The Damned: Part 1~ Innocence

Chapter 18

THE LOCKER MAY 1698

It was almost June when Britannia recovered enough to resume her duties.

She was still weak and would occasionally get winded if she worked too hard.

But at least, and Flying Dutchman could confidently believe this, that Britannia was finally on the mend.

Flying Dutchman returned late that day to find her mentor painting outside.

She was humming to herself happily.

"Nice to see you in a good mood!" Flying Dutchman called.

Britannia turned to her and smiled. "Thanks to you." She replied.

"Ah, I can't take credit. You just needed a little push is all." Flying Dutchman replied.

"I had a little help coming up with the paints though."

"Oh, who helped you?" Britannia asked.

Flying Dutchman grinned, glancing down at the water.

As the Kraken emerged, she turned to a wide-eyed Britannia and said "Britannia, meet Kraken."

The old ship eyed the cephalopod curiously.

"We met once before I think." She said.

"Yes, as I recall I tried to destroy you." The Kraken said.

Britannia shrugged. "You'd had a bad string of luck and were very desperate for food. I don't hold it against you." She replied.

"How did you survive Britannia?" Flying Dutchman asked, shuddering as she recalled her own first encounter with her pet.

"She let me go. Said I was 'different'." Britannia replied.

"She said the same thing about me!" Flying Dutchman exclaimed, surprised.

"Our powers give off a scent unique to other ships. Oh, not one we ourselves can smell." Britannia added quickly as her apprentice tasted the air.

"But they are recognizable to certain creatures such as Kraken."

Flying Dutchman nodded. Now she understood.

"When I came across you, your scent carried that of magic but it wasn't nearly as strong as Britannia's. Britannia, I can never forget her scent. She's a living vessel of the stars themselves. You, yours is a different magic. I could smell the stars on you, likely because of your interaction with Britannia. The smell of dark magic, however, frightening abilities were stronger and one of those abilities was to be a submarine. That's why I pulled you underwater. I wanted to show you what you could do." The Kraken explained.

"Submarine, that's what you're calling it?" Flying Dutchman laughed.

Britannia chuckled too.

"It was nice meeting you Kraken." She said.

"And you." The Kraken smiled and dove beneath the water.

As soon as she was gone, Britannia's smile faded and she turned to her apprentice.

"How long have you had Kraken?" She asked.

Ten years." Flying Dutchman shrugged.

"And you never once thought to tell me?" Britannia sounded more hurt than angry.

Flying Dutchman winced. "I'm sorry." She said.

"I thought you trusted me." Britannia said brokenly.

"I do!" Flying Dutchman cried.

Britannia just shook her head and turned away.

"Britannia!" Flying Dutchman yelled, blocking the older ship's path. "Stop, let's talk about this."