p data-p-id="4e3980d9ddbe98a0dac47390cbbe38b3"Alie staggered into the stateroom as the wild haired pirate pushed her in. She turned and stared defiantly into his eyes, prompting a smirk from his face. She was slightly surprised but tried not to let this on./p
p data-p-id="a414ebfc48c681c893a59ee2cd95d654""You know, i can read you like a book Miss...-?"/p
p data-p-id="f4717604dd3d23c44b102de9735ae6b7""Myers. Alie Myers." She whispered, mentally scolding herself for not coming up with a fake name./p
p data-p-id="20ed475294c6ae32b878d3dc02c1119e""Hmm...a lovely name for a lass such as yourself. Please, have a seat." He gestured to a chair. Alie timidly sat down and he took a seat across from her. He leaned in slightly as he continued. "Whats a lass such as yourself doing in the ocean, dressed like that, with no remnants of a ship in sight?" Alie fidgeted slightly./p
p data-p-id="e86a33e529196f0428c71275e5850c32""You wouldn't believe me if i told you." She looked away. He grabbed her chin and jerked it to where she had to look at him, eliciting a gasp from her lips. She tried to pull away with little success./p
p data-p-id="a993b623cb608c887725503e52c479a8""Answer me, lass." He growled, scaring Alie./p
p data-p-id="4de4b1fba4001d4b209eb117fc722931""I-i don't know how i got there!" She cried out. He surveyed her face for a moment as she closed her eyes. He released her face, leaving red marks that were sure to leave a bruise later. She pulled away against the back of the chair./p
p data-p-id="bd932c18f0ed43a11689ce3107f10af8""I'll cut you a deal, lass. We will be reaching port in a couple days. I hope i don't see you when we leave port. Until then, you are not to leave my stateroom without myself or my first mate at your side, for your protection." He smirked as he added the last part. Alie stood, offering a small bow. He stood and left the small teen alone. He returned moments later with a dry set of clothes for her to change into. She accepted them and he left again. She changed and leaned against the wall, pulling out the locket. She looked at the intricate lettering. Some was Latin, others in other languages she couldn't read. She tucked it into her pocket as she hoped Ashlea was safe./p
p data-p-id="6607aaba0b745db53cb436870f037696"***************************^•.•^***************************/p
p data-p-id="16ee6679d556c7fd1484f6afe188fac0"Ashlea didn't want to let the warm intimidating giant go as he returned to the ship, but she did and she looked around. Suddenly a coat being draped around her bare shoulders made Ashlea jump. She looked at the person. He was about her height and had a mysterious aura. Never the less, he seemed to also have a big brother complex, trying to warm the teenager. He spoke in a language that she didn't understand, which got him a look of udder confusion, which was also adorable. She looked closer at him. He wore a black hat with a rose on it. He was well dressed with an ascot tied around his neck on his white shirt. He wore a white and gold vest and matching white pants. He had on black boots. At his hip was a lethal looking sword. Ashlea looked around the ship. There were several men aboard, but five caught her attention, not that she understood any of them. There was the man who saved her, tall and blonde, he wore glasses and a blue sash around his head. He wore matching blue pants and a black skeleton's ribcage shirt under a long light tan coat a sword tucked into the golden sash around his waist. The blonde who spotted Ashlea wore dark striped pants and a white tunic. He had on an old looking dark brown coat and a sword belted to his hip. He had a floppy brown hat with an elegant feather protruding from it. The next was a teen who appeared to be her age, wearing mostly white. His shirt was sleeveless and he had a blue vest adorned with gold. He had a small dagger belted at his hip as if it were deemed unsafe for him to carry a sword (*cough*Norway*cough*) he had a blue and white sash tied around his head. Finally her eyes landed on a tall and handsome one. He had an eye patch and his ear was pierced. He also had a hat perched atop his head, a matching dark coat over a white tunic that was tucked into a pair of khaki colored pants. He wore knee high brown boots, in fact, the teen was the only none not wearing boots./p
p data-p-id="6d239f398bb223f195a33e3c755a3edb"She pulled the coat closer to her form. Ashlea wore a white tank top under a black corset. She had a violet sash tied around her waist and a brown skirt that went to her ankles. For once in her life she was wearing shoes instead of her ever present chacos, which Alie constantly teased her for./p
p data-p-id="7470de4413f55aa818c372f26668a10b"Speak of the devil (and she was one...love you Alie!) Ashlea hadn't seen her yet. Suddenly she realized they were trying to talk to her again. Tall and handsome switched a few languages before finally coming to English. "Do you speak English?" He asked, starting to sound frustrated, relief washing over his face as she nodded timidly. Suddenly, at that moment, someone called out that an enemy ship was approaching. Fearing the worst, Ashlea froze in terror. Someone grabbed her arm and pulled on it. It was the teen. She followed as he lead her into the cabin./p
p data-p-id="715e051f163247da57eaa111714d340b""Stay here." He said quietly, locking the door. Ashlea agreed silently, listening to the sounds of fighting. She quickly searched the room for something to use as a weapon, her eyes landing on a paper weight. She snatched it, hiding in the closet. Just as she closed the door, someone entered. She covered her mouth, waiting for them to leave. Several long minutes passed before they started to leave. Suddenly, as Ashlea tried backing into the wall, she kicked something. The man turned around, his sword drawn and he opened the door. Without hesitation, Ashlea swung the paperweight at him with a shriek. Then man grabbed her hand. It was the one who saved her. She dropped the paperweight with a thud and she hugged him. This earned a soft gasp in surprise. He led her outside where there was massive damage. The crew of the ship were held at gunpoint./p
p data-p-id="1b8494d43bb4ef15abbe4ef48d84de1a""Good day, Lass."/p
p data-p-id="b5657dda204d9cbf8580ed6ff1f3f9ec"**********************^•.•^*********************/p
p data-p-id="1f9fd6dae34ba0f8072473d9c103e965"Alie was walking around the port city showing people the sketch of Ashlea she had drawn asking if anyone had seen her, also giving her physical features. She had had no luck so far and she now sat against the wall of a building. She had her picture in her breast pocket and was curled up, holding her knees close to her body for warmth. The rain had started several hours ago, yet Alie was too lazy to find a place to stay. That and she had no money. She hugged her soaking knees closer and cried silently, the rain hiding her tears./p
p data-p-id="cd4a6381a44bfc2afcd98cfe07d08e9e""Liebe, are you alright?" She heard a German voice ask. She looked up to see an albino man wearing a long dark blue coat and dark clothes under it. He had a black hat perched atop his head and a sword buckled at his waist. He offered a white gloved hand. She accepted it and he pulled her to her feet. He put his coat around her and pulled her into a nearby tavern. She wrinkled her nose slightly at the smell of alcohol. He looked at her, "so what brings a fraulin such as yourself to a pirate haven anyways?" He asked as he lead her to a room. She reached into her breast pocket and pulled out her drawing. Amazingly it was dry. She handed it to him./p
p data-p-id="033085c1359b9f2078771025d6e60d9b""I'm trying to find my friend." She said. The man looked at it. Suddenly she realized something. "Wait, did you just say, 'Pirate Haven'?" She asked him./p
p data-p-id="adf46b6d1ba88c2d0a5057d1611a4098""Ja. You are in France at the moment. This is a lovely woman, but no I haven't seen her. But, I could help you find her, only for a price." He smirked devilishly./p
p data-p-id="052d8f69f95695ebff8f2939feb363b5""I haven't any money." She replied blushing, a knot beginning to form in her stomach as he approached her./p
p data-p-id="1d593bd97ca4553810ad563278fc5bf2""Well then you will just have to pay me another way then." Alie felt her back hit the wall and the pirate trapped her there. She gulped as she feared the worst./p
p data-p-id="96cfbc6507f258b4204c7b0fc135d2c7"********************************************/p
p data-p-id="12f895447dcd85b334ed23ed6aa2b74f"Ashlea stiffened as the pirate approached her. Someone yanked her saviour away and Ashlea felt fear clawing at her insides. She took a step back for his every step forward, her path soon blocked by a wall. The mysterious man tried to break free of his captor, only to have a knife pressed against his neck./p
p data-p-id="cde3c7433ccc396ea3e0ee53cc3ab9ec""Lukas! You let my big brother go!" The teen cried out. He was knocked out. Ashlea whimpered as the wild haired pirate blocked her escape./p
p data-p-id="846220e3523fee675780a5672b9ee657""Get off my ship now Kirkland!" The tall and handsome man said, making Kirkland turn around. Ashlea took this chance to try to run. She made it over the the tall creepy man, hiding behind him as he held the one who had found her. The pirate swore and Ashlea trembled in fear. Soon the fighting broke out again as the tall and handsome man broke free and kicked a nearby sword into his hand. Ashlea cried out and hid behind some barrels. She waited for the fighting to end. Suddenly, she was pulled to her feet by Kirkland. She fought against him weakly./p
p data-p-id="2db7423c49afe828c18b161af2106b01""Parley!" She cried, remembering the word to strike a deal. He sighed heavily in frustration, releasing her from his grip./p
p data-p-id="a7528444f86afdde831678aa42f2ad51""What?" He asked annoyed./p
p data-p-id="0d22fcbb7192e4a98facf08a8f13602e""Please leave this ship and everyone aboard it alive." She asked. She noticed the creepy tall guy making his way over, and he put a single finger to his lips./p
p data-p-id="3c65723dbd2976a3f40c55a509c15607""What's in it for me?" Kirkland asked./p
p data-p-id="5b907d24a60674d5fcaf96d6f0ff2d72""Yer l'f'." The man said, putting his sword to Kirkland's throat. Kirkland froze. The man gave off a murderous aura that made Ashlea flinch. She watched as the pirate finally surrendered and ordered his men to retreat. She looked at the men, noticing Lukas knelt beside his brother, who was just now waking up./p
p data-p-id="85380ca50f6a225bf782ae06ccc60dec""That was a brave thing you did." The tall and handsome man said. She looked at him. "I am Captain Mathias Køhler." He said, offering his hand./p
p data-p-id="4ff5d28c9acfe8a9c82d20daece353da""I'm Ashlea Clark." She said, accepting his hand./p
p data-p-id="606749823d4c1e970ebd041789e4d3b2""Well, miss Ashlea, this is my first mate, Lukas Bondevik, his brother, Emil Stielson. The one who rescued you, twice, is Berwald Oxenstierna, and that is-" Mathias was cut off as Berwald cut in./p
p data-p-id="e53508c868365ef2e249611d25fda8f8""Th's 's m' w'f'." He said, placing his hand on a man's shoulder./p
p data-p-id="0356eef1234a104bbab447ca2658ab01""I'm Tino! Tino Vainamoinen!" He said slightly nervous./p
p data-p-id="29d2efc19a35046b929a606f749412ab"Ashlea just smiled./p