Aris let out a shriek of pain as the witch doctor jabbed her even harder. The pain was unbearable, and the stowaway wasn't sure how long she could keep conscious as she kept blacking out. "You want to know about that Pearl, fine!" she cried out, her hands turning to fists. She wasn't going to last long, and the only way she could be rid of the pain was telling what little she knew. "The Pearl, it's-" Her eyes widened suddenly, she opened her mouth again to finish, but the only noise that came up was a low gurgle. Blood came up as she coughed, she writhed on the table, in shock of what was happening. A gasp, her eyes wide with fear, and she was still, her eyes shut. She was growing steadily colder as her breathing slowed.<br/><br/>When she had heard Aris say she knew where the Pearl was, the Witch Doctor had leaned a little closer to her displaying that same eerie grin. Her dark eyes were filled with interest as she waited for more information, her hand nearly shaking from the anticipation of it. From the start she had a feeling it would not have taken long to make the girl spill out what she knew. Before she could question her further, the girl suddenly lost consciousness, apparently unable to handle the pain any longer, and a soft growl of frustration rolled off of her lips. If there was one thing that irritated her, it was when they passed out. This would definitely not do, she had to make her tell her about the Pearl, there had to be something she could do to wake her, if her prisoner died on her that would be boring.<br/><br/>This was leaving her no choice. Walking over to the shelves again she pulled off a jar filled with a strange and hideous green liquid that looked like some kind of watered-down aloe. It had a terrible smell to it, like it was rotting. In order to get what she wanted, though she didnâ€™t really want to, she was going to have to heal her wounds and bring her out of unconsciousness. What other choice did she have, she was of no use to her like that? When she returned to the girl she twisted the lid to the jar, opening it, and scooped some of the liquid into her hand. Her touch was gentle as she applied it to Arisâ€™s wounds while chanting some strange healing incantation (mostly just for added effect, really) and watched as the green ooze was absorbed into her skin.<br/><br/>Darkness, icy cold darkness surrounded her. She was at the edge of a bottomless pit, and was about to jump off, when she was yanked back suddenly. Aris let out a gasp as she shot back into the world, and grimaced at the pain in her torso. She gave a look of revoltion as the stench from the goo waft into her nostrils. It smelled like a week old corpse. Noticing the smell was coming from her chest, her eyes followed down to see she was bare-chested from the witch doctor's remedy being put on. She blushed furiously, glaring at the witch doctor with an irritated grin. "I was right; Pirates, even the women, are perverts." she sneered.<br/><br/>At the first signs of movement she stopped what she was doing and grinned in satisfaction. The grin quickly faded upon hearing the girlâ€™s reaction. With an irritated grunt and a click of her tongue, the Witch Doctor scowled at Aris, though amusement was still subtle upon her countenance, â€œOh? I believed I have saved you from certain death, and you repay me by calling me a pervert?â€ She slowly shook her head and went back to working on mending these ribs. Slowly but surely, they would be snapping back into place in no time. â€œHold still, sweetie, otherwise the ribs wonâ€™t mend properly and Iâ€™ll have to re-break them and start the process over again. You donâ€™t want that, now do you?â€<br/><br/>Aris let out a smirk, "You would like that, wouldn't yo-" She grew very pale as she felt something in her chest snap, then like popcorn, her ribs began to snap back in place rapidly, causing small bursts of pain. She let in a gasp of breath, air didn't feel like knives piercing her throat anymore, which was good. "What was I saying before you put this shit on me?"<br/><br/>â€œYou were telling me about the Pearl, sweetie,â€ the Witch Doctor cooed as she looked over the area where the ribs had been broken. â€œYou said you knew where it was, and Iâ€™m interested in finding everything out there is to know.â€ She gently placed her fingertips on the area and tasted it a little bit, pleased with the results. Excellent, the ribs were healing nicely; she should feel one-hundred percent within the next few minutes. That goo really was something else. Moving away from her prisoner she put the lid back on the jar and put it back on the shelf. â€œJust as something for you to keep in mind,â€ she added while she turned back to Aris. â€œI really would enjoy re-breaking your ribs. Bones are so fragile if you know what youâ€™re doing â€“-it would only take one touch and thenâ€¦ snap! So do be a dear and spare me your stubbornness.â€<br/><br/>Aris let out a little huff at the witch doctor's keeness to breaking bones. I already said I knew, but what am I supposed to tell her about where the Pearl of Atlantis is? she thought. She had heard plenty from beneath deck, and Rotter had the annoying habit of talking -more like yelling in his sleep, saying so many places all over the globe that Aris wasn't sure which one was the resting place of the Pearl, or perhaps the next clue. One place, however, had been carved in her mind, and she had heard the captain speak of it in his slumber, so it would have to work.<br/><br/>"Cape Horn." she said, speaking of the dreaded place that was often known as a sailor's graveyard. It was perilous to sail around there at most times of the year, but wouldn't it make sense for a mystical treasure or a clue to it being hid in such a dangerous place? Aris personally didn't understand what was with pirates and leaving clues to their treasure scattered across the map so other pirates and thieves could find it. Why not keep all the clues to yourself so you could find your booty when you wanted to? It made little sense, but Aris was a stowaway on a flying ship; there was little sense in the world as it was!<br/><br/>"Cape Horn is where I heard Captain Rotter say the next clue to the Pearl is hidden, but good luck trying to find it without the first clue. It shows where the next clue is, and Cape Horn is dangerous enough WITH the map. And Rotter has the clue, so good luck trying to find the Pearl without the hint." she sneered.<br/><br/>â€œCape Horn? My, who wouldâ€™ve thought something like that would be in that horrid place.â€ The Witch Doctor grinned widely with satisfaction looking like she was on the verge of jumping up and down upon hearing this. She had heard the rumors about the place but has never been there herself, and for good reason. Even she had enough of a head upon her shoulders not to touch that place with a twenty foot pole. To go there was suicide; there was a reason many who ventured there have never been heard from again. Some say there were monsters there, but we all know how rumors are exaggerated and often convoluted, anything was plausible, those who really knew, well, good luck asking them. Even if someone were to return they came out very different from the person that everybody remembered, broken, a shell of their former self.<br/><br/>Now the question was how to get the first clue. Aris, proving to be more useful now that she was cooperating a little more, did have a point, simply having only the second clue without the first was pretty useless; ever piece was needed for the puzzle to be complete. If Rotter had the clue already then retrieving it would be nearly impossible. The Freedom has already taken significant damage from the last attack and was still getting patched up. Who knows where the hell Rotter would be by the time the ship was back on its feet. But the Witch Doctor was sure that the Queen would want that hint the moment that she brought it up to her, they would find that clue and the Pearl would be theirs. Right? And somehow she felt that Aris would prove helpful in their search.<br/><br/>Her lips parted and she spoke in a whisper. â€œI wonderâ€¦â€ her words trailed off. A light bulb turned on within the Witch Doctorâ€™s head just then as an idea formed.<br/><br/>â€œNow that I have this information from you, I do have half a mind to just kill you right here and now. My little babies are hungry. But seeing as you have so much energy I could put that to use.â€ The Witch Doctor began, placing her hand under Arisâ€™s chin and making sure that she didnâ€™t try to break eye contact while she was speaking to her. â€œIf you help us obtain the rest of the clues, perhaps I can make you my apprentice. You were but dirt under Captain Rotterâ€™s feet, were you not? Think about it. I can give you a purpose if you help us.â€ She gave a dramatic pause and looked towards her collection of rusted weapons. â€œYou can become my apprentice, or I can feed you to my sharksâ€¦ or I could force you to help. The choice is yours, sweetie.â€<br/><br/>Aris watched the witch doctor ponder what she told her for a moment, then lifted her chin with a hand to make the stowaway gaze into her dark eyes while she spoke. â€œIf you help us obtain the rest of the clues, perhaps I can make you my apprentice. You were but dirt under Captain Rotterâ€™s feet, were you not? Think about it. I can give you a purpose if you help us. You can become my apprentice, or I can feed you to my sharksâ€¦ or I could force you to help. The choice is yours, sweetie.â€<br/><br/>The girl looked away, as if she was thinking it over, but she already knew the answer. Why not get herself on the good side of the witch doctor and then find a way to get aboard the Rotsman again? "Fine," she said after a pause, "I'll be your apprentice." Giving the woman a grin.<br/><br/>â€œWonderful,â€ the Witch Doctor cooed softly. â€œAh, but donâ€™t think itâ€™s as easy as jumping right in, sweetie. There are things you need to learn, and the bets life lessons of all, of course, come from experience.â€ She ran her index finger down the center of Arisâ€™s bare chest and smirked. â€œI wonder how long it will take for my babies to warm up to youâ€¦ Oh, but before I introduce you to them I should probably let you out of these restraints, shouldnâ€™t I?â€<br/><br/>Aris bit back a shudder as the witch doctor ran a finger down her chest, trying to keep a grin on her face. "I would think untying me would make things a bit easier, yes."<br/><br/>"Very well, sweetie, this will only take a few minutes. Hold still nowâ€¦ you donâ€™t want to injure yourself." With a smirk that showed a small hint of madness, the Witch Doctor gave a small bow and immediately got down to business, ensuring to keep an eye (no pun this time) on the girl at all times. After what seemed like ages the ropes that had bound Aris to the bloodstained table were loosened and then removed completely. â€œAnd weâ€™re all done. That wasnâ€™t so bad now was it?â€<br/><br/>She backed away a little and narrowed her eyes at her. Did Aris think that the witch was going to trust her just like that? Technically she was still the enemy, even if she had agreed to become her apprentice. Who knew what kind of funny business she might try to pull since no trust has been established between them as of yet. Perhaps this was a small step that was worth the risk, both of them doing what they felt was right in order to survive or something to that extent, in exchange for the girlâ€™s helpful tips. From here on, matter what happened now at least she had information for the Queen.<br/><br/>Aris quickly sat up and started buttoning her blouse, though she glanced at the witch doctor from time to time to make sure she wouldn't go back on her word. She didn't expect to be trusted right away, but she wasn't about to let herself get killed.