Six Years Later

? POV

Cold winter's day. So cold you could see your breath within the wind. Swords clashed together. Screams filled the air. Blood reeked everywhere. I don't know how long this has lasted. Maybe an hour? This is the hardest crew we've faced so far. They were gonna lead us all straight to England's shores by now.

Then again, their main course of action was to head for England. This was an American ship holding all sorts of goods; the one we were after was the tobacco. It's grown money. But, as to be expected, this crew wasn't gonna give it up so easily.

One of the members was headed straight towards me with anger. I smirked as I easily dodged his attack, grabbed him by his neck, and stabbed him with my dagger. I felt him grunt with pain as his life quickly flew out of his body.

I swiftly let go of him as more men came after me. I took out my sword, my dagger in my right hand. They all came for me, going by a certain pattern that was predictable by now. The more cocky one- the one that came yelling at me like a mad man- goes first. Oops! He got stabbed in the throat.

Up next, the one with that slightly better aim but still ended up like the one before. Same with the third but slightly more difficult.

However, the fourth one was a bit different. As I was dodging his attack, he quickly slashed at my arm and kicked me in the chest. The slash merely tore a piece of my coat off, revealing my tattoo. When he laid his eyes on it, they widened with shock and fear. This gave me a chance to strike. So I quickly went to the ground and spun kicked 'em to make the man trip. I then took my sword and let it dive into his chest.

I quickly took it out and looked around for the captain. I looked around and saw him fighting the captain of this ship.

"CLEAN THIS PLACE OUT!" I yelled to my crew. "I want this place emptied as if it were a ghost ship."

As soon as they cheered and went into the lower deck, I made my way up to the captain as fast I could, throwing some of the men of this ship overboard or stabbing them in the stomachs with my dagger.

"You damn pirates!" The captain said in his American accent. "I'll make sure you never take this ship whole."

"Who said anythin' about takin' the ship?" Captain asked, slashing at him and catching me in the corner of his eye. "We're pirates. We take only the goods and burn the evidence."

That was my cue. I quickly stabbed the captain from behind and let my sword go out through his chest. When I felt some weight gain on the blade, I took it out and watched him fall to the ground. Damn, did that feel good.

Captain looked to me and nodded. "Ye did good," he said. "Now let's see if we can gather up these last few men."

I smirked at him as we went down to see how much damage the rest of our crew did while we were busy fighting.

"Let us go!" A tied up man said in an English accent. "We'll give you anything! Just please don't kill us!"

"Aye, shut it!" I said to him, kneeling to his level. "You really think that we're that merciful?"

That's when he looked to my arm. I looked to where he was looking and remembered that my tattoo was showing. I glanced over to the lad and chuckled. I took his face in my hand and made 'em face me.

"Y-y-you're..." he breathed. "J-J-Jackie C-

"Oh please," I said. "I'm just like you. There's no need to be afraid of me."

His eyes widened. "P-please. Don't hurt us."

I smirked as I walked away from him. I looked over to the men that were watchin' over us.

"Did you get everything off the ship?" I asked.

"Yes," One of them said. "And we got some fustic wood as well."

"Perfect," I replied. "We'll be rich enough to afford our trip to India in no time."

I then snapped my fingers three times. What did that mean? Burn the whole ship to ashes. I then took some rope from this ship and slashed it off to swing onto my ship. I heard screams of terror and the smell of smoke from behind me. I sighed as I put my dagger in my coat pocket.

There were a lot more things to make me tired. By God, this wasn't gonna be an easy winter. I rubbed my eyes full of fatigue as I made my way to my cabin. I sat down at the desk and took out a journal of mine. This is the second one I've gotten.

January 26th, 1632

I've taken down an American ship headed towards England. It had loads of the cash crop from the Americas: tobacco. We also managed to gain some fustic wood as well. Its yellow dye would serve us some good money in the markets. We were going to be swimming in cash and gold by the end of this new year if we kept it up.

Although we have been successful, it's been more difficult on the seas. It is winter, so most of the men have gone below the deck to warm up, and the ice has been murdering our arses. I've been trying to get the captain to let us rest for the winter, but this man does not stop for anything. He then goes to remind me of not having emotions, and that is what makes me mad.

I'm his first-mate! I should be able to do anything, and he should be proud of my hard work. I'd always have to prove myself for every mission we went on. As if I haven't proven him something by being his first mate. Also, what the hell was he thinking when he wanted to raid an American ship?

It was his idea to do so. He said that it would confuse England and other countries to get off our tail and look in another direction. However, I think that this tactic was only going to make all the other countries that we don't raid even more terrified. I will never understand him. Then again, a captain of a pirate ship will never be understood.

I just hope I don't become something like that. It's been four years on the seas with him. Any person who hasn't seen anyone aside from their crew for a while will easily be able to go crazy or not be understood by others who aren't familiar with how they work.

But it's getting late. I can't go rambling on forever. This is only for journeys and trips around the world. And I just hope we can save her in time.

-Jackie Collins

I thought that I would never be able to find peace without a space. This place was just my home. The captain chose to sleep with the rest of the crew near the decks. I got my own room here, so it all worked out.

But something else gave me peace as well. Or should I say someone else.

I then felt my neck for something: my locket. I've kept it for all these years. It was the last thing that she gave to me before she was captured. It had a portrait of my cousin and her mother and our grandfather. And our emblem was on the back.

I still will never forgive England for what they did to them.

However, as I felt my neck, I realized the locket wasn't there. I looked around the room, panicking. I then realized that it probably got caught in one of the enemy's sword. I took off my hat, revealing my short, curly hair. I ran my hand through it and sighed. Keep it in. Keep it in.

I didn't cry. I haven't cried since the day I... I've realized that having emotions for others can cause your own self to go crazy. It can make someone get off track and lose focus of what's in front of 'em.

This was that for me; I had to live without her now.

Dylan's POV

"You should know your place, Dylan," Father told me as we were walking out of the Court room. I had to help him down the steps since he still had a limp. "You should know how to rule England while I'm gone in India for half a year. You will be king one day, and you should look for a potential wife at the ball.

"So soon?" I said. "I am turning eighteen that day. I still have much to learn, and I don't think that Jack will be available to teach-"

"Oh forget about that bastard. He doesn't know anything."

I felt anger rise within me. How could he say such horrible things about his own son? So what if he was half Royal? He was much more capable of taking care of the kingdom than me. He knew all sorts of languages, he was a skilled fighter and sailor, and he was also very smart. Hell, Jack is the one that taught me everything I know to this day.

"So," Father said. "As I was saying, there will be a ball coming up for your birthday. Folks from all over England, Spain, France, and other European countries will be there. It's also the place where you can start looking for your wife."

"I will see to that," I said, nodding. "If you don't mind me asking, what are those other European countries that will be arriving?"

Father thought for a moment before snapping his fingers and speaking. "I believe they are people from the Netherlands, Ireland, and Denmark."

No Scotland. I don't know why that comes to my mind when I think of balls. It's probably because the first ball that I attended was when I met... her. God, I haven't thought of her in years. All of the work and responsibilities must've pushed her away.

"Sire!" George, our butler, said, running towards my father and me. "There's been another terrible wreck of a ship full of precious cargo!"

Father and I looked at each other. Jack was just telling me of these a few days ago. For the past two years, there have been ships from England, Netherlands- most of them were from the Dutch Republic- and Spain that have been looted, destroyed, or have plain out gone missing. There have been no traces of the perpetrators, but my father thinks that it's the work of pirates.

"Which ship is it now?" he asked, furious. "I've just about had it with these pirates."

"It was an unnamed cargo ship that sank near the Tintagel Castle," He said. "It was carrying fustic wood and tobacco."

"From the Americas?" I asked.

"Yes. No lives were spared. Every single man had died."

I thought for a moment. Why would they go after an American ship? I suppose it does make sense since America is an English territory, but how would those pirates even know what is going on in America if there haven't been any sign of them in England or America in years?

"They don't even know what the ship was called?" Father asked.

"No, Sire!" George replied. "The ship was too badly destroyed for anyone to read the name. The only way to identify it was from the Americas was because of the damaged sails!"

I heard Father swear under his breath. "Tell the guards near the docks to be on lookout. For the Nobles on expeditions, tell them to keep an eye out for a black or Scottish flag. I have a feeling that one pirate girl might be linked to those shipwrecks. You will also take us with you to view the site."

George then bowed to us. "I will prepare your horses." He then hurried out of the castle.

Did Father really just say look for a Scottish flag? What did he think those people were? Animals? Just because one was a pirate doesn't mean that all of them were. And how on Earth could Coora be linked to so many shipwrecks? She hasn't been seen for years after...

"I don't know how safe it will be to go to the ball now," Father then said. "With so many wrecks occurring near our shores, it's a wonder for how safe the night will be that day."

"How would pirates be able to sail on seas near frozen?" I asked him. "There's no way for them to sail without destroying parts of their ships."

"Pirates are tricky people, Dylan. Their ships are no different. Nothing will stop those crooks from entering a country." He then gestured me to follow him. "I will show you why."

I sighed and walked next to him. I don't know how I still walk casually next to him after he murdered an English woman in cold blood. But I had to. Otherwise, I would have my head on a platter.

We went to the front of the castle, cloaks over us, got on our horses, and went to the shores near the Tintagel Castle. Following behind George and the other guards, we soon came to the wreck.

My eyes widened with the damage; it was bad. Everything was chard and destroyed to nothing, men's bodies were burned to black, and, like George had said, none of them survived. I got off my horse and walked over to the damage.

"You see now?" Father asked me, trailing behind. "Pirates are ruthless creatures of the sea. They are not to be trusted."

I scanned the shipwreck better while Father's lecture went on in the background. Something then glinted in my eye. I blinked a bit, covering them with my hand. When I was looking to see what was doing that, I caught something shimmering on the edge of one of the planks of burned wood.

I went over to it and realized that it was a necklace. A locket to be exact. I gently took it off the plank and opened it. Inside were two photos, altogether having of three people in them: a girl with a woman, and the other was of a man with a kind smile and a captain's suit. I have to admit, the girl looks very familiar.

"Dylan!" George then said, running towards me. "What are you doing?"

"Aren't the men not allowed to bring personal belongings onto trips in the Americas?" I asked.

"N-no, they're not," he said, concerned. "Why?"

I showed him the locket. "Could this possibly belong to the pirates then?"

He adjusted his monocle on his face while taking the locket in his free hand. He studied it closely and pursed his lips. "It's a possibility." He faced me. "But I think it should stay in your hands."

"Why mine?"

"In case one of the men's family asking. If they say they own this locket, then you can give it to them." He handed the locket back to me. "Come. We have important matters to discuss about the safeness of the ball."

I nodded as I placed the locket in my pocket. Whoever did this to an American ship, I will not hesitate to defend my people.

Even if it meant having to battle her.

A/N: Hey Kylie?

K: Yeah?

Think that I could speak to you at the end of this book?

K: Ummm... sure?

Okay, great. Thanks!

K: *Shakes head and walks out*

Anyways, how is it having Dylan's POV? I honestly love it a lot, and I think it'll add onto the story. It's so much fun just seeing how he thinks of everything. After all, he will be a huge part of the story. Since Coora's mom died, he's gonna be able to do something about this new character. Are they someone we know. Mmm... Not yet. Anyways, I gotta get him in here after he- *Remembers that you guys are still reading* Spoilers! PEACE!