A fight for dominance and nobility

chapter eighteen: mysterious helper

Shackles,  pain , shackles , pain. I have been repeating it like a mantra. What is wrong with me? Alexander has indeed his men to shackle my hands high. My hands are above my head, encircled by chains that I cannot even break.

'Please! get me out of here!' I shouted.

I could feel my muscles getting weaker and weaker. I am losing grip on the newly profound strength I had earlier. The only thing helping me up is the shackles that are preventing me from falling. I look up where the smell of wet bricks is stronger. The stone above me is wet, and I shut my eyes as the water droplets drop down my forehead. It is somewhat of a force of nature urging me not to fall into the pit of relinquishing hence the thirst to cede is unbearable to disregard. I sigh, a long sigh of exhaustion and shellacking.

'Water.' I whispered as my eyes fluttered, struggling to stay awake and not let my guard down. 'Water, please.' My lips are dry, I am parched, and my voice is croaky.  I gulp, I am not even able to tater my own saliva but the dry walls of my throat. Rough and painful. I faintly lick my upper lip, wetting it with little saliva my tongue can offer but it is barely enough.

I cough, a raspy cough causing further damage to my already dry throat. I can hear footsteps approaching the cellar and I hope it is the bloody bastard, Alexander Blanchet. I am fairly sure he would be elated to witness my current position. Shackled up, parched throat and barely holding on to the string of life. Is it my time to leave the earth and join the almighty in paradise? If so, I shall let put my last breath within a heartbeat.

I slowly glance at the mental bars caging me in. My eyes were dead set on seeing Alexander's face. The footsteps are now loud and clear. Alexander's footsteps sound more dominant and louder but this one is different. It seems as if the person is scared to come in here but why?

I wait in anticipation. Excited to see who dared to enter the cellar without Alexander's permission. I thought no one would dare to deft that man. Everyone worships him like he rules the earth which is wrong. He might seem intimidating but that does not make him my ruler.

More footsteps are heard but he seems to be taking forever until a deep voice speaks.

'Miss Zadie. The sea needs to be graced with your presence and the ships yearn for your touch. We were never accepted in this society and slavery was always our punishment. Our freedom was always the seas never mainland where we are oppressed.'

I snapped my head and stared at him. Who is he? I cannot identify him. His hat is too big. Restricting my access to seeing his face.

'Who are you?' I asked. I only received a low chuckle. He is opening the lock but why? Was he ordered to torture me or something far worse than I could ever imagine? If he is here for torture, I will not hesitate to fight him, and I am already equipped. There is an old, eroding dagger on the other corner of the cellar and it looks quite useful. The problem is, how would I even drag it all the way here? I can turn around and twist the shackled or swing all the way there and grab it with my feet. Darn, that is impossible to do.

'Battling with your mind trying to find a way to defend yourself ?' He raised his eyebrow and I frowned. How can he find out my motive so quickly like he knew who he was going to harass? ' trust me, lass, I am no monster.'

'I trust no one. Trust gets you nowhere, but loyalty does.'

He smiled and pointed to me with his dagger. ' brilliant lass right here.'

I furrowed my eyebrows, confusion clear on my face. I do not know what he wants yet but he does not seem like a murderer. He looks notorious and trusts me when I say lads like him are too much trouble.

The clanking sounds of metal were heard as he struggled to open the lock. Wait a minute, is he struggling so hard to open the lock it must be because he was not given a key which would mean he was not sent here. He must have sneaked in here.

'Why are you here?' I inquired. He continued opening the material, not even caring about my question. I just stared. A part of me wished for the lock to open if he will rescue me but u just remembered that girls like me will never be rescued, we rescue ourselves. I might turn this whole situation to my advantage.

'You know, if you pushed whatever dagger you have harder in the lock it would open. Push it further, twist ut to your left and you might open it.' I raised my eyebrows this time, but he scoffed. I watched him closely and did just as I told him. The lock opened and I gasped lowly.

He stood up and gazed at me. ' smart.' he stalked towards me and I tried moving only to rattle my shackles. I struggled with balance hence I was now standing on my toes. I tripped but he caught me. I inhaled sharply; his eyes gazed into mine deeply, but I immediately averted my gaze from him.

'I asked you a question, but you never answered me.' I trapped him using my legs, restricting him from moving. The position we were both in was quite uncomfortable which forced me to push him using my leg and it pleased me to see him stumble back. I wish he could have lost his footing and banged his head down the metal bars.

'Useless whore!' He cursed, and my eyes widened in shock.

'I asked you a question, mister!' I shouted.' you ought to answer it!'

He only turned to face me;  he was dressed more like a pirate but what would a pirate want in the mainlands if he was one.' No lady ever fought me.'

'Do not try to take advantage of me, lad.'

He slowly stalked towards me but quickly avoided my legs as soon as he realized I was about to kick him again. This time, on his groin. I could feel him behind me, his hands holding on tight to my arms as I tried shaking them off. 'Be still.' He ordered and I obliged. I heard a sharp metal like an object, touching my cold arms and I winced. 'I apologise, it is very cold outside.'Why are you here?'

He sighed. 'I was sent to seek you when we realized you never made it to port.'

I even forgot about the port. It slipped my mind but given the circumstances, I would have never made it even if I tried to. Cayden lied. He promised he would get me to port but little did I know he worked with Blanchet. How can I even be sure this lad does not work for Blanchet? The is no way someone would try to save me.

'As I said, I do not trust you and I never will.' I snapped.

I could feel him trying to cut the shackles off. 'I never said trust me.'

'Why was Ludwig so adamant about me going to port? Is there something I am missing there?' I asked.

'Why would you be missing something there?'

He managed to free one hand which is something for which I am grateful.

'Because he believes that this whole ruckus that is happening is caused by me.'

He chuckled. 'Not everything is about you, Zadie.'

I rolled my eyes. He freed my other hand before grasping my wrist. He led me outside the cellar and grabbed my cloak from a chair that was placed next to the cellar and tossed it my way. 'Cover yourself. You are a horrid mess, and it is cold outside.'

'Where are you taking me?' I asked as he continued to drag me out of the so-called dungeon. At least fire torches were lit on both sides of the wall making it easier to see through the gory maze.

'Do you believe in pirates?' he questioned but it was more rhetorical, so I did not answer. 'It is time to break your curse before it kills you.'