Tempest's Embrace

Chapter 9

The next day when she awoke, she bolted upright in the bed. Blinking twice she looked around the cabin. The bitter reminder of where she was came to her in waves of sorrow and anger.

She slowly pulled the sheets off of her and placed her feet on the floor. Looking around the well-furnished quarters, she again developed the notion that it was best to escape or maybe arm herself with something.

But, then again no harm has come to her. A feeling shivered up her spine at the thought that maybe he would toy with her before torturing her...then kill her. After all, he was a pirate. The Black Scourge of the sea.

She padded cautiously over to the door and tried the lock. The knob turned and the door opened. It opened. To her relief, it was not locked. Hesitant to walk out, she stepped back then and looked around quickly for something to protect herself just in case.

Immediately she walked to his belongings on the table where she saw maps. Her eyes landed on one then onto another quickly as her fingers searched and sifted through the ledgers and letters until they touched something. She stopped and cleared away the papers and froze. The handle to a letter opener was visible slightly hidden beneath a pile of papers.

Hope fluttered in her chest. It may not be a dagger but it was just as close to one so she grabbed it. 
Holding it securely in her hand, she stepped closer to the door and poked her head slowly through it. Refocusing her vision in the darkened passageway, she continued until she was fully out of the door.

Looking both ways, she needed to decide which way she must go. Looking to her right then her left she could not distinguish where each path went. Praying to the good Lord for guidance she turned slowly to her right. Alert more than ever.

With each move, she gained a shaky breath as her heart rattled in her chest with every cautious step. The passageway became darker, warmer, and humid. The dank odor of wet wood in the air was ripe.

Suddenly the clanking of chains and swearing came from the passage. Then a deep baritone voice began to shout in anger.
"Water! Give me bloody water!"

That voice she gasped. It was his. That animal that took her from her ship.
The warm sensation of tears fell down her cheek then as she remembered what they did to Josephine. She tightened her grip on the letter opener and she slowly continued on down the passageway. Her better judgment was easily replaced with determination and anger. Enough to confront Cuthburt.

She cleared the path of the long passageway to surge into the ship's lower cell lit with lanterns. Just enough to see where she stood. Suddenly the clanking continued and the protests and shouts began again.

Slowly she made her way further in until she approached a clearing of crates and barrels then towards a wall.  On the side, men sat with arms bound and chained to it.
Looking around she saw some in cells and others shackled to another wall.
To her relief, the devil was not placed in a cell. Her grip tightened and her palms itched as she stepped closer towards him.

The clanking shortly froze to a halt as they noticed her slowly coming forward. The dim-lit area was enough to see their faces. But when she saw him her heart lurched.
A brief feeling of satisfaction fluttered in her chest as she got a good look at the Black Scorges handy work.

His one eye swollen shut and face bloodied, lifted to look at her. She let out a shaky breath as he cracked a vicious smile baring a cracked rotten tooth.

"Ye come to finish the job, eh lass?" he chuckled.

She stood rigid to the spot not able to answer. Very little time had passed as she continued to stand there clutching the letter opener tight in her grip at her side. Trembling with a mixture of anger and fear as his lips curled up viciously as he goaded her.