Chapter 7
God couldn't be everywhere, so he created mothers ~ Jewish Proverbs
A few days later, the crew had been treading lightly around Nixie. She hadn't been cranky or angry but they still treaded softly in some fear. They had never seen their girl like that before: ruthless, unforgiving, cold. Their opinion of her had shifted from mere woman to bloody fighter. Her more tender side would show itself very soon.
There, floating in the water was a section of a deck. On that deck was a young looking girl with jet-black hair. Nixie saw the piece of deck and called out, "Man over board!"
The crew fished her up and out of the sea and Nixie gazed down at the young girl. Her black hair was pulled back by a sea foam green bandana thus revealing a pair of silver hoop earrings. She was unconscience and the crew was at a loss of what to do. "Oh for heaven's sake, MOVE!" Nixie said, pushing through the throng of men and began to revive the girl.
Jones had heard the commotion and had come off the wheel to investigate. Just as he reached the cluster, the girl began to wake up, coughing up seawater. "Wh-where am I?"
"Ye aboard the Flying Dutchman lass. What is yer name?" Nixie asked, gentle sitting the girl up.
"Marina." The girl said, "Did ye say the Flying Dutchman?"
"Aye. My names Nixie. Now can ye stand Marina?" Nixie asked, her voice level and calming.
"I…I think I can. And please call me Siren." Marina said, before trying to stand.
She got up a bit before almost collapsing but Nixie caught her. "Easy Siren… Ye just came off drift wood."
"What is going on here?" Jones interjected, bring attention to him.
"Sir, this girl was found on some wreckage." Maccus explained, eyeing Nixie.
Somehow, her supporting the young girl just looked right to him. Her face was calm but he could see the power lurking behind her eyes. If anyone dared to harm the lass, there would be hell to pay. Jones eyed Nixie and the girl. Nixie had icy eyes while the girl almost looked afraid. Jones snorted and walked away before shouting over his shoulder for the crew to get back to work. Nixie helped Siren below to her hammock where Nixie plopped her onto the hammock to examine her for injuries.
The crew's opinion of Nixie had shifted yet again. She was now looked at as the mother of the crew who could whop them if they crossed her. Siren had blended well with crew as the cabin girl. Bootstrap Bill Turner had become her adoptive uncle while Maccus had attained a new friend and student. He had begun to teach her the ropes of sailing.
Jones watched the crew one day and caught sight of Nixie. If he still had a heart in his chest, it would have skipped a few beats. She was smiling a genuine smile. It was beautiful…she was beautiful. That saddened him. He could never tell her what he really felt about her without letting his heart up onto the chopping block again. The pain had hurt him too much last time he had dared to love and he didn't want to experience it again.
Nixie glanced up and caught her captain gazing at her. For some reason, Jones wasn't just the captain he was her captain. She left the up turned bucket she had been sitting on when Jones had turned into his cabin and the slightly angry organ began to play. Nixie crossed the deck and ended up at the captain's cabin door. She turned the handle and went in. Maccus had seen her go into the cabin and silently told her, 'Go get him girl.'
