Black Butterfly

Rated: R- just to be safe and all.

Chapter 4

Dark and delicate eyelashes parted slowly, as the rays from the sun affected her ability to continue sleeping. The sounds of the early birds singing and the cool breeze indicated that it was morning. A hand slowly moved to rub against an eye before a yawn escaped the thin light pink lips.

It appeared as if history was repeating itself. Once again she had awoken in a forum place, only this time it wasn't the jungle, it was a living quarter. The bed she lay in was double in size, wooden and contained the deepest and darkest reds in sheets and curtain drapes. Luckily, the curtains were drawn back and tied around the bed post with a golden lace. This gave her a chance to look around at the place she was in.

Brushing her hair back and out of her eyes, she noticed that a white bandage was wrapped around her wounds. Obviously someone had helped her. But who? The last thing she remembered was blacking out while she was been shaken roughly by a dark and scary man. Maybe someone had saved her in the end.

Sighing she took a tight hold of the covers and flung them off her, before she slowly got out of the bed. A small yelp of surprise left her once her feet touched the cold wooden floor boards. It may have been sunny outside, but the room lacked warmth, as for how it came to be- well the question lacked an answer. Nonetheless she continued her quest on discovering where she was, her toes curled from the chilly floor boards.

The room proved to be bigger than what she expected. Not only was it a bed room, but a lounge, dinning and study room all in one. To the far right sat a large wooden desk that contained bits of maps scattered everywhere, a compass and other tools. It was truly a beautiful and wealthy place. The results of searching it only made her want to know more.

Suddenly she came across a large oak door. She had searched every part of the place. Ran her fingers delicately and admiringly over its contents, yet she had missed seeing what was behind this mystery door. Curiously, yet carefully she reached out towards the handle and began to push it open.

Her movement soon died when the door swung itself completely open to reveal a short rather old looking old man. He contained a snow white beared, snow white hair that was hidden under a grey bandana and wore brown pants and shirt. "Morning me lady," he spoke softly and friendly.

"The Captain just sent me to check up on you. How are we this morning miss?"

"W..w...where am I?" she managed to ask. For some reason she was finding it difficult to speak.

"Why the Jolly Roger miss, the Captian thought t'was best we fix ya..." she spoke in a matter of fact tone as he pointed towards he bandaged wrists. "Quite a nasty cut you got there miss... Scars aren't fit for young ladies such as yourself..."

"Oh.." she mumbled as she cradled her hands to her chest. She wasn't really in the mood to discuss why she had tried to end her life. It was something personal and definitely confidential to be told to someone she had never seen before.

She watched the man make his way over to the bed she had been sleeping in. Curiosity and surprise decorated her face as she watched him make the bed while he spoke to her. "You had a nasty fever miss…..doc questioned whether you would survive….tried everything he did…..Capt'n wouldn't be happey if yer had died…..He had us, or 'imself check on ya quite a few time during the night."

Once he finished he quickly turned to her and smiled, "but look at yer now. Much betta from I er last saw ya. More colour in yer face…..ha'f way there miss….yer ha'f way er."

Many time she tried to interrupt the kind hearted man to ask the thousands of question that inhibited her mind, yet in the end all she did was remain standing near the door way and watch him waddle around the room cleaning whuile he spoke to her.

"Now that yer 'wake. Capt'n would rather much like to 'ave lunch with yer." He walked over to a large locked question. Pulling out a large chain full of keys he searched for the correct one before he opened the lock and yanked the chest open.

She didn't get a chance to see all the chests contents. Mostly she got a glimpse of cloth being pushed and pulled around and about as he searched for something. Finally he stopped. He glanced over at her he and looked her up and down in an assessing manner, then back at the cloth he was holding.

"Yes dis will do you well miss…" he smiled as he pulled out a bunch of dark purple silk and slammed the truck shut again.

She heard the faint click of it locking before her eyes followed the man towards the bed and watch him lay out the silk across the red sheets.

The colour of the dress clashed dramatically against the red silk sheets. Though it was simple in design, and the typical toe and wrist length plain 18th centaury gown - with a broad semi-circle opening that revealed her just the top of her breasts, her collar bones and her shoulders – the dress possessed a certain charisma difficult to explain.

The old man turned and faced her. " 'ere miss, the Captain wants you to freshin' up before lunch. You'll be dinning with the Capt'n in his quarters. I shall prepare ya a bath."

Humming he began to poor water into the large wooden bath.

"Excuse me..." she whispered, still standing in the same spot by the door.

The old man continued to hum and ignore her.

"Excuse me..." she began again, stuttering as she struggled to question where she was.

She tried a third time, her voice firmer and louder.

At last she captured his attention.

"Yes me lady?"

"Where am I? ...I know you said the Jolly Roger, but where is the Jolly Roger?"

The old man smiled warmly and added the last of the water to the bath before he walked over to her and took her by the arm gently.

"Where in Neverland miss. We've made dock at Mermaid Bay."

"Wh...wh..where on a ship?" she said in shock, feeling her knees tremble and show the first signs of collapsing.

"Yes me lady" the old man responded as gave her a gentle push towards the bath. "...and the Captain shalt not be happy to be kept waiting for his meal. Quick now.." he motioned with his hands. "Off with it...time for a bath..." he sang as he again gently gave her an encouraging shove towards the bath.

Once she was right beside it, he pulled a set of curtains closed and instructed her to undress and step into the tub before the water cooled. She did as he instructed off course, and she did this for three reasons.

Once: because she didn't want to cause anger to this man for she didn't know what type of a person her was.

Two: she didn't want to face this Captains wrath for being late, and she definitely didn't want to be forced to take one

And, three: she needed a bath.

"There you go me lady...now I shall leave you for a while and prepare the food...I shall be back soon with lunch and the Captian...do be dressed by then miss...the Captain doesn't like to be kept waiting...he'll make you dine naked if you are not ready in time!"

She gasped in shock at his remark.

"And I shall need your dress miss for washing..." he hummed before instructing her to toss it over the curtain.

After giving her complete instructions and directions as to where she would find things the old man made his way towards the door and prepared to leave. He was stopped however once her reached for the handle by her voice.

"What shall I call you sir?" she mummed softly as she washed her body with cautions of not getting the bandages wet on her wrists.

"Smee me lady..." and with that he left and closed the door firmly behind him.