Disclaimer and Warnings: As with this entire series, all scenes of sexual acts involve more than two people. If you don't like that, don't read this. Simple?
So enjoy ; )
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 3: The Unholy Princess
The deck of the Bleeding Heart was in complete disarray as the giant tentacle of Leviathan descended upon it in a lazy arc. Captain Heart stood still as it struck, sending wood and men flying in all directions. He was vaguely aware of his first officer trying to pull him to safety, but Heart shrugged Devin off and continued to stand in defiance against the creature.
"Sir!" Devin yelled, "You must get below deck...,"
"I can stop it," Heart said with confidence. The power he now shared with Lana filled him with an energized assurance that this creature was no threat to him or his ship, "Where is Lana?"
"Controlling the creature," Stella, who had come with Devin, said as she pointed toward starboard, where more tentacles were waving, "I warned you that unlocking this power would be a disaster."
"Quiet," Heart hissed, but followed Stella's pointing finger to see Lana, who was still unclothed, gesturing her arms up at the creature, laughing manically.
"Sir...," Devin started, but was cut off by a sharp yell from Heart.
"Lana! What is the meaning of this?" Heart stormed across the deck and grabbed his new bride by her shoulder, spinning her around to face him. Devin and Stella followed, but at a safe distance, watching the sky warily for another attack from Leviathan.
"I did not mean for it to hurt you," Lana said with a smile, "It just got a little excited is all."
"Did you call this beast upon us?" Heart demanded, tightening his grip on Lana's shoulder, "We are bonded now -- you do not defy my wishes!"
Lana smirked, "But its has been waiting for me for so long," she said, pointing up at Leviathan's appendages, "Don't you feel how happy it is?"
Heart seemed about to say something, but paused, as if listening. Then he nodded slowly, his eyes wide with amazement, "I...I do hear...something."
"It's Leviathan," Lana whispered, "The unholy servant of the East Ocean, come to hear its mistress's command."
"You are not in charge here," Heart growled. He could feel their link and reached out for Lana, lashing out psychically to inflict pain. She cried out and sunk to the deck on her knees, clutching her head. Above, Leviathan grew agitated at it mistress's distress, but Heart reached out to it and commanded it to be still.
"Please," Lana moaned, as she bent over double, "Stop this!"
"You will learn your place," Heart snapped as he broke off the assault on Lana's mind, "Pull another stunt like this and I will see that pain is all you will ever know for the rest of your life."
He then reached out again to the Leviathan and told it to retreat. He was met with resistance from the beast in a language that he had never heard, but for some reason could understand. It wanted to stay and serve he and Lana.
'Return to the depths, creature,' Heart growled inside its head, 'You have done enough damage. Stay close if you wish, but do not show yourself unless your master commands it.'
Devin had returned to the captain's side as the giant tentacles that had held the crew in a terrified trance since they had appeared began to retreat once more beneath the dark ocean waves.
Satisfied, Heart turned to survey the damage Leviathan had done. Aside from a smashed railing on the starboard side and some cracked boards on the deck, the Bleeding Heart itself had received minimal physical damage. However, at least five men lay crumpled and bleeding, thrown from the force of the tentacle's impact. For some reason he suspected was linked to his new power, Heart could tell that these five men were dead.
"We have lost too many this day," the captain spoke loudly and solemnly to his wary crew, "See to the injured and take care of the dead. Then I want you below decks until morning. Dismissed."
The crew was slower than usual to answer its captain's order, but soon the deck was bustling with renewed activity. But they were silent, Heart noted, probably too shaken from the close call with Leviathan to be in much of a talking mood. Even Greta and her harem were unusually sober as they help tend to the five dead men. Another incident like this and Captain Heart feared that his men's fierce loyalty might begin to wane ever so slightly.
It was an unpleasant thought.
"Sir," Devin spoke as Heart helped Lana to her feet, "This power..." Even Heart's closest friend had doubt in his voice.
"Walk with me, Devin," Heart said as he led Lana toward the stairs to below deck, "Bring your witch with you. I need counsel."
"Of course, Sir," Devin nodded and gently guided Stella as he followed Heart down to his quarters, where he shut and locked the door with an uncharacteristicly heavy sigh.
Heart turned away from the door, "I admit I may not understand this power as much I thought...."