Sea and tide [Hestia]

[James Darkwater]

Hats. He hated hats, mainly because they rhymed with cats. And he loathed cats.

That was how he had woken up, to a bed full of sweat and the plain image of a bunch of cats liking his face and biting his hand with him being unable to strike them down. He hated nightmares as well. He got out of bed, made his way to a bowl full of water and started to wash his face. The red sun that was visible through the windows of his cabin didn't make his mood any better. Red was the colour of blood, and a red dawn meant only one thing.

Blood.

He shook his head, wondering how many cats he would have to kill to erase his nightmare experience. He had nothing against them, actually, they were cunning creatures, but their disdain to water was the only thing that made him loathe them. Water was fundamental to all life, he couldn't imagine his life without it.

Water was freedom.

He got dressed into his usual puffy-sleeved black shirt, black coat, dark breeches, and leather boots, made sure his neclace was in a visible location around his neck, grabbed his cutlass sword and went outside.

They had a favourable wind, and as it hit him hard on the back, James couldn't help but smirk. Now, that was the beginning of a good day. Not those cats.

He made his way to the Quarterdeck, his boots echoing all around the ship, as the crew lowered their heads and muttered "Cap'n" in respect. Flashing a malicious smirk to the navigator, James took the helm and said "Master Figgs, if you wouldn't mind."

"Aaaye, sir, nnno problem, Cap'n..."

"Thought so myself." James said, apparently pleased with the navigator's frightened state. Turning the helm to the right, Captain James Darkwater was once again in his element. He raised his left hand, and the wind current became even stronger. He was a pirate, cheating at things like that was always in his blood.

Two members of his crew ran up to the Quarterdeck. "Captain! Sail ho, right on our stem!"

James took a moment to grab his spyglass from the inside of his coat and smirked at what he saw. Siourean trade ship, probably making its way to Enden. "Well, lads... Hoist the colours." he said, loud enough for the whole ship to hear, and cheers erupted from everywhere. His pirate flag, the one showing the skull with a sword and a flower (in order to show the reputation of the nobleman that he wanted to preserve), was raised up high, and soon enough, the Tidemother was right next to the obviously smaller vessel.

"Do what you do best lads!" he yelled, as his men jumped on the other vessel and started to slaughter each and everyone aboard. Child's play.

James, however, was looking through his spyglass at something that was farther ahead, and coming straight to them. A pirate ship that he knew all too well.

"Captain!"

"I know. Burn her." he said, as he turned around the ship, his crew members jumping back on board. The mouth on the stem opened and a great wall of fire consumed the other vessel.

"Captain.... Is it right to provoke the Sea Bitch this way? You know that her captain is.."

James raised a finger to stop the man from talking. "Let me tell you how it works on my ship. You take orders, and you like it." he said, and continued to look as the Sea Bitch closed in on them, the other vessel now completely burnt.

"On my ship, we make a statement. To everyone."

[Captain Hestia Black]

They had been tailing the small trading vessel for most of the night, partly out of boredom and for something to chase, and partly to see if it was worth embarking. Hestia had settled herself on a coil of rope and dozed slightly when Liza, roused her with a shout. Irritated she had been woken from her slumber she hopped out of her little nest and snatched the spyglass from her hand. Moving the raised deck she peered through it as the ship approaching her catch raised its colours.

“Darkwater..” she muttered, knowing she could kiss goodbye to her folly. A tense silence had settled on her crew as they waited for her orders. She said nothing as the vessel went up in flames though a faint smile tugged at her lips.

”Cap’n?” someone said nervously.

“Darkwater wants to play tag.” she said turning to her crew, and a ripple of excitement ran through her crew. “John!” she shouted to the man in the crow’s nest, “Wind if you please!” the wind picked up around them.

“Mermaids” she cried to her small group of talented water dryads, “Shred his sails. The rest of be ready, but do not attack unless I say so.”

The Sea Bitch crashed through the waves at incredible speed towards the Tidemother and Hestia turned to watch it approaching as water droplets around the ship began to solidify into pointed shards of ice as sharp as any blade and soared faster than they were to shred Darkwater’s sails so he could not escape her if he tried.

Her second in command stepped next to her, the oldest member of her crew, old and probably past his time now, Dan had been a good friend to her. “Is this necessary, Hessie? It could become a fight over nothing.” he questioned calmly. She gave him a small smirk and replied. “He burnt my prey.”

“We both know you weren’t interested in it Cap’n”

“Aye, and we both know you do not upset the Sea Bitch without paying for it.” They were almost upon them now.

“Hold the wind! Shifters to the water!” a series of splashes told her that her shifter had gone and would come up on the opposite side of the ship if the signal was given.

As they came alongside the Tidemother Hestia but on her pissed face “DARKWATER!” she yelled moving to side of the ship to address him. “How much do you want to die?”

[James Darkwater]

The wind changed. James laughed. He laughed even harder when he listened to what a few members said close to him.

"The Captain has gone mad!"

"Ye don't become the best pirate in the world by playin' it safe, lad. And good ol' Cap'n knows how things be."

James tried to hold on to the helm for support, not because the wind was too strong, but because he was laughing so hard. "The Bitch wants to play, gentlemen." he said, as he turned the wheel lightly to the right. "Throw the anchor."

"He's definitely gone mad. We'll be sitting ducks!"

"Or we'll be able to change our position at will." A crew member said, and laughed. Everyone on board was running around, grabbing weapons and arming the ballistas as well as the catapults. Only James remained steady, fearless as the tides of the sea, fearless as the previous captain before him, the man that had shown him what it meant to be the best.

"Arm the ballistas. Prepare the catapults, have the fires in the pit burning." He ordered, as his crew rushed to do his bidding. "Have the oars at the ready." he said silently to one of his crew members.

"But Captain, they are too far away yet, and the anchor..."

"She'll shred our sails. She's both stupid and clever at the same time to realise that we have one hundred rowers hidden." he said, and flashed the man with a mischievious smile.

"But the anchor is lowered!"

"Haven't you heard that the Bitch first chases and then eats her prey from the inside? She'll shred our tails and attack with her shifters." he said, as the Sea Bitch made her way next to them.

"All hands on the deck, search the water. Spread oil and prepare the mouth." he said, as the captain of the Sea Bitch called to him. He laughed again. "As much as you want to kiss me, love!" he yelled, and turned to his men. "Nobody moves." He made his way to the end of the deck, and jumped, as his hands harnessed the currents to make sure he landed safely on her own deck's left side.

Landing perfectly, and doing a graceful twirl, he let his body relax on the wooden end of the ship. "Now now, Highness, I never had the chance to congratulate you on your promotion. What say you to a nice meal, on my ship, as payment for this magnificent vessel you were obviously chasing?"he said, with enough posture and relaxation that would only imply the fact that he ruled the ship.

Not just the ship. The whole world.

He gave her a mischievious smile, and then looked at the burnt remnants of the vessel. "Now... Is that what the Sea Bitch has been hunting for the past few days? I find myself... disappointed." he said, and shook his head.

[Captain Hestia Black]

Hestia pursed her lips as James Darkwater, arrogant and disgusting as ever, leapt onto the deck of her ship. For a moment she said nothing, he was too arrogant, too over confident for a man who didn’t know how she fought, most men were quaking in their boots and pleading for mercy by now. A fleeting glimpse to the water below, told her all she needed to know, as the oil he had gave the water rainbow sheen.

She gave him a very false, very brief smile before slamming her fist into his jaw hard enough to knock him for his feet. “Dan, get my men out of the water.” she said softly. “REEL THEM IN!” he shouted and the command was echoed across the deck and a drum deep within the hull of the Sea Bitch sounded two solid beats and one by one, shifters began climbing from the water, glistening with oil. Drawing her sword she rested it on James’ throat, “You’ve been doing your homework Darkwater.” she said coldly, though she was thoroughly enjoying every moment of the encounter, she kept it from her face.

“The real question is though, how much homework have you done? Did you know I bested my father with a sword at the age of sixteen? Did you know that I make sure i learn the likes and dislikes of every member of my crew so I can use them better in battle?”

Fire danced in her eyes, then up her sword stopping inches from Darkwater’s face. “I’ll be honest with you James,” she said softly I don’t give a shit about the boat, I do however give a shit about my reputation, and I happen to know you crew are shit scared and no likely to move because they know they will die because of your sheer stupidity.” She allowed the coldness to fade from her face to be replaced with utmost pleasure.

“I’m not going to kill them of course, but that oil you put in the water so close to a burning vessel will.”

Dan realised what was happening and began barking order for everyone capable of using wind and water to move the Sea Bitch away from the danger. Hestia wasn’t worried, fire never touched her ship. She made sure of that.

[James Darkwater]

She punched him. Hard.

If that was how falling in love felt, then James was in love. He had been punched many a times before, and he had enjoyed every single one of them. Needless to say, the people that punched him rarely survived, or if they did they didn't have their punching hand, but James figured he would give her the satisfaction of thinking that he was hurt.

Just for a second.

James smiled as he stumbled back on his feet, his posture as relaxed and careless as ever, crossing his legs and leaning on the end of the deck. He realised that her sword was right in front of his neck, and smiled again. "Why can't we ever meet without someone pointing something at each other?" he said, mischieviously, and rested his hand inside his right pocket for a second. Raising it, he was holding a red rose (his symbol) and put it next to her own sword as if he was crossing blades with her. "Need I remind you of what happened in Rannismere?" he said with a cocky smile.

"Well yes, I did my homework as all good lads would." he said, trying not to sound ironic, as he started to circle around her sword, making sure that he was still in range so that she could cut his throat whenever she wanted.

He was playing a dangerous game, but he lived for these situations.

"I know of your crew, I know of your tactics, I know of your story. The problem is, you don't know mine. As for me crew, I am pretty sure their pants are brown." he said, and pointed at his own. "Mine are black, and a complete mystery." he added, and did a graceful gesture with his hands. "What's inside though, I bet you know of that well enough." He winked.

Dangerous, dangerous game.

And then came the surprise. "Well, bollocks." he said with a smile, and raised a finger. "Excusez moi, mademoiselle." he said, in a swift adanese dialect, and jumped again gracefully to his ship right in front of the helm that the navigator was holding, and took charge.

It was high time for that anchor strategy to work.

He let the wheel loose, and the ship turned around completely, so that he was facing the flames and the oil. "FIRE." he yelled, as the mouth opened, and the fires consumed both the oil and the burning ship. "Sorcerers, do what you do best!" His sorcerers started to diminish the flames before they reached his ship.

He jumped back to the Sea Bitch. "Forgive me for that. Now, where were we?" he said, and played with the flower. "Oh yes, sword goes to neck, I give you the flower, you accept my invitation and we have one wild night together."

[Captain Hestia Black]

Hestia sheathed her sword and barked for everyone told hold fast. Dan began to complain but a dark look from her silenced him, he moved closer though. “How long are you going to risk this for?” he hissed in her ear. She didn’t answer, she merely watched the controlled chaos on the Tidemaster. There had always been a spark between her and Darkwater it was one that she would never allow to become a flame, and as much as she hated herself for it, she was rather fond of his antics and arrogance.

“Remember your place Dan.” she said her voice carrying and edge of danger to it. He retreated from her bowing his head. He knew in his heart she was going to accept to an extent and he hated it. “Tell me crew, would you refer a fight or a fuck tonight?” It had been a little while since they had been near land and she knew her girls were up for fun from the ripple of filthy smiles that replied to her. Dan glowered at them before disappearing below deck.

As James landed on her deck again she flashed him a coy smile, raising the sword once more to his neck. “Bring us around Liza.” she shouted to her navigator, smoothly the sea bitch realigned herself alongside the Tidematser. “Throw the lines!” A series of ropes with barbed lines were thrown across to secure the two ships together, and a loud splash told her the anchor had been dropped. “All secure Cap’n”

She looked at James, her purple eyes locking on his. “Your crew can have wild nights Captain. You on the other hand have to work so very much harder for it.” she sheathed her sword and moved to the lower deck so she could address his crew.

“Your dear idiot captain thinks he can seduce the sea bitch,” a ripple of laughter followed her words “Because he is so persistent, and I am in particularly good mood today, I have agreed for you, his wonderful crew, to enjoy a wild night instead. Be warned though if any of my girls are harmed I will have you hung, drawn and quartered and if your captain tried to stop me I will burn the lot of you.” She smiled sweetly before turning to her crew, “Have fun ladies.”

She looked up at James and rested her hands on her hips, as the two crews began to mingle.

[James Darkwater]

Child's play. The Tidemother had faced countless dangers more frightening than a little bit of oil and fire, and as the previous Captain used to say "The Tidemother would prevail not because of its crew alone, but because of its Captain." James agreed to that statement wholeheartedly. He was pretty damn sure that he was the best pirate this world had or would ever see. He might not have had a fancy title like King of Pirates, but James had always run away from titles.

They were nothing but words. Actions spoke by themselves. And now, he had managed to outhink the Queen, he had managed to gain an audience with her (no matter how short lived) and he had managed to make a statement. He was a force to be reckoned with, and she would do well to remember that. As well as the fact that he would never ever back down from showing her how persistent he was.

In his mind, he had humiliated her, somehow showing to his own crew that even the Queen (no matter her reputation) could be humiliated with words and actions, if they were swift, cunning, and inspiring. James knew it, he could feel it in his bones. Before this night was done, James would make the Queen of Pirates want him so much, that she would have to hunt him across the Anean Sea.

Now, he had to figure out if she would hunt him down out of passion or revenge. Even though, most of the time, those two seemed to be the same. Especially concerning James Darkwater.

He listened to her words with mild amusement, and watched as the two ships seemed to become one. He saw a couple of his own crew climb aboard, and he couldn't help but overhear what they were saying.

"I told ye he wasn't mad. Cap'n always knows what he be doin'. Always."

He smiled, partially to himself and partially to the situation that was unfolding in front of his eyes, as he called to his crew. "I expect a gentleman's behaviour from all of you, lads." he said, and turned his attention to Captain Hestia. "Oh, I think I've already seduced the bitch, my dear." he said, made her way to her and grabbed her waist. He jumped while holding her in his arms, the wind currents travelling them to his own deck.

"Now, how about that meal I was talking about?" he said, and gave her the red rose he was still holding.

[Captain Hestia Black]

This close to James she could smell his poor hygiene. It filled her nose and made her feel a little ill. As soon as their feet touched the deck of the tidemother she made a noise of disgust and stepped away from him, glowering. “Would it kill you to take a bath once in a while?” she snapped irritated at his comments. This was going to take some serious stunts to recover from, where her reputation was concerned. Now she thought about it, she wondered why she didn’t just burn him.

She took his rose and sniffed it, relaxing as its sweet scent replaced James body odour. She smirked at him as he reminded her of his dinner proposal. “On deck.” she agreed “If you think I am ever going below with you, you are more deluded than I thought possible.” Stalking away from him she moved to the bow of the ship to study the smouldering wreck that was the trader’s boat.

It could have been anything in that boat; Gold, valuable artefacts or even food. Whatever it would have been she would have made good use of it, to see it burnt and knowing it was going to be yet another decoration on the sea floor seemed to make her mournful. “So wasteful...” She was about to reprimand James for his wastefulness, he could have at least shared it with her, when a ripple in the water caught her eye. I was like a wake behind a small boat and as quick as it had appeared it vanished.

She looked up to the crow’s nest to see if anyone was up there, but who could refuse the call of a woman from the Sea Bitch. Without a word or look at James she began to climb the rigging and haul herself up to the nest where she could see the shadows in the water.

There was only one thing that made ripples like that.

The Kraken hadn't been seen for centuries though....had it?

[James Darkwater]

As they landed, James' eyes fell on his men making their way to the Sea Bitch. They would probably have a good time with the all female crew, he was quite sure. After all, their strength was legendary. James focused on the fact (and spread the rumor) that it was actually their famous pleasure giving abilities that had earned them their legendary status, but he would never admit that to Captain Hestia. He valued his head.

He laughed at her comment about his hygiene. "Have you smelled most of my men? I am the cleanest person on this ship, perhaps even across the Anean sea." he said, which was quite true. She took his rose and smelled it, and for a second James smirked. Her next comment made him lose his smile, his face turning to a cold one. "If you think I will allow you to go in my cabin, you are far more deluded than you expect me to be."

There were valuable things inside, things that even Hestia couldn't begin to comprehend. No one was allowed in his cabin, everyone in his crew knew that, he would have expected her to know as well. There was a rumor that James kept hidden in his cabin treasures beyond comparison, of immense wealth and value, yet they were nothing but rumors.

They were, however valuable to him.

"Masters Longboat and Blackrain, prepare my dining table for two." he said, scratching his facial hair, as a strange ripple in the water shook the ship. He raised an eyebrow and looked at the sea. Hestia was doing so herself.

"Could it be...?" he muttered to himself.

The Kraken. Stories told of a huge beast that lived in the depths of the sea, the offspring of none other but the Sea Goddess and a mere mortal, her own son cursed by her to roam the seas for deciding to live his own life away from her. The Kraken would pull whatever ship it came up to the depths, as an offering to the Sea Goddess in order to break the curse.

"Caaa...Captain... Theeee..."

"Kraken." James said, probably to himself. His men started to make their way back to his ship, and James gave the order. "Once everyone is back, cut the ropes. Cut everything." he said, silently to his first mate.

Another ripple. "I want every ballista ready to fire right now. Raise the anchor. Prepare the mouth."

"But, captain, the mouth... Is it wise to provoke it that way?"

He wasn't smiling. He grabbed the wheel, as his men started to raise the anchor. "MEN. This beast claims to be the son of the Sea Goddess? And I ask of you, are we not all sons of her? We chose the life she offered, and she will rightfully embrace us tonight!" he yelled, as his men grabbed their swords.

Another ripple.

"Come brother. Tonight, the Sea Goddess gains a new son." he whispered, a wicked smile appearing on his lips, the smile of a lunatic, as he grabbed the wheel again.

[Captain Hestia Black]

Hestia’s heart hammered in her chest as she caught glimpse of the huge shadow as it passed beneath them. If they were silent and still it might leave them be and for a moment she held her breath.

And then James Darkwater opened his mouth. She looked down at his and then to her own ship as her crew panicked unsure what to do. A stream of profanity’s escaped her lips and she shouted to John who was midway from reaching the crow’s nest. He stopped in time to see her run and jump from her the yard, aiming for her own deck and praying that John slowed her decent.

He did, but not slow enough and she hit the deck hard, rolling a few meters before coming up on her feet. “Cut us loose! Raise the Anchor” she bellowed. Another glance up told her John was in the nest. “Give me speed.” she hollered to him. Dan was at her side, his face full of fear.

“Do you have a plan captain?” Before she could answer several tentacles shot out of the water and began snatching victims for the Kraken’s starter. “GET MY SHIP AWAY NOW!” she bellowed. The wind began to pick up, filling her sails and pulling the Sea Bicth away from the Tidemother.

Another tentacle crashed across her deck and she screamed with fury, igniting it. An unearthly scream echoed from the water beneath them. serves you right for damaging my ship. she thought to herself, but now she had made the Kraken angry. In response all eight tentacles rose and began ripping people from both ships, but the Sea bitch was edging out of its reach. She ran to the stern of the ship, shoving Liza aside and taking the helm “Prepare the port side anchor!” she yelled at Dan who looked at her in horror. “Do it!”

There was no time for argument and when the ship had reached distance where the kraken could not reach both her and the tidemother the cry went up for the anchor to be dropped, spinning them 180 degrees. “MERMAIDS! ARCHERS AND WHO EVER ELSE HAS GOT SOMETHING THEY CAN SHOOT AT THIS BASTARD THING, FIRE!”

Arrows, balls of fire and shards of ice began to pepper the Kraken, drawing it to them. Though who could not shoot stood upon the deck waiting to slash at the tentacles as they rose to drag them to their watery graves. While the Kraken was trained on her it would give James a chance to act.

[James Darkwater]

His men were jumping aboard the ship, as the ripples fastened. The ship was shaking, although he was still in control, holding the wheel tight with one hand. The smile of a lunatic was still plastered on his face, as all of his men made it through. "Cut the ropes!" he said, and then he turned the wheel instantly, the ship turning around. Raising one hand, he harnessed the powers of the wind to make them sail away faster, the wind sorcerers joining him,as the Kraken started to attack the nearest ship.

The Sea Bitch.

"Anchor! Turn us around!" The anchor fell in the water again, as the ship turned around 180 degrees. Everyone on the ship was either terrified or full of eagerness for the fight. "There will be no return, gentlemen!" he yelled, as many roared and yelled in return. "To the depths with this beast!" He raised his hand again, and as they were closing in, the mouth opened and started to churn fire at the closest thing they could find. Three tentacles.

The plan was working alright. What a sin, to use fire while sailing the seas, but it seemed to have done the trick. He had made the Kraken angry, and as they closed in, he already knew what he had to do.

He looked at the beast, waiting for the precise moment. "Come on, show us your pretty face!" he yelled, and by the Gods, it seemed that the beast listened. Arising from the depths, at its full terror, came a face to a beast that he had never seen before, with such a huge mouth that could swallow ships three times the size of his own whole.

James laughed, as the ballistas fired bolts at the face. The beast roared, as the Tidemother was closing in. "Master Gregory, assemble the storm dryads! Hit the left eye, as soon as I give you the signal." he said with that cocky smile.

"WHAT'S THE SIGNAL!?"

James jumped, the wind sorcery giving him enough boost to reach the highest mast, and grabbed a rope, one hand unseathing his cutlass sword, a dagger in his mouth. With one last look, and the fires still burning before him, James took a few steps back and jumped.

"HE'S MAD!"

"THAT'S WHY THE PREVIOUS CAPTAIN CHOSE HIM ABOVE THE REST OF US LAD!" yelled Gregory, through thunderous laughter.

Slashing part of a tentacle with his cutlass sword, James left the rope and landed right next to the right eye. The beast was livid, swimming back and forth, trying to shake both fire, two ships and that cocky man with that crazy grin on his face.

Spitting the dagger to his left hand, James took one last look upon the bright yellow eyes of the seven hells, and said "SEE YOU SOON!" Plunging the dagger in the eye, the terrible roar that came from the beast managed to throw him in the sea, not before his expression changed to one of sudden realisation.

"Bugger."

The sound of thunder hitting the other eye couldn't be mistaken even though he was been dragged down to the depths, with no wind to help him this time.

[Captain Hestia Black]

“JAMES DON’T-”

Too late the stupid idiot had leapt from the mast onto the kraken. Hestia could do nothing as he plunged his dagger into the krakens eye and was flung into the sea. There was nothing for it she was going to have to follow him in if the idiot was going to survive.

“Hold you fire!” she yelled as she climbed the rigging and hauled herself onto the yard.

“CAPTAIN! DONT BE A-” his words were cut off as the krakens tentacle swung round slamming into the centre mast, and sending splinters everywhere and almost throwing Hestia from her perch. She looked down when she was sure she wasn’t going to fall off to see a splinter had pierced Dan’s chest. She wrote him off to grieve later and launched herself into a beautiful swan dive after the sinking Kraken.

For a moment she could see nothing but bubbles, but after a second the water cleared and she caught sight of James through the salt water, tangled in a net the kraken had dragged into the water. She swam towards him, pulling her knife free when she neared, aware of the rapidly depleting oxygen in her lungs as she sliced a hole in the rope large enough to pull him through.

Grabbing the front of his tunic she pulled him to the surface, the krakens moans echoing in the waters as it swam away. Pain seared through her lungs and the surface seemed miles away but she kept going until her face broke through the surface and she sucked in the sweet air, recovering before rounding on James and realising he was unconscious. Laying him on his back she began to swim to her ship with him in tow, cursing his existence and the existence of the kraken as she went.

As she came within range they threw a rope out to her and , wrapping one arm round the rope and the other round James they were hauled out of the water. She rolled James onto his back and tried t rouse him, before placing her ear to his mouth to checking his breathing. There was nothing. “Stupid.” she began pressing on his chest to shift the water from his lungs before pinching his nose and breathing a few times for him. “Fucking. Bastard.” she returned to pumping the water from his lungs. “BREATHE YOU IDIOT! BREATHE!”

[James Darkwater]

No wind. No air. No oxygen. Just the sea.

And a freaking beast dragging him to the endless depths of the sea.

He was looking around (he had no problem keeping his eyes open in the water), desperately trying to free himself from that ungodly tentacle that was dragging him down. He couldn't even swim, his hands were still holding his cutlass sword and his dagger. He looked at both and seathed the sword, with a little bit extra effort.

"Not losing you."

He tried to cut the tentacle with the dagger, but to no avail. He looked at the beast, the blood coming out of its eyes fouling the waters of the sea he loved with all his heart.

"Come on!"

Another try, another failure, as bubbles came out of his mouth. His mind travelled back inside his cabin, the one no one was allowed to enter. He was back there, the calming sound of his music box reaching his ears, the paintings and drawings of all the girls he had met in his life around him, the open diary of a nobleman on top of his table, various trinkets and treasures that probably held no value to anyone, and right behind many books that looked dusty enough to need a whole year of cleaning, a vase with an enchanted red rose that a female mage had once magically enhanced it so that its pedals would never fall.

Somehow the words were writing themselves in the diary, and James made his way there to check.

And so died the legendary Captain James Darkwater, slayer of the Kraken, captain of the Tidemother.

He felt his eyes closing, and gave away with that maliciously perfect cocky grin that many claimed he had been born with.

One last look at the diary.

BREATHE YOU IDIOT, BREATHE!

"What?"

It didn't sound as a "What". It sounded like someone was throwing up as James started to cough out the water in his lungs, fighting against invisible opponents, as the cold air filled his lungs.

"IDIOT?" he yelled, as he opened his eyes and saw Hestia. "IDIOT!?" he yelled again, as he tried to stand up, to immense pain. "Fuck...." he muttered, and laid down again, breathing heavily. "Lost my dagger. Loved that dagger."

[Captain Hestia Black]

Hestia slumped back exhausted as James regurgitated the water and rambled about his dagger. His dagger. Of all the things to be rambling about he rambled about that, the fury that she had been keeping at bay engulfed her and she slapped him so hard it made her hand hurt before grabbing him by his collar and pulling him towards her so their faces were millimetres apart.

“You stupid bastard. Don’t you EVER do anything like that again. There was no need for such a ridiculous stunt we could have dealt with the kraken without your pathetic heroics.” She had an overwhelming urge to kiss him and for a moment she teetered on the edge between kissing him and pushing him away. The latter won and she shoved him hard back to the deck and rose to her feet.

“Get off my ship, Darkwater.” she walked away to survey the damage to her ship. The mast was the worst hit, if they got caught in a storm it would come down easily. Wooden railings had been smashed to oblivion, and the windows to her cabin had been smashed. Then her eyes fell on her first mate Dan who was staring lifeless at the sky, his chest soaked with blood a huge wooden splinter jutting from his heart.

Her legs felt leaden as she moved towards him and dropped down to her knees next to him, struggling to contain the tears as trembling hands reached out to close his eyes.

“Cap’n?” Someone said softly. Hestia didn’t care who it was, she wanted nothing more than to be alone.

“Find a way to support that mast and raise the sails. We’ll row to the nearest may to make repairs and assess further damage.” She brushed a stray strand of hair out of Dan’s face. If James had never been here, if he hadn’t burnt her plunder, they wouldn’t have lingered so long to be taken by the Kraken. “Strip the dead of what can be used and cast them into the sea.”

Standing up she moved onto the quarter deck away from the activity. Dan had been her oldest friend, the oldest member of this crew, he had served her father before she had convinced him to mutiny against him and he had remained loyal and protective of her since. His death cut her deeper than she could have ever imagined.

[James Darkwater]

There were some women James Darkwater could do without. There were some others who were simply irresistible, especially the ones that hit him. Hestia Black was definitely one of those women, if not THE woman. He could have sworn that certain teeth of his would fly away any second after that slap, and then she pulled him so close that James could smell her breath. Oh, by the Sea Goddess, he wanted her and he wanted her now.

Her words fuelled his passion even more, and for a second, James could feel his lips coming together, an inch from her face, ready to kiss her. Then, she moved away. James wanted to rip this boat wood to wood from his anger and disappointment.

He had been so close. So freaking close.

And now she ordered him to get off her ship. Pirate Queen or not, James didn't take orders from anyone. He might have said yes to that alliance with disdain, but freedom came above all else. "Of course you would have dealt with the Kraken without me! Though that would have cost you a ship and even more dead people!" he said, as he stumbled to his feet.

James knew when he was unwanted, and he usually liked the fact that he had never cared about it. Somehow, though, he found himself not wanting to stay after watching what Hestia was doing, and after watching her losses.

The Tidemother sailed next to the ship, and James scratched his facial hair, not knowing what feeling he was experiencing. Was it grief? Obviously not, he didn't care for the man that had died. Not everyone was meant to be as good as him. Then again, that emptiness he felt in his stomach could only be described as grief. For the man? Probably not. Perhaps it was sorrow for Hestia who had lost someone dear to her.

He didn't even want to think about what that meant.

Grabbing a young lady from the arm, James looked into her eyes, with no seductive smile or cocky grin this time. "Give this to your Captain." he said, and pulled a very wet red rose from inside his coat. "Tell her..." He trailed off for a second. "No words need be spoken." He was dead serious.

Jumping to his ship with ease, he was greeted by his own crew with cheers. "Lads, you've earned yourselves some good rest!" he said, not even trying to hide the fake smile that he had tried to pull off, only to fail pathetically. "We sail to Appolonia to restock and have some fun."

More cheers, as James tried to make his way to his cabin.

"Captain? Are you..."

"No words need be spoken, Gregory. Now, leave me alone. No one enters my cabin." he said, his voice calm and deadly at the same time.

He knew how he would spend the rest of his time. He had a red rose to tend to.