The bright afternoon Caribbean sun cast its long shadows over the quarterdeck of naval frigate the Intrepid, where the dashing pirate captain and valiant naval lieutenant faced each other with their swords drawn.
The navy soldiers around stopped fighting with two other pirates: a giant, but clumsy cook and a young blonde woman. Everybody's attention focused on both men.
They were circling one another, their weapons flashing as they thrust and parry in a hypnotizing dance.
"I expected more from the great captain Mortemer" Oliver sounded foolhardy, but the discerning eye of someone who knew him, would notice that he covered his insecurity with cockiness.
Edward smirked, parrying Oliver's complicated twist effortlessly
"Is this the best the Royal Navy has to offer?" the pirate challenged naval lieutenant.
Oliver groaned and launched another sophisticated blow. Edward stepped back and blocked his attack with no effort. Oliver's blade caught the sunlight, when he retreated to his previous position.
"I must warn you, I've learned many styles of swordplay from many masters. You'll be hard pressed to find a strategy I don't know how to defeat," Oliver turned to Edward again with an inciting tone.
"You like to talk a lot, Lieutenant," the pirate responded with a snarky tone in his voice.
"But I am sure you will find out soon enough that academic study only accounts for so much in the real world," he paused "you might have studied different styles of dueling, but I have experienced them. I have beaten them!"
The pirate counterattack almost slit the lieutenant across the chest, causing him to step backward, making it easier for Edward to advance.
The audience, the navy officers and sailors on one side, and two pirates, Henry and Ray, on the other watched the whole spectacle holding their breaths.
Edward attacked furiously, and Oliver parried again, but it was visible the navie was losing the edge. Their weapons sliced through the air, steel crashing together. The pirate knocked Oliver off balance, and used it as an opening to strike the heavy, disarming blow.
The edge of Edward's blade hit Oliver's weapon's guard with the full strength, causing him to drop it. His sword fell limply on the deck.
With no hesitation, Edward pointed his sword at Oliver's throat. With one swift move, the pirate slid behind him, the sharp flat of his blade pressed into the length of Oliver's neck, threatening to slide the jugular veins in the blink of an eye if the lieutenant made one uncautious move.
"Now if you would be so kind, Lieutenant Cochrane," Edward pushed Oliver towards the deck of Poseidon's Revenge, tied alongside the Intrepid with grappling hooks.
"And no sudden moves," the blade pressed harder to Oliver's neck, leaving a thin, bloody mark.
Nobody tried to stop them; Oliver's men just stood down, terrified, even if his eyes were burning, begging them to attack, willing to sacrifice his life for the Navy and the Crown. But they wouldn't do anything to put his life in danger, probably less from the loyalty towards him (although he hoped for some), but mostly as they feared his father's reaction.
Ray's heart froze.
Cochrane how?! Admiral Cochrane?! Was the man she met not so long ago the Admiral's son?! And how the hell Edward knew!
The vivid memory of the night out on the town with Oliver flashed rapidly through her head.
He did mention his father, though. She should learn to listen to people and connect the dots finally. But how the hell Edward knew that. And why didn't he let anything on?
She tried to search for Edward's eyes, but he avoided her gaze.
How did he know, and why didn't he tell her even if she was open with him about kissing Oliver? How dared he to confront her and accuse her of "consorting with the enemy." And he still kept that a secret after all they shared and all the trust they built on the deserted island.
Mixed emotions overflew her; she felt her heart breaking at the thought of Edward pushing her away again and anger for him judging her. She looked at his tense figure. He didn't seem to be the fair and warm Edward anymore; his revenge blinded him and having the Admiral's son at the mercy of his sword made him foolhardy.
She searched for Oliver's eyes instead, pleading with him silently not to make a move. His eyes were burning with rage and the humiliation of the defeat, and she could see the resolve to take any opportunity to act, even though it would probably cost him his life.
Her eyes begged him not to.
For the blink of the second, Oliver hesitated. His whole life he was preparing for the moment like this, to sacrifice himself in the name of the Crown and the Navy, not giving in to the pirates. But something in the eyes of that woman he had just met made him reconsider. Oliver wasn't sure why, but he just followed through. He imperceptibly nodded towards her, sighed, and obeyed the pirate's order.
He nodded towards his Master of Arms, too. They needed to get the word of his failure to the Admiral as soon as possible. He didn't really expect any rescue. In his mind's eyes, he was able to see his father's fury and deception he caused him. That was ironic, the mission that he hoped would finally make his father value him and recognize his skills as the navie, turned now in the spectacular fiasco.
A sudden sharp push from the pirate and barked order broke him out of his train of thoughts.
"Henry, Miss Bellamy, let's move!"
The pirates followed through, climbing to the deck of their ship. The ties had been cut off, the sails unfurled, and the Poseidon's Revenge glided through the ocean with growing speed, leaving the immobilized naval frigate behind.
Once on board of their ship, Edward pushed Oliver towards some of his crew members.
"Lock him in the brig, Jonas."
He turned to look at Ray for a short moment.
"Miss Bellamy, stay clear from the brig, seriously."
His voice had a peremptory tone, and she raised her eyebrows but didn't confront him publicly. Finally, Edward growled something under his nose and headed towards his cabin. He disappeared inside, slamming the door right in front of Ray, who followed him.
"Edward?" Ray leaned against the door and knocked lightly. There was no answer. She knocked once more, now harder. There still was no answer, but she didn't expect one. Ray opened the door without explicit permission and entered.
Edward was leaning on his bed and looked at her with tired eyes. They exchange a very long gaze, without saying anything, but their eyes spoke volumes.
After a while, Edward broke the silence:
"I there anything I can help you with, Miss Bellamy?"
She closed the distance between them, now standing just inches away from his bed.
"You can start by being honest with me, Edward."
"Honest?"
"Yes, honest," her voice suddenly broke, and he shivered. He didn't want to hurt her, yet he was angry and jealous, and feeling all these things was definitely new to him.
"How did you find out he was the Admiral's son?" she composed herself. "I didn't know even though... you know", she cast him a shy look.
"From Dupré's documents. I told all of you that I found some information that would help us stay safe from the pirate hunter. I didn't lie to you if this is what you are implying," he shifted uncomfortably. He knew well, he was trying to defend himself now, and that he was clutching to a half-truth to make himself look better.
"Edward,..." she sighed, on the verge of tears again. "I don't want to fight with you. But you didn't tell me, even though I told you I met him..." she paused, swallowing hard, "and that I kissed him."
Edward shifted on his bed, sat on its edge in front of her, in that way making her stand between his legs.
"Ray... I was angry... and jealous" his eyes were searching for hers.
"Jealous?! Edward, but it was you who pushed me away" the tame holding back her emotions finally broke, and the tears were now flowing down her chicks "It is what it is, Miss Bellamy.... remember?"
"Oh God, please don't cry, Miss Bellamy ... Ray," Edward's hands reached for her and pulled her down towards him, their foreheads touched, their faces just a breath away.
"Why do you make it so difficult, Edward? Why don't you just follow your heart for once, if you want to?"
"Ray, you know I do. But..." he tried to give a convincing excuse, but it was tough for him to focus with her body so close to his. He wanted her since the moment he laid his eyes on her but kept convincing himself he didn't deserve her, at least not until he got his revenge with the Admiral.
"Oh dammit, Edward," her finger enlaced in loose strands of his hair, grazing his neck, making it even more difficult for him. "I want you and can't wait any longer" her hands were pulling him towards her.
Their lips were impossibly close, and he finally gave in to the temptation. His mouth grazed hers gently, asking for permission. Ray nodded, and he kissed her, and she kissed him back. Their lips engaged in a long and slow exchange, getting to know each other. He pulled her towards him, and they fell gently on the bed, he on his back, and she straddling him. Edward drew her face to his again, and while their mouths met, his tongue slipped in between her lips, making her moan.
Admiral Cochrane was sitting in his dining cabin about to start his lavish dinner. He took a sip of exquisite French wine, seized from one of the ships his soldiers captured. Everything was going according to his plans: his son would capture Edward, the thorn in Admiral's side, soon, and he would get his compass back. Then nothing would stop him from going after Magdalena's treasure. He closed his eyes and imagined himself with absolute power, promised by the legends about the Pirate Queen.
He reached to take another sip when some hushed voices on the other side of his door raised his attention. He didn't even manage to ask when someone knocked gently, and a voice broke the silence:
"Sir, this is Wilson... we have some news from the Intrepid."
"Come in, Wilson, and bare the auspicious news."
Wilson entered, followed by the officer, that the Admiral recognized as his son's Master of Arms. Both were visibly distressed, and the Admiral felt a sudden pinch of concern.
"What is it?" he barked.
"Sir," Officer Doyle started, "it's the pirates," he stopped, afraid of the Admiral's reaction.
"Spit it out, officer" the Admiral didn't understand what one of his son's officers was doing on his ship, but he didn't like it at all.
"It's, it's the pirates' sir. We got attacked, like we wanted, to lure Edward Mortemer out. But it didn't go as planned, and ... the Lieutenant is now in Mortemer's custody".
The Admiral's face went from bright red to pale, to turn bright red from anger again. He slammed his palms into the table and growled
"Damn pirate... stupid boy!" and then he threw an expensive porcelain plate into the wall.