The Mermaid Pirate

Chapter Five: Strangers

Hey guys! Sorry it took me so long to update, forgive me? :) I honestly felt discouraged about this story and wanted a break but my break took longer than I thought. Recently I've been getting messages to update so that gave me some confidence back!  

Copyright 2013 

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*Charlie POV*

The cool sea breeze plays with my hair as I stand on the dock watching Johnny walk gracefully away. Chimes of floating buoys and the soft sounds of the waves create a light little melody in the still night. My cheeks are still flaming red with heat from his goodnight kiss. My lips still tingling, wanting more of his soft lips.

He promised to come back tomorrow for lunch and take a ride on his expensive Thoroughbred horses around his 200 acres of private land. My heart swells with excitement as fluttery thoughts fill my mind about our hopefully perfect day tomorrow. I just hope I don't embarrass myself! I've never ridden a horse before and to be honest, horses are scary beasts.

Off in the distance the town clock chimes four times and quiets. Its already four in the morning! I run my hand through my wild hair, smoothing it back into a ponytail. Sighing I turn on my heal and climb back onto ship, heading to my room. I sneak down along the hallways quickly and quietly passing Nate's bedroom, being extra careful to not wake him. I hear him snoring loudly through his closed door. I stifle a giggle when I hear him groan and murmur a woman's name. Probably an old flame.

Back in my bedroom, I slip off my now stained and torn slightly torn dress and shrug on my favorite white cotton sleeping gown. Nate had bought this for me a long time ago and I treasure it dearly. It was very expensive and the cotton feels like silk against my skin. It was my first nightgown that i ever had since i was a kid. I snuggle up under my covers and smell the soft scent of lavender. Howell knows its my favorite flower and never fails to spritz some of his famous perfumes onto the sheets of my bed.

Howell used to live in Fiona Piers before joining the Black Diamond crew. He was a humble, but decently wealthy, merchant. Him and his wife made the best perfumes in the world. Her name was Katrina Crystal which was an odd name. Howell never even heard of a family with the last name Crystal. She had told him she wasn't from here and came from another land. She never said where and he never asked again.

His wife was pregnant their first child at the time when she disappeared. Howell explained to me how his wife acted strange for months nearing their child's birth. She had a strong desire to be by the ocean side everyday. How she refused to eat anything but seafood for weeks. Even took baths filled with salt water. She desperately wanted to live nearby the ocean so Howell bought an expensive cottage nearby the sea to make his young wife happy.

His wife seemed to be back to normal for a few weeks. Until one night he heard a beautiful voice singing the most memorizing song in the middle of the night. The words of the song was in a different language, one he had never before. The music entranced him and filled his thoughts with the ocean. He said he never felt happier in his entire life.

He looked out the window in hope to see the person singing the wonderful song. Instead he saw his wife walking on the beach, heading straight for the ocean. He called for her to come back but she seemed to not have heard him. By the time he ran outside, she had disappeared, her footsteps were washed away by the waves. He dove into the waves desperately searching and he stayed out all night waiting for her to come back but she never did.

Howell now knows that it was mermaids who stole his wife away. He searched for years for her, never giving up hope she might be alive somewhere. Black Blood discovered his quest and took him in as his first mate, helping him search. But over the years Howell had started to give up. Although, he never stopped making perfumes.