Jade sat on a new ship, tied securely to the mast, her wide eyes darting around the bustling deck. The crew moved with practiced efficiency, their shouts and footsteps creating a cacophony that only heightened her anxiety. Her heart raced, pounding like a drum in her chest, each beat echoing in her ears. Beside her, Jaffle lay slumped against the mast, still unconscious from the earlier fight. Her breathing was shallow but steady, offering Jade a small measure of comfort.

To their right, the two men from before were deep in conversation, perched casually on the edge of the vessel. The one with wings meticulously carved something in his hands with a knife, his movements precise and deliberate, almost artistic. The other man, who had grabbed Jade, idly toyed with a bone in his hand, his fingers turning it over with eerie familiarity. Chills ran down Jade's spine as she wondered where he had gotten the bone.

The man with the bone suddenly threw his head back and laughed, resonating across the deck with an unsettling joviality. His tricorn hat almost fell off his head as he laughed.

Attached to his body was a broad, translucent tail that caught Jade's attention. It was edged with delicate, fluttering filaments that shimmered in the light, creating an almost hypnotic effect. The tail moved gracefully, an ethereal appendage that seemed inconsistent with his rough, sea-worn appearance yet looked like it allowed him to glide effortlessly through the water.

Jade's gaze remained fixed on the two men, her eyes only darting nervously as other crew members approached them, exchanged words, and then left. The casual but authoritative interactions indicated the two men's high status among the crew. They commanded respect without effort, their presence dominating the deck.

Suddenly, the one with the tail looked up and locked eyes with Jade. Panic surged through her, and she quickly lowered her head, squeezing her eyes shut to feign unconsciousness. Her breath hitched, and she only hoped he hadn't noticed her fleeting glance. Her heart was pounding louder than ever, and she feared he might be able to hear it.

Moments later, a pair of boots appeared in her line of sight, stopping directly in front of her. She carefully raised her head, her anxiety spiking at the thought of who it might be. Before she could react, a cold blade pressed against the bottom of her chin, slowly lifting her head to meet the gaze of the man standing before her.

“Morning, Darling,” the man said in a sophisticated voice, lifting Jade’s head even higher for complete eye contact. His tone was smooth and charming, with a dangerous edge. “My my, aren’t you a gorgeous one.” He smirked, his tail swaying back and forth in a rhythmic motion.

The man with wings walked over and smacked the guy upside the head. “Don’t flirt with the prisoner.”

“Jealous, are we? Jealous of a small Dovian? And a girl? I thought you knew me better than that, Asbjorn.” The man teased, elbowing Asbjorn playfully in the side.

Asbjorn grumbled in response, his eyes narrowing as he glared at the first man. “Just stop flirting with her, alright Captain?”

The Captain nodded, rolling his eyes slightly, but his expression showed a hint of amusement. “Alright, alright. I’ll behave,” he said, his voice still suave and confident. He glanced back at Jade, his eyes lingering for a moment, a smirk playing on his lips, before he stepped back, allowing her a moment of uneasy respite. “Besides, we don’t want to harm the merchandise. I could sell them for a hefty price. Maybe this girl, too.” He added, placing the blade under Jaffle’s chin, lifting it slightly, and tilting her face toward his.

Jade paled, her heart sinking as fear surged through her veins. “Please… Please don’t. Don’t hurt her,” she pleaded, her voice trembling. “We just wished for passage to Konxik. We come from Dwoniz and just want to go back home.”

The Captain crouched down, bringing himself to eye level with Jade. His eyes bore into hers, a mix of amusement and menace. “Well, now you are here. Pretty women like the two of you should have a place where you can be protected. No place is better than here,” he said, his voice dripping with mock sincerity. “A—”

“A pirate ship,” Jaffle interrupted, her voice weak but defiant. She shook her head, trying to dispel the lingering fog of unconsciousness. Her eyes fluttered open, focusing on the Captain with a mixture of anger and fear.

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The Captain’s smirk widened, his eyes glinting with amusement. “Smart girl,” he said, straightening up. He glanced over at Asbjorn, who watched the scene with annoyance and interest. “See, they know where they are.”

Jade’s gaze flickered to Jaffle, her mind racing. The cold, damp sea air pressed against her skin, mingling with the fear that churned in her stomach.

Jaffle looked back at the Captain, her resolve hardening. “We’re not merchandise,” she said, her voice more potent than before. “We’re people. You can’t just sell us.”

The Captain chuckled, a low, menacing sound. “If only everyone in this world obeyed that idea. Then maybe you wouldn’t be in this situation. You’re on our ship, in our world now. We’ll do whatever we want with you. Best get used to it.” He stepped back, eyeing the two women with a predatory gaze. “You’re worth more than just gold. You’re entertainment, leverage, and, if need be, a profitable sale.”

Jaffle, still struggling to regain her strength fully, glared at him. “You won’t get away with this,” she spat, her voice hoarse but filled with determination.

The Captain shrugged, unconcerned. “We’ve gotten away with worse,” he said, returning to the deck. “Now, be good girls, and maybe, just maybe, we won’t have to use your pretty faces for target practice.” Pirates standing nearby started laughing.

A soft squeak escaped from Jade, her breath hitching in her throat as fear swelled within her, making her eyes well up with tears. She felt the tightness of the ropes cutting into her wrists, a stark reminder of their helplessness. Beside her, Jaffle stirred, glancing over with a determined expression as she tried to wiggle one of her hands free from the binds to reach for Jade.

“Hey, it’s okay, starlight. I’ll get us out of here, I promise,” Jaffle said softly, her voice reassuring despite their dire situation.

Jade’s tear-filled eyes darted from Jaffle to the pirates milling about the deck, their coarse laughter and rough movements amplifying her terror. Tears rolled down her face, and she spoke tremblingly, “Jaffle…” Her voice broke, and she lowered her head, her shame and fear mingling. “I’m sorry.”

Jaffle’s brows furrowed in confusion and concern. “What are you talking about, Jade? Why on earth are you sorry?”

“Had I not had us run from home, we wouldn’t be in this situation,” Jade replied, her voice barely above a whisper, the weight of guilt heavy on her shoulders.

Jaffle groaned in frustration, hitting her head lightly against the mast. “We are in this situation because these damn pirates decided to kidnap us,” she said, her voice rising with defiance. “I mean, look at them; they are a mess. I guess the two ‘friendly’ ones we met are the Captain and his First Mate, and both look a mess. The first mate is a damn Avian. On a ship? You’re joking, right?”

Jaffle’s eyes blazed with anger as she continued, her words aimed at giving Jade strength. “These pirates are the reason we’re here, not you. Don’t you dare blame yourself for their actions.” She tugged at her restraints again, her determination unwavering. “We’ll find a way out of this. Together.”

Jade looked up at Jaffle, a glimmer of hope breaking through her despair. The sight of Jaffle’s fierce resolve gave her a small measure of comfort amidst the chaos. She nodded slowly, taking a deep breath as she tried to steady her racing heart. Despite the fear, their bond remained strong, a beacon of light in the dark uncertainty surrounding them.

“Gods of the Sea, you two are so boring. That’s such a sob story,” the Captain interrupted with a theatrical yawn, his voice dripping with mock boredom. “Can’t you two argue or something?”

Jaffle shot a venomous glare at the captain, her eyes filled with contempt. “Got a problem with it, fishy?” she taunted, her voice laced with defiance. “With that cutlass hanging at your hip, you think you’re some big swordsman. Wanna see if you can handle getting your ass handed to you by a girl?”

He sauntered over to her, a predatory smirk curling his lips, and kneeled. His eyes locked onto hers with a smoldering intensity. “You wouldn’t put up much of a fight,” he murmured, his voice low and dangerously seductive. “And who says I want to use blades? There are other ways to fight, ones that are much more... intimate.” His gaze traveled over her body, lingering suggestively. “Ways that involve a lot less clothing and a lot more heat.”

Heat rose to Jaffle’s face, and she tried turning away from his gaze.

Behind him, Asbjorn rolled his eyes, striding over to grab the Captain by the back of his shirt. “Haacenel, enough. Stop toying with them.”

Captain Haacenel straightened up, grumbling under his breath. “Way to ruin my fun,” he muttered, flicking his tail back and forth in annoyance. He glanced back at the girls, a mischievous smirk dancing across his face. “Stay put, or there will be repercussions,” he warned, turning away and walking with Asbjorn, who appeared to be giving him a stern lecture.

Jade turned to Jaffle, concern etched on her face. “Are you okay? Are you getting seasick?” she asked, her voice filled with worry.

“That asshole. I’m going to make sushi when I’m free of these ropes,” Jaffle replied grimly, her disdain for Haacenel evident in her tone.