The Spider and the Wasp

Chapter 10

Alex, Nichols, and Piper came rushing out to meet with the rest of the crew who were all staring at the grisly black sky. Gone was the brightness of the gorgeous yellow sun and in its place; a mixture of gray streaky ominous clouds came looming over them like an angry shadow of death. It was raining so hard and fast the drops stung when they hit Piper's face. It was becoming difficult to even see. Alex removed her glasses tucking them inside her shirt. Pointless to wear them in the rain. The wind had picked up tremendously whipping through Alex and Piper's hair like an angry pennant. The sea was beginning to become wild and unforgiving and the ship was already rocking.

"Nichols?" Alex questioned

"If you're gonna ask me what I think captain, I'd say we're in deep fucking shit.'"

Panic was rising in Piper's chest "Wait a minute if it's a storm should we not seek shelter somewhere?"

"And just where do you suggest your highness?" Nichols said pointing to the vacant sea "The nearest harbor? The storm's right on top of us and the wind's barely gotta sense of direction."

"Best we can do is try to make it out; but it'll be rough," Alex pondered to herself. "Especially since we haven't recovered from the last beating."

"If all of you are in like mind lets get the fuck out of here shall we?"

The crew whooped and hollered in agreement all except Piper. She thought them all mad.

"Everyone to your posts now! We'll find us a clear path and sail right through it. We're going to escape this storm with as little damage to the Widow as possible!"

Alex began marching toward the helm as the women dispersed. She pointed at certain groups barking orders over the roar of the wind and waves."You all go below decks secure the cannons. Patch up the holes as best you can we have to keep the water from getting in! You four batten down the hatches! Black Cindy, Boo I want you all to manage the ropes. And you three climb up top and trim the sails but spare one, we can't risk a gale tearing through all of them! Go now! the fuck are you waiting for?!"

This was a side of Alex Piper had yet to see. This wasn't the playful, charming Alex that had seduced her at the tavern. This was Captain Vause commander of the Black Widow. Piper wasn't sure what to do so she followed behind Alex trying to match her stride and keep her footing as the boat rocked. She felt frantic and scared.

"Alex….Alex?!"

"What is it Piper?" she asked not looking back at her

"Are you sure about this? This—this is sheer madness we'll be capsized maybe we should abandon ship."

"I will never abandon my ship and I will never abandon my crew. Besides if it came down to the rowboat and my ship, I'd feel safer on my ship."

Alex climbed the steps, threw herself on to the helm, and latched on with all her might ready to steer. She continued to yell orders using hand gestures to the girls high above on the mast and on the other spars; to those who could not hear her through the howling of the wind. And then to Crazy Eyes who sat in the crows nest who was warned to be on the lookout for water spouts and rogue waves.

Finally the captain's eyes squinted in the rain searching for Piper. Clear droplets fell from her eyelashes and plastered her dark hair to her face. Her white shirt was soaked to the bone. Piper was sure she looked just as drenched and her mane of hair, once braided in that single braid, now undone and heavy on her head. Looking at Alex, and watching her at the wheel of the ship was like stepping into one of the novels Piper had read as child. Stories of heroines that were brave, who fought against social norms, who controlled their own destinies. Piper had never in her life met a woman quite like Alex before. She was a sight to behold. A marvel, untouchable, a beautiful warrior of the sea, so in control, strong and fierce.

"Piper… do you trust me?"

"What?"

"Do you trust me?"

There was a flash of lightning and then the loud crackling rumble of thunder.

"Do I have a choice?"

Alex shook her head with a smirk that seemed to say Oh Piper "No."

Piper paused and under the weight of the captain's green eyes she found herself uttering the word "Yes." An oddly enough she meant it.

Alex grinned at her and Piper could see her face light up from the thrill of facing nature's wrath head on.

"Good. Now hang on to something this is going to get a little rocky."

With all of her strength Alex turned the wheel and the ship tilted hard. Piper was holding on to the ledge for dear life and her legs practically lifted from the ground. The wind had turned violent blowing the rain in every sea was starting to crash onto the deck of the ship leaving a trace of foam and knocking some of the crew away from their posts and into each other. The ones that climbed atop the mast were struggling to tie up all but one of the sails but it was becoming a chore just to keep hold of the damn thing. Alex's grip tightened on the wheel her teeth gritted together as it was obvious she was slowly losing control and crumbling at the mercy of storm but Alex was a fighter. Wave after wave crashed against her and she repeatedly tossed her hair back to clear her vision. Piper was crouched down still holding on and every now and then swallowing sea water and gagging.

The sail that was left open suddenly loosened and flapped against the wind

"Tie that sail down now!" Alex ordered "We need to be able use the wind!"

"We're trying captain! We can barely get a hold of the canvas!"

The world had gone mute with exception of the enormous rushing waves and the rolling of thunder drowning out the sound of their voices.

Up from the crows nest Crazy Eyes bellowed one of the most dangerous words a captain could ever hear:

"ROOOOOOOUGE WAAAAAAVE! OFF THE STARBOARD SIDE!"

"Hook up that sail we have to turn the ship now!" The captain cried out again. Piper could hear the desperation in Alex's voice.

She had heard about rogue waves. They were ship killers, rare, unpredictable, and enormous. Over to her right she saw the crest of the wave creeping up on them slowly building in height and not to far off. Piper never thought she would ever experience one and she had hoped she never would. Her stomach dropped and she was feeling sick. Alex had to turn the ship and meet it head on or they were all done for.

The captain was trying in vain to turn the ship without the sail but without it the ship was moving much to slow and was still parallel to the wave that was coming in on them fast. Though Piper trusted Alex she could not help but feel that she was going to die today.

And then it was on them. It was like being swallowed whole by a hungry beast. Several thousands pounds of sea water crashing down right on top of them causing the entire ship to lean off to its other side nearly capsizing it. The crew was thrown around like rag dolls some of them screaming in pain as they slid into heavy equipment and landed on top of each other.

As the ship struggled to correct itself, Piper lost her grip and slid rapidly down the upper deck screaming the whole way down. Alex didn't hesitate she abandoned the wheel and dove after her. Right before Piper could hit the water Alex caught her wrist.

"Gotcha!"

Piper hung over the ledge of the partially capsized ship and looked at Alex with tearful relief. "C'mon pull yourself up I can't hold on for long!"

"I can't Alex!"

"Yes you can! Do it!"

"Alex I'm scared!"

"I know. Trust me! You can do it!"

And that gave her strength. Piper used her other hand and started to crawl back over the edge as she did the boat started to tilt back to its original position and Piper fell back onto the ship.

Alex stood up to check the status of her crew "Everyone alright?!"

A lot of them were still on their knees coughing and spitting up sea water. It was obvious the crews numbers had dwindled a bit and the deck was covered in flapping fish.

"Someone ought to tell Red our supply of fish has increased!" a shipmate quipped

How anyone could make a joke at a time like this Piper hadn't the slightest idea. And they were laughing, they were all laughing.

"Captain, captain!" One of the shipmates came running up the ship limping and out of breath "There's no one below decks to secure the holes. They're…they're all dead. We'll sink if the holes are not tended to."

Alex looked around. Everyone else was already assigned to a job, all except one.

"Nichols! You have the wheel. Keep the ship as steady as you can. Ride into the waves and get that sail open." Nichols nodded in understanding.

"Piper let's go!"

"What, me?! You're not serious."

"I am."

"You told me I didn't have to do anything!"

"I need your help Piper. I wouldn't ask if I had any other option."

"Why not Nichols?!"

"Because apart from myself she's the only one who knows how to steer the ship. Now come on there's no time!"

"But—"

"C'mon Piper!"

And the princess with great apprehension followed behind her.

"Alright you whores!" Nichols yelled "We're not out of this yet back to your positions!"