Reign Of Gold

Chapter 2

I was brought to the same damp cell my brother was in just the day before. Chains hung from my wrists, keeping me from escaping. I huddled into a corner and refused to let a single tear fall.

I hadn't even perked up when I heard foot steps. By how sick I was, we had to of set sail. Whatever hope I had of my brother finding me vanished. I would vomit as the ship bobbed. The smell would only intensify the urge to puke.

"Ale is it?" The voice was familiar, definitely the captains. I kept my head down and rested ontop of my dirty knees. Looking up wouldn't have mattered, this room was pitch black, never a light in sight.

" Ale is what my family calls me, for you I prefer to be called nothing." My voice was muffled from how I was sitting. I didn't care to make myself clear, I wanted to go back home.

I was worried about what Griffin was already stupidly assembling to get me back. He was smart, but he was also foolish.

" Alright nothing, I'm not offended after all I am your captor. I'll just call you my lady." What sounded like a match scratched somewhere in the distance. I decided to look up. A lantern was held out in front of Mascow's face.

A smirk danced around on his lips and I wanted to slap him. If I wasn't chained I'd probably slice his neck. The light danced on his face as he leaned closer to me. Eye to eye now he handed me the lantern. " Dinner will be down soon. I shall leave this here. We will discuss your place tomorrow."

A laughed made its way out. Was he serious? My place? I watched as he started to stand. I noticed the one ruby ring glisten as light bounced off of it. He wore a loose white shirt with strings attached at the chest. Leather black pants stuck to his obvious toned legs.

" Like what you see my lady?" The smirk he always wore made my stomach flutter. I quickly disregarded that feeling. This man was no man. He was a pirate. A dirty thief with no regard for anyone other than himself.

I sat silent, moving my chains around. " When will you take these off?" I held my wrists out to him.

" You're a threat, therefore more than likely never. " his teeth were straight and white, highly unusual for a pirate.

I rolled my eyes and leaned against the hard wall. Wet stone brushed my cheek, tricking myself to believe it was water,I closed my eyes. For a moment I pictured my fathers ship, the way the waves hit the underside unwilling to break or bend in any storm.

" is Ale your actual name or a nick name?" He stood there now, arms crossed, his dark eyebrows knitted together in confusion.

"Alessia. My name is Alessia Hughes. Is Mascow your actual name sir?" I looked over to him as he was no longer tense.

"Elias my lady. I suppose it doesn't matter you know considering you'll be dead soon enough." He cocked an eyebrow as he turned his back after those parting words, ready to walk away.

" You promised my brother if he paid his debt I'd be returned to him." My heart beat hard in my chest. I thought I was a slave. Pirates were many things, this I knew, but when it came to bargains and trades it's where they typically didn't fail.

"Your brother will pay off his debt, by freeing me of mine." His voice trailed off into the dimness of the room. Voices came and went from above my head. He did not turn to explain himself.

I heard the click of the door close and footsteps fade away. It was hours before food came and when it did I found it useless to eat.

The sound of drunken men and giggling woman went on long enough that I had no concept of the time. I stretched out feeling my stomach growl. A plate of bread and cheese sat still in front of me, followed by a glass of red wine. I laughed to myself, wine of all things. After the last few days, I could use an entire bottle.

I picked at the food eventually and whipped the plate at the wall when I was finished. Anger wasn't my only emotion. My brother should have known better. He watched our father win and lose, wreck and build our lives over and over.

A gun startled me as a shot sounded. A small light appeared above my head. Did that just come from above me? I stood up, backing into the farthest corner of the wall. What the hell was going on? Shouts were muffled and full of fury above me. The tiny sliver of light was covered and then uncovered as though someone's foot stepped over it.

More aimless shots went off and started too pull at the chains. There was no way in hell I'd let myself die like this. I pulled to the point where my wrists ached and turned a deep shade of red. I tried pulling the chain from the wall and it didn't budge. Shouts and screams picked up above me, along with the sound of people running.

I searched the ground for a rock and when I came up short I felt tears sting my eyes. I was going to die in a rat and shit infested cage. I knew it. I looked around once more, then felt around the ground for anything sharp to take off the chains.

An object brittle yet strong came into my hands. I felt around until I realized what it was. One side was sharp from being broken and the other side was smooth and lumped at the end. It was a bone. I threw the image in the back of my mind as I fumbled with the lock. After minutes and more loose shots, I finally freed myself and afterwards I rushed for the stubborn door.

I wanted to give up, but knew that wasn't the option here. I attempted at using the same bone and when it worked cold air brushed my face and so did relief.