As Marcus ordered his intentions of Nukha helping him attain the souls Mace has accumulated and presumably kill Mace himself, Nukha felt immensely torn at the idea. Never minding that Marcus had presumed his cooperation, but the fact that it was a good idea in the first place and such an ultimatum was partially what Nukha was inclined to deal with Marcus in the first place before Michael took action.
"...Why do you need my help, Marcus? You're an undead pirate warlord; surely you have the means to swat one man such as Mace, yourself."
"Aye..." Marcus replied with a welcomed grin, "That's exactly the attitude I first had with me brother over a thousand years ago. Tis a strange, yet gratuitous sensation how one man can appear so defenseless and yet muster the strength of heathen gods on a whim, hm?" Marcus says with a nod of his chin to Nukha before looking at his pipe; his tobacco completely used up as he tosses it aside and begins to pack his pipe once more...
"Ye question me tactics with suspicion and with every reason to be...but even a smart whelp...is a whelp still." Marcus then leans forward holding his pipe between his teeth, gesturing Nukha forward as though he asked for a light, "Did ye truly believe I am capable of knowing who ye were without prior preparation?"
Nukha was bewildered by Marcus's antics, but as he gestured, Nukha felt his own hand reach into his pocket and retrieve his lighter as normal...against his will. Marcus had done something to him to make him move as though he were a puppet, but Nukha couldn't begin to think how that was possible.
As Nukha lighted his tobacco, Marcus took a good puff and rested back in the chair, relaxing more, uncaring of Nukha's confusion, "...Blinded by rage I was...Me ships grazing by the coast line after our prideful assault upon the port town...I screamed a curse to blackened cur that shared me flesh and me blood and swore I would claim his head and hold upon the mast as my eternal reward....and history tells the rest..." Marcus says with a surprisingly brief tone of embarrassment, "...with exception to one last curse I breathed on that blade of his. A piece of me yearning to claim vengeance and spite his flesh with seethin' hatred..."
Marcus then stood as soon, Nukha was forced to his feet as well, "A curse that was but far too weak for the likes of me brother...until someone else took hold of that blade." Marcus says as he eyed to Nukha so he understood how exactly he got to be at Marcus's mercy.
Nukha was speechless, whether that was by his own fright, or Marcus's curse, he could not tell. Never before had Nukha felt so afraid in his entire life, "How could you have possibly cursed the sword?...I don't see how Dimitri could let you get so close."
At that question, Marcus turned away as he began to unbutton his shirt with a calm, rather blank expression before turning around just as he untied his undergarment and gently revealed his torso, or what remained of it. A horrid mutilation of a gaping gash though his body from the center of his chest down to the side of his loins as it was perfectly able to see through the pirate's body amidst the gore and dripping entrails. An odor of rotting flesh and salted water filled Nukha's nostrils and it was most certainly unpleasant. The maggots and parasites still ate at his flesh as though he were still at the bottom of the ocean, rotting away at nature's mercy.
Marcus soon began redressing himself, "...Sometimes in death, we have our greatest chance."
Nukha took a deep breath as it was indeed an unspeakable sight seeing what seemed to be a decomposing, yet alive body in front of him. At the same time, his desperation to solve this situation was what kept him from quivering, "...and what...if I should refuse?" Nukha stammers as it was clear his heart was racing.
Marcus then stands before Nukha with a solemn expression. The similarities in that face and his brother's were eerily similar considering how mad both men could be, "A fine question...but in the highly unlikely circumstance that it should come to that..." A secret drawer in Nukha's desk opens behind Marcus, revealing a small pistol, to which Marcus reached back and grabs as though he knew its presence as well as Nukha. Placing the gun in Nukha's hand, he lets go before Nukha suddenly finds himself pointing the gun at his own head.
"...Of course..." Nukha mutters as it was of course so easy for Marcus to control his movement enough to make him shoot himself.
"Figured it would serve ye better to receive a simpler answer..." Marcus says as he continued, "...but is it not intriguing how the untimely suicide of Nukha Royiaki would not be the focus of this world that follow morn'?" Marcus asks as Nukha grew even more worried at what Marcus was hinting at, "I never prided me greatness solely on ability and birthright as much as Dimitri preaches, and only a fool believes fate and miracles are a sign of worthiness...Tis simply luck. Tis what makes us all equals at how we find ourselves on the same sunset of prosperity and greatness...but the sun has far blinded us for long enough." Marcus said as he seemed more angry,
"Specks of rotting dust we were...puppets to the amusement of weak and manipulative beings who dare title themselves as 'divine' and demand satisfaction of their lusts and desires with no remorse or care of consequence. For too long have I followed their mercy in hopes of clear purpose...Too long have I expected solemn grace and received imputes in the voice of a mother's scorn...Too long have I stomached these bewilderly-called 'gods' as the masters of me fate....I control the mast of me ship, not the gods...I furnished the foundations of me terror and reign among the seas, not the gods!....I AM THE MASTER OF ME OWN FATE, NOT THE GODS!"
Marcus roars as the air grew colder in the room and Marcus's eyes glow red and black as he spat his rage at Nukha, whom found the gun aimed at his heart then, "...How ironic would it be, if a former mortal were to finally break the line where 'gods' rule over mortals...and bring them down to our level...and have them all die together..." Marcus says then grinning in anxiety as he clearly lust for his image to come true, "...and ye have the final act in my grand vengeance...ironic what it be once for, isn't it?" Marcus hissed to Nukha as he then stepped away and took another puff of his pipe.
"You don't need me orders to tell you that Mace will die...but he will die by my hand...and when I do, your father will be next." Marcus warns before cackling into a laugh and placing his coat on and then laughing louder to a maniacal laugh before vanishing away; his wild laugh echoing the halls as it then went silent. Nukha's arm hung as Marcus released the curse from him, but Nukha's mind was a void of fear by that time...He was now a hostage...him and everything he stood for were going to be subjects to Marcus's will.
Nukha could only slump at the chair he was just in, placing a hand against his head trying to think of something, but the fear was just too real...and this time he couldn't escape it.
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As Ziri was suddenly calling for her to wake up, Beth was still a bit hazed in tiredness as she gently sat up and rubs her eyes, "mm...What?...What's the matter?"
