Revenge So Sweet

Distressed

Pierre embraced Rani once more as she and Danielle said their goodbyes.
"Are you positive you would not wish to stay for one more night Esperanza.  The storm"—
Rani cut Pierre off.
"We'll be fine.  And I will see you both again soon."  She said to the elder man and Hugo.  "It will be an honor to have you with us aboard the ship Pierre."
Rani believed that there was a need for Pierre.  She convinced the man to come out of retirement and join her.  At first he resisted for the same reasons he had not joined her to begin with.  He thought that if Gonzalo saw Pierre, he might make the connection and Rani's true identity would be discovered.  But Rani persisted and finally Pierre agreed.
"We will meet you in a sennight, my captain." Hugo said grasping Rani's forearm in a shake.
Hugo would be staying back with his father for a few more days, and then the both of them would find their way to Port Royal.  They were separating in hopes of widening the search for clues on the whereabouts of Blackheart, eventually they would reunite again to devise their next course.
"I will see you then brother."
And with that Rani pushed the little boat out into the deep.  She stretched her arm trying to loosen the stiffness in her injured shoulder and then began.  Danielle had offered to row but Rani had stubbornly insisted.  She also added, to Danielle's dismay, that she did not wish to be rowed in circles for hours.  Hugo and Pierre had found this very amusing.
She rowed hard, as the water became more choppy the farther and deeper out they went.  The storm appeared to be in a far enough distance that Rani could get them back on to the Venganza where they would shelter until the storm passed.
The clouds overhead rolled across the blue sky covering the sun in it's path.  It cast a dark shadow across the ocean that surrounded them, reflecting below as it was above.  The waves churned but not so violently, they were still able to move at a slow but steady pace.
"We're almost there Danielle."  Rani said, perspiration glistening off of her forehead.
Danielle's heart skipped a beat as she imagined licking the beads off of her head.  She was anxious to board the Venganza and get Rani alone.  Her mouth watered whenever she looked too long at Rani's full lips.
Rani had donned a black jacket over her white shirt.  She was back to looking every bit the pirate captain that Danielle had first seen when she awoke in this time.  Danielle licked her lips.  Rani was entirely woman, she was anxious to see more of her body as thoughts of her bare chest came to mind.  When they got to Rani's quarters, Danielle planned to make it her turn to discover Rani's body.  She cleared her throat.
"At least it's not raining."  Danielle remarked, trying to be positively.
And then a big fat wet raindrop splashed directly on her nose causing her to wince back in surprise.  It was followed by a downpour on top of them.  Rani laughed so hard she had to pause in her rowing.  Danielle's hair which she had put up into a bun was now heavy from the water.  The bun now drooped to the side of her head.  She just stared blankly at Rani who continued to laugh at her.  She couldn't help herself any longer, she started to laugh along with her.  Rani's hair which had been left loose around her shoulders now matted, framing her face.  She reached up and ran her fingers through her hair combing the hair back until it was out of her face and ears.  Danielle watched in fascination thinking how beautiful this woman was and why she had ever thought Rani a man.  The woman was absolutely gorgeous.
The rain felt good.  Danielle leaned her head back and closed her eyes allowing the rain to fall on to her face and stream down.  Rani stared at her in awe.
"I love you."
Danielle froze.  She straightened her head and looked at Rani.
Rani was looking back at her, a look of absolute seriousness on her face.
Danielle just stared back in shock.  Rani was admitting that she loved her.
"I love you too."  She admitted in return.  And with that they both simultaneously rushed into each others arms sharing a passionate kiss.  The kiss held a silent vow of promise for a future together.  Danielle no longer felt so alone in the world.  Rani had filled the empty hole in her life and in her heart.  Rani had found a wild spirited woman who's heat thawed the cold depression that had iced her heart so many years prior.  When they ended the kiss they held one another's gaze for a long time as Rani rowed on.
The ship had finally come into view through the gray and the rain which continued to come down.  Rani looked visibly relieved to see it because the weather was becoming worse by the minute.  They could hear thunder in the distance.  No sign of lightning yet thankfully.
Danielle watched as Rani's eyes turned to concern looking up at the Venganza.
"What's wrong?" Danielle asked.
"The flag."  She said simply as they approached.
Danielle looked up and noticed the the red 'V' had been flipped upside down making it look like an 'A'.
"An upside down flag is a sign of distress." Rani explained.  She steered their small boat to the side of the ship and secured it, the rope ladder was extended.  Rani narrowed her eyes suspiciously.
"I need you to stay here while I go check it out." Rani whispered to Danielle as she patted her sword at her side, double checking it was there.
Danielle was about to protest but Rani held a finger to her lips and shook her head.  Indicating that she be silent and obedient.  Rani climbed the ladder but slowed when she neared the top, peaking through the rail on to the deck.
The deck was empty.  This was not good, to Rani's estimation.  There should have been at least a few crewman above deck.  She also spotted the anchor.  It had been pulled up, which was highly unusual especially with the storm.  This meant that they were drifting in the ocean with no direction or tether to keep the ship in place.  She tried to peer around her looking for land, but the rain was coming down too hard and she had no estimation of how far away the ship had drifted.  This would have told her how long ago the anchor had been pulled.
Rani jumped up on to the deck and moved slowly, she peered down into whichever hatch she passed.  She couldn't see anyone.  She just about reached the large cargo entryway in the center of the deck when she felt it.  The blast had come on very suddenly from the center opening of the ship and it lifter her off her feet and knocked her on her back on to the deck.  An explosion had gone off from below.  Rani scrambled to her feet and drew her sword.  The ringing in her ear was starting to quiet.
She spun around searching for any sign of life, her stance at the ready.  Flames were engulfing the ship from the inside out.  Her heart sank.  Mi venganza she thought.  Where was her crew. 
A thud sounded behind her and Rani brought her sword up above her.  The blow of the sword that met hers caused her to stagger back.  She recovered quickly.
"Very good boy."  The familiar voice said.
Blackheart reared back and continued his offensive blows.  Rani defended herself blocking his angry sword, his full strength behind every movement he made.  Her fathers coin dangled at his chest, just out of her reach. 
He was backing her into a corner.  She assessed her options quickly and then chose and executed.  She kneeled and spun catching him in his thigh.  He roared and staggered forward giving her a chance to increase the distance between them.  Rani ran as fast as she could to the side of the boat and looked over.  The little boat was empty.  Where had she gone? Rani thought but had no time to determine.  Gonzalo's sword missed her face by inches as she stepped back and brought her sword up to defend his next hit.
"Where is my crew?"  She asked hoping to distract him.
"Oh they're around here somewhere." He smiled smugly, he looked toward the fire from the explosion and then back to Rani.  Rani could not show any outward expression.  Instead she ran at him and brought her sword down hard on him.
A resounding crack of metal meeting metal was emphasized when lightning flashed across the sky.  The flash blinded both of them momentarily as they stayed locked at the swords.  He was the first to recover, shoving her back and attacking.  She parried and dodged.  The rain caused the deck to become slippery and she almost lost her footing but rolled to avoid the sharp edge of his blade.  Blackheart came down on her again with a bone crushing blow and Rani had to use both hands to block.  She cried out from the pain it caused her shoulder.  She backed away.
"How?" She roared.
She desperately wanted to cut into the smile that the man held on his face.
"You made it only too easy." He began.  "Me and what men I had left have been searching for you.  I knew you hadn't gone far.  How's the shoulder?" He said laughing.  Thunder sounded overhead.  The ship was rocking with more vigor now.
"We located some of your men on shore and killed each and every one of them, stealing your small boat.  The men left on your ship expected the return and so they did not even raise alarms at our approach.  It was much too late when they finally realized who had boarded.  What remained of your crew were tied up and left below decks while we unloaded our treasure onto your little boat.  By the way where's your first in command boy?"
Rani glared at him.  The thunder roared overhead and lightning followed not long after.  The ocean was angry now it's waves carrying them farther and farther.  The fire crackled and she could hear the groan and thuds of the ship's weakened and rotting wood fall.
"No matter.  I have ordered my men to leave, and while I alone stayed behind to tie up all the loose ends."  He chuckled.  "I didn't think you would return so soon, however.  But I'm pleased you have.  When I saw you from afar I flipped the flag thinking it must be your inconsequential first mate.  How fortunate I am that it was you."  He was so pleased with himself.
"And where is your"—
A bark.  The two of them looked at the same time.
Danielle was trying to sneak past them at the very top deck in the back of the ship.  She held Perra who was sticking out of a burlap bag.  Rani's heart sunk.
"Woman."  Blackheart finished.  His hand swung back with the hilt of his sword.  It caught Rani hard on her temple.  She was thrown back from the force of the blow and sprawled on the floor.
Blackheart made his way to Danielle.  He was trying to keep his balance all the while, the ship rocking violently now.  Rani fought to stay coherent, blood poured down her face onto the deck.  She tried to lift herself.
Danielle was trapped.  He was heading directly for her.  She was gripping the rail with one hand to steady herself on the rocking ship and the other hand held Perra.  The dog was still unable to walk on her leg which left her unable to help now.  Danielle gently placed Perra down and then pulled herself along the rail away from the dog.  If this was to come to a fight, then she didn't want the dog in harms way.
Danielle unsheathed her sword.
"Are you going to fight me woman?" He balked and laughed at her.

The storm above was frightening.  The churning of the water below added to the already deteriorating condition of the ship.  Rani knew they were completely alone and sinking into the tumultuous deep.  She heard the clang of metal and knew that Danielle was trying to defend herself.  She needed do something and soon.
Rani shook her head to try to clear it.  Blinking rapidly she pushed with all her might off the ground, slipping a few times before finally getting to her feet.  She stumbled to the outside rail.
Fire crackling, thunder, lightning, metal.  The sounds were dull to her ears.  She kept her eyes forward and pulled herself along as fast and as hard as she could.  She reached the stairs leading to the deck where Danielle was fighting for her life.  Her senses were slowly returning to her.  She ascended.
Danielle screamed when Blackheart grabbed her around the waist and hauled her up against him.  Her sword hung loose in her hand.  She couldn't get an angle on him holding her so tightly.  If she tried to strike him, he would beat her to it.
"Gonzalo." A clear, strong, voice cut through the surrounding noises.
Gonzalo let out a high manic laugh.
"I've got your woman boy.  I told you I would take everything from you.  The treasure is mine, your crew is dead, your ship sunk, and your woman" he said grinning down at Danielle. "I want you to imagine exactly what I'm going to do to her."
"She is mine Gonzalo.  And you think you've won.  But I have something you have wanted for some time now."  Rani said smiling triumphantly.
Blackheart looked up at her through narrowed eyes.
Rani and Danielle locked eyes for a moment.
Then Rani pulled out a small dagger.  She used it to tear down the center of her inside shirt.  Blackheart looked confused.  And then realization hit him.
"Esperanza."  He breathed. 
Esperanza stood tall and defiant before the man who had ruined her whole life.  She was finally facing him, not hiding the woman that she is.  Defiant because the whole time he had underestimated a woman who he thought was beneath him.
"You owe me debt Esperanza."  He said, his eyes bulging and his mouth twisted in a sneer.  "As I have already told you, I will collect."
He looked down at Danielle,
"One way or another."
"You couldn't have me.  And you can't have her."  Esperanza said daring him with every word.
In his momentary shock Gonzalo had loosened his hold on Danielle.  This was what Rani wanted.  Danielle moved as quick as she could she leaned forward and swung her elbow back into the mans face.  He staggered back releasing her.
"Run Danielle!"  Rani screamed.
Danielle ran as hard as her legs would carry her.
She heard the loud stumbling footsteps right on her heals.
She only had one means of escape, she jumped and cleared the rail falling.  Falling.  Falling into the choppy, stormy, dark waters below.  The water began to spin.