Iron in Shadows

Sea Legs

I take a long whiff of sea air, booze and sweat, grabbing onto the railing and looking out at the murky sea. Men bustle around us, instructions being shouted, footsteps bounding up and down the stairs. If we keep at this pace we'll be at Neva in no time.

"You stole it didn't you- you little-" Ivy shrieks from somewhere on board.

"I didn't, that necklace- I've never even seen it," a small voice says.

I turn to find Ivy's arm pushing against Anja's neck. Ivy's checking the girls pockets furiously as I make my way over to them. Anja, despite me offering many times to buy her a pair, still chooses to walk bare foot, her dark scarred feet visible underneath her garments. 

"I don't care, I want my necklace back!" Ivy shouts.

"I didn't take it!" Anja voice rises in pitch. She raises her hands, palms forward, dark wide eyes taking in Ivy's hysterical outburst. Ivy unlatches a dagger from her boot, bringing it to Anja's sweating neck.

"You're a thief, it's a small boat. Of course you took it," Ivy says through her teeth. Anja's wide eyes meet mine over Ivy's shoulder.

"Ivy-" I start.

"Go away Fox, this isn't your business as per usual," Ivy spits, not even turning to me. She's wearing the same leather pants and boots as yesterday. A heavy black coat rests upon her form, fur showing through the collar, pearl buttons holding the coat together. Anja wears a tattered sheep skin shirt and a pair of hole-infested black trousers. Goosebumps rise over every inch of visible skin.

"Ivy-" I start again.

"Leave Fox," Ivy spits once more, dagger digging in deeper into Anja's neck, drawing a drop of blood.

I try to pull Ivy's arm back but she turns kicking me deep in the gut. I recover quickly from the brief flash of pain, grabbing her delicate ankle and kicking out at her other ankle. She falls, dagger clattering across the deck. Anja stands stock still. I release Ivy's ankle, straightening my coat. Derek and Jack join us on the deck, eyes taking in Ivy's vibrating form.

I reach down to offer a hand to Ivy, she twists it backwards, making me loose my balance. She hooks her slim leg around my ankle, pulling me down with her. I hit the deck with a thud, feeling the damp wood soaking through my trousers. Enough.

I start to push myself up only to feel Ivy straddle me. I freeze, sodden trousers forgotten. I can feel the strength of her thighs around my hips, the familiar position burning my blood. That is until her fist connects with my jaw.

As she prepares to hit my again I grab her fist, rolling her over with my hips. She allows it, scissoring her legs around my neck and squeezing. I punch at her ribs, feeling the breath leave her system. Her legs loosen enough for me to grab them and squeeze them between my own, snatching her clawing hands, placing them above her head. I look deep into Ivy's churning grey eyes.

"Enough," I say. The fury in her eyes rises as she struggles against me. She should know by now that that would do nothing, once she's in my grip, she never escapes.

She freezes, looking up at me. The deck is silent apart from our laboured breaths. The fury slowly leaks from her eyes, her chest pressing against mine with every breath. I loosen my hold on her hands and legs, absentmindedly stroking her wrist. She studies me once more before shadows quickly overtake her and I flatten against the deck, dirty water soiling my clothes. I look over to find her gone, probably disappearing below deck.

As I push myself back up the noise comes back to the deck, sailors bustling once more. Anja shifts from foot to foot, her eyes flicking across the deck. She's quick to retreat below deck. Derek saunters over to me, slapping my back with a bit more power then necessary.