Pit of Vipers

Grace-1

 Times were changing in this fair world. The world's governments, especially England, were getting hissy about the idea of pirates. Sending out pirate hunters, increasing security on their ships and recruiting more men into his majesty's royal navy. In all aspects her job was getting harder. She had less open territory, less secure ports, raiding was on the up as well as thrill seekers willing to join up, it was harder to get good ships than ever and Drake FLIPPING Oakridge was adamant in getting in her way! Don't get her wrong, Grace Monrey had a deep respect for those who made it in the piracy business she really did, but when those who did decided to hedge her territory and take her raids? There were gonna be some issues.

Captain Grace Monrey, the Pacific Python, the Pirate Queen, was currently looking over the bow at yet another wreck that her ship, Adventure's Promise, was at most a day too late for. Among the wreckage her men had found ten live crewmen, a carrier pigeon and a note. The crewmen were all neatly tied, any that had been wounded in the skirmish were bandaged up and looking well enough. The messenger pigeon sat unruffled in his cage, complete with a nub of charcoal and paper for any message writing needs. She knew what the scroll attached to the mast of the ship would say before she unrolled it.

Hope you enjoy my little gift, there's some rum left in the hold.. See you soon

Love, the Black Mamba

Making a mental note to send someone for the liquid bliss, she turned back from her contemplation only to run smack dab into a broad chest. Looking up into the stormy grey eyes of her dearest friend. Jacques 'Jack' Duval had served as her first mate since the first time she had gotten her hands on a ship. Born a Frenchman, he ran away at a young age so though he remembered the language he had lost the beautiful accent. Chestnut hair fell in a ragged line over one of his gorgeous grey eyes as he looked down at her. She was well aware of the betting pool within the crew about how long it would take them to hook up, she'd even discretely participated. Grace's stellar bet had been that they would never date, simply because Jacky boy was into a different chick. Pity.

"What's wrong nymphe?" the deep rumble in his chest coincided with the concerned look in his eyes.

"Just the snake preying on my thoughts." she sighed and turned back to the rail.

"Be careful who you call a snake le petit. They call you the same."

"Don't I know it! I'm telling you Jack, the sooner this business is over the better." his full laugh breached her ears and she looked up at him.

"Something tells me, mon ami, that we are not seeing the end of this any time soon." this was, needless to say, mildly concerning. So she turned and began walking up ship to her quarters.

"I'm sure you're right, but for the meantime I am going to go to sleep in blissful ignorance free of anticipation for the events in a week. Tomorrow, I will wake up and we will set off to Port Royal hopefully with a few ships in between." she could feel his nod as she continued walking.

"Aye aye Captain. Tell my daughter I said hi." she smirked.

"She's my daughter! She loves me more!"

She strode into her cabin, throwing the scroll on her small desk to be filed with the other various messages found dotting her ocean. All from the infamous Black Mamba. Who was not black or a mamba from what she could tell. The closest she had gotten to the man was during the take over of a British sloop and even then the two ships were a few leagues away from each other. She had vaguely seen him standing at the bow of his ship through her spyglass and she thought that she saw him tip his hat to her before retreating. A mew woke her from her thoughts and she looked down to see her daughter at her heels.