Hours had passed since Tara had been removed from the group and Willow had grown more frantic with each passing second.
Outside a storm was brewing, the boat tilting and tipping violently. Both Buffy and Giles had managed to move in time with the boat to alleviate their nausea. Willow and Xander on the other hand, weren’t holding it together so well. In the dim light, Xander looked pale and dehydrated. He had been vomiting for almost two hours and had no way to replenish his fluids.
Willow looked decidedly green and Giles guessed she had, maybe ten minutes before her stomach gave in to the motion of the boat.
“Hey Captain Scaredy Cat!!” Buffy screamed, hoping she could be heard over the ocean. “You lilly livered wimp!”
Giles, Willow and Xander looked at her with absolute horror. “Buffy, what the hell are you doing?” Giles called over to her.
“I got a plan!” Buffy told him with a grin. “Have faith!” she finished.
The door burst open and a torrent of water followed the dim light into the room. “Cap’in Vane ain’t happy with ye!” the pirate told her. “I gotta shut ye up.” he said with a grin, marching towards the blonde Slayer with outstretched arms.
“What’s your name?” Buffy asked him as he got closer, she grinned and fluttered her eyes at him.
“Bob the Bloody.” he told her with a grin and Buffy and the others had to stifle their giggles.
‘Whoever heard of a pirate called Bob?’ Willow thought as she watched him get ever closer to Buffy.
Almost in the blink of an eye, Buffy sprung, bouncing from the wall and wrapping her legs firmly around the pirate – Bob’s- neck and squeezing for all she was worth.
“Oh Cap’in!” Buffy called loudly, her pirate impression eerily accurate. “I think Bob here has a little trouble breathin’” she finished quietly, twisting and squeezing the pirate harder. Another man appeared in the door and took in the situation before him. Xander recognised him as one of them men who had run screaming from Solo Dreams. “Will.” he called in a hushed whisper. “He thinks you’re a witch. Curse him or something.” Willow stared at him in disbelief. “Xander, I can’t do that, curse people I mean. Besides my magic is….” The realisation of what Xander meant suddenly hit her and she grinned at him.
“By Poseidon and Neptune. I call upon their wrath….” the pirate turned tail and fled, screaming all the way.
“A witch, A witch I tell ye. We all be cursed!”
The gang giggled and, for the first time, felt a glimmer of hope. “Oi Cap’in. I think your boy here needs some saving!” Buffy taunted again. Heavy footsteps crashed overhead and the momentary flicker of hope was snuffed out in all of them.
Lightning flashed overhead followed by a deafening crash of thunder. The night had turned obsidian black and the rain pounded on the deck like thousands of Doctor Martin clad ‘Riverdancers’. Another flash of lightening revealed a figure in the doorway. “Captain?” Buffy asked. The storm bringing her the only response.
Her legs were hurting and bolts of liquid fire shot through her lower back. Holding Bob in this position was doing nothing for her and she swore that, if they got out of this, then she would never take her Slayer skills for granted again.
“Bring us Tara!” Buffy demanded. “You get your favourite pirate in return.”
“Buffy, that’s not a wise idea.” Giles sounded panicked and terrified. “Buffy!” he hissed. “I implore you, don’t so this.” Buffy regarded her friend and Watcher. “Giles, trying to barter here.” she hissed back.
“You could get us all killed.” the British man returned.
Willow inhaled sharply, “Buff. Let him go, they’ll kill Tara.” she snapped.
In the doorway, the figure remained still or as still as the storm would allow, and watched the scene unfolding.
It had taken less time than she’d thought. The gang were turning on each other already, and the good thing was, they didn’t even realise. In trying to help her friends, Buffy had successfully planted the first seeds of discourse among them.
Buffy's legs dropped from around the pirates neck and he collapsed to the floor, coughing loudly and rubbing his neck. His head spun wildly and he turned his head to the side and vomited fiercely. On rising to his feet, he wiped his mouth on Buffy's long nightshirt and grinned, exposing his hideous teeth and even fouler breath.
“Please, Captain.” Giles began, “May we have some water?” The figure seemed to look in his direction momentarily before nodding.
Bob returned to the side of his Captain and the Scoobies saw her lean in to give him an order. He laughed heartily and disappeared from their view. He returned moments later with a bucket and four chalices, all full. Walking carefully into the centre of the room, he placed the bucket and chalices down. “Court’sy of Cap’in Vane.” he told them and rushed from the room. In the doorway, Captain Vane nodded her head and disappeared back into the stormy night.
Tara had a bunk. Ok, it wasn’t a comfortable bunk, but she wasn’t hanging from a wall, for which she was grateful. She had awoken shortly after being removed from her friends and dumped into a store room. She could smell mice and so guess there may be food somewhere in the room with her.
Her hands were still shackled but this time to something large and heavy on the floor, if she was careful, she could move from the bunk, which was comprised of empty rice sacks, and move in a circle almost four feet.
She knew that she would have to pay for this privilege, but for now, she was happy to sit and rest her wrists which were heavily bruised and tender.
The storm outside was dying down slowly, each lightning bolt farther away, each clap of thunder gentler than the last.
It took another two hours for the storm to die out completely and the seas to settle but as soon as they had, the door to Tara's room was flung open. In its mouth stood a tall, well-built man. “Cap’in says ye’s to take their punishes.” he told her, unchaining her from the floor and dragging her into the light. Tara was momentarily surprised to find it was clear and bright, another day was breaking over the horizon. Wracking her mind, she tried to remember how long they had been on board and was horrified to find that she couldn’t. ‘This has to be only the second or third day’ she told herself.
The pirate dutifully chained her to the main mast and checked he had locked her up securely.
Behind her, a door opened and Tara knew instinctively that Captain Vane was standing behind her. A sharp knife sliced through the material of her pyjama top and the shredded garment slid down her arms, exposing her to the entire ship.
Jeers and cheers filled the morning light as the pirates enjoyed the view before them. It had been many, many months since any of them had even seen another woman, let alone a topless woman. Gentle fingers caressed the length of her spine and Tara shuddered under the touch.
“Get Red!” Captain Vane barked at one of the men to her right. Tara tried turning her head, the voice sounded so familiar that it was almost comforting. For her effort, she received a sharp slap across her cheek and her head returned to staring to the deck.
Her mind ran through possibilities and she sighed deeply. ‘It’s obvious you’re hearing something familiar to comfort yourself because you are scared.’ she chastised herself.
Another door burst open and Tara jumped at the sound. “Get your filthy hand off of me you basta….” Willows voice carried across the deck and stroked Tara's ears. “Tara!!” she called, struggling to free herself and reach her girlfriend.
Shackles clanked and clunked as Willow was secured behind Tara and to her right, giving her a perfect view of the horror that was about to unfold.
the solid footsteps of Captain Vane crossed towards Willow, who, for the first time got a good look of their captor. What she saw left her speechless. The long, dark hair, well muscled arms and distinctive tattoo on the right arm belonged to only one person.
“Give us a kiss.” Captain Vane whispered as she placed a small kiss on the forehead of the stunned redhead.
From behind her, the pirate known as Bob emerged carrying a large wooden tray with a deep red cover hiding its contents. “Voila” Captain Vane announced as she pulled the cover off to reveal a multitude of whips. “Oh goddess, no!” Willow cried, tears streaming down her face. “It was Buffy, not Tara. Don’t you lay a finger on her, Fai….” Willows words were silenced as the firm hand of her captor struck her across the cheek. “Shut up Red. Shut up and watch!” she ordered.
Choosing the all time favourite, a cat o’ nine tails, Captain Vane crossed to Tara and gently stroked her back with the soft leather before turning to regard her crew.
“Nothing like a flogging to start the day!” she hollered. The crew cheered and stamped their feet on the deck in delight. “You will count!” she snarled at Willow. “If we can’t hear you, we repeat the same number until we do. The louder you are, the less she hurts!”
Bob danced a merry jig around Tara. “50 lashes ye’ll get!” he taunted before a knife whistled through the air and knocked him in the head. Shaking the blow off, he got quickly to his feet and picked up the knife. Hanging his head, he extended hid arm and handed the blade to its owner. “Sorry Cap’in.” he mumbled.
Taking a firm stance on the deck behind Tara, Captain Vane readied the whip in her right hand.
THWACK!
The leather whistled through the air and connected with Tara's back, causing her to scream out in pain. “One.” Willow said, her voice weak with tears.
“Not good enough!” Captain bellowed. “Again.”
Bringing the whip back, Tara received a second lashing, this one more vicious than the first. “One.” Willow tried again, her voice a little stronger but still not loud enough.
“God damn Willow.” Tara screamed, her back burning as each of the leather strips left a deep red mark.
“ONE!!” Willow screamed, eager to get it right and try and reduce the pain and suffering being inflicted upon her beautiful girlfriend, partly because of her.
The whip came back once again, connecting with Tara's shoulders with a sickening SLAP.
“TWO!!” Willow screeched, her voice wobbly with the tears that fell freely from her eyes.
Below deck, Xander, Giles and Buffy heard Willows screaming and each one fought against their shackles. Whatever was happening to her sounded beyond painful and each one wanted to get up there and help their friend.
“We need out NOW G-man!” Xander told him.
Their fighting did them no good yet they tried harder. In all their time as friends and with everything they had faced – Hell gods, countless apocalypse’, demons and werewolves – they were determined not to let something as simple as a few shackles keep them from helping a friend in dire need.
Blood dripped slowly from a fresh cut over Tara's shoulder.
THWACK!!
“Twenty!” Willow sobbed as blood flicked across her face from the returning whip.
Pain ripped through Tara's being, she had suffered some incredible beatings at the hands of both her father and brother, and she suddenly wished she was back at her family home at their mercy.
Blood pounded behind her eyes making her head spin.
THWACK!!
The cuts already covering her back screamed as the hot leather came in contact and opened them further. The skin that wasn’t cut burnt, almost as though she had scalded it in boiling water.
Willow paused, the terror and agony written Tara's face make her physically sick, the blood that was now dripping down the backs of her legs and pooling at her feet caused the redhead to turn her head and vomit onto the deck.
“Too slow Red!” Captain told her, administering another sharp blow that split a fresh piece of skin over Tara's ribs open. “Twenty!” Willow coughed.
Blow after blow landed across the once soft and smooth expanse of Tara's back with Willow counting each one out loud.
The blood and pain increasing with every lash.
THWACK!
“Forty nine!” Willow snarled.
THWACK!
“Fifty!” Willow yelled.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Tara felt her legs wobbling and she was terrified she would collapse.
“Clean it up!” Captain Vane ordered and immediately two of her men rushed to fetch a bucket and cloth. Returning seconds later, they were stunned to find the bucket pulled from their hands. “Not you.” she said, turning to Willow. “You! Clean her up, she’s bleeding on my deck!” Willow stood and waited for someone to release her from the side of the boat. She was sure that she wouldn’t be freed completely from her shackles but at least she would have some sort of chance now to ease Tara's suffering.
Willow was handed the bucket and she stared at it dumbly for a few moments. “Clean. Her. Up!!” Captain Vane snarled as she ran a long bladed knife across the redheads throat.
Willow realised that she was meant to throw the water rather than actually administer first aid.
“Sorry baby.” she called as she threw the water in Tara's direction.
As soon as the cold liquid hit Tara's raw and bleeding back, she screamed in agony. She knew that it was sea water that had been given to Willow although it felt like acid, the salt content searing the open wounds and stinging long after it had all gone.
Bob unchained Tara and grinned at her. Her face was pale and sweaty and, in truth, she looked near death.
Captain Vane grabbed Willows face violently. “If B finds out its me, you’ll be up for the next flogging. And believe me when I say that your blondie girl will be dishing it out.” she snarled.
“I swear to god, I’ll kill you, Faith.” Willow spat back as she was thrown towards her girlfriend.
As they reached the doorway to the room the others were still in, Faith held them back. “Ask Giles about Keelhauling.” she said with a grin. “Then see how willing you are to behave when your girl is enjoying cleaning my boat!” she laughed and nodded for them to be thrown back with the others.
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