RIPTIDE - Percy Jackson/Heroes of Olympus, Pirate AU fanfic

14 | A Dark Presence

Piper sat, her face placid. She wore the clothes she had during the raid. Her arm was extended and a burly man was tattooing her with the brand of the Hellsing. She sat silent, listening intently to the conversation being held.

"No deaths?" Eathan Nakamura huffed. "But you were seen?"

"Only Grace sir, but he doesn't exist."

Nakamura's eyes narrowed. "You have a funny way of getting out of trouble."

"Not trying to sir, but you can't find a man who no one knows." Frank Zhang. The man amused piper. He had been the third person, besides Jason and herself, who had wrought havoc on the small ship of the Argo II just yesterday.

Nakamura quickly changed the direction of the conversation and turned towards Piper. "So sweetheart, how'd you like your first mission with the boys?"

Piper thought about the question for a moment. "It was okay."

Nakamura chuckled. "Sarcastic little punk aren't we?"

Their conversation was suddenly cut short when Ms. Dare rushed into the room. "Eathan it's the captain."

Eathan seemed to perk up at the word. "What does he want?"

"He's coming. Here. Now."

"What?" Nakamura's easy going atmosphere suddenly changed.

"Yes." Ms. Dare gave him a reprimanding look. "He said he wanted to see the arrowhead. Who had it last?"

Nakamura turned to Zhang. The man was caught off guard and tried to form his words. "Grace. Yeah, Grace had it last."

"Where is he?"

"How would I know, the man doesn't tell me anything."

Nakamura growled. Abruptly he snatched the unsuspecting Connor from his seat at a poker table near by and shoved him against the wall. "You took it didn't you?"

Connor choked out the word. "What?"

Nakamura's hands wrapped tighter around his throat.

"Eathan!" Ms. Dare swiped her hand across the lieutenants face, leaving a red mark on his skin. "The boy has done nothing. We don't need anymore uncalled for deaths."

Nakamura slowly turned his head to the redheaded woman, murder etched into his features.

Piper sat frozen in her seat and watched as if she were a spirit in another realm. She glanced at Connor, the boy's eyes were watering and his face had turned white as a sheet.

Her nerves were tingling. No matter how strong the urge was to come to the boys rescue, she didn't dare speak out of turn.

"Lieutenant Nakamura."

It was as if the temperature dropped. The words vibrated through her body and an aura of death spread throughout the room. Piper's own breathing felt like a rushing in her ears as the man emerged from the shadows.

The cage fight had started. The crew backed away, forming an unconscious death circle around Eathan Nakamura and the captain. "Eathan." The captain said his name like he was an old friend.

"Captain." Nakamura quickly let the boy go and stood up straight, his anger suddenly pacified.

Captain di'Angelo scanned the room, meeting everyone's eyes. When he saw Piper he raised an eyebrow.

Piper tried to keep her eyes level with the captain's, but she dropped her gaze. The man wasn't as big and mighty as maybe Eathan Nakamura or Frank Zhang, but he scared the living daylights out of her.

When he looked at you, he seemed to be contemplating the value of your life, and whether you were worthy to be living in his world. The gaunt and pale features of his face made his eyes appear more like an endless, dark abyss, and the bone carved sword hanging at his side made you question his morals even more.

She could feel the heavy presence of his gaze even with her head down. A dark shape passed in front of her and she looked up. Di'Angelo was down on one knee, his head cocked to one side, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

He said nothing, but looked her over. "Promising." The word came slowly and only slightly above a whisper.

He rose to his feet and turned back toward Eathan. "Find me the arrowhead." And with that, the captain headed back upstairs to the main floor of The Regal, and left the crew to dwell on what had just happened.

Piper swallowed, she looked down at her tattoo and realized it was finished. Finally she bore the mark of the Hellsing. One of the most brutal pirating ships on the sea.

🔱

Writing di'Angelo's part kinda freaked me out.

Next part: Percy's pov! Wooo!