Chapter 19: Incomprehensible 

[ —Captain Steele]

Callum stared at the vast ocean with Ostig perching on his shoulder, seemingly understanding the vortex of turbulence stirring inside him.

That stubborn woman. He didn't even know why he turned down the prince's offer. It was tempting, and he was an inch away from caving into the proposal. However, what Auria said to him came to his mind right at the last minute, stopping him from accepting the offer, and another thing that made his blood boil in a fury was seeing the admiral's face again.

The witch warned him about the lass, and she was right. That woman was trouble indeed.

Flashes of memories came flooding inside his head, reliving the horrid night when Damian drew his bloodied last breath in his arms. He swore in his brother's death that the admiral would pay for what he had done. Earlier, when he saw him so devastated when he refused the offer, it kind of made him happy. It provided a great deal of satisfaction to watch his face as he pleaded with him to release his daughter. Almost down to his knees. That was one of the reasons why he just couldn't simply let go of the lass.

However, that is not all that. There was something else he couldn't begin to decipher. Something that draws him to her, making him want to protect the lass, shield her away from everyone. He felt that pull earlier when he filled her request to feed all the stray children in exchange for foolishness. He didn't know why he did it. He could take her blood anytime he wanted to without taking heed to her demands, but when he saw the determination sparkling in her eyes, it clicked inside him. Compelling him to do what she wants.

Those feelings seemed to have amplified when she gave her the brightest smile she could have ever donned.

It was so pure. Innocent and kind. There was no judgment in her gaze, just pure gratitude for what he had done. At that moment, his chest has gone beating weirdly. Though all of that disappeared instantly when the admiral's fleet crossed them. Painstakingly reminding him that the woman was the daughter of the man he had sworn to kill.

Callum felt someone coming closer from behind him, and before he could turn around, his first mate's voice suddenly preceded. "I suppose you can explain to me now why you didn't accept the offer."

He understands why Lynx reacted so displeased with his impulse decision, but Callum knows he would understand his reasons.

"Aye." He nodded, cocking his head, motioning him to follow him into his temporary quarters. It wasn't as big as the one below the deck, but it was enough for him to have a small table for his personal belongings to keep safe and two chairs where he could accommodate another person in this place. He didn't have a bed, but he slept on a hammock.

"Her blood worked on the map." Callum took the tube pouch made out of leather where he had secured the map and unscrewed the cap. He then laid it on the table, flattening the parchment to full size.

"Bloody hell! We have the trail?" Sheer bewilderment branded on his countenance as he glanced at the map and traced his index finger along the crimson track that was etched on the paper. Though Callum was quite satisfied with his first mate's reaction, he couldn't help but notice the sense of foreboding lingering in the recesses of his chest. Trepidation perhaps as he looked and the 'X' marked.

"Aye, leading us to the black serpent sea." He stated grimly.

The anticipation that had once painted on Lynx's face suddenly morphed into perturbation as his finger halted on a specific location that made him sweat with ice.

"You know what will happen if we go there." He muttered more to himself as he directed his attention back to Callum and raised his skepticism. "We have the map. Why still need her?"

"There's something you're not telling me, Callum." Lynx prodded, crossing his arms against his chest, squaring his stance, undisturbed by the constant rocking of the ship.

The captain keeps his silence for a moment, diverting his attention to the falcon that sits quietly on his shoulder as though it understands the weight of his ordeal. Thousands of reasons were contemplated inside his head. He was torn between telling his first mate about what Auria had told him or leaving that information all to himself. However, he knew that if he kept any more secrets from him, it would only lead to complicated repercussions he didn't want to deal with in the future.

"Something happened at the tent when Auria was doing the ritual, and she can't even explain it herself. Neither am I do understand those things. But I trusted the witch." He began, carefully peeling the map off the table and rolling it back into the tube case as he went on. "The lass might be useful to us when the time comes."

"What about the admiral?" Lynx scoffed, completely contradicting the idea of letting the old fart roam the earth after what he had done. As much as Callum detested the very idea of allowing such man who had been responsible for the death of his brother, he couldn't disregard that the lass might be of use despite the grievances.

"Didn't you see the look on his face when I refused the offer?" He griped, recalling his devastating reaction. It was so satisfying, and if it was possible to put it in a loop, he might already have done it.

"Aye." Lynx nodded, and a small loop lifted at the side of his lips, sharing the same amusement Callum had in his head.

"We'll let him suffer first at the thought of never going to see his beloved daughter." He expounded, finding his reasoning to make his statement more profound, expelling the details to his first mate. "He's a greedy man. The lass was about to wed the crowned prince, and she'll be the next queen if that happened. The admiral would be as powerful as the king. Now, if we keep that woman under our watch, we simply stole that power away from his grasp."

Lynx looked at him for a moment, lifting his hand under his chin, contemplating what he said, and then jested over a single fact that he had obviously left out. "And an entire fleet on our tail, you mean?"

Callum laughed, dragging the chair and easing himself down as the ship tipped to the side. He took Ostig from his shoulder and transferred the falcon down to the table. His wings fluttered a little, balancing on his talons as the ship's rocking started to get more violent. Though he ignores it and stroke the falcon's feather, calming it down as he addresses his first mate.

"They can't do us harm as long as the lass is with us," he said, throwing Lynx a fleeting glance, humoring his superficial perturbation. "And since when did you care about the bluecoats tailing us?"

They have been sailing the seas for long as they can remember. Outmaneuvered many crowned-sworn officers from different kingdoms. This won't have many differences from the rest of it. Surely Lynx is fretting over nothing legitimately important.

"Tis fair enough." Lynx shrugged, sighing out in exasperation as he threw him a knowing stare. "I hope you're making the right decision and nothing else to it."

He instantly caught what he meant by the final half of his remark, and Callum let out a hearty laugh to hide the strange stirring in his chest. He remembered it too vividly. The way her body pressed firmly against him. The scent of her hair permeating to his nostrils, burning inside his head permanently. The alluring curvature of her neck, as well as the plushness of her ample cheeks which brushes against the bridge of his nose. Her lips were so close to his, begging him to claim them. Her size fits perfectly against him.

A sliver of naughty thoughts enters his mind, marveling how it would feel if he had his manhood buried deep into her sweet cavern. Surely the lass still has her flower head intact if she's to marry the crown prince.

The notion of another man touching his lass put his nerves on edge, and so he immediately dismisses the thought of it.

"You know, she's a pretty fine lass." He muttered, not realizing that he had just let his thoughts out without first vetting the words. Though he had simmered down his temper and composed himself before Lynx would notice it.

How the hell that woman has this kind of effect on him?

Nevertheless, Lynx already caught his reaction and responded sardonically. "If you want her, then take her. She can't cry for help. No one will come."

That, he could possibly do to sate this incomprehensible desire he was harboring for the woman. However, the thought of forcing himself on the wee lass didn't appease him as much.

"No, I don't want to take an unwilling woman." Callum shakes his head at the grim thought.

Maybe in time, if he can persuade her with his undeniable charms that no leady can gainsaid, then perhaps, this curiosity of his would be sated. This plaguing strange sensation he was feeling would be over with.

"Make sure to tell that to the rest of the crew." Lynx reminded him, and the incident about those two peeping bastards he caught lacking outside his quarters irked him to the edge.

"No one will touch her under my command." He gruffly said, his hand curling involuntarily.

However, the thickened trance drifting on the atmosphere suddenly erupted when a consecutive knocking on his door came.

"Cap'n! Thar's a huge storm comin'!"

It was Buck, his on-watch navigator on deck. Just then, the ship tipped vigorously.

"Shit!"