As soon as we arrived at Xiamen, Ayame promised us a break saying money is secured and we should rest before heading to Canton. My injuries finally got completely healed. I don''t feel any pain at all, thanks to Mia medicine. This few last day on ship whole crew worked their part, expect Rosa, it''s not that easy this as I imagined but as long i can get myself occupied from past. Today there is not much work to do, I guess it''s not a bad idea to visit or walk around the city or ask someone to join me. Hannah, she is busy making food for the next few days, Hassan is with Bao checking our gears, while Ayame talks with Rosa and Mia, with that I am not sure where Finn and Jasper want.
“Eleanor!”- Yelled out Mia while I was spacing out while staring at the city.
“Yeah?”- I approach them as I wonder what is going on.
“I got the idea that you three could go to a bar and grab a drink.”- Suggested Ayame.
“You wont join us?”- I asked.
“I have some important businesses in the city I need to attend alone.”- Answered Ayame.
“And best thing Ayame said she is paying! Lets go Eleanor.”- Said Rosa, I am not surprised she wants to get a drink.
“Yeah why not.”- As I agree Ayame hands us a bag with money. It''s surprising that Mia joined us; she doesn''t look like a person who likes to go to bars.
“Is Captain always this kind?”- I asked looking at Mia who is between me and Rosa and compared to our heights, Rosa is slightly taller than me while Mia is a whole head shorter.
“It''s better if we don''t stand on Ayame path if she has urgent business.”- Said Mia. That was not the answer I wanted to get. Streets are busy full of merchants or kids that just play around, running or passing by. We got to the nearest bar we could find even though it was so far away it took us some time to walk. Mia fingers press on the wooden door as she pushes until it gets open and we make our way it''s bigger bar that looks from outside, inside smells of weed and alcohol as any other bar would. Piano in the corner where man sits and plays different compositions. Even before we could choose a place to sit, Rosa already took the counter, me and Mia just followed Rose to stand next to her.
“What can I get for you ladies?”- Said the man behind the counter.
“For me beer.”- I said.
“Me too.”- Mia said right after.
“Get me something strong fuck boy.”- Said Rosa as she happily waited. Right away me and Mia got our beers while Rosa got Bai Jiu, a pretty local drink and strong, I hope we don''t need to carry her back.
“Do you think you could handle it?”- I asked as I took a small sip of my beer.
“Watch and learn, kid.”- Rosa said while taking all in one sip and asking for refills.
“So Mia, you joined the crew first?”- I asked Mia, as I looked over at her.
“Yeah, I met Ayame a really long time ago.”- Said Mia.
“I ran away from home and on the dock I met Ayame who looked for a ship too, we started heading south where we met Bao who was just looking for a job he did not mind joining us until we met an old man.”- Mia continued as she finished own beer.
“And Ayame comes from Japan? Why did she come here?”- I asked.
“Who knows, she never told me she left Japan.”- Mia said, but something telling me Mia is lying she doesn''t even bother to look me in the eyes.
“Do you have interesting story to share?”- I asked as I took a sip from my own jug.
“Robberies to find rare treasure but we lost most of it a few months ago. The British attacked us and did not have time to get back it, but Ayame promised we will get it back once.”- Mia said while she got her drink refilled, still not bothering to look even in my way.
“I heard rumors about Ayame and-”- Mia cut me off before I could finish.
“Whatever you heard, and that little I told you it''s true, Ayame is not a person to mess with and keep your question for yourself, you are just a stray dog.”- Said Mia suddenly making me offended wondering why make her say such a thing or what she is hiding.
“Watch where you going asshole!”- Rosa said, me and Mia looked over while Rosa already punched a man that bumped into her. It''s already late to stop as another man rushes to Rosa to punch her.
“You fucking bitch!”- Man yells charging at Rosa. Mia stepped between kicking him in the head, I could never guess such a short person kicked so high. Suddenly the pianist stopped to play while some people left the bar while few of them stayed attacking Rosa and Mia, and I needed to join. Man run to Rosa but I grab for his arm spinning around and sent him flying over counter, meanwhile two men started attacking Mia who is dodging them until stopping their fists and kicking one of them with knee and other she twisted arm while slamming his head to table. Rosa finished own drink when her cheeks got red while she put back jug on table man sneak behind counter and jump behind Rosa wrapping hands around her neck trying choke her but Rosa break free with her own strength tossing man over. As I look back at the Rosa mug flying next to my head through the window and breaking it, I look at the way that came from. I saw a man trying to hide behind a table. As I approach the table and toss it aside making everything from the table fly away. I grab a man lifting up.
“Where did your balls go?”- I said while some touched my shoulder I turned around and got punched. I loose grip from the man I hold and rushed out of the bar while my vision was blurry and nosebleed. I looked up and saw a huge man standing in front of me, he is at least two meters tall, muscular with a tight shirt and pants. Rosa and Mia stopped fighting and looked shocked as he grabbed me by my shoulders and threw me out of the bar through the window as I fell into mud and rain slowly poured onto me. I slowly stand up as a coward circle around the bar and a huge man walks outside.
“You decided to mess with my bar and I will mess with your face.”- Said a huge man. I cleaned blood from my face while my vision was still blurred and then I lifted both of my hands defensively looking at each other as rain fell. Man charged at me with one punch into my block that felt like I got hit by a horse. Easily he broke my block punching my stomach making me lose balance and falling down while he grabbed me by the hair and slammed me into his knee making me throw up a blood. I back up as he cracks his bones in fits and neck ready to strike me again. People watch us while Rosa and Mia are still in bars fighting for their own. This time I strike first he parry my hand away grabbing me by my neck lifting me up pulling me closer and whisper to my ear.
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“Little slut like you don''t stand a chance.”- To his words I snapped, hating awake and I lifted my arms and pulled my thumbs to his eyeballs. Man yelled in pain as the coward gasped in shock. I used the moment to uppercut his jaw making him collapse. I got on top of him landing punch after punch to his face. Blood was over mud as rain tried to wash it over, my punches started to grow stronger, not even myself is sure where this strength comes from. As I blink for moments I saw my last slave owner, in the same way I killed him punching him to death. Not even for a moment I showed mercy. I could see even his teeth fall from his mouth and even more blood at some point. I am not sure if he is alive or I already killed him.
“Please stop!.”- I heard a woman yell behind me as I twisted my head to see.
“Please let my husband go. We have a baby at home, please he didn''t mean any harm.”- At the woman begging I got back to reality as I saw everyone stare at me even Rosa and Mia not sure what to say.
“Please.”- Woman snobs as she kneels into mud and bow to me, I look at the man, his face is not recognized anymore and I stand up and start walking away pushing the coward away making my way.
“Damn Eleanor, I never thought you can snap like this.”- Said Rosa as she and Mia walked behind me but something snapped in me again as I pushed Rosa to the wall and pinned my arm to Rosa''s neck.
“Eleanor, please calm down.”- I heard Mia''s voice as I let Rosa go.
“Sorry.”- I apologized to Rosa.
“You are really a beast aren''t you?”- Said Rosa as she patted my shoulder.
“Who are you exactly Eleanor?”- Asked Mia.
“We all have secrets don''t we?- I said as we headed back to the ship. Whole path back was awkwardly silent. Mia checked our injuries when we went back. It was not serious that much, I wish to say the same for the man I made blind. I stayed alone in my room the rest of the day shaking from fear of myself. At night Ayame made her way back. We talked as she heard what happened at the bar, she simply said she needed me, and I needed to stay focused. How can I be focused if I can''t recognize myself, but if it''s for Ayame I might give it a try.
[ Ayame`s POV]
As Eleanor left with Rosa and Mia to the bar I should go to my work.
“Old man I want to city watch over ship for me will ya?”- I ordered Hassan as I made my way away from the ship and walked the opposite way then Eleanor. It''s not like they will be bothered if they join me but it''s easier to do such tasks alone especially when I am alone. I made my way to an old merchant store where I can buy some valuable information or get money. I opened the door of the merchant store without bothering to even knock.
“Gerry, it''s me Ayame.”- Huh? It''s empty inside. I can swear it said it was open. I look around looking for Garry but no one to be seen and weapons and other valuable items left without anyone watching them over.
“Don''t mind if I do.”- I took some nice golden knives from the counter. I could get some nice money from it, even have diamonds on it. I heard breaking and cracking upstairs behind the store. I slowly make way up as my fingers stand ready of my handle of blade. Step after step, I wonder what is going on, I doubt Garry would leave the store to have sex upstairs. Where the stairs ends I look left to right to see if anyone is here but its dead angle I can''t see much from here. But I noticed shadow by side someone is waiting for me with a dagger ready to kill me. This is set up for me. I can feel it, if they want to fight I will give them. I rushed on the second floor like a bolt as a hooded man who waited for me couldn''t understand what happened. I unleashed my blade, slicing his neck. Black robe and hood, there''s no doubt who they are. I turn around as his friend charges at me with a dagger as I block his attacks and then stabbing him, just enough to not kill him.
“Who sent you?”- I asked as the man refused to talk. He is useless. I sliced his neck too. I stood up and repaired my hat. It almost fell from my head how fast I rushed inside. Well it''s time to find Garry. In his bedroom Gerry and his wife are already dead. They were after them to get to me. I walked back to these hooded men and searched their robes and I found what I was looking for. Brooch in the shape of a butterfly made out of silver, it represents AetherWing society, their crazy goal to “change the world” and collect relics is ridiculous. I killed one of their higher ups a few months ago and yet they are still after me. I put a brooch in my coat just in case. Well sorry Garry I got you drag into this but I really needed information you had, there is nothing I can do. Rain slowly started to fall as I walked from the Garry store to another merchant that was next to the store.
“Do you want to buy anything my name is Alex.”- Said the merchant who sat next to Garry stone. That name kind rings a bell to my head.
“No thanks.”- I said politely.
“Not even information about man you looking for?”- This guy followed me this whole time? No, I would notice him but he does know something.
“What are you talking about?”- I asked.
“Issac is a guy looking for isn''t it?”- How does he know? Could this man be with an Aetherwing? Did he kill Garry?
“Who are you? Did you follow me?”- I asked as my hand made a way to handle on my sword.
“Eleanor, she is in your crew right?”
“How do you know?”
“Aetherwing knows everything. If you hand me her, I can tell you where to find Issac.”- Ah I remember it now Eleanor met this guy a long time ago.
“How about no? I''d rather get your head. Why does the Aetherwing need Eleanor for?”
“Aetherwing? Fuck them, this is personal, my lord wants her she killed his son years ago.”- Eleanor killed someone? Not that surprising but hard to imagine.
“She killed someone important? How?”
“Three years ago a young master beat her when she snapped and started to fight back. She beat him to death and somehow ran away. The master wanted revenge for his son and he paid me big money to get that bitch to him.”- So that''s Eleanor''s past, very interesting.
“Well that young master maybe should have beat the poor girl, but he was obviously weak.”- As I was to walk away, the merchant reached for a knife to stab me but I unleashed a sword even faster than his tiny blade slicing his right hand as he cried in agony and blood poured on the floor.
“Tell your master if he wants to get her, he will need to defeat me first.”- I left as his cries can be heard even this far, lucky not many people pass by and ignoring his pain. Rain was still slowly pouring as I noticed the restaurant. I made my way inside as not many people inside its small shop that serves noodles but looks cozy. I sit at the counter as the cook approaches me.
“One bowl of Lǎ Miàn please.”- I take off my hat and put it aside as I wait for food. Bowl of warm food was in front me and my stomach growled. It smells so good.
“This is best Lǎ Miàn I had in while.”- I said as I finished my portion and handed three gold coins to the man.
“Keep change.”- I said while taking my hat and leaving the store. With the edge of my eye I spotted a man in a blue tunic that looked familiar. Issac I remember how he looks. I followed him into a small alley as he made his way and met there with someone as rain stopped already.
“Aetherwing are going be there.”- Said Issac, to a man that looks like a local soldier as I stand behind the wall trying to hear.
“Don''t forget we had a deal, 250 gold if you can kill the duke of the Montgomery family.”
“Considering it is done in a few days in Canton, he will meet his end.”
“Good.”- Answered soldier, they want to kill the duke of the Montgomery family? What are they trying to accomplish with this? I have a target to kill on the same event man that has a bounty but this makes things more interesting. If the Aetherwing wants someone dead can''t be a good sign, I will ask Hassan to investigate further I better keep going.
[Eleanor`s POV]
It''s almost midnight and I can''t sleep. Maybe I should go take a walk. I walked out to the shipboard as we were sealing to Canton. We should get there the day after tomorrow and the sea looks really peaceful even at night. Ayame finally told us her plan: we will sneak into some rich party in Canton and find man Eric Montgomery, apparently he is a duke and Ayame said she needs to learn something important from him, whatever that could be. According to Ayame she has someone who can get us an invitation inside, and we just need to get him alone and Ayame can ask him questions. How hard can it be? As I walked around the deck I thought about sleeping again tomorrow I am on cleaning duty.