Somewhere in the Phlegethon Sea, Abram was once again regretting his life choices.
He didn't sign up to be a pirate just so he could do chores, after all. There had to be more to this life than just being ordered around by the other crew members and kneeling on the deck until his knees turned red.
Abram gritted his teeth as he plunged his hands into freezing cold water, wetting the stone in his hands once more so he could clean another plank.
He shivered as a light breeze hit him, chilling him to the bone. What was this miserable existence of his? Where was the glory? The adventure? The pretty women?
"Scrubbing the deck again? They really are quite determined to work you to death." Came a voice as smooth as silk
Abram turned quickly, so startled he knocked over his water bucket with his elbow. Salt water splashed everywhere, before pooling into the creases between planks.
Abram yelped, quickly making the bucket upright again, before turning to address the speaker. His face was already bright red even before he realized who he was looking at.
It was the blonde lady in black and red, Madam Dollie. Abram hadn't seen her in over a week, as she seemed to spend all her time in the captain's quarters. Abram had asked Caltry why she never came out, and he said she sometimes took walks around the ship at night when most of the crew was asleep.
Abram had tried to push for more info, but Caltry had rebuked him, saying "You best leave that one alone, lad. It's not worth it."
But now she was standing right in front of him, and talking to him. There was no way Abram could be so rude as to not converse back.
"U-u-um H-Hello…" He stuttered out. It seemed he had overestimated his ability to converse. Her eyebrows drooped in obvious concern.
"My apologies, did I frighten you? I did not mean to."
"N-No… I was just lost in thought… Yeah."
"Is that so? What were you thinking about?"
"it's… uh… probably nothing important."
She pursed her lips.
"It must have been something important to deserve such intense focus. Please tell me, I wish to hear what is on your mind."
Even the cold water and gentle breeze were struggling to soothe the warmth in Abram's face at that moment. He felt he had no choice but to be honest to such an accommodating beauty.
"I was just thinking about adventuring, yaknow? Finding treasure, exploring new lands and meeting… ah… pretty ladies."
"You wish to meet pretty ladies?" Madam Dollie said, the corners of her mouth turning upward. The expression enchanted Abram instantly.
"There is surely no one prettier than you, ma'am." He blurted out, and then immediately threw both hands over his mouth. What was he saying? She was clearly the captain's mistress, possibly even his wife!
To his surprise, she chuckled at his praise.
"I appreciate your kind words, sir; you are a true gentleman." Then her eyes took on a look of sadness and longing. "Unfortunately It seems I am not pretty enough."
Abram opened his mouth slightly at the statement. She wasn't pretty enough? The look of loss on her face punctured his heart.
"Ma'am, is there something the matter? I don't mind listening."
She took the object in her left hand, a black metal fan that was closed, and pressed the tip of it to her bottom lip.
"You seem to be working so hard… Are you certain I won't be a bother?"
"Not at all." He said, shaking his head rapidly.
"Well, you see I have been absolutely famished these last few months. I have been cursed with a very weak constitution, you see, and I don't fare well on a sailor's diet. I would surely love to eat my favorite dish… but I am not allowed."
"Not allowed?" Abram said, his tone rising, "Who said it was not allowed?" He knew you couldn't be picky out on the sea, but it was obvious to him that Madam Dollie came from some kind of wealthy family. She must not have been used to the rough life of a sailor.
"Henry said so. He refuses to let me eat what we have on the ship, saying it would be a waste. He also will not allow us to dock at any of the nearby ports, even those that are friendly to us. It has me very distressed."
"The captain said that? Really? How dare he! He surely ought to know how to treat a lady better than that." Abram barely even realized who he was insulting. He was just so frustrated at the injustice that was befalling the beautiful creature before him.
"Oh… It's quite alright, I suppose. It seems to me like you must have things worse than I?" Abram blinked a few times. She really cared about his plight? What a compassionate woman!
"Well ma'am, even if being a sailor isn't as fantastical as I dreamed, I would at least like to get a little respect from the others on the ship. I feel like they look down their noses at me, and the captain and boatswain have never even said a word to me since I signed on this ship." He continued to ramble on, letting his frustrations pour out like a river.
"I mean, this is the Zheng Yi, Captain Morgan's personal flagship. How can a member of his crew be treated so?"
Madam Dollie nodded several times, as if agreeing wholeheartedly with his complaints.
"Truthfully, I feel a great disservice has been done to you. I can tell you are quite the capable individual, and you deserve to be treated better."
Abram bowed his head in gratitude, but also to hide the scarlet color of his cheeks.
"You honor me with your words, Ma'am. I hope one day others can see me as you do."
"I am certain they will, sir." She replied with a small smile.
Sudden shouts broke through the mood in the air and quickly stole Abram's attention.
Many crew members were making a ruckus, gathering on one side of the deck, and pointing out at the sea. Abram scrambled in order to see what was going on.
A long distance away, there was something slashing through the waves, gliding across the surface of the ocean like a boat. It wasn't as massive as the leviathan, but it wasn't small either by any means.
It had a long but thin body, and 5 or 6 fins protruding from its back, like some mutant shark. And it had one other unique feature:
"Are those arms?" Abram asked, nervous.
"Might be. I would guess that thing out there is a Dagon."
"Dragon?" He asked, his face going white. As far as Abram knew, there was only one being people called a "Dragon", and it was an omnipotent god.
"No, a Dagon. It is sort of like a sea serpent, but much more intelligent. If it spots us, we are sure to be in trouble." Abram looked at the crew around him. Everyone looked panicked, but no one was doing anything. Surely they had a way to fight the creature?
"Well, what are we going to do about it? Can we kill it?"
"That is one option." Said Madam Dollie, seemingly lost in thought.
"Well, why don't we then? If we have the power, shouldn't someone do something?"
"The crew will not move until their captain gives the order."
"Captain Morgan? Well, why don't they go tell him what's going on?"
"He has ordered that no one is allowed to bother him for the rest of the day."
"Wait… Is that why you are out on the deck?" Abram asked, trying to connect the dots. She smiled in response.
"He-he. How presumptuous of you. No, that rule does not apply to me. I only came outside today because the weather favors me." She pointed her closed fan at the gray sky above. "I sure do love when the heavens are overcast. It does wonders for my complexion"
"Okay, well… If you can still enter his quarters, couldn't you ask him to give the order?" Dollie folded her arms and huffed dramatically.
"Oh, how I wish. But to be honest, I do not think he will listen to me. I am just a woman after all."
Abram was becoming less and less impressed with Captain Morgan each passing moment. But what was he himself to do? He didn't have any influence or power. He couldn't give any orders or make any calls, and no one would listen to him either.
He grabbed his hair with his hands.
"Why am I so useless? Is there really nothing I can do?"
"Do not say such things, sir." Madam Dollie said, her voice almost a purr, "You are very brave and kind for wanting to help your crew."
"But that doesn't mean I can help." He grumbled. Dollie tapped her cheek with her fan a few times, then gave a soft gasp of realization.
"Actually, sir, there is something you can do to help!"