A couple of days had passed since the scene on deck, with the entire crew bowing at Alana's feet. Everything seemed to go back to normal that afternoon. The ship was running smoothly, and the men did not act strangely at all. Kazumi had kept his word about going over storm protocol and Leopoldo kept his word about his willingness to give kisses. Leven was just as grumpy as usual and Ivo just as bubbly in the meanest of ways.
Alana went through the motions with them, acting as a calm tide and mimicked the flow of familiarity, but her mind was elsewhere. The pirates would not have guessed it with the way she kept her well-rounded front up, but inside, her mind was going all over the place, trying not to vomit from the stress.
Currently, they all sat down for dinner, a late dinner that is, as the workload was a bit more today as they focused on fixing the superficial damage caused by the storm. Of course, Alana could have eaten much earlier had she wanted to, but she enjoyed eating with them, after all, one odd incident did not sway her feelings.
The meal was bland but nourishing enough to keep them alive. Dried meat, two biscuits, and a bowl of rice. Ivo had given Alana a few oranges during the day as snacks, so she was not terribly hungry anyhow. She was off in her own world, wondering where Mamoru and Silas were and how many had agreed to her half-hatched plan by now.
Even if they all say no, I can still make it work... I just need Momo and Silas... I think. Then still there is the issue of...
She flickered her eyes to the pirates. Leopoldo was closest, who was stealing dried meat off his brother's plate while Leven was distracted by tearing into Ivo about 'keeping his mouth shut.'
She shifted her eyes to Kazumi, her heart jumping a bit when they locked eyes, not expecting him to be staring right at her. Alana quickly looked away, training her eyes back down to her food.
She picked a piece of dried meat up, nibbling on the salty strip, attempting to look innocent. And she was, she was only looking, but the guilt of her thoughts made her overly conscious.
I have to keep them safe. That is the most important part. If there was only a way, an easier way, than what I have planned...
A knot suddenly tightened in her gut, realizing there just might be an easier way. She did not know why she was so nervous when the idea dawned on her, as far as seen Kazumi was kind to her, and kind all around. Until two days ago, that is. Perhaps it was the thought of rejection that made her stomach feel like it was twisting itself and her chest tightening around her racing her.
What is the worse he could say? Kazumi is not an unreasonable man; I just have to be smart about my wording. Alana reassured herself.
With a dry and hard swallow, when the dry meat was clear from her tongue she peered back up to Kazumi.
She felt small again, as he seemed to never take his eyes off her from, they first met eyes. He sipped on a glass of water, leaning back in his seat at the head of the table, opposite of her.
She offered a small and awkward smile, attempting to ease tension solely for herself before clearing her throat softly.
"Uh," Alana began so softly it was almost inaudible. "Ka-Kazumi?"
Her words, barely above a whisper, were not enough to catch the attention of the other three but Kazumi tilted his head to show he was listening.
"Um, I was just wondering..." Alana found herself wringing her hands together in her lap. "Well..." Her heart was racing so fast she had to pause in order to calm down.
The more Alana spoke the more attention she got from the others, starting with Leopoldo who quickly zoned in on the conversation.
"I am prisoner, right?" Alana finally decided on, her voice cracking on the 'right'.
Kazumi did not move nor answer right away, he seemed to ponder her question, rather the reason she asked.
"Yes." He finally spoke plainly, gently placing his glass on the table.
"Then... do you... maybe know- have an idea, when you might- I might... not be?" Alana's words were so jumbled from her nerves she barely understood what she meant, but Kazumi understood too well.
His heart dropped, though his countenance did not show it, he felt the same nervous twisting in his gut as she did.
"You're asking when you will be able to leave," Kazumi repeated her question more clearly, but as a statement, and at a much louder volume.
This caused all eyes to land on Kazumi, then quickly shift over to Alana, who nervously chewed the inside of her cheek.
With a shy nod, she confirmed their most dreaded thought.
She wants to leave.
"What?!" Leven snapped, leaning forward to see around Leopoldo more clearly.
"Why, dear?" Leopoldo followed up, sounding heartbroken.
"What would ever make you say something like that, Little Dove?" Ivo's voice was panicky, his smile contradicting his tone.
"No-nothing is making me," She defended quickly. "I just, you know, surely I can't be on this ship forever," Alana said so confidently that she did not imagine the looks on their faces to disprove her almost immediately.
"Why not?!" Leven asked as if it were only natural.
Alana's brows furrowed deeply, she did not think that they would be ecstatic for her to go, but she also didn't think that they would put up an argument such as her staying on the ship forever.
This is not going as planned... Alana thought, quickly wiping her sweaty palms against her shorts.
"Well, I have a life, a family... I think- I feel like I served my time as a stowaway." Alana tried to coat her words with firmness towards the end, but it fell flat.
"Family?" Leven almost scoffed. "Anubis? A brother you never speak of and made no effort to stay with when you found him?"
"A family you never mention, we assumed you had none, that perhaps they died, or at least in your heart they did," Leopoldo added to his brother's argument.
"You claim to have a life but from what you've said it was pathetic, pitiful. aren't we much better than whatever stifling home you lived in?" Ivo's smile was wavering with every word, his heart beginning to race and his blood warming into a boil.
His words not only stunned her, but they also cut Alana deep. To her it was insulting, she did not expect judgment from him.
"I- I don't mention anything because none of you ask," She countered with partial lies. "My parents are alive, and I am sure they would be worried."
"Do you mean "they are" worried? You do not sound so sure." Kazumi pointed out, seeing right through her.
After she failed to respond quickly enough for him, he continued.
"I told you before, your imprisonment is indefinite, which includes definite as a possibility."
Her heart was thrashing against her breastbone, regretting her decision to even inquire the possibility of leaving without having to go any great extents. Though she realized her error, the idea that they never planned to release her settling in the front of her mind made her uneasy- upset, even. Kazumi really could not be thinking of keeping until I die.
"Even so," She distracted away from talks of parents. "How can I be a prisoner for the rest of my life? What sort of life is that?"
"A life with us," Ivo answered though her attention was aimed at Kazumi.
"We could still see each other; I don't have to be a prisoner to be your friend." Alana pleaded an anger building in her she was not planning on.
"When?" Leven snapped. "We are traveling the seas, sometimes worlds away, so what? You'll stop by and drop in three nations over?"
"Once a month? Once a year?" Leopoldo threateningly chuckled. "That won't do, dear."
Alana shrank back in her seat, she felt outnumbered and conquered. As before, she was not expecting them to readily agree to free her, however, she was not expecting the complete opposite to even be fathomed.
No, they are kind... they are gentle... maybe they are overwhelmed too... I was too sudden. That has to be it, this is not like them.
Alana tried to reason with the insanity of it, to find some logic in the outrageous.
In the beginning, she was happy, she still was, but the more time that passes the more that is stripped away from her rose-tinted vision.
Her love for the pirates was not superficial, it was not petty or childish, she loved them. Her heart ached for each man as if it would be the death of her, a beautiful pang in her chest that grew over the months. She felt a feeling for these men that lit her soul ablaze, a wonderment of fantasies she knew she would never have.
Alana desperately wanted to believe the pirates were only overreacting to abrupt news and would eventually hear how they sounded. Though, the recent incidents caused her doubts to spread like poisonous weeds in her pure blooming love.
Alana gulped, hardening her face as to not cower before them though that is all she wanted to do.
"I wish to leave, Kazumi." She affirmed, sitting straighter.
It was less of a request, more so a test.
This is it. If he denies me, for no good reason... he does not care for me.
His golden eyes burned into her, Alana found it difficult not to look away when all her instincts were to flee. It was as if she were meeting eyes with a predator, a feeling she never felt with Kazumi, and that sent a chill through her. How his aura was completely different, not the usual intimidating air about him but as if the look he was giving her a warning.
Alana felt they had bolted gazes for eternity, she had even almost broken and spewed a mess of apologies, if not for Kazumi releasing the stare to glance to his side.
Alana released a breath she did not know she held, relief washing over her for only a second, a split second.
"Why...?" A voice, low and guttural, spoke.
Alana did not realize who it was at first, but she followed Kazumi's eyes to Ivo.
"Why? Why? Why?" He whispered, so softly she barely heard him.
His green orbs were staring off into space, not seeming to focus on anything. It unnerved the girl; she had never seen Ivo like this, but the others knew too well.
"You don't like us?" Ivo's eyes suddenly fixed on Alana. "No... you don't like me."
"N-no, Ivo." She stuttered out. "I do, it's not that."
"Are we not kind? Are we not gracious? Have we not shown you nothing but the best?" Ivo appeared to not hear the girl at all.
"Ivo—" Alana began but she was cut off.
"Alana, get up... slowly." Kazumi cautioned.
Alana brows knitted together, so bewildered she did not heed his advice. She watched Ivo carefully and observed the whites of his flood with a blood red. Her breath shook when his horns began to grow from his head, curving back slowly.
"Alana," Kazumi repeated more sternly. "Get. Up."
Without thinking, Alana shot to her feet, entirely too fast and completely reverse of what Kazumi told her.
It was like a trigger for the demon taking over Ivo's mind, a sudden movement was a threat, as if he were a wild animal.
The next thing Alana saw was a cloud of smokey gray that Ivo disappeared into.
Leven's chair clattering against the ground was enough to make her jump back, leading her figure to bump into a solid mass behind her.
She spun around, finding who she knew as Ivo, now unlike himself, standing behind her. His clawed hand was raised above his head, his intention to swipe down on the girl.
She was frozen, Alana could not move a muscle as she eyed the black claws of the demon looming death above her, even as they came closer be the milliseconds, she could not break free of the trance.
"Alana!" Leven shouted as their bodies collided, he replaced her with himself.
Alana collided with the ground, dazed, and snapped her eyes back to the demon and Leven. Her eyes widened larger when she saw the crimson dripping from Leven's face.
"Leven..." Her voice shook as she gasped his name.
Four long cuts were etched into his temple, the very cuts that would have sliced Alana's throat had Leven not been so quick.
Ivo, rather his demon, paid no mind to the young man, turning his attention back to Alana who was scurrying backward, bidding on a futile escape. Everything was going in slow motion for the girl as her fear jolted through her like stinging lightning.
"You can't leave..." Ivo's voice spoke though he was not in control anymore.
Ivo was becoming possessed by his demon, always having trouble controlling it in the first place, under the emotional stress he was in it was hopeless for the man. Alana's wish to leave was enough to make him slip, his rage rousing his demon was the flame and her words the kindling. Ivo himself, was essentially unconscious, during possession the demon and host trade places.
Ivo was dormant in his own body as his demon sought to deal with the object of his rage: Alana.
Alana was trembling, she was frightened of the man of course, but with her fear laid sadness. She was saddened that she caused this, this was her fault. At least that is what she thought.
The demon took a step towards her but before the gap could close anymore she felt her bicep being gripped hard then she was ripped to her feet.
In the same moment, a pale blue-skinned demon had wrapped himself around Ivo, encompassing him with bat-like wings.
Leven... Alana watched Leven's demon form wrap one arm around Ivo's neck, the arm holding it in place. His legs circled Ivo's waist and he began his death hold, attempting to strangle the demon if only to slow him down.
"Run," Leopoldo spoke, startling her, as she had not even looked to see who had picked her up off the floor.
He let her loose with a slight push towards the door, and she turned to see his sclera pooling black. Leopoldo's hair grew longer, down to his knees, fading blue at the ends.
This time she listened and rushed for the door, but first, she had to get past the two grappling demons.
Ivo's demon was clawing at Leven's face, drawing blood with each slash. In demon form, it did hurt Leven, but he healed inhumanly fast, each wound closing almost as soon as it was made.
"She can't leave!" Ivo's demon roared, no smile in sight.
"Then stop scaring her, you idiot!" Leven argued back, tightening his grip.
Alana made it to the door, easing around the two, but was scared to turn her back to them.
"Alana, go!" Kazumi barked.
The urgency in Kazumi's usually monotone voice lit a fire under her and she wasted no time swinging the door open.
She slipped out quickly, her boots hit the wooden floors in loud cries, tears beginning to stream from her eyes.
Go where?! We are in the middle of the ocean!
She took the corner so fast she stumbled but she regained her posture quickly. Alana was having trouble breathing, her lungs were shouting in protest and her chest felt so tight she thought she was going to faint. Her fear was one to blame, but the running was another.
Kazumi, the only one who had not converted, watched closely attempting to find a solution to the escalating rampage.
"Calm down!" Leven shouted, almost begged.
Ivo was thrashing so harshly Leven was losing his grip. The demon knew that teleporting would not work, anything touching him would teleport as well. Ivo's demon dug his nails deep into Leven's forearms and began to pry.
Leven screamed a pained growl, trying his hardest to fight against the agony.
That idiot! She went and really pissed him off! Why would she even say something like that? Leven thought to himself.
Leopoldo gripped Ivo's wrist struggling to prevent him from injuring his brother further, but Ivo possessed was too strong.
As Ivo was not in control, he could not contain the output in strength, the demon was pushing past his usual physical limits. Any further and Ivo's body and mind would break.
"Leo! Say something!" Leven barked through the pain.
As Ivo had teleportation, and Leven had his wings, Leopoldo also had a spirit skill of his own. He nearly forgot about it as he did not often utilize it. He had never attempted it on another demon but now was as good as any time to try.
"Calm!" Leopoldo commanded steadily.
Like a candle being blown out Ivo's demon halted all movements, his arms dropped like weights by his side, streaking Leven's blood in a thin trail on the walls and floor.
A collective sigh of relief seemed to wash over the other three, seeing that Leopoldo's word seemed to cease the raging beast.
Leopoldo's skill: Absolute Command.
While in demon form whatever he imposes on his target, no matter how they feel or think, is what they will do. His words bind them to submit to him, a trance-like state that no one has ever escaped. His skill does not limit his speech, he must have the will to control a person when he places a command. Before Leopoldo only attempted this with humans but found it boring when they so readily obey his commands; he liked when they struggled.
Leven hesitated for a moment but slowly eased off of the demon's back, once back on the solid ground he took a few steps back.
"What the hell..." Leven sighed. "He was really going to kill her."
"She did provoke him." Leopoldo retorted.
"Enough to kill her?" Leven scoffed, wiping the excess blood from his face.
Leopoldo shrugged. If he had I would have just killed him, friends, or not.
"Enough," Kazumi spoke up. "Go find Alana—"
Before he could finish his command the cloud of grey smoke dispersed into the air and Ivo was gone.
"What?!" Leven shouted. "He tricked us?!"
He did not wait around for an answer, instead, he rushed into the hall running after Alana.
Leopoldo followed closely behind.
Kazumi was astonished, the demon had enough mind to come up with a clever escape.
If we do not find her before he does...
He could not bear to finish his thought, he too ran from the meeting room. And so the game of cat and mouse began.
[[GUYS IM SCREAMING!!! Miss Alana truly lost her damn mind asking something like that... Ivo definitely isn't the crazy one.
I'm sorry if this sucks, I've been trying to write and to save time I'm updating as soon as I finish so no real time to review and revise.
What's gonna happen? To Alana? To ivo? To one of the others? ]]