In the Hands of Fate I: Curse of the Black Pearl

Chapter two

Chapter two

“He’s chosen her, Estrella. Your daughter is to be wed within the year.” The man’s deep timber sent a shiver down my spine.

I peeked around the corner and into the kitchen of our small house that we shared with two other families. My mother sat at the small table, her head in her hands, as the man leaned on the small stove. He was frighteningly tall and his golden eyes pierced the air between them. I recognized him from when my mother had spoken to him in the market. I’ve met him once or twice before but never caught his name.

My mother looked up and over to him. “She’s hardly of age,” she groaned.

“She’ll be nine within the month. Nicolæ has chosen her. This means she’s now betrothed to him, she belongs to him.”

I seethed. I belonged to no one but myself. And I wasn’t betrothed to anyone. I lived my own life and no one but I controlled it.

He chuckled darkly and walked the short distance to her. “Think of it this way, Estrella. You’ll be saving dear Esmeralda from the horrible curse placed upon your great-grandmother.”

“Her name is Luna, Pali.”

He leered at her. “Come now, Estrella, you and I know for a fact that Nicolæ has every right to change her name now that they’re betrothed.” He shrugged. “Esmeralda isn’t very suiting, though. But what would he know? He’s barely eleven.”

I ran at that moment. I knew this day would come, I just wished it would wait until I was older. It was a long shot, this I knew as well, to see it to at least my tenth birthday as Luna Petulengro.

I tried to sleep, really I did. But no matter how hard I tried the urge never came.

“Luna, my dearest, wake up,” my mother sighed as she gently shook me. My eyes were closed but even then I could still tell there was little to no light in the room.

“I’m already awake, mami,” I murmured.

She sat me upright and pulled a shawl over me. “You must go, fiică. Mirela is to take you to the docks. A man is waiting for you there, he’ll take you to your father but it might be a while before you reach him.”

“But tată is asleep in your bed,” I argued, not quite understanding.

“No, Luna, your real father,” my mother stated seriously, “Marko is just my husband. There isn’t time to explain, my love. I’ve written you and Hector both a letter that will explain everything.”

“Can’t this wait until the morning?” I questioned.

She looked at me somberly. “No, ficcă, in order to escape this terrible life, you must leave tonight, it is the only way.”

She pulled me out of bed and handed me off to Mirela, one of other mothers that lived in our home, but not before she hugged me good-bye. We were ushered out of the tiny house and into and awaiting carriage. The gravity of the situation finally hit me and I screamed for my mother. I was escaping the cruel life of the Romani. I was free to live life the way I wanted. But with a great cost; I was never to see my family or friends again.

[Pirates of the Caribbean]

I awoke to the sound of chickens. They seemed to be trying to eat me. One even pecked my ear.

I quickly stood and regretted it. My head hurt and my vision spun making me dizzy. I looked around for something familiar and found Mister Turner in a similar predicament. He, too, stood quickly and ran in the direction of the fort. I followed suit.