The Black Serpent

The carriage jolted to a stop, its wheels grinding against the gravel. Captain Blackthorn’s gloved hand tightened around the leash, yanking sharply. I stumbled forward, my balance faltering as the sudden pull dragged my dress slightly down my chest. Cold air rushed through the carriage door, biting against my skin.

“Don’t bother fixing it, pet,” he purred, his lips curling into a sadistic smile. “Just how I like to see you. My crew could use a good show. They will learn that you are mine.”

He flung the door open with a shove. The leash snapped taut again, and I was forced to follow him out into the morning light. His boots struck the dock with purposeful thuds, each step echoing across the wooden planks. The Black Serpent loomed ahead, a dark silhouette against the horizon, its sails billowing like specters in the wind. The skull-and-crossbones flag snapped overhead, a grim banner announcing my captivity. The closer we drew, the more the ship dwarfed me. Its dark hull was reinforced with iron, cannons lined the gunports like silent teeth, and the carved serpent at the prow glared down with cold amusement. My pulse raced. I felt like I was walking toward a gallows. The crew snapped to attention as we reached the gangplank. Hard faces, weathered by years of harsh seas and harsher discipline, stared straight ahead. None dared meet Blackthorn’s gaze. The leash never slackened as he strode up the plank. My steps were shaky on the shifting wood, but there was no slowing him.

“Bosun!” his voice cracked like a whip.

A burly man stepped forward immediately, saluting. “Aye, Captain?”

“Prepare the ship. We set sail within the hour. Everything is in order, or there will be consequences.”

Fear flickered in the bosun’s eyes, but he nodded. “Aye, Captain.”

He turned, barking orders, and the deck burst into motion. Ropes tightened, sails unfurled, and shouts mingled with the cries of gulls and the groaning of the ship’s timbers. Through it all, Blackthorn’s grip on the leash held firm. His eyes flicked back to me, dark, possessive, and full of something I didn’t dare name.

“Welcome to your new home, pet,” he said lowly. “The Black Serpent owns you now. Obey, and you might survive.”

With a sharp tug, he pulled me toward the captain’s quarters. A few crewmen glanced at me out of the corners of their eyes, curiosity muted by indifference, before returning to their duties. I kept my head down, heat prickling my cheeks. The cabin door closed behind us with a heavy thud, muting the noise of the deck. Shadows cloaked the room, broken only by the flicker of lantern light. The scent of salt, leather, and old wood pressed in around me, thick and oppressive. Against the far wall, a desk cluttered with maps and a tarnished globe hinted at countless voyages. A nearby dresser overflowed with rich fabrics and plundered treasures, tossed together with careless arrogance. My eyes caught on the closet. Its door hung slightly ajar, revealing rows of dresses, lace and embroidery out of place in a pirate’s quarters. Dresses like mine. My stomach turned cold. At the room’s center stood an ornate bed draped in black satin. Pillows were piled high, a fur throw tossed carelessly at the edge. It was opulent, suffocating. But in the corner, a small iron cage glinted in the dim light. Cold metal bars, narrow and unyielding. A prison within a prison.

“I see you’ve found your new quarters,” Blackthorn said with a dark chuckle.

He let the leash slacken but stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “This room holds many secrets, pet. You’ll learn them in time. For now, get used to your surroundings. You’ll be here a long while.”

Without warning, he caught me up in his arms. His grip was unyielding, possessive. I inhaled sharply, pressed against the heat of his chest while the room’s shadows closed in. His fingers brushed the back of my neck, a silent warning.

“Defiance will only make things worse for you,” he growled against my ear.

He reached for my collar, loosening it with deliberate care. The leather slipped away, but his hold on me remained. His eyes darkened, satisfaction glinting like a blade.

“You belong to me now,” he said softly, voice thick with authority and amusement.

The words settled like iron in my chest. He stepped back, and the collar fell to the floor with a quiet clang, a symbol of my submission.

“Get in the cage.” His voice was cold and absolute.

“No.” My voice trembled but did not break. “I won’t.”

His eyes narrowed. “You dare defy me?”

“I’m not an animal,” I said, raising my chin. “I will not be caged like one.”

For a heartbeat, silence hung between us. Rage flickered across his face, swift and dangerous. Then he lunged, seizing my arm with bruising force. Before I could react, he shoved me toward the open cage. The iron bars were cold beneath my palms as I stumbled inside. The door clanged shut with a finality that made my heart pound.

Blackthorn turned away, stalking to his desk. The dim lantern light flickered, shadows dancing as time stretched thin. My pulse thundered in my ears.

The cabin door creaked open. “Captain,” a voice said.

Blackthorn snapped his head up. “What is it?”

James stood framed in the doorway, tall and lean, his sharp blue eyes scanning the room. The first mate’s posture was calm but firm.

“We’re ready to set sail,” James said.

“Good.” Blackthorn’s expression darkened. “Meet your new sister-in-law.”

James’s gaze shifted to me, caged in the corner. A flicker of pity crossed his face. “Elias, this isn’t right. She doesn’t deserve this.”

Blackthorn’s jaw tightened. “Deserve? What does anyone deserve?” He stepped closer to his brother, voice low and venomous. “She’s mine. She will learn to obey.”

“There are other ways to prove your strength,” James said steadily. “This cruelty will break you both.”

Silence stretched. The ship creaked beneath us, its timbers shifting with the tide.

Finally, Blackthorn tore his gaze away. “Prepare the ship. We cast off now.”

James nodded once and left. The door closed, sealing me back into the shadows.

Blackthorn turned to me slowly, his eyes gleaming like a predator’s in the dark. “Very good, pet,” he murmured. “You’re learning to be seen and not heard.”

He opened the cage door with a swift motion, the metal groaning. Before I could move, his hand clamped around my wrist and dragged me out. His grip was unrelenting, his warmth a jarring contrast to the cold iron that had held me moments before. The lantern light flickered wildly as he pulled me across the room. Shadows danced like ghosts on the walls. At the edge of the bed, he stopped, eyes locked on mine. The black satin sheets glimmered faintly in the dim glow, plush and luxurious against the hard reality of his hold.

“This will be a lesson for you,” he said softly, his voice a dangerous whisper. “Remember your place, and perhaps things will be easier for you.”

With a rough pull, he guided me down onto the bed. The cool satin met my skin as the shadows closed in. His hands moved with deliberate intent, each touch a reminder of his dominance. His shadow merged with the darkness above me, looming and unyielding. As his breath brushed my ear, cold and commanding, I realized this was only the beginning.