by Kat Mandu
“Woof!” she barked chasing the man down the docks as he screamed into the night.
“Come here!” he called her back as she patted back up, “Sit,” Richard ordered as she sat on the ship right at the center of the plank. “Nobody gets on who isn’t with or part of the crew, comprenda?” Richard asked,
“Woof,” Jill affirmed,
“Okay keep these to safe?” Richard ordered rolling the cart into the upper levels of the deck. Richard shut the door, giving Jill a good pat as He glanced over at Cliff, who seemed to be nibbling on a limb. “You know that should bother me on so many levels, but it really doesn’t,” Richard admitted.
Chapter 29 Always Visit Your Mom
Remember To Visit Mom
“Good morning, said a far to cheerful voice as Richard cracked an eye open and glared at Bartholomew. “I have taken the liberty of cleaning your, clothes. And set aside something more presentable.”
“It’s too fucking early to be dealing with this shit,” Richard thought to himself his right eye twitching as his head seemed to be spinning and his stomach felt like someone had taken a spoon to it and churned it up. He glanced over to see the butler putting out some clothes for him. He shook the dust from his head as walked over, quickly slipping on a loss fitting white shirt, he slipped on a pair of brown pants and black boots. He belted up his blades and sliding his sword into place.
“Where is my coat?” Richard asked glancing over the man who he noticed was looking at his pistols.
“Master David Smith, asked it be washed properly we do have a brown duster. Richard slipped it on, before glancing down as the man handed him a hat. He frowned as he grabbed the bowler had and placed it on his head. He walked down the stairs all geared up and ready to go,
“While you be getting something to eat?” Bartholomew asked as Richard walked over to see the Madison and David Smith waiting.
“That is an odd choice in hat, deer stalker?” Richard asked Looking at the man as he adjusted the cap.
“You think you can function you look ill,” Madison commented, She was sporting her armor but was draped over with a long brown cloak that almost pooled at her feet.
“I can, function, I got had to fight off some thief’s last night trying to steal my ship,” Richard said casually eyeing the Doctor who looked fine despite Richard trying to get him shitfaced.
“I remember doing most of the fighting,” Madison corrected, ” And before you say it Jill and Cliff did a lot of the heavy lifting. Richard frowned thinking back,
“Ah!” Richard shouted slicing a man on the arm. “I didn’t just get this ship for you to steal it now, who put you up to this,” Richard growled stabbing the man’s leg.
“Fuck you!” he shouted before a wicked grin appeared on his face.
Richard pulled out his Pistol and placed it at his groin, turning around to see a would-be attacker.
“Grr,” Jill snarled leaping at the man who was coming at the attacker, She grabbed the man and with a sickening snap, the man went limp to the deck, as Jill snarled a bit of blood dripping from her muzzle.
“So did you get any info on the why?” Madison,
“It’s a ship with golden sails, that alone gives me one reason why you have thieves,” David replied glancing at the Dame and Captain.
“Anyway,” Richard said after a pause, “I am going to raid the icebox real quick,” not waiting for an answer he pushed past them his coat flowing behind him as he hit the fridge. “Spark?” Richard asked as she popped out of his coat. “the maker,” he said in hushed surprise at her being in the coat.
“Did I scare you?” she asked mischievously. “Hardly just Let Boss know to keep an eye out for anyone trying to get on the ship, only people he knows ventured with us are allowed on, and to keep a group of at least ten crew members on board to keep everything safe. Also if they need to talk to us, give Sam our address and let him know to only deliver messages to this location, and to tell know one. So that way you can be my messenger in case of an emergency sound good?” Richard quickly listed off as he nabbed a glass of milk.
“Sam, a messenger, Boss Guard ship, come back as soon as possible, got it. You worried about something?”
“I don’t trust the Lord and I don’t trust David, I have something valuable and I plan to keep,” Richard said in a whisper. “Now don’t take to much time I can only take so long.” She snapped off a salute as Richard glanced at his breakfast he was not all that much of a hurry to eat gruel. “There has got to be some honey or something in this house,” he grumbled as Spark flew out the window.
“Took your damn time it’s not like lives are at stake the longer we wait,” Doctor Smith said derisively. Richard cleaned out his ear, with his pink earning a harder glare at his nonchalant appearance.
“Your father will be paying extra for putting up with this,” David Smith grumbled as he walked out and spotted and expecting carriage.
“I don’t like this coat it doesn’t breath as well,” Spark complained as Richard leaned up against the glass window watching the people as he nursed the sick feeling in the pit of his stomach. He slipped open his coat as he glanced down at her making sure she was obscured from the other passengers.
“So how much farther are we going?”
“The place is in the industrial section, of the city, it’s an old abandon, factory that was once used as textiles factory. It was abandoned when it became obsolete.” David Smith explained as Richard yawned,
“So what exactly are we looking for?” Madison asked,
“We are not really looking so much as showing you first hand exactly what we are dealing with. I am not sure what you dealt with but I have my suspicions,” David Smith said glancing out the window.
“Sounds ominous, and knowing how the world has a habit of kicking me in the balls, I got a feeling the Pirate Lords are connected to this somehow,” Richard said rolling his eyes.
The rest of the ride went on in silence, as the carriage came to a stop in a much more downtrodden section of the city.
While most parts of the city had well-built apartments, all kinds of shops, civilians running around almost shoulder to shoulder, and everything despite its chaos had an order to it. Here it was barren a few people in rags a few meanderings near ally’s as the stone bricks that make up the road. He wasn’t sure why “This use to be bustling I have been away for a half a decade but what the hell happened?”
“Well progress has its price, sadly we set this place up for the recent advancements have moved at such a rate that what was once, the cutting edge; Is now nothing more than a scrap.” David Smith said swinging his arms out. “But we have more pressing matters come along,” He beckoned as Richard rolled his eyes and shoved his hands in his coat.
The door swung open stirring up dust as they entered the room. Richard walked in giving the entrance a quick look over. It was the typical entrance room a barred off window where the monitor would work, checking people in and making sure nobody left before the final whistle. The opposite was an old clock that surprisingly was still ticking away, making the only audible noise. David Pressed on into the main factory floor.
Richard’s eyes went wide, as his nostrils were hit with a very familiar smell, “Blood,” Madison, Richard, and Spark all said at the same time, the last one being much quieter in her revelation.
The place had all the guts torn out with a massive wall painted in a massive circle painted in blood with all kinds of odd shapes and designs that looked familiar to anyone who had a passing glance at the altars on the island.
“I am now interested,” Richard admitted moving forward as he moved into the room glancing around for anything that looked familiar. “No bowl, no drain, and not very many bodies. The designs look similar but from the looks of things its missing a few trappings unless, we are vastly underestimating their ability to move bodies,” Richard said glancing back up and his eyes fell to the center of the circle at what looked like some kind of four armed demons.
“No,” He admitted, “The origin of the alters was something do with a powerful woman who was capable of summoning my soul out of my body. She had something to do with this talisman, part of the symbol got burned into my chest in the fight with Brendan.” Richard explained, “Sadly I don’t have an exact memory, but the those three things are connected whether this has something to do with the Pirate Lord group is another matter.
“I am not familiar with this symbol I wouldn’t mind borrowing this,” David admitted looking it over.
“We are not supposed to split up so you can take me with you during your research, I was more of a pawn that day, and while we split both getting what they wanted. I was hired on as a privateer so knowing anything could be useful.” Richard reminded and informed.
“So I did,” David admitted. “All the same there are some things I can do only on my own. I feel it would be best if you remain at my house. Dame Madison, I ask that you follow my instructions on the matter, and make sure our guest stays home while I am away.”
Richard glanced over at Madison who eyed him with cold determination. “Life it seems is not without its cruel twists of irony,” Richard deadpanned.
“So How many of these are there?” Madison asked breaking the silence as she glanced over at David.
“So far three, all three have different variations, they all have one thing in common. The Demon at the center,”
“Sadly I have no clue as to what that is related, I ran into nothing like it,” Richard admitted. “So anything else we need to deal with today?”
“I have a few things but they can wait, we do need to go to the other victims and details on each of them. I am hoping you may find the pattern interesting.” David admitted as He turned to walk away.
“I really don’t like this I was signing up for pirate hunting,” Richard said with a sigh as he glanced back at the blood painting.
“Well just keep close and do what you can,” Madison said, “So you met someone who could summon your soul out of your body?” she asked, “Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Yeah, soul summoning isn’t something trivial, that’s something only the oldest and powerful beings on the planet can do. It’s the realm of the gods,” Spark said flying out of the coat and up to his face.
“There is only one god,” Richard corrected, Spark glared back clearly wanting to argue with him. “Besides while magic users are not common for all I know it could have been a dreamscape or something, I just said my soul since it’s a good description of what seemed to happen. All I know is they can talk to owls, which I may add Kareem is capable of doing.”
“Still I am pissed you left this information out,” Madison cut in glaring at Richard,
“I don’t know you, and five years on a pirate ship does not break trust, you know it now, and no that by the point we were involved I had already finished the deal between me and the woman. I don’t expect you to tell me your past so don’t expect me to tell you everything about me.”
“Hold up did this lady help you free me?” Spark asked,
“Aye,” Richard answered glancing back to Spark,
“Don’t tell me I was the prize for whatever it was she wanted out of you,” Spark said turning red, becoming increasingly hostile.
“She gave me the key to your freedom, you gave me the wish after you escaped.” Richard reminded.
“It’s the principle of the matter,” Madison joined in.
“Exactly,” Spark agreed on both of them clearly upset at him.
“Yes, the wish was the carrot, okay happy, now your both informed about everything that happened and now pissed despite everyone choosing to do what they want and everyone getting out from under someone’s thumb, piss off,” he stormed off extremely frustrated that both of them were grilling him.
Richard frowned as he realized something only to turn around to see that Spark had vanished as Madison walked up to him she patted her robbed armor, and Richard got the hint. He walked out of the room as a small group of people marched in past him.
“What?” Richard asked as he stopped and waited, watching as they started to bring in buckets of water, “Ah,” Richard said shaking his head.
Richard walked out of the building as Madison followed out.
“Now you were saying something about seeing your family?” David asked glancing over at him.
“Aye,” Richard said as he adjusted his coat.
“I suppose we could make a quick visit if we must,” David said clearly annoyed with the diversion.
“Well isn’t this nice,” Richard thought to himself, “Filled in this carriage and everyone has a grievous with me.” He thought to himself as he frowned looking out the window. The scene changed slowly, “My address, crap I need give you the address. Kings wood Drive, Lot 94.” Richard instructed and with that they were off.
Richard smiled as he watched the street move by. He picked out a few familiar places. “I played, there on the weekends, with,” He stopped as He closed the curtain. Richard glared forward he seemed stony.
“Richard?” Madison asked, only for the carriage to stop. Richard opened the door, He frowned as he looked around before he spotted the door.
“I won’t be long,” Richard said,
“We are not supposed to split up,” David repeated, as Richard glanced over at him. He just looked at him. Richard looked at him for a long time, as Richard shut the door. He moved around the carriage as he glanced over at someone sitting on the steps.
“Does Kelly Zane still live her?” Richard asked,
“The bitch, Ya she still lives here,” the man replied, “Why you a friend of her? Another boyfriend for the damn gold digger.”
“I’m her son,” Richard said with a grin. “Still giving the other mom’s hell I see,” Richard laughed, He walked up and knocked on the door.
“I didn’t say she was home,” He said,
“Store it is,” Richard said walking back down the stairs, Richard nodded his head as David and Madison got out of the carriage, Richard moved at a brisk pace putting himself through some distance.
“Don’t want to remember,” Richard said as he felt the golden Claw tap against the side of his leg. It was a reminder that he hadn’t walked these streets in well over five years.
“Mom, knock it off,” came a familiar voice, as Richard felt a grin split his face.
“Leave mom alone you dirt bag weasel,” Richard called out,
“I am, Richard?” came out a voice as Richard tossed the, “Well if isn’t the dirt bag weasel himself!” he shouted back as The two grabbed each other into massive hug. The two in question, was off course Kelly and his younger brother Colton Zane. He got another hug.
Kelly Zane was short even by woman’s standards, she wasn’t thin, but I know ways fat, not that the dress she was sporting do much to dissuade it. She had long dark brown hair, brown eyes and a warn face since she was about twenty years older than Richard himself.
Colton was a tall skinny man, about five years younger than Richard. He had red hair that had a light curl, he had a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up with brown suspenders holding up his tan pants. Richard locked Colton who was taller into a headlock, as Colton did the same the two grinning at each other.
“I was wondering when you were going to pop back up!” Colton shouted as he tried to pull his head back up.
“Oh you know had to get a drink, buy some groceries, before I showed back up,” Richard grunted in between pulls.
“Your both Idiots,” Richard’s mother frowned, “And you just got back and you’re up to your old antics, honestly,” she scolded the pair. Richard released his younger brother before giving his mom a hug, “And this is Anita,”
“Yep about five years old so we haven’t met, I am Richard the biggest of the big brothers,” Richard said with a smile a
s he went down to her eye level. Long blond hair and big blue eyes with a long dress and a pair of black shoes, he hair had a few braids in it. She hid behind his mother as he stood back up.
“So that leaves the other red head, were is Ella at?” Richard asked rising an eyebrow.
“She got married,” His mom informed, “Took a while for her to be convinced they even had a child before hand, and I haven’t heard the end of it from my husband or the neighbors.”
“Well Ella did have a habit of doing whatever she wanted,” Richard admitted with the shrug of his shoulders. Richard picked up the bags for his mom was holding,
“So what’s the word on the street?” Richard asked casually, as His mom went to go on talking about everything that had been going on. From Colton courting a woman, Ella’s wedding, and the recent events around his mom being hated by nearly all the mom’s in the area.
“… so I wasn’t going to let her call the little girl that,” Richard’s Mom explained.
“Sounds about right,” Richard admitted, “You never cared for what people call you, but you have an issue if someone is messing with a kid.”
“Never mattered who’s kid,” Colton laughed.
“So what have you been up to was the colonies?” Colton asked,
“Um,” Richard rubbed the back of his neck, “I never made it, I got turned around and ended up heading back about half way though.”
“I told my Father that hole sailing thing wouldn’t work out. I don’t understand why you went through all of this it’s not like anyone in our family was a sailor.”
“That we know off,” Richard amended, The room went a little silent, “Also I have some bad news, for you and Ella, your father is dead, he died on the ship we were working on.” Richard told them, Kelly simply shook her head, Colton looked off to the side as well.
“Did you burry him?” Colton asked,
“Of course, I owed him that much at least,” Richard admitted, he stroked his goatee. “Anyway your going to find this out eventually but I ended up having a run in with Pirates, and ended up helping out The Dame Madison Stronglance in the process, of getting soul ownership of a ship called the Gold Eagle.”