Spirits: The Gatherers

Chapter 3: afloat

"Ay, who ye be?" the voice said. Owen and Trent put on their backpacks and readied themselves for what was going to come.

"Who said that?" Trent shouted.

Trent and Owen heard thumping and then, WHOOSH. The saw someone who jumped from the deck of the large ship. He landed right on the nose of their ship. The guy was big. He was very wide and had a big black pirate hat and black curly hair. His clothes were tattered and torn. He gazed up from behind his hat and spoke.

"I am Captain Abel. Captain of the crew of Voltworth and slayer of the great beast of Crookvac and escaped the leviathan of Caven's keep," Captain Abel said. "What business would you have with these seas, laddies?"

Owen froze and looked at Trent, who looked back to him in confusion.

"Well?! Ye gonna tell me or not?" Abel said impatiently.

"W-well...we...," Owen said trying to speak but tripping on his words. "We come here from Bay City, and we are trying to get to...Py."

"Py? That's mighty far, even for some washed-up sea bears like yourself," Abel said glaring at them. " I am looking for crewmates that will take up arms against the grand leviathan. "

"You want to end the leviathan? What do you care about a beast?" Trent asked.

"This beast is no ordinary beast. It is a hazard to the sea. It rally's up and tanks any ship it can into her drink. Many a man were killed by it," Abel said.

"But you said you escaped it," Owen said.

"Escape, yes. I was the first to escape it," Abel said.

"Then why go back?" Trent asked.

Abel walked across the sailboat. When he got to Trent, he looked him dead in the eye and said, " I made a promise."

Trent thought for a second and looked at Owen. He turned back and spoke: "I am sorry, but if taking us to the foreign shore is out of the question, then we can't join your crew. I am sorry," Trent said.

The captain gazed at Trent in disgust.

"Good thing I'm not askin' ya," the captain said summoning his weapon. It was a curved, green sword with witing down the sides.

"Legendary blade, Koga, at yar service gents," Abel said. "Now get on me ship or your blood will paint the sea with rubies"

Trent and Owen both summoned their blades and stood at attention waiting for an attack when they heard a loud whistle from on top of the mast of Abel's ship. The three of them turned their heads to see a cloaked figure dressed in black. All that could be seen from inside the raised hood was a white outline of a mask with horns on its top and a smile across its face.

"Damn you! He is back!" Abel shouted.

The cloaked figure jumped from the mast and summoned its weapon. A long white scythe is what he was twirling around his body as he fell. The outer part of the scythe blade met Abel's sword. The hooded figure landed on the blade of his scythe, causing it to lower the blade collision.

The hooded figure spoke: "get out of here...you have no business here. They are mine..."

"No...you...DONT!," Abel said as he pushed the scythe back and caused the hooded figure to stand on the sailboat.

"They call ye the black demon, yes? I heard of ye. Scourin the seas for pieces," Abel said.

The figure stayed silent as it picked up its white scythe and swung it on his shoulder.

"What's the matter? Done with fighting?" Abel laughed.

Abel rushed at the figure and tried to cut him. Before he made contact, the figure lept into the air and backflipped over Abel. The figure landed behind Abel with the scythe blade on his throat.

"W-what kinda treasure ye huntin any way?" Abel said panicking as the blade rested on his neck.

"You are lucky I won't kill you here...," the figure said.

The figure then turned its head and gazed at Owen. The figure sighed and turned back.

"You will paint the sea red, yet...captain Abel," the hooded figure said putting away their scythe.

Abel dropped his blade too and grabbed his throat to catch his breath.

"Damn...you...ye...bastard...," Abel said.

The hooded figure turned to look at Owen.

Owen tried to take a step back but his feet won't move. His arms lay bound to his sides. He struggled in his invisible chains until he fell and entered the water with a sploosh.

Trent looked back to see what the noise was, but Owen was gone. He looked off the side of the small sailboat, but nothing. He turned back to see the hooded figure was gone. Trent then tried jumping in the water to try to get him out, but it was no use. The light magic doesn't work well underwater and Owen was nowhere to be found. Trent hoisted himself back on the little sailboat and lay across it.

"Damn it!," Trent shouted.