Pirate Princess

Chapter 3

Mia watched the pirate crew out of the corner of her eye, her back beginning to grow stiff from the rigid posture she was keeping. Her fingertips began to ache from the tight hold she kept on the glass, and she opted to set it down before she hurt something. Looking down, she brushed her fingers around her left ring finger, tracing the pattern of a ring.

If she knew anything about pirates, it's that they wanted treasure. And they didn't care who was in the way as long as they got it.

"Mia? Are you serious?" Emma hissed into her ear. Mia sighed deeply. She had been trying to avoid the blonde ever since revealing who the newcomers were, choosing to clean cups and seem busier than she actually was. She had succeeded for a good half an hour, depending on the other sailors to keep Emma busy bartending and not questioning her. But the bar had quieted down a bit, and the rush was winding down as it neared nearly two in the morning. And Emma had wasted no time in seeking out Mia. "That's the Captain Blackbeard?"

"I see you've heard the stories," Mia replied dryly, all of the happiness absent in her voice. She was sure that the light had been snuffed out of her eyes as well, the light that left every time Blackbeard was mentioned or even thought of.

"Who hasn't heard the stories?" Emma whispered back. Mia chose not to respond, and Emma watched her new friend closely, her bottom lip captured between her teeth. Tentatively, she placed her hand on top of Mia's, and the girl shivered from the close and unexpected contact. "Why do I feel like I haven't heard all of them yet though?" Mia squeezed her eyes shut, tears pricking at the corners and threatening to slide beneath her lids and down her cheeks. "Mia, what's wrong?"

Mia's mouth felt dry, and when she opened her mouth to respond, no words came out. Dust seemed to rest under her tongue, down her throat. It was as if she hadn't opened her mouth and used it for years. Her eyes were stinging now from trying to hold in her emotions, and Mia could feel her breathing start to increase, her heart not used to bottling in so much feeling all at once. A tear slipped under her eyelid and trickled down her cheek leaving an ice cold trail in its wake.

"Pardon me, but does anyone know where I can get a glass of rum?" a new voice asked. Emma turned quickly to face the bar, Mia not finding it in herself to move a muscle. It was as if she was frozen in place, the memories and the emotions too much for her to handle right now. She swore to herself that she had moved on, and she knew that she had deep down, but now, of all times, she was wondering if that was even remotely possible. He had ingrained himself in her heart, and then he was cruelly ripped away, and Mia knew exactly who to blame for that.

A man was leaning against the bar, smirking cockily at the two barmaids, even though only one of them was facing him. He had crossed his arms on top of the counter, leaning against them and causing the outline of his defined arms to be seen through the long-sleeved black shirt he wore. His hands peeked out from underneath his arms, just enough to see the many different rings that adorned almost every finger on each hand. He had unruly black hair that stuck up at odd ends in the back and flopped over his forehead lazily, and his eyes were outlined in black, causing the bright blue of his irises to really stand out, his eyes themselves being a great contrast to his otherwise dark and dangerous attire. He shifted restlessly, his blue eyes staring holes into Emma, daring her to come closer.

The girl herself didn't break their stare, not wanting him to feel like he had won anything. Even so, her decision made her want to wrap herself in her arms and hide while at the same time it made her want to walk towards the man and start a conversation.

"Are you going to be the one that fetches me a glass of rum, love?" the man asked, his tongue flitting out to lick his bottom lip, his bright blue eyes watching her from underneath his hooded stare.