Tortuga, 1702
Rusalka pulled the dagger across the throat of the final crewmen, spilling his blood over the deck just as the port of Tortuga was coming into view. She released her grip of the man dropping his body into the sea. She looked up to the sails. The winds were right and at the pace of the ship she should be able to pull in to port without trouble.
——
Rusalka
stepped off her newly renamed ship, the
Hades' Whore
, in her true form. Horns jutted from the top of her hear, extending upward and curling slightly at the very tips and her skin took on a pale shade. She wore a pair of black boots that reached up to her knees and a jacket that showed off her breasts. Immediately she got stare from the local pirates.
She strode from the deck toward the nearest tavern with a look of regal. Upon reaching the door she slammed it open and walked in. The chatter of the place stopped and fell silent. Rusalka cast a look across the room then cut a path to the bar. Eyes followed her as she crossed the room, but she kept her gaze forward toward her destination. When she reached the bar, the bartender was already waiting and asked, "What will it be?"
Where can I find a crew?
She asked sharply.
"Why don't yer captain come find one himself, sweetheart?" a man sitting next to her asked. His words came out almost slurred. Rusalka looked at the man and gave him a look to say not to mess with her.
She looked back to the bartender and asked,
Well?
"I asked ye a question," the man slurred interrupting for a second time, this time placing a hand on her arm.
Rusalka grabbed the man's hand and twisted it until there was the sound of cracking bone. The man yelled out in pain. Rusalka release her grip, her hand dropping to her waist. Pulling out a pistol with a blade affixed to the bottom, she whipped it around and pointed at a man holding a chair behind her with the intent of slamming against her head.
I would make another decision on what ye plan to do with that.
She said with a scowl.
The man tried to find his words to no success. Rusalka suddenly turned back around and fired his pistol at a new attacker. His sword left his hand as he gripped his chest. He fell back onto a table crushing it.
In that moment a fight broke out. The entire tavern was in an uproar. The man holding the chair found his courage and continued his initial attack but found a large, curved sword with spikes on the top latter part adjoining the guard, sticking through his body. The chair dropped to the floor breaking into pieces. Rusalka gave the man a smile and with her free hand waved her index finger back and forth. She pulled the sword free letting the man fall to the floor.
All around her the tavern was chaos. Both men and women were involved fighting each other with whatever was close enough to pick up and use as a weapon. Everything from bottle to chairs was thrown of crushed against someone's head.
Rusalka eased her way toward the back of the tavern away from the chaos. She thrived off it and would love to be in the middle killing her fellow pirates by the dozen, but she had to restrain herself. She had a job to do and the sooner she accomplished that job, the sooner she could commence her killing.
She found an unoccupied table and sat down. With her back to the wall, she sat patiently watching the fight go on. She didn't have to wait long.
A young woman approached the table and looked at the
Djinn
. Rusalka looked up at her and strangely found her attractive. She wore dark pants and jacket. Underneath the jacket was a white blouse unbuttoned and tied at the bottom showing just slight hints at the breasts. Her hair was long and dark with a few strands braided and all held back with a red bandana.
After a moment Rusalka asked,
May I help ye?
"Aye," the woman replied. "Me name is Mary Read and me knows of a crew for ye."
And what do ye expect in return of such information?
Rusalka asked leaning back in her chair, hand resting on her pistol.
"No need fer standing on edge ready to kill me," Mary remarked nodding toward Rusalka's hand. "I am similar to you."
How so do ye figure?
"I'm a
Succubus
and looking for whatever mayhem ye are seeking."
I intend to mount Blackbeard's head upon my ship. Rusalka informed.
Mary's reaction was subtle. She like every pirate and nonpirate had either seen or heard of Blackbeard. Every demon in the Caribbean feared him.
"Then if ye will have me, then I am yers," Mary said sanguinely.
And this crew ye spoke of?
"Mostly human and in need of a captain. A loyal bunch with a thirst fer plundering and spilling of blood," Mary explained with a ghastly grin.
Excellent.
Rusalka said removing her hand from her pistol.
The
Hades' Whore
is docked, ye won't be able to miss her. I expect the crew to be loaded and the ship resupplied within the hour.
"Aye, aye Captain," Mary said. "Will I be quarter with the crew ma'am?"