"Where do ye say we should go, love?" a wicked smile crosses her lips as she thinks of her destination.
"Medusa's Bounty of the Sea Serpents." A look of horror passes across the face of all who hear.
"Medusa's Bounty? Sailors will circle the earth before they get with in a thousand miles of that place." Gibbs frantically trying to change the mind of the girl; it wouldn't take much to get Jack to follow her lead into the forsaken land.
"Medusa's Bounty; Medusa was once a fair maiden who dared compare her beauty to the goddess Athena. The goddess became enraged and stripped the girl of her beauty and turned her hair in hissing serpents; she became so foul and ugly that anyone who looked into her eyes turned into stone." Pintal stopped scrubbing the deck and fearfully tells the tale.
"Medusa was set to be married, but after she was turned she disappeared never to be seen again; the one to whom she was to be wed was a warrior of the town; he set out to kill the hideous beast that threaten the city. He arrived at her cavern where stone figures of all the petrified souls lay. He caught a glimpse of the creature, on the reflection of his shield. Her image had changed, but he knew it was her instead of being overjoyed that she was alive he cut her head off while she slept for the glory." Ragetti continues.
"Her spirit haunts the cavern seeking revenge. She sends her serpents to take down all ships that pass her territory in hopes of destroying the one that took her life and betrayed her heart." Pintal finishes the crew from both ships had halted whatever task they worked on and listened; no one dared to breathe.
"Yeah, I know the type." Serena whispered only loud enough for her first mate to hear; who had come to stand beside her. "The bloody bastard deserved it. Ye all the most superstitious bunch of cowards I ever did meet. It is also bad luck to have a woman on board a ship yet her I am; one of the most feared pirates on the Caribbean. "
"If you're so feared how come I never heard of you?" Jake leaned cockily against the rail; he definitely didn't like being rescued by a girl. The crew backed up a step; they knew she could be one of the nicest people you ever meet or a nightmare come to life and Jake was swaying on a cliff above a shark invested lake.
"You've been sheltered ye whole life that's why. Ye couldn't last two weeks as a member of the crew." She shot back much more calmly then any one expected. "Medusa's Bounty also hold vast treasures if that what you need to here to persuade you, Jack." She continued on with the first conversation.
"I bet I could!" Jake did not like being over dominated.
"Fine, pick a ship." Serena said turning back to the boy and gesturing between both vessels.
"Well since you seem to be the 'toughest' captain then I chose the Bloody Maiden." He said with confidence.
"Fine, Welcome Aboard. It's been a while since the ships had a cabin boy." Laughter sounded from the crew; as pure hatred spread across Jake's face.
"Aren't I a little too old to be a cabin boy?" hoping that she'd see that he was in deed older than her and change his position.
"You have to start some where and at least as a cabin boy the only place you can go is up." She smirked and walked over to the ropes." So Jack, Medusa's Bounty then?"
"Aye lass." She nodded before taking the rope readying her self to swing over.
"Avery, ready the crew." The first mate nodded and swung over to the ship. "Coming cabin boy?" She laughed as he took the rope.
"You're lucky I keep to my word." He mumbled; she laughed and swung herself over; he followed. She landed on her feet; he landed then tripped forward.
"It takes a while." She said offering him her hand; he ignored it and got up on his own. "If you follow Avery he'll show you your bunk and then grab a bucket and start scrubbing the deck start on the fore mast and stay out of the way." Turning to address Avery.
"I am retiring to my cabin now Avery I trust you can steer this ship towards the right horizon."
"Aye, Captain." She turned and head to the door and disappearing into the darkness of her cabin. Jake watched the candle flicker on.
"This way, Mr. Turner." They went down some stairs; this hold was filled with hammocks. Avery threw a bundle at him. "This be ye bed I suggest pitch it over there; the other spots are claimed." Pointing to a window on the port side. "Over there be ye bucketed and rag, when you're done getting ready report on deck and start your task."
"What have you gotten your self into now, Jake?" he mutters under his breath as he pitches his hammock. He grabs the bucket and mop and returns to the deck. Men are scattered all over the ship so staying out of everyone's way was near an impossible task. He spots Avery on the foremast and stalks over.
"How in the hell am I suppose to stay out of the way? No one will stay in one spot long enough for me to put my bucket down let alone scrub." Avery laughs at him; Jake scowls.
"Well then lad you'll just have to wait for the deck to clear out more. It should only take about an hour then ye have all night." He pats him on the shoulder and returns to the helm; Jake close on his heals.
"ALL NIGHT?" Jake cries.
"Is that going to be a problem Mr. Turner?" Avery relieves the pirate on the helm and slowly begins changing course.
"No, well actual yes because you see there is a thing called sleep and I would like to be getting some tonight." Avery chuckles while wondering what the captain was thinking taking this boy.
"Welcome to life on a ship." Jake rolls his eyes. "Don't worry it will get better. Just word of wisdom for ye STOP trying to challenge the captain. She may be look small compared to the rest of us, but get her temper flaring and she can slit ye throat before ye even have ye hand on the hilt of ye sword."
"Hm, why is she like that? I mean shouldn't she be at home cooking? Not sailing the seas looking for a cursed pirate treasure hidden in a suicidal location." Sighing Avery looks at him. This boy was not going to last two days if he kept this up.
"Many reasons Mr. Turner. Ones of which I can not and will not be discussing with ye."
"That bad? Well skeletons have a way of getting up and walking out of the closet by themselves."
"Don't bring it up. If ye find out ye find out don't try to force it out unless ye like sleeping with the fish for all eternity." Jake shrugs and stares out at the ocean watching it sparkle with reflecting light. "Ye can get started now."
Jake turned his attention back to reality; grabbing his bucket and rag he set to work on the lower deck.
Hours passed and Jake was almost finished. His fingers red and pruning, his back and knees ached from the cruelness of the wood. Slowly he got up his back cracking with every movement. He threw the rag in the bucket.
The sun was beginning to rise and he wanted to sleep before it was completely up. Dizzy from the lack of sleep he stumbles on to his hammock; listing to the waves beneath him he shuts his eyes drifting off to a dreamless sleep.
Serena was not as luck however she tossed and turned as the dream haunted her. She was fourteen years old and on the dock in a light blue dress; hair hanging freely reaching her shoulders; tears threaten to spill as she kissed him one last time.
"Promise you'll come back for me?" he gently stroked her cheek; he had short blonde hair and sparkling green eyes.
"I will; I promise." He turns and begins up the gangway.
"I Love You." He stops walking and turns around to face her. She remained strong as her heart began to break.
"No matter what happens I will always love you." And with that he turns back around and steps on board not looking back. She stood hopelessly and watched as the ship made way; not moving until the ship was out of sight then she dropped to her knees letting the tears fall each one rippling the surface of the water.
Serena awoke with a start her skin wet with tears and her hair matted with sweat. She looks around to find her self in her cabin. It's been four years since that day and yet she still longs to see him. 'That bastard he does not deserve my thoughts. He doesn't think of me and I shall think nothing of him.' She growls to her self, but no matter how much she repeats this; her heart still aches. She had to learn the hard way that a heart never truly heals and you must learn to live with the pain it brings.
In a desperate attempt to forget her dream she gets out of bed, dresses and goes on the deck where the crew works. Judging by the sun she can tell it's about eight.
"Mornin' Avery. Reports." She smiles at the man on the helm.
"Aye Miss, Mornin' to ye. We are 'bout a week from Medusa's Bounty."
"Good. Good, well I shall go and tell Jack this wonderful news." She heads for the ropes the pearl still in swinging distance from the maiden. Her landing is a little more graceful this time.
"Mornin' Jack." The man is already drunk from what Serena can tell, but she can't recall a time that he's not. He staggers forward in his normal fashion swaying with the boat. In Serena's option is was some what comical, but she had grown so used to it; it did not make her laugh as it once did.
"Aye, Mornin' Love and what do I owe this pleasure." He asks leaning casual on the rail.
"Just came to report. A week away we be from Medusa's Bounty." He looks less then thrilled.
"How bout ye join me in my cabin and we can discuss the plan for this journey." He doesn't even let her answer before he ventures off into his cabin. "May I offer you some rum love?"
"It's still early, but what the hell." He pours to cups and they sit at his table. She takes a sip. "So Jack what did ye need to discuss?"
"You had mentioned treasure in Medusa's Bounty now we do agree that me and my crew have claim over some of this booty." Rolling her eyes she just stares at Jack she knows he's joking in a way. Even though she is sum what offended she has to agree with him. You can't trust anyone, but yourself.
"Aye, Jack both crews get free range over any treasure hidden with in unknown seas of Medusa's Bounty."
"Good, well in that case what do we do about the Turners?"
"Well we call for the Dutch man he picks up his family and we are free to loot until are boats are in danger of sinking from everything. After all Turner will owe us so we will be unstoppable." The smirk reappears and greed is lighting Jack's eyes.
"I like the way ye think dear." He props his feet on the table and swings back in his chair. "So how is young turner adjusting to the life on a ship?"
"I don't know I went to my cabin right after I got on the ship; been exhausted lately."
"Ye look like you haven't slept well in a while." Serena glares at him.
"Thanks Jack just what every woman wants to hear."
"No reason to take offense just saying. Nightmare again, aye?" her mouth drops open.
"You…a…I…how….How did ye know bout that?"
"I have my ways."
"Well you better keep what you know to your self or you know what they say 'A dead man tells no tales.'"
"Lips are sealed love." He says that trade mark smirk in place he takes a swig of his drink.
"Any other business you'd like to take care of." She asks drinking the last bit of liquor.
"Well let's see we're in my cabin, there is rum and a bed…."
"JACK!" jumping up she glares daggers at him and he starts chuckling. "I hope for your own safety you're joking." He shrugs. "Ah! Men I swear." She yells in frustration and throws open the cabin door; the crew staring at her.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU LOOKING AT? GET ACK TO WORK!" she hastily takes the rope and swings aboard her ship.
"Everything ok, Miss?" Avery hearing her scream had rush to the side of ship.
"NO! Avery, Why are all men perverts?" he just laughed at her.
"That is a question not even I know the answer too; it's just our nature."
"That's it next time we go into port I am getting myself a friend of the female gender."
"Well Miss I know some places….."
"Not a whore! God Avery! I'm into men thank you very much. Don't get any ideas." She yells at various members of her own crew who looked over at her. "I want a girl I can talk to because god knows you men are completely useless when it comes to conversation about anything other then…… things I don't wish to discuss."
Jake was dying of laughter at the angry fit Serena was throwing after coming back over from the pearl. From what he heard; Jack asked her something that she found perverted and was now pissed at the whole gender. He had a slight idea what that something was too, and the thought only made him laugh harder.
"WHAT THE HELL YOU LAUGHING AT CABIN BOY?" Jake tries to stifle his laughter, but gives up; the rest of the crew joins in.
"I AM CAPTAIN OF THIS VESSEL AND GOD DAMN IT I DESERVE SOME RESPECT NOW SHUT UP BEFORE I KEELHULL ALL OF YOUR SORRY ARSES." That shuts them up; her sword is drawn and a pistol is drawn. Scanning the crowd murder radiating from her eyes daring anyone to speak; no does and she replace her weapons back into their holder.
"Now get back to work." She growls; all is silent except for the sounds her boots make as she storms back in her own cabin and slams the door.
Everyone quickly returns to post. "Ye screwed up boy. Ye lucky she didn't put that blade right threw ye."
"Who are you to tell me when I mess up?" Jake snapped angrily he had just made his life so much harder.
"I am Hector and a lieutenant on this ship so ye best mind ye tone and ye just pissed off the Captain it's my job to make sure ye don't get us all killed." Hector was very muscular and lean. He could easily push Jake to the ground with his good hand. His other hand was wrapped he must be the one hurt in the cannon recoil Jake thought.
"Jake Turner."
"The Dutchman boy no wonder were not dumping you over the side of the ship."
"You know thanks for pointing out the error in my ways, but I got to get back to cleaning this damn ship before she decides to come back out." Jake picked up his bucket and rag and went to finish.
"So she did scare you." Jake stopped dead in his tracks.
" No, please her never."
"Then you're afraid of me." Hector laughed at Jake's looked down. "I should be used to that by now."
"I should get back to work." Jake was scrubbing away when he heard a shot then the ship rocked.
"CANNON FIRE OFF THE PORT BOW."
Thanks for reading I will update as soon as I can reviews alway help that. By the way this is what I image the bloody maiden looking like http://i177.