Chapter 7: The Whale City

I was too terrified to even move a muscle, my breathing hitched and I can feel my nerves trembling. I was never present in violent surroundings back in the Haldore but I surely had seen fights. However, they're not as dangerous as this one. I mean, back in the castle, the fights I've watched doesn't have an intention to hurt the opponents. But rather to just give entertainment and show off skills in battle.

Our situation is different, Hades is now imprisoned in the arms of the bulky man. Stunned, just like everyone. The vendor's eyes grew bigger when he saw my face and hair. His grin widened and he pointed me.

"Get her! Get her! She's mine, I'm the one who caught her. She's mine!"

The vendor laughed in glee, his voice dominated the entire market as everyone went near us, curious. I took off the cloak and jerked away from the one who exposed me. Hades was thrown once more but this time he'd managed not to hurt himself as he fell with his hands protecting his body. He rushed toward the boxes of fruits, picked them up and started throwing the vendor and his goons.

"Run, Alanah! Run! To your side!"

He shouted beneath his lungs, the veins in his neck emerged due to the intensity of his shout. As if on cue, I stepped back and fell but I didn't stop running. I left him, yes, but I believe he can survive and save himself. Everyone was watching me pass through them and their products, the two men were still hunting me. I ran as fast as I could, not minding the loss of air of my lungs. I bumped with some of the vendors, destroyed boxes of fruits in my way and gained bruises.

I don't know where I'm going as long as I'm making the distance from the chasers bigger. My boots are heavy and they're slowing me down so I had to take them off while running. I was limped, I don't think I can last longer, this is actually the first time I ran like death is chasing me. Well, death is really chasing me! I screamed for help but no soul heard a thing. Until I stumbled in a trap. My foot was caught in a net and I stumbled on the ground. I fell upon my face and the impact of the sudden fall made me dizzy.

But I didn't stop there, I forced myself to move and run. I glanced behind me and saw the two men eating the distance faster than earlier. I was chasing my breathe, nervous, scared, everything. I just want to escape. I took the solid things I saw along my way and throw it to the chasers. I got occupied, the reason why I didn't see the stone I'm about to step on. And I stepped on it and fell on the ground again. This time I rolled and bumped myself to the antique jars and fruits.

I grunted when I felt the pain in my back and head, for the first time I cursed the world for my mischief. I cursed loudly and screamed in pain. I crawled when I saw the two men smirking as they walked calmly towards me. It seems impossible to escape now but I will never give up without trying.

"Ahoy, lady. Succumb now. There's no way out for you," said one of the bulky ugly beasts.

"You've made that to yourself, if only you didn't run. Look at your friend being held captive by now in there, he didn't experience the pain you did."

They're making me laugh, they cause me this, I didn't cause this to myself. In the world where fairness doesn't exist, I'll stand up and introduce them to the word "fairness".

"How could you stomach this cruelty, we didn't do anything. You chased us. We only looked at the lion for about five minutes, what worse thing did we do?"

I held unto the destroyed box to support my weight, the owner was horrified when he saw his ruined thing.

"What the hell did you do?!" The owner yelled, now here's another problem.

Why does this day turned out so problematic? I just want a walk. I shrieked back when the old man angrily neared me. With a grim line and hostile look on his face. He pulled my arm and slammed me on the ground. I grunted in pain when the joints in my knees cracks. I cried out in misery.

"Who is this woman!? Is she your master's possession? Tell your boss to pay for the jars she broke!"

Oh, man! This is ridiculous, why am I being traded and so indebted? I'm tired of all these.

"I'm not anyone's possession, you idiot old man!"

I yelled in frustration, getting into my feet and thinking of an escape. The fastest one please.

"Just let me go, I'm not supposed to be treated this way. Neither because I'm just a girl nor I ruined your things. That wasn't as bad as any other people did! In Haldore, this is violence and certainly an unfair justice! We use courts and council for this matter and you should start aiming for one in order to live justly!"

The three clueless beings stared at me, looking triggered and completely dumbfounded. My chest pounded hard, my plan was to distract them and to of course, try knocking on their sense of justice. But it occurred to me that their minds are pretty locked for these matters. They raked me hostile stares and with the same intention as earlier. I'd finally given up and is now gonna run for my life. I was ready, so, so ready to run and summon the gods for my protection.

But as soon as I leaped, a solid thing hit my leg causing me to lose my balance and fell. I apparently lose my strength for the next three minutes and was a helpless prey. Yet I still tried jerking forward, I caught the old man who owns the jar playing a solid apple in his hands. Was that what he used to out balance me!? This damn old man!

"You cannot escape the consequences of stepping into this place, young lady. From whichever country and continent you came from, you must've been blinded by the true color of life. It isn't as easy here as to where you was born. This place is made for survival and you, weak people is bound to be enslaved!"

"Y-You are wrong, we can help you! We can help you change that perspective, believe me! We're willing to give you freedom from this!"

I feel sorry for these people and place, they must've thought that life has been too cruel for them and was too easy for others. And so they loathe the heavens for their misery. Maybe my true purpose in this voyage is to help them see the light blocked by dark clouds. It was never too late.

"Now take her to your master and tell your old man I want a chest of gold for the things his possession has ruined," he ordered with a deceitful grin.

I buried my face in the sand as I waited for the bulky guys to drag me away. But there wasn't. Rather there was silence. Driven by curiosity, I lifted my head and at the same time, black boots appeared right in front of me. My lips parted, I think I know who own those. And I wasn't wrong for in split seconds, I heard his heavy sigh. He sounds so frustrated and annoyed.

Gradually and with eyes wide open, I looked up at the man with amber eyes. His expression hardened as he met my gaze, he crouched down and gently get rid of the sands in my chin. I swallowed hard and admitted to myself the pain of my bruises. They stung so bad. I looked down, creasing my face in sour.

Another man with black boots appeared beside Poseidon, his hawking eyes settled at me. His expression darkened when he realized how much bruises I got.

"What the fuck!?" His voice thundered, he squatted in front of me, pushing his friend away. "What the hell happened to you, my beautiful Kali? What are you doing here?"

I would appreciate it more if he would get rid of the three guys behind me. I glared at him, pushing myself up to sit. He glanced behind me and finally, his brown eyes turned dangerous. He took off his brown cloak, threw it up and then he pulled it down to my back. I gulped in awe as the cloak covered my body.

"Hades is in danger, help him," those were the first words that escaped my mouth.

He scooped me up and despite my grunts, he didn't listen. Poseidon's watching us, eyes cold and void. I really can't tell if he's even worried of my well-being. I wish I could see through his orbs. I felt relieved when Orion settled me above a pile of woods. He tucked my hair behind my ears, glancing at my bruised knees and feet. His temple pulsated in visible anger. I frowned at him. Why is he so pissed now? Does he really care about me?

"Hades is in danger, can't you hear me? Help him."

"He can handle himself, he's a pirate," he responded quickly, furrowing his eyebrows. "Why are you here and what the hell? You should have stayed in the ship, now look at what happened. You don't know what these people were made of."

"What were they made of anyway?" I asked, slightly annoyed.

He squinted his eyes on me, trying to scare me maybe?

"They're not humans anymore, this place is cursed. The Whale City is where greedy demons are. So you better watch out."

"What will you do?"

I halted him when he's about to leave, he looked at my hand on his veiny arm. I immediately let go of him. He chuckled.

"Gonna slaughter some demons, it's time to lessen the devil's children."

He smirked and that was the scariest among all his smirks that I saw before. My eyes grew bigger when he approached the old vendor who was clueless at the moment. My heart took a sudden leap when he drew out his sword and directly smashed it to the air. The vendor's eyes widened, he took a quick leap behind him. He then ran toward the bulky guys who were stone hard.

I jumped off the firewoods and ran towards them, Poseidon appeared in the corner of my eyes and he was looking at me. I passed through him, halting meters away behind Orion. He was trading barbs with the two men when he said something offensive, one of them walked nearer with an intent to kill. Orion stood tall but his body did not even match one of the two.

"Let's just leave and find Hades, you can't take them down!" I shouted.

He looked at me over his shoulder then, with an arched brows.

"What are you saying? Are you underestimating me? I'm the Lost Paradise's first mate and I don't retreat—"

"Watch out!"

My chest pounded when the bulky guy with dark tattoos struck him with a wood. Surprisingly, he dodged it and made a quick counter attack. He made a cut in the opponent's chest but it was shallow. I chased my breath in shock, he just sliced his skin like nothing matters at all. He then launched a strong punch in the man's big stomach, earning a groan.

Another one came on rescue by throwing the fishing net up on the air, trying to catch Orion like a fish. But the latter quickly rolled over the sand, tackling the man into the ground and smashing the man's head by the handle of his sword. The first attacker had regained balance and struck him from behind. However, his gun was always ready for an upcoming unseen attack. He pulled the trigger mercilessly thrice, hitting the shoulders and the leg of his opponents.

Blood dripping from the three wounds, the enemy fell with a loud thud. I was so shocked I stayed still, I didn't realize I was heaving too hard now. What's more terrifying was the smirk Orion had in his lips. He's delighted. He licked his bottom lip as his eyes sharpened at the two remaining opponents.

"Who the fuck are you!?" The vendor screamed, terrified.

"Do you really have to ask that, old man? That is an insult. Can't you recognize this face at all?" Orion remarked, disappointed. "You're indeed too old now, you can't recognize the handsomest and most popular first mate the sea ever has."

"F-First mate!?"

Eyes growing bigger, the old man scanned his face carefully. Then realization dawned on him, he instantly kneeled with regret evident to his face. He glanced at us, at the guy beside me and he bowed lower.

"I didn't know she's with you! I didn't recognize you immediately!" The old man chanted, freezing in fear.

"Yeah, and I just saw you hit her by an apple. That was a really cool move and a sharp shot for an old man like you."

I can spot the thick sarcasm in Orion's voice. He glanced at the bleeding opponent of his and smiled creepily.

"Another thing, you bruised her, didn't you?" He asked sharply. "You chased her without knowing she's my possession."

Oh come on, do not flaunt that!

"Your possession!?" Said again by the vendor, shocked. "She's so rare, look at her! Where did you get her?"

"None of your filthy business, better get out of my sight now before I decapitate you!" He snarled.

It's not just the vendor who leave but the two guys as well. He wiped his sharp sword by the hem of his dark cloth. My raging heart never failed to hurt me. I gulped harder, feeling so weak to stay standing. My vision darkened and I was dizzy, Orion's face blurred. Just when I'm about to fall, a pair of ironclad hands gently scooped me up. I accepted the warm embrace coming from my second savior today.

I heard Orion's voice laced with a little worry, or perhaps my ears were tricking me. He's done nothing good to me until today. I'm feeling really bad that I'd fallen asleep. When I woke up, the blue sky and thick clear clouds filled my sight. It's beautiful but it made me wonder what's going on. Then in a blink, I remembered the last encounter.

"Stay still or you're gonna faint again," said by a deep baritone voice.

And faint? Didn't I sleep?

I realized I was lying in the canoe's floor with a pile of thick jackets underneath me. That's why it's soft. I looked up at the man sitting above my head, he's staring at me without any emotion on his handsome face. Loquet. I heaved deeply, trying not to exaggerate because I'm just using one of his leg as my pillow.

"Is she awake?" I heard Hades' voice. "She must be sick still, she just woke up this morning. Didn't even had a decent breakfast."

"We all didn't eat breakfast," Loquet replied, tearing his eyes off me.

"But she's not used of starving, brother. Look at her, still pale and weak. I shouldn't've brought her in the Island."

"Hades?" I called him, pushing myself to sit.

Loquet's hand immediately held my elbow.

"I told you to stay put, why are you so hardheaded?" Now he seems mad.

I disregarded him and smiled at Hades. I'm glad he's okay. I looked around us and see that we're approaching the ship and in the far deck, Dread's waiting. Some crews in the other canoes has boxes of goods, they're rowing fast. In our canoe, it's Hades who's oaring. He smiled at me and oared faster. In the matter of minutes, we reached the ship and the rest of the crews helped to bring the loads up the deck.

We climbed at the ropes last, and when it's my turn to climb, I had a frozen bone. I heaved deeply, nervous again to climb the ropes. It's too high but it seems easy for them. Well, they're used of climbing the masts. I was already in the middle when Loquet climbed faster and held me by the waist. He requested for another rope with a tied end.

"What are you doing? Just let me be, I can do it alone," I said frustratedly.

It was easy when Hades and I climbed down but now it's hard. His jaw clenched and he licked his lips, annoyed.

"You're slowing us down, we'll have to sail immediately so climb faster."

"What do you think I'm doing? Am I not climbing?" I spat angrily.

He glared at me, I looked away and frowned. In the end, we reached the top while arguing. Hades pulled me up to the deck, surprisingly, he's strong. He lead me inside to rest, while everyone's busy with the loads. Dread entered the kitchen where the cook was, I don't know how they do things here but they seemed to be greatly connected with each other. No words needed and they can immediately understood each other's request.

I closed my eyes and leaned on the backrest of my chair, I'm tired and hungry. Really hungry. It's been days since I last had a meal, imagine how hungry I am right now. I feel like I can't breathe properly and air is slowly leaving my body. Don't know if I was just too dizzy or the ship is really moving. It's sailing. We're leaving the Island, the Whale City. I tried clearing my vision but it's dark, I can only see darkness and nothing but darkness.

Oddly, I don't feel afraid or anything along those lines. I had peace as my eyes finally closed and I loosened the grip in my chair. I think...I'm dying. I would die in hunger, in this pirate ship with these pirates who are void of anything. No one will shed a tear for me. Maybe Hades will, but he won't be feeling sorrow for long. How sad this fate is.