"—When there was nothing more than the scent of your blood on that broken pier. Tayah, I waited for the moment you slept so I could— I truly need to tell you that I—I-"
The words circled my head again and again.
Water struck my face. I saw her eyes. The salt and grime from the spans before ran in streams. I saw her kneel before me. I dragged hands through my hair. She drew my chin up to meet her. I scrubbed hard at my body and prone legs in the bath.
"–find me your coordinates. Use the stars."
I needed to do better. I needed the old Tayah, the Lion. Not the self-pitying mortal. That was not me, it never was. If you believe yourself to be something for long enough... you just about become it. I had always been a fighter, one to outmatch and out think.
I needed the best version of myself to challenge Anselle. But it needed to be played correctly.
The corner of my lip edged up slightly for the first time in spans. The odds were predictably stacked, just how we preferred. Combat was not an option against her, I only needed to get my Valkyrie close enough.
A thump hit the cramped wash room door.
"No more time." A deep voice warned.
Indeed.
"I'll be right out." I said to the door, not bothering to raise my voice.
I dressed awkwardly, due to my barely usable legs. When I had spent too long and was finally adjusting my boots, the dark haired and thickly built escort barged in and lifted me with ease onto a broad shoulder.
I said nothing but utter a small grunt. It would be a waste of energy to burn on this irrelevance.
We made our way down a few candlelit, decadent halls before a set of doors were kicked open and the bright light of high sun hit us. I cursed and my eyes flashed shut for a moment. But my human-transporter cared little and continued to march his sack of grain up the wooden stairs to the top quarter deck.
Thankfully he lowered me rather than offloading me to the mercy of the hardwood.
Wordlessly he withdrew and I was alone on the deck with nothing but the sea breeze to whip back my damp hair. I stretched out my legs as obnoxiously as possible and leaned back on my arms to soak up the warm rays.
I'd be damned if I was meant to wait with bated breath like some wide-eyed rabbit.
I needn't wait long before the peace was broken.
"As much as I despise to interrupt natural beauty in action, I must request your attention Miss Ashrive." That familiar voice uttered from behind me.
I did not give her the satisfaction of a flinch or even what she wanted. My head remained angled towards the sun.
I hear boot steps move around me. "Oh, Tayah my dear. I truly hope your plan to entice my irritation out of indifference does not last. I am wounded truly."
My eyes opened at that. They landed on her smirk first.
Her outfit had adjusted once more into one of a light but finely fitted silk shirt that dropped low in a V shape and met by high-waisted black trousers. She bothered not with the flamboyant and obvious hats––she was by no means a trademark Captain any how.
"Did your face register any other expression over the centuries? Or is it just the snake's smile." I quipped, closing my eyes once more and enjoying the sun.
I felt her crouch before me and resisted the urge to humour her by opening my eyes.
"Focusing on my lips often, are we?" She murmured much closer.
"No more than you would watch the teeth of a wolf as it paced before you."
"You are not the prey, my darling." She whispered.
But I had to open my eyes now because she was close enough to––her lips suddenly pressed into mine the moment my vision returned. Anger ran hot through me and I did not think before searing power drew into my fist and I punched it straight into her chest.
She took the hit and rolled across the deck hard. The same moment agony ripped into my legs but I grit my teeth through the pain to watch her satisfyingly roll to a stop. But I felt it this time, the pain was manageable instead of blinding. I could work with that.
She slowly pressed her body up from the deck, dragging the dark locks from her face and cracked her neck to the side. I watched wordlessly as the black mark under her neck faded rapidly into nothing more than scorch marks on her collar.
"That was my good shirt." She stated. For once, that smirk was gone.
I stared her down for moments before the laugh left my lips.
"So curious, that you choose the most dangerous circumstances to taunt death." She spoke curtly as she walked slowly towards the wheel of the ship. Her hand landed on it and she stared at me with ice in those cold sapphires.
"I am in danger?" I got out after I controlled the laugh. "Forgive me, should I lend you a new shirt for us to continue our dance or are you alright to continue? There is no shame in–"
"Humour is merely a tool in your defence. You need not waste the energy on one who can break every vulnerability a person possesses."
I held my arm up before us and yanked my shirt sleeve back with a false frown in place.
"Shivers. Truly bone shaking stuff, immortal." I said flatly, soaked in sarcasm.
Her answering glare made life worthwhile.
"The truth is Anselle, you are far more entertaining to me whether I risk death or not. I'd risk a place in Valhalla to see that world ending stare again."
She remained silence and turned her back on me to face the ships wheel. I saw the brief flick open of a compass but sadly obscured from my seated spot.
I could not read my position from the sun alone, I needed a dial, a shadow point, something... or–
"Adorable." I remarked.
She cast a look over her shoulder to me unimpressed. "Flattery is surely the least likely choice I saw you taking."
"Adorable, that you appear lost."
A short laugh escaped her. "Tell me mortal, do you see me as an exceptional fool or just the potential for one?"
"Oh come now, even the drunk leading my last voyage relied not on a compass." I lied with an eye roll.
"Yes, that explains the alcoholism and resort to smuggling weapons. Any other riveting details you would like me to clarify?"
I looked at her. Her eyes remained watching me.
"Why kiss me?" I said casually.
A smile finally cracked once more. She took a moment before answering.
"Testing the waters." She said with a knowing look.
"Yes, you would love to see this power in action would you not..." I finished.
"I would indeed." She said, her eyes darkening.
I shrugged. "Flinging immortal sparks at you does not seem to have a dark side."
She gave me a grin, "Your resistance against me is all the more alluring my little half-immortal."
"And your infatuation, all the more disturbing." I muttered under my breath. Lost to the winds for the most part but I would not put it past immortal hearing.
But when she flicked open the metal circle once more I caught it. As her hair shifted in the winds I saw the red arrow shiver towards North West and I wanted to call out in victory, in absolute happiness. Instead I leant back on my arms and catch the sun again.
"What is it in her you value so much, Tayah?" Her voice hit me.
My head snapped to her and her body was turned and she was watching me intently. She knew I did not need her to elaborate on the 'her'.
"The last thing on realm I expected from you. Jealousy." I snorted.
She went rigid at this. "You dare say this after what I have told you on my thoughts of people who possess such–"
"Human emotion? Natural response to defend?" I leant forwards and dropped my forearms onto my knees. "Truly. The Valkyrie was right..." I tutted as I shook my head.
She drew closer. "She knows nothing. Nothing more than loyalty to a mockery of power."
There. This was her vulnerability. Her insecurity. It was glaring me down.
It was almost too easy.
"That Valkyrie, has not a slither, not a drip of envy or jealousy from my very soul. Why would I desire a lesser being, for what–" her rant was cut short by the sparks that had unintentionally cracked to life in my fists.
"Oh, my mistake." I waved off at her, still lit up like a white sparking beacon. "This is merely the drop of power you so dearly miss. The power that my Valkyrie has mastered beyond your understanding yet does not feel the need to generate life long sob stories to demonstrate."
I watched as her eyes took on a new form and became black. Watched as her veins behind the skin took on a blackness.
"–that is when you know you are among true power. When nothing needs to be said. It is demonstrated."
"You want a demonstration, mortal?" She almost growled at me.
I took a moment, watching the darkness fully claim her eyes and the black lines claw up her neck.
"What are you waiting for." I responded, matching her stare and not breaking it.
I was not sure how many heartbeats passed in this standoff, but some part of herself gathered her perspective and withdrew back into the smirking mask. "It is not time yet. All things come with the right amount of patience."
"You should school children, truly what a teacher." I said taking in a breath.
"Kronos will take you back to your chamber, Tayah." This was all she said before her eyes return to the crystalline blue and both of her hands found the ship's wheel.
The mentioned Kronos was already behind me by the time I dragged my eyes away from the storm rattled Captain. I had to smile at the thought of what John or Kaden would do to this immortal's patience had they been provoking her.
The stab of longing for my companions and their unbearable social skills hit me hard, but that was a problem on my list. My priority was getting the right immortal onto this ship. The one I loved would not waste any time, in her usual fashion. She would not waste any time when I tell her of my due course, my direction and span of the sun. When I told her that the Captain's lips stole mine before I scorched her away.
Oh, the poor, poor Captain. No idea what awaits her. No idea what fate she has just sealed.
* * * * *