Chapter 6

Three days later, a ship was seen approaching the Black Widow flying the white flag of truce.

“Have everyone buckle their weapons on, just in case.” Amanda ordered to the crew, aware that some pirate ships went under disguise, only to attack you once you believed they were friends. The crew of the Black Widow bustled around in search of their weapons while the unknown ship crawled ever closer.

Once the crew of the Black Widow was ready to leap into battle should the need arise, the ship with the truce flag flying was close enough so the mysterious captain of the mystery ship could jump over both railings.

He jumped over, wide-brimmed hat pulled low over his face.

“What brings you here?” Jocelyn asked.

The pirate captain said nothing, but turned slightly to his left and gestured to one of his men.

Within a minute, a struggling bound and gagged Tara was forced forward.

Everyone aboard the Black Widow was shocked.

Tara was forced to her knees next to the captain figure.

The captain figure pulled out his loaded pistol and placed it against Tara’s head, just above her right ear.

Tara bowed her head, staring at the deck in silence, for she couldn’t speak even if she tried.

The captain figure spoke, “Let’s strike a bargain, shall we?” he asked. He turned to Amanda, “Him,” he referred to Cody who stood next to Amanda, “for her.” He referred to Tara.

“May I speak to her first?” Jocelyn asked.

“What for?” the mysterious captain asked.

“Come on, Alec, just a question or two.”

Most of the crew was even more stunned, now knowing that they had befriended a betrayer.

“Congrats, you figured out it was me. Go ahead, talk, but my pistol doesn’t move.”

Jocelyn cautiously stepped towards Tara, knelt and untied the gag.

Tara looked up at Jocelyn, Jocelyn asked, “Where’s my ship?”

“At the bottom of the ocean,” Tara sadly replied.

Jocelyn bit her bottom lip, “Did you reach the destination I sent you to?”

Tara shook her head.

“Where is he?”

Tara knew whom she meant, why else would Jocelyn have sent Tara on the mission, “With the ship.” She said sadly.

Jocelyn, done asking questions, stood up and walked away swearing silently to herself. She had sent a letter ahead of her ship notifying Cris’ old family friend of Cris’ death and telling them they should expect his body on her ship soon after receiving the letter. Cris had been the last of his close family to die.

Alec, returned his attention back to Amanda and asked, “Have you made your decision yet?”

“Rot in hell, you crazy son of a bitch!” Amanda yelled at him, throwing the dagger she always kept in her belt at the pistol he held, knocking it away from Tara’s head and across the deck without it discharging.

The battle had begun.

Both sides charged at each other.

The battle raged on for what seemed like forever with constant sounds of pistols discharging, the screams of men and women of both crews as they got their death blows dealt to them and the sounds of many swords knocking against each other.

The crew of the Black Widow had won over the enemy in the end.

Amanda looked around.

Cody and Jocelyn were not among those standing. She saw Tara, a little cut-up, but during the course of the battle had managed to get her hands unbound.

As much as she didn’t wish it, Amanda could believe if Jocelyn had lost a fight and was among those lying lifeless on the deck. After all, she was short the use of her dominant right hand. But there was no way Cody could fall in a small battle like this. Amanda immediately started to wander around the deck looking at the fallen bodies. She found Jocelyn’s rapier…and Cody’s weapons.

“Pleasure doing business with you!”

Amanda turned towards the voice.

Alec had shouted from the point he was standing at on the ship’s starboard broadside.

Next to him stood Jocelyn and Cody, bloodied up as well.

Amanda took a closer look with her spyglass. Jocelyn was indeed standing by herself, having a pistol held to her head, but Cody looked to be unconscious and was being held up by a crewmember of Alec’s ship.

Amanda cursed under her breath.

“What do we do now?” Tara asked Amanda.

A loud boom was heard, the Black Widow shook violently, knocking those standing off balance.

“Cannon fire!” a shout was heard from amidst the crew.

“Load the cannons!” Amanda shouted to the crew.

“But they are far out of reach!” a different voice shouted.

“Then find someone who can aim better!” Amanda yelled, keeping an eye on Cody and Jocelyn.

Jocelyn and Cody were being led below decks now.

Amanda cursed again under her breath, “Hold!” Amanda shouted to the gunner, “If we wish to get Cody and Jocelyn back, we can’t risk killing them with our cannonballs.”

“Captain, we’re listing badly, the Black Widow cannot stay afloat much longer.” One of the crewmembers told Amanda.

“How much longer do we have?”

“Half a day, at most.”

“Good, our destination is about that, we can repair there.”

*****

Meanwhile, on Alec’s ship, the Stalker, Jocelyn and the unconscious Cody were led to the hold and locked in the brig on the side that the Black Widow had just aimed cannons at.

Amanda had been smart to not fire cannons at the Stalker because if she did, she would’ve killed both her husband and best friend.

Alec knew Amanda well; Amanda would know not to fire cannons once Cody and Jocelyn were out of sight. Next on his list was to get the Black Widow off his trail. Alec knew a sinking ship can’t exactly follow in pursuit. Alec was headed the opposite way the Black Widow was, to a place in which he was assured he’d get his way, so far, his plan was going smoothly.