Impossible Bottle

I sit in my father's study looking at this bottle with a ship built on the inside. I always wondered how that was built. Did they adhere to the glass around the ship once it was done? Is that even possible?

Before he died, he spoke again about the tale that his father told him. A story that was passed down from father to son. Unfortunately, I am the only child. Pirate Prince sailing the sea, hoping to find the lost treasure of gold. Searching for the one gold piece. "Eden, If you ever meet him, help him find the lost treasure," My father said.

I pick up the ship in the bottle and shake it gently. The ground rumbles under my heels so I stop and look around. I look down the hallway where everyone is gathered after the funeral and no one seems to notice. I shake it a bit harder and the ground rumbles to life. Windows shake and pictures fall. I look out the window and hear a deep voice scream, "Portside, Mates!"

I run to the double doors and swing them open to find a pirate ship hovering. There are men and women running along the deck of the boat grabbing ropes and tieing them down. A tall statue of a man drops a board that slams onto the deck in front of me. He takes a minute to take in my appearance and then gently smiles. "Eden Jack! You have permission to board!", whoa ladies. Chills run down my arms. I look back down the hall and still no one from the funeral seems to think anything is happening! What the hell do I think.

I start to take a step and wobble a bit in my heels, he reaches out to me and grabs my hand pulling me into him. "I'm Rowan Black," He says in a deep voice as I am pressed up against him. "Pirate Prince of the seas,"

"Eden," I say mesmerized by his dark features.

"I know," he laughs. "Welcome aboard." he sets me down and pulls away turning his attention to his crew. "ONWARD!"

The crew scrambles around lifting ropes and dropping the large sails. I watch in amazement as the ship jumps forward and we take off. Confused, excited, and amazed filter my emotions.

"Lass come, take a look!" he points to a table just behind the large wooden wheel where I see a large map. One that my father used to tell me about. He talked about the musky smell and how the universe would move with time. "I've sailed the seas for all of the time, fighting off anyone who tried to take this map. It is my destiny!"

"For the golden treasure," I whisper.

"Exactly," He excitedly states.

"Why haven't you found it?"

"Map moves with time, and the location changes. There is a key piece that I don't have," he explains. His eyes lock in on my neckline that holds the necklace. A golden compass necklace. I see a part of a map that looks like it needs a key or piece that is missing. I am holding my necklace thinking of what it could be when the imprints match that between my fingers. I quickly take the necklace off and place the compass over the missing piece and the map stops.

"Scooter never put two and two together! He carried that necklace around for years!"

"Scooter?"

"Your father, Charles, we called him Scooter!" he says proudly. "Here! The cave by the filthy sirens!" he points. He runs to the wheel and spins it causing the whole ship to spin and go in the opposite direction. Everyone holds on to whatever they can as I slide across the deck. As soon as it levels out I stomp over to him.

"A little warning would be nice!"

"Sorry, love. Excitement has taken over,"

"I see," I fix my dress looking up at him. He is watching everything I am doing. "So what's so great about this treasure?"

"It's what every man searches for. A golden treasure," he winks.

"What will you do once you have it?"

"I haven't gotten that far yet," he laughs. "My mission is to find it first!"

"Captian! Ship off the stern!" a crew member points.

"Prepare the cannons!"

Everyone hustles to different parts of the boat. "What's going on?"

"Bloody tyrants trying to get the map!"

"What can I do?"

"Hold the wheel here. Keep her steady! When I say now, spin it clockwise!"

I nod my head and watch Rowan run to load a cannon. He works with the other men and loads their cannons. He raises his hand and looks at me. "Now Eden!" I spin the wheel until he says stop and I hold it in place. "FIRE!" he yells and all cannons fire at the oncoming boat. A few hits and the boat slows down. Everyone yells in excitement and he comes running over to me and swings an arm around me. "Well done. Now onward," He grabs the wheel from me and I step back catching my breath.

We sail for what feels like hours until he tells us we have arrived. The ship hovers above the cave. Rowan looks at me, "What do you say? Want to go on an adventure?" I nod my head and the crew lowers Rowan and me into the hole.

"This way," he points and I follow along. Through dark corners and tunnels, it led us to a large open cave. An opening at the top has a light that falls in and bounces off several things filling the cave with a gentle light but no gold. Mirrors fill the cave. I continue to walk around when Rowan pulls me back towards him and I see That I have almost fallen off a cliff.

There is a shift in the sun and the light reflects off my necklace illuminating my golden hair, eyes, and tan skin.

Rowan's eyes scan over every part of me and I'm stunned into silence looking into his eyes.

"It's you, you are the golden treasure!" his eyes shine with excitement.