Silence pierced the air around them. Captain Eliza crossed her arms before Nimrode, whom she had tied to a couple pillars with his arms stretched and shirtless. The tiger's red fur glistened in the sunlight. Jerod stood towards the back of the assembly. His stomach turned with knotts, what were they planning on doing to him?

"Bring me my Plogger." Captain Eliza commanded. A male approached her carrying a whip-like object. However, this was no whip, this white had at least eight heads to it, not to mention to the hard objects shown in to rip one's flesh off their body. Jerod cringed. Should he try to stop it? If he did, he would be next. Taking the handle, the captain let the end fall at her side. Her tail shot from around her and pierced his skin causing him to cry out.

"I miss not taking captives, this is the best part of being me. Don't worry, I just gave you enough poison to immobilize you." She hissed, "You will still feel every sting and cut, you just won't be able to react." With those last words, she slung her cat-nine-tails towards him. The blades of the cord embedded in his flesh before recoiling back to its master. 

Jerod turned his eyes away as the sound of lashing continued. Being tortured like that sounded like a most gruesome fate. Keeping his back to friend, he bit his bottom lip. He couldn't let him be treated like this, but what could he do? Chills raced up his spine as Nimrode let out a roar. The mage turned towards him, if nothing else, he could make sure the pain stopped with the beating.

"I'm done with him." Eliza hissed, "Throw him and his friend in the brig."

Spinning around, a pair of black hands gripped his shoulder and pulled him towards them. "Kaito," the caption hissed, "Don't harm him, we need him for the plan." The man nodded before losing his grip. Kaito pushed him towards an opening in the deck and ushered him down the steps before turning to the left and down a vacant stairwell. Jerod glanced behind him. He watched as two other grew men, pulled Nimrode behind them.

Reaching the cell, Kaito opened the door and shoved him inside. Jerod fell on the floor with a hard thud. He turned to snap at him when the crew mates flung Nimrode in. He moaned as he hit the flooring with a hard smack. "Nimrode!" The mage reached out for his friend as Kaito locked the door in place. Nimrode sighed in response. He was still awake but barley. He crawled over towards him and stared at his back.

Nimrod's once beautiful orange fur with black and white strips was now stained with his blood. Strips of flesh hung off his back. Jerod's stomach turned. He had never seen such blood, even when he delivered his daughter. Letting out a sigh, Jerod held his hand over his friend. A golden circle appeared over the males fur. Nimrode slowly turned his head towards him. Sparkles flew from the circle unto his wounds. The skin flaps that were still attached began to adhere themselves back in place.

"Thank you." The commander sighed.

"What's wrong with you." Jerod hissed, "I know you're used to commanding armies, but I am now your soldier. We will fight the Icerr together. I want to be a part of your plans for now one. Please, let me help you." The circle glowed brighter. His wounds matched the glow. Jerod continued this till his wounds vanished all together.

Sighing, he pulled away from him and rested his back against the nearest wall. "As a commander, I can not let you be a fighter. You were not meant to be a fighter, in fact you're my prisoner. I must protect you till we reach your destination. Which I dub as home." Jerod laughed and glanced towards the bar. Even Nimrode wanted to return. There was no surprise there.

"Hey, quite down in there." A voice echoed in the distance. Jerod rose to his feet and leaned over his friend. He struggled under the tiger's weight as he lifted him up and placed him on the wooden platform that served as their bed, before plopping on the floor beside it. Their first night on a pirate ship and already the captain felt the need to beat one of them.

Heels clicked against the floor boards as a woman approached. Jerod crawled closer to the bars, wishing to get a closer look at the visitor. His eyes rested on Captain Eliza. Her hair was no longer pulled back in a ponytail tucked neatly under her hat, it was no longer and full. She had even traded in her pants and blazer for a cheap dress that had no frills.

Heat rushed to his face causing him to turn away. Why was she headed in their direction? Was this what NimJerod stared at her as she swung the cell door open. Why would a pirate be interested in him? Something seemed off. "Get going already, I don't have all night." The mage moved past her and proceeded up the stairwell. Laughter entered his ears as he arrived on the top deck.

"Why me?"

"Don't ask questions." She hissed as the door flung open. "One of my female crew mates, Esmeralda, to be exact, took a liking to you."

Jerod stared at her as she swung the cell door open. Why would a pirate be interested in him? Something seemed off. "Get going already, I don't have all night." The mage moved past her and proceeded up the stairwell. Lights made the deck glow and laughter entered his ears as he arrived on the top deck. 

"Elizabeth!" A girl cheered from the crowd. Jerod fought to keep from laughing. Captain Eliza rolled her eyes and pushed her palm into his back. Jeers came from the crowd as he was escorted to the back of the ship. He found Kaito sitting on the steps that led to the wheel of the ship, with a drink in his hand. A female with lavender hair, dark purple horns and purple dress sat beside him.

"Elizabeth," she squealed, "Kaito just told me about Port Magdalene, he said we could find some pretty good bounty there, not to mention supplies. How about it!"

"I'll think about it, Esmeralda."

Esmeralda laughed as turned towards Kaito. Captain Eliza shook her head. "Esmeralda is my little sister." She sighed and pointed to a barrel next to the staircase. "Have a seat." Jerod nodded and sat down as the Captain turned and walked towards a barrel that had been overturned with a tab.

"So, Jerod," Esmeralda cooed from beside him, "what is it like being the most hated human for being a death mage." Jerod froze. No one had ever asked that question before. Come to think of it, he was the only one who had ever asked Astrid about her type of magic. Esmeralda cocked her head, trying to read his face more likely.

"You see, I'm..." He trailed off as Captain Eliza came back with a drink in her hand and leaned against the side of the ship, sipping it with watchful eyes. "I'm not a strong death mage anymore. Death magic is a generation magic that is passed down to the next user at birth." Jerod took a breath. Sure this explanation sounded odd, but it was the way Astrid told him, not to mention what happened.

"Which is where you daughter comes into play." Eliza stated, "Do you think by this time she would have perfected her magic? I hear that the magic controls the user unless trained to control it." Jerod dropped his head and stared at the floorboards. He didn't want to admit it, but he hoped she didn't know about the curse yet.

"All right, guys, I've had enough of this." Eliza sighed as she pulled away from the side. "If we want to make it to Port Magdalene before sunset tomorrow." Esmeralda cheered as she jumped up from the stair. "I think that we should at least stock up at the closest port. Though I do agree with Kaito, it would be a beautiful Port to cause some trouble."

Music began playing somewhere in the distance. Captain Elia rolled her eyes in annoyance. Egypt, however, jumped up, and stood in front of Jerod. "Lets dance." Jerod gazed at her in surprise as she grabbed his hand and pulled him further on the deck. The music sounded Celtic yet carried a beat that was fun and bouncy. Egypt clapped her hands in time with the music, before tapping her feet against the floorboard in time with the music.

Jerod watched as she spun around moving her arms in time with the music. Cheers erupted all around them as she switched feet with ease and twirled around the deck. Jerod tried keeping up, but he was no dancer compared to her. If Astrid was here, he's sure she would be laughing at his awkwardness. What could he say, he had two left feet. Laughing, he bowed out, and was returned to seat by Kaito. Elizabeth shook her head. "My sister is one of your best melee fighters. That's why she's so quick and nimble on her feet. No male here, Kaito included can keep up with her." Jerod sucked in a deep breath of air as he turned towards her, "Though I must say, you did do a good job there towards the beginning."

A blush crept across his face. The only other person that liked his dancing, though he knew not why, was Astrid. His father in law told him he danced like a duck. He couldn't help he wasn't a crea like he was. But he didn't care at that point, he already had the love of his life. Elizabeth threw her head back and downed the wine left in her glass before slamming it down on the railing. Kaito scooted over to the side of the step allowing her passage towards a cabin on the higher deck. "Good night all," She threw her hand up as she proceeded up the stairs. "Try not to stay up late."

Egypt giggled as she continued dancing. One foot up the other she spun on. She was a beautiful sight. "Night, Eliza!" The captain threw her hand out as she opened the door before spinning around to face the crowd.

"Don't wake me up if I'm already asleep."

Okay!" Egypt squealed before cartwheeling down towards more males. Kaito rose from his seat and turned towards his prisoner. Jerod rose as well. The Captain went to bed and Egypt was distracted, most likely he was going to throw him back in his cell. That was okay. He got to see a different side of the Icerr. Perhaps not all of them were as bad as they first appeared.

A smile spread across his face as he headed down the stairs and towards his cell. At this point, there was no telling what tomorrow held. The door slid shut behind him. He watched as Nimrod's chest rose and fell and slept peacefully. Hopefully, he can find some herbs at tomorrow's port to help his friend. With that, he sat down on the floor and rested back against the wall, falling into blissful sleep.