Jacob

Darkness had long since claimed the sky as a chorus of heavy footsteps trampled rotting planks. Wind swept harshly through Jacob’s hair and sent it sprawling in all directions, but in his haste he made no effort to tame it. His arms ached too, and his back screamed for relief. He wanted to put this load down. He wanted this night to be over. He wanted to have a drink and go to sleep. Instead he continued the walk, eyes fixed steadily on what was in front of him. Behind him and to his side he could hear the panting of the crew; could feel the heat that their bodies radiated upon his skin. They were sweaty, worn out and tired, but beneath all of that they were smug. Every time the muffled voice of their prize called out he sensed them crack smiles and saw them nudge one another. Occasionally Jacob would receive one of those nudges, but he didn't have the energy to respond.

"Nearly there, princess."

Jacob looked up to see Smith gently caressing the fabric over her head, then leaning in and giving it a kiss. Beneath that fabric the head of a young woman shook violently in an attempt to avoid the affection. Jacob heard her scream again, this time louder. Her limbs struggled to break free from the crew’s grip but her desperate attempts at freedom were cut short by a foot in the side. She whimpered. Jacob’s mouth opened as if he was going to say something, but he though better. Arguing with this crew was not wise. They were his friends, yes, but where a young woman was involved they were also known to be savage.

They reached the deck without hearing another scream. One by one crew members began to let the limbs in their hands fall to the floor with a dull thud. Jacob let the wrist that he held fall too, grimacing at the sobbing of the woman it belonged to. His hands reached out and found the railing behind him so he took it in his grasp and leant against it for a while. The deck itself was pitch black, illuminated only by the orange light of the city behind them. Faces were unidentifiable in the darkness, so no one spoke. They simply worked. Her arms were tied first and this was done without protest, then her legs. There was faint laughter as she was hauled off the ground and Jacob followed alongside the men who dragged her below decks.

"Don't worry princess, you'll be just fine." One of the crew said, laughing and slapping the woman’s arse.

It was impossible to tell who it was. The hallway that they walked down was lit - albeit dimly- yet the men faced away from Jacob. He was sure it was Smith. As they walked around a corner Jacob tried to get a better view with no luck. What did it matter? It wasn't long before they reached an open door and, without hesitation, threw the woman inside and slammed the door behind her, laughing all the while. Her head was still shrouded in cloth; her arms and legs still bound. The fall would have been painful, but once the door was locked the crew seemed to lose interest and pushed past Jacob, firmly clapping him on the shoulder and merrily bellowing his name. It took a minute before their voices dissipated, leaving only the sound of waves gently rocking the hull. With a sigh Jacob moved towards the door and leant against the wall opposite, staring at the polished wood and wondering what lay beyond. During the kidnapping he had not seen her face, not even a mere glimpse. Maybe she was pretty.

Cassandra

They hadn't come quietly.

Cassie hadn't been long in bed. Sleep didn't come to her the way it used to, especially at night. She found she lay awake in the dark just staring at the ceiling for hours until the sun rose. Then, she would draw her curtains and close her eyes. She wasn't sure if sleep ever found her but she often felt better once she'd opened them again. She never dreamed. Not anymore. Tonight was no different. She had laid down in her bed, ignoring the burning desire in her throat - that almost insatiable thirst. She didn't wish to feed tonight. Her last taste of blood had been two evenings previous and she had almost killed him. She wondered if he were dead now? After all, he had no home and nothing to keep him warm or fed. Perhaps they all died when she'd fed from them. Perhaps it would have been kinder to snap their necks while they slept.

She'd heard commotion coming from outside. Her senses were heightened in this new form and she sat up to listen. She couldn't pick out the words but she did not recognize the voices. She should have gone to rouse her parents then. She shouldn't have presumed it was only the staff. It wasn't until the screams started that she realized something was horribly wrong. She didn't have long to react, either. Soon the door of her bedchambers was thrown open and three men entered. Terror clutched Cassie and she rose to her feet in a hurry. It felt odd to be so frightened and to have no movement in her chest. Her heart remained still inside her rib cage but dread pooled low in her stomach, making her feel ill. She could smell the sweat and salt on their skin and beyond that, the scent of their blood; rich and inviting. Their hearts beat, but not with fear. Something else...excitement? Lust? Hatred?

Before she'd had time to react, to try and fight them off, there was a sack thrown over her head. She struggled as their rough hands grabbed her body and they seemed surprised by her strength. One called out for others to help while she screamed, thrashing about in an attempt to free herself from their grip. She wished she were strong enough to escape them but it had been days since she'd last fed and fear made it hard to think. This version of herself was still so new, she didn't know how best to use it.

They half dragged her, half carried her out of the house. The cool night air didn't affect her the way it once had but she was very aware of it. She focused on the sounds and smells around her, trying to make sense of the direction they were moving should she manage to escape. Cassie screamed for help, begged anyone to come to her aid but her pleads were only met by laughter. One kept calling her 'Princess'. She felt his hand on her head and then his lips. She could smell the rum on his breath even through the sack and she struggled, shaking her head in an attempt to escape his touch. She screamed again, louder, desperately. What would they do to her once they had her aboard? What could they possibly want from her? She didn't like to think of the answer and her struggles increased until something hard connected with her ribs and she cried out in pain.

The air was knocked from her lungs and Cassie gasped in an attempt to get it back. Her muscles hurt and she fell silent. They were near the water now. She could hear it and taste it in the air. Nobody would save her now. She imagined they would dare attempt to. Not with a ship full of pirates to go against. This realization was more frightening than anything else and she cried softly. She was dropped to the floor - wooden - and realized that she was on deck. Not having her sight was disorientating and frightening and she wanted nothing more than to rip the sack from her head. Someone caught her wrists and bound them, then her feet. It was eerily quiet and she wondered why? What could be coming that required this silence?

Suddenly Cassie was heaved off the ground and carried somewhere else. The one who called her 'Princess' was back and she felt something connect with her bottom. She blushed furiously with shame and anger. She wanted to see his face, the man that was treating her this way. She would have her revenge, eventually. They had made a mistake choosing her to bring on board. She'd kill every last one of them if she had to.

Suddenly the hands released her and Cassie cried out again as she passed through air and then hit the wooden floors abruptly and painfully. She whimpered in pain, the wind knocked from her lungs once more and she remained still. She had no energy or will to move just yet and she listened as a door was locked somewhere behind her. There was someone still here, though. She could hear his heartbeat, smell his blood. Fear struck her at the thought that he was locked in this room with her. What would he do?

Moments passed and there was no further movement. Cassie struggled to sit up but it took her a number of minutes. She leaned against the wall closest to her and pulled with all of her strength against the rope around her wrists. It didn't tear like she had hoped but she was creating a little more room. She was stronger now than she had been as a human and suddenly she was incredibly grateful for this curse. Perhaps it would help her to survive a little longer.

Now that she had more room within the bindings on her wrists, Cassie worked on pulling her hands from them. It was difficult, whatever way they had tied the knots was complicated, but eventually she managed to free one hand and pulled the sack from over her head. She inhaled deeply, resting her head back against the wooden wall behind her as she took in the room. It was very dark and there was little to look at, either way. A wooden cot was pushed against one wall with a very thin mattress on top of it. There was a wooden chair, too, and a bucket that she imagined was used in place of a chamber pot. Cassie cried again as she looked around the dark room, pulling at the rope around her ankles. There was someone outside of the door still. She could hear him breathing.

"You'll regret this," she swore, her voice thick with fear and tears. "All of you. You'll regret bringing me aboard this ship. Please, just let me go. I'll give you whatever you want," she reasoned. She wondered if her family were alive or if they'd been killed while she'd been taken? If she was to be used as ransom they would have been spared, surely?

Jacob

Jacob stood still for a while, finding comfort in the gentle sway of the ship. In port this sway was hardly noticeable, but out at sea it was strong and could easily throw you out of bed. A smile crept across the young man's lips as he remembered his first few weeks aboard The Lusty Pillager - a strange name for a ship he had thought. Vivid memories of waking up on the floor - battered and bruised after being thrown into furniture during the night - were some of the best he had. It sounded strange, but it was true. Those memories were a testament to the latter part of his childhood and he looked back on them fondly. And of course, there were the long days spent working on deck; occasionally below. Jacob clearly recollected being thrown head first into a cannon and waking up the next day with black eye and swollen lip. It didn’t happen just once either, he had gained quite the reputation for his skirmishes with masts, oars and doorframes. Nevertheless the violent sway of the ship helped him sleep at night, always had, but he didn't want to sleep anymore. No, something had peaked his interest. Jacob's fingers tapped along the wall behind him while he whistled a tune his mother had once sung him. It echoed somewhat down the hall but no one was there to hear it anyway; except the woman.

Through the door a slight struggle could be heard. It was obvious that she was trying to break free from her bindings. Jacob didn't expect anything to come of her little endeavour but a sharp intake of air and a sigh of relief told him otherwise. Strange, he thought, that such a fragile looking woman could break free from a sailor's knots. It had occurred to him that she was strong as they carried her on-deck, but it was nothing to worry about. The door between them was strong. It had seen its fair share of beatings and lived to tell the tale. So, instead of pondering the woman's strength or worrying about her confinement, Jacob continued to whistle his tune. He was mid-way through the chorus when shouted threats met his eardrums, shortly followed by a plea for freedom. It was silly of her to beg a crew member for release, the only man who could authorise that would be the captain - a man who would most certainly not let her go. Jacob had been told the previous day that this girl was worth a very serious amount of money. More money than they had seen in all their life combined, supposedly.

"We're not going to hurt you, don't worry." Jacob said, pushing away from the wall. He stood just in front of the door and sighed before adding, "We're also not going to let you go either." His eyes darted about the hallway, searching for anyone who might be below deck. There was no one. Most of the crew, if not all of them, would be preparing the ship to leave port. Soon the city guards would be alerted to the disappearance of the young woman and the captain did not want to be docked when the happened. "If I was you I'd keep the threats to a minimum. Not everyone aboard this ship is as kind as I am."

After leaving a moment to let the words sink in Jacob paced back to the wall opposite the door and, with his back pressed firmly against it, slid to the floor. He sat with his knees up and rested his arms on top of them. Then, tapping his foot in a steady rhythm he began to whistle the tune from a moment ago, picking up where he left off. Combined with the rocking of the boat and the creaking of floorboards the tune sounded distinctly sinister. He hadn't meant for it to. Occasionally he would whistle an off-key note, at first by accident, and then to spook the woman behind the door. It sent a shiver down Jacob's own spine, he couldn't imagine how she felt. Eventually the tune came to an end and instead of beginning another Jacob leant his head against the wall and closed his eyes. He resumed his appreciation of the gentle rocking and again he cracked a smile. It was astonishing how many parts of a person’s life could be captured by a single movement.

Cassandra

Cassie hadn't really expected to be answered but the whistling that had started a little while before she'd called out, stopped suddenly and she heard boots cross the wooden floor just outside her door. At first, she thought he might be opening it and her body tensed up, preparing for an attack or to try and escape should she have the opportunity but her ankles were still bound and she couldn't imagine getting loose in time. It didn't matter, regardless, because the door remained shut and locked and he simply spoke through the thick wood.

Cassie continued to struggle with the bindings on her ankles, her hands clumsy and shaking with fear. She tried to focus but it was hard when she was still in such a state of panic. The man outside the door spoke and she stopped moving while she listened to him. "Liar," she hissed as soon as his first sentence reached her. She had already been hurt and not one of them seemed to hold any regard for it. If she were still human she imagined she would be bruised and bloody. Perhaps bones would have been broken. Her body ached but at least she could bear it and her skin appeared unharmed.

"Let them come. I'll kill every one of them," she whispered, the shaking in her hands slowing enough for her to get a better grip on the rope around her legs. She combined the strength from her ankles and hands and pulled apart, satisfied when she felt parts of the rope tear a little. It took another few moments of effort but soon her legs were free too and she dropped the mangled rope to the side, away from her.

Cassie rubbed her sore ankles before standing up. The swaying of the boat was unfamiliar to her and the man outside the door had begun to whistle again, though this time it sounded far more sinister. Fear had frozen in her chest and she held a hand against the wall next to her to steady herself. Once she'd felt a little more stable, she stumbled across the room to the cot and sat down on that, instead. She made sure to make her steps loud so the man outside the door would know she had escaped her bindings. Perhaps he would come in and attempt to tie her up again. She could fight one of them at least. She was sure of it. She was stronger now and she needed to remember that.

The whistling had come to an end but rather than make Cassie feel more at ease, she felt more tense. Why had he stopped now? What was he doing? Had he heard her footsteps and decided to investigate? She pushed herself to her feet and watched the door, though she could barely make it out in the darkness.

Jacob

Jacob couldn't help but laugh at the woman's arrogance. Not even the fiercest of enemy ships could best the crew aboard The Lusty Pillager. Still, the threat made his cheeks hot and he felt slight anger claw at the inside of his chest. Surely she hadn't meant for him to hear; but he had. Little did the woman realise that while Jacob was rather forgiving when it came to brash talk such as that of killing the crew, others were not. Smith in particular would not tolerate that behaviour.

Jacob grimaced at the remembrance of just how poorly Smith could treat prisoners. Young, old; male or female, they were all the same to him. Limbs had been broken and blood was often spilled, some never made it out of that room alive. It wasn't something Jacob liked to dwell on. After all, Smith was a superb sailor and a good friend when he wasn't drunk or angry. He had settled in just fine among the crew, joining just a year after Jacob, and in the captain's eyes could do no wrong.

"I mean it, stop with the damn threats or you'll get yourself killed." Jacob said, listening intently as the floorboards creaked slightly before the sound of footsteps moved from one side of the room to the other. Everyone got free from their bindings eventually, but this woman had obviously known a sailor at some point in her life. How else would she have freed herself so quickly? Rising to his feet once again, Jacob walked to the door and leant against. "Impressive," he said, not quite mockingly, but not completely sincere either. "Is your father in the navy?" Jacob laughed, pacing up and down in front of the door. "Sorry, was he in the navy?" He didn't really know if her father had been murdered during the kidnapping, but he wanted to inflict some pain upon her. Was he doing it for his own satisfaction, or for her own well-being? He needed her to think; needed her to stop throwing threats about so openly. If a blow such as that could shut her up then so be it.

On deck Jacob could hear chains rattling and the wooden ramp that connected the ship to the docks beings heaved on-board. They would be departing soon. Before long they would venture into open water, leaving little chance that this woman would ever see her family again. That was if any of them were alive. Jacob was confident, but not certain that the family would be alive. He was essentially the look-out, and for that reason he would never actually enter the residence of a target. What happened inside was none of his business. For all he knew the family may have been tied up in a corner; watching as one by one their members were shot in the head. He had never heard gun shots though, only frantic shouting and the overturning of furniture.

"This has been fun," Jacob said bluntly. "But I really need to go and help on deck. Keep your head down or you're not going to make it to the drop off unharmed. Smith will probably bring you some food later. He is one of those people who you don't want to annoy."
Jacob turned on his heels and walked down the hallway until he reached a set of stairs that lead on deck. The hatch was open and the hushed voices of a few dozen men could be heard above. They had to be quiet so that they didn't attract too much attention. Time was ticking and soon the guards would be on the lookout for them. It was dark too; no other ship in port was lit at this time during the night, so the crew worked in something close to pitch black.

As Jacob ascended the stairs and joined to help two others raise the sails he took in the silent anarchy. Men rushed from port to starboard, pushing crates or dragging netting behind them. Ropes were being untied from the docks and any extra weight that had been accumulated during their stay was now being cast into the water. Above Jacob, only visible by starlight, were crew readying yardarms and checking that everything was in working order. The shuffle of feet was constant, but it was disciplined. The Captain stood at the helm, planning out the route of the journey on a map, his face the essence of focus. No one bothered him, no one dared to. He was supposedly one of the finest captains alive, but he needed his space. If not the ship, along with everyone on board, could end up lost at sea for months.

Cassandra

Cassie realized that the pirate outside the door had heard her words and had taken offence if the tone of his voice was anything to go by. Good, she thought, despite his angry words that met her through the thick wood of the door. She wondered what would happen if she went on threatening him and the rest of the crew. Would they kill her or just try to torture her, horribly? She didn't think she would like to find out, regardless. Even if she was stronger now, she could not overpower a number of them. She worried, too, of what would happen once morning came and the sun rose in the sky. Would they bring her up onto the deck? She had yet to risk stepping into the sunlight but she had no doubt that the experience would be a painful one. The heat of the sun made her uncomfortable even with the curtains drawn in her room. She didn't like the prickling sensation that was a result of being too close to the sun's rays.

The pirate's voice came again, pulling Cassie from her thoughts. Rage rose within her chest and fear clutched her heart. Surely they had not killed her family. What would be the point in taking her alive if they could not hold her hostage to exchange for coin? She knew the answer to that but did not like to dwell on it. She wanted desperately to tear down the door and silence the man outside it, she even rose to her feet and clenched her fists at her sides, but she did not take a step to cross the room. She could not display her true strength if she wanted to survive this. She would have to keep her new found abilities to herself and use them wisely. It was her only hope of escaping.

Cassie remained silent and sat back down on the cot, closing her eyes and crying softly again. The man outside told her he was leaving and she was glad. She didn't want to hear what they may or may not have done to her family. She had to believe that they were ok, otherwise what was the point in surviving? She had nothing to return to if they were dead. She listened while his footsteps traveled down the hallway and up a flight of stairs and then rose from where she'd been sitting. She slipped a pin from her hair and brushed at her eyes as she crossed to the door. She did not know how to pick locks and she was aware that she would most likely fail at the task but she crouched down in front of the lock, even so, and attempting to free herself.

**

Jamie was barely fifteen and had been aboard the Lusty Pillager for almost a year now. He had been an orphan when the band of men had come to the port he lived on and when he had heard tell that they were looking for strong young boys to help on deck, he had offered his services at once. Many would look at the life of a pirate with fear and revulsion but not Jamie. This way of life meant a roof over his head and food in his belly and he was content with that. If he had not come aboard the ship he may be dead now.

Jamie had been rushing about on deck, doing as he was ordered by whatever crew member happened to spot him. Even so, he had seen them bring the young woman aboard the ship and his curiosity was peaking. He wondered why they had taken this one, specifically, and he hoped that she would live long enough to make it to wherever they were taking her. He didn't like it when the prisoners were killed or hurt below deck by one of the crew members. Sometimes their screams would keep him awake at night. Most of them were innocent enough, he imagined, and he didn't like to think of what happened behind the closed door of that storage room.

Jamie's attention was caught by Jacob as he resurfaced from below deck. He watched as the man helped to raise the sails for a moment before a quick slap to the back of his head reminded him that he should be working, too. He hurried to help tip unwanted items over the side of the ship as they began to withdraw from the dock. As soon as he had the chance, however, Jamie found himself next to Jacob and glanced up at the older man.

"Hey, Mr. Kidd. I saw ya bring that lady below deck. What's the story with 'er?" He didn't expect much of an answer and braced himself for another slap to encourage him to get back to work but he had always been very curious and he hovered next to him still, awaiting his response.

Jacob

Jacob smiled, but continued to work on raising the sails at the young boys questioned him. He had seen the boy before on the ship, but only briefly in the mess. The Lusty Pillager was large, so large that it was as if it were its own world. Whole days could go by where Jacob might not see some members of the crew. It came as no surprise that he had rarely seen this boy. Most of his time was more likely spent running around after older crew, earning a reputation for himself. That was certainly what Jacob had been doing during his early years. It was a tough initiation, but it was worth it in the long run.

"You should be working, boy." Jacob said, not too bluntly, but not too friendly either. As he said these words it became apparent how differently he spoke to the young boy. He knew why of course. Jacob had come from a family that had once been wealthy and well-educated, and even after all these years no other accent or dialect had rubbed off on him. It was - along with his reputation for hitting his head - one of the things he was famed for aboard the ship.

He continued to unravel a large knot of rope that lay before him at the foot of a mast. However, while he worked he sensed the boy's lingering presence and thought of what to say. Truth be told he knew nothing of this new arrival either. Her face had been obscured by rough fabric as she was hauled aboard, and after that a wooden door had separated them from each other. All Jacob really knew was that she was young. It wasn't just her gentle voice and feisty attitude that told him this, it was the way she moved with a reckless - almost childish - elegance about her. Despite never seeing her walk, he could tell by the soft creaking of the floorboards as they talked only minutes ago. And by her violent, yet tamed resistance as they dragged her away from her home. It didn't matter who you were, Jacob knew that if you twisted your body and threw all dignity aside, you could break free from your captures. Maybe not for long enough to escape, though. She was surely a woman of great wealth.

"She's worth a lot of money, that's all I know." Jacob finally said after unravelling the rope and setting it aside. "Don't go getting yourself into trouble. She's not the friendliest sort either." With a firm clap on the boy's back Jacob nodded to the the crates waiting to be thrown overboard and returned to raising the sails. He didn't want the boy to go and mess around with a captive, so he decided that giving him as little information would leave him uninterested. Surely he wouldn't be foolish enough to speak to her.

* * *

And hour later and the ship began it's voyage into open water, leaving behind a mass of crates and other useless junk in it's wake. It was cold on-deck, but luckily the sea was calm and the wind was steady. The deck itself was dotted with a few crew members who busied themselves with small tasks, and at the helm the captain stood, steering the ship roughly northward. Aside from that all was quiet up top. The majority of the crew were down in the mess, and those who weren't lay in bed and recovered from a tiring day. Jacob was one of those people. His day hadn't been very hard-working, but the days leading up to a kidnapping certainly were and he relished the calm of life on-board the Lusty Pillager when all was going according to plan.

"You spoken to 'er yet, lad?" A voice said from across the room as Jacob lay in bed thinking to himself. It was an old voice that belonged to quite possibly the longest serving crew member aboard the ship. Jacob turned to see the rugged old man sitting up in his bed, his face tired and worn. His name didn't spring to mind.

"Yeah." Jacob said simply, sitting up to face the man.

"She's brings bad omens with 'er, I'll tell you that." The old man shook his head, as if her were remembering something that he wished he hadn't. The lines on his forehead grew deeper his eyes seemed to take on a new, darker shade of their usual brown. Jacob had no idea what he meant by 'bad omens', but it didn't sound good. "I've seen that sort before."

Cassandra

Some time had passed since Cassie had first been thrown into the room. She wasn't entirely sure how much but a few hours at least. She was so restless locked in this small space. Her attempts to unlock the door proven to be futile and when she'd try to peer through the keyhole, her view had been obstructed. She wondered if it were because the key remained in the door. Nobody had come to bring her food like the man had said before. She was glad that she did not still eat or she might have grown faint and weak with hunger and thirst... Of course, she was still thirsty. Incredibly so. Often boots passed by the door and she listened to the heartbeats of the men they belonged to, smelled their blood through the wooden walls. She was so desperately thirsty now. As much as the idea of drinking blood had repulsed her in the beginning, she could recall how much better it made her feel. Stronger, more alert with less of a fire in her throat. She craved the feeling of sinking her teeth into flesh and feeling it give beneath them...of the hot, delicious liquid that would pool into her mouth...

Eventually the thirst grew too much for Cassie. The ship around her had grown more quiet and she rose to her feet again, crossing quietly to the door. She listened intently again for the sound of boots or breathing but there was nothing and she bent to her knees. Tearing a strip from the end of her dress, Cassie pushed it underneath the door, directly below where the handle sat. Carefully, she knocked her waist against the door and heard a rattling. Her eyes widened slightly in the dark room. The key was there. She tried again, firmer this time, and heard it fall. Pressing her ear to the floor, Cassie saw that the key had landed half on the fabric she had pushed through and she gently began to pull it towards her, knowing that one wrong movement would knock it onto the floor and out of her reach. Finally, however, and much to her delight, she managed to pull the key through to her side of the door.

Cassandra's chest felt tight with relief and she tried to focus as she stood and slowly unlocked the door. It was old and stiff but finally the lock gave and she was able to open the door. Again, she listened carefully, waiting for the sound that would indicate someone had heard her but nothing came. The only sounds that reached her was the distant beating of hearts and the calls from the men further in the ship. Even the sounds from the deck were very quiet. After pausing for another moment, Cassie took a deep breath and forced herself to exit the room. She took the key with her and slipped it in the other side of the door where it had been before closing it over behind her.

If she were found out here now, there would be trouble. She was very aware that she might be the only woman aboard the ship and that not all of those that found her would simply return her to her room unharmed. She needed to be incredibly careful. Her attention was on the sounds around her. She listened intently as she passed by closed doors and came to stop outside one of them. There was a crew member inside, she could smell his blood through the wood, but his breathing was slow and even along with his heartbeat. Asleep. She knew it even before the soft snores reached her. This was her only chance to feed and if she was going to survive, she would need to take it.

Opening the door, Cassie quickly scanned the room. It, like the one she was in, was small and bare. Bunks lined the walls and there were a number of chairs and personal belongings scattered about. Only one of the cots was occupied by a man lying on his side with his back to her. She crossed the room to him, her feet making barely a noise on the floor beneath her. Her eyes darkened as she approached and her incisors lengthened and grew sharp. His scent was filling her head, making it difficult to think through the bloodlust. She crouched down next to him and lowered her mouth to his bared throat. He tensed as she bit down and then relaxed as she pulled the first taste of blood into her mouth. He wouldn't wake while she was feeding. Whatever happened once she bit a human caused them to relax and grow lethargic. She was not worried of him attacking her now. She drank deeply from him, the delicious, hot liquid coating her burning throat and easing some of the thirst. It settled her nerves and sharpened her senses and she could feel herself growing more aware of what was happening around her. The taste was incredible and she wondered how she could possibly stop drinking until she heard the beat of his heart grow a little fainter. She lifted her mouth at once and sealed the wounds with her tongue, afraid of killing him though she had vowed to take all of their lives not long ago.

Even if she could not kill him...she could still take some form of revenge. Dark thoughts clouded Cassie's mind. She thought of her family, the staff in her house. What if they were dead? What if they had been tortured and abused while she'd been taken? She lifted her wrist to her mouth and bit down, wincing as her teeth pierced her own flesh. Blood slowly seeped from the wound as she held it upside down, her lack of a heartbeat making it a little more difficult. She parted the man's lips and waited as some of her own blood dropped into his mouth. Part of her felt incredibly guilty for what she was doing. She had hated what Johnathon had made her, after all, but these men deserved it. Perhaps they would not bring so much grief upon the world if they had their own to deal with.

Rising to her feet, Cassie sealed her own wounds with her tongue and watched the man for a moment. He still slept soundly and she wondered if what she was trying to attempt would even work. Johnathon had done this to her, but she didn't fully understand how everything worked. Perhaps there was a certain method to it that she didn't know. Either way, she hoped that when the crew learned of what was happening aboard their ship they would make port sooner. Perhaps she could escape then. Perhaps this man would even help her, since she had been the one to sire him.

She had wasted too much time here and Cassie worried that she would be found. She left the room and hurried back along the corridor to her own, closing the door behind her and wishing she didn't have to lock herself away like this when she'd been free. It wouldn't do for them to suspect she had anything to do with the turning of that man.

Jamie

The food aboard the Lust Pillager was not always appetizing but Jamie looked forward to this time of day the most. It always felt good to be inside and warm with his new family and not have to run about for once. As long as he had something warm and filling in his belly, he was usually content. Tonight was no different but he had grown tired and his thoughts were still on the lady that the men had brought aboard. He wondered if she had yet been fed but when he tried to ask the cook for seconds for the captive, his words were met with a laugh and a "Fuck off outta tha'."

So, Jamie sat back down next to some of the younger members of crew and made the most of the warmth from the crowd of men while he could. Some days could be blisteringly hot aboard the ship but the nights always grew cold. Eventually, his eyelids grew heavy and he rose from the bench he was sitting on to head back to his bunk. He would be roused early in the morning, as he was every morning, and he wanted to make the most of his time to rest.

Most of the hallways were quiet as most of the men who weren't still working liked to gather in the Mess for their evenings. He would get some peace and quiet before the rest of them retired for the night. Jamie had just turned the corridor when a flash of cream caught his attention. Sleepily, he lifted his head just in time to see the woman slip back into her room and close the door behind her. Jamie frowned, had they not locked the door once they'd put her inside? Surely they hadn't risked her getting out...but then, where would she go?

He crossed to her door and turned the key, locking it up. After all, he would only get the blame for letting her out if someone realized she'd escaped around the same time he had left the Mess. Especially since he'd been asking about giving her something to eat. He wondered if she had somehow picked the lock but the key had still rested in the door...where had she even been going?

"Whose there?" her voice called through the door and Jamie froze but didn't say anything. He wouldn't risk letting her know who he was in case she tried to use it against him somehow. He always felt badly for the captives but he didn't want to risk his own life for them. Turning away, he hurried back to his own room and climbed into his bunk. At least she hadn't escaped. The Captain would have gone insane.

Jacob

Jacob slept briefly, but it was plagued by strange dreams filled with dark figures, and the undeniable laughter of a woman. He woke frequently, his forehead and palms sweaty and his heartbeat faster than usual. No amount of alcohol could lure him into a peaceful slumber, so instead his lay awake. Blood. He had seen blood in his dreams, but why? And the dark figures who seemed to stalk his unconscious mind, who were they? What was the laughter, and why did it belong to a woman? These were but a few questions that he asked himself again and again, repeatedly, until he felt exhausted - but not exhausted enough to sleep. No, Jacob was sure that sleep would not find him that night.

The crew member who spoke to him of 'bad omens' was now asleep. The two of them had talked for a while longer, but despite his best efforts Jacob could not persuade him to reveal just what he meant by 'bad omens'. All he mentioned were sharp, piercing teeth and brutal strength. It sounded implausible. Maybe he was mad, he was certainly old enough for it. Perhaps he had been talking nonsense because he was delusional. Jacob could only hope that was the case, otherwise he feared that something terrible would happen. He didn't know what, but in the pit of his stomach there was a tight, anxious sensation that would not leave him. If this old man was right then surely no one was safe?

He didn't dwell on that thought. He felt stupid for even considering the possibility that such a fragile woman could be of any threat. The things that the old man spoke of existed in stories, and stories alone. Out here, in the brutal open waters, the crew of the Lusty Pillager were in their element. They were rulers of the sea, just as kings were rulers of the land. They were pirates, fearing little if anything at all. What happened on-board The Lusty Pillager was decided by its crew, and no mere woman had the power to change that.

With reassured thoughts on his mind Jacob finally managed to open the door into an uninterrupted slumber. He felt his body relax, and his heartbeat slow down to its regular rhythm. Soon he was flying high above the ocean, not in the real world, but in his dreams. The vast ocean reflected the vibrant blue sky, making it shimmer like a diamond by the curl of its waves. It was not just a stagnant body of water, but a flowing, moving mass that could have easily been alive. It was fierce and brutal to the unwary, but Jacob was not unwary. He flew safely above it, admiring it like a fine piece of art while his skin was kissed by the silk clouds around him. The air was fresh - and chilling had the sun not warmed the back of his neck and his outstretched arms. If it were possible Jacob would have fallen asleep as he soared through the sky in pure bliss, but that was not possible, he was already dreaming. So, he settled for an unmatched view and marvelled at its beauty.

***

Jacobs’s eyes were thick with sleep when he woke. For a moment he let the gentle sway of the ship claim him, and he was sure that he would fall asleep once more. He didn't though. Much to his disappointment there were jobs that needed doing, and he would not be ranked very highly by his fellow crew members if he slept through the day. Swinging his legs over the edge of his bed Jacob sat up and wiped his eyes. Around him a few men wandered about, dressing themselves and preparing for the day, and through the ceiling a number of footsteps could be heard. At night the ship sailed slowly, and the captain would often leave it manned by another member of the crew, but during the day it sailed faster; and with speed came more work to be done on deck.

The Mess was still teeming with life as Jacob entered. It was early and most had just woken up. After grabbing a bowl of watered down gruel he sat down next to Smith and a few others, receiving a few firm claps on the back as he did so. Jacob ate as they talked, but listened to everything that was said. Through mouthfuls of food he would occasionally nod in agreement to a statement, or laugh at a joke that was made. However - not the surprise of Jacob - conversation soon turned to the latest arrival on-board the ship.

"Aye... she a beauty that one!" Smith said, much to the amusement of everyone else around him.

"Yer, what would you know ya swab." Someone - Jacob didn't see who - said while he went for another mouthful of gruel. "She had a bag o'er 'er head!"

Everyone burst out laughing, Jacob included. He spat his mouthful of food back into his bowl as he laughed and elbowed Smith firmly in the side while he stood. He could have stayed and talked, but other more pressing issues troubled him. He grabbed another bowl of gruel and took it with him, leaving the Mess. The hallways of the ship were empty, but their wooden panels carried the faint sound of laughter with them so it didn't feel like it. Smith's voice is still present, and if Jacob hadn't lived on The Lustly Pillager for so long he would have thought the man was right next to him. For a second he became paranoid and turned around, just to check that he wasn't, and he wasn't.... Of course he wasn't. Jacob only worried that he would be caught visiting the prisoner.

He wasn't far from the room in which the woman was being kept when he passed an open door. Through it he saw a small group of people huddled around a bed; whoever lay on top of it obscured by their heads and bodies. All of them whispered to each other, some exchanging worried looks between them. Through a gap in the congregation he could see a man kneeling down by the bedside, frequently turning to face those behind him and giving them items to retrieve. A few approached him with jugs of water and clothes torn into thin strips. It looked as if an operation of some kind was being performed, but Jacob knew that no one on-board had those kind of expertise. Jacob moved into the room quietly, setting aside the bowl he carried on a nearby table. He didn't gain any attention as he stood by the edge of the group of men and peered over their heads to see what was going on.

Samuel, a young man not much older than Jacob lay on the bed. His face was deathly pale and his veins were prominent through the opaque of his skin. He seemed to be on deaths door. Sweat rolled down his face and a jumble of slurred words poured from his mouth. His limbs flailed about uselessly, as if they were trying to grab at something with little success. The man who knelt by his side was the so-called doctor. In reality he was just another member of the crew with partial knowledge in the field of medicine. He pressed some damp cloth to Samuel's forehead, and wiped something on the man's neck. It looked like he had some kind of wound on his neck, but it was closed now, and the water must have simply been to clean it.

"What happened?" Jacob whispered to the man next to him. At first he received no reply, the man only continued to watch what was going on intently. However soon enough he was shaken from his daze and regarded Jacob with a frown.

"Poor sod, woke up screamin' so he did." He said, casting a quick glance back to Samuel. "Don't look to good. The doc says he won't make it through the night."

Won't make it through the night?, Jacob didn't understand how such a lethal illness had made its way onto the ship. Crew members had been ill in the past, some had even died at sea; but never before had an illness struck a man down in just one day. Yet not one person seemed to worry about their proximity to Samuel. Surely if they stayed in such close contact with him they too would contract whatever it was that was making him so violently ill. So, grabbing the bowl of gruel and quietly thanking the man who had answered his question Jacob backed out of the room and into the desolate hallways; not fast enough to avoid hearing strained retches and the sound of Samuel paving the floor with the contents of his stomach.

The hallways stayed empty until Jacob reached the door to the woman's makeshift cell. He knew better than to unlock the door right away. She could be waiting for him on the other side, ready to pounce at any moment. Still, he glanced down at the keyhole, furrowing his brow as the key itself hung loosely from the lock. It seemed as if it had been moved and placed back into the keyhole in a rush, but Jacob assumed it to have been someone else on-board the ship who had simply been careless.

He knocked on the door; not entirely sure why, possibly out of respect. He needed to see if the woman was awake or not, but became impatient and spoke regardless. She would be awake, Jacob was sure of it. Captives rarely saw much sleep, mostly due to the sheer terror of what could happen to them.

"I've got some food for you." He said, placing it on the floor and pressing his ear to the wood in an attempt to hear any noise she made. “Are you awake?”

Cassandra

Cassie had been restless for the remainder of the night. She always felt that way after a feeding. The new blood moved through her body, making her alert and full of energy. She wanted to run and being locked away in this room didn't allow for that. She imagined breaking the door down would be easier now that she'd fed but she restrained herself. She didn't want to cause more trouble for herself. She couldn't overpower all of the men if they frightened and tried to kill her. She could hear so much now. People whispering to one another on the deck and in the rooms above her and around her. The quiet whistling of one or two as they passed through the hallways. She could hear the sound of the waves lapping against the sides of the ship and the creaking groaning sounds of the wood as it strained under the weight. She could hear the heartbeats too, though they didn't call to her like they had before she'd fed. She could control her urges for now.

She had paced the room throughout the night and then lay on the bed hoping that sleep would claim her but it never did. Images flickered across her eyelids when she closed them but she wasn't dreaming, just imagining. It would have been nice to sleep, to pass some of the time, but she couldn't. She wasn't sure she ever would again. Not now that she was...what she was. Many men passed by her door, some paused and whispered to one another, joking about what they could do to her. Nobody attempted to enter, however. She was left alone until morning and grew tense. What if they tried to pull her up onto the deck while the sun was high in the sky? She wondered if she would burn up to a crisp and die or if the sun would simply irritate her like it did when she lay too close to the window at home. She did not want to take the risk of finding out. If nothing else, it made her feel itchy and burned her eyes. She would rather remain in the shadows.

More boots came along the hallways but stopped outside her door. This time, they were followed by a knock. Cassie sat up on the small cot and looked towards the door. She could tell from the scent of the blood that it was the man that had spoken to her the night before. He called to her and her assumptions were proven accurate. She didn't answer for a moment, part of her not wanting to answer at all. She wanted some control back. She felt far too helpless locked away like this. If only she'd kept the key. Perhaps she might have felt better then. Someone had locked her back in the previous evening and she didn't know who it was. If they had seen her reenter the room...she wasn't sure what would happen.

"I'm awake," Cassie replied. finally. She didn't stand and she didn't hear him make any move to unlock the door. Part of her hoped he was afraid to. She had threatened to kill them all, after all. Perhaps her show of removing her bindings the night before had unsettled him. "But I'm not hungry." She wondered what would happen if they thought she was starving herself. If they really wanted to use her as ransom then they would have to keep her alive, surely? But she didn't even know if that was the reason she had been taken. Perhaps they intended to sell her. Perhaps she was dispensable. For all she knew, there were other women locked away in the ship in areas that she couldn't hear. It was a very large one, after all. She imagined it was easily possible.

Jacob

"Good," Jacob said, pondering on what he should say next. Using his forearm he leant against the door and rested his head against the rough wooden surface. He almost felt awkward talking to a woman of roughly his age while being forced to maintain a stern and unsympathetic exterior. She was, after all, a prisoner on-board of The Lusty Pillager, and she had to be treated like one. He couldn't bring himself to talk about her in such a degrading manner as so many of the crew did, but there needed to be a fine line drawn between hostage and captor. However, this woman was refusing to eat, and the captain would not be happy about that. "Look, I don't care if you don't want to eat, you're going to have to. If you don't you you'll most likely be beaten... or worse. People have died from starvation on this ship before, and let me assure you that it's not the most pleasant way to go." His voice was not soft, but neither was it scolding.

Without leaving enough time for the woman to reply Jacob picked up the bowl of gruel and reached for the key. "I'm going to open the door, and when I do you better be at the far end of the room." After a brief struggle to get the key to turn in the lock he opened the door a fraction and stuck his head through the gap. He found the woman exactly where he has asked her to be so, with caution, he entered the room.

"It's just gruel from the kitchen," Jacob said, placing the bowl on a small table at the foot of the bed. He then stood there for a moment, unsure of whether to leave. He filled his cheeks with air and then let the air escape with a sigh, allowing his eyes to wander about the room before landing on the only other person present. She was, in all aspects, quite beautiful. In fact, he would have gone as far to say she was the most strikingly beautiful woman he had ever seen. He was entirely entranced by her for a minute, maybe more, and it was only once Jacob shook himself out of this trance that he had the sense to speak.

"What's your name?" He asked, sitting down on the edge of the bed.

Cassandra

"I'll take my chances," Cassie replied flatly. She could smell the meal he had brought from here and it made her feel nauseous. Food no longer appealed to her and the thought of forcing herself to eat it made her feel ill. She would have liked to have the luxury of being able to starve herself to death but that was no longer possible. Unless she went some time without the blood of a human, but even then she wasn't sure she would ever die from lack of it. She knew so little about what she had become. There were so many questions left unanswered and she did not have very much faith that anyone would ever be able to provide her with the information she so desperately desired. Not unless he somehow found her and explained exactly what he had turned her into.

The pirate outside the door warned her that he was coming inside and she was pleased that he seemed to take some precaution before entering. Perhaps she really had succeeded in unsettling him the previous evening. She didn't speak as he began to open the door. After all, she was already sitting on the cot and she had no desire to rush out past him any longer. Where would she go? It was morning now and she did not want to risk going above deck.

The pirate entered slowly and she studied him in the darkened room. It was easy for her to see him clearly. Her sight had improved along with her other senses and she was bothered less by the dark than she had been when she was still...human. He was handsome, in a rugged kind of way, and he stared at her for a moment or two. She simply watched him, waiting for him to speak or leave, whichever came first. She had nothing to say to him. There was nothing that could be done now until they reached land once more. Then, she could try to make an escape.

"What does it matter what my name is?" Cassie snapped, looking away from him as he sat down next to her on the bed. Her body tensed, unsure of what he would do next. "I'm just another captive, am I not?" If he did not know her name, it did not bode well for her. She had not been taken to be used as ransom, then? She recalled him mentioning a drop off. Was she to be sold? "What is your name, pirate?" she demanded instead. "Why am I here? What do you plan to do with me?"

Jacob

Jacob sighed again, realizing that it would most likely become a regular occurrence in the presence of this woman. She had a fire in her that, annoyingly, made him feel uneasy around her. Either she was quite oblivious to the severity of her situation and the danger and brutality of the crew, or she was too self-assured to be afraid. The former was extremely improbable, and the latter seemed completely implausible. Looking the woman up and down he saw a slim frame, soft hands that had most likely never seen a hard day’s work, and a face accustomed to make-up and half-hearted smiles towards company at dinner parties. By no means did she look excessively fragile, but neither did she look in any position to stand her ground against any able-bodied man aboard the ship. However, the dauntless look in her eyes appeared out of place; they belonged to an animal.

"I believed I asked for your name first." He said calmly, glancing in her direction but seeing that she had turned away. "My name is Jacob and the reason you are on this ship is of none of your concern." After a moment of thinking he added, "If you want to emerge from all this alive no one is going to get in your way, just keep your damn head down. You can disrespect me all you like, I believe that being here is punishment enough for you, but others won't be so kind. This is the last time I'll warn you."

He thought of leaving that very second. Never before had he wasted time on a captive. Then again, this was the first time that he had ever been so intrigued by one. At the back of his mind a thousand questions fought to be heard, yet he ignored them all. Asking questions of any kind would be a mistake. In the past he had seen captives become dependent on crew who had taken even the slightest amount of pity on them; sometimes even crew who hadn't. This woman is different though, he told himself, she doesn't need pity or reassurance. It was true, she certainly didn't. In fact, it appeared that she wanted to distance herself from everyone on board the ship. Even so, Jacob couldn't help but redouble his efforts to find out the name of this woman.

"So, now that I have told you my name it would be nice to know yours.”

Cassandra

Cassandra simply crossed her arms in response to the pirates comment. Why should she provide him with any personal information. She owed him nothing. They had taken her against her will and brought her here. Did he really expect her to behave as though she were in polite company? Surely he did not expect to have a reasonable conversation with anyone whom he had helped take captive. She was surprised, however, when he offered his own name and some advice, though she didn't really appreciate either.

"Hah!" Cassie laughed without humor, rising from the bed and turning to face him. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. "I think it concerns me, greatly," she argued. Perhaps he didn't know what was to be done with her. Perhaps his Captain didn't relinquish that information to his crew. Perhaps he simply didn't care enough to ask. Either way, she knew she would not learn the answer from him. Perhaps it would have been a better idea to turn the Captain into the same creature she was, now. He held the control, after all. He was the one who would have the power to turn the ship around and return her to her home. Of course, that plan could backfire and she would be killed before she reached him. No doubt he had crew members guarding him somehow. She doubted she would be able to reach him very easily.

The pirate - Jacob - drew her attention again by asking for her name a second time and she considered him for a moment. She didn't know why he desired it so much or why he was here speaking with her. She worried about his intentions, though she was sure she would be able to over power him if necessary. If another came, however, she wasn't confident that she would succeed for very long.

"Cassandra," she answered after a moment. "Tell me Jacob. What usually happens to the women taken aboard this ship? Am I likely to be sold?" She wasn't sure that she wanted the answer to the question but the only way she would be able to prepare herself, mentally and physically, was if she knew the truth.

[b]Jacob[b/]

Cassandra. Jacob liked the name.

He considered his response to her question. Yes, he knew what happened to the women that were abducted and thrown aboard the Lusty Pillager. He knew that they were cruelly ripped away from their family, locked in a room at sea for days, weeks, or months, and eventually sold to the highest bidder. What happened after that was uncertain. It was suspected that most of them were forced to work for wealthy criminals and corrupt lords, and that others were dragged to a brothel where they would work till their looks failed them. Rumour had it that some were requested for the purpose of a forced marriage, and word had gotten around that one woman had even managed to find herself executed for the attempted murder of her fiancé. Of course, had she been in a position to object she would have turned the ugly bastard away in an instant.

In short, the women captured faced a bleak fate. However, Cassandra was different. Trips across the ocean often took place once a dozen or more women had been kidnapped, but this time there was only one. According to the captain the money offered for the transport of Cassandra was ten times what it was for twenty other women. That was as much as Jacob knew, though. Whatever the captain had in store for her certainly didn't involve slave labour or a brothel.

"They're sold," Jacob said, nodding his head. "They're sold and then worked to death in most cases. Are you glad you asked? I can tell you more, about the women who have been raped aboard this ship, and how they are then forced to have sex every day for the rest of their lives..."

Jacob looked Cassandra dead in the eye. It wasn't a threatening look, nor was it friendly. Those observant enough may have even noticed a hint of sympathy in his expression. What he and the crew of the Lusty Pillager did for a living was not honourable, it was the work of scum. Then again, the same scum also lived in palaces and ate extravagant food while they decided what to do with the money thieved from their subjects. The truth of the matter was that the world was full of scum. In Jacobs eyes you could either join them or be taken advantage of by them. It was an easy choice.

"You are worth a lot of money, and the captain is going to a great deal of trouble to keep you alive. So, I'll say this one more time, keep your damn head down!"

With that he made a swift exit and locked the door behind him. He spent the day working on deck, and not once did anything other than Cassandra cross his mind.