1Chapter Two: A Ship With Black Sails

It had been ages since he had ventured outside. The cold air bit at his face and threatened to tear the mask from his face. He pressed a hat onto his head, the brim holding down the mask effectively. With a smile of confidence in himself he swept on through the crowd, ignoring the stares he was earning.

There was the docks almost three miles from the opera house. If he found was he was looking for, though, it would be worth the venture. A looming black ship was the first to catch his attention, so he stopped and stood for a moment to admire it. Certainly it was a feat of architecture. If he had ever wanted to design ships he was sure they would look like this one.

"Ahoy, me little Sara!"

Erik recognized the drawling, accented voice. He took a few long steps forward and saw an older man in rough clothing standing jauntily on the big black ship. He squinted and noticed the dinghy being dragged up the side of the ship, two young woman and a young man within.

The one with the striking blonde hair and the beautiful white dress stood, despite the folly of standing up in a dinghy, and waved enthusiastically. "Ahoy, daddy!"

Erik started and stared at the strange man on the deck, in awe that this delicate young woman was the spawn of such a grotesque creature. He took long strides toward the ship, his brilliant mind racing to find a way on. He spotted another dinghy nearby and leapt in without another though. He was good at making things up as he went.

A noise on deck went off as he climbed nimbly up the side of the ship, a rope in either hand. It was a short, feminine scream. He gritted his teeth and doubled his efforts, hauling himself onto the deck with a graceful bound.

An old man with a flask of rum turned to stare at him. "Hello there! What be you doing here?"

Erik stood and offered his hand. "Monsieur Erik, at your service, sir."

"Gibbs." The man grasped Eriks glove with his filthy hand for a moment, then turned. "Jack! Someone new here! Come get your bearings on him."

The same ruffian that miss Sarah had called father strode up to Erik with an odd swagger, thrusting out his grimy hand when he drew close enough. "Captain Sparrow, at your service sir."

"Erik," replied the dignified figure in the mask, grasping the dirty hand gingerly.

"Eri'?"

He turned at the sound of Sarahs voice to see a rough young girl in a mess of tattered pirating gowns rush up to him. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek joyfully. "Daddy, look! He followed me home! This is the fellow I was telling you about!"

"Is he now?" Jack looked at the man up and down, a parental grimace describing his features. "Well, can he haul a line?"

"I'm sure he can, daddy! He's really strong. C'mon!" She tugged on his arm, utterly excited.

He couldn't help but stare at her. Without the mask she was more beautiful than ever, but that get-up was hideous on her! "What-- are you wearing?"

She picked at one of her torn skirts, a shred of petticoat slipping out and blowing in the wind. With a shrug she tucked the fragment back into place and grinned at him. "Just some lady clothes my daddy bought for me. I outgrew my other ones. They might be kinda torn up, but it's not like they're for show. I can move in them. Now, come! I'll show you how to furl a sail!"