Next chapter. Enjoy!
Cam shut off the torch, and lit a small candle, setting it down next to her. The room soon filled with the scent of the sea.
"Scent candle," she said, blowing out the match. "Okay, I am told this is a true story." The audience crowded closer, except Cleo, immediately interested. "Once an old sea captain took his ship for one last voyage around the world, before he retired. He chose ten strong, young men for his crew, hoping to come home with many treasures from far away lands. Clad in his old hat, coat, and boots, he set sail to the far countries. This was in olden times; not many places were discovered yet, and pirates still raided the oceans. When the sailors warned his of these bandits, he simply waved them off, saying they were legends. The cabin boy, Alexander, wished he were as brave as the old captain. Captain Fordiner, he was called, a famous sailor, discovering many lands." Even now, Cleo was engrossed in the story. Cam was glad for a captive audience.
"They sail many miles, many days. Captain Fordiner told them to stop off every island they come across. One day, they docked at a small, dark Island, with dense forests surrounded by the sandy beach. In the middle of the forest, high on a hill, they could see the crumbling towers of an old castle.
'Dock at that island, and we'll explore the castle,' Captain Fordiner said in his British accent. 'There may be treasure hidden in the dungeons.'
'Are ye mad, cap'in?' Alexander asked his Scottish accent thick. 'We can't land on Black Island? It's cursed with the ghosts o' pirate cap'ins from long ago.'
'We'll land there because I said we will," Captain Fordiner said stubbornly. "Need I remind you who the captain is, boy?" Alexander could hardly be called a boy anymore, having just turned nineteen. But he couldn't argue with the captain, so headed below deck."
Just then, they heard the fishbowl door scraped against the concrete ice burg. Gracie gasped, clutching Omega tightly to her chest. Cam quickly blew out the candle, and shone the torch towards the entrance. Skipper squinted in the light.
"What the deuce?" Skipper asked, covering his eyes with his flippers. Rico switched on the lights.
"'Am 'urn t'a' 'or-ch off," he grunted. Cam obeyed, smiling sheepishly.
"Hi, Dad," she said. Skipper nodded in reply, and sniffed the air.
"Why does it smell like we're on the way to Madagascar?" he asked.
"Scented candle," Gracie piped up. "For authenticity."
"That's the biggest word I've heard you say," Cleo pointed out.
"I know," Gracie replied.
"Where were you?" Ace asked.
"Suspicious behaviour at the office," Skipper replied. "Highly confidential." He waved his flippers in front of his face for effect, and then headed into the Lab with Rico and Kowalski. Private took Omega out of Gracie's flippers, taking him to the crib.
"Bed time," he said, though not in his usual perking British voice. No one really noticed the difference, and headed into their room, climbing into their beds.
"Why does Dad always have to be so confidential?" Cam asked as Private tucked her in.
"Because…" Private thought for the right words. "There are some things that you chicks are just too young to know about yet."
"Like what?" Cam asked, sitting up.
"I can't tell you, can I?"
Now, I do own this story, because I was making it up as I went along. Please review! :D