When Pirates invade her home and kill her Master, Laini Eliante thinks she’s a dead girl. Instead, she wakes up aboard the legendary Blackmane, the ship of the Pirate King, Captain Takahiro.
Melora of Strai is used to swimming in the depths with her mermaid sisters, but has been a captive for almost a year, and she’s still no closer to knowing why, when a mysterious slave girl enters her dark cell, and quickly proves herself a useful ally.
Laini just wants her freedom, Melora just wants to return to the water; but to do either they’ll have to outsmart the Pirate King and his cunning son before they can fulfil whatever they have planned for the two.
As they get closer to the end of the King’s Quest, as he collects pieces of the puzzle that will determine life in the Empire for millennia to come, Laini and Melora will be forced to make a choices that will shape the course of history.
Welcome aboard the Blackmane, where nobody and nothing is as it appears.
"I’ve killed other versions of myself to end up where I am. I’ve shed skins like a snake and left other girls with my name and face who were too weak for the weather to die in cellars,” She pulled back her lips. “So call me whatever you please- slave, princess, hostage, pirate- it doesn't make a difference in the end.”
“And why, pray tell, wouldn't it make a difference?”
“I’ve fought like hell for lots of things, and I always get them. And now? Now I want to be you nightmare. So I dont care if it takes me my whole life, I dont care if I have to be fifty different people to do it; I am going to kill you and deliver your head to your brother. Just to give him a little warning of what's coming.”
Laini was born as a bastard daughter to a slave who died in childbirth. Thrown onto the streets of Aelita when she was barely old enough to walk, nobody thought she’d survive longer than a few hours. But she did, raised off of the kindness of strangers, sleeping in alleys and fighting for the ground she stood on. In the summer of her seventh year, the Tornell family released the city from it's bonds, and abolished the slave trade, and she ran to the city centre to watch the King of a faraway kingdom ride through the dusty streets. Once there, a couple of older street-boys had tried to rob her of the few coppers she possessed, and she had fought back.
King Evanderus witnessed the fight from atop his white horse and sent his best guards to make sure the girl was not hurt. When placed in front of the king the girl, small and scrappy, had crossed her arms and refused to bow to him. The King was endlessly amused by her and demanded she come to dine with them that evening and, given that it was that or starve, she deigned to show. And once there, she became fast friends with he Kings two sons- Matthel and Caspian. After, the King asks if she would like to return to Darana with him and she accepts.
Once there, however, she could not adjust to the role of Princess. After so long in the dirt, she had no desire for fancy gowns and food, after fighting for everything she wasn't content to stagnate in luxury. And so, with her new King’s permission, she began training with her brother. She quickly grew into an impressive fighter, and knowledgeable in politics. So, while her brother was sent to finish his training in the army, she became a leader of the Tornell Guard, the elite force tasked with protecting he royal family.
“Well, look at you Princess,” Melora’s voice had the uncanny ability to carry over the winds, even on the deck, above the noise of the waves and the men it rang out clear and true. “That’s quite the upgrade.”
It’s not that I was expecting Mel to still be in the rags she’d had in the cell, but I hadn’t quite expected how she looked in the clothes. Melora in a dark shirt and a long, swishing skirt was unsettling and vaguely fascinating. Compared, I look like a beggar in the new clothes.
“Speak for yourself,” I manage to pull myself enough together to say as she approaches. “And I’m still not a princess.”
Mel looks me up and down, “What a pity.”
“So,” I lean on the railing behind me and cross my arms, as though that would hide the too big white shirt with dubious stains on the sleeves. “Are you done terrorising the men yet?”
She smiles at me, pale lips stretched taut over sharp teeth, “Just about. Let’s just say I don’t think they’ll be bothering us anymore.”
“Us?” The question is out before I can stomp it out.
“Of course, us,” She says it with more conviction than I’ve heard her say anything else. “If you disappeared things would get awfully boring around here.”
“And whys that?” She meets me eyes and then leans forward; hands braced on the rails. Around us, her hair spins like a wild flame being lit, like an ember catching. “You’ve been here for a while without me.”
“Yes,” The quip is back in her voice, the slightly insinuating note that she’s mastered. “They left me in the cell for a year, you’re here five minutes and we’re outside. Give it a week and you’ll be captain.”
I scoff immediately. I’m not fit to be captain; I’m not fit to tell anyone anything. I’d thought I was a good leader and an even better fighter, and when it came down to it the pirates were still able to take me. Hells, just to get out of the cell I’d had to bargain away what little credibility I had left.
“Captain,” Melora says again, like she’s testing how it tastes. She gives an approving look out to the horizon. “Has a certain ring to it. Not Captain Laini though, it doesn’t flow right.”
“It doesn’t really matter, because it isn’t going to happen,” She doesn’t look over at me, instead she’s studying the sea like it will give her the correct answer, like the solutions to all of our problems re buried in its churning depths. “What are you looking for?”
She finally looks back over her shoulder at me, the intensity gone, “What was your name before?”
“Before what?”
“I assume you had a name before the Tonell’s adopted you,” It’s a fair question, even if I don’t like it. “What was it?”
I consider for a moment, while she just watches me. I think it’s that, the unflinching look, that makes me finally say, “Roshni.”
“Captain Roshni?” Melora stands up straight again. “I think I like it a lot. Well, I guess that’s settled then, Captain.”
“Don’t call me that,”
“Oh, for the love of the seas, you don’t like any of my pet names, Captain,” She’s got the slightest smirk gracing her lips now, one elbow rested on the barrier in a slouch but facing towards me. “How will people ever know of our love?”
It’s impossible not to smile back when she says things like that, her hands gesturing wildly. If this is Melora at half of herself, I’m unsure that I’ll survive her at full capacity.
“What the fuck are you-“ I hadn’t noticed the pirate so close to us on deck until he speaks.
It doesn’t matter though, because he doesn’t say anymore.
Melora turns to him, letting out a shrieking sound that has me covering my ears. It sounds like every bird being shot out of the sky, like an animal having its throat cut, like every ship deciding to throw itself to the mercy of sharp cliff edges. I can’t fathom thoughts past the sound, the sound that’s coming from Melora as easily as words come from me.
At the same time, her normal teeth are gone and instead they’re the length of knives and sharp to a point, looking like something old and ancient and cruel gave her them. Its not hard to imagine them tearing at flesh, covered in blood. I don’t know why I’m surprised, I knew what Mel was when I met her. But its one thing to know the girl next to you is a predator and its another to see it.
Scales start to swim up the length of her neck, bluish green and brutal. In a moment the girl I was talking to was gone, replaced with something that would tear me apart for amusement.
The pirate takes enough staggering steps back that he falls. Its only then, when he’s on the floor and everyone is staring, that Mel steps back. The scales and teeth retreat as quickly as they had appeared, leaving Mel wiping saliva off her chin and smiling down at him.
HOLLOW DIVINITY, excerpt 4/?
(also, this is kind of me experimenting with writing in the first person instead of third in the future. that's what happens when I make decisions at 4am what can I say)
Melora ducked her head under the water again and came back up with a wide smile and her hair plastered to her face, “Well what can you expect, they forgot to feed me.”
Laini laughed despite herself, kicking her feet in the small pool. While they were too smart to allow Melora into the sea, they allowed her time when they were anchored, aware that she could die if she spent too long on her legs. “Do you miss your clan? Your friends?”
“A little,” The water was cool as it splashed over Laini’s bare thighs and Melora threw herself back, a flash of blue-green scales in the air and then she reappeared a few feet away. “Why, do you have friends more interesting than me, Princess?”
“I’m not a Princess,” Laini reminded her, but Melora’s gaze was demanding. Laini knew she would confess to crimes she hadn't committed if asked with that look. It was hard not to look at Melora in her truest state, gills stretched down her neck and in the water her hair seemed to become fire come to life, moving with the current like flames in the wind.
“And what are you?” The water seemed to part easily for her as she moved closer and perched her elbow on the rock. It was clear she had no shame about her bare skin, or how close they now were. Laini felt her legs tense as she forced herself not to move away from the close proximity. Melora looked up at her, eyes lit up with amusement brighter than most stars, a quieter smile on her pale lips. “Who are you, Laini Tornell?”
She opened her mouth to respond, although she had no idea what to answer, when she heard the crunch of a branch behind them. Laini spun on the rock so fast she felt the scratches on her legs. There was nobody there.
“Did you hear that?” She looked over her shoulder to see Melora had become wide eyed and lowered herself back into the water, but she nodded, the lower part of her face submerged. “I’m going to go and look.”
“Don’t!” Mel said suddenly, firmly. She reached out of the water and clasped Laini’s wrist. They both stopped for a second, surprised at the sudden contact, surprised at the coldness of Melora’s palm, surprised that Melora had reached out for her at all.
19 | prince of darana | competitor for high general | prince of honest men | ENTJ
The second born prince of Darana decided at a young age that his skills did not lie in politics and diplomacy, and took up his place in the army. Him and his sister begun training at a young age, and soon became feared and skilled fighters. He joined the army not long after and was determined to work his way up the ranks, to be seen as anything other than his title. He wanted to earn their respect on his own merit and not his family name, which meant doing grunt work, working longer hours than anyone else and keeping himself constantly educated. Now, he’s a respected and beloved general, with the full force of the Daranian army behind him.
TESSLAN MILAE
19 | lady of darana | former princess of devene | the lady in red | ENFJ
Tesslan Milae grew up with every luxury life could offer, at the cost of her future. Since she was young she has known that once she was old enough her father would marry her off to whomever gave him the most power. She was married to Eli Nadeer, the prince of Devene, as soon as she turned eighteen. She had a seemingly happy two months of marriage before it imploded and she decided to divorce him. Her father and the prince were mortified that she would try and leave a future king and their rage quickly turned violent. Now, the young Lady hasne been seen for over six months, with both her father and ex-husband unable to account for her whereabouts, the rumours quickly returned dark.
MATTHEL TORNELL
21 | crown prince of darana | ISFJ
The prince of Darana was born to be a king. There has never been any other options in his life, and he wouldn't want them either if there was. He loves his country and his people, and if he has a chance to devote his life to helping and serving them, he will grab it with both hands. Matthel has always known that there would be a cost of ruling, he never thought it would be an intense loneliness, as he watches his brother travel the world and his sister fall in and out of love with the world and herself. He’s accepted that he’ll enter into an arranged marriage one day, for the benefit of his country, and that maybe he’ll always be this unendingly lonely.
LAINI TORNELL
18 | princess of darana | commander of the Tornell guard | INTJ
Laini grew up as the illegitimate daughter of a dead slave, alone and fighting to survive in the occupied city of Aelita. When the king of a foreign country came to visit and saw her fighting in the streets, smart and vicious and ruthless, he adopts her and takes her to Darana. She could never adjust to the role of princess and, along with her brother Caspian, began to train. Instead of joining the military, her natural leadership and knowledge of politics means she joins, and eventually leads, the Tornell guard, the elite protectors of the royal family and castle.
ROMAN DEBUNTE
20 | leader of the cas ulpita | ESTP
In the city of Amedle, people learn young that to survive you’ll have to grow teeth. The stories about how Roman Debunte came to the city are broad and far reaching, when they truth is that he was found by a sailor, abandoned on the docks. Since then, he has made himself a formidable opponent, working his way up the ranks of the most elite gang in the country, and taking over after a well staged coup of the old leadership.
AMARISA BUILOTINI
18 | lost princess of Jayni | second in command of the cas ulpita | the widower| ENTP
Amarisa Builotini grew up as a feisty and beloved princess of the largest empire in the world. When the royal family is slaughtered by a branch of the Builotini line, the Cotains, she is the sole survivor and flees the country to try and stay safe. In the search for safety, she arrives in the city of Amedle and meets Ace and Roman, kids who are just as scrappy and alone as she is. Together, they join the most elite gang in the city and work their way up the ranks together, determined to be the leaders, even if it means coating the city in blood on their way. Amarisa wants to forget her royal life, but when she hears that challengers are coming for the Tornells’, she acts on impulse and warns the young prince of the danger, entrapping herself in a careful game.
(don’t currently have a taglist but let me know if you’d want to be added :) )
“Gods help us,” Tess looked across the room at where Eli was talking animatedly with a small group of young women, Laini wondered how many gods she had prayed to when he’d seen if he could hurt her enough to make himself feel more like a man.
Amarisa barked a shallow laugh, “The gods are either dead or they no longer care. Whichever it is, I don’t imagine they'd be helping any time soon.”
“Your gods, maybe,” Laini stared her down, “Mine is alive and well. And I get the feeling she’d be okay with us getting some revenge.”
Tess grinned over the rim of her wineglass while Amarisa gave her a long look, and then her face broke into a smile. It was less a happy thing and more an opportunity to show teeth, “Oh, I think we’re going to get along.”
taglist (yell to be added/ removed)- @aeonian-scribbles @zmlorenz @minny-king @katerinarevel @write-gallagher @victoiirres @heroworks @writingtothestars @inkpot-dreamer
→ elissa | a takahiro witch, hunting for something stolen from her
“so you’re her,” she looked laini up and down with a bored fascination, taking her time as she did so. “not quite what i was expecting.”
“and you are?”
the woman, though smaller than laini, had her backed up against the wall in half a second, an ornate blade at her throat. this close, she smelt like blood and cold winds. laini simply raised one eyebrow in question, not entirely opposed to the position, “is this necessary?”
“don’t tempt me, tornell,” as if to prove her point she pushed the knife a little further. laini wasn’t afraid, if she wanted her dead she’d have done it by now. “i could have you screaming in seconds.”
their faces were barely a whisper away from each other, it was impossible for laini not to stare at the black eyes, windswept hair and the bloom high o the strangers cheeks. she told herself anyone would have noticed the curves of the woman's body if they were pressed this close together, and her eyes, betraying her, flitted down to her red lips.
she noticed the moment laini's eyes had dropped and an amused smirk bloomed, “although maybe you wouldn’t be opposed to that?”
taglist (yell to be added/removed) - @aeonian-scribbles @zmlorenz @minny-king @katerinarevel @write-gallagher @victoiirres @heroworks @writingtothestars @inkpot-dreamer
