Cassius pulled their new recruit up to the deck while holding his wrist to make sure he didn't get away, but even Silas could tell that the grip was going to bruise from how tight it was. Julian hardly winced though.
"Men!" Cassius called from his spot on the deck, which caused next to all of them to turn and look at him and those who weren't working walked over to hear the captain better. "This lad here is named Julian. Snuck onto the ship while you all were getting drunk, and as usual, you all slacked off so we couldn't toss him to the mainland. I thought it would be fun for us to have a new man on the ship, so boys, treat him nice." Cassius let go before Silas looked at his captain.
"Guessing I'm his guide then?" Cassius nodded and Silas sighed before pulling Julian away from the group of men, many of them wearing grins, each unsettling due to the lack of teeth the men had.
It only made Cassius much happier to see the boy being put to work later in the night with Silas pushing the boy as hard as he could and watching the boy struggle to try and keep up with the orders he had never heard before.
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The serving wrench laughed slightly with her friends but then politely went over to the table Cassius was at. "Sir? What could I get you to drink tonight?" From her body to her voice, Cassius couldn't help but find himself completely smitten. The way her light amber curls bounced with each step to the way the left side of her mouth slightly turned up into one of the most beautiful smiles he had ever seen.
"O-Oh yes well... I'm not supposed to be drinking. Just watching my mates..." Cassius nodded over to the group of men that had to at least be 20. Why a 16-year-old was watching them was a question many asked when they heard his role.
"Well, how about I just keep you company then? The other girls have that side of the room and many men don't look as dashing as you, even in that raged clothing of yours." Her wink made his heart pound out of his chest, and he couldn't help but wonder what this woman was thinking of him and if it was just a joke, yet, he pulled out a chair next to him and sat right next to her. His captain had been set on visiting this one town every time they came back.
Bad memories were all that were with him in the city but he wasn't the boss, not even first mate, yet he was trusted despite his young age.
Their talk lasted until the men were too drunk and had to leave, then Cassius wished her luck with work and said he would try to come back every time he was in town. He did for months. Their captain wasn't much of one. Sending them to do much more work on land or cleaning up the docked ship instead of actually sailing and doing what their job was meant to be. It wasn't until years later that he noticed how the woman was down.
"Chasity? What's bothering you?" The woman sighed and grabbed Cassius hand.
"I... I wish to run away with you Cassius. Join the crew you're with." He didn't even know what to think.
"You know you can't... Don't you? A woman on the ship is a curse. We visit here enough, we're here more than were on the sea."
"I want to be by your side, Cassius. Your heart is purer than any other man's I've ever met." She did her beautiful smile once again and Cassius could feel his heart giving in.
He couldn't explain why he got up and walked away. Maybe it was just because of fear, or maybe because he had heard word of a woman who went around to kill men for their money after getting married. Who had the most beautiful amber hair and smile.
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Silas slammed his hand against the table to get his captain's attention. "Cassius! You're doing it again!"
The loud sound brought Cassius out of his daze and he just sighed before motioning for Silas to continue once more. The man in front of him couldn't even get one word in before there was one of the most horrid sounds he had ever heard. A scream that caused even himself to get shivers. Both of the strong men went outside to see what had happened.
"What on earth?!" Cassius looked around between his men, who were partially huddling around something to hide it and keep it far from Cassius view. A glare and a few steps forward, so he would have ran into the men, got them to move, only for him to see Julian on his knees with one hand down on the deck and the other hand on his red skin. Most of the men on the ship had a bit darker skin than himself and Julian, most of them were from Spain and were a bit more used to the sun. Cassius came over and took off his coat before gently putting it on Julian.
"C-Captain?"
"Come, let's get those burns taken care of. Don't need one of my men to get hurt by the hands of the crew." Julian excepted the help up and into the captain's room. Not quite understanding what was happening until his shirt was far gone and some type of revealing paste was put on it.
"I'm the only one who gets burnt anymore it seems. Nice to know I'm at least not the only one. Most of the men from this ship are from Spain and can stand the sun a small bit better than us, I should have given you different clothes than that." Julian just shrugged softly and was very surprised to see Cassius giving him some dark clothes that would cover more of his skin. "These are mine, just don't get them dirty or I'll have your head. Aye?"
"Aye, captain "
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Cassius watched Silas walk from his room and he finally relaxed into his chair before he heard another knock, one much lighter than the others from his crew. He groaned before moving to sit up some. "Enter," Cassius called in a dull tone, surprised to see Julian again, and still wearing his clothes from the day before. Poor boy's face was still burnt quite terribly.
"Captain? May I speak with you for a moment?"
"What is it, Julian?"
"I heard you talking with Silas... About your next hunt?" Cassius smirked softly and met the other's eyes.
"I should give you another night watch for listening in on us, but I'll see what this is about first."
"I want to go with you two. I don't think I could stand to stay on this ship much longer with all of these... barbarians..."
"Are you giving up? So soon into our trip as well..."
"A pirate is not a man who sits on the safety of a ship. I want to go out and do something that will put my life at risk, and if I die, I die with the thrill in my veins and the hope of gold in my heart," as he spoke, Julian walked to the desk and gripped its edge. "Not much of a pirate I'll be if I stay here, aye?"
Cassius couldn't help but smirk his usual grin. "Now, that's the spirit lad. Go get some rest. We'll hit the shore tomorrow." Julian's eyes lightened up and he ran from to room. Cassius couldn't help but relax and let his smirk go to a small smile before he went to bed himself.
YOU ARE READING
My Dearest Julian
RandomWhen he was young, Cassius had always wanted to become a ship captain and live on the sea, but he never thought it would come true. Many years later, as he stopped at a port to sell what they had gotten as well as take a break from life on the sea...
