Tales of the Caravan

by J. Avarez

  "Are you sure that's the best way?" Asked Mia, wringing her hands nervously. "They told me in a few days they'd take me back to Port Ruby."

  "A pirate's play," said Mira. "Their captain has no intention of taking you back. You have the red mist! A power that strong makes you the best doctor on any ship, caravan or not. Blackbeard's no fool, believe me, there's a reason he hasn't left Skull Island yet."

  "Exactly," said Calow, he approached Mia and held the side of her face. "And you know me, I don't like the idea of waiting. I could burn this ship to ground for you if I wanted, but that wouldn't be the best move. Blackbeard is too high up the ladder, killing him to rescue a Royal would just piss the pirates off. They'll think your father had a hand in it, and there's no telling what their Queen would do then."

  Mia said nothing at first, surely he meant to say their King. Her eyes darted about waiting for Calow to correct himself...but he never did.

  "Queen?" said Mia in disbelief, her hazel eyes slowly drifted to the glossy blue floor.

  "Did you really think pirates unified on their own?" Asked Mira, her voice rife with amusement. "The Pirate Queen is who Blackbeard answers to, and she's also why the emperor has only eight seas. That's right girl, the Pirate Queen sits her throne within the ninth sea, and she'll soon set her sights on the others."

  The slam of a far off door caught their attention. Outside of the open door, Mia could see the bottom steps shaking from the weight of those coming down.

  "Down here, you lot!" Shouted Blackbeard. "It's the only place we haven't searched."

  Mia felt her hand damp with sweat. Her knees shook horribly and without her command. Calow, however, seemed unfazed and calmly walked outside of the room.

  "Hide her," he told Mira in a low voice. "Quick, before they see you."

  “What about you?” Asked Mia. “You don't know what he'll do to you, the man’s crazy.”

  “They think I'm one of them,” he reminded her. “I'll make up an excuse, alright? Don’t worry about me.”

  He shut the door behind him and locked it, leaving Mia to wish she could see through walls. She could hear the wooden steps creak with each heavy stomp, till there was nothing but the howling sound of wind beneath the ship.

  “Don't say a word dear,” said Mira, leaning her body against Mia’s leg. “Be like a ghost and everything will be fine.”

  Mia couldn't hear much, but muffled voices. She didn't dare approach the door out of fear of being heard by Blackbeard. She remained with her back against the far wall, and waited for Calow to return for her. The door unlocked and, to her despair, it was Blackbeard who stepped into the room. Mira quickly activated her Secreto to hide them from the pirate’s eyes.

  “Strange,” said Blackbeard, thinking of the words Calow had just told him. “I don't recall that boy pledging to me at Crescent Island.”

  “Maybe you're losing your touch, old man.” Said Jayden.

  “Perhaps,” Blackbeard stared out the window toward the sea, and could see the blue moon shining above the horizon. “Maybe all this fighting has begun to take its toll. Truth is, nothing has been the same since the moon took my daughter from me.

  “I don't understand, captain,” said Mr. Green. “Shouldn't we be trying to locate the girl?”

  Blackbeard took only a few steps to reach the other side of the room, his massive body commanded much of the space. Jayden and Mr. Green remained outside of the room, and watched the captain approach a metal closet. Blackbeard put a hand on the rusty handle, his face suddenly flushed with rage.

  “The girl can wait,” replied Blackbeard. “First, there's someone I wish for you to meet.”

  He swung open the metal door, and a man in grey hooded robes fell out from inside the closet. Mia stared at the man with widened eyes, he was clearly fatigued from hours of captivity. His face was bruised and bloodied, and his hair was clumped with dry sweat. Blackbeard untied the gag over the man’s mouth, but left alone the chains wrapped around his arms and feet.

  “Who is he?” Asked Jayden.

  “A Grey,” Blackbeard grabbed the man by the hair, and dropped the Grey between them. “This little shit was sent here by Greymore to sabotage my ship. Isn't that right, you cowardly little rat?”

  “I won't beg,” said the Grey. “You may have caught me, but it doesn't matter. The Imperial Fleet is closing in all around you, Blackbeard. So go on, kill me now and be done with it. You’ll be dead by tomorrow.”

  Blackbeard knelt to the Grey and gave his messy hair a shake.

  “Oh, I don't fear death, young Grey, I fear being forgotten,” said Blackbeard calmly. “It's easy to die, but it's hard to be remembered, fondly or not. So, death doesn't scare me, laddie,” Blackbeard took one of the many pistols strapped to his body, and pressed the silver barrel against the Grey’s forehead. “Because the day you’re forgotten is the day you really die.”

  Mia saw a splatter of red before she closed her eyes. The gunshot deafened her ears, and her nose twitched from the strong scent of gunpowder. She slowly opened her eyes again, the Grey had fell forward and laid dead in front of Blackbeard. Jayden showed some sadness as he stared at the Grey’s corpse, his eyes followed the blood, as it slowly spilt over the sapphire tiles.

  “Very good, sir,” said Mr. Green, his mouth stretched into a devious smile. “It'll send a message to the Red Sea, that spies will be killed swiftly and without mercy.”

  Blackbeard heard his words, but his attention was more to the blue moon outside. He was determined to break the curse, and kill anyone to make it happen.

  “Mr. Green,” he turned away from the moon and looked over at his first mate. “Take Captain Jayden upstairs and have him pick a wine from my cellar,” Blackbeard saw Jayden's gaped mouth and smiled. “Consider it a late token of my appreciation, for your unwavering loyalty.”

  Jayden said nothing for a moment, his eyes darted as if he were in deep thought. A flash of silver crossed his eyes, Mia knew that Jayden had tried to sneak a look toward her. His jaw clenched, as he turned from Blackbeard and exited the room.

  “Well done with the treasure room by the way, captain,” said Mr. Green, following after Jayden with his pistol in hand. “The sapphire floor must have cost you plenty.”

  Blackbeard grabbed the knob of the door and turned his emerald eyes toward Mia. She meant to swallow her saliva, but her mouth was as dry as sand. Her knees felt like jelly, and goosebumps riddled her arms and neck.

  “It's blue diamond actually.”

  He sees us, Mia shouted in her head. Before she could even think to run out the room, Mira had already lunged for the door. The captain slammed the door in Mira’s face and gave the cat a hard kick. Mira flew past Mia and hit the wall with a loud smack.

  “Mira!” Shouted the Royal, as she helplessly watched the cat fall unconscious.

  She screamed in the hope that Calow or Jayden would hear her, but Blackbeard silenced her with a hand to her throat.

  “I bring you aboard my ship,” Blackbeard roared, he lifted her up with ease and pinned her against the wall. “I fed you, offered you my own den, and this is how I'm repaid? What schemes are you planning with that gossip lover, hmm? Did you know that Grey was aboard my ship? DID YOU!?!”

  “No,” Mia sobbed. “I didn’t know. Please, just please...”

  With a harsh yell, Blackbeard aimed his pistol toward her head and fired. The bullet tore a small hole through the wall, and a few small splinters flew and cut the side of Mia's face. She pressed her lips together and screamed, the result was a heart wrenching cry that echoed though the room. Her glassy eyes found the captain's glare. His Secreto had begun to transform him into a demonic version of himself, and his fangs clenched like a wolf ready to strike his prey.

  “Please? What do you please, hmm?” He asked, with a calm voice unfitting for his demonic face. “Please kill you quickly to save you the pain, or slowly to savor the moment?” He released his grip and allowed her to f
all beside Mira. He looked down at her frightened face, and something close to a smirk curved the side of his face. “Enjoy your last night in this room, Royal. Tomorrow you’ll learn what happens to those who cross me."

  Chapter 13 Red Handed

  After taking Cookie’s bags to her room, Holly and Poppy walked with her back to the Maiden’s Lounge. Cookie was eager to reunite with her captain again, but the trip there was anything but pleasant. Walking from One Blue into Town square was an immediate shift, Cookie noticed, and not the kind she was comfortable with. It was more than the lavish buildings, even the people had different attitudes.

  In One Blue, the men were all amazed and enchanted with her beauty, but Town Square was much different. The residents were, after all, either Royals or closely associated with them. News had traveled fast of their display of power during Blackbeard’s attack, but the Royals believed Secretos were not meant for commoners. The people of Town Square either gawked or looked fearful of Cookie as she past them, her power considered unnatural in the eyes of the emperor and his subjects.

  “Don’t worry about them,” said Poppy, sneering back at one of the gawkers. “They give Mother the same looks too. Stuck up little shits are just jealous of you, ignore them.”

  “Shouldn’t you have told your friend we were leaving?” Asked Holly.

  Cookie considered this for a moment, but dismissed the thought with a wave of her hand.

  “Nah,” she replied. “It looked like her and Gizmo were having a serious talk. I’ll just bring Sarah back so we can head out.”

  “You’re really brave to be challenging Blackbeard, you know?” said Poppy, giving Cookie a look of admiration.

  “Yeah,” said Holly, patting Cookie on her back. “Even if you don’t make it, I definitely respect you for trying.”

  “Holly!” Her sister shouted, connecting a quick jab to her arm. “What?” Holly retorted, rubbing her throbbing shoulder.

  “I’m not saying she’s going to die. I’m just saying it’s a big possibility, like 60/40…wait…no, maybe 80/20?”

  “Holly!”

  The sisters both looked toward Cookie, but her eyes were lowered and focused on the pendant around her neck. She thought of Charlie, hoping desperately that he escaped Blackbeard’s murderous crew.

  “Look, she doesn’t care. Her minds in the clouds,” Holly pointed out. She nodded her head toward the red diamond around Cookie’s neck. “You really like that pendant don't you?”

  “It was a gift,” replied Cookie, the thought of his hazel eyes put a smile on her face. “From a really sweet guy I met, back on Crescent Island.”

  “Wait, isn't that the place Blackbeard attacked?” Asked Poppy, her eyes turned to her sister.

  “I heard he slaughtered everyone there.” Replied Holly, with a nod.

  The reminder saddened Cookie a great deal. I killed everyone on that pathetic island. Blackbeard’s words still stabbed her like an icy knife through her heart. Charlie and the Imperial Fleet were still on the island when she and Sarah sailed off. She didn’t want to think that Charlie was among the faces of dead, all scattered about the island like debris from a storm.

  “I've been hoping that he escaped somehow.” Said Cookie, softly.

  “I'm sure he'll be dead.” Said Holly, coolly.

  “Fine!” Poppy corrected, with another jab to her sister’s shoulder.

  “Right,” Holly snapped back, as she clenched her arm. “Fine! I'm sure he'll be fine!”

  The ladies had finally reached the entrance of the Maiden’s Lounge. The blue light from the moon did not reflect much against the black, obsidian building. However, the sidewalk in front was made of glittered concrete, and sparkled like stars in the night.

  “So,” said Poppy, rolling her eyes away from her sister and giving Cookie a reassuring smile. “You just stay put here, we’ll go in and get Sarah for you.”

  “Why can't I come with you?” Cookie complained.

  She had very much wanted to meet the legendary Merla in person.

  “Because Mother isn't really a people person, unless she's throwing a party.” replied Poppy.

  “Yeah, trust us,” said Holly. “I’ve seen her burn someone bald just for knocking the door by accident! Just check some shops out while you wait, we’ll get Sarah out in a minute.”

  Holly pointed at some stores across the street before following her sister inside the lounge. Cookie examined the storefronts with delight, but recalled that she had spent nearly all her diamonds. A glass wall separated her from a beautiful red dress, laced and fluffy at the bottom. For a moment she imagined throwing on the dress and attending a lavish party, with amazing music to dance as much as she pleased. She reached with her hand and felt her pockets, which were depressingly flat, and sighed hot air into the glass.

  There wouldn’t be any shopping sprees in her immediate future.

  “Come on up, pretty lady!” Said a voice. “The moon is blue and the night is hazy!”

  Cookie looked to her right and saw a man sitting with his legs folded on the sidewalk. To his left was a small brown leather sack and to his right was a sword with a thin red blade. The man wiped his blue checkered shirt and gave her a wide smile.

  “I can sense inside you have a Secreto, one silver diamond and I’ll show its potential.”

  The man was peculiar, but seemed harmless enough. She smiled as she approached, and took notice of the man's striking yellow eyes. His voice was so smooth and melodic, Cookie couldn’t tell whether or not he was trying to rhyme on purpose.

  “You can sense my Secreto?” Asked Cookie.

  “Why yes, this power of mine,” he replied. “Can detect yours and make it stronger in kind. It’s only temporary, so don’t get attached. Just toss a silver diamond inside of the sack.”

  “Dang,” said Cookie, counting the five bronze diamonds from her pocket. “I don't have any silver diamonds to give you.”

  “How about that diamond around your neck?” He asked, eyeing her pendant. “Seems like a fair trade, I bet.”

  “No way,” Cookie protested, she edged back and clutched her pendant against her chest. “This is special to me.”

  A flirtatious whistle forced her blue eyes to roll over. Behind her were two gunners, one tall and one not. They parked in front of Merla’s lounge and stepped out of a red motorcar, coolly straightening their dark green overcoats. Cookie surveyed the men cautiously as they approached, their eyes were wild, like dogs that found a fresh steak on the street.

  “We’ve got some silver miss.” Said the tall gunner.

  “Won't you take a ride with us?” Asked the other, nodding toward his friend. “Esmond here, he just loves red heads.”

  “No, thank you.” Replied Cookie, she noticed the pistols strapped to their sides, and thought it best not to provoke them.

  The two looked at each other and chuckled. Both stood at either side of her, intoxicated by her rose scented skin.

  “But your names Cookie, ain't it?” Asked Esmond, his head tilted to his partner. “Salar recognized you from inside our motorcar.”

  “Yeah,” said Salar, he ran his hand down her arm, while he licked his top lip. “We know all about what you like.”

  “Don’t touch me.” She shouted, smacking Salar’s hand away. “I'm not a lover anymore.”

  “Hey guys, I don't want to start a fight,” The rhyming man argued. “But clearly this isn't something the lady likes.”

  Esmond sucked his teeth and took the pistol at his side.

  “Rhyme somewhere else, you punk!” He barked, his barrel pointed straight toward the man's neck.

  A bead of sweat ran down the man’s face as he laughed nervously. He reached into his leather sack and pulled out a small vial of black liquid.

  “No need to tell me twice,” he said, quickly downing the vial of golem’s juice and tossing it aside. “You boys have a good night!”

  The rhyming man extended his
hands outward and clapped them together. The wall behind him rumbled and encased him inside a sphere made of red bricks. Coward, Cookie shouted to herself.

  “They say a night with you can make any man cry.” Said Esmond, grabbing her by the wrist.

  “Back off!” Her eyes flashed as she punched Esmond across the face.

  Her eyes widened. She had expected Esmond to fly off into a wall, like most who felt the punch from her Secreto. Esmond, however, looked more angered than hurt. His lip curled as he spat out the blood in his mouth.

  “Wrong move, girl.” Salar scoffed.

  Cookie followed his eyes toward Edmond’s wrist, and felt her heart drop. Blue diamonds. The gunner was holding onto her with a gauntlet encrusted with them. Her veins began to feel cold, as the warmth of her Secreto started to fade from her blood. Salar made a move for her, but felt a punch to his back. The gunner let out a high pitched grunt, and his face twitched up into the air as he fell to his knees.