His Pride & Joy

The name Abigail means “father’s joy” which is ironic, because my father had wanted a son and he never hid the fact. No matter how hard I tried to please him, or show him I was worth a damn, all my father ever gave me was his everlasting spite and contempt. So, it was when his abuse had gone too far, I decided to kill my father. Yes, I would kill him, and make sure that the empire he built was ashes.

Abigail sat in a bar in Tortuga, it was a hellpit of a port but it would serve her needs nicely. All around her she was surrounded by dozens of men who like her, hated her father. For nigh on two decades, he had violated the pirate code countless times, he was little more than a mad dog on the sea. It was time for someone to put him and his crew in the ground, and Abigail decided it would be her. The first thing she needed was a ship. It had to be something powerful, a vessel that would either command the fear or respect of all who laid eyes on it. That was one of the reasons she was glad to be on Tortuga, it was under naval blockade. Surely there was a ship there that Abigail could appropriate. Finishing her drink, Abigail left. She needed a better view of the ships to better formulate her next move

Pierre idly twirled his fingers, waiting for something or more someone. There had been talk that Horrigan’s daughter was in town, there was a storm coming, and Pierre refused to be caught out in the open. He would find the mad dog’s daughter, capture her, and barter her for his favor. Maybe if he was really lucky, he’d be able to join the crew. And live like a king for the rest of his days. He licked his lips at the prospect of it all. Soon, a young woman came out of the tavern. Pierre pulled a wanted bounty poster out of his pocket to match the face, sure enough that girl was Horrigan’s daughter. He could just smell the payday. Sticking close to the shadows, he silently gave chase.

Horrigan was bored. Taking ships had lost it’s luster, there was no sailors with any heart anymore. There was a time when they would at least fight back. Now when most saw his ship they would turn and flee like school children. As he sat amid his latest conquest, a lowly merchant ship, he wondered was this all there was. Horrigan heard the jingling of bells, under normal circumstances he would have never allowed a woman on his ship, but she had an odd way about her a sort of power. He had ransacked a ship five years ago, she was one of the survivors. Normally he didn’t take them, but her powers of prophecy had made him more successful than he had ever been. Therefore, as long as the sea witch had use? she could live.

“What is it, Nissa? I’ve told you not to disturb me unless it’s important.” Horrigan spat as he watched his men slaughter survivors

“Of course, my captain, I have news.” Nissa replied silkily

“Well? Out with it! I have no time for your games, witch!” Horrigan shouted angrily

“Well, my captain, while I was scrying, I’ve located your daughter.” Nissa replied

“Why would that matter to me? I have plenty of sons that can complete the ritual.” Said Horrigan waving his hands towards his crew.

“None of their blood is pure enough and you know it. You need Abigail.” Nissa said resolutely

“Damn it. Fine witch, where is she?” Horrigan said dismissively

“She’s on Tortuga.” Whispered Nissa

“It figures, a pathetic stretch of land for a disappointment of a child. Anything else I should know?” said Horrigan moving to the helm of his ship

“Ah yes, the navy is blockading the island.” Said Nissa silkily

“Finally, some good news.” Said Horrigan excitedly

He fired a single round into the air, to get the attention of his men.

“Make ready to sail lads, we have urgent business on Tortuga, and wear your best clothes, we’ll be having dinner with the navy!” Horrigan roared with a mad glee on his face

Abigail wondered if her new tail knew she was leading him in circles. Then again it could be a ploy, it could have been he wanted to be seen. Maybe he had thought that she was no more than a pretty face. Abigail would have to prove him wrong, as she had to most people who’d doubted her since she started down the path of revenge. Even when she sailed with Horrigan and he gave her the weakest ship in his arsenal, she had taken more ships than most of his other bastards combined. Whatever this pest’s game was, Abigail was tired of playing it, to that end she led him down an alley. She didn’t want him to slip away. When It happened, it was a flash of steel. Abigail violently swung out with her cutlass, and with the grace of a dancer, her stalker pirouetted out of danger.

“Hm, how graceful. Let’s see if you can fight as well as you dance!” said Abigail pressing her attack

“I’d expect no better from Horrigan’s daughter, why fight this ferociously, you know he’ll never love you right?” Pierre taunted, lazily parrying her strikes

“And how would you know that? Do you know Horrigan?” said Abigail looking for any opening in his defense she could find

“It’s an open secret. But it’s ok. You and Horrigan will have plenty of time to reconnect when I capture you and bring you to him.” Said Pierre

“And what is your end goal there, do you think Horrigan will reward you? As soon as he gets me back on that ship, he’ll kill both of us.” Abigail said with a flourish knocking Pierre off balance

“You’re lying!” Pierre shouted clumsily lashing out at Abigail

She easily dodged his attack, it was funny, Abigail thought for sure that it would take more than that to get him off his guard. But she was never one to turn down an opportunity, taking aim Abigail shot her attacker in the shoulder. Immediately making him drop his weapon. Abigail quickly drew her sword ready to finish off her prey

“Wait! Wait! Don’t kill me!” Pierre shouted

“Not ten minutes ago, you were trying to capture me to bring me to my father, now you want mercy? Give me one good reason why I should entertain any of what you’re saying.” Abigail said with her sword at Pierre’s throat

“I wasn’t completely honest, yes I wanted to capture you, but it was just so that I could get close enough to Horrigan to put a bullet in his skull.” Pierre said

“If that was the case, then why all the pretense? Who are you really?” Abigail asked intrigued

“My name is Pierre Tossaint, when I was ten years old my father was a naval officer for France, and Horrigan killed him. I’ve been hunting your father ever since.” Said Pierre angrily

Before their conversation could continue, a cannon fired in the distance. Abigail’s eyes widened as she immediately recognized the bark of those guns. Her father was here. Her original ideas were all for naught now. Abigail had to think of a new plan and quickly.

The cannons were sweet music to Horrigan’s ears as his guns tore apart the nearest naval vessel. He looked on as his men roared like blood crazed savages eager for the slaughter. For his part Horrigan retreated to his ship’s hold. He wanted to do something special for this battle. He retrieved an unassuming trident; among all of his treasures it held a special place. As he took it from its pedestal an unnatural power coursed through his body. When he felt the surge, Horrigan drank in the memories of battles long past

Horrigan and his crew were growing restless, they had been sailing for three months nonstop. The violence on his ships was higher than normal. This didn’t bother Horrigan as the infighting usually purged the weakness from his crew. Still however, he wanted a break. They set sail for a nearby island and upon making landfall were immediately beset by the locales. Horrigan rushed headlong into the battle his axe and scimitar sinking into every savage he could reach. As he fought, he noticed that the natives seemed to be focusing their defense in the center of the island. Horrigan’s eyes widened in excitement

“Men! The treasure is at the center of the island! Fight, spare no one!” Horrigan roared spurring on his crew

Horrigan fought his way through the throng and found a temple. This, the natives fought to protect harder than any other. Horrigan was feverish to find out why. He kicked in the door of the temple, It felt different here. His eyes were immediately drawn to a trident in the center of the room as he approached it, a lone priest tried to stop him. Horrigan slammed his axe into the priest until he was a red smear on the ground and Horrigan was lick with gore. Horrigan took the trident and felt power course through his veins. Almost as if compelled Horrigan walked back to the ocean and raised the trident to the sky, lightning struck him and Horrigan knew that the ocean was now his to command

“My Captain!” Nissa said snapping Horrigan from his revelry

“What is it witch?” Horrigan said in a dark tone

“How shall we deal with the navy?” Nissa asked

“Oh, that.” I’ll deal with that.” Horrigan said laughing menacingly

Horrigan walked out to the deck of his ship and raised up his trident, and almost immediately the skies began to darken. He then addressed his men

“My sons! Tonight, we feast on the blood of our enemies, From each of you, I want a mountain of skulls an ocean of blood. There will be no quarter, no mercy! There is only the harvest! Now go!” Horrigan roared

Abigail looked up at the sky and wondered where this impossible storm had come from. She looked down at Pierre and saw a look of abject horror on his face. She helped him up and handed him his sword.

“What the hell is going on? Where did this damn storm come from?” Abigail shouted

“I’m not sure, there were rumors that Horrigan found the trident of Poseidon but that’s supposed to be a myth.” Pierre shaking his head in disbelief

“Look at the sky It’s more than a myth. As long as he has that thing, Horrigan controls the sea. We have to stop him.” Abigail said resolutely

“Are you insane? We need to hide, and wait. Theres no damn way to even get close to him. Let alone get the trident. You’re on your own.” Said Pierre sitting down and folding his arms

“Hm, so be it. I guess your father will die unremembered.” Said Abigail running for the docks.

Horrigan felt more alive in these few minutes than he had in years, he wondered to himself why he had been so reluctant to fight with the trident before now. It made him a god. Using the powers of the trident he propelled his ship with unnatural force into the heart of the blockade. There he would surely find a fight worthy of his might. As soon as he made it to the dock of the ship, the naval sailors were upon him, he used the trident to turn many into dust as they ere struck down with powerful lightening bolts. As he relished in the destruction, yet more chaff came to die at his hands. Horrigan kept up his killing as he made his way to the commander.

Abigail watched with disgusted awe as “The Man Reaper” tore through the navy vessels. There was a time before she hated him when Abigail dreamed of helming that vessel, now all she wanted was to see it swallowed by the blackest depths. She began he journey to her father’s ship weaving in and out of the skirmishes on various ships killing all who stood between her and her quarry. Be they pirate or naval officer alike. Suddenly, Abigail was smashed hard into the mast of a nearby ship. Her vision swam as she looked for the one who had hit her she then saw the hulking frame of one of her bastard brothers, it was the monstrous from of Grom. Abigail had no idea who had conceived him, but to call Grom a man would be a gross misuse of the word. He was more akin to an ogre, had the strength of ten men, and judging by the blood on his mouth and torso he was a cannibal as well.

“Get out of my way, Grom! I would see our father.” Abigail said scanning the environment for an advantage

Grom said nothing in response and instead swung his club at her seizing an opportunity Abigail stabbed the great brute in the eye and quickly retreated from the fight. At first Abigail breathed a sigh of relief, then she heard Grom lashing out in pain behind her. Before he pulverized her out of sheer pain, Abigail continued her journey to her father. Abigail made her way to the deck of “The Reaper” It was quiet on the ship, too quiet as though there wasn’t a battle raging all around them. There was no one on the ship, save her father, and his witch. The old man sat on a mound of severed heads, drinking blood from a hollowed-out skull, and his witch whispered her honeyed lies in his ear. He gripped the trident tightly in his other hand.

“Well, well, if it isn’t my pride and joy. Come daughter and give your papa a hug. I’ve missed you.” Horrigan said mockingly

“Save it old man, you know why I’m here. I’ve come here to challenge for captaincy of your ships and armada.” Abigail said brandishing her sword.

“What makes you think that I’d ever let an embarrassment like you ever command my armada? If I didn’t need you, you’d already be head you feckless wretch.

“After I kill you? It won’t matter.” Abigail shouted. Rushing at her father

She didn’t get far as she felt the lightening course through her body. It was the worst agony Abigail ever felt. Still she used every fiber in her being to try and resist her father.

“Look at the worm struggling, witch. How can we even be sure the trident will take such a paltry sacrifice?” Horrigan asked relishing in the pain he was causing his daughter

“Her blood is pure, my captain.” Slay her with the trident and become a god.”  Nissa replied in a velvety voice.

“So be it!” said Horrigan rearing back to stab his daughter

“No!” Pierre screamed jumping onto the ship and diving on top of Abigail

Suddenly there was a violent explosion of magical energy, and Abigail was thrown overboard, when the dust settled, all that was left was Horrigan now seemingly larger, and bursting with mystical energy. Nissa who seemed unaffected, and Pierre struggling to pull the trident out of his stomach. Horrigan then raised him high up in the air letting Pierre slip further down onto the trident as his blood ran into Horrigan’s mouth

“Mmm, I never understood my son’s penchant for human flesh, but now? The taste does intrigue me. You, boy? Who are you to interrupt my ascension? Wait, I know that face, I killed your father. He pissed himself you know, he died begging for his life. A coward’s death. And now look at you, just as pathetic as he was.” Said Horrigan in a demonic voice before grabbing Pierre and pulling him in half.

Anansi noticed the body wash up on the shore. He was unsure how long she had been at sea. But he must have been drawn to her for a reason. He bent down to check her pulse. Somehow despite what she had been through, this woman was still alive. Anansi’s eyes widened in excitement. There was an ill wind on the air and this young woman would know why. He loaded her up on his cart, she had a long road to recovery ahead of her. And Anansi had no more time to waste.