The Pirate Princess

The Announcment

The door slams shut behind me as Skylar drags me by my wrist. He pulls me over the bed and my heart clenches in my chest. I don't know what's happening. My mind races through all the possibilities. He lets go of my wrist and goes to the wardrobe closet. I hold my breath while my heart feels like it's going to beat right out of my chest. He opens the wardrobe door on the right and I see woman's clothing hanging up. 'Oh no,' I think, 'What's he gonna make me wear now?' He moves a few smocks out of the way and I see an outfit at the back. He picks it up gently by its hanger and pulls it free of the other garments. I look at it stunned. I didn't think that any pirate had the taste or desire of owning anything so rundown and worn. And yet it is somehow wonderful. I look the outfit. It consists of black leggings made for maneuver rather than style. The top is a puffy shirt with spandex at the ends of the sleeves so that they hug the wearers wrists. The neck line is straight with no fabric where the persons shoulders would be. Hanging loosely around the midsection is a brown leather corset. Its shape is somewhat foreign with no straps for the shoulders and a triangle bottom. The strings are a white leather and the whole thing looks worn and old. He places the outfit gently on the bed and goes back to the wardrobe. Next he pulls out a tricorn hat, a red bandana, and a pair of knee high leather boots. He places them beside the bed and looks at me. I stand like a statue, confused about what he expects me to do. His face is blank and I can't tell the emotions in his eyes apart.

"What's going on?" I ask. He stares at me and I feel a cold shiver of fear run through me. I look away.

"You'll find out soon enough. Now get dressed and be ready to go in 10 minutes. If you're not ready I'll drag you out there whether you're dressed or not." he says as he strolls to the door. He stops with his hand on the doorknob and looks at me, before he pulls it open and leaves shutting the door behind him. I look at the outfit laying on the bed. Dread forms like a rock in the pit of my stomach. I take off the belt and the dress carefully placing them on the bed. I slide the leggings on and look at the top. It's so old that it looks like an antique. I loosen the strings on the corset and and slip the white shirt over my head. I slip my arms through the sleeves and tighten the strings on the corset. The corset is so tight that I can't breath. The shirt is really baggy around the sleeves but is still close enough so they wont get in the way in a sword fight. I look in the mirror and see that my hair is a mess. I sit down at the vanity and grab a brush. The brush is worn wood and is soft in my hands. I brush out my hair at an angle, making curls appear. I look down and see make up scattered across the surface, the seals unbroken. I break open a tube of lipstick. The shade a soft light pink the color of a freshly planted pink rose. I put a little on my lips and smear them together. Then I grab a small thin black tube and remove the top. It's a pencil, the top sharpened to a point. I rub a little under my eyes to bring them out more and grab a tube of mascara. I make my lashes longer, fuller and darker. I look in the mirror and see my reflection. I barley recognize myself. I look so strong and independent.

I sigh and stand up. I'm ready to go home, ready to be surrounded by the ones I love. But most of all I'm ready to be away from this horrid boat and its horrible Captain. 'When will father come rescue me?' I wonder as I walk to the door. I stop with my hand on the doorknob. I take a few deep breaths before opening it. I step back out into the office and see Skylar sitting in his chair, his feet on his desk and his hands behind his head. When he sees me he stands up, a look a mixture of shock and longing apparent on his face. He quickly covers it up, replacing it with its usual scowl. It doesn't reach his eyes though. There is joy, fear, and something else I can't quick make out. Anxiousness maybe? I shake it off, I have no time to worry about him and his feelings. The sooner I'm away from him the better. I have to believe that father isn't coming for me and that it's up to me to get out of this predicament. I stand still as Skylar circles me like a lion waiting for his chance to pounce. When he's done surveying me he nods his head, a small smirk gracing his features. His eyes change in the light, the color seeming to shimmer and shine more, maybe from excitement or something else. He looks me in the eyes, the blue seeming to send ice into my veins. The excitement vanishes from his eyes, his expression becoming guarded and unemotional. His smirks is replaced by the usual familiar scowl again.