Hey guys,

So this is my lame attempt at a Black Sails story.

Hope you enjoy!

"Well, well. This should be interesting."

For a moment Maria was confused as to what it was that Idelle was talking about. Her young eyes darted around trying to find this supposed source of interest.

"Charles fuckin' Vane"

Captain Charles Vane had just entered the building, accompanied as she understood he always was, by Jack Rackham and Anne Bonny.

Maria only recognised the man through Idelle's identification of him and the avid stories she had been told by the girls in Noonan's brothel, having never seen the man in person before. Whether they had been in his bed or just his presence the girls gave detailed descriptions of every facet of his detail and character.
Rackham and Bonny were recognisable only by their proximity to the man, well the red locks and low hat gave Bonny away also.

"Didn't know the Ranger had come back." Mused Idelle, and Maria looked at the older girl saying quietly

"Me neither."

"I'd get over there with some drinks if I was you. He's not best known for patience. Well go on!" instructed Idelle bumping Maria's hip with her own. Swallowing her nerves, Maria picked up her tray again, refilled the cups and began making her way over to where Captain Vane sat.

"And if he's looking for company, send him my way!" Idelle called after her with a wink and a chuckle as she sauntered off into the crowds of patrons.

Vane and company were sat in a back corner, behind the stairs. Bonny and Rackham seemed to be too engrossed in each other to notice Maria approach. Vane on the other hand was scanning the crowds intently and noticed her coming before she had taken four steps their way.

As she came closer, Maria felt her stomach erupt in nerves as all the stories of Vane and his crew came back into her mind. She had been in Nassau less than two months, worked for Miss Guthrie in this establishment for one, and for that month she had managed to essentially fly under the radar. No one really paid attention to you if it wasn't your job to keep their bed warm, and Maria was not one of Noonan's girls. Just as long as she kept drinks filled, no one paid her much notice. True, on her second night a man had pulled her into his lap with wandering eyes and groping hands, but Max, God bless her soul, had intervened at once, distracting the man long enough to let Maria detach herself and then explaining to the man in her soft way of speech that Maria was not there to serve them in that way.
Yes, staying unnoticeable was a talent of Maria's but it wasn't going to work with Charles Vane. She just hoped he wasn't quite as bad as some of the stories made him seem to be.

Carefully manipulating her tray, she placed three full cups of ale onto the table, keeping her eyes downcast. As she turned to leave a hand clamped down around her free wrist and she froze where she was, not wanting to look back at who she knew was the one holding her.

"I don't know you. Thought I knew all of Noonan's girls." Came a low gravelly voice and slowly Maria turned a little so as to look into the face of Captain Vane, whose eyes were boring into her own. She didn't meet his gaze for long, dropping her eyes and saying quietly

"I'm not one of Noonan's girls."

"Oh really? The fuck are you then?" came the response, along with a tightening of the grip around her wrist.

"No one. I just serve drinks." Her words were barely a whisper now, still staring at the ground. After a pause Vane slowly released her from his grasp, leaning back in his seat and saying casually as he did

"You got a name, no one?"

"Maria."

She didn't know why she told him. This wasn't what she wanted, didn't want to be known to a Captain, especially one like Vane.

Vane's eyes suddenly left her face and a smirk broke across his mouth and he got to his feet. Maria turned to see a very familiar figure marching across the tavern floor towards her current position. Eleanor Guthrie had a murderous look on her face and Maria was quick about backing out of her path.

"Ah Miss Guthrie!" crowed Vane, walking forwards with a grin on his face and his arms opened out as if he wanted to embrace her.

Maria's young eyes widened as she watched the woman who had first employed her, swing for, and land a solid punch to the left side of Vane's face. However she let out an audible gasp when Vane returned the blow, knocking Eleanor to the ground.

She hovered by a pillar nervously as Vane extended a hand to Eleanor, an offer of help back to her feet. When Eleanor ignored the offer, got to her feet and stormed away from the pirate, Maria was quick to follow her. Eleanor Guthrie had been kind to her since she had arrived on Nassau, and the punch had looked nasty. She followed Eleanor to a room in the back where the blonde was leaning forwards and examining the damage to her face in a looking glass on the wall.

"Miss Guthrie are you alright?" Maria asked nervously. Eleanor turned to her with a small smile that fell off of her face immediately as her eyes looked past Maria, who turned to find Captain Vane leaning against the wall behind her.

"Out." He ordered simply.

Maria hesitated, looking to Miss Guthrie first. Eleanor gave her an affirming nod and quickly and quietly hurried past Vane and out of the room.

As she re-entered the main room she saw Max in the corner, sitting in the lap of a tanned, dark haired man. Max was murmuring in the young man's ear and Maria had to stifle a giggle at the expression on his face. He just looked confused and almost a little bit afraid, like he thought Max was going to hurt him.

Eleanor Guthrie may have gotten Maria her job at Noonan's brothel, but it was Max who had really taken her under her wing, educating her on island life, protecting the young girl, defending her from the wandering hands of patrons. Max was her closest friend. From across the room, the gorgeous dark haired beauty caught Maria's eye and gave her a small smile and a wink before Max returned her attention to the man who's lap she occupied.

As Maria continued her work that night her mind kept considering the same sentiment;

It seemed Idelle had been right.

The infamous Captain Vane's return had indeed made things very interesting.

Ta da so that's chapter one!

Let me no what you think, positive and constructive critisicm welcome! Review or PM and let me know guys!

More soon.

Geronimo xx