Dawn had Lady Catherine sobbing into her bosom softly when they both shook at the sound of the cannon's report. What that thundering sound signified they could only guess. Thankfully Lady Catherine had fallen to sleep in the dark, stank hole where they had found themselves. Dawn fought sleep with her body. Her wrists ached from the bite of the ropes. The rough hemp pressed against her soft skin, as Lady Catherine's weight pressed against her thighs and abdomen. The curved wood wall crushed against her back and red locks in the darkness as the ship rolled on to God only knew where.
Thoughts began to cloud her mind, what were they to do with her? Where were they headed? The hollow ache n her stomach asked if they were to be fed. Her fear gripped her as the ship rolled on. Eventually, exhaustion and the gentle roll of the sea wove its siren call around her as well and Dawn passed into a fitful, dream filled slumber. Her dreams were of dangerous men and mystical lands, a nightmare that mirrored her new reality.
Dawn was wrenched from her fitful dreams by the sounds of the grinding of hinges and the shrill shriek of Lady Catherine. "Damn you, bastards!" Dawn spat, as she was drug forcibly from the dark little cell. Rough hands pressed the flesh of her shoulders as she was hauled up the steep steps to the blazing sun of the deck.
As the sun burned her gray-green eyes, she was tossed unceremoniously to the deck before the mainmast of the Raven. Dawn landed hard on her cheek and knees, with her wrists still bound at the small of her back. She felt instantly unladylike, and could feel her cheeks burning, as she realized she had landed with her shapely bottom thrust skyward, and her legs splayed from her lack of balance and her sudden, unceremonious landing. Her ears burned as she heard from one of the smelly brutes that had drug her to daylight, "Aye, I c'n see wh' the cap'n sees with this treasure." Dawn's own terror was set back a bit as Lady Catherine flopped next to her, shrilly shrieking that her husband would pay anything for her safe return, blithering to anyone who would listen.
Dawn quickly rolled herself onto her back on the deck; her still burning eyes horrified her at the disarrayed state of her skirts. Suddenly, she saw scattered about the deck piles of things from her former vessel; Lady Catherine's wardrobe, the captain's sea chest, her mistresses' jewels and finery were all lain out and shining in the sun. As she forced her eyes to continue to take stock of the situation, she noticed that many men were circled around the mast and the pile of ill-gotten gain, Lady Catherine, and herself. The throng of men, were variously adorned, some with large earrings, others with two pistols thrust into their belts, some with heavy blades slung about their shoulders, and one giant of a man with no hair and a tattooed design on his scalp. There was lust and hunger in all their greedy eyes. A new terror settled into Dawn's defiant heart.
Suddenly, out of the crowd with bold steps strode one man, the man who she had failed to kill. His muscled chest bared beneath the fire of the sun, his long blond locks buffeted slightly in the wind, and a dangerous smile at his lips. Dawn narrowed her gray-green eyes and bit her lip as he walked deliberately to stand before her. "This, ladies," he addressed his prisoners, "is a division of wages. As this," he continued with a whimsical wave to the bounty gained from the plundered ship that littered the deck, "does not render enough for all to share. I have told my men that I will take only one jewel from our prize." His last sentence hissed off his tongue as his pale eyes burned into Dawn's. She instantly turned her head aside, avoiding his gaze.
Charles held his smile as he knelt and roughly gripped Dawn's chin, pulling her eyes back to his relentless gaze. "This will be my jewel," Charles said flatly, but loudly enough for all to hear. "Do with the lot as you will, me hardies!" There was a small laughing cheer from his men as they set tot he deck to pick over the loot.
Dawn's cheeks fell. She was to be raped. Her shock left her quickly as he held her chin and her fire returned. She lifted a leg to strike, but the grinning pirate caught her ankle and deflected a blow aimed for his groin. Charles rose up and laughed boisterously, backing just out of range of Dawn's thrashing kicks. His laughter was echoed by many of his crew before he found voice to speak, "Fa-Fazul," Charles managed, "bring my pet." With that Charles turned and his black boots clicked across the deck.
Dawn had tears creeping down her face as the giant dark-skinned man loomed near to her. Before she knew it, she was scooped up in a massive arm and hauled towards the cabin door. Her feet being drug to keep pace with the giant's long strides. His arm bigger than most legs was thrust through the notch of her bound arm as he led her to the door. Dawn's mind raced, it was like some insane mockery of being led down the aisle. The only thing she owned, her virtue was about to be stolen, and she seemed helpless to stop it. Her eyes burned with hatred and ran with silent tears. Behind her, an ear splitting scream from Lady Catherine forced her to squeeze her eyes shut.
Charles had his back to the door when he heard Fazul drag his pet in to the room. "That will be all, Fazul," Charles said without turning around. Fazul released Dawn's arm and slightly bowed his head, closing the door behind him as he exited. Dawn cautiously cracked her eyes open, before them, she saw the backs of knee-high soft leather boots. She slowly raised her gaze over breeches pulled tight over well-muscled claves and thighs... "What was she doing?" she demanded of herself as she shook her head, as if to clear it. The captain slowly turned to face her, "What shall I call you, m'pet?" he asked with a calm smile.
