Prologue

A man with golden brown hair and hazel brown eyes stared back at the menacing eyes of the dark haired Pirate King. Merrick's sword was heavy in his hand. Deep cuts bleed along his arm and leg. With one last charge left in him Merrick stood and ran at his enemy. In a flash, he pulled a flint lock pistol and aimed it at him heart. Merrick Maestas stumbled, and fell to his knees. He touched the wound, and blinked in shock. He placed his hand in his coat pocket, a small pressed flower inside a folded piece of paper from his daughter. Merrick tried to think of days when he was surrounded by loyal pirates, friends, and family. The image of his wife's bright brown eyes and radiant smile. Would she ever know the truth? Now at this moment all that was left was to pray. He prayed his words would find her. Many hands gathered him up and tossed him into the sea.

Chapter 1: Life Goes On

…several months later…

Captain Michelle Maestas had learned two things in the last eight years on the Unknown, always have an escape plan and always be ready for a fight. Seven years had been filled with adventure, happy marriage and a beautiful baby girl. It had ended abruptly when she received word the ship her husband was on had been lost at sea. Search parties had come up with no evidence of a wreckage and declared a foul storm destroyed the vessel. This past month without Merrick had been hard but she had survived in her own way, always hoping he'd find his way home to her. She was no longer the adventurous twenty something she was when she snuck aboard a navy ship in search of pirates. At thirty-two it was always better to be smarter than impulsive. She had always been book smart, but something about living one adventure to the next had made more confident in her other abilities. She had become confident even in the skills required to lead the crew. Without Merrick they had stayed and become her crew. She could still see him everywhere on the ship. He would have been standing beside the helm, with a mischievous glint in his eyes. He would have been proud she had master navigating, managing the ship and being at the helm. The thoughts of, if only, blew past her as winds slowed and the sun rose high in the sky. She was sporting her new red hat with a long blue feather on top of her loose long hair. Days sailing in the sun had made it more red than brown. These days a loose long sleeve shirt and a wide red leather belt replaced corsets, black pants and brown knee high boots completed the look.

A young brown eyed girl with golden brown hair laid in a braid down her back in loose brown pants and white shirt approached," The cargo is secured captain, and ready for delivery!"

Michelle smiled," Thank you, sailor, now down below with O'Grandy please."

Little Diana's face fell into disappointment," … But Mama, please?"

She couldn't help but smile at her child, "I promise if there is a sword fight to tell you all about it at dinner." With that Michelle turned her firm motherly gaze toward her daughter, watching as she made her way toward the galley. O'Grandy, a red headed Irish man, waved to her as the child started to walk down the steps. Michelle had learned it was best to make sure she was with someone who had a quick eye. Diana Marie Maestas often ran away from her sitters; more so in the last six months. Gabriel, once a golden haired cabin boy was now eighteen years old and had turned into a skilled sailor and quartermaster, from up high, he called, that land was in sight. Michelle prepared her crew to set anchor and readied the plank.

Michelle walked onto the shore with Gabriel and Worley; who rolled out two barrels of rum. A priceless commodity since local pirates no longer used it under the new leadership. Those same pirates, now privateers who were agents under the King, prevented them from being arrested and their property taken. A disappointing turn of events for these particular officers, who enjoyed a free beverage. This outpost was established to keep an eye on the border between Spanish and English colonies. Calloway and his men enjoyed irritating anyone. He never failed to attempt to get under her skin while delivering goods. Business was business though, and she needed it. The man himself, barely fit into his navy uniform, with a receding hair line and smug expression, it gave him the look of an overweight snake. The two men with him remained silent but looked impatient for the barrels.

"Our lovely female Captain has arrived I see, a vison as always. Perhaps more exciting is the sight of our monthly supplies a few hours late. A reduction in price might be in order for the delay."

Michelle responded without hesitation, "It's here as agreed, Calloway." He mumbled of course before tossing the bag of gold coins. She weighed the bag in her hand before tossing the bag to one of her new female crew members. She was twenty years old, a fierce looking short haired strawberry blonde with green eyes. The long scar under her right eye was the only thing that made her look different than her twin sister beside her. Who flashed eight fingers in the air.

Michelle turned to Calloway," The deal was for one hundred gold coins and now the price just went up to one hundred and fifty because I don't like to ask twice." She saw him clumsily pull his pistol. In one step she grabbed the weapon, aiming it toward a nearby hill, while throwing the flat palm of her other hand at his nose. She pivoting on the spot, never letting go of the pistol, to stomp on his foot with heel of her boot. She then forced the pistol out of his hand, as he reacted from the pain. She faced him again she grabbed his shirt collar so it uncomfortably wrapped around his neck with one hand and the other pulled the dagger from her belt placing it, close to his throat. His nose was starting to swell. Michelle's voice changed to a threatening tone,

"Now its two hundred, do not test me Calloway." She, distantly, heard the sound of his men fall. Gabriel threw a right hook and disarmed one of the other men while Worley forced the other man on the ground easily.

He pulled another bag out of his pocket," two hundred gold pieces! no harm done!" One of the twins counted the bag and nodded. They left, never letting Calloway or his men out of her sight.

As the plank was pulled in Michelle called out to him, "Pleasure doing business."

The trip back to Port Royale was easy, before long Diana requested that the French twins, Constance and Jacqueline, reenact the fight for her. Ever the entertainers, They had been out of work circus performers before they had helped Michelle hide from the Brethren of the coast. Impressed by their sword skills, acrobatics, and flare for theatrics she asked them to join her crew. Worley stopped beside Michelle at the helm; who had traded her pants for a plain brown skirt as she usually did visiting home. Worley, the first mate approached with a serious look, he was the oldest of the crew, but still managed to look intimidating with his strong build. Age appeared to only in the gray mixed with auburn hair at his temple and in his beard.

"Merrick wouldn't want you to be getting into so many unnecessary fights, captain. Even if we are smuggling goods." Michelle gave him a stony look; She'd heard it many times these last two weeks. What was she supposed to do? She had to do something, or her grief would consume her. She couldn't let that happen, she had her daughter to think of. Worley lifted him hands in surrender, before changing the subject. "besides just once I'd like us to have the price settled before we smuggle the goods." Worley grumbled. Michelle heard the truth in his words. She admitted it she was looking for fights, but she didn't know how else to cope. Some distant hope was that she'd find him at sea waiting for her. She tied her hair back into a bun before responding.

"I know, Worley. And We did settle on a price. I just used the opportunity to up the price. We are due for a supply run for the crew. Pass around the coin for the crew, then O'Grandy will know what to do with the rest. Then take the night off. The twins have guard duty tonight. I need to deliver these Spanish fabrics to my mother's shop.," Searching for her daughter on the deck she added, "We are heading shore, Diana!"

As the ship docked Worley responded quietly, "Aye Aye Captain." Piracy had changed since the Brethren of the Coast had taken over. It had become openly accepted as long as you were with the Brethren. And with the Brethren came unprecedented requirements and rules, all others had been forced to cease all activity. One of the first rules had been no female pirates, so Michelle had turned to cargo delivery and smuggling. She had started living a double life, stopped going by Mich and convinced the town she had transitioned to a shop assistant lived a simple life, while earning money. Merrick had taught her all she needed to know and she transitioned into Captain easily. But on days like today she played the role of mother and shop assistant. Diana was pouting on the side of the deck. The seven-year-old looked very grumpy about being in a dress. Michelle promised she could change into play clothes later when Aunt Isz and Uncle Jack visited. She brightened at that. Michelle knew she'd have to face her grief some time, she refused to acknowledge it today.