[Vereena]
My sense of smell was jolted into alertness by a potent whiff of menthol herb that was floating on the tip of my nose. My body felt weak, my head crammed with a heavy feeling of nausea.
The last thing I remember was the captain holding me down, while there is this strange woman. She will…my blood. Am I dead?
"You're awake."
A woman's voice echoed into my hearing. A peppering touch grazing on my face, jolting me to stir.
No.
I am not yet dead.
I am still a captive.
Slowly, I fluttered my eyes open. The sight of a veiled woman came into my view. Although my vision is still blurred, I remember all too well what happened before I lost my consciousness.
"S-stay away from me…" My voice was so hoarse that it was almost incomprehensible as I shoved her hand weakly away and slowly getting up. However, as I was about to push myself up, a searing pain erupted on my wrist, prompting me to howl in agony.
"Stay still." The woman immediately rushed to my side, grabbed my wrist, and held it while she smearing something into the slit incision.
"What did you do to me?" I griped, shrinking away from her touch and yanking my wrist from her grip soon as she finished applying a soothing paste to the injury, strangely almost instantly wearing the pain away.
The woman sighs sharply and set the wooden bowl consisting of the green past to the side and stared at me. I know I heard her name earlier but I was too scared to hear anything but the thunder beating of my heart in my ear.
"You're fine, lass," she calmly stated as she stood up. "We just needed a little of your blood."
My gaze fell into her body, seeing the outline of her curves through the flimsy layers of black fabric. Nevertheless, the feature that drew my attention to her the most was the startling red color of her eyes, which I have never seen in anybody else. I couldn't help but wonder if such eyes on a human being were ever feasible.
I have read books about people possessing extraordinary abilities and features. Some of them are called witches. If I have not seen it myself, I wouldn't have believed they existed and only tales that lived in pages, but as I take a gander around the tent. It lends credence to what I had suspected. Baubles and trinkets, crosses, small jars filled with liquid, tomes, and candles brightened the entire place. Just then I noticed that I was laid on a long bench covered with white cloth, looking like an altar.
Like a sacrifice before their gods.
"You are not going to kill me?" Panic began to venture inside me again as I veered my attention back to the veiled woman.
Which only she responded with a snigger.
"Of course not, lass. I assure you, I meant no harm than a wee bit of your blood."
My gaze fell down to the slit in my wrist, it was still fresh, but the paste she applied to ease the pain.
Of course, my blood. A highborn blood. I don't know what she meant by little, but my body felt otherwise. I'm felt totally drained.
A stretch of momentarily silence blanketed us when a person's face sprung up on my head.
"Where is the captain?" I marveled, realizing now that I haven't seen him inside the tent. Had he left me with this woman? Had he exchanged me for whatever he needed for my blood?
That filthy swine! But then, if he indeed left me, my father could retrieve me. A ray of hope glistened inside my chest, but soon as I felt the relish of my thought, it was instantly crushed when the veiled spoke.
"Keeping your end of the bargain."
"Bargain?" I gaped at her quizzically, a bit lost by what she said.
However, before she could respond to my question, the fabric on the tent suddenly swooshed open, revealing the man that have been running inside my head just a moment ago.
"Where're my leathers? I want to see my old friend…" He blurted without even looking to whom he was addressing, but then soon as his gaze landed on my face, he went still for a fleeting moment and nodded his head. "On your feet, caileag. You have children to feed."
I stared at him in sheer bewilderment, not knowing what he meant by it. My brain still fuzzing with nausea, not understanding a thing about what he was saying. I battled my brain, attempting to remember snippets and pieces of information, but then it dawned on me. The innocent faces of those stray children were discarded at the side of the road, begging for a penny from everyone that come passed to them.
I pleaded with Captain Steele and told him I would do anything he wants if he'll let me feed them. I even renounced the very notion of escaping because of them.
Without waiting any seconds to pass, I abruptly jolt from the bench, standing up on my feet too quickly forgetting that my body was still weak from losing blood. My head spun, my vision blackened and my knees wobbled, sapped with the strength to hold my entire weight.
"Steady, lass."
The woman promptly went to my side and hold my shoulders, keeping me upright before I collapse. I took a deep breath, closing my eyes and easing the queasiness stirring inside me before letting myself free.
"I can manage," I said, taking a tentative step, balancing on my feet as I force them to make another move forward soon as my head's spinning abated.
I cannot fail those children. I have to find a way to feed each of them.
"Stubborn, lass." The woman muttered exasperatedly as she pushed the leathers into the captain's hand. "He's in the woods near the port. Just call him and he'll come to you." She added as she turns her back without sparing me another glance, as though she means us to go without any further delay.
Understand that gesture. I also did that during a lavish soiree back in Pearlshire Harbor. To leave discreetly when I don't want the company flocking around me.
The captain went outside first and I slowly trailed behind him, but before I made it through the exit, I turn one last time. Although I couldn't see the woman, I have no doubt that she was keeping an eye on us.
"Thank you for the paste," I muttered genuinely, dipping my head lightly like any high noble lady would do showing her gratitude before I completely stepped outside the tent.
The bustling noise from the crowd greeted my vision, but one thing I noticed was the children huddled on the side, holding a wooden bowl in their lap and a spoon. They are already eating with mush gusto, shoving porridge into their mouth enthusiastically as their faces glinted with pure heavenly bliss.
Another loud indistinct chatter shifted my attention, and I saw along the side of the muddy road a long queue of children waiting for their turn. By the end of the line were three large cauldrons. Large enough for myself to fit in if I curled, and a woman was scooping the porridge, filling it into their bowl. Everything was already in order.
A rush of glee flooded into my being. Chasing my nausea and fatigue out of my system, only to be replaced with happiness.
"Don't just stand there. You have work." A starting deep voice suddenly came up behind me, jolting me to my feet. I turn around and see the captain's face staring at the line.
He kept his words. It may sound unbelievable for a ruthless pirate captain, but he kept his words.
"This was your idea, right?" He graces me with his gaze while I was still gaping at him. Words seems couldn't get past my mouth as I was overwhelmed with what I was seeing, but all that I did was smile.
Smiling at the man that captured me.
I don't know if I was imagining it or if the shadow on his face played tricks on my eyes, but the corner of his lips quirked up a little bit and then went too quickly before I could confirm it.
He cocked his head, prompting me to get on with helping the children and I did not wait for another second to be wasted. I am still a little bit lightheaded, but my excitement thrummed over my body to even care about my well-being as I began to sprint through the muddy road and towards the woman serving the food to the children.
"What can I help?" I mirthfully queried soon as I came to a halt in front of the line, addressing the woman. She cast me a side glance and pointed to the stack of wooden bowls and spoons right next to the cauldron, instructing me what to do.
"Hold their bowl, lass. That you can do."
I immediately obliged without uttering a single word, the smile on my face still plastered and unfiltered, greeting each child as they take their ration.
"I'm Sana," the woman suddenly uttered her name while her attention solely focused on scooping the steaming hot porridge. Sana was a stout woman closed similarly closed to Mrs. Charlotte's age judging by the sandy streak of white hair on her head.
"Hello, Sana. I'm Ve-Vee." I hesitated in contemplation as I stated my shortened name instead of the entirety of my identity, knowing how they hated people with noble blood.
Sana smiled at me, pouring the porridge into the bowl I was holding. "By whatever good graces have befallen upon us, I will not question the Almighty about it. This is the first time Captain Steele provided food for the children. We are all far too impoverished to even be able to lend them a single dime to buy bread."
Sympathy coated her voice as she spoke, a slight tremble as she genuinely felt pity towards the children, and somehow I share her sentiments.
"This has to be a miracle for them," I responded, giving the bowl to the awaiting child staring up at me with wide curious eyes.
"No lass," Sana laughs softly, turning her head closer to mine as she whispers something into my ear that made me go still. "I believed an angel was sent to him."