"You can disembark now. Be sure to return before night. The ship will sail tomorrow before dawn." – Instructed James.
Yet not many people left the ship. Only some shady individuals who claimed to be a bit familiar with Blackwater. The other didn't want to be in danger for nothing even before arriving to the Seven Star Archipelago: the actual destination of this small trip.
But the only kid on this ship didn't care and happily left behind the biggest sorrow of his short life: the gloomy one with black sails, anchored in the Blackwater's port.
His first step was accompanied by a painful screeching of wooden planks under his foot while the second one was a sound of splashing puddle-water.
A gust of humid wind carried a mixture of dead-fish smell and another one which Nameless couldn't identify.
He entered the narrow streets of the city.
There weren't many people around, and everyone had his face somehow covered by hoods, pieces of clothes or by other means.
'It's easy to get lost here…I probably must remember the way back…'
The thought was a good one, but it arrived a bit too late. He was already irremediably lost in the labyrinth of streets, stairs, ropes and strange buildings.
'Well I could just ask some indications.'
As to answer to his thoughts suddenly he found himself completely alone.
The minutes were going on, but no possible way back was found. 'And if I can't find the way out…' Nameless became a bit restless from this fleeting thought. He suddenly turned left, towards the nearest house, and knocked the door.
"Is there anyone? Can you please help me?" – But no-one answered him. *Bam* *Bam* *Bam*
He continued to knock on the door but there was still no result.
Suddenly the door opened. – "Oh! Sir, can you please help me?" – He couldn't see inside because there were absolutely no lights inside, but some strained and rough breaths assured him that there was someone near the crack of the slightly opened doorway.
No one answered him. – "Sir…?"
Only rugged breathing.
"Sir, please, I'm really lost here." – While speaking he moved closer to the door and involuntary put his hand on the handle.
*Bam*
Suddenly the door opened, and the boy was forced back.
The inside of the house was still dark but some light from the torches which illuminated the streets managed to penetrate the room.
There was a man. His eyes were covered by dirty bandages. Under a slouch hat one could notice some grayish hair. The body was covered by an old cloak.
Nameless couldn't see his eyes but still he sensed the piercing gaze locked on him.
The standstill didn't last for long. The boy slowly stood up. – "Well, I see that you can't help me…" – He made a few steps backwards. – "Goodbye!"
In this moment the man raised his hand and from inside the house Nameless heard some growls. A mass of azure fog exited from the depths of the house. It was a continuously moving blend of different animal parts. One could see a bear's huge paw, but also a wolf's head with a goat's horns, a fox's tail, but also some wings. Everything was in constant interchanging movement.
It was physical, but also ethereal.
Before the boy could process everything he just saw, he was already running away from the house.
'It will kill me! IT WILL KILL ME! DAMN! RUN!'
Behind he could hear a monotonous sound of paws hitting the ground and some muffled growls of different animals.
He turned left in the alley.
'…' – It was a dead end. He was blankly looking on the wall in front of him. 'I am finished.'
He turned around and the beast was there.
Step by step it approached its prey.
*RAAAWRR* The creature jumped towards him.
Nameless closed his eyes and instinctively put his hand up. Something triggered inside his head and hi shouted.
"I'M FROM THE SORROW OF THE BLACK SEA!"
Everything's black.
One second.
Two seconds.
No pain or other unpleasant sensations. 'Am I already dead?'
He slowly opened his eyes. The creature was nowhere to be seen. But there was the cloaked man at the start of the alley. Some azure mist was cheerfully flowing around him.
He looked towards the boy for a moment and then silently left. Nameless who stood there without moving a single muscle, immediately collapsed on the floor. He was covered with cold sweat and taking large mouthfuls of humid air.
He leaned against the wall but there was nothing behind him and he only fell on his back. 'Wasn't there a dead end just a second ago?'
Instead of a wall there was a continuation of the alley. In the end of it there was a wooden door with a sigh on top of it.
On the sign was written something.
"Blood &…Blood & Whiskey" – He read in loud voice. – "Kali's Weapon Shop!"
He calmed down.
'Well, the last time I tried to enter somewhere, I was nearly killed.'
He turned around to go away.
The wall was there. 'Are…ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!'
"Fuck! Stupid city…" – He kicked the wall but surprisingly it was sturdier that his foot.
'I guess I don't have any choice now.'
He looked suspiciously towards the shop and, still mentally cursing Blackwater, went in.
*Diiing*
A little bell announced his entrance to the whole shop. It was far larger than it would seem from the outside. Rows of shelfs occupied the biggest part of the shop while, attached to walls there were some showcases.
In front off the entrance, on the other part of the shop there was an "L" form counter. On the shorter side there was a cash desk, while on the longer side Nameless saw a pair of elegant legs. Behind there was a figure covered by a huge book.
"Hi, costumer, what are you looking for? A weapon? A gun? Or something less tradition…" – The owner of the voice put down the book but then she saw the boy she interrupted her speech. She scrutinized him for a whole minute. It was a beautiful woman. A long curly brown, with some deep shade of red, hair was held by a golden hairband. She was wearing a pair of glasses, but they couldn't contain the penetrative gaze of her golden colored eyes.
'Will she attack me?' Meanwhile some random thoughts passed through his head. 'Probably it wouldn't be some misty monster this time. A gun! Yes, she will definitely shoot me.'
The shop owner signed, put her legs back on the counter and continued to read her book, completely ignoring the young costumer.
In any case Nameless couldn't be happier with this outcome. 'It's better to be ignored in this city.'
He looked around curiously and went towards the nearest shelf. It was filled with all kind of things. There were some scrolls, guns, swords, daggers and even a strange looking trident. He extended his hand to touch it.
"It's cursed. If you do this…Well, I'm not sure if you will directly die or become braindead for the rest of your life." – A neutral woman's voice stopped him in time.
He retracted his hand. There were a lot of other interesting things here. On another shelf there was a huge sword. The hilt was decorated with some tentacles. – "That is even more cursed." – Said the same voice from the counter.
Nameless went to other shelfs, and every time he wanted to take something, he discovered that object of his interest was: - "Cursed!"
"Damn! Is everything in this shop cursed?"
"Exactly."
"Well, damn woman, I don't believe you." – He directly took a simple looking dagger from the nearest shelf. – "See? Nothing is happening to me! It's not curs…" – Everything became black, and he directly fell on the floor.
The woman signed. 'That dagger was the worst possible choice…'
She stood up and calmly walked towards the boy. He was convulsing and from the dagger he was still firmly holding some dark blue lines were slowly extending inside his body. The woman slightly bended towards the dying boy, accentuating some perfect curves of her slender body. But the only one who could even slightly appreciate her charm was too young and too near the death's door.
She tapped the dagger with her finger. Suddenly a pained scream came from the weapon and the blue energy lines quickly retracted. Kali placed her hand on the boy's forehead for a second before retracting it.
'Quite fortunate.'
She took the dagger and placed it back on the shelf.
"Mmmhh" – Nameless already regained consciousness. – "What…happened?"
"Didn't I tell you that it was cursed? Everything here is cursed for YOU, since you didn't even awaken your bloodline yet."
Nameless looked surprised. 'Bloodline?'
"What is it? The bloodline I mean?"
"You will be qualified to know once you will awaken it, lad."
With that she returned behind the counter.
*Diiing*
The door opened, and a man entered. – "Kali! My dear! How are you? How's your shop going? Still no costume…" – Then he saw Nameless on the floor.
*CRRRAW*
A familiar caw startled Nameless. The boy turned his head towards the entrance. The man was also looking at him.
"Oh, it's you, nameless boy."
It was John Samael Blake, the captain of the Sorrow of the Black Sea.