Blood streamed down the doors the soft drip of the blood hitting the floor echoed inside the large hall. The bodies twitched slightly as the last bits of life left them. Raising their head, the hooded figure revealed their face. Eve stood before them even if she was a bit changed. Alexandria would never let herself forget even though it wasn’t that long ago. V flew in through the opening landing on Alexandria’s shoulder. She smiled pulling a bone out of her pouch and moving it up for V to take. Devouring the bone happily the bone dust sprinkling onto the floor.

There was a hush over the room for a moment and no one moved. Alexandria was glad to see Eve in front of them and hoped she was here to stay. Of course, there could just be something in it for her. So, there was no guarantee this meant she would be joining the crew. “It is very good to see you again Eve. What are you doing here?” Alexandria didn’t want to draw out the process and this seemed like the best question to ask.

Eve smiled looking around the room playing with one of her knives. She flipped it a few times in her hand a devious smirk crossing her face. “I was close by finishing my business when I spotted the flag on your ship. There was no way I would miss that vulture. So, I stopped by just to check up on things.” She paused looking to the dead guards nailed to the doors behind her. “I saw these guards trying to empty your ships. We got into it and let's just say there is a mess to clean up outside.” Throwing the knife in her hand hitting the top center of Sam’s chair. The blade passed by her face leaving a thin wound which revealed a small trinkle of blood down her face.

Sam’s hand went up to stop the bleeding. The rage building in her face. She locked eyes with Eve her nostrils flaring. “I can’t believe someone as young and small as yourself took out all my guards alone. You must have had help from someone. So where is the rest of your people?”

Eve looked behind her a few times. Touching her wrist with her middle finger holding it up in Sam’s direction. “I don’t seem to have any friends here with me. It would seem your time is up. You messed with the wrong people.” Her middle finger lingered in the air a bit longer before putting it down and walking up to Alexandria.

“I do like your choice of flag for the moment of course. There is always room for improvement once your crew is filled up. Are you attempting to make a deal here? I do hope nothing I did ruined that for you.” Eve was doing her best to get under Sam’s skin. Of course, it was working to perfection. Lyric giggled a bit in the background glad to see Eve was here to help them out.

Alexandria wrinkled her nose looking at Sam and then at Eve. “I don’t think you have done anything wrong. We were actually just about to come to an agreement. Sam doesn’t seem to be in a good way right now. Is everyone dead outside?” This was a dangerous game to play at the moment since there was no telling what Sam would do. Her daughter still remained a wild card. Even though she was idle now that didn’t mean she would remain that way for long.

“Everyone I ran into didn’t want to talk only fight. There isn’t a guard left outside. I am not sure about other places so it is up in the air.” Another devious smile crossed her face looking in Sam’s direction out of the corner of her eye. There was going to be some more action soon she could just feel it. Walking over to the chair and retrieving her knife flipping it in her hand just to show off.

Sam wasn’t sure what to do at this point. Her daughter was treating wounds instead of fighting and no back up was coming. Putting her face into her hands scratching at her face with her fingers looking up at Alexandria. “There is no point in a deal now. You could easily just take anything you wanted. Most of my guards are presumed dead and you hold control of the room.” There was no denying that fact now. However, her daughter was still a wild card in all this. That is where Alexandria’s focus was at the moment.

“It is very good to see you right now. Sam is also correct we could just take anything and everything we wanted.” She left Sam and Eve standing there walking towards her daughter tapping her on the shoulder. “You seem to be in charge now since your mom has clearly lost her mind. What do you purpose we do next?”

Taking in a deep breathing thinking for a moment. There wasn’t a ton of options but it was clear something needed to change. Looking in Eve’s direction speaking loudly. “It would be nice if some of the guards are still alive. This settlement doesn’t run well without them.” Alexandria was surprised she was taking things so calmly even after everything that has happened.

A few guards walked into the large meeting hall moving quickly to their leader. Bringing their spears up the daughter raised her hand. “No need to do that. There is going to be a change around here. That starts with the leadership.” A dozen more guards stood at the doorway watching what was going on. She walked up to Sam placing a hand on her shoulder. “I think it is time for you to retire.” Sam’s eyes widen a dagger plunged into her chest from below.

Coughing up blood trying to grab her weapon. Opening her mouth to speak spewing blood all over her daughter’s shirt. Falling forward her daughter stepped out of the way. A pool of blood formed under her followed by a few twitches until she finally lay still. Everyone in the room went silent with Eve standing there with her mouth open.

“That is quite an effective way to end someone’s leadership. What do you say to my offer of trade? It is a bit late but what is your name?” Alexandria stepped over the mess to stand facing Sam’s daughter. This was something she was looking forward too. Hopefully they could finally conduct some business.

Waving her hand in the air as the guards moved in to take care of Sam’s body. “My name is Sydney. Yes we are going to trade with you. I have no intentions of fighting with you after everything that has happened. Once everything is cleaned up we can begin.” Alexandria was finally glad to see things were moving forward.

It was a shame that Sam had to die in that manner. She seemed like an interesting person even though it was clear she was insane. Alexandria nodded in agreement walking over to Eve who had started gathering her knives. “So is it safe for me to believe your joining the crew or was this just a pit stop to another destination?” Grabbing one of her knifes from the door the body sliding down into a tarp. Flipping it around a few times before returning it to one of the sheaths attached to her body.

It was a hard question since she had been on her own for so long. There was something that kept pulling her towards them. She wasn’t sure what it was but the pull was undeniable. A guard walked up giving Eve another knife. She put that one away looking at Alexandria. “It seems my plans don’t matter since we keep crossing paths. I was able to finish my business and have nothing else going on at the moment.”

Alexandria cracked her neck rolling her shoulders in excitement. Lyric was giggling in the background which wasn’t annoying for once. “Well then once everything is done here, we can move to the next destination together.” Another crew member was acquired and perhaps a strong ally. That was still to be determined extending her hand to Eve to seal the deal. Eve shook it firmly a devious smile painted on her face.

Sydney walked up to the two of them patting Alexandria on the back. “So how about I have my guards bring the cargo you wish to trade inside. I will take you to our cargo room in the back and we can make the exchange. Is there anything else you wish to discuss?” The mood in the hall had changed and it was a welcomed one. Even though blood had been spilled again everyone was at ease for the moment.

Alexandria nodded in agreement turning to Sydney’s guards. “Everything that is going to be traded here is already on deck. Don’t touch anything else.” The guards nodded after a wave of approval from Sydney making their way to the ship. Sydney gestured for everyone to follow her into the back room so they could pick out what they wanted in the trade.

Tyra stood up slinging her rifle over her shoulder. Walking up to the spear guard leader. “Next time think before you act. If we are going to be friends in the future, I don’t want to have killing you on my mind. That is already filled with countless deaths.” She adjusted the strap so the rifle hung comfortably following after everyone else. The leader shifted in the chair pushing herself up grabbing her spear to use as a crutch to follow them.

Walking behind the huge chair down a staircase leading into a room that was below the main hall they were just in. It was full with all kinds of treasure from weapons to precious stones. Alexandria understood now why Sydney had said they were in need. Even with all this food and water was limited. Sam’s statement before about taking from everyone that stopped by was before their eyes. Lyric giggled in excitement wanting to jump into the treasure. Of course, that would be extremely painful.

Sydney turned to face them standing in the middle of it all. “Take your pick of anything in the room. I believe one weapon per person along with equaling the weight in treasure to the weight in supplies you give us. Does that seem fair to you?” Alexandria’s mouth dropped open for a moment. That was extremely generous. V shrieked on her shoulder making her jump a bit since Alexandria forget she was there.

“Well V seems to agree with your offer. I do as well and it should help immensely. There is something else I want to offer.” Alexandria motioned for her crew to go pick out their weapon moving closer to Sydney. This was something that would benefit everyone in the long run. Plus, she couldn’t have everyone she meets join her crew. There wouldn’t be anyone to fight if that were the case.

“I am open to listening to anything you have to offer. The people you killed that were with me were more my mother’s guards then my friends. If anything, you set me free from her.” Sydney breathed a deep cleansing breath. It had been quite some time she had been able to feel this relaxed.

“We should form some type of alliance or make a deal about working with each other for the foreseeable future. There is something to be said with everything that has happened. It would be a nice partnership.” Alexandria didn’t think this would happen so soon. Of course, there was the fact she didn’t do things slowly. Having a base of operations would be useful for all parties involved.

That was a huge commitment since pirates didn’t usually do this sort of thing. However once Alexandria’s crew was at full strength, they would be a force that could take over the whole of the world. Taking a moment to think and run all the possibilities in her head. “I don’t see why we couldn’t. You have this settlements support no matter what it is. I can never begin to repay you all for what has been done. Should we seal the deal?”

A laughing sigh escaped her lips. She could hear Lyric giggle in the background while looking for a new weapon. Alexandria needed to remember to smack her in the back of the head later. Extending her hand with a smirk. “I would say everything is already in place for the most part. Of course, the handshake will make it solid.” Sydney grasped her hand firmly shaking it in agreement.

Now they had a new crew member and an alliance with a pirate settlement which should make for great fun in the future.