As I walked out on deck, I saw no one about. Not one soul on the ship and the eerie feeling that something was wrong swept over me. I went back to the bunk rooms thinking that everyone may have overslept, to find no one around... Not even Melissa. I began to walk towards the exit of the ship when I heard far off cries.

I acted purely on instinct, checking to see if my sword was on hand, I raced down the dock and headed strait for the middle of the street, bumping into a few drunkards whom were waking from there night of feasting and drinking. Pushing through the crowds and running blindly through the morning streets, I came upon the shouts and the cries.

A mob had circled around the site of the screams. Drawing my sword and ordering the intoxicated men and women to stand aside, I parted the crowd with ease. As I reached the middle, I realized from whom the shouts and cries were coming from.

"MOCKINGBIRD!" I cried as I knelt beside her.

"He's dead... Oh Phantess. HE'S DEAD!!!" She cried out as she fell into my arms.

I looked down and saw whom she was referring too... At her side, Captain Willington laid his chest bloody and sword drawn.

"Oh No... No!" I breathed as I hugged Melissa tightly... The crew now came and ushered the crowd away.

"What has happened?" I barked to one of the crew men.

He shook his head and removed his cap.

"Miss Phantess..." Mr. Kristian cooed, putting his hand on my shoulder, "There is something that Mr. James and a few of the crew members need to discuss with ye."

He extended his hand and I grasped it in mine.

"Tend to Mockingbird." I ordered as I left.

One crew man within earshot bowed his head and knelt beside Melissa and did as he was told...

I did not realize what I was in for when I boarded the ship and entered the late captain's bunk room.

"Miss Phantess or should I say Nicole..." spoke Mr. James as he motioned for me to sit next to him, "Why yer mother never told me how beautiful ye truly were."

"What do you...?"

"Nicole... You don't know?" he inquired, his eyes glittering.

"No, I'm afraid I do not know what you are referring too sir." I spoke, curiosity flooded my grieving body.

"Do you recall what yer mother's maiden name was?" He asked.

"No sir..."

"Well ever heard her speak of a man by the last name of Chance?" he continued.

"Why yes... My grandfather... but what does this...?" I began but stopped.

It can't be...

"Aye lass... My brother is your grandfather..." he spoke as a smile flittered on his grizzly face.

"You... you are the man my grandfather used to speak of... The Pirate..."

"Aye lass. Haven't seen my dear brother in ages." He began but was interrupted.

"Sir... Are you going to tell her?" Mr. Kristian inquired.

"AH YES!! Terribly sorry." My great uncle stated.

"Tell me what?" I asked, my eyes filling with a new curiosity.

"Well lassie, as you know our dear captain is dead... God rest his soul...And now we are in need of a captain." He said, fingering through a notebook.

"So you expect me to go find one?" I inquired not expecting what was he was to say as a reply.

"NO! NO! Lassie!! You don't need to find one... For I have... Actually the captain has... Read here lass." He bellowed as he handed me a small notebook...

It read,

"The day has finally come... I have found a person worthy and strong enough to run my ship when I am gone. I rescued her, found her half dead and now have taken her aboard my ship. I shall train her to be my replacement and to take charge when the time comes."

"So it is Melissa?" I inquired, a bit confused.

"Read the date of the entry Miss." My great uncle replied.

I scrolled down the page to the bottom to discover the date...

October 15th, 1844...

"No..." I breathed as I handed the book back to Mr. Chance.

"Yes... Captain... It is true." He replied as he took the book from my quivering hands.

"I can't possibly..." I began...

"He left you in charge miss. He chose you..." he continued as he helped me to my feet, "He would not have picked you if he did not have the uttermost faith that you could do the job."

"Do you agree with him?" I inquired, staring deeply into his glittering eyes.

"Aye Captain... I do." He replied, bowing slightly and removing his hat.

That night, we had a proper burial for the late captain. As his coffin sank into the sea, everyone's eyes rested on my great uncle as he spoke.

"The late captain was a great man... A damn great man... He helped through the roughest and toughest of times. He always took care of his crew and never did his courage and spirit begin to buckle. He left this notebook as a last reminder and in it, is his last requests and wishes.

The last entry in this book says that he has found his replacement. He rescued her, found her half dead and took her in and from the moment he met her, he KNEW that she would be fit to take care of this ship.

That person... Is Miss Phantess, or should I say CAPTAIN Phantess."

I walked slowly from the lower part of the deck up towards my great uncle. He bowed slightly and then the crew began to cheer.

"So captain, what to do know? It is your decision." James spoke.

"FIRST OF ALL!" I bellowed silence swept across the ship, "I don't know if I will ever be half as good of a captain as of late Captain Willington, but I swear on pain of death that I shall do all in power to be do my job the way the late captain would have wished!"

The crew began to cheer and Melissa now walked up on deck and hugged me tightly.

"No one could have ever asked for a better captain." She whispered in my ear, tears streamed down her cheeks as she released me and bowed before standing next to me.

"EVERYONE TO YOUR POSTS!!" I bellowed as I took Melissa by her arm and walked towards my bunk.

"Captain, we have taken the liberty of moving your things to your room." James spoke as he opened the door to the late captain's room.

"Th... Thank you." I replied as he shut the door.

"Melissa?" I inquired.

"Yes Captain." She replied.

"I'm still Nicole to you... If you wish."

"Oh I want you to get used to the name." she chuckled.

"What happened to Sir Willington? A death such as his will not go unnoticed." I continued.

"I'm not sure. I remember shouting and then finding him... That's all." She replied, sorrow in her pained eyes.

"I am trusting you to go about and speak with the crew about this. We shall get to the bottom of this, even if I have to go through all of ITALY! I SHALL find out who killed him."

"Aye captain." She replied as she bowed and then left the room, closing the door behind her.

The sun did linger that evening before solemnly setting on the glittering horizon, eagerly waiting to rise again...