I glance around my new room. It was decent size for me. A small bed lay in the far right corner, at the foot of the bed was a small desk. On the wall opposite the bed was a wardrobe. And then the wall opposite the door was another door that led to a small bathroom.
I wonder over to the wardrobe, wondering if it had clothes- it did. It was filled with dresses of many different colors, Along with basic shirts and pants. At the bottom laid a few pair of slippers to wear along with the dresses. What I liked though were the few boots made for working in. I never liked to dressing up so I go with a basic outfit.
I pull out a random long sleeve off white shirt, along with a pair of black pants. I hold the clothes in my hands as I finally take a look at myself in the full length mirror that was attached to the inside of the wardrobe. My face was dirty but the skin underneath seemed to glow almost. My black hair fell in long waves to my waist. But what got my attention the most were the pair of wings attached to me.
It has been years since I have seen my wings. Last time I saw them I was a young girl, just starting to brush woman hood. Now I was a young woman- a different person then I was back then.
After staring at myself for what felt like to long I snap back to reality. I slip off the captains doublet. I then focus on getting my wings to hide away again. Unlike before they obeyed my wishes. I feel them slip back under my skin once again. Then they were gone, no trace of them left. I felt a longing feeling in the pit of my stomach. My hair and eyes seemed to dull down. And the glow that seemed to be shining under my skin faded. My wings were a part of who I was, but yet I had to keep them hid away to protect myself.
I'll let them9 out when I'm alone at night. I make a deal with myself. At night when I'm alone I'll stretch my wings.
--
"I see they fit you nice." I jump at the sudden voice.
"Yeah." I stand up from where I was sat on the floor, tying my boot laces. Dressed in the new clothes that were given to me. "thank you." I gently take the tray from Wooyoung.
"No need to thank me." He sends a bright smile. "I'll leave you to eat." He bids before leaving once again.
I look at the tray seeing a tankard full of water. The food consisted of some pork, along with some vegetables, and a roll of bread. I don't pay much mind to go into detail of the food when my stomach lets out a hungry growl.
--
The sun was now slowly fading on the horizon as I look out my small porthole. I could hear the quartermaster yelling orders across the ship, getting things ready for us to set sail to Tortuga at first light.
I decide to just stay in my cabin out of the way for now. Pondering on that voice from earlier. I reach out in my mind, searching for that voice again.
Why do you want me to help them? No response. Who are you? I continue to ask myself questions, not getting an answer back at all. I switch my mind from talking to the imaginary voice to trying to make an escape plan.
We are about a 3 days sail from Tortuga, from what I heard. So there was no way I could get away tonight. But I could go snooping around to see if there was anything to help me on my escape.
No. Stay with them.
There it is. That voice. It didn't sound like anyone I know but it felt like I should know who it was.
Why? They plan on keeping me captive, and using me to get whatever it is they want.
You have to lead them.
Explain please? I needed to know why this voice wanted me to stay here and help pirates.
It will also help you in the end. If you leave, where will you go? Back to that island?
The voice had a point. I don't even know where the island was located. But still I would figure something out. Find a new place to hide.
But what if they find you?
Again I go over what the voice was saying. I mean I'm sure they would have stopped looking for me by now... I hope anyways.
~~
I sat in a small dingy cage in the brig of a ship. My new "owner" was the son of a old man that had me when I was 16. He died 4 years ago.
I knew my days were numbered, the old mans son was wanting to sell me off, to pay off his debt he had gathered up from gambling. I had to get away, and soon. I have been getting close to a young boy who had been taxed with feeding me.
I just needed to get the keys from him.
--
"Hey James." I call to the young blonde headed boy that walked down the stairs to the front of my cage.
"Hello, Miss." He sends me a warm smile. He was such a sweet boy. I wish I could get him away from this life before they stole away that light in his eyes. "You ready to eat?"
"Starving."
--
I had managed to get the keys away by giving the small boy a hug- my excuse? I wasn't going to see him again.
I got away later that night on a lifeboat and floated for days before I landed on that lone island.
~~~
I knew that man would be looking for me, if the pirates that he was going to sell me to hadn't already killed him...
But why should I really stay? What are they after? What if they kill me after they get what they seek?
My mind was a mess.
They won't... Just don't do anything crazy and you'll be safe with them.
How can I trust you? I snapback feeling hopeless at this point. I could get away, but where would I go. I either stay here and deal with them. Or I make a run for it and try my luck on land. How many people would be on land looking for me? I knew before my escape many people heard of me, but they shouldn't know what I look like- right?
What do you mean by crazy though..? I can't believe I was going along with this.
Just listen to them, and don't try to run..
Okay.. say I do stay.. What are they after?
I can't tell you that.. They will tell you though.
Fine. But who are you? I at least need to know who this voice was in order to even think about really staying on this ship.
You may call me Jonah... I knew your father...
WAIT! You knew my father?!?
Yes, before he fell in love with your mother.. We were good friends..
Now my mind was reeling. How was this possible?
I have to go for now. But please stay with them. I will help guide you as much as I can.
Wait! Don't go! I have more questions!
But it was to late. I could almost feel him leave. Just a small tug, like water slipping through my fingers.
--
Why would an angel be talking to me after all of this time? Why did he not reach out to me when I was being beat on a daily, or be sold from person to person like an animal?
These thoughts raced in my mind as I lay in bed, brushing the tips of my fingers over my feathers. But the one that kept coming back was me trying to decide if I should really stay or not..
If I stay at least I won't have to worry about some else taking me and locking me in a cage again. These pirates at least gave me a room, and new clothes...
Actually If they planned to just use me as a tool why would they not lock me up? Why would they give me a room and clothes? Why were they being so nice? Maybe they just want me to let my guard down.
Another thing is, how did the captain find that dagger? How did he know how to use it? Why did he use it?
Their are other ways to make an angel show their wings. You could hunt down an herb called 'angels breathe'. If it gets into my system it would cause me to have a seizure, forcing my body to just go hay wire. Or hit me bluntly in a certain spot on my back. I've had it done many of times, it felt as if my whole body would be set on fire. Only a few people knew about these tricks. Only one of my captures had know about them. He never shared his discovers with anyone.
But why did the captain not do any of those. The way he had done it was the least painful way. Does he not know of the other ways? But how could he know about the dagger if he didn't know about the other ways?
I chalk it up to that they are just trying to get me to let my guard down for them. I will stay for now only because of Jonah asking me to. But I will not fall for their tricks.
~~
The next day I was woke by a knock on my door.
"Katerina! It's time for breakfast." Called a deep voice through my wooden door.
"I'm up." I sit up brushing my hair down. But freeze as the person invites themselves in.
Mingi and Wooyoung burst in the room with bright smiles on their faces, but they stop short when they catch sight of the girl. She was sat up in her bed. Dark locks a mess, a slight brush of pink dusting her cheeks from sleep. She wore a white night gown, but the 2 wings that were tucked behind her were so much whiter then the clothes she wore. They could not get over the sight of her wings. The now 2 times they have seen them out it was like a small piece of heaven on earth, any normal human would stop and want to look for as long as they could.
"You two okay?" I clear my throat after they sat there staring at me. I could feel the heat rise in my cheeks as I pull the blanket closer to me.
"Sorry!" They both yell at the same time. They turn to look away only to end up running into one another. I can't help but laugh as Wooyoung falls to the ground holding his poor nose.
"We'll.. uh... see you outside." The young dark haired man, scrabbling to his feet before darting after a fleeing Mingi.
I shake my head. These men were known as the pirate kings, but yet they run out of my room like kids that had been caught stealing cookies. Maybe they aren't as bad as everyone thinks.. No I mentally slap myself. I will not let my guard down around them.
But most things are easier said then done..
--
After I had gotten up I hid my wings away once again. I dress in a simple cream colored shirt and a pair of black pants, and laced my new favorite boots up I walk out my door. Expecting to see Mingi and Wooyoung, only to be met with the quartermaster.
"Oh, where did Mingi and Wooyoung go?" I ask as the silver haired man turns to the sound of my door opening.
"They claimed they had some things they had to go do. They looked like they had seen a ghost." The scowl he wore yesterday was now replaced by a curious look. He tapped his chin in thought wondering what could make his fearless crew so startled. "Anyways. Follow me."
As we cross the deck I look out over the boat. The sails were pulled tight as the wind pushed us through the sea. The Great Illusion cutting through the waves with no effort at all. The sun was just starting it's climb across the clear blue sky's. The crew was lively already, joking around and laughing with one another. How can these be the scary pirates that you hear so many stories about?
"Here we are." I didn't even notice we had went below deck to the kitchen until Seonghwa stopped in front of a door, almost causing me to run into him.
"I have some things I really have to tend to, so I'll see you later." He sends a small smile before he leaves. Well I guess my thoughts about him yesterday were wrong. He seemed nice.
I push the wood door open, stepping in the room that only held a few of the crew. I see 3 right away that I recognize as Yunho, Yeosang, and Jongho. Once they see who walked in they wave me over.
"Hey Katerina." Yunho greets as I take a seat on his right side. Across from him was Yeosang, and then across from me was Jongho,
"Hey guys." I send them all a small smile. Why did I feel so comfortable around them? They kidnapped me.
Or you could see it as they saved you from that island. My inner voice says to me.
No. I was going to be stubborn until I knew for a fact I wasn't going to be thrown away when they got what they wanted.
"How did you sleep?" Yeosang asked with a small smile.
"Pretty good. How about you guys?" They all say a simple 'good' or 'great' back as one of the other crew mates sets plates down for us. "Thank you." I say to the kind brown haired crew mate. He offers me a nod and a small smile back, before leaving to serve other people. For breakfast it seems like we would be having some pork belly, along with a bread roll, and a apple.
--
Once breakfast was over Yunho offered to give me a tour of the ship. Yeosang and Jongho had things they needed to do.
"And last but not least the poop deck." Yunho says bringing our boat tour to an end. He turns around with a big smile, his eyes light blue eyes that seem to match the summer sky shining.
"It's a beautiful ship." I let my eyes run over the main deck of the ship, across the masts and sails before I turn resting my eyes behind the ship. I rest my arms on the rail watching as the water slides pass the ship.
"That she is." He sighs as he leans on the rail next to me. We sit there for a while just watching the waves.
My mind goes back to a repeating thought. How can these men be the most feared people to ever sail the sea? So far today they have all been nice. Not even once acting rude. Can I really keep myself from letting my guard down around them?
I guess only time will tell...