After the cacophony of the downed ship, even the howling winds held an eery hush. Sega backed away from the hole in the brig wall. She looked down at her hands - they were bleeding from breaking through the door - and curled them into fists. Lux turned to look at her, and she met his eyes. The warm glow of them didn’t seem so startling now, even though they were still unreadable. She bit the inside of her cheek, knowing that if she opened her mouth she’d scream. Whether a scream of rage or frustration, she wasn’t quite sure. She clenched her eyes shut, took a deep breath, and did what she did best. She forced it down. The torrent of emotions settled, and she opened her eyes to find Lux approaching carefully across the narrow gap in the floorboards.
She noticed the bandages on his hands were nearly soaked through with new blood.
“Come with me,” She turned and marched off, and he stumbled over the debris after her. She led him to the galley, and shoved him onto a stool near a basin full of water. The woman prisoner was crouched at the hearth, working on rebuilding the oven fire. Her son huddled in blankets in the corner. She looked tiredly up at Sega and Lux.
“Are you two alright?” asked Sega, as she went to work taking Lux’s bandages off.
The woman nodded half-heartedly, and tossed a piece of firewood into the gently glowing flames.
“What are your names?” Sega balled the bloody bandages up and tossed them into a bucket beside the basin. Lux glanced over his shoulder at the boy, who watched them through a gap in the blanket.
“Anya.” The woman stood up and turned to them. “And Rego.” She motioned to the boy, who huddled deeper into the blanket. “What happened out there?”
Lux looked down at his hands. Sega sighed, opening her mouth to speak. Lux beat her to it “A nightmare.”
Sega closed her mouth with a snort. “It’s a fortunate thing..." Sega looked up at Anya, "...that you all will be sold in Aeros.” Sega couldn’t quite hide the envy in her voice. “Well, you and your son at least.” Anya raised an eyebrow.
Lux tensed slightly as Sega squeezed a wet rag over his hands, the bloody water draining into a bucket. She turned her attention fully to his hands, the skin shredded across his palm. “How did this happen?” she turned his hand over gently.
“That captain of yours isn’t exactly light.” Lux watched her inspect the torn skin in the dim fire light. In his mind, he felt the metal cell bar give and the hull wall splinter in his grasp, the sizzle of energy coursing through him as he struggled to keep his strength contained.
Sega frowned at him, “Hmph”. She turned away and rummaged through some boxes before she found new bandages. “You need to make these last.” She shook them at him before setting to work on his hands.
He watched her carefully this time. Anya brushed the filth from her hands before wandering back to Rego, out of earshot from them. Sega casted them a sidelong glance before looking back at her work.
“Why did you save him?” Sega kept her voice low, but Lux sensed an unsettling tone in her voice. He twitched. She continued to look at his hands as she finished wrapping the outer cloth of one hand.
“I —“ He cleared his throat and tried again. “That’s an odd question.”
Sega’s eyes snapped up to his. Even in the faint light, he could see the slight violet color to them. “He’s going to get us all killed. The men don’t see it, but I know him. And I know the fate that awaits us now.” Her hands gripped his wrists below the shackles and he winced. “Aeros will be the end of the road for you, your worries will be over. But the rest of this world will suffer.”
Lux leaned away from her, then snorted in derision. “You would have preferred I let him fall. So that you wouldn’t have it on your own conscience? Is that it?”
Sega’s face twitched. “Now that he knows that Darkflame is out there, he will stop at nothing to see himself fulfill the prophecy.”
“Is that supposed to be my problem?” Lux snapped.
“It won’t be long now. He will figure out that you were leading the Marauder ship to her den —“
“How did you — “ Lux drew further way, she held onto him.
“That leaves you two choices. Play dumb and get hung in Aeros. At least you won't have any problems after that.”
Lux grimaced, leaning closer to her. “I will haunt you when I die.”
“Or” Sega’s face fell very still, “Tell him you will lead us there.”
Lux snorted, laughing in disbelief. Sega held his gaze, she raised a brow. Lux narrowed his eyes but the wheels began to turn. His eyes sparked as it dawned on him.
“I lead him astray.” Lux whispered.
Sega nodded once. “I will have you freed, but you will follow my orders. No man will undermine the Quarter Master’s charge. Not even the Captain.”
Lux nodded, thinking.
“Full wages?” He glanced mischievously at her.
She rolled her eyes with a sigh. “Full wages, if we survive this.” She added sardonically.
He leaned closer to her, close enough that Sega could feel his breath against her cheek.
“How will you know I’m not leading you to your death?” Lux whispered, his gold eyes staring unblinking into her own.
A soft smile crept over her lips, conflicting with the heavy threat in her eyes. She wasn't sure if the wave of sadness that flooded her showed on her face. She had long ago accepted that her life might come to an early end, it was a miracle she'd lasted this long in her mind. That didn't make it an easier pill to swallow. “I supposed if I must die, make it a fitting end to all the stories.”
Lux hesitated, searching her expression. He sat back.
“Your Captain won’t trust my word.”
“He will if it comes through me.”
Lux shook his head, amused as much as confused.
“I must protect this crew. Whether you are a part of that crew is your decision. If you help me succeed, I will give you half of what I earned from the Marauder ship. And you will be free to do as you please.”
Sega pulled a set of keys from her belt and motioned towards the manacles on his wrists. Lux let out a long, dreary sigh.
“Hmph,” He shook his head. “I should have let him fall.”
He held out his wrists to her. She nodded and unlocked the manacles. His veins pulsed as the iron fell away. Sega withdrew her hand, feeling a very subtle shock in the air. She narrowed her eyes at him, but turned away.
“Follow me.”
"Like I have any other choice..."Lux muttered to himself, barely audible to Sega's ears.
Sega closed the door behind her, leaving Lux standing just outside the Captain’s quarters. The room was a mess, books and papers scattered all over the floor. The Captain sat in his massive chair, staring distantly from his throne amidst the calamity. If he noticed her enter, he didn’t show it. Sega marched up to his desk, and waited from him to look up at her.
“The ship is in bad shape, but we will make it to Aeros if we avoid further conflict.” Sega stood rigidly across the desk from the Captain.
Lord Tekla propped his chin on his fist. He nodded stiffly. His eyes found the Marauder’s log in a heap on the floor.
“I’ve spoken with the prisoner.” Sega watched Tekla narrow his eyes at the pile of papers.
“The Marauders…they were hunting—“
Tekla locked his eyes on her. “He was tracking her.”
Sega closed her mouth with a nod. “He knows where the den is.” She formed her words carefully under the harsh stare.
Tekla drug his eye back to the papers on the floor. Sega only saw the unmarked side of his face, a deep longing echoed in the pit of her stomach. His scar never bothered her, but the normal half of his face was a memory that haunted her.
Many years before this life had taken hold of them, they had lived in the same town. Tekla's parents had been the clan leaders, his home full of splendor. He had found her wandering along the cliffs nearby, orphaned by a fire that had decimated her small, remote village on the outskirts of the city. People hadn't felt the bite of winter in many generations, but they felt the weather shifting and had begun to unearth the caverns. Sega's family had been the keeper of the caverns, but now they were all gone. Tekla had convinced his family to take her in, and they had been inseparable since.
The burden of loss had turned a kind, mischievous young man into the devil that sat before her. A few years after losing her village, Tekla's home was decimated as well. His family and friends all perished in black flames, they were the only ones who survived the devastation of Ash Chasm.
“I have offered him a deal. He’s agreed to take us to her.”
Tekla raised a brow, his harsh gaze turning mildly amused. “Under what conditions?”
“He will be my right hand —“
The Captain broke her off with a sudden burst of laughter. He ran his tongue over his teeth.
“I do enjoy your jokes, Sega. As rare as they are.”
Sega swallowed her words, silently staring down at the desk as she searched for new ones.
“You expect me to trust him?” Tekla's voice cut through her thoughts.
Sega looked up, the Captain’s tone laced with warning.
“Our terms are clear.” This was all she could come up with.
As fast as a viper, Lord Tekla stood and reached across the desk. The back of his hand snapped across her cheek, nearly throwing her down. She staggered, holding her cheek as she steeled herself. The Captain’s gaze turned cold, no longer amused.
“We do not negotiate with traitors. What makes you think he won’t sabotage us, like he did his last captain?” Tekla snorted, sitting back in his chair. “He is not to be trusted. You should know better.”
Sega hid her shaking fists behind her back, straightening to stare at the desk again. She took a slow, trembling breath. They air was cold in her lungs, but did nothing to clear her mind.
“One way or another, we will find her. And we will die. You should know that.” Poison seeped into Sega’s voice. The Captain's gaze snapped to her, narrowing eagerly. He leaned forward as she struggled to contain her rage. She lifted her eyes to meet the Captain’s. “What does it matter if he leads us there?”
Tekla chuckled softly, leaned back and steepled his hands.
“Alright. Take your slave and get us to Aeros. Let’s see what happens.” Tekla’s words come out like daggers. Sega bowed her head slightly and turned to leave.
“Sega.” Sega froze.
“Don’t make me regret this.”
She glanced back to see a gentle smile on his face. Her mind went numb with terror. She willed herself to walk slowly as she left the room. She quietly shut the door behind her, then stomped off across the deck past Lux. He hurried to catch up, his eyes locked on the bruise forming on her cheekbone.
“Is this his seal of approval?” Sega could hear the anger in his voice, not that he tried to hide it. Sega stared ahead, walking past men repairing damages on deck. They glanced curiously up at them. Lux looked back towards the Captain’s quarters.
Sega turned suddenly and snatched him by the collar. She yanked him down to her level.
“If you know what is good for you -- ” She kept her voice low, glaring into his surprised eyes. "Stay away from him." After a moment, her grip slacked and she half-heartedly shoved him away. She turned and marched off, leaving Lux to stare after her in a stupor.
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