Pirates of the Silver Sea

Minutes had passed after Juliet left when Jacob appeared, holding a steaming cup in his hands. His eyes were downcast and just from looking at him, I knew the weight he carried. Even if he hadn't wanted to go with her, I was sure he still wanted her to take him and William. But I didn't know what happened.

I didn't know what Scarlet had decided or even if she had put up a fight against the captain. I didn't know if she really entrusted the boys to me or if she had learned the truth. If she did...

If she knew what I had done, would she have left them?

No, I couldn't believe that. I wasn't being told everything. I couldn't trust that Scarlet would have left them in my care. Anything that we had, I was sure to have shattered the second I pulled the trigger.

As the boy stood there, without casting a glance up, it allowed me the time to take him in. He had grown since I first saw him. Not very much, but there was a good head difference. He still looked much like a boy, with an innocence the seas had yet to take away. His brown hair had grown longer, plastering to his face.

Longer arms without muscles. In time I knew that they would grow, though maybe not by much. His clothing style changed as well. Long gone is the clean clothing of someone with money and before me was a street kid.

He reminded me much of George when I first met him. Clothing that hung only loosely from his body, with a scarf wrapped around his neck. A bug hung off of the belt wrapped around the trousers he must have gotten from one of the crew.

I didn't know what was in it, but I was sure it wasn't money.

No amount of time with me staring at him could change anything in the past or make us grow closer. I had acted to them like anyone else I would have helped. Like everyone else on the ship.

I couldn't take that back.

These boys were strangers to me, even if their mother wasn't. I could count the amount of times we talked since joining this rough group of pirates.

"If you're just standing there, either the floor grew a head and you find a strangeness in it, or because you want to say something to me but can't find the words."

Slowly, Jacob looked up. His eyes didn't have that same innocence his face had. Rather it had changed because of this new feeling I was sure was going inside of him because of his mother, or because how long he had been with pirates, it didn't matter now that it was there.

One can't get back what was lost.

"She didn't take us."

A pit formed as I forced a grin. "That's cause you two are staying with me and I'm going to watch over you until we hit a place with soil or you think you can make a home at." The hammock swayed as I moved, my fingers wrapping through the ropes in a hope that I didn't end up falling as I continued to struggle with them. "Besides, didn't you want to stay with the pirates? Hadn't you asked for me to make sure they didn't send you back?"

I hadn't when I went to the captain. I hadn't requested that for the boys but something in me most of known that Captain Velwyn wouldn't have let them go so easily. Or maybe a part of me hoped that was the case.

The crew had built a better bond with them, than they had with me.

"I know." I could hear the 'but' that formed at the end.

But didn't she care to try? But didn't she want us? But, why did she leave?

"She's doing what she thinks is best for you and letting you choose what you want." I didn't know if my words rang true or not, and I doubted that Scarlet would have left without them without a fight that would have hurt us a lot more. "I'm sure Captain Velwyn will let you return to Carlisle, if you want, where I'm sure your mom is heading."

A feeling hit me at the mention of Carlisle. A sharp pain through my head as I tried to bring the city forward. I must still not be feeling all that well.

Jacob shook his head, his shoulders slumped. "I brought some Oyster tea." He walked towards me. "Nana once told me that Oyster was supposed to help with eyes and showed me a recipe for making tea."

"Help with eyes? My eyes are perfectly fine," I mumbled.

What had taken my sight away?

"Are you sure?" He stopped before me, holding the cup out. "The others took it. They said it tasted disgusting."

I could swear a hint of humor was in his voice. I hope that doesn't mean he was spending time with the Captain and learning to take enjoyment from someone's pain.

"Disgusting?" Warmth spread through my hand as I took it and I took a sniff.

It was a mistake. The faint voice of someone warning me to never smell something before tasting it came to mind, but I pushed it away. Forgot not knowing just what I was about to taste.

"I'm sure they're mistaken," I said, making no move to take a sip.

There wasn't a point in hurting the boys' feelings.

Jacob shrugged as he took the hammock across from me. "It's fine. Saul still ordered them to drink it. He finished his off without batting an eye." He wore a smile at that, one that didn't match his eyes.

I could imagine the reactions the other had and how Saul would have walked around with Jacob, making sure each one of us got it. My eyes went to look but Saul wasn't there. He must have either thought I would take it because it was from Jacob or he was going to wait a bit before appearing.

Let's just hope I had enough time to do something with the liquid in the cup.

"Saul," I paused searching for the right words. "I wouldn't say he would be the best judge when it comes to it."

No doubt with how much he had to deal with the Captain his taste became as hard and sour as his expression at times.

Jacob shrugged with silence falling in between us. What was I supposed to say to the boy?

With a sigh and my eyes falling on the cup, I didn't say a thing. We stayed like that, endoring the silence. My thoughts wandered to what I needed or even wanted to do about them. How could I grow close to them or even protect them when I couldn't save myself?

Would they even be allowed to leave if given the chance?

His feet hitting the ground brought my eyes back to him. "They're going to have a party up-top."

"When?" I asked.

"Soon. It usually happens around this time since the ships joined."

Moving up myself, the warmth of the cup slowly fading as the heat left it, I placed a hand on his shoulder. "Let's join them. Show me around and introduce me to some of these pirates."

A new grin, a real one that lit his eyes up, formed. "Come on!"

I followed, much slower and with less excitement than what was bouncing through him, to the top deck. The pirates that had been there when me and Juliet first went through were no longer. Feet pounded against the above wood and drums drifted through the air, though this time there was a new sound.

A flute.

Up above, I found the crowd of pirates, though the drums and flute wasn't from this ship. It sounded too far away.

"They do it on different ships each time. At least with the music," Jacob said as he looked at me. "Always different songs and different items, though the drums remain consistent."

I followed after him, listening to his words that grew soft at different times. Though he was still loud without allowing the sound to overcome his voice.

"Those two over there," his hands moved, fingers pointed, "are..." The names were soft and hard to hear that I could be sure what he called them. "They have really awesome moves. Wait until you get to see how they dance."

I nodded, as we continued. He pointed different pirates out, each one unique in their own way. From how they had their hair, to the clothing that they wear. Some styles I recognized from Carlisle that was said were fashionable in the capital. Their clothing was tight, a second layer that showed off each part of their body. Flat or with fat. Their muscles and non-muscles.

Hairs were spiked and in different colors. Some were completely shaved.

One pirate from the other crew, he pointed out, had pierced lacing her body. Different parts but remarkable. Some formed a design that I couldn't quite put my finger on. I grimed just seeing her with so many piercings as I could only see how painful it might be and uncomfortable.

The sun slowly set, the sounds drifting. At some point I thought I heard an animal yowl, though Jacob said it was just singing. A comment of how anyone could join in to sing was welcomed.

Some received claps and the boy mentioned how some pirates threw small hard items a few times. He thought it was encouragement but I had a feeling it was to show the distaste at what they had to listen to if it was anything like what I heard.

Slowly as the darkness formed off us and lanterns were lit, I got to see what Jacob meant. The dancing was different that this other crew did. It was more memorizing.

As we changed ships, having to climb a bit, we were swept into swaying bodies, but there not far was an area large enough for others. Their bodies moved gracely, their limbs bending and flowed with ease. Their arms went out or in as some spun in circles and others did moves that I hadn't seen before. Flips of types of jerked their arms round, though it looked almost flawless.

Different emotions hugged the air. It was light and I care feel the carefreeness like candy, as it flowed above everything. No one had a worry that night as they moved with the crowd.

Jacob never got far from sight, though I had yet to find William. I didn't know where the young one could be, but I knew I would have to find him soon. After seeing more of these parties.

Maybe I could find someone I've seen William around and see if they knew where he was off at.

With twirls and moving bodies, the hours passed. Time moved but without anyone paying much time to it. Those who had watched, looked off from above, with lanterns of their own and hoots and hollers. But those who did not, those who just healed and were able to rejoin the others, we moved in tune with the others.

Though I faded to the back, watcing. My eyes danced between them, from Jacob to the others. The boy was fine. He would be fine over time.

And I would watch both him and William until they were adults and knew how to conquer the world. I would watch them to make sure they lived, if not for themselves but for Scarlet. Rather we stayed with this crew or if I had to give my own hand to be with them, I would do as Scarlet requested.

Watch her sons.

And then what? What would I do during that time or what would I do after?

Even if I stayed with them, that did nothing to the bounty on my head and it did nothing to stop the Post-Captain that had been trailing us. I didn't even know what the Post-Captain could have wanted, and I was sure he was still there, somewhere in the waters behind.

These pirates wouldn't be together for long. With their rhythms at that moment and how well our crews seemed to get along, I would have thought we were one and the same, though that wasn't the case.

I left the ship where Jacob was, neither of us making it to where the drums and flute was coming from. I returned to the Undead Beauty, where things were different with a cooler air. Relaxed, though without the carefreeness from the other ship.

Ours blended more in the night, against the sea that didn't shine with a boldness it had in the day. I crossed the wood and to the mast where the crew nest rested.

The others were wrapped in their own fun or resting for me to question. I would watch the night for a little longer. I had been asleep for days and wasn't eager to return to a darkness that could keep me for even more days.

The wood was smooth under my hands as I climbed and soon I stood above the ships. The sky was dark, no light there. The sea offered no fog and in the distance you would get the faint idea that it was what captured the stars.

A thump had me looking to see that I wasn't alone and that luck was on my side. I found William, though what now I didn't know. He talked to me as much as the others denied staying up late and whispering in the crew quarters when they could go somewhere else and not bother my rest.

I sat on the ground, folded my legs and searched in my pockets for the matches I had. No lamps were around us and it seemed no one replaced the one that was supposed to be there.

Smoke drifted as the fire appeared. It burnt the stick, lightening up only a little of the area. His eyes shined, though the color in them was dark. As the fire licked at my finger, I dropped the stick and watched it go out.

Even without the guide of light I had known it was the boy.

"You don't like to talk do you?" I settled against the wood, staring in his direction. "Not to me. I've only seen you talk a few times honestly. Why?"

I didn't expect an answer and I didn't get one.

"Maybe you're always quiet towards others." I lit another match. "Or maybe something happened to make you feel like you can't talk."

It was hard to read the boy in the dark. His eyes shined without emotions and I knew that he could sleep through anything, though he was more than wide awake at that moment. I would have given a nickel to know the thoughts he had and why he picked and choose who to talk to.

Rather it was from shyness or another reason.

A sigh escaped me as the fire went out. I had only a few matches left in my pocket. Left there from the day that we had gone against Scarlet.

"Rather you want to or not, that's fine. I'm going to be watching you boys more. You and Jacob. I'll be here when you need me, even if you don't want to talk."

The boy didn't need to know that the only reason was because of his mother. I was sure he could piece the puzzle quickly together if he had to. And I was sure Jacob let his brother know I knew their family somehow.

"You both will be my responsibility and I'll take that on. More than I had before."

I let silence once more form as we sat there, listening to the sounds from others. Until daylight broke and we were able to see orange in the blue sky. We stayed until the last pounding of the drums and all those who had been up had disappeared to rest in semi-dark places and new pirates appeared to take their place.

Tiredness had yet to hit me, as I watched William slowly move to his feet. Unlike Jacob who had grown, the boy before me was no taller than the first time I had seen him. The only difference there was, was the hair that had grown slightly.

He left without a word, not that I expected to hear anything. There would be time for me to work on it. Time to figure everything out before planning just what to do.

How could I watch the two of them while on the run? Maybe it was time to pull a few favors and have what happened swept under the rug.

Looking up, I didn't move until someone appeared to take watch. No greets passed, though we nodded heads to acknowledge the other. Giving them the room they needed, I stayed on the deck.

The morning was peaceful, with few pirates in between on deck. No drums. No flutes. No type of sound. The wind hit our sails that took us speedily forward, to the place where things would change the world.

To where our destinies laid and a pirate king would be named.

I didn't jump as a voice sounded behind me as I stood at the front of the ship as Wiley kept us on course.

"Hope Coove," Captain Velwyn said. "We've finally reached it."

Nothing but silver I saw. The boldness from the water, swirling and moving but nothing to resemble a city appeared.

Captain Velwyn called out orders from behind, something I rarely heard him do. It had always been Saul before. The sails were pulled up and soon the fast pace we started to go went down. The ships we had been in a line with, were also doing it as well.

Though I doubted that it was Captain Velwyn orders who they were listening to.

It took a while for us to come to a stop and when we did, the pirates that were awake set to work. Lowering boats and making sure everything was being prepared.

Captain Velwyn stopped at the top of the stairs.

"You're coming with us. I don't need a muntintey to rise while I'm gone."

I grinned at the thought of him thinking I would be the one who did that. "Should I be honored that you would think I could cause one?"

"No."

I followed behind him, casting a final look to the silver seas that surrounded us. I didn't know what was going to happen next, or what I could expect to follow, but I knew that the adventure was far from being over.

We were, after all, pirates of the silver sea and now we were preparing for a pirate king to rise above us all.