by Pete Draper
“Give yerself up laddie.” The bounty hunter said. “There’s nowhere yer can go.”
“I never give up.” Carilyo looked around, there was no other exit. He sprinted towards them, didn’t think it was going to work but there was no other way, maybe he’d make a gap between them if he ran quickly enough.
The gap between the two men opened, they turned slightly.
As he came between them the prisjagar clotheslined him. The shot to his neck smacked his windpipe, ripping the air out of him. Carilyo slammed down on his back, wriggling, trying to breathe, but couldn’t.
“What have we here then?” Tenny snatched the wanted poster from beside the door, comparing it to his face.
Finally, Carilyo managed to catch a breath. It felt like someone was stabbing a needle into his lungs during the first one. He tried to move, but the smoker placed a firm boot on his chest. Tenny pressed the sharp heel of her high heels into Carilyo’s thigh. He groaned in pain, closing his eyes and biting down.
“Great work Prisjagar, drop by the castle later and I’ll give you a share of the bounty.”
“Thank you, My Lady.” He nodded but didn’t remove the heavy boot.
“As for you.” Tenny pressed the heel tighter, grinning as Carilyo squirmed on the floor. “We’re going to have some fun together.”
She leaned over him, whispered in his ear seductively. “When I’m done with you, you’ll wish for the noose. Your pathetic, scrawny little face will beg for it.”
She leaned even closer, pulling strands of hair behind her ear. Then she whispered, “Can you hear it?”
“Hear what?” Carilyo groaned.
She stood again, smirking to herself as the dark eyes encompassed him. “The might of Rockland.” She raised her foot as high as it would go, then stamped on his crotch.
The seas had softened, the sky was clearing. It was time to leave.
“This is Murta,” Cassi introduced him. The jacket she returned looked normal over his bulky frame. “He’ll be joining our crew as second mate.”
Taylan looked Murta up and down. “Why do we need him?” The Trakian tried to press his face close to Murta, but the Rocklander was too tall.
“Where is my brother?” Cassi looked around at the slate rooftops and narrow walkways, everyone was here but him.
“Haven’t seen him since before de funeral,” Barolos said. “I’m sure he’ll turn up.”
Cassi huffed. “I’m sure he will. Drunk as ever, reeking of stale beer. Maybe he’ll embarrass us more than usual and spew his guts all over the street while he wobbles side to side like a spring.”
A man with hair brighter than flames waddled out of the Five Brewers. “Hey,” She shouted. “Donal!”
Donal turned, one of his pale eyes was limp, he was so drunk it looked like he’d had a stroke. Upon hearing his name, he must have feared the worst. His face perked up and he started making a run for it. His head bounced like a jack-in-the-box.
“Get back here, piss-head,” Cassi snapped.
“Shit.” He ran down the hill, stumbling, but rolling back to his feet.
“Grab him!” She shouted. The whole crew gave chase. Barolos and Luco led them.
Donal was quick for a man with a belly full of beer, he pushed through a crowd of Rocklanders heading for the dock. His tight tweed jacket was streamlined, not picking up any of the wind that flapped at Cassi’s baggy clothes, she had to place a hand on her skirt to stop it flipping up.
Donal shoved past people having a conversation, drinks splashed into the air.
“Sorry.” Cassi stepped on a woman who’d tumbled.
The graze on Cassi’s knee stung as each of the cracks in the scab opened. She fell behind, but Barolos and Luco sped on after the drunken Rocklander. Donal’s shoes thumped the ground with each gravity-assisted step.
They chased him to the docks, ships were coming and going, the Rockland warship from the funeral had left.
Barolos swiped at him. The hand grabbed Donal’s jacket behind the shoulder but slipped off the tight material. Luco stumbled on a mooring. The only positive was that Donal was running out of port.
Near the tip of the horseshoe, Donal keeled over, spewing his guts over the side into the sea. Barolos grabbed the Rocklander by his ginger hair.
“Donal.” Cassi slapped him hard across the face, savouring the clap of palm on cheek. “That’s for making me run, did you think you could outrun us? Pah. You filthy piss-head.” She slapped him again with a backhand, feeling her rings scratch his face. “Now where’s Carilyo?”
Donal gulped, his bloodshot eyes streaming. “Uhh, uhh.” He groaned.
“Speak up, I don’t have time for this.” Cassi leaned closer, his breath smelled of lager, burps and sick. She dismissed the stale air with a hand. “Where is that useless fucking turd of a brother of mine?”
“He, he.” Donal spluttered, vomiting on the rough stones. Chunks of undigested food spilt on his stubbly chin.
“Tell me now,” Cassi demanded. “Or I’ll have Barolos here shove you in that pile of sick. It looks less pleasant than your face, and that’s saying something.” Cassi looked at the disgusting orange pool in front of him, alcoholic vapours bubbled in it; it was all over his shirt and jacket too.
“Please no, he, he.” Donal gurgled, burped, and nearly spewed again.
Cassi nodded at Barolos. The drunkard’s face was dumped into the puddle, squelching as the sick wiped all over it. When it was yanked back up, the moustache part of his muttonstache was wet and sticky, a thick blob stuck to his forehead, another on his nose and chin.
“I’m tryin’a tell yous.” Donal said, his eyes were closed, one set of eyelashes were stuck together.
“One more time.” Cassi shrugged and smirked. “He still looks too drunk, let’s sober him up.”
Barolos obliged. Shoving Donal’s head down hard, he scraped the face side to side in the vomit. When the head rose, it was grimy and sticky.
“Now fucking talk,” Cassi commanded. “Otherwise Taylan here will do something more painful. If you value your testicles, do not waste any more of my time.”
Taylan licked his lips, reaching for the knife on his belt before Cassi shook her head. His eye looked back at Donal despondently.
“Ok, ok.” Donal whimpered. “Tenny took him. He’ll be in the castle, in her torture chamber.”
“Fuck.” The cold air she sucked in was bitter, it stung her sensitive teeth. “Why does he do this to me? Why was I cursed to be stuck with him?”
“We should leave him here,” Taylan’s deep voice whistled into her ears. “It’s his own fault, he shouldn’t have taken that Rockland ale. He didn’t even share it with the crew.” His eye met Cassi’s, and for the briefest of moments, she considered it.
She puffed warm, frustrated air out her nose. “We can’t leave him, he’s my brother, and your captain. Don’t forget that Taylan.” One day I will leave him behind, but not like this.
“She’s a dangerous woman is that lass Tenny, we should be carrful.” Murta said. His lip curled up in disgust at Donal, giving him the look of a man who gave his sort a bad name.
“We need to come up with a plan.” Barolos loosened his grip on Donal’s tacky hair. “Else your brother will be destined for the hangman’s noose. Dey don’t mess around in dese parts.”
“I have an idea,” Murta said. Cassi followed his eyes to the yellow star on the flag of Rockland.
Not Now
He felt sweaty, his legs were stiff, his face was sore. Carilyo’s eye stung and his cheek felt twice its usual size. With a wince, he felt the cut on his chest, the gash was just beneath the nipple. The blood had stained black, crusty bits stuck to his fine hairs.
With the eye that could open, he looked around. He was naked, one leg had a huge purple bruise in it. Both arms were chained individually to the ceiling. The room was freezing; the window was wide open, allowing powerful gusts to blow in. Carilyo’s body wanted to shiver, but he could barely move.
The stone floor was cold, it was made of large round stones with gaps between them. Standing on tiptoes was the only option, no matter how uncomfortable the cramp on his toes was. Whenever the sensitive bases of his feet touched the floor, an icy sting hit his swollen head.
Shoes clicked. Tenny approached with the silver dagger gleaming brighter than the wicked smile on her lips. Her pretty dark hair was swept over one shoulder. Her hips zig-zagged towards him; the knife looked so much larger the closer she came. The cold floor sent shockwaves from the balls of his feet throughout every inch of his sweaty skin. His toes tried their best to stay strong through the cramp.
“Please Tenny, can we talk about this?” Carilyo shifted awkwardly as the knife came closer. “Not now,” he groaned. The blood was rushing to his cock, bulging to a massive erection, the tip of it pointing invitingly at Tenny. The mix of fear and embarrassment made Carilyo wish she’d get it over with quickly.
Tenny covered her mouth, giggling loudly behind a hand. “What do you want to talk about big boy?” She whispered seductively into his ear, then circled behind him. The hairs on the back of his neck pricked up, his ass-cheeks tensed uncomfortably. She stroked the blade on the back of his neck before grabbing his ball-sack tight. The cold fingers squeezed his balls before releasing them.
Carilyo tried to drop to his knees, but the chains didn’t allow it. His cock shrivelled like a dead flower. He closed his eyes and legs, trying to dull the pain. His shivering body whimpered. Both legs vibrated when the balls of his feet stuck to the freezing floor.
Tenny let out an icy laugh, then grabbed a handful of his pubes. The tight grip of her fingertips nearly ripped them out. She sliced through them with the knife, nicking his shaft.
Carilyo hissed, then sucked the cold air between his teeth. “I’m sorry Tenny.” The prickled bumps on his arms turned to ice. “I can pay you back, for what I took. I did not know it was-”
She pressed her index finger tightly over his lips. A terrified trickle of urine dripped on the floor.
“We’re past that now, Zernan.” Tenny’s sharp fingernails felt like claws as they stroked his ribs. “I mean, Carilyo.” She bit the bony part of his shoulder so hard it drew blood. She spat it at him. Carilyo tried to lean to one side but couldn’t move, his teeth locked together until the pain of the bite subsided.
“I enjoyed our time together earlier.” She breathed warm air onto his neck but it turned to a bitter chill on his skin. “What shall I do with you next?” She scratched his ribs with her razor-sharp fingernails, grazing the skin. He jumped forwards, when the frosty hand slapped his backside. Tenny savoured the sharp sound filling the air.
She scraped the knife up and down his cock, leaving a thin cut on his foreskin when she stopped. “Maybe if I cut this off, we’ll be even.” Her head leaned over his shoulder; her black hair rested on his bare skin. “How does that sound? I mean, you’ll not be able to have children, but at least you’ll still be able to enjoy a drink. That’s all you really like, isn’t it?” She nibbled his earlobe, giving it a sharp bite when she was done. “Besides, you could still please me in other ways.”
“Please no,” Carilyo whimpered, touching his knees together as though it might protect his member.
Tenny smiled, then grabbed a hold of it. Realising it was wet, she smeared the urine on his leg, then pulled his cock out and slid the knife underneath. “This might hurt a tiny bit.” She whispered in his ear. “Too bad it won’t grow, maybe you could have used your lightning rod, one last time.” Digging the fingernails into it, she stroked it a couple of times. Her harsh laugh nearly burst his eardrum.
Knock, knock.
The door rattled a couple of times. “Lady Tenny.”
“What is it!” Tenny snapped, gripping the shaft tight like she was strangling a goose. The cold knife taunted Carilyo. “I’m busy.”
“You’ll want to see this.” The voice behind the door called. “A gift, from Captain Thomasson, before he died.”
“I’ll be down in a minute,” she called.
Tenny released her grip, the knife retracted too. He could feel her breath behind his ear. “I’ll be back for you soon, don’t go anywhere.”
Her claws scratched his back hard, then spanked his ass before she headed for the door.
A sigh of relief. Though he knew it would be short lived. Carilyo looked around the room for a way out, his clothes were folded on the armchair. He pulled at the heavy chains, but they wouldn’t budge. The fittings were stronger than the Katalian economy. They rattled pathetically with every tug.
Every slight movement made his freezing toes tingle. There wasn’t much he could do but cry. Sweat crept down his forehead and back.
Click.
The heeled footsteps advanced down the hallway, causing his heart to race. He yanked desperately at his wrists, but there was no give in the chains.
The key was on top of the chest, yet there was no way he could reach it. Each desperate breath sent steam into the air. His numb arms had little feeling above the elbows.
Click.
A drop of sweat trickled down his back, it slid down into his ass-crack, there was no escape. He looked down at the small pile of scraggly pubes and the specks of blood on the floor; looked like he’d pissed himself too. Soon his cock would join the mess down there.
Click.
The door finally opened. Carilyo closed his eyes tight.
Click.
She moved slowly across the room, savouring his fear. “Not again!” Carilyo snapped, the boner was back.
He took in a fearful, sharp breath through his nose, but picked up a different scent. Perfume.
“What are you doing Carilyo?”
It was a woman’s voice, but not Tenny’s. He could recognise that heavy fragrance anywhere.
“Cassi?” Carilyo opened his eyes, her bitter stare welcomed him. She burst out laughing, covering her eyes with both hands.
Please kill me now.
“Stop laughing and get me out of these chains.” Carilyo’s cheeks warmed and tingled with embarrassment. “The key is on top of the chest.”
“It looks like you’re having a good time with Tenny. Give me one reason why I shouldn’t just leave you here, I’m sure she’d be disappointed if you were gone when she returns.” Cassi was unmoved, one hand on her hip, the other blocking her view of her brother’s privates. “You got yourself into this. I’m sick of having to get you out of these situations. You don’t appreciate anything I do for you.”
“Please Cassi, hurry. I’ll apologise later. She’s going to chop it off when she comes back.” Carilyo groaned, wishing he could cover himself up, for a split-second, he wished Tenny was back in here.
Cassi cackled. “Maybe I should ask if she’ll let me watch.” Her black smile was more twisted than Tenny’s.
Carilyo cried nervously. “It’s not funny Cassi, this is serious.”
Cassi huffed. Grabbing the key from the chest, she walked over to Carilyo. Clicking the key into the lock, she twisted it. “Was she good?” Cassi asked.
“Not now Cassi,” Carilyo said. “I’ve had enough humiliation for one day. It’s bad enough you seeing me naked and… like this.” He clenched his fist, feeling the tingling blood rush to his fingertips.
“Do you think I want to be stood here staring at your dirty ass-crack?” Cassi turned up her nose. “This is just as embarrassing for me. You got yourself into this, if you weren’t so sloshed all the time, this sort of thing wouldn’t happen.”
The other wrist came free. Cassi snatched up his clothes, handing his shorts over with her eyes squinted, looking away.
Carilyo slid them on. After the shirt slipped over his head, he stepped into his sandals. They left with the shirt unbuttoned, there was no time for that.
Where Did I Put My Keys?
Peeled black paint. Most of it was gone, the sun and the rain had scraped it away over time until it looked like little more than a smudge around the doorframe
. The other two doors were much nicer, Cassi kept them nice. One was the door to her chamber, the other led down below deck.
The sun was beautifully warm on his skin, yet the clear sky was dull as ever, the white horizon looked like specks of rust. The glitter paths burned and danced like destructive flames.
“I feel like I’ve been hit in the head with Corsov’s hammer.” Carilyo massaged his hungover temple then picked up his bottle. The last dregs looked as appetising as a toddler’s drool. He could ask Luco to fill it up, but the crew didn’t look in the best of moods today.
Carilyo was too fagged to get up, so he sat back in Gianlo’s chair.
The fresh scar under his nipple prickled, hairs grew around it, making it itch like crazy, yet the scab burned like it was new. The cut on his shaft tingled. To make matters worse, it still felt like the knife was being held under it. Whenever Carilyo closed his eyes he felt Tenny’s icy breath behind his ear. He poured a drop of rum down there to take away the sting, splashing red on his shorts. The cut seared as the alcohol sunk into it. The air stung his worn teeth.
Cassi’s burning eyes scorched his naked body, looking him up and down in disgust. ‘Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t leave you here.’ The way she stood, it looked like she was about to turn and leave. He still couldn’t think of a good reason why she shouldn’t. Sure, he could steer the ship, but Barolos could do it well enough.
Carilyo’s hand moved away from the cut, feeling for his necklace. “Where’s my key?” He muttered to himself, patting his chest in a panic. “Shit. Cassi.”
He hurried down to the cargo hold. As expected, she stood by the door to the back room.
The warped wooden barrel racks showed their most miserable frowns. The dark air was a morose grey, like someone was puffing away on a filthy cigar with more paper than tobacco.
The chest and barrels in front of the door had been shoved aside. “Cassi, wait!” He could see her through the dust. She slid the key into the lock, turning it.
Click.
Carilyo covered his eyes. Through the gaps in his fingers, he watched her push the wooden door, the hinges creaked reluctantly. The door scraped along the floor like someone scratching at it with their fingernails whilst being dragged away.
