Over Again

1

Air rushed around me, and I smacked into the ocean water with a slap. "Die, you poisonous woman!" The newest fiance shouted over the bough of the ship. I felt my nose break against the water.

I ignored his words, and the smug looking girl on his arm. Her face was hidden from everyone but me. I waited to be pulled under by mermaids, or torn apart by sharks- as the ship sailed away. Maybe another sea monster, or eels again.

But as my head bobbed above the waves, I noticed something new. The ship was headed right back towards me.

I've never died this way before, though I've seen it happen repeatedly to other men and women. Even a few children died in this way before my eyes throughout my lifetimes.

I braced myself for the pain just before it hit. The massive pirate ship pulled me under. The force knocking me into the bottom of the boat, hard. I gasped for breath as the wind was knocked from my lungs.

The big, sharp barnacles on the bottom of the ship tore into my toughened skin like a cheese shredder would cheese. The once beautiful, black coffee colored skin was now shredded, marred and pink.

I softly whimpered as my body was grated beneath the hulking ship. Not even screams would be heard anyways, so there's no point in making a big scene for my death.

A particularly large wave lifted the ship, and my head fell forward for a few seconds in exhaustion. Hitting the ocean again put tremendous force on my resting head, causing it to smack against a particularly large barnacle.

I felt myself being reincarnated almost immediately. I was laying in a plush bed with a massive headache. People rush to and fro around me.

A woman in a western style maid uniform comes to my bed and shakes me awake. "Saphron, wake up! You shouldn't be asleep this late! Did you forget that you're meeting with the Count today?!"

I sat up and looked at the woman coldly. She started at my unfeeling gaze, but soon glared. "What's that look for, huh?! Is this how you treat your superiors?!" She humphed and walked away.

I stood up but immediately collapsed as the information of this body came to me. The pressure was familiar, and almost comforting. I am Saphron, an innocent and hard-working girl.

At the tender age of sixteen I've already killed the foster family that took 'care' of me. Even though I am strong, everyone thinks me harmless and innocent.

I'm a 'perfect girl' in this life. Beautiful face, and a hidden, but sad personality. I'm supposed to escort the daughter of the duke as the head maid. She's supposed to go to The Ugly Earl in the capitol city.

My plan was to help her during the journey, then go home to my freedom, repaying the debt I owed to the old Countess. For now, I think I'll try to ignore the trouble.

I know that it should be coming my way, even without doing anything at all. I dress quickly and walk to the door of the count. I knock timidly, putting up a front to keep myself in a low profile.

"Come in." An annoying, nasally voice sounds out. I enter to see the piggish face of the count staring at paperwork. I bow, "I have arrived as per your orders, my Lord."

I hold my bow to him. He glances at me, sizing me up. "You'll be replacing my daughter, as you look so alike to her." His face jiggled and swayed as he spoke.

"My daughter will be training you to be just like her. Her mannerisms, and etiquette, the way she moves. All of it." He continued on. Then he called his daughter into the room.

A tall, slender, blonde woman entered the room. Her gaudy dress was unbecoming on her beautiful body. It was in a deep purple, matching her eyes, but it was too lecherous for her.