New Duties

I would be lying if I said that I wasn't afraid when I opened my eyes. The back and forth swaying of the ship along with voices from the crew on deck were the things I woke up to. I found myself laying on the floor of the kitchen on a pile of rucksacks with a cheap thin blanket covering my body. Just a few feet from my toes was the entrance to the kitchen and across the room was a large stove. Right next to it was a pile of wood and a shelf full of pots and pans. I turned onto my side and gently pushed myself up. I took a good look around the dimly lit kitchen wondering where its chef was.

I didn't have to wait long for that answer. Just a few seconds later the door came flying open, scaring me half to death. I backed up until I was pressed firmly against the wall, hoping that whoever was coming in wouldn't hurt me.

"Bloody pirates…they have some nerve telling me what to cook." Said the grungy looking, foul smelling, oversized pirate who had just walked in. He had short black hair with a huge bald spot on the top of his head. His skin was covered in sweat and dirt and he wore a torn white shirt, black pants, a black vest, and torn brown shoes. He waddled over to the stove and opened the small door on the bottom of it. He then picked up some wood and chucked it inside before lighting a match and tossing it in. I watched as he brought the fire to life, warming up the room.

I didn't budge at all as he shut the stove and then grabbed a huge pot from the shelf. As he turned around, his black eyes found mine making my heart pound with fear.

"Well slap me side-ways…my little fish breathes." He said as he approached me. "How you feeling little one?"

I looked up at him as my body began to tremble. Part of me wanted to scream for my life, but I knew that wouldn't get me anywhere.

"Don't you talk? You had ye voice two days before," he said.

I blinked a few times not realizing I had been out for two whole days. "Um…yes, I talk."

"Well how ye feeling?" he asked again.

"Ok, I suppose." I said.

He smirked and licked his dry lips, making me cringe. "Well good, because I'm going to be using ye for my galley I is. Has anyone learned you how to cook?"

His speech drove me nuts but I didn't want to upset him at all. "Um no…"

He shook his head in disbelief, "Why doesn't that surprise me. Young lasses like yourself never learn to cook."

I wasn't sure how to respond to his insult so I simply narrowed my eyes in an attempt to show him I was offended. He laughed it off though and then rubbed a fat hand over his face. As he did that, I heard an interesting rumbling sound coming from within my own body. It was then that I realized that I hadn't eaten since I ran off from my old master.

The fat pirate looked down at me and laughed, "Oh ye hungry now aren't ya?"

I nodded and bit my bottom lip as the feeling of starvation crept in behind the loud growling.

"Well if ya want to eat, you'll have to work fir it!" he said as he reached down and roughly tugged me to my feet.

"Un hand me you baboon!" I screamed just as a tall figure stepped into the room.

The pirate laughed and then glanced up at the pirate who had just walked in. I looked over my shoulder and saw a tall man with a bald head and bare chest walk into the room. He had plenty of muscle and a strange hint of lust overtook his face as he stared at me. I dropped my gaze to the gold dress he held in his hand wondering if it was for me.

"Ah, so she lives." He said as he took a few steps into the room. "I trust you won't be harming her aboard this ship Stephan."

The pirate who had me in his grip roughly released me, "And what's it to you if I do? She's my new galley girl!"

"And I'm the captain's right hand man. I run this ship while the captain stays in his quarters and I'm directing you not to lay another hand on this woman." The tall man snapped before turning to me. "Forgive me for my mate's rude introduction. My name is Nathan, I'm the Captain's first mate."

I smiled as he gently took my hand and kissed it. "Oh, well it's a pleasure to meet you, I'm Mia."

"Mia huh? Well that's a name of an angel alright…here; take this dress and these under garments. I'll show you where you can freshen up." He said as he directed me to follow him.

"Oh no she's not! I've got dinner to cook for all of yer and I need her here to help out!" Stephan snapped. "She can freshen up after she done being trained!"

Nathan turned around stared dangerously into Stephan's eyes. "The girl is starved and needs to bathe…shout at me again and I'll see to it that the captain has you hanged!"

I trembled at Nathan's tone of voice but at the same time I appreciated his help.

"I'll have her back up here in a few moments." He said as he placed his hand on my shoulder and walked me out of the kitchen. I was relieved at first to be away from that foul smelling cook, but once I saw the curious gazes of the other men, I wanted to abandon the ship. A few of them licked their lips as Nathan walked me towards the middle of the ship where there was a trap door leading to another floor.

"Easy gentleman, the lady is not to be harmed. She's going to be our new galley girl and I expect you all to be on your best behavior. Is that understood?"

"Aye sir!" they all said in unison before I was sent below deck. Down there was a private little bathroom where I was surprised to find hot water.

"The captain is a very dangerous and fortunate man." Nathan said as he gazed at my shocked face. "He has plenty of surprises aboard this ship."

"Oh," I responded. "What is the captain's name?"

Nathan glanced at me with a smirk and spoke the name that was feared by all pirates and common folk alike. "Captain Calaway, or as many common folk have called him The Undertaker."

I gasped, "So…that means I'm aboard The Deadman's Voyage?"

"Yes. But do not fret, I plan to keep you safe aboard here. I'm sure the captain won't even honor your existence…unless you give him a reason to." He said as he shut off the full tub.

"I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean." I said.

He stood up and gently rubbed his fingers on my face. "It's simple little one, do anything stupid, and he'll kill you."

I nodded as he stepped past me and left the room. The fear that I had felt upon first boarding the ship was nothing compared to what I was feeling at that moment.