Romulus went to grab his dagger, but Varian is quicker. Romulus doesn’t even see Varian move before he has a hold on Romulus’s collar. In an instant, he tosses him out of the dingy with such veracity, the wind rushing against Romulus as he lands in a corner on the deck. The quick movement caused Romulus’s dagger to clatter to the ground. Varian brandishes his own weapon, moving it swiftly through the air placing itself under Romulus’s chin.

Romulus grits his teeth, his brows furrowed. Varian tilts his blade to raise Romulus’s face, “Why did you sneak onto my vessel?” Romulus glares, looking at him through his tilted brows. “What is your intent?” 

Romulus remains silent as Varian’s fangs glint in the moonlight. Varian moves his blade away as he leans down to grab Romulus’s collar again but he isn’t quick enough this time. Romulus grabs his wrist holding it still. He isn’t going to let Varian lay another hand on him.

Varian’s face twists, the corners of his mouth tilting downwards. He moves his other hand and doesn't miss, holding Romulus’s neck this time instead of his collar. Romulus let go of the wrist he caught to start clawing at the one holding him. Varian holds him up by his neck, sauntering to the edge of the deck.

His brows furrow, his lips pulling into a tight line as he holds Romulus over the edge of the ship. “I’m sure the sirens won’t listen to your reasons.” 

Romulus looks below himself, the black inky water seeming bottomless in that moment. He digs his nails into Varian’s wrist, “You really are a monster.” Varian’s grip loosens for a moment as his face falls slightly. “Did I hurt your feelings Varian?” Romulus taunts the captain with a smirk landing on his lips.

Varian’s teeth clench, his fangs protuding from his lips, whilst his hand squeezing tightly around Romulus’s neck. His sharp nails nearly drawing blood from the nape of it, before dropping him onto the deck below like a sack of potatos. Romulus's shoulder blade hit the deck banister causing him to land on his left elbow, a sharp pain engulfing the area. He gasped for air, his breath heaving.

Varian’s back was turned to him now. “Azeral,” Varian calls to the seemingly empty deck. The thud of footsteps grows close drawing Romulus’s attention as his back and arm throbbed. “Put him in the Held, we cannot afford to dawdle.”

With that, Varian storms away from the deck, growing further in the distance from Romulus’s view. 

The footsteps of another draws closer whilst Romulus clutches his arm with the non injured one. A slender figure approaching him, ginger hair pulled into a messy bun, eyes of steel meeting Romulus’s.

The ginger knelt down to his level, their tone lacking any emotion behind them. “You have three options, you let me tie your hands, I knock you out, or,” They glance just behind Romulus where he had been suspended over mere moments ago, “I’m sure the sirens will delight in your company.” 

Romulus took a moment to evaluate his position. He was on the property of the person he hated most, he didn’t know where in the sea he was on top of that. It really had been a foolish decision to stowaway like he has. Even if he were to get off the ship, he has no way of knowing which way a port would be. He has maps in his satchel, but they were of the land not the sea. Not like he can reach his satchel at this point anyway. He doubted there were any sirens in the water but nonetheless, it wasn’t an option he could take. Even if he got away from this ginger, Azeral, as Varian had called them, he most likely wouldn’t get far. 

He holds out his wrists begrudgingly, his lips curling in a tight frown. “Good choice.” The ginger grabs a rope from their waist side, slipping it over and under Romulus’s wrists. It feels as though he was caught within a constrictor's grasp, unable to move a muscle from his wrists and up. The rope is tight against his wrists, it itches against his skin as he can feel every stray fiber of the coarse material. He has become a prisoner on the vessel of one so greatly feared.

The thought of it makes his skin crawl.

Azeral pulls Romulus up by his tight binding, it scratches against his skin earning a pained hiss from Romulus. Azeral’s empty expression falls slightly. A flicker of regret in their eyes, quickly fading just as soon as it had appeared. 

The ginger holds the knot in between Romulus’s wrist, pulling him behind themself as they lead Romulus to a door that opens to a spiraling staircase. Its is lit only by a few lanterns hanging off the walls. A cold chill prickled on his skin as the staircase seemed to stretch endlessly, the only sounds were their footsteps and the settling of the wood as the boat sways with the water.

Azeral remains silent as they travel downwards. If Romulus wanted he knew he could run back up those steps as the ginger’s hold was looser on the knot, it fills Romulus with confusion. Did they care if I escaped? Or do I not pose enough of a threat? Useless debates thread in his head.

The last step reaches his view as they finally reach the held. There weren’t cages or cells as Romulus had imagined he’d be taken to. The space was shockingly devoid of anything except crates and storage. There are a few pillars in the room, a lantern or two illuminating the small space.

 It is strange that one known for being so ruthless did not have a place for prisoners. Maybe Varian thought so highly of himself, he deemed it not necessary. That no one could pose a true threat to him. Romulus grits his teeth at the thought of Varian’s arrogance.

The ginger yanks on the bindings around his wrists calling back his attention. The ginger leads him towards one of the columns that holds up the ceiling, releasing their grip on the knot as they proceed to tie the tail of the rope around the column.

Romulus glares harshly at Azeral, though Azeral didn’t even flinch as they finish tying up the rope tightly around the pole. They left about three feet of slack allowing Romulus to move somewhat around the room.

“I’m not sure what the captain plans to do with you, but I suggest you sleep. I doubt that he will bother with you until tomorrow night.”

Romulus scoffs, he’d already been sleeping earlier. Besides, anyone who works under a reprehensible man like Varian could not be trusted. With all the deaths that followed Varian, he did not desire to be added to the growing list.

“Your choice. Can’t say I expected much else,” They sigh. “Someone will check on you every few hours.” Was that supposed to be a threat? Romulus ponders. No malice seems to linger on the ginger's face.

Romulus sunk back against the pillar, he rests his hands on the floor, pain still echoing from his elbow, his face illustrates his perturbed feelings. It was foolish but maybe Azeral didn’t mean any harm despite who they associated with. Romulus dismisses the thought. 

The ginger turns away, their heel making the planks creak underneath them. They seem hesitant to leave as they approaches the stairwell before shaking their head. It makes Romulus curious but there was no way he could ask the person what was going through their head. He is practically a prisoner now. A shiver crawls up his spine.

The ginger disappears up the stairwell without another word to Romulus, not like Romulus expects them to say anymore nor does he want them to. The door clangs from the top of the stairwell.

All the crew of this wretched ship has fallen outside of Romulus’s expectations. The only one that seemed to greet him with active hostility was Varian, why was he the only one? Sure Azeral had threatened him but their words never seemed to reach their eyes. And that girl.. Isadora? She tried to stop him from seeing the atrocity her own captain committed. 

“Don’t.” He recalls the look in her eyes, so delicate and fragile. “Just trust me, you don’t want to see it,” her nervous laugh reverberates in his head.

Nothing adds up. He felt as though he was missing something. However, it only amplifies his disdain for Varian. He’d exposed another child to that misery.

Even so, she was there on his vessel. It perturbes Romulus, he couldn’t fathom why.

Another query snakes into his thoughts, Varian could’ve gotten rid of him. He had the chance to toss him into the unforgiving waves. Why hadn’t he? What reason could he have to keep him alive? That one event contradicts Romulus’s preconceived notions of the depravity that looms around Varian. 

It was sure to be a long night there, only his thoughts and his queasy stomach to keep him company.