The dripping water occupied her mind, just as it had for the last hour … and the hour before that. Yesterday had been the moss and lichen that grew around her cell, another day had been the intricate cracks of the crumbling stone brick surfaces around her. The first day, her attention was entrapped by the copper rust that coated the metal bars and door of her dungeon cell. Each one a hopeless and futile attempt at retaining her sanity, that they so desperately wished to steal. But with every passing day, letting her mind go and embracing madness seemed all the more appetising. But for an enigma that she couldn't comprehend Ceres continued to prolong her suffering. A futile attempt at stubborn resistance against her captors maybe?
Today Ceres had decided to seat herself against the middle of the far wall. She let her legs expressionlessly stretch out and her head numbly hang low, her attention engulfed by droplets of stained water dripping from the numerous cracks in the cell's ceiling. She'd picked an unfortunate thing to focus on today. With each drop Ceres was reminded of her body's desperate cries for water and the sandpaper the flesh in her throat had now become. Her hair fell down across her face completely blocking the view of her dingy, repulsive room. You'd never believe it looking at her now, but the tangled strands now stained brown, black and red were once a wavy locks of vibrant navy, reminiscent of Eletheria's deepest seas.
A searing pain suddenly began to burn in her abdomen, and she keeled over as her stomach growled like a starved predator. A small whimper escaped her dry and cracked lips as she bided through the pain. She'd already had her last meal and water of the day meaning she'd have to wait until morning for her next. Well if you could even call it a meal, her captors barely provided her with enough to survive. Ceres had a lean and toned build but since her initial capture she'd become just bruised and wounded skin and bones. Another whimper was loosed as the dread of the night set in, she'd have to experience at least a dozen of those cramps before morning, never mind everything else that was to come. An arm instinctively cradled her side as her thoughts highlighted the aches and soreness all around her body. It was safe to say her captors this time had been some of the roughest she'd dealt with and whether it was for entertainment or pent-up rage they clearly enjoyed coming down and unleashing a few blows upon her.
Due to the shift in her position, vision had unfortunately been restored, and Ceres was greeted with the sight of her prison. As always nothing had changed.
Being underground her cell possessed no windows. Her cage was constructed from 4 surfaces of filthy, vile, crumbling stone brick with the front being entirely built from old and malformed rusted bars with the door integrated on the far right. The hallway outside was in just a worse state as her cell and was dimly lit by two orange glows. One to the right where you'd find a couple more cages and the stairs up to the surface and one to the left where you'd find another dozen cells. However, despite the many cages built into the dungeon, ever since Ceres had been homed here she hadn't heard another soul.
During her transport down here she'd gotten brief glimpses of her location, she was below a small island that had been converted into some kind of HQ for the pirates that had captured her.
Pirates! Despite being consumed by a lifeless numbness the one emotion she could still feel without flaw was rage and nothing brought around her ire now than the dregs of Mazica. Savages whose life was only revolved around pillaging and ending others. Painful memories flashed through her mind.
The hazy images of the Smoits and Wave Strider floated in her mind. Although not growing truly close with anyone during the sail she could tell they were all good people. They hadn't deserved to die, especially not to be butchered by barbarians who showed no mercy or remorse. They didn't deserve death for wanting to aid a stranded sixteen-year-old. Ceres fingers cut into her palms and her rage burned even hotter, trails of crimson began to further stain the ground. And to top off all her misery she still felt dreadful about killing that rotten scum. She'd done Mazica a favour purging him from its realm, why didn't it feel that way?
Footsteps suddenly began to echo from the stairwell, harmonizing with the droplets of water. Great just what she needed another beating. Maybe this time they'd finally go too far … end her misery. All hope of escape and freedom had long been wiped from her body, leaving only the desire for a quick end. As the footsteps reached the bottom of the steps, Ceres began to make bets of who she thought it'd be this time, reciting through the names she'd given them. 'One eye', 'Whale fucker', 'I want to cripple you', 'BO', she cycled through a few more but her thoughts were cut off as a silhouette came into view.
To her surprise it was none of her previous jailers, instead a man she'd never seen, neither from the attack nor the island, emerged from the shadows. Unlike her other visitors he was dressed in loose, baggy black pants, a white cloth top, a fancy, black long coat embroidered with gold stitching. Hanging from either side of his waist were two long blades commonly used by the people of the Thelsi Isles, especially pirates. A bandana hung from his neck and most interestingly about his attire was a very old and worn hat that sat upon his brown straw-like hair, which Ceres noticed had little braids intertwined around, seemingly randomly.
Once seeing her inside, the man halted his stroll and watched her curiously. His eyes trembled almost like he recognised her.
Eventually he approached the cell and crouched down, the hall light revealing his features. A boy?! No, Ceres quickly realised, it was definitely a man, but he'd been powerfully graced with youth. He barely looked older than her, but his eyes told a different story, holding years of stories and experience. In an instant Ceres became entranced in his eyes. They shone a blue green not unlike the oceans constantly changing and deep down she could see they also possessed both wrath and serenity of Eletheria. The newcomer tilted his head, it reminded her of a dog who was curious about a new discovery.
"So, who are you?" he asked, like his appearance his voice also possessed an essence of youth.
She saw no point in the effort of lying, a stranger is better than her jailers anyway.
"Ceres" she mumbled, the words burning in her throat. A sharp cough burst out her mouth and she gagged from the pain. The man reached into his coat and then threw something into the cell. Ceres glanced down to see a swelling water skin, clear water droplets leaking out the top. Before her mind even registered what it was, her body was moving. Relief washed over her body as the cold, fresh water ran down her throat restoring the organ to its proper state. Before Ceres realised what she was doing she'd emptied the water skin.
"Sorry" she said doing her best to still throw the empty skin back to its owner with her weak arms.
The man chuckled. "It's alright, you look like you needed it a lot more. I'm afraid I have no food, but I can get you some after we get you out of here" he said raising from his crouched stance. He took a step back analysing her cell.
"Who are you?" Ceres asked, her voice now clear and each word not inducing pain.
"People tend to call me Zan" the man said.
Signals and alarms suddenly began booming and radiating across the island, practically shaking the stone of her cell. People began to scream and cry. "Pirates!" Ceres could've sworn she heard someone bellow.
"Guess they know we're here" Zan chuckled, a fearless smile on his face.
"You're a pirate?" Ceres asked startled.
"Correct" Zan said enthusiastically, stepping closer to the cell bars. Fear began to slowly within, evolving and maturing rapidly.
You're just the same as them" she muttered and pushed herself further into the wall, her voice coated in terror and disgust.
He frowned. "Incorrect".
"What do you mean incorrect?" She scowled.
"It means wrong" the pirate with a slight tilt of his head.
"I know what it means" Ceres snapped, "I mean, how am I wrong?".
"We're nothing like the vermin here" Zan said.
"You're a pirate" Ceres stated bluntly, her tone colder than the peaks of Golidu.
"That is a broad term. Especially in this age and world little miss. We're a civilisation like any other, we just live on Eletheria and her isles instead of any mainland. I'll admit. Like with most there are some members of our society that are scum" Zan said gesturing around them. "However, the rest of us make a point of putting an end to their treachery and savagery. Such as now".
"So what, you're saying you're 'good' pirates," Ceres scoffed.
"I wouldn't use those words like 'good'. Sounds a little childish," he muttered. "But we try to do right. I imagine you've heard of the wardens of Eletheria, we're a bit like them."
"And you want me to just take your word for that?" Ceres questioned. "A pirate's word .. don't make me laugh" she joked, however there was truth to her words as her hand cradled her ribs, still sore from her constant beatings.
Zan took hold of the steel bars and peered through. "You could take my word, or I could show you. How about it kid, you want out?".
"Why? so you can take me captive instead".
In spite of her aggression and accusations, Zan's smile never wavered. "Not very trusting, are you? That's fair. You can come with me if you want to, or you can make your own way" Zan shrugged.
He then pulled out a pick and lock from inside his coat and bent down to be head level with the cell lock. To Ceres's surprise a second later there was a sharp click and Zan was pulling the cage's door open. Despite any emotion she was harbouring, Ceres had to admit the man had finesse.
"The choice is yours" he said stepping back from the door, granting her plenty of space.
Cautiously and slowly, Ceres rose to her feet and edged towards freedom, ignoring any aches that radiated through her body as she stepped forward. Her gaze never left Zan, tracking his body preparing for any sudden movements, any abrupt attempts to attack. Seeing this the pirate chuckled and retreated even further back and raised his hands into the air. Ceres escaped the confines of her prison and found herself face to face with her saviour. And out of every possible person in the Mazica it had to be a … pirate. To think she'd believed the stories that they could be heroes, her uncle was right, and she was a fool to ever doubt him. Her stomach churned and her brain ached as the situation went against everything she believed and had experienced. What trickery was this, what cruel trap and scheme was awaiting her this time.
"Just what do you have against pirates?" Zan asked curiously, leaning cross armed against the wall, not caring for its dingy and grotesque appearance.
Ceres eyes narrowed fiercely. "Really?".
Zan tilted his head like a confused hound.
Ceres sighed, "Well for starters, who do you think put me in there. I've read stories that traumatise war veterans and I've watched your kind butcher an innocent family for their own greed."
Zan's gaze drifted from her the cell that once held her and then back. He loosed a light chuckle.
"What?" she scowled.
"Nostalgia," he mumbled. Her brows furrowed.
Suddenly there was commotion down the hall and a pirate, one of her jailers, stumbled down the stairs into the dungeon panicked. 'Mr I want to cripple you', a name awarded for his harsh beatings. Ceres' heart leapt and took a fearful step back. His eyes locked onto them and went wide, he quickly reached for his pistol but there was an ear-splitting explosion, and the pirate dropped to ground like a sack of rocks. Tendrils of smoke hovered from the end of a pistol in Zan's hand which was still trained on the dead pirate. Once he was satisfied the intruder was dead, Zan blew away the smoke and his firearm vanished somewhere behind his back. Without giving the corpse and second thought, Zan turned back to her.
"Do you know of any other prisoners?" Zan asked scanning over the empty cells clearly confused back their vacancy. "Or are you the only captive?".
"No, I'm the only one that's been here" she admitted.
"Then there's no point staying here then" Zan shrugged. He then strolled back down the hall and passed the corpse reaching the bottom of the stone steps.
"I know you have no reason to trust me. But I can promise you a way out of here. All you have to do is follow" Zan said stopping at the first step.
"Why would you help me? Why are you doing any of this?" Ceres questioned.
"I know you've been locked away for a month and your mind is fucked, but it's like I said before. Because I think it's the right thing to do," Zan replied. "Now, are you coming or not?"
Slightly stunned by his words, Ceres hesitantly scanned around seeing nothing but incarceration and misery. His words, while simple, igniting something inside of her. A spark she thought long extinguished, the hope of freedom. She glanced into his ocean eyes and nodded. A bright grin spread across his face.
"Then what are you waiting for," Zan said. "Let's go."
The pirate then begun to traverse the steps at an alarming speed. Despite her bodies complaints and aches, Ceres' desire and desperation claimed victory and she burst into a sprint to keep up with her possible saviour. She gave the corpse of the pirate a glance as she ran by, although she didn't laugh nor smile a light satisfaction burnt within seeing the man who'd caused so much suffering fearful and panicked and now dead. Seems she only felt disgust when the death was upon her own hands, she'd have to work on that.
Zan moved at ridiculous speed, leaving her in the dust. Ceres was not a slow person but even if she was fully recovered she doubted she'd have a chance at keeping up. Thankfully he waited at the top of steps in the large room, a rashly built wooden room filled with crates and barrels, seemingly mainly used for storage. As she joined him she instantly keeled over onto her knees desperately catching her breath. She hadn't realise how much sitting motionless in that cell had affected her. Now no longer underground she could hear explosions and battles booming across the island.
"Want me to carry you?" Zan asked leaning against the wall.
Ceres shot him a glare, in between ragged breaths.
The pirate chuckled. "Never mind then."
"You couldn't carry me" Ceres said.
Zan frowned and titled his head. "How do you figure that?"
Ceres responded by standing up straight and glancing him up and down. While still taller her than her, Zan only stood around average height. He wasn't too built either instead possessing a leaner more athletic build, further reinforced by his immense speed and agility.
"You're not making this rescue very fun," he complained.
"Should it be fun?"
"Everything can be fun if you have the right mind set," he shrugged, the mania and grin he'd possessed since their meeting never fading.
He's mad Ceres realised.
"I'm going to die," she grumbled. Just as the chance of freedom had been restored as well.
"Eventually yeah," Zan said, "but not today."
Suddenly a pirate burst into the room from a wooden door across the room, another one of her captors. He slammed the door shut in a fright. He turned around as was instantly startled by their presence, reflexively drawing his blade from the sheath on his waist.
"Hello," Zan greeted with a small wave, "I'd recommend you fuck off elsewhere. We want to use that door."
The pirate showed no care for Zan's words and charged sword raised with a growl.
Zan grumbled disappointed. He casually stepped forward drawing one of his own swords with his right hand. His attacker swung but Zan easily smacked his sword aside, completely exposing the pirate's body. Zan swung his blade again and Ceres reflexively recoiled as steel tore through flesh and blood splattered. Suddenly Zan swung round with his pistol pointed directly towards her. The gun erupted with a spark, but the shot never came anywhere near her. She spun to see Zan had shot into a wooden door behind her. A second later a pirate came crashing out from behind the door a smoking hole in their chest.
'How did he know?' Ceres instantly began to wonder.
"Let's keep moving," Zan said, putting away his firearm, "Oh and for the record I can easily carry you."
They started to make their way to the door but it suddenly burst open. Ceres recognised the man that entered. The captain of her captors crew. Still as hideous as ever and dressed in his black attire, except now slightly singed from whatever the hell was happening outside. The captain scowled at Zan, rage burning in his trembling eyes.
"How'd you find us," he spat. "Our strategy is always perfect."
'Was,' Ceres thought.
"You got desperate," Zan said, "And also you never had a perfect strategy. You just never had someone like me after you. Now I've been waiting for this for over a month."
"You're not taking the girl" the captain growled, his dark eyes switching to her.
Ceres watched amazed as the captain, the much larger and intimidating man, cautiously remained back not daring to take a step towards Zan.
"As you can see, I clearly am," Zan stated.
"Then it'll be her corpse," The captain spat.
Before Ceres could react the captain drew his pistol and a shot soared towards her. However, to everyone's shock, Zan had moved even faster than the captain. His sword shredded straight through the bullet before it ever reached her.
'How is that possible?'
The captain's eyes bulged out his face. "The tales are true," she heard him murmur. Before their attacker could utter another word, Zan dashed across the room and plunged his blade through the vile man's heart. In one clean swipe he removed his blade from the collapsing corpse and purified it of all blood. She scanned around stunned three pirates, all who had all proved themselves skilled and powerful enough to defeat veteran sailors, all killed by one man who hadn't even broken a sweat. Zan casually sheathed his sword and kneeled down picking up the pirates hat. He inspected every aspect of the hat, his gaze unimpressed.
"Awful hat," he muttered, he turned to the captains corpse. "No wonder you ended up like that with such shit attire."
He looked up at Ceres for what she guessed was support but all she could offer was confusion.
"Just me then," he shrugged and tossed the hat away before adjusting his own. Ceres had to admit despite being old and worn his was a lot nicer.
"Freedom awaits," Zan announced.
He opened the door uncovering the starry night sky of the Carulu seas. Ceres stumbled forward feeling her eyes sparkle. It had been far too long since she'd seen something so beautiful. She followed Zan outside embracing the first breath of fresh air she'd had in weeks. Reluctantly she pulled her gaze away from the night sky and towards their surroundings. Her mouth fell agape. The entire outpost had been pillaged and destroyed. The wooden and thatch shacks, tent, any flags all burnt, and the corpses of her captors were littered across the grass and sand.
"Captain!" someone bellowed. Ceres glanced up to see a shadowed silhouette upon a far hill near the coastline. "We're ready to set sail!"
Zan raised his arm and the outline vanished back down the hill towards the coast.
"You're a captain!?" Ceres said stunned.
"Yes" Zan said happily, "Captain Zan of Ocean Gaze"
'That name,' Ceres realised amazed. Ocean Gaze, a pirate crew which travelled across the Eletheria helping others and purifying evil and corruption. Operating under the Cove like a secret weapon. If Ceres was being honest she didn't believe they existed. Especially not the so-called captain Zan. But here they were saving her from incarceration, their captain standing before them.
"Could you … I've got family in Belaxus. Could you help me get to them?" Ceres asked, hope fuelling her voice, barely able to get out each word without her voice breaking.
"I can," Zan said with a bright grin. His ocean eyes glowing beneath the starry night.