“Don’ joo move!”
“Trust me, I ain’t trying to.” Cristianno sat still, trying to avoid moving as Tia continued to tap at his skin with a sharp tiger bone. The tip, covered in dark ink, marked deep within his flesh each time Tia gave a quick tap. They had been sitting outside for hours and the sun was setting, but Tia’Zula was fast and she was almost done with his tattoo, which she was marking around his neck in an attempt to cover up the fleshy scar left by the blade.
The sea waves crashed nearby and the crackling of the fire Tia had built beside them were the sounds Cristianno focused on to ignore the pain around his neck. He was soon distracted by thoughts of her, the one who, according to Ziggly, ordered his death. He slowly began to shake his head, something that was starting to get easier as time passed.
“Cris! Jus’ wait! I be almos’ done!”
“Oh, sorry, Tia.”
“What be on joor mind?”
“I just can’t believe she would do that to me…”
Tia sighed, her warm breath against his skin as she continued to tap the inked bone. “Do joo tink she did?”
“I don’t know what to believe anymore.”
She tapped the bone faster to fill in the color within the outline. “Tell me abou’ da black stone in joo pocket.”
“That thing? I stole it.”
“From?”
“Some human in Stormwind.”
Tia stopped and looked at him, her gray eyes slightly widened. “Stormwin’?” Her arms retracted and Cris noticed a certain blankness overcome her features.
“Tia?”
“What it be doin’ in Stormwin’?”
“I was working…”
“Not joo. Joo always go where joo should not. But dat stone?” She shook her head, her pink braids moving along with her. “Der be bad juju in the ‘uman city.” Tia leaned toward Cris again and began tapping at his skin.
“Wha—ow. What do you mean? I was trying to figure out where that stone came from. I like it.”
“It is no for joo, Cris. Joo bettah return it, soon.”
“Why?”
Tia looked up at him and stopped tapping. “Joo hav bin brought back by da spirits. Dat stone has a stron’ tie to the spirits too. Joo don’ wanna piss dem off.”
“You said the spirits loved me.”
“I said dey thought joo deserve a secon’ chance. Da spirits don’ like anyone. Dey jus are.” She took a breath and seemed to want to continue, but she simply stopped and continued working.
“So it has something to do with spirits, eh?” Cris nodded slowly. “Interesting. I’m going to have to have a chat with that girl then.”
“Girl? Da ‘uman was a girl? Oh, spirits, joo in truble.”
Cris chuckled and patted Tia’s leg, which was right on his for support while she worked on him. “I have a weakness for the ladies. What can I say, Tia?” He squeezed her bare thigh slightly, shortly followed by him screaming. “What the fuck?”
Tia laughed, “Joo forget I be tattoin’ ya.” The tigerbone pushed down against his neck. “Nao, hand off befoe I decide to undo ya ‘ead again.” Cris lifted his hand from her thigh and grinned.
“You know you love me, Tia.”
“If I do, it is only because of da Captain, Cris.” She smirked, her small tusks making it look menacing and vile, but Cris knew Tia a little better than anyone else on the island.
“Is that stone really that bad?”
“Jus be careful aroun’ dat ‘uman, ya? Joo are no longa jus some mortal, Cris. Joo serve de spirits nao.”
Cris blinked and looked at Tia, who had stopped tapping the tigerbone and was now looking at him, her gray eyes almost piercing through his. “What do you mean?” Tia backed away and smiled as she looked at his tattoo. She took a few moist leaves and gently placed them over and around his neck. “Tia?”
“It look gud. I let it rest for a jus a while befora we start wit the piercin’.” She stood and stretched her body. They had mentioned the tattoo, but Cris felt like getting something more around his neck when Tia suggested piercing shark and tiger fangs around him. It was extreme and Cris loved the idea, however, he was curious about her remark. Tia’s words seemed shrouded with unnatural intent.
“Tia…”
She picked up a bowl from the sandy ground and sat beside him again, placing her long blue leg around him. “Joo ready?” She removed the leaves and placed them back in another bowl before taking a large needle from the new bowl. Cris noticed the fangs in the liquid and nodded. Tia took the needle and pulled at some of his flesh at the base of the tattoo. “’ere we go.” She stabbed through the skin, sliding the needle through at a short distance.
Cris closed his eyes tightly and gasped, trying hard not to move. “Damn,” he whispered. Tia chuckled, reaching for one of the fangs in the bowl.
“It ‘urt?” Cris shook his head faintly and she chuckled again. “Dis be placed on joo wit titanium ‘ooks.” She slide the hook, which was already attached to the fang, through the new opening the needle had made and clasped the hook onto the other side of the fang. It hung on his skin, the puncture wounds reddened and slightly swollen. “Der. One down.”
“Great…” Cris opened his eyes and looked at Tia. “What do you mean I serve the spirits now?”
Tia punctured the next section of skin, “Dey let joo live again, ja? When dey did dat, they give themselfs to joo, so dat dey fuse joor body. Joor soul was already der, but der was no ‘ome for it. Da spirits mend joor body. Tis why joo alive.”
“Alright. And I’m grateful.”
“Ah, but there is more den jus bein’ grateful, Cris. Joo must pay a price.”
“Cris snickered and looked away into the darkened sky. “Of course I do. There’s always a price.” He sighed softly.”
“Exactly. Joo know well dat joo canno’ get sumting for not’ing.” She inserted the second hook into the open wound and moved on to his shoulders. The process was getting easier and faster, or so it seemed to Cris. He didn’t even notice that the third hook was inserted. All he could think of was what the spirits could possibly ask for.
“So what will it be?”
Moving on to the back of his neck, Tia worked on the next piercing. “Dey want souls, Cris.”
He stared ahead and lifted a brow. “Souls?”
“Ay.”
“But I’m no bloody warlock. How the hell am I going to get souls?”
Tia gave him a soft chuckle as she hooked the next fang. “Der be other ways ta gather souls. I ‘ad already known wat dey wanted joo to do, so I prepared a special fetish fo’ joo.”
“A what?”
“A amulet. It will gather da souls for joo.” Tia had shifted to his other shoulder and was working her way around Cris. “All joo have to do is da dirty job.”
Cris didn’t move nor blink. He stared out at the black sea and softly asked, “And that is…?”
She moved in front of him, wrapping her leg around him once again and leaning up against him, her body pressing hard against his chest as she whispered, “Killin’.” She slowly moved back and pierced one more small fang over his left clavicle.
“Killing?” Cris sucked in a short breath quickly and turned to look at her. “I…I don’t get it.”
“ ‘ow else joo be taking a soul, Cris? Joo canno’ take it from a livin’ bein’ unless joo be makin’ a scourge and joo canno’ do dat.”
“But Tia! Killing someone is how I will pay off my debt?”
“More den someone. Joo will kill until the debt is paid. Until da spirits say so.”
“And when will that be?” Tia shrugged and looked at him, one hand extending to a small box near the fire. “And if I don’t do this?”
“Den the black spirit flame will ignite and joo will die as soon as the flame is out.”
Cris trembled slightly. There was a reason he was usually called a “pussy” pirate. He had only killed a few men in his life and that was only because someone else had injured them enough and he didn’t want them to suffer. Now he had to kill to survive. “Anyone is fair game, right?”
“Ay, but da mo’ pure the soul is, the longer it will last. Joo kill a killer, joo only last one or two days.”
Cris sighed and looked at her hand, which held a small black box. “I don’t have a choice, do I?”
“Joo could die, but I canno’ brin’ joo back den.” Cris placed his head in his hand and leaned the arm against his leg, wincing a little as he bent his head, moving the pierced fangs and teeth on his skin. “Righ’ nao, joo alive because of me.” He looked up at Tia. “But once joo leave my presence, joo on your own.”
“Fine.” Cris took a deep breath and sat straight. “Where’s this fetish?” Tia uncovered the black box and showed him a rather large shark’s tooth. “That’s it?”
“Fine.” Cris took a deep breath and sat straight. “Where’s this fetish?” Tia uncovered the black box and showed him a rather large shark’s tooth. “That’s it?”
“Dis is going to collect the da souls afta joo kill dem. And Cris, dontcha get caught. Be sure ta dispose of de bodies.”
“Oh, yeah, sure. I’ll just dump them in the first sewer I see.” Cris rolled his eyes and looked away.
“I be serious.”
“Because I’m a murderer now.”
“Dis is da price, Cristianno.” Tia’Zula lifted the shark’s tooth up to his center of his neck, marking where exactly it was going to go. She took the needle and pierced his skin. Cris shuddered for a moment.
“Tia, they will stop asking when the debt is paid, right?”
Softly, the troll responded. “Ja, but not even I know when dat will be.” She pulled the needle out softly and placed it beside her. “The key is not to lose joor head ober dis.” She snickered softly and cleared her throat as Cris smirked at her. “Keep being Cristianno.”
“Yeah. Sure.”
Tia lifted the shark’s tooth and looked at Cris. “Joo can still say no, but joo will die as soon as you leave my home.”
Cris shook his head, “I’m not ready to die yet, Tia.” He took a deep breath and sighed. “Fine. I accept.”
Tia nodded. She passed the hook through the puncture wounds and as soon as she clasped it and let go, the tooth hit Cris’ chest. He gasped loudly, his hand clutching onto his chest and he looked as if he couldn’t breathe. Tia moved away from him and simply watched him. Cris looked at Tia and gasped, “Tia…what… is…going…”
“Joo are fusing wit the fetish. Be calm. It will pass.”
Tension increased throughout his body and he began to tremble violently. Sweat formed on his skin and slowly, the trembling stopped. Cris lowered his head and began to breathe hard, trying to fill his lungs with air once again. He lifted his sea-green eyes and glanced at her, the flame’s light danced throughout his face and chest.
“Joo are set, Cris.” Tia walked to an iron drum barrel filled with water and washed her hands of his blood. She lightly tapped the water once and looked at Cris. “Joo wanna see joorself?”
The elf stood and walked to the drum barrel, and saw a bright and clear image of himself. His hair was now a lighter color with a bit of an orange tinge to it. The tattoo around his neck was dark, enough to redirect attention away from the scar, but the scar was still a bit visible. At the base of the tattoo, the shark teeth hung on his skin, streaks of blood falling over his torso. He looked at the large shark’s tooth and touched it. “As soon as I leave, huh?”
“Ay.”
Cris nodded and smiled. “That’s a new man in that reflection.”
Tia chuckled and walked up to him, wrapping her arms around his waist and placing her head on his shoulder. The reflection how had the troll’s face as well as his. “Soon, joo be called the blood pirate.” She kissed his cheek and cackled softly.
“Captain Seawolf, the blood pirate.” He smiled widely and for a brief moment, wickedly. He would have to come to terms with what he had to do and he would. He had to keep going. He had to live. “I think I like that.”
No comments:
Post a Comment