The Pirate King's Daughter

Face In The Water

   Jones steered the ship skillfully into the bay, further out from most of the others. The men came up to help cast the anchor and lower the small boat into the water for the those who were going ashore. I could hear the birds calling to each other across the water and I noticed that there were no other ships like the Phoenix, most were smaller like merchant ships and a few were much bigger and official looking.

   "Okay time to head for shore," Mark said at my elbow. His eyes were stern as he looked across the water at the docked boats. "You can climb down into it before Jones and Caleb do," he murmured as the two of them headed for the ladder into the boat. I nodded and Mark stepped quickly in front of Caleb as he started to put a foot on the first rung, "Oh, now Caleb, ladies first."

   Caleb glared at him with his dark green eyes. "Why do I gotta listen to you?" , he snapped. Mark placed a firm hand on Caleb's chest and shoved him back, "Because I said and it'd be polite to let a lady in front of ya."

   Jones placed a hand on Caleb's shoulder as he tried to grab at Mark, "Now, now Marky. Best be remembering who is in charge here." Jones' one grey eye was full of ice as he looked at Mark who merely ignored him and motioned me to the ladder.

   "Down ya go," he said softly and helped me onto the ladder. The ladder swayed slightly as I climbed down, being it was mostly made of rope. I kept my eyes fixed on the hull of the ship as I stepped further and further down. The sounds of the waves lapping against the side of the ship relaxed my nerves and my now bone white fingers relaxed slightly.

   When my foot hit the boat, I stumbled slightly and swayed to the other side. A hand grabbed my arm and balanced me enough so I could sit on one of the benches. I looked up to see who had helped me, expecting Mark, but saw Jones staring down at me with his one eye. He sat down across from me and rested his elbows on his knees. "You know what I would do with ya if I could?" he asked in his cool, menacing voice.

   I swallowed, "No." I dreaded the answer.

   "I woulda thrown you overboard by now if I had the ability. I don' care who your father is, there is no use in you bein' on this ship. Besides gettin a heap of gold, no one here would pay you another mind." His eye was steady on me as he spoke in his cold voice. My mouth worked as I tried to think of something to say back when I heard footsteps and Mark was now in the boat as well.

   Jones sat back and looked away across the water just as Mark stepped foot into the boat. He looked darkly at Jones who was picking at his nails and picked up the oars. Caleb followed soon after and the two of them began to row us to shore.

   Water lapped against the side of the small boat, sometimes even spilling over the sides. The warm sun beat down on us; Mark and Caleb were both definitely feeling the heat. I watched as Mark's shoulders strained as they pulled against the water. His muscles flexed and released, over and over, leaving me transfixed. Beads of sweat dripped down his neck and his breathing was labored when we more than halfway to shore, along with Caleb's.

   Trying to take my mind off of Mark, I looked over his shoulder to meet Jones's cold, grey stare. A cold chill ran through me and I looked down onto the water to see shimmering scales of every color running along the boat. Fish would bob up from the surface, go back down, and spray me with the cool water of the sea. I smiled every time, brushing my fingers against the spines of the fish occasionally. Everything about being out in open water made me feel alive like I did when I was home and would swim on my own.

   I frowned at the thought of home, at the thought of my mother alone. Then Mouse who would wait for me at the square every other day with stolen treats, always excited at me spending time with me. I missed the cliff I dived off nearly every day to escape the world and it's expectations. Diving from the cliff was always the way I felt free from everything I wad forced to deal with. Suddenly, I felt sick to my stomach and leaned slightly over the boat.