Beginning of school again + color guard + performing at football games + seeing my horse One heck of a busy month. O.O Luckily I have school off tomorrow so I can stay up late and write another chapter! Also, please review if you read. I used to lurk around stories and read them and never comment… Then I started writing and I find it annoying to not know if people like my writing. If no one reviews then I have no inspiration to do another chapter! Thanks to all who have been reviewing! hug

Also, once again I cannot use my italicize, etc. So enjoy if you can... I tried to put some in but I'm not sure if it worked in all the places I would like for it to work in.

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Chapter 8

As we approached the island I got very nervous. I was back up on deck and standing beside Davy, who was at the wheel. He seemed to be relaxed round me. I also noticed I was getting some special treatment from him. Which meant special treatment from the crew. Although I could tell he was very angry about my outfit., But I'm sure he enjoyed it because I caught his eyes downcast a couple of times.

Some of the crew stayed on the ship as the rest began to jump off the side and slip into the ocean. I noticed those staying were not elite or fighters. I was surprised when Davy asked me to go long. No doubt I could fight, but would I fit in on this expedition? As I walked to the side of the ship I clawed at my arms. It sent shivers down my spine to see the occasional barnacle on me. Davy noticed that I was inspecting myself and… placed his good hand on my shoulder for a brief moment. That shocked me more than the sea life and gave me the courage to plunge into the water. I knew Davy had to stay on the ship, so I threw him a coy smile before diving of the side.

I swam on the surface as the crew walked on the bottom below me. I had not yet acquired gills and I didn't plan on it. The leisure swim was a good way, though, to study Sharshay. With my weapons being carried safely below me I allowed myself to study this mysterious island.

It looked like any other you would find: sand, in a roughly circular shape, with exotic shrubbery all over it. It was pretty flat and probable less than five square miles. To me it was just… an island.

When we climbed onto the beach I was roughly handed my supplies, which I skillfully attached to my body. I noticed with a scowl that I still had my corset on… great, I thought to myself.

Without a rest of any kind Maccus, the first mate that resembled a hammerhead, began to lead us to what appeared to be the center of the island. The plant life made a small clearing that was covered in lush grass. I was too busy looking around to notice who was in my party, but I could pick out a few people: Koleniko, Clanker, Jimmy legs, Crash, Greenbeard, and Palifico were a few I noticed. The men all stopped at the edge of the clearing, as if afraid to go to the center. Maccus started to walk towards what appeared to be a large rock in the middle, and I went to follow. Koleniko grabbed me and pulled me to him. He mumbled to me in French to stay put. I let out a growl of frustration but he didn't lessen his grip on me. Maccus studied the stone for a bit before taking out a small dagger I had not seen before. He simply laid it across the stone. I noticed the blade pointed north. With that we ended our expedition and headed back onto the ship.

The whole way back I was angry that we hadn't done anything. I had been all excited that I was going to be in some big fight and all we did was lay a fricking blade on a rock. I expressed this to Koleniko before we went to bed. He laughed.

"Now we wait. If you want to know what's going on go ask your little boyfriend, the Cap'n." Then he walked out of my room. By now I was fuming. The captain and I certainly weren't ever friends, let alone boyfriend and girlfriend! I let out a frustrated female growl before collapsing on the floor.

Maybe I will just go ask the captain… I thought.

When I was on my way to the captain's quarters I was stopped by several of the crew, who whisked me away to the quarterdeck for a 'party.' We had a lot of rum. A lot of rum. I was careful not to get the men too excited around me or to drink that much. Bedsides, Koleniko was sipping lightly and standing with me so I had nothing to fear. But I let myself go and have a few bottles. After a while I remembered my mission. I thought I could go talk to the captain a bit before the alcohol really set in. As I made my way to the cabin I could feel it beginning to sink in. I could walk and see strait for the most part, though, so I thought I would be okay.

I waited at Davy's door, waiting for him to let me in. I had decided to keep my corset on for my own reasons. He mumbled a 'who is it.'

"Coley, sir," I told him. He told me to let myself in so I carefully opened the door for myself. I carefully stepped into his dim cabin. He was sitting on something that resembled an extra-large bed. He was scribbling in a log of some kind. As I came in he got up and went to his organ. He placed his book on it then turned to face me. I walked and met him about halfway into the room. He obviously knew where I had been and scowled at me.

"You must be careful. The men aren't used to having women around." I had heard it all before and dismissed it.

"Why did we go to then island just to out a dagger on a stupid rock?" I asked. I was proud that I didn't slur my words hardly at all.

"You will see. Soon there will be a reaction to that, and that is when it will really start." I let my guard down.

"What will start-woah!" I exclaimed as a gentle roll went through the ship because of the waves. I was thrown off balance to the side. I expected to slam into the floor but instead I could fell myself flying. It took me a bit to realize Davy was carrying me. I cocked my head at him.

"I'm fine. I'll head back to my room." He carried me to the door and set me on un-solid feet. I stumbled out the door and don the stairs. As I walked down the hall to my room I could feel all my senses getting fuzzy. When I opened the door to my room. I closed it behind me and let out a sigh. My head was pounding and I really just wanted to go to bed. I removed everything from me but my pants and corset. I slowly took my boots off, relishing the cool air that touched my toes. I slumped on the ground, ready to curl up in my pants and leather top. I walked to where I would sleep but quickly turned around as I heard a noise. I was relieved to see Hadras.

"Scared me, mate!" I said, calming my racing heart. "Now git." I wasn't in the mood to argue or talk to him. I could see he was a bit drunk, but not nearly as much as I was. I staggered a bit and placed a hand on a wall in my small room to steady myself. He began to approach me. He behavior was weird and it almost scared me. I bent forward to pick up a metal candleholder. I walked backwards until I was cornered. I don't know why I didn't do anything… I guess I was to drunk or dazed to. But when he finally jumped at me I was prepared, even in my state. I flung the holder at him and it hit him square in the face, knocking him backwards. I could see his head flail on his shoulders but not quite dislodge from his neck.

I immediately ran out of the room and tried to get towards the deck where I knew a lot of the crew slept. I was about halfway to the stairs leading up when he yanked on my leg. I fell forward flat onto my stomach. He rolled me onto my back and crouched over me, laughing. We struggled for a few moments before he put a knife to my neck and told me to hush before he killed me. He removed the knife from my neck and put it to the bottom of the corset, to cut the strings. I had no defense but my voice. I inhaled and let out the loudest yell I could muster. He immediately punched me in my jaw and with his small blade made a cut running along the left side of my jaw, from near my ear to where my chin was. I continued to yell and struggle. He got him hand under part of my corset and with the other began to jab at me. I could only image what was going through Koleniko's mind when he saw the spectacle before him. The next thing I new I was curled in a ball, with a few of the crew trying to ask me what happened. When I looked up I saw a horrible beaten Hadras, and near him a few of the crew trying to pry Koleniko off him.

The room immediately fell silent as the captain appeared the bottom of the steps. By now I was injured, bleeding all over the deck, and barely able to see. Obviously unable to communicate in any way, he ordered I be taken into his cabin, placed on his bed, and for Clanker to tend to my wounds. Clanker approached me and cradled me in his arms. He began to carry me away from the scene. As I left I could hear Koleniko relaying what he saw.

"And this monster was trying to have his way with her! I say he gets one hundred lashes-" That was about the time I fell unconscious.