Demon Bordello

The Raging Sea

Darius nodded as he grabbed a hunk of cheese and grapes. "Also long enough for us to plan our next move. Once we arrive at Vancia I figured we might spend a few days before continuing on home."

Lethia looked uneasy at the mention of "Home" it was easy to forget that at the end of all these adventures waited the Demon Gate and on the other side a whole new world awaiting their arrival.

"Home is a vague term... since ours is a smouldering pile of stone and splinter right about now," Lorelai said, looking at Darius as if to remind him of the audience he was entertaining.

Darius looked ashamed for no more then a moment before he carried on. "I mean of course your birth home."

"Not our birth home either." Lethia interrupted trying her best to hide her smile behind a glass of wine. "Our mothers were pregnant when they left. Our birth home is a smoldering pile of stone and splinter right about now."

"Actually... from the way I was told, we were 6 and 7 because it was 10 years ago and they wiped our memories... I still don't understand how we got seperated... "  Lethia shrugged, the church told her that her mother was a brothel worker who had given birth there and then left her behind. It was one of the reasons she was selected to learn certain survival skills as they had put it.

Darius suddenly looked uncomfortable as he watched what had been joy slowly seep from the girls once more. He would have to find a way to quit doing that.

Lorelai all of a sudden jumped up, her eyes guarded as she ran to the starboard side of the ship. She pointed to the Horizon in which they were headed and the severe dark storm clouds brewing there. She turned back to the boys, trying to mask her fear.

"It looks like the gods have other plans than smooth sailing."

"Again," Roman remarked in reference to their original voyage from the girls home.

Darius lifted Lethia from her seat by her hand," Go back down below and lock the cabinets and drawers. The bed is attached it is a safe spot."

"What about you?" Lethia asked her concern echoed in her eyes.

Darius kissed the girl softly, "I must work with the crew to prepare. Now go."

"Go," Roman said simply as Lorelai had turned back to the Horizon with concern clouding her face. She turned as she felt Roman touch her hand gently. She saw the confidence and bravado she had become so used to seeing and there was no falter.

"Again," she said reassuringly. They had made it through once, they could do it again. She knew to lock down everything and she turned and went back down the stairs to get everything done while Roman, Darius and the twins worked with the crew to keep them safe.

Lethia worked quickly flipping latches and bars to hold everything in place. The furniture, upon closer inspection seemed to be part of the floor itself.

Once she was satisfied the girl changed onto something more appropriate, just in case. A pair of brown breeches and a green shirt were definitely warmer as the cold drafts of the approaching storm began to set in.Lorelai sat on the bed, wrapped in her cloak and snuggled under covers. She knew that they were in for a bumpy ride and though she wouldn't sleep, she dis want to be warm. She hoped everything up top was going okay, the storm not upon them yet.

When the storm struck it was worse then Lethia had imagined. She had ridden through the storm before but had no idea that tropical storms could carry such force behind them.

The ship tossed and rocked as the waves struck the wooden vessel mercilessly. Lightning proceeding thunder that sounded like it was in the cabin with her.