The Scathed

[charlottegold]

Well I loved it just like the others!
Its ok about Sarah ... sometimes it takes people to get knocked down before they get up and fight with all their might so I am still very interested in seeing where Sarah goes now...and just like the others said - Watch Out Navy!
I feel bad for Luckie though - poor thing lost her bakery! Now that is a SHAME!
Char

[Catherine Ironcutter]

Great chapter, I loved it.

Oh, and if you ever need a random person to use in your story for some reason, you're more than welcome to use Emily as someone to... err...I dunno. Whatever you need her to do.

[Crestshot]

Ahoy there mates! How have we all been? Sad story for you all; I lost my writing notebook at a hotel when I was at a conference! To say that I was rather like Mcrage at the time would be an understatement... but never fear! Most of the recent chapter was already typed up! So, for you, from the frantic depths of my mind...

Pirate Captain



“Throw her in the brig!”
“No, no don’t! Gregory, I didn’t do it!”
“You expect me to believe you? You’re even stupider than I thought! Take her!”
“No, it wasn’t me! Please, I tell the truth!”

Katherine broke free from her captors to chase after her husband, but as she ran, her foot snagged on something. Her fall felt eternal. Looking back, she found Sarah lying on the deck, as unconscious as she had been in the jail. She crawled back to her, finding the bruises the salve should have healed. Her skin was that of a ghost, the blood completely contained in all her bruises. She began searching her dress for something, anything that could help.

Charles suddenly burst from the mist that had eerily covered the area. With surprising swiftness, he scooped Sarah up and began running. “Come, Katherine! We have to get out!” She pushed herself up and began after the fading figures of Charles and Sarah. A cruel laughter rang out in front of her, and shapes suddenly became clear. Sarah knelt weakly in front of a Naval man, who unwittingly slapped her to the ground. She let out a weak cry of pain. Charles was being pushed around like a rag doll from one soldier to another, all of them cackling manically as they did so. When this one kicked him in the stomach, the other punched him across the face, and the other hit him in the small of the back, a sick game of pass the potato. Kat reached for her cutlass, but found it missing. She watched on helplessly.

“Lawrence!” she cried desperately into the mist, but no emerald eyed knight burst from the shadows…



“Captain!” A series of knocks rang through her cabin, waking her abruptly. Her eyes shot open and she shook her head to clear it. It had been a long time since she’d had one of those dreams. There was a crick in her neck from leaning on the wall, which she attempted to pop out unsuccessfully. She made to stretch, but found her arm weighed down by something. Looking down, she saw Sarah resting against her, sleeping peacefully. She smiled softly down at her, but then remembered the circumstances that had led to her being here.

More impatient pounding came on the door. “Captain!” a crewmate’s voice yelled again. Kat grumbled slightly and shifted Sarah off of her arm. It was incredible that she hadn’t woken as well, considering they lay right next to the door.

She roughly opened the door to find any possible sunlight blocked by the hulking figure of one of her crew. “What is it, Mr. Ironhawk?” she bit out. “I was very much asleep.”

Any other day, it would have amused her to see the tree heightened figure cringe before her, but right now she was too groggy to care. “Sorry Captain, but the shipwright’s men are here. They wanted you to oversee the repairs, make sure they had everything straight.”

“And where, pray tell, is Mr. Mcrage? Could he not have done this?” she practically growled.

“He went into town, ma’m. He said he had some things to manage.”

Kat sighed frustratedly. “Very well then. Go make sure the workers don’t do anything stupid, and I’ll be out in a moment.”

Chris left with an “Aye ma’m”, leaving Kat with her sister. She had woken in the time she had been speaking to Chris, probably due to their conversation.

“You’re a captain now,” she stated simply. No question to it, but Kat could sense that there wasn’t complete approval from her.

“Aye.”

Sarah stood. “A pirate captain, no less.” There was a hint of disapproval behind her voice, a hesitation to accept.

“Yes.” Kat moved to take the door handle. “Look, stay on the ship, please? If anyone here does anything to make you feel uncomfortable, come straight to me, and I’ll make sure they’re taken care of. She made to open the door, but a chuckle from Sarah stopped her.

“It’s oddly reminiscent,” she said. “It’s somehow like childhood. I remember the first day of finishing school. You told me that if any of the girls made fun of me, just tell you, and you’d make sure their hair mysteriously disappeared in their sleep.” The sisters shared a smile. “Do you remember that, Katherine?”

Kat felt the smile on her face slide off. “Sarah… try to call me Kat when we’re around others. One has to keep up appearances, even in the Caribbean.” With that, she was gone.

She had slept well past midday. There was much activity on her ship. A group of unfamiliar men stood on her main deck, chatting with each other. She quickly made her way down to them.

“You’re O’malley’s men?” she asked as she approached them.

Half of them stopped talking, and she knew they were sizing her up. “Aye. And who are you?” a brash looking young man asked.

She held out a hand. “Kat Crestshot, captain of the wood you so happen to be floating on.”

The man laughed. “Captain? Come on, girl, where is your real captain? It can’t be a woman!”

A few of the men began shifting nervously. “Easy mate,” they muttered.

“No, no, let me speak,” the young blonde said. “Come forward sir!” he shouted to the ship. “Who is the real Captain?”

He began turning as he yelled at her ship. When his back was to her, Kat swiftly kicked him in the small of it, making him fall on his face to the splintered deck. She placed a boot on his rising form and shoved him back to the ground. With a foot on his back, she drew her sword and leaned, catlike, over his body to place it on his neck.

“I could kill you, you know,” she whispered menacingly in his ear. “Just a quick flash,” the blade moved a millimeter on his neck “and you would be dead. Your blood would not be the first to be spilled on this deck.” She grabbed his long hair and forced his head up. “See this ship? It could be your last sight, sir! However!” Her voice had reached a yell by this point, but she paused and quieted. “However… O’malley is a good repairman. I’d hate to lose his services over something as insignificant as your death.” She released his hair, removed her boot, and sheathed her sword. “Besides, my blade was made for the likes of you.”

The man gingerly pushed himself up off the deck. He touched his lip, then his neck, where blood trickled down, and looked at Kat with fear and the respect she was used to seeing from her crew.

Something in Kat made her look up to her cabin. Standing there by the railing was Sarah, looking down at her in shock. For a moment, the hard face of the pirate softened into something that was almost an apology. At another glance, though, the pirate captain, the scathed lady of the Caribbean Sea, was back. Appearances must be kept.

It was later in the day before Kat figured out what had happened to her first mate.

Lawrence, Charles, and Luckie warily walked up the plank about an hour before sunset. O’malley’s men had been hard at work all day, without any outstanding instances. Kat had been overseeing the repairs when Ironhawk shouted out a greeting to Lawrence.

“Ahoy, sir!” His booming voice carried to below decks, drawing Kat’s attention. There was only one person Chris would call “sir”. She ran to the top deck and saw the three of them sitting wearily on a set of stairs.

“Where have you been all day?” she asked huffily, her hands on her hips. Luckie raised her tired head.

“Tha’ would be my fault,” she told her. “Go’ a few hours sleep below decks, bu’ we must’ve woken before ye. I woke Charles ‘ere an’ told ‘im I wanted to see me shop. We ran into yer mate ‘ere while leavin’, and he insisted on comin’ with.” Her voice lowered as she muttered, “Bloody good thin’ too…”

Kat’s eyes narrowed at them. “Why? What happened?”

Luckie and Charles shifted uncomfortably while Lawrence spoke. “The Navy was waiting there, Kat. They noticed us the moment we approached the bakery. We would have stayed to fight, but I only had my dagger, and they didn’t have anything.”

“You went into Tortuga without cutlasses?!” Kat thundered at Charles and Luckie. “Are you both mad?! Even if the Navy wasn’t floating around, you both know to have something on you at all times!”

“Easy, Kat,” Lawrence said, standing and putting a comforting hand on her shoulder, immediately relaxing her. It forced her to take a deep breath and get her logical mind back.

“Very well,” she murmured, her eyes still hard. “Where have you been all day, then?”

Luckie snorted. “Wha’, did ye think we was gonna lead ‘em back ‘ere? Had to outrun ‘em in the swamp!” She stuck out her leg to reveal a muck covered boot.

Kat, though, had suddenly stopped listening. A thought had sprung to her mind and begun to bloom. It was something that was so far-fetched, she wasn’t sure it could be pulled off herself. Perhaps she’d had too much rum today. Yet still…

“Kat?” Lawrence asked, as he had seen her fading from them.

Her head snapped towards him. “Feel like doing something stupid, Lawrence?”



I'm rather fond of the relationship between Kat and Sarah. I'm loving building it.

Thank you to Luckie for letting me run her through a swamp. I don't know how much rum (or Maple Syrup, as the case may be) I owe you now.

Well mates what do ye think? Haha, reviews of any shape and size are appreciated and welcome, and of course, thanks for the ones already left. Check back next Friday for another chapter! Thanks for reading!

-Kat Crestshot

[Catherine Ironcutter]

Go Kat! I love doing stupid things!

...

Great chapter. Can't wait to see what they do

[Crestshot]

Ahoy and Merry Christmas me mates!!! I hope everyone is having a fantastic holiday season! I know this is a little late on the hour, but I was busy playing Santa for my parents all night, haha. Never fear though! For I have for you today...

Meeting



“A letter. You sent them a letter.”

Kat was leaning back in her chair in her quarters, looking up relaxed at her very tense sister. “An invitation, more like, and only to the commanding officer.”

Her sister was very clearly infuriated. Against her better judgment, Kat snorted softly.

“I don’t see what’s funny, Katherine!” Sarah screeched. “You invite the commanding officer of Tortuga into what is essentially your base of operations, like it’s absolutely nothing! Like you both have tea every Tuesday! It’s a ridiculous idea!”

Kat rolled her eyes and propped her feet on her desk. “Look, Sarah, it’s not nearly as bad as it seems,” she said nonchalantly. A bottle of rum sat on her desk, so she picked it up, considered it, and then took a long swig. “Ah, now that’s good rum,” she told her fuming sister. “I’m working on a recipe of my own, you know. Just a few things…”

She leaned over to write something down, but Sarah stormed over to her and slammed her hand over the paper. “Katherine, do you not recall what they did to me?” she demanded, pointing to the still fading bruise on her face. Kat couldn’t help but flinch and her amusement drained away.

She sighed and took her sister’s hand. “I very much recall what they did, Sarah. That’s why I’m doing it. Look at this.” She shuffled a few papers on her desk around, coming upon a list that she handed to Sarah. As her sister’s eyes roamed the document, Kat spoke. “A list of the four highest officers residing in Tortuga. All but one of them will be at the meeting to comfort and advise the C.O. He’s arrogant enough to believe he’ll be safe at a meeting called by a woman, but also knows pirates will be near. More than likely, he’ll bring a guard or two along as well. This leaves the rest of Tortuga vulnerable. Resources here are low, due to the civil war in England. The Crown doesn’t see much point in trying to really take Tortuga. They just want to make it appear like they control it to the rest of the world.” Sarah looked up from the list and Kat caught her eye. “We’re going to rid Tortuga of them.”

She let Sarah absorb that for a moment before posing the next part of her plan. “There’s also the matter of where you will be during all of this. I’d like it if you were with me while I met with them.”

Sarah’s bravado and anger was quickly replaced with fear. “Katherine…” She breathed deeply. “Katherine, I don’t know…”

“It will work perfectly, Sarah,” Kat assured her. “There’s no way I’ll meet with them alone, but a man like Lawrence with me would make them tenser. With another woman, their walls will come down. Their defenses will lessen. However, from what Luckie tells me, you’re decent with a sword. We’d be protected.”

Kat could see the gears turning in Sarah’s head. She had always been a logical, rational thinker. Emotion would be left out while she considered the offer. That’s why Kat had presented the idea in this setting. Sarah would find few flaws in it.

It took a moment, but she finally responded, “Very well. I’ll stay with you.”

Kat grinned. “Good. That will leave Lawrence ad Charles and the other on either jail or town duty. The Navy will learn not to mess with the likes of Kat Crestshot and her loved ones.”

Kat called in Lawrence and began planning out the next day. They took a list of the crew members and assigned them all specific places in the town. Lawrence looked through the list and chose a strike team he would take to the jail. With this, her ship would be empty, making the atmosphere less tense. However, in her letter, she had said ‘It will only be a single crewmate and myself aboard the ship. The rest shall be sent off to other duties.’ She knew that they, for some reason, would trust her word even if they did bring extra troops. There was no need for them to worry as well. She would keep her word. There would not be one single crew member aboard during the meeting.

Dawn met the Lightning Mercenary with light pinks and oranges floating in the sky. Kat woke to yet another crick in her neck and the soft snores of Charles in the chair opposite. She lifted her head to see his head tilted back in a hard wooden chair, his hazel eyes closed and his mind shut to the world. A tilt to the right brought the vision of Sarah lying in Kat’s bed. Her sleep looked peaceful, and much more comfortable than Kat’s had been. For a moment, that sibling jealousy snuck into her as she wondered why she had given up her (somewhat) soft bed. She shook her head at herself and propelled herself out of her chair and cabin.

The Navy men were supposed to be coming at midday, so she began making the rounds to check her ship was in decent condition, without too many illegal goods for them to spot. A few men were beginning to awake as she wandered, so she sent them off to various tasks to help her out. Really, there wasn’t much to do but busywork. Everything had been taken care of the day before. Despite her usual bravado, Kat was not looking forward to this meeting.

Lawrence eventually found her counting rum bottles in the hold. He chuckled softly at her, but low enough that she wasn’t able to hear him. With her back turned to him, it wasn’t difficult to sneak behind her and gently grasp her shoulders. She gasped, and he grinned. “You need to just relax,” he murmured in her ear.

He began gently rubbing her shoulders, and she couldn’t help but lean back into him. “I think I forgot how to do that years ago,” she said softly. “Honestly, how can I even come close to relaxing when my brother and sister are here? Or with this meeting with the Navy? God,” she put a hand to her head to rub her temples. “What was I thinking, Lawrence?”

“Come on, you’re the great Kat Crestshot,” he told her. “Let some of the weight off these shoulders. You know you can do anything.”

Kat smiled weakly. “Maybe.” She sighed and closed her eyes to lean further into Lawrence’s strong chest. “I feel like I don’t even know what I’m doing anymore. I’m just going and going, fighting a never ending battle with the final outcome unclear. And with my siblings here?” She paused. “I’ve always been their role model, but now I feel like I’m just leading them down a dark path. I don’t know how to be their big sister anymore.”

Lawrence released her shoulders and wrapped his arms around her torso instead. “You’re doing fine, and you’ll continue to teach and protect them as you always have. Besides,” Kat felt his grin on the side of her face, “you led me down this path. I don’t think I’ve done too horribly.”

Kat hummed softly as she let Lawrence’s words fall over her like a blanket. It wasn’t often that she gave herself over to moments like this with him, but when she did, she found herself able to listen to his orders, rather than the other way around, and relax. “Speaking of you being here, what made you follow me down here into the darkness, Mr. Mcrage?” His chest vibrated against her slightly as he chuckled, and Kat could feel his lungs expand with a potential answer, but she didn’t let him get there. “The darkness of the rum hold, that is.”

Lawrence let out a full laugh now and turned Kat in his arms to see her grinning mischievously at him. “Why, I wasn’t following you at all, Captain Crestshot. I’m merely a poor pirate looking for a bottle of rum to assist me in my duties.”

“Sneak, Mr. Mcrage?” Kat said teasingly. “Well, I don’t tolerate thieves, sir, not even on a pirate ship. You know it won’t stand.”

“Aye, Captain, what is my punishment then?” he bantered, his grin ever growing.

Kat pretended to think for a moment, then replied, “This.” With a swish of her tied hair, she ducked under his arms and scurried out of the hold.

“Bloody tease,” Lawrence muttered, but he was still grinning. This has been their way for months now. It was a constant banter back and forth whenever the crew was not around, or a tender and soft moment like the one just experienced, where the walls all but came crumbling down, but these moments were few and far between. It was a way for them to express what they could not truly express, and despite the fun they had, both walked away with slightly heavier hearts each time.

Time finally decided to pass quickly for Kat. It was the point where everyone was to be sent off the ship, excluding Kat and Sarah. Before she sent them off, though, she gathered all of her crew on the main deck. She stood the level above them and looked down at her rag-tag group. They stood in all shapes and sizes, from a young boy to a sophomoric woman to those who had seen much clearer than even herself the violence of the Caribbean.

“A group of misfits!” she called out, immediately drawing their attention. “Look at all of us! Where can we find a home but the sea… and here. Look out there!” She pointed out to the town. “The last free port in these waters, and it is being taken over. Controlled! Now mates, does that sound free to you?” A rousing chorus of No! rang up from her crew. “They patrol our streets, they lock us in their jails for made up contrivances! They do not hold that right! So today, mates!” A cheer rang out. “Today is the day for revolution! Today is the day we take back what is rightfully ours! Today is the day that the Navy learns the true power of pirates!”

By this time, the crew had become almost uncontrollable in their excitement. Rousing cheers launched up from every man and woman on deck. Hats were thrown into the air and swords were thrust up in displays of power. Kat looked down at the people she had led for the past few months and nodded in satisfaction. Who knew she could be such a good demagogue?

“Alright mates, you know what to do!” she yelled over the exuberant crowd. “I plan to see each and every one of you back here by nightfall” The crew began to clear off the ship, as rowdy and energetic as ever. They would do well today in Tortuga. Before heading out with the others, Lawrence approached her.

“You’re sure you don’t want me to stay with?” he asked, hesitant to leave her.

She couldn’t help but give him that smile, the one that was both comforting and would get him to do whatever she wanted. “I’m sure, Lawrence. Sarah and I will be fine by ourselves.” She took him by the upper arm and led him surely to the dock. “Take care of them out there today, alright?” she asked him, but he knew it was more order than anything else.

“Aye, Kat,” he said with a nod. He shook off her arm and jogged onto the dock and into the town, until his bright red hair was swallowed by the sea of people.

The ship was finally clear. Kat turned around and saw her sister leaning against a railing, her eyes closed. She slowly approached her and leaned on the wood as well. “Are you ready?”

Sarah stiffened beside her. “I don’t know,” she whispered. The blue orbs opened. “I don’t know if I can face the men who did this to me, who cut me with their laughter.” Her arms were around her body, as if a sudden chill had suddenly blown across the ship. “I don’t know if I can do it, Katherine.”’

Kat moved to place an arm around her sister’s shoulders. “Don’t worry about it. You can’t be nearly as bad as me the first time is aw a solder after my abandonment.”

Sarah looked at her sister carefully. “What did you do, Katherine?” she asked slowly.

Kat turned her eyes towards the buckles of her boots. “I killed a man,” she whispered. “A Navy man. My rage was just so great…”

She felt Sarah shrink away from her. She heard the gasp of horror. Her gaze hardened into that of her pirate side as her mind flew though all of the deeds she had done. “This is me now, Sarah,” she said lowly, still staring at the ground. “I am no longer Katherine. I haven’t been Katherine Randolph, or even Katherine Crestshot in years. I dropped that when I turned to this life, but I won’t deny that remnants of her still remain.” Her eyes flicked up to Sarah’s. “I’m still your sister, and I still love you, but I’ve transformed. Take me as I am or leave me.”

Sarah began opening her mouth to speak, but didn’t get the chance to say anything. A group of six Navy soldiers were marching up the dock. “Ms. Crestshot!” one of them called up to the pair.

Kat turned briskly away from her sister to the men below. “That’s Captain Crestshot, my good sir!” she yelled back. “You are welcome to come aboard, as promised!” The men hardly acknowledged her as they marched up the ramp, and she took a moment to roll her eyes. “We’ll talk more later, aye?” she muttered to Sarah, who didn’t have time to respond. The Navy had arrived on deck.

“So, you are Ms. Crestshot, is this correct?” the leading member of the troop asked.

“Captain Kat Crestshot, sir,” she said, offering a hand. “I shall assume my letter reached you promptly?”

The soldier made a look of disgust as his gloved hand took her own. “Yes, ah…Captain,” he said slowly. “I am Captain Kellan Jenkins of the British Royal Navy. You wished to discuss something with me?”

“Ah, yes sir. However, in open air does not really seem the most suited place. Shall we take this into my cabin?” she led the men into her private quarters, motioning Sarah to take the back.

“Who might your companion be, Ms… I mean,” Jenkins cleared his throat in mockery, “Captain?” The ridicule of her was clear, and the other men smirked slightly, but Kat chose to ignore it. Instead, she looked back at Sarah indifferently.

“That is no one. Merely my personal servant.” She saw the look of hurt flash across Sarah’s face, but thankfully, the men were not looking at her. Kat made a note to explain that to her later. “Please, sit sir,” she said, directing the captain to a chair. “I am afraid I don’t have any seats for your men. I was not aware they would be joining us as well. Tea?”

Jenkins sat hesitantly in the overstuffed settee. “Yes, quite.”

Kat poured a cup for the both of them and directed Sarah to a corner. “Now, sir, the pleasantries are over. I believe it is time to get to the true meaning of this meeting.”

Jenkins took a sip of his tea while examining the room around him. “Yes, I shall admit, my curiosity was piqued when the letter was received. After this morning, however, the intent became clear.”

Kat’s brow furrowed. “How so this morning, sir?”

Jenkins placed his cup of tea back on the table. “If you are going to give inspirational speeches, Ms. Crestshot, I suggest you keep them quieter. Also, I know that the woman standing in the corner is not, in fact, your servant, but the sister you rescued from our jail not more than a week ago.” He stood, making Kat jump up from her seat. “Your plan for revolution has failed, Ms. Crestshot. Men, ready your weapons.”



I keep giving you guys cliffhangers. It makes me giggle.

I know we don't see Luckie in this chapter, but thanks anyway mate. Haha.

Well mates, you know what I like... haha. It is Christmas after all! Thanks for the reviews you do leave though! They're always appreciated. So a Merry Christmas to you all (Unless you celebrate Hanukkah, and in that case, I apologize for missing your holiday) and may all your holiday seasons be filled with cheer and happiness! And rum of course. Haha, Thanks for Reading!

-Kat Crestshot

[muffin pirate]

W00T! Amazing chapter Cresvy!

You really should talk quieter though...

[angel 4ever]

woohoo!! and yes yes she should shouldnt she. i can hear her all the way on the other beach on port royal!! very loud miss ah well live and let live i guess hehe awesome story!! wants more... - goes looking for cest lost note book -

[Catherine Ironcutter]

Great chapter as usual, Crest. Shoulda had a couple crewmembers sitting in the rum hold to rescue you in case something went wrong. Of course, knowing you... you didn't think about that, did you? DID YOU?

Sorry. Too much fudge.

[Crestshot]

Ahoy mates, and Happy New Year's Eve! That is, unless you read this when it has turned to 2011, and in that case, Happy New Year to you! Haha, took me all day to type this up after being distracted about a million times, but here you are mates. Oh, and to all the comments about me needing to be quiet, my arrogance astounds even me at times. So, here is...

Fallen



Kat had anticipated it wrong. All of her planning and carefully measured thoughts had all gone horribly south. The Navy had managed to surprise her this time, all because of her stupid little speech. She should have known they would be watching the ship! It was her own bravado and idiocy that had gotten them into this mess. As she watched the soldiers pull their weapons, she could only think of one thing to do.

“Sarah, catch!”

Kat flung a small bundle from her pocket. Sarah didn’t have time to do anything but react and catch. She brought the object up to her face as Kat drew her sword in the background. In her hands lay the little straw doll.

Fear flashed through her for a brief moment, but time slowed down, and the power overtook her veins instead. The doll was a missing puzzle piece, and now she was complete. No fear was left. She absorbed the power within and around her.

At her next breath, time sped up again, and the voodoo flowed out of her with a burst. The soldiers that had been rushing her were blasted backwards into Kat’s wall maps. One slumped to the ground, unconscious, while the other two shook their heads to clear them and raised their bayonets. Shots fired directly towards Sarah, but time slowed again and she ducked to avoid them. Glass and liquid rained down when the bullets shattered Kat’s rum bottles. As she stood again, she felt the voodoo whisper to her, so she concentrated a moment, and a swarm of bees soon burst through the window and overtook the two. They dropped their weapons and fell to the ground with flailing arms and screams of terror. Sarah looked down at them coldly.

The clanging of swords drew her attention to the other side of the room. Kat had already taken down one of the Officers, who lay moaning on the floor, but the Captain and the other Officer were slowly gaining ground. Her blade flew like lightning, but the two Navy were well trained swordsmen also. Sweat beads formed on her head while she parried away the Captain’s thrust, then spun around to try and strike the officer. Sarah began building up the voodoo and aimed it at the group, but nothing was happening. The voodoo would not attack her sister.

Her face formed into an annoyed snarl and she shoved the doll into her pocked, and pulled her sword in place of it. She was only a few steps away, and was on the point of swinging into Jenkins’ back, but she didn’t have the opportunity.

Kat was finally able to pierce the Officer through the middle, but as she grinned in success, Jenkins was still moving. His sword sang through the air towards her. Kat’s eyes widened as she saw the sword fly, and she tried to jump out of the way, but for once, she was not quick enough. Her crocodile coat flew open, exposing her torso to the blade. A painful cry escaped her mouth as it cleanly sliced open her side, and Sarah watched in horror as her sister fell in red.

Sarah heard her heart roar in her ears and her shallow breath fill her lungs. Her hand still held her sword, and she glanced at the raised blade. The hand flexed on the handle, and Sarah turned to the Captain, still laughing down at Kat. She ran at the man and, using what she had seen Kat do mere days before, kicked him in the small of the back. Jenkins fell in surprise, and as he lay on the ground, Sarah stomped his hand and kicked him in the face before taking her blade and placing it on his neck. He looked up maliciously at her.

“You are nothing!” he spat out. “The Crown rules these waters! Nothing you do here will change that!”

Sarah snarled and almost flicked her blade just the right way to slice his neck, but something stopped her. “I cannot kill you in cold blood,” she hissed. “Look at you here, like a pathetic, pouting child. It’s not worth killing you over.” Her sword slowly lowered.

They stared at each other a moment, almost in silent agreement. Then Jenkins suddenly leaped to his sword, but Sarah had anticipated this, and was quicker. She whipped the doll from her pocket and flung him into the wall. He crumpled down, unconscious.

“I said I wouldn’t kill you. I never said anything about not letting you go,” she harshly told the body.

A gasp brought her attention back to Kat. She lay on the floor, giving deep, rasping breaths and clutching her side as if trying to staunch the blood by herself. The doll tumbled from Sarah’s fingers as he fell next to her slowly deteriorating sister. Blood was beginning to spread to the floor, creating stains in a rug nobody could care less about now. “No, Katherine, no…” Sarah whispered in desperation. “I just found you again, don’t do this!” she shrieked.

A bloodied hand grasped Sarah’s white shirt and pulled her closer to Kat. A horrid, rasping sound emanated from her mouth as Kat tried to form words. “Pocket…” Another rasping breath. “Potion…”

Sarah nodded frantically. “Potion. Right. Right!” she said hysterically. She searched first one cat pocket, then the other, finally pulling out a small, stoppered bottle. Her hand shook violently as she held it. Sarah forced herself to gulp down a deep breath and removed the wax. She held it to Kat’s lips and tipped the contents into her mouth. Kat swallowed it obediently, and Sarah let out a small sigh of relief.

The relief was short lived, though, when Kat began violently coughing .Sarah’s eyes widened in hysteria again as a small trickle of blood leaked out of the corner of Kat’s lips. “No, you’re going to be okay, you are, Katherine!” she insisted. She was on the verge of using the crocodile coat to prevent the blood flow when a chill floated through her. IT made her head flinch towards where the doll still lay on the dirt ridden floor.

‘Use the voodoo’ something whispered through her. Sarah was stock still for a brief moment, but another hacking cough brought her back. She swept the doll into her hand and held it over her sister. The voodoo began to wash over her, bringing an odd peace Sarah would normally say wasn’t natural. Her eyes closed; there was no need for them here. Hands spread across the air over Kat’s body, back and forth, then began coming down closer and closer. They began to focus in on the wound, moving away from the rest of the body and closer to Kat’s side. The left hand stood steadily over it while the other made counter-clockwise circles with the doll in hand. Slowly, carefully, the skin began to stitch itself back together. From Sarah’s throat came low, guttural chants in a language she had never learned, yet knew.

It took a few moments, but the wound closed. The last bit of skin and muscle stretched back together. Sarah’s hands began to move back and forth over Kat’s body again, rising this time, and she let the chants fade until, finally, she was finished.

Sarah’s eyes opened to see that Kat had slumped to the ground, unconscious. Her breathing was normal, however, and the gap in her side had been sealed. Sarah sighed and smiled weakly in satisfaction, then attempted to stand to find something to bandage the wound. As she stood, though, her legs nearly buckled under her and a wave of dizziness swept over her. Her breathing was heavy, and she noticed for the first time that she felt drained. A small moan of discontent fell from her lips, but she shook her head and shook the dizziness away.

She shuffled through a smashed cabinet to find a small strip of cloth that had probably been saved for an occasion such as this. Stepping over the bodies, she knelt next to Kat and tenderly wrapped her in the bandage. Without knowing what else to do, Sarah placed a pillow under her sister’s head and stood to survey the damage around her.

It was severe. There was a broke cabinet, and glass was sprinkled across the floor. The two men she had sent the bees to had long since stilled, with bright red spots covering them where they had been stung. A few of the bugs still fluttered around the cabin in their own innocent way. There were the other two Kat had dispatched, one that had been slashed violently across the chest, and the other that still held Kat’s gold handled blade in his gut. With Jenkins and the other man Sarah had thrown against the wall, it was a mess she didn’t know how to clean by herself. In desperation, she flew to the window to see if there was anyone outside she knew that could help.

Of all the people, Bart stood on the dock. Sarah sighed softly and looked to see if there was anyone else nearby, but she saw nobody she was even remotely friendly towards. With intense hesitation, Sarah called out to him. “Bart!”

The pudgy face immediately turned at the sound of her voice, and at the sight of her, Bart gave a wicked smile. “Hello there, Sarah. See something you like?”

Sarah just glared at him. “Now is not the time, Bart! Run into town and find Luckie for me!”

Bart huffed. “And what am I gettin’ out of it?!” he demanded.

Sarah thought a moment, then flashed him a sickly sweet smile. “If you grab her, I’ll give you something later,” she said in a sing song voice. Bart grinned.

“I’m all for that. Where can I find her?”

“Check near the jail,” she told him, fading from the sweet demeanor. “And tell her to bring Charles and Lawrence!” Bart ran off in the direction of the town, and Sarah slammed the window closed. “Pig,” she muttered.

Sarah took the doll and cast a spell on Jenkins and the officer to ensure they would stay asleep. When she was done, she looked out at the dead soldiers and considered moving them, but found she didn’t have the heart to do it. Instead, she sat at her sister’s side and let tears run down her face until everyone arrived.

Lawrence, Charles, and Luckie charged in after a few minutes, their faces paling like ghosts at the scene before them. Sarah saw their eyes flicking around, observing the damage before settling on the sisters. Lawrence fell on Kat’s other side looking lost and defeated. “What…?” he asked in a woeful tone.

“The meeting-” Sarah had to stop to try and stifle her tears. “The meeting didn’t go as planned. They knew what we were doing. They attacked, and Kat…” Sarah pushed the coat aside to reveal the bandages.

Lawrence was staring into Kat’s face, as if believing she would jump up at any second, but Kat did no such thing. Her breathing was gentle, proving that she still lived, but no other movement graced her features. It was a sight Lawrence couldn’t seem to bear.

“C’mon now, let’s pu’ ‘er up on tha bed, aye?” Luckie said from her perch on the outskirts of the room. Lawrence nodded sharply and gingerly placed his arms under Kat’s prone form. He gently picked her up, mindful of her wound, and set her down in her cot behind a curtain, which had somehow escaped harm. Every move was careful and measured, with more thought than any action performed before.

Lawrence turned back out to the room. “Which did it?” he whispered menacingly. Sarah pointed down at Jenkins. Before she could even ask why, Lawrence had drawn his dagger and taken the captain by the collar. He held the still unconscious on the ground with the dagger at his throat. “Wake up!” he yelled. “Wake up you disgusting creature!”

“Lawrence, what are you doing?!” Sarah shrieked. Her and Charles moved to try and pull Lawrence away, but he was a statue. Neither the dagger or the glare masking his face could be shaken.

“I want him to see death rushing at him, isn’t it obvious?” Lawrence bit out. “A quiet death is too good!”

“Lawrence, we need him!” Sarah shouted at him, grabbing for the dagger, but Lawrence shoved an elbow in her stomach to force her back. Charles let out a yell of outrage and tackled Lawrence, sending the dagger skittering across the floor. He got one clean punch across Lawrence’s cheek before being flipped and began getting pummeled. Charles had the size, but Lawrence had the experience of hundreds of past fights. He had the upper hand, but Charles still managed to shove his shoulders up and off. Both men stood and the shink of swords being drawn rose above the yells of Sarah and Luckie for them to stop.

“Lawrence Mcrage and Charles Crestshot, you drop those swords RIGHT NOW!” a voice thundered above all others. Every head spun at breakneck speed to Kat still lying in the corner. She was sitting up and holding her side with a grimace of pain, but the glare overruled it all. If looks could kill, Lawrence and Charles would have already been scorched and sent to Saint Peter.

Then she coughed. “Bloody hell, that hurt,” she rasped with an extra grimace, but the glare was quickly restored. “Well, boys? Am I going to take them forcefully or will you putting them away?” Both men looked sheepish as they quickly sheathed their swords as if trying to hide something from a mother.

Sarah practically sprinted to Kat’s side. “When did you wake?” she asked worriedly.

Kat scoffed. “How could I not wake up with all the yelling going on in here? I mean, my god mates, don’t you know how to let the injured rest?” She began to swing her legs out of the bed, much to the chagrin of everyone in the room.

“Lay down!” they all shouted at once. Kat let her face transform into a glare again.

“I will do no such thing until my orders are given!” she barked. “First off, you two,” she pointed to Lawrence and Charles, “Will not kill each other in a fit of emotional instability. You, Lawrence, are also not to kill that man right there.” She motioned to Jenkins. “Sarah is right, we do need him. Now, I’ll assume the strike on the jail didn’t go as planned?”

“Of course not, I had to-” Lawrence started in outrage, but Kat held up a hand to silence him.

“A simple ‘no’ would suffice, Mr. Mcrage.” Lawrence immediately shrunk back. She only called him that when she was insufferably angry or teasing, and he knew this wasn’t the latter. “We’ll have to do that today before they realize their leader is missing and double security in panic. Take Jenkins and the other down into the brig, then head back to your group, understand?”

“But Kat-”

“Do you understand, Mr. Mcrage!” Kat bellowed, hiding the wince of pain it had caused.

Lawrence stared at the floor a moment, then lifted his head and said “Aye aye, Captain,” with a salute. Kat nodded.

“What of the other bodies, Katherine?” Sarah asked softly.

Kat stared down at the fallen soldiers sadly. A loss of life was always to be mourned, even if they had fallen at her own hand. “We’ll leave them by their headquarters under the cover of night. Even Navy have families that will miss them.” She stood slowly and limped over to the man whose body still held her sword. It squelched as she removed it.

“To your duties,” she murmured, staring at the blood stained blade. Everyone hesitated, but Lawrence, Charles, and Luckie soon left the room with the forms of Jenkins and the Officer in tow. Sarah, however, lingered. Kat smiled sadly at her.

“You too, Sarah. I need a moment to myself,” she told her. Sarah’s eyes met Kat’s, and Kat felt surprise run through her body. The eyes were no longer a bright blue she had grown up with, but instead a vibrant purple. Kat knew the shock had flashed across her face, and she also knew Sarah had seen it.

“What’s wrong?” she asked.

Kat shook her head lightly. “Nothing. I’ll tell you later.” She waved her hand to the door. “Go see if Luckie can get you a change of clothes and then go raid the galley or something, alright? I promise I’ll rest after you leave.”

Sarah glanced down at her clothes, the ones still stained with her sister’s blood. She gulped. “Good idea.” She slowly began walking towards the door. “Sleep, alright?” she said, and then she was gone.

With the exit of Sarah, Kat limped over to her broken closet, finding an old, rust colored cloth. She felt her body scream at her as she sat back on her bed, but she still took the cloth, took her cutlass, and began wiping any evidence of blood from the blade.



I really did enjoy writing this chapter, as ridiculous as that sounds.

Thanks go out to Luckie for letting me butcher an Irish accent on her.

Come now mates, you know how it is by now! I do appreciate reviews, and you all know it, haha. Please feel free to tell me if I do something completely stupid. Haha, Thanks for Reading!

-Kat Crestshot

[Captain Del]

Excellent as always, Crest! I love the development that you're giving Sarah - do I smell the next Tia Dalma?

Looking forward to the next chapter - do I really have to wait until next year?

[Catherine Ironcutter]

Awesome chapter. Sarah really needs to learn to conserve her voodoo... and Lawrence really needs to learn to control his temper xD

[angel 4ever]

Haha i dont think there is a way for a Mcrage to control all rage Lol and awesome chapter!! i want to read more!! :P haha hurray for the awesome chapter crest thank ya for writing it

[charlottegold]

Yes! This one is fantastic! I really really love how you are developing Sarah ... I would swear she may even have my angel wings.
Great job as always!

[muffin pirate]

A little Annie Skywalker in Lawrence do I smell? LoL That was me being a geek...

Awesome chapter Dec 2009 buddy! Oh, and Cresvy, you are doing a great job building these characters up!

[Catherine Ironcutter]

^Bwahaha. I love Star Wars. In fact, I just had a movie marathon of them. I love my computer DVD player

Anyways, can't wait until your next chapter. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna get on with Star Wars II and drink some rum orange juice while I wait out the week patiently...