Submerged

prologue

1775

I huddled in the cargo hold of The Leviathan; a ship set coarse toward America. I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing the pain in my legs and back to the bottom of my mind. A ratty blanket disguised my presence, though it would do very little if any of them looked close enough. Luckily for me they all seemed rather unobservant, but I had been sitting here for two days already and my stomach had let loose some awful growls, it would be just my luck to be caught due to a rumbling belly.

Light streaked through the dim space, I tensed and quieted my breathing as much as I could. Footsteps echoed throughout the room, becoming alarmingly loud, far too close for comfort. A heavy foot lands on my hand, I let out a small yelp and flinched on reflex. "What the-" He mutters, the blanket is torn from me revealing a boy, ten years of age at most, staring down at me with shock filled eyes.

"Hey! There's a girl down 'ere!" He bellows out. I stumble getting up, backing into a corner as if that may save me from the inevitable. Loud footsteps rumble down stairs, a burly man with a scarred face thunders into the room. He pauses for a moment upon seeing me before striding in my direction. He grabs my arm and hauls me on deck as if I were nothing more than a sack of potatoes.

I ignore the venomous glares and shock filled stares of the sailors around me as the burly man draggs me towards the captains cabin. He straightened his posture before knocking noisily, the door opened quickly to reveal a man in his early forties standing there looking smart in his royal blue coat, trimmed with gold and a matching hat. 

He looked down at me and sniffed indignantly. I saw the faint glimmer of shock and anger in his eyes before he quickly masked it. "One o' the ship's boys found 'er in the cargo hold," The burly man states in a rough emotionless voice. "Dispose of her, we have to much valuable cargo to risk any bad luck." The captain orders. My mind quickly goes to the amulet hanging around my neck. I had found it in the crate next to my hiding spot, I had been inexplicably drawn to it. In fact, I had been so drawn to it that I had not felt the least bit guilty about taking it.

" 'ow is it that a young lass like you is so calm 'bout 'er up comin' death?" My head snaps up to the burly man that had just spoken. "I knew that there had been a very slim chance of me making it to America. And if I am to die then I wish to die with some amount of dignity," I tell him. "You're a brave young thing aren't ya," he replies. "I suppose. But I do not understand why you are talking to someone you are about to send to a watery death," I say. He shrugs his big shoulders, "I am truly sorry 'bout that lassy, but orders is orders." He says in a strangely soft voice, "What's your name lassy?" He asks. "Isolde. Isolde Asketill. And yours?" I ask. "Thomas. Thomas Grady" He says, mimicking me.

We reach the side of the ship, I climb onto the rail. I had accepted my fate.

Sailors stopped to watch with hardened gazes, I took a deep breath in and let it out before turning to give a small smile to the man who had shown me kindness in my final moments, "Goodbye Mr. Grady," I say before falling backwards, pale blonde hair fluttered in the wind before I hit the water.

I hold my breath for a while. Though I am resigned to my fate I am still a living being and right now all my instincts were telling me to hold my breath. I push them aside, slowly exhaling the precious oxygen out of my lungs. I can feel the water taking residence in my lungs as I drift down onto the sea floor. It burned, pain invaded every inch of my body.

Red streaked through the water, I wondered vaguely if it was my very own life blood, but though my vision was covered in black dots I realised that it was emanating from the red amulet around my neck. My vision gave out and I drifted into the pool of unconsciousness.

................................................

Thomas looked into the sea, where he had watched her slowly sink further into the deep black waters that no man had ever ventured. He was turning around with a deep sigh when something caught his eye. A flicker of red shone through the water from the depths below, his brow furrowed in confusion, the red brightened until, finally, he could make out a girls silhouette. He watch in awe as her legs meld together and her feet twisted into fins, she seemed to writhe in pain. Other sailors by then had noticed the water turning a deep blood red and were watching with mixed emotions of awe, horror and fear.

The captain walked out of his cabin in confusion, he walked to his sailors and peered into the water, his face paled as fear shrouded him like a cloak. 

Captain, you ordered my death. but my death will not bring you good luck. Luck is not real. Your wife is waiting for you in England, she holds your child in her body. Your child's eyes will be the lightest shade of lilac so that every time you look at them, you will remember the day you ordered a young girls death. Your grand child and their child will have that familiar trait. 

The sweet melodious voice echoed through his mind, he stood there stunned, before he was able to gather himself.

He walks quickly to his cabin, seemingly out of breath, he pushed his back against the door and slid to the ground. He rested his head in his palms and took several deep breaths, a smile slowly crept onto his face as he recalled what she said, he was to be a father, lilac eyes or none he would love that child with all his might.

............................................................

word count: 1052

Haloooo mah floofies. So... That was the longest prologue/chapter I have ever written... I am very proud of myself right now, hopefully the other chapters will be as long or longer but that will mean slower updates, but you know... worth it. I really hope you enjoyed this, feel free to correct me on any mistakes I've made, it would be really appreciated ^-^

please tell me if you want me to continue on with this, I hope you do because i'm going on any way. The girl at the top is what Cecily looks like. I do not own the photo.

This book is under copyright protection yada yada yada you know the drill.

Until the next chapter then!