This story is co-written with the lovely EbonyTresses please read her story Her Condition.
Summary: Lady Elena Gilbert is unhappy with her life and upcoming marriage to Mason Lockwood. But, when vampire pirate Kol Mikaelson attacks her ship and steals her away- will it be the answer to a prayer, or just another nightmare? Rated M for later chapters
Chapter 1 Her Saviour
Lady Elena Gilbert sat at the window seat of her quarters, staring out at the dark waves.
The Swan - the proud ship of her adoptive father, Count Santos de Alaric De Saltzman - swayed lightly. It was a familiar rocking that was soothing to Elena, reminding her of a time when she once had a mother, and would be coddled off to sleep. Her mother had had the most beautiful soothing voice from what she could remember, and Elena missed it now more than ever.
What advice that gentle voice would give her now, she wondered, thinking about her recent engagement to Mason Lockwood.
Alaric, along with his wife Jenna, had raised them as their own after both their parents had drowned on a ship during a storm. Therefore, Elena had always been close with Mason, but she had never foreseen this.
Elena was now seventeen years old, the traditional age to be married, and according to everyone else around her, Mason was suitable.
Yet, Elena's true dreams were really of romance and adventure, not servitude and breeding. Perhaps in another life or another time, that wish would be granted.
She had no choice but to accept her fate in this current one- right?
Elena sighed, remembering Mason's proposal, down on one knee in front of the crew during a feast for her step father's birthday. She'd accepted, feeling absolutely nothing when he'd chastely kissed her cheek and whispered he'd loved her. She was completely numb through every "congratulations" and toast in their honour.
The crew even went so far as to get drunk off of a rum barrel, slapping up Mason's back, while making jokes about virtues. And throughout the entire affair, Elena had remained stoic, pushing food around her plate as if in a fog.
Yes, she'd accepted- even though in her heart he was like a brother- not a husband.
But, it was the responsible thing to do, the safe thing to do, and she knew her family feared for her. A young woman without a man to care for her was as good as dead, and she couldn't impose on Alaric and Jenna forever.
She sprang up agitated, and went over to her dressing table; picking up an ivory handled brush. Each stroke through her long raven tresses was rough and hurried, as she continued to stew about her situation.
Her step father had seemed all too happy with the idea, come to think of it- because then nothing would have to be divided. The family shipping business would be handed down, as was planned all along, to Mason, and no dowry would be required for her.
So, she should feel grateful and secure, not the pangs of regret and dread that were twisting up her guts, and making her want to throw herself overboard.
She threw down the hairbrush in disgust, and put her head into her hands.
Elena let her mind wander into a day dream just then, seeking escape from her own internal torture. She imagined that there was someone else was out there waiting for her- a man who was dark, mysterious, and exciting.
She indulged in the idea that he would come to rescue her and whisk her off and away from her life- gifting her with something new- something grand.
Sighing again, Elena got up from her stool, knowing such things were foolish, and readied herself for bed. She continued to gaze out the window as she changed, slipping into a white lace chemise, before sullenly crawling under the warm covers of her bed.
Elena blew out the candle on her night stand, saying a small prayer to any Gods that may be listening in or give a damn- big salty tears falling away from her doe brown eyes, drenching up her pillow.
"Somebody, anybody, please…save me…"
_
Kol Mikaelson braced his hands against the deck's rail and hoisted himself over; his big leather boots landing with a light thud onto the wooden deck of the Swan.
He briefly closed his eyes, breathing in deeply the scent of conquest in the air, relishing in the spray of the sea, and the cool night's breeze running through his dark shoulder length hair.
He looked over at his own ship, The Devil's Horn, and motioned to his first mate, Garrett, to engage the attack.
He had been waiting for over five hundred years to find her, while all his other siblings had already found their mates. And tonight was to be the night that he would finally have her.
"Captain," Henley, his second in command whispered, "Once the canon's fire, you won't have much time to find the lass." His brogue was thick and heavy, him hailing from the Emerald isle.
Kol shrugged unconcerned, eyeing his crew with a gleam in his eye, thrumming his fingers onto the polished rail excitedly. He gave his trademark devilish smile, fangs bared. "Aye."
Kol's men returned their master's grin and nodded; loading the balls and powder, ready to blast.
Elena woke up to a nightmare.
Horrible sounds of canon fire and splintering cracks of gouged wood resounded all around her and her chambers. She jumped out of bed and hurriedly put on her dressing gown; reaching for her bladed fan. Her window showed a massive black ship with black sails, engaging in plunder against their own.
She swallowed hard in fear, recognizing the flag from drawings; blood red with a fanged skull and cross bones.
The legend rumoured from every port and across the high seas, was that a vampire captain named Kol Mikaelson, and his crew, nicknamed Hell's Minions, were notorious for destroying ships, stealing treasure, and murdering every living soul aboard- or just cutting out their tongues so none could speak of it.
He, along with his entire immortal family, who were all vampires, terrorized any ship that transported cargo for the King. But, theirs was no such thing. Alaric was an independent tradesman- usually harbouring silks from the Orient or spices from the Persian regime.
Elena whipped open her door and ran up the deck, only to witness some of her crew being wounded and massacred. The ship then suffered another blow, rocking dangerously, and throwing her off balance.
She was falling; screams, choking smells of black powder, and loud explosions drowning out all else.
Her body never impacted however.
Two very strong and capable hands wrapped swiftly around her waist and yanked her back; pressing her heaving chest into something rock hard.
She was on the verge of swooning from the shock, casting her eyes upwards.
It wasn't a rock- it was a man. And he was smiling down at her like a cat, his fangs resting over his bottom lip dangerously.
Elena shivered, and this gesture seemed to please him, for he moved his hands down towards her bottom, and squeezed.
She was certain she'd never seen anyone more menacing in all her short years alive.
Yet, instead of killing her, as she thought he would, with a savage bite at her neck. He kissed the tip of her nose and then her forehead and hair.
"I knew I would find you."
Elena shakily responded, forcing herself to speak, even though her mouth had gone dry and her tongue felt heavy. She cleared her throat. "You- you- you-…" Elena tried, making him laugh and cut her off.
"Yes, me- me- me."
She shook her head and found anger was very effective at overcoming trepidation. "You're the one they call Kol," Elena spat with a frown and fire in her eyes, "Why, would one such as you be looking for the likes of me?"
He nodded slowly that the name she'd called him was correct, but what he retorted back with next, made her lose all newfound bravado, and open up her mouth into an "O" of speechlessness.
"That's simple enough to answer sweetheart…you are my soul mate, and I've come to claim you."
Elena gave in to her swoon just then and fainted dead away in his arms. The last sound she heard was of the handsome rogue's delight and laughter at her reaction.
"I always do seem to have this effect on women…it's a curse."
She faded to black with the knowledge- that one should be very careful what they pray for, because sometimes- sometimes, it isn't God who's listens.