Hope, Love, and...Pirates?!?

Chapter 8

So life happened. Yeah. How are you guys? Enjoy this chapter! ~Kassi<3

Alan's P.O.V.

She's finally started addressing me as captain. When did that happen? Hmmm? I heard dull crash under the deck. I ran down to see what the trouble was.

"Why the hell is there always a problem?" I mumbled to myself as I went below deck. I went to the Doc's cabin.

"Sir it seems that we are going to be hitting a bit of trouble at the next port" Doc said. His chair had been knocked backwards. The source of the noise. He was starring at a letter in his hand. I leaned against the doorframe and smirked.

"Don't we always. Doc we are pirates after all. Can't expect an actual Navy port to be any different now can we?"

"I've gotten a letter from one of our allies in Imperia. They said they're lookin for us especially cause we got the princess. There's a reward for whomever captures The Gypsy Pirates. I'm afraid if we pull up to port we'll be recognized." He turned to face me. Clutching the letter tightly in his hand.

"We can't exactly float in the sea until we die now can we? we have to port at some point." I replied nonchalantly

"Can't we just give er back Cap'n. It'll be no great lose of us to just get rid of er-"

I slammed my fist against the doorframe. "Not yet! She doesn't know the truth! We can't just let her live ignorantly happy! I won't let her live that way. " I gritted my teeth then took a deep breath and calmed my tone. "We keep her till it's done. End of discussion." I turned and walked away. Leaving the doc staring after me.

He doesn't understand. Nobody understands the severity of my situation. If she never learns the truth. How can she ever....But she will learn the truth. Even if it takes my last breath. She'll learn.

Agnes's P.O.V.

I was chopping vegetables for dinner. Charlie had taught me how to chop them all neatly and the same size. I liked talking to Charlie. Probably because besides me he was the only one who could stand up to Alan. I haven't found out why though. Surely if any of the others did they'd be thrashed. I had completely become unaware of what I was doing and the knife cut my skin. I dropped the knife quickly and shrieked.

"What 'appened now"?Charlie asked turning around. He saw the cut on my finger and his eyes went wide. "The bloody hell'd ya do that for?!" he reached for my hand and pulled it close to his face. Quickly his put my finger in his mouth. I blushed hard.

"Charlie!!" I pulled my hand away.

"Sorry princess!! it just....I mean I just..." he rambled

"It's fine Charlie, you just shocked me is all..." I said awkwardly. "Why don't I set the plates out?" I said and made a hasty retreat. I set the table and by the time I was finished the men were filtering into the room. I helped Charlie bring the food out. Unable to make eye contact with him I picked up what ever he told me to and brought it out.

The moon was high in starry speckled sky. I perched my self on a side rail and watched the water pass under us. The inky black water. If I stared long enough into its surface I started seeing that mermaid's face again. I shook myself from her image. Even in memory her beauty was captivating. I shook my head again. Looking up to the wheel. Alan's gazed was focused on me, but as soon as I look up he turned on his heels and went into his cabin slamming the door.

"He's in a mood" I mumbled to my self.

"I think he's jealous miss" Thomas walked up behind me. His eyes trained on Alan's door.

"What of Tom?" I turned to him.

"The rest of us Aggie...we's been spending lots of time with ya. And I just think he's feelin left out ya know?"

"But he's the one who wanted me to work with you first."

"Be that as it may miss..." he gave me a warm smile, "Well you you should be off to bed now. Early morning!"

I nodded and hopped down from my perch. I slowly stepped up the stairs and walked to Alan's door. Taking a deep breath I knocked softly.

"C'min" his gravelly voice muffled by the door. I opened it and he was sitting at his desk peering at several maps. I stepped in and shut the door gently. "I ran a bath for you.." he said without looking up at me.

"Thank you..." I silently walked to the bath room. Double. Then triple checking that I latched the door. I undressed and slipped into the tub. Letting myself relax. I closed my eyes and ended up drifting off to sleep.

I dreamed I was being held in big, strong, warm arms. A soft warmness on my forehead. Words. I heard words. Soft words. In the tone you'd use if there was a baby sleeping near by.

"Idiot...falling asleep in the tub...you'll catch a cold and be even more trouble..." the words faded in and out. But I recognized that gruff voice.

"Alan...?" I mumbled.

"I'm here moron...dammit you have a fever...rest my pearl..."

Everything transcended back into darkness. I had no more sweet dreams. Night terrors shredded my sweet dreams to shreds. Smoke. Fire. Red. Things scratching at my skin. Burning my arms. Pulling at my hair and clothes. I kept screaming and crying for them to stop.

"Please stop! Just stop! Please, you're hurting me! Alan help me! Help!"

Smoke. Fire. Red. Pain. Engulfed my sleep.

Alan's P.O.V.

"Please stop! Just stop! Please, you're hurting me! Alan help me! Help!" Pearl mumbled in her feverish sleep.

"Dammit! Where the hell is Doc?" I roar. Thomas comes crashing into my cabin.

"Sir I heard yellin!?" he asked franticly then his eyes fell to Pearl and widened. "I'll go get Doc right away Cap'n!" he scramble out of my quarters yelling.

Her fever was getting higher by the second. She tossed and turned. Pitching her body one way then the other. Like she was trying to get away from something. I held her close to my chest. Trying to keep her still as she called for my help in her nightmare.

"Pearl I'm here. I'm right here" I stroked her hair rocking her back and forth. "You're okay. You're going to be okay. I won't let anything happen to you. You're safe."

Sebastian came running up the stairs following Thomas.

"What happened?"

"I'm not sure? Could it have anything to do with that she-devil mermaid?"

"She does look like she's been poisoned...leave me. I need to inspect her."

Normally I would've objected. But on medical matters Doc had superiority. I had no say. I left my room. If it was underwater poison. We would only have a short amount of time by now.

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