OK, I feel badly about making you all wait for the big reveal, but really I have plans that need setting up for it. So please be patient just a little bit longer. I will tell you this….the big reveal will take place somewhere between chapters 15 – 20. So now you have a ball park figure of when it will happen. Please trust me, you will be well entertained until that moment arrives….OK? Thanks!

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Chapter 11

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A few more weeks had past and as Cannon Bay came into view once more, Christine felt a mixture of excitement and regret. While the prospect of going ashore was very appealing after being on ship for so long, the implications of shore leave left her wishing they could just turn around and sail away. The idea that Erik would more than likely end up at the Crimson Cutlass again filled her with a fire of jealousy and possessiveness. She was not sure what Rosalie would do if Erik engaged her for her services. Would she refuse because she knew of Christine's feelings or go on with business as usual? She couldn't blame her if she did, after all it was her job and Erik was very difficult to resist. Christine couldn't fault Erik either, for it was not like she had given him any reason to stay away from other women…or such activities. She felt trapped between two stone walls and both were closing in on her. In the end she decided that the least painful way to deal with it was not to be there, that way she wouldn't have to know.

Erik was surprised when Chris volunteered to stay on board to guard the ship instead of going into town with him and Amir like before. The boy had been acting a little odd since he had mentioned they were heading back to Cannon Bay, and now this? Perhaps the whole incident with Rosalie had embarrassed him far more than Erik had thought, but whatever the reason, he would let it lie. If Chris wanted to talk about it, he would.

When Erik and Amir stepped into the tavern they were once more assaulted by the smell of rum and woman. Erik had warned his first mate to be a bit more judicious with his money this time, but he knew it was like telling a man dying of thirst to sip the water slowly. Amir was gone in a shot, sweeping the first pretty face he could find off to a table as she plied him with drinks. Erik smiled, admiring how his Persian friend enjoyed life to the full, with no regrets. Erik envied him for that. As he stood there a moment, thinking about the burdens he carried every day, he felt a warm hand slide up his back. He shuddered slightly at her touch and turned around to see the dark, seductive eyes of Rosalie.

"Back so soon?" she asked, her words dripping with the honey of promised pleasure.

Erik slipped his hands low around her waist and pulled her to him roughly.

"If I recall, you promised me a rain check," he reminded her. "And I always claim my prize." He leaned down and began to kiss her neck, as she laughed.

"So I am a prize, am I?"

"Prettier than a chest of gold," he told her as he let her lead him over to one of the tables. She signaled for the bartender to bring them a bottle as she eased him down into a chair and walked around behind him, never letting her hands leave his body.

"You were always good with the sweet talk, Erik." She began to massage his shoulders as he leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes, enjoying her touch and the relief of his tight muscles.

Soon her touch was stirring other desires, and reaching across his chest with his right hand he grasped her left arm and pulled her around to sit on his lap.

"If I recall, you were always good at something else," he hinted, leaning in for a taste of her ruby lips.

"How is Chris?" she asked abruptly.

Erik pulled back, his brows furrowing together beneath his mask.

"Chris? The kid is fine, why would you ask about him?"

"Just curious. How is he doing these days? Anything exciting happen since I saw you two last?" she asked, running her finger up and down his chest through the opening in his shirt.

"Do you seriously want to talk about the boy right now?" Usually Rosalie was all business and he appreciated that about her. Erik came to the Crimson Cutlass for only two things, rum and pleasure, and right now thinking about Chris was putting a damper on both.

"I just noticed that he was not with you and wondered how he was, that's all." She leaned in and kissed him, noting that the agitated look never left his eyes and that he did not kiss her back. "Why, are you jealous?"

Erik was not sure what he was feeling, but he was pretty sure jealousy was not it. As nice as Rosalie was, and as much as he enjoyed her company, he knew he didn't love her…and she certainly didn't love him. That was one reason he sought out her company. Rosalie never asked about his mask or demanded to see what lay beneath, unlike a few of the other prying girls he had met over the years, but neither did she seem to care about him in a deeper way either. That was fine with him. Erik preferred having no strings, no attachments and no feelings of regret or responsibility when he headed back out to sea. The bartender brought over the bottle just then and Erik grabbed it and took a long drink.

"Does talking about Chris bother you for some reason?" Rosalie asked, watching him closely, as if she were waiting for him to reveal something.

Before he could think or respond, the door to the tavern burst open and seven tall men dressed in English military uniforms came into the room. Everyone in the place froze and it became deadly silent. Rosalie felt Erik stiffen and she saw him slowly draw his pistol from his belt and hold it down by his leg, hidden from view under the table. Erik glanced over at his first mate and with a silent nod indicated for him to be ready. Amir signaled back and Erik knew that if things turned bad, he could count on his friend to back him up.

Rosalie slowly lifted herself off of Erik's lap and stood beside him.

"Your kind is not welcome here," she told the soldiers, taking a few steps closer to them as she placed her hands on her hips. "Go find your booze and women elsewhere," she ordered, waving her hand for them to leave.

"We are not here for drink or pleasure, Madam," the man in front assured her, removing his hat politely. He was tall, middle aged, with light colored hair and wore a determined look upon his weathered face. "We simply wish to ask your patrons a few questions." He stepped forward and spoke in a loud voice so that everyone in the place could hear him. "My name is Commodore Edwards, of her Majesties Royal Navy. We are not here to serve any warrants or arrest anyone. We are simply looking for information about a young boy by the name of Chris Daae. We have reason to believe he was here in Cannon Bay about a month ago." The Commodore held up a piece of paper that listed Chris' description on it so that everyone could see. "He was last seen two months ago, taken captive aboard a ship called the Damnation. There is a large reward offered for any information leading to the safe return of the boy. Has anyone here seen him or knows of his whereabouts?"

The room remained quiet and while there were a few whispers and questioning glances by the customers, no one spoke up. Visibly frustrated the Commodore looked around the room, searching faces. When his gaze landed on Erik, his eyes narrowed a bit and he walked over to where he sat. He leaned forward and slammed the paper down on the table in front of Erik, noting that the masked man did not flinch or alter his stare in the slightest at the sound.

"How about you? Have you seen this boy?" he asked sternly.

Erik leaned back in his chair, looking Edwards directly in the eye. His gun was still cocked and ready to fire, should the Commodore push the issue any further.

"Sorry. Afraid I can't help you." he answered back coldly.

The Commodore stood there for a few seconds longer, the two men locked in a battle of wills, seeing who would back down first. At last Edwards straightened up and turned his attention back to the room.

"I will remain in port for the rest of the week. Should any of you happen to remember something, or hear anything about the boy, I personally guarantee you will be rewarded handsomely for your information…no questions asked." He then nodded to one of his men who stepped over to a support beams, and taking out a dagger, he pinned one of the papers to it with the blade. The Commodore locked eyes with Erik once more, before he re-donned his hat, tipping it again towards Rosalie, and then left the tavern.

Erik uncocked his pistol and shoved it roughly back into his belt. Amir was at his side in an instant, his eyes wide with confusion and terror.

"They have the whole English fleet out looking for Chris? Who the hell is he, the bloomin' crown prince?" Amir asked, somewhat dumbfounded as well as impressed.

"I don't blame you for clamming up just then, Erik, but what do you plan on doing?" Rosalie asked, looking at Erik's expressionless eyes.

Erik had no idea. It was one thing to keep Chris on board because he currently saw no safe way of getting him back to his family. But now all he had to do was hand him over and the bloody royal navy would escort the boy home in style, and Erik would be getting a very sizeable reward for his troubles as well.

He felt Rosalie's hand on his shoulder, but he did not look up into her eyes.

"Think about what is best for the boy. Apparently he has a family who loves him and misses him very much. Do you honestly see him turning pirate and sailing the seas with you and your men forever?" she questioned. "Or is there something else holding you back from letting the kid go?"

Erik's hand slammed down on the paper in front of him and closing his fist around it he shoved the parchment into his pocket. He then got to his feet quickly and strode out of the tavern, not even looking back to see if Amir was following. He was halfway back to the ship before he heard his first mate behind him, running to keep up. When they reached the Phantom he saw that several of the men were busy loading the supplies and he walked over to Toby, grabbing the younger man by the shirt he practically growled his orders to him.

"Get into town and round up the rest of the crew. We set sail in half an hour whether everyone is back aboard or not!" he told the startled man, shoving him towards the town. Toby stumbled backwards and looked questioningly at Amir. The first mate waved the man on with a glance that told him that now was not the time to ask question. Toby took off running. Once on deck Erik gave orders to prepare to cast off and with only a quick glance at a puzzled Chris, he stormed into his cabin and slammed the door.

Christine could tell that Erik was very upset, but she had no way of knowing why. Something had happened in town and she was almost afraid to ask what it was. She walked over to where Amir stood running his hand over his chin nervously.

"What's going on? Why are we leaving port so soon?" she asked, making him jump as if he had not noticed her approach.

"Just a friendly card game gone bad," he lied, trying to sound like it was nothing. "No need to worry. Just help the men get things battened down and make ready to sail." He then took a deep breath and followed Erik into his cabin and shut the door behind him.

Erik was at his desk, rolling out some charts and doing everything he could not to look Amir in the eye. After a moment he stopped, raking both his hands through his hair in frustration and leaning forward on the desk, his arms supporting him.

"I don't want to let the boy go!" he said at last, admitting out loud what he had been thinking all the way back to the ship. "I have gotten used to having Chris on board. He likes it here and everyone likes him." He looked at Amir as if for validation.

"Yes, everyone likes Chris. Who wouldn't?" Amir agreed. "He has proven his worth time and again. Now, I am not telling you to send him away, and I doubt very seriously that anyone at the Crimson Cutlass is going to say a word, but do you really want to be the one keeping Chris from Commodore Edwards and his men? We are pirates for God's sake; the last thing we need is the English navy after us for kidnapping as well. His father may be just a small town doctor, but he apparently has some very influential friends behind him if he can afford to pay such a ransom and get the royal navy involved in the man hunt."

"I know!" Erik yelled. "It makes no sense, but damn it, I want him to stay! If he goes, who will we have to patch us up? Ever think of that? I am sure it will cross your mind the next time you find yourself lying on the deck bleeding to death."

"You have a point, I grant you that, and I wager that Chris will be missed more than any of us can guess, but Rosalie is right. Think of what is best for the boy. He is not a stray puppy we can just choose to keep. He has a home, and a pirate ship is no place for a kid. This is a dangerous life and if he stays here there is always the possibility he may never get the chance to grow up at all, ever think of that."

Erik had considered that…many times. Yet, like all the other thoughts about sending Chris away, he had pushed them out of his mind and refused to think of them. His admiration for the boy was clouding his usual good judgment, and he was not happy about it. What was it about Chris that tugged at his heart strings? Was it some form of parental affection? Respect for his talents and compassion? There was just something about him that he couldn't put his finger on…but in the end he knew that Amir was right. Erik realized he should send him back to his old life, a life where he would grow up safe and become an honest member of society, not a pirate.

"We will let Chris be the one to decide. We will give him the choice and let him choose his own fate," Erik agreed. "But first…one more score."

"One more score? Take one more ship?" Amir asked questioningly.

"No. We go after Red Blood's treasure," he told his first mate, taking the map out of his desk and rolling it out temptingly.

Amir's face lit up with a wide grin. Erik knew this was what he had been waiting for and if the tradeoff for going after the treasure meant keeping Chris for a little longer, it was a compromise Amir was willing to make. Erik just had to reconcile himself to the fact that this would be their last adventure with the boy…after that, he would send him home.

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The Pirates are going treasure hunting! Oh what fun! Grab your shovels and your squawking parrots, and we will see you on land!

So what did you think of Erik and Rosalie this time?

And Erik and Edwards stare down?

Erik really likes Chris and does not want to lose his 'little buddy'.

Amir is always the voice of reason…unless talking about mermaids, that is.