“Noir! Noir, come on! You can’t keep ignoring this!”
I could hear Kayne’s strong voice boom through the thick, tall trees lining the coast of our small island home hidden within the open sea.
Through my shrouded hiding place in a tall palm tree, I watched my father and his crew load the Snyaria, his fastest ship. Since today is my eighteenth birthday I’m allowed, no, more like supposed to go on the small raids that provide for our people. I know it’s my duty being the daughter of the captain, but I’m afraid.
My mother died during a raid; I was only three at the time. Ever since, I have always dreaded having to go. I wouldn’t have even managed to get this close if Kayne and Kcara hadn’t pushed me into it.
“Noir, why are you in a tree?”
Darn, he found me. I looked down through the branches and saw Kayne standing shirtless and tired.
“Nothing, just watching you load the ship.” Kayne gave me a disbelieving look; his eyebrow practically vanished beneath his disheveled black bangs.
I sighed reluctantly, letting a small moan of irritation slip out. “Fine, I’m coming.”
I took hold of the rope I’d securely fastened to the branch above me and slowly eased my way down using the rough trunk to steady my body as I went. I could tell he was pissed at me, but he knew why I hid.
Before I even made it to the ground, I felt Kayne’s strong hands take hold of my waist and effortlessly set me on the sandy grass in front of him. He was obviously impatient to get going.
“Come on, we’re already late.”
“Alright…OW!” I gripped my head in pain.
“Oops, hold still.” His silly bracelet got caught in my hair again. I don’t know why he still had that thing He told me he found it, back when we were still kids, but it’s such a girly trinket for a twenty year old man to have.
“There, got it.” He smiled triumphantly while I continued to rub my poor, abused scalp.
Suddenly his happy face turned angry, his gentle, ice blue eyes were now glaring coldly at me.
“Noir, you need to cut your stupid hair.”
“What!? Why should I!? You told me I had pretty hair!”
“I was 13! Noir, it’s a hassle and a problem. I bet your dad is going to say the same thing.”
I held my long, hip-length chestnut hair which I kept in a high ponytail using a few thin ribbons my mother gave me. It was all I had of her, well that and my hair which was the same beautiful color as hers.
I diverted my eyes from Kayne.
“Never. I’ll never cut it.” I whispered sternly.
Kayne growled in annoyance and left me, heading for the ship. I watched him walk up the plank used to board the ship when it was anchored near the shoreline. He was muttering to himself again as he began tying and re-tying the mast’s ropes. I hadn’t meant to hurt him. I knew that bracelet was important to him, but it’s not like I did anything…it wasn’t my fault.
I exhaled in defeat and quickly grabbed my bag, which was near the tree I had previously been perching in and ran for the Snyaria.
“Noir!” A young feminine voice called from behind me.
I skidded to a stop in the sand and turned. “Kca—OH!” Kcara smacked into me as she ran to tell me goodbye. Sand covered us entirely once we landed.
“Oops, sorry!” She herself off me and smiled apologetically with a silly expression on her game.
I stood up after her and noticed her short blond hair full of sand. I rubbed her head.
“Hey, what are you doing? I’m only three years younger than you!” She brushed my hands away awkwardly. “I’m not a kid.”
I smiled.
She looked at me sadly, and then wrapped her tan arms around my waist. I hugged her back, burying my face in her tangy, fruit smelling hair. She was like a little sister to me and I didn’t want to leave her behind. She knew I would be fine alone and decided not to come; she’s very experienced though and could have helped me but she wouldn’t change her mind.
“I’ll miss you so much.” She mumbled against my chest.
“Me too, sweetie.” I felt like I may cry but I held it back, though I could feel her tears seep through my clothes. We had only been apart five times since she first started following me around and the thought of probably never seeing her again was painful. But I released my grip.
I rubbed her head again, this time just for fun.
“Hey!” She whined at me.
I laughed.
“Noir, come on!” Kayne beckoned from behind me. I rolled my eyes, Kcara giggled at my hidden response.
“Yeah, I’m coming.” I shouted to him, in hopes of stalling a little longer.
“I’ll be back soon.” I smiled at her; holding her hands in mine.
She gave me a watery grin then looked to my right.
“Come on!” Kayne’s voice was suddenly behind me.
I felt his hands grab my waist and set me on his shoulders. His arm held me in place as I squirmed angrily but his arm was like iron. He leaned down and grabbed my bag from the sand and turned toward the ship.
“Bye Kcara, see you in a few weeks!” He called to her so nonchalantly, as though he’d never taken me captive. I rammed my fist against his chest and although he seemed not to notice I felt his body react to the pain of the blow. That alone gave me a little satisfaction…but only a little.
“See ya, Kayne! Don’t be too hard on her! She’s never done this before!”
The men on the ship laughed lightly, even Kayne, which only aggravated me even more. I crossed my arms against his chest and glared at him as best as I could in this position.
“Don’t be like that Noir. You’ll have Syren and Menya with you, so don’t worry about us guys.”
I exhaled, blowing part of my bangs up.
When we reached the deck, Kayne gently set me down and handed me my bag. “So
you ok now?”
“Sure.” I mumbled through my teeth.
He grinned at me. His ice blue eyes warm and seductive, like usual. I hated when he did that, it made it so hard to hate him.
“Noir!” Menya nearly pushed me into Kayne with her embrace.
“My you’ve grown Noiry.” Her smile covered half her face.
“Uh…you too Men.” I skillfully weaved out of her grasp.
Her poofy pink and green pigtails bounced around as she restlessly jumped around me. She had always been the happiest of my few elvish friends.
“Ooo, Noiry, I can’t wait for this trip. You, me, and Sy together again!” She took my hands and started pulling me toward the old captain’s quarters, which I heard was now a room for us girls.
“Sy, Sy come see! Noiry’s here!” Menya seemed to sing her call. She always had the most musical voice, even for an elf.
Abruptly Syren landed silently in front of us. Her golden eyes startled me, as though I had done something horribly wrong. It had been a long time since I had seen her blank expression.
“Hey Sy, been a while.” I said awkwardly.
She continued to scrutinize me. Her cyan colored hair danced around her delicate creamy complexion.
“Hello Noir.” She smiled gently and gave me a hug.
I embraced her tightly. I hadn’t seen her for nearly four and a half years and I missed her mysterious and caring personality so much. She was so very important to me…like my mother.
“Come, I have something to show you.” She grasped my hands tightly and leapt straight up. Her feet touched the mast and she securely held my waist to make sure I wouldn’t fall.
“Look.” She pointed toward the horizon. “Concentrate, Noir, you’ll see it.”
I tried very hard, so hard my brain was starting to hurt and just before I gave up I saw a small, stretched island with several buildings covering it.
“Did you see?” Her golden eyes shined brightly as she awaited my answer.
“Sort of.” I shrugged.
Her usual look of disturbing indifference took over. “Noir, have you been practicing?” Her calm voice became stricter.
“Yes…ish.” I quirked my brow apologetically as I looked at her. “I’m sorry!” I blurted.
She kissed my forehead lightly. “That’s ok. But I WILL make you work on it during the voyage.”
Swiftly she leaped from the beam and we landed on the deck again. After many introductions to the crew members and a quick hello to my father, we walked into the room deemed as ours and Menya jumped out in front of me.
“Noiry, this is your bed.” She led me to the largest of the three, with delicate, off white bedding and ice colored lace sheets hanging from the ceiling. They vaguely reminded me of Kayne’s eyes.
“Oh, it’s beautiful.” I gasped.
“Sy picked it out.” Menya beamed.
“Thank you.” I whispered.
She smiled softly, then turned and leapt out a window. She was never very big with hellos and goodbyes. I smirked knowingly.
“Noiry…” Menya sat on my bed and I followed “…are you sure you’re up for this?” Menya had been one of my best friends since we were both three before she decided to start going with the raiding parties. She knew all about my mother and remembered how hard it was for me to see my father leave on raids.
“Yeah, I’ll be alright. Don’t worry about me.” I reassuringly placed my hand on her knee.
“Ok!” She jumped up and pulling me into the center of our large room, turned me toward the many windows along the bow of the ship. “Wave goodbye, Noiry, because we’re on our way!” Her mood swings were so sudden, it was usually best to just go along with her. I giggled and did as she asked.
“Bye.” I said.
She chuckled then turned abruptly to the two doors to the room.
“Noir!! NOIR, get out here! Syren needs you!” Kayne’s panicked voice erupted from the deck, where sounds of combat started shaking the ship.
“What the hell, we only left the shore fifteen minutes ago?!” I shouted to Menya but apparently she had already gone out the window herself to help.
I shoved the two large wooden doors aside and saw Syren leaping backward as a large ax swung toward her. Somehow three large Tores had managed to get on board.
Tores were oversized, muscular men-like creatures that generally dwelled in caves on the other side of our island. The one currently attacking Syren looked about 7’ 5”, very strong and incredibly ugly. His nose was nearly nonexistent and his lower lip was huge.
“Dammit Noir, help her!” Kayne shouted as he forced away another, smaller Tore’s blade. Menya appeared beside him to help.
“I’m going! Sy, toss me Nirwen!”
While slicing the gut of one Tore, she skillfully slipped Nirwen and its sheath from her back and tossed it to me. I grabbed it a little awkwardly; it has been a long time since I practiced with Syren, and I quickly pulled the blade free to stop an oncoming ax from the remaining Tore.
“UH!” I screamed. I forgot how freakishly strong these guys were. My legs were bending beneath the pressure he was giving on my blade.
I tried slipping around him and slicing his back like Syren taught me, but gosh he is really strong! I barely forced the blade away and managed to slice through his right wrist. However he sent his blade crashing down on my again, flaying his blood spewing arm around crazily.
I suddenly heard the Tore gasp; then abruptly right in front of my face a bloody katana tip erupted from the Tores stomach, unfortunately covering my face in blood and fluids. I took advantage of his shock and forced away the large ax again, causing him to lose balance, and right before he fell I slid my several edged blade through his throat tearing the arteries and easily ripping straight through his vertebrae.
I turned around after watching the Tore choke on his own blood before his head fell off, the skin on the back of his neck barely holding it on. Kayne was breathing heavily with his katana held tightly in his hands. He smiled tiredly at me and I could see his ice blue eyes dance in the light of the sun. He had evidently helped me.
“You shouldn’t take on more than you can handle.” He laughed a little.
I scowled slightly with a little sarcasm in my eyes. “Kayne…” I stepped toward him, blood covered and trying my best to be seductive. “Thank you so much for saving me…” I brushed my fingers through his hair. I nearly laughed at his shocked face. Then…I thrust my knee into his groin. “But I can handle myself without you mocking me.”
He keeled over in pain but I could still hear him laughing between gasps. “Noir…you still get so upset when people help you…”
I sighed. “I’m sorry Kayne…I just…I can do things on my own.” I looked down at him, he still smiled at me. He knew I didn’t me anything by what I did but I couldn’t get over it. My emotions clouded everything. I turned away from him, from everyone and quickly walked to our cabin.
I locked the door behind me and laid my head on the carved wood of the door and sighed. “Stupid.” I then sauntered over to my bed, where I simply plopped down face first. I stayed there, unmoving, until the need to scratch the tips of my half pointed ears came over me. I sat up and ran my fingernails along the delicate skin, a strange habit that came over me often when I became upset.
“UGH…being part-elf is SO frustrating!” I yelled to no one.
Elves have always been the more mysterious of the creatures that populated our world. Exceptionally strong, agile, and hypersensitive; emotions are practically doubled in intensity as well. That is one thing I had the misfortune of receiving an abnormal amount of despite my breeding. It made little sense that someone with only half elvish blood would be so…emotional.
And I have never been very good at controlling myself.
“Noir.”
“Holy crap!” I gasped.
Sy stood quietly in front of me, not even a single drop of blood on her…of course. I smiled though I was still shaking from her sudden appearance.
“What is it, Syren?” I tried to calm my exceptionally fast beating heart.
“I simply wanted to make sure you were alright.”
“Yeah…yeah I’m fine.” I breathed.
“You know Noir…if you want more training, I can help you, with combat and controlling your elvish instincts.”
“Sy, I can do this on my own.” I started to get stubborn again.
She put her strong hand on my shoulder and starred directly into my eyes. “Noir, there is nothing wrong with asking for my help…or anyone’s for that matter.”
“Syren I can’t help it, the feeling is so powerful.”
“I know.” She smiled; her perfect, white teeth were so stunning. I may be part elf, but I’ll never be a radiant beauty like elves are supposed to be. “Now later today, Men and I are going hunting in the ocean. You’re the best swimmer of us all.”
I laughed a little. “Ok…but just to warn you it’s been a long while since I’ve hunted, I don’t know if I can hold my breath as long as I used too.”
“Well you managed three hours last time and I expect you will do just fine today.” She smiled again and took my hand. “Come on, time for some fun.”
