When Isadora spat on Kraven's face, the room filled with a graveyard silence, a chillness hung on the air like a passing whisper.
Kraven's expression morphed into shock and then into something more dangerous.
He closed the distance between them and with an eerie calmness, wiped the spit off his face with a thumb, and then with a twisted smirk he sucked on it, maintaining eye contact with Isadora whose lips parted in awe.
"I like it when you fight back" his voice dripped with dark amusement, and his smirk widened like a Cheshire feline. "But I need you to behave, punishing you now will not savor my taste"
They looked at each other like a furnace was engaging. Isadora's glassy eyes and anger carved on her features. A twisted amusement on Kraven's features but his silver eyes burned with a murderous intensity that made Isadora back down.
Like a bunny going back behind the tree, Isadora surrendered.
"Good girl" he coaxed.
Kraven pulled away and faced the wailing pirate on the floor, his hand was completely ruined beyond recovery.
Kraven squatted to his size. "I've great news, your hand can very much be repaired"
A glimmer of hope flashed in the pirate's eyes but quietly morphed into apprehension when he gazed at Kraven's eyes and then his hair.
His features were the indication he needed for the stories that had spread across the lands, which weren't just stories after all.
Silver shaded hair and matching eyes emerged from the darkness.
"Reaper," he said in shock before shaking his head like he was having a deep argument with himself. "Curse Thornfoot!''
The dirtbag practically sent him to an early grave. No price is worth coming toe-toe with the Reaper.
"Thornfoot? He put you up to this?" Kraven questioned and the pirate glared.
This earned a chuckle from Kraven. "Who would take a job from that bastard? He can barely stand on his own"
The pirate chuckled deeply before breaking into a pearl of laughter. Kraven engaged too like they were two friends having the time of their lives.
Isadora gave them both a look as if they had sprouted two heads.
Kraven patted the pirate's shoulder and his humor descended into one of whimpers.
"P-Please, don't kill me" he begged.
Kraven licked his lips before speaking. "Did you know what you did?"
He spared a look at Isadora and then back at Kraven. "Tried to kidnap the lassie"
"Hmm," Kraven made a sound only and nodded his head.
The idea of leaving a dagger with Isadora was a test to see if she could hold her own which failed drastically when he intervened. Not the plan he had in mind.
"Look, he offered and it was a good deal" he chuckled at the end of his words. "I wouldn't have been involved if I knew she was accompanied by you" his eyes shine with respect and fear, hoping to lobby his way out alive. "Reaper," he praised.
"Where did the dirtbag get the money to pay pirates?" Kraven asked, pondering about Thornfoot's action. "As much as I know... you goons love golds in their pockets or have your leader lost their standards in taking a good job?"
The pirate suddenly retaliated despite the odds being against him because Kraven had spoken ill of a man he worships and he would rather die a pig than let him utter another word of disrespect.
"Ease yourself lad" Kraven chuckled, stopping his advances with his bloody blade pressed against his throat. "We don't want to get ahead of ourselves"
"No one speaks ill of the Pirate Lord while I breathe," he said with a deadly look.
But then a wide smirk plastered on his lips. "Good luck getting off this ship alive" he spared a look at Isadora, a promise of something in his eyes. "The Pirate Lord always gets his possession," he barked a laugh.
The sudden realization dawned on Kraven and unable to take any more of his amusement, he took his head.
Isadora squealed as the man's head rolled to a corner. Her body quivered beyond control as she stared at the headless body.
Kraven stood and kicked the body to the floor before murmuring a string of curses in Faetong as frustration took over.
Thornfoot did not pay the pirates but it was vice versa. He did not only double-cross them but dared to sell Isadora. 'The nerves of that dirtbag!'
"Show me your hand" he demanded.
Isadora looked at him confused and made no attempts to do so, with an unamused look Kraven was very intimidating. He looked like a beast ready to engage in a bloodbath.
"Now!"
She instinctively took a step backward but he grabbed her hand forcibly and pulled her sleeves up.
Her tantrums ceased when a mark on her right wrist was revealed. A red skull. How did that get there? She had no recollection of having a tattoo. 'What's going on?'
"Bastard!" Kraven growled.
Suddenly a loud bang came through and the ship shook, causing shockwaves.
Isadora tried to stay on her feet but it was a hard feat and gravity caused her to fall into Kraven's arms.
Her eyes widen at the contact and she subconsciously clings to him. She had a sudden feeling of pending dread and couldn't explain it, it caused a deep chill to her bones.
Loud demanding footsteps came toward the cabin and more pirates came into view.
"We have come for our package" one of them declared and pulled out a flintlock and pulled the trigger, it fired with a loud bang, followed by a puff of smoke into the air as the bullet sped towards them with urgency,
With a nudge from Kraven, Isadora was pushed out of the way and the bullet pierced him, the sheer force causing him to collide with the wall and split it open.
Isadora watched the whole scene with horrific eyes, her body paralyzed with shock, everything went silent and each breath she took seemed to be measured.
Everything was lost to her senses even as the pirates hauled her away, her eyes remained on where Kraven lay, unmoving.
They killed him.