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Ocean Blue Ch. 01

By: life_is_a_dance



June 12, 1680

The deck of the ship was filled with men, running back and forth as a gust of wind kicked up, the sails straining against the ropes holding them in place. The little girl stood just inside the captain's quarters, watching the hulking figures strain to bring in the sails. A rumble of thunder and the quickly disappearing light made her guess that a storm was brewing; one of those summer storms that would toss the ship all over the rough ocean before finally either taking it into the depths or letting it continue on its way.

The little girl in the red dress watched as the rain slowly started to patter onto the deck, the men shouting back and forth frantically as the sails were rolled up and stowed. Suddenly, the ship pitched violently, knocking men off their feet as a surge of water came over the deck. The little girl rocked to the side, grabbing the door to keep from falling to the deck. Her father had warned her to stay inside the cabin during storms, lest she get swept overboard and get eaten by the monsters lurking just below the surface and at eight, she still believed his every word. He was after all the captain of this entire ship and the crew she saw before her.

"The lines are breaking!" Came a shout from the bow, accompanied by the sound of rope snapping and a huge groan as the ship rolled again. "Tie 'em down, lads!"

Storms always had a special feel about them, making the girl excited and scared at the same time, something that she could never explain. The only thing that came close to this feeling was when her father would let her climb to the eagle's nest, high atop the main mast and use his periscope to look out over the glassy, blue waters. The dizzying heights and the breathtaking views always made her heart pound.

"I need some help!" A voice came from just outside the cabin. "Someone, please!"

The girl found her footing again, peeking outside the doorway as another wave of water tossed the ship to the side, the storm now in full force. A boy of twelve was digging his heels into the deck, trying to hold the rope in place as he attempted to tie a knot through the iron ring on the side of the ship. The wave of water plastered his red curls in his face, causing him to sputter and grip the rope tighter in his hands as he hit the railing full force.

Taking a deep breath, the little girl lifted her skirts and ran out into the driving rain. "I'll help you, Danny!" She shouted over the wind and rain.

"Kit, Papa told you to stay inside." Danny yelled as his sister grabbed the loose end of the rope and started to run across the slick wood.

"Bugger off! I'm helping you." Was her reply and he had to laugh at his little sister, too courageous for her own good.

A gust of wind swept over the deck and Kit stumbled, hitting the deck hard on her hands and knees, her skirts and dress soaked through with the cold rain. Danny grabbed her around the waist and pulled her against him, keeping his grip tight on the rope as water swirled across the planks in another wave. She was coughing on the brackish water, her eyes stinging as she felt Danny wrap the rope around her hand.

"Run! I'll keep this end down." He yelled over the wind as he shoved her to her feet and towards the iron ring.

She scrambled across the deck, looping the end of the rope through the ring as Danny put all of his weight on the rope, trying to give her some length to work with. Men were shouting back and forth as the rain poured down harder on the ship, each section being tied down before disaster struck. The captain and the first mate were sharing a laugh on the main deck, congratulating each of the men on a good job. Kit concentrated on the rope before her, expertly tying it off in a knot and pulling it tight.

"I told you I could do it." She bragged, sticking her tongue out at her brother as she looked over her shoulder.

"I didn't say you couldn't. I just said that Papa told you to stay inside." Danny said, brushing the wet hair out of his face as lightening lit up the darkened sky.

Kit gasped at the loud thunder and gripped the iron ring tighter in her hand. She heard Danny yell at her before the boat shifted and her feet left the deck. She screamed as a wall of water forced her over the top of the railing. With a grunt, her small body slammed against the side of the ship, her grip on the ring slipping as water rushed out through the gaps on the deck.

"Danny!" She screamed, coughing as water continued to rush over her. Her slippers were running over the slick wall of wood, trying to find a hold as she struggled to pull herself back over the side. "Danny, help!"

Looking over her shoulder, Kit could see the ocean rolling beneath her, white caps smashing against the side of the ship. She started sobbing, remembering her father's stories about the monsters as she screamed for help again. Danny had a grip on her wrist, but he wasn't strong enough to pull her over the edge. Her fingers slipped off the ring and soon, she felt Danny's grip loosening. Kit squeezed her eyes shut tight as her fingers slipped through his and she started to fall towards the water below. Suddenly, her falling stopped as two muscular arms wrapped around her and started pulling back up towards the deck.

"I got you now, love." Her father grunted, hugging his daughter close to his chest as he grabbed Danny by the arm and drug him back into the captain's quarters.

Kit whimpered and buried her face in the crook of her father's neck, wrapping her arms tightly around him. She peeked over his shoulder at the sailors as they started down into the depths of the ship, the storm beginning to die down a bit. Her father's first mate and one of his friends followed behind him, closing the door to the cabin.

He angrily spun Danny around by his arm, forcing him to stand in the middle of the cabin as he pried Kit off his neck and stood her next to her brother. "What do you two think you were doing?" He asked, his deep voice rumbling in the cabin.

"Papa, I told her..." Danny started, silenced as their father raised his hand, his blue eyes blazing.

"Katherine?" He asked, looking down at his daughter.

Kit knew she was in trouble the minute he used her full name. She looked up at her father, his huge, muscular arms crossed in front of him as he stared at her. His short brown hair was plastered to his head, clothes dripping on the floor of the cabin. Behind him, the first mate, Jack, stood smiling, knowing that Jim would never stay angry at his children for long. It just wasn't in his character to be angry at people, most of it was just for show. Toby, a close friend of the two, stood leaning against the wall of the cabin, watching out the porthole at the ocean as the rain fell steadily over the rolling waves. He never said much, a quiet man with a thoughtful expression on his face. Kit always felt uneasy around him, like he was hiding something, but whenever she told her father about it, he just laughed and told her to put her imagination to better use.

"Well?" Her father asked again, his expression stern.

"I'm sorry, Papa." She said, her voice barely a whisper as she stared at the floor, shivering slightly in the cold air as her lower lip quivered with tears. "I was helping Danny."

"Helping Danny, eh? I told you to stay in the cabin when a storm comes, did I not?"

"I said I was sorry, Papa." Kit insisted, tears rolling down her cheeks as she brushed back the wet hair from her face.

"Well, Jack, what do you think a fitting punishment would be for the two of them?" Jim said with a smile as he turned to his friend.

"Punishment? Papa, I was just trying to help." Danny insisted, staring at his father in disbelief as he wrapped his arm around his sister's shoulders, letting her sob into his shirt.

"Well, for that help, you have to clean the galley. Understood?" Jim said, his face taking on that stern look again. "And as for little Miss Katherine; I think Jack can decide her punishment later. Now, go change out of those wet clothes before you catch cold. You stay the rest of the night in your in room."

"Yes, sir." Danny whispered, taking Kit's hand and walking to their tiny room just off the main cabin.

It had once been a closet that had been used for storage. Shelves lined the little room, the bottom half having been removed and built in with beds. A curtain had been set up in between the two beds by their mother in an attempt to give the children more privacy, although in the past year Danny had taken to staying below deck with the rest of the crew. Danny ushered Kit inside and shut the door behind them, drawing the curtain as he sat down on his bunk with a sigh.

"Are you mad at me, Danny?" Kit asked in her small, scared voice as she stared at the curtain.

"No, I'm not mad, Kit." Danny said, pulling off his tunic and throwing it against the wall, watching as it slid down and hit the floor with a loud smack. "Why should I be mad? You helped me, didn't you?"

Kit smiled to herself and quickly changed out of her red dress and petticoats, pulling on her nightgown and curling up on her bed with a quilt that her mother had made just before she died. It still carried her scent of roses and the sea, something that she would remember for the rest of her life. Kit had been very young when her mother died, just three, but she still remembered her bright and airy voice and flowing red hair, just like she and Danny had. She also remembered that her mother hated the broken English that most sailors spoke on the ocean, so she had tutored her brother and herself to speak the regal English that she had been brought up on. Her father carried on that tradition long after her death, always scolding them if they slipped into the rough language.

The gentle roll of the ship and the warm blanket lulled Kit into a light sleep and after an hour of dozing, she awoke to the sound of men talking just on the other side of the door. Danny was snoring on the other side of the curtain as she wrapped the blanket around herself and tiptoed to the door. She knew she was risking more punishment but it was her natural curiosity that made her push open the door a crack and peer out. Her father and Toby were walking across the cabin to the door, heading out to check on the damage from the storm. Jack turned slightly in his chair and smiled as he spotted her in the doorway, peeking out. As her father left, he motioned her over with his finger, giving her a quick wink.

Jack was like an uncle to her, always there with wisdom or a joke to cheer her up. His long face and mousy brown hair always reminded her of a horse with buck teeth that accentuated the fact. Kit silently eased the door open and padded across the room, stopping just in front of him. Jack just laughed at her and lifted Kit into his lap, turning to show her the map that was spread out on the table in front of him.

"Ya know wot this is, Katherine?" He asked, motioning to the yellowing paper.

"England." She whispered, pulling her arm out of the blanket and tracing her fingers across the coast. "Are we going to England?" She asked, suddenly very excited.

"No. We're gonna sail by. Ya can wave to people on shore though." He said with a laugh.

"Chasing after other boats, you mean." Kit whispered, wrapping up tighter in the blanket as she looked over the map. "Uncle Jack, is Papa a pirate?"

Jack laughed and kiss the little girl's hair. "Many men on this ship are pirates, poppet. Your father is a very decent man. Some may call him a pirate, but ya 'ave no reason to be shamed by that."

"What do you mean?"

Jack took her chin in his hand and raised her head to look straight into his eyes. "The sea is in yer blood, Miss Katherine. As long as yer eyes remain blue, you'll always 'ave a bit of the sea with ya, no matter where ya go."

Kit smiled at Jack and leaned her head against his chest, looking back over the map spread out. She didn't quite understand how she could have the ocean in her blood, but Jack had never said anything that didn't come true. He must be right about this too.

"Now, about yer punishment."

"Uncle Jack, you don't have to punish me. I learned my lesson." Kit begged, looking up at the older man with a pout.

"Now, d'ya really think it fair to give Danny a punishment and let ya get off free and clear?" He asked, watching as the little girl shook her head. "Ya get to coil the ropes and yer banned from the eagle's nest for a week." Kit opened her mouth to protest when Jack started tickling her sides, the argument dying as she laughed in a high pitched squeal. "Okay, just rope duty." He said continuing his assault.

Managing to squirm out of his grasp, Kit gave Jack a big hug, feeling safe and warm with her makeshift family on this boat. It was in these moments that she forgot all about the huge world out there beyond that ocean and she couldn't imagine a life without the sea softly rolling beneath her feet.

*************

July 20, 1690

The sounds of the busy seaport filled the carriage as it rounded the corner of the cobblestone street, heading straight for the docks. On all sides, houses were crowded into a row, making the street seem narrower than it really was. Katherine Moore wiped her forehead with the sleeve of her dress, the heat stifling inside the grand carriage. She reached out and parted the heavy, green curtains that had been drawn, staring at the women and children who stopped in the road to watch the carriage pass by.  

"Wouldn't you agree, Kate?"

Katherine looked from the window to the woman primping her hair and smoothing out her dress across the carriage. Anne Mickelson was using the silver finish of the wall sconce as a mirror to asses her looks. She looked no worse for wear after the week of travel from her father's manor house in Suffolk to the small port town of Fishguard in the north of Wales. She had been talking nonstop since the two women left the inn this morning, trying to make it to the port to catch a ship that would take them to Lord Mickelson's, Anne's father, new home off the coast of Italy. At some point, Katherine had stopped listening to the constant chatter, staring out of the crack in the curtains as the lush, green countryside passed by.

"Kate?" Anne asked, looking from the sconce at her maid who sat in the other seat. "Have you been listening to a word that I said?"

Katherine sighed, gritting her teeth slightly as she let the curtain fall back into place, looking back at her mistress. "Sorry, Miss Anne. Just a bit preoccupied."

"Scared of the boat, Kate?" Anne asked, her voice grating on Katherine's nerves with her snobbish tones. "Me, on the other hand, am looking forward to getting to the new place. Imagine it, Kate. Parties and balls and new dresses. It's going to be a dream." She murmured as she looked back at the sconce, arranging the loose blonde curls around her shoulders as she gave her reflection a pouty look. She shifted in her seat, adjusting the top of her gown so that her cleavage practically spilled out of the corseted gown.

"Maybe for you." Katherine whispered, watching as Anne practiced her flirtatious ways.

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing, Miss Anne." Katherine answered, wiping her forehead again.

Katherine would give anything in the world to give up her job as a lady's maid, to go out in the world and make her own fortune. How she had come to the Mickelson's household had always been a mystery that she closely guarded. All anybody knew was that Katherine's father was dead and her older brother had disappeared one night. No one had been able to piece together any information and Katherine was never forth coming with details about just where she had come from. She had just shown up on their doorstep, a fourteen year old beggar looking for food during a particularly cold winter. Katherine never knew what made Lord Mickelson take her in, but she soon found herself as the companion to the spoiled Lady Anne. 

Whispers in the kitchen had been that the Lord was taken by her beauty, something that Katherine had never really noticed. People would whisper behind her back about her looks, but she never saw herself as the great beauty that others claimed she was. Whenever Anne wasn't looking, Katherine would sneak peaks of her reflection in the beveled glass mirror on her vanity. She was a skinny whip of a thing, no matter how much she ate she never managed to put on weight. Her height was something of a novelty to most men, being almost as tall as the male servants. An hourglass figure accentuated by the tight corset that she wore, as most ladies of the day did. Long, red curly hair the color of the setting sun and piercing blue eyes that always caught people's attention. Freckles covered her nose and arms from her days of living on the streets. Everything about her was the exact opposite of Anne and sometimes Katherine found herself wishing she could posses the beauty and confidence that Anne had.

Anne was the only daughter of the Lord Mickelson and his second wife, Genevieve, who had died when Anne was two. She was a spoiled brat who talked of nothing else besides parties and gowns, her entire life leading up to the day when she would marry a rich duke. As the youngest child, her older brothers always took care to treat her like the baby of the family, always at her beck and call. She was short and dainty, with long blonde hair and eyes the color of dark mahogany. Where Katherine was naturally shy and mostly kept to herself, Anne was flirtatious and coy, always after any man that caught her eye. In fact, in recent years, Lord Mickelson had warned Katherine that it was her duty to keep a close eye on Anne. After all, she was now eighteen and ready to be married as soon as the right man was found. Katherine, at eighteen, found herself in the opposite position and she knew that she was destined to become a spinster, especially if her past ever caught up with her.

A knock at the carriage door brought Katherine out of her thoughts and she turned her attentions to the door, noting that the carriage had finally stopped.

"Well, answer it!" Anne scolded, her voice taking on a haughty tone as she sighed with impatience and flopped back against the seat with her arms crossed.

Katherine stood up and pushed the door open, smiling at Bill, the footman, as he gave her a low bow. "We've stopped, milady." He whispered so low that only Katherine could hear.

"Thank you, Bill." She said, as she took his hand and stepped out of the carriage and into the bright summer day. She squinted slightly, shading her eyes with her hand to look around the port.

"Sure you want to go through with this, Kit?" Bill whispered in her ear.

"Like I have a choice?" She whispered back, looking over the docks with a keen eye.

"You could stay here and marry me, love."

Katherine giggled softly, keeping a eye on the carriage. "Billy, you're three times my age. Don't you think that I can find someone a little bit better?" She joked as the other footman tossed her down her rucksack and Anne's parasol.

"I'm insulted, Kit!" Billy joked back, mock shock on his face. Billy was one of the sweetest people that Katherine had ever met, a grandfather figure in her life at the ripe old age of 65. He always made her feel like a princess. "I'm going to miss you, little lady."

"I'm going to miss you too, Billy." 

Katherine said, giving him a quick hug as Anne shouted for assistance.

"Don't let her get to you." He whispered in her ear as he held out his hand and helped Anne out of the carriage.

Katherine smiled as she turned and looked up at the huge ship that was tied to the end of the dock. Seeing the ship brought back memories of her childhood, some happy but most of them sad. A shiver ran up her back despite the heat as she watched the sailors throw ropes and lines back and forth across the ship. A jolt from behind brought her out of her fog, two of the pageboys apologizing for running into her and saying their goodbyes as they started moving Anne's luggage onto the ship. Katherine smiled at them and watched as they started up the gangplank.


Ocean Blue Ch. 01



"Kate! I need my parasol!" Anne shouted from the carriage, her voice tinged with anger.

With a sigh, Katherine shrugged on her rucksack and hurried over to Anne, opening and holding out the parasol. Standing beside her, Katherine felt uncomfortably shy about her clothing. Her long, blue dress seemed coarse and common compared to Anne's bright yellow silks. Grabbing the parasol out of Katherine's hands with a glare, Anne began to walk down the pier, her hips swaying gently as she eyed a brown headed sailor who was holding out his hand to help her up the gangplank. Katherine rolled her eyes at Billy, gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, and started down the pier herself.

There was no one there to help her up the gangplank, just lewd comments from a group of sailors milling around the end of the pier. She looked straight at them, her blue eyes blazing. With indifference, she tossed back her long red hair, squared her shoulders and started walking up the plank. It was a calm day, light breeze blowing the sea into gentle waves. The creaking of the ship as it brushed against the side of the pier made Katherine stop and look around at the ocean. She closed her eyes, taking in the smell and soft breeze; she was finally home again.

"Kate!" Anne yelled from the deck of the ship. "I need you!"

Katherine sighed and turned to continue up the plank when suddenly a gust of wind pitched the ship violently against the pier. Wood scraping against wood whined in the noisy air, drowning out the sounds of the seagulls overhead. Katherine screamed, throwing her rucksack on the deck as the plank jumped from the railing and fell into the ocean. With a leap, Katherine grabbed the edge of the ship, her nails digging into the wood as she scrambled for a foothold. Men were shouting on deck, running back and forth as they tried to steady the ship. Katherine whimpered, her hold slipping as she dug her slippers into the wooden side, trying to pull herself over the edge.

"You must be Kate." A man said, walking 

across the deck towards her.

"A little help?" She shouted at him.

The man just laughed, grabbing her by the elbow and hoisting her over the side. Katherine was shaking, her breath coming in frightened gasps as she bent down to pick up her rucksack. She straightened back up, running her hands over her blue skirt to smooth it out as she looked at the man who had just saved her. He was taller than she was, but not by much. A handsome, chiseled face that was framed by short ash blonde hair with the brightest pair of green eyes she had ever seen. His body was fit and muscular, very much the body of a sailor. Katherine gave him a quick smile and turned to find Anne.

"Wait there a minute, little missy." A hand grabbed her elbow. "Not many ladies could hold on as long as that."

"What about it?" She snapped back defensively, turning to glare at him, her blue eyes blazing. "Besides, I'm no lady."

A deep laugh came from his throat as a row of pearly teeth appeared on his tan face. "So, you're not a lass?"

"I didn't mean it like that."

Another gust of wind tipped the boat violently, making Katherine lose balance and fall into the man's arms. She gasped and grabbed his upper arms as the boat swayed back and forth on the water. Katherine couldn't help but notice the muscles under her hands, no doubt from years of hard work on a ship. She blushed a deep red at the close contact and quickly backed away from him. She bit her lower lip, adjusting her pack on her shoulder as she stared at the deck, a deep laugh coming from the man.

"So skittish on the water. Why is that?"

"I hate bloody boats, okay?" She said 

quickly, looking up into his eyes.

"And why do you hate boats? Most lasses in your position have never set foot on a vessel such as this."

Katherine opened her mouth to answer him when Anne's shrill cry rang across the deck. "Kate! I'm not going to ask you again! Move it!"

Katherine gritted her teeth and sighed, turning quickly from her conversation and making her way over to a visibly angry Anne.

"Why are you talking to the crew when you should be attending me?"

"I'm sorry, Miss Anne. I fell and he was helping me."

"You are so clumsy, Kate, I swear." Anne huffed as they were escorted to their cabin. "I expect this place to be scrubbed from top to bottom by the time I get back." Anne ordered, looking over the room with disgust.

"Where are you going?"

"None of your business." She answered as she flounced off towards the captains quarters.

"Spoiled brat." Katherine said under her breath as she stepped into the cabin.

It was fairly clean for a ship as large as this one. A simple wooden bunk on one wall with a nightstand bolted to the floor. A writing desk, wooden cabinet and a small table with two chairs finished out the room. Searching the room, Katherine found a small trundle bed that folded out of the wall. Throwing down her rucksack, Katherine sat down with a heavy sigh on the small bed. She had half the mind to walk back to the pier and catch a ride with Billy back to the manor house. Those thoughts were quickly dashed when the ship pitched to the side and the call was given to raise the sails. She got up and walked over to the small port window, watching as the pier drifted away and the ship steered out into open waters.

It begins again, she thought to herself as she pinned her hair up on her head and rolled up her sleeves.

She worked late into the afternoon, setting Anne's things up around the room, airing the tiny space out and scrubbing the floors with salt water. She was finishing up the floors when Anne finally came back, her face flushed and a smile on her lips. Katherine snickered when she noticed her skirts in disarray and her normally carefully plaited hair was mussed. If Anne was still pure was always something that Katherine wondered, and if she wasn't it would serve her right on her wedding night.

"How am I ever going to live in this place for two weeks?" Anne asked in disgust as she looked out the window at the fading coast of Wales.

"You'll just have to make the best of it, Miss Anne." Katherine answered simply, throwing the brush she was using back into the bucket of dirty water. She sat back on her calves and yawn, stretching out her back with a pop.

Anne huffed and walked over to the cabinets, rummaging through her gowns and pulling out a silky purple evening dress, holding it up against herself as she stared into her prized mirror that Katherine had set up on the desk. "I believe I will change for dinner now."

"Yes, Miss Anne." Katherine said, standing up and pushing the bucket of dirty water aside as she reached out to loosen the ties on Anne's old gown.

"And by the way, you'll be cooking my 

meals from now on, Kate. I saw what the cook on the ship has been serving and it's atrocious." Anne replied as Katherine pulled the yellow silk over her head.

She stopped with the gown clenched tightly in her hands, her face flushing red in anger. "I don't have time to cook your meals along with my other duties, Anne."

Anne whipped around, her brown eyes blazing. "I didn't ask, Kate. I'm telling you. I don't know what my father told you about your duties, but forget it. You're my servant and you'll follow my rules. Understood?"

"Yes, Miss Anne." Katherine answered quickly, as she turned to set aside the yellow gown.

"Good. I'll be eating with the captain tonight. You know what I like to eat and I expect you to serve me promptly at seven." Anne stated, pulling on the new gown and standing still as Katherine laced her up and smoothed out her hair. She smiled at her reflection in the mirror, giving herself a few coy smiles. "Maybe I'll catch myself a wealthy captain on this trip." She whispered to herself, loud enough for Katherine to hear.

Katherine just rolled her eyes as she set aside the gown to clean later. "Anything else you need before I go to the galley, Miss Anne?"

"No. Remember, seven sharp. I don't like to be kept waiting."

"Of course, Miss Anne." Katherine replied as she walked onto the deck once more, slamming the door to the cabin shut behind her.

After questioning a few of the crew members, Katherine found herself walking down a steep stairway into the bowels of the ship. The wood stank of sea water and rot, ropes were swinging from the timbers as she walked across the system of planks to the galley. Through the closed door, she could hear men shouting and laughing, someone cursing at the top of his lungs for them to get back to work. With a sigh, Katherine pushed open the door, stepping into the hot kitchen area. The three men turned to face her, all surprised to see a woman this far down in the ship.

"Wot we got 'ere?" A hulking man with a nose ring through his left nostril asked, placing the large knife that he had been using down on the wooden counter.

"Looks like a wee lass." Another man with a tattoo that stretched across his chest answered back.

"Who's the cook?" Katherine asked, her voice wavering a bit as she took another step into the kitchen.

"That be me." The last man bellowed. He was a skinny, disgusting man with stringy black hair and a mouth full of yellowing teeth.

"I'm here to cook for my mistress. She told me to come to the galley."

"Aye, the princess." He said with a laugh as the other men snickered. "Well, little lass, you're welcome down 'ere anytime. Just watch out for ole' Thom and his rovin' eye," he said as he motioned to the man with the nose ring, "and Dirk 'as a mouth on 'im."

"Thank you." Katherine stated, walking further into the kitchen as she looked over the storeroom and the goods that she had available. 

"I think you an I will be good friends, lass." The cook said as he slapped her on the ass as he walked past her and into the hull of the ship, his laughter filling the quiet space as he walked up the steep stairs for the deck.

Katherine gasped and jumped at the slap, staring at him in wide eyed shock, her anger quickly building. She reached out and grabbed a knife, tightening her hand around it and readying herself to charge at the man when Thom reached out and barred her way with his arm.

"Not worth it, miss." He said with a smile. "Ole' Charlie 'as a problem with keeping' 'is 'ands to 'imself."

"I'll keep that in mind." Katherine murmured as she let the knife drop back to the table.

The two men shared a smile and a quick laugh as she turned back to the materials and quietly began to prepare the meal for Anne, taking her care to ensure the quality of the ingredients.

"'ey, lass," Dirk suddenly said, turning from the huge pot he was stirring. "didn't catch a name."

"Katherine." She stated, not missing a beat as she continued to assemble her meal. "You can call me Kit, though."

"Kit. A good name for a little hell cat like you." He said with a laugh.

"I'm not a hell cat." She said with a laugh.

"A temper that's as quick as a storm in the summer." Thom commented. "I think you cause problems for all the boys, don't ya?"

"If there were any boys." Katherine retorted as she concentrated on cutting through a fish with the knife.

"Ya mean to tell me a pretty little spitfire like you ain't got a boy after ya?" Thom asked in amazement.

"If there were, do you really think that I would be on this bloody boat serving miss high and mighty night and day?"

The two men just laughed and the conversation continued on much the same way until Charlie returned and all talking ceased. Katherine could feel his beady eyes burning into her back as she worked and the feeling made her skin crawl. A few times, he brushed against her, always excusing himself and claiming that the boat was entering rough waters. At one point, Thom stood between the two of them, claiming that he was having trouble finding a certain item. A quick wink told Katherine that she was safe for the time being and she smiled to herself, knowing that as long as he and Dirk were around, she would have nothing to worry about from Charlie.

As seven o'clock rolled around, Katherine rushed to put the finishing touches on the simple meal of fresh fish mixed with some of the porridge the Dirk has been working on. She placed the meal on a tray, along with a glass of wine that the captain had in the store room and made her way from the hot, cramped kitchen.

"See you soon, lass!" Charlie shouted after her with a laugh in his voice.

She sighed, her skin crawling at the sound of his voice when she felt someone tug her elbow. Turning, she saw Thom, smiling at her. "Listen lass, don't be alone with 'im if you can 'elp it, okay?"

"Okay." She whispered back with a nod.

Thom smiled again and hurried back to the kitchen as Charlie shouted as to his whereabouts. Katherine shook her head and laughed to herself as she hurried across the ship to the stairs. She bounded across the deck, spotting the sailor she had first met tying down lines on the other side of the deck. He gave her a smile and a wink that made Katherine blush as she knocked and pushed open the door to the captain's quarters. Standing through the meal, Katherine listened to Anne drone on and on about herself and her father's fortune to the captain, who was obviously bored himself. Anne flirted shamelessly, bending over the table to show off her cleavage while coyly smiling at the man seated across from her.

"Tell me Captain Richards, this trip surely can't take more than one week, can it?" Anne asked, still trying to seduce the older man.

"Sometimes longer, Miss Mickelson."

"What can take so long?"

"Lots of things." He stated, taking a draw from the wine glass in front of him.

Katherine tried not to listen as she busied herself cleaning up the meal, but the conversation suddenly caught her attention and before she thought about it, she was talking directly to the captain. "The sea between the straight and Italy is dangerous this time of year. Especially if the Berbers have people roaming the ocean." Her eyes widened as she realized the words had just come out of her mouth. Katherine clampe her hand over her mouth, spinning around to face the two people at the table. "I'm sorry, milady. I spoke out of turn." As Katherine turned around the face Anne, she noticed that the captain's eyes were wide in surprise. Anne was seething silently in anger, her face taking on a red tone as she glared at her.

"Tell me, my dear. How would you know about the Berbers?" The captain asked, one eyebrow raised in interest.

"I...I" Katherine started, unsure of what to tell him. "Stories. Just stories from market." She answered quickly, not wanting to tell him or Anne the truth. "If you'll excuse me, sir. Miss Anne." Katherine said as she gathered the plates and started out the door.

"I'll be retiring in an hour, Kate." Anne shouted after her as the door shut and she was alone yet again with the captain. "Now, where were we?"

Katherine hurried across the deck, taking in deep breaths of the fresh night air as she tried to calm her nerves. The sea was quiet, a thin layer of clouds drifting across the sky. From below the wooden planks, Katherine could hear the crew cheering and singing songs as they drank their rum and suddenly going down to put away the dishes seemed like the last thing on her mind. She set the dishes on a wooden crate and made her way behind the stacked crates and coiled ropes. Finding a quiet spot, Katherine sat down on a coil of rope, leaning back against a crate and looked up at the sky.

"What are you looking for?" A voice came out of the darkness a few moments later, startling Katherine.

She squinted in the dim light, making out the shape of the sailor who had helped her earlier. He was leaning against the edge of the ship, his arms crossed as he smiled at her.

"The north star." Katherine answered, leaning back into place as she watched the clouds move slowly across the full moon. "You can't see it tonight."

"Sure you can." He stated, walking closer to her. "Mind if I sit?"

Katherine smiled at him shyly as she scooted over to make room. He sat down with a sigh, stretching out his long legs as he leaned back to look up at the sky. "Don't be shy." He said with a laugh as he looked at her. Katherine gave a nervous laugh as she slid down and laid down beside him, pulling her skirts tight around her legs. "Now," he started, taking her hand and pointing it up at the moon. "just follow the line and you'll come to the north star." Slowly, he moved her hand until it stopped at a point and the clouds moved, showing the star as it shown brightly in the dark night sky.

"The dipper." Katherine whispered, tracing the figure in the air. "Orion. The bear. You don't even need to sail during the day when you know the stars. God, how I've missed all this."

"And who taught you this?" The man asked, intrigued that this common ladies maid could know so much about the sea.

"You pick things up along the way." Katherine said with a shrug as she sat up, smoothing out her skirts with a sigh.

"So, tell me...Kate, is it? Tell me Kate, how does a ladies maid learn about the stars, the sea, boats, while at the same time having time to be at the beck and call of the princess?"

"My name's not Kate." Katherine answered quickly to change the subject.

"It's not?" The man asked, sitting up on the rope as he gave her a smile. "Then why does the princess call you that?"

"When you get paid well, your employer can call you whatever they want."

"Then what's your real name?"

"Katherine. My friends call me Kit."

"Katherine." He said, thinking over the name and saying it a few more times. "I like that. I'm Philip."

Katherine smiled shyly and bit her lower lip as she let her eyes roam over his lounging figure. She took in his light blonde hair, tanned skin that was perfectly smooth. His perfectly chiseled features and the perfect white teeth that gleamed when he smiled.

"See something you like?" He asked, laughing as he caught the faint blush spread across her cheeks in the moonlight.

"God." She whispered softly, looking out over the sea, embarrassed that she had been caught. "I'm sorry."

"Why? It's nice to have a pretty girl so enamored with you. I'm surprised you haven't caught me staring yet, beauty."

"I'm not a beauty, Philip."

"Sure you are." He said, sitting up and staring at her face. He reached out and gently placed his hands on her cheeks, watching as she jerked back suddenly. "What's wrong?"

"What are you doing?"

"Showing you how you're beautiful." He said with a smile. "First, your skin is smooth and pale." Philip said, gently running his hands over her cheeks. He slowly drew his index finger up her right temple and slowly across her forehead. "Second is this perfect nose." He whispered, staring into her beautiful blue eyes as he slowly ran his finger down the bridge of her nose. "Those cute freckles, complimenting your lovely eyes."

Katherine felt herself relaxing as she stared into his eyes, her heart racing as he traced each feature of her face. It had been so long since someone had made her feel like this, loved and beautiful. Philip laughed as she took a shaky breath and began to chew on her bottom lip as he drew his finger slowly down her throat.

"What are you thinking about, beauty?" Philip whispered, noting her eyes deep in thought as he drug his finger across her collarbone.

"That I have things to attend to." She stated, her voice wavering slightly. 

"I don't think that's it." Philip whispered back, cupping her chin and raising her face slightly so he could get a better look at her.

"Oh, really. Then what am I thinking about, since you seem to know it all."

"You're asking yourself how long it's been since someone made you feel like this." His smiled widened as her mouth opened slightly in a gasp. "Ah, I see I'm right."

"I...I have to go." Katherine stammered, starting to stand up.




Ocean Blue Ch. 01



Philip grabbed her wrist and pulled her back down onto the rope with him. "Don't leave yet, beauty. I'm sorry if I offended you." He said, noting her body tensed as if she were ready to fight him. He couldn't help but wonder what had her so spooked about the ship and about himself.

"It...it's not you. I..I..I just..." She started, so flustered she could barely string together her words.

Without thinking, Philip leaned forward and kissed her gently on the lips, his hands encircling her tiny waist. Katherine gasped and whimpered softly at the sudden kiss, everything melting away around her. Philip slowly pulled away from the kiss, leaving her breathless and dazed. Katherine suddenly became aware of his hands around her waist, his sweet smell of the sea swirling around her senses. She raised a shaky hand and traced her bottom lip lightly, the feeling of his lips lingering on hers.

Philip expected her to flee from him after the kiss, she had been so skittish before, but he was pleasantly surprised when she gently placed her hands on his face, kissing him softly again. Katherine was tired of running from her past and she finally decided that she was going to take the opportunity to be with a man who thought she was so much more than she really was. Little did she know that Philip was silently congratulating himself on breaking through her barriers so that he could add another notch to his belt.

Without warning, Philip deepened the kiss, his hand sliding up her back as he pulled her fully against his chest and began to lean her back against the coils of rope. Katherine paid no head to his movements, totally lost in the moment of the kiss. Philip gently slipped his tongue in her mouth, enjoying her taste of mint and wine as his hands traveled over her stomacher and bodice, resting for a moment on her breasts. He squeezed gently, smiling as she whimpered, the sound muffled against his mouth. Slowly, he moved his hands over her chest and shoulders, caressing her arms as she whimpered and arched her back in a need that surprised her.

"Not yet, beauty." He whispered with a laugh, lacing his fingers with hers and pulling her hands over her head, holding her firmly to the deck.

It was in this moment that Katherine panicked, memories suddenly flooding back to her from the past. Instead of Philip softly kissing her, she saw another man holding her roughly to the deck as the other men jeered around her, making lewd comments. Arching her back again, Katherine desperately tried to buck the man off, fighting against his grip but he was just too strong. She started to sob in frustration, jerking her body back and forth in an attempt to get away. She could hear him shouting to the other men that this was going to be an experience as she felt her skirt slowly slide up her legs. Tears fell down her face as she screamed and kicked, frantically struggling to get away.

"What's wrong? Katherine?" Philip whispered, startled by the turn in her emotion. Her blue eyes were welling with tears as she seemed to stare straight past him. She tugged at her hands as if trying to free herself, even though he was barely holding her to the deck. He quickly let go of her hands, sitting back on his knees. "Katherine?" He whispered again, shaking her shoulders slightly.

With a cry, she sat upright, her hands flying to her mouth as she gasped for air. "I'm so sorry." She whispered, tears falling down her face as she looked over him.

"What in the hell was that all about?"

"I have to go." Katherine shouted, pushing past him and running across the deck quickly.

Philip shook his head and leaned back against the crates, disturbed by the sudden turn of events. At first, she had been so willing, but then it was almost like she had slipped from the present and was staring at an image from her past. Obviously someone had treated her very badly and Philip was going to find out everything he could about the girl. What had started as a simple conquest had now turned into his sole mission. Looking out over the open waters, he smiled to himself as he began to plan his next move. 

********

Chapter 2 coming soon: Katherine has a run in with Charlie and Philip finally gets a glimpse into her past. 



Ocean Blue Ch. 02



Two days later, Katherine had fallen into the groove of sea life. Early mornings and late nights, everything in-between was filled with chore after chore. She had barely said a word since that first night and whenever possible had avoided going out on deck. Of course, she had seen Philip across the deck as she went back and forth between the galley and the cabin, but she never made eye contact with him. If Anne had noticed she had withdrawn from everything, she didn't let on, prattling endlessly about how the captain was falling in love with her by the moment. Katherine didn't have the heart to tell her that he was already married to a Spanish woman in Madrid, or was it that she just didn't care anymore.

Almost four days after her encounter with Philip, Katherine found herself in the galley, cooking dinner for Anne. Outside, the skies were darkening with a tint of red and orange streaking across the clouds, the sea gently rolling in the warm summer breezes that blew across the deck. Tucking back a stray strand of red hair behind her ear, Katherine listened to the conversations drifting through the slats in the deck over head, oddly comforted by the normality of it all. It was then that she realized it was very quiet here below the deck, Dirk and Thom nowhere to be seen. In a panic, Katherine looked up from her cooking and searched the tiny kitchen to make sure she was alone. Charlie had been lurking around lately, watching her every movement and it made her incredibly uncomfortable, even with Thom's protective eye on her.

In her panic, Katherine rushed to put the finishing touches on the meal, not hearing the door slowly creak close. She jumped and spun around as it clicked close, her exit blocked by Charlie's tall form.

"'ello, poppet." He said with a devilish grin on his face, his beady eyes taking in Katherine's slender form beneath the simple black dress she was wearing.

"Hello." She whispered, her voice wavering with fear as she tried to keep composure. "I was just leaving." She said, gathering up the tray that she had set up, making her way to the doorway, but Charlie didn't move.

"Ya don't 'ave to leave so soon, missy." He said with a grin, flashing all of his yellowing teeth to her as she cringed back.

"Please, sir, I have to give this to my mistress." She insisted, trying to push past him.

It shouldn't have taken her by surprise, but Katherine cried out as Charlie knocked the tray from her hands, giving her a shove against the rough wooden wall of the hull. The metal tray clattered to the ground with a bang, porcelain shattering into hundreds of pieces. Katherine prayed that someone had heard the commotion outside. Her eyes were wide with fright as Charlie slowly stalked toward her, the bulge in his pants unmistakable. "Yer not goin' anywhere. Ya been avoiding me, is that it?" He asked, his face no more than a few inches from hers as she pressed back against the rough wooden side of the ship.

"I haven't been avoiding anyone." She stated, whimpering in fear as he reached out with a grubby hand and pinched her cheeks, stifling her protests. He squeezed hard enough that she swore she would be carrying finger shaped marks on her cheeks for weeks.

"Complete tripe, that is. Now, wot we say ya give ole Charlie a nice kiss?" He said with a laugh, leaning in and locking his lips harshly on hers, brutally crushing them in his haste. Katherine fought as he grabbed her wrist, forcing her hand into his pants, wrapping her slender fingers around his hard cock. "Yessss." He hissed as he slowly moved her hand up and down the length of it, Katherine desperately trying to pull her hand away.

Images flowed through Katherine's mind, those awful men from the other ship, treating her the same way. She felt disgusting, wanting to bathe completely and get this man away from her. Without warning, she reached up, digging her thumbnail into Charlie's face, forcing him backwards, while kicking him hard in the shin. Charlie let out a cry, jerking backwards as he clutched at his face, a bloody line appearing just below his left eye. Katherine seized her chance and bolted for the door, her hands fumbling over the knob. A sharp pain in the back of her neck forced her backwards, stumbling into the counter as she realized Charlie had a hold of her hair.

"No one refuses me." He growled, raising his hand to strike her.

The blow caught Katherine off guard, sending her sprawling to the floor, too dazed to do anything but lay there. It felt like her head had become detached from her body, her vision swimming as she felt her skirts being raised over her legs, stopping once it reached her waist.

"Let go!" Katherine cried weakly, willing her legs to work as she kicked blindly, her efforts receiving another sharp slap that silenced her for a moment.

Charlie just chuckled to himself as he slid the black skirts and petticoats up her smooth, pale legs. Finally, he reached his goal; the thin patch of red hair was so inviting against her pale skin the way it hid her treasure. He watched as she blinked, shaking her head as she tried to make sense of what was happening. Reaching up to the counter, he grabbed a knife, making her freeze, Katherine's blue eyes wide in fear as he brought it down over her chest, slicing through the fabric of the bodice. "Bloody 'ell." He cursed as he saw the corset. 'This was taking too much time,' he thought to himself.

Philip walked through the hull of the ship, singing an old sea shanty to himself as he made his way to the galley. He had it in mind to surprise Katherine, forcing her to talk to him, since she had been avoiding him the past couple of days. To say that she had enchanted him was an understatement; he was completely under her spell, having dreams about the red headed beauty every night since he had first seen her. 'Strange', he thought to himself as he saw the door shut. It was normally too hot down here to shut the door, especially with the fire burning as it normally was. 

His curiosity peaked as he pressed his ear to the door, hearing Katherine whimper and groan just on the other side, the sound of a man grunting following closely behind. Philip's heart sank; his beauty had rejected him for another man. With a sigh, he pushed away from the door, his pride and ego hurt as he started back across the hull.

"Ya fight me again and I'll slit yer throat, got it missy?"

The words made Philip freeze and slowly turn back to the door. Had he heard that right? If he had, then his beauty was in trouble. A sobbing cry came through the door, followed by a sharp crack. "Dammit." He growled, running and flinging the door open. 

Katherine lay on the ground in tears, weakly trying to push the old man off her. Charlie was between her legs, one hand worming around beneath her skirts as the other mauled her breasts, trying to release them from the corset. His pants were around his knees, cock jutting out in the air as his hips practically humped her bare leg. Katherine's eyes shot to Philip standing in the doorway, but she squeezed them shut in shame, turning to face the wall. Her face grew red out of embarrassment, her eyes closing as tears slid silently over her cheeks as she convinced herself that he was going to rape her as well. 

"Get off her." Philip growled, too stunned in anger to make a move.

Charlie just laughed and continued what he was doing. "Ya can 'ave a go at 'er when I'm done. Bugger off." He said, trailing slobbering kisses down her neck, making Katherine shudder and sob harder.

"I said leave her be!" Philip shouted, quickly closing the gab and grabbing Charlie by the shoulders, jerking him off Katherine, who turned her attentions back to him.

"Maybe the taste of cold steel change yer mind." Charlie hissed, grabbing the knife he had discarded and swiping down at Philip in a fluid motion. 

Philip dodged the blow, backing out of the small space. Charlie was hampered by his pants, which had become tangled around his knees. With cold eyes, Philip pulled the pistol he always kept near out of his belt and with precision, let off a shot straight through the old man's heart. Charlie stopped in his tracks, looking down at the wound as blood slowly seeped over his dirty shirt, and with a laugh of disbelief fell backwards to the deck beside Katherine, the knife clattering across the floor. Katherine sat up, scuttling backwards away from the body as she looked up to Philip, her eyes wide with shock.

Philip looked from the body to her, his eyes taking in the dark bruise on her cheek, her swollen lips and the torn dress that barely covered anything. "It's okay, beauty. I won't let anything happen to you." He whispered, holding out his free hand to her as men starting shouting on the deck above, trying to find where the shot had come from.

Katherine stumbled up from the floor, wrapping her arms around Philip's neck as he wrapped her in a tight hug, trying to stop the tremors of fear that coursed through her body. She sobbed into his neck, looking down at the disgusting man laying on the floor with a mixture of fear and anger. "Thank you." She whispered through her tears as a group of men ran down the stairs to the galley, the captain stopping in the doorway as he surveyed the scene.

"What happened?" Captain Richards asked, noting Katherine's torn and tattered dress and bruised cheek, while at the same time looking at the gaping wound in Charlie's chest and the gun in Philip's hand.

"He was attacking her." Philip stated, dropping the gun to the floor. "I couldn't stop him any other way, captain."

"Get rid of the body." The captain said to the men behind him. They nodded, pushing past Philip and Katherine as they picked Charlie up and hauled him to the deck. Katherine blushed under the captain's scrutiny, pulling her torn dress tightly around her with one hand as she wiped her face with the other. "Get yourself cleaned up, my dear." He said kindly, his eyes saddened by the sight.

"Captain, if I may ask something. Please don't tell her ladyship. She wouldn't understand." Katherine said quickly, trying to keep Anne out of all of this. "And I...I could lose my job." She whispered quickly, her eyes lowering to the deck.

Captain Richards just nodded in agreement, ushering her out of the galley before turning back to Philip. "This is serious, Philip." Were the last words Katherine heard as she ran past the questioning men gathered in the hull and up to the deck, stopping as she watched a group of sailors dump Charlie into the ocean. Thom was standing just to the side of the scene, his eyes sad as he looked at her; his lips forming the words, I'm sorry. Katherine just gave him a sad smile, trying to keep her tears at bay as she hurried to the cabin.

Stopping just outside the door, she could here Anne inside, whimpering softly. Pressing her ear against the door, Katherine made out a male voice with a gruff Irish accent. "Jesus, Mary and Joseph, would ya look at this?" The man stated as Anne giggled.

Katherine stepped back from the door, her hands clenched in anger. This was the reason why Anne had sent her on these new jobs, almost gotten her raped, and seen a man killed, just so she could get her jollies with a deckhand. If her life was awful because of Anne, she would make her life bad as well. Katherine reached out and flung open the door, her blue eyes blazing as it banged against the wall, making Anne and the sailor jump.

Anne was on her bed, the apple green silk dress around her waist, her eyes wide in fright as she pulled at the skirts in an attempt at modesty. The sailor, who had been caught with his pants down, shank back as he trying to stuff himself back into his dirty brown trousers. "What do you think you're doing?" Anne shouted, sitting up on the bed as Katherine made her way to her own bed, grabbing a new dress of dark red from her rucksack.

"Shame on you, Anne Amelia Mickelson." Katherine spat at the woman on the bed. "What would your father think if I told him his little daughter isn't pure anymore? Not only would you be sent to a convent, where they don't care about your standard of living, but I would be free to live my life far away from my spoiled brat of a mistress." She watched with some satisfaction as Anne's face paled at the mention of a convent. With that, Katherine threw the new dress over her shoulder and stormed out of the room.

"Well, how bout we get back to where we were?" The sailor said with a grin.

Anne sat there, her heart pounding with what Katherine had said. She had been so close to a horrible decision that it finally hit her why her father had been so stern with her and her flirtatious ways. She couldn't go to a convent, that would be a fate worse than death for her. "Get out." She whispered, her voice soft with fear as she straightened out her skirts, sitting up on the bed.

"Wot?" He said, his eyes clenched in confusion. "Luv, don't listen to 'er. She's just jealous."

"I said get out!" Anne screamed, picking up her journal and hurling it at the man with all of her might.

The sailor jumped and dodged the book, running out of the room as Anne slammed the door. Katherine was leaning against the wall of the cabin, her new dress folded over her arms as the sailor looked from the door to her in shocked confusion. "You know about her father, don't you?" She asked, her fingers tracing over the fabric of the dress as she slowly looked up at the man before her.

"Wot's to know? 'e's rich." The man said with a laugh as he laced up his breeches and adjusted himself, taking in the full view of Katherine's cleavage through her torn gown. "But look at ya. Maybe I was goin' after the wrong lass."

Katherine laughed coyly and slowly walked toward him, her movements fluid and almost seductive. She backed him into the wall, her body pressed against his as one of her hands traced up his thigh to the noticeable bulge in his pants. He smiled wickedly, leaning in to kiss her as she grabbed his crotch and twisted it painfully, her face suddenly turning harsh; blue eyes narrowing at him.

"Lord Mickelson also has a very big knife that he has been known to use on any man who so looks at Anne funny." She said, digging her nails harder into the cloth as the man groaned in pain, a blaitent lie that she knew the man wouldn't question. "And he has five very protective sons. You catch my drift?"

"Uh-huh." He whimpered in pain, his hazel eyes watering as she gripped him tighter.

"You stay away from her and pass the word around the crew about what waits them if they come within five feet of her."

With that, Katherine released the man, watching as he dropped to his knees, grabbing his crotch tightly in his own hands as she walked away to a find a quiet place where she could think. It was already late into the twilight hours as Katherine wedged herself behind a stack of crates, not to far from the place where she had her first encounter with Philip. The stars created a wash of white light over the deck, the moon full and glowing over the ocean. Looking around to make sure that she was alone, she quickly unlaced her dress and pulled it off, tossing it to the deck as if it were a snake. Pulling on the red dress, Katherine took the cloth at her feet and flung it overboard, watching as the black dress slowly took on water and then sank beneath the waves.

"To the monsters below." She whispered, as she started to lace up the dress. Out of the corner of her eye, a flash of light caught her attention and a small spot of silver on the water appeared and disappeared rapidly a few yards away. Someone close by began singing an old song softly, their deep voice sounding sweet to Katherine's ears. "Is someone there?" She asked, looking around the crates.

"Sorry, beauty." Philip replied from the other side of the crates. "Thought I was alone."

Following his voice, Katherine found him crouched down, his arms leaning on the railing as he played with a mirror and a candle. The candle flickered in a soft breeze, making the silver light on the water dim and brighten. Looking out over the sea, Katherine couldn't see anything, no ships in the distance, just the rolling waves. "Signaling something?" She asked, still a bit shy around him.

"Nah, just seeing if anything would reply. I see it worked." He said with a laugh, his boyish grin making Katherine smile softly at him.

"Philip, I'm sorry if I got you in trouble."

"There's no trouble, beauty." He said, blowing out the candle and slipping the mirror back into his pocket. "Captain and I both agreed that ole Charlie got exactly what he deserved. Not the first time he's done that to a woman." He stated gently, noting as Katherine bowed her head and chewed on her lower lip, obviously embarrassed. "I like that color on you." He whispered, taking in the how the red dress made her hair brighter in the moonlight, her pale skin almost glowing.

Katherine laughed softly and blushed. "Thank you."

"Let me help you there." He whispered, reaching out to finish lacing up the bodice of the gown, his hands resting on her shoulders as he finished, his green eyes taking in the bruise that had spread across her cheek. He ran his hand under her chin, lifting her head up so she looked into his eyes. "Are you okay?"

Katherine nodded, brushing wisps of hair that the breeze was blowing across her forehead as she turned to look out over the water. She leaned against the railing with a sigh, her eyes distant yet again. "It just reminded me so much...never mind." She said, shaking her head as she tucked the scene in the back of her mind once more.

"What's happened in your past, Miss Katherine?" Philip asked gently, leaning against the railing beside her. He watched as a single tear fell from her blue eyes, holding onto her eyelashes for a moment before dropping into the waters below. A sight, Philip swore, more beautiful than anything he had ever seen in his life.

"It was a long time ago. I was living on a ship. It was a huge accident that should have never happened." She whispered, her eyes misting as she thought about her father and brother and how much she missed them in moments like this.

It was in this moment that Philip saw her for who she truly was. His eyes widened as he looked past her beauty to something deeper. The red curls, the blue eyes, and the strong will; she was the girl from the legend about the Ocean Blue. "Tell me, Katherine, what's your last name?" He asked as calm as he could.

Katherine stiffened, straightening up from the railing as she stared at him. "Why do you want to know?" She asked, a lump of fear forming in her stomach. Had he guessed who she really was? The sailors were a tight community, news traveling fast from ship to ship. 'You're a fool for thinking you could pull the wool over their eyes, Katherine.' She silently scolded herself.

"Just a question." He murmured, watching as she became anxious, every nervous habit that she possessed coming to the surface. "No harm in that, is there?"

"Philip, I can't tell you." She insisted, the lump in her stomach slowly rising up her throat. Katherine feared she would be sick as she clamped her hand on her throat, willing herself to be calm. "It's too dangerous."

The statement caught Philip off guard. He struggled to contain a smile of knowing. 'Oh, beauty, I know exactly why it's dangerous.' He thought to himself as he cleared his throat, thinking of how to ask the question again. "Then your middle name. What's your middle name?" If it was the same as the girl from the legend, then Katherine promised riches beyond anything he could have ever imagined.

"I...I have to go." Katherine stammered, her blue eyes showing her fright as she started to push past the crates when he grabbed her wrist. It wasn't a tight grip, just enough to stop her from running.

"Just tell me. I swear I won't tell anyone else. Sailor's honor." He said with a grin, trying to calm her down while digging for the information he needed.




Ocean Blue Ch. 02



Katherine whimpered, knowing that there was no way out of this. She took a deep breath, slowly letting it out as she locked her gaze on his green eyes. "Gabriella. My middle name is Gabriella."

Philip smiled and let go of her wrist. "It's very pretty. Everything about you is beautiful, beauty." He watched as the apprehension slowly melted from her eyes, a small smile crossing her lips. "Was that so bad?" He reached out and cupped her chin in his hand, giving her a sly smile. "You've had a bad day. Go get some sleep."

"Thank you for everything, Philip." She whispered as she turned to go back to the cabin. 'Maybe he doesn't know.' She thought, her heartbeat calming as Philip offered his arm and Katherine gladly accepted as they started across the deck.

"What kind of man would I be if I didn't help a damsel in distress?" He said with a laugh as he escorted her back to the cabin and saw her inside.

Once the door was closed, Philip pumped his fist in the air, practically clicking his heels together at his good fortune. With a broad smile on his face, he made his way below deck, finding his friend Albert hunkered in a corner of the dim cabin, smoking his pipe as he watched a card game with high stakes going on a few feet away. He had known Albert for almost six years now, which seemed like a life time to the twenty year old. 

Born from a French whore and a English politician, Albert had taken to the sea early in life to make his fortune. Not much of a looker, Albert made up for it with a knowledge of almost everything under the sun, from medicine to the address of ever whore from London to Timbuktu. "What eese thees smile for?" He asked in his thick French accent as Philip slid down the wall to sit next him on an old crate, the smile still wide on his face.

"You remember those stories that the crazy old man use to tell us when we were doing the run from Africa to Ireland? Lucky Jack was his name, I believe. Crazy guy, one good eye."

"Aye, I remember Jack. He and hees stories about zee Ocean Blue. Yees, I remember very well." He said, puffing a ring of smoke into the air.

Philip sat up, staring at his pudgy friend, his green eyes alive with mischief. "About that family. The father, who was the captain, the mother, with flowing red curls, the little boy, who was sharp as a whip, and the little princess as he called her." 

"Look, I was one zee same ship, Philippe. But zee man was crazy. Too much time in zee sun in my opinion." He said with a laugh, his gray eyes almost lost in the flesh of his cheeks as his face crinkled in merriment.

"Not so crazy, my friend. I found her." Philip stated with a laugh as Albert looked at him as if he were crazy.

"Found who?"

"The little girl. The princess. She's here on this ship."

Albert straightened up and stared at Philip, his gray eyes cocked in interest. "Zee maid." He said with a laugh as Philip nodded frantically. "How do you know eet eese her?"

"The man said that here name was Katherine, but everybody called her Kit. That's one mark. She had long red, curly hair and eyes the color of the ocean on a calm day. That's two." He slowly explained, watching as Albert's face lit up. "And here's the kicker. What was the mother's name?"

"Gabriella."

"Same as..."

"Zee little girl's middle name." Albert said, finishing his sentence. "That maid eese zee Katherine Moore?"

"Daughter of Jim Moore, captain of the Ocean Blue. Well, former captain, but do you remember how the story ended?"

"She escaped from zee ship after her father died, right? Running from Bega and hees crew as they took over zee ship. Lucky Jack was zee only survivor, or so he thought."

"And rumor has it that Bega offered a huge reward for her return. Imagine, my friend, all of that gold just for that girl. It would be well worth it." Even the mention of Bega's name sent shivers up Philip's spine. He had met the man once, while he had was in a tavern in the south of Italy, getting ready for a run to Northern Africa. The man was silent with an opposing figure and black eyes that would cut through you like a knife; not someone you wanted to mess with.

"Bega offered eet five years ago, Philippe. He has to think she's dead by now."

"But if he doesn't, then we would have enough money to stop these small heists and finally retire!" Philip insisted, watching as Albert nodded, puffing on his pipe in thought. "You with a wife that can pleasure you beyond anything you imagine, with a whole brood of pudgy little kids running around under foot. Me, I make my home on land and let my roving eye take me where it will."

Albert sat silent for a moment, puffing on the pipe as he thought everything over. With Albert's consent, Philip knew that it was a sound plan. He waited with bated breath as the Frenchman took a long draw and slowly let out the smoke. "Zhen call your ship, captain." He whispered so low that only Philip could hear.

"Already done, my friend. Already done." He whispered back, a knowing smile plastered on his face as he watched a sailor win the game, slapping his cards on the table in triumph. Soon, Philip would have his triumph and a ship filled with gold and little Miss Moore was his ticket to the easy life.

**************

Chapter 3 coming soon: Katherine and Philip grow closer as Philip's true identity reveals itself.



Ocean Blue Ch. 03



Things were different from that day on, or at least that is the way they seemed in Katherine’s mind.  Anne had been surprisingly sweet to her since that afternoon, going out of her way to see that Katherine was being taken care of.  

At first, Katherine thought it was because she was scared she would tell Lord Mickelson what his daughter had been up to while at sea, but it was the way that Anne looked at her that told her the real story.  Someone had told her about the incident in the kitchen and now Anne looked on her with pity.  Katherine had always hated that look; she had no need for other people’s pity, it never changed anything.

Perhaps the most wonderful thing about this voyage was that she had found a man who seemed to be in love with her.  Philip had spent much of his time talking with her about different things and every time she saw him, she couldn’t help but smile.  Such a strange effect that a person could have on you, Katherine mused as she went through her chores.  Not only had he saved her life, but he made her feel happier than she had been in years.  

He’ll just leave you.  A little voice in the back of her mind would scream every time they talked or saw each other across the deck, but Katherine refused to believe that this gentleman would leave her just like that.  She would tuck the little voice into the back of her mind, focusing on the present.

It was late in the night, just one day after the awful incident.  The ship was passing through the straights near Gibraltar, heading into the Mediterranean Sea and the southern coast of Italy seemed so close that Katherine dreaded the end of her voyage.  Katherine stood in the cabin, brushing out Anne’s long hair as she readied her for bed.  Anne sat there in her night gown, very calm and compliant as if for the first time in her life she had nothing to say.  Her dark brown eyes were staring at Katherine in the mirror, tracing the shape of the dark bruise on her cheek silently.

“You don’t have to make my meals anymore, Kate.”  Anne said suddenly, causing Katherine to stop brushing and raise her eyes to the mirror.

“I don’t mind, Miss Anne.”  She whispered, blushing slightly under the close scrutiny of the lady before her, her grip on the brush painfully tight.

Anne turned in her seat, looking up at Katherine as she searched for the right words.  The air in the cabin was tense, the wrong statement could set everything off.  Anne had been scared of Katherine since she had seen her in the cabin with the sailor, wondering if she were really going to tell her father about what happened.  On top of all that were the rumors that Katherine had been attacked by the cook, something that Anne felt responsible for.  When she looked at the bruise, she felt like she were the one who inflicted it just so that she could give herself a few moments of pleasure.

“I don’t want you to cook for me anymore.”  Anne said, standing up and brushing Katherine aside as she made her way over the her bed, pulling back the covers and settling in.  “I must say that the food is much improved since the old cook has gone away.”  She added, an air of haughtiness in her voice made her sound like her old self, even as she was being torn apart inside.

Katherine just shook her head, too tired to argue as she blew out the candles in the room, and slowly made her way to her bed.  She had been unable to sleep last night, thinking about Philip the entire night.  The way he made her heart jump with just a smile, the way that his blonde hair had a curl to it that refused to be tamed, or the way that his eyes crinkled when he laughed.  Everything about him enchanted her, she thought as she lay down on her bed, looking up at the rough wooden ceiling, not bothering to undress.

“Kate.”  Anne said in the darkness, her voice wavering slightly as she turned in the bed, causing the wood to creak slightly.  “You won’t tell Papa about what happened, will you?”  Her voice was small and childlike, the fact apparent that her father’s wrath weighed heavily on her mind.

Katherine thought for a moment, weighing her options in her mind.  She could tell him and watch Anne get shipped off to a convent, leaving her free to do as she willed, but what was there for her to do?  She was a girl without a past and certainly didn’t have any future to speak of, so that only left the present.  If she did tell Lord Mickelson about Anne’s tryst with the sailor, he would find out about what happened with Charlie, and she couldn’t let that happen either.

“No.  I won’t tell him.”  She whispered into the darkness, her decision final.  “He doesn’t have to know… about any of this.”

Anne gave a loud yawn, curling up in her sheets, a smile spreading across her face.  “Thank you, Katherine.”  She said, before drifting off to sleep, the sound of her soft snoring filling the cabin.

Katherine lay there for a few moments, smiling at the fact that Anne had actually used her name correctly for the first time since she had known her.  Sitting up in the bed, Katherine looked up the wall, catching sight of a beautiful night sky out the porthole.  Stars brightly shining with a full harvest moon glowing over the ocean.  It was too nice to just stay here, especially since sleep was eluding her, so Katherine quietly made her way to the door, pulling it open and sneaking outside without disturbing Anne.

The deck was still filled with sailors, most enjoying the cool night air and the night sky as they drank and smoke their pipes.  One man with a violin was playing a simple tune as another joined in by beating out a rhythm on the deck with his fists, much to the delight of the rest of the crew, who were singing along to the old sea song.  Katherine stood in the background, watching all of the men with interest, smiling as she felt at home among the noise and clamor.

“I see the little miss can’t stay away from the action, can she?”  Thom stated, just beside her, causing Katherine to jump and spin to face him, startled by his voice.

“It’s so peaceful out here.  How could I just stay inside on a night like this?”  She asked, giving him a smile as he took in the bruise on her cheek with sad eyes.  Katherine stared into his brown puppy dog eyes for a moment, feeling uncomfortable in this large grouping of men all of the sudden.

Nothing is going to happen to you, Katherine.  She scolded herself as the violinist changed his tune to a fast beat kale dance, some men making the comment that they wished they had a lass to dance with.

Katherine smiled to herself, pulling her loose hair back behind her ears as she held out her hand to Thom.  He stared at her for a moment, his eyes knit together in confusion.

“Wot’s this for?”

Katherine said nothing, reaching down to grab his huge hand, and pulled him out onto the deck, into the middle of the men.  Some shouted lewd comments, but meant in jest, not to be harmful as they saw her leading the big sailor towards the music.  “You do know how to dance, don’t you?”  Katherine whispered to him as the other sailors started clapping out a beat, encouraging the two of them.

Thom grinned, flashing her a brilliant smile as he blushed slightly, something that Katherine had never seen a man do.  “Of course I can dance!”  He shouted, sounding offended as the crew around them laughed.

“Don’t listen to ’im lass!”  A man to the left shouted.  “Got two left feet, ’e does!”  The comment followed by laugher from all around as Thom looked at the deck, shaking his head as the blush deepened, covering his face in a deep crimson.

“Well, I can’t let this song go to waste.”  Katherine announced, looking all around her as the men stared at the beauty before them.  Their eyes weren’t filled with lust, as she would have thought, but with respect as if they considered her one of their own.  She was, after all, considered common by society, just as the rest of them were.  She knew a world that Anne and Captain Richards would never experience, a world that had thrown them all together by circumstance.  “I need someone to dance with.  Who‘s up for the challenge?”

A few men stood up, shoving and jeering at each other as they stood in front of her like school children, just waiting to be picked.  Katherine looked over each, her eyes taking on a sly look as she rejected each, pouting slightly that no one else wanted to dance with her.  She knew that if Anne were in her position, men would be climbing all over each other just for a chance at a few moments with her.

“I’ll dance with you,” came a voice from behind her.

Katherine slowly turned around, coming face to face with Philip as he smiled, his green eyes lively as he held out his hand for hers.  Just behind him stood the Frenchman that Katherine had seen him talking to many times before, his hazel eyes looking her over with a gentle yet calculated gaze, as if he were sizing her up.  Katherine smiled at Philip, taking her hand in his as he turned to the violinist, requesting a certain song as the sailors watching the scene shouted things at the two of them.

“Look at mister high and mighty!”  One shouted, causing Philip to laugh and shake his head.  “Thinks ‘e’s better then the rest of us just cos Ocean Blue chose ‘im.”

Katherine stiffened at the comment, her eyes turning serious as she turned to look at the man.  He was laughing to a few men around him, oblivious to what his comment had meant.  Of course, they probably all knew about the Ocean Blue and it’s legend, but none were smart enough to put two and two together, or at least that’s what Katherine thought.  Philip noticed her sudden mood change and gave her a gently kiss against her hand, bringing her back into the moment without letting on of his little secret.

“Just enjoy yourself, beauty.”  He whispered, leaning in to talk into Katherine’s ear .

The music started, a fast pace beat causing Katherine to move her feet quickly, trying to keep up with Philip as he moved around with ease, his hand gripping hers as they turned in a circle.
  As the crew clapped, Philip moved in, grabbing her around the waist and spinning as fast as he could.  Katherine let out a squeal, her skirts and hair flying around them as she struggled to hold on.  He gave her a twirl, watching as she spun around his hand before he pulled her back in, their bodies pressed close together for a moment.

Katherine was breathing hard, staring into his eyes as he gave another grin and started the spinning again, the song picking up speed as the sailors saw just how fast they could go, a good old fashion kale dance to while away the time.  As the music slowed and finally stopped, the sailors cheered as Katherine leaned into Philip’s arms, laughing out loud, as she tried to stop her head from spinning.  She swayed like a drunkard, holding onto his arms for stability as she laughed, her heart happy for the first time in forever.

The night went along, much the same way, filled with dancing and music as other crew members took their turn with her, each trying to show up Philip, but none coming close.  As Katherine sat down to catch her breath among all the excitement, Philip silently made his way to her side, taking her by the hand and pulling her away from the crowd, his eyes sparkling with mischief.  She followed without question, placing all of her trust with him as they made their way towards the crates stacked on deck.

“I have something for you, beauty.”  Philip said, pulling her back behind the crates, a place that they had come to know so well in the past few days, the setting for almost all of their meetings.  “Sort of a present.”  He said, as he helped her to sit down in the cramped space.

“What kind of present?”  Katherine asked, interested in what he had to give her as she watched him kneel down, his hand tightly squeezed into a fist, hiding something from her view.

Philip unclasped his hand, letting a delicate necklace drop from his fingers, the chain catching on his index finger as he held it out to her.  On the end of the chain was a simple pendent, a Celtic design engraved on the silver.  “You know what this is?”  He asked, watching as her eyes widened a bit.

“It’s a love knot.”  Katherine whispered as she reached out to touch the pendent, her fingers running lightly over the silver.

“It was my mother’s.  Now, I want you to have it, beauty.”  He said, smiling as she looked at him in surprise, her blue eyes bright with emotion in the darkened night.

“Philip, I can’t take this.”  She whispered, pulling her hand back as she stared at him.  “If it was your mother’s, then it must be very special to you.  I…”


Philip cut her off, pressing a finger to her lips as he grinned at her.  “She was a special woman.  I thought for a long time that I would never find a person just like her, but here you are, beauty.  I want you to have this.”  He insisted, bringing the necklace closer to his face so that he could undo the clasp in the dim light.

He held it out again, watching as her eyes watered up slightly, obviously stunned by his sudden show of emotion and she gave him a loving smile.  “I’ll keep it safe, Philip.  I promise.”

“I know you will, Katherine.”  He whispered, sitting up on his knees as he pulled back her hair, gently placing it over one shoulder as he brought the necklace around her neck.

Philip clasp the necklace around Katherine’s neck, staring for a moment at the graceful arc of the back of her neck.  The way her hair curled into to tight rings at the base of her hairline and the smoothness of her skin, pale and unmarred.  It was almost as if he were in a trance as he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on the base of her neck, Katherine taking in a sharp breath as he let her hair fall back into place.

Turning to sit in front of her, Philip couldn’t help but smile at the blush that was spreading across her cheeks.  It made her skin glow in the dim light, her blue eyes brighter then he had ever seen before.  “You are more beautiful than anything I have ever seen.”  He whispered, reaching out to caress the side of her cheek with his hand, careful of the bruise just beneath his hand.

“You are a charmer, Philip.”  Katherine said with a laugh and a smile as she picked up the pendent and brought it up so she could look at it once more.

Philip reached out, grabbing her hand in his as he locked his eyes on hers.  “On the contrary, Miss Katherine.  You’re the one who has charmed me.  Ever word that comes out of my mouth is pure.”  He whispered, feeling a stab of guilt at the statement.  Of course, he had other motives for gaining Katherine’s trust, but he would never tell her that.  Truth of the matter was, he could never stand to see his beauty in pain.

Your beauty? He thought suddenly, a strange thought that made him grin.  He had never been enamored with a girl before, but he had to admit that it was nice to give his attentions to someone who returned them as well.  And she’ll bring in the money very soon.  He chuckled to himself as he thought this, a truly wicked idea he knew, but to him money was worth so much more than love.

“What are you laughing at?”  Katherine asked, her look confused as Philip looked at her in shock for a moment before the smirk came back to his face.  He hadn’t realized that he had been laughing out loud.

“Nothing, beauty.  Just thinking about something.”  He said, letting go of her hand as she leaned back against the crates, looking around their little hiding place as if to memorize every inch of it.

Katherine sat there, her hand absently playing with the pendent as she stared at Philip.  The night was dark and the sea quiet as men milled around the deck, most singing in a drunken haze.  She took a deep breath, slowly letting it out as she scooted across the deck and leaned into his arms, wanting nothing more than to be held by him, something that she had dreamed about.  She leaned her head on his shoulder, feeling his warm breath softly move her hair as he turned to look at her in surprise.

“I see you’ve finally warmed up to me, beauty.”  He whispered, wrapping an arm around her waist, lacing his fingers with hers as he brought up her arm to gently kiss her hand.  

Katherine turned her head slightly to stare into his green eyes, all of the fear and nervousness that she had felt before was gone.  “It feels right.”  She whispered as he gently kissed her forehead.

She closed her eyes, leaning her head into his kiss as he ran his hand through her hair, putting Katherine at ease.  Sitting there in the Philip’s arms, she listened to the ship creak slightly in the rolling ocean, the sound of his heart beating softly in her ear, and the sailors milling around on the deck, starting to retire for the night.  Katherine felt warm and comfortable in his arms, suddenly wanting something more from him.  Pulling herself onto her knees, Katherine turned and looked at Philip, her eyes narrowing slightly as she reached up to take his face in her hands, a light stubble of blonde hair on his cheeks and chin scratching her fingers.

“Do you… want me?”  She asked timidly, blushing a deep red as Philip smiled and took her hands in his, gently placing a kiss into each palm, rubbing his nose over her fingers before looking back into her eyes.

“I would be a fool to say no.”  He whispered, watching a smile slowly spread across her face.

With a deep breath, Katherine timidly took his hands and placed them on her breasts, looking him in the eye as she chewed on her bottom lip, unsure of what else to do.

“Are you sure, beauty?”  Philip asked, surprised that she was acting this way.  “I don’t want you regretting anything.”

“I won’t regret it.”  She whispered, shaking her head slightly.

The statement made Philip’s heart jerk, his plans beginning to unravel.  You can’t be falling in love.  His mind screamed as he leaned in to kiss her gently on the lips, the soft skin feeling wonderful against him mouth.  This is just for fun.  He reasoned with himself as he tipped her backwards, his hand cradling her head as he gently laid her on the deck.

“We’ll do this the right way.”  He whispered in her ear, making her giggle slightly as he began to work the ties on her gown, exposing inch after inch of the corset beneath to his eyes.  He sat back on his knees as Katherine reached to take off his shirt, gently restraining her hands.  “No, beauty.  Just let me do everything.”

Katherine smiled and blushed as he pulled apart her gown, exposing her corset and petticoats to the night air.  His look was warm and gentle as he started to unlace the corset, smiling as she took in a deep breath at being freed from the dreadful contraption, something he always thought was silly for women to wear.  

To him, the female for was perfect, just the way it was and if he ever had a wife, he would tell her that everyday.  He pulled back the stiff fabric, getting the first glimpse of her small breasts, peaked with pale, pink nipples that were standing at attention.  He smiled, watching as the blush traveled down her neck to the top of her breasts, yet another thing that was charming about her.  Looking back up at her face, he noticed the nervousness in her eyes, those blue irises watching his every movement.

“Am I your first?”  Philip asked suddenly, catching her chin in his hand as he settled down on top of her, carefully trying not to crush her with his weight.

Katherine slowly shook her head, her eyes turning sad as she stared up at him.  “No.”  She whispered, the confession obviously hard for her as her voice wavered slightly.  “If you don’t want to…”  She started, beginning to pull her clothes back around her as she tried to sit up, the sadness in her heart so strong that Philip could feel it surrounding her.

Philip quickly kissed her lips again, leaning her back against the deck to stifle her thoughts.  “I didn’t say that, beauty.”  He said with a smile, gently tracing a finger over her nose and lips, tracing the side of her face as he lovely caressed her cheek.  “I’m just going to have to make this special for you so you will always remember.”




Ocean Blue Ch. 03



Katherine smiled as he brushed her hands away from her chest, pulling the corset down again so he could get a good look at her.  No more than a handful, her breasts fit him perfectly as he cupped and squeezed them with his hands, gently pulling at her nipples, eliciting a whimpering moan from Katherine as she leaned her head back against the deck, her eyes fluttering close.  

God, she’s driving me wild.  Philip thought as he began to inch her skirts up, admiring the way her pale legs looked in the moonlight.

“Philip.”  Katherine moaned as she felt his hand caress the downy red hair between her legs.

“I’m right here, beauty.”  He whispered back, placing a kiss on her throat, kissing a path between her breasts, stopping to tease her nipples as he slid his fingers over her soft folds, a finger slipping inside her quickly before pulling away.

Katherine had never known anything like this before.  Never in her life did she think that someone would ever be this loving with her, even after everything that had happened.  She opened her eyes as she felt Philip pull away, fearing that she had done something wrong, but his boyish grin made her relax as he reached for the ties on his pants, loosening them quickly as his erection bounced free into the warm night air.

Settling down between her legs felt like his first time.  Philip had no idea why this girl made him feel like a shy school boy, but here he was, blushing slightly, as she ran her hands through his hair, kissing him gently as he positioned the head of his cock against her.  With one push, he entered her, groaning at the tight, smooth feeling.  Katherine let out a short gasp as she gripped his shoulders tight in her hands, her back arching slightly as he slowly began pushing in and out.  It felt like his first time, the feeling so intense that he nearly lost it on the spot.  Through sheer willpower, he willed himself to be steady, watching her face intently as it clenched in what looked like pain.

“Are you okay?”  He whispered against her ear, his breath tickling her as she nodded, giving him a quick smile as his pace began to pick up.

It was like they were a perfect match, his cock sheathed perfectly within her, giving him a pleasure that he had never known, while at the same time erasing a part of Katherine’s past.  In that single intimate act, Katherine had found that love that had eluded her for almost five years.  She wrapped her arms around his neck, a tear of joy slowly sliding down her face, but it was quickly kissed away by Philip who rubbed his nose over her face, resting his forehead on hers. 

Katherine struggled to remain silent, fearing someone would happen upon their hiding place as they made love, but the sea was silent, the deck finally deserted for the night.  Philip began nuzzling against her breasts, suckling and caressing them as an intense feeling began building deep in her stomach, like a knot that needed to be unraveled.

“Katherine.  Katherine.”  He chanted over and over again, each mention of her named timed with a thrust, as he reached a had between their bodies and gently ran his fingers over her clit.  “Let go, beauty.”  He whispered gently, feeling her body tighten around him, her nails digging slightly into his back.

At last, that knot unraveled, making Katherine gasp and whimper as her fingers dug his skin, holding on for dear life in the middle of her storm.  Her heart fluttered as she threw her head back with a loud moan, Philip quickly kissing her silence her cries.  Her body shook at the magnitude of the orgasm, everything drifting away as Philip pumped his hips harder, giving a final thrust as he released deep inside of her.  He dropped his head into her shoulder, gasping for air as Katherine whimpered beneath him.

Philip rolled to the side with a satisfied sigh, wrapping her in his warm embrace as she slowly returned to Earth, giving him a shy smile as he kissed the tip of her nose.  “Now, when you look at the necklace, you can remember this.”  He whispered, making her laugh softly.  He watched as she yawned, her eyes drooping sleepily as she placed her forehead against his neck, letting his chin rest on the top of her head.

“Do you love me, Philip?”  She asked, burrowing her head into his chest as she began to feel sleepy, her hair tickling his chin.

The simple mention of the word made Philip stop and think of everything in his life.  He had no need for love at the moment; in all of his dreams, money could buy him love.  He had actually loved only one woman in his life, and that had been his mother, God rest her soul.  The woman lying in his arms was asking him to give her a promise that he simply didn’t have, but at the same time, he didn’t want to break her heart.

“No, beauty.”  He whispered softly as he heard her sigh in sleep, her chest rising and falling in deep breaths.  Moving her head back gently by her chin, he admired her peaceful face in sleep and the gentle curve of a breast as he hugged her close again.  

“But I believe that I’m beginning to.”  He muttered, listening to the sounds of the ocean as he played with a piece of her red hair, curling it over his fingers a few times before letting it drop back into place.  He smiled to himself and slowly drifted off into a peaceful sleep, dreaming of a life on the ocean with his beauty at his side.

* * * * *

Katherine woke shortly before dawn, a cool breeze blowing over her body reminded her of what had happened the night before and she smiled, lifting her head from Philip’s chest to watch him sleep.  She lay there for a moment, taking in his scent of the sea, enjoying his warmth against her body.  

Timidly, she raised her hand and lightly traced the bridge of his nose, memorizing ever inch of his face before she pulled herself away and silently began to pull her clothes back on, combing out her hair with her fingers.  Turning back to Philip, Katherine bent down, placing a kiss on his temple as she stood up and slowly made her way from their hiding spot.

Walking across the deck, she took in a deep breath of the sea air, suddenly happier than she had been in a long time.  Katherine leaned against the railing of the ship, watching as the sun lazily rose over the horizon, the sea streaked with pinks and purples as a few sailors came from below deck, grumbling through hangovers as they started their morning work.  Katherine turned and watched them for a few moments, remembering everything that needed to be done in the different positions along the ship.  It was then that she remembered that she wasn’t here as a sailor, but a maid, and she hadn’t returned to the room last night.

Katherine quickly made her way back to the cabin, opening the door slightly and peeking in.  Anne was sound asleep, snoring slightly, just as Katherine had left her the night before.  With a stifled laugh, she tiptoed into the room, rumbling her bed sheets slightly to make Anne think she had been in the room last night like a bad child who didn‘t want their mother to catch them red handed.  Looking around the little room, Katherine decided to do something with her time, so she set about gathering Anne’s dirty dresses from her trunk and grabbing her pail, silently left the room again.

“I thought it had been a dream when I woke up and saw you gone.”  Came a voice in her ear as she clicked the door shut, spinning around in her fright to stare into Philip’s bright green eyes.

He had a sly smile on his face, his hair and clothes slightly rumpled as he leaned in and kissed her gently on the cheek, his stubble rubbing against her face, making her laugh softly.

“You keep that up and rumors will start.”  Katherine whispered with a grin as she folded the dresses over her arm, fingering the expensive fabrics as he stared at her.

Philip laughed as the glint of silver against her throat made him reach out a hand, fishing the pendent out of her dress.  Katherine blushed a deep red as she saw the necklace, images from the night before coming back to her mind.

“I hope that I can make you blush like that all the time.  It’s very charming.”  Philip stated, giving the pendent a kiss before he let it drop back against her chest.  “May I offer milady a hand?”  He asked, motioning to the clothing in her arms.

“No, I can do this by myself.”  She said, walking past him as she started for the edge of the deck.  “Besides, you have work to do.”

“Oh?  Trying to get rid of me, are you?”  Philip asked, spinning her around in her arms as he drew her close, giving her a deep kiss.

Katherine drew in her breath sharply, her eyes darting around to see if any of the other sailors had seen the moment.  Philip pulled away, looking into her eyes as he brushed away a piece of hair from her cheek.

“Don’t worry, beauty.  No one will say anything.”  He said with a soft smile, giving her a kiss on the forehead as he turned and started across the deck, beginning his morning chores.

Katherine stood there, watching him walk away as her heart fluttered.  She was in love with the smooth talking man, and she wasn’t afraid to admit it to herself.  Once they got to Italy, well, that was a different story, but for now, she could see a future with her love.  Letting people see them kissing was another thing entirely, she decided as she dropped the dresses to the deck in a heap and tied a line to the bucket.  With a heave, she threw it over the side, watching as it made a clunk and then sunk beneath the whitecaps at the side of the ship.

Does he love me?  Katherine wondered as she began to pull the bucket up the side of the ship, the rope straining against the weight of the water as it sloshed against the side of the pail.

She had asked him last night, but had fallen asleep before she got her reply.  He had to have some feelings for her, or else how could last night have happened, Katherine asked herself as she set the bucket down on the deck, beginning to wash the dresses, her thoughts consumed with questions about their relationship.

Had anyone been paying attention, they would have seen Albert up on the rope netting, his chubby face damp with sweat as he pulled out a white kerchief, waving it over his head to signal to a ship in the distance.  He kept his eyes locked on the mast of the other vessel, smiling to himself as he saw another flash of white, the crew signaling back. It was a mere speck on the water, but to the trained eye, they would have seen it was a huge ship and it was coming straight for them.

Katherine softly sang to herself, the same song she had danced to with Philip last night, as she worked to get the dresses clean in the small area she had made for herself on the busy deck.  It was out of the corner of her eye that she saw movement on the water, and turning her head slightly, she saw something that would make her blood run cold.  

A black standard was flying from the mast of the ship on the horizon, a sight Katherine had seen many times in her life.  She dropped the wet cloth to the deck, bumping into the bucket of dirty water and tipping it over in her haze.  A sailor yelled nearby, telling her to be more careful, but Katherine didn’t hear him.  Her face was locked in shock, blue eyes wide as everything around her seemed to fade away.

In her mind, she wondered if this would be the end of her freedom; if she were going to be forced back on that ship that she had escaped from years ago.  Panic set in, but was quickly pushed aside as she realized that the ship was too small to be the Ocean Blue.  She gripped the necklace tight in her hand, feeling comforted by it as she willed herself to be calm; hysterics would get her nowhere, she knew this much to be true.  It was then that she thought about the past and that word.  The simple word stuck in the back of her mind, something that she had said only once in her life when she was a little girl in her father’s cabins looking at the map of England.

“Pirates.”  She whispered to herself as a cry came from the eagle’s nest, alerting the rest of the crew to the ship that was fast approaching on the horizon.

* * * * *

Chapter 4 coming soon:  Katherine fights for her life as Philip reveals his secret plans.

* * * * * 

Author's note:  Please feel free to leave me messages or comments about the story.  Helps me know what people think and where to take the story.  Thanks for any input and keep voting! :)



Ocean Blue Ch. 04



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Author's Note: As with most stories, this chapter is a transition between events. If you're looking for something spicy, read on. It's quite exciting, but no sex. Sorry, but if that's what you're looking for, wait for the next chapter. :)
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There are very few sights on the open waters that will tug at the fear deep in someone's mind. Katherine had been on the other side of many chases in her time, usually with her father at command as he hunted down merchant ships in the straights between Africa and Europe, sometimes through the English channel. 

Most times, it was bloodless, the crew giving up before a shot was ever fired, but then there were times like this, when the crew would fight to the death. It was a something she had only seen once up close, two men fighting for her life and freedom, both losing their lives. It was the beginning of her long stay as a captive on the Ocean Blue, something that still sent shivers down her spine.

Katherine stood frozen in her spot, watching the horizon as she remembered the event vividly. Closing her eyes, Katherine could relive the moment as if she were a child again. It was pitch black that night, thick clouds covering the full moon and the ocean an inky color that hid everything. The tiny boat her father moved slowly over the water, sloshing and creaking as it got closer to the Ocean Blue. Staring out over the ocean, Katherine watched the shore of the land twinkle in the soft lamplights. It had almost been her home, had that sheik agreed to the deal her father offered, but the man had no need for a fourteen year old girl and her sixteen year old brother. Things would have been different, she reflected, had that awful man just listened and taken them in.

She remembered her father grabbing her wrist in the darkness and pulling her carefully to the side of the ship, placing her hands on the rough rope ladder that ran down the side. It was in that brief moment that he hugged her tightly, his damp cheek pressing into her neck. It was then that Katherine felt fear. Her father, that strong stone in her life, was crying over their hapless situation. With a soft kiss against her temple, he gave her a boost up, telling her to be quiet and not to draw attention.

She was climbing up the rope ladder, Danny pushing her from below as their father whispered to them to keep it quiet. Katherine grumbled at her brother was she reached up over the side of the ship and gripped the rough wood in her hands, hoisting herself over the side. It was then that two hands grabbed her tightly and practically threw her to the deck. A short scream was stifled as the man grabbed and hauled her to her feet, holding her tight against him as the lanterns onboard where lit and her brother looked on in fear as she saw her father's angry face appear over the side of the ship.

"Where have you been, Captain?" Bega asked with a laugh and a grin as he brought out his pistol and pointed it first at Katherine then turning it to the hulking man who was pulling himself over the side.

"You'll never find out." He growled, his hands clenching tight in fear and anger.

Looking around, Jim knew there was no way out of this. His plan for escape had failed and all he cared about now was the well being of his children. He stared at Katherine, angered by the tight grip that Bega had on her arm and the pain on her face, his eyes calming and reassuring that everything would be okay. Looking back up, he noticed the faces of the rest of the crew, all with eyes narrowed. Mutiny, he cursed himself, they had mutinied while he tried to get Danny and Katherine to the coast. Of course, it didn't surprise him, but he still wished that he could have gotten his family to safety.

"You're right, Captain." He spit out the word with such distain that it practically stung. "I never will."

It all happened in a blur, the sharp pop and smoke causing Katherine to wince and shut her eyes tight against the scene in front of her. A howling cry came forth from her brother and then a thud followed by a gurgling sound. She shook from head to toe as the laughter began and she opened her eyes to behold the sight in front of her.

She felt the cruel grip on her upper arm, the feel of a gun pressed against her temple. The air smelled of gun smoke, the barrel of the gun hot as it pressed into her curls. The sight of her father laying motionless on the rough wood made her fight back tears. Looking around the deck, she could see the faces of men that she had once considered her family, each laughing at the sight of their dead captain.

She heard the click of the gun, men jeering and urging him to do it. Just pull the trigger, they yelled as Bega said nothing, just gripped her arm tighter as he glared over the top of her head at her brother. Danny stood there, his face full of fear and resignation, unable to do anything else. His blue eyes locked with his sister's, a tear rolling down his cheek as he squared his shoulders and prepared for his fate. He jerked for a moment, his mind racing as he thought he could run or grab something to defend himself, but with a deep breath, he let his arms fall limp to his side and looked at Bega.

Suddenly, the hand let go of her arm and grabbed her tight around the waist, the gun pulling away and firing straight at Danny. His blue eyes widened in surprise as a cloud of red mist appeared before him. He clutched at his chest, stumbling back until he hit the railing before tumbling over board to the waves below. A loud splash filled the still air as the crew started to laugh, the sound of many voices filling the young girl's ears as she stood there in shocked silence.

"Danny!" She screamed, her voice high and shrill as Bega laughed and began to drag her across the deck, towards the cabin that was once her father's. She let him drag her for a moment, too stunned to comprehend what had happened, but it only lasted a few short moments before she struggled.

She fought like a fury, wishing that she could escape this hell that she was living, but the man's grip grew tighter, his fingers digging into the soft flesh that was exposed on her modest neckline. She would carry the bruises for a week, but it wouldn't be the only time she was bruised and battered during the next few months. She twisted and turned, screaming and kicked her legs in the air, anything to stop him from his journey.

With a jerk on the door, Bega shoved her into the cabin, glaring as she stumbled and finally fell to the ground, her legs tangled in her skirts. Katherine leaned up on an elbow and looked at him with fear, his face so clear in the moonlight. He held no pity for her, his dark eyes narrowing at the young girl before him. It was as if he had never seen her before, no longer the girl that had grown up on the ship, but as a woman who was ripe for the taking. A woman with a secret that he would drag out of her, come hell or high water. It was that night that the face of Bega was engraved in her mind, the sound of the door slamming shut on the cabin the last sound that she cared to remember of that horrible event.

It was two strong hands clamping down on Katherine's shoulders that snapped her out of the memory, making her jump as they spun her around. She gave out a cry of surprise as she came face to face with the man, his coat and uniform instantly registering in her mind. Captain Richards looked down at her, his eyes set in determination but Katherine could see the fear deep inside. She met his gaze, hoping that any sign of the memory was wiped from her eyes.

"Get to your cabin and lock yourself in." He stated, giving her a shake to get her out of her stupor. "I don't need to tell you what would happen if…" He trailed off, his attentions slowly turning to the ocean as he looked out to the horizon. "If you ever meet a woman named Constanza, tell her…tell her I always loved her." He whispered finally after a long silence, his eyes serious as he stared down at the girl in his grip.

Katherine stood in silence, just nodding. "I will."

He just nodded and gently pushed her aside as he began shouting orders to the frazzled crew, his voice strong as it carried over the deck. Katherine had no doubt in her mind that he would be the first to die if it came to that; his blue jacket and medals identifying him as a military man and as captain. Foolish pride, she thought, had been the undoing of many men while the sailed the seven seas. 

Looking at the other ship one last time, Katherine turned and hurried as fast as she could across the deck, trying to make it to her cabin in time to bolt the door and hopefully wait the horrible may lay out. Men shouted at her as she got in their way, one shoving her roughly to the deck as he bounded over her body to arm himself. A surge of pain went through her arm as she tumbled to the deck, dress ripping on the rough wood. Stumbling up and holding her arm tight against her, Katherine dodged more sailors before finally making it to the cabin door.

Turning to look one more time at the ship that was just a few yards away now, she knew it was only a matter of time. From the doorway, she could see Philip standing at the railing, a slight smile on his face as he calmly watched the water, the Frenchman saying something in his ear that made him laugh. He turned his head, green eyes bright with merriment as he said something back to his friend. The sight seemed odd to Katherine, but before her mind could process everything, the door to the cabin groaned and opened slowly.

"What's going on?" Anne's voice asked sleepily as she pulled open the door, squinting in the sudden light.

Her voice brought Katherine out of her thought and she quickly turned around, shoving Anne back into the cabin as she slammed the bolt of the door home. Leaning her forehead against the door as she took in a shaky breath, Katherine could hear the men shouting from the other ship, a sort of warning before the slaughter began.

"Kate, what's going on? What's all the shouting for?" Anne asked, her voice high pitched with excitement and fear.

Turning to face Anne, she shook her head slightly. "Pirates. They're coming this way." Her voice was barely a whisper as she said the dreaded words. "We have to stay calm, Anne. It's the only way we'll survive."

"Stay calm?" Anne squealed, her voice making Katherine wince as it echoed around the small room. "How do expect me to stay calm when there are pirates out there. My god, we're going to die!" She wailed, tears flowing down her cheeks as she went into hysterics.

Katherine stared at the once proud woman before her in shock. Before she knew what she was doing, Katherine stepped forward and slapped Anne as hard as she could, the sound echoing in her ears as the cabin fell silent except for the shouting from outside. Anne's brown eyes were wide in shock, her hand gripping her cheek as she slowly stepped away from Katherine.

"Listen to me." Katherine began, her voice strained with barely controlled anger. "You have to trust me, as much as the thought disgusts you. I have been here before, not something that I wish to explain at the moment, but the only way that you will survive is if you stop your sniveling and act like the dignified lady that you are." She hissed through clenched teeth, watching as Anne's demeanor changed almost instantly.

"How dare you slap me." She whispered, her lip quivering with tears as she tried to slip into her aristocratic façade.

"It's a good start." Katherine said with a smile as she took in Anne's clothing. She was still dressed in her night gown, her feet bare and her hair loose around her shoulders. "We have to get you dressed. If they see you like that, you won't survive unharmed for long." Katherine whispered, her voice quivering with emotion as she walked over to Anne's chest and pulled out a purple silk dress and held it out to Anne.

"How do you know all of this?" Anne asked, pulling off her nightshirt and throwing it in a heap on the bed.

Katherine stopped for a moment, her blue eyes closing for a moment as a hint of sadness flashed across her face. Opening them again, she took a deep sigh as she helped Anne into the dress, lacing it up tightly as the sound of wooden hulls scraping together filled the air. "Just trust me, Anne." She whispered again, her voice wavering slightly. "Just trust me for the first time in your life, please."

Anne slowly turned and looked at Katherine with suspicion, one eyebrow raised as if to silently question the situation. Both women jumped as the sound of a scream came from on deck, followed by the sounds of feet running every which direction. Anne, in her fright, reached out and grabbed Katherine's hand tight in hers, squeezing it so hard that Katherine let out a whimper of pain. More screams came from the deck, men shouting back and forth to each other as the sound became almost too much to bare.

Anne started whispering a simple prayer, her hand shaking in fright as the fighting seemed to come closer and closer to their cabin, the sound of men dying filling the small space. Suddenly, the door started shaking as someone pounded on it.

"For the luv of God! Let me in!" The person screamed, as Anne let out a frightened scream, letting go of Katherine's hand as she moved backwards towards the wall of the cabin. "Kit, please!"

Katherine heard the name and snapped into action. Sliding the bolt to the side, despite Anne's protests, Katherine opened the door a bit to see Thom standing there, a dead man at his feet. Without a word, he shoved open the door and slammed it closed. He was covered in blood, his shirt soaked through. Katherine stepped back a bit, shocked to see him in such a state for such a short battle.

"This is bad." He whispered, giving her a look out of the corner of his eye as he slid to bolt home again. "They're killin' the crew faster than the devil ‘im self."

"Oh, God." Anne whimpered, her back firmly pressed against the wall as she started sobbing again. "I just want to go home."

"We have to do something, Thom." Katherine whispered, hearing a man scream just outside the door, the sound making her wince. "We can't just let them do this."

Thom jumped back slightly, his eyes wide as the sound of someone falling to the deck sounded loudly with a thud. "There's nothin' we can do." He stated with a sigh as he turned to look at her, his eyes wide with fright. "Just stay calm and we'll think things through."

Katherine just nodded, to numb to let everything sink in. Yet again, she was stuck in the middle of a fight and this time she knew it couldn't end good for her. Not that the first fight she was in ended good for her, but at least it had given her valuable information about how to survive. She slowly made her way over to her bed, sitting down on the sheets as the fighting became fierce, the sounds of cannons firing making them jump.

"Why are they firing canons?" Katherine asked, getting nothing in response. ‘Certainly they don't want to sink the ship.' She thought to herself, knowing that they were nowhere near land; her fear of the monsters below the ocean's surface growing strong in her stomach as another blast shook the room.

The three sat helplessly as they listened to the sounds of the battle raging just outside the door. Anne was whimpering and silently praying, the skirt of her dress tightly clamped between her fingers. Thom gripped his sword tightly in his hand, his jaw set in anger as he watched the door intently. When Katherine looked at his face, she could see the fear his eyes betrayed. She sat calmly on her bed, hands folded in her lap as she listened to the noise outside.

"How are you so calm?" Anne whispered, her voice holding an edge of anger despite her fear.

Katherine just looked straight through her, her blue eyes holding a secret that she wasn't ready to give up just yet. Suddenly, the screaming and sounds from outside stopped, replaced by a deafening cheer. Katherine stood up quickly, keeping her eyes trained on the bottom of the door. Shadows lazily moved from the deck and the sudden sound of wood splintering in the cabins just to the left told her what she already knew.

"They won." She whispered.

"What?" Anne shouted, her shrill voice filling the room.

"Shhh." Katherine hissed as the door rattled. "Thom, give me your sword."

"Are ya daft, Kit?" He asked as the rattling intensified.

"Just trust me."

Thom turned to look at her as if she were mad as the first shove came against the door with jarring force. Anne screamed, pressing further against the wall, tears flowing down her cheeks. Katherine sighed in frustration and scrambled to find another weapon as the door flew open that sound of a pistol filled the air. Thom fell backwards, a wound in his chest as the sword clattered across the floor. Anne let out a piercing scream, backing across the wall until she hit the corner and slowly slid down the wall, a huddling mess of silk skirts. Katherine picked up Anne's glass perfume bottle as the man with the pistol stepped into the room, a grin on his oily face as he kicked Thom with his boot.

"Aye, looks like we found the lasses." He shouted to his companion who was holding a wicked looking saber. "Wot's yer name, luv?" He asked, pointing the gun at Katherine.

Katherine turned to face him, her eyes narrowing in anger as she looked from his face to the gun. Without a second thought, Katherine threw the glass bottle straight at the man as hard as she could, smiling slightly as it shattered against his face. He let out a piercing howl and dropped the gun to the wooden deck, clawing at his eyes as the perfume stung the cuts. As his partner stared on in shock, Katherine bounded across the cabin, picking up the gun and leveling it at the man.

"Drop your sword." She stated, pulling back the hammer.

The man just laughed, stepping closer to Katherine, getting in close enough that she could smell the sweat on his clothing. He grinned, his mouth full of gaping holes and yellowed teeth. "Wot ya gonna do, little miss? Shoot me?"

The sound of the gun filled the cabin and the man fell backwards out the door, laying motionless on the deck. "What do you think?" Katherine whispered as she bent down to pick up Thom's fallen sword.

Her hand trembled slightly as memories of the past flooded into her head as she stared at the sword. Tucking the sword under one arm, Katherine pulled the gun open, cursing as she saw it was empty. Turning to the first man who was writhing on the floor, she searched his pockets, finally finding the precious packet of gun powder. Out of nowhere, the man suddenly reached out, grabbing Katherine tightly around the wrist as he turned on her. She let out a squeal of surprise, trying to maneuver the sword in the small space between their bodies.

"I'm gonna show ya what real pain is." The man hissed, giving her arm a jerk that almost sent her tumbling to the ground.

Without thinking, Katherine lashed out, throwing her fist into the man's face. She could hear Anne's sobbing stop as she stared at Katherine with shocked amazement. The man finally let go, passing out on the floor as Katherine stumbled backward and finally hit the floor hard. She sat there for a moment, gasping for air, her eyes filled with fear for the first time since this entire horrible experience began.

Snapping out of the stupor, Katherine quickly tore open the packet of gun powder with her teeth and set about reloading the weapon. Her hands trembled with nervous energy as she finally snapped the pistol close, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves as the sound of more wood breaking came from the deck. Standing up slowly, Katherine looked over the sword and the gun, deciding which would be better to defend herself with. Finally, she turned and threw the gun at Anne, who gasp at the sudden motion.




Ocean Blue Ch. 04



"What are you doing?" Anne asked, her voice choked with tears as the gun landed with a 

thud in her lap.

"You know how to use a pistol?" Katherine whispered, listening as men talked down the hallway.

"No."

"It's simple. You just pull back on the hammer and squeeze the trigger."

"Why are you giving me this?" Anne asked again as she picked the gun up like it was going to bite her.

"I'm better with a sword than a pistol." Katherine answered as she peeked around the corner of the door and down the hall. She gasped as she saw two men running in and out of the other cabins and she quickly ducked back inside. "Look, Anne, I don't know what's going to happen, but I can fight. If there aren't many men, I can handle this situation and we can get the ship back to port, just the two of us."

"You're daft."

Katherine looked over at Anne, her eyes narrowing a bit. "If any men come in here, use the gun."

With that, she steeled her nerve, gripping the hilt of the sword tight in her hand as she turned onto the deck, holding it out before her in a defensive position her father had taught her. Two men were at the end of the hallway, talking back and forth in Gaelic as one turned to look at Katherine, an eyebrow cocked in confusion as a smile crossed his face. 

"Well, wot we got here?" He asked, stepping forward with his hand outstretched as if she didn't pose a threat to him.

The other man was more on guard, quickly drawing his sword as he saw her eyes narrow and her hand twitch with the sword. He raised to strike her, pushing his companion out of the way as Katherine quickly raised her sword in defense.

Everything was a blur to her, a quick flash of silver followed closely by a short scream and soon Katherine found herself standing on the open deck with blood dripping from her sword. The two men lay at her feet, one dead and the other surely dying.

Looking over the railing, Katherine could see the other ship just a few yards away. Interceptor was written in letters along the hull, a new ship she had to guess for she had never known a pirate with a ship of that name. But she had to admit that the name did sound familiar, attached to the name Montard, if she remembered right. Yes, Montard, she thought, the rumor of the new ship from the market in Suffolk. A dashing pirate who had caught the fancy of a young Duchess in Norwich. 

A cry was raised as a crewman saw her and in her moment of thought, Katherine soon found herself surrounded by men, some holding swords toward her with amusement in their eyes. Clenching her jaw tight, she held the sword out in front of her, narrowing her eyes and saying a simple prayer as she prepared to fight her way out of this situation. It was the loud laughter of one man that caught her attention, making her spin to find the source.

Philip smiled as he stepped through the crowd, raising his hand to hold the men at bay. A deep laugh rose from his belly, causing his face to crinkle with delight as he stared at the proud beauty before him.

"Philip, help me." Katherine whispered without a second thought, gripping the sword tightly in her hands as she looked all around.

"Why, beauty?" He asked, his voice soft with a teasing quality to it. "Why would I want to help you defeat my crew?"

A mighty laugh came from the men around her making Katherine wince as the cold reality of who stood before her washed over her like a wave.

"Philip Montard." She whispered, her voice almost carried away by the strong wind that was blowing.

"At your service, Kit."

Philip's eyes grew bright as he gave her a small bow, much to the delight of his crew who still laughed and taunted the beauty as she blushed a deep red yet never relinquished hold of her sword. Looking down at the hilt held so tightly in her hand, Katherine raised it again in challenge. Her life for his was the unspoken promise that the steel offered.

Philip grinned, his charm and wit showing through completely on his face as he stared into her blue eyes, watching as they rolled with anger like the ocean on a stormy day.

"Do you really think that you can beat me, beauty?" Philip asked, his green eyes bright with amusement as he stared, noting the tremor in her hand as the sword wavered slightly. Whether it was anger or fear that made her hand shake, he couldn't tell, but it wouldn't surprise him if it were the anger that was coursing through her veins. "Who wants to take bets? Me or Miss Moore?" He shouted as he turned to his crew, a triumphant smile on his face as the crew shouted bets on him.

Katherine's face flushed crimson at the mention of her name, something that she thought she had guarded so closely from him. She looked to the deck, trying to hide her eyes from the rest of the crew that was circling around them as she caught sight of the pistol in the waist of Philip's pants. At his back, the handle of the gun was recognizable to Katherine's trained eye.

She had a plan formulated in minutes, she only hoped that Philip would buy it. Katherine was never known as a liar, her face giving away much of her emotions. Thoughts were racing in her head as the sound of a gunshot and a shrill shriek made Philip and his crew jerk around. Katherine looked over her shoulder to see a sailor dragging a flailing woman across the deck. Finally giving up the fight, the sailor bent down and picked her up, holding her waist tight against him.

"Let me go!" Anne shrieked, thrashing around in the arms of a hulking sailor, her legs kicking above the deck helplessly as he carried her out into the open and dropped her unceremoniously onto the rough wood.

"She had a gun?" Philip asked the man with a stunned look on his face.

"Aye, captain. Lucky she's not a good shot." He said with a laugh as Anne sat up in tears, her head buried in her hands as the rest of the crew started to laugh.

"Take her to the ship and make sure to show her the accommodations we have set up for her." Philip said with a smug laugh as Anne screamed again, being hauled up by the muscular man as he started to the other ship. "The rest of you, back to work. We have a schedule to keep." He finally shouted, as the crew grumbled and resumed sacking the hapless vessel.

Philip turned his attention back to Katherine who had lowered the sword to her side and was staring intently at the deck, tears slowly forming in her eyes. Cargo from the ship was being transported fast to the Interceptor and soon the vessel was empty as Philip's crew quickly made their way home, each laughing and celebrating at their good fortune. Only Albert remained behind, watching Philip and Katherine intently as if he knew the girl would try something.

"Beauty, you have to believe me that I will not do anything to harm you." Philip said as Katherine took in a shuddering breath, whimpering slightly as she let the sword drop to the deck with a clatter. "Come here, Katherine." He whispered, opening his arms for her.

Slowly, she shuffled forward into his embrace, closing her arms tightly around him. Philip buried his nose in her hair, taking in her scent as he looked over her head to Albert who was shaking his head in disgust. Philip glared at him as he muttered soothing words to Katherine, trying to stop the tremors of sadness that shook her body.

It all happened in a flash, too quick for Philip to react. Katherine's hand snaked down his back, grabbing the pistol tight in her hand as she jerked it free from it's resting place. With a quick motion, she pulled free of his arms and pointed the gun at his heart, her blue eyes burning with hatred. Albert was taken back for a moment, but quickly snapped out of his shock and started running for the girl. He was stopped dead in his tracks by her voice, so strong and clear over the deck, just like a captain shouting orders to his crew.

"I have one shot and one of you will die today. If you would like to keep your miserable life, I suggest you stay where you are." She whispered to Albert, her voice cold and uncaring as she kept her eyes locked on Philip.

"Katherine, don't do it." Philip hissed, his hands up slightly in front of him as he locked his eyes on hers, praying that she would back down.

Katherine just shook her head, pulling back the hammer of the pistol with purpose. "Give me one reason why I should spare you."

"You kill me and you're at the mercy of the crew. I can't protect you…"

"You really think that I need protecting?" Katherine shouted at him, her voice rising in anger. "I've had a horrible life that just keeps getting worse! Killing you would only be one small consolation. I trusted you, Philip, with my heart and soul and you betrayed me."

"I'm not betraying you, beauty." He insisted, watching as Albert slowly made his way up behind the girl, trying to be as silent as possible.

"Then what do you call this?" She asked, tears welling up in her eyes, her finger toying with the trigger. "You kill the crew, you take Anne. All that I can understand, but what in bloody hell do you want with me? I‘m nothing but a dead pirates daughter and a chambermaid. Not a pence to my name. What am I worth to you?" She shouted, a tear rolling down her cheek as her finger pressed firmly against the trigger, Philips heart jumping in his chest as he thought this would be the end.

"You are worth…a lot to me, Katherine."

Before she could get her next statement out, Albert tackled her hard to the deck, his girth trapping her against the rough wood as the gun spun across the planks. Philip stopped it with a boot, sighing at his good fortune as he bent down and picked up the weapon, making sure that it was safely out of her reach.

"Get off me!" Katherine screeched, fighting like a fury as Albert struggled to hold on to her.

Her blue eyes were wild with fear, her hair flying around her head as she fought like a demon to shove him away. Her nails dug deep into the skin on his pudgy arms, small rivulets of blood appearing on his pale skin.

"Stop eet!" He yelled at her, grabbing at her flailing arms as she scratched at him, desperate to get away from his grip. "Get a hold of yourself!"

Nothing could make Katherine calm down in this moment. She had too much to lose by just laying down for this fight. Albert tried his best to keep a cool head, trying to remind himself that this was a woman and she was horribly frightened at the moment. The mantra worked until his hand came too close to her mouth, and Katherine didn't waste an instant to sink her teeth into his hand. He let out a pained howl, jerking his hand back as blood slowly started to trickle down the back of it. Letting his anger get the better of him, Albert sent a punch straight into Katherine's temple, sending her world spinning.

"I'll teach you!" He shouted, painfully slapping her face over and over again. 

"Are you crazy?" Philip shouted as he shoved his friend off Katherine. 

He stood stunned as he watched Albert tumble backwards onto the deck, rolling slightly as he tried to right himself. Philip slowly knelt down beside Katherine, watching as her eyes blinked against the haze, trying to focus on the figure in front of her. There was no blood or bruising at the moment, a good thing, because Philip would have wasted no time in killing his friend had she been hurt in anyway. 

"You never touch her like that again!" He growled as Albert got to his feet, glaring down at the two of them with a shocked expression still evident on his face.

There were no words exchanged between the two of them, Albert completely silent as he stared at his hands in disbelief. They trembled slightly, a dark ring of bruising appearing around the bite mark Katherine had left behind, blood slowly trickling down his palm. Looking back up slowly, his hazel eyes seemed to be pleading for forgiveness from his friend, but nothing but anger met him in those dark green eyes. With a sigh, Albert slowly slinked towards the other ship, his hands curled tightly at his sides as he grabbed a rope and swung to the other side, surprisingly graceful for a man of his size.

"Come on, beauty." Philip stated, hauling her to her feet and bracing her arm over his shoulder as they stumbled over to the ropes.

Katherine's head was swimming, a headache fierce behind her eyes as she struggled against the dizziness. She couldn't will her feet to work, so Philip practically drug her across the deck, his grip firm around her waist as she grabbed a handful of his tunic, just trying to stand upright.

"I can do this by myself." She whispered groggily as Philip reached out for a loose rope.

"I'm sure you can." Philip stated as he wrapped his arm tight around her waist and swung over the open water between the two decks.

Katherine let out a gasp of fright, the ocean suddenly seeming so far below her feet. She gripped Philip's tunic tight in her hand, burying her face into his chest as he swung easily thought the air. Hitting the Interceptor's deck with his feet, Philip let Katherine slump to the ground, her head cradled in between her hands as she fought off the raging headache. As if he cared nothing about her, he stalked towards the first mate, shouting orders to men along the way.

"Let her loose. Once you get away from the ship, sink it." Was his order to the first mate as the ship was loosened from the drifting vessel and began steering out towards open water.

Katherine knelt there in a daze, listening to the men grumble and shout things back and forth. Somewhere on deck, Anne screamed to be released from her prison, the constant sound of fists pounding on a door filled her ears and only helped to strengthen the headache that she already had. The sound of a cannon being fired made her jump and turn her attentions back out to the sea.

Gray smoke slowly filled the air as she watched the cannonball slowly arch through the sky and then hit the hull of the other ship. On shaky legs, she stood up and grabbed the railing, watching in horror as another blast rocked the ship, this time neatly tearing through the mast. Katherine watched as it slowly started to sink, the minutes ticking by endlessly as the other ship floundered and then slowly sank beneath the waves in a swirling pool of bubbles. 

The crew behind her cheered and congratulated one another on another successful mission, but it was all lost to her, as Katherine slowly released her grip on the railing and stumbled backwards.

She swayed for a moment before slumping onto her side. The smell of gun smoke and the dim sunlight through the thick cloud was the last thing Katherine remembered as the darkness overtook her.

********************

Katherine woke up shivering, her head still pounding as she opened her eyes to darkness. At first, she thought she was dreaming, but the pain in her head soon ruled that out. Thoughts of blindness were quickly dashed when she saw light coming through the bottom of a door no more than a few feet away.

"Where am I?" She whispered in the space, surprised to hear her voice close around her.

Sitting up gently, she slowly reached her arms around, touching the walls on all sides. The room wasn't that big, just a few feet across on all sides, but it wasn't the smallness of the space that disturbed her, it was the darkness. Crawling across the floor, she ran her hands over the door, noting that it was smooth with no knob to open it. Giving it a hard push, Katherine let out a sob of panic when she realized it was locked.

"Let me out!" She cried, pounding her fists against the door. "Somebody please!"

Silence met her, but she screamed anyway, begging someone to let her out. It was too much like the Ocean Blue, too much like the little room she had been kept in for months. For a moment, she believed that Philip had found the other ship while she was asleep and handed her over.

The new thought caused her to stop her struggles, too afraid of drawing attention from Bega. She couldn't go through that treatment again, it was just too horrible, even five years after the fact. The waking in the middle of the night, the marathon of questions that would end in a slap or some form of abuse if she didn't answer fast enough. 

It was always over the same thing too, something that Katherine had no clue how to answer. Her father had a treasure buried somewhere on a coastline, worth more and more each time the legend was told, but no one knew the exact location. To her, it was pure legend, things that her father had told her as a bedtime story, but to Bega, it meant a king's ransom and the only person that could tell him where to find it was kept locked in her little room. 

Katherine remembered making things up, telling Bega that he would find what he was looking for on a certain piece of land or island. After months of fruitless searching, the threats against her became more serious. She still remembered the first time that he told her if she lead them to another dead end that he would give her over to the crew for their pleasure, and the horrible day that he finally went through with his threats.

Katherine let out a whimpering sob as she heard someone walking around on the other side of the door, their boots clicking off the wooden deck. She scuttled backwards into a corner, hugging her legs tight against her chest in fear that they would come to the door.

The person had stopped and was muttering something. Their voice was deep, but that's all Katherine could make out through the thick door. Her heart froze when the footsteps started again, heading straight for her little prison. She slowly let out her breath, whimpering as she curled up into a ball as the door rattled slightly, a key scraping as it slid into the lock. Katherine clamped her hands over her ears, squeezing her eyes tight as she started to sing an old sea shanty to herself.

Philip opened the door to the little storage room in this cabin, half expecting to get the full brunt of Katherine's anger, just as Anne had given him a few moments before. The blonde headed aristocrat had berated him and cursed as he stood laughing in the doorway. It wasn't until she took a swing at him that things turned serious. He took it upon himself to strip and bound the haughty princess and give her a place of honor on the main deck. Of course, no one in the crew was to touch her, but it was more than enough humiliation to keep her in check.

He was surprised when the light from the cabin shown on the woman in the corner. He stood in shock, watching as she rocked back and forth, singing a song as she tried to block everything out.

"Katherine?" He asked, fearing that he had driven her mad.

Katherine just shook her head, sobbing harder as she shut herself off more from the world around her. Philip stepped forward quickly, kneeling down beside her. He reached out and cupped her face in his hands.

"Beauty." He whispered, grabbing for her wrists as she lashed out, giving a cry of pure fear. "What's wrong, Katherine? I'm here. It's okay." He soothed.

Her hands were shaking uncontrollably as she gasped for air, her panic making Philip feel uneasy. He couldn't understand why she acted this. He reached out and took her face in his hands again, leaning in to give her a gentle kiss on the forehead.

"Please, don't give me to Bega. Please, don't make me go back." Katherine sobbed as she leaned forward, resting her head against Philip's chest.

"Tell me why, beauty." Philip whispered, running his hands up and down her back as he tried to ease her fears. "Tell me why you can't go back. Tell me why you have to hide who you are. Tell me everything."

"I can't." Katherine whimpered, pulling back to stare at Philip, her tears slowly coming to a stop.

"When will you stop playing these games, Katherine." Philip murmured as he stood up and walked out of the little room.

Katherine stood on shaky legs, reaching out a hand to steady herself with the wall as she slowly peeked her head out of the closet and looked around the small cabin. It had a large oak desk that backed up to a bank of windows. The ocean outside was calm and blue, disappearing into the sky as it met the horizon. A bed, almost like a bunk was on one wall, two chairs sitting against a wall along with three chests that were stacked to the ceiling. A door with a porthole by it was on the wall just to the left of the closet, the sound of the men on deck muffled by the thick wood. Katherine could barely hear Anne, screaming on deck as men jeered at her.




Ocean Blue Ch. 04



"What games?" She finally asked as Philip took a seat at his desk, unrolling maps and papers over its surface.

"You want me to spare you from going back to the Ocean Blue, but you won't give me a reason. You're messing with me, Katherine, playing a game and I don't like it. Just tell me why you don't want to go back and maybe I'll consider it."

"You're a fool, you know?" She stated, pulling a chair over to his desk and sitting across from him. "You know the legend. You know my story and yet you act as if you don't know my reasons."

Philip just laughed to himself and shook his head, looking over a map. "For all I know, Katherine, you were Bega's whore and you ran away because he treated you bad." Looking up, his green eyes locked on hers, a faint smile curling his lips. "Am I right? Did he fall in love with someone else, and suddenly Ocean Blue herself wasn't good enough?"

Katherine sat in stunned silence, her cheeks blushing at the mere suggestion that she and Bega had ever been anything more than occupants of the same boat. He had never touched her in any sexual way, she knew this to be fact. In truth, he was never taken by the redheaded beauty, but by a golden haired cabin boy, something that he fought hard to keep from his crew and the rest of the world.

"If only you knew." She whispered, shaking her head slightly as he stopped and looked up from the map to stare at her.

"He offered quite a reward for you. Some say that he was inconsolable with anger." Philip stated, reaching down deep to find the poetic language that was so teasing. "Now, that tells me that you are something much more than what you claim to be, beauty. Couldn't get your jollies with him, so you jumped ship. Made it to dry land and into the open arms of Lord Mickelson. Did you bugger him too?" 

Katherine's face was a blank sheet, not betraying any of the emotions that were seething below her skin. "I am a respectable lady, Philip." She stated evenly, her voice tight with anger. 

"Oh, really?" Philip asked amused as he started writing in his ledger. "Is that why you didn't hesitate to seduce me last night? Oh, beauty, if that's what you want in your life, believe me, the Ocean Blue will cater to all of your needs. I know for a fact that Bega has a pension for giving difficult ladies to his crew. Get all the loving you need from that crew." He was outright laughing now, deep within his chest that brought a red hue to his cheeks. 

"How dare you treat me like this!" Katherine shrieked at him, standing up out of her chair as she pounded her fists down on the top of the desk, making the maps jump slightly. "Like…like some common whore! My father was a respectable man, my mother was a high classed lady. I may be a peasant but I'm not a whore." She growled, her eyes burning bright with anger.

Her eyes were dark with anger, her jaw clenched so tightly that Philip swore she would break her teeth. It was the look of a woman who wanted to kill someone, and he knew that that someone was him. He stopped his writing long enough to look up at her, his eyes as calm as the sea on a windless day.

"Beauty, calm down." He stated, keeping his cool as he sat there staring at her. "Your life on the Ocean Blue couldn't have been that bad."

"You have no idea what my life was like." She stated, her chest rising and falling quickly in a gasping breath as she fought to control her anger.

"I have no idea because you won't tell me!" Philip shot back, a laugh carried on his voice as he tipped back slightly in his chair, one leg lazily stretched out as it pressed against his desk. He laced his fingers together, placing his hands behind his head as he balanced the chair on two legs.

Katherine crossed her arms with a huff and turned her head to break his gaze. On the wall just beside the desk was a map of England, something so familiar to Katherine that it made her heart ache to think about it. It was then that she thought of a plan, her blue eyes widening slightly, a smile curling the edge of her lips. She turned her attentions back to Philip, all anger gone from her face. The look startled him, and he raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

"What if I can't tell you?" She asked, her voice even and emotionless.

"Why wouldn't you be able to tell me?"

Katherine grinned and laughed, a chuckle that was light and airy. She bent down, bracing her hands against the desk as she leaned across the papers, her face inches from his. "What if I'm not Katherine Moore?"

Philip snorted as he tried to stifle a laugh, the smile falling from Katherine's face as her eyes silently begged him to believe her. "You have no clue that your face betrays you, beauty. You could never tell a lie." He watched as her shoulders slumped and that tension returned to her jaw. "Besides, if you aren't Katherine Moore, then you are of no worth to me. I will drag you out on deck and shove you overboard without any thought. Believe me, Kit." He stated, emphasizing the name as his green eyes took on a harsh look. He let the chair fall back into place, a sharp snap resonating through the cabin as he leaned across the desk, his hands folded neatly in front of him. "The only thing that you have going for you at the moment is that you are, and always have been, Katherine Moore."

"You are a slimy bastard." Katherine whispered, pushing off the desk with a shake of her head slightly. "You'd throw me overboard. Well, that's perfect, Mr. Montard. Throw the woman that you love to the waves. It would make a fantastic legend, I should know." She taunted.

"I never said that I loved you." Philip stated evenly as he shook his head slightly.

Katherine froze in place, her eyes wide with silent rage. Her lower lip quivered with emotion as she took a deep breath, unable to speak because she didn't trust her voice to be strong. The seconds seemed to tick by slowly, the only sound in the cabin was the sounds of the waves gently lapping at the side of the ship, the occasional call from outside. 

"Then what about last night?" She whispered as she raised her gaze to stare at him. "You said it last night."

Philip could see the tears beginning to well in those crystal blue eyes. You're growing soft. He thought to himself as he felt a lump of sadness form in his throat. He cleared his throat and took a deep breath, preparing himself to lie to the woman in front of him, something that would probably break her heart into a million pieces that even he couldn't put back together again.

"When will you learn, Kit, that men do this for sport all the time. You‘re nothing but a conquest to me. Another notch in my belt. You‘re a smart lass. You could have figured it out in a heartbeat if you‘d wanted. And I never said that I loved you." 

Katherine felt like she had been slapped, her head swimming as she watched him calmly tell her that, his face showing no emotions to tell her it was untrue. She blinked her eyes quickly, trying to suppress the tears that threatened to flow at any moment. "You lied about everything?" She asked, surprised by how strong her voice sounded. "About this?" Katherine fished out the necklace from her dress, holding it out as if the sight of it would bring Philip to his senses.

"I didn't lie about that. It is my mothers, but about everything else…"

"How can you expect me to believe you?" Katherine cut him off suddenly, her voice shrill in anger.

"How can I believe you?" Philip shouted, finally having enough of this game of cat and mouse. "You lied to me, Katherine! You lied about who you were. You hid that from everyone. That's not what honest people do!" He growled, standing up out of his chair so quickly that it tipped over, hitting the floor hard with a crack as he gripped the edge of his desk tight to keep from slapping her.

"How dare you tell me what honest people do!" Katherine screamed.

Before she thought about it, she grabbed the necklace tight in her hand and jerked. Katherine yelped as the chain finally broke and she flung the jewelry at Philip as hard as she could. Philip barely had time to react as the pendent hit him in the face, landing in his open palm as it fell towards the desk. He stared at the broken links dangling from his hand, a mixture of sadness and rage flowing through his veins.

Doing a quick spin, Katherine flung her loose hair over her shoulder, a shower of curls greeting Philip as he looked up at her, the necklace gripped tightly in his hand. With purpose, Katherine strode forward, intent on leaving the dreadful cabin and finding a way off this ship. She pulled the ring on the door, opening it slightly with a squeal of wood. Suddenly, the door slammed shut as the ring was ripped from her hand.

Turning her head slightly to the side, she saw Philip's arm braced against the door, his white tunic brushing against her cheek. She could feel the solid wall of his body just behind her, the sound of his breathing loud in her ears. Everything was silent, her heart pounding loudly in her ears as she waited for him to speak.

"Don't leave the cabin." He stated, resisting the urge to hold her tight as he watched her thin shoulders shake with unshed tears. "I know you hate me, but I do this for your own good."

Gently, he turned her to the side, pressing her back against the door as he stared into her eyes. Two pools of blue that were rimmed with a crystal lining of tears stared back at him, her lower lip quivering with emotion. He reached up and caressed her check gently with the back of his hand, placing a gentle kiss on her forehead as he swallowed a tight knot that had formed in his throat.

"I mean nothing to you?" She asked, her voice sticky with unshed tears and wavering as her nose twitched with sniffles.

Philip sighed and turned his eyes from hers, staring down at the handle of the door. His mind warred with itself, torn between love and adoration for the woman in front of him and anger at himself for falling for another human being. Gritting his teeth, Philip reminded himself of the bounty that awaited him as he turned his gaze back to Katherine.

"I'm sorry." He whispered as he slowly shook his head, forcing himself to clench his hand tight in a fist to hide its shaking.

With a sniffle, Katherine shoved him to the side and silently made her way to the bank of windows just opposite the door. She stood there in silence, staring out at the blue waves as tears started to flow down her cheeks. Philip watched her for a few moments before turning and ripping the door open. The squeal of wood announcing the arrival of the captain to the deck before his angry voice started shouting out commands. Another sharp squeal and the door slammed shut, leaving her alone with her thoughts.

The thud of the door as it closed made Katherine jump and the dam holding back her tears burst. She made her way over to the small bunk and collapsed on the sheets in a fit of tears. She jerked her head up from the cool linen suddenly, running her hands lightly over the covers as she caught his scent. 

Looking around the cabin, she spotted a little nook made by the end of the bunk and the wall. Crawling over, Katherine settled back into it, not wanting to be reminded in anyway of Philip. Leaning her head back against the corner, she wrapped her arms tight around her chest, fighting a chill that coursed up her spine. Folding her long legs against the other wall, she was virtually invisible to the cabin.

"Papa." Katherine whispered, her tears falling silently on her skirt, making dark spots on the fabric. "If you can hear me, please don't let me go back. Two lives were more than enough for mine and I don't want anyone else to die at Bega's hand. I‘m not worth it."

She sobbed again, her heart aching more than she could have ever thought. She would never love again, she thought bitterly, leaning her head back against the corner of the small space, watching the clear blue sky over head as the ship slowly drifted off in an unknown direction. Soon, she had cried herself out, her eyes and head aching as she hiccupped and slowly drifted off to sleep.

****************

Philip stood glowering behind his first mate, watching as the crew scrambled to avoid his anger. The necklace was tight in his hand as he clasped them behind his back, thinking about everything Katherine had said. There was no way that he was a liar, he couldn't be. He had never truly told her anything that would have led her to think that he loved her, nor did he ever actually tell her of his plans to kill the other crew. She was just over acting and emotional, he tried to convince himself.

"You work theem any harder, and you'll be facing a mutiny." Came Albert's voice through his fog.

Snapping his attention to his friend, he still harbored hard feelings against the Frenchman because of what he had done, and he certainly wasn't in the mood to deal with him.

"They shouldn't have let everything go to hell then." Philip muttered as the first mate set his course and stepped away from the wheel to avoid the fight that was about to erupt.

"Eet would be a lot better if you vould admit that you love her." Albert spat out at his friend, watching as the red cloud of anger settled over his face.

"I can't admit something that's not there."

"Bullshit." Albert said with a laugh, as Philip reached out and grabbed him roughly by the front of his shirt, pulling him close to his face. "I told you not to fall een love, Philippe. I told you not to fall een love with zee duchess, but you deed. Look how eet turned out. Now look at Katherine and tell me you feel nothing. Whether you want to admit eet or not, you deed fall in love. Eef you are going to break her heart, at least tell her zee truth."

Philip stared at the man in front of him for a moment, his green eyes smoldering before he finally let him go with a sigh. He looked down at the necklace still in his hand, the sight almost mocking him. It almost seemed to scream about his broken love and heart, reiterating everything that Albert had just said. He held out his hand, shoving the necklace into Albert's grasp.

"Fix it." Was all he said as he turned around to look out over the ocean from the bow of his ship.

"I can feex zhis, but only you can feex her heart." Albert whispered once more and was gone by the time Philip turned back around.

For a fat fellow, Philip thought, the man is surprisingly quiet. Of course, he had been in the wrong, but it wasn't something that he wanted to willingly admit to himself. After all, this was his ship and he was captain. His word was law and as long as everybody believed that, there would be no troubles. He would tell her the truth in time, but at the moment, all he cared about was finding the Ocean Blue and seeing if Bega's offer still held true.

******************

It was growing late in the afternoon when Philip finally drug himself back to the cabin, his anger having been taken out on the crew. He was tired, beaten and wanted nothing more than to sleep in his own bed. Opening the door, Philip expected to see Katherine sitting there, still seething in anger, or at least all of his possessions to be destroyed in her fury. Everything sat as he had left it; nothing moved and nothing broken.

At first glance, the cabin seemed empty. It made his heart stop as he thought she had escaped or thrown herself overboard. As he began to tear apart the cabin, searching in every space, he continued to think the worst. Certainly she wouldn't be that foolish.

It wasn't until he saw a small piece of blue fabric peeking out from beside his bunk, that his heart finally calmed. Silently, he made his way over to the side of the bunk, a smile crossing his face as he saw Katherine tucked into the narrow space.

Her head was resting against the corner, her arms wrapped around her legs as she hugged them close to her chest. She was sound asleep, making no noises as she breathed in and out. With a sigh, Philip bent down and gently picked her up off the floor, cradling her in his arms as he moved slowly to the bed, trying not to wake her.

He stretched her out on the bed, watching as she snuggled into the sheets, never waking as he sat down next to her, running a hand through her loose curls.

"I'm sorry, beauty." Philip whispered, bending down to place a kiss on her exposed neck.

He sat there like that for a moment, just taking in everything about her. Her pulse just below his lips, the scent of the sea that seemed to come off her skin, the warmth of her flushed skin as she slept. His hand slowly reached for her breast, cupping it in his hand and marveling in the feeling of the flesh just below the fabric. He gave another sigh, his breath tickling her neck as he placed another kiss against her jaw, slowly kissing his way until he reached her temple.

It was there that he stopped, pulling away quickly as she groaned and turned on her side, unconsciously denying him. She would be angry and heartbroken, he knew, but there had to be something that would make her trust in him again. It was more than desire that he felt, although he didn't want to admit it. He felt alive, passion, and to a lesser extend, love. All of those things that he hadn't experienced since time with the duchess. 

It was then that Philip remembered the chest that he had kept from one of the many ships his crew had plundered. It had belonged the wealthy duchess that he had a fling with, only to be rejected when her husband finally came to claim her while they were docked just off the coast of France. He had loved her, bedded her and professed that he would dispatch her husband and marry her himself. She always use to laugh at that promise as he made love to her on that very bed, but she had been leading him on the entire time. He cursed the woman after that; cursed her soft body and voluptuous form, cursed her head full of silken curls, and cursed his heart for giving itself over to a woman who could never love a simple pirate like him.

The duchess had left behind the chest, claiming that she could always buy more finery. She left him with a smile and a kiss from those blood red lips, promising one day, just maybe, she would be back. It wasn't meant to be and he found himself drinking away his sorrows in a seedy bar and soothing his aching heart with whore after whore. Philip had made a lot of money off the duchess' ransom, but it quickly ran out, the whole reason behind the hunt for the Ocean Blue while robbing small ships in an attempt to gain more wealth.

He stood up from the bed, careful not to disturb Katherine as she slept. Walking quickly to his desk, he drug the small chest out, expertly opening the lock and throwing open the lid. Inside lay a red dress, the silk shining slightly in the bright light that was coursing through the bank of windows. It looked to be about the right size, and Philip smiled as he remembered how Katherine had looked in red.

Taking it out of the chest, he gave it a shake and then draped it over his chair. Turning back, he looked over Katherine with a close eye, noting the worn condition of her shoes. They simply wouldn't do, so he gently removed them from her feet and pulled out the fine slippers from the chest, laying them out along with the dress. Silk stockings, made from more expensive material than even Philip owned, with garters of the same red color of the dress completed the outfit.

Stepping back from the chair, he looked over the outfit again with a smile. He could only imagine what it would be like to take her in that dress, the feel of the stockings as he made love to her on the bed. Just like the duchess, he remembered sadly as he gently ran his hand over the satin. "Maybe I'll love her just as much in time." He murmured to himself.

There's that word again! His mind shouted to him. You are not in love.

With groan, he turned and threw a blanket over Katherine's sleeping form, placing another kiss on her temple. At least this time she didn't pull away, he thought bitterly, as he gently tucked her in.




Ocean Blue Ch. 04



"Soon, beauty, you shall be more to me than any woman ever has been." He whispered, half believing that he was referring to the gold that she would bring. "Even if I don't love you, I'll still care for you." He finally admitted to the quiet room.

One more look at the red dress and Philip left the cabin, searching for Albert as he ordered a special dinner to be cooked for the himself and the lady in his quarters.

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Chapter 5 coming soon: A storm appears on the horizon.
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Any thoughts, concerns, suggestions, comments, or confessions? Please write me or vote. I enjoy getting feedback from my readers. Feel free to help me guide the story. :)



Ocean Blue Ch. 05



*Author's Note* Thank you to everybody who has been so patient with the writing of this story. After many months of travel and some serious writer's block, I finally found the time to finish this chapter. Hope you enjoy. :)

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The smell of food and someone moving around brought Katherine out of her slumber. The cabin was warm as she slowly surfaced from her sleep, the feel of a blanket tucked around her made her smile at a distant memory, long since locked away in her mind. She slowly opened her eyes, yawning and turning on her side to see Albert hurrying around the cabin.

"Good evening, le petite." Albert said, smiling at her as he lit the lanterns around the room as the sun slowly set on the ocean, brightening the cabin with an orange glow.

"Le petite? Je suis le meme age que vous." Katherine said softly, gaining a booming laugh from Albert as he looked at her in surprise.

"Vous parlez fancais?" He asked, a huge smile crossing his face

"A little." She whispered softly, sitting up in the bed and rubbing the sleep from her eyes, still looking at him with a sense of wariness.

She looked so innocent sitting there rubbing at her eyes, her skin still flushed with sleep and her hair tousled into a million red curls, that it made Albert's heart sink with the thought of what he had done. With a sheepish look, he set the wick he was using down on the desk and walked over towards her, lifting her chin to look into her eyes.

"I am truly sorry." He whispered, his eyes saddened as he looked at the bruise on her cheek.

"Don't think anything of it." She said, looking at him with complete trust in her eyes, something that confused Albert. "It's not the first time I've ever taken a hit and I'm sure it won't be my last." She said softly as he released her chin.

"Never from me. You can count on that." He said with a smile as he quickly moved from the bed back over to the table, looking around everything once more with a critical eye.

Katherine stood up and stretched, slowly making her way over to the bank of windows and took a moment to take in the beauty of the sunset on the ocean. The water sparkled with a million fragments of orange light and the beams that streamed through the window quickly warmed her skin. A smile curled the corners of her mouth as she closed her eyes and silently took in the warmth.

"Everything seems to be in order. Except you, of course." Albert said from behind her.

She turned at that, looking at him in confusion. "Except for me? What do you mean by that?" She asked as he made his way over towards Philip's desk chair and held up the gown of red silk.

Katherine's eyes widened as her jaw dropped. She had never seen something so beautiful in her life and it made her wonder where he had acquired such a precious gown.

"I'll help you to dress." Albert said with a smile as he draped the gown over the back of the chair again, standing in the middle of the room with his hands planted firmly on his hips as he watched her intently. "Well?" He asked as she stood still, not moving an inch.

Katherine was taken back by his request, unsure of what he wanted at first exactly. It was then that reality hit her hard and she found herself laughing nervously, an embarrassing trait of hers that always came out when she was put in an awkward situation. She reached up and placed a hand against her throat, her eyes wide in surprise.

"You want me to...?" She trailed off, as a smile creased his face and he nodded slowly.

"Eef eet puts you at ease, you have nothing on your body that I haven't seen before." He said with a great laugh as he walked closer to her, turning her by a shoulder to get at the ties on her side. "Relax. I won't hurt you." He whispered in her ear as he got to work pulling her old gown off.

Katherine stood stiffly as he finished, the fabric pooling at her feet, leaving her in her corset and chemise as she felt Albert begin to pull at the stays. As the awful contraption fell from her body, she took in a deep, welcome breath, her lungs finally free. She saw Albert laugh at that as he picked up the garments and took them over to a trunk, packing them away. She found herself smiling as well, taking deep breaths as she marveled at the feeling.

"Nice, non?" He asked with a smile as he turned back to look at her, nodding with his head at her chemise.

"I'm not taking this off in front of you." She said with a nervous laugh as her hands reached up to grip the neckline of the garment.

"Oh, le petite, but look at zee beautiful gown!" He exclaimed, picking up the silk dress again and holding it out in the lamplight. "Eet doesn't deserve to be lain on top of something so common. Eet deserves the best...just like you." He stated, his lower lip sticking out slightly in a pout.

She sighed, shaking her head slightly as she could feel her cheeks heat up to a bright red as she slowly started to pull the chemise off, gripping the fabric to her chest as she pulled it over her head.

Albert smiled at her, his eyes tracing the curves of her body in the dim light. God, she's beautiful. He thought to himself as he traced her pale skin, the peek of a smooth hip and up her delicate ribcage. The blush had spread down her neck to the top of her small, yet shapely breasts, a sight that made Albert stop for a moment. There was such innocence in everything about her, it was hard to believe that she was the same girl from the legend.

"You're beautiful." He whispered as he reached for the new linen chemise, holding it out for her as he took the old one from her hands, marveling at the pale smoothness of her skin as he caught a fleeting glimpse at her entire body.

"Thank you." She said softly as she blushed deeper, the red creeping down her body and heating her skin up so much that Katherine swore he would feel the fire coming off her body.

"You would have had zee gentlemen lined up around zee block eef you were working in gay Paree." He said as he turned and packed away the chemise, turning around to see her wearing the new one, the fine linen complimenting her perfect hourglass figure.

"Oh, well, remind me to sign up next time I am in France." She said, running her hands over the cloth as a smile crossed her lips.

Albert just laughed and shook his head, grabbing the new corset and wrapping it around her, lacing the delicate red ribbon through the hooks and eyes before telling her to take a deep breath and he began to tighten. Katherine held her hair up as Albert expertly tightened the stays on the corset, her stomach getting smaller and smaller with each tug.

"You know, I think you missed your true calling in life." She tried to joke as the pressure became more and more intense, causing her to gasp for air. "How is it that you know how to do this?" She ask, letting out a groan when he tugged one last time, tying it off and turning her to look at his handy work.

He laughed softly as he held out the stockings and garters to her, watching as she daintily stepped into them, pulling the silk up her legs and securing the garters in place before he helped her into the petticoats. "My mother was a grand Madame." He said, smiling at her expression.

"You mother was a..."

"Oui." He said, tying on the last petticoat before helping her pull on the red silk dress, careful lying the lace ribbons on the bodice. "She worked in a brothel in Paris for a very long time until zee lady that ran eet fell ill. She soon found herself running zee house. She met my father, who ees English, and zee rest ees history."

"So, you came to the sea?" She asked, watching his hands as he expertly tied the ribbons before taking a step back and admiring his handiwork.

"Not by choice." He said, holding out his hand to her as he guided her to sit in Philip's chair, combing out her hair with a silver handled brush. "Zee Madame saw eet feet to send me to look for my father. And I found him...with a new wife and a petite fille. He wanted nothing to do with a bastard son, but he still found me work on a merchant sheep. Madame was not pleased when she found out, but she was too sick to support me, so I fell into zee ocean life."

He was amazed at how much of his story he was telling Katherine. The only other person that knew this much about him was Philip, and it had taken almost two years to get the entire story out of him. Katherine listened silently as he brushed and styled her hair, expertly pulling her curls on top of her head, pinning each until he was satisfied.

"And what about you?" He asked as he walked to the front of the desk, sitting down and watching her intently.

She looked at him for a moment, her blue eyes dimming for a moment. "You already know my story."

"Non. I know part of your story. Legend ees just that...legend. You never know what ees true and what eesn't." He watched as she nodded and then relaxed back into the chair, her eyes telling him to continue. "Tell me....where were you born?" He asked the simple question first.

"In the middle of the ocean. They were heading back for England because my mother was heavy with child, but they didn't make it." She said, smiling slightly.

Albert laughed at that, watching as she smiled wider.

"What happened to your mother?" He asked softly.

"She died when I was very young." Katherine said softly, bowing her head to look down at the table. "She got sick one day and I remember her laying in bed for a very long time. One day, I woke up and she was gone and my father was sad. It was the only time that I ever saw him cry."

"I am very sorry."

"Things started to go bad after that. The crew started to question his command. He was becoming withdrawn from everything, cutting himself off from friends and focusing on his family instead of his crew. It took many years for that powder keg to blow up in his face, but when it finally did, it left me all alone with a million questions to answer. I was all alone with a dark figure looming over me like the devil himself."

Albert nodded, knowing very well what that feeling was like. To be all alone in the world and frightened, unsure about your future. He felt for Katherine, a tender kind of affection that made him thoroughly regret his earlier actions.

"What do you dream of?" He asked as he stood up, walking behind her and taking out the repaired necklace from his pocket.

"Why do you want to know that?" She asked, watching as he put the necklace around her neck and secured it in place before leaning against the desk to look down at her.

"Because our dreams tell us more about ourselves then you could ever eemagine."

Katherine looked at him for a moment, a smile crossing her face as her cheeks heated up to a pale red. He watched her carefully as she reached up, taking the necklace in her hand and staring at the pendent with a type of tenderness that nearly broke his heart. He could kill Philip in this moment for hurting this woman, for showing her kindness and then taking it away, just as many men had probably done before. He was taken out of his reverie as she softly started to speak.

"I dream of finding home. A house of my own with a family. Not a pretend home that I can make, but real. Filled with my children and on some nights, when I feel lonely, I can close my eyes and see my father and mother there as well." She sighed, shaking her head slightly as a sad look came over her eyes. "It's just a silly dream, though." She whispered.

"One that I have had many times before as well." Albert whispered back.

Katherine looked up at him in surprise, her eyes widening slightly as he laughed and reached out to stroke her cheek. His eyes were soft, almost nostalgic as he crouched down beside her, his face coming level with hers. His gaze was so intense, so demanding that Katherine found herself looking away, unable to meet those kind hazel eyes.

"There ees something that they will never understand about us. Philippe, zee rest of zee crew, Lady Anne...they will never understand what eet means to be alone like we do. My dream ees to find a wife and have children to fill zhis void in my life." He watched her eyes intently as he cupped her chin, raising her eyes to meet his. "Eet ees a bond zhat we have."

"What do you want from me?" She asked softly, her voice choked with emotion.

"Zee same thing zhat I want from you. Protection. Protection from zhat cruel world out there. I want to be your friend, Katherine, and I swear zhat nothing will happen to you, because I protect my friends from danger."

Katherine smiled at him, tears welling up in her eyes as he spoke those words. For the first time in her life, she was beginning to feel that she finally had a person that she could call friend. All of the fear and hesitation that she had towards the man in front of her slowly melted away, and she could finally see him for the kind soul that he really was.

"I would be honored to call you friend." She said with a smile.

Albert found himself standing and giving her a bow before taking her hand and placing a gentle kiss on her knuckles, a smile shared between the two of them as a knock at the door brought them both back to the present.

"Zee master of zee house is here." Albert said with a sarcastic laugh as he straightened up and walk to the door.

"Do I really have to see him?" Katherine asked with an angered sigh as Albert smiled at her and opened the door, letting Philip into the cabin.

"I shall leave you two alone." He announced as he brushed past his friend. "Someone has to run zhis sheep!" He shouted as he closed the door behind him, leaving the two of them alone.

Philip stood staring at her, watching as the flickering candles cast shadows over the red silk, causing it to shimmer as if it were sown with a million crystals. Her beauty was exquisite with her hair gently pulled back from her face, her skin so nicely complimented by the red hue that it seemed to glow. He smiled to himself as he saw the necklace back around her neck, almost as if it belonged there all along. It was her eyes that caught him off guard, the look of anger and sadness making him take a step back as he saw the hard look upon her face. It made him jerk back slightly, almost as if he had been burned.

"You...you look gorgeous." He stammered, watching as she stared at him for a long moment before turning her gaze to the polished wooden desk, letting her fingertips trace circles over it.

"Thank you for the gown." She said softly, not even bothering to look up as she watched her fingers trace over the dark wood.

"Anything for the beauty." He said with a smile. 

It instantly died on his lips as she raised her fierce eyes to glare at him once more. If he could have died by a look alone, he would have dropped dead the moment that he walked into the room. He cleared his throat nervously as he stepped across the small room to a cabinet, pulling out a glass and his brandy decanter. He turned to offer her some, but was stopped short by that glare again.

"Right." He whispered to himself, licking his suddenly dry lips as he turned his back to her as he sighed and poured more than his usual amount into the glass before turning back to look at her again.

Philip stared at her from across the room, the look from her blue eyes chilling him to the bone as he poured brandy into his glass, swirling it as he turned his back to her, staring out the window at the fading light. Storm clouds were gathering in the distance, a sickly pale green covering the skin as a low rumble of thunder echoed over the waves.

This is going to be a long night, he thought to himself as he took a deep draw from the glass. It was then that he noticed the table set out with heaps of food upon it. 

"Dinner awaits." He said quickly, motioning with his hand to the banquet before them.

"I see that." She said simply as she stood up from the desk, walking towards the table with a rustle of silk.

Philip was quick across the cabin, setting his glass down on the table as he pulled out her seat for her, offering her a smile that wasn't returned. She sat down, smoothing out the skirts of the gown as she looked at the food before her. She could never eat this much in all of her life, nor did she want to this evening. Just being around Philip caused all of those thoughts of anger and rage to well in up in her stomach and her appetite was suddenly gone.

"Albert did well." Philip commented, trying anything to make small talk as he took his seat across from her.

"Albert seems to be the only kind, level headed individual on this ship." Katherine quipped, her voice laced with barely controlled anger.

"Now, that's not fair, beauty." Philip stated, grabbing for food in a haste, completely out of nervousness as he began to eat.

"No, what's not fair is you lying to me."

Philip stopped at that, gulping down the food in his mouth as he raised his eyes to meet hers. There was a challenge in those blue depths, so fierce that he actually felt a stab of fear. He reached for his glass, taking another long draw before speaking.

"When have I lied to you?" He asked, his voice wavering slightly as he cleared his throat again.

"You're lying to me and yourself right now." She answered, causing him to look at her accusingly.

"And what is this big lie?" He asked, reaching for a piece of bread and chewing on it quickly.

"That you love me, yet you won't admit it."

Philip choked, reaching quickly for his glass and drinking until he could speak again. He looked up at her, his eyes searching her face. It was almost as if she were reading his mind...but how did she know? He thought that he had done a pretty good job in hiding his emotions.

"The dream of a desperate woman." He challenged.

"The longing of a manic." Katherine countered. "Come off your high horse. Everyone can see it!" She shouted. "The way that you look at me. The longing in your eyes when you think of handing me over. I can see it in them right now."

"It's called 'you're trying my patience'." He growled angrily.

Katherine laughed at that, shaking her head in disbelief. "You can't stand to think of losing someone else, can you? It's tearing you up inside. It's why you're acting like you have a stick shoved up your ..."

"Enough!" He shouted, pounding his fist against the table as he stood from his chair, towering over her. "I invite you to a nice meal. Least you can do is act civilized."

Katherine huffed and crossed her arms, glaring at him for a moment before turning her gaze to the table before her. Philip stood there for a few moments, watching her before settling back down and resuming his meal. The silence seemed to stretch on forever before she finally took a deep breath to speak, stopping herself a few times before raising her eyes too look at him. They held such sorrow that it made a lump form in his throat.

"Sometimes life throws you the unexpected and you try it into something that is more bearable than what you had been living." Katherine said, looking up at Philip as he stopped mid-bite, his green eyes looking at her in a new light. "I never asked for any of this; it was thrust upon me. I was a little girl who was confused and sad but life had something in store for me. And I guess now I can appreciate that more and more."

"What does life have in store for you?" He asked, intrigued as Katherine raised her eyes from the table to look at him.

"I haven't figured that out yet." She said, looking at him with almost a pleading glace before sitting back in her chair with a sigh.

"Don't give me that look." He begged, setting his hand on the table with a thud. "Don't make me out to be the villain in this." He voice practically begged, something in him breaking as she laughed bitterly.

"Well, is that not what you are, Philip?" She asked with a shrug. "You have a choice to be the hero and save my life and yet you're going to throw it away for what? Money?"




Ocean Blue Ch. 05



"More money than a king's ransom." He corrected her, feeling his anger start to rise with the tension in her voice. "All you have to do is live your life the way that you are. Nothing will change." He said with a laugh. "So what? You go back to living the life the way that you were, no big deal. It's got to be a hell of a lot better than they way that you are living your life at the moment." He shot back, his voice full of spite as he watched her blue eyes narrow.

"I'll tell you what my life doesn't entail at the moment, Philip Montard." She hissed, leaning over the table to glare at him. "I am not going back to the Ocean Blue, no matter what you say. A year in that hell was more than enough for me."

It was a moment of rage that crossed Philip's mind. The tension was getting to him and the fact that he was being talked back to wasn't boding well for either of them. Without thinking, Philip reached out and grabbed his glass of brandy, throwing it in Katherine's face. It was a long moment that passed between them, Philip frozen in place as he stared at the glass in his hand and then and the liquid covering her shocked face.

Katherine's jaw dropped, her eyes wide as she slowly reached up and hand and wiped it across her eyes, the liquid stinging. It slowly ran down her face and neck, staining the dress where it soaked into the fabric. It took a long, tense moment before Katherine started to laugh.

"You just threw brandy at me!" She shouted, laughing so hard that her face was turning red. "I cannot believe that you just did that!"

"I...um..." He said, unsure of the words as he slowly set the glass back down on the table.

"My brother use to start fights like this with me. If it's what you truly want, I assure you that you will lose." She said softly as she reached her hand for a pastry sitting just beside her plate. "You know what the greatest thing about this is?" She asked, wiping more of the liquid off her cheeks.

"What?" Philip asked suspiciously, thoroughly confused by her change.

"This." She said, standing up out of her seat and shoving the pastry in his face.

He looked at her in shock as the smashed the cake in his face, completely taken back as she smiled at him. He just shrugged, picking up a piece of bread and throwing it at her. Katherine squealed as it got caught in her hair and she reached down to arm herself with something else. Food flew through the air, hitting each other with anything they could get their hands one, laughing filling the space as all of their aggressions were taken out.

Katherine soon found herself cornered and when she tried to run past Philip, he reached out and grabbed her around the waist, spinning her around and pushing her back against the wall. Philip pinned Katherine to the side of the cabin, enchanted by the smile that crossed her face. It lit up her face, her blue eyes sparkling and for the first time since he met her, she didn't seem sad. Her cheek was covered in cake, the bread dotting through her hair.

"You ruined your dress." She murmured, laughing as she looked down at the front of the once beautiful silk gown.

Without warning, Philip bent in and kissed away a spot of food on her lower lip, freezing in that moment as he gently kissed her lips. She gasped, not resisting as he opened his eyes and stared directly into hers. Touching nose to nose, his lips grazed against hers as they shared the same breath.

"Sometimes you have to be reminded about the good things in life." He whispered, letting his hands move from the wall to search out the pins in her hair, slowly pulling them out one by one in a cascade of red curls.

"Philip." Katherine whispered, cut off as Philip pulled away and pressed a finger to her lips.

"I thought long ago that I would only ever love one woman." He admitted to her, his eyes growing sad as Katherine blushed slightly. "She broke my heart but then I heard about the Ocean Blue. About a girl so beautiful that men would give their lives for her and I thought that it had to be legend. Then..." He paused, collecting his thoughts as he watched her eyes thoughtfully. "I saw you and everything changed."

Katherine slowly reached a hand up, caressing his cheek lightly with her fingertips. "You're not going to send me back?" She asked quietly, almost afraid of the answer.

Philip stared at her for a moment, his mind warring with the right choice. If he let her go, he knew his nights would be tormented with the image of another love who got away, yet if he let her stay, rumors would get back to Bega sooner or later. He smiled at her slightly, reaching up and resting his hand against her cheek, letting his fingers fan across her delicate skin.

He leaned in again, letting his lips press to hers in a soft, romantic kiss. He found his hand snaking up her body and wrapping into her soft curls. Her lips were so soft, her body so warm that Philip couldn't believe that the woman of his dreams was finally flesh in front of him. He found himself tipping her head back as he gently nibbled at her lips, letting his tongue caress her for a few moments before pulling back, his head swimming as he flashed her a smile.

"Beauty." He whispered quietly. "I..."

His words were cut off by a loud clap of thunder that pierced through the still night, making them both jump at the suddenness. He grabbed on to her waist as tight as he could, turning to look out the windows at the sudden noise. All was quiet on the ship as the crew held their breaths, waiting for another thunderclap.

Katherine pulled away from Philip's grasp, staring at the bank of windows and out towards the dark ocean. All was quiet at the moment, the boat swaying in the choppy waves as a brilliant flash of lightening light the sky. Katherine let out a squeal of surprise as it was followed quickly rumbling thunder, something that caused her to jerk backwards, tumbling into Philip's arms as her legs got tangled in her skirts.

"Scared, beauty?" He asked with a grin as he looked down at her wide, frightened eyes.

"Not in the least. I just don't like storms at sea." She said quickly, righting herself and smoothing out the skirt as she tried to retain her dignity.

Philip laughed to himself and walked closer to the window, looking out at the ocean, yet seeing nothing out of the ordinary.

"Just a simple summer storm. Nothing to worry about." He said as another boom of thunder made both of them jump.

"Scared, Mr. Montard?" Katherine teased as she saw him tense up at the sudden noise.

"Funny." He said, no humor in his voice as the ship suddenly pitched, throwing him off balance as he tumbled into Katherine, sending both to the deck with a thud.

He stared down into her surprised blue eyes for a moment, taken back by the beauty that he found there. He raised his hand gently, stroking her cheek with the backs of his fingers as he memorized every feature, every delicate freckle burning an image into his mind. He found himself leaning down, capturing her lips again in a passionate kiss before being jerked back to reality by a loud shout from deck.

"What in God's name is going on?" He asked as he raised his head, looking towards the door. Hearing a second shout, Philip stood quickly, holding out his hand to Katherine and leading her towards the door. "Come on, beauty. Let's find out about this storm."

Katherine found herself smiling slightly as she took his hand, gripping it tight against the rocking of the boat as he lead her outside. A gust of wind hit them, blowing her hair back as they dodged around crew members that were scurrying every which way on the deck. Her dress snapped in the wind, the fabric hampering her movements as Philip pulled her onward towards the main deck.

Albert stood at the helm of the ship, quietly observing what was happening as crew members ran around him with rumors of the coming storm. Philip gripped Katherine's hand tight as they hurried up to the wheel, the first drops of rain beginning to fall on the deck.

"Report." Philip said, practically shouting in his nervousness.

"Storm. We've have been watching eet for an hour now. Lightening, winds, thunder, rain, nothing to be worried about." He stated, looking over at Philip and smiling slightly as he saw him clenching Katherine's hand.

"Why was I not informed of this?" Philip asked, his green eyes growing dark with anger as he looked out over the ocean with a trained eye.

Albert laughed slightly, making Katherine blush with unease. "We thought eet better not to disturb you."

"Bloody hell." Katherine whispered as she let go of his hand and turned away from the two of them, making Albert smile wider as she walked over to the railing and stared out at the open waters.

"Besides, nothing that your friend can't handle. Trust me, Philippe, there ees nothing to worry about." Albert assured him as a flash of lightening lit up the water, blinding everyone momentarily.

Katherine counted silently in her head, only getting to two before thunder sounded. The storm was upon them, but it didn't seem to be that bad. Maybe Albert is right. She thought. It was in the second flash that she saw something that made her blood run cold.

As the two friends argued over course of action, Katherine slowly backed away from the railing in a stupor. As she neared Philip, she reached out and grabbed the sleeve of his tunic, tugging frantically on it to gain his attention.

"What is your problem?" He asked, turning slightly to look down at her pale face.

"I think you missed something." She whispered, motioning out to the open water.

Albert and Philip both turned and gazed out to the waters behind them. They saw nothing in the darkness but the gentle roll of the waves around the boat becoming choppier as the storm approached.

"There ees nothing there." He said with a shrug of his shoulders.

It was in the next bolt of lightening that they both saw it, a ship's worst nightmare. Waves, as high as they could go off in the distance and rain pouring from the sky. All three stood there with expressions of shock.

"Mother of God." Philip whispered. "Send out a warning." He murmured, still in shock.

"All hands on deck!" Albert shouted, turning and hurrying down the stairs as fast as he could as he started to direct the crew to their positions.

"Philip, let me help you." Katherine suddenly said, looking up at him with a serious look on her face. "Please."

"No. You need to go back to the cabin and lock yourself in." He answered, turning to walk down the stairs 

"I can help!" Katherine shouted at him over the howling winds. "I know what needs to be done. Please, let me help you." She begged, her eyes pleading as she saw him slow his pace.

Philip stopped and turned to stare up at her, his eyes narrowing slightly. It didn't take but two seconds for him to bound up the stairs again, grabbing her by the arm and dragging her behind him towards the cabin. She was took shocked by his sudden change to protest as he spun her in front of him, shoving the door with his hand.

"I'm the captain of this ship." He said, opening the door and pushing her inside. "And I don't like to be questioned."

"Why are you acting like this?" She asked, her voice soft as she turned to stare at him, her eyes showing a hint of fear that made his heart drop.

"Because, you of all people should know what it means when a captain is questioned in front of his crew." He said, reaching to pull the door shut as he left. "And storms make me edgy."

Katherine bowed her head, knowing that statement well as the door slammed shut, the sound of his boots fading away as she turned and walked to the bank of windows again, her gaze locked far in the distance as she watched the rain clouds move closer.

"Everything under control?" Philip shouted over the howling winds to Albert as he came upon his friend again, the rain starting to come down harder with each passing moment.

"Almost." Albert said, keeping a watchful eye over the crew as Philip looked at him, raising an eyebrow in questioning.

"Almost?"

"You forgot one little detail." He said, nodding with his head towards the tiny closet that was serving as Anne's prison on the main deck.

"What about it?" Philip asked with a shrug. "Let her stay there. Take her down a peg or two."

"Philippe." Albert murmured, his tone scolding as he looked to his friend. "Have a heart. She's never traveled on a boat before and she ees scared out of her mind. Don't leave her in zee dark closet to ride out her first storm. Let her stay with Katherine."

"How in the hell do you know this is her first time on a boat?" Philip asked in amazement, turning to look at his friend with a questioning look.

"Eet's funny what you learn when you ask a person a simple question." Albert said, trying to contain a smile as Philip muttered under his breath and shook his head, making his way over towards the closet.

Anne sat huddled in the middle of the darkened space, her brown eyes wide in fear as she watched the water slowly pool under the bottom of the door. She could swear that she heard footsteps approaching from the deck and she prayed that it wasn't that awful mane who had ordered her to be imprisoned in this dank and dirty closet. In her mind, she couldn't wait to see him hanged for his serious transgressions against her, something that she would push her father towards once she saw him again. No one treated Anne Amelia Mickelson this way and never paid a price.

She gasped as Philip tore open the door, reaching inside to grab the girl. She let out a whimper of fear, dodging his hand and shrinking back into the corner of the small room. Her heart was in her throat and she didn't know how much more she could take of his cruel treatment before she snapped.

"Damn you." Philip cursed at her as he grabbed her by the wrist and practically yanked her out into the rain.

"What are you doing?" She wailed, hitting at his shoulder in fear as she desperately tried to get away.

"I'm trying to save your life." He growled, grabbing her by the upper arm tightly, his sharp green eyes cutting through her like a knife as he forced her to look at him. "Listen to me and listen well. I don't kill women. I try to abstain from killing anyone, but you seriously trying my patience. There is a storm coming and if you are left in there, God knows what will happen to you. I suggest that you drop these airs that you put on and act like a dignified lady instead of the spoiled brat that you are."

"How dare you call me that!" She shouted at him as he pulled her across the deck, shoving her through the cabin door. She looked at Katherine standing there in the silk dress, her mind instantly jumping to a million conclusions before she remembered her anger and turned to Philip, her voice rising shrilly as she shouted, "I am not a spoiled brat!"

"Well, you could have fooled me." He said with a slight smile to Katherine. "Bolt the door." And then, he was gone.

The two women stared at each other for a moment, fright passing between each of them. The creaking of the wood was loud in the small cabin, the sound foreboding as everything around the ship seemed to toss and turn in anger. Another rumble of thunder made them both jump as Anne whimpered slightly, too scared to put her fear into words as she slowly made her way over to Philip's desk chair, sinking down into it as she struggled for air.

Katherine stared at her for a moment, slowly calming herself as she looked out the windows again to the ocean. In her mind, she could practically see the heads of the serpents poking over the tops of the white caps, staring at the ship with hungry desire. A violent wave sent Katherine scrambling as she held onto the windowsill, her fingers clenching tight to the metal as a warning call was given on deck.

With a sigh she took a deep breath, looking out the window and up at the moonless sky.

"This is going to be a long night." She murmured to herself as a rumble of thunder answered her call.

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Chapter 6 coming soon....Katherine and Philip face a storm while another one begins to stir.

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Any comments or questions about the story? Please don't hesitate to write me. I enjoy the feedback and I promise to get back to you as soon as possible. If you would like to imput an idea, then by all means...drop me a line. :)



Ocean Blue Ch. 06



Ocean Blue returns! I know that it's been a long while since there has been a chapter, but the story is back. If this is your first time reading, please take a moment to read the other chapters first. :)

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Anne sat in Philip's chair, staring at the bolted door in fear. She had never been in a storm such as this and the sound of the huge ship groaning did little to put her mind at ease. Katherine stood next to the large pains of glass that over looked the ocean, her demeanor calm as she ran her hands over the dress. She smiled to herself, hearing a tiny voice in the back of her head screaming at her brother to let her help as the storm raged around the Ocean Blue.

"What was that?" Anne squealed, hearing the sound of splintering wood and the cries of the crew just outside as water began seeping through the bottom of the door. "Dear God in heaven, we're not going to survive this." She whimpered, crying into her hands as Katherine turned from the windows and started for the small porthole that looked out over the deck.

She could see men struggling in the rush of water, so much worse than any storm she had ever seen in her life at sea. Ropes flung across the deck as they struggled to keep the ship on course and from harm's way. In the dim light, Katherine could see the mast bending in the high winds, splinters of wood chipping away and flying into the air. "The mast is breaking." She whispered, turning back to look at Anne, her eyes full of concern. A mast was made of thick, sturdy wood and it wasn't suppose to bend in the way that it was. She had to do something. Katherine was quick into action, hurrying across the cabin to Philip's closet where there were coils of rope stored. She quickly picked up as many as she could carry, winding them around her arms.

"Is that bad?" Anne asked, looking at Katherine as she coiled the rope over her arm as fast as she could and started for the door.

"It's very bad." She stated as she started for the doors, sliding the bolt out of place. "Without a mast we'll flounder. If it pierces the hold, then we'll sink." Even speaking those words made her heart sink to the bottom of her toes. They couldn't allow that to happen. "Listen to me, Anne. Bolt the door and stay here. It's no place for you out there."

Katherine reached out a shaky hand and unbolted the cabin door, the wind ripping it from her hand as the ship tipped dangerously to one side. She felt her shoes sliding across the deck and she grabbed onto the doorframe for support as she heard a cry of surprise from Anne as the chair she was sitting in began to slide across the floor with a high pitched squeal.

Katherine's heart beat hard in her chest as she struggled back upright, looking out over the dark deck to the raging winds and water that awaited her. She had to help. There was no other choice. She slammed the door to the cabin shut behind her and hurried out into the rain.

In the confusion that was taking place, no one seemed to notice the slender figure that was slipping between them. Whether it was a rope that suddenly appeared in the right place at the right time or the extra set of hands that had come out of nowhere, no one really noticed that it was Katherine. Well, didn't notice her until a pair of strong arms grabbed her around the waist and jerked her away from the rope line that she was holding, stalking back towards the cabin.

"What in the hell do you think you're doing?" She heard Philip's voice growl in her ear, making her shiver in the cold rain at the possessiveness. 

She squirmed in his arms, finally getting free just enough to drag her slippers across the rough wood and stop his path to the cabin. She found herself looking into eyes that had been shadowed by the night and rain, staring back at her with a mixture of concern, fear, and the most intense type of anger that she'd ever known. "Philip..." She began, squealing as he grabbed her by the upper arms and started to shake her.

"Are you insane? Do you not see that we're in the middle of a storm?" He raged at her, incensed by the fact she'd put herself in this kind of danger. To punctuate his words, lightning lit up the waves and thunder raced across the sky, as if God were agreeing with him.

"Philip, I grew up on a ship. I know exactly what I'm doing!" She shouted back at him, her red-haired fury being stoked by the anger in his eyes. Before she could speak again, the ship tipped violently as a wave of salt water crashed over the deck. Philip grabbed her tight around the waist and grabbed hold of the nearest thing that was stationary, holding on for dear life as he heard his men shouting back and forth for some sort of assistance.

Katherine's head was tucked against Philip's chest, her hands curled tightly in the soaked fabric of his tunic as she trembled slightly. She might have grown up on a ship, but she'd never seen a storm with a fury such as this. She didn't know what it was that kept her from returning to Anne and the cabin. Maybe it was stubborn pride, but all she knew was that she had to help them. She pulled her head back slightly to stare into his green eyes.

"Admit that you need my help!" Katherine shouted over the howling winds to Philip, watching as his eyes flashed an emotion that wasn't quite panic or fear. Was it acceptance that she finally saw on his face? "You need all the help you can get."

Philip's jaw tightened as he thought, knowing that she was right, but cringing at the thought of putting her in danger just to suit his own needs. "You are infuriating, beauty." He murmured, loosening his grip on her waist as he pointed off towards a group of men, lead by Albert, who were trying to use their strength to straighten the mast again. "Help them." He said, giving her a slight push in that direction as he stalked off across the deck, shouting orders as he went.

Katherine smiled in triumph, scurrying off to help with anything that she could. She noticed a few of the crew giving her long glances out of the corner of their eyes, probably cursing her for being a woman since women were such bad luck. In the end, it didn't really matter as the extra set of hands that she afforded was greatly needed.

She stood in the driving rain, a pleased look on her face as she watched the other crew members go about their business as the work on the mast was finished. She'd missed the work that a ship almost seemed to present, the sense of accomplishment at the end of the day when she solved something that helped and even saved the lives of a crew.

"You look very pleased." Albert said as he approached her, smiling at the blush that spread across her cheeks as she was jarred from her reverie.

"You think that I'm good enough to join the crew?" She asked, flashing him a brilliant smile as another flash of lightning lit up the sky, reminding her that there would still be a lot of hard work when this was all finished.

Albert just laughed, shaking his head as he draped his arm around Katherine's shoulders. "Zee Ocean Blue can do anything." He said, making her blush again as the ship started to tip dangerously to one side, his grip on her becoming tighter as they both looked towards the large wave that was racing towards them.

"Watch out!" Albert screamed above the wind as he grabbed Katherine and tossed her to the deck, covering her with his body as a wall of water crashed against the deck.

They were both swept across the deck, the spray of the salty water making it difficult to breathe as Albert grabbed hold of Katherine's waist with one hand, holding her tight against him as they finally came to a stop against the railing. The water continued to rush for a few moments before abating and both gasped for air in the short moment of peace.

Katherine coughed up water, looking through the stinging spray to the deck to see what damage had been done by the assaulting waves. She would see crew members running back and forth, a few running for cover below deck as she felt Albert hauling her up and to her feet. She wiped her eyes, shaking her head against the sting of the salt water when she suddenly felt something wrong. Looking around, her heart pounded as she realized just what it was she was feeling.

"Philip!" She shouted as she realized that he was nowhere to be seen on deck. "Philip!" Her scream was nearly hysterical as she raced to the railing, looking over to the ocean below. It was hard to see anything in the inky darkness as the cry of man overboard was giving, some of the crew racing into position to keep an eye out for their captain. 

"There he is!" Shouted one of the sharp eyed crew members, pointing at a white speck in the waves not too far from the ship. The only problem was that in the middle of this storm, there was no way they could have reached him in row boat or with a rope.

Katherine felt her heart clench tight at the sudden decision that she had to make. There was only one way to reach him and it could mean death for whoever was stupid enough to try it. Without hesitation, she turned from the railing, hurrying to find the long coil of rope she'd grabbed from Philip's closet. It had been discarded in the confusion and never used. She looked down at the coarse rope in her hands and then back out to sea, saying a quick prayer at what she was about to do.

She stripped out of the red dress as quick as she could, tossing it to the ground she hurried back to the rail. The dress would only weight her down in the water, and she needed all the help she could get. "Katherine!" Albert shouted when he noticed what she had been doing, but it was too late as she leaped up onto the railing, swaying slightly as she looked out over the angry waters. She took just a moment to loop the rope twice around her waist, knotting it as tight as it would go. "Don't!" He shouted once more, but she was beyond listening. Without a second thought, she closed her eyes and jumped.

She leapt out into the open air, her underskirts whipping around in the fierce wind as she fell. 'This was a mistake,' she thought to herself before bracing her body as she slammed into the waves below, the breath sucked from her lungs by the cold. She struggled to the top, taking in a deep breath of precious air before a wave rolled over her, forcing her back hard against the side of the ship.

She took in a deep breath of salt water as the force of the hit jarred her to her very bones. She fought with all of her strength to the surface again, gasping at precious air as she coughed up what she'd swallowed. As she floundered, she felt the rope holding her tight around the waist tug slightly, lifting her above the water slightly. It gave her a moment's reprieve from the battering waves and a sense of safety to know that the men up on deck held her life in their hands. With that knowledge, she began her search for Philip.

It was like finding a needle in a haystack, searching for his form in the dark ocean. She had no idea if this would really work or not, nor if she would really survive. She kept getting pushed under the water by angry waves as if some vengeful sea spirit were saying that she'd had more than her fair share of luck and this time it would run out.

She swam as hard as she could for the spot where she'd last seen Philip, searching in vain as she felt the rope around her waist pull taunt, almost jerking her backward. She glanced back at the ship, noting that Albert was giving the men instructions to pull her back. Katherine tried to shout back that she wasn't through yet, but her voice was drown out by the raging storm and soon she felt another harsh tug. She clawed at the water, trying to fight and for a brief moment she thought about untying herself, but knew that would be almost certain death.

"Philip!" She screamed as loud as she could, her voice echoing over the waters as she lost all hope of finding him. She shouted his name again, tears flowing down her cheeks as she felt another tug jerking her back towards the ship. She couldn't give up yet, not when there was a chance.

She untied the rope from around her waist, pulling herself forward through the violent waves with all her might. In the back of her mind, she could hear the startled cries of the crew on deck as the rope suddenly went slack and Albert shouting her name, telling her to come back, but she was beyond listening.

She shouted his name again, squealing as a large wave forced her under. It was when she went under the water that she was hit by something large, something that seemed to grab onto her and pull her deeper beneath the water. She grasped the object in her hands and kicked for the surface, gasping for air as she finally broke through the waves. It was sheer luck that she was holding onto Philip's arm as it wrapped around her waist tightly. She grabbed onto his shirt and forced him above the waves, relief sweeping through her when she heard him cough and gasp for air. She looped her arm around him and started to fight against the waves to get back to the ship. She knew that they could still very well perish out there in the middle of the storm, but they were both stubborn enough to survive it as well.

Philip was only faintly aware of the gentle pull that was dragging him through the waves. He was more intent on gaining the air that had been denied him while he was alone in the ocean. When his lungs stopped burning and he'd coughed up the water, her assessed the situation, anger burning deep in his chest at the realization that Katherine had been the one to put herself in danger.

"You're insane, you know that?" He shouted at her, pulling her to a stop in her effort to reach the ship and holding her tight. He tried to tell himself that it was to keep her safe, but deep inside, he knew that all he wanted to do was hold her.

Katherine was surprised to hear him speak and even more startled when he dragged her towards him, enveloping her in a tight embrace. Her hands curled into his shirt, her legs kicking to keep them afloat as she stared at him in the darkness. The storm seemed to disappear around them as her eyes met his, fear mingled with desire showing in his green eyes. Before she knew it, his mouth claimed hers in the most passionate kiss that she'd ever known, stealing her air and making her feel as if she were the one drowning.

"Philippe!" Albert shouted, finally spotting the two in the water as they neared the ship and suddenly stopped. "Throw zhe line back!" He shouted back to the crew, hoping to distract them from what their captain was doing to his savior in the water.

The rope thudded across the hull as it was pitched back down, breaking the kiss as Philip made a grab for it, his grip tight on both Katherine and the rope and he would be damned if he let go of either. It was a sudden jerk that pulled the two of them free of the water, relief passing over him. She clung to him as tightly as she could, wanting with all her power to be out of the water and safe on board again. She'd never make a stupid decision again, she promised herself.

Strong hands grabbed Philip, pulling him over the rail and separating him from Katherine. He tried to protest, made a grab for her again, but it all seemed terribly unimportant when he felt the deck beneath him once more as the men dropped him to the floor.

Philip took in a deep breath, laying boneless on the deck as he welcomed the feel of solid wood beneath his body. He turned his head slightly to watch as Albert hauled a dripping Katherine over the side of the boat. She stumbled to the deck, laying face down for a long moment as if hugging the deck beneath her in thanks. Philip just chuckled to himself as he slowly sat up, a sense of relief sweeping through the crew as their captain seemed relatively unscathed, thanks to the unlikeliest of heroes.

Philip watched as Katherine slowly pushed herself up from the deck, shivering in the cool air that had come after the storm. He could help but appreciate how the wet cloth clung to the curves of her body. Those thoughts were suddenly stifled when he noticed the look of pure exhaustion that marred her features.

"Kit?" He asked as he found the last bit of his strength, moving to her as she struggled to sit up.

"Never say that I didn't do anything for you, Philip." She murmured as she gasped for air, finally flopping onto her back on the deck as the wind howled harder.

He laughed at that, laying down beside her and letting the rain wash him clean. There was a murmur that sounded between the crew, but Philip chose to ignore it. It didn't matter to him at the moment why she'd saved him, just that she had. He slowly pushed himself to his feet, thanking Albert for what he'd done before he bent down and picked Katherine up off the deck, cradling her in his arms as he started for his cabin.

A look to Anne sent her scurrying out the door to give them privacy. He gently lay Katherine down on the bed, smiling as he noticed her already peacefully asleep. He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand, jerking it back suddenly as if he'd been burned. "Don't get attached." He murmured to himself as he set about undressing them both to get warm. It wasn't long before he was curled around her slender form, the quilt tucked securely around them as he dozed into a light sleep.

***********************

Katherine woke a few hours later, blessedly warm. She noticed that something was pressed against her back, hugging her close and rumbling slightly. Turning her head, she noticed Philip, his face peaceful in sleep. She felt her heart tug at the sight, wanting so much for him to admit that he really did care about her. She feared that she would shatter into a million pieces if he ever turned her away.

Silently moving out of bed, Katherine pulled on a new gown, stretching out her still tired muscles as she moved to the windows. The sea had quieted, the distant rumble of thunder still heard off on the horizon, but the ship was rocking gently. It had made it through the night, a fact that she suddenly felt proud and partly responsible for. She heard Philip move on the bed, his hand gliding across the sheets as if searching for her. She didn't even bother to turn around when she heard him set up, glancing around the room before settling back down as he spotted her.

"You saved my life." Philip said, the single thought the only thing on his mind as he looked at Katherine's form in the darkness as she stared out the window to the moon lit ocean. "Why, beauty? I haven't been the most accommodating to you."

Katherine sighed, pushing aside an errant curl that had drifted in front of her face. She couldn't tell him the truth. He wouldn't listen to her even if she did tell him that she had feelings for him. She closed her eyes slightly, taking in a deep breath to steal her nerve. "I saved you because a ship needs a captain." She said simply, never taking her eyes off the sea.

"Oh." Philip said, his shoulders sagging slightly. He ran hand over his face with a sigh. Why was this so damn hard? She was nothing more than a girl that he'd had a fling with, another conquest, but something was gnawing at the back of his mind. It was like his conscience was screaming at him to just say the words that were burning a hole through him. But what were those words?

Katherine heard the sigh and turned her head slightly, peaking at him over her shoulder. The way that his emotions warred with his face, that sadness in his eyes told her all that she needed to know. She had a power now and she was going to use it. "Sometimes people have a chance to make a difference in life." She turned from the window to stare at him, the bright sunlight turning her hair into a halo of fire around her shoulders. "Maybe this is your chance."

Philip let out an exasperated sigh and just shook his head. As much as he had feelings for her, he was growing tired of that speech. "Beauty, there is no chance." He stated, leaning back on his bunk and staring at the ceiling just so he wouldn't have to look at her. He wasn't sure that his resolve would be as strong if he saw the sadness in her eyes. "There's too much at stake."




Ocean Blue Ch. 06



If there was ever a man in denial, it was Philip Montard. Katherine, gritted her teeth to keep her anger at bay. She knew that he was falling in love, just as she was, but he was too damn stubborn to admit it. Well, if he wouldn't say those words for himself, she'd just have to drag it out of him. She crossed the room quickly, pushing Philip the rest of the way against the mattress, straddling his hips in one smooth motion as she glared down at his surprised green eyes.

She grabbed his wrists as he reached out for her, she wouldn't let him touch her again until he changed his mind. She held down his wrists with a strength that was impressive, considering her slender form. She stared down at him with those deep blue eyes, prying into his mind and soul. From her position across his hips, she could feel that her actions weren't in vain, gaining the perfect reaction from him as she leaned down and left her lips hovering slightly over his.

"This is the only way that I can talk to you and make you listen." She whispered to him, never taking her eyes off his. "You won't make me go to Bega..."

"Beauty, I..." Philip's interruption was cut off when Katherine pressed her lips softly to his, a groan of frustration escaping his lips as his hips bucked ever so slightly. He had never had a woman do this to him before, practically drive him crazy. He tried to pull his wrists from her grasp, but found that in some strange way, he couldn't do it. Maybe it was because he enjoyed this too much.

"No, Philip." She murmured as she pulled back from the kiss, pressing down harder on his straining wrists. "You won't make me go to Bega because you love me. I can see it in your eyes. The way that you move, the way that you look at me like you're studying a painting, everything about you tells me this. Admit it."

Philip stared at her, his heart racing as she said that. It was true, of course it was, but he couldn't bring himself to say those words to her. Somewhere between his heart and his brain the words were caught, like a lump strangling him. "Beauty, I can't..." He tried again, his eyes widened as she let out a growl of anger.

"Yes, you can!" She shouted down at him, her nails digging into his wrists. It was then that something inside of her broke and the calm mask that had been her face twisted into an ugly saddened mess. "Yes, you can." She whispered softer this time, shaking her head slightly as tears rolled down the bridge of her nose and dropped onto Philip's face. "You are the only person in the world that can. If you don't love me, then say it, because my heart cannot take this anymore."

Philip felt like someone was squeezing his heart tight in his chest as he watched those blue eyes slowly start to break, all of the sadness and desperation coming through suddenly. 'Jesus, this shouldn't be so hard,' he thought to himself as he watched her lower her forehead to rest against his chest, the grip on his wrists loosening as Katherine started to sob.

Without a word, Philip pulled himself from her grasp, grabbing her around the waist and turning quickly to pin her underneath him, watching the tears as they rolled down her cheeks from startled eyes. He didn't want her to hurt anymore, that much was apparent, but there was something else there behind that want to protect. He was in love with Katherine Moore the person, where he was once in love with the legend of the woman before him.

"Beauty." He said softly, his hands softly tracing the sides of her jaw as he stared down into her eyes. "You have to trust me." He said as he leaned his head down, placing a feather soft kiss to her lips. "No one will hurt you." He whispered, kissing away her tears as she slowly stopped trembling.

Had he just admitted that he felt something for her? Her mind was spinning at that thought. None of that seemed to matter at the moment, the entire world slipping away when he kissed her. She wasn't expecting the tight hug that he wrapped her in, like she was the thing that was saving him from being set adrift at sea. She held still as he lowered his head, pressing his ear again her breast bone and staying like that for a long moment.

Philip listened to the pace of her heart, reminding himself that she wasn't just an object, but a person. A person with a heart that would break if he tried to make her go away...just as his would, he was sure. He lifted his head from her chest, looking down once more when a glint of metal caught his eye. He simply smiled as he saw that she was still wearing the necklace that he'd given her.

He leaned forward, pressing his lips against hers as he ran his hands gently over her curves. If he had to promise her the world, he was going to make sure that she remembered that very moment. He obviously didn't have the words to do it, but he could certainly show her in other ways.

It took mere moments to remove Katherine's clothing, a smile crossing Philip's face at the slight blush that crossed her cheeks. He could see her need to trust him deep in those blue eyes and his smile faded slightly as he leaned his forehead down to rest against hers, watching her expression change to confusion for a moment before a slight haze of pleasure took over as he gently traced the curve of a breast with his fingertips.

This feeling frightened Philip more than he cared to admit, like he was giving up a part of himself to the woman in front of him. Not that he minded in the least, but it meant that he would have to give something in return. Comfort was too little, he thought to himself as he cupped her small breast and gently feathered his thumb over the tip, watching as she gasped and pushed her breast against his hand. He could offer no less than love.

He watched as Katherine's eyes widened slightly, her entire body stilling beneath him as she slowly moved her hands to cup his cheeks. "Do you mean it, Philip?" She whispered softly, her hands snaking up into his hair, holding him gently.

He clenched his brow in confusion, his hands never pausing as he stroked along the length of her body, pausing at the fiery curls between her legs. It felt like someone had stolen all of the air in the cabin as he realized what he'd done. He hadn't just thought those words, but spoken them out loud. "I can't offer anything less." He murmured again, his heart being rewarded with a smile from Katherine as she groaned slightly when his fingers brushed against her slick flesh.

He teased her into a frenzy, his fingers playing and stroking until she twisted and turned on the bed. When he finally pulled himself out of his clothing and entered her, she was nearly out of her mind with need. He was gentle with her, loving, and those words were there on his lips when she finally came with a cry, fingers clenching in his hair.

"I love you, Katherine." She heard him murmur as she floated somewhere in the heavens. It was a short while later when she felt him pause in mid-stroke, groaning into the skin on her neck as he came in her, his heart pounding wildly. "I love you." He whispered again as her eyes struggled against exhaustion.

She'd heard the words and they weren't a dream. She gave him a lazy smile, her eyes finally closing as she felt him pull her close and hold her tightly to the solid wall of his chest. A soft kiss to her lips was the last thing that she knew before she passed into the world of dreams, feeling safe in the fact that her heart wouldn't be broken by the man that she loved.

***********************

Philip gently kissed Katherine on the tip of the nose, watching her as she slept. She was so peaceful, like all of her worry just melted away. He traced a finger over the bridge of her nose, down over her lips and down her neck. He watched as the hand that lay curled near her face tensed for a second before she sighed and relaxed again. He had a decision to make and he wasn't terribly certain of the path that lay before him now. Before, she had been nothing but a bargaining chip, something to be traded, but now...now she was slowly becoming his life.

He placed another soft kiss on her forehead and slipped out of bed, looking out at the twilight sky as it turned purple and then slowly darkened to blue. He pulled on a pair of trousers and slipped on a shirt, not even bothering to tie it as he slipped into his boots and exited the cabin. The sea air was warm, the smell of salt heavy as a gentle wind blew. It was a perfect night.

Philip nodded good evening to the crew members that he passed as he made his way toward the wheel where Albert was charting the stars in the clear night sky. It was the first time they had been able to do this in a very long time.

"You and I have theengs to talk about." Albert said, not even looking up from his work as he heard Philip approach.

"And what would that be?" He asked as he dismissed the cabin boy and leaned against the railing to stare at his friend.

Albert made a few more notations on the paper and then set the quill pen down, turning his eyes towards Philip as he took a deep breath, wondering just how to broach the subject. "Bega has been spotted." He said, stabbing right to the point.

Philip masked his emotions, his face remaining impassive even though it felt like he'd been hit full force in the stomach. He casually looked at his fingernails, studying them in the lamplight from the lantern that Albert had strung up to write his charts. "How far away?"

"We passed a sheep no more than a few hours ago. Zhe captain said zhat Bega had been spotted a day away from here." Albert sighed and tried not to let his frustrations show through too much. He hated having Katherine here and putting her in that much danger. "News travels fast around here, you know zhat. Eet's only a matter of time before Bega meets zhat sheep and gets information. What do we do?" He asked, at a loss for what to do for the first time in his life.

Philip was silent for a long moment, thinking about all of the options that they had. Nothing could outrun the Ocean Blue. Lesser ships had been destroyed trying. He knew that with Katherine on board there was no way that they could bargain with Bega. That left one clear option. "Change our course." He said, looking at Albert with a hard determination in his eyes. "Bega would lose a day or two trying to figure out where we went. What can we reach in those few days?"

Albert racked his brain, quickly calculating where they were and what land they could get to in two days. "Possibly zhee coast of Africa. Maybe Italy, but I can't guarantee, Philippe."

"I'm not asking for a guarantee." Philip said, giving Albert a look that explained everything. "I want it done."

Albert took a deep breath and slowly released it, thinking over his options. He knew just how much Katherine meant to Philip, even before Philip ever knew himself. He knew that it was a very strong possibility that they change course suddenly, but now that they were faced with the daunting task, Albert wasn't sure of anything.

"I'll do my best, Philippe." He murmured, receiving a nod from his friend as he turned to head back towards his cabin as Albert gathered the crew to make the necessary changes.

***********************

In the days following, everyone on the crew could notice the change taking over their captain. He wasn't sullen or angry anymore when it came to giving out orders. Instead, he was more like he use to be, the man that they'd all come to know in those first days when he'd taken control over the Interceptor.

Katherine turned out to be a very valuable tool, helping Albert to chart the stars, fixing things that went wrong on deck and not afraid to get her hands dirty in the least. Philip relished in the ability to watch her work, taking in everything that he could about her from the way that she bit her lower lip when frustrated to the way that she tugged on a loose piece of hair when she stared at the stars.

It was on the third day that the peaceful existence on the ship was completely shattered. Katherine was sitting on a small barrel, writing down co ordinance from Albert as he looked through a periscope for any familiar markings. From his calculations, they were within the coast of Italy, but it was a matter of getting their bearings. Anne, for the first time on the voyage, had gathered the courage to be seen on deck, staring over the railing at the water down below. Katherine paid her no attention as she worked, but she knew that Anne was lost for what to do. No one on this ship cared that she was a grand lady, to them, she was a spoiled brat. It had been amazing just how quiet she'd become in the nights after the storm.

Katherine looked up from the ledger that she was writing in, looking across the deck at Philip with a smile. He was shirtless, straining with the rest of the crew to hoist sails to catch the favorable wind that had begun blowing with the afternoon sun. She couldn't help but notice how his lean muscles moved in his back and arms, just how strong he appeared when he worked. It was a total contradiction to the man that she saw in the evenings.

Her attentions were rocked by the sound of a loud thud and she snapped her head back towards Albert. She looked in confusion at the wide-eyed fear on his face as the spyglass rolled around his feet, gently coming to a rest against the rail. He didn't even utter a word as he turned and started yelling for Philip. Katherine turned her attentions out towards sea, squinting in the bright light to try and see something.

"There's a ship." Anne said softly, startling Katherine slightly since she'd been silent this entire time.

"Where?" Katherine asked as she bent down and picked up the spyglass as the sounds of the deck behind them became louder as the crew was whipped into a frenzy.

"There." Anne said, pointing off to a tiny speck on the horizon. Katherine squinted her eyes to try and make it out, but it was almost unrecognizable on the blue waves.

She brought the spyglass to her eye, peering off into the distance as she focused on the dot on the horizon. The sight that she saw made her blood freeze in her veins and she struggled not to drop the glass just as Albert had done. She felt faint as all of her nightmares suddenly turned into reality in the space of a few seconds. The heavy metal spyglass fell from her boneless fingers as she swayed on her feet and slowly collapsed in a heap, the sounds of a scream meeting her ears before darkness surrounded her.

Philip was running up the steps when he heard Anne's scream, leaning next to Katherine as he tried to wake her. "How far away are they?" He called back to Albert, finally resorting to lifting Katherine in his arms and retreating towards his cabin.

"We can't out run zhem, Philippe, eef zhat ees what you are thinking." He said, hurrying after Philip as the crew was whipped into a frenzy. "She's just fainted." He murmured at the concerned look in Philip's eyes as he lay Katherine on the bunk.

Philip ran a hand over Katherine's cheek, feeling a stab of concern that didn't come from the fact that she had pass out. No, this was coming from the fact that the Ocean Blue had found them and was suddenly on the horizon.

"She can't be here when they board the ship." Philip said as Albert began to rummage through the desk for smelling salts.

"Philippe, what do you suggest we do with her?" He asked as he grabbed the small vial and popped the lid, waving it beneath her nose and watching as she groaned and tried to turn away from the smell. "Eet's not like we can put her in a boat and expect her to get safely to Italy." He pointed out, sighing in relief as Katherine's eyes opened, looking from him to Philip in confusion.

"My head hurts." She murmured as Philip helped her to sit up, sitting down beside her for support.

"Get the crew armed." Philip said, having made his final decision in the past few moments. "Tell them to act as if she was never on the ship. It's not something to joke about either. Bega wouldn't hesitate to kill us all if he thought we were lying." He said as a small whimper of fear came from Katherine at the mention of that name. He pulled her tighter to his side, letting her rest her head against his shoulder as his hand idly stroked her hair to calm her.

"Understood." Albert said, giving Katherine a reassuring smile as he moved quickly out of the cabin to inform the crew.

"Philip, this can't be happening." Katherine said, tears rolling down her cheeks as she pressed her face against his neck, smothering her sobs as she clung to him.

"Kit, it is and I'm sorry that it is, but we can't stop this." He murmured back, letting her cry as he tried to form a plan. He had to hide her somewhere on the ship. They were too far from land to row to shore. He cursed as he remember that he also had Anne to get to safety. "Beauty, look at me." He whispered as he took her face in his hands, gently stroking away her tears with his thumbs. "I won't let anything bad happen to you. I promise."

Katherine sniffled, trying to get herself under control as she just nodded, trusting him completely. Philip leaned forward and press a kiss to her lips as the sound of men shouting outside gained his attention. He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her over towards the closet, pushing her inside. She was shivering, shaking so hard that it looked as if she had a deep chill. Philip swore that he felt his heart break at the fearful look that was on her face as he reached out for the door.

Katherine shook with nerves and fright as Philip reached in and took her face between his hands, placing a reassuring kiss on her lips. Her blue eyes were wide with anxiety as he went to leave. "Beauty, please trust me." He murmured as he shut the door to the closet and bounded across the room to assess the situation. Katherine looked around the darkened space, listening to the sound from outside and praying that they wouldn't find her here.

The crew was quickly whipped into a fury, running back and forth across the deck as they readied themselves for the inevitable onslaught. Philip was on edge, shouting orders at everyone from his spot on deck, Albert watching everything calmly from his spot beside him.

"Maybe I was wrong? Maybe we could try and outrun zhem." Albert said simply, noting the look on Philip's face that said he'd already thought of and dismissed that idea.

"We have a faster ship, yes, but they have a more ruthless captain." As if to punctuate this point, the sound of gunfire sounded from the other ship. "And he's ordered them to fire on us."

Albert glanced at Philip with that, noting that he wasn't armed as usual. "And I see you won't."

"Never." He said, turning to look at his oldest friend, knowing that this might be the last time that they saw one another. "Because if we fight, we'd lose and if we lose..." He trailed off, leaving the words left unspoken.

"Eef we lose, you lose her." Albert finished for him, seeing the way that Philip ducked his head slightly and knew that he was right.

Philip slapped his friend on the shoulder and nodded, silently saying goodbye as he turned to go about his duties. He didn't get far before he noticed Anne standing at the railing, staring at the other ship. She was dangerously pale, her eyes wide with fright as if she had no idea what was going on.

"Anne?" He said softly, watching as she slowly turned her attention towards him. "You need to go hide." He said, keeping his voice low as she shook her head.

"They'd find me anyway." She said, her voice shaky with tears.

"They're not here for you." He tried to explain to her, but it was cut short by the high pitched squeal of wood scraping against wood. Snapping his eyes over towards the source of the sound, he saw that the other ship had caught up as crew members flooded onto the deck, many armed to the teeth for a fight that he certainly wasn't going to give them.




Ocean Blue Ch. 06



"Don't fight them!" He shouted above the clash of steel, grinding his teeth when he saw some of his crew take up arms against the other. "Stay here." He said to Anne, pressing her backwards a bit more to give her more cover before he ran into the fighting, shouting for them to stop. When one of his crew members shouted back that they would kill them anyway, Philip knew that he had lost his crew.

Everything seemed to freeze on deck when the man dressed in black stepped aboard, his polished black shoes shining in the bright sunlight. He looked over the scene with those dark eyes, studying everything that he saw. No details ever got pass his gaze and men had paid dearly for the slightest imperfection. When Philip looked in his eyes, he saw murder...this man was absolutely crazy.

Bega's attention drifted to the blonde haired beauty that was standing out of place among the men, her face paled with fright when she noticed that he'd suddenly picked her out. "Milady." He said cordially, doffing his hat and giving her a slight bow. Anne never moved from her spot, staring at him with a blank look that he found most aristocrats possessed these days. He smirked as he placed his hat back on his head and turned his attention to the reason he'd come on board.

"Captain Montard." He said, his voice deep and dark which seemed to suit the rest of his appearance. "I have heard rumor that you have something of mine."

Philip felt a stab of fear at this clenching his fists as he watched Bega move through the crowd towards him. What could he say? It was like the man could tell a lie just by looking at a person. "Depends on what that possession is." He answered, his never wavering as Bega stopped and started to laugh.

"Don't play games with me, boy. You know exactly what I speak of." He crossed his arms in front of him, glaring at the other captain as he waited for his answers. "Where is she?"

Those green eyes sparked with defiance as Philip stared at the other pirate. "Where you'll never find her." He said simply, watching as smirk crossed the older man's face.

"That sounds like a challenge, Mister Montard." Bega said, laughing heartily as his crew joined in. "I don't believe that you're in the position to play with your life and the life of your crew, so I'll give you another chance. Where is she?" He asked


When Philip refused to answer, Bega looked to the man that was standing behind him and nodded slightly, the defiant captain rewarded with a sharp elbow to the spine that had him staggering to his knees. Bega watched as the young man withered in pain, his crew on him in an instant to beat and jeer until he was ready to tell him exactly what he wanted to know.

Hearing the commotion, Katherine slowly pushed opened the door to the closet, looking around the cabin to make sure that no one was there before she entered the room. She tiptoed over to the small window that overlooked the deck, eyes widening and heart clenching painfully when she saw Philip being beaten by Bega's crew, those same men that she had once considered a family. It took everything within her to not throw open the door and rush to his side, but she knew she would be as good as dead if she did that. Better to bide her time and wait for an opportunity to present itself.

Philip's crew tried to fight, but were soon overpowered. They watched helpless as their captain was beaten, one loan figure moving to try and help. Albert drew his gun, intent on helping his oldest friend, but he never got the chance as the sound of gunfire made everyone pause, Albert's gun dropping from his hand as a streak of scarlet appeared over his heart. Bega's pistol never wavered as it smoked, his eyes narrowing as he turned to look at the rest of the men. "Anyone else wish to try and help Mister Montard?" He asked, his voice cold as he waited for someone else to accept his challenge.

Katherine covered her mouth with her hand, stifling a scream as she saw Albert falter, swaying on his feet before he collapsed to the deck. She swung herself back from the window, squeezing her eyes shut to rid herself of the scene. She could hear Philip screaming every obscenity that he knew at Bega, mourning the loss of his friend. A tear rolled down her cheek as she heard the soft sounds of laughter filter through the thick door. Looking across the cabin, her eyes fell on the one object that she hadn't expected to see: Philip's gun. She was quick across the room, picking it up and smiling slightly to herself when she noticed it was loaded.

"Now, Mister Montard, will you tell me where she is?" Bega asked again, putting his pistol back in its place before crossing his arms over his chest and waiting for his answer. When Philip was silent, the young captain's eyes locked on the body of his best friend, Bega began to laugh. "So silent. What's the matter? Something have your tongue? Perhaps it's a pussy."

Philip's eyes shot to the laughing man at that comment, picking himself up off the deck and lunging at Bega. He didn't get far, the iron grip of one of the other sailors locking itself around his chest and dragging him backwards. "You bastard." Was all that he managed to growl out.

"You have the woman that she was working for." Bega said, stalking forward and grabbing Anne out of the crowd, his hand crushingly tight around her wrist, making her whimper in fear as he drug her up next to him. "Yes, my dear Lady Mickelson, I know exactly who you are." He said with a smirk as he looked at Philip once more. "Once more, Mister Montard. Where is she?" He asked, his grip becoming tighter on Anne, so tight that she screamed out in pain, making the sailors of the Ocean Blue laugh as Philip struggled harder, trying to get to Anne. She didn't deserve to be dragged into the middle of this.

As the men laughed at Philip struggling against the arms of the other man, Katherine silently pushed open the door to the cabin, staring at Bega. Raising the gun and pointing it at his second in command, Katherine let off a shot, causing everyone to jump at the sound, all attention turning to her as the man slumped forward on his knees, falling down dead beside Albert. There was no time to mourn her dear friend, now was the time to fight and she knew that she was in for it by killing one of Bega's men. If only she'd killed Bega. She cursed under her breath as she thought about that, mentally berating herself for not having the guts to shoot him herself.

Bega's eyes narrowed as Katherine let the gun fall down to her side. He should have known that in the time that she'd been gone, she hadn't changed in the least. She was still just as lovely as she had been when she was staring wide eyed in fright at him when she was younger. How he missed those days. 

"Do you have an explanation, Miss Moore?" He shouted at her, letting the other woman go as his voice sounded slightly amused.

"Eye for an eye." She answered simply, letting the gun clatter to the deck. She raised her eyes from the two bodies on the deck to look at him, those blue eyes swimming with an emotion that he just couldn't explain.

"Fair enough." He said with a slight chuckle as Katherine stepped forward through the stunned crowd, stopping just in front of him. She could hear Philip struggling with someone else there on the deck and she knew that Anne was in the crowd, nursing a badly bruised wrist, but none of that mattered. Not when the devil himself was standing here in front of her.

"Miss Moore." Bega said with an exaggerated bow, smirking as he stared at her, removing his hat as if he were a gentleman.

"Toby." She said back to him in an almost cordial voice that made Philip look on in confusion. "You have no right to take this ship, Toby." She said softly, making him laugh. While everyone else nearly tripped over themselves to call him Bega or Captain or something of the sort, Katherine had always called him Toby. After all, he had been one of her father's best friends, but after he murdered Jim in cold blood, he didn't deserve the respect in her mind.

"You wish to tell me what to do, dear?" He asked as the rest of the crew joined in, laughing and whispering among themselves as he donned his hat again.

"No, I mean to tell you that this ship isn't yours." She growled, her hands curling into tight fists. "But I guess I shouldn't expect anything less from the man that stabbed my father in the back."

The smile immediately died on his face, his dark eyes growing serious. He reached out and cupped her chin in his hand, tipping her head to the side to look at her profile. She so strongly resembled her father that it was a bit unnerving. He then turned his attentions to those piercing blue eyes, the ones that no longer held fear; something that he could quickly remedy.

"You're father was a traitor." He said simply, a smile curling the edges of his lips.

"So, I guess that makes you a saint. Leading a mutiny against your captain, a man who had done nothing wrong. A man who was your friend. Killing him dishonorably and then killing his son. Ruining his daughter's life and reputation so that no man would ever want to touch her." Katherine said, her voice low and cold as she took a step away from him. "But I guess God can absolve all of that. The one thing that he really hates is a liar."

With that, Katherine turned her head slightly, looking at the blonde headed cabin boy, Shelley, and then looked back at Bega. She smiled slightly, raising an eyebrow at him. She knew his secrets and if it came to it, she would tell the world really what Tobias Bega was made of. "You've lied many times, Toby." She whispered. "Lied to your crew about me." She leaned in slightly, her face inches from his. "When you should really be telling them about Shelley."

His face turned an angry shade of red as he reached out and gave Katherine a vicious backhand, causing her head to jerk to the side. Everything happened so quickly that none of the crew knew what to expect except to stand out of his way as he reached out and grabbed Katherine by the upper arm and started to drag her over to the side of the ship.

"I'll kill you now if you say another word, you little witch." He growled through gritted teeth as he grabbed her throat and tipped her back over the railing.

Philip watched everything, too stunned to move until he saw Bega grab Katherine by the neck. He tried to wrench out of his captor's grasp and come to her rescue, but the man just held him tighter.

Katherine stared calmly at Bega, her heart pounding wildly in her chest as she felt his grip tighten around her throat. She knew better than to move or try to pull his hand away, standing perfectly still as she stared him down.

"Do it." She whispered, calling his bluff. "I dare you. You know that I'm the only living Moore. I'm the only one that can tell you where that treasure is. I dare you, Toby. Squeeze tight and release me from this hell."

She watched as his dark eyes narrowed, that shrewd look coming to his face as she knew that he was seriously considering it. Her eyes never moved from his, never showing any type of fear even though her stomach squeezed tight in the fact that she could very likely die. Perhaps it wasn't that thought that made her nervous, but the thought that she might never see Philip again that put her nerves on end. Katherine was surprised when she actually felt Bega's fingers curl tightly around her neck, cutting off the airflow with a practiced ease.

"Bastard." She managed to choke out before she lashed at him with her fists, scratching and clawing at his face in an attempt to get away before she started to grow weak. She turned her nails to the hand that was squeezing her throat, trying to tear it away to gain a breath.

A slow and sinister smile crossed Bega's lips as he watched that brave look disappear from Katherine's eyes, replaced by that fear that he enjoyed so much. She was practically begging him with those blue eyes, something that he hadn't seen in many years.


"Shhhh..." He murmured to her as she continued to twist and turn against him, trying to gain a precious breath of air. He tipped her back over the rail even more, pinning her body so she'd be still. "Do you honestly believe I'd kill you?" His voice was low and soothing, talking to her as if she were a frightened child. "Killing you would be too easy. I intend to make you pay for your father's sins."

Katherine whimpered as she heard that, her mind screaming every obscenity that she knew at Bega. 'You were his friend!' She screamed silently with her eyes, a look of betrayal crossing them as she stared helplessly. She listened as he chuckled, dark spots swimming in front her eyes. Beyond that chuckle, she heard the sounds of a struggle, someone calling her name.

"Katherine." The voice sounded so far away and she was too tired to search for the one calling for her. Her arms stopped their struggle as she heard her name shouted again from somewhere far away. She stared up at Bega, waiting for death to come quickly as his fingers squeezed tighter, his other hand raising to stroke her cheek tenderly.

"Philip." She managed to whimper before her eyes rolled back in her head, sweet darkness taking her away from the hell that had been surrounding her.

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Coming soon: A surprising turn of events.

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If you've read this far, please take a moment to vote or send an email to let me know what you think. I hope that you've all enjoyed and there will be more soon. :)



Ocean Blue Ch. 07



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Author's note: This chapter is a long time in coming and I first have to apologize to my fans. I never intended to be away so long. Many things happened to me in the time that I was away. I hope that you enjoy this chapter and that I haven't lost too many of you along the way. Second, I would like to dedicate this chapter to my baby girl who was born in June and a very good friend of mine who pushed me to continue. Enjoy and don't forget to vote at the end of the story! It's the best part of my job! :) 

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This is not a standalone chapter. It is part of a series. Please read the other chapters before reading this to get a clear view of what is happening. Enjoy. :) 

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Her eyes stared at the dove gray sky over head, her mind trying to figure out how she'd come to this position. Katherine remembered staring into Bega's eyes as his fingers cruelly squeezed the life from her body. He'd said he had no intention to kill her, but maybe he went too far, she thought as she raised a hand up to her bruised and sore throat. Perhaps this was her afterlife; a cold, desolate eternity which she would have to spend alone.

She never imagined that her afterlife would consist of a boat and the open ocean, but it really shouldn't have surprised her either. She moved slowly across the rough wooden deck, staring out over the dark waves with a keen eye. There was nothing out there except for a bitter, cold wind and choppy water. Her Uncle Jack had once said that heaven was anywhere she made it, and as she remember the saying she couldn't help but think that this was all wrong. Completely and utterly wrong.

Heaven to her wasn't this cold and lifeless place. It was a warm ocean breeze on the crystal blue waters, surrounded by her family and all those that had passed before her. In a red dress, she thought with a sad smile, glancing down at what she wore with surprise. Well, she could at least say that one part of her vision had come true, she thought as she ran her hands over the fine brocade of her gown.

Leaning against the railing of the ship with a sigh, she looked over the side into the water before her, seeing her reflection shown back to her in a mixture of muted colors, grey mingling with the paleness of her skin while her hair shown a bright red, almost like a halo. "Hell." She muttered as she pushed away, walking around the deck as if she were in a daze.

This couldn't be the end, it just couldn't, she kept telling herself as tears of anger come to her eyes. Her entire life, fighting for just a simple place in the world only to have it ripped away by a mad man and to be thrust into the dark and unforgiving afterlife. The anger came swift, causing her to pick up a piece of loose wood from the deck and throw it at the windows that were on the captain's cabin of this strange ship.

She listened with a strange satisfaction as the glass shattered, sprinkling along the wood with a high pitched crash. Then, on the calm of the air, Katherine heard a voice. A familiar voice with a familiar song, one that made her feel like she was a young girl once more. She hurried forward, her shaking fingers fumbling with the door handle as she yanked the cabin door open.

The inside was dark, smoky from the tapers that were burning on the walls to illuminate the interior. A figure sat hunched over a desk placed in the center of the room, their head bowed in concentration as they scribbled notes hurriedly on a piece of parchment. A soft song came from their lips, lifting her heart and soul to a level of unimaginable joy. A few steps forward were all that Katherine dare take, so afraid that this would all disappear in the blink of an eye.

"Papa?" She managed to say softly, startled as the figure's quill stopped and his head slowly rose to look at the source of his interruption. The song that he'd been singing died on his lips as he set aside the pen and stood, staring at Katherine with a critical eye. "I...it's me. Kit." She murmured, suddenly nervous as he stepped around the desk and came to stand just in front of her, still not saying anything.

His eyes took her in, a crooked smile crossing his lips at the way she looked at him with such hope and a nervousness that had her shifting from foot to foot. "Do you honestly believe that I could forget my own daughter, Katherine?" He asked as he engulfed her in a fierce hug, pulling her against the solid wall of his chest and never wanting to let go again.

She couldn't believe what was happening as his strong, warm arms wrapped around her, holding her tight as his cheek rested against the top of her head. Tears began to flow from her eyes as she gripped his tunic tight in her hands, sobbing into the fabric as she heard him murmuring about his little girl finally being home.

"I've waited so long for this, little one." He whispered, pulling her away slightly and tipping her head back so she looked him in the eye. With a warm smile, he used his thumbs to brush away the hot tears on her cheeks. "I've worried about you, Kit."

She reached her hands up, holding onto his wrists as he held her face. "Papa, how can you be here?" She whispered softly, so scared of the answer that he could give her. "I saw you die." Fresh tears welled in her eyes as she thought of what it meant, sobbing softly as she struggled to find her voice. "Am I dead?"

Her father looked at her, the smile slowly falling from his face as he looked her in the eye. "No." He murmured softly, knowing that there were many more trials ahead of her.

A look of disbelief crossed her face, her heart dropping into the very pit of her stomach. She wanted it all to be over, to be here with her father and never have to face that cruel world again. "Papa, I can't face it all again. Please, keep me here."

"Katherine Gabriella Moore, you speak of things as if I've taught to just give up." Jim scolded his daughter, watching as she cast her eyes towards the floor, embarrassed that she'd had such thoughts. "Kit, we are made of strong stock, built to withstand even the most violent of storms. God has a plan for you and although it seems that there is no rhyme or reason to everything that's happened, trust me when I say that there is."

"How can you know, Papa?" She asked softly, slowly lifting her gaze to his, watching as the tears slowly gathered in his eyes. She'd only seen him cry once in her entire life and that had been the night that her mother passed away.

"How can I not, Kit? You're as fiery as your mother." He said, brushing his hand over her red curls, watching as his hand passed over it, the feeling like the finest silk. "And as stubborn as me. You'll be alright, Katherine. Besides, you still have to keep your promise to Danny and I."

Katherine looked at him strangely as he said that, thinking him absolutely mad. How could he ask that when he had to know her current situation? "Papa, I can't..." She started, silenced when he pressed his finger to her lips, shaking his head silently.

"There is no can't, Kit. Never. Moore's don't give up." He scolded her gently, giving her a reassuring smile as he saw the tears gather in her eyes. "Give him hell, Katherine." He whispered, leaning forward to press a kiss to his only daughter's forehead.

She closed her eyes, expecting to feel the soft pressure of his lips, frowning when there was nothing. "Papa." She whimpered, opening her eyes to an empty cabin. It ripped her heart out all over again to not have him there, like watching him die that dreadful night, she felt as if her world had been ended once more.

"Come back." A voice from the blue whispered in her mind. She shook her head, wanting to die and be through with her horrible life. "Come back." It whispered again, drawing her from the safety of her mind. Philip, she suddenly thought, his green eyes appearing before her as she reached out to touch his face. "Come back." It was there again, that voice calling incessantly to bring her back to the world of the living.

Why not? She thought as she let her eyes close once more, falling through that dark void to appease the voice that was calling her back. When she finally opened her eyes again, it was to harsh sunlight streaming through the cabin's window, the evening sun turning everything orange and red as she squeezed them shut once more with a groan of pain. Her head thudded harshly and she reached a shaky hand up to rub the ache away. She was surprised when her hand touched the cool, wet cloth that had been placed over her brow.

Her eyes flew open once more when she heard the cabin door open and close, the soft sounds of footsteps drawing closer as she turned her head to see who it was, a groan of pain escaping her bruised throat at the simple movement, her mind shattering in numbing pain. Someone was there in an instant, moving the cloth from her brow and mopping gently at her fevered face as they muttered soothing words, trying to draw her eyes open once more.

She was surprised to be looking into a pair of caring eyes, her swollen throat barely able to form the words that she so desperately wanted to say. She gratefully took a drink from the cup of fresh water that was held against her lips, closing her aching eyes against the harsh light as another cool cloth was placed across her brow.

"You needn't say anything." Shelley whispered softly to her, wiping away the tears that leaked from her eyes as her face twisted in sadness. "I thought that you'd been taken by the angels, Kit." He continued to talk in hushed tones, obviously afraid of what would happen if it were discovered that she were awake.

When a strangled sob escaped her throat, he quickly covered her mouth with his hand, looking to the door of the cabin with a fearful look and then down at the woman that was beneath him. "He can't know you're awake. Not yet." Shelley murmured, his heart pounding wildly as he thought of the mutiny that he was committing at the moment. The two listened to the silence for the longest time, both praying that the door wouldn't open. Shelley sighed hugely in relief, glancing at the figure beneath him as she stared at him with wide blue eyes, trembling as he slowly moved his hand from her mouth.

"Philip," Was the first thing that she managed to croak out, searching Shelley's face for the truth of what had happened to her lover. "Is he...?"

"He's alive. That's all you need to know for now, Kit." He murmured as he reached to the side table and picked up a brown vile from its resting place, pouring it into the tankard he'd been using to feed her liquids. "I can only buy you so much time, Katherine, and then he'll begin to take it out on me. I can give you time to heal, but you have to face him sooner or later."

Katherine nodded her head slightly, trying to suppress the groan of pain that bubbled from her chest as the movement caused her head to pound harder. She knew well of what Bega would do to those that tried to help her and she'd put Shelley in enough danger was it was. "Thank you." She said quietly as the cup was lifted to her lips and she took a deep draw from it.

Her nose wrinkled at the taste and she was soon in a world of numbness, her head felt heavy and her limbs quickly followed. Her eyes grew heavy as she turned them to Shelley, a bit of fear filling her chest as thoughts of betrayal flew through her mind.

"I promised you time, Kit. Trust me." He said as he stroked a hand over her brow, pushing stray curls aside before he replaced the cool cloth. "Just something to help you heal and sleep." Shelley spoke in soft tones, lulling the frightened and abused girl into a deep slumber. He knew the masquerade that he was trying to pull off couldn't last for long before Bega would be demanding his answers, but he was damn sure going to try and give Katherine Moore the time she needed to heal not only her body but her mind as well.

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The next few days passed in a fog to Katherine, the vile drink that Shelley created for her seemed to do its job. She drifted in and out of a feverish sleep, her body slowly healing and feeling more and more under her control even if the current situation that she found herself in was anything but normal.

Most of the time it was Shelley's concerned face that she woke to, softly stroking her brow with that same cool cloth, but other times when she'd fade in and out, it was Bega's face she saw. When Shelley was there, his lips would move as if he were trying to tell her things, reassure her that things would be alright, but she truthfully never heard the words. When it was Bega that she saw, the dark look that he glared down at her with needed no words.

On the forth day that she'd been aboard the Ocean Blue, Katherine sat in a high backed chair at a table that was filled with all sorts of delicious and exotic fruits and foods, but she dare not touch a single one. She didn't trust Bega in the least and for all she knew all that was before could contain horrible and deadly secrets.

Twisting the soft cotton shift she'd been given to wear between her fingers, she glanced nervously towards the door, wondering just what her fate would be. Surely there was a chance for her to live beyond all of this, but when she thought of all that she'd already been through, she knew that she'd be killed the instant this mysterious treasure was found. Her thoughts turned towards Philip, wondering just what had happened to him.

Tears formed in her eyes as she thought about the man that she'd come to love, wondering how all of this would turn out and praying that nothing would happen to him. Raising her hand, she brushed her fingers over the silver necklace that was still around her neck. Shelley had said he still lived but hadn't given her much more information than that. After all she had put him through, she would make certain that they both made it out of this.

The door to the cabin clicked and slowly began to open and when she raised her gaze to the figure that stood there, she felt a shiver pass down her spine. The hopes that she'd had a short moment before seemed to fly out the open windows and scattered on the soft sea breeze that blew. Bega stepped into the cabin, a dark vision from the depths of her nightmares, his dark his immaculate as always and his dark clothing only adding to the allusion that he were a demon. What she wouldn't do in that moment to learn that this was just a dream, something that her battered mind was conjuring.

"I see that you're awake, finally." His voice was like poison in her mind, her eyes closing tightly against the invasion as she took a deep breath to steady herself. When she opened them again, she glanced at him for a short moment before averting her gaze elsewhere in the cabin.

"No thanks to you." She said, her voice still raspy and rough from his hands.

"When I last saw you, it seemed that you were more docile. What's happened since then?" Bega asked as he pulled off his overcoat and laid it carefully across his chair before he sat across from her. "I like this spark I see. I'll be so much more entertaining to watch you break."

"You assume I will." She tried to sound confident, but her voice shook with irrational fear. "Perhaps I've changed."

"I know you will, Katherine, but the real question is how long will it take me to do it?" He laughed as he said that, snagging an orange from the table and peeling off its skin as he savored the look her face took on. He could see her gulp, her throat moving in the most charming way as she snuck a look at him and then looked towards the table. "Or perhaps I should ask what will it take to do it?" He grinned at her as he took a bit of the juicy orange, savoring the texture and taste.

With eyes lowered to the table, Katherine paused when she saw the knife situated next to her plate. Why hadn't she noticed that before, she asked herself, barely listening as Bega continued to talk. With her hands resting on the soft linen tablecloth, she slowly began to creep her fingers towards the gleaming blade. Before her fingertips could touch the cool metal, his hand clamped down over hers, her eyes wide as she forced herself to look at him.

"If you touch the blade, intend to use it." He whispered across the table to her, his fingers clutching hers in a cruel grip, bones groaning as he squeezed. Katherine stared passively at him, not giving him the satisfaction at seeing her pain, denying him what he wanted.

"You believe that I will?" Their eyes locked from across the table, Bega's grip beginning to lessen as his fingertips brushed on the across the top of Katherine's hand and down her fingers, a lover's caress almost or perhaps it was an understanding of sorts. Katherine just couldn't decide what that touch meant. "Are you so certain that I'm as ruthless as you?"

"I know you are, Katherine. It's deep inside you, but it's there. A darkness that's been festering for so many years. It started with your father and his 'good intentions'."

"That's not true." She said, her hand jerking away from his as an angry look passed over her face. "It's a lie."

"Nay, lass. It is the truth. Always favoring your brother, molding him into the man that would be captain of this ship in time, and always leaving poor Katherine to other devices. That hatred growing in you and I know it's still there."

"I loved my brother." Katherine said, her jaw set in a tight line as she ground her teeth, her fingers tangling in the tablecloth as she tried to control her anger. "There was no hatred between us."

"It has nothing to do with love, Katherine. It has to do with what your father did. You can't deny it." Bega smiled wider, knowing that he was wearing her down, taking her to that breaking point where she'd be more docile and receptive to his questions.

"My father was a good man..."

"Was he?" Bega interrupted her, laughing as she stood suddenly, grabbing the knife from its place as if she were going to throw it, the blade resting between her fingers as she cocked her arm back. "It's why he had to die. He lied to his crew. Is it so hard to believe that he lied to his daughter? Told her she could be whatever she wanted to be when he really intended you to marry some rich bastard and keep you away from the sea. I can show you the proof if you wish."

Closing her eyes to block out the man's harsh words, she could see before her all the hope and dreams that this ship had brought to her. A young girl's fancy, thinking that some day she might too be able to command the ship as her father did. It had been crushed so suddenly and here she was, holding a knife in her hand and ready to kill with a simple flick of the wrist.

"And how would your dear father feel to learn that he raised a heathen?" Bega asked, smirking at the girl as the knife in her hand wavered, her face becoming a tight mask of emotion as she struggled with herself. "All those years trying to raise you right after your mother passed into God's open arms and here you are threatening me with a knife. Where's the civil young woman that I use to know?"

Katherine glared at him, tears swimming in her eyes as she screamed at herself to just throw the knife, lodge it in his chest and be done with this whole horrible state of affairs. But she couldn't; something in her wouldn't let her do what she so wished. It seemed that killing Bega wouldn't make her feel any better and the death that he deserved was so much worse then anything she could provide him. With a growl of frustration, she threw the knife down, the blade sinking into the table as she glared at the bane of her existence. With a sick, hot feeling in the pit of her stomach she slowly sank into her chair again, unable to bite back the scathing words that she'd wanted to say all along.

"I believe it ironic that you wish to talk to me about morality." Katherine managed to say after a few long moments of silence. "The same man that killed my family with no provocation."




Ocean Blue Ch. 07



Bega laughed at that, his head tipping back with the force of the laughter. "Dear, dear Katherine. Are you going to hold a grudge against me for all eternity?" He asked, draping his arm across the back of his seat and settling back comfortably.

"No." Katherine said softly, raising her heated gaze to Bega's, the blue depths swimming as the ocean did when a summer tempest hit. "I shall hold my grudge until you're dead and then, and only then, will I forget you and never let you cross my mind again." She saw the slight narrowing of his eyes and knew that she was crossing into dangerous territory. "What's worse, Toby? To be remembered or forgotten?"

Bega grinned maliciously at the woman in front of him, picking up his ale from the table and taking a long draw. "Certainly to be forgotten, Katherine. But I do not believe that you'll ever forget me." He laughed loudly at his own words, a chill coursing through Katherine's body as she listened to this mad man's joy.

"How could I forget the face of a man I've come to hate so much?" She asked, her voice soft but full of spite and venom as she lowered her eyes to the table. "What do you want from me, Toby? After all of our time together, you have to know that I have absolutely no idea of what to say to you."

Bega smirked, the corner of his mouth upturning in the most charming smile that he could muster. "It's simple, Miss Moore. I want the truth."

Blue eyes suddenly snapped to meet his, a slight smile gracing her lips as she heard his words. "Alright, Toby," she murmured, a sly look crossing her eyes for a brief moment before it was gone. "I'll play your game." Sinking back against her seat, arms crossed defiantly across her chest, Katherine stared at the man that she loathed, her mind clear and focused on the task at hand. She was going to beat the infamous pirate at his own game and she knew the art of talk was a beautiful thing.

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Philip's head pounded and his thoughts now were nothing more then a jumbled mess. His crew was dead, his best friend was dead, his ship had been sunk, and now he was nothing more then a prisoner. It was a fine situation that a proud sea captain should find himself in. Looking across the brig, he saw Anne frantically rattling the iron bars of the cage she'd been put in. He knew that it wouldn't matter how much noise they made down here; they were completely at the will of the most disgusting and sadistic man that had ever roamed the seven seas.

"Captain Montard, we have to get out of here." Anne finally spoke, her eyes wild and frightened as her voice shook with barely controlled panic. "Surely he can't just leave us down here forever."

"No, Miss Mickelson. You completely underestimate the man." Philip said as he lounged against the wooden wall of the brig, his appearance calm and cool even though he felt out of control. "He can leave us here for as long as he likes. In fact, he could leave our bodies for the rats without food or water for days if he so wishes. I suggest you make yourself comfortable. We are in for a long wait."

The highbred woman in the opposite cell let out a frightened sob, tears coursing down her cheeks as she gave the iron a swift kick with her foot, whining under her breath as she sank to the ground in a heap of cloth. "Surely Kate is doing something to help us. She has to be alive, right?"

Philip let out a long sigh, shaking his head at the thought. It pained him a great deal to not know what had happened to Katherine. Watching her as she struggled for breath and then turning as pale as death before those blue eyes closed as the air was cut from her lungs. He had hoped in that moment that she were dead, able to leave the world that had haunted her so much but his dreams were short lived when Bega announced to the crew that she was most certainly alive.

How could he have been so stupid to think that he could have saved her? Quite simply, this entire situation was all his fault, from the moment that he first lay eyes on her and thought back to the legends of his youth. It was all a curse now, he scolded himself as he hung his head low and sighed. The money no longer interested the youthful captain and now he'd simply settle for a happily ever after with his mysterious beauty, but even that seemed too far out of his grasp.

**********************

The talks between the two in the captain's quarters seemed to have reached a stalemate, both simply staring at each other from across the table, Bega ready to unleash his fury as Katherine sat secure in the knowledge that there was nothing more he could do to her that could top the horrible deeds of her youth.

"You toy with me, Miss Moore, and I will have your head on a platter." Bega growled at the woman in front of her, his temper boiling even more when her eyes lit up and she smiled smugly at him.

"You kill me, Toby, and you lose your treasure. As much as you hate it, you need me." She leaned back in her chair, very much the master of the situation as the man across the table from her trembled in fury. "So, threaten all you wish. I know that until I deliver what you want, you'll never do away with me."

Bega's eyes narrowed for a moment before a cold grin crossed his own face. She thought she was so smart, that she had him backed into a corner, but he'd been here many times before with men more menacing then a teenage girl. "You're right. I can't do anything to you." He glanced over at Shelley, motioning him close and whispering an order into his ear. "But that doesn't mean that I'm at the end of my rope." He said, his voice full of something that Katherine couldn't place. She knew where this was going, and when Shelley came back a short while later dragging Anne behind him, reality settled like a cold limp in her stomach.

"You wouldn't dare. You know that she's worth more then a king's ransom." Katherine quickly said as Anne looked around the room with wild eyes, frightened at what could possibly be happening.

"And what do you believe I'll do, Miss Moore?" Bega asked, a leering grin on his face as he stood and cordially bowed to the frightened lady, taking her hand in his and kissing her knuckles.

Anne stared at the man before her with a horrified look on her face. Never in her life had she been treated as she was now and the very lessons that she'd been taught by her nannies and governesses filled her with a sense of self righteous outrage. She jerked her hand away from the pirate as if she'd been burned, backing away from him until she hit the boy that had drug her from below decks.

"Now, now, my lady Mickelson, no need to be so prim and proper." Bega said as he strode forward the swept the refined lady into the chair that he'd just vacated. "I just thought that you might like to spend time above the decks. Enjoying a nice meal with myself and Miss Moore."

"Anne, say nothing." Katherine quickly said, up and out of her seat so quickly that it threatened to tip back and crash to the floor.

Anne's face was screwed up with confusion, fine lines appearing on her brow as she looked from the pirate to Katherine, gasping at the appearance that the other woman had. "Mister...Bega?" She fathomed a guess that this was the man that Captain Montard had been talking about in the brig. "With all do respect, sir, but shouldn't she be in clothing?" She whispered softly, quietly mortified that this man would have her maid running around in nothing but her undergarments.

"Such a refined lady," Bega murmured as he trailed his hand over Anne's neck, brushing over her curls as he glanced at Katherine with a wicked grin. "You see, my dear, young Katherine simply hasn't appreciated all that I've given her. I fear that if I were to give her a gown, it would simply be treated with the same disrespect."

"Anne, for once in your life, shut your mouth." Katherine hissed, her hands gripping the sides of the table until her knuckles were white, her teeth set on edge as she saw the spoiled lady walking straight into Bega's carefully lain trap.

"And what would you do, Miss Mickelson, to give dear Katherine what you think she needs?" He asked, his hands resting against her shoulders as he continued to smirk at Katherine, just waiting for the words that he wanted to hear. He knew deep down inside that this high born lady was actually stupid enough to say it.

Anne looked up the pirate and then at Kate, her face thoughtful for a moment as she reached up and played with a piece of hair, twisting it between her fingers as she chewed on her bottom lip, trying to decide what she should really do. Finally, she left the hair from her fingers, her shoulders squaring under Bega's hands as she tipped her head to look at him once more.

"Anything, sir. I would do anything." Her voice was clear, full of courage as if she really thought that was the right decision.

"As I thought." Bega laughed as his fingers began to turn painful on her flesh, a cry of pain escaping from Anne's mouth as she looked to him with a question in her eyes. "Well, you did say anything, milady, and I am a man with certain needs." The meaning was clear and Anne began to panic, her pale skin turning another shade of white as she looked to Katherine for help.

"Toby, don't." Katherine tried to reason, the single thought passing through her brain that she'd never seen him with a woman in all of her years on the ship. She didn't know what kind of game he was playing or if he'd finally lost the last shred of sanity that he had, but she knew that she had to stop this quickly.

"Tell me, Katherine, did you do your job? Is she still pure?" He asked, laughing as Anne let out a scream, trying to scramble out of her seat and unable to break his grip on her shoulders. "No matter. I guess there's one way to find out."

Anne was jerked from her seat, gasping at the suddenness of the situation, her feet barely touching the floor as she was forced across the room. She stared with frightened eyes at the pirate as she was swept backwards towards his bed. "Kate!" She screamed, her eyes looking over his shoulder towards her maid as she felt the softness of a mattress against her legs.

Katherine couldn't think in that moment, her mind reeling with what was happening before her. She felt her fingers curl around the dinner knife she'd lodged into the wood of the table earlier and knew in that instant what she had to do to stop this and save Anne.

Rushing around the table and lunging forward, Katherine pushed Anne to the ground, delivering a hard blow to Bega's leg as he turned to stare at her, stunned at what she'd done. He barely had time to react as she swung the knife at him, catching his arm and tearing the flesh. He caught sight of her eyes as he grabbed her by the front of her shift, his hands curling cruelly into the fabric as he growled at the woman. Her eyes that were normally so beautiful suddenly didn't seem her own, replaced by the cold and calculating look that his former friend, the great captain of the Ocean Blue, use to carry.

"Damn you, James!" He bellowed as he shoved Katherine hard towards his desk, watching as she bounced off and the wince of pain that blossomed on her face as she hit hard on her side before scrambling backwards and searched for a new weapon, her knife having fallen from her hand in the fall. "Damn you for this wretched hell bitch of a daughter you cursed this world with!"

He'd never felt fury like this in his life, the blood dripping down his arm and staining the sleeve of his fine coat only enraged him more. All seemed to stand still in the next few moments as the clicking of a gun hammer filled the cabin and Bega slowly raised his eyes from his injured arm and towards the barrel of the gun that was now trained on him.

Katherine's hands shook as she held the gun before her, her fortune seemingly turning better as she'd found it tucked beneath the papers on the desk. She could hear a frightened whimpering from somewhere in the cabin and knew that Anne was still watching the awful scene before her.

"Do it, child," Bega murmured, his eyes dangerous as his blood dripped onto the cabin flood. "Make me believe you want to pull that trigger."

All of her wildest dreams were there in front her, but still her hands shook and the pit of her stomach felt icy cold. She winced as he shouted for her to pull the trigger yet again and something in her mind made her unable to do the simple task. Tears formed in her eyes and slowly trailed down her cheeks as Bega began to stalk forward. Katherine let out a surprised cry as she pressed her finger down so tightly, her eyes riveted to the captain's chest where the shot would hit...and yet nothing happened.

The gun did nothing, causing Katherine to stare at it in disbelief. "No," She whispered to herself as her mind tried to fathom what to do next. She didn't have any time to think as Bega's hand grabbed her wrist, a jarring blow raining down upon the side of her face that had her body dropping limp to her knees as the gun fell uselessly to the floor.

Katherine stared up into the face of the devil himself, her nose and mouth bleeding as she tried to clear her vision. Bega's face was twisted into an ugly sneer, his breathing harsh as he hauled the injured woman to her feet, dragging her unceremoniously towards the cabin door. The door was pulled open with a loud snap and Katherine was shoved out the cabin door, the thin shift that she was wearing swirling around her legs in the sudden wind that had picked up. She looked up to see all the men on deck turn, staring at her as they tried to figure out what the commotion was about as she swayed on her feet, her head still swimming.

"It seems that Miss Moore needs a small reminder of what will happen should she cross me." Bega announced to the men as he stepped out behind the red headed beauty. "Make sure to show her a good time."

Surrounded by lustful glances, some men who she had known since a child, Katherine was suddenly transported back into her worst nightmares, those nights and days on the ship that she wished so badly she could forget. She staggered backwards, turning to try and run for the cabin once more when she was grabbed from behind, hauled backwards amongst the cheering catcalls that she could never seem to escape. Her scream filled the night sky as she felt hands on her body, violating her and pulled the chemise from her body.

Bega watched the scene for a few brief moments, his gaze unconcerned as he turned and smiled at the sound of screams as he stalked back for the cabin. Slamming the door behind him, his hard eyes surveyed the scene before him. A trail of blood stained the floor and a whimpering woman sat curled in the darkness by his bed. He stared at Anne for a long while, his rage stoked further by the pathetic sounds she made.

"Get up." He growled, watching as the young woman shivered and looked at him with wide eyes, not moving from her spot. "I said up!" His voice filled the cabin, the timbers vibrating softly as his arm snaked out and delivered a harsh blow to Anne's face, unseating her and sending her sprawling further to the floor.

She sat, stunned, a shaky hand reaching to touch the enflamed skin on her cheek, breathing harsh as she saw blood on her fingertips from a split lip. She scrambled quickly to her feet, heedless that her ears still rang from the blow. Bega had stalked to his desk chair, seating himself and looking expectantly at the frightened woman.

"Well," He glared, his mouth so tight that his lips were turning white from the strain as he rolled up the ragged sleeve of his shirt to expose the deep gash in his arm. "Fix it."

Anne looked at the man as if he were crazy, the sight of blood turning her pale as the bile rose in her throat. "I...I don't know how." She whispered, her hand moving to her lip to staunch the flow of blood that coursed down her chin.

"Then I suggest you learn." He growled as he grabbed a bottle of rum from his desk, uncorking it and taking a quick swig before dumping the contents upon his wound, hissing at the pain that enveloped him. "Now!" He hissed through clenched teeth, watching as the frightened woman jumped at the sound of his voice, scurrying over to her side as he pulled open a compartment of the desk and motioned for her to pull out the contents within.

Anne reached into the drawer, pulling out strips of fabric and a small sewing kit, looking at him with horrors in her eyes. She was horrible at sewing, always refusing to do such at home, and this man before her wanted her to practice on his flesh.

"Sir, please, I can't do this." She stammered, her hands shaking even more as she was shot a cold glare.

"Then you'll join Miss Moore. The decision is yours." He was unaffected by the tears that were streaming down her cheeks as she struggled to thread the needle, her hands shaking so bad that she dropped the tiny object a few times before she succeeded.

A few moments later, the wound was neatly sewn, Anne heaving into a bucket over what she'd done, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed. Flexing his hand, Bega tested the girl's work, admiring how neat the stitches were. She seemed to be useful after all, he thought to himself, as he stood and grabbed the girl around the waste, tossing her into the cabin's closet like a heap of cloth. Slamming the door shut and bolting the door, he listened to the sounds around him: Lady Mickelson's sobbing and the screams of Katherine Moore coming from the deck. A smirk crossed his face as he found his desk chair once more, propping his feet upon it's cluttered surface as he savored the moment. Things couldn't have been going better, not even if God had planned it himself.

**********************

Philip looked up at the rattling of the key in the metal door, his eyes widening as he watched the man roughly shove Katherine inside. Her arms and legs flailed as she tried to stop herself from falling, but she still landing hard on her hands and knees against the rough wood floor. Philip growled at the man, up in an instant and running at the solid steel bars. It was a moment too late, the door already shut and locked when Philip slammed into them, his hands gripping wildly at the laughing man on the other side.

"Calm down, Cappin'" The man said, flashing him a nearly toothless grin as he leered at Katherine still crouched on the floor. "Through the kindness of my own 'eart, I decided to give you a go at 'er for we come and take 'er again tomorrow. Enjoy." He dared to reach out and rattle the door once more before smirking and exiting the hold, slamming the solid door behind him and leaving the two prisoners in silence.

Philip's anger was beyond rage. How dare they treat him like this, a man of his reputation who had been on the water since before he could remember. It wasn't that long ago that his own name would have struck fear in the hearts of captains, but it seemed now that he'd been reduced to the sniveling captive that he was now. Thinking about her had him springing into action as he spun and stared at her, slowly standing on her feet as she stared down at her hands. They shook as if she had a deep chill and the wild thought of what could have happened to her raced through Philip's mind, turning his heart into a block of ice towards the men that this ship harbored.

"Kit?" He murmured, taking a small step forward, trying to get her to look at him. He saw her back tighten, the muscles stiffening under her thin chemise. It was then that he noticed the condition of it: dirty, torn, and then he saw the blood. "Katherine." He said, more concerned then he'd ever been about another person in his life as he strode forward and turned her to look at him.

She flew into a panic, knocking his hands away as her wide blue eyes darted wildly around. Her face was battered and bruised, a thin line of blood dripping down her chin from a cut on her swollen lip. "Kit, it's me." Philip murmured softly, trying again to lay a hand on her shaking body, but she was somewhere else, retreated deep into her mind.




Ocean Blue Ch. 07



As his hand made contact with her bare skin, she let out a screech of pain, jerking her arm away before she started to scratch and hit at him when he drew too close. Philip had never seen her like this before and he acted quickly, grabbing her wrists and pinning her arms to her sides as she screamed and cursed at him, desperately trying to escape his hold.

"Katherine. Calm down. Kit!" He shouted at her, watching the terrified look in her eyes intensified as she wriggled and squirmed against him, trying desperately to free herself. He let go of her wrists long enough to wrap his arms around her, drawing her into his muscular chest and holding her tight. "Beauty, it's me. I'm not going to hurt you." He whispered against her ear, feeling her stop her fighting at the sound of his voice, her breath harsh against his neck. "You're safe, beauty." He murmured against her skin, willing that his words break through her haze and reach wherever she had retreated.

She heard his words, felt his strong embrace and his warm skin held so tightly against hers and the wall that she'd built around her sanity crumbled in an instant. Tears spilled from Katherine's eyes as she sobbed into Philip's neck, the pain and sorrow of the treatment that she'd been given finally rising to the surface in a mournful wail that ended in a choked off sob as her knees buckled as she found herself drawing them both to the floor. 

Philip cushioned her fall, never wanting to let her go again as he pressed his nose into her hair, inhaling deeply of her scent. His hands ran soothingly over the shivering column of her back, murmuring soft words into her ear as she released her pain and anger, soaking his tunic with those painful tears. She cried for what seemed like forever, finally ebbing away until she just clung to him pitifully in the silence of the brig, their breathing harsh in her ears.

Katherine felt Philip pull away slightly, enough to look at her battered face with a concerned eye. She averted her gaze, staring down at the wet spot she'd made on his shirt, but it wasn't long before she felt his fingertips raising her chin for her gaze to meet his green eyes. There was nothing but silence between them for the longest moment, his eyes searching hers intently for the truth of what had happened, knowing that he could never ask the question out loud. Not if it caused her this much pain.

She seemed to know what he wanted, tears welling in her eyes once more as she sniffled and struggled with the truth that seemed to have gotten stuck somewhere within. "I stood up to him." She murmured softly, her voice hoarse as tears spilled down her cheeks once more. She shut her eyes as she felt the warmth of Philip's palms seep into her cheeks as he cupped her face, his thumbs gently brushing away those horrible tears. 

She was surprised when she felt warm lips pressing against her own, but it was what she needed in that moment, what she craved, and her lips clung to his as she held him tightly. She was confused, her mind battered from the abuse that she'd suffered, but here she was, hot for his touch. It made everything right in her world and all she knew for certain is that she needed more.

Philip was surprised as she grabbed his hands, gently placing them upon her breasts, her eyes swimming with tears as she looked at him with a silent plea. "Kit, maybe this isn't right." He said, watching as she lowered her eyes in shame, another sob shaking her body.

"I need you to make this right. Give me a good memory, please." She begged, sobbing harder as she saw him contemplate what was before him, his fingers flexing gently upon her flesh as she let out a low moan, her back arching as she pressed herself harder against his warm hands.

Philip was gentle, his fingers caressing as he peeled away the torn garment, lifting it over her head and dropping it to the floor. He traced along her sides, his eyes taking in the deep bruises on her body, the finger shaped marks on her thighs and hips, the blood oozing from cuts down her pale skin, the rope burns on her wrists from their cruel treatment and he felt anger make his hands shake. 

"How dare they treat you like this. I promise you, Katherine, no one will ever do this to you again." His voice was almost a growl as he grabbed her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye as he promised her once more before his lips claimed her.

She was hot for him, her hands impatient as she pushed at his clothing as his lips soothed the bruises and cuts on her body, worshipping her with all of the love that he had. It was if he were erasing all of the hurt inside of her, leaving her with only the intense need that only he could create.

When his clothing joined hers on the floor, he pushed himself into her, hard as steel as he groaned at the sensation. He rocked his hips gently at first, changing his pace as her hands encouraged him on by grabbing his ass and pulling him deeper and harder into her sex.

"Cum for me, Katherine." He growled in her ear, grinding himself against her as she cried out her pleasure, cumming hard with a gasping sob that caused her entire body to shake.

Philip slowed his pace, panting with restraint as he watched her face in ecstasy, a shaky hand wiping away the tears that drifted down her cheeks as she looked up at him with so much trust and love that it threatened to be his undoing.

"You don't know what you do to me, beauty." He whispered to her as he moved within her once more as she clenched herself around him, a soft smile crossing her face at his words.

Philip spent the evening trying to take away the brutality of what had happened, bringing her fulfillment many times before he finally took his own pleasure. As he came, he kissed her hard, worried at first that he'd frighten her with his need, but he soon relaxed when he felt her fingers in his hair, pulling him close and demanding more.

When they were both exhausted, Philip pulled her close, his arms enveloping her body as they drifted off to sleep, neither thinking for a moment of the situation they were in, but content in their love for one another.

**********************

Katherine woke warm and safe in Philip's arms, able to forget for a few short moments where they were. She yawned and stretched, pushing her hair from her face as she stared at him in sleep, frowning as she took in the deep wrinkles upon his brow, the furrows telling her of the dreams that seemed to be haunting him.

Reaching out a hand to smooth over his skin, she'd barely pressed her fingertips to his flesh before his eyes flew open, stormy green meeting tranquil blue as his hand grabbed her wrist, a deep sigh moving his chest as he relaxed.

"You have the weight of the world upon your shoulders this morning, Philip. Why?" Katherine asked gently as he released her wrist and he turned onto his back, pulling her into the cradle of his arm as he held her close.

"It feels like the weight of you upon my shoulder, beauty, not the world." He joked, receiving a sharp slap to his thigh for his impertinence. He chuckled as he pressed a kiss to her forehead, his nose nuzzling against the soft strands of her hair as he took in her scent, intoxicated by it as he felt himself growing hard once more. "If you must know, Katherine, I was thinking about Albert. I should have done more."

"There was nothing more you could have done, Philip." She murmured in the quiet that surrounded them, the sounds of boots shuffling above them loud as men went about their morning business.

"I could have fought harder. Something more and maybe he'd still be alive. He could get us out of this."

"And you would have died in his place." Pushing herself up on one arm, Katherine looked down at her lover, running a hand over his cheek. "He'll be missed but you make it sounds as if he were a part of you. You're intelligent, Philip. You'll get on just fine without him here to think for you."

"Well, beauty, I'd say that you are the first person in this entire world that really believes that." A smile on his face told her that he said it in jest, tears in his eyes showing just how hard he was taking the death of his good friend. "But I'll try my best not to let him down."

Katherine flashed him a reassuring smile as she dipped her head to claim his lips, her hands pressing against his chest as she soaked in his warmth. Both froze as they heard the sound of a door opening, boots stomping down the steps that lead to the brig. Cursing under her breath, Katherine scrambled to grab her shift, shoving it over her head and stabbing her arms through what was left of sleeves, knowing that the ragged and dirty material was better then nothing.

"Stay behind me." Philip whispered as their jailor peeked through the bars, a dirty, leering look upon his face as Philip rose and pulled his trousers back upon his body. "What do you want?" He hissed as the man put the key in the lock, twisting it and pulling the cell open with a horrible screeching sound.

"Came for Miss Moore, Cappin'. Ya see, it seems my cappin' thinks it'd be best that Miss Moore join the crew once more today. We 'ave all sorts of fun up there, ain't we poppin'?" He asked, flashing a rotting smile towards her, Katherine cringing as it brought up memories from the night before, her hands holding the torn front of the shift closed against her chest.

"She won't be going anywhere." Philip's gaze threatened death to the man as he pulled on his tunic, pulling himself to his feet and crossing his arms.

"Ah now, don't be playin' like this. If I 'ave to come in and get 'er, you'll both be regretting it." His once calm face twisted up in anger as he shrugged his shoulders as if to say that it was all up to them as he stepped into the cell.

Philip reached behind him and grabbed Katherine up into his arms, his hug so tight that it nearly hurt as he turned to put himself between her and the grimy man that was trying to take her. He felt a fist drive into his back, the wind knocked from his lungs by another attack as dirty hands reached around him and grabbed onto Katherine's arms with a grip of steel.

As she was ripped from his arms, Philip was quick into action, shoving her captor hard with his shoulder as he barreled from the cell. Katherine let out a scream as the three were thrown to the floor, her legs tangled in her shift as she tried to get away. Fingers dug painfully into her arms as the sailor fought to hold her down as Philip fought to free her. A hard shove with her legs sent the two sprawling away, giving her tip to scramble to her feet. Turning to witness the fight, she paled at the brutality that she saw before her.

Philip roared in a fury, his fists flying hard into the other man as an anger he'd never known took over him. The urge to kill the man that was trying to separate them was so strong that he didn't realize the damage he'd inflicted until he felt arms wrap around him, Katherine's voice in his ear telling him to stop.

When he finally relented, Philip knew the other man was dead, his face bloodied and broken. Panting, he looked down at his fists, hands clenching as the torn skin of his knuckles began to bleed anew. Turning, he looked up into Katherine's pale face, a sense of guilt washing over him

Philip nuzzled against her hair, taking in that sweet scent that was hers and hers alone. He looked towards the door that led up to the deck knowing that this might be the last moment that he spent with her. He felt Katherine's hand tangle tightly in his tunic, her breathing having calmed as she stood quietly in his arms.

He couldn't tell her of his fears, he just couldn't. He knew that this might very well be the last time that he held her in his arms and that very thought shook him to his core. He was surprised when he felt her pull back, her hands moving to cup his cheeks as she stared into his eyes as if trying to convey a message without speaking.

"If something happens..." She whispered softly, her voice shaking with an emotion that Philip couldn't quite place. He raised a finger and pressed it to her lips, a slight smile gracing his own as he shook his head.

"Nothing will happen, beauty." He murmured, replacing his finger with his lips as he feasted one last time upon their sweetness. "Stay close to me and we'll be alright." His hand caressed over her curls, coming to rest against her neck as his thumb gently feathered over her cheek. He could feel her heart pounding against his hand and knew that his own was racing as well. They'd survive, he told himself, and there was no other way. He simply couldn't believe any other way.

Pulling themselves to their feet, Philip led their way through the darkness, stopping every so often at the creaks and groans of the ship, the sound of men milling about above their heads. As they made their way silently through the twisting hallways and ladders of the bowels of the ship, Katherine suddenly pulled Philip to a stop, a single thought crossing her mind.

"We can't escape just yet." She whispered softly, her expression telling her love all that he needed to know.

"Beauty, we can't risk it. What if we're caught. All of this will have been for nothing." He tried to reason as she simply shook her head, refusing to accept what he was saying.

"She was horrible to me, but I can't just leave her here to their whims." She insisted, knowing that she had to go and try to save Anne. Her eyes were pleading but Philip could tell by the set of her jaw that there was no way he could say no.

Growling under his breath, he looked towards the ladder that would lead them upstairs and then back at Katherine. "Make it fast." He said, his voice showing his intense displeasure as Katherine smiled smugly and pressed a kiss to his lips before turning and disappearing back into the gloom of the hallway.

She snuck through the silent galley, stepping gingerly over the rough wood as she came to the cabin door. She glanced back the way that she'd come, watching as Philip stared at her, nodding silently before looking around to make sure that the coast was clear. She pressed her ear against the door, not hearing movement before she let herself in.

She stood in the darkness, her back pressed against the cabin door as she looked about. All the memories of her childhood were still contained in this small room, the faint scent of her father still lingering in the wood, as if it had soaked it up like a sponge. Her eyes quickly surveyed over the room, following the trail of blood that told of her misdeeds until it led her to what she was searching for.

The door to the tiny closet room hadn't change in all of the years that she'd been gone. She made her way silently across the empty space and pressed her ear against the door, hearing the sounds that she'd been hoping she would. She opened the door as quietly as she could, peeking in as a figure huddled in the corner, away from the sunlight that came spilling in.

"Leave me be!" A female voice sobbed, curling further away from the light and the imagined cruelty that would surely come with it.

Katherine's heart went out to the woman before her, knowing just how harsh Bega's cruelty could be, but now wasn't the time to become absorbed in personal pain. If they were caught now, it would surely mean death.

"Anne." She murmured as she stepped forward, dropping to her knees beside the cowering figure, her fingers reaching out to touch her hair soothingly.

Arms wrapped tightly around her as Anne launched herself towards Katherine, her body trembling as she sobbed into her shoulder. Katherine was stunned, unsure of what to do until she wrapped her arms around her mistress and held her for a moment.

"Anne, we have to go. We have to get out of here." She said softly, her ears trained for any sound that might have warned her that someone was returning to the cabin. Practically prying her arms from around her body, Katherine rose from the floor, pulling Anne to her feet and giving her a look that told her not to question anything. "All of this will turn out. I promise."

"For the better?" Anne asked, wiping away her tears with her hands as she sniffled, trying to get herself under control.

"I hope." It really was all that she could promise: a hope that things would be okay. Reaching out, Katherine grabbed hold of Anne's hand and gave it a tight squeeze, trying to erase her fears with a quick smile before she pulled her from the closet and into the cabin.

They had to get out quickly, lest they be caught by Bega or a member of the crew. She nearly jumped out of her skin when the door was pushed open, forcing her to back up and bump into Anne who let out a frightened cry. Katherine's eyes stayed locked on the figure who a mere shadow was outlined by the light that filtered in behind them. The seconds seemed to pass by slowly as the breath was caught in her throat and then it was slowly released when she saw who the figure was.

Shelley stood there stunned, mostly because he knew that Katherine had been secured below deck in the brig with Captain Montard. "Miss Katherine, what are you doing here?" He asked, quickly closing the door behind him.

"We can't stay here. Bega will kill Philip and Anne if we don't leave and I don't think I can stand another moment in this hell." She whispered, afraid to raise her voice to speak. Her hand shook as she held onto Anne, pulling her forward again until she was standing right in front of the cabin boy, her blue eyes pleading to keep their secret. "I know that we're near land, Shelley. I just ask that you not say anything."

"You know it could mean death for me." The cabin boy said as he stared at the two women, silently weighing his options. He'd asked many times that Bega show mercy, and even though he was still young, he knew well that the man didn't have an ounce of mercy in his body. His anger would be redirected, from Katherine Moore to him if it was found out he played a part in the entire plot.

Katherine knew his dilemma, the thoughts that were coursing through his blond head as she silently beseeched him to keep quiet. "I'll return the favor. On pain of death, Shelley, I promise to keep this secret."

The cabin boy stared at her for the longest of moments, his own mind swirling with the misdeeds that he'd already committed against his captain. Even at his young age, he'd committed more sins than a man ten times his age. He stared at the two women for a moment, nodding his head slightly as he moved towards the door and held it open, deciding that one or two more couldn't hurt his already damned soul.

Katherine gave him the briefest of smiles as she pressed a tender, loving kiss to his cheek as they passed. Their eyes locked, knowing that it might be for the last time, before Shelley gently shooed them outside, warning them to be careful.

Philip was right there waiting, taking Katherine's hand in his and leading the small party towards the deck. Standing just out of the sunlight, he used the shadows to his advantage, surveying the safest route to the water. He cursed as he could see men milling about, seemingly with nothing better to do but pace the wood deck.

Philip turned to stare at the two women that were behind him, his gaze drifting to the woman that held his hand so tightly. He leaned forward and claimed her lips once more, ignoring the outraged gasp that Anne gave from behind them. As he pulled away from the sweet kiss, he brushed his hand over Katherine's pale cheek, giving her a cocky smile that didn't really have any feeling behind it.

"I promise you the world when this is over," He whispered softly, watching as she tried to return that smile, tears coming to her eyes and he quickly brushed them away before he press another quick kiss to her soft lips.

"You best offer me whatever I wish after all I've had to put up for you." Katherine shot back, her reward the smile that came to his face as Anne cleared her throat behind them bringing them back into the moment.




Ocean Blue Ch. 07



"If we're spotted, run and jump ship. If the gulls I hear are any indication, we're close enough to shore that we can swim it."

"I wish I believe that."

Philip nodded his agreement to Katherine's statement as he turned and squared his shoulder, stepping out onto the deck as he mentally chanted over and over to go slow, make no sudden movements, and for God's sake, don't get caught. In the shadows, it seemed that they weren't noticed, an impossible feat considering the people that surrounded them. They were lax in the heat of the day, cheerfully going about their business with no concern as to what was happening just next to them. It seemed to be working towards their advantage and the three couldn't have asked for better circumstances.

"Well, Captain Montard, I would hate to imagine that the accommodations that we so graciously gave you weren't to your liking." 

The voice came from overhead, causing Philip's blood to run cold. All three froze, ther sun suddenly unbearably bright as crewmembers turned towards the sound of their captain's voice, staring at them out in the open. Philip turned only for an instant to stare up at Tobias Bega as he pulled his gun, pointing it at the three and shouting the call across the deck that there were prisoners on the loose.

Philip cursed the fact that he had no weapon, knowing that there was no way that he could protect either woman in his care. "Go!" He shouted, not waiting as he gave Katherine a hard shove towards the railing.

Katherine took off in a run, screaming when her path became blocked with men. She was suddenly separated from Philip and Anne, although she could still hear his voice shouting at her to run for it. She changed course, running through the mass of men that were grabbing for her, ducking and weaving until she had a clear path.

Anne screamed as Philip grabbed her by the arm, pulling her back as Bega pointed his weapon at the two of them. His attentions didn't focus on the man in front of him, but on Katherine as she ran across the deck, jumping onto a crate and launching herself towards the rigging as the three men grabbed after her in vain.

She pulled up on the rope latter, using all of the strength that she had to scale the height of the mast, jumping from rope to rope as if she had done it all of her life. The men down below cursed as one grabbed onto the rigging, pulling him up behind her.

Katherine hauled herself up onto the mast, balancing as she edged towards the crow's nest. The heights were far more terrifying now than she remembered them as a child. The boat shifted slightly in the wind, causing her to lose her footing, quickly sitting down on the beam as the boat steadied. The rolling waves combined with the steady wind that cause everything to dip and sway made her whimper, a stab of fear racing through her at the thought that she was far too high up to jump safely. She should have jumped ship from the deck, but it seemed that climbing was the natural thing to do.

"Bloody hell," She murmured as she held onto the wood tightly, her nails digging in as she thought of what to do.

She took a deep breath, slowly letting it out as she turned to go back down the rigging partway, knowing that she would be able to jump from there, no questions. She eased herself around, letting out a yelp of surprise as she saw one of the men close behind her. She cursed to herself, pulling herself to her feet and turning to face the man. As she stood up, the wood under her feet groaned and a slight cracking sound caught her ear. Katherine wobbled slightly on the mast, looking down in surprise as she noticed the hasty patch made on the mainstay.

"Backed yerself into a corner, now didn't you, Katherine?" The man said as he climbed up the rope latter, blocked her escape route. "Wot ya gonna do now?"

She moved her foot again, testing the strength of the ropes holding the fracture in the wood. It all wobbled, giving Katherine an idea. "Your right, I did do a foolish thing, didn't I?" She asked, crouching down slightly. "I'm just scared. I...I need to get down."

The man laughed and shook his head as he walked closer to her. "Stupid girl," He stated.

Bega watched intently from the deck at Katherine as she started to crouch down on the mast, a look of fear crossing her eyes. She wasn't scared, he knew that for certain after watching her climb along the ropes in her childhood. She was up to something and he didn't like it.

"If she escapes, she dies." He stated with finality in his voice, talking to no one in particular as his crew stood surrounding Philip and Anne, swords drawn as a few others tended to the wounded.

"He won't kill her, will he?" Anne whispered in his ear, her voice shallow and frightened as she clung to his tunic.

Philip remained silent, watching the scene above them, silently urging Katherine to jump ship. Katherine watched as the man stopped in the right point and she jumped, keeping her balance as best she could as the entire arm of the mast shook, causing the man to stop in an attempt to gain his balance.

When the man made a grab at her with his filthy hands, Katherine was filled with a rage that she couldn't explain. She wouldn't go back, never in a million years would she put herself back into that hell that had held her captive over the past few years. With an angry cry, she jumped, landing with her full weight against the fracture, having to jump once more until the wood groaned and split as the two began to fall.

"Out of the way!" Bega shouted, moving quickly to the side as the mast split in two, heading straight down for the deck.

The man let out a cry as the wood fell out from under his feet and he fell straight down onto the deck, lying limp where he landed. Katherine jumped out into thin air, grabbing hold of the rigging that was tied to the crow's nest, holding on for dear life as it swung round, suddenly free of the other half of the mast. With a cry, she bumped into the other stay, quickly hoisting herself up and to safety as the large piece of timber fell on the deck, falling through to the lower deck and seriously damaging the hull. They would flounder, she knew, but it would give her time to get away.

Anne let out a scream as the huge mass of wood began the fall to the deck and Philip acted quickly, pulling her behind him as he began to back away. Philip gripped Anne tighter to his back and out of the way of harm as he watched Katherine high above the deck. 

"Run, Kit!" He shouted above the chaos, his heart racing with fear for the woman that suddenly seemed so far above their heads.

As men scurried to steady the ship, Katherine looked out over the open water, hearing Philip's call. Land wasn't that far away, she could definitely make it. Taking a deep breath, she pushed off the main mast and ran as fast as she could before taking a flying leap to the waters below.

Katherine let out a scream as she plummeted through the air, kicking her feet at nothing as she brought her arms up to shield her face, the impact of the water rocking her to the very core. It stunned her, taking her breath away as she flailed in the water. She completely lost direction in the murky waters, the ship drawing her dangerously close to the side of the hull. In a moment of panic, Katherine couldn't help but think that she had made the worst mistake of her life.

Calmly, Bega made his way over to the side of the deck, looking over the water where she had jumped. Bubbles rose frantically as a speck of white in the depths told him that she was still there. Slowly, the speck became bigger and bigger until finally, she broke the surface, gasping for air.

"May angels sing thee to thy rest." Bega whispered softly as he drew his pistol and aimed at the girl. "Goodbye, Katherine Moore."

Katherine gasped when she heard a gun being cocked and she turned herself around to stare up at him. She told herself to swim, go beneath the surface and maybe be protected, but she seemed frozen in the moment, staring down the barrel of the gun into the face of evil.

Bega acted first firing a shot down at her, showing no emotion as she jerked in the water, sinking slightly as a cloud of red appeared around her. Her eyes were wide with shock as she stared at the wound, the bright red cloud that was slowly spreading around her in the water. He watched her for a moment as her body slowly turned and lay face down in the water, not moving and not breathing. He watched as it then began to slowly sink beneath the waves, the white speck becoming fainter and fainter.

"Get to work! I want a report in one hour!" He shouted across the deck, turning to face a pale Philip and a sobbing Anne as they clung to each other. "As for you, you cost me a very large amount of money and you will make it back or else you will face Miss Moore's fate."

"Damn you to hell!" Philip ground out, his anger flaring up as a staggering blow caught him on the back of the head, causing Anne to scream and back away as he slumped to the deck, his head bleeding heavily from the wound.

"I expect complete obedience out of you, Miss Mickelson." Bega said, looking up at her with no emotions on his face. "After all, I know that you're smarter than the two of them."

Anne just nodded, her heart pounding loudly in her ears as the pirate pushed past her, shouting orders to the rest of the crew. She watched helplessly as two crew members picked up Philip's limp form and dragged him below deck once more.

This was fear that she had never felt before, an icy chill running up her spine as she slowly sank down to the deck, her thoughts not turning towards rescue or escape that she thought she would find, but to the loneliness that welled up inside at the loss of her only friend. For the first time in her life, Anne felt shame at how she had treated Katherine after all of those years, and now she would never know how truly sorry she was.

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Night surrounded the small beach, no light to be seen except for that of the silvery moon as a man slowly walked down the small path, holding his lantern aloft as he made his way home that evening. His dog barked ahead of him, scurrying between him and the beach, spotting something near the shore line.

"Whatcha got there, Red?" He asked, squinting in the darkness as the dog nuzzled a lump on the sand.

Getting closer, the man's eyes widened slightly, taking in the form of the young woman laying limp as the water rushed around her. Her hair was almost black in the shadows, red staining the pure white of the shift that she wore.

"Wot in God's name?" He asked, rolling her gently over onto her back.

He tipped her up, supporting her as she suddenly coughed up the brackish water, taking in a shuttering breath as her eyes slowly opened, staring in a daze at him. Haunted blue eyes that held a slight edge of pain.

"Wot's yer name?" He asked softly, gently brushing the wet hair off her cheek.

"Katherine." She whispered, wincing in pain as she tried to move her arm.

"I'll take care of ya. Don't worry." He whispered softly, commanding the dog to go home as he cradled her in his arms and picked up his lantern.

Even in the darkness, he could see the wound in her shoulder. It was deep and stark against her pale skin, a mark that he knew all too well. Looking back at her pale face, he saw that she had passed out again, her head lolling back and arm hanging limply at her side. He hurried on in silence, worried about her as he suddenly remembered something from his past. The thought rolled in his head as he pushed open the door to his meager cottage, the dog spinning in excited circles as he gently cursed.

"Be gone with ye, Red. To yer mat." He whispered, laying Katherine down on his bed and staring at her wound in the lamplight. "Who in their right mind would shoot a woman?" He asked himself, shaking his head as he began to undress her, covering her body in a thick blanket as she shook with a chill. "Or treat her as such?" He murmured to himself as he took in her other injuries.

After bathing her wounds in fresh water then whiskey and wrapping them tight, he sat watch over her through the night, pressing a rag to her head as the first beads of sweat broke her brow. Her cheeks flushed pink with fever as she gently coughed in her sleep, wheezing to take in a breath.

"I may not 'ave been able to save yer father, but I swear to ya, Katherine Moore, I won't let ya slip into the night." He murmured, kneeling down beside the bed and folding his hands in prayer as he begged the Lord to spare her life so that he could make right on a promise he made so long ago.

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Coming soon: Ocean Blue Chapter 8: Does Katherine survive and who is this mysterious stranger?

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If you've made it this far, please take the time to vote or leave me a comment. :) I really enjoy the mail that I get and the encouragement and criticism that people have to offer. It's what keeps me going! 



Ocean Blue Ch. 08



It has been such a long time since I've revisited this story. It is one that has stuck with me and I have made a promise to finish it. Another chapter will be posted next week. Thank you so much for your support.

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The nights after her rescue were torturously long. The man who spoke to her in low whispers was trying his best to save her from the infection that was running rampant in her system. He was there all the time in her feverish state, bathing her face in cool cloths and cleaning the wound on her shoulder. Katherine could also hear him praying in those moments when she was lucid. She wondered if these were her last moments on Earth before the black inky darkness sucked her under one last time.

Katherine knew what it felt like to die. She had been prepared hundreds of times in the past for death, no matter how it came. Sometimes she imagined it would be as peaceful as sinking beneath the waves on a tranquil day. Other times it was violent, a gasping breath full of water that would choke the life right out of her. Neither death was painful though, simply a moment of existing and then nothing. 

That was how she concluded she wasn't dead when she finally woke. Her head pounded and felt stuffed full of cotton as her senses swam around her. The rocking of the bed she was in wasn't from the ocean, but from a huge red dog that sniffed at her face and licked insensately at her skin until she pushed him away with a groan, her arms and legs feeling as thick as lead.

Where in the devil was she? 

She tried to push herself up on an elbow only to cry out in pain as the wound in her shoulder pulled painfully. The spots of blood that soaked through the bandage brought back the memory of what had happened and she was suddenly choked with a fear as to Philip's fate. A deep breath was drawn into her aching lungs, calming her already frayed nerves. It would not do to give into fear now.

She pressed a hand to the wound and slowly pulled herself to the side of the bed. The room was small but welcoming with sparse furnishings and cheerful sunlight that streamed through a nearby window. It was anything but familiar. Clutching a hand at her throat, she sighed in relief when she felt his mother's necklace still hanging between her breasts, a slight weight that gave her worlds of comfort. That tiny piece of Philip gave her hope and strength. Now, it was only a matter of figuring out where she was.

There was little in her memory from that day. She'd crippled the Ocean Blue. Bega had shot her. She could remember washing up on the beach, so tired from her journey that she didn't think she'd be able to climb far enough on the sand to save her from the high and violent tide. Her arm had been useless, the wound from the gun slowing her as she tried to claw her way onto solid land. That red dog had saved her, grabbing hold of the thin chemise she wore and hauling her forward until she gasped upon the sand of the beach like a doomed fish. Then there'd been a man...

She quickly glanced around the room for any sign of him until her eyes settled on a tunic placed upon a rustic chair. With great effort she pulled herself to her feet and waited for a wave of unsteadiness to pass. Making her way towards the chair, she pulled the tunic over her head, mindful of her wound until she was enveloped in the soft fabric. It was comforting to feel safe, even if for a moment. The man must have been the one that cared for her, prayed over her, made sure that she survived. The kindness of strangers was not something that she was use to and it left an unfamiliar feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. 

The sound of a door opening caught her attention and the dog scurried from the room, a man's voice calling him Red before shooing him away and trying to keep him quiet as the barking began. Katherine cautiously stepped to the door, peeking out into a cheerfully bright area where a man was walking in the front door, greeting the excited dog in hushed tones. 

His once dark hair was laced with silver and hard lines graced his tan face from days in the sun. The man looked oddly familiar to her, something deep in her memory stirring which only served to confuse her more. Perhaps her escape from the Ocean Blue had addled her brain, she thought to herself as she gathered her courage to step into the other room. He had not given her any cause to fear him and with a deep breath she stepped into the other room.

The creak of floorboards beneath her bare feet announced her before she was ready; her eyes wide as the man turned and looked at her. A smile graced the man's face as he caught sight of her, his dark eyes warm as he took a step forward before stopping at her hesitant look. He rubbed his hands over the sides of his breeches, wondering just what he could say to calm her nerves.

"I be thinking I lost you to the shadows, Miss Katherine." 

His deep voice was so familiar and the task of trying to place him quickly tired her already strained body. She was pale, her skin as white as parchment and he could see she was struggling. Motioning her forward, he held out a chair at the table and ushered her to take a seat. She was cautious, the tunic clutched tightly at her throat with her good hand until she sank down into the chair with a grateful sigh. Once she was settled he turned towards the fire that was burning in the hearth, lifting the lid on a pot that simmered with the most delicious of smells.

Katherine watched as he produced to wooden bowls and spoons, placing them to the side as he finished his task. Glancing down towards her lap she plucked at the soft fabric of the tunic, her mind racing with so many questions that she was rendered mute. If this man knew her then perhaps it would be best to proceed with caution. But at the same time, maybe she could get some answers. It was a difficult situation that she finally decided to address with a simple question.

"How do you know my name?" She asked gently as that charming dog made his way towards her and placed his head in her lap, gazing up at her with a pair of dark brown eyes that had her smiling.

The man paused, clearing his throat before glancing over his shoulder at her. "Ya told me the night I found ya. Although, poppet, there be no mistakin the Moore blood in ya."

The air was sucked from her lungs at the power of his words. Of course this man knew her family. Fate seemed to have a funny way of throwing her on the mercy of men that use to inhabit her father's ship. It was then that she saw who he was and she knew him as a distant memory from her days as a child. Her mother had always enjoyed the warm beaches of the Mediterranean and they'd stayed many times along the waters of the Italian coast. This man had been there with them, talking to her father as she and her brother played in the waters off Naples. Her father's friend, a man that she should have been able to trust, but then again Tobias Bega had been his friend as well. This man, however, wasn't on the Ocean Blue the night of the mutiny.

"Your name's Vernon, is it not? You knew my father." She asked as she watched the man dish up a bowl of the stew bubbling over the fire.

"I knew James and Gabby very well." 

She was silent for a moment, her hand idly stroking Red's furry head as bumps rose over her suddenly chilled flesh. He knew her mother. A woman of whom she only had brief memories locked away. Katherine glanced up as a bowl was placed in front of her and Vernon took a seat across the table, regarding her silently.

"Did you know what was going to happen?" She asked him, startling herself as the words slipped from her mouth.

"Ya can ask each one of us the same question and get fifty different answers, poppet. It ain't something we can be proud of, Katherine. Yer father were a good man and yer mother an honest woman." He was quiet as he cleared his throat and glanced towards the small window that overlooked the ocean, anticipating the question before it had a chance to leave her lips. "Sometimes it be best to simply keep quiet when madness overtakes the rest."

"So you saved yourself." Her accusation was posed as a harmless statement, her eyes glued to the weathered face of the man that had once been in her father's crew.

Vernon was silent as his eyes searched hers to gage what little feeling might be left there. "We all do wot we 'ave to. There be those that tried to save you too. So many more than ya know. I left before it could consume me."

With a sigh she picked up the spoon and slowly fed herself, savoring the taste of the stew in an effort to remain silent. It was all in the past and nothing could change the heartache that she'd felt. All that was left now was to try and make a better future. She knew that meant finding Bega and the Ocean Blue before they slipped away yet again, this time carrying a cargo more precious than anything she could imagine. Her heart clenched painfully as she thought about Philip and that familiar feeling of despair came back to sap the energy from her body.

"I have to find the Ocean Blue." Vernon could see in her eyes that she was struggling as the strength was slowly sapped from her body, her blue eyes growing dull as the pain from her wound grew more intense. It would be a long while before she was completely healed and he worried that she would try and do more than she could handle.

"Before ye be making that decision it be best if we got ya back to bed." He said gently as he stood and stepped beside her, wrapping an arm around her waist as he lifted her from the chair. When she was on her feet, he helped her into the bedroom. She was shaking like from the strain of moving around, her illness taking much out of her as he gently sat her back upon the bed, tucking the blankets around her shivering frame. Katherine closed her eyes for a moment, feeling the bed shift as Vernon sat on the edge. He gazed down at the young woman as she struggled against pain and exhaustion. Brushing the hair from her face, he appraised for a moment, considering his next words very carefully.

"Yer spirit's willin but yer body's weak. Take the night an truly think on wot ya want cause if ya be headin off in this condition ya might not make it."

Katherine opened her eyes and watched him for a moment before nodding. She gave into the exhaustion and sank into oblivion. It was early morning when she woke, Vernon's words from the night before echoing through her mind as she struggled to come to a conclusion. Just the day before she could barely stand on her own. The day before that she was racked with fever so high it was a wonder she survived. Before that she had done the impossible and escaped from the Ocean Blue. 

She lay awake as the room began to lighten with the coming sun, golden rays filtering through the window as she finally pulled herself from the bed. On a nearby chair sat a pair of sturdy boots, pants, and a tunic, many sizes too big but it was good enough. Her decision had been made and it seemed that Vernon anticipated the outcome. Thank God, or fate, or whatever force had washed her up on that beach in the care of this man.

As she dressed, an incessant pounding from outside caught her attention and she made her way through the kitchen and to the front window. Katherine watched through the gloom of dawn as Vernon used a hammer on the hull of the small ship that had been docked for what looked like years. The ship had seen better days, but it also told a story of its owner's care. She pulled the pair of borrowed breeches higher on her hips as she made her way onto the sandy beach, approaching the ship with a renewed sense of purpose.

The sound of a dog's bark made her smile and she ran a hand through Red's fur and he bounded towards her. Vernon's hammer never stopping as he worked in the morning light, his eyes narrowed in concentration. She watched him from a distance for a while longer before she dared to come closer.

"She ain't much to be lookin' at but she be a fine vessel." Katherine was stunned when Vernon spoke, unaware that he knew the moment she had come upon him. She watched as he stopped hammering and ran his arm across his brow, finally glancing in her direction as she approached.

"I can agree that she's seen better days." It was all she could muster as she ran her fingers over the faded name Cather that had been painted on the hull once upon a time.

"So ya think ya know what needs to be done?" He asked as he slid from his perch on the deck. Tossing the hammer into a small box he watched as she paused in her inspection of the boat and looked at him. 

She was quiet, wrapping her mind around the enormity of what her decision could mean. "I have. I think it best if I go after them. I cannot simply let my friends die at his hand. You and the rest of the crew might not have been able to do anything but by God I will." Her blue eyes were stormy, an inner conflict brewing deep within.

"How do ye intend to track 'em?" Vernon asked, genuinely interested now as Katherine moved from the boat and paced the sands in front of him. "They could be hundreds of miles away by now."

"The ship was disabled. They cannot have made it far. By horse or by ship I must get to the nearest port." Stopping her movement, she looked out towards the ocean, hands resting on her hips as she sighed. She wondered if she'd be able to track them injured as she was. "From there I can decide what to do."

"Why does all this matter to ya? They could just as well as sunk out there and then what?" He leaned a shoulder against the hull, watching as she seemed to contemplate that scenario.

The words seemed to stick in her throat as she looked at the old sailor. Why shouldn't all this matter to her? Cold realization washed through her at his last words, the panic that wanted to bubble forth from the pit of her stomach leaving an acrid taste at the back of her throat. She swallowed deeply and shook her head, unwilling to put into words what he wanted to hear. If she believed that they sank, it would all be over.

Her passion couldn't be denied but the physical seemed to intercede. Vernon looked at the small boat that he had been working on for what seemed like an eternity. It had consumed his soul since he landed on the small beach and took his mind off the past. However, it seemed like his past was intent on making itself known in very unusual ways. Looking at the girl dressed in cast off clothes he knew what he had to do. He had to cleanse his soul.

"Jack's still alive, ya know. He's been whiling away the last of his days in a godforsaken whore house in Naples. I'm sure ya'd find him at Madame Isabelle's if you truly looked."

Her brow pinched in confusion. Uncle Jack was alive? The admission stunned her but she found herself laughing at the fact that he was passing his days at a brothel. "Why does that not surprise me?" She asked with a shrug of her shoulders.

Vernon ran a hand across his face, appraising all his hard work with a sniff as if he weren't happy with the decision that he was making. It could mean her death but it could also mean her salvation. On a higher level he knew he owed it to her for all the hardships she'd seen at the hands of some very evil men.

"If ye can command it, ya can a've the boat." He said as she turned and looked at him curiously before glancing at the vessel. He could see her consider his offer, her hand reaching out to touch the hull of the Cather as someone would do with a well bred horse. She knew ships and she knew how to command one. She simply worried that she would be able to.

"I can't." The words were automatic, falling from her lips before she could stop herself. How could this man give her precious information and such a generous gift? "How do you know that she's even seaworthy?" Katherine asked as she ran her fingers over the rough hull, reveling in the feel of wood beneath her skin. She had her doubts looking at the beached ship but she was in no position to argue.

"She be getting ya where ya need to be." Vernon smiled at the girl knowing that the ocean was in her blood. If there were any woman alive that could handle a boat with any amount of skill it would be Katherine Moore.

The silence stretched between them for an eternity as she thought of everything that could possibly hold her back. In the end, the conclusion she came to was one that gave her a sense of purpose. It was up to her to rid the world of the problems that Tobias Bega left in his wake.

"Name your price, Vernon." Katherine didn't have any money to speak of, but she would work the rest of her life to repay him if that's what it took. She needed this boat.

"For James's daughter there be no charge." Vernon's response had her stopping in her tracks, turning to look at him with wide eyes. The stunned look on her face was priceless, but for all the terrible things she'd gone through in her life, it was the least that he could do. His days on the water were coming to an end. It was best to pass the boat onto someone that would put it to good use. "Ya tell Jack when you find him that he and I be needin to talk soon."

"That's it?" She asked as he stepped forward and gave her a gentle push towards the boat. Taking her by the waist he pushed her over the railing and laughed under his breath. She straightened up on the deck, looking at him with a shock that she couldn't put into words.

"That's it." Was his simple reply as he gave it a shove into the water, Red barking excitedly as he ran in tight circles along the beach. 

The bobbing of the wood among the waves caused her throat to tighten with tears. Watching him as the boat slowly bobbed in the shallows she struggled to come up with the words that would express her gratitude. Anything would have been appropriate to express what she felt, but nothing would come out.

"There's no need for words," he shouted towards her over the sounds of the dog. "Ya just do what comes natural."

Katherine raised her hand to wave goodbye, nodding to him as she tugged on the rope rigging, the sail unfurling and catching the stiff sea breeze. There was still good in the world and Katherine had the fortune to have found it in Vernon, the man kindling the fragile sense of hope deep within her. He watched until the Cather was a dot on the horizon, smiling to himself as he whistled to Red, calling the dog back to his side as he turned and made his way back to the small cabin he called home. Finally, for the first time in ten years, he felt a sense of peace wash over him. Perhaps James had forgiven him for what had happened in the past. Whatever this new feeling was it certainly felt good.

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After the Ocean Blue had been crippled, it took all the manpower of the crew to get it to dry land. Left in a natural cove, it foundered in the water and Philip wondered why they didn't just sink it. It seemed they had plans though as they quickly emptied the vessel of goods and with a small contingency of men, Bega and his captives set out on foot for a destination unknown. It was a hard day's journey through hot and humid terrain until they came upon a sprawling city with a bustling seaport.

When Philip saw the buildings laid out before them, he knew where they were and he felt a bubble of anxiety push painfully against his chest. He'd made a lot of enemies in Naples and it seemed that Bega had brought them there to rid himself of his troubles. There were men there that would pay a lot of money to cause harm to Philip Montard.

A home on the outskirts of the city served as their prison. The home was large and no doubt one that Bega had acquired through less than legal means. He and Anne were placed in a room on the second floor with a guard posted at the door. Not a word was spoken to either of them about their fate but Philip wasn't a stupid man. He knew he was very quickly nearing the end of his life. Every curse he knew was flying through his mind as he thought about the hopeless situation he now found himself in.




Ocean Blue Ch. 08



Sitting next to the window, Philip watched the harbor beyond as ships lazily coasted across the water on a gentle day. Anne had paced the length of the room dozens of time and the sound of her footsteps was beginning to grate on his nerves. His heart was heavy with regret and he struggled not to turn his thoughts towards Katherine. No, it was best to let her rest in peace.

"Perhaps we can escape through the window." Anne's voice broke through his haze just enough to make him grit his teeth. "It cannot possible be far to the ground. We could run from there."

"By what stretch of the imagination do you think we're in a friendly city?" Philip asked as Anne stopped her pacing and glared at him with the lofty look of an aristocrat. "Do you even know how much damage you can do to yourself with just that simple fall?"

"You cannot tell me that you are willing to sit here and simply let that madman decide our fate. Philip, we must get out of here. We have to find Katherine and then make our way to my father. He can protect all of us."

He was up the instant that she mentioned Katherine's name, his jaw set in anger as he stalked towards her. "Get this through your addled brain, Anne. She's dead." He squeezed his fists so tightly his joints ached with the strain. He'd had enough of this woman and her silly notions of the way the world worked. "You and I will both die as well if that's what he wants. He'll name a price to your father, whatever amount he has in his head at the time, and if he can't pay you'll be killed."

Anne turned pale at his words, goose bumps breaking out upon her arms as she hugged herself tightly. A shiver passed down her spine at the possibility of her father not paying a ransom. She couldn't let herself believe that this was all that fate had in store for them. She could not possibly die by that madman's hands.

"If you wish to believe that, sir, there's nothing I can do to convince you otherwise. I, on the other hand, would like to think that the outcome of our situation might be a bit more...acceptable."

He snorted in response as the door to the room opened and a group of men stepped inside. Philip barely had time to move before he was seized and a thick cloth hood was forced over his head. Anne gave a cry of surprise as Bega stepped into the room behind them, watching with an unconcerned look as the other captain struggled against his sudden captivity.

"Please...what's happening?" Anne asked, daring to draw Bega's wrath with her question as he turned those cold eyes towards her.

He regarded her with cool indifference for a moment before he looked back towards his men as they got Philip under control. "I've found a man willing to pay me a king's ransom for the both of you."

"My father," She asked with a hopeful tone which was struck down when Bega began to laugh.

"Oh, how wonderful your life must be to be that foolish and young." He said as he grinned at the captive woman beside him as his men subdued Philip, lashing his hands behind his back with a length of coarse rope. "No, my dear, your father has not responded to our demands."

Worry flashed across her pretty face as she heard those words and wondered if what Philip said could be true. They couldn't possibly be lead to their deaths.

"Bring her along." Bega motioned towards Anne with a tilt of his head. As one of his men grabbed her tightly by the arm he turned on his heel and stalked from the room. "We mustn't keep the Signore waiting."