Chapter 2: The Birth of a Relationship

“Captain, you got a letter from Captain Smith on the S.S. Cellustia.” Said Rupert Radcliff, first mate. All the other six crew members were women. In order, you have four mates. 1st-4th: Rupert Radcliff, Eve Roseman, Sarah Dawson (she works for a spy organization), and finally Cece Bloom (she’s the baby sister of James M. Smith. The midshipwoman is Priscilla Whitman. Anyway back to Cece. James cares so much about his sister that if anyone messes with her (which Avril does) and James finds, he’ll kick your ass. Literally! It doesn’t matter though because Avril messes with Cece all the time.

Then she goes to the bow of her ship and screams into the wind,

“Bring it on, Pirate King.” She didn’t know she met with the Pirate King in the tavern until Cece told her. Now she’s more eager than ever to meet him again.

Anyway, then there’s the cook, Clare Lockwood. Finally, there’s Katherine Tillie, the guard and jailer that holds the orphans and prisoners until she kills them.

She didn’t like killing anyone. It was all just a show. She had a mighty fine reputation to hold up. Especially if she was going to meet the Pirate King….again.

“Listen up crew! I’m going to retreat to my quarters to answer to this letter. Keep on task.” Avril walked to her quarters and sat down in her desk chair. It’s so boring on this boat, she thought. I need to get something to entertain me. Maybe these letters will. I’ll learn oodles of stuff about him.

Then I can get his ship’s location and we’ll invade them and I can kidnap him and bring him here. Then I’ll make him mine. If any of the other women touch him (other than his sister Cece) I’ll kill ‘em. Okay, time to write my return letter. Okay.

James M. Smith

April 17, 1884

S.

Avril J. Peterson

Dear Mr. Smith,

Thank you for returning my letter. I just received it a moment ago. I’m really delighted to know that you want to go with my plan. Now don’t think just because I’m being cordial and civil now will mean I will be when we meet. The only reason I created this plan was to get to know my ENEMY better. Yes, right now you’re my enemy. I hope we can change that.

Anyway, I want to meet you again. I have an idea when we should but it could be risky. You know, my crew and all. So….how about…. April 28 of this year ( of course) in London at the tavern Fidagin’s. Is it a date? I hope so. It took eight days to receive this letter, so I’m giving you some time.

Now to business. What I want to know about you is…. Are you a virgin?.... Are you big? (you should know.) What are you like?.... What are your hobbies?.... What turns you on?.... You know….personal stuff. Please, I beg of you, write me back. I am sooooo bored right now. I’m bored to tears. I cried myself to sleep last night because I am so bored. I was actually delighted when I got this letter. Write back, please.

P.S. No I’m not always this whiny and giddy and civil. I’m just very bored.

Sincerely yours,

Avril J. Peterson

Avril finished her letter and put it in her corset by her left breast. She left her room and went over to the galley.

“I smell something good Mrs. Lockwood. What is it?” Avril asked sweetly.

She may be the captain of this ship but Clare was a whole lot older than her. She’s sixty-something or other.

“Only your favorite, dearie. Hamburger stroganoff with macaroni mixed in.” she said in the same sweet tone Avril had just used. Clare was sweet but she did get tired of all the killings Avril did and told her as much.

“Dearie, you need a new hobby. It’s getting boring. All the killings and stuff. You need a man, one that can entertain you.” She said at dinner.

“I know. It’s sooooo boring around here. We don’t have anything to do other than go to town and clean. And I know very well that the girls are getting tired of it.” Murmurs of agreement were said around the table. Even one ‘Here, Here.’

“And…. I thought about men. I really did. I mean, what do you think about that Captain James Smith. He’s something. But I wanted to talk to you about him, because I thought about ambushing his ship.” Avril said looking around the table at her crew. The women all had their mouths hanging open in shock. Clare had an amused smile playing on her lips.

“So….you fancy this ….Captain James Smith then….do you?” she asked grinning.

Avril felt the color rising to her cheeks. I don’t fancy him do I, she thought.

“No, I don’t fancy him. Oh, bother. You might as well know.” She said indignantly. She explained everything. About the letters and her meeting him last year and she meant everything.

When she was done, no one spoke, not even Claire.

“Claire,” Avril asked weakly.

“do you have any input on this?” she asked looking at her plate. As much as she loved this dish, at the moment she didn’t feel very hungry. She hadn’t touched it much.

“So….what’s your ambush plan?” Claire asked curiously. Everyone leaned forward. Avril’s mouth started watering and she put a hand on her stomach.

“You know, I’m really hungry so why don’t I tell you while we eat.” Every one agreed and started to eat.

“Well, what I was thinking was that I could write to James and ask him where he is located. But first we have to do things in steps. I’m gonna’ write to him for several weeks and find out what I can about him and he’ll learn things about me. Then on April 28 if it’s an appropriate time for him, I’ll meet with him in London at Fidagin’s. Then when I earn his trust and I know of his location at all times, we’ll go to where they are and ambush them.

“We’ll shoot at them and them at us and Cece,” she said looking at Cece

“will be my bait for James. We’ll put blanks in our guns so if we shoot someone, it won’t kill them, or hurt them. Cece will be in the front of the line with real bullets shooting at there feet or by them. If my plan doesn’t fail then someone will shoot her, and she’ll go down.

“Now before you guys (or girls. Sorry.) jump to conclusions and think I’m gonna’ kill off one of my own, your wrong. I’m going to put a very strong bullet proof vest on her so it’ll catch the bullets and not hurt her. Then she’s going to act like she’s hurt.

“and if I know James well enough, he’ll come running over, jump onto our ship and try to rescue her. But that’s when the rest of you jump out and grab him. I’ll have a minute or two to be dramatic and then we’ll haul him off to the Prisoner’s Suite.” Avril finished her plan and grinned. Everyone was staring at her in amazement, even Claire.

“You mean the dungeons right?” Claire asked.

“No, I mean the Prisoner’s Suite. The one with the bed. And then I’m going to tie him to the bed.”

“But we don’t have a dungeon with a bed.” Cece argued.

“Oh, but we will. We will, midear. Nothing but the best for your brother. Don’t you worry your pretty little nose about that.” Avril said giving her a cold look.

“No! I won’t do it! I will not hurt my brother!” Cece cried standing up.

“Yes you will dearie or you’ll be thrown into the sea with that little thing in your stomach. Oops! I forgot! You don’t have a baby do you? No. Sad to say, you and your husband weren’t strong enough to have a baby.” Avril said in a mocking tone. Cece looked down to the floor and a tear rolled down her face.

“I won’t hurt my brother.” She said in a whisper.

“What was that love, I didn’t really catch it.”

“I WILL NOT HURT MY BROTHER. HURT YOUR OWN BROTHER, GOD DAMMIT!” Cece screamed at Avril.

“NO! I won’t hurt my brother for the same reason as you. I love my brother. I will not hurt him. You WILL help me or you will DIE in the process. Either way bitch, I WILL GET YOUR BROTHER!”

Both women stormed out of the galley, went to their rooms, and slammed their doors.

“Can you believe we’re going to have James Smith on our ship?!” one woman said.

“Boy, would I like a piece of that bad boy.” Another said. Either way, all sighed with pleasure as they went to their rooms and dreamed of James.