Stavanger Bay as i climb into the skies

his voice scoured her, the lick of drying brine against rock. erzulie straightened beneath the burn of his gaze, passing her tonguetip along her bottom lip as she repeated his name. "smokestep," erzulie purled unhurriedly, flicking forward her spice-flecked auds. her eyes did not stray from his — the harlot welcomed whatever punishing blow the pirate might deliver.
"everywhere, captain. an' nowhere." it was not an answer she knew would satisfy the sea-drenched man. "i was born amon' monsters; dey walked on two legs an' made unholy sounds wid dey mouths." erzulie's two-toned gaze turned toward the horizon beyond smokestep's shoulder, where the sun reached feebly beyond the skyline for just minutes longer.
in the next moment, her eyes upon him, her chin lifted, and a smile spreading like slow dark honey across her lips. "my origin has no'ting to do wid what it is you be wantin' from me."