Jackie's POV

I coughed as I took a swig of some the liquor from the cellar. We were all celebrating the take down of an American ship back at our private island. I won't go into where the place was, but I will say that we're swimming in gold.

"But if it weren't for one of me first-mates, Jackie, over here," the captain was saying while slapping my back. "I wouldn't be 'ere tellin' all of ye lads of his courage. He saved me from death."

I smirked and raised my bottle as everyone cheered. I've gotten this before, and I'm sure the rest of the crew was sick of hearing it. I don't doubt them.

"However," the captain then said. "We shall see how all of ye will soon cope with a trip that'll take months!"

The whole crew looked at each other, a bit worried.

"We need to head to India to meet with some 'allies.' The king is said to be leaving there soon to see their hostage, and I would like to meet him there. And save that hostage. For they traveled all that way to collect information on what England's been doin', only to be caught and awaitin' their punishment."

"And meet the king there?" A lad said in the back. "Seems like suicide."

"Not if we have something to weaken him," I said, standing up. "The captain and I will be disguising ourselves and entering the castle."

"We will be kidnapping the Prince Of England: heir to the throne."

"What 'bout the person we suppose to save?" Another said.

"That will come later. For now, we all need to focus on our main objective: the prince."

"The captain and I have decided that we and a few other men will join us to England looking like famous travelers from Ireland," I said, standing up and walking around. "We will ask all of you now: who would like to join us on this adventure?"

A few men raised their bottles with a cheer while some just looked at me. I knew those ones didn't exactly see me worthy of leading a crew of pirates, but they'd just have to get use to me.

"A'ight lads!" The captain said, standing up. "We'll start gatherin' supplies for the trip tomorrow. For now, get some rest. I hope to set sail by tomorrow afternoon."

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"How do you just live with the fact that she's out there in India and in trouble?" I asked the captain in Spanish while we sat by the docks.

"The lass is strong, Jackie," he replied while looking up at the stars. "She's been without fear for years now, and she wouldn't be the most feared pirate on the seven seas for nothin'."

"But she's still your daughter. Do you not feel a bit of fear yourself?"

"Course I do. But I need to have faith in me little lass. After all, I didn't make you two first-mates for no reason."

He patted my back, making me slightly lurch forward. I caught myself as he laughed at my movement.

"How did you make her so strong, anyways?" I asked. "She's not delicate like most women, and she is definitely not very ladylike."

"Aye," he said. "She learned on her own. After everything that she's been through... I think even I fear her sometimes."

I laughed. "I think we all do." I looked out to the sea and sighed. "But then I remember what kind of person she truely is, and she doesn't seem so dangerous anymore."

There was a moment of silence to think. It wasn't awkward, and it was more so needed. I haven't really talked to the captain much about his daughter. The lass was... Interesting to say the least. She had taught me how to do everything after I came here at fourteen years. A let me tell you, she is not a woman to mess with.

"Well," the captain then said in English. "I think ye should rest. Our arses need to get enough energy to get to England in a single day."

I sighed as I got up and walked back to my home. Might as well continue this later.

***************************************

"HEAVE!" I shouted.

"HO!" The men yelled back while pulling the sails.

"We are now settin' sail for that damned place they call... England," the captain replied, standin' to the side. "Ye ready, Lad?"

"Whenever you are, Captain," I replied, leaning against the railing.

"Ye know, you should be ready whether or not I am." He then glanced over at the wheel. "And ye can prove your readiness by sailin' this ship."

I blinked in shock. "Me? Are you sure?"

Being able to be at the captain's wheel is literally only for the captain and his right-hand person (also known as his daughter). It was an honour to do something like this. So when the captain nodded his head with a smirk, I breathed out a chuckle as I grabbed the wheel.

I then looked forwards and smiled. "TO ENGLAND, LADS!" I shouted.

"TO ENGLAND!" They all shouted.

And we were off.

Dylan's POV

"A locket?" Jack said while pacing in his study. "A very strange item that a pirate would have."

"That is what I thought," I said while rubbing my eyes. "I kept thinking all night what reason would a pirate need something so personal."

I barely got any sleep last night. The thought of being unsafe at the ball and having this locket with me just made my mind go in a thousand directions. Are the two things somehow linked to one another? How will I possibly be kept safe at my own birthday ball with these pirates going around? And who in the world is the owner of this locket anyway?

"This girl in the first portrait seems... oddly familiar," Jack then said.

"Are you sure you aren't reading my mind?" I asked, walking over to see the portrait once more. "I literally thought the exact same thing."

"Brothers think alike," he shrugged. Jack then turned the locket around, and his eyes widened. "By God..."

"What?" I asked.

He showed me this strange marking on the locket. It was of angel wings with a halo over it. Was this pirate religious? A bit odd to have the Lord by your heart while doing an act of Piracy.

"Do you really not know what this is?" He asked me. "This is the emblem of Collins! The Royals before Father."

I furrowed my brows. "Royals before Father? What do you mean? Weren't we always the Royal family to the throne?"

Jack sighed with frustration but then shook his head. "I don't blame you for not knowing." He looked up at me. "Father had taken the throne from the family before him to seek power."

"Why do you know such a thing? And why would this pirate have such a locket?"

"I'm not sure why a pirate may have this, but don't give it to Father." He gave the locket back to me. "As for why I know it..." He smirked. "I have the freedom to do whatever. And by God, I never knew how much Father could hide from us."

I took a deep breath in before asking this question. "He killed the family, didn't he?"

"It seems like he didn't get all of them," he said. "Maybe the children of the remaining family members turned into pirates and plan to take down the king." He leaned forward. "I suggest you be extra careful on your birthday, Dylan. If you do to somewhere outside of the ballroom, I suggest you go to an area with many people."

He then nodded his head and walked out of the room.

I ran my hand through my hair with frustration. I was turning eighteen, and I was already being threatened. I should've known that I was the target threat anyway. With the news years ago about my father killing an English mother, every country around us has been weary. And now I was being threatened by pirates I don't even know of.

"Dylan!" A sudden voice said from the doorway.

"By God!" I jumped while I faced my sister. "Would you not do that? I've had enough sacred for one day."

"Exactly why your twin sister is here to detox you of your stress!" She said all happily.

To be honest, as annoying as Atza could be, being around her seemed like a good idea.

A/N: alright. Before you get yourselves all worked up, I know that this chapter is shorter than the previous one. I said these would be longer than before, but this one was just one of those chapters that wasn't long. Don't worry, longer chapters will come later. Anyways, PEACE!