Captivated by Blood

Destiny's Call

Jack

I saw her as I approached a young girl with sharp features and a ferocious expression. She looks in the mirror and adjusts her leather doublet and smooths out her trousers, straightening the sword at her side. Her red hair swirled about her waist.She looked almost fearless if it werent for the sullen expression on her face as she scrutinised her every feature.

She doesn't know the truth about who she is, she thinks she is just an adventurous captain's daughter, but she is about to find out she is so much more, but also she is about to find out her Destiny. I just hope she is strong enough this time. Then maybe she can finally set her father free, not the captain.

Her real father, like I said, she doesn't even know who she is, who her parents really are and the massive burden that is about to be placed on her shoulders.

Also, I don't think she realises how incredibly beautiful she is, her hair is red like fire swirling in flaming curls about her waist, her skin is pale milky and soft like the sun has never dared touch its surface. Her eyes are like treasures of the greenest emeralds. Tall, muscular but curvy...yep she really is built like a Goddess in every way imaginable. If any of our previous encounters are anything to go by, she probably has an entitled attitude to match.

That being said, she seems to be different every time. Sometimes she is young, sometimes she is old, but still with the same soul and the same Destiny.

I remember our first lifetime together we were both young, around the same age. She was fearless and strong as ever, but each time we met it wasn't enough. If she can fulfil her destiny and become a Captain that commands respect from her crew, a fearless leader who is not afraid to get her hands dirty, then we might just have a chance.

For some reason, I feel different about it this time, almost lucky, like Destiny is by our side this time. Maybe we really have a chance and everything is really in alignment. I hope so, because this isn't just about her fulfilling her destiny, but I also have to fulfill mine, except, unlike her, my destiny doesn't come with a bunch of clues that are practically The Universes Guide to Forfilling your Destiny. I don't know how anyone could be so lucky and yet unlucky at the same time.

I also don't know why anyone would put me in the driving seat of this literal pending shipwreck. I just pray to Destiny that she won't do anything drastic this time, because last time I made my grand entrance, which I must admit was a little too grand, as she burnt down the ship with everyone in it, including herself, although that being said they really had been shipwrecked on a rocky outcrop in the middle of the ocean and had all started to lose their minds. My distasteful and eccentric entrance proved to be too much for their fragile minds, a lesson learnt in that regard. Proceed with caution and decorum in all future encounters, duly noted.

Now that I am closer, I can hear her thoughts, it's a stream of distracting non-stop ramblings about everything and anything. She sounds innocent and almost sweet. She doesn't sound ferocious and fearless at all. She sounds like a lost teenager. Good grief, what has Destiny conjured up this time?! Her thoughts may be non-stop ramblings, but her voice sounds like the gentle swell of the 12 Oceans, the 12 very ominous oceans that I am not looking forward to visiting at all.

I really do envy mere mortals with their shielded minds and perspectives, if only they knew the true forces that swelled and moved around them, influencing their lives, clouding their minds and influencing their choices. If they only knew that their lives were not really their own, then maybe they could actually develop a true sense of power and autonomy, but it really appears that they are destined for self-destruction. Such a pity. If I didn't know better, I'd almost feel sorry for them.

Just like her father, I think that will be the hardest part for her to accept that the man who raised her was nothing but a tool for the higher powers at play. Her father was not a real person, he was more like an apparition, a projection of a person sent to overshadow her and stop her from finding out her fate until the right time, not sent to protect her or love her, care for her or guide her, just prevent her from straying from Destiny's path.

Destiny really has a weird way of doing things! I don't see how we can possibly achieve anything except getting ourselves killed over n over. I'd like to know what the grand plan is considering we've done nothing but die a bunch of times since this all started. Also, I don't know how her parents can not even care for their own daughter. Every time she finds out that part, she is always heartbroken and I really don't want to sit through that again. It's awkward and uncomfortable and I don't like hugging people. It's yucky.

Meanwhile, here I am getting distracted when what I should be doing is closing that massive portal in the sky before anything else comes through and also I need to address the crew. From what I can hear out there, they really do need their memories restored. They sound completely unruly and very mortal, disgusting.

Time for them to remember who they really are my loyal and trusted servants. At least that is something I have always been able to rely on. With their help, maybe this time it really can be easy, but somehow I know that it will be ridiculously difficult, as it always is. I can't concentrate with all this ruckus. I'm pretty sure if I'm hearing them correctly they are shouting about fornicating with chickens.

'Hey Pete! Ha!Ha! The way that chicken flew up and pecked you right on the lips was a sight to see! You looked so flustered you'd thought you were about to marry it, probably the most action you've ever seen from a bird in your life!' . Pete puts down his glass, 'Enough of that Harry, every one here knows that if there is going to be a chicken fucker on this ship then that chicken fucker is going to be you! Pete puts down his glass 'Now who are you calling a chicken fucker! If anyone is going to be a chicken fucker its you! You were the one that was kissing birds instead of catching them for dinner!'

In the midst of the celebration, I appeared as a figure emerging from the shadows - a pale man with long black hair and sparkling white eyes. Everyone immediately falls silent. So dramtic! I'm actually just standing awkwardly in the doorway listening to this drivel. Ah! Finally, they noticed me.

'Please don't let me interrupt.' I say it calmly yet authoritatively. Naturally, Harry and Pete, who were arguing about nonsense a minute ago, immediately stand up, as does the rest of the crew, then Pete practically shouts but mostly slurrs 'Who the f**k are you! and what the f**k do you think you are doing on this ship!'. Well, I am Jack and you will realise you already know me soon enough, but for now, my dear crew, time for you to sleep. Then I do the cool hand swish thing that vampires do to make people go to sleep. Now it is time to find Lucy.

Lucy

OK breath, this is fine. Everything is fine, time to find Jack I suppose. 'Or maybe Jack has already found you' he stands in the doorway, pale dark hair and the most extravagant glisten in his eyes I've ever seen, like diamonds and rain sparkling in the sun. He looks over at me exspectantly as if he's waiting for some witty quip. There is just awkward silence for what feels like an eternity, social skills are really not my strong point. So I just quietly mutter 'Oh hey, I'm Lucy'. I might as well have said, Oh hey, it is me your local loser. Ugh, please will something happen right now to make this less weird please, anything, an earthquake, a tornado......

Jack smirks a little and says ' Well, actually, considering we are in the middle of the ocean, I'm pretty sure a tornado is pretty unlikely.' It takes me a second to realise that I was saying none of this out loud, this asshole is listening to my thoughts!?

Jack smirks again 'I'm actually not an asshole, we are actually pretty good friends, which I could explain to you if you would do more than just stare at me'. He stands there with a smug look on his face. Clearly, he is enjoying my state of confusion. Ugh come girl focus and find out what the hell is going on. He smirks again ' The polite thing to do is to invite me in, do you leave all of your guests hovering around in doorways?'. He sounds so sure of himself in a way that is extremely irritating.

I suddenly feel very annoyed and impatient. I quip back ' I don't know, do you usually make a habit of showing up unanounced in peoples doorways, being generally vague and annoying or is this your first time?'.

He looks stunned for a moment then lets out a laugh 'Ha yes that's the Lucy I remember, full of fire and ice! As for standing in doorways, it kinda cant be helped, seeing as I am a vampire. So yes, I do spend a lot of time in doorways, generally being annoying, so no, it's not my first time. How about you? Do you usually stand in rooms hurling insults at your guests or is it your first time?' he laughs again, his eyes glistening with mischief.

I stare at him in disbelief ' Firstly, I am pretty sure we don't know each other, and secondly, do expect me to believe not only that vampires are real, but that you of all people are one!Ha! Give me a break, this has to be a prank or some kind of elaborate joke'. I rolled my eyes like a sullen teenager.

He suddenly looks at me with a very serious expression and in a calm but authoritative voice he says ' Lucy, one thing I can assure you is that none of this is a joke'. He swishes his hand in a circular motion and I feel a pain, so intense writhe through my whole body from my feet up to my head, I feel like my whole body is being crushed. There is intense pressure in my head. I can hear Jack still speaking to me, but he sounds so far away like he is talking through a wall. He is telling me that soon I will remember everything , my memories are being restored.

He tells me to breathe, I tell him to get f****d, I feel dizzy. Everything is going dark. I feel myself falling, it feels like so slow motion. I suddenly scream 'Jack!Help Me!' I see him rush towards me as the darkness closes in, then there is nothing.

I am just floating in an abyss. I hear something that's very faint, calling me Lucy, Lucy......I float....Lucy Lucy....I whisper very quietly 'I'm here floating in the darkness' . The voice comes closer. 'There you are my dear Lucy.' Then I saw in front of me what looked like a lady floating in nothingness. She is wearing a white dress but it isn't really a white dress. It is light radiating from her in every direction, making it impossible to focus directly upon her, its almost as though she is made up of only light that is gentle and warm yet blinding at the same time.

I whispered 'Who are you? Where am I?' I suddenly felt very annoyed at myself. Could I be any more cliche? I could say literally anything else, not that I can think of anything else in this moment.

I feel a warmth seep into my body, 'Lucy, I am your Destiny and you will remember me soon. As for where you are, well, you are neither here or there but in the space in between. Jack is restoring your memories at this moment and your consciousness has been transported to this realm temporarily.'

The voice sounds far away yet close at the same time, the sound seems to shimmer and float like gentle waves caressing the space around them. I suddenly feel very sleepy and heavy, like I am being pulled away, I am no longer floating in a gentle abyss I am falling.

The voice speaks again from very far away, but I don't hear the words. I'm falling faster and faster, and suddenly it's like I fell right into myself.

I jolt awake! The first thing I saw was Jack standing over me. He looked at me with concern and intense concentration. He spoke to me gently ' It's ok Lucy, I am here, you are ok, I've got you'

The pain in my head and body is intense and my throat is dry and thick. I try to speak but the words stick in my throat. Jack reaches for a glass of water nearby and helps me take a few sips. I feel it soothing my throat, the coldness spreading through my chest dulling the intense heat radiating from my solar plexus.

I whispered 'Hi Jack, nice to see you'. I feel a sudden swell of affection and recognition followed by a swell of sadness as memories start flowing through me.

I start to laugh as I see childhood memories of me and Jack playing on the deck of the ship. I cry as I watch Jack live through a thousand of my own deaths. I see myself as young, old, every battle, every moment of love and loss.

Yet the one thing I don't see is my father. I see thousands of years worth of memories yet my parents are not part of any of them. I felt confused.

I turned to Jack 'I remember you', I whispered softly 'but why don't I remember my parents?' He looked at me. I see restraint and concern in his eyes. 'I can not tell you that right now. You will just have to trust me that you will know everything at the right time. I'm sorry Lucy'. I feel too tired to argue. My eyes suddenly felt heavy. I want to ask more questions. I want to know more, but I am suddenly too tired to speak. I drifted away into a heavy deep sleep.