Chapter 3: Chapter Two: The Unknown

*Prince's POV*

“Sir?” A guard from my father’s personal is in the doorway of my chambers. Looking slightly nervous and disheveled from his night time patrol.

I sigh and turn to face him, “What Travis? Does father require my appearance today?” Secretly praying it was not the case at all. I dreaded seeing my father lately. He just drones on and on about finding a wife for me, and constantly training me how to be a proper king for our kingdom, or about our ongoing wars. Im not ready for anything but to fight in the wars. Fighting is what I do best, not marriage or assuming my position of King so soon, but desperate times means desperate measures.

Travis pauses before speaking and I’m immediately annoyed by his hesitation. “Spit it out already!” I bark out.

He flinches, “Yes sir! Right away sir. Well... erm, there’s been a sighting.” He stutters out.

“A sighing of what?” I ask moving closer to Travis. Ugh it’s probably another shark or something.

“A ship. A pirate ship. Black and silver sails and a dark wooden body. In.. in Crab Cove.” He stammers.

I shake my head in disbelief. In Crab Cove? He must be joking. Patrols always deter ships from our main grounds. “A ship...” I mutter in disbelief.

“Excuse me sir?”

“Did I hear you correctly or am I going mad!? A SHIP!? A PIRATE SHIP GOT THROUGH? What were you doing? Sleeping!? How in the seven seas did a pirate ship get through!” I roar. “Does my father know about this yet?” I angrily snarl. Flicking my emerald tail I make angry waves in the water.

I feel a little bad for being rough on Travis. He’s a new guard around here but new or not, this is a serious matter. “I... I- I don’t know sir. I was with the commander and the King. A scout from the co- cove came and told the commander quietly and sent me- me to tell you first...” he quietly added, “Telling you first, rather than the King.”

I breathe in deeply and letting air bubbles out through my nose. Trying to calm myself, I say through clenched teeth, “He can’t know about this. How many crewmen?”

“How many crew-what?” Travis asks.

I groan out loud and say again, “How. Many. Crewmen. On. The. Ship.”

He stammers, “For- forty pirates.”

“Gods! Okay, gather Auora and three others. Perhaps we can compel them to leave here. I will accompany to make sure no one loses control and kills them. Do you understand? Make sure you have Auora! If she’s sleeping, wake her and tell her it is a direct order from her brother.”

Travis nods and quickly darts away without saying another word. I must make sure my father doesn’t hear of this. His patience with the petty pirates is waining thin. He has a desire to kill them like the old times. Back when his mother reigned the throne she was mad with killing. My father overthrew his own mother and banished her and her followers away. To never return and to end the merciless killing. My father was the first to end the killing but if he loses his patience, there’s no telling.

I grab my my spear with a sharpened rock as an arrow at the tip and quickly leave my chamber. It is still early morning as I silently pray to not run into any one in the castle. I can’t risk anyone telling my father I’m leaving this early. I dart around the hallways undetected and speed towards Crab Cove.

“Brother!” A high pitched, extremely annoyed, and slightly tired voice calls out behind me. “How dare you tell someone from father’s patrol guard to wake me up this early in the morning!? And saying it is your request!” My younger sister, Auora, heading towards me. Her young face pulled together in a scowl and her shoulder-length, dark brown hair is messily tied back with a bright red ribbon. Following closely behind is a girl I have not seen before and her beauty is breathtaking.

I flash her a smile and turn to look at my sister, “Ah sister. Glad you can join me.” I say slightly smirking. Although this is no laughing matter, I always find a little joy in making my sister annoyed.

“Why?” she promptly asks.

“Travis hadn’t told you?” I ask her puzzled.

“Obviously not, brother. Now, what is going on?” She whines.

“A pirate ship is at Crab Cove. We need to lull it away. And I didn’t want father to find out.” I turn serious. “We need them gone.”

She nods in understanding. “Gails and Devon are coming with Travis and this,” She pauses and flashes me a devilish smile, “is Radiance.” Damn, she noticed the way I looked at her. Radiance is beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Her hair is long and flowing; a fierce color of orange/red. Her tail matches her hair perfectly. A bright orange tail with the tips of her fins are a beautiful ruby red. She has big, round, emerald green eyes surrounded by thick eye lashes. She shyly smiles a small smile to me and then darts her eyes down. Clearly humbled to be in my presence.

“Thank you for assisting us today Radiance. I apologize for it being so early in the morning.” I respectfully say looking straight into her uniquely green eyes.

“Oh, it is no problem your Majesty. Not at all! I am proud to help.” she assures me. She daringly looks me in the eyes before looking quickly down again. She’s so... perfect. Nice, respectful, and possibly... a wife for me. Perhaps...

“Shall we get on with it brother? Travis and the others are here already.” Aurora says pouting swishing her lilac tail. “I want to go back to bed.”

Angry that she isn’t taking this seriously, I strongly grasp her wrist and pull her close to me. “This isn’t a joke Aurora. I chose you to help me with this task because you are strong enough and you can keep this quiet from father. Do not take this lightly or you will be killed. Do you understand?”

She nods but I still feel as if she is still taking this too lightly. Potentially, we can all die but I will not allow that to happen. Silently the six of us head towards Crab Cove preparing for a fight. After an hour, we finally see the Bow of the ship and we all hide behind a boulder secretly watching.

“Gods. There are so many men.” I pause and look back at our little group. “Okay so-” I suddenly stop and look at the ship again. Is... Is that a girl? A girl on a pirate ship?

“My prince?” Gails asks. “What is it?”

“Travis! You said this was a pirate ship. There is a girl on board.” I say in disbelief.

“It is! I swear it!” he defends. “Look at the sails and the flag. I believe it reads ‘Black Diamonds.’ But I did not see a girl.”

I frown trying to remember the name. I’m sure I have heard of the name before. “Sister, have you heard of this name? Of this ship?”

My sister’s face is a pale and her face is hardened. “The Black Diamonds? You don’t remember?”

“Surly it’s not the same..” I trail off as my sister stiffly nods. We are in way over our heads. I try coming up with a plan when I hear a bell being rung off from the ship.

“They’ve seen us! They’ve seen us! Let’s wait until they start moving then drive down deep!” I tell them. “We will split off. Aurora and Radiance will split off first and head back to the castle. Then Travis and Devon will follow and Travis, make sure they’re safe.” They all nod and start heading away from the pirate ship. I turn and look at Travis and see he’s nervous. “You’ll be okay. You’re fast. I’m fast. We will be the last to split off. Just lure them out of the cove then we’ll be okay. I promise.”

He gulps and slowly nods. I give him a reassuring smile. “They’re starting to move! Go!” Suddenly I hear a loud crack and something whips past my ear and hits the jagged rock behind me. “What was that!?”

“I don’t know! But we best be leaving!” Travis nervously says.

“Agreed.”

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*Charlie POV*

“Nate! Nate slow down. I don’t even see them!” I try to calm my frantic brother pacing back and forth on the ship’s deck.

“No, no! They were there! Howell saw them off the bow! Six of them! One with bright red hair!” he snarls. “There! There!” and with a bang he shoots off his brand new gun he bought off the Black Market. “Damn! I missed! I need more practice!” sweat clings onto his ragged black hair and drips down the sides of his face. His golden eyes darting side to side, wildly looking for the invisible creatures. He lets out a yell of angry frustration and shoots off his gun again in the air.

“Nate! Stop! Please. You’re shooting at nothing.” I grab his arm and push it down. “Howell probably saw them and they saw us so they ran away. Please calm down.”

Panting, he looks me in the eyes and I see his twisted pain. I feel it too, the same deep pain that we share. The loss of a man that we looked up to be our father for too short of years. I try to pull him into a hug but he violently shoves me away and storms off to his quarters. I sigh and look at the crew who are standing around, unsure of their orders.

“Howell. Tell the men to start going north. Look out for anyone and follow any leads if you must, alright?” I order. “Lets go to Greensburg then we’ll-”

“Oy! Charlie! A bloody man! Right where Nate shot!” one of the crewmen yells out.

Nate suddenly stops at the door of his room and with a crooked smile on his face, he laughs and looks at me.“Alright men! FOLLOW HIM. Full speed ahead. The winds are in our favor today! Ye heard me! Get a move on you dogs!” he roars.

The men shout and cheer while all scrambling to their places. Howell is yelling out orders left and right but keeping an eye on me. He knows the effects of this war on me. I hate this war with all my heart.

“Let’s go grab our prize.” Nate smirks.

I turn on my heel and head back towards my quarters. Nate’s hand grasps my arm and I wrench away from his touch like he has a disease. I ignore his calls for me as my bottom lip starts to quiver. I cry so rarely and I didn’t want anyone to see me. Captain Black Blood said crying is a weakness that anyone can grab ahold and use it as a weapon against you..

“Charlie. Where in the bloody hell do you think you’re going?” Nate growls.

I don’t dare to face him. Instead I continue to ignore him and keep walking. By the time I reach my room my tears have spilled over my eyes and running down freely on my cheeks. I crash down onto my bed face-down trying to block out the sounds of the men scrambling around on deck and the muffled commands of my brother. The smell of lavender is gone and I am only left with the painful reminder of the past.

The look in his golden eyes didn’t contain joy or happiness anymore. Only filled with a frighteningly powerful desire to live up to Black Blood’s legacy. Nate has already been doing more than enough. I scream into my pillow in frustration and agony. Wishing things were back to normal. Where Captain Nate was only my brother Nate. He’s so cruel now with his mind glued onto nothing else but being the best. He’s forgotten about me. I feel the ship start to rock left and right more heavily now. I can tell we’re in open sea chasing nothing more but a delusional dream. I fear for his sanity and I fear for his life. I let the rocking ship and the sounds of the waves lure me to sleep. My sobs fade away as I close my eyes and feel myself drift away in the peaceful bliss of sleep.

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“Charlie. ‘Tis time to wake and eat yer breakfast now lass.” I flutter open my heavy eye lids and see Howell standing over me. “Good mornin’. Nate is waiting o’er at the dining hall.” I guess I had slept all day and night. I wondered what happened yesterday. If Nate ever got his prize...

“Okay Howell. Can you fetch me my black boots? I’ll get up in a sec.” I stretch and yawn, rubbing my eyes. Daylight is shining through my windows and I see we are still at open sea. I dress in a red blouse with dark brown trousers and slip over my knee high boots. I figure we will be docking somewhere and Nate will want me to rob another home. It’d be nice to leave the ship behind for awhile. I’ve always liked being alone sometimes.

Sighing, I wave Howell goodbye and tell him thanks for tiding up my room before closing the door behind me. Heading towards the dining room, I find it strange that I do not run into anyone on the way. I shrug and assume everyone is up on deck. Finally I reach the room and the smell of scrambled eggs and fresh bread is heavenly. I enter the grand dining room and see Nate happily eating his food. He looks up, smiles, and wildly gestures for me to sit across from him. Puzzled I do what he says and sit directly across from him. A bowl of fresh strawberries with three freshly baked butter rolls are placed in front of me.

“Yer eggs will be comin’ up lass.” our cook says.

“Thanks.” I grab a roll and stuff it hungrily into my mouth. I realize I still hadn’t eaten since the night before. “You seem... happier Nate...” I cautiously point out. I don’t want to say the wrong thing to set him off again. He almost looks like his old self again, almost, not quite.

He lets out a giggle and looks at me with a wide grin. “Well... When we were at that small town of Fiona... I received a letter my dear sister!” He grabs his glass of wine and gulps it down.

“Umm.. from who? And.. are- are you drunk?”

“No! Of course I’m not Charlie! But the letter was from Captain Tobias Bridge! You met him once at nobel Bellwood’s ball we attended two summers ago, remember? You danced with his son.” he says too gleefully.

“I vaguely remember. I do remember his son stealing a kiss from me at the ball’s end!” That night was amazing up until I met Tobias’ son. He was a good looking man and he sure as hell knew it. I remember his blonde hair styled perfectly and his suit was made to show off his muscles. He danced too well, talked too sweet, and even smelled too good! He was a pig! A stunningly, handsome pig. He disgusts me. I wrinkle my nose, remembering the scent of his too strong cologne. “What was his name again? Started with a j?”

“Johnny Bridge! Yes my dear sister!” He claps his hands. “What do you think of him? He seemed to fancy you at the ball.” he smiles wickedly and raises his eyebrows.

“Alright. Seriously, you’re scaring me Nate...” I trail off. Studying my brother’s wild smile. Then it hits me. Hits me hard right in the stomach. I lurch out of my seat so fast, my chair gets knocked to the ground with a loud clash. “NO NATE! No. I refuse! No, no, no, no, no!” I yell.

He laughs and leans back into his chair crossing his arms behind his head. “Why the hell not Charlie? He’s rich! Filthy rich!” he cackles.

Rich? Rich? Like that will ever make me change my mind!

“No!” I roar. “Never!” I shake my head madly left and right. At that moment our chef walks back in with my eggs and I scoop them in my hand and fling them at Nate. “NO!”

“Charlie that is enough! Im sorry, she’s in a bit of a crazy mood today.” he chuckles to the chef.

“YOU’RE THE CRAZY ONE NATE!” I scream in anger. I am certainly not crazy!

“Okay, okay, my Charlie Bear. Hear me please. Please sit.” a sudden change in his mood, I decide to listen and pick up my tipped over chair and sit down, still fuming from his insane plan. “Darling sister... he isn’t a pirate. He got away from this... life and made something of it! You- you can get away from this! He’s already accepted and-”

I fill up with even more absolute rage. Already accepted!? What!? “Are you mad? I don’t even know him! I danced with him once! He’s a pig Nate! He’s probably slept will hundreds of girls and left half of them pregnant and alone! And what is this nonsense about ‘getting away from this life’? Its our life! Ours! I love it! What has you thinking this way?” I cry out in aguish. “Besides.. he didn’t ask me.” I pout.

“Charlie! I am shocked at your language! But please, can you let me finish?” Still pouting I nod and a sad smile is plastered on his face as he walks over to me and kisses me lightly on the cheek. “I do not wish this life for you anymore. It is not fit for a beautiful young girl like you Charlie Bear. It is my job to keep you safe and giving you another life that is not the pirate life is exactly how I plan to do so.”

I raise my eyebrows in surprise and turn to look at him, “And... Johnny Bridge, you think, can do that for me? He’s a spoiled, sniveling, pig! Does he even know how to protect himself? Not to mention me!” I put my face in my hands and groan out loud. “I’m sorry but no Nate. No.”

Puffing out his chest, he turns serious again. “I don’t think you have a choice!”

“Bloody hell I don’t have a choice! I’ll slice his throat if he so much comes near me!” I threaten. He walks back over to his seat and stares hard into my eyes.

“Charlie that is enough. Just meet with him and see. Like you said... you do not even know the-” he pauses, “pig. So give him a chance.” he pleads.

“Nate. I say no. I absolutely refuse.” I’m standing my ground. Slightly amused at his bewildered expression on his face up until he explodes...

“YOU ARE GETTING MARRIED TO JOHNNY BRIDGE AND THAT IS FINAL!” he screams at me.

“Who are you to control my life! You’re my brother, not my father Nate!” I spit out. With that I storm off. I’ve lost my appetite completely. I will not succumb to marriage with that oaf! I slam the dining room door behind me but I faintly hear Nate yelling that we are on our way to meet with them for dinner in Greensburg. Tonight. Lovely.

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Finally arriving in Greensburg, Nate pays the Dock Master several hefty gold coins to have our ship heavily guarded and docked safely. Greensburg is actually called Pirate City. Well, that’s what everyone calls it. A band of pirates had taken over the city many years ago and since then it has grew to be one of the largest pirate cities ever. There are several dress makers, bakers, farmers, fishermen and other small shops around to keep the city going. They’re tough and they have to be to live around here. They are treated like dirt around here but we give them respect. Or, at least my brother and I do. Black Blood had taught me to always treat others with dignity. A girl like me had to be respected, especially if I were to be apart of his crew, I also had to make sure our crew was still the best even with a girl on board.

Around here, there is no law. It’s common to hear about robberies, fights breaking out in the middle of the street and even an occasional murder here and there. We’re pirates, it’s who we are and it’s our life.

Nate has given the entire crew the evening off. A rare treat for all of us. Well, all of the crew, except for me. Nate has arranged for me to have a dress fitting for tonight’s dinner. Laying down on my back in my lush bed I blink away angry tears as I recall the night I met Johnny Bridge. The best night of my life that turned to disaster when he first set his eyes on me.

Captain Black Blood and Nate were invited to Noblemen Bellwood’s ball for the promotion of an officer. I still have no idea how they were invited, but they were. Black Blood was not going to attend so he had given his invitation to me. Nate had picked out a stunning teal blue dress for me to wear that night. I had felt like a princess when I put on my own dress for the first time. That night was my first and only ball I had ever attended. I was fifteen at the time and Nate had just turned twenty-one. He had taken me out to the dance floor and taught me how to dance for hours. Then I had stuffed my face with the sweetest of all sweets.

The ballroom was grand with elegant designs, with rich colors of reds and blues and greens. Huge sparkling, golden, chandeliers hung down from a golden painted ceiling decorated with forest green ribbons and massive bows. Huge circle tables with navy and green tablecloths surround the floor creating a perfect circle for dancing. Then long tables with silver plates holding mounds and mounds of the best tasting food in the entire world was along the longest wall in the world.

The best night quickly diminished when Johnny Bridge had first set his eyes on me. At first I was flattered that a such handsome boy picked me to dance with out of all the girls there. I remember his tall and muscular physique as he took long strides towards me. His blonde hair bouncing and his shining blue eyes locked onto mine as he took my breath away when he pulled me onto the dance floor. He swept me off my feet as he was such an amazing and elegant dancer. Feeling his muscular arms wrapped around my waist and pulling me close into him. I felt myself falling for an angel straight out of heaven. Then, he opened his pig mouth.

All he could ever talk about was how he did this, how he did that, he bought three new horses, won another award for this, and how he had broke a girl’s heart last week! My own magical Prince Charming had melted into a boiling pot of ignorant, spoiled, little rich boy soup!

“Oh darling. Why haven’t you spoken a word to me tonight. Your smile has faded away to a scowl. With an angelic face like yours, your voice must be pure music.” He constantly flirted with me.

I never responded. Instead I just left him on the dance floor and I almost ran to the door to get some fresh air. Johnny had chased after me and grabbed my hand again. I knew he would one day break my heart into a million pieces. Leave me standing in the pouring rain, knew knowing I was crying because of the rain.

He had started to dance too good, smell too good and even his own voice made my stomach churn! I tried to leave but I couldn’t be rude. Instead, I let him believing he was “charming” me. Constantly calling my beautiful and graceful. I would be lying if it didn’t make my heart do flips but I still hated him. Finally, at the ball’s end, I said my first words to him and it was good-bye. I had started to turn away when he grabbed my hand with one and then grabbed my face with the other. He pulled my face close to his gazing into my eyes. My heart was beating so fast but, before I had a chance to react he daringly planted his round lips onto mine.

Shocked rippled through my body. Tears stung at my eyes and I ripped away from him. Sprinting back to our ship, tears streaming down my face. Then I tripped and fell into mud, ruining Nate’s ball gown which made me cry even harder. My first real kiss was taken by a pig. When I finally climbed back on board I ran straight to my room and changed out of the dress and into my sleeping gown. I buried myself in my pillow sobbing uncontrollably. Captain Black Blood must have heard me because he came into my room and sat onto my bed. He pulled me into his caring arms and let me cry. He smoothed my wild hair and rocked me back and forth until I had fallen asleep. That night, before I had fallen asleep. Our captain pulled my face in his hands and told me something I will never forget.

“My daughter. My Charlie Bear.” he says to me. “Do not let anyone see you shed a tear. There are people out there that will use every single tear drop as the ultimate weapon against you. Understand?”

I remember nodding and then slowly letting the blackness of sleep take over me. It was also the last time I saw him breathing and healthy. When I had awoken the next day to the loud booms of cannon fire, would be the day he was murdered. I burst out of my room and ran onto deck to see Nate holding our captain in his arms. Nate bent over his body and shaking with grief. Wailing so loud that it broke my heart. A pool of blood around him and his hazel eyes dull and cold; gazing up into nothingness. He had a gaping hole in his side and his head was cracked open. It was the first time I have ever seen a dead body. I remember screaming so loud that would make ears bleed. The best night of my life turned into a horrible, first kiss stealing, bloody nightmare. My kiss and the man I called my father were both stolen away from me all in twenty-four hours.

Who is this mystery man? I don't knowww :) Like? Suggestions? Comment below! Thank you loads!