Little Cayman, 1705
Blackbeardstood at the helm as he guided his ship toward the port of Little Cayman. He looked forward to another pillaging of the small island. It was a way out from many of the other Caribbean islands, but each time it proved to be worthwhile.
He was about to give the order to begin the bombardment of the port town when his first mate, Henry Morgan, interrupted him.
Captain we have a ship off the port bow.
Hostile?Blackbeard asked.
Take a look yerself Captain.
Morgan said handing the demon captain a spyglass.
Blackbeard extended the spyglass and looked off into the distance.
Sink me! He exclaimed.
Is that who me thinks it is?
Aye Captain.Morgan said.
Fer a minute I thought me own eyes were playing tricks on me.
If it's a war the wench wants, then it's one she'll get. Blackbeard threatened.
Raise the flag Henry and swing us about.
Aye.Morgan said.
Bring out the long nines and show no mercy!
Blackbeard ordered. The crew gave out a cheer and began to sing a pirate song.
Fifteen men on a dead man's chest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Drink and the devil had done for the rest
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
The mate was fixed by the bosun's pike
The bosun brained with a marlinspike
And cookey's throat was marked belike
It had been gripped by fingers ten;
And there they lay, all good dead men
Like break o'day in a boozing ken
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum.
ββ
The
Hades' Whore drove smoothly cutting through the sea. Rusalka stood atop the bowsprit which carried the skeleton of an enemy demon. She had no need for a spyglass since she'd recognize the Queen Anne's Revenge anywhere. In the three years she had hunted the demon pirate, she managed to find and battle him twice. Both times she lost and had taken extensive damage to her ship, but with a small number of upgrades including the hull and gun emplacements turning the Hades' Whore into a frigate class ship.
She turned to the crew and yelled,
Raise the flag and ready the bow chasers!
The flag raised showed a pair of swords crossed with a skull set in the background. The idea came from and idea her brother Jack conceived. He had said that if he had ever became a pirate that would be the flag he'd use.
Rusalka was confident she'd win this time. And if not, then she would take all the time needed. The only trouble she faced was why she was doing it. As the years had rolled on, the hunt for Blackbeard turned from avenging her parents to wanting to become the number one pirate in the Caribbean.
The only thing that hadn't started to fade was her love for Jack. She missed him and if not for Mary Read, the loneliness would have taken over and made her bitterer. She loved Mary and could not only wait to be in Jack's arms but have Mary there with them both.
She smiled to herself. Once today was over, she could finally seek out Jack. But first she had to send the scallywag Blackbeard to see Davy Jones.
What are ye orders Captain?
Mary asked coming up beside her.
She looked at Mary and grinned.
When we get close we will broadside them and hit them with the cannons. If we haven't sunk the scallywags, then we board, but Blackbeard is mine.
Aye Captain!Mary yelled as she leapt to the lower deck.
Ready the cannons ye seadogs! Let not one of ye men not be ready when we broadside her!
The Hades' Whore held twenty-one broadside guns each on both port and starboard sides; sixteen twelve pound guns on the main deck, fourteen twenty-four pound guns on the gun deck, and six on the upper deck. The gun ports on the deck were in the shape of demon faces and each had a unique look of each demon pirate Rusalka had personally slain.
ββ
The
Queen Anne's Revenge was fully turned waiting for the Hades' Whore to come within range of the long nines. Blackbeard stood ready on the deck hoping Rusalka's ship didn't sink so that he'd have the pleasure of walking over to her ship, slaying her and finally ending her constant annoyances.
The Hades' Whore plowed onward toward his ship. It was a fool's errand to attempt to attack him again. With having lost two other times, Blackbeard was actually amazed she'd try again and at the rate at which her ship was headed at him, he thought for a moment she would consider ramming him.
If that was her decision then he'd at least try to deter her. When her ship was in range, Blackbeard gave the order to fire.
ββ
Cannon
fire touched down alongside the Hades' Whore sending water flying in multiple directions. The few that did hit caused superficial damage. Rusalka was instantly glad she had upgraded the hull.
Prepare to broadside!
She yelled as the ship lurched closer.
Mary Read was at the helm and was already turning to starboard preparing to come around alongside the Queen Anne's Revenge and rake her with cannon fire.
Blackbeard's ship sat waiting for the attack. He wouldn't attempt to run, not from her attack or anyone else's. As the Hades' Whore turned to wrap around the blasting from the other ship's cannon's began to fade as their line of sight was lost.
Drop the sails on my mark!
Rusalka ordered holding up her hand.
The wind was with them but she have to time it right in order to pull up along Blackbeard without over shooting his ship. Rusalka reflected for a moment of how great it would be for her to kill Blackbeard and then take his ship as her prize. With a port within range it wouldn't take her long to make repairs and the making of a fleet.
The ship swung around in perfect form. Rusalka dropped her hand and the ship slid right up alongside the other ship. As Rusalka's ship slide in along Blackbeard's, the only noise that could be heard was the sound of cannon fire. Wood splintered and cannons were over turned.
The firing lasted only seconds. The air was filled with smoke masking the air and not letting either side have a view of the other ship. Once the smoke cleared, grappling hooks were thrown from both ships and tightened. Then as if something went off to announce the fight, pirates began to pour from either ship.
Rusalka grabbed a rope she had previously prepared for this moment and swung across the small expanse onto Blackbeard's ship.
Mary Read stayed behind on the Hades' Whore. Her assignment was to protect the ship from any unnecessary due harm.
Blackbeard, still standing in the center of the ship stood defensive cutting down any pirate fool enough to attack him. When no one attacked he'd reach out helping one of his own crew creating a two on one fight that ended rather quickly resulting in the death of one of Rusalka's crewmen. He wanted to ensure he was seen so that his arch enemy would find him so that he may kill her.
Rusalka stood at the stern of Blackbeard's ship taking in a full view of the ship. She noted Blackbeard in the center of the lower deck. That would be her destination but she felt like killing so she mapped out a pathβa long oneβthat would take her down there to him.
She stole a glance over to her ship. Mary Read was engaged with two other demons, which were just the kind of odds she favored.
What Mary didn't see was the demon pirate coming up from behind ready to strike a killing blow to her. Rusalka pulled her pistol without hesitation and fired a shot across, nailing attacker in the head.
Mary heard the shot and used its brief distraction to her benefit. She rushed the fighter to her left, knocking him back then twisted toward the other swinging her sword around to take off his head. She glanced over to Rusalka quickly and mouthed thanks.
Rusalka winked and gave the air a kiss at Mary then jumped down to the helm. Mary pretended to turn, forgetting about her attacker. The demon believing he'd have her ran at her. Mary dropped into a crouch and spun chopping his legs off at the knees. He fell to his back withering in agony. Mary walked over and stood above him.
Ye should have stayed put, ye scurvy cur.
Then she thrust her sword through the demon and into the deck below. A
rrg, Anne will kill me yet.
She remarked to herself.
Rusalka on the other hand was busy with Blackbeard's first mate, Henry Morgan.
Avast, ye dirty dog!
Rusalka yelled grabbing Morgan's attention.
Avast, yerself ye poxy swab!
Morgan yelled back.
Me captain wishes ye fer himself but I may just have to indulge in killing ye meself.
If ye be thinking ye worthy enough then let us dance a shanty dance.
Morgan laughed and drew a large cutlass from his belt.
Come then ye lily-livered swab!
Rusalka did just that. She stepped in thrusting out at his midsection. Morgan blocked and pushed her sword aside then brought it around to cut at her legs. She wasn't there but to his side cutting high. Morgan was fast in reacting but couldn't fully get out of the way. Rusalka's sword cut across his upper arm putting a deep gash in it.
First blood goes to me, me hearty.
Rusalka taunted.
He swung back around with a scowl. Rusalka evaded by jumped back out of his reach.
Its last blood that concerns me.
He said charging into a frenzy.
Morgan was more skilled then Rusalka would have given him credit for. Each strike he made, she was able to block it efficiently but she herself wasn't able to get the upper hand anymore then he could.
ββ
Mary
Read ran through the deck yelling curses and orders. The chaos on the Hades' Whore was just as chaotic as on the Queen Anne's Revenge. Mary though it was rather ironic Blackbeard had chosen the name he had and her captain's was the same.
It would be a highly prized treasure for her captain and then this whip would be hers. All in due time, she told herself.
Ready the cannons!