A bolt of lightning streaked the sky lighting up the stairs. The man looking down at her was a dark gloomy shadow figure.

The rain pouring down quickly drenched her making the dress cling to her and her hair slowly fell in ringlets around her face and neck.

"Well I'll be." The young man muttered to himself. "It's a woman!" The hatch door quickly shut again leaving her in the darkness once again. The man was yelling at the top of his lungs as he ran along the ships deck. "Captain! Captain!"

Stormy looked at Buddy, "This can't be real! I'm on a ship in a dress in the middle of a storm!"

She hugged herself to try and get some warmth back into her arms. The dress was getting heavy. "I am so confused right now. Buddy you stay by my side, don't you dare leave me."

Buddy looked up at her closing his jaws and sniffing her skirt. His amber eyes glowed with the excitement that only a dog could have. "Seems like the waves have settled down and I don't hear anymore thunder. Maybe the storm is gone and the rain will stop soon."

The ship rocked gently now and the roar of the wind died down. So much time went by Stormy dozed in an out. Her damp dress hugged her, and her seat made of sacked grain poked her.

Boots hitting the deck floor was louder now and shouts were tossed back and forth. Something hit the deck hard making Stormy jump. She caught her breath as the hatch door swung open once again. This time the lamp was lit and the young man started down the steep steps.

"Miss the captain would like to see you. Will you come with me?" He held out his hand to Stormy. His clothes where damp and his hair wet and ruffled.

She nodded and instead of taking his hand she grabbed up the front of her dress and climbed the steps to the deck. Buddy followed close on her heels. It was still dark but the the sun was slowly making its way up. She stood on the deck watching the colors reflect off of the glittering ocean. She flinched when she felt a hand touch her arm.

"This way my lady." The young man nodded in the direction of the raised deck to the back of the ship. "The captain is at the helm waiting my lady. He says to bring you to him right away."

She nodded and started walking. "Is he nice, your captain?"

"Aye that he is mam. Took me in as a kid, he did." The young man looked at Stormy she was pretty.

Like a real lady she walked pretty, her voice was pretty, and she was so small. He thought she was an angel when he had first seen her.

As she walked she studied the ship. It was solid wood with a tall mast and the big sails, that were being let down, looked a lot bigger then she could have imagined. A large beam lay on the deck in three parts near the bow. The men running around on deck stopped to watch her pass by. They looked horrible like ragged beggars. Few of them scratched their heads and even more smiled at her showing off their toothless black smiles. The black pirate flag waved in the wind on top of the main mast.

"Dam! How lucky am I?" She asked her self quietly.

She was pulled to a stop at the base of the stairs that led to the upper deck where the captain's cabin and helm both were. Buddy sat by her feet his bristles raised and eyes flashing from one person to the next. She looked up at the top of the stairs and a man leaning on the railing above looking down at her stole her breath. A few others in better condition the the men on the lower deck was walking toward the railing to take a peek at her too.

The man leaning on the railing smiled and even white teeth flashed at her. Her breath caught at the sight. He was very handsome. A dark rough prince handsome. He had long dark brown hair tied at the back of his neck. Tanned skin and even though she couldn't see his eyes clearly she guessed they where blue. He had on a white shirt that lay open from neck to mid chest dark hair peppered his smooth muscles. His sleeves where rolled up showing off how thick the muscles in his arms were. The shirt was tucked into black trousers that hugged his thighs to his knees where his black leather boots flared out. The knee high leather boots were polished to a shine. A belt hung on his waist only holding the sword sheathed there. A pistol was tucked into his pants at his stomach and the hilt of a knife stuck up just a little on the inside of his left boot.

"A true pirate prince." She whispered.

"Well, this is a surprise. I'm Captain James Devon, at your service my lady." He placed his hand over his chest and bowed his head. "Would you mind telling me who you are?"

He was impressed someone had gotten on his ship without notice. That this girl had and with a dog no less was something. She was prettier then he expected.

She put her hand to her forhead and rubbed trying to think straight. "I...I'm Stormy, Stormy Glimmer."

She could hardly breath. The sun was high enough now that she could see everything well. The light had brightened the sea to a beautiful diamond and the dark wood of the ship shined with the water from the storm. The salty air stuck to her making her dress cling to her and grow stiff.

"William," Captain James ordered, "bring the lady up so we can talk."

"Aye sir." The young man beside her said. He lead Stormy up the stairs, his hand gently touching her lower back.

One of the men leaned over the rail next to the captain and asked a little loud, "What about that wolf of hers sir?"

Stormy's eyes shot daggers at the man as she made her way up.

"Let her keep it close I'm sure he won't make any trouble." James said with a smile.

The man leaned closer and asked more quietly, "Are you sure Captian?"

Captain James looked at the dog staying close to her and nodded. "He won't hurt anything. Besides I wouldn't want her to get upset over him. She is obviously attached to him." Captain James tapped the butt of the pistol on his stomach, "She looks stubborn, and by her name I'd guess it would be one hell of a fight if she got mad." He stood up straight.

The man named John turned away from the Captain, and walked to the short table. The table held a map that was stretched out, and held down by a couple of shiny rocks and a compass. Neither one knew just how right Captain James would be.