Chapter Two
The Humiliation of Charlotte Brooks
James had no idea how they managed to get back home with only five crewmembers to work the ship. They moved their fallen comrades into the hold of the ship. He could still feel the weight of their dead bodies in his arms as he dragged them down and helped lay them to the floor.
He lent over the side, his head held low. He wasn't sure what was making him feel sick- the choppy waves or the fact he had failed to protect Charlotte. Perhaps it was a bit of both. He took deep breaths, taking in the salt air but it didn't help. He had let them take Charlotte! She was now their prisoner! But not just any prisoner...she was
his
prisoner. She was the prisoner of Andre West.
They docked fifteen hours after having been attacked and, as James started to walk onto the dock, he realised just how bad the ship looked. Clearly the people at the dock thought so and they came rushing down to see.
'What happened?!' exclaimed the dock master.
'We were ambushed,' answered James. 'By Andre West's pirate crew.'
James could literally see the dock master grow paler.
'Y-you mean...
the
Andre West? The first mate from all those years ago?' he asked and James nodded. 'Holy Mother of God. Charlotte Brooks was on the ship, no?' Again, James nodded.
'She was taken,' said James, his voice threatening to fail him.
'I must alert the guard. How many wounded?' asked the dock master.
The surviving crewmembers walked down onto the dock and the dock master rubbed his forehead, now a pale shade of green.
'Dear God,' he mumbled and turned to the others who had come to see what had happened. 'We must alert the guard and Mr. Brooks!' he demanded. 'Go now!'
The group ran up the dock and broke apart in different directions, some staying to help move the bodies from the ship and the dock master turned to James.
'You should go see your father,' he said softly but James shook his head.
'No. I must speak with Mr. Brooks. Charlotte was in my care,' he replied shakily and set off without another word. He was sure that word of Charlotte's abduction would reach Mr. Brooks before he could get there but he still needed to see him.
By the time James reached the Brooks household, Mr. Brooks was running out to meet him. Mr. Brooks grabbed James by the shoulders and shook him angrily.
'Is it true?!' he cried. 'Did they take Charlotte?'
James nodded and Mr. Brooks collapsed against him. Two guards pulled Mr. Brooks off James and helped him back into his house as he cried out in despair. James followed although he wasn't sure what he could do. Once Mr. Brooks was seated, he asked James to explain what had happened.
James explained how they were attacked in the dead of night and how the battle broke out on the deck but they were outnumbered and out skilled. He continued to explain, with his voice now shaking uncontrollably, how they had taken Charlotte and had been given told to inform Mr. Brooks on who had taken his daughter.
'I must go and help her at once!' Mr. Brooks stood up.
'Sir, we can arrange a party to go and aid you,' said one of the guards. 'But it'll need planning.'
'I don't have time for that!' spat Mr. Brooks. 'I need to go straight away.'
'But Sir,' began James nervously. 'You cannot possibly save her by yourself. I will speak to my father and he can help with hiring men to help you save Charlotte but you'll have to wait.'
'We have no idea what they could be doing to Charlotte this very moment!' shouted Mr. Brooks. 'I will not sit by and-'
'With all due respect, Sir, but you rushing off into battle and getting yourself killed will not help Charlotte in the slightest,' said James and Mr. Brooks stopped. 'I only ask you wait until we have enough men to stand a chance.'
Mr. Brooks sat down, his hands shaking. He nodded, silently agreeing. He would wait but not for long.
#
The next day she was awoken to Andre untying her. She felt groggy and her neck felt stiff while her wrists and ankles were burning.
'Good morning, Miss Brooks,' Andre crushed his lips against hers. 'Have a good night?'
'Go to hell,' she snarled and he smiled.
'Your clothes are on the bed and food on the table,' he told her. 'Feel free to have a walk around the ship. My men will not touch you,' he walked to the door and grabbed the handle. 'Yet,' he added as an after thought and walked out.
She stood up and walked shakily to the bed, ignoring the plate of food. She pulled on a second nightdress and curled up on the bed. She didn't want to leave the room and she didn't think she could stomach eating anything. She closed her eyes and sobbed. She wasn't sure how long she laid there crying. It could have been hours for all she knew.
The door opened and she sat up, finding Jimmy standing in the doorway.
'What do you want?' she asked, wiping her eyes.
'The Captain wanted me to check in on you,' he closed the door and looked at the table, where her food remained untouched. 'It wasn't personal,' he said suddenly, looking back at her. 'All this...not for me anyway.'
'So why do this to me?' she questioned. 'Why help them kidnap me?'
He smiled uncertainly. 'We're pirates, love,' he shrugged. 'I needed to prove myself to them so I gave them what they most desired.'
She hugged her legs, rocking on the bed. 'Please help me,' she pleaded.
He shook his head. 'I can't. All I can do is offer you a bit of advice. Find out what the Captain likes and give it to him.'
Her eyes went wide. 'Excuse me?'
'There are a couple of different ways this can end. He can either sell you off at the next port or he can keep you here,' replied Jimmy.
'And why would I want to stay in this God forsaken place?' she asked.
He had an unreadable expression as he spoke. 'If he sells you, you can kiss any chance of being reunited with your father goodbye. Your father will sail to the end of the Earth to find you. What do you think will happen when he eventually finds this ship and you're not on it?' he asked. 'Do you think Andre will tell him where you are?'
She shook her head.
'Well then,' he nodded at her plate. 'Eat that. It'll do you no good getting ill. Come outside when you're ready.'
Jimmy left and she grudgingly walked over to the table and ate the food, chewing on it for far too long in an attempt to delay going outside but she eventually found herself walking to the door and stepping outside. The pirates were working tirelessly as they fought against the waves.
She sat on the steps, watching them work silently. The sound of heavy footsteps behind her made her turn her head just as Andre sat down next to her.
'Look at them,' he said without meeting her eyes. 'My loyal crew. After our attack on your home all those years ago you could say we became like family.'
Charlotte scoffed. 'Do you really expect me to believe that?' she asked.
'Why should it matter to me whether you believed it or not?' he questioned. 'I am merely stating a fact. I would die for my crew and they would die for me.'
She stood up with the intention of finding somewhere else to sit but he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back down.
'I have told them that you belong to me for now,' he said, grabbed her chin and forcing her to look at him. 'But make no mistake that you will eventually become a shared property on this ship.'
'Is that how you see me?' she snarled. 'Property?'
'Personally I see you as a means to an end,' he replied coolly. 'Your Father's suffering is all that matters to me. Your Father suffers and I get to
own
you.'
She bristled. 'Own me...' she repeated.
He nodded. 'Own you. I own you.'
She could tell he enjoyed saying it and it made her feel sick. Her eyes darted to the left and she saw Jimmy watching them. His words of advice now played in her head and she swallowed. She looked back into Andre's cold eyes.
She ran a hand up his leg and he looked confused at first but once he felt her hand brush against his crotch, he smiled.
'That's a good start, Miss Brooks,' he said quietly. 'I'll be seeing you later,' he jumped up to join his crew.
Charlotte spent the rest of the day watching the crew work, silently accepting any food given to her. She was surprised by just how restrained the crew were with her. Maybe Andre was telling the truth when he told her his crew was loyal. She had expected at least some snide comments but they were surprisingly well mannered or completely silent.
She watched as the sun fell, the once blue sky now shades of burning oranges and pale purples until finally night took hold and the half moon rose from its slumber, awakening the darkness and the crew made their way down to the lower levels. Andre stood by his door, watching her expectantly. She stood up and approached him. He opened the door for her and she walked inside, Andre following her. He closed the door and lit the candles before turning to her.
She swallowed. 'What would you like?' she asked shakily.
'Excuse me?'
She tried to keep her voice even. 'You own me. I am yours to command. What would you like?'
He smirked and grabbed one of the chairs, dragging it to the foot of the bed. He sat down on it.