Siren

Siren - Chapter 24

Mallach was drunk for the first time in a very long while. The age in Sumoia to consume alcohol without having ears boxed, or an arse kicked, was eighteen. That had been his first, and last, affair with alcohol. Well, in order to get completely inebriated anyway, he thought.

For some reason, he couldn’t stop laughing. His cheeks were red with the heat of the ale, of which he’d consumed four or five glasses. Even Octavious had let loose a bit, laughing and talking with the rest of the crew. He supposed being around people who knew about fighting brought out the best in him.

Raven had refrained from drinking anything.

“It makes it much worse when my mother tries to contact me.” He said shortly. Mallach had told him that Lady Moonstone drove him absolutely insane, and Raven ignored him.

“An’ where the bloody hell,” he said, slurring, “were you anyway? We never saw you get on th’ boat.”

“Galleon!” cried Pontus, just as drunk as Mallach.

“Wha’ever!” laughed Mallach.

“That’s none of your concern.” Raven spat, nearly sneering.

“You’re such an arsehole, Raven.” Mallach laughed even harder. Raven had had enough. He left his meal, getting up, pushing past some of the rowdier crewmen and headed up to the top of the galleon.

Mallach continued drinking, trying to wash away the craving for the taste of Clara’s skin on his tongue.

Coming up on deck, Raven saw Clara standing much too close to the edge of the ship.

Clara had been considering jumping overboard. She craved the sea. She hadn’t been able to that one night she slipped away, because she had run into Pontus. Of course, it was probably fate.

“Stupid fate.” She muttered, standing on a crate to look over the large railing of Satan’s Killer.

“Stupid Mallach.” She heard from behind her, and turned, a sour looking Raven standing next to her. She finally realized that he outstood Mallach by at least a good foot, and her by two and a half.

“What did the oaf do now?” she said, rubbing his shoulder.

“He is drunk.”

Clara scoffed. He was asinine when he was sober, how bad was he when drunk? She shook her head.

“He knows not of what he says… leave him be.”

Raven growled.

“Why do you insist on defending him? Why do you care? Why do you like him?”

Clara sighed. She tried thinking for a moment, then two. After a few minutes, Raven pushed his face in front of hers, shivering.