A ship docks at port, the moon was rising into the night sky. A crew was working to unload its cargo, moving boxes and crates from the ship to the docks. The first mate was meeting with the dock master to speak of money, night time was great for smugglers to unload at. It also help that their stuff was in demand too, keeping up with what was hot and not. A war was brewing out in the seas, as pirates ran ramped throughout the vast seas. Many authorities wanted to put an end to them.

The captain of the ship slowly emerged as he had heard arguing going on and what sounded like a scuffle. Once the tall figure got to where all the disturbance was, he found his crew had pinned down a young man. The man had hissed baring fangs, he assume as a show to scare them. The young man was brought to the captain as they bare their fangs, the captain smirked “What has this *boy* done?” he ask his crew.

“He was caught stealing from us sir.” one said

Another chimed up “Do you want us to handle him, we can make sure he doesn’t do it again.”

The other crew were all on board with roughing the man up, however the captain watched him and arch a brow, something about him sort of pulled at him. He may have been feared across the seas to all vampires, but he could be merciful too. “Aye you waste your breath baring such things here lad, we are all kindred here.” he flash his fangs. ” Hows about I cut ye a deal. You join my crew and you will have food, clothes and shelter. You look like a lad that can work.” he smirked again.

The man look confused and unsure “Why should I believe you? Why do you want to give me a job? I just stole from you.”

The captain nods “Aye ya did, but desperate people do desperate things. I’m offering you a chance most in your position would leap onto.”

“And if I don’t take it you’ll what kill me? Or let your crew beat me up?” he ask.

“Aye I would let them rough ya, I can’t let it be known I allowed someone to steal from me. Sadly, however I wouldn’t kill you, I try hard to not kill kindred. ” the captain explain “The offer is out there, but your choice, the rough up is just payment for the theft if ya said no. Not a matter of hard feelings, but keeping up reputations.”

The male stood there thinking as he watched the captain, saw his red hues. He hadn’t seen red eyes since the vampire who turned him. Though he knew this wasn’t the guy, he was way to tall, dark hair and no racoon eyes. The offer was kind of nice, shelter, food, he wouldn’t be getting buy and at the moment doing mercenary work wasn’t easy for someone like him. Most other vampires had other vampire mercenaries they use, getting his name out there was going slow at the moment. He hope moving would help and the up rising in pirates would bring work. Hell maybe being a pirate might not be so bad “Fine I’ll take your offer.”

The captain smiled “Alright lads ya heard him, he is one of us now. Lets get him on board and accustom to his new home and family.”

A family, that was new, he never had a family before. He never been part of a family before, no one had wanted him in their family, not even his sire. Yet the pirates would take him, he looked up at the flag and about paled seeing it. He knew this flag, all vampires knew it, it was Salazars flag. He was ruthless and had made a huge reputation almost seemingly over night. He had capsized so many ships, so many army fleets. He had been seen as a force, a curse, someone you met when you die. Yet he was asked to be part of the crew.

“What be your name?” the captain asked him “It is clear you recognized where you are.”

The man wanted to gulp a little, not much scared him, but this guy did, his reputation anyways, had he known, he never had stolen from him. “it’s Mateo.” he told him.

“Welcome aboard Mateo, you are part of the crew.” Salazar welcomed him.

Mateo had started to notice that there were humans and quite a abit on this ship, he look to Salazar “You have humans?”

“Aye they are part of the crew, they run the ship during sunlight and keep us safe as we return such for them during the night. They are just as vital as your kindred.” he told him

Mateo was abit shocked at this, but it made sense and now understood that Salazar was a smart guy.

a year had past since Mateo joined up Salazar crew and his life had been good. He actually enjoyed in even, the crew took him in as one of their own, he was family. Over time he come to realize some things, like Salazar was very protective of his crew and he had a asylum for vampires in Spain. He helped them get away from the council and from hunters, creating a community. Mateo actually thought that was neat, to see such. One day Salazar had ask him to come to his quarters, which made Mateo nervous almost. He still was abit timid of Salazar, the guy towered over him and had a commanding presence. He walked into the captains quarters and would see Salazar cleaning his pistol “Mateo come in, sit.” he gesture to the chair.

Mateo move to sit eyeing the pistol as he spoke “You ask to see me?”

Salazar put the pistol down in its case “Yes I did, I wanted to talk. I haven’t had the time to know you, you been doing so well here. I was just curious, when you came to us, you were alone and I been meaning to ask. What happen to your sire? Did he die or is he somewhere else?” he ask.

Mateo shrugs as he lean back, relaxing some “I wouldn’t know, he abandon me after turning me. Never had anyone, always been alone. ”

Salazar nods slowly as he wipe his hands with the rag “I see, not unheard of to be abandon, I think its a low move personally. Well….then….I can be your sire then. Take you under my wing, besides I need someone to help me grow this community we are building. Help liberate us from the vampiric council.”

Mateo blinks and stared at Salazar “Why would you want to be my sire?”

“I see myself in you, you remind me of myself when I was a younger vampire. I had someone who changed my path in life. I like to help you on yours.” Salazar explains.

Mateo listen and was abit confused, he never had anyone take such a chance on him. He was being chosen and by Salazar, he saw something in him. It was a little scary, he didn’t know how to take it. “I see…I…Its an honor sir.” was all he could manage out.

Salazar gave a smile “I see great things in you Mateo, you are destine for great things, I will help you get there.” he stood up “I’ve actually never taken a fledgling honestly nor offer such thing, but as I said I see myself in you.”

Mateo was a bit surprised Salazar never took a fledgling before and he wanted him. Be Salazar right hand, he knew Salazar was an older vampire, he could teach him things. “Thank you.” was all he could say, just in shock.

Few years past and Salazar had been teaching Mateo many things and even sparring with him. He taught him trades and how to know best routes and what can go fast. Even gave him tips for mercenary things as well. Salazar would tell him things and one evening they were standing out on the deck.

“Can I ask you something?” Mateo would start as he wonder a few things over the years.

Salazar was staring out at the sea “Yes what is on your mind?”

“Why do you hate the council so much? Like you seem to care for vampires, why hate them? I would think you work for or with them.” Mateo had gotten comfortable to having these casual chats.

“Lets just say I saw how they really were. You make a mistake and they cast you out, you discover how corrupt they are and they will sabotage you. I was betrayed by someone and I had made a mistake and they never forgave me and even hunted me. ” he told him.

“What did you do if I can ask?” Mateo curious to his sires past.

Salazar had killed off his old life, who he was, but he had done so in a way that made it seem that person truly was dead. “I it was a mistake of which people got hurt, I dug to deep and it was all pinned on me and the person I thought I could trust the most….they didn’t believe me. I was angry and I let it consume me, I still feel it consume me. ” he told him

Mateo shifted some, this still felt to weird, the family and sire. He loved it, he did, but he still felt like an imposter here. Like he didn’t deserve this, but yet here he was. Listening to the scourge of the sea talk so casual.

Later that night they had docked and Mateo had gotten a tip, something better and paid great. He thought maybe if he secured it he could show Salazar. His sire would be proud, that made his heart gleam. He met up with some vampires and was trading Information. This information was suppose to be on the council, he thought it help Salazars plans. When he had got there and spoke, he spoken to a few people. He mention that he was dock for only a few hours so time was fragile for him.

However after meeting them, it was soon realize it wasn’t for him to get information but give. He was offered so much, opportunities for mercenary work, with the backings he needed. The council have his back, no fear of being arrested for things, he could roam as he please, he just had to give up Salazar. The man who took him in, who gave him a family, a sire, and home. He felt guilty, but he was tired of the ocean, he still felt imposter there. He ended up giving the information to them.

It lead to a raid on the place Salazar had hidden vampires, a huge war to break out. Word got back to whom had betrayed him, he couldn’t believe it when it was Mateo. He wrote out a letter and paid high money for it to get to him. The letter stating *’ I do not understand why you would betray your family like this, their blood on your hands. Why you stabbed me, after everything, after I open my home to you. I took you under my wing, willing to give you everything you need. Greed will be your downfall, when I get my hands on you, you will regret everything. No one betrays my family. Stab me fine, but the lives that are dying over your greed, you will pay for each. The council can not always protect you little Mateo, count your days.’*

Salazar never took on another fledgling and didn’t let anyone ever get close ever again. Stabbed twice by people he trusted and open up to. He not ever let it happen a third time and he make sure the council reach was broken in Spain, this was his home not theirs. As the war ended there and the age of pirates ended, Salazar did break the hold the council had there. He create in a new location in Spain a safe haven, with Stephan to help him once he made his way to Spain.