Marcus Bolo's Story

Jarrak Hassar walked through the shithole of a port town with less than a amused vasard. He hadnt been on the island a day and already had lost his ward, "Damn it Kalila," he mumbled under his breath as he walked down another winding alley, "Why do you do this to me?"
Some guardian he was. Protector of a damn princess, a prophesied reincarnation of Ishka, and still his biggest problem was merely keeping the mad girl in his sights. He hoped against hope, that word never reached her father's ears about how lax his skills at protection had gotten. He was used to chasing Kalila around a palace, not a slum. A beggar stepped out in front of him, hand proffered, mumbling something about coins for an old man, Jarrak had no time for it and a solid knee to the gut sent the beggar doubling over in the dirt.
"Filth." He said under his breath as he continued to walk through the stinking town, "Filth and foul, why on earth have we come here?"

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Lady Elizabeth Benezia Harlington sat in her on the terrace of her estate looking over the sapphire blue waters off the coast of Nassau. On a small table beside her sat a china cup of inky black tea, and above her an umbrella, keeping the harshest of the suns rays from her, even if she was fully covered, from her long gloves to halterneck dress and face mask. She stared out over the stunning vista view, she had lived here nearly twenty years but she never tired of that view. She lifted her tea cup to her face and took a careful measured sip. She had her masks fitted and specially designed so that she could still enjoy tea while she wore them, but it was still a delicate art to avoid covering herself in the dark liquid. An art she had perfected over the years.
"More tea ma'am?" said a deep voice from behind her, and Marcus Bolo, her infallible butler and manservant materialised from where he had been standing.
"No thank you Marcus I am quite alright," she said, her voice melodic and light, but with a hint of the deadly intelligence she had acquired over the years, "What time was our appointment in town?"
She knew perfectly well what time their appointment with the Pirate was, she knew Marcus knew too. The man never missed a beat, but she asked anyway, some part of the daily facade they played with each other.
"Noon Ma'am," Marcus replied without batting an eyelid, "Just under two hours."
"Of course," she replied lightly, her demeanor as unreadable as usual, "How silly of me. Come, fetch Nassara and bring the carriage around the front. I must go and fetch my things."
"Of course lady Harlington," Marcus said with a bow, "At once."

Jarrak followed the twins carrying Kalila in his arms. He was used to doing it, Kalila collapsing was no new event, the voices and abilities coursing through her body and mind took their toll on her body. She was after all just a little girl.
He felt no remorse for the old man in the street. His master had taught him to be ruthless and uncompromising, and he had a quick temper to begin with, always stressing about Kalila, and what mischief she could be up to.
The two boys seemed harmless enough, especially in a land of pirates and cutthroats, and he had to admit, killing Pirates on a ship was easier than killing thugs in a city.
If it could indeed be called a city. It had no ruler, no governing body, it was ruled by gangs and pirates, thugs and scoundrels, it was not city, it was chaos.

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Lady Harlington rode in her carriage silently, not that her company spoke much anyway. The silent woman opposite was clad in black cloth from head to toe, with nothing but her eyes visible, which were dark and beautiful. Her name was Nassara, and she served as her loyal bodyguard and handmaiden.
Lady Harlington peered through the curtains of the Carriage upon the streets of Nassau. No matter how many times she looked upon these streets there was always something new to see. It was part of the reason she stayed, boredom with the rest of the world.
There were people of every stripe in Nassau, every country and walk of life, and she was very, very good at discovering who was what, and something caught her eye.
A young man, Dark of skin with curly brown hair and the look of a warrior, and in his arms...
A girl, young and beautiful, her face unblemished, her hair dark and long, her clothes were fine if simple. She was not from here, anyone of note, anyone who could afford such clothes, she knew on this island, and she did not know this girl.
"Marcus Darling," she called to the front of the carriage, "Pull over would you?"
"Yes Ma'am." He replied, and the carriage pulled over to the side of the street, stopping before the two strangers. Nassara opened the door and stepped out, hands behind her back and head bowed.
Lady Harlington stepped out into the street, her garish, flamboyant dress and white mask, making her shine like a bizzare, colourful beacon in the street.
"Hello my dear," She said, in her musical, melodramatic voice, "My name is Lady Elizabeth Benezia Harlington, and on behalf of The higher society on Nassau, I welcome, you. What might your names be my darlings?"

Kalila shrieked and buried her face in Jarraks chest, whimpering there at the sight of the strange woman in the vivid clothes and white mask.
"Kalila, Kalila what's wrong?" He asked, squeezing the girl tighter to his chest.
"Oh my my!" The strange woman, Elizabeth, said shocked, covering the mouth with a sharp gesture of her hand, "The poor dear! Marcus! You brute, you near scared the poor girl to death!"
"Apologies Ma'am." The man said not skipping a beat.
Jarrack wasn't sure what Kalilas outburst was about, but he was sure it wasn't the large dark skinned man at the head of the carriage
"Please, excuse me for my manservants terrible treatment of you, please, allow me to escort you to where you are going, come, come inside, your arms must be so tired young man." Elizabeth said, gently but firmly herding Jarrak and Kalila into her carriage, the door held open by Nassara.
"Wait, we aren't-" Jarrak began but was cut off by the extravagant woman.
"No! I'll hear no more of it! I simply must atone for my terrible treatment of you thus far. Please! Come now!" She said, bustling them into the carriage with haste. Once they were all seated again, the man at the front, Marcus his name was, continued on down the street. "Now," the woman said, her face unreadable beneath the mask but her voice bright and sophisticated, "Who might you lovely little doves be? I can always tell when someone is new to Nassau," She paused an tapped her porcelain nose, "And I can always tell when they are not mere travellers."
Jarrak looked from Elizabeth, to the veiled woman, then down to Kalila who was still leaning against his shoulder, firmly wrapped around his arm, "Kalila?"

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Damien & Sebastian

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Damien looked over Sebastian's shoulder and nodded in the direction of Sebastian's bed. "What?" Sebastian asks, almost annoyed at his brother. He sat up, dizzy and tired, his back stinging faintly as he looked at the empty bed until Damien looked over.

"Well? What do you want me to do about it? They didn't want to come it's not my fault," Sebastian says down to his brother who scowls up at him. "Come on Sebastian, this could be our chance to know what happened that night. Not many people can do that to me, you know that, maybe she can read minds or something. We'll never know unless we talk to her. Please, just go ask her guardian if she could come here for ten minutes. Ten, then we can ask her and if she knows anything, we'll know it," Sebastian says, begging in a way his brother had never heard before.

Sebastian looks down at his brother, this wasn't his usual want for a girl, but he wanted to know what happened that night in the cell where he didn't remember anything about his captor but what he left on Damien's back. "Fine... I'll go talk to them." Sebastian says as he goes above deck.

"Kato, see where the two went instead of here?" Sebastian asks as he looks out among the crowd searching for them. He spotted one carriage that was all too familiar. Some Lady who he and Damien called Harlington for short. They had once snuck onto her estate to see if there was anything valuable, grabbed only a hat and an earring, which Damien wore often, then fled after seeing her big bodyguard of a man.

Kato only pointed and Sebastian didn't know he did until he looked back at his friend confused, then followed the mans hand to the exact carriage he had been watching.

"Oh shit," Kato mutters as he sees the Lady inside and wasn't too happy about it. "Is that-, oh gods it's Nassara and Marcus." Stealing them back would be impossible. He could do it with the help of his crew, but he didn't want to involve them over Damien's own matters. He was just not strong enough to face the Lady's manservant, and he wasn't sure he could hurt Nassara for his own reasons. But where were they going. It looked as if they were coming straight for Lucifer's Angel, as if she were bringing them to Sebastian.

"Kato, what's going on?" Sebastian asked as he walked to the side of his ship by the boarding plank. He sat down, swinging his legs overboard and sat there on the railing to watch what played out.

He looked like a child, but had killed more people than most the men on his ship. It was actually kind of sad, but he didn't regret doing it. He had been hungry once, he didn't want it again.

Sebastian drew his gun and layed it in his lap as he leaned back against some ropes. Sebastian spotted the young girl, shrinking into herself in a way as she tried to avoid something in the carriage, or at least that's how it seemed from where he was.

"Kato, make sure Damien doesn't do anything stupid," Sebastian says as he jumps down to the dock. Kato looks down at him. "Like you're about to do?" Kato asks and Sebastian smiles back. "Yep," He says simply before walking towards the carriage.

He should have taken off the lady's hat that he was wearing, but didn't really care as they got closer and closer. "All of a sudden I'm trying to get this girl away from Harlington and keep Damien out of trouble when he is already in trouble. Maybe this girl just wants to do what she wants, away from us. At least I get to see my old friends," Sebastian says almost to himself.

He walked up to Marcus as the carriage neared the intersection where it could either go to the docks, or ride along the side of the the water. He nodded to Marcus, then walked right past them to the carriage door.

Why was he doing this? He really didn't know. He grabbed onto the carriage as it continued to move and knocked on the door as he held on, disregarding the strange looks he was getting. "Hello Lady Elizabeth, long time no see. Nassara, a pleasure as always," Sebastian says, his voice going from false to gentle as he talked to Nassara.

"Hey, I know you don't like me, I don't like you, but my brother wants to talk to your friend here, ten minutes maximum, then you can get on your way with this lady," Sebastian says as he pulls back the curtain to look at the girl and her guardian. Sebastian looks at Lady Elizabeth with a smile. "I know we've had our differences in the past, but I promise not to kill you today if you promise you won't kill me. Sound like a plan?" Sebastian asks with his brother's charming smile that he had only recently mastered and rarely used for lack of caring. Sebastian was thankful that he didn't have bad teeth like most pirates, but white teeth amazingly enough. As did Damien too.

Sebastian didn't think Nassara would kill him instantly, rather she would threaten him, though he had a hand on his hidden knife in his shirt with the hand not holding the carriage. His head halfway in the carriage, his foot on the footrest, Sebastian leaned in carefully to avoid a group of women passing by outside. "Really, just a few minutes of your time," Sebastian says to the young girl directly, almost pleading. He didn't think Harlington would let him see the girl, but didn't really care as he would see to it that see came if she wanted to.

"Such a strange little darling..." Elizabeth thought, watching the rocking child who seemed determined not to look at her, "Perhaps the girl is touched." Suddenly the door to the carriage opened and her private meeting was interrupted by a young boy, she knew him what was his name? Damien? No, that was his brother, she had a talent for faces and this was his brother, Sebastian.
"Hello Lady Elizabeth, long time no see. Nassara, a pleasure as always," The boy said, his voice going from sarcastic to truthful in the blink of an eye. Nassara gave him nothing in return but a cool glare.
"Awww, the poor dear..." Elizabeth thought, smiling slightly beneath her mask.
"Hey, I know you don't like me, I don't like you, but my brother wants to talk to your friend here, ten minutes maximum, then you can get on your way with this lady," Sebastian said pulling back the curtain and checking on Her two guests before turning back to her with a smile as fake as the one on her mask, "I know we've had our differences in the past, but I promise not to kill you today if you promise you won't kill me. Sound like a plan?"
Elizabeth let out a sweet, high pitched giggle and raised a delicate hand over her mouth, "My dear little Sebastian, you naughty boy, it is terribly bad manners to enter a ladies carriage without her permission, its a quick route to a slit throat," She leaned in and gently lifted his chin with a delicate gloved hand, "Or a hole in the head." She said, just as softly, and the click of a flintlock hammer alerted everyone to Marcus's pistol, the barrel of which was an inch from Sebastian's temple. There was a cold silence as Elizabeths blank stare hovered in front of Sebastian, "I would improve my manners, if I were you." There was another, unbearably long pause before she let go of his chin and sat but up with a delighted giggle, "But my my my, your just far to adorable to ruin. Marcus, you terror you! Put that gun away!" she said cheerily.
"Of course Ma'am." He said, holstering his pistol but leaving his ominous presence looming like a stormcloud.
"Now, of course my guests may speak with you quickly if they desire it, I am a host not a gaoler." She said with a laugh, looking at Jarrak and Kalila
Jarrack glared at the twin, Sebastian his name was, "As much as I would much rather leave you to your business, oh rightious defender of old men. I follow my Ward." He looked down at Kalila, "Kalila, what would you like to do?"

Kalilas sudden movement to kiss Nassara didn't shock Jarrak in the slightest, she was prone to odd behaviour and erratic gestures of love and scorn. The startled Nassara didn't far as well, her eyes going wide as she stiffened at the physical contact, her hands instinctively going to something beneath her robes but was not drawn. She then hopped out of the carriage, leaving the stunned Nassara wide eyed inside.
Elizabeth giggled and leaned over to her handmaid, "I would think that she likes you my dear," She whispered seductively, "Almost as much as I do."
"Thank you for your hospitality lady Harlington," Jarrak said with a nod, "But I suggest you don't wait for us, Kalila can be... Erratic. We wouldn't wish to keep you."
"Of course Darling!" She exclaimed with a melodramatic wave before setting her hand on his shoulder, "Should you wish to find me again, I would be more than happy to host your stay here in Nassau," She turned back to Sebastian, her hand still firmly clasped on Jarraks shoulder, "Good Sebastian will be able to direct you to my Estate. I am sure he remembers the way." She turned back to Jarrak, "Safe travels dear, I hope to see you soon."
"Thank you Lady Harlington." Jarrak said before exiting the carriage. There were few people on earth he feared. One was Kalilas father, this woman was another.
"Marcus! Let us away!" she said with a cheerful cry.
"Of course ma'am!" He exclaimed back and the carriage launched off down the street with the crack of whips.
Jarrak turned to Sebastian, "Lead the way, Pirate."

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Damien & Sebastian

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Lady Elizabeth seemed to study Sebastian as he held on before she finally spoke, not includin Nassara still appearing to hate him even if he couldn't help that she didn't like him, most likely because she thought he was a pirate.

Elizabeth let out a sweet, high pitched giggle and raised a delicate hand over her mouth, "My dear little Sebastian, you naughty boy, it is terribly bad manners to enter a ladies carriage without her permission, its a quick route to a slit throat," She leaned in and gently lifted his chin with a delicate gloved hand, "Or a hole in the head." He nearly choked in surprise. He wasn't touched often, only by Damien or Kato in fact. Most others didn't want to touch a young boy who had killed.

Just as Sebastian was going to interrupt, the click of a flintlock hammer alerted everyone to Marcus's pistol, the barrel of which was an inch from Sebastian's temple. Sebastian smiled as there was a cold silence while Elizabeths blank stare hovered in front of Sebastian, "I would improve my manners, if I were you." There was another, unbearably long pause before she let go of his chin and sat but up with a delighted giggle, "But my my my, your just far to adorable to ruin. Marcus, you terror you! Put that gun away!" she said cheerily.

Sebastian hated Marcus, the brute, but knew he wouldn't shoot without his lady's permission, and she hadn't shot him yet whenever she saw him, so why would she shoot him now? Besides, she probably didn't want his blood on her gloves. Sebastian gave him a look, nodding at him to go ahead and remove the gun.

"Of course Ma'am." He said, holstering his pistol but leaving his ominous presence looming like a stormcloud. Sebastian gave him a little wave as he looked back in the carriage. He would get killed one day for joining a carriage without permission, but that day wasn't today.

"Now, of course my guests may speak with you quickly if they desire it, I am a host not a gaoler." She said with a laugh, looking at Jarrak and Kalila. Sebastian shrugged. "Yeah, well, you're not an angel either," Sebastian muttered under his breath, so quiet that nobody could have hear him.

Jarrack glared at the twin, Sebastian his name was, "As much as I would much rather leave you to your business, oh righteous defender of old men. I follow my Ward." He looked down at Kalila, "Kalila, what would you like to do?" Sebastian made a face as he watched the guy.

"To be honest, I don't need you, Damien just wants to talk to the girl, just talk," Sebastian says to be clear that was literally all he wanted to do in it's entirety. "And I am not righteous, I just don't do people being cruel. Anyone I've ever hurt, I've done it quickly and with the least amount of pain as possible," Sebastian says thoughtfully.

Kalila had apparently been watching the exchange between the two, Sebastian and Lady Harlington. She stopped her rocking and looked at Jarrak as he asked her what she wanted. The girl was too young to be around killers, thieves, and torturers.

She looked at the scarved woman, blinked a few times, before gutting forward, and pressing a quick, and gentle kiss to her scarved mouth. Sebastian nearly let go of the carriage just because of this, only holding on at the last second. "What the-," Sebastian began before cutting himself off, watching the two with wide eyes.

With that, Kalila climbed out of the carriage and stood beside Sebastian, her head down, her face guarded. "I will not ever understand women, ever," Sebastian says amazed as he steps down from the carriage and looks down at the girl.

Elizabeth giggled and leaned over to her handmaid, "I would think that she likes you my dear," She whispered seductively, "Almost as much as I do." Sebastian nearly shivered at her tone. This woman really freaked him out and he wanted to get away from her. He could still feel her touching him and he hated it.

"Thank you for your hospitality lady Harlington," Jarrak said with a nod, "But I suggest you don't wait for us, Kalila can be... Erratic. We wouldn't wish to keep you." Sebastian looked around incredulously, acting amazed "Really? You sure?"

"Of course Darling!" She exclaimed with a melodramatic wave before setting her hand on his shoulder, "Should you wish to find me again, I would be more than happy to host your stay here in Nassau," She turned back to Sebastian, her hand still firmly clasped on Jarraks shoulder, "Good Sebastian will be able to direct you to my Estate. I am sure he remembers the way."

"I see you've noticed my hat then. Yeah I remember the gaudy place," Sebastian says crossing his arms. She turned back to Jarrak, "Safe travels dear, I hope to see you soon."

"Thank you Lady Harlington." Jarrak said before exiting the carriage. "You're going to get yourself killed," Sebastian says, truly amazed that the guy wasn't dead yet. "Marcus! Let us away!" she said with a cheerful cry. "Of course ma'am!" He exclaimed back and the carriage launched off down the street with the crack of whips. He really was a puppet.

Jarrak turned to Sebastian, "Lead the way, Pirate." Sebastian shakes his head at the man. "You really are going to kill yourself. You have encountered three of the most known killers and pirates of the world and you have been very sassy to two of them. And you just really piss me off," Sebastian says annoyed now as he turns to walk towards his ship which wasn't far since they were dropped off at the docks.

"Also, a tip to you, don't call a pirate a pirate to his face when you're on his ship. There's a lot more of them then there are of you, and you will be dead, very quickly," Sebastian says simply as he waves his hand at his ship. He boards the plank, muttering something under his breath.

"Kato, is Damien awake yet?" Sebastian asks Kato. Kato shakes his head no, then nods appreciatively having watched the exchange from the ship. Everyone on the ship was lounging about right now, really just tired after a morning of work.

"Come on then," Sebastian says as he motions for the two to follow him below the stern's deck. Sebastian went below, seeing Damien standing in front of the mirror in just his pants and boots. "Kato didn't come down did he?" Sebastian asks and Damien just shakes his head. "Everyone on our ship is mute today," Sebastian declares before walking in.

Damien turned back to the mirror, but when he saw two more people enter, he nearly panicked as he turned back around trying to block what they probably already saw. "You couldn't have warned me they were coming in?" Damien demands as he breaths deeply, trying to catch his breath. He sighed as he stood.

"So, guess who I ran into today?" Sebastian asks a he sits on his bed, pouring some water and offering it to the their guests before setting it on the table for whenever they wanted it. "I don't really care." Damien offers as he moves to take the class, knowing that hiding his back from these two was impossible since they already saw it.

"Lady Harlington," Sebastian declares with a smile. Damien coughs on his water, setting the cup down. "Really? You didn't get in trouble for the hat?" Damien asks and Sebastian shrugs. "Nothing unusual," Sebastian says referring to his near death experience. He didn't know how many times he'd nearly died.

"Hey, so, little lady, I just need your help with something, please," Damien says going up to her and looking down at her. He makes a motion at Sebastian who stands and pulls her guardian into the hall gently, closing the door behind him. "He's not going to hurt her, he just needs to talk to her in private. I dislike you greatly. Did you know that?" Sebastian asks as he motions for the guy to go above deck, ready to follow.

Meanwhile Damien looks at the girl, unsure how to start. "Please, I need to know who did this. Can you tell me?" Damien asks as he takes a deep breath then turns his back on her. On his back, the letters Benez stood out. Almost half finished with what might have been an l, i, n, m, p, or something else. One couldn't tell how it was there, and only Damien knew, but hadn't even told Sebastian. It wasn't finished, that's for sure. Damien prayed she could tell him something about it.

He heard a voice behind him, and instantly remembered. Of course, she asked why he refused to seek her, so he shrugged and said simply, "Ah, well, my memory was a bit jumbled, is all, so I tried to recollect some things. My latest adventure took longer than expected. Anyway, I wondered if you knew anything about where I could fine the Shield of Davar, prophetic prime elder of Larshrael. Larshrael was an ancient nation where a council of elders ruled and where my god, Wisdmijuus, god of Justice, Wisdom and Protection, laid down the basic scriptures regarding himself and his teachings for mortals to read. The shield is written to have contained the ability to keep entire armies from dying. Davar used it to keep Larshrael's many enemies from overwhelming his people. In the end, because of Larshrael's eventual corruption from within, the country was conquered, the shield lost to time. The last person to have had knowledge of the shield's whereabouts as far as anyone is aware of was a descendent of Davar named Jeremiaem, the last prophet to have spoken out against his own government and people's corruption before Larshrael was defeated in war and annexed by one of its enemies. It is said he took it with him and hid it somewhere so it could not fall into the wrong hands, enforcing the unknown location with elaborate traps designed to keep intruders out. An army or crew that manages to grab a hold of the shield and harness its powers would be all but invincible, and that I cannot allow. I have searched for it ever since my quest to find artifacts began by heavenly mandate. So far, the clues found only led to a dead end, which can only mean Jeremiaem was highly skilled at covering his tracks during his life, coming up with false indications as to the shield's whereabouts. This adventure I have been waiting to complete for hundreds of years would be my ultimate test in this world. Everyone else whom has looked for it died before they could come close. There has to be a reason, besides how well hidden the shield obviously is."

Fae were a beautiful race, he admitted, yet he wondered if a fae would be right for him. Sure, they were incapable of lying, and they were immortal, yet there were some things he would have to think about before deciding. For now, he would just focus on his heavenly duty.

((notice the Judaic references. Sorry, I couldn't resist! Do you stuff, Kai!))

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Adir just came back from a raid on a pirate ship which harbored demons on board their ship. All opponent onboard were killed, including his intended targets. Everytime Adir walked the streets of Nassau, people would whisper softly about rumors concerning him and wonder if he truly was an angel due to his alleged prowess. Only Adir and his brother, Benyamin, knew that answer, and it was yes. On his way to the library, he purchased some tea to clear his head and benefit from the herbs used to brew it. The tea he drank while walking down the streets. At the library, he read a book involving one of his most hated enemies, Cassius the Incubus. Ever since the angel's quest to slay all demons he could find, it was Cassius whom evaded him the most. Everytime Adir would come close to victory against him, Cassius had some trick up his sleeve to escape. This was no ordinary incubus, either: he was infamous in the supernatural world for defeating many demon slayers, most of them being angels. This simple fact made Adir want to kill him even more. Upon completing the book, he found only one clue as to where Cassius goes off to, it was a place where tea leaves were common currency. Adir realized the supplier of much of the tea in Nassua was one of the more infamous ladies in town, Lady Harlington.

Adir counted up how much coin he gained from his adventures, seeing he had more than enough for her prices. He sprinted the whole way to the gate of her estate, then waited for her carriage to arrive. He also thought of what to say.

Lady Harlington continued down the street away from the odd pair of children and the irksome twin Sebastian. She wasn't worried about losing the odd two, they would turn up again she was sure, and nothing happened on Nassau without her hearing about it.
"Nassara dear, do we have the Correct documents for Miss Vara?" Elizabeth said, knowing full well they did, but carriage rides with a mute could be ever so dull.
Nassara nodded silently, her delicate hands producing a small leather binder from the folds of her robes and passing them to Lady Harlington. Elizabeth opened the binder and examined the contents inside, a few sheets of paper and a small quill.
"I trust you remembered the ink-" Elizabeth began before Nassara again procured a small tincture from the depths of her robe.
"Oh you such a good girl my dear," Elizabeth said, taking the tincture off Nassara and placing it in her purse, "What would I do without you?"
"We are almost at the Inn Ma'am." Marcus said through a small grate near where he sat at the head of the carriage.
"Thank you Marcus, wait with the carriage I am sure Nassara can escort me inside." She said, raising a small mirror and inspecting herself in it, despite the fact she wore no make up.
"As you wish Lady Harlington." He replied as the carriage came to a gentle stop.
Nassara opened the door and Lady Harlington stepped out on to the street, where she was given a wide birth. She wasn't exactly hard to miss, and she wasn't exactly to be trifled with. Before her stood the proud establishment of the Crying Angel, a place often used a a meeting point for when she was loath to receive guests at her estate. She walked inside and the building and the murmur of conversation all but died at her entrance. She loved that.
She spied Miss Redwater sitting at a table near the back and cried out to her, loudly, and with great amounts of melodrama.
"MARA! Oh Mara darling! How have you been?! You have been gone far too long truly!" She exclaimed as she hurried over in a most ladylike fashion to Maras table. "Barman," she said as she passed the bar, "A round of Drinks for Miss Vara at once!"
"Y-yes ma'am!" the man stammered as he hurried to ready the drinks. Elizabeth would not stay long, and would remember if the drinks were not there by the time she left.
Elizabeth sat down at the table, Nassara standing beside her to the left, "So my dear," Elizabeth said with glee, "What lovely little wonders have you brought me this time?"

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Jarrak followed Kalila onto the ship and wandered down below to where the other twin was waiting. He didn't like leaving her alone but he was to follow her orders, so when she nodded for him to leave her alone and follow Sebastian. He was less than pleased to begin with.
"He's not going to hurt her, he just needs to talk to her in private. I dislike you greatly. Did you know that?" Sebastian said as he indicated for them both to go above and wait for the pair to be done, gods did the boy ever stop talking.
"The feeling is mutual. And I trust you two about as much as wolf trusts a trap." Jarrak said walking away and towards the stairs that lead to the upper deck, "Now as soon as Kalila can complete her business with your fellow spawn and then we can be on our way and off this vile rock."
It seemed like an eternity till Kalila appeared with the other twin, and Jarrak was glad for it, glad to see her well, but wasn't half annoyed at her for landing them here in the first place. She sat at his feet and proceeded to lay down, he sighed and wondered what he should do. Finding an inn or something was the most sensible course of action, but Kalila wouldn't be able to walk and Jarrak wasn't really keen to carry an unconscious girl through a city of thieves. He was loath to ask the twin for anything, he didn't want to give them the satisfaction, He had no idea how he could get Kalila to Lady Harlingtons estate on foot, and was unsure the twins would guide them.
"Hey, go get some rest. Take our cabin," Damien offered suddenly, pulling Jarrak from his thoughts.
"Wait, I want my bed," Sebastian interjected, before actually looking at how dark his brothers expression was, "What happened?"
"Later," Damien whispered shaking his head, before grabbing a coat and walking for the gangplank, "Take our cabin. I'm heading into town to look for something to polish my knives."
Sebastian shook his head after his brother, "Really, you need the cabin after encountering Harlington. A word of advice, a lot of people who cross her die, so avoid her if you can. It'll keep your neck from being slit," Sebastian said and offered a hand to Kalila, "And thanks for helping my brother."
Jarrek moved into Sebastian way, "Dont touch her. Don't ever touch her, unless she says you can." He he growled before he turned and picked up the now prone and unresponsive Kalila, "I will carry her, and I appreciate your brothers hospitality." He turned and glared at Sebastian, "And so far I have found nothing to make me doubt Lady Harlington and much to make me doubt you, so do not presume to tell me who to trust. Pirate." He finished emphasising the finishing title. He wasn't scared of Sebastian, or his brother or their crew. He held a Goddess in his arms, he worried not for their safety.

"There seem to be a lot of authentic magic-users appearing in Nassau lately," Theo commented. Just now, he had sensed yet another magic-user, a red-haired woman who had interrupted the magic-user he sensed earlier and what looked like a noblewoman in a mask and now the same magic-user who had been interrupted now interrupted his conversation. He smiled slightly at the irony.

"My friend here just told me that real magic is rare in her experience," he chuckled. He gestured for Alexandrine to follow him as he took the offered mug of beer and sat beside his new companion. He bowed slightly to the noblewoman. He had heard of her and the last thing he needed was another powerful woman wanting him to suffer.

"Milady. Forgive my interruption," he told her before nodding at the woman who addressed him. Judging by her magical prescence and what he heard of the different pirate captains over the years, this had to be Captain Mara "Red Water" Vana.

"My old one passed away through fire, water, and a vengeful goddess' wrath."

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Neviah

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Vi watched the man, wondering whether others wore bandages such as he did when he spoke. "The bandages are for an injury. As far as what I want...well that's not the reason I'm here. I would like know why you're sleeping in this alley. You're not dressed like a beggar, but you are certainly no pirate. Are you an escaped slave by chance or are you just a courtesan?"

Neviah furrowed her brow as she stared up at the man. She was none of those though he seemed to be almost insulting her at this point. A courtesan? Really? Was she really appearing that low?

"No, I'm not. Not any of those things. I'm only here because I'm looking for something and was taking a break," Vi says as she stares up at the man, confidence returning to her as she stared at him. Night was coming and she could see it. "I've been looking for a place that sells maps. Would you know of one?" Vi asks as she stares up at him.

Maybe she could trade something to a map vendor, or find a way to make just enough money to buy something. She could even dive under water to gather pearls and sell those. Those were valuable on land weren't they? She had seen them only in the fancier people's clothing.

She heard a commotion at the entrance of the alley and looked to see a group of men moving towards her. "Sir, that girl is an escaped slave, move away," The leader called as they ran. Neviah, unsure what was going on, watched only to realize what was going on. Shaking her head, she took off in the opposite direction.

As she left the entrance, she ran into a woman in a rather extravagant dress, falling to the cobblestones . "I'm so sorry," Neviah managed as she looked back at the men who had wanted her only to see them backing away upon seeing the lady in the dress.

Jarrak sat by the window in the twins cabin looking out over the harbor and see, wishing he would see his homeland across the horizon. But they were far from home, half a world away, and he knew he would not touch its sands for some time yet.
"You're afraid of me..." came a small voice from the bed, Jarrak didn't turn to respond. He wasn't at all surprised that She had picked up something while she was asleep, Kalila was odd that way, knowing things she couldn't possibly have heard or known.
"Of course I am Kalila, you're a young girl with the power of a goddess you cant properly control." Jarrak said turning to her, "I fear that one day you won't be able to control it. I fear one day you won't be you anymore Kalila, the girl I watched grow up, the girl who was my friend."

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Elizabeth was positively buzzing with excitement, "Dragon eggs, real dragon eggs!" She thought as she watched the city go by the window of her carriage.
"I think I'll have a travelling dress made from the skins, Nassara," she said, gazing off into the horizon just thinking about it, "I wonder what colour the hides are? If I didn't have to check their authenticity, I think i would like to just send them off to my dressmaker and be surprised."
Nassara, as usual, did not respond, but nodded in acknowledgement. Her dazzling eyes, sparkling above her veil.
"Marcus!" she called out, "When we get home, have some tea put on, I would very much like to-" She said before cutting short as she saw something down an alleyway that caught her eye. "Marcus stop the carriage!" she said urgently and the Carriage came to an abrupt and sudden stop.
"Is everything alright Lady-" He began before she cut him off.
"Hush hush now! Stay with the Carriage, Nassara come with me." She said curtly opening the door herself and climbing down onto the street. She began walking back down the road at a steady pace, Nassara frantically trying to catch up with her Mistress.
"Nassara darling, ready your blades." She said as she walked.
They turned down an alley and ran head on into a young girl who had been running the other way, the girl Elizabeth had stopped for. The girl stammered out an apology but seemed far too preoccupied with looking behind her for what appeared to be a pursuer. Nassara's blades were at her throat in an instant as Elizabeth, with as much dignity as possible, picked herself off the muddy street and inspected herself.
"My, my, you have quite thoroughly ruined my dress," she said dusting herself off, "I have killed people for much less." She looked back up at the girl, her head cocking to one side in amusement, "But you are such an odd little thing." Elizabeth peered down the allyway past where Nassara held the girl at bladepoint, "Where did the men chasing you go I wonder? Oh well no matter. Nassara, bring her to the carriage."

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Neviah

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She looked up at the masked woman, unsure what or who she was. This was the second person to be hiding their face, as if they didn't want to grace the world with their features.

There was also the other woman, the one with the knives that looked sharp and ready to be used. She couldn't possibly be a good aim with them, or could she? Neviah couldn't even judge her features with the scarf and all. She also was having difficulty what with them being held at her throat. She felt like she couldn't breath.

She herself wasn't dressed too differently as she wore a rather nice dirty dress though her face was covered in grime after having been in the alley. Her dress also wasn't large but was slim and really only large enough not to hug her body tightly. She probably looked strange being so young there with what might appear as fake innocence, though it was entirely real.

""My, my, you have quite thoroughly ruined my dress," she said dusting herself off, "I have killed people for much less." She looked down at Neviah and Neviah shivered slightly, "But you are such an odd little thing." The lady peered down the alley Neviah had just been down though Neviah was more focused on the knives at her throat.

Could she really be killed any second from now? "Where did the men chasing you go I wonder? Oh well no matter. Nassara, bring her to the carriage." The woman says looking down at Neviah. She could feel her heart racing. So many people that she didn't know very quickly were around her, worst of all, she was being taken to a carriage that held a woman who had killed people for doing less than ruining a dress like Neviah had just done by accident.

An idea struck her that this woman was probably rather wealthy to have servants that could fight and would do whatever she wanted as well as extravagant things.

A thought struck. Why were all these people taking interest in her? They didn't know did they? She didn't have anything that would give her away. Regular people didn't even know of the merpeople, did they? They just believed them to be rumors or legends usually. Could these people know?

"But-," Neviah stopped her protest as she saw the knife again, her eyes having gone to the lady. She stood and went to the carriage, not wanting to provoke the woman with the knife. She didn't like this feeling of obedience though she certainly wasn't going to be able to help it with the situation and all.

"What is it you want?" Neviah asked as she sat back, nervous and unsure what to do with her hands. She was getting nervous now, scared really. She hadn't had to face this since she had been growing up. This woman reminded her of her previous owner's wives and certainly didn't want to be in that situation again.

She watched the girl with the knives, then the lady in the dress that wasn't quite as dirty as Neviahs. It didn't seem ruined, in better condition than most ladies' clothing here in Nassau.

Maybe this woman would have maps that Neviah could look at. Then again, maybe she just wanted to keep her for a servant like this girl seemed to be...

"I've been looking for a place that sells maps. Would you know of one?" Before Dorian could answer he heard a commotion nearby. Outside there were some men, dirty looking fellows, who seemed to be rather ticked off. "Sir, that girl is an escaped slave, move away," They said as if that had any meaning in Nassau. He reached for his pistol as they moved forward until they stopped and began to back away. Confused he turned around to see a flamboyantly dressed woman next to the escaped slave girl.

The woman obviously had money and, by the reaction of the slavers upon seeing her, power too. He wondered how she could even have that status here. If one was not fighting the only way to amass a fortune was to either form a guild, fence, or have a one time gig where everything went right. If she had a high status on the island then perhaps she knew information that flowed through the island. Perhaps she even knew where Hu was.

Dorian approached the woman, but stayed back ten feet. "My lady." He said as he gave a proper gentleman's bow, one meant for nobility more then aristocrats. He wasn't sure whether she was noble or not, but he knew much of the proper etiquette and flattery rarely hurt anyone. He turned to the ex slave girl. "I know of a Jackal near my inn who sells maps and various other goods. Although those are poorly drawn. I also have a spare one as well if you would like." He told her.

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Neviah

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Neviah looked at the man a bit away. The one with the bandages was still going to talk to her even though she was being held at knife point by a crazy woman's servant and had just run from slavers.

The man approached the woman, but stayed back ten feet. "My lady." He gave a bow then looked to Neviah, surprising her. "I know of a Jackal near my inn who sells maps and various other goods. Although those are poorly drawn. I also have a spare one as well if you would like." He told her.

She doubted he had the map she needed on him and struggled for words as she stared at him, unsure what to say before stating, "Thanks, but it sounds as if they won't have the one I'd need. The place I'm looking for is scarce on most, if not nearly all maps."

She looked at the man, wondering if he would know anything about finding the specific map she needed. Did people make maps that mapped underwater? Perhaps they had stolen them from mermaids.

"Thank you though," Neviah manages honestly, she at least had a place she could try once she got away from this lady who seemed somewhat... strange? scary? Slightly not sane?

"Thanks, but it sounds as if they won't have the one I'd need. The place I'm looking for is scarce on most, if not nearly all maps." Dorian had heard that all to many times. Everyone thought that the places they needed to find that were obscure were unknown to everyone. However, much had changed since the Great War. Countries were more connected, travel was easier, and even the Fae had come into the politics of the world. New lands were being discovered and societies were rapidly evolving. Perhaps she originated somewhere rural in Fuaria.

"If that's so then I would suggest searching by nationality. If your location is south of the Narrow Sea, ask for a Velilian vendor and pay them in coin. If it's north of the Frozen Sea go to a Khalidoran vendor and offer them jewels or magic, but do not go without a man by your side, they will not hesitate to enslave you. If you seek an underground kingdom, a sky kingdom, or an underwater kingdom, I would suggest to seek out a Fae. I've hear rumors of one on the island. Should you find one, offer it knowledge that it does not already know. Though if your searching for a map I'm doubtful that there's much they do not know. Besides that you could search for a magical guide that show you the way." He told her casually. He had been all over the world, on both faces. Seventeen nations and various tribes with undefined borders. Dorian had even weaved a complex spell to enter Anansai, a journey that took six months mortal time to complete.

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Damien

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Damien wiped blood from the corner of his mouth. He felt better, his head was slightly foggy, but he still felt wonderful. Maybe it was the alcohol, or maybe it was the adrenaline after the fight.

Damien gathered up his winnings, gladly taking them to store away in their boat, or even one of their hiding places. They had so many so that if they ever got in trouble, or lost, they had a source of money to go to.

Slipping his boots and shirt on, Damien walked out of the tavern, his steps lopsided and uneven. He had one bottle in his hand and the bag of money in the other. He felt much better, in fact, he was ready to have another drink or two, his bottle suddenly had turned up dry after all.

Damien made his way into another tavern he knew of that held fights. He just wanted a refill on ale when he saw someone he didn't want to see. One of his old crew mates was at the counter. He felt a tug of anger at his gut and went up to him. He felt a lot of confidence even with his loopy state.

He felt the bag of money slip out of his hand and he looked up to see a stupid older man who that Damien was to drunk. Damien frowned and in his fury, drew a knife. The chatter of the tavern died down as the fights were between rounds. Damien pointed at the bag, his empty bottle now on the ground.

"Give me the bag, now, before I drive a knife in your stomach," Damien announces over the hush in the crowd. People were urging the guy to give Damien his money back, but the guy didn't know Damien and figured he could take a drunken teenager.

It was a bad mistake a he charged Damien and Damien brought the knife up to go into the man's shoulder. The men behind Damien got out of the way as Damien was pushed to the ground. The man didn't cry out in his adrenaline and Damien shoved him away.

People in the tavern were evacuating and evacuating quickly. The guy's crew apparently heard the commotion and came running in. Damien saw that everyone else in the tavern had left and the owner had disappeared leaving Damien alone as he struggled with the guy above him for control in their grapple.

The guy's crew charged him and soon enough, Damien was fighting for his life, hitting where he could and not caring where he hit them. Some blows were fatal, others stunning, and the rest just enough to hurt. Damien ran out of knives two minutes into it and took up empty jugs as well as full ones to swing at the oncoming men.

There was a yelp as the captain was hurt and the rest of the crew went to his aid, knowing they had to get him out soon if he was to live. Damien gathered up his knives as bloodied as they were, looked around despairingly at the lack of his money, then stumbling out of the tavern. He managed to make it to an alley when he felt dizzier than drinking usually made him feel.

Damien's eyes blurred and he looked down to see his shirt soaked in blood. He lifted his shirt to see that he was cut up, stabbed in the lower right area of his stomach. "Oh shit," Damien manages as he drop his shirt and begins to stumble towards his ship. As he gets closer, he sees his crew on board, the fire on the docks abandoned. He approached to see Kalila on the ground in Sebastian's arms and rushed forward, pushing through his crew.

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Sebastian

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She reached out again and scribbled. I Am Ishka. Sebastian whistled softly. This was going to be harder than he thought. She was hosting, or was, the goddess of life of the world. How was he going to do it?

She set the charcoal down. It was then her grey eyes turned ice white, as if blind and she began to shake violently. Sebastian stopped, staring at her and going to keep her from falling. He cradled her form as he watched her shake.

"Kato, get me bag," Sebastian shouted at Kato roughly. Kato moved immediately to grab Sebastian's medical bag, not hesitating at the sound of his captain's voice.

The rest of the crew got there and Sebastian heard a shout as someone saw Damien. Damien stumbled to Sebastian and Sebastian passed off Kalila to Damien, not noticing his soaked shirt.

Kato returned as Sebastian explained what happened to Damien rapidly. "Someone go get her guardian," Sebastian shouts a he slips a relaxing medicine into Kalila's mouth. It wouldn't hurt her, but keep her from hurting herself, taking away the thrashing and the tension though not knocking her out.

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Neviah

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Neviah looked down at the man, unsure why he was doing this now. He seemed like a different person outside of that alley.

If that's so then I would suggest searching by nationality. If your location is south of the Narrow Sea, ask for a Velilian vendor and pay them in coin. If it's north of the Frozen Sea go to a Khalidoran vendor and offer them jewels or magic, but do not go without a man by your side, they will not hesitate to enslave you. If you seek an underground kingdom, a sky kingdom, or an underwater kingdom, I would suggest to seek out a Fae. I've hear rumors of one on the island. Should you find one, offer it knowledge that it does not already know. Though if your searching for a map I'm doubtful that there's much they do not know. Besides that you could search for a magical guide that show you the way," He told her.

Personally, she hated the fae, but she didn't want to be any more rude than she already had been towards this man and curtly nodded. "Thank you," She says softly, her attention turning back to the lady.

Elizabeth watched the conversation between the girl and the strange bandaged man cooly, "Such an interesting day im having," she mused quietly to herself, "Thank you sir for your impeccable manners, but I am afraid you must leave us ladies to go freshen up," she said with a melodramatic wave of her hand as if it were hot, "The city does make a lady most untidy." She looked sharply at Nassara, who still held the cowering girl at bladepoint, "Nassara stop being so menacing and put those blades away, then escort our guest to the carriage." She looked back at the man, "Good day to you sir." And with that she climbed into the Carriage and with a whip crack Marcus jolted the horses onwards.
Once they were underway Elizabeth turned back to their odd guest, "Such an interesting day I am having, I should go out more often," she then looked down at her now dirty and dishevelled dress, "Though the city can be quite dirty when it desires." She looked back at the girl, her expression invisible beneath her porcelain white mask, "And what would your name be child?"

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Jarrak let Kalila run out of the cabin, he didnt follow her. She would be upset, she would go and be alone for a while, but deep down she knew that she was the closest thing to family Jarrak had ever had. He remembered back to that day in the market, him sitting on a ledge above on one of the clay walls with the other street kids, looking for good marks. Merchants were usually best, fat and easy to spot, they often carried a fair amount on them for pickpockets like himself. hough sometimes they had bodyguards, and they weren't always obvious. He had seen other kids who had been caught by a disguised bodyguard, the usual punishment for thievery was dismembered hand, he knew of kids who had gotten much worse. Another good target was women, usually merchants wives, or...
"Pregnant." he said under his breath as he watched a woman pick her way through the crowd. They were good marks because they couldn't give chase and often would give in to simple intimidation. Not from a child though. He slipped off the wall and melted into the crowd, nearing the woman who was clearly near to full term. He bumped into her nonchalantly, pretending he had just been running past, his hands expertly pilfering a jeweled bracelet from her wrist. He turned to speed off but suddenly found himself spinning backwards as something hard and metal careened into his face. He flew back and tumbled along the ground, dazed from the blow to the head. He felt someone grab him by the shoulder and roll him over, His vision spun as he looked up at the terrifying form of his capturer. Silhouetted against the sun, a mane of black hair and a dark mask obscured the mans face bar for a pair of merciless slate grey eyes. His left hand was a blade tipped claw and in his right was a large forward curving, scythe like blade. Jarrak couldn't move, he was rooted to the spot in absolute terror. This man wouldn't just take a hand, he would kill him, hack him to pieces with his curved sword and use his bones as ornaments. The man raised his blade and Jarrak screwed his eyes shut in anticipation, he didnt want to see the blade-.
"Da'Karro!" a woman's voice rang out in the crowd, he cracked open his eyes again to see the pregnant woman standing before the man, her hand held out and holding his sword hand high, "He is a child."
"He is a thief." The man growled darkly.
"And you were a slave. You did what you had to to survive. This boy is doing nothing different."
Jarrak stared up at the woman, he could see now she wasn't from Jeddah, she wore Jeddian clothes to keep the harsh sun off her skin but she was pale and her accent was strange. She wasnt from anywhere near Jeddah.
"Ishka would want you to save this boy, like your priestess saved you." She said, and man reluctantly lowered his sword. The woman turned to Jarrak and knelt down to where he lay, "Hello, my name is Scarlet, a pleasure to meet you."
Then Jarrak passed out.

A sudden commotion on deck brought JArrak out of his reverie, He could hear the telltale voice of one of the twins yelling, "Kalila..." Jarrak muttered and scrambled up to the deck, barging past a pirate who had apparently been sent to fetch him. He ran up onto the deck to seem Kalila out cold in Sebastians arms. "Dont touch her!" He screamed at the boy as he barrelled across the deck, he shouldnt have left her alone, he shouldnt have let her out of his sight, her father would have had him killed for such oversight, he had grown lazy without the fear of repurcussions. "I said dont touch her!" Jarrak yelled pulling Kalila out of Sebastians arms and crouching down to the deck with her, one arm wrapped around her shoulders, the other against her face, trying to sooth her as she convulsed, " Its alright Kalila, you're alright, listen to me, listen to my voice. Its all going to be alright, we'll get through this, you're going to be ok."

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Neviah

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Elizabeth watched the conversation between Neviah and the strange bandaged man, "Thank you sir for your impeccable manners, but I am afraid you must leave us ladies to go freshen up," she said with a melodramatic wave of her hand as if it were hot, "The city does make a lady most untidy."

She looked sharply at Nassara, who really was getting rather frustrated with the lady. "Nassara stop being so menacing and put those blades away, then escort our guest to the carriage." She looked back at the man, "Good day to you sir." And with that she climbed into the Carriage and with a whip crack Marcus jolted the horses onward. So the girl with the knives was called Nassara.

Once they were underway Elizabeth turned back to Neviah who was watching the town out the window, "Such an interesting day I am having, I should go out more often," she then looked down at her now dirty and disheveled dress, "Though the city can be quite dirty when it desires."

She looked back up at Neviah who felt rather uncomfortable around the lady. Neviah couldn't read her expression under the lady's mask and it was unnerving. "And what would your name be child?" The lady asked as if this was a totally normal encounter.

Neviah hesitated, looking down at her hands in her dirtied dress, her fingers playing with the uncommon fabric. "Neviah," Neviah says softly, looking back out the window. She didn't want to look at this lady, the mask making her uncertain about whether this lady was good or not, like that bandaged man appeared to be.

Neviah looked over at Nassara, then back at the lady who seemed to be in charge. "Do you live here in the city?" Neviah asked, curious considering the lady seemed to not like the dirtiness. How could she live in such a pirate town?

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Damien & Sebastian

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"Dont touch her!" The scream came hollering across the deck. "I said dont touch her!" Jarrak yelled pulling Kalila out of Damien's arms and crouching down to the deck with her, one arm wrapped around her shoulders, the other against her face.

" Its alright Kalila, you're alright, listen to me, listen to my voice. Its all going to be alright, we'll get through this, you're going to be ok." Damien, his vision becoming unfocused, his hand holding his stomach.

"Hey, Sebastian, I need... I need some blood," Damien managed, being serious though Sebastian shook his head, watching Kalila worriedly before he caught the slight slur of Damien's word.

Looking over, he saw his brother's hand coated in blood. "What did you do?" Sebastian demanded as he got a bandage to hold over his brother's stomach. Damien shook his head. "Someone stole the money I earned," Damien whispered defeated.

Sebastian slapped his brother, hard. "We don't need it anymore... We have enough we can use," Sebastian demands, angry that his brother fought to defend money.

"Just... just in case," He managed breathing tiredly. As Sebastian began to bandage his brother, he heard Kalila speak.

"Men are going to take me away..." She sais softly. "You all have to let them... you'll die if you don't." She said making Sebastian feel sick to his stomach.

"Like hell we'll let them" Damien says, beating Sebastian to it. "Idiot, you're going below deck where you can rest," Sebastian says.

"Kalila, who's coming?" Sebastian asks as Kato takes Damien with the rest of the crew to the hold where they would protect him from whoever these men were that were coming for Kalila. At least he could be there to help see who it was and if he could help Jarrak, even if Jarrak was a jerk.

"Men are going to take me away..." Kalila said softly. "You all have to let them... you'll die if you don't." Jarrak shook his head but Damien beat him to speaking.
"Like hell we'll let them" Damien says, speaking Jarraks mind.
"Idiot, you're going below deck where you can rest," Sebastian said in response, ushering away his brother, before turning back to Kalila and Jarrak, "Kalila, who's coming?"
"I wont let them take you Kalila, I wont." Jarrak said, holding her tight.

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"Neviah," the girl said looking out the window with a lost expression, "Do you live here in the city?"
"Heavens no my dear," Elizabeth said examining her mask in a pocket mirror, "I live in my estate on the outskirts of the city, its quieter there." She put down the mirror and stared intently at the young girl, "Now, what is a pretty little girl like you, in a lovely dress like that, doing in a gutter in a filthy city looking for a map?" she leaned forward and cocked her head, "I like interesting things, and you are intriguing."