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Chapter 20~ Down with the Ship
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In war, there is no mercy to be had. There is no understanding, no humanity, no remorse—only a sick passion. Greed. I had never been to war before the disaster of the Svarn Aatank. But, I learned very quickly that, in minutes, a human life goes from precious to as worthless as dirt on the sole of a boot.
Captain Maut’s ship was littered with bodies, each freckled with bullet wounds. Much of the ship’s beauty had been destroyed from cannon fire. Who knew gold would be so brittle underneath the wrath of Henry Every?423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBanfIXbRtW
I returned to the earth and woke up from my Fancy-induced daze. Beside me, Edmund shook me lightly until I finally remembered what I was trying to do.
“We need to get on that ship,” I said with a finger pointing at the colossal ship firing at us.
“Are you crazy?! Constantine, I strongly doubt that you’ll be treated any different there than here.”
“I don’t care. I’d rather be on the winning side of this shitstorm when this ship goes down. In minutes, this place will be infested with blood-thirsty pirates—some you’ve never seen the likes of—and they will kill us. Can I make a more compelling argument?”
“How do you suggest we make it over there, then?”
“Simple. We walk.”423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SOow8sBTy
Just as I’d predicted, the planks began their descent upon our ship. Hooks shot out of The Fancy and took vicious hold of the Svarn Aatank. They reeled us in with the strength of an army until we sat side by side with my father’s vessel. One by one, pirates scuttled across the planks and boarded. Anyone could take a look and tell this was a group of motivated, trained warriors. And they had gluttony in their red eyes.
Painfully, I pulled Edmund across the deck of the ship, pistol in hand. They came from all directions. Edmund fought with his cutlass and shot at the legs of any man who came any closer than three feet of us. But, I wasn’t so nice.
After killing Tew, shooting again felt easier. In no time, I’d collected three corpses at my feet.
I turned to Edmund to continue our journey. But, he was on the ground, struggling under the crushing weight of a muscular pirate twice Edmund’s size. His hands were wrapped tight around Edmund’s throat while Edmund’s face illuminated a sickening white.
Doing whatever I could, I snatched up his dropped cutlass, and, in one swift motion, ran it through the pirate’s meaty chest till it poked out the other side. It lodged in quick and solidly as if I’d ran it through a tree trunk. Black blood dripped down upon Edmund’s chest and neck. But, the man’s death grip was released, and he fell aside with an animalistic grunt and moan.
Edmund struggled up off of the deck and heaved panting breaths of desperation.
“Will you be okay?” I asked.
“I’ll be fine...Huh...Huh...We need to go.”
He took hold of the sword in the dead man’s back and ripped it out with a violent yank. It dribbled blood across the grimy deck. He wiped the metal surface upon the dead man’s shirt until it was clean enough to continue.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6HByROGff
By this time, the passages to The Fancy had gone clear of men, and the opportunity for escape had never reached a better moment. Nevertheless, I couldn’t help my fast, tense breaths that made my head dizzier and my heart race. It wasn’t the daunting threat of manslaughter just around the corner that made me terrified to cross that plank. It was the fact that I would be walking over a thin, slender piece of wood that hung unsupported over a forty-foot drop. Underneath were dark, deadly waves that I’d likely get sucked into. If drowning didn’t kill me, the surface of either boat would. I’d be torn to shreds by the barnacles on the Svarn Aatank’s hull. Why wouldn’t my feet move?423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0XEgdNfqt
“Constantine?”
“I’m trying. I’m…”
Then, I felt Edmund’s hand fall into mine. It was warm despite the unforgiving chill of the midnight air. But, there was his smile and those eyes that glowed warmly like fire embers. I took in the feel of his skin for only a second before he squeezed my hand.
He whispered, “Let’s go together.”
He took the first step onto the plank, never once losing grip of my hand. I took my step right behind him. My breaths had gone shaky and weak now. But, I refused to look down.
There was only a cacophony of sounds surrounding us. The cannons firing. The midnight waves smashing upon each other. The pistols shattering skulls. And the anguished cries of dying men all around.
This was the price of wealth. This is what becomes of men selling their souls to the devil. This was true hell unleashed. Mercy unknown, survival impossible.
My every step felt like a hammer pounding down upon the brittle plank with the force of a hundred men. My heartbeat was so accelerated, I could hardly feel it in my chest anymore. No, my heartbeat was gone. There were suddenly spots forming in my eyesight, black spots growing like mold. My eyelids fluttered slowly, and my balance became nonexistent.
“Constantine!”
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CRASH
A dull throb hit my shoulder. But, that was nothing compared to the shredding pain in my foot. Atop it lied Edmund, scaling back to his feet and coming to my aid. The spots in my vision had retreated. Any movement of my foot sent burning needles up my leg.
“What happened?” I panted.
“You collapsed on me. We would’ve fallen if I didn’t throw you to the other side.” He turned his attention to the leg I kept a grasp on.
“The wound’s opened again. We’ve got to get you somewhere safe before we’re slaughtered.”
“Help me up. I can walk.”
“You’re mad, " he objected. "Put your arm round my neck, lass.”
Edmund lifted me and carried me about the deck while I, with one hand, shot any man I made eye contact with. They dropped like flies.
We only made it to the middle of the ship when the Svarn Aatank and Fateh Muhammad collapsed in one final blow that knocked back even The Fancy. There, amidst all of the fighting aboard the ship, was raised a large white flag. It viciously blew in the cold winds, ushering a surrender that the world had never seen before. The Fancy was now the richest pirate ship on the seas.
Then followed a victory yell from all around us as weapons clattered to the wooden decks. Captain Maut was nowhere to be seen. The sea’s aggravated fight in our war had also ceased all attacks.
It was over—for everyone.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzGsX8xgn3
I lowered my pistol and looked curiously at Edmund. This was certainly a celebration. There should’ve been shanties erupting by now. The crew should’ve been dancing, rejoicing. Instead, silence.
Every crewman of The Fancy turned to the back of the ship’s rear, waiting for something even bigger than the war they’d just won—something earth-shattering. The night gales blew, ushering in whispers louder than any sound around us.
A door high above The Fancy swung open. Part of me expected the devil himself to make an appearance, to relieve us of this misery.
And a man did appear. His heavy boots planted into the floorboards and made footsteps the sound of thunder. He approached the railing that overlooked the entire battle, over each and every one of us. His hands grasped it, and he smiled.
Then, his voice cut the silence like a knife. “Good men of The Fancy, men of strength and nobility. My men. Welcome to victory! Men of these measly little skiffs, god save your souls.”
The cheers came in uproars all around. Swords were stabbed into the air, pistols fired, and men danced unusual jigs. But, I couldn’t move. Edmund kept saying my name, but the sounds were distant, muted. The man above was tall, strong, and lion-like. He had gray locks that sat upon his shoulders and a short gray beard. The man looked more alive than ever for a man well over forty. He wore a scarlet coat, decorated in gold and other bold colors. Upon his fingers were large golden rings, and he wore a black cocked hat atop his aged head. His eyes were a deep golden brown that glittered with all the gold he’d just won. The man laughed deep and heartily, not a care in the world. I knew this face. I hadn’t seen that face in three years.423Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzZ7rzLX7U
“Holy mother of god…” I murmured, utterly dazed.
“Constantine…”
The man gazing down upon the earth as though he owned every bit of it was none other than Captain Henry Every, my father.
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