"Remember to dig a well well before you feel thirsty."
It was with the old proverb in his head that Tilian watched Denver. Sitting bent over in a chair, his light hair hid his black eyes. But he could see the gray-haired man's every move. He could also see the other men that were there, but at the moment only Denver interested him.
He got up from his chair with a heavy feeling on his back. He stretched and walked calmly to the table where Denver was sitting. He looked at the aging face that was confused by such an approach, and leaned against the edge of the table. He wouldn't sit down again, he felt tired of having stayed all this time in a far corner, just watching.
- You know, Mr. Denver, I would love to know why you allow us to enter with such...impatience? - A smile broke out on his lips, showing his dimples. - I guess that would be the word. - Only his index finger moved. Denver's blue eyes held the movement, but then returned to Tilian's dark eyes. - Should I watch you a little?-
- Haven't you already? - The question was dry. Tilian just kept smiling, without looking away. Denver stood up aggressively as he looked around, realizing that he was strangely left alone with the man.
- I imagine it's because there's something hidden on that ship. - The smile opened wider.- Could it be... - A small dark red cloud engulfed Tilian's image. A few seconds later, as it began to dissipate, an albino girl appeared in its place . - Should I manipulate you like this?-
- Stop playing around, Tilian. - Marlena's voice echoed through the cabin.
Using the albino girl's body, Tilian turned toward the source of the voice and observed her standing at the top of the balcony. Her long dark, wavy hair was wet, but the assassin didn't seem to mind as she soaked the light brown carpet.
- I expected those words to come from Gior's mouth. - Tilian smiled and looked at the truculent man holding the helm. Gior didn't even look at him, he just seemed to stare at Marlena's face. But he only looked like that.
The assassin returned his gaze, thinking that he was staring at her shamelessly. She watched the large white man, with his fine black hair falling in the middle of his white forehead. Without a doubt, that man was no match for standing behind a helm.
Even more so with those intriguing reddish pupils, and the black pencil outline that accompanied them.
Marlena took a deep breath and walked over to the table where Tilian was still transformed as the albino girl. Denver looked at the other female presence and was intrigued by the beauty of the girl Tilian had transformed into. The white hair was fine and went down to the middle of her back, but it wasn't just the hair that was white. Everything there was that color, from her skin to her hairline. Except the eyes.
The lilac color seemed to have a stun effect on anyone, and as soon as he laid his eyes on hers, Marlena couldn't look away.
She delicately placed the machine gun she carried on the table, as if forced to do so by the look Tilian directed at him In the albino's face a weak smile opened again, his pink mouth forming a heart.
He looked at the gun, breaking the contact of both His smile widened as he saw the silencer on the gun.
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- Machine-gunned? - What Von thought was just a thought came from his lips.
Sophie swallowed hard and her eyes searched Von's face. His face indicated that he was as surprised as she was. His hands slowly released her face, but he still kept his eyes on the mast.
The seconds that passed seemed eternal. She could stare at his face, she could see the dark skin being contracted, she could see the tight lips and the eyes that were currently obscured.
But she couldn't see him. In her head, a sea of thoughts drowned her, causing that initial daze.
Only an assassin doesn't have time to hesitate.
- How? I heard no sound. - She wondered aloud.
As she heard her own voice, Sophie realized that she had to start reasoning logically. Assassins did not hesitate. Assassins didn't care if a member of their team had been killed.
He looked again at Magnun. The blood was still fresh and stained the rope that held him. But he had been machine-gunned! His thoughts were racing in his head. How could he not be angry? How could she not flinch and be confused to see him stretched out on the mast like ... like a worm? The green orbs turned back to Von, looking at him with a pleading glare, wanting an answer.
He just swallowed dryly at the remark.
Sophie sighed and ran a hand through her hair. Lowering her gaze when she noticed that he would not help her, she looked at the wooden floor and the barrels beside her. It was then that she realized where they were and remembered who had also been there earlier
Automatically, the memory of seeing Marlena and Magnun enter their respective rooms from afar came to her mind. It was they who had come up with the idea of going to rest, and she quickly followed them, looking for a cabin to rest in as well.
She felt the weight on her body dissipate, yet something else filled that void.
- Get him out of there. Now! - She had said the words in an authoritative tone as she quickly descended the stairs.
Sophie ran through the main hall and the men followed her rush with their eyes. She opened the double door she had opened minutes ago and looked into the booths. The doors were all beige and the floor was still wooden. She stopped running and started to look for the cabin number of her dorm. But still walking hurriedly, she glanced at the numbers until she reached thirty.
If hers was thirty-five, Angus's was forty.
There were fifty cabins facing each other, so her was facing 36. Skip one and it was Magnun's, number 40. And next to Magnun's was Marlena's... number 42. Sophie stopped when she saw the large number, her heartbeat quickened slightly. Without time to hesitate she advanced her hands to the doorknob.
But her hand stopped when she saw the door half open.
She pushed hard on the door, without the need for such an act. After opening the door, the red tinged bed caught the green orbs' attention. Sophie looked to the side, and realizing that no one was coming, went inside and put the lock on the door.
It was a dormitory just like hers.
The same lighting on the bed, same small closet for storing some clothes, same room with a tiny bathroom, same bed with a rotten mattress, same sheets, except that hers was not painted red.
Pretty much everything was the same. Except that there was another person in that room before, and now she was dead.
Sophie was at the scene of the crime. But that didn't matter to her either. With no time to mourn what had happened, she went to the bed and lifted the sheets, seeing the holes in the mattress. Seeing completely, the shots could have come from anywhere. Marlena could have been in front of her while she was shooting, or she could have been in the doorway, which was also not that far away.
But something was puzzling her. She hadn't heard anything. Nobody talking loudly, no fighting, nothing being broken. How could Marlena just walk through the door and quietly unload her machine gun on him? All right, Sophie was sleeping, but she always woke up at any noise.
The door had not been locked by Magnun either, so that should have made life easier for Marlena. But how did she know it wasn't locked? If it was, she would have to break it down or even shoot through the door. But then the evidence would be explicit and she would have no way to defend herself. And she wouldn't be at all sure that Magnun was lying on the bed, that would just give her away.
So, how...?
Something told her to dig deeper, to go further. If there was one coksa that Sophie did not underestimate, that was her instinct. And it said that being there she would know what happened.
She saw only one alternative: to put herself in the place.
She sat down on the bed beside the pool of blood. Sophie imagined herself tired, she remembered that he had conjured up one of his bizarre monsters, that must have used up energy. She leaned back against the pillows and looked at the closed door.
Magnun was standing sideways in almost the same place, maybe even looking at the door too. But how could he not see her coming? How could he not defend himself? Although he was only a teenager, he was one of the best assassins, his sorcery proposed that. It proposed that he could defend himself against anything, as long as he was conscious.
It was then that he realized and opened his eyes. She didn't notice that she had closed them, she just found herself submerged in her thoughts, trying to find something plausible to explain why he had died.
And that certainty hit her. He was not conscious. He couldn't be.
This reminded Sophie of her anger and it flared up again. She hastily lifted her body, being willing to start her thoughts again. However, she looked at the beige wall.
She saw a black dot. She didn't know whether it was a beetle or a large nail. With a frown, she stood up and walked quickly to it.
It was not a beetle, much less a nail. And as soon as she could get two fingers inside, her questions were answered.
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Just seeing the machine-gunned body, Von already knew who had done it. It was obvious, how could Sophie have taken so long to process such simple information?
However, the question was Why?
Why had the machine gun woman killed Magnun? Was it a fight? A settling of scores, or simply a mission?
Von didn't know, and at the moment, didn't want to know. He left this part to Sophie for the moment, she would know what to do about it. However, the only thing on his mind was how to get the body out of there.
He couldn't do it without going through the cockpit.
Then his mind cleared, and he realized that Marlena was there. Protecting the body and his own throat.
"Good, a challenge."
Seeing the balcony and then the cabin, Von sighed. He started walking across the deck, Heading toward the stern. He could climb up the back of the cabin and remove the body from there. That was the easiest part to climb, since there were two floors with a difference of about 10 centimeters from the base floor above.
But it was also the most difficult to get down, since 10 centimeters was not even the size of Sophie's foot. Alone it would be complicated enough, imagine with a body. Anyway, Von would have to face the people who were there. Explaining why he had a body on his shoulders would not be very nice.
And it would also give Marlena a possible escape.
But where would she run to? She would fall into the sea, and Von didn't doubt that the woman was crazy enough for that.
Accompanied by another sigh, he began to climb the wall of the cockpit. Holding the small difference between the floors with both hands, he placed his foot against the wall, propelling his body upward. He brought his free foot to within 10 centimeters and again propelled himself upward.
When his other foot was able to balance in that small space, he started the movement again, more cautiously this time. If he fell, he wouldn't get hurt, but he would make noise. And then, again with precision and mastery, Von gripped the roof of the cockpit again. And his feet gave him a boost.
How long had it been since he had actually done that?
With his elbow, he propped himself up on what was now his new floor. Instantly his body came together and he stood up. The movement of the boat didn't hurt him so much, what bothered him most was the wind that brought with it some snow. He walked to the mast and took the machete from his boot.
He looked at Magnun. His skin was already beginning to gray from the cold. His eyes grew heavy and he closed them, feeling sorry for himself. It was snowing. And he had no doubt that the bitch had tied him to the pole while he was still alive.
Fucking sadist.
But who was he to talk about cruelty? He was the same man who had killed the woman who loved him and killed his only friend. However, the story was always different when he was the one hit.
Nobody cried for Lucy because he had killed everyone. And no one cried for Sohan because there was no one who could do it.
It was a simple question of who remains.
Irritated by the thoughts, he held the boy's frozen body and cut the ropes, making him fall over. Von slung it over his shoulder, heading for the balcony that led to the cockpit.
As if Magnun weighed nothing, Von released him two meters from the wooden floor. The impact made a noise and then Von followed it, falling on his heels on the balcony. The assassin raised his head and saw the surprised faces of his teammates. He stood up and looked one last time at Magnun's body, now lying on the wooden floor of the balcony.
It was done. Now all he had to do was wait. - What is this? - Gior's deep voice was the first to echo in the cabin.
- I don't know and I would love someone to explain it to me. - Von walked towards them with the machete still in his hand.
There was no one except Marlena, Tilian, Gior and Denver inside the place. Von immediately found this strange, even though Gior was at the helm and the three of them were sitting at the large table.
- Is Magnun dead? - Tilian spoke in a worried voice. - I can't understand it. -
- He was killed. - Von looked directly at Marlena, who was eating a dream with cream. She felt his gaze on her, but she didn't care. - By someone in that room. -
-Someone in that room? - The blond man's frown creased, "Are you blaming any of us? - Tilian's laugh was sarcastic. - Look, here! - He walked over to Von and pointed his finger at his chest.- Just because you're the 'leader' doesn't mean you're going to walk into this fucking room and make wild accusations! -
- Shut up! - He pushed Tilian's finger angrily to the side. - He was machine-gunned and put on the main mast that only you have access to. -
- How do you say he was machine-gunned, dear? - Marlena said as she drank the rest of her tea . - Bullets are just bullets. Or just because I'm the only person you've seen today with a gun, you think I killed him?-
- I never accused you, but if you'd rather behave that way yourself. - He replied dryly.
Marlena pounded her fist on the table, lifting all the small souvenir boats that were on top of the large map.
- Do you really think there's no one on this ship who doesn't have a firearm? -
- Not when you restrict people from entering this cabin. Or do you think I didn't see the old helpers down there?
She didn't know what to say. She just swallowed dryly with the glint in her eyes conveying all the guilt.
Silence was only present for a few seconds, and then there was a shout from the double doorway. Everyone looked surprised at the door that moved a little as it took a big noise from outside. And after it, silence again.
The door was opened with a kick. Denver jumped at the noise. Sophie appeared and, almost impossible to follow with the eyes, she disappeared and reappeared next to Marlena, with both daggers ready for the slaughter.
- Wait! - Tilian raised her voice and Sophie looked at him with an angry glint in her green orbs.
She raised one of her eyebrows, trying to remember who he was and with what authority he had to raise his voice at her like that. Tilian swallowed dryly, realizing that this woman was not to be trifled with.
- Have you lost your minds? - He lowered his voice. - Why do you want to kill her?-
Sophie just ignored him and put the dagger to Marlena's neck.
-I saw the hole in your dormitory. - She said to the woman while gracefully sliding the blade. - I think you already understand that I have deciphered everything. -
Marlena gritted her teeth and clenched her fist. Her gaze was lowered, not believing that this woman had the morality to enter her room. She should have seen the hole and the darts too. Trying not to show insecurity, she took a deep breath. Then she pushed Sophie back and ran to where her machine gun was.
She smiled as she started the disorderly firing. The red haired woman somersaulted to the ground, dodging the shots. A dagger flew in her direction, but she arched her body and it grazed her cheek.
She continued to attack without stopping, her shots making no noise as she still had the silencer on. Sophie disappeared again and when she saw her, the assassin was on her back. She tripped her and Marlena felt her body crash against the carpet.
Quickly, Sophie climbed onto her belly and again placed the cold steel of her dagger against her neck. Marlena knew that she was not at her peak. She knew that at that moment she could have easily killed her.
Annoyed by this, she squeaked and fired in Sophie's direction. That could have hit that pretty little face right in the face if the redhead hadn't moved her arm and made her miss.
- A silencer on the machine gun. - Sophie moved away quickly, seeing that she would shoot again. The smile she had on her lips showed her teeth, making Marlena realize that she was nothing more than fun and ego fodder. - You give yourself away more and more.-
Marlena stopped shooting and looked around, looking for some reinforcement. Gior still remained concentrated on the helm, he hadn't moved a bit. Von and Tilian had moved away from the trot, one went to the balcony and the other to the entrance door. And Denver was protecting himself with Magnun's body.
Sophie followed his gaze and was irritated by the last sight. Her countenance had changed. His face was now closed, completely serious. Marlena cursed that man eternally.
Firing again in the direction of the redhead, Marlena spun in the same place, making an almost complete turn to try to hit her. Getting no results and dodging daggers every now and then, Marlena tired of shooting in the way Sophie had done, and started shooting in a way she could pass.
She appeared right where she anticipated.
But the bullet missed her, and the curly-haired woman smiled, understanding how obvious this girl could be. She continued attacking wherever she passed, and when she took aim again at another place Sophie would pass, the sound of an empty cartridge made itself present in the room.
And it was a matter of seconds before Sophie was in front of him, with the dagger in her belly and not in her throat. Surprising Marlena who defended herself thinking she would attack. She felt the icy contact of the blade and a groan of pain stopped in mid air. She looked up at Sophie, her chocolate eyes trembling, something akin to desperation. Something reached her throat and then she spat out some blood, which soon after mingled with the blood coming out of her belly.
The dagger had gone completely through her stomach. You could see the shredded steel tip coming out full of blood, cutting her skin and clothes, and her blood spurting out onto the carpet.
Sophie feathered her with a serious tone in her eyes. The fun and sadistic tone had passed, only a sense of twisted justice and revenge remained.
The last thing Marlena saw were those eyes, the same eyes that seemed to be made of green marble, so indecipherable were they at that moment.
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To the door of cabin 35 was opened, and through it passed Von and Sophie. The assassin held her arms out as she escorted Von inside. As they entered, she turned on the light and passed the lock. She sighed deeply as she still stared at the beige door. She might have slept a little, but she still felt tired.
- Why did you bring me here? - She heard Von's voice and turned to him.
- Two people died today on that ship. - She answered him tiredly.
- More than two people died today. That woman shot I don't know how many more sailors. - Von also crossed his arms. - Now tell me why you want me here. -
She sighed again.
-We have to take care of our own. - She walked over to the bed and sat on the edge of it.- Trusting and protecting those who are loyal. -
- And who would that be except you and me? - He continued standing, his body shadowing hers.
- You and I. Only.- Sophie lowered her gaze.
- And Lizandra? -
- I don't know. - She uncrossed her arms and Von saw the blood on her fingertips. - I have to prove her loyalty. But for the moment, I'm going to take a bath. Don't go anywhere. -
He heard the bathroom door slam. Again she used that authoritative tone, and the only thing he could do at that moment was obey her.
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When Sophie came out of the bathroom, the first thing she saw was Von's body occupying the entire bed.
- Explain to me why you really called me here? - he said, blinking twice. He was lying on the bed with his arms behind his head, taking up the entire single bed. - Because I don't think we're going to fit in this bed. -
- Who says you're sleeping there? - She crossed her arms again, frowning and pretending to be confused.
He stood up and walked over to her, looking down at her. - Oh really?- he crossed his arms as well. -Yes.- She didn't look down at the clear intimidation Von was giving her. - And I'm not even giving you the blanket, I'm cold. -
- Also, wearing that black tank top.- Sophie looked away as she huffed. She threatened to undo her bun in order not to get her hair wet, but Von interrupted her. - Why the hell are you wearing a tank top in winter? -
- I washed some of my other two sweaters,.- Von was amused by her green eyes staring at the wall; she still couldn't look at him for long. - They're still wet. -
- Doing laundry in the winter? Especially when you're on a ship, Sophie? - He laughed in her face. - Don't you think? -
Fury took over her green eyes and she automatically looked at him.
- I only washed the sleeve, you idiot! -
He whispered an almost imperceptible sneer, and silence fell. Sophie realized that the conversation had died. Feeling cold, she started rubbing both hands on her arms.
Sophie realized that the conversation had died. Feeling cold, she started rubbing both hands on her arms.
- Sophie. - Von's face turned serious, warning her that she had better obey him.
But she didn't want to. - I'm just cold. -
- You don't know what cold is. - He said this with a small smile on his lips.
- Oh, I forgot that you always say you hate winter, but you never tell the details.-
- I'm not someone who tells stories. -
- Oh, but that night in my room you told me a good story about Sohan. - She realized what she had said after the words joined the air. But she didn't care, he told her things like that just to keep her away, and she wasn't going to be the one to accept rudeness.
But she still felt uncomfortable, because the mood was so good before.
-Don't say his name like that. - She lowered her gaze, defeated. She swallowed dryly when she couldn't define the tone of Von's voice.
- Like what? - She regained her posture and lifted her gaze, staring at him with a defiant glint in her eyes. - With poison on my lips? -
- You've started acting like a slut. - Von stated his opinion.
-What's behind that disapproving tone? In case you don't remember, it was you who killed him. - She saw her brown pupils clench a little. Von was trying to understand what was behind that arrogant posture.
And so green and brown almost blended together. Both trying to unravel the other.
Von took her by the right arm and shook her. He watched every detail of her face and with that he saw when she closed her eyes quickly, frowning. Von thought this strange and looked at the thin arm in his hands, wondering if he applied too much force.
Then he sees a little blood on her hand and lets go immediately, looking for the green eyes with a guilty glint in his.
But he says nothing.
- What? - Sophie tires of the silence. - Did you really think I was going to come out unscathed after fighting the crazy machine gun? -
- The bullet's not in there? -
- It just grazed her, Von. - She puts her hand over the wound. - It was when I climbed on top of her.-
- It's still wide open. You need a few stitches. - He turns his back to her and looks in her purse. He takes out a plastic bag with a surgical needle, black thread and scissors. - Just don't go crying. -
- But what do you have so much in that bag of yours? - He shakes the package and pushes her onto the bed, making her sit up. His face remained serious despite the tone of his voice.
She clearly noticed the masks.
- I don't need you to give me any points. I don't need your help. - She was feeling foolish for expecting anything from him.- I don't want you to take care of me because you touched my wound. I just touched yours too.-
- She's already healed. - He replies dryly. -And I'm not going to whine just because you touched a sensitive spot, Sophie. -
She swallows dryly and Von takes her arm. With the scissors, he takes the needle and begins to pass it between the open skin, joining the two ends and sewing that gap.
He watches Sophie's hands gripping the sheet tightly, but he doesn't look at her. He didn't want to do that. He didn't want to have to look at her again and feel sorry for a wound.
And he knew that she didn't want to be looked at like that either.
When he finished giving the stitches, silence reigned in the room. A heavy bloody silence, where neither of them dared to say anything.
- How were you sure it was her?- He got tired of the silence and broke it.
- I just saw a hole that connected the two rooms.-
- Very observant. - Von let go of her arm and Sophie pulled him towards her.
Something was still stuck in her throat, but she didn't know how to turn it into a voice.
-thank y...-
- No need to thank me. - He cut her off. - I just did a favor anyone would do.-
- You're not just anyone. - She spoke so softly that she didn't even hear herself.
- I also know that you wouldn't let just anyone help you. - He searched her green eyes, but she just looked away.
She laughed weakly, and Von sighed. Things seemed to have become difficult again.
- You don't look at me. Not that I need to, but I sense that you are uncomfortable. - He stood up. - If you're like this, why did you call me here? -
- You know why.- She looked at him seriously, trying to ignore the urge to look away.
-Oh, so now you can confess that you only called me here because you wanted me in your bed. - He tries to break the ice.
And he does. He always does.
Sophie felt her blood burn at this sentence. Von had an amused smile on his lips, as if he were playing with a new toy.
And even though she was the toy, Sophie couldn't resist that smile.
She pulled him tightly by the jacket and brought their lips together. Desire quickly boiled their blood at the mere touch, and Von opened his mouth, allowing Sophie's tongue to pass through.
Ah, she admitted that she missed him.
She kissed him lustfully, her tongue hot and irresistible.Von ran his hands down her slender waist, deepening the kiss and abandoning her sanity. Their lips warred again, as they hadn't done in days. A lingering kiss where they both enjoyed every second of it.
Sophie let go of her mouth in search of air, but Von kept nibbling her lip hard, turning it redder than usual.
- I feel like a bomb. - She pulled his face back into another kiss. - ... A mere touch from you, and I feel myself explode. -
The moment he heard her words, Von pushed her hard against the mattress and captured again the lips that had parted on the way. His hands let go of the thin waistband and tattoo Sophie's body.
But Von runs his hand over the row of stitches and Sophie moans in pain against his mouth. He quickly gets up, ending the kiss.
- Forget it, you're hurt. - Sophie rises a little and takes his lips again, giving him quick kisses.
- I won't let myself hear this phrase again. - She giggled between kisses. - What? - She spoke against his lips, her hot breath sending shivers through Von's body. - I just got a few stitches. -
- I'm not going to have sex with you wounded.- He pulled her away by the arm, not bothering to touch the stitches.
- Why not? - She looks down at his hand and frowns. - Since when do you care about me?-
- And I really don't. -He withdraws his hand, realizing that this act could put an end to his escape. - But I've never given a stitch as beautiful as this one. I don't want to ruin it.-
Sophie laughs nervously.
- That was your worst lie, Von. - He rolls his eyes.
- Just accept that there won't be any tonight. - He quickly gets up and turns out the light. - And if you try to seduce me, I'll go back to the hammock. -
Von lies down on the bed and feels Sophie leaning against his arm, placing her head on his collarbone.
- Do you want to sleep like lovers now? - He lifts his head and stares at where her face would be.
- No, you idiot. But the bed is too small, it looks like I'm going to fall out. -
- Tomorrow we'll fix it. - He said, flipping the covers over their bodies and trying to get a comfortable position where Sophie was almost glued to him.
- Tomorrow two bodies will be thrown into the sea in the morning.- Von felt his breath warm against the exposed skin of her neck.
- Yes... - He whispers and feels something warm touching his skin.
Sophie was kissing his neck, trying to provoke him again.
- I couldn't resist. - She laughs against that sensitive part when she realizes that he brakes.
Von quickly seeks her lips and pulls her to him, biting down hard.
- Me neither.-
And then, before any further action from her, or even from him, he releases her lips and turns his face away. His reason came back to him, remembering that this was only desire. "It was only desire," he echoed in his head. And at some point, the flame of desire would die out.