Heart of the Sun

Chaper 9: Cold blood

Allister's point of view:
I walked straight into empty bottles and scattered objects. I could feel the scowl on my face form as I look at the disaster of my room. And the eye of the hurricane was a weeping mess.

"Arthur you're really going to get it when you're sober again."

He kept on mumbling, just louder now.

"Damn bloody cat, just who does he think he is? I'm the bloody captain of this bloody ship, could just fling him off, bloody git."

I lightly kick at the disaster, seeing if it would hear me.

"You're shit faced drunk Artie, go to bed and out of my hair."

The sobbing only intensified.

" NNOOO, YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! HOW COULD YOU BE SO MEAN, BIG BROTHER? THE PIXIES WON'T STAND FOR THIS!"

Sometimes I wonder how he's even captain. How he's even alive. Tired of talk, I sling him over my shoulder, carrying him to bed.

After getting Arthur to settle down, I pick up some leftovers to feed to the Spaniard. Honestly I don't know if she'll ever be able to rebound from her current state of health. If there's one thing the Kirklands are good at, it's destroying things. She sits silently, only raising her head to identify who approaches. I observe her as I place her skimpy meal down. Dirt makes her now sickly colored skin darker. Hair sprays everywhere and a dress that might have been attractive once clings to her bony form limp and tattered. Empty eyes stare at nothing and her body leans against the blood stained wall, most likely unable to support itself anymore.

Honestly it seemed pointless to feed her, it would surprise me if she made it to dawn.

Arthur's point of view:
Meowing awoke me into my hangover. My head pounded and my drowsy mind  tried to operate. The cat stood on my chest, meowing relentlessly. I swept him off, he jumped back up. After what felt like hours, I got up furiously annoyed.

"wHAT IN GOD'S GOOD NAME DO YOU WANT BLOODY ANIMAL?!"

It simply walked on staring at me, demanding me to follow. If it would leave me alone, it would be worth it. Excited, the cat wove it's way downstairs and through cold iron bars. It started to meow again, only stoping to sniff at thin fingers.

"Is this al-"

I freeze. I step closer to inspect. The tips of the fingers were caked in blood. The door is open without a second to lose. I look for the source blood, confused since it had been a few days since I last reopened a wound. But the wall she leaned against told me otherwise. Still fresh blood ran down the wall from the back of her neck. The scabs had been picked clean. I felt ice when I touch her. Is she... gone? No, nO! I refuse to believe it! I scoop her up, cringing at the coldness.

I burst into Allister's cabin, aggravating the sleepy First Mate.

"Go to bed Art-"
"She's dying Allister! I need you to save her!"

Now he was awake, dumbstruck at his captain.

"So? Isn't that what you wanted to happen?"
"What? No! Now as your captain, I order you to keep her from dying this instant! We have no time for questions!"

Begrudgingly, Allister got up delivering Arthur swift orders.

"Take her to your room, I don't want blood on my bed. Get lots of clean cloth and bandage. I'll need clean water too and some alcohol. Blankets will be needed too."

Allister's point of view:
I still don't know if she'll make it. To say I was surprised to have Arthur, of all people, demanding me to save some woman would be an understatement.

After a long hour of work, fell into the closest chair, my lack of sleep starting to catch up on me. I lazily study my little brother who sits close at the woman's side. He seems unusually upset. I frown, realizing I can't remember the woman's name.

"Hey, Artie, what's her name again?"

He looks up blankly.

"Fernandez." "
Yeah I know that but what's her name?"

He looks confused.

"I don't know, I just know she's a Fernandez."

What an idiot.

"So you're telling me you know nothing about her except she's Antonio's sister? We don't even know the name of the woman who's probably going to die within the hour?"

I grin

"a true cold blooded pirate, I must congratulate you."

His face fell.

"Don't say that, she's going to live."

My grin fell.

"Now that didn't sound like a pirate at all. More like a worried love-sick boy."

At this his eyes grew alarmed.

"wHo EVER SAID I WAS LOVE-SICK?"

I stop, dropping the topic. I knew Arthur was the reckless type but this would have to be his worst. Interested of pressuring him, I simply leave, opting to figure this mess out later.

Looks like the Captain of the Black Barron has a weakness after all.