The Beginning: Part 6 - A Temporary Visit

Kyran stood just outside the dressing room as the girl – as Sarah Grace, he reminded himself once again – changed into the clothes her two friends had brought her. The lock on the door clicked and she pushed the door open, stepping out and looking up at him. She was now wearing a long, flowing white skirt made of the finest cotton he had ever seen, a shirt much like his own with long poufy sleeves and a low neckline. She looked down at her bare feet and he saw that they had returned some of her bangles which she had pulled onto her ankles and wrists.

He stood there, staring at her, unable to do anything but take in her appearance. Like before, he took in her age first – she had to be in her mid-teen years. She had long blonde hair that had been teased by the wind and fair skin that was slightly red from being tied to the mast under the blaring sunlight. She was rounded in all the right places that would make any man drool with an innocent, rounded face. Her eyes, however, were by far her most distinguishing feature. They were large and framed by very long, very dark lashes, complimenting the blue-grey color of her eyes that had been sharpened and shadowed by a hard life. And, the few times that she had spoken without anger, her voice reminded him of gentler seas and tinkling wind chimes.

He turned away from her sharply. Why, after days of being at the receiving end of her anger and frustration, was he unable to think of her as anything but a lovely young woman who needed to be freed from the torture she was suffering through? Why was her image, her lovely vision, refusing to leave his mind? It was infuriating him to be so vulnerable to her and, yet, he was happy to have her come into his life. "Come on now." He said and walked away at a brisk pace, making her jog to catch back up. He heard her suddenly stifle gasp. Looking back at her, he saw that she was holding her shoulder. "Does it hurt again?" He asked, his voice changing from harsh to soft at the sound of her in pain.

"Yes, but I'll survive. I'm sure Angel can help me later." She said.

Kyran looked at Sarah Grace and knew that, whoever she was talking about, she cared a great deal about. He turned and left the shop she had changed in. Her friends had already gone back to the Sangue-Padre and were no doubt spreading the word of her visit. He sighed as they drew closer to the docks, closer to her home.

His mind drifted back to Sarah Grace. He couldn't help but think about her. Her face, her words, everything about her infiltrated every single thought of his brain. She was so infuriating! Nobody, not a single person, had ever confused him to such an extent.

At any given time, she had a clinging scent that reminded him of freshly fallen rain and vanilla of all things. He glanced back at her. She was trailing a finger along the chains that kept people walking along the pier to fall into the waters below, her eyes watching the horizon. With the faraway look in her eyes, he couldn't help but slow down and marvel at her beauty. She truly was an angel brought down from the heavens to being long lost hope. Her beauty was stunning, even breathtaking.

Kyran was ever so slightly startled when she grabbed his wrist and a shock was sent through his system. He yanked his hand away sharply to get away from her burning touch. He saw her blush and her gaze fell to her still-bare feet. "Oh… I'm sorry." She whispered but point just ahead of him. "I-I was just going to say that we're here."

He looked up and, sure enough, they had arrived at the Sangue-Padre. He looked up at the grand ship with white-as-clouds sails set on two, incredibly tall masts. The entire ship was crafted from deep red cherry wood and stood in sharp contrast to the dark waters. Unsettling thoughts swirled around his head. What was life aboard the Sangue-Padre like? Was it anything like living aboard the Kralj Mora? Was the crew kind or cruel? Would they tolerate him or attack when they learned of what had happened to their precious young Sarah Grace.

She hurried past him and ran up the gangplank, her skirts billowing wildly around her ankles as she ran. He couldn't help but watch her hips as she ran, her body moving with the grace of a professional dancer.

Kyran followed her onto the deck of the ship and found her approaching a sea of around thirty people. They were all laughing, some crying, but all happy to see her again. Her two friends, Aisuru and Aslansa had returned to the ship as he had expected. He fought back a smile, wondering whether Sarah Grace was happy herself.





I smiled and hugged everybody, smiling at each member of the Black Fedora Pirate's crew. She saw Hayes, George, Frederic, Aisuru, Chase, Blake, Lyra, Linda, Tails, Lorien, Lady Riddle, Abbey, Kris, Sparky, Angel, Shirayuki, Katelynn, Alanna, Zoë, Yukimaru, Excea, Salazar, Dylan, Eric, Yvonne, Dan, Aslansa and Crystal. I was happiest in that moment, happier than in any other singular moment of my entire life.

"Who are you?" Sparky demanded as she faced off against Kyran.

"That would be one of the men aboard the Kralj Mora; and he was assigned as Sarah Grace's watcher." Aisuru spat out, glaring at him and not even pretending to hide his rage, his disgust. I felt strong bodies at my back as the men of the crew circled around me, as if to protect me from harm that Kyran might bring.

I sighed and turned towards Angel. "Angel, can I talk to you in private?" I asked. There was no way I was going to tell the rest of the crew the torture I had endured on the Kralj Mora. They'd kill Kyran if, for nothing else, letting it happen. I was only going to tell Angel because only she could do anything to heal it, or at least take away the pain.

"Of course you can Sarah Grace."She said kindly

I turned towards Aslansa. "Keep Aisuru from tearing him apart." I said, touching the taller young man's shoulder. "And, uh, don't tell the rest for the crew what happened on the Kralj Mora either. It isn't time for them to know." I explained.

"I won't tell the crew but there's no guarantee I can keep myself from tearing him apart." He said, looking down at me with sad eyes.

I shook my head. "Don't hurt him. He kept that monster from killing me." I whispered and left to join angel as she set off for her own cabin. Angel's cabin was beside Chen's and Hayes but, unlike the rest of the crews' quarters, she had a very small bed that didn't look excessively comfortable. As an angel, Angel didn't sleep very much or very often and instead spent her time at the large desk in her cabin that was set beneath a lantern hanging on the wall and scattered with papers, opened books, as well as an inkwell and quill.

Once inside, Angel turned towards me. "What's so important that you don't want the rest of the crew to know?" Angel asked curiously.

I turned and closed the door to her cabin before turning my back to her. Carefully, trying to avoid the pain, I pulled out of my shirt and exposed my back to her, holding the shirt against my naked chest. She gasped and stepped closer, reaching out to gently touched the still fresh wounds, earning a painful gasp from me. "Lay down and I'll see what I can do." She said.

I obeyed and sprawled out on her bed as she lit all six lanterns. Angel started by braiding my hair to keep it out of the way. She then addressed my wounds and I sighed in happiness as her soothing had roved over the wounds, cooling the burning skin that had yet to stop throbbing since the lashing. Unlike when Kyran had tried to help me, her touch didn't bring about more pain. Instead, her skin was like cold water skimming over my skin, making me shudder with relief.

She suddenly paused though and I felt the energy within my body beginning to be restored, making me feel better than I had in a long time.

Angel sighed and took a step back. "I'm going to go find Frederic and get some bandages. Stay here and try to rest while you heal." She said and left the room.

I pulled the rest of the shirt off and folded it, setting it on the edge of the bed and laid back down on my stomach, folding my arms by side to hide my exposed breasts.

Just as I was finally relaxing, the door behind me opened and someone stepped in. I was nearly asleep already so I was too tired to try to differentiate whether or not I was dreaming. Instead, I assumed it was just a dream, a mere figment of my exhausted imagination, and closed my eyes, letting my mind settle once again. Fingertips touched the small of my back and traced upwards, making me shudder and sigh. My heartbeat sped slightly and a slight shock went through my system. Those fingers spread out and a palm was pressed firmly against my now mostly healed back, a soft sigh of desire slipping through their lips.

Whatever was happening sent beautiful, blissful waves of gentle pleasure through my body. The pleasure was so great I had to have been asleep and I clung to that thought as I was slowly turned onto my back. The lights had been extinguished, throwing the cabin into darkness but I was still able to see the figure above me.

"Kyran…" I breathed in a heavy whisper, surprise rushing through me but I remained breathless and didn't fight what was happening. After all, it was just a silly dream.

"Don't talk." He exhaled and dropped his mouth to mine, brushing his hot lips against my own. An explosion of pleasure at his touch slammed through my entire system. I gasped involuntarily but also pressed my bare chest against his, unable to stop myself. My eyes slid closed as I tasted his lips as his tongue flicked against mine. Just as I opened my mouth against his, the door to the cabin flew open so forcefully that it smacked the wall.

Kyran drew away and I sat up, stunned so badly that I was dizzy. It…It wasn't a dream… The deepest, hottest blush I had ever experienced came over my face and tears slid down my cheeks. I looked from Angel and Aslansa in the doorway to Kyran in front of the desk. He had pressed himself against the deck and gripped the edge of it behind him, looking at me with wretched eyes. My hurt and embarrassment was too great for me to see his pain. I lifted the blankets to my chest and drew my legs up beneath me and stared into Kyran's dark eyes before speaking in a horrible whisper. "W-Why…?"