The Bloody Cutlass

Chapter Four

Violet looked around when she finally reached the top of the latter. The ship was truly something to behold. It was far more stately and grand then she ever imagined a pirate ship could be.

She glanced back at her fathers ship — now just a spect of light in the distance — and thanked the stars her sisters were safe.

She could not help but wonder if she would ever see them again.

What would become of her?

Whistling and lewd taunts rang out around her from the crew. Violet wrapped her arms around herself; a severe uneasiness settled over her as the initial shock subsided. "That's enough!" Reed bellowed, but it might as well have been directed at Violet because she jumped in kind. He was an intimidating specimen, it was no surprise that he was able to maintain order among his crew with such ease.

They were quiet for a moment, before someone called out, "where will the lady be sleeping tonight?" Another wave of boisterous laughter echoed that question and Violet shuddered.

Reed softened his voice to address her then, but his gentle tone did not make the question any less offensive to her delicate ear. "That is up to you Miss, you may have a cell in the brig, or share the Caption's quarters."

More laughter and whistling followed that, and Violet stiffened. As if they believed she would choose to share the bed of a dirty old pirate Captain.

"It will be the brig then." She answered, indignant. The stowaway stepped forward, a smirk on his face. "That is disappointing; we could have gotten to know each other better." The crew delighted in this one as well, at this point Violet was beginning to suspect they were all mad or drunk.

She stared at him in disbelief, "you are the Captain?" The words flew from her lips before she could stop them. Violet had assumed, based on age alone that Reed was the one in command. Age was always a clear indication of rank among her father's naval comrades. She held her breath expecting him to be cross, but his grin grew wider with amusement. "Rethinking your answer, my lady?"

Violet bristled at the implication. Fixing him with her best glare. The handsome, young, Captain chuckled; "I guess not," motioning for Reed to escort her belowdecks.

           ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Violet coughed, choking on the stale, musty air; as they entered the cramped, dark space that was the brig. She brought her dainty hand to her face to cover her mouth and nose.

Reed produced a large ring of rusty skeleton keys, and unlocked the cell at the very back of the long dark hallway. Violet breathed a sigh of relief that she would have a cell to herself; even if these hasty accommodations were not up to her usual standards.

A massive brown rat scurried past and Violet squeaked, clutching at Reed frantically. Her nerves were completely shot after the days events and she hastily released her grip on the pirates arm.

He chuckled, but there was no mocking in his tone when he said; "it's not as cozy as the Captain's quarters. But you will be safe in here, Miss." Violet nodded solemnly, walking into her cell; Reed closing the door behind her. When the lock clicked into place loudly, she winced.

Then she backed up into the far corner and sunk to the floor, gathering her skirts around her.

          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Above decks the men continued to celebrate; as they moved farther and farther from shore and the sinking ruin that was the Commodore's ship.

"When you said that the Commodore kept his daughter locked away, I assumed she was as ugly as a boot." Pierce mused. "She's beautiful." Charlie sighed contentedly, the men broke out into hearty laughter again, as Reed clapped the boy on the back.

"Perhaps we should've kept her above decks for a little longer Captain, give the men a chance to enjoy their spoils, if you will." Harlan said, stroking his wiry grey beard.

Flynn rolled his eyes as the men awaited his reply. "You may enjoy whatever you please when the money comes. Until then we must stay vigilant, this was only our first test, we still need to ensure we get all that is coming to us in exchange for her safe return." The men closest to him nodded with rapt attention, Harlan was successfully silenced for now.

They had done well in securing the girl with no casualties. Ruining the Commodores ship was a nice touch and would ensure their getaway. Flynn felt the smirk on his face when he imagined Roberts surprise and rage at having been stranded by a bunch of low-bred pirates.

Flynn wondered if the men he had left to swim to shore would reach Roberts, but he trusted they would. So far everything was going according to plan. Soon the mens hard-work would repaid; but for now they needed to be patient and play this hand they had been dealt exactly right.

When Flynn returned to his cabin alone that night, he couldn't help but smirk at the memory of the lady's face, when the offer to share his cabin was made to her. He had not expected her to say yes, but he had also not expected the quiet anger that burned in her brown eyes as she glared at him. For all her delicate beauty and soft, graceful features, in that moment she looked fierce and capable of so much more then what would be dealt to her. Her sharp, sure refusal stirred something within him that — before tonight — he believed he would never feel again.

From what he knew of her class —and her so far from observing her on her fathers ship — she was not taught, nor encouraged to fight back. But the challenge in her eyes when she had raised that sword to Reed; she had wanted to fight back, whether she really knew how or not.

The thought intrigued him. To be beautiful was one thing, but to stand defiantly in the face of your doom, requires a strength of character most men did not possess.

Flynn shifted his focus to the riches that would be divided amongst his men, securing once again their loyalty and continued support to him as their rightful captain. It worked for a time; but when Flynn closed his eyes that night it was not visions of vast riches that greeted him, but that of the Commodore's beautiful daughter.