I continued to walk along on the grains of warm sand, trying to think of a way to tell my mother. She never liked that I worked at the Tavern, but I needed a way to make money in a more 'normal' way, since I felt I could never have her knack for potion making. I was only good, and only interested by, transformation and behavior spells an potions, though I had a rule to only use them on people who wanted them or use them on complete jerks, only temporary though, to knock them off their high horse.
I sighed in frustration an turned towards our small house. As I walked closer I was greeted my Fuzzy, our family milk goat, with her baby wobbling at her side and I couldn't stop a small smile. I always loved each animal we had and never argued about taking care of them. I patted her head and continued onward. When I stood at the door I was greeted by the strong smell of herbs and spices as I knocked on the door.
I entered the small cabin, my eyes quickly searching for Mother. I saw her at the dark stained counter mixing a potion I could not name. I smiled an said, "Hey Mom, back from work,' as I walked towards my room to change out of the terrible dress I had to wear.
She looked over her shoulder when i returned wearing a old black blouse an old tattered breeches. She smiled as she added snails to the concoction, "Yer home early, business slow at the Slippery Tavern." I shrugged an answered," 'The Man' thought I should leave and work somewhere else since I was no good with charming and pleasing the sailor customers." She turned towards me, leaving her potion on the counter, and sat on the opposite of me at the table. "So the sailors got upset when you wouldn't get in bed with you and she fired you because of it," she said more as a statement than a question. I nodded sighing as I looked at my feet.
Silence filled filled the room. Eventually she sighed an muttered under her breathe, "You've grown so much," My eye brows raised at this, but I remained quiet. She raised her gaze, looking into my eyes and said, "Do you remember the story about me and your father?" I nodded and answered bleakly, "Only what you have told me. That you met him at a festival here at Tortuga and fell in love. Had me and a few months later he left." I hated my father ever since I was told he left us and never planned to return.
She nodded, "I haven't told you all of it though, have I?" I only raised an eyebrow, I knew there possibly more to their story then what she told me, but to me, he left us. End of story.
She leaned backwards in her chair eyes gazing at the window, but she seemed to be looking somewhere beyond that. "I met your father on Tortuga, about 6 months after running from my mother and younger twin sister, because I couldn't fight my sister even though she challenged me. He was drunk and had recently been in a bar fight. He passed out after trying to flirt with me, which only came out in a bunch of slurs. I carried/dragged him into a old abandoned shake that I had found near the beach. After he woke, I gave him some of my healing elixir for his broken nose and cracked rib. He thanked me and went off. I met him again on a ship I joined, well a pirate ship really. He was the captain's right hand man, but he didn't reveal to the crew that I was actually a girl, he saw through my disguise." She stopped again, I could tell she was hiding a few things but I didn't question her.
"Any way, eventually, after earning the crew's trust, I revealed that I was indeed a female. They were shocked, but after some discussion, I talked them into allowing me to stay on the ship, since I had saved some of the crew during a battle or two." She smirked at her memory which caused me to smile. "We sailed on and on, until one day we were trapped by wierd creatures. We were surrounded by ugly sea nymphs, which were people like fish which could tear apart even the best built ship. Your father, who was now a captain, was trying to protect us. I was pregnant at the time, and he faught them off as best he could. One of the nymphs snuck in through the lower decks and had found me. She saw how frightened I was, then noticed my swollen belly. Something flashed in her eyes, sympathy or jelousy maybe. She came forward slowly and said in a beautiful high voice, 'We won't harm your babe or you, if you promise me one thing,' I could only nod, since I was so frightened, she then shrieked an jumped out. I later learned that they placed a curse on the crew, but gave us a chance to leave. Your father said to heed their warning and leave to keep us both safe. I did, but sometimes I regret it. After you were born, almost 1 month later, I knew it would be safest here." I raised my eye brows at her definition of safe being Tortuga.
Eventually she sighed and reached into her pocket. She pulled out a strange wood medalian, carved into the shape of a skull wearing a black with gray patterns bandana, almost exactly matching the pattern of grey stars on my black bandana I have had since my 18th birthday. In the skull's eye sockets each held a jewel, one red and the other blue. "I was given this from your father when he asked me to be his an his alone. He told me it belonged to his great grand father." She sighed, looking much older then she had a few seconds ago.
"I want you to have it, it will help you when all seems helpless," she said as she placed it into the palm of my hand. I looked at it, I now noticed the delicate designs etched into the wood near the eyes. "How will this help me?" I asked. She looked away sadly, "you have to leave, they will be starting to look for you soon now that you are 20. I believe they want you to become one of them." I stated at her in disbelief, how could any of this be true. Yes I loved the ocean but what the hell?
~~~~~
Sorry it took so long, had a busy end of school year, summer, life etc, you know. Jack will probably enter the next chapter or 2.
