The Second Swann ---///--------

Chapter 18 -Notproofread-

      Fleeing down the stairs to the foyer, Charlotte and Elizabeth ran towards the front door. They were quickly blocked by a pirate. Charlotte grabbed Elizabeth's hand, who in turn clutched tightly. They turned around to head for the kitchen.

     Charlotte spotted the doors to the dining room and quickly pushed Elizabeth towards it, never letting go of her hand. They managed to sprint towards the room and slam the doors shut. Elizabeth grabbed a candelabra and bolted the doors. They backed up slowly.

     "What, now?" Elizabeth asked, turning to Charlotte questioningly. Charlotte's heart pounded and her head felt too light to come up with any other plan.

      "I-I don't know, I don't think Ebony is out there anymore...Not when-" she squeaked as the doors before they shuddered as the pirates bashed against it. The candelabra would not hold for much longer, that was certain. Both Charlotte and Elizabeth turned around to look around. 

     "There!" Charlotte pointed towards the wall cabinet behind a corner of the dining table. They ran towards it and opened the door.  The closet seemed to only fit a single person. Charlotte turned to Elizabeth and shared a look of dread.

     Then the door shook as another loud bang came from behind, making them jump.

     "Go in," Charlotte instructed, her eyes focused on the doors that continued to shake.

     "And what about you?!"

     "Go in! I'll find a spot elsewhere!" Charlotte helped her sister in and shut the door tightly then spun around quickly to see the dining table. That would have to do.

     As she dived under quickly the candelabra flung out as the doors exploded open. There was a pause and Charlotte could hear her blood pumping in the silence. She kept her breathing short, and soft as she listened carefully to the footsteps of the pirates walking in. 

    With the legs of the chairs directly level with her eyes, Charlotte watched the pirates stroll around inside the silent room. 

    "We know you're here, poppets!" a pirate with a raspy voice called. 

    "Show yourselves, poppets!" another pirate added. 

    "We promise we won't hurt you..." 

    Charlotte held her breath as she watched their muddy boots pace around the floor. Then, they paused before slowly walking towards Charlotte's spot...She watched in horror as they feet turned around to face the direction where Elizabeth was hiding.

     "You've got something of ours and it calls to us..." the raspy pirate continued, "the gold calls to us." 

    Charlotte frowned. Were they speaking of the medallion? 

     Then...she heard a soft creak and Elizabeth's gasp. 

    "'ello, poppet..." the raspy voice greeted and Charlotte was already moving towards them, ready to grab one of their dirty, bare ankles. If she could time it right, she could...

   "Parlay!" 

    Charlotte paused. 

    "What?" 

     What?! She turned to look at her sister's feet.

     "Parlay!" Elizabeth repeated, "I invoke the right of parlay!" 

      Then Elizabeth began to recite the policy of parlay that the Pirates followed. 

     "I know the code!" the raspy pirate retaliated, offended. 

     "The adversary demands that you can do no harm until the parlay is complete!" Elizabeth continued and Charlotte sighed. What was her sister thinking? 

"Then we shan't do 'er no 'arm. She'll go without a fuss," the pirate said in a slick tone. 

Then, before Charlotte could do anything the pirates grabbed hold of Elizabeth by the arms and began to walk. Charlotte began to crawl out from under. 

"What about the other?" Charlotte paused and looked up to see the scrawny pirate she and Elizabeth had burned earlier following a shorter pirate. 

"We've got what we need," the shorter pirate replied. 

Then they walked out.