Chapter one

Alone and Haunted

In a house high above the ocean on a cliff a girl was standing on a balcony over looking the ocean. She was staring blankly out in space thinking what it would be like to have a life where there wasn't responsibility where you were free to do what you want and not have to listen to people. She grew sad at the thought about her father wanting her to marry a man of high rank and with money. She didn't want that if she did marry she wanted to marry for love not money. She didn't care if the man was poor or rich just that she was in love and loved in return. She wanted a guy that was kind, gentle, loving, protective, and little possessive.

She knew that she wouldn't find a guy like that and even if she did her father would never let her marry the man unless he approved and he wouldn't. Her father would pick her a husband just like he had with her sister. She looked sadly down at the alcove near the rocks and the beach. She decided to go to the beach and take a walk. She left the balcony and went down stairs to the front door. "Are you going somewhere Miss Willinburgs?" The footman said. "Just to the beach Bert." Iris said. "Would you like me to get someone to go with you?" Bert asked. "No thank you Bert I will be fine by myself." Iris said. Bert bowed and opened the door for her and then Iris stepped through and went down to the beach.

She got to the waters edge then looked up and closed her eyes breathing in the night air and basking in the moonlight. She took off her shoes and stepped into the shallow water. She was wearing a long skirt and a short sleeved shirt. Her skirt was getting wet because the waves were washing up to shore and getting her skirt wet. She was thinking of all the times she came here when she was a kid and when her and her sister would play in the sand and get all dirty. When she would come here when she was supposed to be in her room. When the last time she saw her sister before she got married and was broken and had no spirit. Also the day that she lost her sister completely, the day she died. A lone tear rolled down her cheek at the memories.

She savored the memories because they were the only thing keeping her from going into depression. She was always the sad child but with her sister she was different like she was a little child a normal one. She was always the weird one the freak to the other kids near here. She used to wish that her sister never died and she would deny it but then she accepted it. She didn't like it she just took it and didn't dwell on it. She sighed and sat down on the beach with her feet in water when the waves came up. She had her knees up to her chest and her arms around them with her chin on top of her knees. She looked out to see wishing that she could be out there where the waves and animals are free and have no bounds or limits. She started to write in her journal.

'Dear journal 7-17-1860

I am sitting on the beach thinking of all the times I was here with my sister and how we would play here and get in trouble. I wish that I was on the ocean where the ocean breeze would blow my hair and where there were no rules or responsibilities to abide by. No father to tell me what guy I will marry a place where I can choose my own husband. A place where I can be myself and not worry about what other people will think... How I wish I could escape this living cell that I live in. My father expects too much of me and is cruel if you don't do it right.

I know that I won't be able to escape but there is no harm in wishing I could be free to love, live and be myself. I really miss my sister she would always know what to say and I could tell her anything and she wouldn't get mad at me like my mother would. I don't even have my mother anymore she died a month after my sister and that left me alone in the world. There was no one that I could talk to and share my dreams or ideas with. There isn't a day that goes but that I wish my sister was here. I never really talk about her because it would make my father mad about them gone. Well I think that this is all that I will write for today.

Sincerely,

Iris Willinburgs'

She put her journal out of the way of the waves so that they wouldn't get her journal wet. She looked out to see again and saw a ship coming towards the beach at a fast but slow speed. She got up with her journal in hand. She went close to the cliff side into the shadows so that whoever was on the boat wouldn't see her right away. The boat got closer the stopped at the beach and then she saw ropes being lowered and men sliding down them. She saw that they were pirates by the way that they were dressed. They snuck along the beach to the cliffs side. Iris stiffened and moved farther down before they could bump into her. Whenever they got to close she would move further up the path. When she got to the slope she cursed softly and started to think that she would have to find a way up without being seen that was impossible.

She went to the ends of the shadows which was around the bend and took off in a run hoping to get around it before they rounded the bend. It wasn't her day they rounded the bend and saw her running and looked at each other and took after her. She looked over her shoulder and saw them coming so she ran faster and turned the bend and disappeared in an alcove. They followed her and noticed that she disappeared and looked around. "Well captain what should we do?" One of the pirates said. "We can't do anything right now. Hopefully she won't tell anyone about us?" The captain said. "I won't tell anyone?" They heard the girl said. "Where are you?" The captain said. "I think I'm safer if I don't tell you that." Iris said. "We won't hurt you." The captain said. "Maybe not but if I'm caught with you my father will." Iris said. The captain's face hardened. "Your father hits you?" The captain asked. "Only when I do something wrong." Iris said. "Come here please." The captain said gently.

Iris slowly came out until they could see her. The captain gasped at the sight of her she was beautiful. He noticed a scar on her face and felt cold fury run through him and he was startled he never felt that over a scar on anyone but this girl was different. The way she looked mad her seem like an angel an unearthly being. The crew all stared at her thinking that she was beautiful. "Why would your father punish you if he saw you with us?" The captain asked. "Because you are pirates aren't you?" Iris said. "Yes. But how…oh I know well what is your name?" The captain said. "What is yours?" Iris countered. The captain smiled and bowed Iris caught her breathe at the stance he was so handsome. "My name is Gabriel, Madam." Gabriel said. "Mine is Iris." Iris said. "What a beautiful name you have, Iris." Gabriel said.

All of the sudden they heard yelling and Iris looked up sharply and stiffened. "I got to go my father is calling me. He will get mad if I make him wait. You guys will have to be careful around here they don't take well to pirates." Iris said and was about to leave. "Will I see you again?" Gabriel said not wanting her to go. "I don't know." Iris looked at him and gave him a small smile. "But I hope that we do. Now I have to go. Be careful." Iris said. "You too." Gabriel said. Iris nodded and ran up the slope to the house where her father was calling her. "She was a beautiful lady." A crew member said. "Yes she was." Gabriel said. "Her eyes looked so sad and lonely." A crew member said. Gabriel made an 'hmm' and went up the slope and to the nearest town hoping that he would see the Iris girl again soon.

"Iris I want you to go to town and help Bert here get supplies for the castle." Iris's father said. "Yes father." Iris said and followed Bert. "I'm sorry that your father made you come with me. You can go to the cliffs or the beach and I will do it." Bert said. "No its fine I want to help. " Iris said smiling at Bert warmly. "Thank you Miss Wil…Iris." Bert corrected. Iris smiled and they went to the village. "We need a lot of things to get your father is having a party and is having a lot of people come." Bert said. Iris sighed because she knew what her father meant by having this party. He is looking for a suitable husband for her. "Oh, Bert I wish that he would let me choose my own husband, I know that I will end up with someone who will treat me like an object to be owned." Iris said sadly. Bert looked at her with a sympathetic gaze and just kept on walking.

They went in to all the stores that they needed and got the supplies that they would need for the party. "Hey Bert I'm going to go look around for a little while father wont expect us to be back for a little while." Iris said. "Sure Iris. Go ahead I will meet you at the entrance to the town." Bert said. Iris nodded and left and walked around a little looking at all the stores that were in the town. She looked in one store and saw the pirate she saw before on the beach. She saw that they were trying to buy something but the store owner wasn't letting them. She went in to see what the problem was. "I am not selling anything to pirates. You steal and kill I will not have my stuff sold to you." The owner said. "We are trying to pay for fair and square." Gabriel said. Iris walked up to the desk and the owner saw her and smiled. "Oh Iris what a surprise!" The owner said. "What seems to be the problem here?" Iris asked. "Oh nothing at all." The store owner.

Iris looked at Gabriel in question. "She wont let us buy what we need she says that pirates wont touch her stuff." Gabriel said coldly. "Is this true, Martha." Iris asked. "Yes, I don't want to sell to pirates." Martha said. "You will sell them what ever they want. If they are willing to buy it fair and square then there is no reason they can't. If they were going to steal from you they wouldn't try to buy it they would just take it. Money is money no matter who it is from. And I do not want to hear you call any pirate a thief or filthy unless you have proof that they stole. They are no different from us they are human and so are we." Iris said. "Your father wouldn't want to sell to pirates." Martha said. "He wouldn't care all he cares about is money and you know it." Iris said coldly. "That's not true." Martha said. "You listen hear and listen well all my father cares about is money and power. He doesn't love or care about anyone or anything but himself. He wasn't even sad when his first daughter died or his own wife. So don't tell me he doesn't care about money." Iris said coldly.

Martha looked down because she knew it was true and rung up what the pirates wanted. "Thank you." Gabriel said surprised that he saw her again and what she just said. "Its nothing we don't not sell to anyone no matter who it is." Iris said smiling at Gabriel shyly. Gabriel smiled at her in return and bowed a little. "By the way who is your father to hold so much power?" One of the crew members asked. "He is the ruler of this area and I am his daughter." Iris said looking down. "You look sad." Gabriel said. "My father is holding a party and it is to find me a husband." Iris said. Gabriel was disappointed in hearing that she was going to be married he didn't know why the thought of her with another man bothered him so much. "You do not want that?" Gabriel asked. "No I don't it ruined my sisters spirit so I don't want that to happen to me and I want to marry for love not money." Iris said softly.

"And your father doesn't approve of that?" Gabriel said. Iris laughed sadly and Gabriel felt bad. "Approve he would punish me for even suggesting it. My father is a very strict and cruel man he doesn't approve of much." Iris said. "What else do you want?" Gabriel asked as they waked out of the store. "I want to be on the ocean where there are no limits where you don't have the responsibilities that I have where you are free and can choose who you want to be. But I know that will never happen well at least not for me I am duty bound to follow my sister's foot steps and be an object to be shown off." Iris said sadly. Gabriel felt really bad and felt the sudden urge to take her into his arms and comfort her. "You like the ocean?" Gabriel asked. "I love the ocean. My sister and I would always go down there and play then get into trouble for not listening to our parents." Iris said smiling at the memories.

"How did your sister die?" Gabriel asked and regretted it at the lost and pained look on Iris's face. "She just faded away when father made her marry. She became a doll and just disappeared and died because she didn't care anymore. Her husband was so bad to her so I guess dieing was like an escape for her." Iris explained. Gabriel saw the tear that went down her cheek and reached out and wiped it away with his thumb. "I'm sorry." Gabriel said sincerely. "Its ok in a way I'm happy for her she got away and is free now and doesn't have to worry with all the responsibilities that I have to do." Iris said. "Do you ever try to escape?" Gabriel asked. "Yes twice I did I tried to kill myself by jumping off a cliff but I survived then I tried running away but they caught me and then I was in real trouble then by my father." Iris said.

"I'm sorry you had to go through all this." Gabriel said. "Its fine there's nothing you or I can do so don't worry about it." Iris said. Gabriel got mad and decided that he was going to help this girl escape from her father no matter what it took. "Don't worry I will help you escape." Gabriel said. Iris just smiled and continued walking to the entrance to the town. Gabriel knew that she didn't believe him and he didn't expect her to she has had so many disappointments that she gave up hope in escaping her father. He knew that he had to help her, he didn't know why he needed to help her but he just knew that he did and that he wanted to. When they got to the entrance of the village Bert was there waiting. "Well this is where I say my farewell. Goodbye Captain." Iris said. "Goodbye Iris. And I will help you escape from your father" Gabriel murmured. Iris smiled and went to Bert and they left and went home to her father who was waiting for them then they got ready for the party the day after tomorrow.

Gabriel had a determined face on as he walked through the town for the rest of the supplies. They didn't have anymore trouble with getting supplies. Gabriel was worried about Iris and what her father will do. He decided that he would go to that party the day after tomorrow. He would have to get the right clothes for the party. He still couldn't figure out why he cared so much but he did. His crew would think that he was mad to go through with this but he didn't care the look in her eyes when she thought about getting married haunted him. He couldn't stand to leave her with her father when he could save her at least try to. She deserved to have a good life. He didn't know what he would do with her once he saved her. Then he remembered she said she loved the ocean so maybe he could take her with him. He would just have to tell his men that she was under his protection and not to touch her. Then he thought about her father wondering if he would try to find her. He didn't think so he just wanted money but then again she would be marring into money.

"Captain are you really going to help her escape?" One of the mates said. "Yes." Gabriel said. "How are you going to do that captain?" Gabriel's second in command asked. "I'm going to go to that party she was talking about." Gabriel said. "If you take her wont he try and take her back?" He said. "I don't know Julian." Gabriel said. "What about Rose?" Julian said. "What about her?" Gabriel said. "She's going to be jealous and she will be mad." Julian said. "So she won't stop me from saving her." Gabriel said. Julian sighed and followed Gabriel to the ship to get some sleep. Gabriel stayed up thinking about Iris and what he is going to do. A knock on the door broke him from his thoughts. "Come in" Gabriel said. He saw that it was Rose who knocked on the door. "What has you so worked up Gabriel?" Rose purred. "Just some business that I have to take care of soon here." Gabriel said. "I can make you forget about it." Rose purred coming forward. "I don't feel up to it tonight it has been a long day and I'm tired." Gabriel said. Rose pouted and left, Gabriel shut the door and laid down on the bed.

Iris was in her room thinking of Gabriel and how handsome he was. She thought of how determined he was when he said that he would help her escape from her father. Even though she knew that it wouldn't happen she thought that it was very sweet. She took out her journal and thought that it would be a good thing to look back on in the future.

'Dear Journal7-17-1860

Today when I was leaving the beach a ship was coming and I found out that it was a pirate ship and I meet the captain and he was so handsome. Tall, well built so muscular, He had black hair and grey-silver eyes he looked unearthly. I wish that I could be his girl but I know that will never happen. He said that he would help me escape but I know that he couldn't but how I wish he could. I have had so many disappointments that is hard to believe that he would help me. No one can help me I am owned by my father and then to my husband I will never be my own person never belong to myself. I wish that if I have kids that they never have to go through this that they could make their own choices.
I know that I should just be with the life I have but I cant it's not fair that I have to live like this. I will never get to see the ocean like I want to, I will never get to love and be loved in return. I will never get to do a lot of things. It's hard to have this life but I will just have to deal with it and make the best of it. I will always be by the ocean though it is my home I couldn't be anywhere else. Well I should go to sleep we have a big day tomorrow preparing for the party the next day.

Sincerely,

Iris Willinburgs'

Iris put her journal away and went to her bed and laid down and went to sleep dreaming of Captain Gabriel.