Chapter One
Artie
I wake up to a rough hand over my mouth and I knew it was my time to die.
I do not struggle as the very large man, who smells and looks like a pirate, throws me over his broad shoulder and carries me from my bed to the front door in a few strides.
My house is a one room cottage that belonged to my elderly friend Emily before she passed.
As the man carries me outside, I see the sun is setting in a pool of pinks and oranges. I hear screams and pistol shots as I watch as pirates raid the small island village.I watch pirates shoot the husbands and fathers as they kidnap the girls and women. The pirates chuck them over their shoulders as the girls and women scream and kick. The captors carry them through the village to the docks and onto the massive pirate ship waiting at the docks.
The name of the ship adorned its side in gold paint. The letters read The Kings Renegade. My mouth gapes open at the sight of this name. The Kings Renegade is said to be the ship of the great pirate king Claxton 'Handsome' Haley. He is said to be the most ruthless and most handsome pirate on the seas.
I allow my captor to carry me aboard the massive ship. Once boarded I notice all of the kidnaped girls and women are gagged and tied to the mast with thick rope. They struggle and groan through their gags. I sit still as my pirate kidnapper ties me to the mast and places a cloth around my mouth, not like I was talking.
Once all of the girls and women are on board, the men in their lives are most likely dead and littering the ground of the village. A heavy set of boots walk from what must be the captain's quarters. My eyes wide as I lay eyes on the most handsome man I have ever seen.
"My crew!" The captain bellows, addressing his crowd. His voice is deep and gruff. "Take a lady and have some fun! When you are satisfied either throw them overboard," A cynical grin crosses over his sun kissed face. "Or kill them, up to you! Let's have some fun shall we men?" At the moment he finishes his speech, he looks directly at me. He points a filthy finger at me. "That one is mine" He growls.
The handsome captain saunters over to me. He takes my arm in his large rough hand and pulls me to a standing position and cuts my ties and unties my gag.
"Why aren't you scared?" The pirate king asks.
"I have no reason to live, your highness."
The king looks at me with wide eyes. He leans into my ear and whispers gruffly with a smile on his lips, "let us change that shall we?"
As we walk to the pirate king's quarters, I take a Thorough look at my captor. He is a tall mountain of man with a short, well kept beard with little beads thread through it. His eyes are dark green and charming. His lips pale pink against his tan sun kissed skin. Over all the pirate king lives up to his name Claxton 'Handsome' Haley.
Claxton looks down at me as if taking me in like I was him.
"What is your name wrench?"
"Artsilia Buckley, people call me Artie." I answer, not looking at him.
"We'll Artie," Claxton says to me, "you will be my new pet." I look at him in surprise.
"Why not just kill me like the others?" I ask in a panic.
"Because I do not like giving women what they want." He replies smoothly. I can't help but let a little smile slip from my lips. I know I should be fighting for my life, to save myself from slavery to a pirate king but instead I am rolling over in submission to the most ruthless man on the seas.
We walk across the ship to his quarters, his hand still tight around my arm.
"What does being your pet entail?" I ask cautiously.