by C. G. Mosley
“I just don’t feel it’s anything they need to be burdened with right now,” I explained. “I’ll tell them the whole truth when the time is right.”
Andrea said nothing in response; she just turned her gaze toward the docks as some of the crew began to file down the gangplank…her silence made me curious.
“Do you disagree with my decision?” I asked.
She quickly turned back toward me, doe-eyed.
“Oh no, of course not,” she replied. “It’s actually a smart move in my opinion.”
“Really?” I said, somewhat surprised. “Do you mind explaining?”
“My father is not a man one would chase after for the fun of it,” she said. “He’s a monster, a blood-thirsty shark he is, and his men are just like him. It’s going to be hard enough for your men to defeat the crew of the Sea Witch without having to worry about magic and sea monsters too.”
I crossed my arms and leaned my back against the railing next to her.
“Tell me about your father,” I said.
Andrea smiled and took a step away from me.
“What would you like to know?” she asked, turning back to face me.
“What makes men fear him so much—I mean…before he got the ring. After all, he is just a man, same as me,” I replied.
She stared at me for a moment and her eyes suddenly turned cold and deadly serious.
“My father is no ordinary man,” she said bluntly.
“What do you mean?”
“My father does not feel pain as you and I do.”
I snickered at her, and stood upright off the railing.
“I bloody doubt that,” I argued. “All men feel pain.”
“Yes, of course he feels some pain, but it’s not the same as you and I,” she sneered. “Have you ever seen my father?”
“No, if I had one of us would probably be dead today,” I replied.
“True…but if you had seen my father you’d know that the entire left side of his body is covered in hideous scars.”
“I’ve heard he wears a patch over his left eye,” I said.
“Yes, that is because when he was much younger—before he ever became a captain—a terrible event occurred that molded him into the monster you’ve heard stories about. He was a young deck hand and already seasoned in the trade of piracy. The ship he was on was attacked by another pirate ship and a violent battle occurred in which almost all of his crew was killed. Their ship was destroyed and burned. He’d been shot and left for dead on board the burning ship. He told me that when he lost consciousness his body was on fire and he fully expected to wake up in hell. To his surprise, this did not happen and he instead awoke several days later with almost his entire body wrapped in bandages. He told me that he’d never endured pain like what he experienced the many weeks and months after he’d awakened. As time passed, his body began to heal and terrible scars were left on half of his body. He also lost the sight in his left eye and all feeling and sensation escaped that side of his body as well. To this day he still feels nothing on the entire left side of his body. You can bury the steel of your cutlass down to the bone in his left shoulder and he will not flinch.”
I stood there in awe as I listened to Andrea’s story, and I could feel the blood flood away from my face as I was stuck by an epiphany. Andrea could tell by the look in my eyes that she’d struck a chord.
“Captain, what’s wrong?” she asked softly.
I shook my head and paced past her as I replayed the events in my head. She chased after me and I stopped suddenly to face her.
“That ship that attacked the vessel your father was on…”
“Yes?”
“Do you know the name of it?”
I closed my eyes and tensed up as I anticipated her response.
“No,” she replied. “I’m sorry, but I do not know the name of the ship.”
I released a sigh of relief and my whole body seemed to relax.
“I’m sorry,” she said, apparently misinterpreting my body language as an indication of disappointment.
“No, no—you don’t understand,” I said. “It’s nothing to apologize for.”
She suddenly perked up and it seemed she’d suddenly experienced an epiphany of her own.
“I remember hearing the name of the ship’s captain if that will help,” she offered a tad too cheerfully.
The tension suddenly returned and I felt a headache coming on.
“What was his name?” I asked reluctantly.
“Captain Douglas Bloodbane,” she replied.
I suddenly felt weak in the knees, but I kept my composure. I wasn’t about to let Andrea see me rattled.
“Have you heard of him?” she asked.
I laughed nervously.
“Oh yes, I bloody well knew him,” I said. “I sailed under the scurvy bastard.”
Andrea’s eyes widened as she began to process what I’d said. She grabbed me by both shoulders as if she were about to shake me.
“Well I’ll be blown,” she said in awe. “You were on the ship that attacked my father, weren’t you?”
“I was just a cabin boy and had been pretty much forced into piracy just a few months before it happened,” I began, solemnly. “The name of the ship was Dawn Breaker. She was a magnificent ship and, at the time, the largest vessel I’d ever seen.
I remember scrubbing the floors below deck when I suddenly heard the thunder of a cannon off in the distance. The next thing I knew, I was on my back—my ears ringing—and covered in splinters. There was a gaping hole in the starboard side of the hull only a few feet from where I’d been scrubbing.”
“So Bloodbane was attacked first?” Andrea asked.
“It certainly seemed that way,” I answered. “All I know is that Bloodbane’s voice boomed orders from the deck above me and men began scurrying into their battle stations to prepare for a fight to the death. I was told to stay out of the way and only assist when asked. I knelt next to the ragged hole in the side of our ship and got my first glimpse at our attacker. It was an impressive brigantine with at least ten guns on each side. She had large, red square-rigged sales on the foremast and white triangular sails on the mainmast. The ship looked relatively new with it’s freshly painted hull and I can only assume her crew was as young and fresh as she was.”
“What do you mean?” Andrea asked.
“I just mean that the crew of that ship seemed inexperienced and fought as if they had no clue as to what they were doing. They made a ton of mistakes and Captain Bloodbane took advantage of them all. Dawn Breaker was a slightly larger ship—a galleon—and boasted fifteen guns on each side. Bloodbane veered his ship sharply to eliminate the opportunity for our attacker to get a broadside shot at us again. Dawn Breaker had a heading straight for the port side of the other ship. If the enemy wanted to take a shot at us now, they’d have to hit us in the bow, a much smaller target. Captain Bloodbane also had the wind to his advantage and before the other ship knew it, we were in position to unload all fifteen of Dawn Breaker’s starboard cannons into the port side of the other ship.”
“Surely the other ship had time to return fire,” Andrea assumed.
“Aye, they did,” I confirmed. “But as I said, this crew seemed young and green. They’re timing was off. We struck first, and most of their gunners must have been killed or injured pretty severely because I only remember three of their cannon’s returning fire. To make matters worse, Bloodbane had his men pelt the deck of their ship with grenadoes filled with bits of metal and glass at the same time the cannons fired. Many of the men on deck were swept off their feet as the explosions sent shrapnel tearing through flesh and bone.
By the time Dawn Breaker sailed around for a broadside attack on our enemy’s starboard side, its crew was so flustered and bloody, they were unable to fire a single cannon. Their ship was turned to kindling by another barrage of cannon fire.”
“What about my father?” Andrea said abruptly. “Where was he in all of this?�
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I shook my head.
“I truly don’t know, Andrea,” I replied. “I remained on the ship with a small group of men while the Captain and the majority of the crew boarded their wounded adversary. I heard the typical sounds associated with fighting and the screams of death and agony soon followed. Bloodbane ordered the ship to be set fire and any survivors were left on the ship to burn. Even if I’d have caught a glimpse of Trimble, I wouldn’t have known the man from Adam’s housecat.”
Andrea crossed her arms and let out a sigh.
“Thank you for telling me that,” she said.
“There’s no need to thank me,” I replied.
She shook her head and walked over to me, placing a delicate hand on my shoulder.
“Yes, there is,” she said. “There is so little I know about my father. His entire life is a giant puzzle to me. What you just told me was a giant missing piece.”
She suddenly seemed emotional and the rollercoaster of emotions concerning her father was beginning to worry me.
“Andrea, there is something I feel that we need to discuss,” I said.
She cocked her head in anticipation.
“If everything you’ve told me is true, we will soon be in New Providence so that you may visit your uncle and get something for me to use as leverage against your father.”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Yes, of course,” she replied. “I’m not lying to you.”
“Okay, well once you acquire this leverage for me, what happens then?”
She frowned, and shook her head.
“I don’t understand.”
“Sure you do,” I replied. “I want to know what happens when you get me what I need to go after your father. You were awfully cooperative in coming up with a plan to find him.”
“What are you saying?” she snapped. “Are you trying to insinuate that I would betray you for my father?”
I stared at her.
“Well, you know what they say, love…blood is thicker than water,” I answered.
She jabbed a finger into my chest with enough force to inflict a sting of pain.
“My father MAROONED me!” she yelled, tears beginning to flow. “He marooned his only daughter and left me to die! I love him because he is my father, but do you really think I can just overlook the monster that he is? I’ve seen him do things to other men that would give your nightmares, Redd.”
I suddenly felt a pang of shame and guilt for what I’d said.
“Andrea, I—I did not mean to upset you,” I stammered. “I just can’t imagine a young lass such as yourself basically handing your father a death sentence. It’s not something you should have to endure. If you’re not up to the task—
“I’m up to the task,” she interrupted, wiping the moisture from her eyes. “My father must receive the death he deserves and I’ll bloody hand it to him myself if need be.”
She turned and marched away from me, disappearing into the cabin. I stood there for a moment, dumbfounded and unsure what to make of what had just occurred. Andrea possessed a definite hatred for her father, but I’d seen glimpses of affection for him as well. I supposed it must have been an incredibly difficult and confusing situation for the poor girl, yet…something just didn’t seem quite right. I shook the thoughts from my head and turned my attention to the next task at hand. I had to find my old friend, Ricardo La Salle, and I knew just where to find him.
The cooking establishment was known simply as Jane’s. It was a stone-faced, two-story structure with a wooden porch jutting out from the front of the building on the upper level. The interior revealed large oak beams that served as the building’s skeleton. There were six tables, all roughly twenty feet long, arranged side by side. Wooden benches flanked the tables and, at present, were covered with the rogues and cutthroats I’d grown accustomed to finding inside this particular establishment.
The men were having a jolly good time. All of them seemed to be more interested in gambling instead of eating; every man present took his turn with dice or cards at some time or another. The jingling sound of coin exchange rang rhythmically with the sound of a guitar strumming off the fingers of a musician in a darkened corner.
I gazed across the motley lot of pirates until I caught sight of Ricardo. He rested in his usual chair, which resembled a throne, at the head of the table nearest the center of the room.
There was a beautiful woman seated upon his lap. Long locks of hair the color of midnight cascaded down her back. She threw her head back in laughter, apparently in response to something Ricardo had said, and it was at that moment the feelings I had for her crept back into the forefront of my mind.
I’d been secretly in love with Jane Mitchell ever since the first moment I laid eyes upon her. It just so happened that Ricardo and I met the lovely woman at exactly the same time. Ricardo always had a way with women, and that particular day it proved most unfortunate for me. There was no one to blame but myself. It was I that pretended to look upon Jane as if she were an average woman of which I had no particular interest. It was I that encouraged, and all but pushed, Ricardo into approaching her. Knowing these things still did not make it any easier to see the two of them together now.
However difficult it was for me, I always put up an impressive display of indifference in regards to their relationship. This particular time would be no different. Ricardo suddenly noticed my presence and his expression was a mixture of surprise and relief. I suppose this was understandable, as the last time he saw me was during a hopeless situation. He’d barely escaped himself and the truth was that he probably wouldn’t have, had it not been for the Royal Navy’s relentless pursuit of me. I did not expect Ricardo to express guilt or remorse for leaving me to save his own skin, for it’s quite possible that I would have committed the same act. However, what I did expect was an expression of unspoken gratitude by way of his willingness to assist me in what I was about to ask of him.
Ricardo made no attempt to call out to me over the noisy pool of pirates that surrounded him. Instead, he raised his arm and waved it back in forth so I’d see him. I locked eyes with him and smiled as I calmly strolled his direction. When I reached him, he gave Jane a soft pat on the leg and when she rose, she immediately awarded me a warm embrace.
“Redd!” she exclaimed. “It’s so good to see you again! I have worried about you so much.”
She grabbed both my hands and took a step back to look me over. I took a moment to do the same to her. She wore a white, linen dress with ruffles on the end of each sleeve. She was even more beautiful than I remembered.
“Jane, you’re a sight for sore eyes,” I said playfully.
Jane blushed and looked toward Ricardo. He smiled at the both of us and then rose to give me a hug.
“I’m glad you’re alright old friend,” he said. “But, you can’t have my lady.”
We both laughed heartedly and Jane wiggled between us, placing one arm around the neck of Ricardo, the other around my own.
“Ricardo, I only have eyes for you, my sweet,” she assured him. Then she looked at me with sparkling green eyes and gave me a light kiss on the cheek. “But, Redd may have the rest of me,” she said, a little too seductively.
I must have turned a dark shade of red because the two of them began roaring with laughter. I joined in the laughter, doing my best not to sound embarrassed. Jane finally let out a yawn, and let her head rest upon my shoulder.
“I am so tired,” she said.
“So go to bed,” Ricardo suggested.
“I can’t,” she replied sleepily.
“Why can’t you?” Ricardo asked. “You had a long night, go get some rest.”
“Redd just got here,” she replied, still resting her head upon my shoulder. “I can’t go to bed now, it would be rude.”
“No, it’s quite alright,” I chirped. “I know how busy the nights are for you here. By all means, do not let me keep you from your sleep.”
She rose her head up and gave me
a sweet look.
“Do not leave without saying goodbye to me,” she commanded.
I smiled.
“No, of course not…get some sleep lass,” I said. “I’ll still be around when you wake. I’ve got matters to discuss with Ricardo.”
“Alright,” she said, suddenly yawning again. She turned to Ricardo and kissed him hard on the lips.
The display of affection made me cringe as I’d almost forgotten that Ricardo was still standing there. Jane had the ability to enchant me that way and I silently cursed myself for letting my guard down. I hoped Ricardo didn’t notice.
“She is a fine woman, yes?” Ricardo stated after she left the room.
“Aye, that she is,” I replied.
“She is very fond of you, Redd. Always has been,” Ricardo said. “Perhaps you should’ve pursued her yourself.”
He eyed me closely to see how I’d react. The conversation was making me quite uncomfortable and when he realized this, Ricardo erupted in laughter.
“Señor, I am only teasing you—relax, my friend!”
I decided my best course of action was to laugh in return, but in truth there was nothing funny about any of it to me.
“Ricardo, there is an important matter I need to discuss with you…” I said, looking around at the crowded room. “…privately, if at all possible.”
Ricardo led me to a staircase in a darkened corner of the dining hall. Once on the second level, I followed him through a doorway that led into a corridor with a great balcony attached. I approached the edge of the balcony and peered over the edge. I saw what I’d come accustomed to seeing in the vast fenced in area behind Jane’s kitchen.
Ricardo was a collector of large cats and it was here that he kept the menagerie of—at last count—thirteen animals, most of which were lions and tigers. His personal favorite, a massive lion named Samson, glared up at me with large yellow eyes from the grassy field below. The large cat was seated, its tail twitching slightly, and suddenly opened its large maw in a frightening yawn of white, pointy death. I shuddered at the sight.
“Have a seat, señor,” Ricardo said, motioning toward a small round table with two cushioned chairs.