#with the pointed ears. shark teeth. deathly pale skin and very long tongue

[leoswritingcorner]

dark sails

i’ve been thinking of yj-pirate au for a bit and got very Inspired. 

Lightning pierces the night sky in a hot white flash. It crackles dangerously close, that Kendra could practically feel its heat on her face. There was no way to outrun the storm. She hisses in pain when the soaked rope burns into her skin, and heavy rain blinds her eyes. Her hands ache as she yanks harder on the ropes with the rest of the crew. Their frantic shouts drown out the captain’s orders, as the ship lurches side to side against the rising waves.

“Kenneth!” One of the sailors bellows by her ear. 

Kendra winces and grits her teeth. She keeps up the charade with a gravelly grunt, “What, Tom?” She asks gruffly. Her skin prickles with each gust of wind that howls bitingly, determined to throw her down. Kendra steels herself against the storm stubbornly and glares at Tom from under her hat. 

“These omens only began once you came on board!” Tom accuses, shoving his massive form against her. Kendra stumbles, her fingers slipping from the rope, her body hits the deck with a grunt. In the bedlam of the storm, her hat is lost. The wind whips her long hair in a frenzy and the sailor freezes. Kendra sees the confusion, shock, then undoubtable anger that flashes in his eyes. “A woman...” he begins, “a damn curse!” 

The sea roars in fury. Kendra’s eyes turn from the sailor and to the massive wall of water that only seemed to grow with each second. Kendra’s eyes grow wide and she quickly sucks in a breath. There’s only a moment of deathly stillness before it comes crashing down on them. Kendra feels her body wash back, and hit the rail. Her chest burns as she holds what little breath she could catch. The water recedes and most of the sailors are missing, including Tom. Kendra catches her breath with a violent cough, water lurching from her throat. The ship rocks once more, Kendra steadies herself, as the few remaining sailors shout in fear.

Booming thunder crashes overhead, and Kendra looks out to the pitch black. A feeling of an unspeakable, yet familiar chill rattles her nerves. Among the screaming storm, she could hear them.  

Their whispers carry across the dark sea and fall heavy on her ears. Kendra squeezes her nails into the rail hard. Thick drops of blood begin to seep from her fingers “Damn you,” she whispers back. Aggravation boils in her blood as the storm challenges her with another strike of lightning. Had anyone been looking at her, they would have seen the unearthly glow in her eyes.  “Damn you!” She shouts. Everything else seems to fade, as the storm speaks to her, taunts her that she can run, she can hide...but she’ll never ever escape. Through the black skies, a mist of red peeks through. The eyes of the storm glare down.

They see her.

‘You jump,’ her mind commands in a hiss. Kendra looks at the churning waters below. ‘You jump NOW!’ It screams 

Kendra closes her eyes and her tears are lost against the spray of water. Her body falls weightlessly through the air. She hears a crash of wood and rocks as the ship is claimed by storm and sea. Her body hits the water, and she vanishes into the waves of foam.

*

Kendra wakes up, the pain a bare dull in her body. The sun warms her skin, gentle waves of the shore lapping at her feet. She slowly lifts her head, and surveys the new surroundings. 

It saved her, again. Yet Kendra wondered if it was only saving itself. After all, she was just a vessel. She carefully sits up and looks to the ocean. It was like the storm had never happened. But she knew better. And now she knew, they’d always find her. Somehow. 

Kendra stands, wobbling as her legs steady. But for now, she had to keep on running.

***

Lucky shuts the door carefully and waits silently, listening to the muffled sounds of mingling guests and music before making her escape. Lantern in hand, she bravely treks across the rolling hill behind the manor. The salty breeze of the evening races to greet her as she comes closer to her hideaway. 

She rubs the back of her hand against the side of her gown, wiping away whatever remained of the countless kisses from countless suitors may have left behind, wrinkling her nose. They were all the same one way or another- pompous, or spineless, uninteresting or much too full of themselves. Lucky sets the lantern down and lifts her gown, stepping over the ruin stone wall that blocked away a small shack that stood on the cliff above the sea. Maybe once belonging to a sailor, or possibly even a pirate. Perhaps that part was a fantasy on her part.

Once inside, she shrugs off her shawl and sits by the small window, gazing out to the horizon. The night slowly paints the sky with hazes of purple and deep blow. Her green eyes scan the sky until the first twinkle of starlight catches her eyes. 

A familiar crackle energy warms her hands, and she gazes down. A soft light of blue and green glow from her skin. It always became strongest at night when all the stars and moon shone in the sky. Lucky rubs her fingers in wonder, even though it had been her guarded secret for years. The colors that dance across her skin charge her every nerve and sometimes, she swears she feels like she could fly. 

A longing sigh passes her lips and she rests her head against the window’s smudge glass. If only she could fly. She’d go clear beyond the horizon, and follow where the seas and stars guide her. Perhaps she could even learn how this came to be. Lucky turns her hand and gentle sparks fly from her fingertips. A sad smile crosses her lips. It seemed her lot in life to be stuck on this island though. 

A distant boom pulls Lucky from her thoughts. She pauses, before the sound echoes again. Pushing the window open, Lucky leans out and gazes out to the sea. Against the incoming night, she spies a small fleet of ships. Another cannon goes off, and her face pales. Foreboding flags that served as a warning flew proudly on the mast of each one.

“Pirates,” she breathes. Her body rocks with a jump when another cannon goes off. Hitting too close to the shack, the small building rumbles and groans in protest, dust and broken pieces of wood drop from the ceiling. With a startled cry, Lucky turns and runs out, just before the next cannon strikes the shack. “Pirates!” She cries out, running back up the hill. “Pirates!” She screams to anyone who could hear.

With a gaze back, she could see the ravage the pirates already caused. One ship arrives, and then another. Even from miles away, she hears their bloodthirsty shouts and viscous laughter. The flicker of light in her hand charges brightly as her nerves grow, before dimming and going out. Lucky turns away from the devastation and runs.

***

“I’ve been stabbed, shot, burnt, hung, even fed to sharks,” Solana lists thoughtfully, her hand rubs her dislocated jaw and with a sharp shove, pops it back into place with a sickening sound. The cowering naval officer cringes. “Oh!” She lifts a pointer finger, “I even have spent a night in an iron maiden, which I,” She cuts off with a giggle, “would not recommend, amigo.” 

Crickets screech, filling the air along with other critters that sound a night symphony only one would hear in a lowly swamp. The naval officer’s frantic panting joins them as he fearfully watches Solana circle him, a hunger in her eyes. “So don’t disrespect me by trying to kill me with a log.” She sneers, motioning to the oversized log that not too long ago was slammed against her face. While perhaps, it may have killed a human, it didn’t quite have the same effect on her. She kneels down in front of the officer suddenly and she laughs at his flinch. “Boo!” She taunts wiggling her fingers. The officer flinches again, whimpering against his gag. Soland laughs, standing. “Ah, you’re no fun. You’re too easy to scare. Met toddlers more brave than you,” She sighs, tapping her sword along her shoulder. “Bet you’re wondering why I’m not dead from everything I just told you, huh?” She asks. 

The man mumbles weakly and Solana smiles. “I’ll be happy to explain! You see, I’m a greedy pendeja.” She explains wandering around the small campground again. “I see something, I want it, I take it.” Solana says, her voice dipping dangerously low. “But, as fate would have it, I took something I shouldn’t have. But ooooh did I want it.” 

She curls and uncurls her hand as if feeling the item there. “It came with a curse, you see,” She tells him, kicking some sand around. “A curse that doesn’t allow death to touch me. Now, I know what you’re thinking!” She whips around, pointing the sword inches from the officer’s face. “ ‘Why Solana, that’s no curse! That’s immortality, something all men crave for’” She mocks in a deep tone. “Not like this,” She motions to herself, clicking her tongue in disapproval. “No, no. I am damned!” She cries. “Death can yank on these hidden chains he has locked on me! It’s not fun. It has its perks, but oh is it far from fun.” She shakes her head. 

Moonlight begins to peek between the palms and spanish moss, and Solana eyes it before slowly looking at the officer who shakes still, sweat running down his head and face. “You still don't understand,” Solana accuses. “I’ll show you.” She moves the sword back and walks backwards slowly, opening her arms. Within the moonlight, her tanned skin melts away in a ghastly pale purple. Her eyes become hollow, and every open wound, gash, and maim rips through. The officer’s wide eyes begin to bulge as he screams frantically against his gag, throwing his body side to side. Solana steps away and her appearance returns to normal. “A cursed pirate,” She sighs. “Who, I should add, has an…” She hears his veins pulsing within him. “Has quite an unusual appetite.” She slides her sword over him and watches as tears pour from his eyes, sobbing loudly. “Oh hush. I already ate.” Solana groans.

She stands and grabs her treasure, placing her foot on the bucket of water near the fire. “The gators however,” She adds darkly. “Have not.” 

The officer screams when it all goes dark.