Reign Of Gold

Chapter 3

I needed to be smart. Mascow or should I say Elias was more than your typical pirate. He had a knack for knowing things. I moved slow, making sure no noise followed my steps. I moved the handle downwards to open,ensuring there was not one noise that would give me away.

The steps gave me flashbacks from when I rescued Griffin just days before. I remembered how easily the steps creaked with each step. I paused at the foot of the steps. Then decided to use the railing as leverage. I leaned onto the railing making sure not to put to much weight down.

Once I made it through and up the stairs, sunlight washed over my face. My eyes burned until they adjusted. I used my right hand as a shield against the light. Reality struck me as the gunshots fizzled out. I glanced left and right; the ship was anchored in the middle of the ocean.

Birds called to one another, taking flight towards the waters. Whatever was happening must've been taking place near the front of the ship. I hadn't thought this through. Barging through that door, without a weapon and no knowledge of where I was by far my biggest regret.

I stood at the top of the stairs indecisive. I can't just go fight everyone and hope I win, who knew how many men were out there. On top of it Mascow was beyond what I'd consider talented.

I chewed on my bottom lip, a nervous habit of mine. I backed away from the door and turned. Right as I reached the first step, I felt a tug at my back. Someone grabbed my shirt from behind, covering my mouth. The hand was smeared heavy with dirt. I squirmed to break free from the man's grasp, but it was of no use.

"Such a beautiful damsel, way too beautiful to be covered in her own filth." The warmth of his breath brushed my ear. The smell of rum and decay made my skin crawl. His voice was ragged as he spoke, careful to whisper. "I think you'll look better on my ship."

My feet slid across the wood as he walked backwards with me. I felt dizzy from the lack of oxygen this man wasn't allowing me. Weak from lack of proper food, my failed attempts of escaping clawed at me. My arms felt feeble and my knees gave out on me.

A small whimper escaped my lips before my vision began to blur. Within moments I felt the man lift me into his arms and from there, darkness and sleep succumbed me. 

The sound of birds chirping and the lull of waves woke me. The smell of sea salt and fish reminded me that I was still on a ship. I blinked away at the sun and searched my surroundings. Rope ate at my skin, my body sealed tight to a post.

"She's awake captain." A man wearing rags as clothes, holding a mop in his hand called out.

"Where am I?" The demand in my voice sharp. The ship was nothing like Mascows, the floorboards were worn down, one step away from breaking. From what I could tell there was no reason for that man to even hold a mop to these grounds.

"Aye, she is awake." I darted to the voice recalling a dirty hand over my mouth. Great, I managed to jump from one captor to the other. "Ye missed a spot lad."

The man quickly hustled over to mop an unrelenting stain on the floor.

"You're on my ship now, I am captain Tully." He flashed me a set of yellow teeth, missing pieces here and there. I cringed just looking at him. He removed his hat and placed it on his chest with a bow. He bent down, though his eyes remained piercing mine.

"Okay, why am I here then?" My body ached from the ropes and I wanted nothing more than to escape them. I scratched and tugged at my wrists, wishing nothing more than to break free. I would swim across the ocean if I need to at this point.

"I want you to be lady of my ship." His smiled turned up into something evil.

"And if I refuse?" I had no intentions of being anyone's lady, let alone a pirates with yellow teeth and a balding head.

"If you refuse...Oh I don't think ye will." The man had a precise limp as he made his way closer to me. His dirty hand reached for my chin and held it in place.

" I refuse to be lady of anyone, captain Tully is it?" I spit on his face and tugged my chin away from his filthy hand.

Tully grabbed a handkerchief soiled in dirt already and wiped away at his face. "I think you will find you have no say in the matter. If ye wish to live and before you consider spitting on me again, will ye know I don't mind cutting that tongue of yours off."

His words were full of malice. I watched the man mop more in the background. The captain stared at me and then spit back in my face before walking off. I gagged and tried fighting the rope. I've never felt so useless.

A door slammed in the distance and I called to the man mopping. "What's your name sir?" The man glanced up to me but took a moment to respond.

"I'm not supposed to speak to ye, my apologies." He dipped the mop in a bucket full of dark matter.

"He will not know, it is just us outside." I tried to convince him and gave up. He pretended I was not there.

He continued mopping and without looking up to me he said "Jonathan." I nodded my head.

"My names Ale." The mopping stopped and then continued. ''Can you please help me Jonathan, if you untie this rope, I can assure you no harm will come to you." Water splashed onto the ship, signs the waves were rolling, even worse it was a sure sign of a storm.

"Miss, as much as it would be my pleasure to help you, I do care for my life." This time he used the water from the waves to polish off a spot on the deck. "I am terribly sorry, Tully is a bad man miss." I cocked my head a bit noting the way his cheek bones protruded and his skin was as pale as a full moon. The underside of his eyes happened to be purple and his eyes almost appeared black. This man looked almost dead.

"I know you must fear him, as I do not blame you, but this man will end up killing us both and you know it. At least If you free me, we can work together and get off this god awful ship." I tried to be convincing, I half believed what I said, this man may not know how to fight.

He stopped cleaning and looked me dead in my eyes. "The curse is only unbreakable by few miss and the ones who can break the curse hold a name extinct by now. Now If you'll excuse me, I have more to clean." He sauntered off with the mop and bucket and I huffed in frustration.

I felt death loom over me, as clouds rolled in and rain splattered my face. I didn't know what was worse, this man holding me captive or Moscow. Both would kill me one way or another, but at least Mascow wasn't as aggressive. 

I looked up at the grey sky, admiring the way lightning struck through and hoped more than anything I found a way out, not just of this mess, but of all of it.