Revenge of the Rose

Chapter Two.

The man took a beat before exploding in laughter at her statement. Her words apparently sending him over the edge as he held his sides and bellowed in fits of hysteria. She felt her cheeks flush in embarrassment. She pulled back, folding her arms self-consciously as she waited for his episode to die down. His roaring laugh turned into a cough, and his cough turned into choking. She rushed to his side thumping him roughly on the back until he straightened and started to breath normally.

She knew what she said was absurd. It was hardly normal for anyone to start a conversation proclaiming revenge but she need to take control of her situation. Was wasn't going to become this pirate's play thing, or get involved in their misadventures. She had to start somewhere and she was always one for starting at the point that needed to be discussed. She had her own mission, one that couldn't be accomplished as a pirates prisoner. And while that is what she was technically what she had read about this man helped her bring it up so easily. If he was who she thought he was then he would help her. He wasn't called the Pirate Prince for nothing.

"Lass, there's not much ye can do about revenge," he sounded almost sad, his eyes casting down on her with a look of almost pity.

She felt for the knife that she had stashed away earlier. Her stomach quickly knotting up at his gaze. It wasn't unfriendly but it felt almost intruding. His eyes were fully taking her in now, and she was sure she didn't like that. She wasn't about to be treated as a joke. She clutched the knife to her side, making sure he saw what was in her hands.

"No need for that now," he said easily holding his hands up in a gesture of defense.

"You will not tell me what I have need for and don't have need for," she spat angrily, backing away from him. "You have no idea—"

"I'm not starting a fight with ye miss. Just that sailing' that way is not in our best interests," the man soothed his hair as his took off his ridiculously plumed hat and laid it on the table.

He rounded the desk that she had just vacated and sank into the chair with an audible sigh. He rubbed his face and leaned forward looking at her with a glint in his eye that she was sure meant mischief and danger. His hands deftly found a pipe from somewhere under his desk and he made quick work setting the contents ablaze. A wisp of smoke now clung to the air, making it feel heavier but somehow much more relaxed in the room.

"And how exactly, do you know what's in MY best interest?" she challenged, eyeing him as he inhaled deeply and let out another plume of smoke.

"A runaway bride that isn't ready to face the music..." he purred standing slightly to catch her gaze, "a girl that sees a monster and isn't scared to run away," he strode back around the table and towards her, "A girl who fights for her people but can't seem to win their love. A girl who despite it all fights to the end only to be –"

"Enough," she cut him off sharply as he stood uncomfortably close. "I know who I am, Monsieur but who are you?"

"The devil," he cracked with a smile, his pipe finding his lips and letting out an eerie red glow in the dimly lit room. She scoffed at him. His reputation hardly was that. She just wanted him to admit it. How had he avoided capture all these years? How was he still alive?

"Fine, fine," he puffed, "I'm the captain of this fine ship that we're aboard."

"Not that I would know that, I've barely seen it outside this room."

"Ye'll never lose that tongue will ye?" he teased. Her glare deepened, her patience running thin.

"Who. Are. You?" she growled. She was pressing him that she knew but he seemed to be stalling. His fingers went to his lips in the universal sign for silence and pointed to the door. Was someone listening to them? She felt her hands find her hips as she cocked her head to the side, her glare deepening.

"Well my good lady, I can't quiet answer that just yet, as we haven't discussed what is in our best interest."

There was a very long pause here, which both parties eyed each other with distrust. Neither broke the others gaze as the captain continued to puff on his pipe. A trail of smoke followed him as he turned sharply and made his way towards what Belle assumed was the dining area for the captain. He motioned for her to follow him as he disappeared into the dark. She paused several feet away until she saw the faint glow of several candles being lit. The room slowly being brought to life as the man went about the room lighting the lanterns and candles alike. He was hinting at something but she wasn't sure what. What could this man possible have in common with her that aligned interests?

He gestured for her to take a seat as he rang a bell. He kicked his feet up on the table as a few men wandered in bringing barrels and food with them. There was some type of fish that had been cooked, along with lemons and some rice. It was a merger meal but it was more than what she had been eating lately. Her stomach growled loudly. A plate was placed down gently in front of her by a boy no more than 14. He grinned at her, giving her a peck on the cheek before darting out of the room.

To her surprise the few men that came in didn't leave but started to sit around her and soon after even more men with more food piled into the room. It seemed to be a full party in swing as it easily could be assumed the entire crew was enjoying the festivities. Soon there was loud laughter and a few card games as the food vanished and the barrels were opened. The wine started to appear in glasses before her. She took a few timid sips. Eyeing the men around her with veiled distrust.

No one spoke to her but they were not ignoring her. More like they were all waiting for her to make the first move. A few smiled at her with their missing teeth or gave a polite nod across the table, but none addressed her directly. She could feel the captains gaze on her as the rest of the men carried on loudly. He would lean over occasionally and speak too lowly for her to hear over the noise.

Belle found herself leaning back in the chair. She swirled her wine casually, sipping the bare minimum. To the untrained eye it would look like she had barely touched her glass, but slowly the contents appeared to get lower and lower. Eventually she coughed politely and asked if she could have another rather vaguely to the room, she honestly wasn't expecting an answer and started to stand to serve herself. Two men sprang up instantly at her side, one put a firm hand on her shoulder and gave her a reassuring squeeze, while the other took her glass and filled it quickly.

The one that had squeezed her shoulder sat down next to her. His smile growing wider by the second.

She supposed he was handsome, in the weird sort of way. His eyes were a deep green, and he had a plethora of freckles that littered his face and arms. He had a deep brown hair but in the candle lit it seemed to glow red, or maybe it had red in it, in this lighting she could hardly tell. His teeth were stained red by the wine and showed signs of yellowing, but other than that he was handsome. A strong jaw line and clean shaven made him look dashing in the low light. He was oddly muscular too, while most of the men were lean and wiry he looked like he was well fed and strong. It seemed that for every fault she found there was something endearing that caught her eye. She relented on her assessment and turned towards him slightly, but only after taking care to remove his hand from her shoulder.

He leaned in, pointing at her drink as he did so before she heard him mumble in a deep Irish accent.

"There are plans for a munity tonight, you would be safest not in the captain's quarters," he paused a moment to see if she heard him.

She nodded slightly in acknowledgement.

"I don't know what you know miss, but," he leaned in closer, his face nearly touching hers. She turned quickly facing the wall and noticing the room had gotten substantially louder.

"Assume I know nothing," she breathed in to her cup. He nodded thoughtfully, tilting his head ever so slightly that he appeared to be leaning on her. He was playing the overly drunk sailor but she could see eyes that he was very much sober.

"But there has been an awful lot of murmur about you. About how it's bad luck to have a woman onboard."

"Then throw me overboard," she half growled. He looked shocked, quickly shaking his head before glancing around.

"I merely meant that you'd be safest hiding until everything is over. I have watch in the nest tonight. I know it might be forward but it's the hardest place to reach, you'd be safe with me," he bumbled quickly trying to show his earnest and clear intentions. He squeezed her hand. "I need a signal and I need to know now, Miss."

She didn't have time to hesitate or refuse honestly. She nodded quickly agreeing with him, thinking of a noise or some type of signal. Her mind almost spinning and she was sure it couldn't have been because of the wine.

"Just loudly say you need to retire for the night when you're ready, I'll find you," he whispered as if he could hear her struggle.

He gave her a gentle grin before standing abruptly. He stretched, grabbed his mug and poured himself another glass of wine, before sauntering off towards some of his ship mates that were gesturing to him at the other end of the room. He made sure to stumble once or twice and sent her a wink. She felt the corners of her mouth twitch.

"It appears that the party is in full swing," the captain was next to her now. He folded his coat elegantly underneath him as he sat beside her.

"Don't tell me this in on my behalf," she made a show to tip her glass in his direction, an almost salute. He chuckled.

"No lass, more of the victory of the crew in general… and the renaming of this fine ship," he sent her a meaningful look.

"The Revenge," he whispered.

She nearly jumped. Her mind racing as she forcefully placed her drink down, the red wine sloshed violently out of the cup. Her breath quickened.

"Who are you… captain?" she asked lowly.

"It won't matter long, Lass. I've upset too many men on this ship. It appears that my time is almost up. Ye may call me Bellamy though." His wrinkled face lit up in a grin at her immediate wince.

She mulled over her drink for a moment. She watched the red liquid swirl gently in her glass, the red washing up the sides and faint bubbles popping in its wake. He was a dangerous man to be sure. His crew hated him. Yet he had connections in England. From the rumors she heard he was supposed to be dead, his ship lost at sea overloaded with treasures that sank his ship and led to his demise. He had a pardon waiting for him in the Bahamas yet he had been presumed dead several years ago since he had never come to collect it. He was either lying about his name or knew that he was a dead man either way. Or he was someone else entirely and wanted to use the previous fame that went with that name. Bellamy was often referred to as the 'Pirate Prince' or even the 'Pirate Robin Hood' because of how he treated his prisoners. It would make sense to some degree that he was Bellamy, although he had slaughtered her captors he had spared her and thus far had been rather host like during her short stay. The several hours she had been here she hadn't even been threatened or spoken down to. Yet Bellamy was supposed to be dead for the past twenty years. His age fit with what would be his description but how had he avoided detection this long without being caught? What was in it for him to tell her this? What was happening on this ship that made it relevant to tell her that now? Especially if he knew of the mutiny that was waiting to happen?

"So to make an agreement with you now would be rather mute at this point," she mumbled in to her glass taking a deeper sip than she had.

The cabin dinning room was loud and their conversation couldn't be made out by anyone unless they were standing directly next to them. He must have come over when her last conversation ended to garner what had been told to her. She preferred to keep her discretion though and kept her tone down. Glancing slyly around the room taking note of the few men that appeared to be watching her. This was dangerous and she needed to play her cards correctly. She had to choose a side and fast.

"I wouldn't say that per say," he chuckled lowly. "I'd just need a little something from ye."

She felt herself seethe at his words. Her frustration at his words reminded her of her situation. She didn't have a bargaining chip. She didn't have a position in power. She quickly bit the inside of her cheek, reminding her to keep her cool.

"Depends on what you have to offer," she faked a smile, making sure to keep the unpleasantness out of her voice.

He leaned in, much like the man before him had. His lips found her ear.

"I'll give ye this ship. I'll give ye this freedom. Ye can be captain of yer Revenge," he purred putting emphases on the ships name.

"And what do you want in return?"

"Easy. I've been looking t'ah retire and this crew is getting a bit reckless," he gestured to the man in the corner that had spoken to her earlier, "that one being a might tricky, whispering in evry'one's ears a'but how… uncouth I am," he chuckled darkly. "I need to disappear," he said easily and took a deep gulp from his goblet, "but I'd prefer to retire on shore than in my sleep ta'night," he added.

"Yer arrival has made them a bit extra restless, divided them up, they've heard the rumors a'but ya, a'but yer prince too. Some of them are angry with me for even savin' ya," he sighed.

"So you want me to clean up your mess?" she questioned. Her voice came out as a gentle hiss as she mimicked him a took a deep sip.

"I want ye to lead the rebellion, maroon me somewhere where I can retire with a bit more ease, and take this ship for yerself."

"You want me to become a pirate?"

"It's the only way I can get my mind around this miss, the only way I can save my crews life. I can pick the few loyal to me, and you can weed out the bad yerself. It looks like this is the best way and it's becoming apparent the more this night goes on," he sighed again taking another deep draft from his drink.

"But I need to decide now," she murmured in agreement.

Even though she had done what felt like nothing but rest the past few days in her dark prison cell and she had done little to no movement this day she felt exhausted like she had run for miles. Her legs quaked at the thought of what she had to do. She felt the nervous sweat start to build in her palms. She stole a deep reassuring breath. Her mind was made up. There were more than two sides to this. While Bellamy had laid out a path for her and so had the other man before him there was a third option. A bit of a mixture. A choice that was hers to make and establish.

"When?" she managed to choke out.

"Whenever yer ready Belle," he said softly using her name with a weird kindness in his voice. Like he truly understood her situation. "I've been sailing us towards the islands most of the day. If ye wait ye might miss yer chance… these men," he gestured vaguely to the room around him, "they'll respect ye, but only if ye make that first move."

She felt her heart warm to the man beside her. Despite her fury, despite having spent less than an hour alone with her in which she basically threw a temper tantrum, he knew her story and was willing to help her. He was placing his faith in her. While she might be his only shot at surviving this night it felt oddly honorable that he had let her piece together the state of his crew before approaching her with this. She realized what his hesitance before had been. He lit his pipe and leaned back in the chair watching her for her reaction.

She reached down and gave his knee a squeeze. Her eyes meeting his and she hoped they conveyed the emotion of gratitude. One man saw them and started to hoot and holler. As if that was the que the room grew quiet. The tension in the air seemed palpable.

It might have been because with dangerous quickness Belle stood quickly behind their captain, dull knife to his throat, and his pistol in her hand. She had managed to un-holster it with blinding fast accuracy, she used the tip of his pipe lit the fuse as she pointed the weapon around the room.

"Now then gentleman," she said easily, surprising herself with the steadiness it held. "How shall we proceed?"

A/N: Hey readers! So I'm gonna try and update every Sunday. It's a little late this week but guess what that means? Hahaha. A little tid bit about this story,while yes eventually there are going to be Pirates from Pirates of the Carribean that make their cameo, I stole several of them from real history (a lot like the movies have). So don't expect Jack or any other characters from either franchise just yet. ;). Once I get a few of them on here I might post a little bio down here for those of you interested. Well that's all for now! Let me know what you think!