The Book Of Fate

Chapter 7: Useless Ladies Code

ELIZABETH

If somebody had told young Elizabeth that by the time she was eighteen she'd find herself one day handcuffed inside the jails of an Order's ship, she would've laughed her head off. A lady like her in prison? It would've sounded ridiculous. However now, after everything she had done, Lizzy wondered what her past self would've said if she saw her.

The handcuffs were uncomfortable; they were heavy and their rusty and rough texture bit into her skin with every movement -which was all the time since she had both delicate and slim wrists. Her prison smelled like the sea had vomited in there and somebody had done a very poor job of cleaning it up; it smelled like salt, rust and rotting flesh. But, above all, what really was annoying Lizzy was the man who hadn't stopped asking questions and pointing accusing fingers at her for the last half hour.

"We both know you know where the map is, young lady!" He said for the hundredth time in what he thought was an intimidating tone.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," she replied for the hundredth and one time with the same bored expression while accommodating her butt on the uncomfortable floor.

"I told you already, we have witnesses who saw you depart from the port and who can link you and your little crew directly to the map. There's no point in lying-"

"Just search her," somebody interrupted. 

From behind the questioner came another man dressed in the Order's priest's attire; a white robe with colden cuffs and a golden circle on his chest. Despite his straight posture and confident strides, his balding head and whitening moustache gave his age away. He had cold blue eyes which held an all too familiar look in them, the same look her father would give her whenever she asked about her mother: dismissive, disappointed and thoroughly annoyed. Immediately, Elizabeth knew that he was the one in power.

"But... Vasco, sir... She's a lady," the other man pointed out as his eyes darted from Elizabeth to the man in robes.

"I see no lady in this ship." The old man said annoyed. "She's a thief and a liar, and she's dressed like a man,"

Lizzy scowled at that. What was wrong with wanting to be comfortable? She was sure that if those men were in her place, running and jumping all over the place, but with a long silly dress on top they would've pleaded for a comfortable pair of pants.

However, it was definitely not the time to start a discussion about fashion choices. Instead, Lizzy realized that, if she wanted at least being able to move freely inside her cell, she needed to convince these men that regardless of clothing, she was a fine, harmless lady. 

And that, she could do.

Summoning her years of living in a bubble surrounded by airheaded women and men, Lizzy did what any other fine lady would've done in her place: whine and complain.

"How dare you," Elizabeth erupted very suddenly as she managed to stand up. The ship suddenly rocked sideways with enough strength to make her fly against one of her cell's wooden walls. Gritting her teeth, she pulled herself up again and looked at the men dead in the eye, the show was about to begin. "Is this how women are treated by the Order? Insulting, accusing, throwing them into prison and even handcuffing them! You dare judge me based on my attire. Do you think I enjoy being dressed in these ragged and soggy clothes? And what's worse, you even dare accuse me of being a thief when I don't even know what I stole! Without any basis too! I could strip down right here just to see how all those insults and claims come crashing down onto your distasteful faces-"

The ship lurched again, throwing her against the other wall of her cell, but this time there was little she could do because of her manacles. "You tie me up like I am some sort of criminal, a murderer, when all I am is just a lady minding her own business. Is this really how the Order operates? Mistreating young ladies based on mere assumptions?"