A Child of the Sea

1742

Flora stood on the top of the tide pool and closed her eyes. There was a strong wind blowing in from the west today, filling the air with the salty taste of the sea. Flora basked in the wind and exhaled, contently. If she could she would have stood there all day and possibly all night like a woman waiting for her lover to return from a long journey, but of course she didn't do that. She had work to do!

Flora opened her eyes and gazed across the endless expanse of blue. There they were: A few tiny dots on the horizon that indicated trading vessels. Finally!

The child beamed with delight and began navigating her way down from the tide pool. She had to be careful not to slip and fall into one of the many lagoons surrounding her. The last time she fell into one she had ruined the beautiful, silken dress she was wearing at the time. Flora never really cared for that dress, but she did earn herself a fair lecture from Grandfather Albert for ruining it. That hadn't been a pleasant day, and she was determined not to repeat the incident.

Flora paused when she noticed a clear pool nearby and decided to look into it. The face of a small adolescent girl stared back at her, a girl with fair skin, high cheekbones, long, dark brown hair tied into a braid, and gray-blue eyes like the ever-changing sea. Many would have thought her beautiful, until they noticed the ugly bruise below her eye. The result of one-spoiled lass named Gretchen punching her in the face. Flora touched the bruise and flinched at the stinging pain that came after. It would take time to heal, but as long as it didn't open up and bleed it should be okay. As long as it doesn't bleed…

Flora tried not to imagine what would have happened if everyone saw the color of her blood, and continued her trek down the tide pool. Once she made landfall she inhaled another breath of ocean air, and wriggled her toes in the sand before making her way toward a small sea cave nearby. "Enjoyin' yourself, Millie?" she called out in her natural Scottish accent to the dapple gray mare standing in the grasslands near the shore.

Mildred-or Millie for short-nickered through the mouthful of grass she was chewing on, which Flora took as a yes. Poseidon's beastie knows what's best, the girl thought amusingly before entering the cave.

This was her personal hideout, or Flora thought of it as hers anyway, one of the few places where she could hide from the world and truly express her love and longing for the sea. When school was done for the day and she wasn't suffering through teatime with the nobles, she was either with the horses in her grandfather's stables, borrowing books from the library, or here.

Flora paused to admire the work she had done on the cave over the years. One corner held the empty clam shells she had collected alongside the various trinkets the sea had washed up from time to time, while the other corner consisted of her drawings, paintings, and unfinished sea shanties she managed to save from destruction. Flora had potential to become a great artist of sorts, according to the headmistress of the school, but only when she wasn't drawing sea monsters or writing failed songs on the sea, apparently. Flora scowled at the memory of that lecture, one of many she had to endure over the years, and traced a hand over her favorite drawing: The Kraken. The great sea squid was lingering at the bottom of the ocean floor, waiting for a potential meal to sail by. While the thought of such a beast struck terror to all, Flora only felt fascination. She dearly wished she could see something like it one day.

"One day…" She muttered dreamily to herself before making her way to the ancient long boat anchored at the far end of the cave. Her grandfather had set it aside many years ago in case he ever felt the need to return to the sea for a short period of time, but he never used it as far as Flora was concerned. Not once, and that thought made her heart ache.

Flora reached into the boat to grab something, and flinched when she noticed movement at the bottom. "Oh there ya are, Stephen!" The girl carefully reached in and drew out a small red crab, a sight that would have sent normal girls screaming in fright. "I was wondering where ye' went!"

The crab blinked its strange blue eyes at Flora as she carefully set it on the palm of her hand. On certain days, no matter where Flora went, the crab seemed to follow her around like a silent guardian or companion. It was frightening the first time she noticed this when she was little, but Flora grew to enjoy the crab's company over the years, and decided to call it Stephen. It gave her someone to talk to, even if it was only a crab.

A number of seagulls squawked outside, and Flora watched them before turning back to the crab. "I get it. Ye' hid inside to get away from the gulls, yes?"

The crab blinked again and pinched one of its claws. Flora smiled, "Don't worry. I won't put ya out there if you're scared." She carefully placed the crab on the ground, and reached back into the boat. Aha, there it was! Flora pulled out her grandfather's old spyglass and wiped the dirt off it. She felt bad for taking it without her grandfather's permission, but he wasn't using it, and there didn't seem to be any harm in keeping it out here in the boat. After all, what if he needed it if he ever went out to sea again? Even for a short while?

Making sure the spyglass still worked, Flora made her way back to the tide pools, found the direction the ships, and lifted the glass to her good eye. There they were, so close and yet so far! 'About six leagues from here!' Flora's heart soared as she thought. She paused. Or would it be eight leagues? She will have to figure that out later. If she wanted to sail the seas one day, she had to know her measurements.

She focused back on the ships. They were small trading vessels, nothing impressive, but they were beauties nonetheless. Flora couldn't see their names from here, but she could see the men working aboard these vessels. Some were running back and forth on the deck, while others were climbing the rigging amongst the masts. Flora's heart quickened, an idiotic grin spreading across her face. Oh how she longed to be among them, to work amongst those sails and challenge the seas! It was an obsession she had for as long as she could remember.

No, not an obsession, a feeling! An instinct!

She belonged out there, exploring the world amongst the waves and the creatures of the seas! She just had to find a way to get to it!

One day. The phrase echoed back through her mind, one day…!

Flora withdrew the spyglass, her expression radiating with pure bliss. So overwhelmed by her dreams, she couldn't help herself: She started to play pirate.

"Starboard side, Captain Barton!" She deepened her voice before hollering, "A ship with no colors!"

"Man the guns! Prepare to broadside!" Flora returned to her normal voice as she gave the order. "We take them head-on!"

The crab called Stephen carefully crawled out to the edge of the sea cave, and watched young Flora swing the spyglass around as though it were a sword, pretending to fight a hoard of ruthless pirates. If it could it would have smiled in amusement. "Well well, if it isn't Miss Gretchen! Turned to piracy, have you?" Flora held the spyglass out as though she were pointing it at the imaginary pirate Gretchen's throat. "I should have thought one as spoiled as you wouldn't be satisfied with your father's inheritance! Tell me old friend: Do ya fear-"

"Flora Barton, what on Earth are you doing?!"

The crab scuttled back into the cave as Flora lost her bearings, and nearly fell into one of the pools around her. The girl quickly stretched her arms out to keep her balance, panting maniacally. She looked up and her heart sank. It was Lord Albert Barton, sitting astride one of the horses from the stables and looking very displeased. Flora sagged. "I was just playing, grandpa..."

Albert examined the state of his adopted granddaughter and shook his head. "We need to talk."

"It wasn't my fault!" Flora insisted later that night in Lord Barton's office. "Gretchen started it by claiming I had no heritage, and then she tried to steal my locket when I showed it to prove otherwise!" She fingered at the locket hidden beneath her dress, her only connection to her real family. Albert had given it to her once she was old enough to wear it, and she hadn't taken it off ever since.

Albert set his spyglass back into its proper place in his office and sighed. "That does not give you the right to start a fight. It isn't proper for a young woman your age. In fact it's not proper at all!"

Not proper for a young woman. Flora folded her arms and tried not to scoff. It was a term she had endured for as long as she could remember, and it always succeeded in boiling her blood.

"What if she scratched or cut you?" Albert continued, his voice growing louder. "What if someone saw your blood?!"

Flora cringed under the volume of his voice. "I know grandpa, but-"

"Do you?" Albert glared daggers at his granddaughter. It was an expression that frightened Flora every time it was aimed at her. Normally she would curl up and close her eyes until it was over, but for once she didn't. She held her ground and glared right back. This startled Albert, but didn't stop him. The duo held each other's gazes in silence for what felt like an eternity until they both faltered and turned away. Albert inhaled a few shaky breaths and rubbed his face. "Tomorrow you will accompany me to the Bastian residence, and you will apologize to Miss Gretchen."

Flora gaped in dismay. "Apologize to that little-"

"Either that, or I forbid you from going near the sea again!"

Even Albert winced at the severity of his own punishment. He had forced it onto Flora before, but always felt horrible for doing it. He felt Flora's shocked expression boring onto his back and imagined tears welding, forming little storms of their own. Flora gripped the chair and tried to shake the water out of her eyes. It's not fair! She wanted to scream, but what good would that do? The girl tried to ease the fury writhing within her, and sagged. "Yes, grandpa…"

"Good girl." Albert sighed with relief. Now came the hard part. "Flora…?"

The girl glanced up at him as he rubbed the back of his head. "I understand your love for the sea. I understand it completely, but you must learn to put your feelings aside and focus on what is more important." He looked briefly at his hands. They were trembling now; they have been for the past five years, bringing with them a constant ache that he couldn't control. Albert clenched his hand into a tight, painful fist and sighed. "I am getting old, Flora, and as my heir it's your duty to take my place as caretaker and noble woman of this island when my time comes."

Flora tried not to shudder at the thought of losing her grandfather. He had been with her for as long as she could remember. Even if they weren't related by blood, he was a part of her as much as she was a part of him. If he was gone, then…"You are not going to die now, grandpa…"

Albert noticed the pained expression seeping across her face, and got up from his seat. "Not now of course, I'm holding on." He limped over to her and placed a careful hand on her shoulder. "But it will happen one day, Flora. Everything comes to an end at some point. It's how life goes. I just want you to be prepared when my time comes."

Movement sounded behind them, and Albert looked up in time to see Marion scurry by the office door, no doubt eavesdropping on every word that was said. He sighed. I'll deal with her later… "Can you promise me, my flower?" He turned back to Flora. "Promise that you will try to focus on what matters most right now?" And mean it this time?

My flower. A knot of nostalgia coiled in Flora's chest. It was a phrase her grandfather used to describe her when she was little, and hadn't used it for years since. Flora gazed up at Albert's wrinkled face. Putting her fantasies and dreams aside to focus on reality wasn't new to her, in fact she was notorious for doing the exact opposite, but as she peered into her grandfather's face and saw how old he really was, a part of the unfortunate truth unfolded before her.

She dipped her head. As much as she hated the idea, she would have to try. For her grandfather's sake. Flora reached for the old lord's hand on her shoulder and held onto it. "I'll try, grandpa. No-I promise I will try."

The old lord smiled, if only a little. "Thank you lass, thank you…" He held onto her hand in return before letting go, and gestured towards the door. "Now, off to bed with you."

Flora stared out the window later that night, going over everything she discussed with her grandfather. She had promised him again to try and keep her longing for the sea at bay, but that didn't mean she had to get rid of it for good. She stroked the locket around her neck and sighed, solemnly. No matter what the old lord, the headmistress at school, Marion the housekeeper, or anyone tried, there was no erasing her nature.

She paused. Nature…? Is that the right word? Her stomach churned at the thought. Perhaps it was, though why she will have to discover later.

Flora slowly peered toward the closed door. All of the candles were blown out, and she hadn't heard any movement for a while now. It might be safe now…

Slowly, Flora crawled out of bed; crept to the same window she had been gazing at earlier, and opened it. The wind had died down into a cool breeze tonight, and the sky had been clear when the sun set over the horizon. Tonight should do fine.

Flora double-checked to make sure all was still behind her, and then climbed out the window.

This was a routine Flora had crafted for herself ever since Lord Barton first punished her when she was about seven or six years old. When the weather was good and everyone in the mansion was fast asleep, she climbed out of her room and made her way down to the farthest end of the shore by the seaport as quickly and stealthily as possibly. Her own way to deal with the punishment.

It was incredibly risky. Guards always patrolled the town and harbor at night, and although Flora hadn't been caught thus far, she didn't doubt that she will one day. Thankfully all patrols were done for the night, which meant it was safe to enter the seaport.

Flora took a moment to examine the ships anchored in the bay. No doubt, they were the same ones she witnessed earlier that afternoon. By now all of the goods were brought in, and once supplies were re-stocked the vessels would be leaving by tomorrow morning. There have been many times when Flora thought of stowing away in one of those ships, but as much as she wanted to she could never bring herself to do it. It was too risky without a well-thought out plan, and she couldn't bear to leave her dear grandfather.

There was also the feeling inside of her, the very same one that drew her towards the sea. Not yet, it always told her whenever the thought of escaping seeped into her mind, not yet…

But why? She always asked herself back, what am I waiting for?

At last, Flora reached the farthest end of the beach and gazed upon the open ocean. Here was another one of the few places on the island where she could express herself. Flora watched the waves thrash back and forth and sat down at the very edge of the shore. Between her white nightgown and the darkness of the night, she really did look like the ghost of a woman waiting for her lover to return from an ill-fated voyage.

Making sure she was comfortable, Flora drew out the locket from her dress and looked at it. The woman's face etched onto the precious trinket stared back at her, and not for the first time Flora wondered if this was the face of her mother. She wrapped her fingers around the locket and thought back to when she first asked Grandfather Albert about her lost family. It was a subject he had tried to avoid for as long as possible, but one day, after much insistence on her part, he finally told her.

"Your father was a great sailor from Glasgow," he had told her. "One of the best there ever was. There…there won't be anyone like him ever again."

He had paused between words, as if he didn't know exactly what to say. "And what about my mother?" Flora had asked.

He hesitated. "It's…it's hard to describe her. I can safely say for certain that she was in love with the sea as much as you are. They both did…"

There was a moment of silence before Flora asked the final, dreaded question. "What-what happened to them?"

"They were lost at sea," Albert said rather quickly. "I…truth be told I don't know if they are dead or alive, but the last time they were at sea, they were never seen or heard from again. That much I know."

Lost at sea… Flora opened her locket, and closed her eyes as the sweet, haunting melody she listened to since she was a baby wove through her ears. She focused on the melody, drowning out the sounds of the world around her until she only heard the song, the tide, and the wind.

The churning waves began to ease, and a gentle breeze caressed her face. The feeling within that connected her to the sea began to rise as though freed from a locked cell, and reached out toward the open ocean.

"Why do I feel a presence every time I hear this melody, then?" She asked herself. "Why do I feel it every time I am near the sea…? Is it them? Is it my family out there? Waiting for me to come find them...?"

Further down the shore, the crab called Stephen pinched its claws, watching over the child of the sea with its strange, gray-blue eyes….

I kind of rushed this one, so forgive me if it's sloppy. I'll probably come back and edit it once I am in the mood. Anyway, Flora's debut! Most versions I've seen of Davy Jones's child take after Calypso (completely understandable), but I've always imagined Flora taking more after her father in more ways than one. However, she did inherit her mother's hair color, smaller size, her connection to the sea, and a few other traits to be seen in the future. Also, keep an eye on that crab. You've probably guessed on who it is by now.