Ouch!

Alexandre whimpered like a pup when he felt someone's knee catch him between the legs. For a solid five minutes he whined under the covers until he remembered where he was and...

Wait. I'm supposed to be dead!

Yes, you were, Alexandre.

That voice sounded dangerous.

He felt a hand nudge at both of his own where they rested atop his privates. A growl slipped from his lips before he could think about the repercussions of denying the captain what was technically his. The snarl he received in return got his heart stumbling over itself, but instead of James lunging at his throat, he felt a hand gently press against his chest.

Huh?

The blood pirate very carefully nudged him back down to the bed, as he hadn't even realized he'd begun to get up from his panic.

"Calm down, I just got frustrated because of what you did. I won't attack you."

What in god's name?

"Don't think you won't be punished. I know about your heart problem now, too."

Oh...

"Yes, and you really made me angry by not telling me about it."

Him?

"Why would I tell you such a thing? Why would you care?"

Alexandre could see his temper flaring behind his eyes, but the man kept his calm on the outside while he got himself out of the bed. That's when he noticed the smell of freshly cooked food and saw a huge tray sitting on the desk before him. It smelled like heaven. 

His stomach rumbled loudly at the thought of getting even a little of it...

Wait a second. 

He sniffed the air a few more times, then cringed.

It's all spinach and broccoli. Disgusting. 

The captain's snicker brought his attention back to him.

He planned this?

"Of course. I said you would be punished, and it just so happens that you told that little human boy the two foods you would never eat."

Alexandre glared at him before getting himself into a sitting position. He really did need some energy... but not enough to eat such disgusting fare.

"Oh, but that's exactly what you are going to do, young Alexandre."

His stomach flipped at the simple thought of touching that food as he backed into the corner the bed was pushed against. Sure, he knew that he was showing a bit more of himself than he intended, but the man had already seen him completely naked and didn't seem to wish to press physical punishments, so right now he was much more focused on getting away from the disgusting plate of food.

Said plate was suddenly in his lap, warming the blanket that was pulled up just enough to keep him from getting burned by the heat. He cringed away from it, but when the captain spoke...

"Eat it all or I break the boy's arm."

Frustrated, Alexandre grabbed the fork that had been dug into the stack of disgusting vegetables and forced a huge mouthful between his lips. Of course, his free hand was squeezing his nose to keep the taste from making him wretch.

"Move your hand."

No.

James smirked and grabbed Alexandre's wrist, forcing him to let go of his nose after applying pressure to the bones. The man was damn strong. He tried to hold his breath for as long as he could manage, but when he finally had to take one, the flavors of broccoli and spinach swam through his taste buds... but there was also garlic and quite a few sharp spices.

Wow... this actually doesn't taste disgusting.

The captain seemed upset at first by his thoughts, but then he saw a smug grin ghost over his features.

"Of course it isn't disgusting. I am fairly skilled in the galley."

Wait, if I like this punishment does that mean that I have to endure another?

"Eat."

Alexandre eyed the man for a moment, expecting something else to replace this failed punishment, but when James just gave a slight nod, he returned his attention to the food. Eating spinach and broccoli had never been something he'd intended to do after he had first tried them, but he cleaned the plate in minutes without a single complaint. 

"Alright, come here."

James took the plate from him and set it on his desk so that Alexandre could get himself up. As soon as he started getting out of bed he could feel his bones creaking. He must have been out for some time...

"Here."

Alexandre was looking up to see what he wanted when strong hands came around his waist and helped him from the bed. 

"Oh.... um, thank you."

James held him there for a moment until he was sure that he was okay on his feet, then grabbed his left wrist and tugged him right out the door. Alexandre's thoughts first went to embarrassment, considering he was still completely naked, but he soon realized that not a single member of the man's crew working above deck chanced a look as he pulled him towards the stairs. 

His eyes had just begun to adjust to the light when he was tugged down below and nearly fell several times. There were no lights at all.

"Why aren't there candles? I can't see anything."

James remained quiet for a minute before answering with an air of nonchalance.

"Of course you can't see. That is the point, Alexandre."

He was pulled to the left, then down a long hallway. Several more turns happened before they finally walked through a creaking door. His eyes were still trying to adjust to the lack of light when he heard the captain snap his fingers and blinked several times as a small ball of fire suddenly appeared in his hand. Shock had him stopping short, earning him an abrupt yank to continue forward. 

He didn't slow his pace until they stopped in front of another door. When that one was pushed open the strong scent of cigars invaded his nose, making him sneeze. He wasn't one to like smoking. He thought it was a dirty habit, but he supposed it didn't matter much to creatures who lived much longer than humans. Perhaps they couldn't even get hurt by the ash that filled their lungs from them.

As he was tugged into the room the bustling voices slowly died down to whispers, but there were still no lights on the walls or tables to allow him to see how many blood pirates were there. Every once in awhile the tiny flame in the captain's palm would give off enough light to catch the flicker from one of the crewman's eyes, but besides that, it barely did much.

After weaving around seats that he couldn't see well, Alexandre was shoved down into a plush one before feeling the captain's weight drop down onto the cushion right beside him. The flame died out immediately since he was now using that hand to wrap around his waist, pulling him snug against his side with a deep chuckle.

Does he think I am afraid of the dark?

It is wise to fear the dark, love. Nasty... nasty creatures, lurk in the dark.

Alexandre felt hypersensitive without his vision as James' clawed finger ran slowly along his waist, following the V of his abdomen downward lazily. His body wanted to fidget badly, but he bit his lower lip to try and focus on remaining indifferent.

A low rumble started up in the room, but when the captain responded with a growl of his own, it quickly quieted down.

You are a little trouble maker, aren't you love?

Huh? 

A finger ran along his lower lip before it was quickly replaced with the captain's mouth. He was sucking softly on his lip... Alexandre was in a daze for a second before he pulled away. 

Why do such a thing? And in front of half his crew!

Just affirming to them what belongs to me, and you bit yourself enough to cause bleeding.

I hadn't even realized...

There was a deep chuckle in his mind as James patted his inner thigh like one would pat a child's shoulder to let them know that all was okay. It didn't make him believe that all was okay, but he would keep that thought to himself.

 "Capt'n..."

"Aye. Report, Desden."

Ah. I knew that voice sounded familiar.

"We have just enough humans now t' dispose of the drained ones we got six months ago."

Alexandre's body stiffened slightly at that knowledge. Surely if they were intending to let the people go, then they would have dropped them at the shore while they had been docked. He supposed that was why he used the word dispose instead of release.

James' hand calmly tightened on his thigh, silently letting him know that he needed to hold his tongue or face consequences later.

"Very well. See to that issue's completion after the meeting."

"Yes sir."

"Next."

"Captain."

"Yes, Fiaro. Report."

"While on shore I heard bout' a party, Cap'n."

Alexandre could tell that he was interested right away because his hand stopped squeezing his thigh as tightly.

"...continue."

"One of t' royals near Port Galles is holdin' one come t'morrow eve."

The captain shifted slightly against him and Alexandre swore he could hear a small murmur of a growl coming from his chest. He had not heard about any royalty in Port Galles, though it was home to many nobles.

"Who is it?"

"Lord Merek."

Ouch!

His hand tightened the second that man's name was mentioned, making Alexandre shift a little. Thankfully, James noticed and loosened his grip.

"...very well. Make for Port Galles."

Desden's voice cut in abruptly.

"B-but Capt'n! He's always after ya' in some way!"

That brought what sounded like a tired sigh from the man beside him.

"I know, Desden. However, if I ignore the information he likely intentionally slipped to us while picking up food, I doubt he will be pleased."

"....true, capt'n. He has a temper on him, that's for sure. He'd send a ship after us fer ignorin' him." 

"Indeed he would. Well then, are there any other reports?"

The room was silent.

"Alright. Dismissed. Desden, go take care of the former donors, they should be lined up by now and ready, then be sure your boy is getting better and tell me if he is not."

Captain? Can you not just let them go?

He knew that it was a risk to try and push him to discuss something he had already decided, but he couldn't help trying to save others. Needless to say, the man's fingers tightened on his thigh again, but he wasn't just going to stop. Those people fed them until they could no longer! They deserved their freedom.

Captain.

Silence.

But Ca—

A sharp pain followed a hit to the side of his face, stunning him enough to fall against the man's chest. Judging from the nausea in his stomach, he would bet that his vision was swimming... but he couldn't see a damned thing.

"Cap... 'tain."

"Got a spry one there, Capt'n."

"Indeed. He still needs to learn that he does not have the privileges he once had."

"Heh, indeed, Capt'n."

"Well, if that is all, I will be taking my leave back to my cabin."

There were a few grunts of acknowledgement as Alexandre was lifted and tossed over his shoulder, then carried back upstairs. He could hear a few people following, but when they got back into the light, he felt his stomach clench and began retching at the sight that was before him. The captain set him down on the deck right before he lost the meal he had eaten.

A loud splash had his aching head snapping up as Alexandre tried to blink away his blurry vision.

What...

They looked like people... but they were just skin and bones! 

At least twenty five were lined up by the side of the ship, with one standing on a dirty plank of wood that had been nailed to the deck years earlier, considering its condition. A piece of the wooden railing had been moved to allow for the people to walk on the plank. Desden was standing right next to them doing nothing, yet the people were still jumping of their own will. 

"S-stop! Don't jump!"

The people slowly turned their heads, all those pairs of sunken-in eyes now resting on him. His heart hurt as he watched the people try to move their bony bodies, especially the boy who couldn't be more than fifteen who was currently standing on the plank.

"Why...?"

The boy's voice was so quiet that Alexandre could barely hear it over the crashing waves. It didn't even sound like he was asking a question, more like he was stating something that didn't make sense. Why stay? He was a skeleton, and Alexandre would have bet that the vampires had kept them from doing any harm to themselves to keep them alive for the longest time possible. 

Wait...

"Do you... want to die?"

He dreaded the answer, but the boy did not keep him waiting as he replied immediately.

"Yes." 

Alexandre turned a little to look up at the captain, but his face was just a calm mask of indifference.

"Captain..."

"What would you have me do? Several have already jumped, preferring death over being on this vessel one more moment. Why not give them their final wish and let them drown out of this world?"

He looked back over at the boy, but the child had no words left for him. In fact, he was slowly backing up, getting closer and closer to the end of the plank... and his death.

"S-stop, please! I..."

His eyes went back up to the captain in desperation.

"Please! I'll share whatever portion of food I get with them!"

"You know that wouldn't work. There are thirty... well, twenty four, now. If you fed them all then you would starve, along with most of them... and I will not allow you to starve."

"T-ten?"

"No."

"Captain, please!"

He could feel his heart beginning to skip beats, but he couldn't think about that right then. If he died from the stress of begging for others' lives, then it would be worth it.

"One."

His mind was feeling fuzzy, but Alexandre forced his eyes to meet James' again.

"What?"

"You may have one. Pick now, the rest die."

He couldn't respond.

Just one?

One out of twenty four? Twenty three people will die because he could only save one?

"Boy! Come here," the blood captain yelled abruptly. 

The boy on the plank flinched and started backing up again, almost to the point where he was going to step overboard.

"Stop. You know that I can get you, even if you fall. Save yourself a punishment and come, now."

The boy seemed torn between still trying to jump, and doing as told, but in the end the captain's command won out and he shakily walked over to them. Up close the child looked like a literal skeleton. He could count almost every bone in his body.

Alexandre was trying to get words out, though he didn't know what to say. Before he could think of something, he was picked up and carried into the captain's room and laid on his bed. It had been made, and a few extra blankets added, but that wasn't his concern right then. He sat up right away to see what was happening with the others, but the door was already closed... and the sound of splashes had started up again.

"Boy, what's your name?"

"Ria, Sir." 

"Ria, you now belong to Alexandre. Any punishment he receives, you shall be put through as well. You are to work for six hours during the day doing whatever is ordered but you will not feed anyone anymore. If someone tries to feed from you, call for me."

The boy nodded right away as the captain turned to retrieve something from his desk. A piece of bread. He tore a small piece off and handed it to Ria, who quickly devoured it with tears in his eyes.

When was the last time he had eaten?

Five days.

But he's just skin and bones!

Yes. We had to feed on the ones still alive instead of switching them out earlier due to the royal navy. After awhile their bodies become unable to process the food, anyways. All of them have been declining since a few months ago. You will be lucky if he survives another week. 

Give him my piece.

No.

But!

No.

He handed Alexandre the other, much bigger piece of bread as the boy watched it like a hawk.

You just threw up, eat it.

He needs it more.

If you give him anymore he will throw up. His body isn't used to food. Eat it or you, and him, will be punished.

Alexandre swallowed hard and did as told, but It felt terrible eating in front of the boy.

"Ria, take a pillow and go sleep in the corner. Alexandre, get some rest. I know you don't feel well now and I have work to do so I want it quiet."

The boy quickly did as told, curling up on the pillow easily with his malnourished body. Alexandre stared at him for a long moment, finally taking in his features as his sunken eyes drifted closed. Besides his bony frame, he had dirty blond hair and soft chocolate brown eyes. He couldn't be more than five foot, with maybe a few inches extra. 

"Alexandre, sleep now."

He quickly leaned back on the blankets and shut his eyes, not wanting to incite a punishment on the already-weak boy. It took a few tries, but after a warning growl from the captain after peaking his left eye open twice, he finally made himself fall asleep. 

His dreams, though, were haunted by the sounds of rhythmic splashing.