Soul Of Calypso

The brig was cold and damp, the faint scent of seawater mixing with the acrid tang of mildew. I sat with my knees pulled to my chest, the rough wooden wall at my back offering little comfort. My wrists were raw where the ropes had bitten into my skin, and my body ached with exhaustion.

I had lost track of time. The steady rocking of the ship and the distant sounds of waves and footsteps above were the only markers of the endless hours that passed. I kept replaying everything in my mind—Emma's death, the pirates' betrayal, and Captain Dorian Blackwell's infuriating smirk.

The door to the brig creaked open, flooding the small room with light. I squinted as the figure of the captain filled the doorway. He stepped inside, his boots clicking against the floor, and closed the door behind him.

Dorian leaned against the wall, crossing his arms. "Well, Scarlett," he said, his voice calm yet grating. "Have you had time to reflect on your situation?"

I didn't answer, glaring at him instead.

He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "You've got spirit. I'll give you that. But spirit alone won't save you."

He stepped closer, his presence looming. "Let me make something very clear. You're alive right now because I've decided you're useful. The Soul of Calypso can only be found by a woman. That's the legend, and your sister knew it. That's why she came to me."

"Charlotte wouldn't trust someone like you," I spat, my voice trembling with anger.

"Trust?" He raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Oh no, Scarlett. She didn't trust me. She needed me. There's a difference."

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. "What do you want from me?"

"The same thing your sister wanted," he said smoothly. "To find the Soul of Calypso. But unlike her, you don't have the luxury of walking away if things get complicated."

"And if I refuse?" I asked, my voice colder than I felt.

He crouched in front of me, his piercing eyes locking onto mine. "Refuse, and you'll rot in this brig until the sea claims you. Or perhaps I'll toss you overboard and see if you're as good a swimmer as your sister."

The threat made my stomach twist, but I refused to let him see my fear.

Dorian stood and walked to the door, knocking once. The guard opened it, and two men stepped inside, their expressions unreadable.

"Get her cleaned up," Dorian ordered. "She needs to be presentable if she's going to help us."

As the men grabbed my arms and pulled me to my feet, I bit back the retort burning on my tongue. I knew he was testing me, and I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me break.

The guards dragged me to a small cabin at the far end of the ship. It was cramped but clean, with a narrow bed, a washbasin, and a mirror mounted on the wall. One of the guards cut the ropes binding my wrists, and I resisted the urge to lash out, knowing it would only make things worse.

"Clean yourself up," one of them said gruffly before they both left, slamming the door behind them.

I stood there for a moment, staring at my reflection in the mirror. My hair was tangled, my skin pale and smudged with dirt. I barely recognized myself.

Splashing cold water on my face, I tried to steady my breathing. This wasn't over. I had no choice but to play along, but that didn't mean I would give up.

If Dorian thought I was just going to help him without a fight, he was wrong. I would find a way to escape this ship, even if it meant leaving him and his cursed treasure behind.

When I was brought back to the deck, the sun was setting, casting the sky in shades of orange and crimson. The salty breeze stung my face, a reminder of how far I was from the safety of the West Estate.

Dorian stood at the helm, his coat billowing slightly in the breeze. He turned when he saw me, his expression unreadable.

"You clean up nicely," he said with a smirk, motioning for me to join him.

I crossed the deck reluctantly, my steps measured. The crew's eyes followed me, their expressions ranging from curiosity to disdain.

"Why don't we skip the pleasantries?" I said, stopping a few feet away from him. "Where are we going?"

He chuckled, clearly amused by my defiance. "Straight to the point. I like that."

Dorian gestured to the horizon, where the faint outline of land was just visible. "Our first stop is an island your sister visited before she… disappeared. There's something there she thought was important. I suggest you start thinking like her if you want to survive."

"And what happens if we don't find anything?" I asked, folding my arms.

"Then we keep looking," he said simply. "The Soul of Calypso is out there, Scarlett. And I will find it. With or without your help."

I bit the inside of my cheek, fighting the urge to snap back. I couldn't afford to lose control. Not now.

"What makes you so sure it's real?" I asked instead, trying to keep my tone neutral.

Dorian's smirk faded, replaced by a rare moment of seriousness. "Because I've seen what it can do. And so has your sister."

My stomach turned at his words, but I forced myself to stay calm. He was baiting me, testing me. I wouldn't let him win.

"Fine," I said after a long pause. "I'll help you. But only because I want to find Charlotte."

"Of course," Dorian said smoothly, his smirk returning. "For Charlotte."

He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "But don't forget, Scarlett. You're not in control here. I am."

I didn't flinch, meeting his gaze with as much defiance as I could muster. "We'll see about that."

That night, I stood at the bow of the ship, staring out at the endless sea. The water glistened under the moonlight, calm and deceptively peaceful. Somewhere out there, the Soul of Calypso waited, and so did Charlotte.

I gripped the railing tightly, my mind racing. Dorian thought he could use me, control me. But he underestimated me.

I would play his game for now. I would help him find the Soul of Calypso, not because I wanted to, but because I had no choice.

But the moment I saw an oppo

rtunity to escape, I would take it.

I wasn't just going to survive this—I was going to win.