Vanessa [A Poor Unfortunate Soul]

21. Life's Full of Tough Choices

"So, who is this 'someone'?" Vanessa asked, breaking the silence. Her and Jane had trudged through the rain, for what seemed like years. Her bare feet had began to blister and turn blue in the cold icy rain flood. They had made minimalistic small talk along the walk, getting to know one another and each other's ambitions.

"You said you wanted a new life, didn't ya'?" Jane asked.

"Yeah" Vanessa answered, while bracing herself with her arms. The loose sleeves on the white dress she wore didn't provide much warmth.

"Ever consider piracy?" Jane asked.

"I am a proud Catholic woman" Vanessa barked. "Those types of actions are punishable by damnation"

Jane laughed hard. "Woman? Girl, is more like it"

"Regardless" Vanessa scoffed. "It is quite the unthinkable thing to do. Hardly suitable for a lady"

"I suppose you're right" Jane said, and turned to face her. Stopping Vanessa dead in her tracks. "Still, it begs the question. What do you have to go back to?"

"That happens to be my business" Vanessa said. "And only mine"

Jane pushed out her lower lip, and nodded. "Fair enough. Well, I'll be by the docks if you change your mind"

"Wait" Vanessa called, before Jane could get too far away. "Would you like your cuff back?"

"Keep it" Jane called. "You need it more than I do"

Just before the dawn's sunlight broke through the thunder clouds, Vanessa made it back to Derek's apartment.

Calling his name, she stepped into the dimly lit room and latched the door behind her.

"You're back" he said, walking out of the kitchen with a hot, steamy cup of something or another. "How was your first day?"

Vanessa winced, but didn't answer. Instead, she sat in front of the fire to warm her feet.

"Vanessa" Derek growled.

"I'd rather not talk about it" she said, fighting back tears.

"Did you get fired?" He barked. "On your first day?"

Vanessa shook her head.

Derek exhaled hard. "What happened?"

"I protected myself" Vanessa said, under her breath.

"From what?" He asked, gripping the mug tighter. Not apparently giving a damn for the hot surface. "Dammit girl! It wasn't easy for me to get that job for you in the first place! I had to do many things I am not proud of"

"Did any of them involve an older man's fingers reaching up inside of you?" Vanessa shouted, without thinking. And instantly regretted it.

"What?" He asked.

Vanessa retracted into herself, and turned away from him.

"What in the unholy hell did he do to you?" Derek asked, turning Vanessa around to face him. His hands seemed larger than before, gripping her shoulders. His deep chocolate eyes grew into a deep red, and his teeth visibly increased in size. Without so much as a warning, another blast came from somewhere in Vanessa. Blasting Derek to the cot on the opposite side of the room.

"Derek" Vanessa whimpered. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean." She stammered over her words.

A deep, powerful growl came from him, followed by a snarl. When he'd seen how visibly shaken Vanessa became, Derek retracted his paws and grimaced.

"Vanessa" he said. "I'm sorry" But before he could get his words out, she had already ran out the door and into the busy morning streets.

It didn't take long for her to find Jane again. She leaned against the church's front wall, with her hat sloped over her eyes, and piece of straw stuck out from her mouth.

"Jane" Vanessa called, and made her way over. The cold damp stones of the street smacked against her delicate feet.

"Thought you'd change your mind" Jane said, greeting Vanessa and spat the straw out of her teeth.

"I wasn't given much of a choice" Vanessa said, looking down.

"Well" Jane said. "I'm not one to pray, so your secrets shall remain your own"

"Thank you" she replied.

"Now" Jane said, clapping her hands together. "He should still be at the docks. He wouldn't leave without me"

"Who?" Vanessa asked, following the pirate down the street and through an alleyway.

"Every pirate crew has a captain" she answered vaguely.

"I thought you were the captain?" Vanessa asked.

"Oh heavens no" Jane laughed. "I am but the first mate"

Vanessa made a face in confusion, but the 'first mate' didn't see it.