1. The Sea
David held tight to Elaines hand as they snuck aboard the Flying Dutchman. A grand ship that David had acquired on his way back from the Carribean, when he had deserted the Navy to rescue the women he loved.
Elaine slipped into the Captains quarters and waited patiently. The sun was not even in the sky and no one was awake. But, Davy had promised that he would arouse the crew and have them set sale immediately.
They had been fortunate when Cromwell and Elaine's parents were out of town the day that Davy had come to save Elaine. They were looking into buying a beautiful estate house in the north of Brittain and were making it a 'surprise' wedding gift to Elaine.
Mrs. Smidt, not caring what the 18 year old girl did, just ignored Elaine when she had been informed of an unplanned trip to the seamstress for a fresh update of the brides maids dresses, ten in all.
It seemed that luck was almost always in their favor. Elaine knew that soon enough, their luck might run out on them though. As long as they made it to a safe place where they could live happily ever after before Lord Cromwell and her parent's returned to find her missing, they would be safe.
According to David, though, the Island that they were setting sail to, Isla Cruces, was some distance away. He feared that they would not make it in time. Elaine was optomistic, even though secretly she wondered if this would be the final straw of their luck.
She layed down on the tiny sofa in David's quarters and closed her eyes, trying to take in the rocking of the ship. They had not even set sail and she was already feeling queezy.
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"Elaine, wake up." David's voice peirced her dreams, jolting her awake. She peered around the dimly lit cabin, the drapes over the windows closed, and then at David. He held her hand as she stumbled to her feet, not quite used to the violent rocking of the ship. He escorted her into the bright outdoors in an urgent way and made her look over the railing.
Behind them was a ship, growing closer and and closer. It flew the colors of the Royal Navy and Elaine began to fear that it was Lord Cromwell.
"What are we going to do?" She asked, her eyes watering from the salty wind.
"Fight them if necessary." Davy said, taking the shaking Elaine into his arms, trying to warm her up.
"But they will claim you a pirate if you win." Elaine said, looking into David's dark, scared eyes. He nodded slowly.
"I won't let them take you away." He barely smiled. "Now go, into the cabin and wait. If you hear me yell 'All hell has broken loose' run to the windows and you'll see me waiting for you." He shoved her off towards the Captains quarters. She closed the doors and the room was enshrouded in darkness. She drew back the drapes and looked through the big windows to see that the ship was growing closer. She closed her eyes trying to breath slower, to calm herself down.
A whooshing sound came to her ears and she knew that they were under attack.
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She did not here David say 'All hell has broken loose', she could only hear the pounding of her heart as the Navy ship came closer to the Dutchman. When it began to slow, she opened her eyes, wondering why she hadn't heard David's phrase.
She opened the door to the cabin slowly, just an inch though, and peered out.
"Where is she?" Cromwell demanded meanly as his cutlass lay across David's neck. David did not utter a word. She watched closely, knowing that a single move would send people looking about.
She could only think of one thing as she saw David spat upon and taken across the plank to be held captive.
How had Cromwell known she was missing... and so quickly?
As David's foot landed on the Navy ship and the cutlass removed from his neck he yelled.
"All hell has broken loose!!!!"
Elaine ran to the window, knowing that everyone aboard would be able to hear the shatter of the glass. She picked up the nearest object and hurled it at the window. It broke and wind came sputtering in, she managed to make it halfway through the opening before cutting herself badly across the wrists.
She screamed out in pain as she tumbled into a tiny boat that she had not seen before, as if to have appeared by magic. She lay in the boat for some time, hearing the shouts of officers as they peered over the railing and yelled to their Captain. It was not long before she felt the boat being hoisted up to the deck and Cromwells face peering in at her.
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"She is dead." Lord Cromwell said bluntly to David. Elaine saw her love lean over the small boat. His eyes were filled with guilt.
I'm not dead. Elaine wanted to say, but no words would come to her mouth. She layed there, lifeless and untouched.
"You shall face the gallows." Cromwell hissed, pushing his cutlass closer to David's throat.
A woman emerged from the Naval ship and stood at its edge, looking at David, Cromwell, and the Flying Dutchman.
David saw that she was dark complected, unlike Elaine, and her hair was like a rats nest. But, she had some sort of destiny about her. He could tell that she had something to say.
"My lord." The dark woman said, crossing the plank that connected the two ships. Cromwell turned to face the woman, and Elaine saw him smile big.
"Taminga darling." He said motioning for her to come forward with his free hand.
Darling? Elaine thought. Why would he call her darling?
"I have a better idea." Taminga smirked.
"Taminga, to the gallows he must go." Cromwell frowned.
"To the gallows he shall go." Taminga paused, smiling. She pulled a small seashell from her bossom and waved it in front of David. "And be cursed there for forever, eternally bound to the sea, never to return to land except every ten years. Never able to feel anything again, not even love. Just the sea, and that is what he'll become." She waved the seashell in front of David Jones' face and chanted softly to herself.
"And the sea he will become." She yelled loud and clear, and a bright light flashed, blinding all of the men.
There was nothing different about David Jones, just a light glistening to his skin. Elaine, from her boat, saw that he was more handsome than before and felt like sitting up and kissing him. But, she could not move her body.
"And what about my dear Elaine?" Cromwell said, releasing David of the cutlass.
"Put her on the Navy ship." Taminga smirked and then walked away. David disappeared along with the rest of the people that Elaine knew and soon she felt the boat hoisted.
Soon enough, it collided with the floor on the Naval ship, but not being able to move around, Elaine stared strait ahead.
What is wrong with me? Elaine asked herself as the light that she had seen disappeared and she was emmersed in darkness.
"You are dead, dear girl." Elaine heard Taminga say.
What do you mean? Elaine thought because she could not speak.
"Your soul is still alive I see." Taminga said, poking Elaine in her ribs. It was silent for some time before Taminag spoke again.
"You caused my Lord much pain." Taminga frowned, pulling out another charm, this time and sword, and swung it back and forth. "You are to be punished for causing much pain." She began to hum loud and clear, hurting Elaine's ears.
"You shall be cursed for all eternity, never to rise exept for every ten years." This made Elaine smile, she could see David when he would come to land every ten years. "alternating from Davy Jones." Taminga hissed. "You shall be called 'The Lady of the Lake'."
