The Pirate and the Prince

Chapter Two

Emma Swan

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The sea is calm today, the water undisturbed and smooth as glass. But I am nowhere near as calm.

"What the hell do you mean it's missing?" I shout, my eyes flashing angrily at the unfortunate crew member who had to tell me what happened to my prized necklace.

"I'm sorry, Captain, but it's gone," he says, tensing a bit as if expecting a blow.

I step in closer to him, gritting my teeth. Admirably, he doesn't back down. That would show weakness and he knows I don't want that. But he lowers his head a bit to show respect nonetheless.

"That necklace belonged to the late queen," I say in a low, clipped tone. "Find it. I don't care if you have to check the bottom of the ocean."

He nods and quickly goes to do as I say as I look around at the other crew members that have gathered.

"Line up," I order, and they do. They know as well as I how much that necklace is worth. It is loaded with rubies and diamonds, a gift to the late queen from her husband, the late king. So many members of the royal family are dead or dying, each heir to the throne getting younger and younger. And now word is going around that King Liam is ill and may soon be dead as well. I smirk at the thought. Young kings are advantageous when you're a pirate. They are inexperienced, often even afraid of the responsibilities falling upon them. You can raid half a dozen villages before they even begin to take notice.

I bite at the edge of my lip as I look at my crew members. "Now, believe me, I don't want to make you strip. Empty your pockets, every one of you. If you give up the necklace now, I might decide to show a little mercy. If you don't give it up now and I find it on you later..."

They all look me in the eye as I grin. "Then you'll get to walk our lovely plank."

Various sounds of clinking metals and beads fill my ears as my crew members empty their pockets onto the deck for me. I inspect the contents thoroughly, picking through the little piles of gold and jewelry with the toe of my boot. But they're clean.

I take the time to give a warning glare to each and every member of my crew as they refill their pockets with their belongings. "I swear to the gods, if I have mutiny on my ship..."

"Captain! I've found it!"

I turn to see the crew member I sent away earlier returning with the shining necklace in his hands.

"Give it to me," I say, being careful not to damage the valuable piece of jewelry as I take it back. "Where was it?"

"It was..." he grows visibly paler and I start to get impatient. Where could it have been?

"It was in the cabin where the crew sleeps, Captain. Inside a pillow."

"Whose pillow?" I ask, my eyes darkening with anger.

He lowers his head again, clearly not wanting to betray a fellow crew member. But betraying his Captain would be worse, so he answers me.

"Annabelle stole it, Captain. I found it in her pillow."

Annabelle. The only other woman on the ship. I look up at her slowly, a mixture of anger and disappointment in my eyes as I fasten the valuable necklace safely around my throat and walk slowly up to her.

"Did you really think I wouldn't notice it was gone?" I ask quietly, almost sympathetically.

She doesn't answer me. Her face is red with shame and I can see the fear settling in.

"It really is a pity that you decided to betray me. I liked having another woman on board." I draw my sword and she flinches as I point it at her, saying, "The plank, Annabelle. Now."

She pauses for only a moment, looking in my eyes for some sign of mercy. But I am not known for being merciful and forgiving. If I were, I would never have gotten where I am. I walk her out onto the plank and the crew is silent behind me, already mourning her.

"Just pray that the mermaids are more merciful than I am," I say quietly, frowning as I give her a moment to compose herself before jumping into the water. When she does, I take a deep breath and let it out, returning my sword to its sheath and slowly going to the helm to continue sailing. The crew members and silently I get back to work, leaving behind the woman who was once a loyal member of our crew. Honestly, I hate having to do this. It isn't the first time, after all. Whenever a crew member turns mutinous, I have to eliminate them, or they might turn out to be my undoing.

After several long minutes of silence, another crew member of mine comes up to speak with me. "Captain," he greets quietly.

"Joshua," I greet in the same way. I don't have an official first mate on my ship, but if I did I'm sure it would be Joshua. He has been with me longer than most of my crew members have, and never once has he experienced a lapse in his loyalty.

"Where are we headed next?" he asks me as I keep my eyes on the calm ocean ahead.

I smile a bit. "I've heard about a village nearby full of successful miners. Their stocks are full and they're practically rolling in raw gold. I thought perhaps we could lighten their load?"

Joshua chuckles. "Indeed. Are they well defended?"

"They're miners, not soldiers," I say, earning another laugh from him. "From what I've heard, it'll be like taking candy from a baby."

"Well then," he says, "lead the way, Captain."