Chapter 14

Jonas didn't sleep well that night. He'd sat awake at his desk, re-reading the same books that he's read cover to cover for years. Unsurprisingly, there weren't any answers jumping out at him. He was still left with more questions and infuriating vagueness.
Cordelia was asleep in their bed. Her red hair was always a tangled mess, but it seemed worse when her face was buried into the numerous pillows. He had told her to sleep, insisting that he would try to fall into Morpheus's arms in the darkest hours, but of course, he had lied.
His head shot up, jolting awake from a small nap. He had used the book as a pillow but hadn't been asleep long at all. The nightmares were far too real.
With a sigh, he stood taking care not to let his chair squeak in the floorboards. The early morning twilight was visible through his paned window at the stern of his cabin. That was his favorite part of the day. He stepped into the chilled morning air on deck. Summer was coming to a close, he could tell. The blistering heat was quickly fading, replaced by refreshing cool morning air.
There were only two crew members out on the deck this early. One had fallen asleep by the stern, a goblet of ale in his limp hand, and the other was sitting atop of the mast, surveying the water beyond the ship. Mouse was still sleeping and was very particular about his crow's nest. Nobody was allowed up there unless he was too. Except for Jonas and Cordelia, of course, but out of respect, they avoided making Mouse irritated.
He wasn't about to disturb the peaceful twilight by waking up his sailor, so he headed in the opposite direction, to the bowsprit. He climbed up the railing and felt the lookout's eyes fall upon him. Jonas couldn't be injured, but if he fell in the water and got dragged under the boat it wouldn't be pretty, so he took care in his balance.
Once settled in, he dangled his legs down below. Recently, his daily life had been chaotic and stressful, leaving him no opportunity to breathe. Between the girls basically running the boat on their own, Cordelia taking on more duties than before, and Daemon showing his damn face, here again, Jonas was at his wit's end. Now, he had a rogue governor thinking that it was okay to attack Jonas out of nowhere. He'd have to discuss with Cordelia when she wakes about what to do about that whole fiasco.
Several minutes passed. The sun slowly rose above the horizon, blanketing the world in light and warmth. The sound of the bow splitting the water's surface took over his focus, forming waves that mesmerized him.
"Captain?" a meek voice called out to him, breaking his peace.
He turned his head to the deck, where one of the girls, Cordayne, stood at the railing. "Cordayne," he acknowledged her, beckoning her to join him on the thin pole. "You're up early."
"I couldn't really sleep." She appraised the climb over to him and took a slight risk.
"Me neither. I take it that yesterday wasn't the easiest for you all."
Cordayne shook her head. "No. Everything I thought I knew has just flown overboard. I don't even know what's real anymore."
As much as Jonas wanted to say ' I understand', he didn't. All he's ever known was pirating. Some of the earliest memories he can recall were with Daemon, back before Jonas knew better than to trust him.
"I can imagine how difficult this is for you all. I appreciate it though. You have no idea what you all being here means for me." Jonas smiled at Cordayne. He may not be able to tell all of them the predicament he's gotten himself into, but he quite enjoyed the company and the entertainment.
They sat there with the gentle bucking of the ship as it sailed through the water lulling them to silence. Cordayne adjusted her position sitting because the wood began to dig into her skin. She gripped the bowsprit tightly, making sure to not accidentally fall to the water below. He heart jumped into her throat as her ankle slipped from under her and she dug her nails into the wood. A strong arm had instantly found its way under her weight. Jonas held her up while she found a secure place to sit. In her slip, her undershirt had slipped from its place on her shoulders, bunching at the wrists. It revealed her shoulders, and as a gentleman does, Jonas automatically averted his eyes. He is, however, a pirate, so that averted gaze didn't stay away. He looked at the smooth skin at her shoulders. They were still untainted but sunlight, iridescent in the morning glow. The only exception was a pale tan birthmark dotting its way along the top of her shoulder. As soon as she was steady, she quickly pulled her sleeves back up, turning away from Jonas to hide her embarrassed blush.

Her silver-grey eyes shot daggers at him, to which Jonas incredulously said, "I'm sorry?" He chuckled. "It's just a shoulder. You're not in London anymore, love."

"I know that. I'm on a bloody pirate ship, it's pretty obvious. Though I feel as if some women aboard think they're still noble here."

Jonas cocked his head to the side. "Oh?"

"From where I'm from you adapt. It's that way you survive."

Jonas was silent, appraising Cordayne. She was dressed simply, despite Cordelia giving the girls access to her personal belongings when they arrived. Her shirt fit loosely and the black trousers she wore came high upon her hips, tied in the front in a criss-cross pattern.

"I can tell. You don't seem like the type to grab the attention of every man in the room with glittering jewels or an overflowing bosom. You're understated. You look like a pirate, love," he said affectionately. Ever the charmer, he was.

Cordayne didn't blush, she didn't smile, she didn't flirt back. Instead, she raised her chin up high, and a faint smirk pulled at the corner of her mouth that she tried to keep down. She was proud.

"Yes, well. You either fight your circumstances or accept them. I prefer to have an iron grip of control in my life. Otherwise, it's not mine."

"Fair point." Cordayne was not the woman Jonas originally thought she was, and he appreciated this new outlook on the confident yet guarded woman in front of him. Behind her, Jonas saw a small gathering of women coming up from below deck, ready to start the day. "Thank you for spending this time with me, love. I hope you keep that control and use it to keep me company more often." She smiled at that sentiment, but her brow furrowed. Something felt off, and as much as Cordayne wanted to let her guard completely down around her captain, it felt strange to have him be so blatantly flirtatious with her.

He helped her down from the bowsprit, holding a hand out to her. She took it and headed to the girls who'd just gotten up. She immediately went to Brett.

She looped her arm through Bretts and pulled her close. The other two girls, Nell and Caroline followed alongside them.

"Cordelia and Jonas are totally in love, right?"

"Uhm, last time I checked I still had eyes. Thank you, Cordayne, for clarifying the obvious," Brett scoffed at Cordayne and rolled her eyes.

Cordayne nudged Brett to stop joking with her. "No, I'm serious. Jonas was just… flirting?"

Brett and Nell burst into laughter. "Oh Lord, I wish." Nell wiped away a tear from laughing.

"I'm not bloody lying!" Cordayne scolded them in a hushed voice, as she could tell their voices were carried on the wind and Jonas had looked over at the sound of laughter.

"You must be joking. Have you seen the way he and Cordelia are? They share a bedroom and the way they look at each other is like nothing I've ever seen. If they're not, then something's awry," Caroline pointed out smartly.

Cordayne's brow furrowed. "Then he's acting quite suspicious. He just offered to have me keep him company more often. It's far more forward than any man I've ever been around."

The sound of creaking wood stopped their conversation in their tracks. Cordelia stepped out, she was dressed but was meticulously combing out her ratty orange hair. Her linen shirt was tucked into a bodice, but the neck was dangerously low. Her cleavage mere millimeters from slipping out. She called out Jonas's name softly and casually waved him into their shared quarters, into which he headed.

"In. Love." Brett lamented.

Zylphia came up the stairs in front of them, holding a tray of scones she offered to everyone. They lacked in flavor only slightly but the texture was perfectly crumbly. "I would've loved to add some fresh fruit, but well…" Zylphia trailed off. The explanation wasn't needed. It was hard to cook on a ship, let along one with over a hundred people on it where the food kept going bad.

"It's delicious Zylphia, thank you," Nell gave a little happy shake- maybe it was a small dance of joy. Regardless, she enjoyed them.

Jonas and Cordelia emerged from their room. They were casual, as not many people were up on deck. Cordelia approached the small huddle of women while Jonas went up to the helmsman at the wheel.

"Ladies," Cordelia greeted all of them. "We are going to be heading to St. Martin. We'll maybe arrive by tomorrow midday. There's going to be a shipwide meeting, but Jonas would like to meet with just you all right now. Please go and fetch everyone and meet us in the yellow room." She didn't dismiss us, but instead walked away and joined Jonas at the helm.

Once everyone had gathered, several still trying to wipe the sleep out of their eyes, Jonas and Cordelia came in. The tension that had hung in the air the first time Cordelia brought everyone in this space for a meeting was gone. All of them were far more comfortable, and confident in their ability to handle themselves in the company of pirates.

Cordelia was the first to speak, while Jonas sat behind her, seeming to be deep in thought. "We are going to shore tomorrow. This means I will be equipping all of you with not only the skills but the means to protect yourselves. You are going to be with a group of us going to confront the governor, and things may not go as planned. I'll be teaching you all how to fire a gun, and how to draw it from a gown, among any other skills I think you'll need to equip. More on that later today, after we all gather down below to fit you all for appropriate outfits." She yielded to Jonas, who slowly stood and refused to make eye contact with the women.

"I realize," Jonas started, "that several of you made the crossing from London for a reason. I realize that kidnapping you all for selfish reasons means that those plans you may or may not have made are now dissolved. I thank you all for participating, and I thank you all for your time aboard. I hope I may have made an impact on not only the perceptions you have about what life could offer but the perceptions you may have come aboard having of yourselves. In just a short amount of time, you've all astounded me with how quickly you can learn, and how loyal you are. I couldn't ask more from even my crew. But, that's because I consider you all to be part of the crew." Jonas took a deep breath. "Which is why it is difficult for me to bring you all to St. Martin with me. I understand many of you may use this opportunity to leave us. I will not be upset at this decision. I promise. I just hope that I've made a similar impact on all of you. I hope you see this as more of an opportunity to grow as a person. That you will not only grow in riches but in confidence and in a family. I have witnessed you all grow more self-assured every day. Perhaps you all will also see the value in your time aboard The Jewel of Hades, with me."

Without waiting to hear the girls' decisions, Jonas nodded to Cordelia and left the room.

"I'll be down with my belongings. I'll meet you all down there." She followed him out.

They sat in silence. Some in awe at coming aboard kidnapped and now being part of the crew and a select few in anticipation. Anticipation of leaving as soon as they had the chance, but now feeling conflicted. Perhaps time could be made to live out a once in a lifetime adventure, precious time in their youth where they had no obligations of family, no estates to look over, and no substantial reason why they couldn't stay, just for a tad bit longer.

For several girls, this was the first time they had felt a sense of belonging. Others despised that feeling, lone wolves who will opt to stay because it's beneficial. Then there were those who had a reason, a very compelling reason to cross the Atlantic ocean, and no ship full of Pirates could stop them.

A large grouping of girls stood to head several floors below the deck and have Cordelia fit them for a gown.

"You coming, Joyce?" Victoria asked of her friend, who didn't stand. Her face was flat, and she stared down at her hands.

"Ah," Joyce snapped out of her daze, "Yes. In one moment. I'll see you down there." Joyce smiled at Victoria reassuringly. Left alone by her friends, and as more people left, just her and Florence remained in the room.

"Why so down?" Florence teased as she approached her.

Joyce sighed. "Why are we still sneaking around? The captain just said we were all free to go. Let's just tell him that we're going to leave in St. Martin."

Florence snorted. "You actually believed that pile of horse shit? He would never let us go, not after the trouble they went through to get us up here in the first place."

"Maybe he had a change of heart?"

Florence let out an exasperated sigh, sat inches from Joyce's face and held her by the chin. "Do you want to get to Adrian, or not?"

Joyce was taken aback by the intensity Florence held in her voice and nodded as best she could while Florence held an iron grip on her jaw.

"Good." Florence let her go.

"Why are you so eager to get off the ship? Don't you feel right at home?" Joyce tried to not let the indignation seep into her tone.

"I have my reasons. Good ones," Florence seemed to shut down at the question. "I'll keep you updated on the plan once we dock. Don't do anything impulsive," Florence said as she walked away, her accent lingering in the room that Joyce was left in.

Okay.

Let's just all pretend that I updated on time, and will always update on time.

I have no excuses to give, so I hope you all just enjoyed it!

...

Please review and let me know what you think, I'll try and keep updating on time, but sometimes my schedule gets ahead of me. I'll try and write ahead while I have some time now so that I have some saved up for times when I can't write for a while.

Also, sorry for the weird formatting at the top. I'm not sure what happened, and I couldn't fix it. Oops.

Thank you for reading!