I held onto the mast, breathing in the sea air. The cold, sharp winds blew into my shirt as I gazed at the open water. Taking in the sound of the waves crashing against the hull of the ship and the violent winds swirling around my hair. It always calms me down to be at sea. I love feeling the gentle rock of the ship beneath my boots. A new sound was above me that made me shake my head in confusion. No one else should be up at this time. I look up and see the captain of the ship standing tall, smiling down at me. When Captain Demetri saw that I was looking at him too, he snapped his gaze to the water ahead. I wondered how he had gotten up that high but shook it off when a dull thud sounded next to me. My instincts taking control, I draw my cutlass as I spin to the left. Steel meets steel as my sword crashes into Demetri's. He smiled at me, brown eyes twinkling.
"Wanna play?" He taunted, his tone playful. I pulled my cutlass back and returned it to the holder on my belt.
"I'm sorry Captain, I didn't know that was you, you startled me." Demetri's face showed disappointment as he too put his sword away.
"It's fine." I had heard it once again, the way Demetri's voice gets unusually higher when he gets upset or excited. I see sadness in the dark brown eyes that hide behind his long, thick eyelashes. Demetri is a very strange man I think as the other man turned away and walked back to the helm. His long dark braid bouncing as he walks, those long lashes, full pouty lips, the high voice. Strange man indeed. His dark red cape fluttered in the wind as he turned the ship left. It was 4:00 in the morning and we are the only two awake. The second day of sailing and we really don't know anything about each other it is really no place for me to judge, I thought. Shrugging my shoulders, I walked towards the helm where Demetri was gazing longingly at the sea.
"Why aren't you asleep?"
I shrugged my shoulders.
"Why sleep when there's a perfectly good ocean out here to look at?" Demetri chuckled lightly and agreed with me.
"Where's your dog?" I asked, trying to find common ground. A smile appeared on Demetri's face as he shook his head.
"You need glasses Peter?"
"What?" A pure black dog emerged from behind the captain and peered curiously at him. He came up to about my waist and was huge. He growled and pawed the ground.
"Shadow, kiss." This took me by surprise, but before I could ask questions the large dog was on top of me. I let out a small shriek as he coated me in saliva. Beside me Demetri was shaking with laughter. His laugh was very light hearted and feminine. The large dog soon stopped licking me and rolled over until he was on top of his owner. He licked him much more gently and made Demetri laugh harder.
"You sounded like a little girl!" He laughed. Forgetting my place I snapped at him.
"Oh shut up it wasn't that funny."
"Yes it was-" Thunder rumbled in the distance and Demetri snapped up straight, scaring his dog. There was a quiet whimpering which I concluded was Demetri. It was soft and light, he sounded like he was about to cry. He quickly got to his feet as lightning flashed. His eyes full of fear.
"Peter, can you sail a ship?"
"Yes sir."
"Ta-take the helm. If the storm gets bad weigh anchor and come inside."
"Captain it's only a little storm, it won't be that bad."
"Please, Peter?" His voice cracked.
I shrugged my shoulders, secretly excited for a chance to sail.
"Sure."
"Come and get me when the storm passes. I'll be in my quarters."
I nodded, taking the helm. He let out a low, shaky whistle then walked to his quarters, Shadow following close behind. The rain was cool and refreshing, and sailing was the highlight of the week for me. As the rain poured down on my head, I played with the small crystal on the chain around my neck. Demetri Lumbard. That is the only thing on my mind. There was something strange about him, and what about this storm business? It's just a little rain. How could he possibly be afraid of this? I've seen Demetri fight, he's like a demon! The first time I saw him fight was three days ago, when he recruited me for his crew. I had been sitting in the local bar and had just ordered my first drink when he came in and sat next to me. The bar was quite deserted, only a few people there. He was wearing the same thing as he had been today, every day actually. His black baggy clothes and his dark red cape. When he sat down he looked a little nervous and was twirling the end of his braid like I had seen one of my ex girlfriends do. He ordered a bottle of rum and downed it within a minute. My mouth nearly fell to the floor when he did the same to the second but slowly drank the third. He eyed me curiously.
"My names Captain Demetri Lumbard." He held out his hand. I shook it.
"Peter Avery."
"I'm heading out to sea tomorrow, wanna come with me?" He asked after a few minutes. He was very straight forward and told me he knew my type.
"You long for the ocean. You've got salt runnin' through your veins. Ain't afraid of a little danger. You thrive on it. You're a thief, and you love your job." He leaned in close to my ear and whispered into it.
"You're a pirate," he waited a moment, "Just like me." It was obvious by the way he drank he was telling the truth and he told me that as long as I pulled my weight around the ship I could go with him. I shook my head at first and he stared at me. Those dark brown eyes glaring into mine.
"You a bettin' man?"
I had shrugged my shoulders. He rolled his eyes.
"A drinking man?"
A smile curled on my lips as I nodded.
"Occasionally." "Humph." He had grunted at me He called out to the man behind the bar that he needed two more drinks. "I bet," he began, "that I can drink you under a table." I licked my lips uncertainly.
"What's the price?" "I win, you come with me. You win, I pay for your drinks, tip you my hat, and leave." I shrugged again, both seemed like good options. With three bottles in him already, how could I lose? I agreed and picked up the bottle that was set in front of me. "Let's do this." After another two I was extremely giddy and we were both laughing. I noticed that he had a girlish laugh and his voice was significantly higher, I assume it was the rum. I was shaking with laughter as I tried to walk in a straight line. I fell on my face. Demetri walked in a perfect line and took another swig of rum. "I won. I'll see ya tomorrow at the docks!" He called, tossing some money on the counter. He started to leave when I stood up and chased after him. "Where you goin?" I giggled. Instead of reaching him, I smacked into a large guy who was wearing an even larger scowl. I suddenly felt myself being lifted off the ground. The man shook me and told me to watch where I'm going. Demetri was suddenly beside us, standing tall in his heeled boots.
