AURUM
. a curse reborn .
- chapter 4 -
The next twenty-four hours dragged by like days. Gray clouds hung low over the ocean and a warm mist was suspended above the water. There was a fair breeze tugging at the sails, and the ship would rock gently with the waves. This odd, stomach-churning rhythm took some getting used to. So much getting used to that Myra threw up several times before she grew even the slightest bit accustomed to its nauseating motony.
Myra was no longer wearing her pajamas. You can be sure she changed out of them the first chance she got. Being on a ship full of men while wearing nothing but PJ's was not exactly the most pleasant experience she'd had. Though her new clothes were quite an improvement, they were the most uncomfortable things she'd ever worn in her life. They were old, smelling heavily of damp and tobacco. In no way were they intended to be a woman's clothes, having belonged to one of the crew members, and they fit Myra very loosely; The shirt's shoulders sagged and the pants nearly fell down when she walked. She had been given a vest to wear over the shirt, which was fastened all the way down with fat brass buttons, reaching almost to her knees it was so big. Though she'd never admit it, Myra knew she looked absolutely stupid.
The following evening found Myra up on the deck and leaning against the ship's wooden railing, staring blankly out to sea. The sky had still not cleared, and for another night the moon would not be seen, with rain seeming to be on the way. Myra had spent the last several hours, pondering her current situation. Though she tried and tried, she just could not figure out what exactly she was doing here, let alone how she got here in the first place. For a long time she had herself convinced that all this was a dream, that she'd just take one last look around and then wake up, just like that. But everything was too real to be a dream. She felt the ocean breeze too strongly against her face, heard the rush of waves too clearly as they lapped up against the boat. . . Felt seasick too violently and painfully. All this was real, she decided. But how? That question, unfortunately, she had not yet been able to answer. Several times the captain had questioned Myra his inquiries not all too different than the ones she had for herself, but she had not been able to answer them, however much she wished she could.
The creaking of floorboards signalled the passing of several crewmembers. On the whole the men were kind to her, being as understanding as was possible, but no matter how hard they tried to accept this strange girl there were still whispers about Myra that passed among them. One such whisper passed between the men as they walked by, but just what it was they were saying Myra could not make out.
In a few moments, the deck around her was once again silent save for the rushing noise of the waves and the groaning of the ship. Myra tugged at the metal chain around her neck, lifting the golden medallion so it rested in her palm. Deep in the back of her mind something said to her that this odd looking piece of jewelry was, in some way, part of the answer she was looking for. Oh, but that's absurd, she told herself. It just wasn't possible. Just wasn't.
The sound of boots against the wooden floor brought her away from her thoughts and she once again concealed the necklace beneath her shirt as she looked up.
"Miss Myra?"
It was Henry.
Miss Myra. . . She liked the way that sounded.
"Yes?"
"We'll be arriving in Tortuga in just a few hours."
"Tortuga?" Wherever it was they were stopping, it didn't sound all that wonderful. But it was too late to add specifics to her request. She had asked for the nearest port, so that was what she got.
"Yes, Miss Myra. Tortuga."
A/N: Just a short little chapter before things really start happening. Sorry to keep you guys waiting for the excitement, but it's on the way, I promise!