CHAPTER 1
Erica walked the streets of Port Royal. It was a warm summer's day, the sun could be seen through the clouds.
Houses surrounded the streets, as did the flowers and vegetable gardens. Cats, dogs, goats, birds, and chickens roamed the streets along with the people.
A blacksmiths shop sat at the end of the street, a dark long tunnel leading to the docks was beside the shop.
Up the hill was the governor's house. Which he shared with one daughter, and a "million" helpers. The walkway up to the house was covered in granite stones, surrounded by many freshly green shrubs.
Erica's head moved from left to right, her eyes discovering every brick in the buildings. Many of the buildings she passed were stores.
Erica had long, curly, brown hair, a little past her shoulders. In her hair she wore a black bandana, with beads sprouting out of the top. And resting on her forehead. Her eyes were brown, the color of her hair. She had big, lushly rose pink lips, going well with her many freckles on her nose and cheekbones.
Erica wore a white long sleeved shirt that cut a "V" shape down past her color bones; brown breeches, down past her knees, but her boots made them look leg length; and a sword belt across her chest.
Erica sighed and kept on walking straight, her mind racing, from thought to thought. All about what would happen when she got there. Her vision becoming clearer from blurry, Erica saw to lieutenants coming at her; fast.
She darted in the nearest building. It turned out the building she was looking for, she was in. 'Wow! So many beautiful things. Things that I wish were mine,' she thought to herself.
Erica walked around the room, her hands searching the porcelain vases. One vase was lilac with a merchant ship on it. The one next to it was all black except for a white skull and two swords behind it. Erica thought, 'The symbol of the Black Pearl!'
"Hello?," rang a voice coming from the upstairs. She spun around quickly, staring at the stairs and only the stairs. "Hello?"
A young woman about the age of 23 (same age as Erica) came down the stairs; her beautiful yellow dress flowing on the steps.
Her slender hand rolled down the stairs post. Her black hair was tied up in a bun; some of her curly bangs falling before her bright green eyes.
"Erica!," exclaimed the woman, running over to her and holding Erica's hands in hers.
"Julia," Erica replied in her gentle but bored voice. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled at Julia.
"So you made it alright?, " said Julia, taking her hands away and clapping them together.
"I look alright, don't I?," asked Erica, holding her hands out at her sides and shrugging.
Julia sighed disappointment, but kept a smile on her face. When she smiled, she had little dimples. Julia's smile would cheer anybody up, that's why when she smiled, Erica couldn't keep her face straight; she smiled too.
They walked out to the back, where it looked out onto the fresh, blue ocean. Many ships sailed around in circles, warding off enemies. (Pirates)
Erica breathed in fresh, clean air and closed her eyes. Julia looked at her and asked, "Have you found a crew yet?" She kept her eyes shut meaning a "No" "A ship even?"
"I'll find a crew and ship when I go to Tortuga."
"And when is that?," Julia's tone became serious and concerned.
Erica opened her eyes and looked at her, "When I get around to it. Don't worry, I'll find her."
Julia half smiled and looked out to the water, along with Erica.
"Come on! She's in here!"
Both their heads spun around to look at the door. Erica pursed her lips and started to slowly inch away, but Julia grabbed her shoulder. Her face showing confusion on it.
"Forgot to pay me shilling for me boat. People here take everything so seriously," said Erica running out of view.
Just as Erica disappeared, four soldiers came bursting through the door. Julia gasped and grabbed the sides of her dress, the fabric running through her fingers.
"Where is she?," asked one soldier, roughly.
"Gone," smiled Julia. He growled and led the other soldiers out.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Erica steered her small little boat that she rode in to Port Royal. It was so small that it only had two sails.
A rather large crate caught her eyes. It seemed to be moving like quivering.
Erica eyed it, the kohl around her eyes cutting off on the glare. She let go of the wheel and slowly walked up to the crate, pulling out her flintlock pistol.
She lifted her foot to kick the top off, but the top came off with no kicking, only pushing.
Two outstretched hands came out, holding onto the sides. Erica leaned over, ready to fire.
"Julia?!"
Se hoisted herself out, her long legs cracking. "It's really uncomfortable in there," she looked up to see the pistol being placed back into it's holder. "Were you really gonna shoot me?"
"Why are you here?," said Erica, angrily.
"I figured if you were to choose the crew, the ship and how the journey goes. I should approve of all those things, seeing how this is my errand you are running," said Julia walking around the boat.
"You're not coming. It's to dangerous," said Erica sternly and standing her ground.
Julia spun around quickly on her heel, facing Erica, "She's my sister, I won't let her die!"
There was a long pause before Erica responded to that remark, "Welcome aboard Ana Maria's boat. We shall turn back and stop at the blacksmiths shop for some supplies"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Erica and Julia once again walked the streets of Port Royal. They approached the sign saying: J. Brown, it had a sword and axe above the name.
Julia entered first holding the door open for Erica, but she slammed it open making a ruckus.
"Will will be able to help us. WILL!," said Julia. Erica half smiled and looked around.
She spotted a rapier in it's sheath lying on a table next to a huge machine. A little donkey stood at one end and pulled the wheel, making the machine move. Across from the doorway was a fire pit where many sword blades laid.
Many small tables were covered with many tools and papers.
"WILL!"
"Stop yelling, I'm here," said a young man about the age of 26. He had his brown, caramel colored hair tied back, little strands hung before his chocolate eyes. He had a short cut mustache and goatee.
He wore a white flimsy shirt with a brown vest over it; brown breeches under his apron which was covered in white, brown, and black paint; white knee high stockings went well with his buckled shoes.
He emerged, wiping off his hands with a really dirty white rag. "What can I do for you Julia and…."
Julia jumped from being poked in the ribs by Erica. She held out her hand for Will to shake, "Erica"
Will took her hand and shook with his rough blacksmiths hands.
Erica let go and started walking around the shop, her hands touching the hilts of the many swords. "We need some new cutlass swords and some new flintlock pistol bullets."
She pulled her sword from the belt and her pistol and laid them over some of his papers.
"How many?"
"Three swords and five bullets"
"How would you like the hilts done?" asked Will running around the armory and grabbing the supplies.
"As best as you can do 'em," answered Erica.
"They will be done tomorrow when the sun sets. Twenty-five shillings," said Will as Erica approached quietly behind him. As she walked over to him, she grabbed her pistol and pointed it at his head.
Julia was not surprised by this. Sometimes it would get Erica out of paying, other times it would get her in deep trouble. She stood there, pursing her lips, her hands on her hips.
Will turned around fast to see the pistol in his face and directed at his nose. His eyes widened with surprise.
"Not to be rude or anything, but how about no shillings for the swords and bullets and I wont blow yer brains out. What say you to that?"
"I say ---," but Will was cut off by Julia's "WAIT!" and running feet coming down the steps.
Erica watched Julia come running at them. Will pushed the pistol gently away from his face, but even though Erica wasn't watching, she directed it back.
"We could use him," said Julia glancing to Will then back at Erica.
"Use me for what?," said Will angrily.
"All I wanted was some supplies, now I have to bring both of you?," Erica said, stomping her feet and looking from Julia to Will.
"Does that mean yes?," Julia said, hopefully.
"Use me for what?!," said Will even louder and swatting the pistol away. He ran over to Julia's side.
"I'm not saying yes or no."
"USE ME FOR WHAT?!"
Erica and Julia stared at him in horror. Julia shook her head and stuck her index in her ear, "Could you be any louder?"
"Sorry," Will apologized.
"My sister --"
"Catherine?," asked Will.
"Yes, Catherine. She'd been taken by Captain Barbossa and his crew. We're gathering a crew, would you be willing to go with us? Please?," said Julia with pleading eyes.
Erica sighed and pulled out a bag full of twenty-five shillings, "Here"
She dropped the bag into Will's hands. He looked down at it and dropped it back in Erica's hand. "I say, I come with you, and you get your supplies, no pay."
Julia beamed up at him and nodded, Erica smiled too, "Perfect"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Ya'll need some serious practice," laughed Erica as she watched them "sword fight".
Will glanced up at her. Erica saw this and jumped down from the loft, pulling out her cutlass.
"I'll test ya then. 'Scuse me Julia," Erica said as Julia bowed her head and stepped back to watch.
She raised her sword to shoulder length, at an angle. He did the same.
When Will's blade touched Erica's she spun hers around his. So now her blade was straight at him. He hit it away and the fight began. She swung at him but he jumped back.
Will charged at Erica but she kicked his sword out of his hands.
He gasped and pulled out another. She strikes here, he strikes there.
Will thrust his sword so hard at her, that her sword went flying out of her hands. He backed her against the wall as she looked frantically around for something.
Will's blade touched Erica's throat, as it did so, she pulled out her pistol and shoved it in his gut.
"You can't do that, I got you first!," cried out Will.
"And I got you second," smirked Erica as Will pulled the blade from her neck, but she still kept the pistol pointed at him.
He signaled for her to put it down and she did so. Julia stared at them both,her mouth hanging open.
The machine had been going during the fight, and had now stopped. Will ran over to the jackass and patted him on the head.
He pulled the blade out of the fire pit as the flames died. "The bullets and your swords are done."
Will pulled each blade from the coals and hung them on hooks to cool. The blades shone bright orange but soon faded to light bronze.
Erica slowly walked to the side of the machine and pulled five bullets from the bowl that they had sprouted from.
"Let's go!," yelled Julia, picking a sword and placing it in her belt. She walked out into the open.
Erica walked the streets of Port Royal. It was a warm summer's day, the sun could be seen through the clouds.
Houses surrounded the streets, as did the flowers and vegetable gardens. Cats, dogs, goats, birds, and chickens roamed the streets along with the people.
A blacksmiths shop sat at the end of the street, a dark long tunnel leading to the docks was beside the shop.
Up the hill was the governor's house. Which he shared with one daughter, and a "million" helpers. The walkway up to the house was covered in granite stones, surrounded by many freshly green shrubs.
Erica's head moved from left to right, her eyes discovering every brick in the buildings. Many of the buildings she passed were stores.
Erica had long, curly, brown hair, a little past her shoulders. In her hair she wore a black bandana, with beads sprouting out of the top. And resting on her forehead. Her eyes were brown, the color of her hair. She had big, lushly rose pink lips, going well with her many freckles on her nose and cheekbones.
Erica wore a white long sleeved shirt that cut a "V" shape down past her color bones; brown breeches, down past her knees, but her boots made them look leg length; and a sword belt across her chest.
Erica sighed and kept on walking straight, her mind racing, from thought to thought. All about what would happen when she got there. Her vision becoming clearer from blurry, Erica saw to lieutenants coming at her; fast.
She darted in the nearest building. It turned out the building she was looking for, she was in. 'Wow! So many beautiful things. Things that I wish were mine,' she thought to herself.
Erica walked around the room, her hands searching the porcelain vases. One vase was lilac with a merchant ship on it. The one next to it was all black except for a white skull and two swords behind it. Erica thought, 'The symbol of the Black Pearl!'
"Hello?," rang a voice coming from the upstairs. She spun around quickly, staring at the stairs and only the stairs. "Hello?"
A young woman about the age of 23 (same age as Erica) came down the stairs; her beautiful yellow dress flowing on the steps.
Her slender hand rolled down the stairs post. Her black hair was tied up in a bun; some of her curly bangs falling before her bright green eyes.
"Erica!," exclaimed the woman, running over to her and holding Erica's hands in hers.
"Julia," Erica replied in her gentle but bored voice. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled at Julia.
"So you made it alright?, " said Julia, taking her hands away and clapping them together.
"I look alright, don't I?," asked Erica, holding her hands out at her sides and shrugging.
Julia sighed disappointment, but kept a smile on her face. When she smiled, she had little dimples. Julia's smile would cheer anybody up, that's why when she smiled, Erica couldn't keep her face straight; she smiled too.
They walked out to the back, where it looked out onto the fresh, blue ocean. Many ships sailed around in circles, warding off enemies. (Pirates)
Erica breathed in fresh, clean air and closed her eyes. Julia looked at her and asked, "Have you found a crew yet?" She kept her eyes shut meaning a "No" "A ship even?"
"I'll find a crew and ship when I go to Tortuga."
"And when is that?," Julia's tone became serious and concerned.
Erica opened her eyes and looked at her, "When I get around to it. Don't worry, I'll find her."
Julia half smiled and looked out to the water, along with Erica.
"Come on! She's in here!"
Both their heads spun around to look at the door. Erica pursed her lips and started to slowly inch away, but Julia grabbed her shoulder. Her face showing confusion on it.
"Forgot to pay me shilling for me boat. People here take everything so seriously," said Erica running out of view.
Just as Erica disappeared, four soldiers came bursting through the door. Julia gasped and grabbed the sides of her dress, the fabric running through her fingers.
"Where is she?," asked one soldier, roughly.
"Gone," smiled Julia. He growled and led the other soldiers out.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Erica steered her small little boat that she rode in to Port Royal. It was so small that it only had two sails.
A rather large crate caught her eyes. It seemed to be moving like quivering.
Erica eyed it, the kohl around her eyes cutting off on the glare. She let go of the wheel and slowly walked up to the crate, pulling out her flintlock pistol.
She lifted her foot to kick the top off, but the top came off with no kicking, only pushing.
Two outstretched hands came out, holding onto the sides. Erica leaned over, ready to fire.
"Julia?!"
Se hoisted herself out, her long legs cracking. "It's really uncomfortable in there," she looked up to see the pistol being placed back into it's holder. "Were you really gonna shoot me?"
"Why are you here?," said Erica, angrily.
"I figured if you were to choose the crew, the ship and how the journey goes. I should approve of all those things, seeing how this is my errand you are running," said Julia walking around the boat.
"You're not coming. It's to dangerous," said Erica sternly and standing her ground.
Julia spun around quickly on her heel, facing Erica, "She's my sister, I won't let her die!"
There was a long pause before Erica responded to that remark, "Welcome aboard Ana Maria's boat. We shall turn back and stop at the blacksmiths shop for some supplies"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Erica and Julia once again walked the streets of Port Royal. They approached the sign saying: J. Brown, it had a sword and axe above the name.
Julia entered first holding the door open for Erica, but she slammed it open making a ruckus.
"Will will be able to help us. WILL!," said Julia. Erica half smiled and looked around.
She spotted a rapier in it's sheath lying on a table next to a huge machine. A little donkey stood at one end and pulled the wheel, making the machine move. Across from the doorway was a fire pit where many sword blades laid.
Many small tables were covered with many tools and papers.
"WILL!"
"Stop yelling, I'm here," said a young man about the age of 26. He had his brown, caramel colored hair tied back, little strands hung before his chocolate eyes. He had a short cut mustache and goatee.
He wore a white flimsy shirt with a brown vest over it; brown breeches under his apron which was covered in white, brown, and black paint; white knee high stockings went well with his buckled shoes.
He emerged, wiping off his hands with a really dirty white rag. "What can I do for you Julia and…."
Julia jumped from being poked in the ribs by Erica. She held out her hand for Will to shake, "Erica"
Will took her hand and shook with his rough blacksmiths hands.
Erica let go and started walking around the shop, her hands touching the hilts of the many swords. "We need some new cutlass swords and some new flintlock pistol bullets."
She pulled her sword from the belt and her pistol and laid them over some of his papers.
"How many?"
"Three swords and five bullets"
"How would you like the hilts done?" asked Will running around the armory and grabbing the supplies.
"As best as you can do 'em," answered Erica.
"They will be done tomorrow when the sun sets. Twenty-five shillings," said Will as Erica approached quietly behind him. As she walked over to him, she grabbed her pistol and pointed it at his head.
Julia was not surprised by this. Sometimes it would get Erica out of paying, other times it would get her in deep trouble. She stood there, pursing her lips, her hands on her hips.
Will turned around fast to see the pistol in his face and directed at his nose. His eyes widened with surprise.
"Not to be rude or anything, but how about no shillings for the swords and bullets and I wont blow yer brains out. What say you to that?"
"I say ---," but Will was cut off by Julia's "WAIT!" and running feet coming down the steps.
Erica watched Julia come running at them. Will pushed the pistol gently away from his face, but even though Erica wasn't watching, she directed it back.
"We could use him," said Julia glancing to Will then back at Erica.
"Use me for what?," said Will angrily.
"All I wanted was some supplies, now I have to bring both of you?," Erica said, stomping her feet and looking from Julia to Will.
"Does that mean yes?," Julia said, hopefully.
"Use me for what?!," said Will even louder and swatting the pistol away. He ran over to Julia's side.
"I'm not saying yes or no."
"USE ME FOR WHAT?!"
Erica and Julia stared at him in horror. Julia shook her head and stuck her index in her ear, "Could you be any louder?"
"Sorry," Will apologized.
"My sister --"
"Catherine?," asked Will.
"Yes, Catherine. She'd been taken by Captain Barbossa and his crew. We're gathering a crew, would you be willing to go with us? Please?," said Julia with pleading eyes.
Erica sighed and pulled out a bag full of twenty-five shillings, "Here"
She dropped the bag into Will's hands. He looked down at it and dropped it back in Erica's hand. "I say, I come with you, and you get your supplies, no pay."
Julia beamed up at him and nodded, Erica smiled too, "Perfect"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Ya'll need some serious practice," laughed Erica as she watched them "sword fight".
Will glanced up at her. Erica saw this and jumped down from the loft, pulling out her cutlass.
"I'll test ya then. 'Scuse me Julia," Erica said as Julia bowed her head and stepped back to watch.
She raised her sword to shoulder length, at an angle. He did the same.
When Will's blade touched Erica's she spun hers around his. So now her blade was straight at him. He hit it away and the fight began. She swung at him but he jumped back.
Will charged at Erica but she kicked his sword out of his hands.
He gasped and pulled out another. She strikes here, he strikes there.
Will thrust his sword so hard at her, that her sword went flying out of her hands. He backed her against the wall as she looked frantically around for something.
Will's blade touched Erica's throat, as it did so, she pulled out her pistol and shoved it in his gut.
"You can't do that, I got you first!," cried out Will.
"And I got you second," smirked Erica as Will pulled the blade from her neck, but she still kept the pistol pointed at him.
He signaled for her to put it down and she did so. Julia stared at them both,her mouth hanging open.
The machine had been going during the fight, and had now stopped. Will ran over to the jackass and patted him on the head.
He pulled the blade out of the fire pit as the flames died. "The bullets and your swords are done."
Will pulled each blade from the coals and hung them on hooks to cool. The blades shone bright orange but soon faded to light bronze.
Erica slowly walked to the side of the machine and pulled five bullets from the bowl that they had sprouted from.
"Let's go!," yelled Julia, picking a sword and placing it in her belt. She walked out into the open.