When Caspian vanished, so too did his presence in the eye of my magic. I knew that we were still connected. The thread was still tethered to my core, but it was as if Caspian’s end had vanished with him. I should’ve been able to sense his location, like I could the rats, but the only thing I could sense was that he was alive.

The shouts from above had quieted, and I could only assume that the negotiations he had mentioned were currently taking place. I gnawed on the nail of my thumb as my eyes drifted up towards the ceiling. If I could only know what was happening on deck, I might be able to put my mind at ease. And even if I didn’t trust Leander, I had come to feel... something for him. I certainly didn’t want him to die if a fight broke out.

How well did he know how to fight? He’d burst into my room that one time with a rapier, but that didn’t mean he knew how to use it well. Lots of unskilled men had swords, and the half of them that did, never practiced.

Opening my trunk, I dug to the bottom where I’d hidden the grooming kit, and pulled it out. I pocketed the needle case into the breeches I wore, and palmed the handle of the razor. I wouldn’t risk harming an animal with the blade, but I had no qualms about slashing an unwelcome guest.

I glanced upwards again. The quiet was surely a good sign, but it unnerved me just the same. Apollo’s tiny head peaked in through the hole, black eyes darting around as he sniffed at the air.

“Cat bird?” He asked, confused by the scent.

“Eidolon.” I explained. “Spirit beast.”

Apollo scurried over to me, climbing my pants and blouse until he perched on my shoulder.

“Where go?” He sniffed the room again, as if the height would reveal more information.

I shook my head. “With wind.”

He bobbed his head in understanding. “Fly away.”

As I scratched at his chin, a thought occurred to me. With a quick tug along the bonds, I summoned the rats. They arrived quickly, as many of the rats lived in the space that separated my floor from the sea.

“Tell me what’s happening above.” I commanded all but one of the rats, leaving Apollo with me.

Minutes passed before the first rats began to return, squeaking their observations to Apollo.

“They are on our ground now. They talk.” Apollo said, and by they I assumed he meant Captain Smith and the pirates.

With a nod of dismissal, the first messenger left to journey back to the deck.

A second rat arrived to speak to Apollo, and I waited for his translation. My communication with the other rats was still rudimentary at best, and it would take too long to try and explain what all of my intentions meant to the forty or so at my disposal. It was far easier to continue allowing Apollo to act as a mediary when it came to direct communication.

“Invasive men point sticks at colony.” Apollo announced.

It would have been far better to be a fly on the wall and witness the events firsthand, but the rats did have their advantages. No one would notice them watching from the corners, and they were certainly proving themselves useful.

“Swords.” I corrected, encouraging Apollo to learn the term. “Are they waving the swords or just pointing them at our colony?”

Another rat scuttled in through the corner hole and quickly squeaked with Apollo before running out to continue the information feed. “Too many sticks—swords. Swords are shiny.” He squeaked proudly as he made the distinction between the two. “Men are yelling.”

I walked back to the window, straining to see if I could hear anything from outside. I could make out muffled voices, but no words.

Another messenger entered and Apollo jumped about in excitement as they spoke. “More men come. New men swing swords.” Another rat came and went. “Hit swords!”

The sound of metal clashing could be heard through the window now, even if it was faint. Unintelligible cries and true shouts joined them. I looked up at the beams, trying to imagine what was happening above us. Whatever the captain tried to negotiate, it clearly failed by the sound of it. I wrung my hands anxiously at the development.

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

Leander was up there... Was Caspian going to do something, or watch and wait until the conflict was over? Would he allow everyone else to die rather than fight himself?

Apollo’s head swiveled to the hole, as three rats came at once. “Men come to tunnels.”

I worried at my lip as I faced the door. The pirates must've split between those ransacking the ship, and those fighting for it. The loud stomping of boots on the floor above shook loose dust particles, and I stifled a sneeze in my arm. If against all odds the pirates didn’t find me after ransacking the entirety of the ship, Caspian would free me.

But if they found me... I shivered at the thought. I knew full well that what almost happened in the woods could happen again. Did pirates let the women they capture live after they've had their way with them?

My palms were sweaty as I tested the door handle again. The wood was old, but still held strong. Regardless, the pirates would be stronger than me. If they broke down the door, the only thing I had to hide behind was the trunk. If I dumped the contents of the trunk, I could fit inside, but only an idiot would see the pile of clothes and not investigate the trunk itself.

If only the hole in the wall was just a little bit bigger, I could squeeze through—

My thoughts were interrupted by two pairs of boots nearly racing down the ladder outside. I froze, covering my mouth with both hands. I backed as far away from the doorway as I could.

They’re here.

The rats had stopped delivering me news from above. Those who’d returned watched me silently. Waiting for me to use or dismiss them again, but I had nothing to tell them. I was frozen with fear as I listened to the sounds beyond my room. My lungs strained against the sobs that built in my chest as I held my breath against making a sound. My heart beat so loudly, surely they’d be able to hear its panicked beats if they listened against the door.

What do I do?

What do I do?

What do I do?

The statement repeated in a loop like a sick mantra, trapping me in helplessness. There was nothing I could do. Nothing at all except for wait, and hope. More of the rats returned to watch me, feeling my fear as I lacked the control to keep it to myself. I could sense their agitation grow with my own as we created a cycle of growing despair.

I heard the other doors in the hallway as they were violently forced open. No doubt they were taking quick stock of the valuables a merchant vessel like the Caerus had to offer. The speed at which they ran through the rooms and back to the hall turned my stomach. They didn’t slow down to give any of our cargo more than a passing glance, bringing them closer to my prison with every room explored.

CRASH!

Outside, another door was thrown open. I gripped the handle of the razor tightly in my right hand.

“This one smells like leather!” One of the men shouted to the other.

Nearly all the rats I’d bound to myself had found their way into my room now, covering the floor with their dark bodies. They all turned their heads to the door as the handle began to rattle.

“Hey, what’s behind this door, d’ya think?”

Another jiggle on the handle. “Well, it’s got ta' be good ta' be locked up when the rest were open, innit?”

A violent crash shook the door as one of the men threw his body against it, the wood groaned from the strain.

Caspian was wrong, they were going to find me.

“Some good Covosnian wine, I ‘ope. Or better, another shipment of silks an’ lace.” Another slam rocked the door, this one stronger than the last as the wood around the hinges began to crack. The men sounded giddy with excitement.

“We’re almost innit now!”

Silent tears streamed down my cheeks as I braced myself for the worst.

Heiress of blood...

I tensed at the unexpected voice.

Heiress... you are not defenseless.

I squeezed my eyes shut against the alluring voice. It was and wasn’t mine. It was the same voice that had craved the Eidolon, acting for me.

It waited silently.

How? I asked.

Because you are ours. It said it as if it purred in pleasure. Because you were born to us, and we are bound to you.

I winced at the possessive nature of its words.

The door crashed again, wood splintered around the top hinge.

What do you want? I asked.

Want? The voice took on an inky, slimy quality. To survive.

CRACK!

The door began to splinter apart and I gasped louder than I intended. The sounds outside paused.

“Did ye hear that?” The second voice asked.

“I think there’s someone in there…” The first said in a singsong voice. “Come out, come out, little rat.”

Caspian was wrong, and Leander was gone.

Use us. The magic suddenly demanded, no longer waiting for permission.

I felt a tug at my chest and nearly stumbled at the force of it. Dozens of beady eyes glistened, feeling the same tug through our bonds. I realized then just how many beasts I had trapped with me. How much power I had at my disposal. What had I bound the rats for, if not to protect and to serve me? And the magic, it was my magic, and I’d waited long enough to change the fate I’d been dealt. I’d suffered enough at the hands of others.

I was not powerless. I would not die today.

More power than I’d ever known before was mine to claim…if I was willing to surrender to it. No words or pleas were needed for its cooperation as raw desperation threw open the confines of its cage. The Bloodbinding gladly lashed out of my skin.

There was no room for fear or regret as the beast at my center surged forth across the bonds and overwhelmed my mind. It operated on instinct and hunger. It was hot, burning, fracturing. My mind split into dozens of pieces and my vision cracked like the surface of a broken mirror. I cried out in agony as my consciousness was ripped apart and locked away, leaving behind something vicious, cunning, and angry in its place.