The Pirates of the Devil's Arc-Chapter 1: Cumulus

    The clouds were like cotton, looming overhead. There was a storm on the way. Karma looked out to the sea. It was exactly like the day she was sold. But what can one do? When a man is poor, what can he do but sell his daughter to a young sailor? And now…

    The ocean lolled up and down in a gentle motion. Ah yes, the sea was a true companion: humanly violent, always condoling, never fleeting, and truly immortal.

    So many men were lost that day…

    But what can one do?

    What can one do, when an entire fleet of men just fell to the floor in front of your feet; when one after the other, their limp, yet warm, bodies tumbled down like dominoes? Nothing. When the one you love the most falls to his knees with a hole punched into him as large, and clean as if it had been done with a peg? Nothing.

    Karma Raleigh; it was a name noted for its devotion and simple, elegant charm. But what can one do when suddenly, they have nothing to cling to. They can make their name the human word for death.

    The clouds were cotton, though they were not soft. They loomed ominously; the blade of the axe. Now, her eyes were stones, ready to sink into the earth, as was her heart and her husband. Today, the crown was passed to her.

    They had to throw the bodies overboard. They would have rotted before the ship reached land. She didn’t care. Stones cannot make tears.

    She had never had children. Only one person was left…

    Slowly, an older man made his way up to the deck from the cabins below. She didn’t deserve this. He ascended the ladder. She was much too young. Mr. Cramp sighed loudly to himself. His eyes were glistening slightly, thinking of his captain, whom he had just thrown over the side a few hours ago. Nobody expects to be swarmed by the Luman Navy. Nobody wants to.

    There she stood, overlooking the rolling waves, a cold look carved into her marble features. Mr. Cramp stood behind her, watching her closely. After a few minutes, Karma turned around.

    “Do you want something?” she whispered collectedly, “or do you just want to throw my husband overboard.”

    “Please, Karma,” he touched her shoulder, trembling at her coldness, “You know exactly why we had to do that. Had we not the corpses would have-”

    “Tell me what you want, and you will refer to me as Captain from now on. Is that understood?” She stated callously.

    “I don’t want to talk to my Captain. I want to talk to Karma Raleigh.”

    “She is dead.”

    “I want to talk to my friend’s poor widow who must be bleeding inside.” He gripped her by both shoulders. “Are you okay?”

    There was a long pause. Karma stared at a face that was almost exactly like hers, except the eyes that she saw betrayed sadness. Then, she realized, she was seeing her own reflection in the eyes of her friend. Mr. Cramp saw it too, and took her into his arms. Tears streamed down both beautiful faces. They remained like this for half an hour; two lachrymose, forsaken pirates in a world of familiar blood.

    After a while, Karma’s sobbing came to an end, and she wiped her face on her sleeve. Mr. Cramp smiled.

    “I thought you were trained to be a lady.” He remarked.

    “Nope.” Karma smirked, “I was trained to be a pirate!”

    “And you learned from the best.” Mr. Cramp chuckled. He began to walk away.

    “Jason.” Karma said softly, “Thank you.”

    “My pleasure.” He bowed.

    “And one more thing.” Karma shouted to him, “You’d best keep your hands off any ladies. Remember why you’re able to work here at all!”

    “No problem, Captain.”

    Captain. It was precious. It was a new start. The clouds were white and pulpy. The sky was a blank page, on which Karma was determined to write her new name in blood.