Vonbins

The building was light, the bulbs hanging from the ceiling, as we entered. They swung, even when I couldn't feel wind inside. Slowly, I looked at the rows of items before my attention was taken by the greeting.

"Welcome to the home of thieves. Where the dead come alive and the alive become dead."

I searched for the voice the door closed behind us in the large strange shop. Vonbins looked bigger on the inside than it had as we walked up to it. I wouldn't have expected the ceiling to go so high from the way it looked from outside, or for it to be filled with so many different items.

It didn't take long for me to lock eyes with a pair of black ones. They reminded me of the night sky, when the stars were stolen and the moon was gone. There was no warmth in his eyes nor did any come with the grin that appeared on the boy's face.

The clothing he wore was much like Medusa's, a second layer of skin. The colors were bright compared to the black shop, being blue and white. His vest only had two buttons fastened on it.

"Where's the old man?" Baldor asked.

The boy looked to him. "Gone and got himself hanged." There was a pause before his grin grew. "Or he got himself eaten by one of those fearsome sea beasts."

I spotted Rosa as she continued into the shop, but instead of following her, I watched the exchange. I was sure she was going to go explore or do something else, while I could see just what the purpose was of coming here. And if the boy had anything for a throbbing bullet wound.

"'Bout time," Baldor said as he reached into his tailed black trouser to pull out a bag that he tossed to the boy. "This should cover us from the last time."

How often do they come here? We were still so close to Carlisle, yet I've never heard of them.

It struck me as strange that they could be only weeks away and I wouldn't hear news. Two or three weeks were the bare amount of time I knew it took to get from one city to the other.

At the sound of the juggles from the bag, an itch appeared. I hadn't noticed it when Baldor threw it, but as the boy judged the weight and shook the loose coins, I did. Being out at sea made it harder to steal money and that was the only way I could feed the craving that caused many troubles in my youth.

They told me that I was lying when I said something drove me to do it. If not for my parents, or my Godfather, I'd have long hanged even before I met George.

There was no true cure for this itch, though I had been able to find a way to lighten it. Until know. I couldn't steal from my crew.

"It's light." He held the bag up again as if he could see more easily into it. "Cost you double this time for supplies."

I dug my nails into my arm but started the coins. 380 pieces. The amount was no doubt the cost of a small boat.

"A thief of sales is what this boy is," Baldar grumbled, his words pulling my eyes to him. They burned into me as if he knew what I was thinking. "He all but runs this place, even before his daddy got himself lost. Don't let his young appearance fool you. He's my age."

The boy was that old?

Looking at him before back at Baldar I couldn't see it. Baldar looked to be slightly younger than Scarlet and only a few years older than George.

"You could look just as young for the cost of an arm."

"I'll gladly pass," Baldor said, returning his attention back to the boy. "I need both arms while I'm out, and my wife would not be pleased to know I sold either one of them just to look young." A tinge of a smile danced on his face. "Now, to business. What food and timber do you have?

"Follow me and I'll show you my treasure, but be aware for the dead are out right now and might swap what you want with what you might not." His words sent a chill down my spine as I trailed after them.

What did he mean the dead were out?

There was no one else in the shop beside us, was there?

I looked at the barrels that were stacked on either other and eyed a pile of clothing that all seemed to be designed like the one the boy was wearing. The walk was slow and the further to the back we got, the colder and dimmer it seemed to get.

Had I not looked forward just as we passed a painting of what looked to be half fish and half woman, I would have bumped into Baldor at his sudden halt. The pirate glanced at me.

"Look around," he ordered. "The trade with this thief might just take a while. Once we meet a deal, we'll return to the ship where we'll switch so others can make the trip. No doubt your arm won't hold up for too much rowing."

I nodded, feeling the numbness and tingle of pain. I knew the wound was there and it throbbed with each breath I took. Though it wasn't the wound that was numb, but a few of my fingers while the others tingled with a kind of pain.

I watched as he went the rest of the way, disappearing behind a door before I turned my attention to the treasure in the room. There was no harm in looking around and maybe I could find something to help ease the pain in my arm.

Searching the area, I found another painting with a man wearing a blue mask before my eyes found a small handmade ship that looked more interesting. The ship almost looked like the one that the Undead Beauty Pirates had. The crew made it no secret that the captain changed them as quickly as someone might change their clothing. Though it couldn't have been that easy.

Picking it up, I turned the ship to see two letters scratched into the side, an J and W. The letters made me think of the two boys who I had seen little on the ship, with me being awake at night thanks to the shifts that were shoved onto me. Though I hadn't searched for them and they hadn't come to look for me.

It wasn't like one of us would suddenly up and disappear. There was no rush in trying to pry into their lives and to learn what secrets they could be keeping from me. As long as they didn't let the captain in on that we lied to get on the ship, all would be fine.

One day, they would be off living another life and I could continue onto this new journey alone. I wouldn't have to worry about them.

Placing the white ship back down, I started to wander around once more. A group of statues caught my attention. Their skin was designed to be rough like it was covered in scales, and the one in the middle was holding something.

Upon a closer look at the bronze statues, I could see that it was a lizard, or what looked like a lizard. It reminded me of the snakes Carlisle had engraved on their gates, though the meaning of them was lost to me.

Shaking my head, I looked at the ones next to it. They were holding hands, with what looked to be rope wrapped around their wrists.

"Strange," I mumbled before moving on.

Exploring, I found a few things I wouldn't have minded, had I thought about grabbing my own coins from the ship. Still, I grabbed some clothes I could make into bandages as I still didn't trust the ones on my arm and a bottle that I hoped would ease my pain. I'll just owe the captain for a little bit.

He wasn't there to say no.

Finally, I found Rosa, the woman looking at a vest. She glanced up as she heard me approach but said nothing. I joined her as she explored waiting for Baldor to call so that we could return to the ship, get the supplies, and then continue this journey.