She turned the corner in the dark stone corridor. The moon cast blue shadows against the cold stone walls. Behind her, she could hear the shouting of guards in the distance, but more pressing was the sound of a pair of hurried shoes, clicking across the floor behind her. Pennington wasn't far behind. His coat flapped behind him like a cape, his sword drawn, shimmering against the moonlight. Mercy's wrists were still bound by the shackles, but the chain has been sundered, and her arms were free.
Mercy charged the wooden door at the far end of the hallway, pushing it hard with her shoulder, then with her hands. She heard the faint clatter of metal inside the weathered, splintering planks of the door. It was locked. She took a few steps back to retreat, but the sound of pursuit drew near. Mercy jumped at the nearby window, pulling at the iron bars in vain. She was trapped.
Pennington rounded the corner and raised his sword. As usual, Mercy met his gaze confidently. "Surrender, pirate!" he ordered.
Without breaking their stare, Mercy strolled toward him, slowly unbuttoning her shirt. "As you wish, Captain," she purred as she pulled the shirt from her shoulders, baring her breasts to him.
His eyes opened wide for a moment in surprise. He even started to drop his sword, but raised it quickly once more and narrowed his gaze. "What are you playing at, insufferable wench?"
"Playing, Captain?" she stuck out her bottom lip, pouting, "I'm hurt." She unlaced her breeches and pushed them to the floor, then continued toward him. Gingerly, she pushed the tip of his sword aside, moving even closer.
He kept a tight grip on his blade, but allowed her to ease it down. "You're but a succubus. and your whorish ways won't sway me from my duty." His tone was stern, but not as convincing as he may have hoped.
She laughed, undeterred. She pressed her body against his, trailing her fingers over his chest. "Oh, come now, Captain Pennington. What woman wouldn't be drawn to such a handsome man as you? Such strength, such power..." Her voice trailed off and she licked her lips.
His left hand curled into a fist as he struggled to resist taking hold of her, and his right refused to release the sword. "Flattery will earn you nothing, harlot."