Chapter 1

Ending up on a pirate ship had never been on my bucketlist. However, here I was, tucked away in a cabin, door locked and guarded, all to prevent me from escaping. Not that I would have risked that. The captain of this vessel seemed to be quite the monster, so being locked inside here seemed only safe, if not the best option I had right now.

I slowly strolled around the cabin, admiring the woodwork and the furniture in the room. I was nice enough, but could not better the fact I was being here against my will.

I shook my head. It probably had not been the best idea to wander around town alone, let alone check out the vessels in port. But that there would be pirates that would kidnap me, like actually throw me over their shoulder had me still shivering.

I was nothing special. I worked at an little shop, as the cleaner. It earned my keep and gave me a place to live. My family was somewhere in town, but they had never really bothered with me.

I knew the only reason the pirates had taken me was because my dress seemed expensive enough to belong to some sort of lady with money on her name. How wrong could they have been… I had heard the word ransom a few times, but I yet had to meet the captain. Being dragged up here in this cabin had earned me a few bruises and even a scratch on my eyebrow, that had bleeded a bit. I had feared they would rape me instantly, maybe even sharing me among the crew, but they had seemed serieus about ransom and feared the somm of money would be less when I would be sullied. Lucky me.

I noticed it grew dark outside, and I was getting a bit hungry, but I was too afraid to make any noise at all. My heart fluttered when I heard footstep nearby, but it almost stilled when I heard gunshots being fired. I froze and hid myself underneath a desk. What was going on?

I listened and tried to still my fast beating heart, but the fight seemed to only grown more intense.

'Guard the door fool, do not leave!' Barked a deep voice. I shuddered and wondered what would be worse, being kept here, against my will. Or being captured by another. Ice filled my veins thinking it over.

With a loud bang the door was kicked open and several men came barging in.

'Find out what they are protecting en hiding in here. It must be something of value if they would keep it here, paying with their lives,' came a deep voice. I shuddered and made myself as little as I could under the desk. I saw their boots and legs, not their faces. I didn't dared to move at all. But they walked around the room quickly, opening drawers and cabinets, throwing things around, until one of them bowed down and watched me straight in my eyes.

'Ah, I see what all the fuss was about now,' the man said, a spanish accent on his tongue. I had no time registering his face as he extended his hand to me. I had expected he would drag me from under the desk, but he suddenly seemed to remind his manners. It was only then I noticed he wore no pirate outfit, but he wore an officer's jacket.

'There is no need to fear me, miss. We will take you from these pirates,' he tried to lure me from my spot. I slowly took his hand, deciding a pirate would never wear such an outfit. The only thing making me doubt him was his black eye patch. The man seemed honourable enough. He gently pulled me from under the desk. When I stood I noticed they were a good head bigger than me, their presences, armed and all, intimidating.

'Have they hurt you miss?' he asked me. I saw he eyed the cut on my face, and then scanned my body for more. My blue dress prevented him though.

I shook my head. He suddenly bowed a bit.

'Miss, my name is lieutenant Lesaro. I am part of Capitan's Salazar's crew.' I took a step back at his words. Another captain? More pirates? He quickly shook his head, understanding my fear instantly.

'Our Capitan is no pirate miss, on the contrary. He haunts them.'

I licked my lips.

'My name is Olivia, Olivia Gray.' I softly said. Lieutenant Lesaro nodded and gave me a small smile.

'Come now, miss Gray. This ship is made to sink, and I have orders to bring whatever they seemed to be guarding to our capitan.' He once again extended his hand, and this time I took it right away. He helped me out the cabin but his support could not help a gasp escape between my lips as I saw the bodies around the deck. There was so much blood. There were pirates crying out for help, but not many. All the fighting I had heard was over now. I noticed a larger ship, named the Silent Mary was placed against this vessel, making it easy to enter it.

I noticed the crew from the Silent Mary was a ship in command of the Spanish Royal Navy from the colours of their flag. I felt a little bit of relieve, until I saw the Capitan, lieutenant Lesaro had told me about. The man was tall, broad and everything about him told me to run. He seemed so intimidating, a stern look on his face as he watched the pirate ship sink. Then his eyes shifted towards me. His eyes stood strict, stern and even when one of his men shoot a escaping pirate, he did not flinch, not even a bit. His black hair was tied at the back of his neck, his clothing clean and completely impeccable.

Lieutenant Lesaro guided me to the quarterdeck, walking even closer towards this very intimidation Capitan of his. He kept an hand on my arm, for which I was thankful, I felt like fainting, just being aboard this ship.

'Le Capitan, the pirates are waving white flags, asking for mercy,' Lesaro told him. The Capitan watched me straight in the eye as he opened his mouth.

'Mercy? We have no mercy.' I shuddered at his deep voice, covered in a thick Spanish accent. He turned and stalked towards us, his eyes not leaving mine.

'What is this?' he asked Lesaro. I noticed even Lesaro was a little intimidated by the Capitan.

'Miss Gray was what they were guarding so heavily Capitan.' I dared to look him in his eyes one moment longer, before I too felt intimidated by his dark eyes and stern look.

'Bring her to my quarters lieutenant,' was all he said. He turned and walked away, shouting in Spanish to his crew. Lesaro gently leaded me into another direction.

'Come miss Gray, you don't need to witness these pirates a moment longer,' he told me, leading me to a big door. He opened it and revealed a large cabin, it's furniture gorgeous and rich. He told me to wait for the Capitan in here.

I trembled a bit, unsure of this Capitan was better than the pirate one I had been kidnapped by.

'Miss, our Capitan may be a hard man, but he will not harm you,' Lesaro told me, noticing my fear. I gave him a nod and then watched him leave me here.

I felt my inside make a salto when I heard another pair of footsteps walked closer. I held my breath when the door was firmly opened and the Capitan walked inside, his dark eyes finding mine instantly.

'Miss Gray?' he said, closing the door behind him and then turning to face me once more. I nodded, my hands gripping the material of my dress in fear. His eyes followed my hands, noticing my fear of him. He took another step closer.

'Welcome aboard the Silent Mary.'