Subtle Waves • James Kidd/Mary Read

chapter two

As we began to approach the Havana docks, I grabbed onto the hook, in the crow's nest, and jumped down onto the ships wooden floors. This city is probably one of my favourites. With markets, taverns, and many people to trick, it's the perfect town for someone like me.

My father suddenly came up from behind me and asked, "If I told ye to stay on board, would ye listen ta me?"

"Most likely not" I answer honestly and turn to give him one of my famous smirks. When I was younger he would make me stay in the Captain's quarters when he left the ship, but eventually I began sneaking out. He found out in the end and tried many other ways to keep me from wandering the streets, but all his attempts failed. For I was a stubborn and curious woman and always managed to escape. He just recently began letting me off on my own. He knows I can handle myself. He just fears that I'll end up getting hurt on one of my adventures. He trusts me, it's just he doesn't trust the people around me.

"That much I thought. You plan on stirring up trouble, Rose?" That is another thing I got from my mother. My middle name is Rose and my father often calls me by this name, instead of Ezra.

"Of course, Father," I say "wouldn't have it any other way." I then proceeded to jump off the Queen Anne with a knowing smirk on my face.

•••

The first stop I made was the market. I spend a lot of time out at sea, so when I do have a chance to go to the store I like to stock up on things I might need. As I'm carelessly walking around, a little old lady stops me and calls me over. I should be suspicious, but she seems innocent enough. Also I'm curious as to what she has to say, so I follow her to a little market stand. I look at what she has to offer and I see a lot of intricate pendants and jewelry. Slowly, I look up at her still confused. She gives me a warm smile and says, "I have the perfect thing for you, miss." She reaches down into a crate and pulls out a tiny wooden box. She then opens the box and grabs a gold chained necklace, with some sort of pendant on the end. She attempts to put the necklace over my head, but she seems too short. I suddenly let out a chuckle and bend down a bit, so she could reach. Upon further inspection, I see that the pendant is a rose. I quickly look up at her wondering how in the world she knows how this symbol relates to me. She just stands there smiling at me, while I wait for some sort of explanation. After a minute of waiting, she gives in and says "I'd recognize those eyes anywhere."

It takes a moment to comprehend what she's saying, but when I do I look at her in shock. "You knew my mother?" I quickly ask.

She nods her head and then says "Yes, indeed. I knew your mother. Seems like ages ago."

I look at her expecting some more information. She smiles again and says, "When she was younger, she helped me when no one else would. My children had moved across the ocean to start their lives a new, abandoning me in the process. Old age left me unable to do a lot of things. She did everything a daughter would do, even though she wasn't my blood, she treated me like family." I looked at her in awe.

"I don't know much about my mother, but I did know that she was a very compassionate woman." I tell the old lady.

"That she was," The lady said "She had a sparkle in her eyes, that I can also see in yours." I looked at her, imagining how my mother would have looked when she helped this woman. After a bit of chatting, I thanked her and bid her farewell.

It's been quite a while since I've had a meaningful conversation with someone. I love my crew, but they are not the best at comforting and getting personal. I truly appreciate moments like these. While lost in my thoughts, I almost miss a tavern hidden up ahead. I walk over to it, wondering if there's anything interesting going on. When I walk in and I hear the usual sounds of drunks and music. I also see a free table in the corner and decide to go sit down. Then I try to get comfortable by leaning my chair back and putting my feet up on the table. I glance over at the barmaid, giving her the hint to bring over a mug of rum. She quickly obeys and I decide to gaze around the room. There are many prying eyes looking over at me. The men stare at me with hungry looks, to which I glare at them causing them to quickly avert their eyes. These men are definitely not my type. I sit there for a while, trying to relax and enjoy a drink, when a posh-looking man, carrying a box, and a blonde man, wearing a very familiar set of robes, walk in. He immediately scans the room, catching gazes with me. We stare for a couple seconds and I give him a signature smirk and raise my mug to him, as though to cheers. He smiles and looks away. I continue to watch, until he sits down at a table next to a passed-out drunk. A couple men begin giving this new man angry, and perhaps jealous, looks. I quickly give a low whistle to the blonde man and he quickly looks up at me. I nod my head towards the men, giving him a heads up. He looks away realizing what I'm trying to tell him. Soon after, a fight breaks loose and I take that as my cue to leave. I stealthily climb up one of the pillars and onto the roof. I pause and then look down from above just as this man throws his last punch. He looks up at me in wonder and I give him one last lazy smirk before jumping off the other side of the building.

•••

I continue to walk through the streets, looking for chests or crates to steal from. After finding enough loot to last me a while, I decide to turn back towards the docks. I'm suddenly stopped when I hear yelling coming from behind wall. I couldn't ignore it, so I decided to go see what's going on. I quietly jump up the wall only to see some fellow pirates fighting with some guards. There's only three guards left fighting, but it looks like the pirates are hurt. Deciding that I would help them, I quickly jump down stabbing two men in the process. Before the last guard can even realize what's going on, I kick him in the centre of his back, causing him to fall forward, and then lunge my knife into him. I look up and see the men staring at me in shock. "I'd close my mouths if I were you, wouldn't want to catch flies." I say. Their mouths immediately close and I give them a side smirk, while attempting to clean off my knife with my sleeve. Then I proceed to ask them if they need help with their wounds and they decline. After looting all the fallen men, I jump up the wall only to look back at the pirates. "If ye lads are in need of a job, come to the docks tomorrow morning" I quickly say. They all stay silent and nod their heads, as I climb down the wall and walk back towards the sea.

Once I get to the beach, I decide to go sit in the sand. It's quite peaceful, watching the water rise and retreat back into the sea. I love how the deep blue ocean contrasts against the red and orange sky. Wanting to get more comfortable, I take off my boots and begin to dig my feet into the sand. I lean back and bury my hands in sand, only to be stopped by something hitting my hand. I reach down and pick up a perfectly imperfect sand dollar. I spend some time analyzing it and, eventually, stuff it into my satchel. I can slowly see the sun disappearing behind the horizon. I figure it's time to head back to the ship, before Father starts worrying. Tomorrow we'll be heading towards Nassau. I wonder what adventures I'll come across there. Maybe I'll meet someone like the elderly woman? Ah, but probably not. Unless that old woman has decided to become a pirate, or a prostitute, she most likely won't be there. I stand up and start walking to the ship. When I get there, I notice that most of the crew is gone. They're probably drinking up a storm somewhere in Havana. I silently retreat to my own personal quarters. Then I change from my leather pants, white loose shoulder-less top, and black corset into a nice, comfy night gown. Sliding into my soft bed, I slowly drift away, thinking about what tomorrow might bring.

•••

author's note:
This chapters a little longer than the last one which is good. Hopefully, we'll meet James Kidd in the next chapter. Tell me your thoughts so far! Thank you!!