Sequel to CAPSIZE
The adventure continues as Celia finally escapes Elizabeth's iron grasp, but the horrors that await the recently free, seemingly happy couple surpass their expectations.
Set in 1500s America
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It was dawn when Celia woke in a cold sweat. Her eyes flew open and she stared out into the dim room, the sun not yet lighting it up. She slipped out of Harry's arms that were wrapped around her waist and padded across the floor. Opening the door slowly so it would not creak and wake Harry, Celia stepped into the cool morning air and closed the door behind her.
She inhaled slowly and observed her surroundings. Though she would not dare admit it to anyone other than herself, she quite liked waking up with things to do rather than just practicing needlework all day. She went back inside to dress herself. As she began to tie her corset, she heard the bed shift under Harry's body. She glanced over her shoulder to find him propped up on his elbows, looking at her through the small rays of sun that shone through the window.
"Good morning," she said with a small smile.
"G'morning," he murmured.
As Celia slipped on her dress, a guttural scream echoed outside, leading to one after another until the whole house shook with the vibrations. She looked at Harry with wide eyes. He leapt out of bed, his night shirt being the only thing he had on, and jumped into a pair pants.
"Don't move," he commanded as he headed for the door.
Celia ran for Nerissa, who was sitting upright in her small bed. She scooped her up and held her tight.
"What's goin' on?" Ana asked as she ran into the room.
"I don't know. Here," she said, handing Nerissa off to Ana. "I'm going to go find out."
"Ma'am, I don't think that's such a good idea. Sir Harry wouldn't like it."
"I don't give a damn what Sir Harry would like."
Celia grabbed Harry's sword from the sheath that hung from a nail on the wall and swung the door open. Standing in front of the front door, she watched with horror as dozens of men on the backs of stallions rode through their once peaceful village. Their skin was tan, hair as dark as a raven's feathers, and their body was barely covered in the hide of animals.
The sword that Celia held onto slipped through her fingers and clattered on the ground. Harry, standing only a few feet in front of her, whipped around to lay his eyes upon her. At the sight of his eyes, she gathered her senses and picked up the fallen sword. Harry walked towards her, placing one hand on her shoulder and pushing her inside of their house, finally ripping the sword from her grasp.
"What's happening? I thought the natives were friendly—" her voice was frantic, her words tumbling over each other and blending together.
Harry interrupted her with a kiss. Her body fell into his. She knew what this meant: goodbye. When they retracted their lips, he cupped her cheek and pressed his forehead to her's. "Stay out of sight. I'm going to John's, that's likely where they're headed. Do not leave the house until I come back for you, am I clear?" His voice was low and demanding, as if he were talking to a child. Celia clenched her jaw at the orders he barked at her, but knew it was for her own safety. She nodded. "No surprises like when we were on the Golden Tide, hm?" One corner of his lips curled slightly at the memory.
"You have my word," she said, squeezing his hands one last time before he slipped out the door and disappeared.
✿
The minutes passed by at an agonizingly slow pace. Celia, Ana, and Nerissa crouched in the corner of the room for what felt to them like hours, listening to the screeching natives as they tore through the village with no regard for its inhabitants. When silence finally filled their ears, Ana and Celia exchanged looks of dismay. Celia then passed off Nerissa to Ana and began to crawl across the floor until she reached the window.
"Ma'am, careful," Ana whispered.
Celia sat up slowly and peered outside. It was empty. Her heartbeat quickened as she stood up to her feet so she could get a full view of the surrounding area. Dirt floated through the air, creating a haze. Through it, she could see the damage that the angry natives had done: broken windows, busted down doors, animals from the farm wandering freely if they had not been decapitated. Celia began to inhale slowly when she suddenly heard the voice of a man speaking an unfamiliar language. Her breath caught in her throat and she ducked down, looking at Ana and signaling for her to do the same.
Ana sunk to the floor and raised her finger to her lips in order to tell Nerissa not to make a sound. Celia pressed herself against the floor as flat as she could, holding her breath as she listened to the man. His voice got louder, as did his footsteps, as he neared the house. Celia clenched her eyes shut until she heard the scream of a woman in the distance. Her eyes flew open. The man stopped talking. Then, there was the sound of the man running away.
Celia sighed with relief, feeling the weight of the nerves being lifted from her chest. She crawled back over to Ana and scooped Nerissa into her arms, holding her in her lap and rocking back and forth until she fell asleep.
✿
An hour passed and there was still no sign of Harry. Celia feared the worst. A thick blanket of silence covered Roanoke and it was beginning to suffocate Celia. She worried that the silence meant death, but hoped it was just that everyone was too frightened to make a sound. She wondered about Marisol and Edward. Her heart sank at the thought of something happening to either of them. She tried her hardest not to think about such negative possibilities, but it was hard when bad things were the only constant in her life.
Celia was lost in thought when she heard the door creak open. Her head snapped in the direction of the noise. She clutched Nerissa as she waited in anticipation to see who it was. The door opened slightly, just enough for a head to poke through and peer inside. Celia stopped breathing. Then, brown curls and a pair of green eyes appeared, glancing around the room until they found Celia. She released the breath she was holding and her body relaxed, tears of joy forming in her eyes.
Standing to her feet with Nerissa still fast asleep in her arms, she walked over to Harry and fell against his chest, sinking into him as his arms wrapped around her. They stood there without uttering a word, just embracing one another and silently thanking God that the other was alive.
