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

Chapter 23

"Prepare to fire!" Benjamin shouted from the helm of Poseidon's Guide. The large, now the size of a warship, Guide tore through the brigs of the British Armada, sinking ships without a second to spare. The K'o'ox rode over the waves in their small rafts, unnoticed until they boarded the ships and attacked the crew. Ships blasted the Guide with their cannons, but no cannon could harm the indestructible ship. "Take the gunboats on the side! And prepare to board!" Benjamin looked over the bow of the ship at the carnage at hand. The Descent waited by the rocks of Lynnair, watching the battle unfold.

By his side, much to his demise, was Charles. Billy remained on the beach with a handful of pirates to help with the defence. Charles was an annoying, and slightly depressing, prisoner but he made an even worse first mate. "Tha' big black ship must be in charge. We best to take her out." Charles counselled.

"That is the sister ship to this very one, and it seems they both have the same shape hull, so theoretically if the cannons can't damage the Guide they won't be likely to damage the Descent." Benjamin informed the confused Charles.

"Yer a smart men Henley, but I don't understand ya' fancy strategies mate."

Benjamin rolled his eyes. "If the cannons can't sink us, they won't sink her." Benjamin hated dumbing things down, but it was becoming second nature among pirates. He spun the wheel and cut off another ship before blasting it to splinters.

Benjamin looked up as thunder ripped the sky open. The volcano was spewing smoke and the green waves began to rock the ship. Benjamin bit his lip nervously as the waves grew. If they reached the size of the waves that sunk the Guide in the first place, Benjamin wouldn't be able to hold the ship steady. The waves grew to a metre high, taking out the smallest of the Armada's ships as they grew. Charles glanced around, muttering to himself.

"Benjamin, we best charge the Descent!" Charles announced suddenly. "We can ram her!"

"Could work... Or we could be jammed and taken out as the waves grow! But I fear there isn't another option." Benjamin conceded. "Drop the sails! Full speed ahead!" The Guide lurched forward as the angry winds yanked her. Benjamin held the wheel as steady as he could, the trident figurehead ready. Across the bay, the Descent drops it's sails and charged forward as well. "She's gonna meet us in the middle!" Benjamin yelled, the waves growing. A wave, larger than the palm trees on Lynnair picked up both ships on its peak, all the overs sinking beneath it. The wave carries the Guide and the Descent towards each other. Benjamin swallowed the rising bile as the ten metre wave carried the Guide and the Descent at its peak, sinking all others. "BRACE FOR IMPACT!"

SMASH

The two ships slammed into each other, the Guide's trident stabbing the Descent's skeleton with two rusted tridents. Benjamin held the wheel tightly, trying not to bowl over the side as the impact sent the crew tumbling. The Descent's crew were just as disorderly, Benjamin saw this situation a thousand times aboard the Falmouth, just not as intense. Benjamin rose from his knees and drew his sword, lifting Charles to his feet.

"The Guide still needs a captain! How many days you got left in you old man?" Benjamin asked as his crew rose.

Charles smiled through yellow, rotted teeth. "One more." he took the wheel as Benjamin rushed off. "Go with Henley ya' dogs, I'll take the Guide me' self! See ya' all in Davy Jones Locker! Or at the gallows, whichever comes first!"

Benjamin gave the old captain one last nod of approval before leaping over the trident and onto the Descent, the pirates following him, one or two misstepping on the trident and falling into the angry sea below. Benjamin instantly began to battle the redcoats, taking them by surprise. Benjamin slashed through them effortlessly. Benjamin hurried up the helm to attack the temporary captain, killing him easily. The rain began spitting down once more, the waves tearing both ships apart from one another.

The ship seemed taken, the mighty Descent now allied with the Guide, but from the decks beneath a rush of redcoats flooded the main deck and tore through the pirates. Benjamin tried to defend himself, but he was severly outnumbered. He dropped his sword and fell to his knees, his arms cut and his legs slashed to the point where he could only barely walk. Benjamin looked up and smirked as he watched the Guide escape.

"Captain Benjamin Henley, you are charged with murder, piracy and treason!" Another captain accused.

"Than put me to trial and hang me!" Benjamin spat back.

The captain laughed. "Gladly." The captain drew his sword and smacked Benjamin in the left eye with his swords hilt, knocking him out.

_______

Edward stared into the dark green eyes of George Hadly, not leaving his gaze as he pulled Maryanne to her feet. Edward drew his sword. "Such a good blade. I must see if it's true to it's story." George said.

He nodded at the man beside him, who dropped Angelina and pulled his own sword... Stabbing George through the back. Edward gasped and Maryanne dropped her jaw. Even Angelina took the time to gasp as she scurried beside her friends. George looked down at the blade, red with his blood, sticking out from his chest. It was as if he never felt it. He gripped Tlaloc's sword and the other man pulled his sword from George's back... And the wound closed itself before their eyes. Even Angelina was taken aback. The stories were real as day... And that was not good.

George laughed darkly. His chest no longer bled, and he dropped Tlaloc's sword. He remained alive. He reached for the sword and stared at his foes. "This leaves you three in a very bad position... You can't surrender nor can you fight..."

"You know we will fight. We won't let you leave with that sword." Edward warned.

George cackled. "Maryanne, dear, please do me the pleasure of killing him."

"What? Why would she do that?"

Maryanne swallowed hard. "He says he's my... Grandfather..."

"Stop." Edward knew. He recognised the two sets of eyes. The beautiful and innocent emerald eyes and his dark, scheming green ones. She couldn't believe, she wouldn't believe it, yet the resemblance was uncanny now that Edward was purposefully looking for it.