Celeste

14.

Three weeks later...

The ship rocked softly on the waves.
Painted on the side, in a shocking red that glowed with pride and confidence, was the word DIVA.

The captain stood on the bow, grip tight on the gold capped wheel.
Captain Jake Reed.

He hadn't slept in days, body as taunt as a bowstring, eyes peeled for any sign of his daughter. He was sure - no - positive that Celeste had leaped off the pirate ship, and was clinging to a barrel, half unconscious. Or was marooned on a scrap of land, with a pile of rocks spelling SOS. Perhaps another military ship, like the ones flanking DIVA had picked her up, and was blinking lights in an incoming message through the fog.

Or maybe...

No. She was alive. She would be found, spluttering curses and traumatised, possibly injured but non the less alive.

Rain began to splatter across the deck, beating at the wood with hollow rhythm. The sudden shock of cold wet on skin shook any thoughts from his mind. A shout, carried by the silence of night rang out like a bell.

"Message incoming!"

His heart leapt in hope as letters from above, the crows nest, rang out.
"P!"

"I!"

"R!"

"A!"

"T!"

"E!"

"S!"

Pirates. Pirates!
Commands leapt from his lips.
"Ready the cannons! You! Wake the others!"

It wasn't long before the whole place was alive with noise and activity. The rain was drowned out by shouts, yells, and the rumble of cannons being moved into positions needed.

It came out of the fog slowly, unveiling tattered sails and hulking figures shouting battle cries. This ship had no name, no cannons or shiny weapons. That made it dangerous. "FIRE!" The captain shouted, spittle flying.
This heralded a thunderous sequence of cannon shots that split the night in two. The crack of wood and screams followed.

Then the pirates began to swing over, brandishing sharp swords and rusty daggers

His men were no cowards. With presision, bodies started to fall on the deck. Ugly scarred faces met hard polished wood in a final kiss. There were a lot of them, spilling like oil onto DIVA.

A brute with meaty sword made his way to him. It only took the right angle and swing to send the pirate crashing down, howling like a dog.

And then another. And another.

It didn't take long before he was sounded, back-to-back with his first mate. Swords created music as they met, ringing like cylables through the night.

Jake wasn't perfect. On occasion he mistimed a swing or dodge. As a result his coat was covered with scores and rips where blade had met it. Gashes bloomed red on his shirt, stinging as he moved.

But the pirates thinned out.

A shout of pain directed his attention to a broom boy, who lay in the path of a arcing longsword hoisted by a greasy bald pirate, who smiled.
Not on his watch.

Jake charged towards the boy, and with a screech of steel, met the longsword with his own.
"Get below deck!" He yelled, parrying the attack.

The boy scuttled off, limping.

The pirate was furious that this captain had taken away such an easy kill, He raised his arm to deliver a blow, and something swung out of his clothes. A necklace that reflected stars.

Captian reed flinched at the memory of finding the carriage upturned, boots leading to the docks. A forgotten blade sticking up in the dirt.
Celeste's face looked at him in his minds eye. Worried as she left in that carriage. Eyes glistening with tears, brows drawn mouth set in a thin line.

He remembered watching the ships crow give it to her, only half listening to the governor. She smiled up at Eli, cheeks pinking, eyes sparkling.

She had it on her when she left. It wasn't found with her things. She's on the pirates boat. Relief, soothing and warm, washed over him.

His grip slacked, sword lowering.

His first mate shouted, and pushed him to the side. The pirate, seizing his chance, took a mighty swing. The push may have saved him, but with a price.

The sword bit deep into his arm.
Pain, hot and stinging, exploded.

In the cool night rain, the sudden flowing warmth was unmistakable. Blood.  The first mate finished off the pirate, sending him to the deck.
"Captian?captian! Jake!"

But it was too late.
Like wet paper, captian Jake reed crumpled to the ground, hand at his wound.
He lay alongside a dead pirate and a star necklace, pouring his life out onto the diva.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

With a groan, Jake opened his eyes.
He felt strange. Most likely his wounds. He felt for damage, but his hand wouldn't touch anything. He tried again, but it was like...
No.

Battling a throbbing head, he managed to look at his left side. It was covered in bandages, and he only saw that. A short stump of bandages.
He had lost his arm.

A cry of grief, small and weak, came out of him. One of defeat.
He would never be a captian again.

A short knock at the door. It opened, revealing his first mate wringing his hands.
"His blade was infected. There was nothing we could do." Is all he says, looking worried.

He knows that look. "What else."

"Your coat went over. And..." Tom higgs, the first mate, has never liked this part of the job. This poor captian has lost his wife, arm, and coat to the sea. It will wreck him. But that steely gaze means he has to say it.

"We found a blue dress. Inside the hem said Celeste reed, sir."
It's said quickly, bubbling out of his mouth fast, like a burst pipe.

Jake feels a sledgehammer hit his heart. Faint ringing begins in his ears.
"What?" But he had heard.

From behind his back, the first mate gives him a nightmare. It's lost its colour, been torn to bits. But it's hers. The label in careful stitch confirms it.

Jake hugs it to him with his good arm. The ship rocks. Outside the rain hammers, waves batter, and the wind howls allongside his grief, drumming hard on the windows.