A High Society of Pirates: Chapter 2
Hello all! I'm back with Chapter 2, obviously. Sorry for the wait I just really wanted to make sure the quality of my writing was good. So, I tried to be as quick as I could, and I'll try to be quicker next time.
To my 2 reviewers:
Twirl: Thank you very much. I hope so as well. Yeah, I know the names were confusing, but most of them you don't have to know. Thanks for reviewing!!
Jinxeh: Thank you!! I'm glad you like it. And that is a funny story, but thankfully, Norrington isn't the president. I think Capt. Jack would have a hard time! Thanks for reviewing, and I'll try to be quicker.
The dark sea was a blaze with reflections of fire and light. In the harbor a man o' war was letting rounds of cannon balls loose on the fort and town. Nasty pirates pillaged and plundered, killing anyone that got in their way. People ran around on the streets trying to escape for their lives.
Nathan's door flew open to reveal Katrina dashing into the room. Her skirts whirling around as she bolted to the bed panting. Nathan woke up at the noise of her footsteps and labored breathing. Fear was in her eyes as he looked at her dazed and sleepy. Katrina didn't give him time to ask questions.
"Nathan come with me immediately, you mother demands it," Katrina sputtered and took Nathan's hand and pulled him out of the room as he gawked, confused. Katrina pulled him down the stairs and into a hall leading to kitchen, passing by servants fussing about in a hurried fashion. Nathan out of his daze dragged his heels in to the floor making it impossible for Katrina to pull him.
"What's the meaning of this, Katrina," Nathan asked as Katrina huffed with an expression as if saying "now's not the time". Nathan still unwilling to move, waiting for an answer. Katrina sighed knowing that she had to answer to get him to move.
"Pirates" Katrina spat out as if saying the word would make her get struck down by lightning. Nathan looked at her astonished not expecting that answer. "Come on," Katrina nagged, as Nathan stood stunned. Katrina not willing to waste precious time, continued to pull him to the kitchen. She moved a rug on the floor out of the way, revealing a trap door. She pulled on the handle and lifted the door open. Katrina ushered Nathan into the root cellar. There in one corner was Nathan's mother and sisters. Valentina called to Nathan as she saw him reluctantly descend down the wooden old stairs. Valentina rushed to her son and hugged him. Katrina retreated up the steps and shut the door. She put the rug back in place. By now most of the servants abandoned the mansion afraid the pirates would be there at any moment.
The front door flew off the hinges as pirated kicked it in. Katrina jumped at the sudden noise and the pirates running through the door. The quickest thing she could think of was the servant quarters. The pirates by now entered the kitchen, lead by a burly pirate with a ring in his nose, like a bull.
"Find the children, they couldn't have escaped," He barked with a fierce voice. The pirates jumped at his command and started to search the house. The leader walked around the kitchen investigating it. He walked right over the secret door. When he walked on it made a different sound than the rest of the floor. He threw away the carpet and opened the wooden door. Gabby and Sadie whimpered and clung to Valentina. Nathan backed up against the wall of earth, as if he hoped he could burrow into it. The bull nose pirate grinned and stomped down the stairs.
" 'Ello loves. Captain Desdemona will be very pleased that I found ye," The brute taunted. He pulled out his pistol and aimed it at Valentina and her children.
"No, don't shoot my babies," Valentina screamed as she moved in front of them protectively. Gabby and Sadie sobbed at the thought that their mother could die. Nathan watched on horrified at the situation. The pirate moved forward toward the four.
"Stay away," Valentina, warned stepping forward trying to punch the burly pirate. Knowing that Valentina would be more trouble than he needed, the pirate hit her on the head with the butt of his pistol, knocking Valentina out cold. She fell to the dirt floor unconscious.
"MOMMY, NO," Gabby wailed as she saw her mother lifeless on the ground. The pirate laughed and picked up the crying girls. Nathan grew angry and tried to save them.
"Leave them alone, you pirate filth," Nathan yelled and ran forward kicking the pirate. Wrong time to try to be heroic, the pirate punched Nathan in the jaw. Nathan flew backward to the ground beside his mother.
"Lil' 'elp 'ere mates, I got me some bratty kids," the pirate hollered up the stairs and was soon assisted by two pirates. Each pirate took a child then carried the screaming and kicking kids up and out of the house. Katrina witnessed the whole event but didn't stop it, because she knew she was out numbered. Instead she ran down the road to the fort and demanded to see Commodore Norrington.
"Commodore, the children, and your wife," Katrina gasped as he emerged from the fort. Seeing her state, he rushed to her.
"What is it?! What's wrong, Katrina," James asked afraid of the answer. Katrina looked sadly into his eyes.
"They took the children, and knocked out Mrs. Norrington. The Pirates, they came," Katrina sobbed as he stared in disbelief.
"No…"James whispered in fear. A soldier was walking by with a horse, taking it to the stables. James rushed to him and mounted the horse in a single leap.
"I need this horse," James explained and charged the horse on at a full gallop. James grabbed Katrina and pulled her on to the horse. They galloped as fast as the horse could go to the Norrington Mansion. Upon arrival James jumped off the horse, and ran into the house. Katrina dismounted the foaming steed and ran into the house after him.
"Valentina, Gabby, Sadie, Nathan," James shouted as if anything Katrina had told him was a lie.
"Sir, Commodore, your wife is in the root cellar. I'm afraid the children aren't here," Katrina said miserably as James ran into the kitchen where he found the trap door wide open, and the rug thrown to the side. James bolted down the creaky steps and to his unconscious wife. James picked her up and carried her to a sofa in the parlor. Katrina fetched water and a towel.
After ten minutes Valentina woke up and jolted up right.
"My babies," she screamed as if it could bring her children back. Valentina looked around at the new, but familiar settings. James hugged her as she cried on his shoulder, realizing they were already gone.
"James they took our babies," Valentina sobbed on into his shoulder as he quieted her.
"Tomorrow I'm leaving to get them back. Don't worry, I'll get them back," James comforted her, but on the inside feeling just as bad, especially at the thought of his son Nathan. The last words he said to him could be the last he would ever say to his son. The last moments that they might share was one filled of hatred and sadness.
The ship rocked from side to side, like a cradle, on the rolling foam green sea, under the blackening night sky. The ship sailed on into the darkness. The only the light coming from silvery stars that waded in the vast pools of darkness, guided the ships way.
Down in the hold of the ship it was even darker, save for one candle that cast shadows all over the iron bars that made up the jail cells. Nanny sat in his cell, and played with a loose thread that was hanging off of his shirt. Gabby cried in the cell adjacent to Nathan, as Sadie comforted her with sweet words of hope. Nathan watched his sisters for a minute. As much as they are pains, it was his duty to protect them. And when he tried, all he got was a sore jaw with a bruise to prove it. Nathan touched his jaw absentmindedly and winced as the pain shot through his jaw, then subsided. Stupid Nathan thought to him self, of course it hurts you touched it.
The subtle sound of footsteps, descending down the stairs, pulled Nathan from his thoughts. Captain Desdemona walked down the steps followed by two pirates on his tail. Nathan gasped as he saw the horrid scar that adorned the captain's emotionless face. His sisters trembled at his presence, never seeing a pirate before, besides their kidnappers. Sadie and Gabby looked at him with frightened eyes. They have every right to Nathan thought, he knew who this pirate captain was, and was just as afraid.
Captain Desdemona approached the children behind the bars. He noted their fearful expressions, and smiled at the thought.
"Do ye children know w'o I am," Desdemona asked inquisitively, as the other two pirates watched from behind their Captain. A few minutes passed by, until Nathan finally spoke up.
"Ye-yes, sir. You are Captain Desdemona," Nathan answered quietly and quickly, not wanting to say too much. Desdemona ginned evilly sending a shocking chill down Nathan's spine.
"Do ye know why I kidnapped ye," Captain Desdemona asked with a growing grin. Nathan's throat became dry he swallowed and then answered.
"You have come to avenge your brothers," Nathan answered with a little hint of question in his voice. At the answer, Desdemona's grin widened to its limit. He smiled like the Cheshire cat, his eyes almost glowing with amusement.
"Smart lad we got 'ere. E'll die first so 'e don't go getting' any bright ideas," Desmona stated to the two pirates behind him getting laughs from the two in response. Nathan's face paled, and Gabby cried harder. The pirates laughed harder as they exited the brig. There work there was done.
Nathan slumped down against the wall of his cell, in a dismal mood after the conversation with Captain Desdemona. I don't want to die Nathan thought pictures of a gruesome death flashed through his mind. Nathan felt a sob escape him. He wouldn't be able to grow up, become a Commodore like his father. At that though, the whirl of thoughts died, and all that Nathan could think about was his father. I'll never be able to apologize. Worse he'll never know how I truly love him A single tear escaped his sullen eyes. Nathan quickly wiped the tear away; men weren't allowed to cry it was a sign of weakness. Nathan's mind became determined to find a way out.
Gabby and Sadie were still weeping in their cell, still thinking about what Captain Desdemona had said. Nathan stood up in his cell and examined his confines. Sadie and Gabby exchanged a confused look and turned to watch him.
"Nathan what are you doing there's no way to escape," Sadie asked as she watched her brother go mad in his cell.
"Yes there is, and I'm going to find it. I don't want to die," Nathan retorted a determined tone in his reply that matched the glint in his eyes. Sadie and Gabby looked at him with question; finally Gabby decided to voice her opinion.
"You have completely lost it. You're crazy." Nathan glared at her and approached the bars that separated them. Sadie looked with uncertainty at her brother and sister.
"Excuse me for wanting to get out of here, so just shut up," Nathan snapped as Gabby's face showed an appalled expression. Sadie started top doubt the iron bars strength as Gabby and Nathan looked at each other from their cell.
"I'm telling mother," Gabby wined as she looked at Nathan sticking out his tongue at her. Sadie rolled her eyes.
"She's not here, stupid," Nathan sneered as Gabby's eyes started to fill with tears.
Gabby ran to Sadie and bawled on her shoulder. Nathan huffed and sat down on his bench.
"Look what you've done Nathan," Sadie scolded as Nathan rolled his eyes.
"She deserves it, she always tries to make things worse," Nathan replied turning his back to his sisters.
Commodore Norrington looked out upon the sea as the Intrepid sail atop the waves. The morning sun showed its rays on the azure sea, making the waves glimmer and dance with reflections. They had left Port Royale about three hours ago. James got word that Captain Desdemona was heading north. So, as soon as he knew his wife was all right, he prepare for voyage, then departed to find his children. A lone gull cried out for its mate as he look toward the horizon, lost in thought. James looked at the lonely bird, and then thought to him self once more. God, please let me be quick. May my children be safe
James prayed in his thoughts. James tried not to, but he couldn't help but think about what could happen.
The image was crystal clear in his head. Since he knew Desdemona, James had an idea of what could happen. Captain Desdemona watches from the upper deck, as his prisoners are brought forward. Nathan, Sadie, and Gabby are gagged and tied with pleading looks in their eyes toward the Captain their efforts go unmatched. Desdemona doesn't give a care, as he signals them to be tied to the rack. Then Desdemona signals his first mate, who steps forward with a Cat O' Nine Tails in hand, smiling like it was Christmas. Gabby and Sadie start to cry, as Nathan tries to plead with the pirates. The First mate keeps approaching them, with the whip in hand. He stops when he's within a reaching distance of the kids. His arm winds back behind his head, reading his arm, like a cobra readying to strike. His arm flies forward like a mousetrap that's been triggered. The whip cracks and leaps into the air following the arm…
"NOOO," James shouted in an attempt to stop the image. The whole ship stops to look at Norrington, who just realizes what he's done. Gillette approaches his superior with caution; afraid that Norrington would turn around and bite his head off at the sight of movement.
"Commodore, your quarters are ready. I think it may be best for you to lie down for a little while," Lieutenant Gillette suggested as James nodded his head and approached his quarters embarrassed. Commodore Norrington entered his cabin and immediately fell onto the bed. He fell that he was in a nightmare but couldn't wake up. James relaxed on his bed and tried to go to sleep, seeing to the fact that he hadn't got really any sleep in the past night. James slowly but surely drifted in to a peaceful slumber, hoping that his dreams would be better than the nightmare he was living.
OK, there's Chapter 2. Sorry once again it took so long. And as always please review. Thank you!!