The Damned: Part 1~ Innocence

Prologue

ATLANTIC OCEAN MAY 1748

The ships lined the Eastern and Western horizons for miles in every direction.

So many ships, it seemed impossible to count them all. One side heavily outnumbered the other.

On the Western Horizon, sat a small group of galleons, sloops, brigantines, frigates and East Indiamen's, all converted for the purpose of piracy.

Across from them was the Enemy Fleet, the most powerful force on the planet, the Royal British Navy.

The ships of the line presented a formidable presence as just in behind them, lower second and third rate ships stood along with frigates, brigs, and a few sloops and supply ships that would sit out the worst of the fighting.

But none, not even the great Victory-class ship of the line, HMS Endeavour, could match the ship that was leading this attack.

The Royal Navy ship stood beside her commander at the front of the line.

"Think we can take them?" She asked.

The ship beside her was an older but experienced Dutch fluyt, designed to speed not only with the wind, but against it.

She looked like a wreck that had lived on the ocean floor for many years.

Her hull was covered in barnacles, and her sails were made more of seaweed than cloth.

Her bowsprit boom had become the upper half of a set of powerful jaws with razor sharp teeth.

But what was even more frightening and awe inspiring at the same time was her eyes.

They were a deep, amber-gold and they seemed to glow with a red ethereal light. It was not natural and it did intimidate Endeavour a bit but she'd learned to relax.

After all, Dutchman wouldn't hurt her right?

Dutchman grinned at her. "Their numbers are barely a fifth of ours. They stand no chance against the might of the British Navy." She said.

Endeavour growled her agreement.

Dutchman turned her gaze back to the significantly smaller line of ships.

Movement was seen as they all raised their colors. Each individual Jolly Roger flapped in the wind.

Some were the traditional black, others were more vibrant in color but each was unique in its own way. And, dare Endeavour say it, beautiful.

The warship tensed her muscles for the sight meant there was no turning back, no other alternative but war.

Dutchman shook her head, sighing.

"If only they had the sense to change their minds." She said sadly.

Endeavour was about to scold her, reminding her of her duty to vanquish all pirates when she remembered that Dutchman had been a pirate herself.

Not like the Brethren no, she identified with no pirate group but she was a pirate.

She flew no flag, sailed with no fleet. She was completely on her own.

More than once Endeavour had wondered about her companion. How could anyone live such a lonely life?

But whenever she had asked Dutchman or at least tried to ask her, the sailing ship shrugged her off with a harsh word and an icy eye.

It only took once for Endeavour to realize that maybe there was more to Dutchman than met the eye.

She was cursed, that much was obvious and Endeavour had a suspicion that a painful dark past was behind it. It usually was.