When Edward James stopped by the hospital the next morning and walked into Dr. Greene's office, his friend was nowhere to be seen. He stood in the doorway and looked into the empty room, suspicious at Fredrick's sudden disappearance. A nurse walked by, carrying a jug of water in a large bowl, and looked at him.

"Can I help you, sir?" She asked him. Edward turned his head to the left and looked at her.

"Has Dr. Greene been in today?" He asked her.

The nurse leaned back and peeked into the room. She looked back at Edward and shook her head. "No, sir."

Edward bowed his head and said, "As you were." The nurse walked away. Edward looked back at the room and walked over to Fredrick's desk. There was no note. There was, however, a black leather book lying on top. Edward reached his left hand out and touched the front cover. He was eager to open it, but he did not. He was not one to invade Fredrick's privacy. He did, however, take note of the silver emblem of a ship with a jolly roger engraved on the front cover.

Meanwhile, the Rojo Nieves was given a fine strong wind and a bright shining sun, as it sail out to open sea on calm waters. The crew were all up on deck enjoying the beautiful weather. Captain Azula stepped out of her cabin and took a deep breath. She sighed happily and walked over to the Indian man, who was taking control of the wheel.

"Glorious day for sailing. Isn't it, Uno?" Azula asked him.

"Very pretty", Uno answered.

Azula smiled brightly. She patted him on the back and said, "Steady as she goes." Azula turned to the left and walked over to the steps that lead onto the main deck. She looked up and saw the young man with the long red hair had nearly fallen as he tried climbing up to the crow's nest.

"Dos!" Azula cried out. The short brown man looked at her. "Tell Tres to be careful. I don't want him having another accident."

"Aye aye, captain", said Dos. "Alright, ya blooming-" Dos started cursing in Hindu at Tres, as he climbed up the rigging.

Azula walked down the steps that lead onto the main deck and over to the wild man in the long dirty shirt, who was petting a rat in his hands. Azula bent over and placed her hands on her knees. "Well, Cuarto, it seems you've made a friend", she said.

The wild man turned his head to the right and looked at her with an annoyed sort of glare. He made a low growling sound and Azula put her hands up, backing away. "Alright, I meant no harm", she said.

"Arrgh!" Yelled the man with the wooden leg, as he placed his left arm around Azula's neck. She nearly stumbled because of his weight. "Weigh anchor, matey. This rum be brewing up a storm in me head, says I." He hiccuped and then laughed at his own joke. Acknowledging the bottle in his right hand, Azula rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Cinco, you drunk", she laughed and snatched the bottle away from him.

"Oh, but, captain-"

"No, no", said Azula, holding the bottle in the air. "If ya drink too much, it'll go straight to yer head."

"I don't need no-" Cinco hiccuped. "I'll tell ya when...Aaahhh..." And with that, Cinco fell onto the deck, face down.

Azula tilted her head back and groaned. Cuarto chuckled menacingly and walked away.

"Seis!" Azula yelled over her right shoulder. The ugly lovesick Mexican dropped the mop in his hands and ran over to Azula, a dopey smile on his face.

"Yes, captain?"

Azula handed him the half-empty rum bottle and said, "Take this below deck and hide it where Cinco can't find it."

"Oh, yes, captain", said Seis, bowing. "Right away, captain. I'll do that right now, captain." And with that, he ran out of Azula's sight.

Azula placed her hands on her hips and sighed to herself. A man with a deep voice cleared his throat behind her. Azula turned around and saw the black man was standing behind her. He held out a small tray with a cream puff on it. "Your snack, captain", he said.

"Thank you, Siete", said Azula, taking the pastry from the tray.

"Captain, I've been thinking", said Siete.

"About what?" Azula asked him, taking a bite out of her snack.

"The Englishman we captured last night. What is it you plan on doing with him?"

"You'll know soon enough", said Azula with a mouthful. She walked past Siete, who turned around and called out to her.

"Captain!"

Azula turned around and looked at him. Siete walked up to her and said, "I have seen many men fallen under your spells over the years. This one is not like the
others. Did you not see? He resisted."

Azula tilted her head up a bit, interested in what Siete was saying. "What are you suggesting?" She asked him.

"Invite him to dine with us", said Siete. "Give him mercy, show him sympathy. Forgive me, captain, but I have a feeling about this one. Perhaps he can be of service. Not just to you, but to the crew, as well. We need more men, captain."

Azula lowered her head, thinking. Maybe Siete was right. There was something different about this man who had rowed out to sea, just so he could see a pirate ship. He was not like other men she had met before, who gave in so easily to her wicked seductions and graceful charms. Azula was always willing to provide the entertainment for them, until she held a knife to their throats and forced them to turn out their pockets. Those that did were spared, but then placed on an island, with nothing to fend for themselves. Those that didn't were subjected to being at the unmerciful hands of Azula's crew. None had ever lived to tell a single tale about the Devil's Wench. Perhaps it was time for a change.

Azula turned around and said to Siete, "Prepare us a feast for tonight. I think we've earned ourselves a little celebration."

"Yes, captain", said Siete. He walked away and went down to the galley.

Azula looked up and called out to her crew, "Steady as she goes, lads! If anyone needs me, I'll be in my quarters." Taking another bite of her cream puff, Azula
headed back towards her cabin. The rat in Cuarto's hands saw the pastry crumbs fall onto the deck and bit the finger of his human captor. Curato let him go right away. The rat fell onto the deck and ran over to pick up a huge crumb with his mouth, before scurrying over to a hole near the starboard side. The rat hopped down the hole, which lead down into the room that served as both the mess deck, as well as the crew's sleeping quarters. The rat ran down a long rope and scurried across the floor over to another hole. He went through the hole and into the galley, where Siete was humming to himself as he prepared tonight's meal. He did not notice the rat, as it scurried down a plank of wood, and under a stove. The rat went down yet another hole, which lead right down into the deepest, darkest, and most dreadful place on any pirate ship: the brig.

Fredrick Greene had spent the entire night down in the brig locked up in a cell. A new day had dawned, and yet he was still reduced to the punishment of being held prisoner by Azula. It was dark and cold, with little to no light. He would have loved to feel the sun on his face and the wind in his hair, but instead,
he sat down in his cell, rubbing his arms together to keep himself warm. His only companions were the rodents that scurried across the floor, looking for scrapes. At this point, Fredrick was not sure what was to become of him. All he could do was wait.

When nighttime came, Fredrick heard someone coming down the steps. He looked up to see who is was. It was the young man with the long red hair. Fredrick stood up at once and back up as the young man approached his cell and pulled out a ring of keys.

"The captain wants you to join us for tonight's feast", said Tres, as he inserted one key into the lock.

"Why?" Asked Fredrick, blankly.

Tres unlocked the door to Fredrick's cell and opened it. "Just follow me", he said.

Fredrick followed Tres up the stairs that lead into the galley. The hot steam was enough to warm Fredrick's bones, yet made him tremble for some reason. As he followed Tres up another flight of steps, Fredrick heard the sound of cheering men, which told him the entire crew was there. Fredrick walked into the mess hall and his eyes widened in surprise. A long table was set in the middle of the room, stacked with plates of salted meat, roast chicken, and fish, all glistening with fine juices. Rolls of bread, loaded with globs of melted butter. Bowls of colorful exotic fruit and beautiful cakes were there to satisfy their sweet tooth. There were also boiled potatoes and a bowl of greens. Caskets of ale and rum lied scattered across the table, waiting to be opened.

They may be a bunch of pirates, but they do make a glorious feast, Fredrick thought to himself, licking his lips at the sight of this bountiful harvest.

The crew was already seated. Uno, Cinco, and Siete were sitting on the right side, while Dos, Cuarto, and Seis were on the left. Tres took his seat and sat down between Uno and Cinco. Fredrick sat down on the end of the right side, next to Siete. Azula had changed her outfit for the evening. Her lips were no longer black, but were now red as blood. She was wearing a black commodore's hat with gold trimming and a red feather. She wore a burgundy red coat with black designs over her white shirt. She still wore skirts of black Spanish lace, but was now wearing pirate boots instead of her jewel-tipped blue flats.

Azula sat down in her chair at the front of the table and the crew went quiet. "Let us pray, gents", said Azula. The crew clapped their hands together and bowed their heads. Azula closed her eyes and put her hands together in a prayer motion. Fredrick repeated Azula by putting his hands together in the same motion as her, but kept his eyes on her as she started praying.

"Dear God, we thank ye for this meal that has been prepared for us. And ask that you forgive us of our wicked deeds. Though I know tis wrong in what we do, tis the only way we know how to live." Azula raised her head and opened her eyes. "...And bless Captain Jack Sparrow, wherever he may be."

Siete looked up and said, "Amen."

"Amen!" The rest of the crew shouted, before they started to dig into their dinner.

Fredrick watched as they all grabbed huge chunks of meat and handfuls of bread, potatoes, and fruit. Cinco and Cuarto broke opened bottles of rum and filled
everyone's mugs. Azula smiled and waited until the men had piled their plates, before using her fork and knife to cut a few slices of roast chicken for herself. The truth was even though she was a gypsy pirate and a wench, Azula was still a young woman of proper manners, something Fredrick found frightfully amusing. He assumed it was probably another one of her tricks, just to impress him, which of course was not true. Azula caught Fredrick staring at her.

"Eat", said Azula, cutting her piece of chicken into small bites. "Don't you Englishmen have a strong appetite?"

"I am disgusted with the manners of your crew", said Fredrick.

"Suit yourself. They don't bother me", said Azula, before popping a piece of chicken into her mouth with her fork.

Feeling offended, Fredrick put both his hands on the table and stood up, dismissing himself from the likes of these people. Azula raised an eyebrow at Fredrick, as she watched him walk up the stairs that lead onto the main deck. He may have plenty of booty there to show, but I can provide so much more than that, Azula thought to herself, as she took a drink of rum from her silver goblet.

Fredrick stood up on deck and walked over to the starboard side, resting his arms on the edge. He took a deep breath, trying to clear his mind. He had just spent the last twenty four hours in a cell, and now this woman was trying to be hospitable to him by letting him dine with her and her crew? Fredrick had always been fascinated by pirates, but know he wasn't so sure what to think of them. A faint wind started to blow, and Fredrick was strongly reminded of the brig. He wasn't sure whether to go back to the mess hall and join them for supper or not. He was famished, after all, and wasn't sure when he would get his next meal.

A few minutes later, Fredrick heard music coming from below deck and decided to see what all the commotion was about. Fredrick walked down to the mess hall and saw the crew was now leading each other into song. The table had been cleared away and set aside to one end of the room. They all sang and danced as Cuarto played the accordion. Azula was sitting on a barrel with her right leg over her left one. She smiled as she watched her crew enjoy themselves.

Fredrick felt someone tap his left shoulder and turned his head in that direction. It was Siete.

"Eat this", he said, handing Fredrick a piece of bread. "I sneaked this when the captain wasn't looking."

Fredrick said nothing, but accepted the bread and chewed it slowly as he watched the crew continue to dance.

After they had finished their song, the crew all cried, "Huzzah", and gave each other a good laugh. Uno stood in the middle of the room and Tres played a soft tune on his mandolin. Uno burst into a Hindu melody from his native India that his mother used to sing to him as a child. His voice sounded sweet and haunting.

After Uno had finished his tune, the crew all cheered him on and Azula clapped her hands. "Bravo", she said. Uno took off bandanna and gave a bow to his audience. "Thank you, thank you", he said. He put his bandanna back on and raised his arms to shush the crew. "And now, lads", said Uno. "Let us hear a ballad from our beloved captain."

"Yes!" The crew all said at once.

"Oh, no, no, no, no", said Azula, modestly.

"Ahh, come on, captain", said Tres, sadly.

"Give us just one song, at least", said Cinco.

"Please", Dos begged.

"Lads, I couldn't." Azula said, a little embarrassed.

"Captain", said Seis. He walked up to Azula and held his arms out. "If they can't have a song, can I dance with you?"

Azula's eyes widened. Seis waited for an answer, but Azula did not give him one. Instead, she said, "Alright, lads, you got me." The crew cheered as Azula stood up and took off her coat and hat. She handed them to Seis and walked into the middle of the ring of men around her. Cuarto tossed Azula her tambourine. She caught it in midair and started to dance.

"Gather 'round, lads, and I shall tell ye a tale", said Azula. "A tale that so few have lived to tell."

Azula pulled out a red scarf from her breast and spun around. The crew went wild and cheered her on. She danced a bit more, before she began to sing:

Horns as black as night,
Skin as red as blood,
Fear your heart will flood,
Upon his frightful sight.
"Come, my lady", said the Devil,
In his lair of sulfurous stench,
"Dance for me, and I shall spare thee,
"And shall be the Devil's Wench."
And dance she did, as you can see,
The young maiden was me.
No longer a Campanula,
But an angel of darkness,
The maiden free, the name chose she was-

"Azula!" The crew yelled, raising their mugs to the captain of the Rojo Nieves.

Fredrick dropped the bread in his hand and felt a lump in his throat, and not from the food he had just eaten. The crew refilled their mugs and Seis gave Azula her silver goblet.

"Here, lad", said Cinco, offering a mug of rum to Fredrick. "Drink to yer health." He patted him on the back and drank deeply from his own mug, the rum trickled
down his long white beard. Cinco gave a hearty laugh and walked over to Tres and Cuarto.

Fredrick looked back at Azula, who looked right back at him and raised her goblet to him. Fredrick raised his mug a bit and bowed his head slightly, before taking his first ever sip of rum. It had a mild taste to it, with a hint of spice, but left a burning sensation in his throat. Azula gave him a poisonous smile as she took a drink from her own cup.