Chapter 2

"Selene, something smells wonderful," Alice said as she walked into the ships kitchen. The cook, a young, petite, dark skinned woman, had become Alice's best friend on the ship during this last voyage. She was one of the few people in the crew who actually took Alice seriously. Not many believed that the tall, blonde, 24 year old, English woman would be able to be in charge of anything, let alone a trading company, at first sight. However, after four years of traveling on the ship, she had convinced the majority of them that she at least knew what she was doing. She was glad that they had gotten rid of their last cook. He had been as sleazy as his food was greasy.

"Thank you, Miss." Selene told her. Her long dark hair was pulled up in a tight bun to avoid any loose hairs getting caught in the large pot of some type of soup that she was stirring.

"Selene, I've told you before, I'm no great Miss, just call me Alice," she pleaded, exasperated. Selene looked at her with her large, dark brown, almond shaped eyes.

"But you are some great Miss," Selene replied firmly. "You're a co-member of a trading company and you travel the world telling people what to do. No other Miss at home could say that." Alice just rolled her eyes.

"No other Miss would want to," Alice told her before.

"No, they're all walking around with a codfish on their heads," Selene said dryly, making Alice laugh.

A yell sounded from the deck, startling both women. The yell was quickly followed by several more along with the sound of fighting. The two looked at each other.

"Pirates," Selene said.

"Again," Alice sighed. Though pirate attacks weren't common, they had had enough experience on their last trip to China. Alice had been kidnapped and they had almost lost half of their cargo. What the pirates hadn't realized was that she was very good in a fight. Pirates were a lot easier to kill then a Jabberwocky, even without the Vorpal sword. Alice looked at Selene, "What's the plan?" she asked, then stopped. Her friends' expression worried her. "What is it?" Selene shook her head.

"This attack is different," she cocked her head, "listen." Alice did. The sounds of fighting were slowing down, which was normal, but there weren't any death screams. "And why didn't they shoot at us first? They must have been following us since China, so they probably know our cargo would float long enough for them to gather it even if they did sink us." Now that she thought about it, Alice was confused at the pirates' actions, too. They still needed a plan, though. Heavy footsteps sounded on the stairs that connect the kitchen to the deck. "Quick, get behind me," Selene told her, "just follow my lead." Alice did as she was told.

The door to the kitchen banged open and Selene let out a shriek. Alice sighed inwardly, she hated playing the scared cook's assistant but it had saved their life more than once in China. Hopefully it would help now. She forced out a whimper as she cringed away as the dirty grinning pirate advanced on the two women. "Looks like I found me a tasty treat!" he said to himself. Alice pretended like she was hyperventilating as he reached his arm out and grabbed Selene's chin. Alice saw a glimmer of tears streak down Selene's cheek as they both continued to act pitiable.

"Please," Alice whispered half-heartedly, letting it catch in her throat. She wasn't as good as Selene to get herself to cry, but she could hold her own. Their pathetic act only seemed to amuse the pirate. He was about to jerk Selene away from Alice when Selene straightened from her cringe and glared in his face.

"Parley," she said her voice strong. Alice stopped. What's parley? She thought to herself. And why is she saying that? The pirate had stopped, too, at Selene's word. He looked at the two of them, his eyes saying everything he wanted, and then he let out a groan as he released Selene and stepped back. He glared at them and stomped out of the room.

"Stay here," he growled and slammed the door.

When he left, Alice looked at Selene questioningly. Selene wouldn't look at her. "Explain," she demanded. Selene sighed.

"When I said 'parley' I demanded to see the captain. It's pirate code. I can't be harmed until I meet the captain," she explained, still avoiding eye-contact.

"And you know about this why?" Alice asked. Selene sighed again, and then met her eyes.

"My father was a pirate." That made Alice hesitate.

"Why didn't you tell me this earlier?" she asked, putting her hand on her friends' shoulder. Selene looked down again.

"It's not something that I'm proud of," she responded quietly. "My mother was just a teenager when they ransacked her village. My father took a fancy to her. He was one of the better ones, so she didn't argue too much. Surprisingly, he had enough honor to actually marry her. He was a decent father, horrible moral teacher, but better then some." Alice listened intently. She'd known Selene for almost a year, and this was the first time she's heard of her family life. "He died in another raid when I was about twelve. Me and mother were dropped off in a port city soon after. We were hired by a restaurant as cooks, you found me there, and you know the rest." Selene shrugged. Alice stared at her for a second then enveloped her in a hug.

"Oh, Selene, what an interesting life you must have had," she said, surprising Selene, who then laughed at the irony of Alice Kingsleigh telling her that she had led an interesting life.

The two then settled down to wait for the pirate's captain.