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Author's Note: Just so everyone's aware, I know that this story is very similar to Pirates of the Caribbean, and I'll admit that I took inspiration from that movie, but the plotline is different - this one is NOT a ghost story, hehe - and hopefully you'll read it and enjoy it. Thanks everybody!
CHAPTER ONE
“Captain?” the man asked as he pushed open the door. The older man looked up and smiled grimly.
“Yes. Come on in,” he said before taking another drink of his whiskey. The man entered, closing the door behind him.
“Captain… we’ve reached our destination at last,” he informed Captain Barret Harrison, of the Pirate Ship Dark Horizon.
“We have, eh?” the Captain asked in his gruff voice.
“Aye.”
“Have you informed the crew of your plan?”
“Aye, Sir, they’ve become rather tickled about the idea,” he answered with a slight smile. The Captain narrowed his eyes, letting him know that this was not the time for foolishness.
“All necessary preparations and precautions are taken care of?”
“Aye, Sir.” The Captain looked at him.
“Are you ready?” he asked gravely. The man looked his Captain straight in the eye, unwavering.
“I’ve been waiting 8 years for this day,” he answered. The Captain nodded.
“Alert the men – tomorrow night we strike.”
“Evening, Miss,” Natalie greeted her, standing for the obligatory curtsey. Gwenyth sighed. She loved her maid dearly – Natalie was only a year her senior and had been serving her since she was 8. But even still, there were some lines of propriety that you just don’t cross – therefore, Natalie only called her “Miss” and always curtseyed when Gwenyth entered the room.
“Good evening, Natalie,” Gwenyth replied, sitting down on a chair near the fireplace. Natalie turned back to tending the fire, and Gwenyth took to gazing out of the window.
“So have you heard the stories?” Gwenyth asked after a few moments of silence.
“What stories, Miss?”
“About Captain Harrison, of course,” she responded, as if it were common knowledge. Natalie just shook her head.
“No, I haven’t, but I’m not one to have a fascination with pirates as you are, Miss,” Natalie answered. Gwenyth smiled. If any other servant had said that to her it would be considered offensive… but this was Natalie.
“That is very true,” she said. She paused before beginning again enthusiastically. “His ship was spotted not even a day off the coast! Can you imagine, Natalie? A real life pirate legend, here!” She sighed.
“I don’t see the appeal of it.”
“How could you not?”
“What if he and the rest of his pirate hoodlums ransack the town? What if they harm you, Miss?” Natalie shook her head worriedly.
“Don’t be foolish, Natalie, nothing will happen to me.” Gwenyth smiled slowly. “Although if they took me as a hostage, I can’t say I would wholeheartedly protest.”
“Don’t say that, Miss. You scare me when you say things like that.”
“But just imagine, Natalie – me on a pirate ship!”
“Well, with your father as Commodore of the Royal Navy, you wouldn’t be on that ship for long before the entire fleet was racing after you.” Gwenyth scoffed.
“And it wouldn’t be because he cares about me, it would be for the sake of his reputation,” she said bitterly. She sighed before the smile reappeared on her face. “But that’s fine. Captain Harrison is said to be the best since Morgan and Bartholomew. I’m sure he can keep me out of my father’s grasp.” Natalie sighed.
“I think that’s enough Pirate Talk for the evening. Come, Miss, it’s time for bed.”
“Goodnight, Elsie,” she called to the cook, who was tidying up the kitchen as she walked past.
“Goodnight dear, sleep well,” Elsie called back. Natalie pushed open the door to the small room that she shared with two other girls who worked as servants, Anna and Hattie. Her bed, which would seem small and uncomfortable by anyone else’s standards, looked warm and inviting to her. She took off her apron and pulled the ribbon out of her hair. She took off her plain dress, opting to sleep in her undergarments on the warm night. She sat down on her little bed and looked out the window at the ocean in the moonlight, as she did every night. Some may think her life was miserable, but Natalie didn’t mind it so much. The family treated her well, save for Master Kensington, but he was easy to avoid. She loved Gwenyth dearly, though “Rules of Propriety” kept that to herself.
She wondered how her life would be different if her mother had lived. They had been together, in a tiny apartment in the city, her mother working as a seamstress. When her mother died of pneumonia, Natalie was devastated. She officially had no one in the world – her father disappeared shortly after she’d been born. Luckily, her neighbor at the time happened to be Elsie, and she managed to get Natalie a job as Gwenyth’s maid, so she wouldn’t be kicked out onto the street.
B Natalie closed her eyes as she felt the ocean breeze against her skin. She shouldn’t think of such things. She was happy with her life, and it would do her absolutely no good to think of impossibilities. She leaned her head against the windowsill, feeling so comfortable with the breeze rustling her loose hair. She felt herself slowly drift off to sleep.
“Stealth, Matty. Stealth is our friend,” he said, clapping him on the back. Matty looked up at him.
“Can I come with you to get ‘er?” he asked, grinning, one of his front teeth missing. John shook his head. Matty frowned. “Oh c’mon, Blades, why not?”
“I’ve already assembled my team – I can’t take any chances. I’m sorry, Mate,” John replied. Matty humphed and went back to watching the small city, quiet in the dead of night.
“Blades!” he heard behind him. He turned to see Captain Harrison standing behind him. “Let’s go already.” John nodded and followed his Captain.
Natalie turned around, seeing Anna and Hattie curled up and asleep in their beds. She pulled herself up and curled up in her own bed. She was trying to ignore the feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach when she heard the voices outside the window.
“Did you find her?” a husky male voice whispered. The voice sent shivers up her spine. She squeezed her eyes closed and stayed completely still.
“Aye. Second level, over in the north wing facing the shore,” a slightly higher male voice answered. Natalie’s heart was pounding so hard she was sure they could hear. They were referring to Gwenyth’s room!
“Good. Lead me,” the first voice ordered. I must warn Gwenyth! I need to get her away! Natalie thought. She didn’t know who these men were or what they wanted with Gwenyth, but she had to get there first. She waited until she heard their footsteps hurrying away before she leapt out of bed and ran for the stairs.
“Going somewhere, ladies?” he snarled. The girls both froze. John examined them… if he didn’t know any better, he’d have a hard time determining which girl was the Commodore’s daughter. One had long blonde hair that fell in perfect, groomed curls, wide blue eyes and delicate features. She was wearing a flowing beaded nightdress with a silky robe thrown haphazardly on top – this was obviously her. She was striking.
But the other girl… she may have had untamed brown hair and been wearing a stained white underdress, but she was just as beautiful. John found himself having to tear his eyes away.
“Who are you? What do you want?” the girl asked with a courage that it didn’t appear she had upon first look. John’s lips curled into a smile.
“Who I am is of no concern to you. What I want, however…” He pressed the blade closer to the brown-haired girl’s neck. “…is for dear Gwenyth to come with me.” The girl’s eyes widened.
“No! Don’t hurt her!” Gwenyth said. John scrutinized her.
“You’re very protective of her,” he stated plainly. “Who is she?”
“She’s my governess, and you don’t need to hurt her. I’ll come with you,” Gwenyth volunteered herself. John focused his attention back to the girl, who was straining against the silver blade.
“Madame Governess, eh?” he said, taking a step closer to her. “Are you scared, Madame?” he rasped, his breath hot on her face. The governess kept her chin up and stared right back at him, but he could see the fear in her eyes.
“You will not take her,” she insisted. John let out a hearty, if somewhat bitter laugh. He took the sword away from her neck and the girl’s hands immediately flew to the vulnerable flesh.
“Of course I’m going to take Gwenyth,” he said with a malicious smile. “She’s what I came here for, and I’m not ruining my plans because some governess got in the way.”
“Fine,” the girl said. “If you must take her, then you will take me as well.” John laughed once again.
“What makes you think I’ll comply with your demands?” he asked between chuckles.
“Because…” she started, obviously searching for an answer. “Because if you leave me here, I’ll be out the door in two seconds flat and you’ll never have time to escape,” she finished with a smug smile.
“Easy to resolve. We will simply tie you up and gag you,” John said, not phased in the least.
“But, Blades…” Milo interrupted meekly. “Tie her up with what?” John turned to look at his accomplice – they hadn’t brought rope since they weren’t expecting visitors. John quickly scanned the room – nothing, except for maybe the bed linens, but they were far too thick to make a decent knot with. John cursed colorfully and looked at the girl again.
“Fine. But you make one wrong move, say one wrong thing or BREATHE before I tell you and you’re dead,” John said angrily, upset that his perfect plan already had a flaw.
A petite, loyal, beautiful flaw.
