Chapter 34: The Judgment of Poseidon





The Skull walked me back silently to my cabin with confusion messing up with my head. A menace was formed when I was kidnapped and now, it was threatening the Pirate City. The Pirate City, in its grand and finest form – with pirate ships surrounding for its protection, now seemed vulnerable because of the battle that was looming in the distance. Maybe the pirates thought that indeed, I was a Jonah of the Obsidian.



"Is everything going to be alright?" I asked as I lingered on my door looking up at him.



I knew that we were in a dangerous situation and I couldn't help but get worried. However, his cold, grey eyes remained calm and when his warm hand touched my cheek, the anxiety subsided. Even at this moment, he still had control over my emotions. I was afraid that he was slowly becoming my world and I would be left with nothing once I was taken back home – because he already became my home.



"If this world will fall apart soon, trust me that I'll keep you safe from it all." He moved closer towards me until I could feel his lips touching my forehead. I closed my eyes as I savored the moment in his arms. "I would do anything just to keep you unharmed," he continued.



I inhaled his scent before he finally released me. He looked at me like I was a fragile thing he needed to protect and I was worried that he might get hurt by doing so.



"What if they come for me and destroy the Pirate City? What will happen to the pirates? What will happen to us?" because I couldn't imagine living without him again. I didn't think I could face a new day without him in my own old world.



"Listen, nothing bad will happen to you. I will make sure of that," he answered in his comforting voice.



"But what will happen to us?"



He wasn't able to answer right away and that's when fear started coming back at me. He wasn't sure of us. He would make sure to keep me safe but he couldn't promise anything to keep the thing we shared. I looked at him with pain visible in my eyes.



"Primrose, this isn't your world. And if to keep you safe is to give you back home then –"



"So there's really no us in this pirate world. What we shared didn't really exist and those kisses and embraces didn't really mean anything." I felt betrayed for all this time; I thought we were into something.



"Prim –"



"Please leave. I want to be alone," I cut him off.



I thought I saw pain crossed his eyes but I couldn't be sure because whatever that emotion was, it was gone in a second. I pushed him away as gently as I could for if I would just allow my wounded heart on its revenge, my hands would just hit him hard on his face. And as much as possible, I wouldn't want to do that. I didn't think I could bring myself to hurt him. So when he remained standing at my door and refused to leave, I just clenched my fists as I tried to stop myself from crying.



I turned my back to him to form a safe distance but suddenly, he grabbed me by my waist and spun me around so I would land against his chest. I was amazed at how my body fit perfectly and comfortably inside his arms – and it was killing me to think that we needed to part somehow.



"You don't how much I wish that I'm not the Skull right at this moment – how much I wanted to be the most powerful person in this world before you found me so that I can keep you by my side even when everything falls apart. And I hate myself because they're going to take you away from me. They still have the power to take you away from me. You are the loveliest butterfly that travels the sea and I'm sorry that I wasn't able to turn this world into a paradise yet. And that's why right now; they want to bring you back to the garden. And it's fucking killing me to let you go."



His embrace tightened and that prompted my tears to fall from my eyes. I sank my face as deep as I could against his chest inhaling his manly scent. I wouldn't want to forget this feeling if ever I realized that everything was just a dream.



"I don't want you to let me go, Threy," I called to his name. "I hate to think that you're just going to let me go." My voice croaked as if I was begging for him not to let go. But if it was our world that's threatening to tear us apart, what kind of power did we have to fight it?



We stayed like that for a long time and how I wished that time did not exist for I would prefer being caged in his arms forever. But the night was getting deeper and colder, and as much as I wanted to keep this moment, we needed to rest mainly because a great battle was waiting for us. Yes, I needed to rest and think as well. I needed to have all the strength I could get specially when in this battle; my only weapon was a brave heart. We parted that night with a lot of things still needed to be expressed. But I didn't let it discourage me and instead, I looked at it as something that was yearning for a second chance. The words that were left unsaid promised that we would be seeing each other again by tomorrow. And for tomorrow, I would be hopeful.



I woke up to the sound of loud steps outside my door. And even though they were arguing in hushed voices, I knew that a commotion was happening outside. I sat on my bed and combed my fingers to my hair. I didn't wait for too long before I heard urgent knocks on my door. I stood and padded across my cabin to open it and revealed a worried Erasmus with other pirates who seemed to not belong to the Obsidian.



"What's going on?" I asked, confused.



A pirate who seemed to be of high position in his pirate ship stepped forward and said, "You are being summoned to the grand vessel by Captain Rowaen. We'll give you time to prepare and come with us in your own will."



Erasmus seemed to disagree with it and was about to engage another argument but I stopped him by touching his arm.



"It's alright. Give me a moment and I'll come with you," I answered.



There was no way Erasmus would win over these pirates. Where were the others by the way? Captain Drakon? The Skull? I immediately changed into more decent clothes before I opened the door and came out. I was then escorted towards the deck of the Obsidian where canoes were waiting for us to transfer to the grand vessel. I saw Owain climbed down from the crow's nest and intercepted us from leaving.



"Hey! Where are you taking her?" he asked, scowl was already plastered on his face.



"The Jonah of the Obsidian is being summoned to the grand vessel. You must not stop us – this is an urgent matter," the pirate that was leading the group answered.



Owain let out a sarcastic laugh and said, "You come to our ship without informing us first of your intentions. This is the Obsidian and do you know what we do to those pirates who trespass on our territory? We kill them in the most savage way."



The pirates of the Pirate City flinched a little by his threat but they recovered fast as well. "Do I also have to remind you that you are in the Pirate City and not in the middle of the sea? To Captain Rowaen, you are just a bird that perched on his tree. We can destroy you in just a second," the pirate answered back.



Erasmus showed up from the entrance of the Obsidian. Owain looked at me and then to Erasmus and back to me. I knew he was confused on how to protect the both of us. So with a sigh, I called to him loudly.



"Owain, I'm going with them. You don't have to worry about me."



Owain scowled at me in distaste. "I'm not worried about you," he countered but still, he watched silently as the pirates lead me to the canoes. I had no idea of what would happen next but I had to make sure that it would not put the Obsidian in jeopardy.



The walk towards the room where I supposed to meet Captain Rowaen was uncomfortable. Pirates on our way looked at me like I was a curse given to them by the God of the sea. I could see hatred and disapproval on their faces. I could see that they wanted to kill me right at that moment. It was just that something was stopping them from doing so. And I wonder if I should hold on tightly to that thing if I wanted to be safe.



We stopped in front of a large door. I could almost taste the bitterness of fear and nervousness in my tongue. It felt like I did something wrong and this room was where I would be punished. I was the one who was kidnapped and forced to live with the pirates. But why did it feel like it was entirely my fault?



The pirates opened the door for me and ushered me inside. I walked in nervously and stopped abruptly when I was welcomed by the stares of the captains of the pirate ships sitting on a huge table at the center of the room. Captain Rowaen stood up from his seat and raised his hand for me to join them. I hesitated at first, but I realized that I had no choice at this moment – I had to face them. As I walked towards the vacant seat beside Captain Rowaen, I met the eyes of the surprised Skull who was sitting beside Captain Drakon. He seemed to be unaware that I would be attending this meeting – I didn't know about this, too. I saw that he was about to stand from his place when Captain Drakon stopped him. I also shook my head slightly at him to assure that I would be just fine. I would be fine – for now.



"Is she the Jonah of the Obsidian, or should I say the young Lady Crimson of the East?" a pirate asked. It was the first time that I saw this pirate. He looked cruel and heartless. His voice seemed to bring danger.



I looked down as the other pirates scrutinized me. I felt like I was being judged – like I could harm them by just existing. It was obvious that they didn't like my presence.



"How about greeting us first, Captain Mallu? It's been a long time since you've visited the Pirate City," Captain Rowaen answered. He seemed to be calm about the situation.



Captain Mallu slammed his fist hard on the table angrily and I flinched cowardly on where I was sitting. "Greeting? Do you want me to say, 'Good morning, milady! How's your sleep?' This woman," he pointed at me and dropped a poster on the table with the sketch of my face on it, "was the reason why I lost my crews! She's the reason why the Pirate City will fall down soon!"



This time, it was Captain Rowaen who stood angrily from his seat. Gone was the calm captain sitting beside me for it was already the violent one glaring angrily at us.



"The Pirate City is not going to fall down! It is never going to fall down!" he growled at Captain Mallu. Even though he was glaring at everyone, it still felt like his anger was directed towards me.



Captain Mallu mocked him by laughing loudly. He seemed to be laughing at something only he could see funny. "Let's see if you can still say that once the fleet of the mainland is already at the horizon coming for us! Let's see if the Pirate City is never coming down once your people are defeated by those marines with powerful weapons!"



That almost sounded as a declaration of an incoming defeat and it caused uneasiness to the captains in the room. Some of them seemed to be thinking of solutions while the others are just eyeing me with pure hatred. They looked at me as if I betrayed them.



"Are you certain about this fleet from the mainland?" one of the captains asked. I recognized her as from the last time I dined with the other captains. She seemed not to blame me. However, she also didn't like the chaos I was bringing to their world. "Do they really have new and powerful weapons and armors that can outmatch us?"



"And if that so, how did you escape them? How did you come here with some of your crews?" the other asked.



Captain Mallu didn't like that he was the one in question and not me. He glowered at my direction before answering the other pirates.



"To send a message! They let me go so all the pirates would know that they're coming for this bitch –"



There was a slight movement in the direction of the Skull and Captain Drakon, and even though it was just a small action, it still caught everyone's attention and even stopped Captain Mallu from speaking. I looked at the Skull and I could see that he was flashing his dagger. The captains near him, aside from Captain Drakon, seemed to be uncomfortable. They loosened a little when the Skull cut his blade gently against the apples on his plate.



"Careful with your tongue, Mallu – or it would be the next one I would cut," he didn't make it sound like a threat but the effect of his words was still the same. Captain Mallu wasn't able to continue speaking and instead, fixed a glare on the Skull's direction.



It was then Captain Rowaen's turn to discuss the subject. He addressed everyone formally and then turned to me. I couldn't help but held my breath and froze on where I was sitting. It was probably the start of accusation and judgment.



"You come to us as the Jonah of the Obsidian and you immediately captured my interest with the way you view things and ofcourse, by your apparent beauty. Everything Captain Mallu said sounds to me as a betrayal and I don't want being betrayed. But my angel, if you will kindly introduce yourself to us, I will listen to you with an open heart," Captain Rowaen said gently but even though I stared back straight to his eyes, I still couldn't find his sincerity.



I looked at the Skull but he seemed to be focusing his anger on the apple in front of him. I felt a pang of sadness in my chest. I wished he could stare back at me. I wished he could tell me that it was okay to show myself to them – to let them know me. But I knew he wouldn't say it and I knew that it wasn't. I was left with a burning room and an open door – the only choice I had is to come out.



"I am Lady Primrose Crimson of the Crimson Family of the East. I was taken as a captive of the pirates who escaped from the jail in the West Land. And ever since I was taken by Captain Drakon and his crews, I became the Jonah of the Obsidian," I announce with a louder and firmer voice. Being scared would be like losing a battle without a fight. If bravery was the only weapon I had then it needed to be used in this situation.



There was suddenly a commotion and arguments within the pirates. They couldn't believe that a person from high-profiled family of the main land was actually sitting with them in a room – sailing with them in the sea.



"I always knew that that red-haired woman is unusual! She's too innocent, too pure for the pirates. She's too much for the sea!" a pirate finally commented pointing a finger on me.



"She's a curse! How could you, Captain Drakon, bring a curse to the Pirate City?" another one said and this time, he was confronting Captain Drakon.



"She isn't a curse! We brought this to us. The pirates brought this to us. It isn't her fault!" Captain Drakon tried to defend me but it was no use at that moment. There were too many of them for us. There were too many accusation and fingers pointing at me. It almost felt like drowning.



"Then what are we going to do with her?"



"Kill her!"



Their voices became louder to the point that they were already screaming at me. It was almost unbelievable that they weren't attacking me yet because of the intensity of their anger. It was almost impossible to leave this room alive.



"Enough!" It was the loud, growling voice of the Skull that sounded like a thunder that stopped the chaos that was building in the room. They all settled back on their seat looking cautiously at the Skull. It seemed that the rumors about the Skull killing pirates and painting the sea of blood are true. I could see that they regarded him with fear and respect.



"This woman, whoever she is, is under my protection. Anyone who dared to harm her, or even touch her, will be receiving the Skull's wrath," he declared a law in which no one would oppose. The pirates nodded at him in agreement. However, I could also see them glaring at him secretly – and it worried me. What if they'd betray him? What if someone dared to double-cross him?



"But she is Primrose Crimson and a Jonah! A fleet is coming for us to get her! Would you sacrifice the Pirate City just to keep her?" Captain Mallu asked.



"Definitely not." It was Captain Rowaen who answered immediately. "We will not sacrifice the Pirate City. She has been with us for a long time now and she never really harmed any pirates. She lived the way we do, ate the food we eat and think beyond what we can understand. She has the soul of a pirate trapped within her body. She is our own."



It caused confusion and more whispering to the group. I, too, looked at him warily.



"Then what do you suggest?" a captain asked.



Captain Rowaen looked at them proudly and said, "We will fight them like the pirate we are!"



And that's when I let out the air I was holding in. There would be an incoming battle that might cost destruction to both worlds – and was I really the root of it?