Lucius had to die.

All his blood had to be spilled. Every drop had to leave his body.

Ethan's hand trembled around Lucius' throat as he pulled him closer. He couldn't see him anymore. He wasn't a person. He was just an obstacle put there to keep the blood from getting out, and something had to be done about it.

"Eth... An," Lucius repeated through a gasp, but Ethan's mind struggled to hear it. Deep down he would never hurt him. He'd be mortified by ever putting him in that position, but despite the despair in Lucius' pale green eyes, Ethan couldn't break past the barrier of bloodthirst. He ignored the trembling breath next to his ear as his lips touched Lucius' neck, feeling nothing as he moved his hand down to the dark cluster of veins.

Perhaps not nothing. Something still urged him to stop before his teeth punctured Lucius' skin. An inner frustration caused by the loss of control.

Like a monster.

Like a creature.

Ethan's heavy breathing stopped, teeth gritting before they could reach their target. He still wanted to tear into his skin, letting that cursed blood corrode the air and anything it touched, but what would it say about him if he'd give in to those urges? If he'd lose control of himself? Wouldn't that mean Damien was right about him? Wouldn't that mean his scourgefucking, miserable excuse for a father was right?

The hand he'd placed against Lucius' veins pushed forward, shoving Lucius away before Ethan could allow other thoughts to enter his head.

No fucking way that man's right about anything.

Then he wrapped Lucius' blood-soaked shirt around his arm, sending the man a last, tempted look.

"Cover up."

He dissolved a moment after, smoke devouring the essence of his body as he steered it through the barricades. He envisioned the middle of the deck. Far away enough to not appear in the midst of the other vampires but not so far that he'd bump into Abram. Fortunately he knew Abram's ship down to details and reappearing was no challenge.

Fatigue stung his neck as soon as his body took form again. It was bad news, but it made sense. He'd overexerted his body while holding Richard back so even a small shroudwalk like the recent one was taking its toll. Even so, he had to gather his strength for yet another one.

He indulged in a deep breath before turning his head. As he'd predicted, the frantic attempts to break into the sick bay were fading, with all creatures present looking around in confusion.

As soon as they turned their eyes in his direction however, he drained the last of his strength to disappear again, this time pushing through to reach the quarterdeck.

The cold gust of wind crashing against him on deck did well in sobering him up, and he breathed out. As intoxicating and infuriating as the piece of fabric in his hand was however, he had to let it go. So when the inevitable scrambling to get up again was heard from below, he released the torn shirt to the wind, hoping Lucius had been able to cover any airborne scent of blood by then.

It didn't take long for the shirt to disappear from view, hopefully being swallowed by the ocean sooner rather than later, but a dreadful sensation prickled Ethan's skin. Not because he'd gotten rid of the blood, but because of the not so unexpected yet surprisingly imminent threat appearing behind him, and he made a face before turning around.

"Oh... Hi, Richard." Ethan found himself smiling sheepishly as the werewolf, who'd made another uncharacteristically agile jump to emerge up on the quarterdeck again, stood before him, fangs baring while fixing his eyes on him.

Splendid.

"You're not angry about the shirt, are you?" Ethan tried, holding his hands up in defence while hoping the other vampires would hurry upstairs already. Even though they'd failed to hold him back before it was better than letting him run rampant. "That blood wasn't going to be tasty anyway. Believe me, I've tried."

"Ethan!"

Eliza was in the process of running towards them, dragging a reluctant, squinting Tom with her, and Ethan's eyes widened.

"Why are you coming over here?" he hissed without taking his eyes off Richard. "I see Tom's suffering some vision loss but you should at least be able to spot the big wolf beast in front of you, Eliza."

"Well he won't harm Tom, right?" Eliza reasoned, shoving the man in question in front of her. "So he can serve as a shield."

"I don't like her," Tom declared.

"And it upsets me sooo deeply." Eliza rolled her eyes and Ethan wrinkled his eyebrows at the two of them, unable to recall this dynamic from before.

"Just get away," he said, not daring to drop his guard despite Richard being still for the moment. "The other vampires should be fine now so meet up with them and you'll be safe."

"What happened, anyway?" Tom inquired. "I'm assuming they went after Lucius, so why did they stop?"

"I shroudwalked up here with his bloodstained shirt to confuse them while he covered up his wounds." Ethan looked pleased with himself, glancing over his shoulder at the water. "Threw it overboard after, so things should be back in order now."

"Back in order as in before Lucius got into that vampire pile?" Eliza looked from Ethan to Richard and back to Ethan. "Well where's Lucius?"

"He's fine," Ethan insisted, tensing up as Richard turned his head towards the opening in the floor again. "The others snapped out of it so that means he's been able to cover up his wounds."

"But where is he?" Tom repeated Eliza's question with more urgency in his voice. "Who's protecting him?"

"I am," Ethan protested. "I just told you, I took his shirt and the others—"

"But not Richard!" Eliza gestured to the beast in question just as he spun around to aim for the lower deck again. "Richard went after him even before the blood! That's where the blood came from in the first place!"

Ethan blinked, having forgotten that part in all the commotion.

"Oh."

"Oh, indeed." Eliza moved forward to take action but just as Richard began his descent a large, clawed hand emerged from the gap to slam him back midair.

Richard's heavy body landed on the floor with a bang, and the others followed their knee jerk reaction by taking a step back as the even more intimidating frame of Abram's transformed self struggled to claw its way up to the quarterdeck.

"Well then," Eliza said to no one in particular since they were all in the process of covering their ears as a precaution. "I guess those light protections weren't so useless after all."

As soon as Abram's wings had emerged through the crumbling floor, sending debris flying as they stretched out in full to cover the larger width of the deck, he let out another screech in Richard's direction.

Richard did not back away this time. Instead he kneeled down so he could cover his ears, scalding stare darting between Abram and the gap behind him.

"Say something to him, Tom," Ethan whispered. "You're—"

"Don't you think I've tried?" Tom snapped back, fists clenching in frustration. "I've tried repeatedly, and it's not working!"

At that moment Richard released an unsettling growl that was neither wolf nor human before dashing forward, using the weight of his body to try and push Abram down into the hole again. His size was, though impressive by human standards, no match to Abram however, and the latter folded his wings to spur against the floor with his claws.

"Fine, then I'll say something." Ethan sucked in a breath. "Richard, no!"

Tom stared.

"What—"

"Down, Richard!"

"For the last time he's not a dog!" Tom buried his face in his hands, and even Eliza had to whack Ethan over the head as he readied another command.

"Cut it out! There's no way a vampire ranks above him pack-wise."

"That's your problem with it?" Tom looked like he was about ready to give up and just leave.

The trio all choked their breaths as Richard made a plunge for Abram's neck, managing to sink his teeth into his skin only for a moment as Abram screeched again, immobilising Richard long enough to throw him off. Then he spread his wings again to launch into the air.

Ethan clenched his teeth. Abram's disadvantage was too severe. Not only did his wings not support his weight fully enough for him to actually fly, but he was limited in movement as well given the sails and canvases. Not to mention what would await him on the other side of those.

"This... Could be bad." He grimaced as Abram dug his claws into the middle mast to stay out of reach, glaring down at Richard who in turn leapt forward to begin climbing one of the shrouds connected to the same mast.

"Wouldn't it be better to face Richard down here?" Eliza winced as Richard's violent ascension caused ropes to snap under his sharp, monstrous hands, and more alarmingly tearing up the protective canvas hanging there at the same time. "I have to imagine Abram is physically stronger, so why not face Richard head on?"

"Had it not been for those star-forsaken wings he's lugging around, maybe." Ethan had lost count on how many times Abram's monstrous wings had gotten in the way rather than be the asset one would think wings would be. "Perhaps he'd win if he could just land a good hit, but it's easier said than done."

"Ethan!"

Ethan was almost shocked as the newly recovered vampire crew flocked around him. He'd counted on their consciousness returning but for some reason he'd already discounted them from the battle.

"Ethan, we're so sor—"

"Not now!" Ethan threw his hands up to gesture at the two beasts above them. "Help Abram!"

"What..." Naida, a big-eyed, fairly new addition to the crew gawked. "... What are they doing up there?"

"Just help him!" Ethan shooshed them all away, and the crew scrambled to aid their captain.

"What about you?" Tom shook his head at him. "Can't you do something?"

Ethan pursed his lips as he stared up at Richard who'd just barely missed Abram's wing with his claws, and the latter swung around the mast to jump up on a yard.

There was a way, he supposed. He'd usually never dream of doing it. It was too cruel, and he wouldn't give the person who taught him about it the satisfaction, but what if he was left no choice?

"I can muster one, maybe two more times," he said, giving the two an apologetic glance. "I can help the others but going up there to intervene on my own is just foolish."

He didn't have to consider that option much longer anyway, as Richard jumped in the air to dig his claws into the mainsail, breaking his fall before ending up on deck again. Then he fixed his gaze on the floor gap. It was possible he'd guessed correctly that Abram would have less of a fighting chance down there, or perhaps he just prioritised getting to Lucius before anyone could stop him, deeming Abram far away enough to not be a threat.

Regardless, it seemed Ethan had no excuse to stand idly by anymore and as the other vampires made a team effort to hold Richard down with ropes again he rushed forward as well. He wouldn't entertain the easiest solution, he reminded himself. He wouldn't do that to Richard. He wouldn't.

Richard was nowhere near giving in. He grabbed a handful of ropes and spun around before letting them go to throw most of the vampire crew off balance. He didn't even spare Ethan a glance. Chances were he didn't recognize him the way he was, so why would he?

He'd disregarded more than one powerful vampire though, and while Abram was not much of a close combat fighter it did not mean he couldn't inflict massive harm on a distracted opponent.

Especially if he dropped down on them with his entire body weight.

Richard let out a distressed howl as he tried to free his broken torso from Abram's grip, but the latter had no intention to let go. As a result they soon ended up as a pile of limbs, wings, fur and sharp teeth while trying to subdue each other with great effort.

As predicted though, the leathery membrane on Abram's wings suffered some harrowing damage by Richard's sharp claws and he hissed while trying to get some distance between them. Richard was not about to let him though, springing forward to bite into one of the wings again and forcing a cry of pain out of Abram. The latter still took the opportunity to retaliate, and he used Richard's weight against him as he swung around to lash his wing into the forecastle wall.

Richard still got up. Ethan had never seen a werewolf that stubborn or strong for that matter. He'd heard of garms of course but he knew for a fact Richard wasn't one, so what was going on?

Abram was too slow to retreat, and Richard dodged the massive wings to snap his maw shut around his side. It caused Abram to stagger backwards and Ethan's heart came to a halt as he noticed the light shining through torn canvases behind him.

"Abram!" he yelled out too late, panic rising in his chest as cold blisters spread along Abram's back upon contact with the moonlight.

Richard had noticed as well, and refused to give Abram any chance to move away. Not until Ethan finally intervened by shroudwalking in front of him and uppercutting his jaw. It was a weak punch. Ethan had drained most of himself with the last shroudwalk and his knees wanted to give way, but it bought Abram enough time to turn and ready himself for another attack.

Ethan however, was not lucky enough to slip away afterwards, being crushed down hard to the floor with claws tearing up part of his stomach moments after, but just as his mind registered the threat to his undead life, help arrived in shape of the massive force of a cannon being slammed into Richard's side. Even with wheels and momentum on his side, Ethan found it hard to believe that Abram had pulled off swinging something that heavy.

The crushing impact was enough to push Richard into the rail of the ship that was unsurprisingly far from sturdy enough to handle that kind of strain, and Ethan stared in horror as the werewolf fought to dig his claws into the wooden floor before falling overboard.

"Richard!" Tom tried to hurry forward only to be stopped by Eliza. "Let go of me! Richard—"

"You can't jump in, you dimwit!" Eliza held him firmly despite her face expressing almost the same amount of panic as the victim of her grip. "And your eyesight is way too bad to rush towards water right now!"

Ethan ran forward however, panting and clutching his injured stomach while his body screamed. What was he supposed to do? How well could werewolves swim? Would that even matter under the circumstances?

"Ethan, what do we do?" Naida asked with a weak voice, having appeared next to him while folding one of the ropes from earlier.

Ethan gave the rope a begrudging look before releasing a resigned sigh, then he turned to address the crew.

"I'm going down there. Someone will have to throw down a rope once I find him, got that?"

"Can you even find him?" Eliza looked towards the edge. "With this much wind, won't the waves get in the way?"

Ethan followed her gaze with just as much doubt, but he wouldn't show it.

"I'll... Manage somehow."

He gazed over the water, trying to predict where Richard would be by then given the pace they were travelling at, then he channelled all his energy to make one last effort.

The sea was dark. It was not a surprise but Ethan had always hated travelling over water and its unknown depths. He had to though. Perhaps it was guilt for bringing him and Tom along, or because he didn't want Anthony's friends harmed, or simply because he was just a good person who'd prefer people not dying. He wasn't sure, but he knew he had to save Richard somehow.

Finally he spotted him. Richard was fighting against the waves through panicked howling and flailing arms, and though it wasn't tempting Ethan decided to return to a physical form in front of him. It was still a shock to the beast, but appearing behind him had not seemed wise either.

"Richard—" Ethan began, only to have a massive hand slamming down on him, pushing him under water. It was alright, he told himself. He was a decent swimmer. The problem was finding enough time to get help without Richard knocking him out and drowning him.

He dove down further, clothes uncomfortably heavy and hair sticking against his skin, to resurface behind Richard's back and drew a deep breath.

"Over here!" he yelled up at the ship, hopefully getting more than Richard's attention. He managed to dodge another attempt to shove him down and let out a breath of relief as a rope tied to an arrow struck against a wave near them.

He'd barely reached hold of it before he was pressed down again, and he accidentally inhaled water into his lungs.

Richard wouldn't let him up without a fight either. He seemed to have sacrificed his own swimming to be rid of the nuisance around him, so Ethan had to rethink his options. They'd run out of rope at any moment so he had to tie it around them quickly, but how could he do that when Richard was fighting against it, not to mention trying to drown him?

There was a way, of course.

Breaking the surface again, Ethan spat out water, coughing uncontrollably while trying to discard the thought. He'd decided against it. He wouldn't do something like that. Something like that person would do.

But he was tired. He doubted he could disappear from there even if he'd decide to leave Richard, and he was facing death for as long as they remained in the water, so maybe it was the only way after all.

He squinted through a stinging blur, trying to make sense of his surroundings and locating Richard's gaze. Then he reluctantly grabbed his fur to pull himself closer.

"Iff... You won't kill me after this, I'm pre... tty certain Tom will," he sputtered through strained breathing and coughing, then he grabbed the arrow and plunged it forward to gouge Richard's eyes out.

***

Author's note: What a nice, peaceful time they're having! I know Ethan's for sure feeling good about himself and his actions during this chapter. What about you all? What are your thoughts?