The Sea Witch's Revenge (ON HOLD)

Chapter Sixteen

Victoria continues to deteriorate to the point where she can barely keep her eyes open. Her body is so weak, that even the nightmares stop. The problem comes whenever someone other than the captain enters the cabin.

She can smell their flesh, their blood, and a surge of desperate strength pulses through her. It takes every fibre in her body not to jump from the bed and lunge at them. She gets so close to doing it, that her teeth keep sharpening. However, she stops the transformation from going further, resulting in her teeth shredding her gums and the inside of her mouth.

All she can taste is bile and blood.

She can barely take it any longer. Her heavy eyes flutter open and she turns, looking for Lorenzo. He's at his desk, his head resting on his arms. Victoria can tell from his slow even breaths that he's asleep.

She can also tell that it's daytime thanks to the small line of golden light that comes in through the gaps in the door.

Victoria grits her teeth and sits up slowly, trying to be quiet so she doesn't wake the captain. She stands, her legs wobbling and weak. She leans against the wall and walks slowly toward the doors. She focuses on nothing else, using all her strength to push past the pain and weakness that consumes her fragile, gaunt body.

It is when her hands wrap around the handles of the doors that the captain wakes.

"Victoria?" he asks then stands quickly. Before he can get to her, she opens the doors.

Sunlight beams into the cabin. Victoria gasps and steps out into the warmth, blinking rapidly as the light burns her eyes.

"Victoria, come back," the captain orders behind her, his voice angry. Victoria ignores him and walks outside. Slowly, she makes her way down the stairs and onto the deck. Her mind is distant, her thoughts delirious.

"Victoria," the captain calls from his cabin but doesn't follow her. "Come back now!"

She just closes her eyes and lies down on the wood. She stares up at the bright blue sky, unblinking and uncaring as the light burns.

The captain's doors shut and she knows he isn't coming to get her. She is relieved. She shuts her eyes and drifts in and out of uncomfortable, numb sleep. The higher the sun gets, the hotter it becomes. Victoria doesn't care as her skin begins to dry out and burn. The sun, beaming down on her and drying out any sort of water that remains on her body weakens her - hopefully stopping her from accidentally transforming and ripping apart one of the crew members.

The day passes horribly slowly. Victoria lies there, still and unmoving. A horrible fog clouds her mind, making her barely able to even think about anything beyond pain.

She tries to think about how many days have passed since the summons. Are they nearly there yet? Surely they are, right? Either way, Victoria can't go on like this for much long.

Above her, the sun starts to sink. As soon as the sun disappears on the horizon, the doors to the captain's cabin open. She hears the quick footfalls as he approaches. Then, his face appears above hers.

"Victoria," he curses, his voice laced with frustration. Her bloodshot eyes stare up at him in a daze as he carefully puts his arms under her body and lifts her up. Her tiny, malnourished body is limp as he carries her back inside.

Gently, he lies her on the bed. Then, he disappears for a few moments. Victoria feels the bed sink then something cold presses against her forehead.

"Why have you done this to yourself?" he asks. Victoria is a mess. Her skin is burned and peeling, her lips chapped and her body so weak that she is practically bones.