Eliza held her arms close as she attempted to hide herself from Leroys, Arms hugged close and squishing her chest as she evaded eye contact with the Captain. But Leroy kept only his eyes on her face. A total opposite of what the Lady was thinking he would do."
"Tell me…Red Sash. How do you know of the Flying Dragons Claw? Not many Pirates have such a reaction to it when they see it…Even less from the average person…" She had a sad look to her as she stayed there in the water. Emotions mixing and melding like paint in her stomach, especially under what she felt like was a scrutinizing gaze from tLeroy
"Because its the mark of a Slave…A person labeled as less than human. Ousted for what ever crime, if there even was one." He recited the information that he had been told by not only Dezzi, but the events of Wringly, and Judice.
Elizas eyes flickered as she looked back to Leroy. Mouth agape slightly. "I-Uh…Let me explain. Give me a minute. I'll make sure that the Guards do not give you problems…"
Leroy furrowed his brow as she turned around and began to walk out of the Bath, water cascading down her body. Leroy…Felt conflicted. He didn't know what to do. Part of him thought he should use this moment to leave. But, a more pragmatic part of him thought that if he heard her out he'd have an easier time off the island…
But the biggest part. Was empathy. He was beginning to understand just why these women were the way they were. And he was starting to get why Eliza was just the way she was.
He watched the sway of Eliza as she stepped out and forwent her robe. Opening the door, and walking out. Leroy could see the guards that were all pointed and aimed at the entrance, staring daggers at him while the entrance sealed shut.
"Huh…First time seeing a woman naked in front of me in a long time and that was the way it happened." He breathed a sigh of relief. Stepping out the bath he sat on the stairs.
"God. What am I going to do now…" He spoke at barely above a whisper. Thinking about so many things. All of what he'd just seen. What he had learn when he was out in the forest. And with the down time of being free from not only a cell, but combat.
Maybe he should, accept the offer? If maybe it'll help her? Give her peace of mind? But then there was the fact that she'd been persistent, but also that she was so hesitant to the entirety of the Adonis Concept…
Leroy himself didn't know how to feel about the Adonis. It felt strange to him that he just so happened to fit this narrative a thousand years in the making. From what he was told at least. A lot of missing pieces though.
The door opened and Leroys head shot up. Standing quickly, he saw Boudicca. Her face was far different in tone than before. Much more somber. "Red Sash" She started, surprisingly Leroy. "The Lady is ready for you." She then gestured behind her. Holding the door open for him to follow.
Boudicca guided him to a new chamber where curtains sat in front of him. It had to be a bed, or relaxing area like a lounge. The door then closed behind him. He shifted to them before going back to the curtains.
"I'm behind them. Come here." She said with a slight demanding tone to her voice as Leroy approached. His hands reached out, and felt the soft lacey material and opened it.
There sat Eliza. Still in the nude, resting against a stack of pillows around her. Arms spread in a confident sprawl of her body. She raised a finger and beckoned him close "Don't worry. This isn't what you think." She said. And Leroy finally gazed down to realize she wore simple high thigh shorts.
"Sit." She said as she too adjusted to her knees "Look Eliza I-" She raised a hand "Ler me explain. While I still have the nerve. First I think I ower you the truth."
It took only a few moments for her to explain the truth of what The Adonis was. And the relation ship he and the Lady of the island would likely have. As she spoke Leroys eyes widened. Realizing now at the moment. Just how truly he fit this…mythic archetype that was to be a real figure at one point.
In all honesty. He didn't know how to feel. He didn't know if he should feel…Should feel. Bad? In the way that he always seemed that he was only him, but now he was faced with the fact that there was an entire myth around a person like him? Or should feel good about that fact?
Leroy. Simply responded with- "I see." At the same time Eliza adjusted her self to then be turned around, still sitting on her calves and moving her Hair out of the way to expose her back "Now…To…Explain."
"Eliza you really don't-" But he was cut off. "I do. So just listen." He ceased
"You already know what the Claw is. But how I got it is a story that many know well. And those Island do as well…" She she sat up. Showing the full scar to Leroy
"It started when I was 12. I don't remember much. I was born on this Island. Don't remember much of my Childhood. Other than the fact that…It was a lot of the same. It was only later in life I realized how bad it was."
Her lip quivered but she hardened "Marines and the world Government had known about Cyprus for many years. But it wasn't until the past few decades that a…Arrangement had been formed."
"Cyprus is rich with unique Minerals. One of which you are Familiar with. Sea Prism. Cyprus is one of the only places where it naturally occurs. That and a Unique material known as Orichalcum. Or the Red Bronze." The same Pink metal that had been seen all around "To the rest of the world. Its just Rose Gold. But in reality. It's a Mineral that can absorb and concentrate energy." That was how Tadi had done so much in that fight. What ever energy she was using. Was being focused into the metal
"But it was when I was 12. During all of this. When Cyprus was attempting to keep all of its secrets. That a vessel had attacked a ship I was on…Slave ships patrol the Calm Belt regularly as many have found ways to avert the sea kings though a myriad of methods…" Indeed they were in fact in the Calm Belt.
"They killed everyone on board with such vigor and violence that…" She clenched her teeth and gripped her fist tight "I was on that ship because I was one of the top students that many of the Council was eyeing to become Princess…"
"It was once every 100 years or when a Lady grows to old that a census is held. And the most popular amongst the Island from the ages of 12 to 18 are scouted. With the minimum age of a Lady being 18…From there they are taught and groomed to be the best leader that they could be. Advised, educated, and among those many would willingly drop away. Leaving only one left…"
"They could be forced…" She murmured "But it was me that was left after a record of only 6 months."
"And still…" She bit the plump flesh of her lower lip. "I was taken. And they couldn't do anything without it meaning war against the Government…"
"I was sold to the dragons. Branded. And thrown in with so many others…" She held her arms close. Tears beginning to well. "Nothing play things for their sick perverted fantasies…"
"I hated them…" Her voice trilled with anger "I wanted them dead! Everyone like them…Every man that even looked like them…It matter who….Dragon, Slaver, and fucking men on the street! They all ogled and looked at me as if I was nothing…but…Meat!" Tears streamed.
"Years it was like that. That Dragon loved fucking showing us off! Like a dog!" Her hands gripped her arms tightly
"Me, Tadi, Sifa, Nanwida. We were all slaves to that man…And it wasn;t untill we'd turned 19 that finally…Something changed…" Her breath seemed to calm
"Gratis. The Fishman Revolutionary. Climbed the Red Line with a small cell of like minded people. And launched an assault on the Holy Land. Houses destroyed, Slaves freed…The Day of Liberation…"
"He was…Huge." She recalled seeing that looming man in that vest. A chain whip in hand. Face flat but sharp with teeth that were razors barred to all those that had ever looked at her like…That.
"He got us off that rock. Brought us back here…Ever since relations between the races have been good. But Nabi saw within me, the horrors I had seen. All four of us had seen. And it was then, that it was decided that I could use that to protect others like me that came to the island…" She breathed. Calming herself
"After that. I Became a Marshal. Exploits of the Tyche Pirates having grown. And in return for ensuring that the World Government gets a steady supply of Prism. All of this section of Sea is under my jurisdiction, I am free to do as I please as a Pirate, and Cyprus is guaranteed security…"
Leroy just…Listened. He put together the correct information that…Nanwida. Her scar. Was wrapped by that bandage he tried to rip off. And stopped, because of that look she gave
Leroys lips quivered. And he shuffled forward. And wrapped his arms around her shoulders in a hug…
A hand from her came up to grip lightly at his arm "But you…You're are different after all…My Sisters saw it…Nabi Saw it…the others saw it too…And now I do…You're the Adonis…" She hitched as she breathed the words silently
"No. I'm just me." He said. Resting his head against the back of hers. She then adjusted to face him. "Leroy…I must thank you. I don't think that I could've said what I just did…If it wasn't for seeing your own determination…"
Her hand reached out. "If you wish, even if its not…Prophecy. Maybe we could…" He knew what she meant
And in his mind. He knew that. Maybe he needed to feel something. Anything. With the way his heart was in pieces… "Only if thats what you wish."
She smiled. "No Prophecy. No Strings. No worrying about…A future being secured through sex…Just. Us making each other feel better?" She extended a hand up to him, hand on his cheek
"As long as you can guarantee that lack strings. Don't need you going and obsessing over me." He smiled. Attempting to put her at ease
"Well. May have already failed at that, Love. But, I think I'm more than preoccupied than to let these feelings blind me. Don't think for a second that I won't keep fawning though…" For one of the few times in her life. She could actually say she felt safe with a man. And have not be some imbalance of power. She could feel herself falling for Leroy…Hard. But she was a master of her emotions well enough that it wasn't going to make things complicated…
"Then in that case. Shall we begin?" He said leaning forward. Inches from her. And she continued to close the space. Their lips then clasped together. And they fell back onto the bed.
And for the first time. Both of them could just…be. Leroy not being haunted by what had happened. And Eliza, content and secure in her decisions, unburdened