My eyesraked over the enormous vessel before us. Blackened wood coveredevery visible inch, canons lined the sides, and four large maststowered to the clouds. Portholes were aglow with candlelight, aswas the double-deckerstern that hung from the back with gorgeous stained-glasswindows. My stomach tightened with every dip the oars put in thewater. I was being taken prisoner aboard a pirate ship for thesecond time in my life and I had no way of escape.
“Thereshe is,” Benjamin spoke. “Get a good look, sweetness. It’ll be yourhome for a long time.”
I spun backaround and looked at the man with panicked eyes, begging for mercy.But he only grinned maliciously and let out a deep, growlychuckle.
“Welcometo The Black Soul.”
ChapterSix
I didn’t sleep at all. And who could blame me?The only thing I had to lay down on was a thin bed of grass thatlined the grimy floor of the brig. It had been late when Benjaminpulled me aboard last night. The crew should have been sleeping,but I still felt eyes on me as he yanked me across the deck anddown the hatches until we reached the holding cell.
My backached, and my mind was foggy from lack of sleep. But at least itwas daytime and thesun shone in through the portholes. I could examine my surroundingsmuch better. The brig consisted of three cells, separated by thickmetal bars. Outside were stacks of small crates and various sacs ofthings. All mismatched and not seeming to belong to one ship. That much I couldtell from the different symbols on certain ones. These supplies,whatever they may be, were definitely stolen.
My eyes scannedevery inch in front of me, every crack and hole. Any possible wayout. The bars which contained me were far enough apart that I couldhave squeezed through them if I weren’t pregnant. They weredefinitely made to hold men, not a slender frame of a woman likeme. That left the lock. If I could find something to pick it with,then I could sneak out while the men slept. I could knock them allunconscious, one by one. And then sail the ship to England where Icould find help. It was a long shot, pretty much impossible. Butthe only option I had.
The suddensound of footsteps approaching tore me from my escape plans and Ibacked up as far into the cell as I could. My right hand dippedinto the pocket of my coat and gripped the pocket knife tightly.When the massive form of Benjamin came into view, I slightlyrelaxed, but still held my guard.
“Goodmorning, sweetness,” he greeted and balanced a tray in one handwhile the other fished for a giant ring of keys that hung from hisleather belt. “Hungry?”
“Starving,” I told him. “But I’d much rather eat infreedom.”
I watched as heslipped an old iron key in the lock and pulled open the cell door.“Not a chance.” He set the tray down on the floor and then backedout, closing the bars behind him.
“Whynot?” I demanded and then added, teasingly, “Come on, you’re notafraid of me, are you? A mere woman?”
He guffawed.“I’m just takin’ precautions.” His deep brown eyes glared at me andthen flicked to the tray on the floor. “Aren’t you gonna eat?”
I took a fewsteps forward and glanced down at the bowl, expecting some sort ofgruel or pirate slop. But I was pleasantly surprised to find friedfish. My mouth watered. The baby was definitely craving protein.But I tried to hide my eagerness to shove the whole thing in mymouth. Instead, I bent down and grabbed the bowl before backing upto my corner and picking at the delicious meal with my fingers.
“Listen,”Benjamin began and then sighed as he took a seat on an old woodenstool. “Anyone who can survive that storm and swim ashore is morethan just a mere woman. And one who can set up a camp, build ashelter, and gut a fish like it was second nature is a woman withsome skills. I want to know more before I let you start roamin’ ourship.”
So, he wastesting me, feeling me out.
“Look,I’m no threat. I swear,” I told the pirate. “What I told you wasthe truth. There was a storm. I was swept overboard. I need to get back tomy camp and keep the fire going so my ship can find me.”
He seemed toconsider my words. But, after a moment, his mouth turned to afrown. “It’s not goin’ to happen. The captain wants you tostay.”
Panicfilled my veins. “What? Why? He can’t just keep me! What for?”
Benjamin cockedhis head and raised an eyebrow at me. “We’re a bunch of lonelypirates and you’re…” he paused and motioned to me, scanning me upand down.
Bile rose in mythroat when I realized what he meant. “You’ve got to be kiddingme.”
“Captain’s order, sweetness.”
I ran to thebars and held on tight, locking our eyes together. “If anyone laysa finger on me, it’ll be the last thing they touch.”
The piratestood with a grin and adjusted his heavy leather belt. “See? That’swhy you’re locked up.” He jangled the key ring in my face.“Precautions.”
And then, justlike that, he was gone.
***
Three more dayspassed. I picked at the lock, pulling and clanking it against themetal bars. But nothing worked. Like clockwork, Benjamin would cometwice a day and bring me fried fish and stale buns. He would stay,pry me with questions about myself until I frustrated him and thenhe’d storm off.
But, each day,he’d return for more. He’d prod me with inquiries of who I was,where I came from. At first, he’d play nice. Patient. But I foundit too enjoyable to toy with his tolerance. It quickly became myonly source of entertainment, watching the Viking-like pirate’sface turn red in annoyance. On the third day, he’d had enough.
I stood from mypile of grass, my back achy and sore from the lack of a softsurface to sleep or even sit on. I had procrastinated using thebathroom as long as I could, in an
