CHAPTER 05: WRECKED
The painful, tingling rush of returning from death stabbed along every nerve. My first sharp breath filled my lungs with the ocean's salt and the sticky, metallic taste of old blood. The contrast was jarring, ripped from a fading dream of walking hand in hand through a sunlit park, laughter and warmth still clinging to me, into the cold bite of reality.
The shock helped the dream dissolve, leaving only the final fragments of the previous night. I blinked into darkness, unable to see, but the scent told me I wasn't alone. I'd been shoved deeper into the cramped corner where I'd fallen asleep, and the woman now lay pressed against me, clinging like a frightened child. Her slow, even breaths warmed my chest. The absence of fresh blood told me her wounds had closed.
I didn't know what had happened, but it hadn't been good. Focusing past the coffin's confines, I immediately sensed how different everything felt. The motion wasn't the steady rocking of a ship at sea; it was the heaving lift and crash of something half-submerged, half-broken. Waves slammed against us. Whatever had become of the ship, I'd somehow escaped the bottom of the ocean.
I could hear gulls crying outside, but no voices of sailors. Only the creak of wood and the slow slosh of water against the hull. The woman beside me lay face down. She could probably slide a little farther away if she tried, but there was no room for her to roll over. Fortunately, her uninjured arm was the one closest to me.
She barely stirred as I lifted it from where it rested against my side and brought her wrist to my mouth. I pushed her sleeve back.
"What…?" she murmured, half-asleep.
Then I bit down.
She tried to pull away at first, but quickly went limp again. I took my time, slowly drawing out her blood, listening to her breathing grow shallow and her heartbeat turn into a faint, rapid flutter. The pain and hunger I'd been holding back for days came roaring back at the first taste, and it took everything in me not to lose control completely. It was agony to stop. To remember that I had to. I needed her alive. I needed to know what had happened.
The gnawing hunger that had tormented me for days finally began to fade, replaced by a spreading warmth. The weakness and sluggishness in my limbs receded with it. I wasn't yet what I should be, even for daylight, but it was a start.
I whispered a light spell, just bright enough for us to see each other. Her face was locked in an expression of wide-eyed shock. I lowered her arm and lifted her head gently so she could see me. Fear and confusion warred in her eyes as she realized what had happened. They weren't the pure terror I'd expected, but they were close.
Still holding her gaze, I brought a finger to my lips, bit down just enough to draw blood, and pressed it between her lips.
"Drink. It will help," was all I said.
For some reason, she obeyed almost immediately. I felt the faint pull of her lips as she weakly sucked on my finger, my blood slowly filling her mouth.
"My blood will heal you," I continued softly. "Then you'll tell me why I'm here. You'll tell me where here is, and why you brought me to this place. And then you'll explain how you know I am the love of your life."
She nearly choked at that. After a weak cough, she managed to draw a few more mouthfuls before the bite closed, and I pulled my finger away.
"It doesn't hurt anymore. How did you do that? …Am I going to die?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, the venom and exhaustion still heavy in her tone.
"I already told you how I did it," I said, watching her closely. "And I haven't decided if you're going to die yet. Tell me what I want to know."
Her eyes struggled to focus. I could tell I'd taken too much blood, but I wanted answers before her heart gave out.
It took her a while to respond, but when she finally spoke, some strength had returned to her voice. "I don't know why we were sent for you. I only know someone paid the captain a lot of money upfront, and promised more when we returned. I'm not sure where we are exactly, but somewhere in the far northeast of Aranthor. It doesn't matter either way. We're locked in. I tried to get out last night, but the locks all fell back into place when I crawled in here."
I nodded slowly. "I heard them. Why did you crawl in here, anyway? Was that because of your love?"
"What? No, I—" She broke off with a short laugh. "Sorry. You just asked with such a serious look on your face!"
Her laughter faded when I didn't react, only watching her with quiet curiosity. She hesitated, then continued. I could hear the fear in her voice, though it sounded dulled, like she was repeating something someone else had already lived through.
"Right. When those things attacked… I saw them coming over the side of the ship. Giant lamprey-looking worm things. They just latched onto people and sucked them up whole. It wasn't that they ate them fast or anything… their mouths weren't big enough. They had to stretch them wider and wider while their teeth kept grinding, pulling people in deeper inch by inch."
Her voice shook, and she swallowed before going on.
"Everyone fought back while they were being swallowed, trying to get free, but it was useless. Once they latched on, no one broke loose. They ignored our weapons, and anyone who tried to help was immediately targeted by another one. The lucky ones were grabbed by the head. At least they died quick. If they caught someone by the arm or leg, the monsters just folded them up as they swallowed."
She took a breath that trembled on the way out. "And the damn things were translucent. We could see our crewmates inside them. They weren't dead, not right away. They were still moving, still fighting while the things' gullets crushed and dissolved them. I think I was one of the last left. When one came after me, I ran in here. They didn't have eyes, but once they picked a target, they never lost track. I knew it was going to get through the door. It was a dead end. The only place left to hide was in here."
"I'm surprised you're taking this all so well," I remarked.
She gave me a dazed little grin. "Yeah. Me too. I feel a little drunk. Does that always happen when you bite people?"
I shrugged, "I've never asked. I don't usually stop before I finish."
Her grin turned more lewd, "I like the sound of that."
I gave her a blank stare for a moment before asking, "Do you think the monsters are still out there?"
"Oh, no. I think they left a while after I got in here. Before this all started, we were heading toward a sheltered cove to try and get cover from the storm for the night. The damn things waited for us near its entrance and ambushed the ship. The ship righted itself, so I think they left when the water got too shallow, but then we hit something, and I think we're beached now."
I nodded, "That is a good hunting tactic, finding a place that seems safe and waiting for prey to come to you. I will remember it."
"…Those were my friends."
The hurt in her voice confused me, but I could see that she was beginning to sober—or come back to herself, at least.
"Perhaps. But they did something to me and locked me in a box. What I would have done to them after I got out might have been kinder, but they would still be dead."
"You would have just killed us all? Just like that? I guess this box was worth the money."
I shrugged and, looking her in the eyes, commanded, "Tell me what they did to me at the guild."
"They poisoned the wine. You were very distracted. It wasn't difficult. I'm not sure what they used, but the captain seemed confident it would knock you out for more than five weeks. It's only been two. You really shouldn't be awake."
I hadn't been sure that she'd tell me. That was easier than expected, so I kept going. "Is that when you all stripped my gear away and put me in the box?"
She shook her head, "No. We transported you by carriage for the first part of the journey. The coffin was still being made back at the ship, and they had to rush it. We didn't expect to find you so soon. You were supposed to be a young teen, not a young woman, so it was a little small. I had to give you one of my nightgowns. Your clothes were ruined."
"So, whoever hired you doesn't know much about me. Interesting. Is there any reason I can't just find my way to shore and start walking west to get home?"
She shook her head, "Not really, but it's not a direct trip by land. It'll take a long time. You'd need to find a map or perhaps a merchant caravan that will head somewhere in that area. But that would mean we need to get out of this box. It was built to keep you in, and there is nothing I'd be able to do. I don't think we're going anywhere unless someone else survived and lets us out, or we get lucky and someone finds the wreck."
I nodded, braced my feet, bent my knees, and carefully put my hands over my head. With a solid push with my legs and arms together, there was a sound of tearing wood followed by a snap as the top of the coffin broke away.
She stared at me in open shock, but I didn't bother explaining. I simply reached down, gripped her by the waist, and unceremoniously slid her through the hole. I waited a few seconds, listening—not for her muttered curses as she scrambled up from the floor, but for any sound that might mean something worse was coming. When nothing stirred, I climbed out after her.
"How did you do that?!" she asked, her voice full of horror and accusation.
I shrugged, "Where are my things?"
"In the captain's quarters," she answered before continuing in the voice of someone only starting to understand how dangerous their situation is, "You could have broken out and killed us whenever you wanted... You were just waiting for the right time."
I shook my head, "Not whenever I wanted. I was going to do it this morning, had the ship not been ambushed. Let's go and get my things. I want to see if the captain is still alive so I can fix that."
She shook her head, beginning to lead the way out of the room, "I don't think he's alive. I saw him get grabbed. He was fighting when I ran, but his attacks were about as effective as hitting a rope with a stick."
I followed her as she staggered forward, still unsteady. The ship moved constantly beneath us, less side to side now and more in an up-and-down rhythm. It didn't take long to see why. In the next room, jagged rocks punched up through the hull from below. I couldn't imagine how the ship had climbed high enough to land on them.
We continued past and up a half-shattered staircase matted with dried blood and slime until we reached the main deck. The ship was in ruins. It had the remains of three masts and was larger than I'd thought, but everything topside was destroyed. Railings were splintered or gone, two longboats lay in pieces, and weapons were scattered among severed limbs. There was no sign of the crew. Only dark stains that even the storm hadn't washed away. And there was no trace of the monsters.
She'd been right, though. The ship had drifted into a cove. Long beaches stretched nearby, but the water between was dotted with jagged rocks, and a steep cliff wall rose behind them. I couldn't swim, but the cliff didn't look impossible to climb.
I'd only taken a few more steps when the woman stopped and turned back to me, her expression shifting to open confusion.
"How are you doing that? Is that something all vampires can do?"
"Do what? Walk? Yes, as far as I know."
She shook her head, "Are you making fun of me?" I blinked at her and waited for her to get to the point, and after a few seconds, she did. "How are you standing in the sunlight? I thought vampires died in sunlight."
I nodded, "Yes. Most do. I am not most. Did you just remember that, or was this an attempt to kill me?"
She took a quick step back, "No, no. I wasn't trying anything. Maybe to run away, but nothing like that!"
"You may not run away. You must take me to my things." I explained to her.
She nodded and started to turn, but stopped. "You're… controlling me. You're making me tell you these things, aren't you?"
My eyes widened, "Am I? I thought you were just being helpful." In a blink, I was in front of her, looking into her eyes and inspecting her, "Do you feel compelled? Stand on one foot." I commanded as I walked around her. She lifted a foot before slamming it back down.
"Stop that! Stop it! I'm not a slave!"
I poked her, "Get on your knees."
She collapsed to her knees, crying out before trying to push herself up again. I stepped forward and bit her neck from behind. This time, she went limp almost instantly, too weak to resist the venom. I didn't take much, just enough to taste it and to want more, then lowered her gently and pressed my bleeding wrist to her lips.
I watched her the entire time, staring into her eyes as she drank, searching for… something. And, to my surprise, I felt it. A faint pull, like a thread between us. The only explanation was that I'd taken her blood, and she'd taken mine. I'd done the same with the templar in the castle, and she'd become more compliant afterward.
I was beginning to understand my blood a little better, but not enough. So I waited, patient and still, until the woman stirred again. As soon as I was certain she could respond, I began asking questions.
"Did you feel anything? Did biting you make you feel more linked to me, or was it drinking my blood?"
She blinked at me a few times, then said, "I felt you bite me. It hurt for a moment, but then I was numb. It made me feel weak and powerless. Drinking your blood made everything feel better. It made you feel better. I was afraid, but it made the fear go away."
"Good. Are you planning to betray me?"
"No, not anymore. I was going to try to use an anti-vampire artifice in the captain's quarters on you, but no, I won't. I'm sorry. I was just scared."
I nodded, "I understand. Do not be afraid. Take me to my things."
She rose quickly, eager to be useful, and staggered toward the back of the ship with drunken determination. I followed, steadying her by the arm when she began to veer.
At the doors to the captain's quarters beneath the helm, she pushed them open and led me inside to find the only part of the ship that remained undamaged. The back wall was lined with broad windows, and a large table filled the center of the room, cluttered with documents, a few small boxes, and a map. A narrow sleeping area sat off to one side, but my guide went straight to a tall armoire.
When she swung open the doors, I saw it was packed with clothing far too large for me. Three swords—my own among them—hung neatly on the inside wall, while my dagger and boots sat in the corner below. My cloak was buried between several of the captain's coats, as if hidden for later. His intent to steal it was obvious. He was lucky he was already dead.
"Here. I'm sorry, your clothes were completely ruined. The captain threw them overboard."
I shrugged and pulled on my boots under the nightgown. It probably looked absurd, but it was what I had to work with. I took one of the captain's belts to hold my sword and dagger, then fastened my cloak, feeling a little more like myself again despite the strange attire.
Turning back to the table, I began to look over what he'd left behind. The map was a disappointment—nothing but a sea chart that was useless beyond the coastline. The papers scattered across the surface looked to be maintenance logs or navigation notes, all neat handwriting and dull details. The small boxes, on the other hand, were locked and heavy. Those at least felt promising.
I turned to my companion, "What are these boxes? And how can I get to shore?"
She pointed, "That is the map chest. The other is the ship's chest. I don't know if there are any boats left, but you could always swim or perhaps use a piece of the ship for floatation."
I hummed thoughtfully, then said, "Alright. Let's go see if we can find something."
"Aren't you going to take the ship's chest?" she asked, and I stopped.
"Is it useful?"
She nodded, "Yes. It's the ship's funds."
I stepped forward and tried to lift it, but let go almost immediately when I felt the weight. With a shrug, I said, "It's too heavy. I'll come back for it once I have a way to move it."
We made our way back up to the deck, and I started scanning the wreck before she corrected me.
"The boats on deck are destroyed or missing. Let's check and see if the Jolly survived. It's hung on the stern."
I followed her up the steps to the quarterdeck, where we found the small boat technically still attached. It bobbed in the water below, the ropes holding it stretched taut.
"Will that get us to shore?" I asked her.
She nodded. "It would be the best option. We'll have to climb down the ropes to get aboard."
I motioned for her to go first. She hesitated only a moment before stepping up onto the railing and half-jumping, half-falling out to grab the line. Her hands caught it, and her legs wrapped around the rope a heartbeat later. For someone who could barely stand a few minutes ago, she moved with the reflex of long practice—just without the balance to match. The rope swayed dangerously as she slid down, boots thudding hard when she hit the small boat below.
I watched her a moment longer, then went to the other line and did my best to mimic the motion. I didn't fall into the water, but it wasn't graceful either. She looked up at me with a dazed smile that made me wonder how much of her coordination came from willpower and how much from whatever compulsion my blood had left in her.
The boat rocked as I landed, and I looked around. There was a narrow bench at the stern, so I took it.
"Alright," I said. "Get us to shore."
She moved without hesitation, settling with her back to the bow and unhooking a pair of oars from the hull. Her hands shook as she fit them into the locks, but once she found the rhythm, instinct took over. It was only after a few strokes that she glanced up at me, eyes wide and uncertain.
"Am I… gods. Am I a slave?"
I shook my head. "No. The effect will wear off eventually. We're only experimenting. I don't intend to keep you forever."
Some of the tension left her shoulders at that, and she went back to rowing. Each pull was slow, uneven, but she kept going until the hull scraped sand. She stumbled out, breath ragged, and dragged the little boat higher up the beach before collapsing to her hands and knees, gasping for air.
I climbed out and stood beside her. "Are you alright?"
She shook her head weakly. "I feel sick. I'm so exhausted."
It made sense. I knew her body would be rapidly replacing her lost blood. It was something that healing magic did, and mine did especially well, but she would be starving. She'd lost so much blood already, and then I'd drained her more.
Only then did it occur to me that we could've taken food and supplies from the ship. I shrugged. I wasn't sure I needed any of it yet, and I didn't much care what she needed. She was one of my kidnappers, after all. She'd already admitted to trying to kill me once and deceive me twice before we even reached the shore.
"Which way is home?" I asked, and without looking up, she pointed. I checked the position of the sun, and it was somewhat in that direction, so I knew she was likely correct. I nodded. "I'm going to go, then."
"You're just leaving me here?" she asked.
"Would you prefer to come with me?" I asked, though I had no intention of letting her. I couldn't trust her.
"No… no, I'll stay," she said, scrabbling up from her hands and knees into a sitting hunch.
I nodded, kneeling down next to her. "Sleep."
And without a word, she collapsed, and I caught her to lean against me. I wasn't sure if that would work, but I knew my father had the ability to control others. He used to do something similar to my food when I was young. I didn't owe this woman the kindness, but I wasn't evil. She had helped me, but she was going to die here, and I was still hungry.
I pulled her hair away from her neck and bit down. When I was finished, I laid her body on the ground. For the first time in my life, I felt an odd pang of loss as I looked down at her corpse. I didn't doubt my actions, but the idea that I would no longer be able to speak to this person seemed to matter. I wasn't sure if it was because of the conversations we had or perhaps because we had been building some kind of bond. In the end, the "why" of the matter wasn't of much consequence. She was dead now. I briefly thought about taking her clothes, but after how upset I'd been to find my own missing, I didn't want to do that. I stood, turned in the direction that would lead home, and began to walk.
TO BE CONTINUED...