Waves of Ruin

Chapter 1

I was walking down uneven cobble stone streets, exactly where I knew I shouldn't be. If my parents knew that I was here they would whisk me away and tell me never to come back, but alas they are not here, just me. The street was lined with people going to work, it was just passed sunrise when I slipped out of my house. Normally I never stay at home, I am usually on my ship, but father asked me home a week ago and I obeyed.

He has yet to tell me why he summoned me, but its not unusual that he calls and makes me leave my crew. He is unapproving of my life on the sea, but it has drawn me in since I was little, the only thing that truly makes me happy. Happiness is rare here, most people just do what they can to survive and live to the next day.

I finally arrive at my destination, I walk inside to see only a few people sitting at tables and at the bar. There seems to only be one person working today but she's exactly who I am looking for. Walking right up to her I slap my hands down on the table "Well well well, fancy seeing you here."

She looks up and screams "Oh my, what in ten hells are you doing here!" Running around the counter to envelope me into a warm embrace. "Last I heard you were sailing away on your fancy ship."

"I was, and its not that fancy, but my father decided that I should come home for a visit." I say with less enthusiasm than I should have.

"Oh, and how are they?" She asks.

I try not to show my distaste for them in my expression, but she notices anyway. "They are the same as always, wishing I could be the daughter they always wanted. A little less pirate and a little more lady."

"Oh you know that's not completely true, they love you, even if they don't know how to show it." She says but we both know that's not true.

I decide to change the subject "I am hoping to only be in town for a couple more days, but you should come and have dinner with us?"

She looks to her hands, facial expression changing to a sad smile. "I'm not sure that's a good idea, you know how they feel about me."

I do, but I want her to come anyway, if only to ease the awkwardness I feel when I am alone with them. "They wouldn't turn you away, I mean if anything they should be happier to see you than me, at least you didn't run away to the sea." I try to cheer her up.

She laughs, but its hollow. "I will think about it, but I should get back to work." She turns to walk back around the counter when she stops, runing up and hugging me again. "I've missed you."

"You too Jaylyn." I say, and its true, she is one of the only things here I truly miss.

I leave the tavern the same way I came, the sun has fully rose and I know I should get back before my parents notice I am gone, but the pull to walk the long way by the bay calls to me. I head through an ally way and am on the far side of the buildings. I know my way around this place better than my own house.

Im finally at the bay and it immediately calms me. I know im not on the water, but even bing this close soothes me in a way I don't think anything else could. The waters salty smell drifts into my nose and into my hair, I know the red curls will start to frizz and I couldn't be happier. I see all the sailers already out of the bay looking for more catch, envying how lucky they are to be free on the water, no one telling them it isn't right.

Im nearing the end of the bay where all the ships are lined up when I spot mine, the beautiful raja. With her sails tied up, dark wood stained with the evidence of use, and my crew working to keep her in running order. I am tempted to visit the ship, but I know that if I do that, I will never leave. So instead I head back into the crowd and back to my parents estate.

I enter the walk way that leads to the large wooden door, my clothes now damp with the drizzling rain. I think about going in the back, safer to not be noticed but if I am caught than it will be obvious I was being sneaky, better to just act like I was out for a walk. I go to knock on the front door when it swings open. Natia is standing in the entry way with the door held open.

"Come on in sweets, your parents are waiting for ye in the study." She's says, sympathy in her voice.

"Thank you." I say. I can't imagine why they would call me in, they usually ignore me until dinner and even then it's light conversation curated by my mother. I walk through the foyer and past the dinning room, the study doors are closed. Odd. I open them and I see father sitting at his desk and mother firmly sitting on the only couch in the room. I close the doors behind me and go and sit in the other chair opposite my father.

"Hello darling." My mother says. She isn't looking at me though. Instead she looks down at her shoes, apparently something on them is much more interesting then me.

Before I can answer my father starts to speak, "I see you were walking by the water."

No question in his voice, so I decide not to answer. Keeping eye contact with him I say, "Is there a reason you wanted me, or was it just to comment on my whereabouts?"

"I heard you were seen by the tavern, but you, dear daughter, wouldn't have gone inside that decrepit establishment now would you." He asks, and again there is no question in his eyes.

"Is this what you wanted me about?"

He straightens up even more, though I didn't think it possible. "No, but you are not answering my questions."

Tried of this game I come clean "I was visiting Jaylyn."

Mother looks up at this, but doesn't say anything. Father doesn't look surprised by this at all, like he knew exactly where I went and just wanted me to admit it.

"Why do you visit that girl. She is such a disappointment." He says shaking his head.

I stand up calming, "You used to love her, always wanting me to invite her over, asking her parents over for dinner, telling me I should be more like her. What happened to that." I stay placid, not letting my anger show.

"I was mistaken back then, she used to be a good girl, until she became a tavern whore."

That was it. "Why did you ask me here?" I say, seething now.

He looks at me, unfazed by my anger. "You always were so protective of her, wishing she had been the little sister you never had. Pity how things turned out. Almost considered her to marry your brother, thank heavens she showed her true colors before we made it finale."

I remember that, I think that they wanted it just as much as my parents. Always passing notes to each other in school, making eye contact whenever they could. Then, when we were 15 my brother started to like another girl. This was hard on Jaylyn, she started to hang with the wrong crowd. I had no idea until it was too late, I'd been on a ship, trying to learn all I could to someday own my own. My dreams came true, but hers never did.

"Anyway, enough reminiscing of old times hopefully to be forgotten, me and your mother have something to tell you." Still my mother looked at me, something like sorrow in her eyes. For what was about to happen or the mention of Jay and my brother I don't know. "We have decide that because you are now 19 and show no sign of giving up this silly fantasy of being a pirate, we will not continue to loan you the Raja. I am taking it back and giving it to the rest go my workers to use for shipments."

I stood there, unable to move. He was talking away my only happiness, my only real joy in this life. What will the rest of my crew do without me, they will have to find another crew so soon after pledging their loyalty to me, especially after everything they gave up to do that, what they have to go through for having a girl captain. Finally, I regain my words. "You can't, I have put in everything I have to that ship and so have the people who work on it!" I am angry now, more than I have been in a long time.

"Oh I can, and I am." He says to me, with just as much power in those words as he holds in his entire muscled body. I am about to say something when he says, "However, there is one exception, you may keep your ship and never have to worry about anyone taking it from you."

I look at him with skepticism, this sounds too good to be true. I shouldn't want to know, shouldn't ask anything from him, but I am curious and it is clear he is waiting for me to ask before he tells me. "And what is that?" I demand.

"All you have to do is pay me what the ship is worth." He grins. "50,000 Ze."