Chapter 2:
"Oi! Get the hell up!" there came a banging on my door and I sighed, sitting up and rubbing my eyes. I didn't get much sleep after waking from my dream. "I'm going to come in there and fuck you up if you don't get out here right now!" the demands pissed me off and I grabbed a knife and launched it toward the door, making it bury itself through it, probably just missing the man on the other side. "I'm up, so back off!" I shouted back and got out of the bed, quickly changing into my outfit.
I slipped my white/brown shirt on, it was short and fitted right above my stomach, with golden designs tracing it, ruffles enough to hide my breast from prying eyes. I pulled my jacket on, it fit right around my shirt, save for the long part in the back, buttons filling the sleeves. I tied my red sash around my jacket and shirt, making sure that I wasn't going to popping out and that I would be able to move around with no problems at all. I jerked my pants over my ass and belted it tight, then did the same with my sword. I shoved my feet into my boots, loving the leather of them. I grabbed my hat and settled it on my head, finally ready to face the idiots that would be waiting on me.
I opened the door and saw that my knife did barely miss him, I smirked and wrenched it free, showing him. "Just get on the deck and get to work. Otherwise I'll be free to deal with you as I see fit." he licked his lips and took me in, I rolled my eyes and pushed past him, not even bothering to give him a response. I climbed the ladder and saw that the day was already started, I apparently slept in, even though I had a lack of sleep last night. I found my captain at the wheel, his eyes on the goal ahead. I went to him and smiled, bowing slightly. "Forgive my lateness."
"Don't fret on it. You were up late." he dismissed my apology and I took my spot beside him, watching the crew below. "I should be helping them." "But I need you up here to assist me with steering the ship." "Your eyes are not that bad." I said and he chuckled, giving my sash a small tug. "And you used to not dress like this. Remember all the dresses and gowns." I huffed and crossed my arms. "I am not the same girl since then." he nodded, clearly agreeing with me. "Listen, you took me in and treated me like a daughter, but I can help with the crew, I will pull my weight."
He sighed and turned to me, we always had this talk every morning. He would disagree and tell me to steer us because he was tired. It was always the same….or so I thought. "Alright, you will be treated just like a crew member…that does include the sleeping in the same place, in the bunks with them, probably within inches of their grubby fingers." his eyes were dead serious and he knew I would say no because of that alone. "Oh…I didn't realize that was part of the deal." I said and looked down at the men scrubbing the ship, tighten the sails and doing their jobs.
My eye caught one guy, holding onto the rope net and tying a rope to the mast. He was handsome, young and in very good shape. "Perhaps you are old enough for those types of things." I was pulled out of my thoughts and blushed, feeling like a little girl. "That's stupid. I ain't staying with these men. Fuck that." "Watch your mouth." he barked and I apologized, he was kinda like my father. "Listen girl, I look after you for a reason, I know these guys and what they would love to do to you given the chance. With you this close to me, they know it's impossible to get to you. I just hope you understand this…Bliss."
I nodded, knowing he was right, but at least our talk was different today…maybe it would be a different day. That was the moment he told me to watch the ship while he rested, I smiled and took his spot, keeping my eyes on the sea before me. "My lady!" I looked down and saw the guy I was staring at earlier smiling at me, bowing as if I was a princess. "Do not do that." I snapped, feeling annoyed by his treatment. "Only proper way to greet the second captain."
"I'm not the captain." "You act in his stead. To me, it is the same." he flashed me a bright smile and I returned it, nodding to him to come closer. "My duties are finished for the moment, I thought I might join you for a conversation." he said and I shot him a confused look. "I fear that you have the wrong idea about the crew, yes they are men, but that doesn't mean that we all are like that." I blinked, was he trying to say that I could be around them without fear of what might happen.
"I do not care honestly." I said, but my heart skipped a beat, feeling hopeful that I might be able to have a relationship. "What's your name?" I ordered him to tell me, but he looked away and scratched his stubble. "I didn't realize that you didn't know the crews names." "I don't, so tell me or get back to work." I knew I didn't need to be rude, but this was how I was raised. He shook his head and walked down the stairs, pausing at the bottom. "My name is Taylor…just in case you really wanted to know." he left me staring after him, completely feeling like a fool.
I let a crew member take over and went to my room, unable to be around anyone after what happened with Taylor. I was a complete bitch and he was just trying to be nice, what was wrong with me, I would never be able to be with someone like this. "Everything alright?" he came in without knocking, knowing I wouldn't mind and sat beside me on the bed. "I fear I am not cut out for this." "What?" "Being a pirate…I don't treat the crew with respect like I should, they only see me as a sexual distraction. Perhaps it's best if I leave when we dock." "If you feel that's right…but I could always just tell them to lay off."
"See that's it, right there. I don't want to have to get you to order them to respect me. They should be able to get over the fact that I'm a woman and let me do my dream of being my own ship's captain." I threw my hands up in frustration, which my father-figure took my hands and pulled me to him in a hug. "I'll head straight for shore, you need not worry so much. I hope you find what you are searching for." he looked down at me, I could see sadness in his eyes, but he was letting me make my own choices, which made me smile.
"Thank you so much…you have no idea how much this means to me!" I beamed at him and he nodded, smiling at me. "Bliss, I only want you to be happy." "I know this. I thank you again, Captain Chevalle." I hugged him tight before he got up and tipped his hat to me. "I'll steer the ship so that we arrive with haste." then he left me to my thoughts, I was leaving the only home I ever known to try to find a way to earn my right as a pirate captain.