All forms of my previous thoughts escape me as I stare at his outstretched hand as if it were a foreign object.

"Dance, with you." I mutter, not yet reaching his eyes.

"Yes of course."

I finally meet his amused gaze, "Well I am quite filthy and I should probably-" He stops me.

"Evie do not think so hard," His hand reaches for mine, taking a hold of it he drags me from the confines of the chair, I now only wish it was stuck to my bottom. "Just dance with me."

I bite my shaking lip, I was an excellent dancer but they do not dance as I learned. "I do not know how." I plead silently, I watch as the others dance, their form of dancing is so very different than any ball in London or Essex. Instead of having precise steps that glide in calculated direction they gallop. Using their toes to move them about as they clasps hands with entwined arms. We barely touch hands at a ball let alone laugh or even smile.

Peter is at my ear, "It is quite simple, just follow my lead and you will soon catch on."

He guides us along side the others, with his left arm he holds me to his side with the other be instructs me to reach for his right hand as it raises between our heads. As I reach for it, with my left hand, I find the awkward appearing position to be quite comfortable.

"Are you ready?" He mused.

"Not really." I say honestly.

He doesn't seem to care as he forces me forward, we match the others around us that which form a train of dancing bodies. I screech as Peter let's my hand go, releasing me to another, the new man who guides me forward then ushers me around again to meet Peter.

I laugh at this strange dance, "Are you enjoying yourself?" Peter shouts over the loud chanting as others clap and cheer.

"Yes, I'm afraid I am." I say breathlessly.

Peter takes ahold of me once again, mimicking the other men as they release the women to meet their next partner. I spin, letting my uncontrollable hair and skirts travel along with me.

I let my laugh travel, meeting my new partner, my smile however falls, "Clay." It is surprising to see him here.

He leans forward, whispering roughly in my ear, "You look to be having the most fun."

"I have to say otherwise, all these people are much more excited." I did not expect him to speak with me so very soon. Especially here of all places, my soft hands are clasped in his I try to release them from his hold but he doesn't allow it.

"Then I will have to persuade you to believe so." He quickly steps in following the steps of others around us but he does something different then the rest. We tray from the line, I feel myself panic as others stare at the ones who stray from the dance.

"Clay what are doing?" I am very much trying to release myself from him now.

"Dancing mouse, I have visited Essex in some time and I learned a recent dance. May you please assure that I do it correctly." Him, in Essex dancing as if be were in a ball, I wouldn't believe such a thing.

"You're serious." I muse.

He leans forward his breath at my ear, "I'm afraid so."

Alright then, I suppose it wouldn't hurt to help him just a little. I lift the right side of my skirt, holding it in place as Clay reaches for my hand. His other hand I place on my hip, I give him a lethal stare warning him not to stray any lower, he is all too amused as he squeezes my waist lightly. I ignore his hand and place my other on his muscled arm, also ignoring that I meet his gaze.

"Now watch me." With a step forward, then step back, a step one to the side and to the right. "That is the just the first part so if you wish to just do only that." I trail of waiting for him to finish.

He smiles, "I can keep up."

I begin to start, only then do I realize he knows exactly what he is to do and with no help from me. He lied to me, I guess I would expect nothing less.

I close my eyes briefly, reeling in the idea that I was not in fact in Essex but on some pirate island, I imagined myself at a ball, dancing with Clay who wears a tailored suit and I in a beautiful gown. A loud whistle interrupts my thoughts, only now do I realize what I've done. I forget where I am, what my place is here, the people of the tavern stare their faces question who I am as I stop in my tracks.

The men and women who sing stop, their voices trailing away as they too stare at the girl with an expensive gown twirl and act like she of course doesn't belong.

I release myself from Clay, he stares at me a question in his feature but he too stares, not at me but the others.

I take several steps back, the mass of bodies not parting as I try to find an exit, Clay's loud protest drowns away as I try to find Peter but he has gone, I know not where. I walk aimlessly around the tavern to find a door that leads out of this place. When a door bangs open, a man and woman enter behind them the night sky, I stride for it only to trip and fall.

A man above me laughs, his foot the reason I fall, landing harshly on my hands and knees.

"Oye you best be watchin where you're going little lass."

Tears stings my eyes as I try to ignore his snide comment and the smell of his stagnant breath as he beds down to sneer at me.

What am I doing, I do not belong here?

I race for the door, leaving the crowd of people to laugh in my wake. The streets are darkly lit but still are littered with people. I run to the only place that I know of, the beach, where people should be scarce.

I follow the graveled path, blocking away the stares I receive as tears stream down my cheeks. I flinch away at every holler and whistle, wanting to keep to the shadows but they scare me as much as the men do.

The taste and smell come all til quickly as I reach the sandy shore. The moon sits aloft, lighting my way as I drag my long dress through the thick sand. I sit just on the edge of the sand where the water stops as it pushes ashore only calmy flow back down.

The sound of the ocean here is quieter, being on a ship is not like my father described it. He said you feel one with the sea, I did not, I felt as though I fought it every time. Maybe only as I sleep.

I rub my sore hands, brushing away the dirt from when I fell. It was foolish of me to ever think I could blend in with such people.

"What were you thinking Evie, so stu-" I stop my small rant to myself only to try and better listen at the sound ahead.

The sound of distant humming along the sea shore sends my skin to be freckled with goosebumps.

I lift myself from the beach, turning to see no one near hearing distance. I listen closely, realizing it sounds more of a woman than a man.

I walk further along the beach, the distant humming becomes more clear. Its haunting beautiful, a low melody that's soft but with feel emotion and meaning behind it. I search all around me for the woman humming so beautifully but I see no one once again.

"Hello." I call, hoping to catch their attention.

The humming suddenly stops, leaving me to search frantically for someone to reveal themselves.

I search the areas the darkness too thick to see any real person besides the small waves, "Is someone there, please do not be frightened."

I sigh giving up trying to search for whoever it is, they seem to not want to be found.

I walk aimlessly back to my spot at the beach, examining the dirty frayed edges of my light green dress. This dress is forever ruined, Rudy would kill me to see me put this expensive gown through such a torture. I do miss her.

I fold my arms to rest my head as I watch the light reflect off the water. They turn into mirrors capturing every shadow and object that dare to set foot in its direction.

I strain my eyes, seeing what I do not believe is true. Something large shimmers along the shallow water, with a loud splash to the water surface it disappears.

How strange? I have never seen such large fish up close before.

"Evie!"

I give a small shout, turning to find Clay, he is out of breath as he stands with his hands on his hips.

"I did not mean to frighten you."

I rub my eyes, watching the water surface again, "It's quite alright." I mutter, not really caring that he indeed frightened me. I am all to curious about the massive looming fish swimming along the shallows edge.

Clay plops down beside me kicking sand everywhere, I guess pirates lack the knowledge of privacy with one's thoughts.

"Did you need something Clay?"

He outstretches his legs allowing the water to graze his boots. "No mouse."

I am shocked he does not press me for a answers on why I left so abruptly, "Where's Peter?" I question.

He casts me sight ways glance, "If you must know, he is out searching for you."

Well how thoughtful of him, "Don't you think we should tell him I'm alright."

He shrugs his massive shoulders, "He'll figure it out sooner or later, Evie what were you looking at just now in the water." He points at the same spot that the fish swam off too.

Confused I turn to him, "It was nothing. Nothing at all." It was just a fish, a shiny fish with a long golden tail. I was curious is all, the only time I've ever really seen one is when they are dead and unfortunately on a dinner plate.

He nods his head as if understanding, "We should get back before Peter loses his head." He stands, never taking his eyes of the water's surface.

I lift myself off the ground, shaking the sand from my gown. I have grown so very tired of it already, the heavy material is a weight I do not think I can keep up with.

I begin to walk back, following my steps in the sand, not hearing Clay behind me I see him still staring at the sea.

"Clay." I call.

He slowly backs away, finally joining my side as we casually walk back to The Plain Lily.

"About the matter with your sister, I did not mean to be so naive." I was quite careless.

He folds his arms unaware that it makes him even more massive and terrifying.

"I do did not mean to be so callus in return, the subject of my sister has not been present in some time." He reaches up ringing out his neck, "Do you have any brothers or sisters?"

I did not mind the swift change of subject, he was not comfortable sharing such sad memories. "No, there is only me." Did I wish we had another child, a boy or a girl? I wouldn't have cared but with father always departing, my mother didn't think it right.

He nods his head, "You and Peter have known each other long."

"He did not tell you." I question. "No, not at all."

"We grew up together, our parents knew each other as close friends and neighbors. We did almost everything together, the occasional fighting was inevitable but we were close nonetheless." A memory of us as children graced my mind, we were chasing after each other when I fell. I cried with a scraped knee and hands, he did not laugh only he placed a soft kiss on either.

I smiled secretly to myself, only Clay had already seen, my cheeks grew hot as he stared at my embarrassed face.

I turn quickly away, the smile disappearing.

"There you are Evie, you nearly scared me to death." Peter, I am glad he is here for I was to burst into flames.

"Yes well, there isn't very far I could have gone." We are on an island.

He laughs, "Rightfully so." He stands just beside me, matching the same pace as Clay and I. "Why did you run off in the first place Evie? Did Clay scare you off with his dancing?" He laughs solely to himself.

Clay is all too unamused, "Peter you looked as though you were a chicken whose head had been just chopped off."

I sniffle a laugh, Peter grumbles something which neither of us hear.

"Peter are you-" I stop the sound of a bell ringing overhead startles all three of us.

"What is that?" I ask Clay.

His eyes furrow, turning to the shore we just came from, "We are under attack."

"The Royal Navy is upon us!" The bell rings several more times as the sound of people run away from the docks.

The Royal Navy, could it possibly be my father, could he really be here.

I gasp as cannon fire tears through the building just beside us.

"Evie, we must go!" Peter screams over the yelling and gunfire.

I have to see if it is in fact him, I can not leave without knowing. Without a word I lift my skirts running down the small hill in the opposite everyone else runs. The screams of Clay and Peter are drowned out by the screams of others as they run inland away from the fight.

I breath heavily as I reach the shore, the smaller and larger ships of the Royal Navy move fluidly through the sea. Several others have docked, already rushing the shores of Tortuga.

I run to the largest of ships, knowing my father would be on the grandest of sorts.

"Henry!" I shout. He has to be here, why wouldn't he be. "Father!" I scream once more.

"Miss move away from the ship!" I turn to see Captain Ratton, he is dressed properly, his coat closed and stiff. A sword in his right hand, at his side a pistol. He does not recognize me, how could he, I look nothing like the woman he saw at the docks in Essex.

"Ratton you are in charge of this attack on Tortuga." Please say otherwise.

He takes a step toward me, finally remembering who I was, "Yes of course, what was your name Miss."

"Evie," I try to hold in the tears that force to release, "My name is Evie."

"Miss Evie, what in god's name are you doing in such a place. Have you been forced here?"

I dread to think what he thinks of me as he stares intently, "I-no, I was searching for my father. Only I can see now that I have made a mistake."

He walks to be, shielding his sword, he takes a hold of my arm, "Please come with me, you do not belong here. I shall take you home immediately."

I pull away from his arm, "No I can not, you must understand, you see I am here to find my father."

"No young woman should be in such a terrible place." He is not listening, why won't he listen.

"Captain Ratton, please." I try again to pull my arm from his grasp.

"Ratton!"

Peter.

"I knew you would be the one to kidnap a girl like this one, what were thinking. Do you know who in fact her father is?" So he does know, he knows who my father is. He can tell me where he is.

"Of course I do!"

"To the gallows then, for all of you!" Ratton pushes me forward, I am to fall but Clay catches me.

"Take her away!" He quickly says to Clay, "I will take care of this excuse of a Captain."

"Come Evie."

I grip his arm tightly, "No please, he can help find my father."

"He would not listen to a pirate Evie."

I want to argue but I know what he says is true, the sound of swords fighting halts me all but completely.

"Don't let Peter kill him, please." I beg.

His rough hand is at my neck, I feel a slight squeeze before he let's me go, facing Ratton with Peter, their swords now at hand.

Peter strikes first, his sword a blur as he moves with skill I wouldn't think he'd possess.

Clay then too joins the fight, his cutlass rings across the docks as he forces Ratton closer to that of his ship.

I feel my hands sweat, my breathing uncontrollably loud as they duck and parry there way across the dock.

A hand covers my mouth, stopping me from screaming, a voice is at my ear instructing me to move, "Utter a sound love an I'll not only kill Peter but I will make ya watch."

My steps are silent as he forces me back and slowly away from the three men, leaving me to come up with something, anything to free myself from the hands of Captain Gnash.

••••••••••••••

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I will try and update as frequently as possible, do not fret my little mermaids!

Until next time,

-Ash
Xoxoxo

^above is the humming, its close enough of what I wanted.