Beyond Heaven's Reach {P}

[Ursa Minor]

The Sun beats down heavily on her back as he works efficiently. Her brown skin is soaked in sweat and her dark brown hair is matted peacefully against her brow .It's an unusually bright day even for her and her people and they can tell it's going to get worse by the way the wind flows. It's hard to describe, says their high priest as she sits comfortably with her jade walls all around her, and they don't question her. She's never been wrong before and they know she won't be wrong any time soon. Madison stands up gently cracking his back along the way feeling the soft snaps and the flush of relief as it flows through her as she picks the tomatoes for tonight's dinner. They're bright red and plump and they look absolutely delicious even by Madison's way of thinking. She smiles to himself gently a she peers at it and turns it over in her hands. It's a good day for everyone on the island. The clouds are many and the wind is thankfully forceful and they're all grateful to the gods for such a bountiful harvest this year.


Madison knows that a feast is underway even by the looks of her father and mother. She can't wait to sink her teeth into the town's famous pie once he's done. A girl runs past her and she watches silently, but with amusement as her mother yells after her apologizing toward the older women. They shake their heads and pat her on her back whispering about the pledges of motherhood and go back to their work quickly yet peacefully. Madison turns away finally getting the chance to calm herself and looked towards the sea finally. It's blue and it's stretched as far as the eye can see and she wonders where the waters lead. She wishes she could have the chance to go and see it for herself, but she knows that it won't be possible. She sighs and thinks of something else as if to dissuade her thoughts about the world. She can't leave, she knows that. She has a job to perform and people to take care of.


They don't need her need her. It's her spirit that they need. The gentle waves of her calm presence as her father so arrogantly stated is a beacon for their people and even then no one argued. Madison is the hope for her people and they need it. She licks her lips as she stretches softly and doesn't think of anything else except for the stormy blue sky and the birds fluttering by. The dip into the Ocean and rise back up this time with a flash of silver hanging from their beaks and Madison shakes her head.

 

[kailey]

Gentle waves rolled across the vast expanse of the open ocean, crashing into one another at certain intervals. The ship's bow carved through the waves like a knife to butter. Overall, it was a glorious day to be out at sea.


A young twenty-something year old man strutted toward the wheel of the ship, his boots clanking on the stained wood. His blue and gold colored coat flapped in the wind, revealing his purposefully tight undershirt. It was evident that the man was muscular.


Captain of the ship he was, Desmond was his name. The tall, black haired man took hold of the ship's wheel, turning her slightly left as the peak of a sandy beach could be seen in the distance.


A few months ago, the captain had stumbled upon word of a prosperous island off of the coast of Europe, and his interest was instantly peaked. He set sail the next day.


As they drew near, Desmond moved to address his men. "We are men! Pirates! And we shall take what is ours!" He shouted, fist pumping.


"Take any woman or girl you wish. Steal as much gold as you can! Destroy the village! They shall forever remember us in the fear of their hearts!" His men whooped excitedly as he finished his short speech.


An extravagant estate sat atop a hill. It had to be one of the wealthiest places on the entire island. Immediately, Desmond was mesmerized. It would be his, he had decided.

 

[Ursa Minor]

Her heart jumped as she heard the bell. Grimnir. The name was struck in her head with dread and had forced it's way there ever since she was young girl. She shivered to herself and felt the silence overtake the town as everyone stared in shock. No, her heart throbbed in her chest. This wasn't supposed to happen, not here, not in this town. Any other town she would believe, but not this one. Not her home. A moment of silence passed over them all and it seemed now if she could recall correctly that even the birds had stopped singing. A scream broke into the air and soon chaos erupted. Plants were trampled and everyone flew into chaotic bubble. Madison stood watching everything in a silent haze as she narrowed her eyes and looked around. She breathed in softly trying to remember what her father had told her if this should happen.


Soon she ran through the fields the basket in her hand dropped and forgotten as she whisked through crowd. Children screamed and people ran to and fro as the impossible happened. She saw now soldiers stationed at their posts and wondered why. She shivered down to her chest and thought back to the tavern. A steely resolve shook her heart and she cursed them...every single one of them. Drunk or dead she would try and save her town.


"Look, in the distance!" a man's voice broke above the crowd.


"How do you know it's not a friendly ship?" Madison heard her friend, Maria, call out softly. She had to yell to be heard over the murmur of the crowd.


"Because it's his ship! It's Desmond The Devil!" Madison knew that name anywhere,. They had all coined and called the great captain that when they were all younger and had first learned of the man. Madison shivered and tried to speak over the crowd.


"Listen, maybe we can reason with him! Maybe he won't have to--" her voice was cut short, by the blast of a cannon. She cursed her father as she heard the rumble of soldiers manning the gates and shivered as fire ball lit the air and passed over them.

 

[kailey]

The town was immediately sent into a frenzy by the sight of Desmond's large ship. A lot of soldiers plowed their way toward the port, armed and ready. The whole scene made the captain laugh manically. The soldiers were worn out, their weapons outdated. His men were trained fighters. This would be over quickly.


"Canons ready?" Desmond called out to his men. He had docked the ship right next to the harbor, but far enough away that none of the town's people could ambush and board.


"Aye sir!" An oarsman called back. They had four main canons, and a troupe of smaller ones below deck. They would just need one for now.


"Fire!" The captain commanded. As he saw the ball and flame explode over the city, his heart swelled with pride. The crew members began plowing down onto the port, shouting as they hoisted their weapons. Now it was his turn.


Desmond sheathed his sword and slyly climbed off of the ship, immediately turned to the north where that fancy little place on the hill stood. The diversion his men created would give him ample time to break in and steal whatever he pleased.


Although he was merely twenty-three years of age, Desmond was a seasoned and skilled sailor as well as master thief. The job would be over quickly, and he could return to his men to continue their raid.

 

[Ursa Minor]

A woman screamed far to her left only to be silenced moments later. The crowd hushed itself and then as if by some unseen force another scream filled the clearing and another and another as if they were possessed by some demon. Everyone huddled in the center of the town stood there as they all turned their heads to the left and silently watched as a woman turned from a corner and ran towards them--her face a mixture of sweat and blood as she stumbled forcefully towards them--an elder men shook before catching her in his arms as she collapsed in them her body shaking forcefully and tears streamed down her face.


"I-It was a diversion--" whispers covered the area immediately and child began to cry on to be hushed quickly. "T-They ship in the distance was a trap....they're he--" the old man--Gunther by the name--jumped back as she fell on the pavement facefirst and Madison trembled as the sword sticking out of the woman's back became clear. Jesus, her hear raced at the thought of seeing death so close. So....personal.


A cannon blew loudly above them shattering the clearing and sending them scrambling towards the remaining places for cover and soon the clearing was filled with explosions and death and the streets soon became red with blood of innocents. Madison ran across the clearing and hid behind a building only to watch as a group of men, cheering and yelling, came down the street with their faces jovial and their laughter coming down to her. She slid away as she watched one of them take a young girl by the waist and pick her up as if she weighed nothing and carried her along with him despite her screams of sparing her child.


Ducking behind a large pile of fish she brushed her black hair across her face and ran behind the buildings towards the hill to her house. Her heart began to pump faster and faster as she thought her lone mother. Her father had left on a trip a month ago and was not expected to be back for another two. Silently as she neared she turned and watched the village she had loved--grew up in--burn to pieces and watched as smoke filled the air and carried it's way up into the sky and slowly vanished. She bowed her head gently and forced the urge to go back and try and help, but she knew that her death was not needed. She had to get the servants in her house and her mother out of here before they came. Then when they wer ein the forest she would come later with the women and try and get others....if there were any survivors left that it.


"Mother!" she hissed out as she came into the kitchen and pried open the door. "we have to go! get the helpers and take them as far as you can please! I have to get help."

 

[kailey]

It wasn't long until Desmond found the perfect spot to enter the estate; a back door that seemed to lead to some washroom of sorts. Luckily, no torches were burnin outside so the man was completely concealed.


The door was chained shut, but that wouldn't' be much of an issue. Quickly, he grabbed hold of the knob and pulled and pulled... In a matter of seconds, the wooden door gave way and the captain was inside the back room of the house.


Through the next doorway was a large kitchen with expensive pots and pans as well as other things scattered about. A bowl of exotic fruits lay on the counter that was crafted from top quality wood.


In the distance, the sound of canon fire and screaming was like music to his ears. He didn't want his men to necessarily murder every towns person on the island, but a little was needed for a healthy dose of fear to be instilled into the people. This was his town now; they had conquered it.


Desmond quietly made his way toward the doorway, only to stop abruptly when he saw a middle aged woman staring directly at him. Her elaborate garments were a symbol of her wealth. She was pretty, sure, but not young enough for the women he had planned on taking back with him. She would have to be silenced.


Swiftly, he flew from the doorway, seizing the woman by her throat and drawing her back against his chest. He wasn't intending on killing her right away. Besides, there hadn't been any other evidence of servants scurrying about, so she could be helpful in locating items he'd wish to steal.


"Shut up. Don't scream, or I will slit your throat." He instructed her. Just then, the outer door to the kitchen flew open, and a younger woman burst through, shouting frantically.


"Well, hello dear. You're just in time to join us." He snarled. "Don't move or I will kill her."

 

[Ursa Minor]

She took in a sharp inhale of breathe as her eyes caught on to a large man--who looked far stronger than her to her deepest fear--and tensed as she spotted her mother. Her black hair was pushed against her face as her eyes were frozen in fear. Her brown eyes were dark with worry and seemed to try and convey a message to her to get out she seemed to grip the larger mans hands with her own. Madison could see her mother struggling to breathe and Madison herself almost cried out in anger. She froze suddenly even though she shook horribly. She took a deep breathe and looked at him up and down slowly. "Look, whatever you want just take it and leave...Our people have done nothing to bring this torture onto themselves, so please don't do this."


She bit her lip tightly and made sure he could see her hands and feet. She swallowed back a drop of doubt and felt as though she would be sick. She licked her lips and breathed in gently trying to calm her nerves. Her mother, she cold see, was shaking just as bad as she was and Madison grit her teeth as she could see a drop of liquid coming from her eye and streaming down her face. Her heart ached as she wished to comfort her and she felt a flash of anger. "Please, leave...I'll do anything you want just leave this place! We are a peaceful village and we want nothing to do with war or," she shivered. "blood. You've spilled so much of innocent blood, but what more you want? Please don't hurt her! Hurt me instead just don't hurt our people anymore than you already have...." she trailed off slowly and began to feel the prickle of tears in her eyes.


Her mother opened her mouth slowly and and gripped the mans arms. "Please leave, Madison. He's the devil himself and he won't listen! Get the girls and leave this place...go faraway."


"N-No mother. T-take me instead. Please, just don't kill anyone else..." she lied knowing that death was still happening.

 

[kailey]

Desmond's eyes hungrily scanned over the girl from head to toe. She was beautiful, and seemed fit for his needs. Now if only every woman I came across looked like that. he thought bitterly.


Noticing the older woman gasping for air beneath his powerful hands, the captain loosened his grip a bit. He didn't need the girl scared out of her mind because he had just strangled her mother.


The girl had courage waltzing in there and standing up to him. He expected her to scream and run, or at least start crying hysterically. She did neither, and was standing her ground despite her desperate pleads.


"I won't kill her if you just be quiet and listen, alright darling?" He drawled, releasing the mother. Consequently, she fell to the kitchen floor, clutching her throat and taking deep breaths of the sweet, sweet air.


"I want all of your coins, gold, anything that is valuable. And you-" he pointed to the girl's mother on the floor. "-you are going to help me carry it all to my ship. Then you may go. If you disobey I will shove this sword through your back, understood?" He stood over her, his tone rough and demeaning.


"As for you, you're coming with me. Grab as many items as you can. You will be of great value to me in the long run." Desmond exclaimed with a vicious smirk.


His bright blue eyes scanned over the kitchen once more, searching for anything of great significance. Nothing seemed to be of any real intrigue to him, so he turned and began walking toward the next room.


"Come, girl. And get up you hag, we must hurry."

 

[Ursa Minor]

Madison let out a cry of relief as her mother slid down heavily grasping at her throat. She lay there choking for a few moments trying to get herself together wondering to herself and to the gods of why this would be happening to her home of all places. Tears filled her eyes and began to stream gently as she shook and Madison fought the urge to run and hold her. She tensed instead and hesitated before swallowing. Could she run? Could she fight? Could she do anything? She bit her lip as the answers came full and clear in her mind and she shook. There was nothing whatsoever she could do other than go with him. She licked her lips before nodding and slowly walking towards him. She bent down next to her mother and helped her up trying to ignore the pain in her heart and told her hurriedly to gather everything of value.


Her mother looked at her in shock before sighing and limped down the hallway slowly. Madison stood there with the man--she already hated him she had decided-- and fought the urge to punch him. She knew that was a death sentence to not just her, but her mother. As well as everyone else on the island who had managed to survive.


Her mother came back in a few minutes later her arms laden with gold coins and an old sword that her father had given to her. She gripped it tightly in a shaking hand and cried as Madison took it from her. It was heavy yet balanced and Madison knew that this was the last her families ancient relics of the past. She grit her teeth and tried not to let her anger show towards the Capt--Devil she would call him. She had seen the inside of his heart and it was sickening to her.

 

[kailey]

After the two had gathered their most valuable belongings, Desmond nodded to them, satisfied. It wasn't a whole lot, but add in all of the lot his men were sure to have scrounged up, and they would be rich.


He nodded to the two woman and began ushering them out their door, suddenly in a hurry. The screaming and fighting had died down quite a bit. The villagers must have tired of fighting, and we're giving way to the relentless fighters that were the captain's men. It was the logical desicion, and made things easier on everyone involved.


Desmond led his captive and her mother toward his ship, hurrying them along so he could join in the rest of the looting.


"I'm done with you. You may go, but you will keep your mouth shut. I am leaving some men to rebuild this wretched place. I will order them to keep an eye on you. One wrong move and they will be assigned to throw you off into the ocean, are we clear?" His words spit out like venom.


"As for you, you're going to be my personal slave for the time being. I'm terribly busy, and it would be of great convenience to have an extra hand." His fingers brushed against the younger girl's throat, his eyes raking across her frame yet again.

 

[Ursa Minor]

Her body shivered as she felt the touch of his fingers slide acorss her throat. She grit her teeth and tried not to let out a cry of protest as her mother slid past her slowly without taking her eyes off of her and with a cry she was suddenly gripping from behind and shoved onto the ship. Madison tensed and tried not to grab the man's sword in his sheath and instead forced a small smile.


"Cap'n." Madison looked up and smiled in relief as a young man with a bright red hair came up and bowed shortly. "We've secured some women and we have a little bit of gold. Not as much as we were expecting, but enough tio last us for a couple of years. What would you have us do with it?" Madison blinked as she thought about it. That wasn't enough? What more did they want? Slowly she began to glare at him and his captain and turned her head away in disgust.


"Pathetic..." her voice was cold yet low. They had took they're land and they're women--her included--and yet that wasn't enough? How many more lives had to be taken before they would be satisfied? She felt sick to her stomach and let it show as much as she could. She cried inside for her mother and for her friends, if any were left, and felt numb to everything else. She knew that tonight her pleads and cries would be heard as they sailed away form her home. They only place she knew since birth.

 

[kailey]

Desmond kept a right grip on the girl's arm, his gaze flicking about the ship, searching for his men. As the boy approached and told him the news, the captain forced a slight smile. A few years worth. Oh well, it would do.


"So be it." He replied, nodding his head at the boy. His men were beginning to position themselves around the deck according to their job, which meant it was time to set sail.


"Alright ya' filthy bastards, let's get a nice on with our treasure." Desmond shouted as he moved to the upper deck, dragging the girl with him. She was indeed a pretty little thing, perhaps a bit thin but that could be fixed.


"Your name?" He inquired as he glanced down at her, grinning wildly. She would be his slave. If he needed something, she would retrieve it. If he wished to eat, she would deliver his meal from the chef. Every one of his wishes would be granted. If she refused, he would toss her overboard.


The sail flew up to full mast and began to drift away from the port. A heavy wind was blowing about, carrying smoke from the still burning island their way.


"Come. We're going below deck." Desmond announced as he hurried the girl toward his personal cabin.