The Accursed Ravager

“So what’s the big deal about this ship?” I asked clearly out of the loop.

"Get a load of this," one of the pirates scoffed. "A pirate who hasn't heard of the Accursed Ravager."

Viola looked frightened. She trembled as she spoke. “That horrid ship is the one cursed to roam the sea. A ghost ship that belonged to the accursed first pirate... the one from the tales you asked about yesterday.”

“You mean the one from the sea shanty you sang yesterday?”

She nodded.

“Very few see it and live to tell the tale.”

I looked over to the beautiful, silent ship sailing towards us. The bow cut through the waves like butter.

How wonderful it would be to have a ship like it.

“We’ll have to finish this quickly.” Ivan snapped, looking annoyed.

Ivan swung the chain forward, and this time, Viola went staggering towards my path. I had learned from our last time. I latched my hook onto the chain and, with all my might, yanked it toward me, my blade aimed at him.

He seemed to realise this and let go of the chain, and Viola staggered forwards into my arms. I pulled her close as I pointed my blade at Ivan.

“It’s alright, I’ve got you now.” I tried to comfort her.

She looked up at me with fear still present on her face. I could tell she was worried about her younger sister.

“I won’t let her get hurt,” I whispered to her.

“Ya got some nifty tricks,” Ivan snarled.

“I’d thank you for your compliment, but I don’t respect you enough to offer even the slightest bit of gratitude.”

“Ya got a sharp tongue, pretty boy. I can’t wait to cut it out.”

“Aww, you think I’m pretty. Too bad you aren’t my type.”

Before Ivan could reply, one of the other pirates yelled. “Brace yourselves!”

There was a loud crash, and splinters went everywhere as I lost my footing. I managed to hook onto a rope ladder that had come loose from one of the masts that was falling into the sea. Ivan had somehow kept his footing and a firm grip on the chain around Melody's neck. Viola used her wires to hold onto the mast.

I turned to see what had happened. The Ravager had not only caught up but had crashed into us, cleaving the ship in half. Pirates were sinking beneath the waves, and the boat had shifted to tilt slightly upwards, filled with seawater. The Ravager had no visible damage, and the impact had slowed the ship to a near halt.

My crew had somehow managed to stay aboard. Elora had used her axes to anchor herself, and one arm was wrapped around Túta, who looked to be dazed. Pippa had reverted to her pink fluff ball form and was flapping her wings. Although my crew was safe, this was now quite literally a sinking ship.

Ivan stomped his boot on the shattered deck, splintering it further.

“Yar, this be a poor turn of events.” His face was red with rage, and veins were visible on his neck.

“Really? I thought the new renovations gave it a nice open feel.”

Ivan stepped forward and swung his blade in the air. He was still metres away, but I instinctively dodged. I almost lost my footing, but somehow managed to stay upright. It was a good thing I dodged because the wooden railing behind me burst into splinters.

“Rahahara~ ya scared little scallywag.”

“Remind me which of us is hiding behind a child?”

“Ah, I forgot I could just do this.”

Ivan pulled Melody towards him. Hoisting the collar up so she was forced to stand on her tippy toes so as not to be strangled by the chain. He placed his blade next to her neck.

“I’ll slice this kid's neck if ya don’t put your blade away.”

Melody looked fearful, and tears were forming in her eyes. I gritted my teeth as I sheathed my blade. I couldn’t risk anything happening to Melody. He loosened his grip on the chain, and Melody fell to the ground.

A cruel smile crept up his face, and I instantly began to move.

“I can’t believe ya believed me. Rahahara~”

He raised his blade and swung at Melody.

I ran as fast as I could, just managing to get in front of Melody before Ivan's blade slashed diagonally across my chest. Blood spattered out, covering the deck as I fought to stay conscious.

“Rahahara~ Ya fool. Ya ran straight into that.”

I fought every fibre of my body to remain standing. Blood was everywhere, dripping onto the deck as a familiar taste of iron filled my mouth. I spat some of it to the side.

“Is that the worst you’ve got?” I retorted with an empty bluff.

He looked surprised, almost shocked, which was enough time to allow for several wires to wrap tightly around his neck, arms and legs. He glanced over at Viola, who was using both of her hands to restrain Ivan.

“Ya think your wires are enough to stop me?” he barked. He began to flex his muscles, and the wires trembled. Even the cables around his neck were struggling to restrain him. He took half a step forward. Viola was bleeding from her fingers as she had gripped the wires themselves to add extra strength to them.

I charged at him with my remaining strength. He was caught by surprise and dropped his blade. The force of my tackle forced him over the railings, along with me, and into the choppy dark waves below. I felt the water hit me as I began to sink.

I locked eyes with Ivan, whose arm was outstretched as he gripped my leg. I kicked him, but he showed no reaction. I stomped on his hand again. This time, his grip loosened, and I managed to break free. He tried to grab hold of me as he sank further into the darkness. I spiralled around to look up at the faint light of the surface that was getting further and further away.

If this was the end, at least it was one hell of a way to go.

I felt a wire wrapping around my stomach as I was pulled from the depths and flung upwards. A pink fluff ball flew into me and bit my jacket. Pippa flapped her wings with all her might. The two of us went hurtling toward the Ravager.

We landed hard and slid across the polished deck. My blood left a trail of our path along the brown wood. The Ravager was surprisingly clean, majestic even in its silence. Elora and Túta were flung up next, wires wrapped around their waists. Viola followed, wings flapping as she held Melody in her arms.

“Lark you’re injured!” Túta screamed, rushing towards me.

I stuck my thumb up in the air.

“Maybe so, but we won.”

“We don’t have medical equipment to treat you. Pippa, can you…”

Pippa was trembling in a corner. Her eyes were closed, and she was still in her fluff ball form.

“Pwii!” she squeaked, shaking.

“Pippa? What’s…” Túta’s eyes rolled back, and she fell forward as I reached out and caught her.

Elora staggered and then fell quickly, caught by Viola's wires. Viola was cuddling an unconscious Melody and had dropped to a knee. She carefully lowered herself as she, too, passed out.

A creak filled the otherwise silent air.

“It’s been a long time since anyone dared to board my ship.”

▪──── X ────▪

End of chapter 23