better if Liara was here to help me, then perish the thought. Someone like her could keep the crew safe from the minor or major spirits that held nothing to do with these two. I tried to ignore the feeling of anguish coming from Aesteal's aura. Aye, it appears I'm concerning everyone today.
"Alright, no mana, I'm tired to all hell, and I'm facing a curse cast upon the grounds by Hades. Eric, you've had worse!" I exclaimed to myself as my ears heard the thunder strike through the skies.
I turned to my adversaries. Seas, if looks could kill then I think I'd be a smoldering waste upon the seafloor. Then again, I've received that look a few times from the women I've bedded in me life.
The adult spirit charged at me with a wail that could pierce the very heavens themselves. His claws were wrought with hideous and vile magic. I raised up a piece of the sea and blocked the strike. Evidence of his attack revealed itself to me in the shrieking souls that laid within my kingdom. Each of them was burned away by his touch.
He then swung another arm at me. I answered by grabbing my cutlass and clashing steel with his deformed nails. I quickly had to brace myself. As expected of shits like this, their strength be greater than Hercules! That said, I had fought things with just as much strength as this.
"Come on, wraith! Ya got better than that if a goddess risked her husband's wrath to lay with ye!" I claimed. I then whirled my fingers and thousand nails of corrupted water drilled into the specter's body. I then pulled up another piece of the seas and swung it overhead. Like thunder, the vengeful spirit was sent crashing down into the abyss below.
Now, do remember when I claimed that the water I would need to truly combat these vile spirits was one blessed by a celestial priestess. That holds truth even now, but there was a workaround to this that I would have to thank Liara for. For I had also not known this fact until some part of Ilzahold's knowledge filled my mind. I stared into the thunderclouds and chuckled.
Aye, Zeus, ya be a lecherous, horrible bastard, but I suppose even you can work odd miracles every now and then.
Unfortunately, I could hardly revel in my victory because I swung wide from a blast of green fire that would have reduced my very soul to cinders. Who but a rude little bastard could do such a thing?
I turned my head and noticed the presumed son of the spirit howling at me, his neck twisting and turning into some nightmarish animal that couldn't possibly be kept alive. His maw was like an endless void of over a thousand horrors. Well, what more should I do to such an invitation?
I pulled up a surge of the tides and fired it into the boy's mouth. A sharp spear pierced his abyss-like mouth and stabbed through the back of his neck. He roared at me in some garbled, yet foreign words which I could not decipher. However, I was quick to notice that I was surrounded by over a thousand floating spirits. The boy seemed to take much joy in my plight because, despite the blade of water I had punctured him with, his lips formed a crooked, sinister grin.
Even now, I could feel the other spirits in the waters I was using gnawing at my legs. For once in my life, I did not desire someone so eager to jump my bones this time.
The boy roared and the writhing spirits launched themselves at me. Unfortunately for them, they clearly held no fathom of an idea who the fuck they be attacking. Do ghosts fear the living? I shall give them a reason to do so.
I slapped my hands together and the falling rain quickly turned into over a thousand needles. I swung my hands up, down, left, right, and any other ridiculous manner that I could. The sharp rain fell down upon my targets. Naturally, this had no real effect since...this rain did not hold the same mystic powers as the sea of souls I was using, but that was fine. I did not need it too.
I moved myself away from the flurry of strikes aimed for my body. They were relentless in their assault, but I was fluid in my movements. The way they moved was not unlike anyone else I had fought.
Adrenaline kept me awake and released the fatigue from my body. Even as I weaved through my foes, I still felt the main problem resting beneath the seas as the rain fell down. The boy fired more green flames at me and I drove my standing whirlpool down to the deep sea. Rumblings and steam vents of fire and water exploded near my body as I dodged this way and that. I dipped my hand into the water and swung it out. A rushing, trembling wave of the sea roared towards them all from my touch.
The spirits moved to the side of the strike, but then I smirked. From that water blast, I released an innumerable set of stabbing blades from its body. Each blade of water pierced through the floating malicious entities behind me. Just as with the rain, it didn't stop them, but that also didn't bother me.
I stared at the thundering clouds. I held my right hand to the clouds and pushed them together. The droplets of water which accumulated within them moved and rubbed against each other violently. Lightning rolled through the skies in such a way that one would easily mistake it for the very wrath of Zeus, himself.
"Aye, now ye'll know the folly of daring to cast a storm beneath me. Consider this a free lesson!" I said within my thoughts. I flicked up two fingers and a tail of the sea swung in front of me and into the clouds. I then ordered the waves to part before me. I saw the ground floor and touched down upon it.
"Know the wrath of the Son of Poseidon," I spoke and suddenly all the spirits around me screamed as blasts of lightning raced down the tail of the sea I had made. Water might not do much to these fuckers, but lightning, which holds the bare minimum of the divinity of both Zeus and Poseidon, was enough to at least drive them off. Thank you Liara, ye have saved and guided my ass once again!
The number of screams I heard made me wonder how I had not lost all my hearing. I squinted my eyes as I heard the chorus of raging lightning against the ocean around me. The rain which had seemed so inconsequential before released a firing chain of shocking blasts from one ghoul to the next. All of this was done as I stayed upon the dry ground. Naturally, I had to be a tad careful since the lightning was now strong enough to strike the dirt close to where I stood, but I would not have to fear that for very long.
I then clawed the air with my fingers. I ripped my hands to the left and then to the right. The cursed sea of souls had become undone with the swirling of a grand whirlpool by my design. Water and lightning danced all around me and the screams were dashed away as the harsh lights ruptured the angry waves and the bellowing skies.
"OoOoOOOOOOOOoooOOOH!"
Deep from within the thunderous waves filled with coursing lightning, I noticed the adult wraith shoot out from the seas. He charged at me with great speed, a speed that even my eyes couldn't fully keep up with. I imagine the thing that saved me was a bolt of lightning that separated us. He seethed and a howl worth a thousand demon souls ruptured from his lips.
"Aye, just because ya pissed off the wrong god don't mean ya get to take it out on me!" I said.
Before he could strike for me again, an elongated spear of water stabbed through his chest. He screamed in agony before I fired more spears. Each stabbed into every corner of his body where they could fit. I then flicked three of my left fingers. Towers of spinning water sprouts, each brimming with the strands of lightning, stood proud.
"Kneel before the son of Poseidon," I claimed. I then pushed my hands out. The towers swam through the open air like glorious dragons before they crashed into my foe. The drills of water crashed through the open sea and pushed the apparition as far from my person as possible.
I was granted the marvelous sight of the split waves and the sounds of silence. The lightning eased itself and I held the water for just a few moments to keep it from submerging me and thus...frying every corner of my body until I became a charred snack for any unsavory beasts which lurk in a tide like this. Do believe me that they exist quite well. Granted, I wondered if I should be concerned since I had basically fried everything in about ten miles or so.
After some time, I felt exhaustion take over me. I decided to hold the waters for another hour just to be sure that I might be alright. Once that hour passed, I slowly pulled myself out from the sea and stood atop its floating surface. It be not so difficult once you gather enough water and form it enough that one can stand upon it.
Anyway, I looked out and there was no sign of my ship for miles. By now they should have been beyond this trial. As I stood in the endless Sea of Souls, I knew I would have to get moving. I'm not so illusioned to think that those two had been killed. No, no matter how much lightning I fired at them they would not perish by such a small amount of Zeus and Poseidon's divine aura, especially not those cursed by Hades. At most, I greatly annoyed them with pain.
They would be upon me for long. I might be a wielder of the seas, but what good am I if my body collapses from the strain? I laughed to myself. Aye, might I die a second time? Hades, ya be a right piece of shit. Then again, what's a man to do when he discovers an affair with his wife? I can't point fingers much.
As I looked down at the Sea of Souls, I noticed that the water seemed to be much clearer and devoid of the mass wailing which had occurred within it. I guessed that the battle had blown most of the souls away until they gathered back here via the curse. It only meant that my time here was indeed limited.
That said, what should a man say when he can feel the jingling of coins, treasure chests, and other wondrous things beneath the waves? No doubt my battle had unearthed quite a few ornaments. Unfortunately, I couldn't take the time to pick through what I wanted so I just formed a large bubble, took what I could, and sailed away with the waves pushing my still legs. For the record, aye, this shit is heavy. But I ain't a pirate to turn down free treasure, cursed nor not!
Besides, cursed items sell quite well, especially on the black market.
Anyway, time seemed to slowly pass me by as the fleeting glimpses of my energy faded away into an endless void of exhaustion. Though I was very hungry and thirsty, I dared not partake of what laid in here. I could already hear the angry howls of the damned miles away from me. No doubt they would be upon me once again, but I continued at my leisurely pace. I suppose I did this because it was taking all my concentration to just hold on to the additional prizes that I had quickly collected. I doubt I had gotten all of them, but I ain't one to dive in this sea for too long.
An hour of restless travel passed me by. I silently smiled to myself since I had already crossed the veil between the Sea of Souls and the rest of the waters. I admit it was fairly close since, just as I passed, both the father and son spirits had crashed to the edge of the curse that they were attached to. They could only stare in utter anguish and contempt as I sailed beyond their reach.
I waved with mirth in my salty heart as their decrepit forms got further and further away from me. The only unfortunate thing about all of this was that the storm was still upon me. Naturally, I had to guard myself against the rain, but I definitely couldn't do so with the harsh winds blowing against me. Some waves threatened to overwhelm me, but a flick of my hand removed them from my path.
While I continued on my merry little solo voyage, I had noticed the number of bodies which seemed to line themselves upon in two different places. Some floated and others sunk down into Davy Jones' Locker as food for any swimming beast. Hell, that would be best. Though I doubt anyone has made it as far as this since Delverhold has never been discovered except by the alchemist who first journeyed there in the first place. I base this thought on the fact that even Liara, who had been alive for a great many years and known a great many things, had not discovered this place.
Well, the point to stand was that I'm sure if anyone other than I did manage to navigate these seas then I imagine they would not want the festering negative energies of the souls of the crew I lost to distract them. The flesh is better eaten by the predators than becoming the food of something sinister like the demon leech I had defeated earlier.
Another half-hour or so passed me by. Well, I assume it was half an hour, but forgive me if I be wrong. Between the stress of the past 24 hours, I wondered if me own internal clock had been disrupted. I saw my ship in the distance. Relief filled me as I made out the dozens of bodies still filled with water. The lights were off so I assumed everyone had stopped there for the night. I hold no imagination as to why. Clearly, they all desired rest. Tomorrow, they would probably eat and drink like their lives depended on it.
With the weight of the entire day upon me, I maneuvered myself up and over the ship's deck. The creak of my boots sounded like thunder in my ears. It be odd how much noise ya think ya make when yer trying to be sneaky.
As soon as my feet touched the deck, I noticed the door to my cabin open. I was then filled with an aura of boundless joy and relief, but it was quickly replaced with one of caution. Of all the greetings a captain can receive from his crew, a bow and arrow ready to be fired from a dangerous female elf ought to not be one of them.
"Aesteal, I'm tired. Fire that arrow and you'll be joining Sothshore in the coming days," I replied to my lovely elf. Like the trained warrior that she was, I was impressed by Aesteal's steady aim. Even though I could see troubling and conflicting energies warping around her aura, she still offered me a resolute gaze.
"How do I know you're Eric Drakclaw, captain of this ship?" she asked.
"Should the large bubble of water filled with my prizes not be a dead giveaway?" I returned. She examined what I had collected for a time before she turned back to me. Despite this apparent danger, I couldn't help admiring the way Aesteal's hair blew in the harsh winds and wet rain.
"Hền," Aesteal said and I saw the wind circle around the tip of her arrow. Ah, a wind arrow increased with all the runes that I had sewn into her clothing. With that one arrow and a well-placed shot, Aesteal could sink one or two ships of cheap wood if she desired. Clearly, that was more than enough to kill a mortal, though I had to thank her for being so considerate of my pride that she thought I was worth the magic. That does beg the thought of how her magic did recover so fast.
Aesteal spoke. "Spiritual possession is not uncommon where I've tread. You could easily have learned of his power's in the time that we had left the veil," she replied.
I weaved my hand and slowly placed the stuff on the deck of the ship. As much as I wanted to take this inside with me, I highly doubt I had the space anymore. Either way, I didn't reply to her statement. Instead, I walked towards my room. I held trust in this bonding shit that Maeloson had spoken to me about.
"Don't move!" Aesteal warned. However, I did not slow my pace. I admit I was a tad surprised when the arrow sped past my cheek. I think the crew was lucky since the sound of its boom into the ocean was covered by the wind.
Aesteal then readied another arrow, but I kept my walk until I was about five steps from my elf. Once I was within the same distance as her, I noticed her bow had begun to tremble from her unsteady hands. Aye, at this distance my aura could effectively mix with her own just like the many times of the night that we had shared together. Even if I was possessed, aura could not be imitated so easily.
"This...this proves nothing! You...you could be...," Aesteal scrambled for answers, but her fingers had loosened and her voice had lost its battle edge. I finished my steps and grabbed her bow.
"Shut up and come here, you worrisome elf!" I said. I then grabbed her arm and pulled her to me. Before she could even utter another word, I took her lips into my own. Their touch was just as wonderful as all the other times. The fall of her bow to the deck was an odd sound, but one that was quickly drawn out when she wrapped her arms around my neck.
Her hesitation gone, Aesteal kissed me like a wife who has not seen her husband for many suns and moons. The warmth and fires of her kiss were a rather sensual feeling in contrast to the cold wind and rain. Yet, her tongue played with mine and mine with hers.
"Haaaa...I thought you dead, Sir," she breathed out before she kissed me again while I pushed a piece of her wet hair from the side of her face.
"Death tried to claim me once, Aesteal. It's not easy to take me," I said to her. She slowly smiled at me before she collected her bow and led me into my quarters.
Once inside, my eyes immediately rested on my mother laying on the bed away from me. "Who was it, Aesteal? I ain't in the mood for anyone's shit right now," My mother replied. I noted the tone of anger and sadness within her voice. Despite knowing why, I couldn't stop the overconfident grin from getting on my face. Regardless of the touch exterior she tries to craft for herself, I was aware that my mother is but a human just like anyone else.
"Not even my shit, mother?" I asked.
I feared my mother had broken her neck with the way she turned around. She stared at my soaked body as I maneuvered the rainwater from my clothes, my hair, and the rest of my skin. I'd rather not catch a cold after all.
My mother stood to her feet and walked over to me. Though I was prepared for it, I still felt my head rock as my mother ruthlessly socked me across my face which sent me tumbling to the floor in an unfocused stupor. I suppose I could have dodged it. Mother didn't really try to hide the blow, but I took it anyway since I'm sure it would have made her happy in her own regard.
That said, "Zaaahg mom, you hit hard!" I thought to myself as I rubbed my jaw. I watched her kneel before she threw her arms around my neck.
"You're a fucking bastard! You're the stupidest piece of shit that I've ever raised! You're a goddamn son of a bitch! You Doqv! You Hgal! You Satgh!" she exclaimed as more and more Draegnarian fun words were thrown at me as I held her.
I rubbed my mother's long back for a good while before she stared at me. Then, just like Aesteal, I shared a mighty kiss with my mother as her hands touched my cold shoulders. She partook of me with great hunger in her efforts. No lesser were the fires of her passion than Aesteal's.
Once our little greeting was finished, Aesteal helped me to my feet as I discarded most of my clothes. Just the sight of my bed made me more tired than I even remembered. The battle...seemed so far away now that I stand within my quarters again.
I don't remember too much about that night, only that I woke up in the middle of it for a pitcher of water with the heads of Aesteal and my mother on my chest. The sounds of the rain and storms outside lulled me back to my slumber.
How long I slept for was anyone's guess, but I can't say I woke up in the morning. This was the case since I had no idea if the sun was even up. Despite my not being angry or upset, the sky was wrought with vicious lightning, dark clouds, pouring rain, and the smell of magic. I, once again, fell back to sleep.
The next time I woke up, I was still a little tired, but I decided against sleeping again. Though we have finished the trials, it wouldn't do good to rest for an extended time in a sea like this. Besides, I could hear scrounging around on the deck. I had left all of this I had unearthed during my tirade with those spirits on the deck of the ship. Shiny and precious though they might be, they are not meant to be handled by the regular mortal. Hell, if I had not Liara's knowledge of the arcane, I might have left them alone entirely.
I stepped out of my bed and placed my feet on the cold floor. I grabbed some clothes and stepped outside. Perhaps the crew ought to thank their good fortune again. I saw some of them working, but most of them circling around the stuff I had brought on deck.
"Don't touch that, you idiots!" I called out.
All heads turned to me and stilled. Aside from the raging storm, there was an awkward silence that passed over my ship. Like I was some standing ghost, they all looked at me with wide eyes. I sighed and held up my hand. The rain fell off the side of my ship as I commanded it to which gave us a soaked deck just needing to be swept.
"What? You fuckers never seen your captain come out of his quarters before?!" I questioned.
They stayed silent for a moment before I heard someone shout. "Begone foul spirit!" the person shouted before they flung some type of stone at my chest. It clattered on the floor and I noticed it was some kind of purifying stone meant to deal with weak wraiths or apparitions.
My mouth moved to the side before I grabbed the person by their neck and flung them overboard. The distinct sound of a splash made me chuckle. "Anyone else?" I asked.
"Captain!" the rest rejoiced.
...As I thought.
Once the son of a bitch who threw the stone at me was retrieved, I got busy with my own work.
"My, so it seems you were quite fortunate in your reckless endeavor. A most extensive collection of objects you've retrieved while you were away. Surely, you know some of these things are quite dangerous, dear Captain,"
I turned around and noticed Liara appear on the deck of the ship. I chuckled. "Fun things are often dangerous, Liara. You included," I replied.
She smiled. "I shall take thine words for a compliment," she replied. She then went back into her room for a few moments. Then Diane appeared. The woman looked at me for more than a moment so I decided to speak first.
"What makes you stare upon me so intensely? Miss me?" I asked, mirth within my voice.
Burnwood folded her arms. "Not likely! I'm just sad the ghosts didn't let your corpse rot behind the veil," she said before she stormed off as well. Aye, truly no man can figure out a woman no matter how the years pass.
"So you survived,"
And next came Maeloson.
I continued going about my business. "Had you doubts?" I questioned.
He knelt next to me. "A little. I was more worried for Aesteal's desire to head back. She tried to take one of the rowboats once we were safe. It took...great convincing to restrain her. I had a feeling you would survive. You're too stubborn," he replied.
...Not much I could do to deny that.
As Maeloson walked away, I frowned when another placed his hand on my shoulder. "You know, we had to restrain him too. He desired to go with Aesteal to fetch you," came the voice of Boreli.
As much as his arm upon my shoulder angered me, I tried not to focus on that, but one what he told me. I merely shook my head while I watched Maeloson speak with some others who had survived. When I managed to take count again, I shook my head. Aye, just as I had thought before. 60 to 70 men and women remained upon my ship. More than I had expected, but also more than I desired.
As more and more people arose, I played the part of the victorious captain who had returned to his crew. Though this wasn't a terrible atmosphere, I could still feel the shaken nerves of those who had lived. Not only had they survived, but they had to also push the bodies of those gone into the sea. I imagine the horrifying things they must have seen or dreamt of. No doubt it had taken its toll upon them.
Yet, as I worked and spotted everyone with me, I still...had not found Ellen. Now it wasn't hard to locate her. I could easily feel that she was on the ship. More specifically, she was in her room, but she obviously made no move to come to me. I also made no move to go to her as well. A woman like Ellen could be akin to a wild animal. They shall come to you when they desire.
So, I left Ellen alone and moved on with my work of cataloging what I had collected. Unfortunately, most of the stuff was useless to me so I just sold it to Liara. She claimed she had some...use for it so what was I to say? Hell, it already paid off some of my extraordinary debt to her. I don't think she much minded that anyway.
With my mana replenished, I spent the better part of the day outside with my crew dispelling the various curses, that I could dispel, from the items. Some of the curses attached to these objects were so heavy that I just threw them away. No, not something like jewels or precious antiques mind ya, but some ridiculousness like some blades or suits of armor. Besides, I had already dragged them from the harsh part of the sea. If I truly desired to save them then I could come back for them here.
Once that was sorted, I placed all of the treasures in the ship's treasure room. There I spotted Lady Knight. She merely gave me a rather professional greeting before I placed my stuff away.
"I hold no regrets for pirates, but I too am pleased to see you well," I heard as I walked away from the treasure room. I chuckled. Well well, even a knight of that shitty empire could show some warmth when she desired.
I turned my head. "We made a deal. I don't know how ya knights conduct yourselves, but even pirates can honor their words," I said. She spoke no more to me and I no more to her. I then walked back to the deck of my vessel.
I spent some time speaking with the helmsman. I instructed him and guided him to the map I had outlined. From here on, there ought to be only rough storms and harsh waves that any other sea should have. However, I warned him to keep his wits with him. Though there were no more trials to be faced, there were still creatures and monsters beneath the deep that wouldn't hesitate to try and crush our ship.
I did what I could to keep the ship from becoming more drenched in rain than it already was. Given that I had rested, I held a renewed focus that allowed my mind to separate the focus on diverting the rain from other menial tasks. I didn't need anyone else getting sick from this weather as well. The more I could keep able-bodied, the better.
Next on my rather busy agenda for this day, I gathered my mother, Maeloson, Aesteal, and Liara into my quarters. I did not bother with Ellen. I would just repeat some of these things with her.
"In two to three days, we shall land upon the shores of Delverhold. Maeloson, Aesteal, how are your warriors?" I asked.
The male elf crossed his arms. "I'd like to spend more weeks preparing them. However, there are things which can only be learned once they experience combat. I lost a few of them to the spirits yesternight. I hold no doubts that they have been shaken," he said.
"Tis not quite so unusual. They have been through a traumatic experience already. Additionally, these types of spirits hold great affinity to the senses. Who knows what they made them see to get them to reveal what they had. Naturally, they were but mere Hilvirian farmers, stone forgers, and band handlers. Surely, they had never known a blade nor the world of magic before this time," she replied.
A small glare from Maeloson was the only answer he gave in response to her statements. It became clear to me that my male elf had come to value those under his command in some way of order. I flicked the irony of it in my head for a little while before I heard Aesteal speak.
"Only through the flames of adversity might the unrefined blade grow in a sharp edge," she replied. I'm pretty sure we had all received the meanings within her words. I leaned back in my chair and tapped my quill against the map.
"There be an old saying within the lands of Draegnar, 'Xic aval hun mal, Gazim. Fallio cighu knivo strigun.' Kill me the first time, Death, for I shall only become stronger should we meet again. They'll be fine. They ain't babes on the ship. If they can't heck it, then we drop them off at the nearest civilized island. If I know my bastard of a son, we're gonna be facing stupider shit than that as we continue to sail," my mother replied.
I leaned forward on my table. "Oh, is that right, mother? Perhaps you and I should discuss how much of a bastard I am later then," I told her.
My mother shivered from the implications of what I meant, but I stood up. "Well, everyone's shaken up. I can't deny that ya on that. Fine, we'll sail for a few hours, and then I'll give the crew one more day of rest. Hand them whatever food and drink they desire. Allow them time for their own thoughts. If anyone can't keep up when we hit Delverhold then they'll be tied down on ship duty," I said.
Everyone slowly nodded and I turned to Liara. "Grace me with your presence, Liara. I have need of you later," I spoke. Ilzahold looked at me curiously.
"Very well, I shall endeavor to be at your aid, dear captain," she said, her voice filled with more honey than what I was used to. It made my throat feel dry.
I dismissed everyone from my quarters and leaned back in my chair. As I closed my eyes, I felt a bit of frustration fill me up, mostly upon myself. Clearly, I had underestimated the severity of the trauma inflicted upon the bastards that joined us from Hilvir. I had assigned them to Maeloson and Aesteal because I figured that the elven teachings of warriorship, balance, and center of purpose, would serve these men and women with an outlet towards their frustrations.
Still, my mother was right. They best grow strong from this adversity. The waters my ship sails aren't meant for those without resolve.
That said...
I stood up and pushed out my door. "Maeloson! Aesteal, gather your warriors. Also, bring Lady Knight to me!" I ordered. The two elves looked at me curiously before they barked some orders and someone ran down to fetch Alteria.
I might be a son of a bitch, but I gave my word that I would take care of this ship. What kind of captain can't aid in the wellbeing of the minds of his crew? That should have been my duty back when we left the veil. How much frustration had they all built up within their bellies?
Once Maeloson and Aesteal's warriors were present, I took out my cutlass. Everyone stared at me as I pointed at them. "The trials on my ship were tough on ya, weren't they? Fine, if you're pissed off at me then grab your ballsacks or your chest sacks and come at me!" I claimed.
They all looked at me, confused. No one was quite sure what to do. "Oh? Ya don't find fault with me? Ya enjoy the fact that I made ya sail in this dangerous sea? Ya enjoy the fact some of the people you got close to on this are gone? I bet you thought I could have done more to save them! I bet you're even thinking of taking some stupid revenge out on me right now. Well, come at me, ya scurvy dogs! HATE ME WITH THE STEEL OF YOUR BLADE!" I roared.
They all continued to stare. Some stared angrily. Others stared in understanding. I then spotted one warrior stand to his feet and grab his blade. My lips curled up.
For the next five or six hours, I fought with my crewmates. Into each other, we bore our blood. Those who dared not fight me were given to Alteria. I can't properly tell ya which was worse.
Either way, I took on their frustrations of this sea I had led them all into. Some attacked me with great ferocity that made me sweat. Others landed successful hits on me that rattled my head. My ears were assaulted by the constant sounds of clashing steel and frustrated cries.
I bore the brunt of their assaults for the whole time. Yet, I became aware of a gathering crowd.
"Kain, you're not watching the captain's movements! Remember your training!" Maeloson exclaimed.
"Yes, Maeloson, sir!" This one named Kain shouted back into the wind and rain as he clashed blades with me again.
"Follow through, Aina! Your enemy cares not if you live or die! They shall utilize anything to get you to crumble! I asked Sir to aid you in Hilvir, are you going to make him think I chose wrong?" Aesteal asked.
This woman named Aina growled. Her hair laid undone and her bountiful chest heaved. I stood in front of her.
"Not on your life, Aesteal!" Aina responded before she charged me with renewed vigor.
By the end, I laid upon my deck, gasping for air with cuts and bruises lined across my body. At some point, I noticed that the rather solemn atmosphere had given way to hearty laughter.
"Hey Shrae, I gots some healing oils for ya if you want!" I heard someone holler.
"Fuck off, Drog!" someone else responded, a feminine voice if I heard over the rain and thunder.
"Hahahaahaha, that's 50 Shaligs for me! I knew I bet right on ya, Nathra!" another claimed.
"Half of those are mine!"
My mother stood over me and helped me to my feet. As the waves crashed and seawater layered my ship down, I saw people speaking with each other once again. With some healing magic, I was no worse for wear.
As I promised, we only sailed for a few hours and I allowed the crew one more day of rest. During that time, I decided that now would be a good time for what I had planned. The ship was not full with as much mirth as I think we were all used to at the very start, but those still breathing upon it were rowdy all the same.
Anyway, I tasked Goron and Nz'ia with retrieving Kavtha's Urn. It was brought into my room along with my dinner. While I ate the morsels of cheese, bread, fish, and anything else edible upon my wooden plate, I busied myself with rereading some tome from my past life describing the natures and intricacies of Kavtha's Urn. I wrote down what I had learned on a piece of paper for the rest of the coming information. It wasn't the most exciting thing of my life, but from what I had dealt with recently, I could stand the downtime.
By the time, Liara knocked upon my door, I had basically finished all that I needed to know. "Come in," I said.
The door opened and Liara stepped inside. "Greetings, Eric. I understand you desired my presence?" her melodious voice asked as her eyes surveyed my room. I picked up some pieces of undersea grass and placed them in the urn.
I took some time to study the Witch of Draegnar before I spoke. "Aye. Before we land upon the shores of the Isles of Delverhold, we'll need to fill up Kavtha's Urn," I replied.
I tried to fight the urge to stare at Liara's legs as her shoes clattered on my floorboards, but I think that was a losing battle. Above all, I still think Ilzahold enjoyed my appreciation of her body because that odd, hungry look still persisted in her gaze.
"Hmm, many legends state that Kavtha's Urn is capable of turning any liquid produced within it into a Divine-quality of that substance. Some even state that Dionysus borrows the Water Golem's urn to brew his wine for the rest of the gods. I suppose I need not remind you that Kavtha would want his urn back," she answered.
I chuckled. "He should not have lost it then. If the Water Golem wants his shit back then he can pay me back the coin I paid for this thing. Anyway, the dealings of the bastards and bitches on the divine plane aside, I need your help, Liara. More specifically, for ya to get what ya desire within Delverhold, you'll need to cooperate with me,"
Liara nodded. "Very well, and what might I need such cooperation for? I suppose there is nowhere for you to run if you decide to lie to me. However, I have not fancied you the type," she answered.
"Aye, ya fancy me, do you?"
"Don't set your own spirit aflame, boy,"
She didn't exactly answer no.
I offered her a smile and she returned one back to me while one of her fingers traced over the urn. "The Azure Flames of Wei'nal. I'd like you to light them. I don't got the mana for an endeavor like that, especially under controlled environments like the one I need. Also, I'd appreciate it if you drew the runes on this piece of paper," I said, showing Ilzahold what I had written.
To her credit, when Liara looked over everything, she only managed a brief laugh. "My, quite the ambitious and curious young man you are. Quite knowledgeable as well. Shall I assume this to be more of what you've...picked up?" Liara asked.
I'm sure this game we were playing was rather unnecessary between the both of us, but if the witch didn't desire to break it, then I needn't endeavor to do the same. "Would you assume otherwise? I asked.
"No, I suppose not," she replied.
Liara then left my quarters for only a moment or two before she returned with Diane. The latter carried about six or seven candlestands. She placed them around the urn per Ilzahold's instruction. I wished I could provide banter, but that was not my joy tonight.
"Thank you, Diane. You're dismissed,"
"Yes, Lady Liara," Burnwood said. I heard the sound of my door close as I crunched up more grass and began mixing it together with some herbs I had in a random jar. The sounds of my churn bowl filled the room and the smell of alchemy burned my nose.
Now, if ya be wondering why I needed Liara to work those runes into the urn, then it was because...those types of runes require a very...specific way of creation. First, they require the blood of a female mage. Second, their power can only be invoked by the female mage in question.
If ya got maggots eating your brain, then suffice to say...a man can't do that particular part. Don't ask me to explain why. Perhaps it's because the mana within women is supposed to be more...refined than a man's. Perhaps it's because, as I'm finding from Liara's past times, women seem to be more attuned to the mystical realm than men. Hell, perhaps the powers which be on this floating orb of water and earth just enjoy a pair of tits more than a long cock.
Either way, only Liara could do it. Well, correction, Liara was the only female mage on this ship I trusted to do it. So, with that being the case, I got onto my own work.
Many hours passed by for Liara and I. Even to now, day and night became indifferentiable to me. The only thing that became different was the clamoring of my crew outside was changed with the sounds of bubbling water and clinking glasses and vials.
"Uzic hon bzami ghuno qap xum galbun,"
I heard the sounds of magic going on behind me, but continued my own work. After all, if I get this wrong then it's not like I'll have wasted three hours worth of valuable materials. One bottle on my desk and another in my hand, I poured ten drops of crimson fluid from one to the other. The bottle on my desk held a sharp stone within it, and each drop of crimson which fell upon it made it burn with a stench that could make the eyes water.
I'd rather not count how many times I looked back at the notes I had written. I'd have torn the pages otherwise. Instead, as the bottle with the sizzling stone rumbled violently, I added another mixture of fluids into the crimson vial. The vial turned a deep purple and I added water to the stone vial. I watched it bubble angrily and I used a finger to keep the water from spilling out of the mouth of the glass.
While that was done, I offered Liara a spectacle of dancing water strands grabbing whatever I willed them to. I tossed a bowl of herbs into the urn and then poured grains of pepper, salted wood cores, grazed stone cores, and drops of talvian slime. No, I shall not explain what that last one is. I enjoy my dinner where it is.
Probably two more hours passed by for us. "Skian!" I heard Liara exclaim. I turned around and I noticed each candlestand glowing with the bright blue flames of Wei'nal. These flames were once said to burn so that the very impurities which lay within the soul could be cleansed. Whether the body lives beyond that point to make use of the new soul is another matter.
"Ko'nu!" I called. Like the tails of falling stars, the blue flames flew upwards and swirled in the open air of my quarters before they flew down into the urn. I must admit that if Poseidon had his own view of me, then surely I'd be struck by greater storms right now. I say this because the irony of the Son of Poseidon using fire magic wasn't lost on me.
"Liara, higher flames!" I instructed.
"Nrie!" Liara called. The flames burned hotter as I continued to drive them into the urn. Admittedly, I didn't have to do this. This was, for all intents and purposes, a waste of mana since my body holds nowhere near the stores of mana that Liara's does. However, permit my ego to reign this time since I rather enjoyed Ilzahold's curious looks upon me.
The urn began to shake and the runes drawn in Liara's blood began to dissolve. It was almost like the frame of the urn was sucking the blood into its very being.
I then showed some fucking impressive dexterity if I should say so for myself. With my unoccupied hand, I wove the other ingredients into the urn. Kashin flowers, argovor bones, scalthian tongue, faklwuen powder, yugail ashes, all that shit, and any other things you could name were thrown into the Water Golem's urn.
It continued to rumble and groan. Harsh, flickering lights came from within it before I added the last thing. I reached into my pouch and pulled out a diamond that I had found from the Sea of Greed. I dropped it inside.
Liara stopped her chant and the flames flew into the urn. I then covered it with the lid. Sweat poured down my face as the hours of work caught up to me. Ilzahold dropped her arms and though I doubt she was winded. I saw the barest glimmers of sweat upon her as well.
"My, tis quite the time that I had performed such alchemy in a direct way. Have all your preparations laid themselves before you?" Liara asked.
I took a moment to collect myself. "Aye, it be in need of one more thing," I said as I leaned up.
"Oh? And might I inquire as to...mmmmmph!" I cut Liara's lips off with my own as I savored the fruits of my labor. It didn't take her even a second to find her groove before she returned my kiss with fervor. I could feel her aura mixing with mine was again, ready to whisk us away back to that time where I had nearly gone delirious with pleasure.
Instead, we both showed restraint and parted. "I look forward to the results of this union, dear captain. I pray thee a favorable night. I shall retire," she claimed. She then walked up my steps and bade me a goodbye which seemed to promise that we would pick up what happened later.
Behind me, I heard the sounds of the rumbling lid. Aye, a maelstrom of ingredients laid within that urn, churning and rupturing against each other. Had it been any regular vessel then it would have cracked into pieces.
I placed a large set of books over the lid. Once I was sure it was secure, I picked up my used vials and dirty trays. I would wash those come first light tomorrow. Aye, that was a joke if ya missed it! That fucker Helios can't even penetrate his wives, much less his rays of the Sun down here. Then again, I wonder what other gods might take offense to Helios as the being of the Sun. Many seem to think otherwise.
I sighed. The gods aside, I climbed into my bed, turned out the candlelights, and fell asleep. The harsh thunder and rain lulled me to slumber for a time.
When I woke up, I knew it wasn't morning. I could kind of tell since I didn't think I woke up naturally. Rather, I woke up due to an intense thirst within my throat. Plus, my room was still dark. Well, darker than normal. I lazily reached for my pitcher that I kept near my bed. Then, I gave pause when I felt something pushed into my hand.
My gaze rather unfocused, and my grip uneasy, it took time for me to turn my head and my eyes to clear up to notice a cup of water was in my hand. Beyond that, I noticed that I was not alone.
Kneeling down on the cold floor, I could see the figure of Ellen. Her mouth didn't move. Her hands remained on her knees. She just knelt there like a statue made of living flesh.
I placed the cup to my lips and felt the cool liquids rush down my throat. Still, she did not address me. I did not speak with her either. Instead, I think we both merely saw fit to keep this silence for as long as possible. Save for the sounds of my rather loud gulps and the gentle rumbles of the urn, nothing else broke the silence.
Unfortunately, the water wasn't as long-lasting as the silence was. One had to give eventually. I shall give ya a guess which one that was. I set the cup down and turned around. I pulled the covers over me. That was when I heard Ellen's unsteady breathes.
"Permission to speak, Sir?" Ellen asked quietly. Hell, the softness in her voice made me wonder if she was the one who had been possessed. The webs of drowsiness still entangled my mind, so I can't say I gave the most...patient answers.
"What is it?" I asked.
There came more silence for only a moment or two. Had I been more awake, then I would have questioned the obedient and pleasant tone Ellen was using.
"What do I have to do...to get you to fuck me, Sir?" Ellen asked.
I yawned. "As much as it excites me that you're just as eager as I am now, don't be in such a hurry. We still have two or three more days till Delverhold. That's when I'll satisfy you," I replied. As soon as those words left my mouth, I was already falling back to sleep. Fortunately, I wasn't so far gone that I didn't hear Sothshore speak again.
"There's no longer any fucking point," she said.
Before I could decipher what she meant, I felt the shift of my bed. I then felt something heavy on my waist. With a cracked open eye, I noticed Ellen had crawled onto my bed. The gleam of the grey skies from outside had shown me that she was devoid of any form of modesty. Her beautiful, womanly figure laid upon me. I could see the stiffened nipples and the few battle scars which marked her. That said, those scars did not distract from her beauty. Rather, I knew how much they meant to someone like her.
Like a sea of gold, her blond hair seems to shine brighter than usual. Then I stare into her eye. The other was covered by her usual eyepatch in the left eye. The fierce gaze of a powerful ocean laid within that visible eye of deep blue. I don't think I had ever seen the greedy woman hold such a resolute gaze. She placed her hands on my chest. The caressing of her nails did wonders for releasing me from sleep.
"What was that?" I asked, a rather...warm sense of curiosity in my voice.
"I said there be no fucking point anymore!" she exclaimed a bit more irritably. Ah, there was my Sothshore.
I placed my hands behind my back and eased into my pillow. "Oh? And why exactly is that?" I asked.
I watched Ellen's lips move in an angry way, but she didn't voice that. Instead, she just huffed tiredly. "I hate your ass, but...I trust you too! I've...come to trust you a lot, you piece of shit. I already know we're going to arrive soon. I heard the meeting from outside the door. No, perhaps...I always knew. From the moment you first set sail, I'd bet my entire fortune that we'd reach these fucking impossible isles of yours. Like I could stomach the fact that you were right in my face," she answered.
It seemed she had more to say so I didn't speak. She inhaled and exhaled. "I think that seas damned beast we faced those days ago made me face the shit reality I've found myself in. We're actually going and...I'll be wrong. Isn't that why you waited to fuck me? You desired me to see Delverhold so I had no excuse to submit to you?" she asked.
I opened my mouth to speak.
"That's what I thought anyway. This whole damned thing was just some shitty attempt of yours to mock me, ridicule me, humiliate me. I hate you. I hate this trip. I hate myself for falling into your bullshit bet. It was enough to make me consider jumping off the side of the ship just to free myself from what's going on around me," she paused again.
I closed my mouth. "Then, everything you fucking did to me! Teasing me, abusing me, demeaning me, it was nigh maddening! Then, you fuck everyone else except me. I'm forced to watch your mother, that bitch, Diane, that elf, and even that shitty witch walk around this ship like it's some of the best days of their lives! Their stupid faces acting like I'm missing something that shines better than silver and gold. Am I the weird one now?!" she asked.
Ellen leaned back and she rubbed my hands. "Though I hate you. Though I hate this bet. Though I hate...this voyage, I...found enjoyment here. Away from the Dead Tales, the salty air of the sea on my face, my time with you, most of them unwilling, I...argh...I hate this feely crap! Look, what I'm trying to say is...,"
Ellen paused when I placed a finger to her lips. "Ya talk too much, you sexy bitch," I said as I lean up. I then press my forehead against her own. Her eyes softened as her breath mixed with mine.
"I hate you," she whispered.
"Say it again," I replied to her.
"I really fucking hate you, Sir,"
"That's my girl,"
I grabbed the back of Ellen's head and pulled her lips into mine. We kissed each other hungrily. The sleep in my eyes had long left and I could already feel the arousal flourishing from within me. I moved my hand from the back of her head and to her cheek. She kissed me with great passion. Her lips were like great fire and her tongue like a writhing serpent eager to devour my own tongue.
"Mmmmmmm...haaauauauaph!"
We sighed together. I used my other hand to trace up and down her curves. Aye, Sothshore had just a beautiful form. It was meant to be praised, desired, and worshipped. She was a true woman. Her tongue slathered the front and back of my teeth while mine caressed up and over the insides of her cheeks. We drank of each other. We partook of each other. The months of frustration between us seemed to explode in one single point of sexual awakening. I could already feel my cock rising from within the sheets. If not for them, Ellen and I would already feel our crotches grinding against each other just waiting for ecstasy. That said, I don't think either of us minded the sheets for the moment.
"Hmmmmmmm," Ellen moaned into my mouth. She then began to grind her hips against my covered cock, and by the seas was she wet. I could feel the vibrating heat drench the material and coax my cock in her arousal.
When we parted, Ellen gently traced my chest with her fingers before she leaned forward and licked one of my nipples. I shivered from how hot her tongue was against my aroused tips. She swirled her tongue between them both while I eased my hands and fingers along her back.
Then she moved from my nipples and down my chest. Her tongue licked every crevice of my body and I showed my appreciation of her attention with eased grunts of satisfaction. Aside from this, there was no need for words between us. It seemed like we had transcended that need for this moment.
Sothshore licked and licked until she slowly pulled the covers away from my erection. So hard, so aroused was I that my cock tipped back to my stomach. She stared at it like she had never seen it before in her life. She then grasped it. I closed my eyes and barked no orders. I allowed Ellen to do as she wished with me.
This sexy businesswoman stroked my cock up and down. Her fingers grasped it firmly, but not too strongly. Her sole attention was focused upon it until she started a working rhythm. I had to admit that the feeling of her soft palms was doing wonders for me.
"Mmmmmmm," I said. She looked at me and I looked back. The smile on her face seemed odd to me. It was not one of triumph, but of serene understanding.
"Not to inflate your shitty ego, but...ya do got a nice cock, if nothing else," Ellen suddenly said.
Before I could even reply, she devoured my cock in one shot. My eyes widened when I felt her nose against my pelvis. For what reason that I can't decipher, this blowjob felt much more amazing than the others she had given me. The way her tongue wrapped around my hard pole was like the sleek coils around a barreled gun. She then withdrew her head back and began fucking my cock into her mouth.
Soon slurping and gurgling sounds were heard throughout my quarters. My breath was short and my arousal was high. I sat back and enjoyed the feeling of my cock meeting cold air before being swallowed back into a warm cavern. Over and over, Ellen moved and her hair swayed left and right. Hot, cold, hot, cold, both these sensations continued to fire pleasure through my brain. Ellen even fondled my sacs filled with cum, her mouth begging to receive a taste of my cum.
Given that I had not fucked or sucked anything for the past 48 hours, it didn't take long before I granted her wish and, with a hefty grunt, fired a worthy load of cum down her throat. My legs trembled and my arms locked to keep me steady, but she did not slow her pace. The back of her throat muscles worked well to devour all that I had given her.
Once I was done, she leaned back and looked at me. She then licked her lips at me. She then gave a brief cough. "Your shit doesn't slide down very well. Kinda like bad druom," she replied cheekily.
"Then perhaps it be the time that I find out how you taste," I said as I slowly slid out of the bed. My feet touched the cold floor. My cock flipped against my pelvis and between my legs. Ellen sexily crawled over my bed and then leaned down to get on her back. I was blessed with the view of her dripping snatch. I dropped to my knees.
I did not go for my prize immediately. Instead, I actually spent some time catering to Ellen's body. I truly loved, adored, and desired this body of hers. Every crevice I sought to devour of her. First, I settled on her long, wonderful legs. I kissed and sucked the length of them well. Her breaths slowly became unsteady while her fingers worked themselves through my hair.
"Mmmmmmm...ooooooooh, you dirty bastard!" Ellen moaned as I nibbled on her toes. I then moved my tongue up to the inner workings of her thighs. Sweat dripped from her pores and her juices stained my bed. Nevertheless, I never stopped my assault. I desired to show her that I did truly love her. I adored her as a man does a woman. Even if she's a piece of shit, as all us Draegnarians are, she's still one that I would have sail beneath my flag.
"Mmmmmmmmm....aaoaaaaoaaoooooooo," Sothshore groaned as she toyed with her breasts. She caressed them and enticed me to suck them by pinching her puffy nipples between her fingers. When she looked at me, I could see the lust covering her eye. She bit her lower lip and I lowered my tongue to her quivering pussy.
Seas, her pussy was everything I had hoped it to be. It might not be for my cock yet, but I could feel the way her muscles drew my tongue further into her. I lapped and licked at her hungrily. Her legs upon my shoulders, her fingers clawing at my scalp, she pulled me into her. I did not mind, but it wasn't like I desired to go anyway.
My tongue slithered through her insides. My thumb worked tirelessly upon her clit while my other fingers spread the folds of her labia thus allowing me to pierce and climb her walls even more. "You're such a sexy slut, Ellen. Have ye any idea how long I have desired this moment? Where I would grant you pleasures beyond your wildest dreams?" I asked.
Ellen panted. "Oooooof course not, you bastard. But...hmmmmmmmm...tell me anyway! How long have you desired me?" she asked.
I swirled my tongue in small circles. The tip constantly seemed to brush against one wall and the next. "Many times! Many a night, Sothshore. I desired you from the first moment I could tell a cock from a cunt. Aye, the many things I dreamt of doing to you, a monk could not handle them all," I teased.
My words seemed to edge Sothshore closer. She groaned and her body writhed, but I kept her under control. "OooooooooooH! Oooooooo fuuuuuuuck! Aaaaauauauauauugh gooooods!, ya do lick a cunt good!" she praised. Well, I did have quite the practice to do so.
"Can ya imagine it, Ellen? A young bastard in his room just inches from the bed of his mother, jerking his cock up, down, left, and right to thoughts of fucking your deadly cunt? I bet it turns a slut like you on, to know that men fire cum into the air just at the thought of hoping to the gods it finds its way inside your pussy!" I said.
Ellen rolled her tits frantically and I continued to lick and suck her. I added three fingers and shoved them into her pussy. Her walls clung to them well. Like the vice of a beast, they sought to never let go. However, I never sought to leave! Instead, as the storm upon this mysterious sea raged against my windows, I felt rather mischievous. I slathered one of my fingers with my spit and slowly curled around Sothshore's ass.
"Eric! What are yoooooooooooaaaaaaooooooooh!" Ellen cried as I sunk my well-lubricated finger into the tight orifice that that was rosebud. I think Sothshore's body locked when I did which released a torrent of female cum splashing in my face.
As Ellen dropped down to the bed, I heard her panting breaths. "You...really are...a sick fucker!" she exhaled tiredly. She could call me all the true things she wanted, but I doubt she could deny how wonderful it must have felt.
"Don't get sated yet, Ellen. I still got years of pent up lust to dole out on you!" I replied.
Now, to be a businessman, more specifically, a profitable businessman, ya gotta be pretty fast on the uptake. Ellen was definitely that because she quickly became aware of just how much lust I had compiled over the years just waiting to be unleashed upon her.
I attacked Ellen vigorously. She became a frantic, undulating ball of nerves beneath my touch. There was nowhere on her body that I hadn't tread at least once. The number of orgasms I delivered to her easily told me that I would need to replace my sheets, but that didn't concern me. If there was anything that concerned me, then it was just how much my lust seemed to drive her own. I never felt satisfied.
"Ooooooooo fuckkkkkk! Oooaoaoaoaaoaoao shiiiiiiiit! Guuuauauauauauuauah!" She groaned while I shoved my fingers through her gushing cunt. My tongue poked and propped her asshole while one of my free hands rolled and fondled one of her breasts. Her hands clung to my head and her legs almost tried to strangle me of the air in my lungs.
I didn't count the orgasms she had. I was only focused on granting her as much pleasure as she desired. All the pent up sexual aggression she must have felt from my desire to save her for last exploded together to form this night. "Mmaaauaauauaua! Ooooooooo goooooods! You nasty shit fuck!" she said as my tongue crawled through the crevices of her clenching ass. I scratched the upper and lower walls of her pussy with my three fingers. The arousal affected me greatly as precum slipped from my cock.
"HNNNNAHNNNNNGHHHHUAUAUAA!" Ellen groaned as another orgasm ripped through her. She fell to the bed and I decided that after so many minutes passed I might allow her some reprieve.
As she caught her breath, I was busy licking the rest of the tangy nectar from my face. Aye, Ellen flows with more juice than the average lass.
I joined her on the bed, which I noticed was very damp. No point in wondering why about that. Ellen stared at me. I was then graced with a rather gentle smile, almost unbefitting of her. "Not bad," she replied.
I chuckled. "Ah, so I don't measure up to the others you've had?" I asked.
"Other," she answered.
I raised an eyebrow. She looked away rather embarrassed. It was rather cute. "What?! So I've only had sex once! Fuck off if you want someone better!" she fired at me.
"Was it the one from the ship?" I asked.
Ellen started at me nervously. "...I didn't feel like it," she mumbled.
I didn't reply. Instead, I laughed. I laughed quietly, but it seemed to be enough to make Ellen growl. "What are you laughing a...HMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" I paused her coming tirade with a heavy kiss to her lips. I then parted her legs and drove my cock into her cunt.
Sothshore's breath and lips trembled as my cock climbed into her body. The rubbing of her walls against my thoroughly sex-charged cock made me tremble. The booming thunder outside was the most accurate description of how I felt at that moment.
We parted. Ellen stared at me with the flames of lust. "Shut up and let me fuck you, ya sexy bitch!" I said. I then withdrew my hips and slammed them back again. Ripples through Sothshore's body coursed through mine. Her body was everything I had hoped it would be. She clung to me like our bodies were exactly made for one another.
I withdrew and fucked back into her again. "Mnnnnnnnnhn!" Ellen groaned and I settled for a steady rhythm of long, deep thrusts. My bed rocked beneath me, but I was entirely focused on this sexy businesswoman's heaving chest. Her nipples pointed at me like the tips of blades. I then leaned down and kissed her again.
Ellen wrapped her arms around my neck and kissed me back. The flames of passion and electric nerves fired through my brain. Whether by some odd magic, or the unusual nature of my perverse aura, I could feel what Ellen was feeling and I had no doubts she could feel the same with me. Her legs wrapped around my waist as I drove my erection further and further into her body.
"Mmaaaaaa...ooooooooooh fuck...yessssssss! Fuck me! Fuck me you son of a bitch!" Ellen demanded and I rose to those demands well. Her luscious pants in my ear, my cock hardened when I felt her bite my earlobe. Her nails painfully clawed at my back and my shoulders, but I pressed on anyway. The raging storm outside was lost to us both. I huffed and panted, sleep the furthest thing from my mind. The only thing I could feel was the warm embrace of Sothsore's tightening pussy.
My pace gradually increased and Ellen responded in kind. She matched my movements rather well for someone that's only had sex once. I don't think I was still quite over that shocking revelation, but I placed it in the back of my mind for some other time.
I think Ellen's body excited me more than I admit because I lost some control over myself. My hips locked and I grunted as I came a full load into her waiting pussy. Sothshore hummed and caressed me. We laid there for a moment just staring at each other. Then, the arousal became too much for me again. My cock grew inside her.
"Insatiable bastard," She remarked.
I kissed her. The smack of our lips evident. "That is indeed me," I told her.
We then changed positions. Ellen laid on top of me while my head rested on my pillow. "Well, let me see if I can't soothe this fucking thing. Besides, I've got weeks of frustration pent up too! Hearing you fuck everyone else and not me! We're not done until one of us passes out dammit!" she said before she took my cock and guided it into her cunt. My eyes rolled into the back of my head as she slithered down until the full weight of her body was on me.
Ellen then raised her hips and slammed them back down. "Nnnnnghnnnn," I groaned. Sothshore smirked and wriggled her frame.
"Mmmmm, perhaps I should have fucked you sooner if ya weren't such a little shit! Mmmmmmmmnph!" she said. We both then settled as I watched her bounce on my cock. Up and down. Up and down. Her breasts swayed in my face as the sweat from her forehead fell down to my chest.
Sparks flew through my eyes while Ellen's body continued to convulse from another orgasm. Her head at the ceiling, she fucked me with wonderful eagerness and resolve that no other woman could have had. The sight of my cock disappearing into her body was one of the sexiest things I had ever seen in this life or the last. I raised my hands and fondled her tits and her hands massaged mine.
For so many minutes we memorized our bodies with each other. My hands fell down her chest and to her hips. I took hold of her and thrust my hips upwards. My cock reached deep inside her luscious cavern while her juices slathered it thus allowing it greater access. Her hands on my chest, she leaned down to kiss me and I adored the taste of her lips. I could kiss her forever if time allowed it so.
"MmmmMMMNNNNNHHHHHHGH!" Ellen cried into my ears as her body trembled against mine. The wet inferno of her lust drowned my cock again. That was the action that I no doubt needed before I shoved my cock into her again. Cum fired from my cock and into her cunt. Her walls milked me again.
However, I was quick to notice that, once again, the aura surrounding me had not quelled my lust. In fact, that aura continued to reenergize me.
"Ooooooooooh...naaaahhahahahhahuuuuugh! Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuck, you've got a good cock, you bastard! Oooooh fuck!" Ellen claimed while I thrust my hips into her from behind. She grabbed the headrest of my bed while my fingers buried themselves into her ass. I kept thrusting and thrusting, her wonderful body firing me through a myriad of senses that could make one go utterly insane.
I pulled Ellen up and her chest bucked into the air as she cradled my head. She turned her head and kissed me well. I pinched her nipples and her tongue swirled around with mine. She licked the bottom of my lip and vigorously stimulated her clit.
Next, we were back to laying on my bed. Her eyes in mine, I drove and drove, and drove my cock deeper into her. Like the tough woman she was, Ellen took every one of my thrusts and egged me on for more. "Yesssss...yeaaaaa...fuuuck me harder, you bitch!" she said as she pulled me down to stare into the very fabric of her steady soul.
"You're the only bitch here," I told her and for what seemed like the thousandth time, we kissed and tasted each other. My hips grew frantic and her legs caught themselves around my waist.
"Then cum in your bitch, you shhiiiiiiiiiiiit!" Ellen told me. Her hands caressed my arms and she stared into my eyes all the while I fucked her. My cock rampaged inside her like a violent tempest of sexual exhilaration that reached the height of its own culmination.
The cum left my balls and slid up through the narrow ways of my dick. Ellen rolled her head back as saliva fell down the sides of her lips. "Hnnaanannnhngh! Oooooooooohg fuck! Yeah, cum! Cum inside me, you son of a bitch!" she enticed me.
I pounded her channel again and again. The lustful aura between us both flared violently. I held her as tightly as possible before I fired another load of hot, thick ropes of cum into her body.
"MMMMMMNHHGNNGNN!" Ellen screamed as she came as well. Our bodies froze in that moment of divine bliss and rapture.
We then fell to my bed in a mangled and sweaty afterglow of sex. I grabbed a fresh pair of sheets and we laid next to the window. Ellen rested her head on my shoulder. "The closer we got to your little...island, the more upset I got. I would have done anything to find a time mage and reverse this shit that happened to me. Perhaps, I wanted to make you angry about that guy I took to the lower decks. Perhaps, I flipped off that ghost because I wanted to die just to get away from you, but...then you were gone. We sailed without ya. Your mom socked me across the face. It fucking hurt too," she said.
"Tch, I got what I wanted. You were out of my life and I didn't have to honor some stupid, shitty deal anymore. Then, like the piece of shit you were, I found no fucking rest. Every stupid, dumb thought in my head was whether you'd come back like you always seemed to do. So I just told myself, if ya come back then I'll just accept the hand I dealt myself. I did accept that obvious bet bait as well. When you came back, I couldn't face you. I'm clearly hardheaded if not anything else. Now, I'm here spilling my guts to you like some sissy priss shit. I hate you, but...I'm glad you're alright," Ellen replied.
I brushed a piece of her blonde hair. "Alright, if it means that much to ya, we'll forget the bet. How about that?" I asked.
Ellen punched my arm. "Shut up. If I'm stuck with it then you're for sure fucking stuck with it. You just better make sure you can handle it, Sir!" she responded.
I closed my eyes and looked at the ceiling. "You might think I did it just because I'm a horny bastard...," I began. She snorted.
"You're not?" she asked.
"Aye, I definitely am, fair lass, but...that wasn't the only reason," I replied. She looked at me strangely and I smiled at her.
"Keep me honest, Ellen Sothshore. I know you will," I said. I don't know what she must have seen when she looked at me for so long, but she looked around my room.
"Heh, a young, bastard pirate captain is telling a shitty, good-for-nothing business bitch to keep him honest. You're a weird one, Eric Drakclaw," she said to me.
I leaned my head back against the window. "Only you can do it," I said.
Ellen closed her eyes and leaned up to kiss my cheek. "If keeping you honest means I get to punch you, then I don't see too much negative," she responded rather sleepily. I chuckled and we both fell to my pillow. Unlike the other times we slept together, I could feel Ellen lean into my embrace as if it was the most natural thing she had ever done.
I smiled. "You're still getting punished though," I spoke, mirth in my voice.
"...fuckin' piece of shit!" she grumbled.
I laughed as the storm lulled us both to sleep.