Rumors of the Pirate King

Drums pounded, picking up in speed before slowing back down. The rhythm bouncing like a ball on the sidewalk. 

Drums? 

No, that couldn't be right. 

With an ache and sharp pains in my head, I raised my hand. The cold metal on my wrist came as a hard reminder and cleared my foggy mind up as everything came back. 

The lies that unfolded. The decisions that Captain Velwyn made. And finally Scarlet. 

Oh... Scarlet. 

I went to sit up, feeling the softness of a bed under me, but hands hit my shoulders knocking me back before I could. A sharp pain went through my right shoulder, tingles racing through it. 

"Wow, there," Juliet said. 

Her words wrapped around me, but there was nothing there but darkness. Where was she? Why couldn't I see her if she was so close to me? Where even was I and what was that pounding noise that sounded like drums? 

"Breathe, Rachel." She sounded calm as she touched my arm gentle. "Everything is alright now." 

That didn't sound right. How could everything be alright? Why was she here with me? I thought she had been locked up? 

I couldn't remember anything after seeing Scarlet. The events that came, what happened, none of it clicked. 

Moving my own hand, even as tingles raced through my fingers I touched her. For some reason, I didn't feel complete. 

It felt like a piece of me was missing. 

"What happened?" My voice was rough as if I hadn't been able to talk for a while. 

The darkness that wrapped around me didn't scare me like I knew it should. The not knowing what else was in the room and even the unknown to where the room was, didn't hit me. No, the piece of me that was missing the part that reacted to it, wasn't there. 

Was it fear that I couldn't feel? No, that couldn't be right.

"Let's move you back to lean against the headboard." 

I moved with her, feeling as she placed her hands on my left arm. Sitting up was a chore, the world spinning even in complete darkness. My fingers met nothing on the right. 

Empty air. No wall. I couldn't possible be in the crew quarters then. We didn't have cushioned beds but hammocks. As my body didn't swing in the air as I moved, it helped at least put that out of place. 

But does that mean Scarlet had captured us? If so, just how had it ended? 

I knew something had happened but the haze was too strong. I couldn't touch the memories that spoke volumes. 

"What happened, Juliet?" 

She kept one of hands on my arm, as the sound of scrapping filled the room. 

"A lot of stuff. What's the last thing you remember?" 

The drums were a distraction that didn't help me concrete. "I remember chasing after Captain Velwyn." He had became a fool who thought he could take a whole ship on alone. "I... I remember fighting." My voice didn't sound any better as I continued to talk.

Rough and hard. But I wasn't wanting water, even if that would be the cure. 

"Fighting who?" Juliet pressed.

"I..." Faces flashed in my mind. Saylors.  

I was fighting a saylor. Long brown hair. A female? 

"I don't know." 

Who had I fought? Had it been before Scarlet came? How could I remember Scarlet so clearly but not what happened before? It made no sense as I knew that I had ran after the captain. 

"It's okay. Masque thinks in time any haze will clear up." Her words were soft but something seemed off. "In a bit he'll take the cloth on your eyes off." 

Cloth?

Reaching up I touched it. The material was rough under my fingers, but still, I didn't get a sense of light behind the darkness. 

"What happened? What don't I remember? Where even are we?" 

"That's a question a lot of us wants to know." That voice... was it Romeo? His voice sounded much deeper and rougher if it was. 

"Don't get up!" Juliet cried out. "You're going to trip and hit your head again. I swear, looking after you is the worst job I could haven't gotten." 

I could imagine her looking frantic as he tried to get up before an annoyed look appeared. Just how many of us were in this room?

"I'm tired of sitting on my ass and doing nothing," Romeo snapped. 

A sigh came from somewhere close to me. "Seriously, are we going to need to tie you to the bed? Stay in it until your eyes get better. That is an order." Saul? 

I looked in his direction, but still only darkness. It sounded like him at least. Wait, does that mean the others couldn't see?

"What happened to our eyes?" 

Silence greeted my question. Stretching for a long moment of time. 

"We're not sure," Juliet finally said. 

Her hand once more touched my arm. "Masque counted six of us not being able to use eyes. Five others who are unable to walk. One who lost a limb. Everyone else had only scratches." 

Twelve of us were hurt that badly? 

"How?" 

"You would have to ask the Captain," Saul grunted. "When I get my hands on him, I'll wring his neck." 

A laugh sounded in the room. "I saved you and that's the thanks I get?" Captain Velwyn's asked. "So everyone's awake then?" 

"Yes," Juliet answered. 

"Any more problems?" 

"No. It was simply luck we even knew they wouldn't be able to see for a bit. Masque is useless in this department." 

"He always get's the job down," Captain Velwyn said. 

Shoes sounded against the floor before once more stopping. It didn't sound as if they had came very far in the room. 

"You all should regain your sight within the next hour." 

"You said that days ago!" Romeo snapped out.

"I know," Captain Velwyn answered. "And I'll say it as many times as I want to. Our next destination has already been picked and we're heading there now." 

"What is our next destination?" Saul asked. 

"Hope Coove." 

Was that some type of town? 

"Why are we going there?" Saul demanded. 

It sounded almost like he hissed the words. What could be so bad about the place that it would upset him that we were going?

"To decide on a pirate king," Captain Velwyn said.

He sounded to natural about it. Like it was something that could easily be accepted and the most normal thing to say. But it wasn't. 

Who even wanted to be king of the pirates? What did it entail? 

"Don't act so haughty about it," Saul snarled.  "Do you really think anyone would allow that to happen?" 

Had I missed something? 

"Relax, Saul. Masque ordered you to be on bed rest for the whole trip so don't worry one little hair on that balding head of yours." What seemed to be amusement laced the captains voice. "I already decided on those who were coming with me. The ship won't be able to enter the area and we're still a bit out. The meeting is supposed to happen the same day as that wedding everyone seems to excited about." 

The sound of something hitting the ground bounced in the room, just like the drums that were vibrating outside. Juliet's hand disappeared, with a softer thump this time following. Footsteps that started to go away from me.

"What I told Romeo applies to you!" Juliet's voice raised a notch. "Stay in the bed. You're still unable to see." 

"Not until I take care of that boy," Saul hissed. 

"Relax, Saul. I'm all for a good blood bath, but I would feel a bit bad if you went down without a fight. Let your sight return and if you still wanna take a chance against me, will..." He gave a pause and it wasn't had to imagine that he wore a devilish smile. "I'm all for it." 

A grunt sounded, though no words had. Juliet own words were a hushed whisper that I couldn't make out. At the sound of descending footsteps I spoke up. 

Questions lined my mind. 

"What happened to the saylors? To the Admiral?" 

The answer took a few seconds to come. "She decided that taking down one lone ship wasn't worth her time and let us go." 

His answer seemed off. Scarlet wouldn't have just given up. She would have taken us with her. 

"And the boys?" 

Shuffling footsteps appeared. "They're still with us. She decided that both were old enough to make up their own decisions. But now they are truly your responsibility."

Scarlet, what are you thinking? Had she not wanted them to follow in her footsteps?

"If she left, how did so many of us get hurt?" 

"Make sure that no one leaves the room until Masque returns, Juliet." His words faded with his footsteps. 

Thoughts swirled at what he said. My mind focused on Scarlet and not what it could mean if someone was really named as the pirate king. 

I couldn't understand why she would leave her sons when she had been coming for them. What was there that I wasn't being told? What truth was being hidden from me? 

Juliet didn't return to my side, though I could hear someone moving around in the room. Pacing. Four steps in one direction and then four in the other. The pattern would break every once in the while, at the sound of one of the beds making a noise. Her voice would sound, warning the person not to move an inch. 

Being unable to know what was happening around me was the worst thing that I could think of. Though I wasn't afraid of it like I knew I should have been. The feeling of unease hit me at not really knowing who else was in the room or even where the room was. 

With no talking and unable to take the room it, it allowed the nagging feeling in me to grow. It didn't click that Scarlet would do that or that we had been able to get away. 

She had more then three times what we did and ten ships. 

Finally the boys came to mind and what Captain Velwyn said. How they were now my responsibility. They had been before,  though to me I had cared very little. If I hadn't ignored the facts, things could have been different. I would have wanted to know more about them and tried to protect them more. 

For them, if only because of Scarlet even if we had drifted apart for so long, I would have gone that extra mile. 

Time had passed and soon I heard Masque voice. 

"Who do I get to cut open today?" 

I frowned at his question. 

"I swear, if you so much as come hear me, I will rip you to sherds," Romeo warned, his words filled with anger. 

"I could give you a pretty face," Masque said. "Help you get some attention in that department." 

"Fuck off." 

Footsteps sounded, seeming as if they were coming near me. 

Masque sounded like he was at the foot of my bed. "I would but I prefer not having seven people watching me." 

Someone was placed on the bed. I didn't have a doubt that it was the case Masque liked to carry around. It didn't help the man fake being a doctor.

"What are you doing?" I asked as the sound of Juliet trying to hush Romeo once more followed. "Masque, if you touch me before you tell me what you're doing, I will hurt you."

I turned my head in the direction I believed he was standing. I was still not happy that he had given me uncleaned bandages when I had been shot and nothing would change my mind about trusting him. Especially when I couldn't see him.

"I just planned to take the cloth off to see if you could see again."

I didn't believe that.

"Do someone else first."

A sigh escaped from in front of me. "What is with no one trust me," he grumbled. "I am the doctor of this ship. I've said your life."

"You gave me bandages that nearly caused an infection!" My voice rose slightly.

"That was in the past."

"You still did it."

"Fine! Saul, I'm doing you then. You're the quartermaster. Everyone will follow you," Masque grumbled, losing the teasing tone he had when he was going at it with Romeo.

"It's your own fault they don't trust you," Saul said. "I've been awake for three days already and would like to have my vision back."

Three days? Wait, just how long had passed since we ran into Scarlet? I didn't think more than hours had.

And how long have I been passed out? If it was days, I could understand my sore throat, if that hadn't come from the missing pieces of my memory.

"It's better than being awake for six days and not being able to see a damn thing."

"Six days? Try seven. I can' see anythin' 'n thats freakin' me out. Fer all I know, ye all are ghosts 'n Im goin' crazy." That sounded almost like Jekio, whose teeth always scraped together when he talked.

Had he been in here the whole time? What, who else had been in here with us? I only recall Saul, Romeo, and Juliet.

"Oh, go cry me a rainfall," Romeo snapped back. "You only complained when you wanted something and you knew Juliet would get it."

Their conversation continued to be fired back and furth. I sighed, picturing Romeo trying to get out of his bed but being restrained by Juliet, while Jekio just sat there crossing his arms. I would be surprised if Romeo let him keep any of his teeth before the day ended.

"How's that?" Masque still sounded close to me, but I knew the question was directed to someone else.

"Like I'm looking through fog." Saul sounded anything but happy.

"What do you see?"

Romeo and Jekio argument started to die out.

"Two of you and like the room is all foggy."

"Captain Velwyn did say there might be some lingering effects."

"Did he now," Saul muttered, loud enough that I could hear.

The Captain said what? Did he know what caused this to happen to us? Had he not thought it was important to share it?

"Wha' do ye mean by that? Did that damn Captain o' ours know th' whole time wha' had happened t' us!"

"Hey, hey, just calm down." I couldn't help but feel bad for Juliet as it seemed she hadn't gotten a break since I woke up. Even now, she was no doubt trying to stop Jeiko, this time, from leaving his bed.

"Of course he does. He's the one who said that some of you would be blind for seven days," Masque answered."He didn't think any of you would wake up for at least three days, though with you bunch, he should have expected someone to."

"Dont ye sound calm about it! Why didnt ye tell us when we woke up?" Jekio demanded.

A snap from a bag sounded. "Because it wouldn't have let you heal any faster." The bag I hadn't realized had been moved, once more fell onto the bed before Masque continued. "Now time for you."

Giving a nod I waited for it to happen.

"Dont ye ignore me!"

"Jekio, stay in the bed! I swear, I will handcuff you too!"

Fingers brushed around my forehead, before being pressed into it. A tugging came slowly, one hand resting on me while I could assume the other pulled on the cloth to unwrap it.

The sounds of everyone else drowned out as I focused on what was happening. Waiting to see if I would get my vision back or if I would end up like Saul.

When it was gone, the darkness became slightly better.

"Slowly open your eyes," Masque instructed.

Had he told Saul too as well?

I tried to do what he said, but found myself rubbing at them and flinching in pain at the glaring light. It took a few seconds longer before I could keep them open, though I continued to blink rapidly and rub at them.

My eyes didn't fall onto Masque, which I was thankful for, but emptiness across the room. I looked, seeing that it looked like the bar room, only the tables were replaced with beds I was more than sure we didn't have before we left the city.

Finally I looked at the fake doctor who had yet to convince me that he actually knew what he was doing. His outfit had changed, with him donning a black lab coat. I couldn't make out what was sticking out of the pocket on it.

"How's that?"

I licked my lips as I looked at Saul, who was looking around the room. He looked angry about something.

"The light hurts my eyes." I couldn't stop rubbing. "Why does it feel like something is on them?"

"Sounds like you're fine," he said, completely ignoring my question. "Resting a bit more might help."

Right, because I was going to take advice that had 'might' in it. A nodded and sighed, but instead of closing my eyes I looked around the room.

Juliet was sitting on the edge of Jekio's bed. It almost looked like she was making sure that he didn't move an inch. His was the next bed that Masque headed to.

Romeo was struggling against restraints. I hadn't heard him cursing Juliet out, yet she must have only just done them. There were six of us in total, with Rose and Engelhard, both looking as if they were sleeping as they laid in their beds instead of sitting up like everyone else.

By the time Masque finished, the need to rub started to disappear, even if I couldn't help but keep blinking.

"Can I leave now?" Romeo asked, his tone completely different.

It was softer now and the anger that had been so noticeable was gone. This boy's moods changed too much for me.

"Unless you would like me to fix anything of yours, yes."

I was already half-way out of the bed before Masque could finish. Though Romeo, Saul, and even Juliet, had beaten me to the door. My legs were slightly wobbly, as if I hadn't moved for a few days, but I used the strength I had to stay upright and follow them.

The bright sun-light cause me to flinch back. It was worse being outside than inside, and I had almost retreated back in, but the drumming noise I had heard before started up.

"What is that?" I asked.

"Oh, that's right, you just woke up," Juliet answered. "Just look in front of you and you'll see."

The drums sounded much further than just in front of me but I listened. If I hadn't been blinking so much I would have caught sight of it sooner. The group of unknown pirates who were grouped together, but what caught my eyes was the drums up above, where the ship's wheel was.

Drums. No wonder that was the sound.

"Did we kidnap some saylors and force them into the pirate life?"

My question caused Juliet to laugh, but I really meant it. I wouldn't have put it past Captain Velwyn to do just that. The cold metal on my wrist said that he was capable of a lot of things.

"We've joined a fleet of ships for a short time." Juliet pointed off to the side. "We're all heading to the same destination."

I nodded, wary of those that I didn't know. "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are we going with them? We could just as easily stay on our own."

I glanced at Juliet who was staring at the group. "Captain Velwyns' decision. With a lot of you getting knocked out, we needed extra hands."

Nodding I watched as well. Some type of dance was beginning with them. Bodies were moving and the drums were picking up.

It all was only giving me a bigger headache.

"Why are we going to Hope Coove?"

"Did something happen to make you suddenly curious?" I shrugged at her question and waited for her to continue. "There's been rumors of a pirate king being named for a few weeks now. We're going to see if it's his name who gets picked."

"Pirate King? What rumors?" I rubbed my eyes, sharp pains going through my head once more.

The light and trying to think if I had heard about any rumors were making my head ache even more.

"You never did go to a bar, did you?" Juliet started to lead me towards the middle of the ship, to the stairs where we could go down.

I was happy to follow, knowing that at least the light there wouldn't be so intense.

"I didn't do much in the place. Most of the time, Saul had kept me and Bondi confined to the ship."

"Well, the rumors say that a captain from one of the most well known pirate groups, will be picked. Captain Velwyn had been invited to join, though I don't think he'll get it. Our crew isn't as well known as some of them."

I knew that was true. I couldn't recall hearing about a Undead Beauty pirate until I joined the crew myself.

"What would be so great about becoming it?"

We passed the cannons and went to the crews quarters. Passing drunk pirates, if the smell was anything to go by. 

"Recognition. The power. Whoever gets picked could even be in charge of any pirates who agreed to this happening. I'm sure not everyone liked the idea of any sort of thing happening. Saylors didn't."

It sounded like there would be too many responsibilities for it to really end up with Captain Velwyn.

"When is it happening?"

Juliet headed for her stuff, digging through the shirts and tossing them around. It was no wonder that no one tripped and broke bones with how often someone just threw their stuff and left it there in the middle of the floor.

"We've been sailing for a week," Juliet mumbled, picking up a blue shirt before throwing it behind her, "so anywhere between today and a week."

I frowned at that type of information. It was like she was only trying to guess.

Letting it go, I decided to see what the woman was doing. It at least kept my mind off what everything else for the time being. 

"Why are you throwing clothes all over the place?"

Juliet froze for a moment, before looking at me. Her face had slightly brightened before she bit her lip. She seemed nervous and almost afraid.

"I met someone from the other pirates."

I still didn't know the fleet we were with, yet that question didn't escape me. As it seemed that Juliet's love story was just now about to begin, and it didn't seem like it would be an easy one for this pirate. Though, maybe it would be nothing more but a fling in the night and she'll be able to move past it once the two pirate crews separated.

"Who is she?"

Excitement busted from Juliet, the words pilling out of her. A slight grin formed as I nodded, not getting just what was so great about it.

"--and she loves to sing. She sounds like a angel here to bless us--"

As I listened, taking in as much as I could catch, I couldn't help but wonder if this was what love was like. For it to bust out from the person in such emotion that they would be overcome with it.

Hearing her praise someone, made me think of George for some reason. And how he didn't look at my faults in the same way others did. Juliet's words filled the room, allowing me to find a hammock and rest, responding when I felt like she needed me to say something so she could catch her breath.