by Jack Crosby
I crouched down, knowing any protests would fall on deaf ears. “Are you sure about this?”
Her face was bright and happy, which I found a tiny bit disturbing. “I’m one hundred percent sure.”
We fell quiet; Cassandra waiting for the right moment and me preparing myself to attack a gargantuan shark. Time seemed to stand still as we waited, then out of nowhere the boat slammed to a stop. I had to hold on for dear life as to not fall out and into the water below. Argue and Tyra kept going, not noticing our lack of movement. We were on our own.
Just like Cassandra had predicted, the ugly shark’s head came flying out of the water, jaws open. The amount of teeth I was looking at was unbelievable. The shark missed the boat by no less than a foot and the water it brought with it from below rocked us back and forth violently.
“Oz, do it!”
I had one chance and I took it. I pushed forward and my sword cut into its white, fleshy underside. The shark ended up doing most of the work for me as it descended back into the sea. I split it open from stomach to mouth, blackish-green blood pouring into the sea. It fell back into the sea, only to resurface very much dead. I tumbled backwards on to the hard wooden bench.
The boat started moving forward again at a rapid pace. “Well done Oz! I knew together we could do it.”
I for one was just glad to still be alive. I wondered to myself if I died in the past, would my dad recognize me when my soul was ferried to the great beyond? “Let’s just get to that ship. I think I’ve had enough high seas adventures for one lifetime.”
As I said it the fog broke and a huge ship was waiting for us surrounded by calm water. Cassandra brought the speed down to an idle. “I think it’s only about to get much worse.”
We’d found The Flying Dutchman.
Chapter 12 – The Flying Dutchman
I’d never seen a ship quite like this one. It was black – almost like rotting wood. Chunks of the size kept falling into the water below making an approach all the more dangerous. The sails were in terrible shape with giant holes and rips all over the place. The thing though that made this ship the weirdest thing I’d seen yet was the large eye on the front. It looked half asleep, as the lid kept falling down.
“There you guys are!” Tyra floated down with Argus still in her arms. “We have been so worried.”
“I wasn’t worried, I figured you two we’re fine. Hell, you guys make an excellent team.”
Argus’s praise made Cassandra blush. Tyra didn’t look pleased by that declaration. We didn’t need another feud popping up so, “Any idea how we get on to that thing?”
The pirate pointed to the back of the ship. “There’s a hatch back there, ready for us to take. I will warn you, once we’re on the ship, prepare to fight.”
We followed the two of them back to where Argus pointed out the hatch to the ship. It was a small, barnacle covered hatch that was probably used to dispose of waste at one point. Using my sword, I cut the locks off and Cassandra magically popped the hatch open. Tyra got in position and allowed Argus to be the first to go in.
Tyra and Cassandra went next and I took up the rearguard position. The chute we were in stunk like no other. It smelled so bad that it actually covered up all the brimstone one could take in from the outside. At least we weren’t in there long. Argus lifted the exit door for us and we found ourselves below deck somewhere on the ship.
Being a pirate, Argus had a general layout of the ship. “If I had to venture a guess, we’re probably in the ship’s cargo hold. I can’t imagine Jones using this for much.”
“Why did that chute smell bad?”
Argus chuckled at my question. “Ships like these were used to bring people across the sea. When folks died on the ship, they needed a place to dump the corpse.”
The three of us looked mortified at Argus’s answer, but he didn’t allow us a chance to really revel in the disgusting nature of what just happened. “Your brother Cassandra won’t be too far from here. We just need to be extra-”
I think careful was the word he was looking for. Not that it mattered anymore because a large horde of demon pirates burst into the hold, waving swords and other sharp objects at us. “So much for a surprise attack guys.”
Argus pulled out his cutlass Asunder and raised it into the air. “No more taunts, everyone attack!”
**Caspian**
I heard some commotion from what sounded like above me. Were people running to something? Not that it really mattered to me, I was just fucking sitting in this stupid cell. I hadn’t had a visitor since the Lust demon a few hours earlier.
Well speak of the devil, the door opened and down came said Lust demon. She seemed to be in a very chipper mood. “It looks like your friends are here to rescue you.”
Hot damn, it was about time Cassandra got her ass in gear and came to get me. “Why are you happy about that?”
“Because, I’m only on this fucking ship due to a bet I made. If you’re friends are successful in taking down Jones, they’ll free me as well.”
Gambling debts were something I was all too familiar with. “So, are you going to let me out to go help them or what?”
She wagged a finger at me. “As much as I would enjoy that, I’m still bound by the captain’s orders to keep you locked up. That doesn’t mean in our spare time we can’t have some fun.”
She slipped into my cell again and quickly took off her clothes, except for her sexy pirate boots and hat. She snapped her fingers and using her Lust magic, made all my clothes fall to the floor. That was really fucking hot. She guided me to the small bed and laid me flat on my back, mounting me. It only took a few wiggles of her hips and a few jiggles of her breasts to really make me hard. Shit, that was so fucking hot.
I easily slipped inside her and she went about her work. “Stupid question…” I moaned a few times before asking. “I don’t even know your name.”
She leaned in so that my face was right in between her breasts. “Names are important, but I’ll let you have this one.” She jerked her hips up and that sent me into an early orgasm. “My name’s Lilith.”
**Oz**
Almighty there were a lot of pirates! I was in the midst of striking down another when two more took his place. Each seemed to be some sort of deformed half human, half demon thing. They were coming in hot with killer intent, so there was no time to take a break.
“Oz, duck!” I did as I was commanded and Cassandra sent a blue flame over my head and incinerated the two pirates charging me. “You’re welcome!”
She went back to her business as I rushed forward to take on another. I felt a figure bump me in the back, a bit larger than me. “How are you doing Captain Fletch the Merciless?”
I heard Asunder parry away a blow and then strike true. “I haven’t had this much fun since the death of piracy centuries ago!” His sword was clashing against another just like that. “Was this what you were expecting?”
“This sounds a bit like the tale Roxanne told me, but it’s different living it.” I punched a pirate in the face and then removed his sword arm from his body. With no way to defend, it was easy peasy to lop his head off with one fell swoop.
Tyra flew above us with her flaming sword at the ready. She dropped low and cut three more pirates down. “Their numbers seem to be lessening!”
That was wonderful news indeed. I wasn’t out of shape by any stretch but this was ridiculous. I was having a hard time breathing as each battle took a little more out of me than the last. The brute in front of me had an axe that was even harder to defend against than just a sword. I rolled back out away from Argus and tried to give myself a bit more room. When he went to engage, I was again saved the trouble by Cassandra. A black colored spell hit my enemy and blew him into a thousand microscopic bits. “Holy shit! Anyone ever tell you that you’re scary?”
A figure jumped out of the shadows with his sword ready to cleave the witch in two. I spread my chained laced wings and ran over to her as fast as my legs would
take me. I wrapped her up just in time for the sword to hit the protective shell I’d formed and bounce away. The pirate who tried to attack her met his end quickly as I speared him through the eye.
Cassandra grabbed me and pulled me in to a kiss. “That’s for being my hero.”
Dumbfounded, I went back to helping Argus take down the rest of the crew. With their numbers drastically cut, our superior skill was no match. Tyra continued to swoop in and out, chopping down what remained and when Argus killed the last one with a swift blow, we began to cheer.
“Thank the Almighty that’s over with!”
The four of us took a few moments to catch our breath. With the crew finished, there was only one thing left to do. “Captain Jones will be waiting for us.”
Argus was right. Something told me he was not like the pirates we just faced. “Have you ever dealt with him before?”
He shook his head no. “One way to stay alive on the seas is to avoid this cursed ship and its captain all together. I’ve heard stories, none of them pretty.”
“I think we need to rest before going on.” The angel looked really tired. “That was the first real battle I have participated in since World War II.”
That was a stunning revelation to me. “You were in World War II Tyra?”
“I was a medic back then, but yes. I had to defend myself on a few occasions.”
“Sorry to break up story time,” Cassandra looked as if she wasn’t even remotely interested in this new piece of information, “but we need to find my brother and get out of here.”
Heavy boot steps joined us in the hold. “That won’t be happenin’ missy. I’ve got a crew to replace and you four will do just nicely.”
Chapter 13 – Davey Jones
Easily six and a half feet tall, the barreled chested man in front of us was a true monster. He wore no shirt, instead his pale greenish skin was there for us all to see. Yellow splotches were dotted here and there, making it looked diseased. One of his eyes was fused shut and a huge bushy beard framed his face. Jones was pure muscle and on his back was a huge broadsword that he pulled out with ease.
He pointed the blade at us. “According to pirate code, one of you is allowed to challenge me for control of the ship.” His sword found Argus. “Captain Fletcher of The Black Cat, long have I wanted to add you to my cursed crew.”
With Asunder ready to challenge, “Probably as long as I’ve wanted to rid the world of you Jones.”
As the two captains looked each other down, a voice popped into my head. “Take the duel Son of Death. I will join you when you need me most.”
I didn’t recognize the voice and it appeared no one else could hear it. I was willing to play it off as the sea playing tricks on me when it spoke again. “I am very real. If you allow my friend Argus to go through with this, he will die.”
There was urgency this time to the weird voice. I had no reason to trust it, but after all Argus had done for me, I couldn’t let him die. “No Captain Jones, I will be your opponent today.”
Both girls began to shout protests, but I ignored them. It was Argus who looked genuinely surprised by this. “Oz, are you sure about this? Once you enter the duel, no one else can intervene.”
“I’m the Son of Death and I have foreseen his.” A chill fell over us at my declaration. Even Jones looked a bit unhinged by what I’d just said. “Do you accept or do you yield?”
“I never yield. It matters not who your bloodline is demon, I shall slay you today!”
A man of his size shouldn’t be quick, but he was. I wasn’t about to engage him physically, so I quickly moved out of the way and extended my wings. The demon captain took a step back, looking on curiously at my wings. “So it be true that you’re the spawn of Death.”
“What gave it away? The chains?”
Jones stood up tall, reaching his full height. The pirate hat her wore brushed the top of the hold. “Rumors be your father is a smart ass as well. It’ll be my pleasure to make his a member of my crew.”
That wasn’t in the cards. I went low on the big man, trying to attack his knees. He hopped back to avoid and brought his sword straight down. My wings wrapped me up and the chains absorbed the brute of the attack. There was no way I’d survive a direct hit from the large demon. With the blow deflected, I opened them back up and jabbed forward with my sword. The end of it pierced just enough of his skin to make it count.
I rolled away once the attack was made. Jones looked even more pissed now with dark blood coming from the open wound above the knee cap. He kicked out in anger. “Long has it been since I felt the sting of pain. You’ll regret that you sniveling shellfish.”
Jones came forward on the attack. He was swinging his sword around wildly, no real rhyme or reason to the attack. I ducked and dodged the best I could, but I knew soon I’d be forced to react. When that moment came, I lifted my sword to deflect his. His blade cut right through the handle and it fell to the deck in two sad pieces.
**Caspian**
Holy fucking shit, that was amazing. The sexy Lust demon stayed in my cell with me afterwards and began to cuddle. “There was a time and day where I would devour the souls of the men I laid with.” That made me tense up. “Those days are long gone, as it is frowned upon to dine after dessert.”
I didn’t really want to say anything to fuck this up. Sure I’d been with other chicks before, but this girl was super-hot. Like close to the sun hot. She turned over on her said and put her head close to mine. “It’s funny how one ends up in predicaments they were never supposed to, just like you.”
I raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Come now, I know exactly where you came from.” This conversation was taking an odd turn. “That old blowhard Merlin sent you back to try and stop one by the name of Jacoby, no?”
“How do you know so much?” It was like her skin shifted right in front of me. She went from sexy Lust pirate to uber-sexy goddess. Oh shit, the name Lilith! “Oh damn, you’re the Lilith, aren’t you?”
“I am.” She stroked my hair out of my eyes. “I asked Lucifer to come back in time and keep an eye on things. I accidently went a few years further back and ended up on this Almighty forsaken ship too soon. The poor captain,” she added a lusty laughter for fun, “has no idea who he’s been harboring.”
None of this made sense. “Why would you want to be personally involved in our mission?”
Her hand hadn’t left my face, still affectionately rubbing me. “Besides meeting a human like you who intrigues me to no end, I have a family connection.” Her eyes went soft and showed some deep affection. “Oz is my grandson.”
**Oz**
“No girls, we can’t interfere!” Argus grabbed both as Jones smiled on. He was drawing this out before he struck the lethal blow. Then Argus looked down at his sword. “Asunder, is that you?”
I had no idea why he was talking to his sword, that is until it flew out of his belt and came directly to my hand. As soon as it touched me, it morphed from a pirate’s cutlass to a hilt that looked like an upgraded version of my broken sword.
“I told you I would come Oz.” It was the voice in my head from before. “My name is Asunder and the time has come for you to claim me as yours.”
Jones was in no mood for me and Asunder to get to know each other. He struck out at me with a hard blow. My celestial fire ran through the hilt and the blade came to life. Unlike my previous sword, Asunder absorbed the blow from Jones and even pushed his blade back. “What sort of trickery is this?”
“No trickery Jones, I just got upgraded. Meet Oz, version two point one.”
Asunder groaned in my head. “Do not tell me you are as weird as the one I just left?”
“I’m probably worse, just too warn you.”
Jones attacked again, this time I moved deftly to my right and he caught nothing but air. My confidence in my own skills was growing. Could that have been a side effect of taking Asunder?
With my wings fully spread, I we
nt on the offensive. Just like the angel Raphael had taught me, I used my frame and my limberness to my advantage. Jones hadn’t been used to fighting someone on even footing. His expressions were quickly changing from arrogant to frustrated. In his mind, this fight should’ve been over the moment it started.
Our blades met again. Seeing an opportunity, I let his slip and closed my wings just in time to take the force. I pushed them open again as fast as I could and it knocked him backwards. As he stumbled, I ran towards him with Asunder ready. One blow to the arm and another to the leg and the pirate captain collapsed to the floor two limbs less than before.
His detached hand still clutched his large sword. I walked over and removed it, lifting it up into the air. Good lord it was heavy. I carried it back over to my fallen opponent and pointed it at his head. “You have two choices, relinquish control of the ship or die.”
He spit at me. “I’ll never surrender to one like you.”
With his choice made, I brought his own blade down on him. As it cut through his neck, the terror on the ocean known as Davey Jones had come to an end. The ship was ours.
Chapter 13 – My Weird Family
Argus kicked the dead body of Davey Jones. “Just wanted to make sure you know?”
Cassandra and Tyra both crashed into me. I heard sobbing and mutterings that included such classics as ‘you fool!’ and ‘were you trying to die?’ Either way, I was being smothered by two hot girls and thoroughly enjoying it.
When they broke away, I walked over to Argus. “So about your sword…”
“No, Asunder chooses his master on his own. I knew the day would come when another would wake him.”
The sword asked me to pass on a message. “Tell the pirate he was a good master for all those years. Even though I stopped talking, I never stopped protecting.”