Chapter Two
I wasn't sure if I was ever more grateful ta toss meself on tha' lumpy bed once I got back. I felt numb. A rare occasion on me behalf because I always had some sorta emotion boilin' inside. I was agitated easily. Tha dim shadows of one candle, stout because tha wax was runnin' off rapidly, made tha room seem more cold than usual. I groaned inwardly an' wondered what I had done ta deserve such uncertainty. Me life was one big question. Grew up kinda unsure o' what I was as a maeve, me da never bein' 'round much, raisin' meself. No one ta really talk ta 'sides Mr. Rory.
I traced me fingers through me curly auburn mass on me head and inhaled deep. I reflected on how odd it had been fer of all ta come help me, it'd been Sparrow. As if I couldn't handle meself. Yelling fer help was instinct damnit. I ain't gonna be labeled a bloody damsel in distress. Over me dead body. His bloody timin' was near perfect however. I silently thanked me lucky stars. I bloody hated asking for help. Made me feel incompetent, just the bloody way bloody women were "s'posed ta be." Tha port where I came from in Ireland was a bit more lenient 'bout those types o' things thankfully, but there was always those few people who'd make ye feel as if ye were a walking sin.
What was I s'posed ta make o' me life? I left Ireland in search o' more. Hadn't really found it yet. I knew it existed, I'd heard tha stories. Cursed treasure. God almighty, tha was an interesting one. Terrifying, at that. Bloody hell.
Somethin' inside o' me pulled ta take me out ta sea. I didn't 'ave it in me ta move. I felt almost paralyzed again. Distantly I thought I could 'ear tha sounds o' me sisters. I shrugged it off and laid still. What kinda bloody help did they give me anyway? Went out ta follow tha Sparrow fella an' I wind up in a noisy, smelly pub wif little ta no money? Sweatin' me arse away fer nuthin'. I didn't wanna waste me life takin' up space. I wanted me name ta have a meaning. Sittin' fer too long made me antsy.
I didn't notice when I fell asleep tha the visions I had were gonna lead me ta tha docks in the mornin' wit a bag o' me things.
Tha sun dart across the horizon, splashin' tha waters wit oranges an' pinks an' reds. The water, calm an' still. Cerulean sparkled like a bottle o' champagne. I sniffed tha air, bringing a whiff o' tha familiar salts wit' a tang o' bitter fish an' alcohol. Several ships were docked, tha Black Pearl nowhere ta be seen. I felt me body relax at tha thought.
Though early, sailors an' men alike scurried 'round the area doin' all sorts o' things an' grumblin' orders. Most likely after effects o' a night o' heavy drinkin'. I was gonna prove me worth. I decided twas then er never. I wasn't gonna cry 'bout nuthin'. I was most comfortable at sea anyway, what'd it matter? Me vision tha night before in a dreamlike sequence involved tha feelin' o' flight. Complete freedom ta be meself an' stand on the edge o' the map's waters. Like a scene outta tha stories I'd heard. I knew where it was gonna be, an' I was determined ta take it. I hiked me sack up higher o'er me shoulder an' found it was lighter than I recalled when packin' it. Jus' some o' me belongings ta make it last. Anudder skirt an' chemise, socks, an' a bodice. Me silver hairbrush engraved wit' tha Celtic knot, me da had dropped fer me ta 'ave when I grew older, an' me old cutlass from when I worked wit Mr. Rory.
I squinted at tha sunlight strikin' through an' listened ta tha faint sounds o' wood creakin' and curses mumblin'. Turnin' over me left shoulder fer any opportunities o' escaping the pirate port, I spotted a line o' men bein' examined by none other than bloody Sparrow. Same attire as before, but seein' 'is face in tha right light, no one could deny he wasn't necessarily an ugly bastard. But a bastard nonetheless.
Was that it? Why was I always runnin' inta tha man?
He was stalkin' up an' down a line o' perspective sailors. 'im an' tha other man I served wit him the night prior in tha blue, but also a new lad. He looked too innocent ta be involved wit 'em. His eyes wide at all tha peculiarities.
Groaning, I begrudgingly trotted over ta tha line. He had a questionable look upon his face, but kept on wit his inspections an' interrogations. Signing up a crew, he was. Bloody fate.
"You, sailor!" he called on an elderly man wit' a parrot on 'is shoulder.
"Mr. Cotton, sir," said tha one in blue.
Sparrow cleared his throat before speakin'.
"Mr. Cotton. Do you have the courage and fortitude to follow orders and stay true in the face of danger and almost certain death?" he inquired, speaking so fast I was sure I didn't catch half o' what 'e said.
Tha old man just starred at him, slightly taken aback.
"Poor devil had his tongue cut out," said blue. "So we trained the parrot to talk for 'im. Though no one's yet figured 'ow." I got a better look at the lime green bird perched happily an' almost rethought me brazen actions.
Sparrow, restin' 'is hand on a ripe banana at his belt, -what in all o' hell, shook his head 'efore askin' somethin' else.
"Mr. Cotton's parrot. Same question." He stuck out 'is chest ta look defiant. I had ta stifle a giggle. Arrogance wasn't a good look on anyone.
With a few squawks an' a "wind in the sails!" Sparrow seemed content wit his answer. I gulped as 'e moved down tha line and onta me. I stood straight tall an' subconsciously nailed me boots inta tha dock. I bore me eyes as far inta 'is as I could. I would not get turned away.
He studied me up an' down, seemin' ta get a vibe from me. He squinted an' I waited, unsure o' what ta do.
"You, lass, what's such a pretty thing like you doing here?" he asked.
I swallowed before clearing me throat, just as he had done earlier.
"Come ta join yer crew, Captain."
"Mm," he thought fer a moment. After staring at me fer what felt like anudder five minutes, he smirked. "And why be that?"
Crossing me arms across me chest, I delivered the same devilish smirk back ta 'im. Not as confident when we get a taste o' our own medicine, eh?
"And why ye be needin' silly answers, Sparrow? Surely ye ain't that bloody desperate fer a crew. But if ya must know, because I work jus' as hard, maybe even harder, than any man ye've ever met."
Recognition spread across his face an' he pointed a hyper index finger up ta me face, almost wit a jump. Our audience's features scrunched up in confusion.
"You're the one from last night," he said so quietly.
"Aye," I answered. "We can say it's me pay ta what ye did fer me, eh?"
Tha man in blue jumped in at tha moment and worriedly interposed rather rudely.
"No no no. It's frightful bad luck ta have a woman aboard, sir."
With one last look ta me, I raised an eyebrow. The captain grinned and whipped out a compass.
"It'd be far worse not ta 'ave her. All hands! Prepare ta make sail!" he shouted ta the line, meself included. It was an indirect answer, but it was a better alternative than spendin' me days practicin' same in, same out.
I followed suit, an' fer tha first time in ferever, felt like I was a part o' sumthin' grander than meself. Also noticed tha ship was a prior East India Company ship. Bloody hell.
I hadn't realized I was holdin' me breath when I stepped onta tha ship. This was a rash decision, but it needed ta be done. I would not be bound by shackles, as it were. Ye're only granted one life an' I wasn't intendin' on wastin' it. Me eyes flew up ta tha sails that were already flapping mightly in tha wind. A shiver ran down me spine.
Storm.
I shook slightly an' felt a burst o' chilliness scurry throughout me bones. I kept breathin' deeply an' evenly. Last thing I needed was fer anyone ta find out 'bout me.
As Sparrow called fer orders, I found meself a lil' outta place. Back when I sailed ta Tortuga, I was taught little about the ships and how ta deal wit' 'em. They underestimated me as a woman. That ain't gonna happen again.
I quickly searched for the way below deck so as ta drop me things off. As I was 'bout ta descend down tha steps, a hand gripped me shoulder. I pivoted me head ta see none other than Captain watching me intently. His chocolate eyes searchin' fer something in me, kinda like before. He looked quite ridiculous in his get up. Shin bone o' a reindeer tied ta his hair, beads an' strange lookin' trinkets tied in. Braids in various tangles, tha high cheekbones, one had a scar marked "x" on it. The stories were all true, he was peculiar. But also oddly handsome.
"Is there a problem, sir?" I asked.
"Nay, you won't be stayin' with them down there. Too tempting," he finished with a sideways smirk.
I scoffed in annoyance and rolled me eyes. For a second I wondered what color they were. They oft' changed color dependin' on me mood. Ranged from blues an' greens.
"An' yer here ta save tha day wit' some manner o' a solution, yeah?"
"Quite an accent you got there, Cora, is it?"
I made a psh sound in sarcasm.
"Cora Gallagher," I answered, shrugging his touch off me shoulder.
His kohl-lined eyes popped outta their bloody sockets fer a blink. He thought for a moment.
"Uh huh…" the pirate paused. "Well then, Miss. Gallagher, allow me to show you where you will be residing. Down you go." He said that a lot more cheery than 'efore. What tha hell.
Unwillingly, but curiously, I reluctantly took the next couple steps till we were below. He arrived next and with a wave o' his hands, quite flamboyantly I might add, to a small door hidden in the corner o' the crew's hammocks. I waited impatiently while he searched fer the proper key in 'is hands.
"Ah!" he breathed happily when he located it, inserting it inta tha keyhole and twisting. Wit' a click, twas unlocked and in we went.
Not much larger than a closet. Tha walls were moist an' 'ad a sticky air 'bout it. Kinda smelly. All that was, was a small cot, some sheets, a lumpy stained pillow, an' a few shelves nailed inta tha wall, a dusty mirror above it. If there was a third person, we probably wouldn'ta fit.
"Quite tha luxury, Sparrow, is it?" I mocked 'im earlier.
Tha look he gave me had taken me aback. It was cruder than I 'ad expected. His eyes looked darker somehow, maybe it was the poor lighting o' me new room. His chapped lips curled down in a frown. I blinked twice an' his face softened jus' as fast as it had tensed.
"This is yer new home, Gallagher. I suggest you drop off yer belongings an' get straight to tha halywards. Hope your not afraid o' heights," he ordered.
"'Course not," I shrugged. Not all too often, but a few times on me way o'er ta Tortuga, me last crew made me go up tha ratlines an' have crow's nest duties. I knew a bit 'bout tha sails an' workin' 'round tha rigging.
Tha Captain turned on 'is heel, leavin' me ta me new abode. I inhaled a sharp breath. I supposed I was grateful fer somethun' like it. I just prayed it wasn't some sorta deal where I only got tha cabin 'cause I was a woman an' couldn't hold meself against tha men. Howe'er, tha stench wasn't as revolting in me cabin as it were in tha rest o' tha ship.
I plopped me sack onta the bed, notin' it felt like it mighta been stuffed wit' straw an' feathers. Beggars couldn't be choosa's, I s'pose. Untying tha knot, I then reached in an' began ta take out me stuff an' place it in its new spot. When finished, I stood back an' admired me work.
Not as hideous as where I lived aboard tha Vanity, but no better than me room in Tortuga. Closing me eyes, I felt the waves beneath tha ship massagin' her. Everything would be so much more different than it ever was. Leavin' Ireland was a drastic decision, but nothin' this rash. An' ta sail under Captain Jack Sparrow nonetheless. His stories were wha' I preferred, but somethin' about 'im turned me off in tha same way it peaked me interest. 'e was bloody infruiatin' in that respect.
But I didn't want a lousy first day on tha job, so I went ta where I was summoned.
Tha bloody sun just about spat in me face as I made me way up ta tha main topsail. If I were ta look down, I woulda probably been thrown off. I didn't need no rescuin', but I didn't need ta be the crew's laughing stock. Few more steps up the rope ladder an' I began ta fiddle wit' the rest o' 'em, settin' the sheets free fer our new venture.
"Full canvas!" I 'eard from below me.
Dunno what it was, but a surge o' adrenaline coursed up through me blood, causin' a smile ta tug at me lips. A small shred o' hope told me this mighta been wha' I'd been lookin' fer. But I cursed meself an' reminded meself tha' only time will tell.
I tugged on tha ropes an' worked wit' the pulleys, among other things fer hours. Each hour tha' passed, the further we got out ta sea, the darker the sky grew. Me convulsions worsened an' made some o' me tasks difficult. I sighed while lookin' out ta the now barely visible black speck tha' used ta be Tortuga. Funny how some distance makes everythin' so much more small, eh? When I turned me head, all there was, was tha open ocean. Black as tha' night, blacker than tha Captain's eyes. It was uncertain, and mericless. But the unyielding need ta go inta it headfirst gave me an electrifyn' shock. Salty tears pricked me eyes from behind, an' I only figured perhaps tha rain was reachin' us 'ere first, before it unleashed upon tha ship. I blinked them away fast as I could. I needn't be needin' any questions.
"Sail windward, ye scurvy dogs!" a voice, whom I remembered belonged ta tha man in blue from tha tavern an' recruitin'.
Was he wishin' fer death? Why in God's name would anyone sail towards the bloody wind durin' a storm? I climbed down from the riggin', an' saw tha dear Captain at the helm, compass in hand, starin' at it with intense eyes. On my march towards 'im, I had a lanky man hold his arm up ta stop me. He was tall an' slightly awkwardly built. I noticed he only had one eye, fer tha other was made of, wood, was it? Good God.
"Miss," he warned quietly.
I rolled me eyes.
"Yeah?"
He tilted 'is head towards tha helm.
"Best not disturb tha cap'n when he's thinkin," he said.
"'e looks fine. Just a simple question, yeah? Now if ye'll excuse me," I responded, pushing past 'im. I felt his gaze burnin' through me back. I didn't care. I didn't need me first day on a ship ta result in me death.
I trotted up tha staircase, gettin' a few strange looks from passerbys. Ignorin' tha attention, I stood near Sparrow, hands crossed over me chest. When he ignored me, I cleared me throat.
"Eh?" he asked, never once lookin' up from his compass.
"Mm. Aye, Captain, any specific reason we be sailin' straight inta tha storm?"
Tha silence that overcame tha atmosphere was so silent tha a pin coulda been 'eard dropping. I blinked, but showed me defiance. Tha wind picked up almost instantly, curlin' 'round me hair an' twistin' it in tangles. I convulsed fer a second an' inhaled sharp. No way in bloody hell would I let tha stupid weather affect me now.
"That is for me to know an' for you to keep askin' yourself, darlin'. Go brace the foreyard," he retorted cockily. Then he faced me, with a snarky smile. "Savvy?"
"Yer funeral, sir," I seethed.
"Brace the foreyard! Tie down tha guns, muster your courage, men! This one's gonna be a big one!" Blue man repeated tha orders. I realized I should probably find out 'is bloody name sooner er later.
I went ta it, workin' wit the other sailors as I secured a cannon in tha hull below. When all was done, I came back up ta see tha pourin' rain makin' chaos. Hell hath been set loose, an' we were ta sail through it.
Sparrow.
Tha angry waves sent tha ship lurchin' to an' fro, makin' it a job o' it's own ta balance. Tha wind whistled like an orchestra an' spray from tha' water stung as it hit me face. I grabbed onta tha rail an' looked down fer a moment. Me heart slowed when I saw tha foam o' tha waves run against tha bow. A relieved smile raised up the sides o' me mouth, an' fer a moment, through all tha hustle an' shoutin' an' thunder an' rain, I 'eard me sisters callin' fer me.
"Maeve," they whispered.
I leaned over tha rail further an' tilted me ear ta tha ocean. They called fer me again.
Unsure o' wha' I was exactly doin', but doin' it anyway, as if I was bein' commanded an' played like a puppet, I leaned over so far that I lost all me weight over tha side o' tha ship, an' felt an icy sharp greetin' in tha water. Tha waves tossed me 'round an' I struggled ta raise meself back ta tha surface. Navy blue enveloped me, bubbles sproutin' up from where I coughed under water. I had no control over me body, I was thrashed. Me skirt was bloody weighin' me down. I couldn't hold me breath fer that long, an' felt meself disconnect from tha world slowly.
Maeves could drown.
"Stay, maeve," was tha last beautiful ringin' sound I heard before I lost all consciousness.