Author's Note: I've been wanting to write this fic for a while now because I think it's a fun idea, so I'm putting this idea out there and hoping you guys will let me know if I should continue. Any feedback is appreciated but, either way, thanks for reading!
/
Chapter 1
I ran down the stairs, escaping the main deck as the other ship's crew readied to board our vessel. The initial few hits of cannon shot had successfully penetrated part of our hull and it wouldn't be long before The Ivory was sunk in the wake of its much larger and faster opponent.
Crashing through the cabin door, I hurried to the nailed-down wardrobe almost losing my legs from beneath me as the ship listed violently to the right and the sound of splintering wood filled my ears followed closely by a cacophony of pained screams. Those would be the last shots they fired, I knew; anymore and they wouldn't have time to loot the ship before the sea claimed it.
I yanked open the doors of the wardrobe and pulled off my shirt before grabbing a dress and swiftly tugging it over my head. Just as I finished tying the front laces of the bodice and straightening out the skirts' fabric, the cabin door was kicked in and two tall, savage-like men filled the entrance, swords drawn. I took a few steps back, knocking into the wall.
A cruel smile spread across the first man's face, barely visible under the scruff of his light brown beard. "Well, looky here… A ripe li'l wench, jus' fer me…"
/
The men took me back to their ship, the carnage now through. The scent of gunpowder hung heavy in the air and one last look at The Ivory showed the main mast was halved; the mangled bodies and random appendages of its crew were strewn across the massacred deck that was now slanted upwards as the stern of the vessel slowly began its descent into the depths of the Atlantic Ocean. Good riddance.
My body was crudely hurled onto the coarse planks by my captor and I landed on my hands and knees, keeping my head bowed and seeing only the scuffed black boots of, I presumed, his captain.
I was now aboard Lex Mare, a rather less-than-infamous ship despite its generous title, which I was told meant something roughly along the lines of 'The Law of the Sea' in Latin. With a name like that, one might believe it to be a government ship, and maybe it had been at one time, but it most certainly wasn't now.
Captain Winston Marrigan- though most referred to him as 'Blackwing'- ran this crew. He was barely even as notable as his ship yet I was aware of his brutal reputation, especially when it came to women. So, as I looked at the jeering faces of the men surrounding me, I knew exactly what they were thinking; I was without doubt- both literally and figuratively- screwed.
"Found this'un below deck, Cap'n. Tryna hide from us. Figger'd ya'd wan' a taste," my captor said, pride evident in his voice. It was like a cat bringing its kill to his master- no, scratch that… more like a dog fetching a bone, tail wagging and all. I was sure cats acted out of respect, whereas dogs did it more for attention and reassurance that they were, indeed, a good boy. Not to say I preferred either, but the distinction between their mentalities seemed to be an important thing to factor in at that moment.
Blackwing's foot came up, thumping me hard in the shoulder with enough force to flip me onto my back. I tried but failed to hold back the pained grunt that escaped my mouth; that would leave one hell of a bruise. Rubbing the injured spot for only a second, I scrambled to my feet and stood in front of him, not making eye contact and instead kept my gaze straight ahead, locked just below his chin. Well, I guessed it was in the vicinity of where his chin would be if it hadn't been shielded by a massive beard.
"I been thirstin' fer a blonde. How'd ye know?" Blackwing leered, showing the few brown stubs that still remained in his mouth. The only one that somewhat resembled an actual tooth was coated in gold and glinted in the midday sunlight. I supposed lacking the ability to chew might explain why there were chunks of rancid food stuck in his coarse, black beard. As if that stench wasn't bad enough, the acrid smell of his breath made my eyes water and I'm sure he mistook their inadvertent glistening for fear. Dear God, was his diet solely reliant on the rotted flesh of syphilitic seamen? I almost laughed and gagged at the same time, but, with a particularly herculean effort on my part, suppressed both urges and tried to dismiss the thought from my mind. I seriously needed to focus. "What're ye doin' on a ship, darlin'? Ye a whore er somethin'?"
I lifted my chin and finally met his eyes, noticing that the left one was clouded over, signaling its blindness. "I'm a surgeon, sir."
He guffawed and I flinched as small specks of spit hit my face. Luckily, I had anticipated such a reaction, sucking in a quick lungful of air and holding it beforehand so as not to be knocked back by his noxious breath. "Ye? I ain't ne'er heard o' a wench bein' a surgeon," he shook his head and then his one good eye lit up, "Ye mus' be somethin' noble, eh? Some poor fuck's prob'ly lookin' fer ya…"
He had a slight lisp and, for me, that somewhat dampened the threat of his imposing demeanor. "Ain't nothin' noble 'bout me, sir. I was taught by 'nother surgeon and had to take his place when he got killed," I said, attempting to use the normal language I had encountered on ships before. I hated sounding so ridiculous and uneducated. It was true that I had not been raised as a noble- or anywhere near well-off, for that matter- but I had studied basic grammar and annunciation, and I was usually proud to show it. Though, I did use the sailor vocabulary. It was a force of habit by now.
"That righ'? Well, how 'bout we continue this somewhere more private, lassie?" he said in a low tone. Turning to the crew, he raised his voice, "Search the grits 'til ye be arse-deep, men! An' make sure ye bring back the cap'n's head!"
He took hold of my upper arm with a bruising grip and started to pull me across the deck, but stopped when my initial captor called after him, "Cap'n, we got a few wounded an' Crisp's dead. We be needin' that whore if she be what she says!"
The corner of my mouth twitched but I didn't allow myself to smile when I saw that the crew had been significantly reduced. Only about eight men out of the original fifty were left able enough to man the frigate.
"Aye," Blackwing grunted. "She be tendin' to me first, fellas. Ye can do what ye want with her after. Well, what's left o' her."
With that, he started on his way again, dragging me below deck and to his quarters. Once we were in the room, he shoved me forward suddenly and I stumbled to the bed, slamming my shin into the wooden frame and cursing silently. I gathered myself and quickly turned to face him as he shrugged off his heavy black jacket and threw it to the floor- his grin a wide, nearly toothless gash across his face. I swallowed down my revulsion and gave him my best seductive smile. Approaching him slowly, I tried not to let it waver as his stench became stronger.
His own grin did falter, though, but only for a second, confusion clear on his face. He obviously wasn't expecting me to be submissive. I imagined no woman had ever willingly let him touch them unless, of course, he was paying for it and I wasn't sure how he would react, but his gruff laugh confirmed my expectations. He was definitely intrigued by this turn of events.
"I knew ye wasn't no bloody surgeon," he said.
I stopped in front of him and tilted my head to the side, my hand coming up to rest on his chest, "Got me there. You're a smart man," I whispered. "And strong… I like that." I raised myself on my tip toes, attempting to bring my mouth close to his ear, my hand on his chest balling up the fabric of his shirt and gripping it. "Now, let me show you who I really am." He let me lead him towards the bed, his one eye darkening with desire and his face flushing. I pushed him back onto the mattress then climbed on top of him, my lips hovering only inches above his. Praying I wouldn't gag and ruin the trance he was now in, I inhaled shallowly through my mouth. "Are you ready?" I breathed and he smiled, his eyes drifting shut when I started to lean in further. I reached under my dress and immediately gripped the hilt of the dagger strapped to my thigh.
In a swift movement, I pulled it from the sheath, slicing his throat deep enough to cut right through his vocal cords and render him mute, then jumped back as his eyes shot open and his hands came up to cover the spurting gash in a futile attempt to staunch the bleeding.
The blood spatter on my dress was unavoidable, but it was worth it. I forced myself to watch as he jerked violently for a several minutes before his eyes rolled back and his body became limp, giving up as the last of his life slipped away. It wasn't the first time I had killed someone but it was never easy- no matter how despicable the victim- and I hoped it never would be.
I turned around, startled, as the door creaked open behind me and the same bearded man who had found me below deck of The Ivory stood there, his eyes wide as he observed the scene. He walked in and shut the door behind him, "You couldn't have spared the mattress?"
My lip curled in disgust at his remark, "You think I would sleep on the same bed as that gutless swine? Who knows how many innocents have been tortured on that unholy alter? I realize it's been over a fortnight since our last meeting, but you surely know me better than that, Dyson."
"Aye, that I do. Just trying to lighten the mood," he said, abandoning his fake British accent and now speaking in his normal Scottish one. "The ship is ours, Captain."
I nodded, smiling at his use of my new title. I was finally captain of my own ship. "I wouldn't say it was hard won, except you damn near destroyed our ruse with that 'ripe little wench' line. I almost wanted to draw my blade on you."
"I'll admit it wasn't easy to keep up a menacing air while saying that," he said with a laugh.
The Ivory had reached its end of life and the crew was on the verge of mutiny due to their recent decline in profit. I had been aboard it for almost six months, working as their surgeon, and when the opportunity arose to obtain my own vessel, I happily seized it, doing away with the nefarious crew in the process. We had killed two birds with one stone; executing Blackwing was just an added benefit. "Any recruits?" I walked over to Blackwing's body and wiped the blade of my dagger on his shirt, not just to rid it of his blood but also to try and hide the fact that my hand was shaking.
"Three of the men still standing are sworn. The rest have been dealt with. Hale is seeing to which of the wounded are worth saving."
"With a ship this size, we'll be needing at least twelve to man it efficiently. Were any of yours lost?" I asked. Dyson and four of the other crewmen who'd been in on the deception, had left The Ivory two weeks ago, feigning desertion in order to gain their place in Blackwing's crew. They were to plant the seed in Blackwing's head; make sure he believed The Ivory an easy and profitable target, as well as get to know the men beneath him and find those who were most likely to accept a new captain. Those who refused were easily killed during the chaos of battle. No one expects a strike from their own side- and, much less, from a woman- during a routine raid. Catching them when their guard was down was the best strategy, otherwise, we would've been severely outnumbered. Not to say that we couldn't handle it, but why take the risk and most likely cause casualties for our side? I wasn't one for pointless bloodshed.
"All accounted for. Mason has a rather deep cut on his arm, but it's nothing stitches won't fix."
"So including me and Hale, that's ten. Hopefully we can find two more. If not, I suppose we'll have to manage," I reasoned. "What about provisions? Have we enough to last until we reach port?"
"More than enough. They just stocked up only a week ago. Should hold us over for another two, maybe three."
"We need to set course for Port Royal immediately. If we encounter any other ships out here, we'll surely be taken over with such a small crew- not to mention, we lack the amount of bodies we'd need to get through a storm."
"Aye. But this ship is much faster than The Ivory. With good wind and weather I swear I've seen the Lex Mare surpass her speed threefold."
I raised my eyebrows, "Impressive. It will definitely make things easier." He nodded in agreement and I looked down at the freshly bloodstained dress I wore. "Tell me you were able to retrieve my trunk in time…?"
"Aye. Should I get it?"
"Right away. I don't want to address our new crew members wearing this."
"I think it suits you," he said with a smile.
I rolled my eyes then gave him a smirk of my own, "I don't honestly trust your opinion of what is suitable at the moment since, frankly, that beard is not."
He thoughtfully stroked his facial hair. "Is that so? Because I was actually thinking of letting it grow."
"For the sake of whichever whore you choose to bed once we reach port, don't."
He laughed, "Well, for the sake of whichever whore you choose to bed… consider wearing dresses more often."
"Aye... But, seeing as I don't have to pay for women, I suppose no one's sake is in peril should I choose to ignore that advice."
He shook his head and went to leave then hesitated, pausing before he reached the door and turning back to me, his expression now serious, "There's… uh… there's something else I should tell you first."
"What is it?"
"Well, you're aware of Blackwing's… pass time, of course."
I fought off the shiver as it threatened to spread down my spine and then cast a glare behind me at the nearly exsanguinated corpse lying on the bed. "Yes. And I would've made him suffer more, had I the time." I faced Dyson once more, "Why do you bring it up?"
"There are two prisoners in the hold. Both are women."
My stomach dropped. "Are they alive?"
"They are."
I honestly didn't know whether or not to be relieved. The horrors they may have been subjected to would most likely plague the rest of their existence. I knew that the stories of Blackwing's fetishes were not just exaggeration. "Forget the trunk for now. Where's the sea master's cabin?"
He seemed to be caught off guard by the inquiry, "It's the next room over. Why?"
"Have someone get them and I'll be in there. I'm not sure they'll want to see this," I explained, motioning to the gory mess.
He nodded before leaving the room and I took the opportunity to search through Blackwing's desk and armoire, finding that the only things of real value were several sea charts, a few doubloons and a dagger with a jewel-encrusted hilt which, upon further scrutiny, I realized was fake. But that didn't mean it couldn't fool a less experienced merchant.
The dead man also had a small bounty on his head, so I would have to keep that along with the hand that donned his signet ring. And with some luck, we would find more loot elsewhere on the ship. I did have a crew to rebuild, after all, and it wasn't worth my dignity to resort to prying that golden tooth out of Blackwing's bloody mouth. It probably wasn't real, anyway.
/
Freddy, the youngest crewmember, soon arrived with the two prisoners, guiding them into the sea master's cabin. I was glad to see they were being cooperative at least. The last thing I wanted was for the boy to have to use force to get them here.
I observed them both but my attention was immediately gripped by the older one. She was my age, I reckoned, give or take a couple years. And though she looked every bit as if she'd dwelled in the filth of the hold for weeks- with her matted brunette hair, grimy skin and tattered clothing- she was still rather striking. But what really drew me to her was her dark brown eyes. They seemed almost familiar and I could tell right away that there was an undeniable will behind them that her captivity had not even begun to diminish. No, with a strength like that, this trial had only served to feed whatever spirit drove her. A subtle wave of arousal surged through me as our eyes locked and my muscles tensed.
I snapped out of my thoughts, a little wary of where I had allowed them to stray. I didn't even know this woman, did I? Inhaling a steady breath, I nodded to Freddy. He understood the silent command and left us.
"How did you come to be held on this ship?" I asked softly. "Are you courtesans?" The term was the polite way of asking such a thing but, not having any idea of what they'd been through, I did not want to strike them as just another ignorant criminal.
"Do we look like whores?" the younger one asked indignantly, her light blue eyes wide and full of resentment. I hadn't taken a decent look at her until now, having been too wrapped up in the other woman, but if I had paid her some attention to begin with I would've been able to avoid asking the offensive question. She did not seem a whore at all, though she was pretty. In all honesty, she was too skinny. Her lanky, boyish figure lacked the sensual curves of her companion- curves that threatened to disrupt my thoughts once more as I traced them with my eyes, my mouth going dry.
"I meant no disrespect," I assured the younger girl after I forced myself to focus on her again. "Are you nobility?"
"What if we are?" the older woman asked. Her voice was calm yet there was a distinct animosity underlining her tone as she held my gaze. "Why should we tell you? Who are you?"
I understood her wariness and mentally cursed my lack of manners. Surely they had more than enough reason for their distrust and here I was, covered in blood and trying to not come off as a threat. "My name is Lauren and I assure you, I do not wish to keep you prisoner. I wear the blood of your captor, so as far as I'm concerned, you're free. But don't take that as an invitation to let your guards down. You are still in the company of pirates," I warned the women. "May I ask your names?"
They both stared at me as though I had just told them I had wings and was about to take flight. This wasn't an unfamiliar response, though. A woman being a pirate was almost unheard of and hard to believe. I patiently waited for their minds to catch up to the idea and to what my words had insinuated about Blackwing's fate.
"My name is Bo," she finally said, then gestured to the other girl, "This is Kenzi."
"Pleasure to make your acquaintances. Now, will you tell me why you were imprisoned?"
"We snuck onto the ship… dressed as men," Bo answered.
I looked her up and down again, wondering how she thought she could possibly pass as a man with those curves. Even Kenzi, who could easily hide her figure with loose clothing, had too feminine of features with her high cheekbones and long lashes. And, not to mention, neither woman had bothered to cut their long dark hair. I was sure I was looking at them as though they were the delusional ones now and tried to hide it. "How did you pull that off?"
"Clearly not well," Kenzi said, "We were discovered."
"And Blackwing didn't kill you?" Knowing his reputation, that was hard to fathom. Most captains would have gotten rid of them immediately. Unless their punishment had ended up being something worse.
Bo shook her head, "Dyson lied and said we were nobility and that there was a large reward for our safe return. He saved our lives… made sure we were fed and kept the other men away so they wouldn't… hurt us."
"I understand. I'm glad he was able to prevent anything from happening to you two." Now I didn't have to worry that harm had befallen them and could speak freely. "I believe we'll be landing in Port Royal in about a week. You two can take your leave once we arrive, though I think it best you remain in here until then. I'll see what I can do about bathing and fresh clothes."
"Wait," Bo said as I made my way to the door. I stopped and looked at her. "Can we stay aboard the ship? I, um… Well, I'm decent with a sword and Kenzi can sew… amongst other things. You've not many in your crew right now-"
"I'm sorry, but I'm afraid that's not wise. As I've said, you are among pirates. Ensuring your safety while on this ship would be too much of a burden. I, myself, am no threat as long as you stay in line, but the men are a different story. And they believe women bring bad luck."
"But you're a woman," Kenzi said.
"I am aware of that. And you cannot imagine the things I've done to survive this long," I told her. I was not in the mood to explain myself to them but I kept my calm. "I also have a decent understanding of medicine and I am a skilled navigator, as well as the captain of this ship. If they were to lose me, that would be bad luck."
Once again, the looks of disbelief crossed their features. These women were far from pirates, though it was clear they had some sort of shady past. This ship was probably the first they'd been on and their want to remain on it set alarms off in my head. I may have had a wider range of knowledge than most pirates I had encountered, but I had picked it up from serving on ships most of my life and the rest I had taught myself. They may not have been nobility, but they had obviously come from a better life than I. These were two women on the run from something and I had more important matters to take care of than getting myself wrapped up in their problems, whatever they may be.
"I will have Dyson come by with food, clothes and, if it's possible, water to bathe with, since I trust him and I assume you do, too. If you've suffered any injuries, let him know and we'll see that they are remedied. Just, please, remain in this cabin and refrain from walking the decks unescorted," I asked of the two before quickly walking out of the room and closing the door behind me to avoid further questions.
I made my way back to the captain's cabin. I supposed it was my cabin now, but I refused to think of it as such until the body and sullied mattress were removed. For the next few nights before we reached port, I would have to sleep elsewhere, which was greatly disappointing. I had been looking forward to reuniting with my loyal crewmembers because, for the past two weeks aboard The Ivory, I'd had to take short naps so as not to be accosted in my sleep.
Dyson must've delivered my trunk to the room during my absence and I was grateful. But I was also somewhat confused by the fact that he had neglected to mention how he stuck his neck out for Bo and Kenzi. I tried to shake the image of Bo's eyes from my mind and got dressed, my comfort level increasing significantly once I had removed the binding bodice and pulled on the loose white shirt, tied a blue sash around my waist and strapped on the leather sheath that held my cutlass. I hadn't had time earlier to rid myself of my breeches before putting on the dress, but luckily the skirts had been billowy enough to hide that blunder.
When I opened the door, Dyson was already standing outside in the hall. "We got another recruit. He suffered a stab to the gut but he's young- no more than eighteen. He'll be able to work in a few days."
"And the rest?"
"Sent 'em overboard. Either too wounded or too stubborn to join."
I nodded and began to walk towards the stairs that led up to the deck. There was a chance some, if not all of the new men, would retract their loyalty once they saw that their new captain would be a woman. We had thought ahead, however. In order to sweeten the transition, Dyson had ensured that not only the surgeon had been killed in battle, but also the navigator, which was one of the most crucial things needed to sail- only second to the ship, itself, frankly. With my skills, I had a better chance of garnering some respect while guaranteeing they would not try to harm me, seeing as I was their only hope of making it back to port, unscathed. And maybe I would also have time to prove myself a capable leader.
"I made sure to keep one man who will without doubt refuse, just in case you have to make an example. Trust me- he deserves it," Dyson said.
"Aye. How will I know which one?"
"Oh, you'll know..."
We reached the deck and I took in the four unfamiliar men, keeping my expression blank as one of them raised his eyebrows and let out a low whistle. A quick glance at Dyson confirmed that this was the man of whom he spoke.
He was the oldest of the recruits, probably late forties. His shaved head shone with sweat and he had a tattoo of a black snake that ran up the side of his neck to his ear then curved so that its open, fanged mouth looked as though it was poised to take a bite out of his right eye. I didn't quite understand what it was meant to signify; most pirates were very precise in how they chose to mark their bodies since such a distinguishing feature made it difficult to go unnoticed if you had a price on your head. The markings I'd seen before usually symbolized some nickname or were just there to intimidate others. I assumed it was an attempt at the latter and, in my opinion, a failed one.
"You managed to save the pretty bitch, aye? She a gift for our loyalty?" the man asked with a lecherous grin.
Dyson took a quick step forward, leaning in close to the shorter man's face and growling, "You will refrain from speaking in such terms when referring to your captain, sailor."
The man's smile quickly turned to a sneer and his eyes sought mine as Dyson backed away. "I ain't takin' orders from no bloody wench," he stated before spitting at my feet. I looked down, seeing that his aim had been marginally off and had left my boots untainted, then raised an eyebrow at him.
"Aye, is that so? And what, may I ask, is your role on this ship, old man?" I was sure to keep my distance, remaining where I stood several feet away so I could see his whole person. I knew Dyson had made sure to disarm the men before I arrived, but one could never truly be too careful when it came to a seasoned pirate. Sleight of hand was a common and necessary skill.
"I'm a solid marksman," he bragged, lifting his chin. "Best you ever laid eyes on, I'd wager."
Almost smiling at the challenge, I drew my knife and flung it before he could move a muscle. His head snapped back with force as the blade pierced through his right eye, plummeting into his skull, and his body collapsed in a heap, dead before it hit the deck.
My crew didn't show any reaction to the sudden slaughter, though Dyson and Hale were the only members privy to my talents. However, the remaining three recruits, all much younger than their fallen mate, gasped and stared at me, eyes wide and faces pale. Dyson walked over to the body and, pressing his boot to the motionless chest, pulled my knife free before taking out a handkerchief and casually wiping the blade.
I regarded the recruits coolly. "I suggest you question your value to me before challenging my authority on this ship, lest you be easily replaced. I'll not tolerate any level of insolence from my crew. Is that understood?"
Three eager replies of 'Aye, aye, Captain' were spoken as the boys nodded their heads vigorously.
"Welcome to the crew, men. I'm Captain Lauren Lewis."
/
I stood at the head of the ship while Dyson manned the wheel at the other end. The sun had left the sky hours ago and the sea rested calm beneath the infinite stars as I neared the end of my calculations. Navigation was a tedious process but it was necessary. Fortunately, the sea charts proved more in depth than I'd first thought, making my job a lot easier by showing where the shallow waters, reefs and trading routes were located to avoid any disastrous surprises on our voyage back to Port Royal. At our current position, the journey would last six days at most if the weather remained amenable.
Dyson had spent most of the day with the crew as they worked to mend the damage from the earlier battle, so I had yet to speak to him about our temporary passengers though they kept creeping to the forefront of my mind and making it hard to focus on my own duties. I sighed and rested the sextant atop the charts, leaning over them and closing my eyes for just a moment.
The hair on the back of my neck stood at attention when I realized I wasn't alone. The person who softly stole up behind me neglected to announce their presence, which meant they could be a threat. I pulled out my dagger and spun around, pushing the figure against the rail and holding my blade to their throat.
Bo gasped, her eyes squeezing shut, and I relaxed my grip a touch so as not to cut the delicate skin of her throat. "Christ, woman! Do you have a death wish?" She slowly opened her eyes and I almost regretted my actions when I saw that they were bright with panic. "Mark these words, love," I whispered, relieved that I was able to keep the ice in my tone despite the unwanted and unsettling feeling in my gut. "Never, ever sneak up on a pirate. Next time, I won't hesitate to serve you the same fate as Blackwing. Savvy?" I didn't mean the words, honestly, but her carelessness could have cost Bo her life and threatening her seemed to be the best way to get it through her head. Besides, I had an image to uphold and I couldn't risk showing weakness for a pretty face.
She swallowed and nodded, her hand hesitantly coming up and resting over my fist that gripped the knife. The second her skin made contact with my own, it felt as though everything around us faded away. Without thought, I began to lower the weapon; my focus on the fact that her face was only mere inches from mine. Now that she had washed up, her skin was its natural pale tone and her hair was softer than silk as the breeze caused it to brush the back of my hand.
"I'm very sorry, Captain…?" she trailed off, her eyebrows raising in a silent inquiry for my name.
"Lewis," I answered after a beat, almost forgetting. "Captain Lewis."
The side of her mouth twitched upwards, a shallow dimple beginning to form at its edge, and her eyes flickered to my lips before burning into my own once more. My heart pounded with almost unbearable anticipation when she began to lean closer and I was engulfed by a sudden flood of warmth as my body throbbed with the most intense want I had ever experienced. It seemed as though those few seconds lasted an eternity, but I didn't dare move; I couldn't so much as draw breath for fear that even the slightest shift would keep me from the sweet relief her lips silently vowed.
A sharp whistle abruptly rang out and she let me go, grimacing in pain and using her hands to cover her ears. I stumbled back, my chest heaving as my starved lungs gasped for air and my mind racing as the fog of arousal lifted and left me dumbfounded. I stared at her, trying to make sense of what had just happened, but her head was turned away from me. I followed her line of sight.
"Captain," Hale nearly shouted as though it wasn't the first time he'd said it.
"Aye?" I rasped.
He sent a wary look to Bo, then set his gaze on me, "Everything alright?"
"Aye. It's fine." I was starting to regain my composure and it was anger that now heated my face. "Escort the lady back to the sea master's cabin," I ordered, not sending even a glance Bo's way. I started towards the stairs leading to the main deck but stopped near my dark-skinned crewman, keeping my voice low, "Then tell Dyson I request his presence in my room immediately."
/
A knock at my door disrupted my furious pacing. I yanked it open to see Dyson and grabbed him by his shirt, pulling him inside and slamming the door. "Why didn't you tell me Bo was Fae?!" I whispered harshly, not wanting the women in the next room to hear.
He furrowed his brow, "How do you know about that?"
"She used her power on me! She could've killed me, Dyson!"
"We both know that's not possible, Lauren. Besides, Bo wouldn't be so reckless-"
"It is and she would- right on the bloody deck! I was fortunate it was Hale who found us and not another crewman!"
Crossing his arms over his chest, he tilted his head to the side with a smug look, "Well, did you provoke her?"
His blatant amusement only served to agitate me further. "How it happened does not matter. What matters is that it did, and I know you can smell Fae. Is that why you protected them? Christ! Is the other one Fae, too?!"
"No, Kenzi is human," he answered. "I realize I should have told you earlier, but Bo promised me she would not cause any trouble. Are you certain she used her power?"
"Yes, I'm certain!" I raked a hand through my hair then shook my head in disbelief. "What the hell is she?"
"She's a Succubus. She… well, she feeds off of sex. I'm not quite sure how it works- I've never actually met one before. I can assure you, though, she is in no way connected with the Ash or the Morrigan. She was somehow able to slip through the cracks before her ceremony. But she would tell me no more than that."
"And what makes you believe her? Have you gone completely mad in my absence? How could you so foolishly put not only your own life, but also mine and Hale's, in the hands of a woman you barely know?" I asked him, then froze as he looked away. "You're fucking her, aren't you?"
"No, I'm not," he shot back firmly.
I nodded, a humorless laugh escaping my lips, "Aye. But you want to." He didn't have an answer for that. "Have you forgotten why we are doing this?"
"No, I haven't. I think she could be useful to us."
I stared at him in incredulity, exhaling a sharp breath, "You mean you want her to join us? I refuse to make her one of our crewmembers just because you'd fancy her to service your member."
He bit his lips to suppress a laugh then straightened his face. "If her influence worked against you, then she must be rather powerful, Law," he reasoned gently, using the nickname that I'd had since I was younger. It wasn't so much a nickname as a separate identity I had come up with when I dressed as a boy in order to survive on my own. That was how we had met almost twelve years ago; I had snuck aboard the ship he was serving on, unaware that it was run by a solely Fae crew. Until my rude awakening, I had not known such creatures even existed outside of lore. The only reason I had not been killed was because the captain- he was called the Ash- had found out I was immune to Fae abilities and had seen it as an advantage.
Sometimes when Dyson called me by that name, whether it be in endearment or to remind me of our shared past, I instantly felt like that person again; the helpless girl who had fled one life of slavery only to find herself thrown into another with no hope of escape.
"You should give her a chance, she might surprise you. I wouldn't ask this if I thought you were in danger," he offered.
I knew he was speaking the truth, but I still didn't like the sound of having a Fae who could influence me as she had, being aboard my ship. "She used her powers on me and you expect me to trust her?"
He raised an eyebrow, "You realize that she didn't have to stay locked in that hold, don't you? She could've done away with Blackwing but she didn't for the sake of discretion. If you were threatening her life, then her use of her power was not necessarily out of line."
Rubbing a hand over my eyes, I took a moment and struggled to logically consider his argument. Finally, I conceded, "We have about six days until we reach port. I'll decide then on whether or not they stay. But if she ever tries anything like that again, I'll have the bitch keelhauled."
Dyson laughed then nodded, "Aye, aye, Captain."
/
The next morning…
((Bo's POV))
I cringed at the sound of the stale biscuit breaking between my teeth as I sat on the edge of the bed in the sea master's cabin. Hardtack wasn't anything new to me since it was all Kenzi and I were given to eat while we were being held in the brig, but I had thought now that we were no longer captives we might be fed better. It was possible that everyone on the ship was forced to eat this, yet I couldn't help but think that my actions towards the captain the night before had ruined our chances of getting decent food. Kenzi hadn't said as much, but I knew she was thinking the same thing by the way she kept glaring at me while she gnawed on her breakfast.
"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to happen," I finally said when I couldn't take the tense silence anymore.
"I thought you said you had things under control," Kenzi muttered, tossing her half-eaten biscuit aside. It bounced off the bedside table with a loud knock before hitting the floor and rolling under the bed. I sighed. A life at sea was not as great as Bishop had made it out to be.
"I did. I mean, I do! I just… I wasn't thinking." I was tired of trying to explain myself and I'd already dealt with Dyson's reprimands last night so I didn't need hers as well. "You weren't there. She had a knife to my throat, Kenzi… and I just wanted her to like us so that we could stay. How was I supposed to know she'd realize what was happening? She's human." I knew I had used too much influence on her, though, because I was drained. We'd reach land by the week's end, but I wasn't sure if I could wait that long to feed. If I tried, then I might really lose control. The thought made me shiver.
Having been my friend for over two years now, Kenzi was sensitive to my stages of hunger. "You have Dyson. I'm sure he'll help you if it comes down to that again. Killing the captain isn't going to get us anywhere."
"I wasn't going to kill her!"
"You think I didn't see the way you were looking at her yesterday? And the way she was looking at you? You know we can't risk being-"
"I know!" I stood up and began to pace the small room, "But she needs to relax. I didn't hurt her or anything. I thought we could talk but she's just so… I don't know… cold."
"She's a woman on a ship- and captain at that! Of course, she would have to be intimidating in order to survive. If Dyson and Hale hadn't protected us you know what could've happened."
There was a knock at the door before I could reply. I went to open it, hoping it was just Dyson but finding Hale standing there instead.
"The captain wants you top deck," he said and I glanced at Kenzi.
Her face mirrored the anxiety I felt inside as she timidly asked, "Both of us?"
Hale shrugged, "You might as well come, too."
When he looked at me again, I saw the same look of suspicion that he'd given me last night. I winced inwardly, remembering the sharp pierce of his whistle. When I was first told he was a Siren, I'd not thought much of it. He had always been nothing but kind towards me and Kenzi, but he didn't seem so harmless now that I had endangered his captain. I still couldn't understand why he and Dyson took orders from a human, but I guess there was a lot I didn't understand about the Fae.
We hadn't made any attempt to move from the room and Hale sighed, "I strongly suggest you do not keep her waiting."
/
After two weeks living in the darkness of the hold, the sun was almost blinding when we stepped out onto the main deck and the sails snapped loudly as the wind filled them. I didn't have the broad shoulders to fill out the white shirt I'd been given, so the cuffs hung down over my hands and I rolled the sleeves up to my elbows. I still wasn't use to wearing men's clothing but I had to admit they were a lot more comfortable than women's, though the stays were a little tight. They were clearly meant for a woman with smaller breasts, which I wished I had. Being around all these men while practically bursting out of my undergarments was not ideal.
A loud metallic clanging brought my attention to the other side of the deck where the crew was gathered around two figures, cheering and goading them on as their swords clashed. It didn't take long to realize they were only fighting for sport, to my relief. The feeling was short-lived, though. Once I brought a hand up to shield my eyes from the sunlight, I could see that one of the fighters was the captain and the other was a large dark man I didn't recognize.
I watched as the man charged towards the captain, blade swinging, and almost had to close my eyes. I wasn't exactly fond of the woman, but that didn't mean I wanted to see her be killed. To my surprise, however, she effortlessly blocked his attack, side-stepping as the man continued to move forward, and I cringed when she slammed the hilt of her sword into the back of his neck. The crowding crewman moved out of the way to avoid being knocked down as the man stumbled, the rail being the only thing to stop his forward motion. He steadied himself and straightened up but it was too late; the captain had the tip of her blade pressed to his back. Had it been a real fight, she would have run him through, piercing his heart, and he would be dead.
"Aphrodite's fuckin' tit, Bo," I heard Kenzi whisper in amazement and maybe horror. I looked over at her, a little worried myself. "Do you think she's going to kill us?"
"I hope not."
"Well, that's reassuring," she said, crossing her arms.
The man raised his hands, shouting, "I yield," and the captain lowered her blade, taking a step back. I would've expected the man to be sore-hearted, having just been bested by a woman, but he laughed and turned around, rubbing his neck. "Got me good there, Cap'n."
"No bad blood, aye, Mason?" she asked.
"Aye. Not a drop."
Hale had gone to join the crowd of men and I saw Dyson walking towards us out of the corner of my eye. I turned to look at him as he approached.
"How fare ye?" he asked, his voice bright. At least he didn't seem mad anymore. His skin glistened with sweat and I assumed he had been fighting before we arrived.
"We, uh, we fare well. How fare you- ye?" I stuttered and heard Kenzi groan as Dyson laughed. It was hard trying to talk like the sailors. She was used to it, having grown up in the city. I wasn't and it showed.
Dyson turned away to look at the captain when she said his name and I kept my eyes on the deck as she came up to us. I was too nervous to look her in the eye, afraid of what I might see. My hunger was also flaring. Her aura had not faded, in spite of what had happened, and Dyson's wasn't much less. Being so close to them made me uneasy, especially since they were both more than appealing when I wasn't drained.
"If I remember correctly, you said you were decent with a sword," the captain said and it took a minute for me to realize she was speaking to me. I looked up, trying not to show my shock. I did say that, didn't I? I inwardly cursed my stupidity. The truth was I'd never used a sword in my life, besides the wooden ones I'd played with as a child. I had lied out of desperation the day before and, because she had still dismissed the request to stay aboard, I had completely forgotten.
"Y-yes- I mean, aye… Captain."
She raised her eyebrows and I noticed the scar that cut through the left one, leaving a small bare line. There were three other small scars I could see on her face; one on the bridge of her nose, one on the right side of her upper lip, and another on her chin. I wondered how many scars were concealed by her clothing, letting my eyes travel to her sword arm. She had rolled the sleeve up to her shoulder and I saw several more faint lines varying in size littering the tanned skin. I also couldn't help but notice how the lean muscles of her upper arm were tensed and well-defined. I had a unexpected urge to reach out and run my hand over them but immediately realized I was letting my hunger take over and averted my gaze. I caught Dyson's eye and saw the disapproval there. I wasn't sure if he had seen me studying the captain or if he was upset about my lie since he knew that I had no such skill with swords.
"Well, then let us see it," the captain said. A slight smile curled her lips and there was a glint of mischief in her eye. She had found me out.
"I'll spar with her," Dyson offered and I wondered if he had caught onto the captain's game, too.
"Nonsense, Dyson. She said she was decent, not exceptional. We want her to have a chance, aye?"
Perhaps this wasn't the best time to be proud, but I refused to step down from the challenge and give her the satisfaction. "Aye," I answered with more confidence than I actually possessed. I saw the expression of worry on Kenzi's face but ignored it.
The captain tilted her head, holding out her weapon, hilt-first, "You can use my sword, seeing as you don't have one." Once I took it, she turned on her heel and headed back towards the gathered men and Dyson nodded for me to follow her. "We have a new recruit looking to join our crew, boys," she announced and suddenly all eyes were on me, the men whistling and shouting as I made my way to the center of them all. "Wesley, you're up!"
At the captain's call, one of the men stepped into the clearing and stood across from me, eying me greedily with a grin. He was only a few years older than me from what I could tell, but a good few inches taller and well-built. If he hadn't have been so filthy, he may have even been handsome.
I saw Dyson and the captain take their place, standing behind the man. Dyson's jaw was set and he obviously wasn't thrilled with this turn of events. The captain was holding a leather satchel and had her attention focused on rummaging through its contents. The man, Wesley, took his stance and I tried my best to mimic him, holding out the sword. It was heavier than I thought it would be and it took a lot to keep it from shaking as fear pumped through my veins.
Another glance past him and I watched as the captain pulled out a T-shaped object and held it up towards the sun. She was going to send me to my death and couldn't even be bothered to watch? Anger replaced my fear and I was ready to take my frustration out on Wesley, but then the captain called out, "Stand down!" and he lowered his sword. Not sure what was happening, I did the same. "Sorry, fellas, we'll have to pick this up later," she said and a chorus of groans answered. "They're all yours, quartermaster," she told Dyson. He immediately began to shout orders and the men scrambled away in every direction. The captain made her way over to me and held out her hand. I gave her the sword back and she sheathed the weapon before locking her eyes on mine, her stare cold once more, "You lied to me about being able to fight. If we'd been attacked and I still thought you to be capable, you would be dead right now. You do understand that, don't you?"
Her irritation only fueled my own. I stood my ground and replied in a low voice, "I have other talents with which to defend myself, as you already know, Captain."
The muscle in her jaw twitched and she looked around quickly before grabbing my upper arm and pulling me out of earshot of the crewman. "Talents you cannot use in front of humans, which most of the crew are, without endangering us all. Did Dyson not explain that to you?"
If she hadn't been wearing those boots, we might have been roughly the same height. But as it was, I had to look up at her when I spoke. "Aye. He did," I said, pretending to not be affected by her scolding. I wasn't going to let this woman get to me, but being pigheaded wasn't working. She didn't have to like me, but I wanted her to be able to tolerate me so I could stay aboard. It was obviously time to switch tactics. "I am truly sorry, Captain. It was foolish of me to mislead you."
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at me and I could tell she was wary of my sudden change in behavior. "Aye… Just don't lie to me again."
"I won't," I answered and she turned her head to regard Dyson who stood by the wheel.
"Get to it, men! I'll not have idle hands on this ship! Any man not at their station will answer to the cat!" he shouted and all the men called back, "Aye!" in unison.
"What's the 'cat'?" I asked.
"Cat o' nine tails," she answered absently and I continued to stare at the side of her head, waiting for her to elaborate. She finally turned back to me with a look of confusion, "You don't know what that is?" I shook my head and she let out a humorless laugh, "My, haven't you led a charmed life?" She sighed and looked past me. "Is the other girl a seamstress or was that a lie as well?"
"No. Kenzi can sew."
The captain nodded and waved Hale over. "Show Kenzi the tears you spotted earlier in the sails. She may be able to fix them."
"What should I do?" I asked after Hale left.
"I suggest you speak with Dyson. He's in charge of the crew, I'm in charge of the battles. Tell him I've made you the new swabbie and he'll put you to work," she said before removing the three-cornered hat from her head and holding it out to me. "With skin as fair as yours this might help lessen the burn of the sun. I'll see to it that Kenzi receives one also."
I took the hat, a little surprised yet moved by the thoughtful gesture. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad. "Thank you."
She seemed to become uncomfortable at my words and looked away for a second, then said, "Just do as Dyson says and perhaps you can remain unacquainted with the cat for a little while longer, aye?"
Having seen soldiers do it to their superiors before, I raised my hand and touched two fingers to my forehead in salute, "Aye, aye, Captain."
The captain gave me an unamused look. "Put your hand down. This isn't the bloody Royal Navy," she muttered with a slight shake of her head, then walked away.
I rolled my eyes and started towards Dyson. There was no winning with this woman, I realized. The only thing to do was prove I could pull my own weight on the ship. "The captain said to tell you that I'm the new swabbie," I said once I was standing in front of Dyson.
He laughed, "You're rather gifted at pissing her off, eh?"
"I'm trying not to but she doesn't make it easy."
"Don't take it personally. She did give you her hat, afterall. Maybe you two will get along yet."
"Aye. Maybe," I answered half-heartedly, putting the tri-corn on and adjusting it to block the sun. "So what do swabbies do?"
"First, you'll be needing a bucket and a brush," he said and I followed as he began walking. "The swabbie is the ship's boy- well, girl in your case. It doesn't take any real skill. You scrub the decks, help in the galley, and do whatever else I assign you. The main deck is cleaned at night, but Freddy will handle that." He stopped by the barrel full of water and grabbed the bucket sitting beside it, filling it little by little with a large ladle. "He's cleaning the brig right now, so head down there and help him. When you're done, you report back to me and we'll go from there, aye?"
I fought to keep my nose from wrinkling in disgust at the mention of the brig. That was the last place on the ship I wanted to be. Well, second to last, I decided after catching a glimpse of the reticent captain. "Have to start somewhere, aye?" I gave Dyson a small smile to cover my contempt and took the supplies from his hands.
"Aye. Good attitude, sailor. Hopefully, you can hang onto it."
/
