Emerald Seas

Chapter 28

It was amazing to see these two skilled swordfighters for once fighting next to each other, instead of against one another. Kate watched the swordfight going on but as the dizziness had faded she quickly rose from her place on the ground, stumbling toward Emma still shaking in the corner of the office. Emma moved into her embrace and Kate lifted her from the ground carefully.

'Are you well?' Emma asked watching the blood drip from Kate's temple. Kate nodded slowly still staring at the men fighting against the pirates not paying attention to her own pains. Suddenly there was a yell of pain, Emma turning her sight to the men as well was screaming loud as one of the pirates fell down to the ground after Jack had impaled him with his sword. The large pirate still alive was watching in fear now having to face Cutler and Jack alone, he quickly took his pistol from his belt and as pirates never fought fairly he kept the two men in his shot.

'Kate, take yourselves to safety!' Jack spoke and saw Kate hesitating watching the pistol, but she nodded and started moving Emma from their place in the office. Kate noticed what Jack was doing, he was being held hostage and the only way out was to strike a deal with the pirate, but first, the men wanted Kate and Emma's safety. Cutler quickly moved his hand around Kate's wrist as both ladies just entered the corridor. Kate watched him in surprise as Cutler moved outside the room for just a moment keeping the door slightly open.

'Take these, the keys to the storage cabins, no one without them is able to enter. Stay there until we come for you' Cutler whispered gazing into her eyes, he had opened her hand moving the keys inside, after that moving his fingers around he kept holding it for a short while like he didn't want to let go of her. Kate nodded softly, not sure whether she was alright with leaving Cutler and Jack behind in danger.

'Please care for your own safety too, not just Miss Thorne's' Cutler watched her, for a moment striking a serious face, he knew her too well. Kate's eyes shifted to the ground.

'Kate, promise me' Cutler whispered so only the two of them could hear, softly raising her head into his hand so her eyes had nowhere to go but to his.

'Promise me you won't get harmed' Kate swallowed, Cutler quickly pressed his lips to Kate's before he left into his office shutting the door quickly.

Kate hastily moved Emma behind her further into the halls. After taking one of the stairs below, there were two large wooden doors on the ground that let to the storage below. Kate removed the chains, unlocking them with the keys and opened the heavy doors as quietly as possible. There was another short staircase that moved them down below. Shutting the doors Kate quickly relocked them.

It was taking very long. Kate had undone herself from the dirty apron still hanging from her body, now pacing up and down the storage cellar. Emma was watching her sitting onto some of the bags filled with spices.

'Kate calm yourself for a moment. There is nothing we can do' Emma whispered still shaking. Kate squeezed her fists, with her elbows standing against the wood of the ship's hull, resting her head on her arms.

'I can't sit around and do nothing Emma, everyone is in danger' Kate had raised her head and sight to her. Emma lowered her eyes to the ground. Suddenly there was a loud knock, both ladies watched each other in fear as Kate quietly moved in front of Emma, just in case someone uninvited was bashing in.

'Emma?' the voice of Greitzer whispered softly. Kate watched Emma's face lighting up and quickly she removed the locks. Greitzer opened the large wooden doors and helped both ladies out. Emma started sobbing uncontrollably inside Greitzer's arms and he watched Kate in surprise.

'I heard your voices searching the ship. Everything up deck is calm now as the fleet of Port Nassau has come for us' Greitzer spoke. It was her father's fleet that must have saved them and Kate felt glad, but she was concerned about Cutler and Jack's safety, if they had made it out of the office they would have come for them.