Lady of the Sea

Ch 40

As night fell and the stars began to dot the sky, Marina slipped out of her chambers and made her way to the deck. Up there, surrounded by the vastness of the ocean and sky, she gazed at the stars, feeling an ominous weight in her chest. This might be the last time she would see them, she thought, her heart racing with the knowledge that the battle was near.

From the other ship, Jack had been watching her, his eyes never leaving her form.

Jack's heart ached as he realized he should have been there for her, supporting her through the chaos. She had left behind everything she knew and was facing the harsh realities of this world all on her own. And in his selfishness, he had only made things harder for her. He had failed her.

Suddenly, a sharp voice pierced the quiet night. "Ship in the distance!" a crew member shouted from the deck, his tone urgent.

Jack bolted to his side, grabbing the longvue and bringing it to his eye. His breath caught as he spotted several ships in the far distance, their dark forms barely visible against the horizon.

From her ship Marina had also spotted the ships in the distance. She squinted for a moment before her expression hardened, a spark of recognition lighting her face as she recognized the lead ship. "It's him!" she breathed, her voice barely containing the rush of adrenaline.

Without hesitation, Marina barked orders, her voice rising above the chaos. "Into positions! Light the fires! Take your swords! Act like we're attacking each other. Morgan's not one to miss out on the chance to recruit us—he'll think we're at odds and come in to claim victory."

Jack nodded, his mind racing. "Aye, let's give him a show he won't soon forget," he muttered, already moving toward his crew.

The pirates aboard both ships sprang into action. Men rushed to their posts, torches were lit, and soon the sound of swords clashing and chaotic yelling filled the night air. Cannons were prepared, and everything appeared as if a fierce battle had erupted between the two ships. The sea echoed with the sounds of war, but underneath it all was a plan—a trap carefully laid for Henry Morgan.

Marina watched the scene unfold, her pulse quickening. She steeled herself. It was time.

Amidst the chaos of the staged battle, the two ships commanded by Jack and Marina roared with fake fury, their cannons firing blanks, and the crew shouting in staged combat. Marina stood at the helm of her ship, her eyes locked on the horizon as Henry Morgan's fleet drew nearer.

"Hold your positions!" Marina shouted, her voice cutting through the noise. "Act like we mean it!"

Across the water, Jack was aboard his own ship, barking orders to his crew, ensuring they kept up the illusion. He could feel the tension even from a distance as he watched Marina from his ship. Jack, through the longvue, kept an eye on Henry's approaching fleet while also making sure the crew's performance looked convincing.

As Marina's and Jack's men clashed with each other in staged battles, their swords clanging, and bodies hitting the deck with loud thuds, she kept her gaze firmly on Henry's ships. Every step had to be perfect; any mistake, and they'd be exposed. She knew Morgan wouldn't fall for a sloppy show. But her men were doing well—cannon blasts fired into the sea, pirates fell, pretending to be wounded, all adding to the illusion of chaos.

Jack, from his ship, shouted to his crew. "Keep it believable, lads!" He glanced again through the longvue, watching the enemy ships creeping closer.

Marina's hands gripped the wheel tightly as her heart raced. She could feel her father's ships bearing down on them. She knew they had to stay hidden from his sight, as he would recognize her and Jack instantly if they were seen. She moved quickly to the shadows, keeping herself out of view as much as possible. She couldn't risk blowing their cover.

Across the water, Jack felt a knot tighten in his chest. He could see Marina's ship maneuvering, and the sight of her so close to danger made him uneasy. Yet, his focus remained on Morgan's fleet. They had to make this work—there was no turning back now.

As the ships sailed closer, Marina glanced over to Jack's ship. She couldn't see him, but she knew he was watching too, ready to spring the trap. "Get ready," she said under her breath, her eyes narrowing as the enemy ships crept closer. "We'll have them right where we want them."

The sun dipped lower, casting a dim, reddish hue over the ocean as the plan was set into motion. Two of Henry Morgan's ships cautiously broke away from the main fleet, sent to investigate the skirmish ahead. From the deck of her ship, Marina watched the approaching vessels, heart pounding in her chest. Jack, aboard his own ship, stood not far off, maintaining his role as her rival in this staged battle.

Cannon fire echoed through the air, but the shots were deliberately missing their targets. Both ships were close enough for real damage, but none of the cannonballs made contact with the hulls. The pirates aboard the two ships bellowed and clashed swords, their voices carrying over the water in a convincing display of chaos, but no one was actually hurt.

Marina stood at the helm, her eyes sharp on the distant sails. She felt the tension building, a storm brewing on the horizon. Everything had to go perfectly for their plan to succeed. She shot a quick glance toward Jack's ship—he was playing his part well, barking orders to his crew as if truly engaged in battle.

But something was off.

As the two of Morgan's ships drew closer, Marina noticed a change in their behavior. Their sails shifted, and their crews began moving with more purpose, suspicion creeping into their actions. From her vantage point, she saw one of the enemy captains raise a spyglass to his eye, scanning the scene with growing awareness.

"They're onto us," she muttered, gripping the railing.

Moments later, the lead ship raised a flag and signaled back to the rest of Morgan's fleet. Within minutes, two more ships broke away from the main group, speeding toward them. Morgan had realized the ruse.

Across the water, Jack noticed it too. He moved to the side of his ship, raising a longvue to his eye. His brow furrowed, and he cursed under his breath. Turning to his crew, he shouted, "All hands, brace for the real thing. Morgan's no fool, and he's sending more company."

Marina felt the weight of the moment crash down on her. The fake battle had failed to lure them in completely. Now, four of Morgan's ships were converging on them, the trap starting to unravel before her eyes.

Her first mate rushed to her side, breathless. "Cap'n, what do we do? If Morgan's sendin' more ships, we won't be able to hold 'em off long."

Marina clenched her fists. "We can't retreat now, not when we're so close, we fight back."