Poseidon's Guide: The First Adventure // #Wattys2018

Chapter 19

Edward led the Guide through a small passage leading into the island, the only place the ship could lay hidden from all outside eyes. Now that the sun was blaring once more and the sea had refrained from swallowing the ship at every chance it got, Edward took in the details of the beautiful island. It wasn't large from what Edward could see, the only stream going inland was the one Edward anchored the Guide in. The ship itself was larger as well, the crew went ashore and all marvelled at the magnificent site. The ship had grown nearly twice its original size and now the sails weren't the pale cream colour they were before, now they were a glorious crisp white. The ship was dark brown oak with light birch making up majority of the ship, the lighter coloured wood overwhelming the darker. The back of the ship grew a balcony for the captain's quarters at the helm, below it a charting room with its own balcony where the original captain's quarters had been. Edward looked at the ships title. Poseidon's Guide was written in solid gold letters, glistening in the sun without a hint of rust or dirt. Even the figure head had extended, originally being a wooden trident extending roughly ten metres from the bow of the ship, now a good fifteen and made of steel so shiny it blinded Edward.

The crew began mumbling to themselves, Benjamin sat in the white sand to dry off and Angelina looked around the beach they rested on. Edward finally took in the immediate details of Lynnair. The sand was a gorgeous bleached white with small bits of colourful broken coral lining the sand. Angelina cut her foot on one, but the site of coloured coral not dying out of the ocean was too fascinating for her to even notice the blood leaking from her left foot. The trees that lined the island were tall palm trees, glistening with droplets of the violent storms waters. A hulking mass of rock and earth towering over the island, was the volcano, smoking at the top. Edward gulped hard. He wasn't a professional when it came to volcanos, but he knew that a smoking one wasn't good. Scattered throughout the trees, barely beyond their immediate view, were sandstone pillars and structures draped in green vines.

Billy dropped down from the ship into the shallow water, just unable to stand. The water was really shallow, yet Poseidon's Guide slid along the wet sand beneath the water like it was nothing. Edward marvelled at the fact Poseidon's Guide wasn't stuck in the cloggy sand. Billy pulled up a body with a brown cloth bag covering his head. Edward had completely forgotten about Charles after the Guide went under, hell he could've drowned and Edward wouldn't notice. But the burly and battle-worn old Italian captain still maintained breath, much to Edward, and secretly Maryanne's, dismay.

"Billy, be a good lad and cut his ties..." Edward ordered kindly, no longer fearing the washed up captain. Maryanne was the only one to give him a concerned look, yet she didn't argue. Billy pulled a soaked knife from his belt and cut the rope from his arms and feet, before removing the clothe. Charles' yellow bloodshot eyes winced as the sun hit them. "So how was the trip, good captain? Sorry, not captain anymore is it? Prisoner." Edward mockingly corrected himself.

Charles spat on Edward's already wet boot, before looking up at his former crew member. Edward could see the hurt in his eyes, the betrayal and pain he'd caused, yet Charles was too smart to try and seek vengeance whilst all of Edward's one hundred plus crew members were gathered. Edward took a deep breath to hide his own disappointment at his disloyalty.

"Is there a problem Charles? You know that I don't want you dead yet... You could say anything and I wouldn't have your throat slit! Oh wait, perhaps I would?" Edward explained, with a smart grin on his wet face.

Charles rolled his eyes before saying, "What do yer fuckin' want Edward? You've done it all to me already! Taken most of me crew, killed the others, disgraced me as a pirate and sunk me ship!" Charles said, more annoyed than angry. His voice was tired and simply done trying to barter with Edward. "You'd best be gettin' on with the throat slittin'..."