AN: Hey everyone. This chapter is dedicated to Guin Parris.

The bold and italicized is the journal entry and the regular font is Riley's point of view.

Happy reading!

Chapter Seven: Not to be Trusted

Property of Eva Marianne Gates

To whom it may concern, when you read this, since this is a journal, you are reading my personal thoughts. If you are alright with reading someone's personal thoughts and feeling continue on, do not let me stop you. I am not a very exciting person, but who knows maybe your life is dull enough to the excruciating point where you find mine exciting.

I laughed at the message. I don't know why I found it funny but I did. I shook my head and continued on to the next page.

Journal Entry One

May 13, 1713

My name is Eva Marianne Gates. I am twenty years old and apparently, according to my mother and father, well on my way to a life alone. My sister is sixteen and already married. According to them, my being unmarried and turning away suitors is shameful to them. In this town it is hard to find someone that I am interest in. I want someone who sees me for the person I am instead of the money I am to inherit. I am not an inanimate object, I would prefer not to be treated as such.

NO that's not how it is.

I Am Told:

When, Where, How, and Why to go

When, Where, How, What, and Why to say

When, Where, How, What, Who, and Why to do

Yes I did say who to do. You do not think we choose our husbands, do you? NO, it is all arranged. Everything I am ever going to do in this lifetime is arranged by someone else. My mother and father dictate my life now, soon when they marry me off, my husband will dictate my actions.

I Have No Freedom. None. And I do not know why, but every other woman I have had to encounter seems to be fine with this issue. To be trapped forever in a life of unhappiness with someone who will never truly love you, but has the power to control every move you make for the rest of your given life. That is not right. Why should women be the lesser of the two?

Although, most would not listen to me, if any at all, when I say these things, people believe I am either trying to be humorous or completely mad. I am neither. However if it were not for my 'rambling', as mother calls it, I would not have this journal. It was a gift from Mother to kill two birds with one stone: I express my views and no one has to hear them. I still cannot believe she said that when she gave me the bloody journal. Who says that to their daughter? I swear when I have children, I will treat them differently. They will have the ability to make their own choices, at least for a while.

My 'for a while' has ended however. My father has made a promise of my hand to Commodore Jasper Howe of the British Royal Navy…

I looked at the sketch on the other side of the entry, "Oh shit." Book in hand, I ran down to where the others were convened. "I think I may have a lead on the treasure and why Ian might want it." I read to them the first page of the journal entry and showed them the sketch, "Jasper might have known something about the treasure."

"Eva Gates was a pirate." Patrick said, "Anything of hers is not to be trusted."

"She could be the only link we have to finding the treasure." I argued.

"Eva knew Blackbeard. Her husband said under him for many years. Her brother in law was killed to guard whatever was in that chest." Emily agreed with me, "Her journals could be a lot of help to us."

"Mom, you and Riley go through the Journals see what you can find." Ben instructed, "Abigail, you, Aaron, and Alyssa find out what you can on Edward Teach. Dad and I gonna go pay a visit to John and Tess, they lived in North Carolina for a while. We're gonna see what they know about the chest, if anything."

Ben and Patrick left. Abigail, Aaron, and Alyssa soon left to go to the Library of Congress. It was just Emily and I left.

"Shall we go up and take a better look into those journals?" She asked.

I nodded and we went up to the attic.

AN2: Next chapter starts the flashbacks.