Miraculous Curses Of the Mermaid Treasure 2

Chapter 15

The rain was falling heavily on the churning waters, sending the large ship rocking to and foward. Waves high enough to spill onto the deck soaked the sailors' boots as all struggled to grab hold and stay aboard. A slip would mean surely tumbling into the pitch-black briny depths below. Whether the crew would be lost to the storm or to the confederation junks that followed closely on their tail, was yet to be seen.

Viperion held onto the wooden steering wheel, trying to see into the dark ahead, rain pelting his wind-burned face. He was doing his best to ignore the encroaching Confederation ships behind, but the sounds of cannons and the whipping of the white flags furling in the tempest caused his heart to beat in his chest. He shook his head. It would seem to be no good; trouble was certainly behind, but there was further danger up ahead.

He turned to Carapace beside him, who was concentrating on the scalawags behind them, standing tense as he braced himself on the poop deck behind Viperion."See this what we get for helping aristocrats!" He complained.

"Shores on every side Captain!" Viperion cries out atop the booms of the cannons and the howling storm above. "Sand or reef I cannot say!"

"Captain! The Confederation has us cornered!" Max yelled from the top of the crow nest.

"We must surrender!" Kim says worriedly.

The Captain, who had been standing looking out a telescope at the enemy behind, turned now, her blunette her whipping over her shoulder as stern blue eyes showed her disdain for the suggestion. "Surrendering!? Your vacation made you soft Kim," her sharp tongue lashed her old crewmate who joined in for the suggestion.

Kim wishing to start an argument with her about how the reefs would certainly provide death, but knowing there was little time to talk sense.

He watched her walk forward past the helm, telescope swinging about as she searched for something intently on the horizon. A small utterance of "there" could be heard as she lowered her scope with a look of determination.

"Shallow water!" Alix exclaimed as she saw the narrow pass between the rocks ahead.

"Dead ahead, full sail!" She shouted to the Viperion and crew alike.

"Captain!" Rene Rouge yelled back, her head reeling with annoyance at this novice sailorwoman. "The ship will run aground!" She shouted over the storm as she watched her walk away. "It's impossible!"

At the utterance of that word, she turned around once more with a look of anger and frustration, her eyebrows knitting. She held tightly to the mast ropes to keep from falling over as she scolded her, "You know I'm a getting a little annoyed with the lack of trust!"

"Full sails," Viperion said than another louder, more confident, "FULL SAILS!"

He watched as the crew leaped into action, shouting down the line to one another the instructions given by the Carapace. Chloe quickly began to let go of their anchors as they scurried to their positions. Kim, Alix, and Rene Rouge were beginning to climb the slippery, waterlogged ropes.

Chaton looked at Ladybug who had grounded herself with the ropes of a mast. She looked ahead steadily, before turning and shouting, "Hard to port, Viperion!"

"Hard to port with full sails will tip us over," Max scolded the young woman. She might be in charge, but she certainly was not as seaworthy as her cockiness led her to seem.

A twinkle in Ladybug's eye led Max to roll his eyes once more. She turned forward to watch the ship cut through the waters, "Exactly!"

The crew was hurriedly scampering up the ropes to let loose the sails that had been tied down in anticipation of the storm. The thunder above roared mightily, an angry cacophony with the sound of cannon fire behind. One cannonball met its mark, blasting onto the deck of the ship and sending several of the crew flying to their bellies on the wet deck. Chaton watched and couldn't help but think that even this stunt was just a little too far.