[Vereena]
It felt light.
Strangely, despite the fact that I do not recollect removing any of the layers from my gown, my body had the sensation of being light and free from its confines.
It is like I am floating in the water, swaying from side to side, yet the feeling around me is oddly cozy. Those were the few things I first noticed as I came to consciousness. I stayed my eyes close for a moment, letting my thoughts rerun everything that had taken place, and how I ended up in this situation.
It was a scorching day and I was swabbing the deck when Patton came to castigate me for slacking off. Then there were these huge waves pounding on the ship's side, almost throwing me off the deck and a young man came.
What was his name again? Oh, right, Edric.
I am starting to recall it by pieces, yet what has transpired right after? We were just talking, and then…I prodded deeper into my head and recollecting myself passing out.
Where am I then?
After enduring the nausea that continues to linger in my mind for a while, I gradually forced myself to open my eyes.
At first, my vision hazed and unsteady, yet it immediately cleared in no time.
My eyes fell upon a quarter that had been exquisitely embellished. Given that I am now on a pirate ship, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the bed I was lying on was not nearly as terrible as I had anticipated it to be. In fact, if it weren't for the constant rocking motion, I would have thought I was in a master's chamber of a prominent Lord back in the kingdom. Or better yet, mistaking it to fit for a king.
Linen sheets, wool blankets, quilts, and furs were laid on top of me, securing to provide me with comfort and warmth. A bolster stretched the width of the bed, and feather pillows, two or more were set on top of it. After that, thick curtains of a deep purple color were strung all the way around the bed, and each end was finished with a golden tassel. A framed mirror was hung on the wall directly above my head. It was decorated with antler's branching horns, and there was a candelabra on either side of it that was unlit.
I slowly turn my head to take a gander at the entirety of this elaborate quarter. Noting the two doors, both of which I do not have any idea where it would lead. Perhaps, one leads toward the deck and the other remains to be a puzzle.
The rest filling merely decorative purposes. A chandelier that hangs crystals in the shape of teardrops, causing excessive jingling with each movement and producing a delicate, dancing, colorful reflection of light within the space it illuminates. My attention then turned to a small group of unlit candles that were perched atop a table with four legs and a gold-rimmed top, as well as a miniature galleon that was housed inside a clear bottle and mounted on a wooden pallet.
Other things caught my eyes. The shelves, cupboards, chests, bookcase, and a throne?—situated in the corner, which I find preposterous. Four grilled windows, a huge birdcage, a shark jaw bone trophy enclosed in a glass box, and a woven hammock swing back and forthright in front of the window.
The foot of the bed was flanked on either side by a collection of mostly carved wooden stools and benches. Padded with what appears to be a silky soft cushion, and the flooring was covered with a tufted crimson carpet that features a variety of peculiar designs and complicated loops.
My mouth gaped mostly as I observed my immediate surroundings, not totally expecting such lavishness to exist inside a pirate ship.
Yet, a question remained floating unanswered inside my head. Whom this quarter belongs? How did I end up here?
Could be Captain Steele?
Hah!
The impossibility! That one-eyed man would simply not care, nor even spare me a glance if he happens to see me lost consciousness or lying lifeless on the ground. Most probably he would just step on my body and walk over as though I am not a human.
The thought of him made my blood boil once again. I would have not fainted if he did not order that scrawny man to make me swab the deck under the blazing sun.
However I eventually came to realize that he's indeed the captain, and if anyone owned such a place like this, there will be no other than him.
Am I right?
Oh, bloody bollocks! Starvation is making me think of nonsensical things.
Slowly, I pushed myself upright, shaking my head to clear my thought. However, I was startled into a momentary state of paralysis when the thick fur that covered my body slid off my chest, exposing my bosoms. My eyes have gone wide, yet my mind was in frenzy. I even stop breathing and my chest pounding loudly that it sounded deafening through my ears.
What in the flaming hells happened?
As I hastily peeled back the remaining covers, I discovered that I was completely stripped of all of my garments. My lips begin to form the shape of an open-mouthed scream, but my voice is caught in my throat, and not even a sound has come out. I was panicking, feeling to pass out again, but somehow I remained conscious and witnessed the aftermath of whatever violation had done to my body.
My eyes darted across the entire quarter in a hysterical search for my gown, but I couldn't even find the chemise's remnants.
I counted excessively slowly in an attempt to calm my frantic nerves, but by the time I got to the number ten, I couldn't remember the digits anymore. I was breathing through my mouth, inhaling and exhaling in rapids while my arms crossed over my bosoms in hopes to hide them and bring my knees up, crossing my legs for my modesty.
I will surely kill that wanton man.
The panic in my veins replaces with fury. After a moment of letting everything sinks into my head, listening to my body if somehow something changes in the way I feel with my maidenhood.
"You would feel it dear. The burning sensation." Those were the words exactly that came from Mrs. Charlotte's mouth when she thought to me about the bodily duties of a lady when one is married. Fortunately, there wasn't any sore thing kind of feeling that she had described in any case I had been deflowered without my notice.
It feels strangely normal.
He hasn't violated me, has he? Mrs. Charlotte mentioned that if a woman loses her flower to a man, it would be sore, and there will be an aftereffect of a burning sensation. But, there wasn't. I guess that is somewhat a bit of relief.
But still!
It isn't right for a man undresses a lady without permission and without matrimonial ties.
It is against the law as well as a strict prohibition.
A lady's body is preserved for her husband only, and I am intended to Prince Tarquin. He should be the only one to see me naked and none other else.
How could I even face him after this? That another man had seen me in this state when it is supposed to him?
This is a great scandal. If anyone will know in Pearlshire Harbor that a hooligan pirate had undressed me naked, words will spread all over the Kingdom of Ebondale.
A tarnish to my family name.
Oh, good heavens above, what Prince Tarquin will say about me?
I know he's kind and a real gentleman, but I am sure we will never be married. The royal family was adamant that the crown prince's future wife be chaste and blameless, and that she is not be someone who had been dishonored by such immoral behavior.
No. No. No. This cannot be.
No one has to know. No one from Pearlshire Harbor knew about this scandal. That one-eyed pirate won't talk, right?
Panic began to gripe me. My breathing shallows as I hastily snatch the blankets and cover my body again, wrapping it in a knot, securing it around me so it won't fall off before someone will barge in without notice and see me in my naked splendor.
The corner of my eyes warmed, and my vision blurred with tears starting to brim, threatening to fall but I sniffed them out and refused to cry in this instance.
No one has to know.
No one WILL know.
My innocence is still there. It's going to be alright.
Oh, dear heavens, I hope so.
I carefully scooted over the edge of the bed, gingerly let my legs down on the carpeted floor, and stood slowly, balancing with my both feet as the ship continued to sway back and forth.
I am hungry. That is one of the notices. My belly began to groan and there was no food in sight. I walk closer towards the door I suspected would be the exit into the foyer, grasping the barrel bolt and sliding to the side. I gave the handle a tug and surprisingly it wasn't locked. Soon as it was open, a sigh of relief left my lungs. This door indeed leads me to the foyer, and to add my comfort, there wasn't anyone littering around like they usually do.
One that is more concerning though is I have no idea which way was leading to the kitchen. My father leads a fleet and I may have not stepped one of his galleons, I know for sure that each ship contains a kitchen, do they not?
Well, I wouldn't know if I keep my feet nailed on the floor. So, I let my instincts guide me, and hopefully, they will lead me to where I ought to be.
Minutes passed for I don't know how long as my knees wobbled as I trudged the foyer, I came to be in the end and to make the matter a bit worst. This wasn't the kitchen, instead, the path I took led me right to the deck.
Could this day be more unfortunate than it already had?
Though I must admit, it is quite a bit odd. There was no crew loitering about and doing their tasks. They are supposed to be working.
Well, none of these matters concern me. I am damn hungry and I needed to find something to eat before I pass out once more. I was about to turn back when I heard someone speak, or should I say begging.
"Captain, please, I'm beggin' you. We didn't mean to…"
I immediately halted in my tracks and swiftly turn around, hiding myself in a wooden post, craning my neck to get a better look at what is happening.
"You know well about my rules," the one-eyed Captain Steele coldly said. I couldn't see much, but from my view, the rest of the crew were huddling on the deck, but two men were kneeling in front of Captain Steele, severely battered and bruised with hands tied behind their backs.
"Yes…Yes, we do, we made a mistake and it will not happen again, please spare us," the one on the right side struggled to lift his head as he looked at the captain under his swollen eyes. I couldn't help but grimace upon taking a gander at their misshapen situation. Some of his teeth were missing and blood dripped from his mouth.
"Of course, it will not happen again. You both shall be set as an example to the rest of them."
My attention shifted to Captain Steele, his face void of any emotion, his one gray eye darkened into almost black just as a sinister grin broaden on his lips. I was merely an audience at the spectacle, yet I couldn't help but feel the fear of those two kneeling before him.
"No, no please—"
However, what I did not see coming was when he pulled out something from the waistband. He moved swiftly and I almost missed what he had in his hands until a piercingly loud explosion came ricocheting over the vastness of the ocean.
My eyes went wide as saucers, looking at the man fell to the floor, blood oozing from his forehead. Instantaneously, I placed both hands over my lips and attempted to stifle the horrified scream that was coming out. Realizing that Captain Steele was holding a pistol, killing one of his crew without any bit of remorse showing in his eye.
"Captain…"
The other didn't even get to finish what he was about to say as a bullet was sent straight to his head, ending his life in a blink.
The eerie silence followed right after the second man fell. None of them had moved, nor did I as my feet refused to move in fear that if I made a single noise, my fate would follow the other two lifeless fellows.
He's a monster.
Oh, indeed a monster.
I need to get off this ship.
Even if it means I have to swim.