Master of my fate - The Governors daughter Sequel

Chapter 14

The world was spinning, the oxygen gone, sucked into the black hole that was threatening her whole existence. Panic gripped her from the inside out, her heart racing so fast she feared it would break her ribs. Her vision blurred; her breath caught in her throat. It couldn't be. It could not be him. It was the alcohol, the lack of sleep, the stress from the oncoming journey. There was no reason for Belmore to be here, in this bar, in this port, in this bloody country. Yet, as she studied him again, her faced hidden the best she could, there was no doubt. Nora could feel his phantom hands on her from those years ago. Feel the rotten smell of him, poisoning the air around her. Belmore was here. In the flesh. Memories kept flashing by, etched to her mind, a silent torture as she stared at the pirate. Nora knew what it meant. If Belmore was here, too close, it meant that he was here too. Somewhere. She almost threw up by the mere thought. A pair of icy blue eyes haunted her memory, the sultry voice of Captain James Haddock in her ear, from her time aboard the Gisela. The night of the storm, his kindness, and soft features when he'd slept. The way he'd danced with her on deck, their almost kiss at the rear. The bruises he'd left on her after days of being bound. The imminent threat of death, every second of every day. The coy smile that always played on his lips, but never reached his eyes. Those eyes who always promised death, even in his most gentle moments. It had been five years since she'd last seen James Haddock, yet his face appeared clear as day in her head.

Thankfully, it did not appear inside the pub. Not yet at least. It took Nora everything she had, every ounce of strength, to get her legs moving. With her head down, her auburn hair a veil around her, she headed for her crew.

"We're leaving." Her voice was low and hissing, afraid that even a single breath would lead Belmore to recognize her.

"What?" Kasper asked, brows high. "We have only found one sailor. The night is still young."

"We. Are. Leaving." She spit every word out as if it tasted foul. It was not up for discussion. Something Kasper seemed to realize as he studied her face. The lack of color, the staring eyes, the fear that radiated of her with each breath.

"Alright." Kasper nodded at the crew. "Let's go, gents." Irritated murmurs traveled across the table, yet no one dared to disobey. Gulping down the last of their glasses, they all got up to leave. Jonathan was quick on his feet, beside her in a heartbeat, the worry on his face as strong as her fear.

"What is going on?" Nora tried to speak, to tell him. But words failed her. To even utter it aloud would be too dangerous, make it too real.

"We need to leave." She gave no further explanation, only orders. Orders to pack up everything, to buy as much supply as they could before dawn. They would sail at first light, unnoticed in the first rays of sun. Jonathan followed her up the stairs, silent, eyes pierced at her back. Her hands tremored as she threw papers and clothes into bags. With her breath hollow, the air reaching her lungs, but the sweet release of breath never came. Her chest rose and sank, yet her body screamed that she could not breathe. Blood left her face, the feeling in her legs disappearing as her body tried to fight what ever danger was around.

"Nora", Jonathan said calmly, a steady on her shoulder. "Please talk to me." The floorboards underneath her feet seemed to dissolve, her knees shaking as they ought to keep her standing.

"I-"she began, dragging down a ragged breath. "I- ". She couldn't continue her sentence. Fear raked through her. Despite the room being quiet, voices boomed in her ears. The laugh of a crew that wasn't hers, the roar from a Captain who fed of fear and respect. Various nicknames that had hidden her true identity; Puppet, Love, Ginny, Guinevere.

"Nora", Jonathan demanded, his grip stronger this time, forcing her to face him. "What the hell is going on?" Shaking, she met his gaze, tried to form the words, to utter them. Tears blurred her vision. Nora hated to cry, yet she could not stop the salty droplets from rolling down her cheeks.

"They're here."

Nora had expected to have to explain more, give some context to her behavior. Yet, as she spoke, Jonathan froze. He studied her face, her shaking frame, and understood. He knew what would lure these feelings to the surface. He'd been there. He knew. Without another word, he threw the rest of the things they'd unpacked earlier, into a vacant bag. With her hand in a tight grip, he dragged them downstairs, keeping well away from the pub. Determination shone on his face, his brows low, casting a dark shadow over those warm eyes of his. Though as Nora glanced at him, the usual golden simmer had vanished, replaced by coal. She'd never seen him like this. The man who dragged her towards their ship was not the Jonathan who'd made her scream his name earlier, who'd looked at her like she was the whole universe. No, this was a soldier, the man who'd served in the Kings navy, who'd fought in battle.

The Lady in Red was filled with commotion. Supplies were carried onboard hastily under the screaming orders of Kasper and Dorian. The lanterns that served as their only source of light casted shadows down the docks, the ship barely visible against the dark sea beyond. Nora hated it. That she forced them to run. That she wasn't strong enough to fight, to do what was best for her crew. To do what a Captain should. Instead, she was immobilized, panic still gripping her tightly, Jonathan being the only anchor to sanity. She said nothing, couldn't utter a single syllable as they boarded, the steady planks of her ship a silent comfort, as if the Lady in Red knew that Nora needed it. Jonathan dumped the bags in her arms and grabbed Kasper. They spoke quietly to each other, their heads close together in the dark. Nora did not need the hear them to know what they said. As soon as their conversation stopped, Jonathan stalked towards her whilst Kasper bellowed out on deck.

"Alright the lot of you, it's time to show your Captain just how much to deserve a place aboard this ship." The booming voice of Kasper echoed through the docks, reminding everyone why Kasper had been Murray's most trusted man. The authority gleamed around him; a halo of power that made any man in sight hurry his step.

"You know what", Jonathan muttered between gritted teeth. "I might like Kasper a bit more now." In any other situation, Nora would have rolled her eyes, annoyed with the silly rivalry that had been edged between them since the start. Now, all she could do was nod. The bags lay scattered on the floor of her cabin. Not a single candle was lit, the ship needed to be as dark as possible, to draw less attention. The commotion at the docks drew enough already. Her fingers shook as she opened a cabinet, revealing her collection of weapons. Pistols, rifles, swords, and knives hung neatly within the doors. Nora took them all. She changed out of her clothes, reaching for the gear she'd bought specifically for this moment. It was mostly in leather, dark against her fair skin as she put it on. It had been worn so many times it had formed itself around her body. Murray had trained her in every way he knew, letting her regain power over herself by knowing that she'd never be helpless again. Never a damsel in distress. For five years, she'd made sure to learn as much as she could, as she somewhere in the back of her mind had known that there was a possibility of her encountering the Gisela again. And this time, she would not await her death in the hands of its Captain. No, she would fight. Fight until her last breath. Fight for her ship, for her crew, for her freedom.