<em>The Hold </em><br/><br/>A latch twisted and ripped from the wood under Danae's reckless insistence. For a moment the door became lodged in frame, embedded by Danae's strength. It took a foothold against the frame to haul one from the other, and with a heavy judder the deepest chamber relented its secrets.<br/><br/>In darkness beyond, the acrid chemical stink caused the eyes to water. The overpowering smell poured from a row of barrels, lashed to the near wall. From one among a dozen, a steady drip bleached the dark wood white, before trickling down to the flooded bilge. There were cargo down there, among the ballast, licked by murky water. Long pine wood crates sat in secret, like a smuggler's bounty, lightless and cold.<br/><br/><em>Thump. </em><br/><br/>A long pine box stirred.<br/><em>Thump, thump. </em><br/>The mournful wail of hell began muffled, heard through sealed frames of wood, but as voices joined the chorus it filled the bilge, becoming a forbidding wall of sound, borne of madness.<br/><em>Thump, crack. </em><br/>From unseen breaches in the strong pine, rats began to erupt. The filthy water churned with life, and as a tide swarmed the stairs, the light, Danae and Jacqueline's ankles. A hundred rats or more, all racing to escape the cacophony below with mad eyes and teeth bared to chew through any obstacle in the path.<br/><br/>Colleen shrieked into the gag, and drew herself up by her bondage until her wrists twisted and her hands turned red. She hung, for dear life, with an admirable tenacity.<br/><br/>Shadows drew over either companionway from the deck above. Port side, Captain Baykur descended with a fixed glare. The cutlass at her hip clanked on the steps when she sat to tuck her breeches into her boots, and as she sat, three tanned bulwarks of muscle descended the starboard companionway opposite. There was no retreat.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Jacqueline must make a Wisdom save, DC 11</div><div class="spoiler_body">On a failure, Jacqueline is Frightened, meaning she cannot willingly move into the bilge, and has disadvantage on ability checks and attack rolls while within the hold.</div></div><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Danae must make a Wisdom save, DC 11</div><div class="spoiler_body">On a failure, Danae is Frightened, meaning she cannot willingly move into the bilge, and has disadvantage on ability checks and attack rolls while within the hold.</div></div><br/><br/>"What mandate raises you above the laws that govern men," said Baykur. She paid no mind to the scampering rats, and maimed several which crossed the path of her boots. "That you violate your captain's orders so brazen."<br/><br/>"A boat like yours has just been sighted. It lies on a shoal without on board."<br/>With a motion, Baykur called for her three crewmen to wrangle both Danae and Jacqueline and drag them to the deck above. As this played out, Baykur drew her cutlass and freed Colleen in a single stroke.<br/>"It is a pity that your reunion will come in such bad conditions, scarred by the whip."<br/><br/><em>The Store Room </em><br/><br/>In the quiet needed for Margaret and Michelle to catch much-needed sleep, Zoe kissed so slowly that her lips released in silence. Her hands traced the shape of Corinne's back, reassuring, aflutter with nervous energy. She was quiet as a girl fornicating in her father's house, and desperate the tension wound up her spine, to the nape of her neck under Corinne's hands, drew lips into firm peaks. Each touch found her simmering and met with spiritual release, a sharp drain of breath.<br/><br/>Sage did not sleep. Her hands warmed between Aloisa's thighs. Fingers restless became bold, and she made excuses, whispering "Forgive me, I still confuse where my numb daddles touch."<br/>But there was no mistake. Hot breath drained down Aloisa's chest. Two digits confused their way between Aloisa's petals, absentmindedly rubbed, and wandered in tightly controlled circles. Sage's pampered, wealthy fingers entered, not to bring Aloisa release, but to string her along, teasing, teasing, promising more than she gave. Her posture dipped submissive against Aloisa's breasts, promising more if only Aloisa were true to her. If only this one with the knife in her hand would be her protector.<br/><br/>For as long as Aloisa did not push her away, this became Sage's sole attention. Patiently she soothed the caged beast of need, although she would not free it. Not yet.<br/><br/>In time, the ship began to veer and slow, resisting the push of waves rather than glide along them. It was soon after the store room door opened against Aloisa's back, and Rehner pushed through, her arms overloaded with linens dried in the sun.<br/>"Get dressed, the island is here," said Rehner. She puzzled through which clothes belonged to whom, with mixed success.<br/>"There is great news and there is unfortunate news. Great news is that another boat landed in the night. Maybe your friends have made it to the island. Unfortunate news is two of your crewmen are to be punished for breaking into the hold. Captain has decreed twenty lashes, and then they will be free to go."