Flashes.

Chains.

Whips.

Fire.

Darkness.

The screaming wasn’t for long. Not until it would rip their heads off clean. It would let them go, one by one, as if enjoying this little game. It would set them free with nothing, but rope. The islands foreign to them, yet, it would still desert them anywhere they could never be found.

Their captor had a strange sense of humor. If they didn’t want to die by its hands, then they could tie the rope to a tall tree and hang loose.

But, it always came back for them and the torture would start all over.

Tania, Maite, Mya, and Karin

All of them.

Slaughtered like vermin.

Their blood splattered the walls. All for what? They traveled miles and miles for the scales and this is what they got? She said she would protect them.

She lied.  

Griselda sobbed, her iron collar digging through flesh. Her head hung awkwardly to the side, limiting her line of vision. But, her eyes were hurting. She shut them for relief and it made her cope better. Her arms were raised above her head, her feet dangling. Four other bodies occupied the other restraints, but they weren’t breathing anymore. It gave her motivation break free day after day.

The room was circular, occupied with every torture device known to man. There was an opening. It didn’t have a door, but stretched all the way to a hallway. The end of it was dark. Griselda was thankful they were faced away from the darkness, she couldn’t handle it anymore. The downside, her captor could strike at random and they weren’t prepared, at all, for what came at them.

It just didn’t make any sense how many times she would go over it in her head.

She remembered how magnificent Isle de Fuego was. Its plants were the colors of gold, as if mimicking the Fire Dragon. And, the sea was the rubiest red she ever set her eyes on. She thought it was an easy job, just venturing far into the jungle and finding the dragon. She and the others got lost and climbing up the rocks was a difficult task for Merwomen. They were the seafaring kind.

“C’mon ladies! We’re almost there.”

Griselda could hear her voice echoing the walls. It was the last thing Captain Fidencia said before the Fire Dragon appeared with a warm welcome.

Fidencia didn’t deserve that title anymore. She couldn’t even save her crew from this fate. Griselda hoped they all got out okay nonetheless.

Tears streaked her cheeks, her neck painfully sore. Even in this situation. she remained the same innocent lass her sisters knew her to be. Her heart wouldn’t falter, but she was trying so hard to hope anyone would rescue her.

If no one came, then…she feared for the worst.

Her ears perked. She could hear rustling in front of her, but it was faint like it was far away. The hallway,  she gasped. She dare not open her eyes. The last time earned her a knife to the abdomen and it was vicious.  

Step.

Step.

Step.

It was getting closer. The hairs on her back stood and she forgot how to breathe. She heard a screech fill her ears until blood came out of them.

Then, it went silent.

She gasped for air. She must have held it until it got close. But, was it? She didn’t want to open her eyes to find out. She figured one eye would be okay.

Slowly, her left eyelid scrunched up.

It was blurry at first. Feet as pale as death lined her vision, legs like a woman, and that’s where it stopped. She couldn’t see anything past the legs and it frightened her. She wanted to see its face, the murderer. All this time, it would blindfold them for some sick pleasure and they never got to see its face.

It sat on its legs, its face peering up to her.

If Griselda had the chance to erase a memory, then it would be the picture of this being in front of her.

The woman’s skin was burnt to a crisp, her laugh lines melded her face into a permanent scowl, but most of all --- her eyes.

They were blood red.

Griselda flinched when she tried to touch her face. The chains at her wrist bit into her skin, drawing blood. She felt the liquid rushing down her arms, the scent of copper filling the room. She could only hope that her captor didn’t eat her victims.

She struggled to get away from her, her neck shooting out daggers. It might be broken.

“Griselda.”

She stopped.

“H-How…”

The red-eyed demon held her hands up. “I’m not going to hurt you. It’s okay.” She approached her chains, swiping at them.

Griselda heard the chain break. She fell to the floor.

“My neck,” She muttered. The demon helped her up and laid her back against the wall. Her hands came upon either side of her head.

“This might hurt a bit.”

Crack!

Griselda screamed. She cried out obscenities, but then the demon at her neck.

She knew she should have just ended herself, now, this woman was going to kill her. She deserved it for being so naive. She stretched leaned her head to the side, letting her do what she had to do.

Instead of pain she felt pleasure. It was cooling her wounds like a soft blanket would do to the skin after a long day.

Eventually, the woman got off of her. She wiped her mouth.

Griselda was so confused.

“I know what you’re thinking, but I can explain everything after we get out of here,” The demon came forward, but Griselda held a hand up, stopping her.

“No, we do this now. I want answers,” She may look like she just went through hell and back, but she won’t make the same mistakes again. She needed to know exactly what she was getting herself into and what the demon just did to her.

The demon sighed. “Even after all this torture, you still want to act stubborn, huh?”

Griselda saw the corners of her mouth come up, but it was still a scowl.

“I’m sorry,” she said. The demon came forward.

Then, Griselda blacked out.

***********************

She thought she was dreaming. No Merwoman could fly. It was fact, but she wasn’t doing the flying. The demon was.

Her wings were magnificent. A blend of ruby and gold intermixed with silver, they resembled greatly to the Fire Dragon’s. Griselda couldn’t help, but think that this demon wasn’t an ordinary demon. She could be a Fire Dragon herself, but how? There could only be one Fire Dragon at a time.

Her mind wandered as they soared through the skies.

The demon spoke up, “We’re almost there.”

Griselda looked down. She could see familiar seas. A triumphant smile broke out. Then, the relief, she slouched under her hold and blinked back tears. She wouldn’t cry.

Not until she was reunited with her sisters.

“Sleep, again. I won’t knock you out this time,” Griselda could hear the amusement from the demon’s orders, but she obeyed. She wanted to be in good shape for whatever was coming next.

*****************************

Griselda fumbled, she slowly regained consciousness, she yawned and tried to stretch her limbs, but they were restrained. Her eyes cracked open, widening like saucers..

No.

She couldn’t be back at the island. She would rather die.

She wasn’t. But, she was back home, on the ship’s dungeon. It was a dark and eerie place. Her Captain would send her enemies down there and do who knows what to them. They were never allowed to come down there, but they did get to see it the first time they joined her crew.

“Wakey, wakey.”

She looked up. Standing before her was Zarra, an ancient Merwomen who was powerful and respected. She was Fidencia’s right hand.

“Z-Zarra,” Griselda tried standing, but was forced down by chains. “What’s going on? Why am I chained up?”

Zarra remained calm and stoic. She wouldn’t let herself feel for the girl.

“Where’s the Cap-”

“Silence. You ask way too many questions,” Zarra interrupted.

Zarra stepped forward and slapped her. She turned around, but didn’t stop there. Zarra held out a dagger.

Griselda whimpered. “Why?”

“Because you brought that thing among us. You could be tied to it and you remember the code.” Zarra started at Griselda’s eyes, gouging them out. It was the perfect torture for her kind. Griselda could feel the nick of the blade in her retinas. She began struggling, flailing, anything to make her stop. The removal of Merwomen eyes would strap them from obtaining anymore abilities.Too bad her captor never knew that. It would just chain them up, their arms, legs and neck, from doing anything magical.

She screamed. What a way to end a life, through the hands of a loved one.

“Just do it,” Griselda’s head drooped, it’s not like she could see anymore anyway. “No Merwomen is to bring anyone on board without letting the Captain know first or she would be tortured endlessly by said Captain. I didn’t do such a thing, so just kill me now.”

Wait.

She looked up to Zarra. How did she not see it before?

“What happened to your eye, Zarra?” It was covered by an eyepatch. “Don’t tell me the Captain is dead and you’re the new leader? Did she die back in Isle de Fuego?” Griselda felt guilty, regretting all those things she said about Captain Fidencia.

Zarra went stiff.

“I SAID NO MORE QUESTIONS!” Zarra charged to pierce Griselda’s heart, but was stopped.

The wall holding Griselda captive smashed into pieces. The debris filled the room. She couldn’t see what happened to her, but she guessed she could’ve died with the impact. But, if the wall smashed, then that meant her ship took some damage. Her ship was under attack. She made a move to get on deck, but she sensed someone else in the room.

“So, you’re the Captain now?”

Zarra’s breath hitched.

“Y-You were dead….how-”

Fidencia was in front of her, all in one piece, but she looked different. Her eyes were yellow, the same shade Zarra’s eye turned the day after Fidencia’s death. She held Griselda and set her down.

“It takes more than a piece of iron to kill me.”

“Fi…” Zarra gulped, she was nervous.

Fidencia’s scowl deepened. “Stop what you’re doing, Griselda did nothing wrong.”

“But-”

“I said stop. What? Will you disobey me?” Fidencia’s arm reached out, her fist relaxed in front of Zarra, but she clenched it slowly.

Zarra felt a tingle in her chest, but as Fidencia clenched her fist, the tingle turned into pain.

She fell to the floor clutching her chest. “Make it stop! Please!”

Fidencia spoke up, “This would have happened to Griselda if I didn’t make it in time.”

Griselda heard the altercation that was happening next to her, but she couldn’t move anymore. She was so tired from being chained up and treated like an animal. In a sense, she wanted Zarra to die. She showed no mercy to her, but, still, why did she want to stop the demon?

Griselda took a deep breath and screeched, “STOP.”

Fidencia ceased, her fist relaxing and she brought she arm to her side.

“You’re awake, Griselda?” She walked towards her and squatted so she was level with her. “How are you feeling?”

“Apart from my eyes, I’m alright, just let Zarra go.” She could hear everything now and that’s the only ability she’ll probably have for the rest of her existence.

Zarra took a moment to catch her breath. She was baffled by this betrayal, she had raised Fidencia like a daughter. “I-I can’t believe you.” She didn’t want to believe it. Her Captain rising from the dead and almost killing her because of a traitor?

“Well, believe this.” Fidencia squeezed her fist shut.

Screaming engulfed their ears. The sound of guts flying everywhere.

Fidencia turned to Griselda. “Welcome home,” then she brought Zarra’s dagger and plunged it into Griselda’s chest.

Griselda screeched, scratching at Fidencia’s hand, but she was too weak to do anything. She took her last breath and let the darkness take her, not before catching a glimpse of the original Fire Dragon. Griselda welcomed him.

Fidencia pulled it out and licked the length of the blade, savoring her blood.

“More,” Fidencia moaned, her golden eyes illuminating the darkness.