Original Stories Fan Fiction / Romance Fan Fiction ❯ The Ocean in a Pirate's Eyes ❯ Chapter Three ( Chapter 3 )

“Wow,” exclaimed Aurora, utterly fascinated with the burned markings of alchemy on the deck of the ship. Many complicated symbols and what looked to be Caernaic letters and words were burned black into the wood of the ship, all within or around a main circle. “I've never seen such complicated alchemy before. It may take a while for me to figure out the spell to travel through dimensions,” she muttered to herself.

 

Noir scoffed, saying, “Well there's no point if it'll take you that long. We'll just find our own way.” He glared at Cassie when she hit him in the head.

 

“Don't be stupid! She's probably our only hope, considering there aren't any sorcerers in Caerni and the ones over there,” she said, pointing to the peninsula they had just left, “Will have our heads if we dare to return.” Noir grunted, turning his head and muttering nonsense to himself.

 

“Well it wouldn't be a problem if I had my books and notes, but your dear Captain is so opposed to going back to shore that it'll take me at least a week to figure this out,” added Aurora, folding her arms and glancing accusingly at Noir.

 

Another crew member, slightly taller than Noir with shoulder length chestnut-brown hair and glittering green eyes, stepped up behind the Captain and leaned on him as if he was an arm rest. “A week, eh? I guess we could sail around for a while. We could hang out with the people on that little island North West of here,” he said, his smile dazzling.

 

Aurora felt herself blush, thankful for the hand that was shading her eyes and most of her face from the sun. Wow, what's a guy like him doing on a pirate ship? she thought, looking back at the alchemic symbols. After a long pause, she finally asked, “Er… When do you want me to start decoding it?”

 

Noir waved his hand impatiently, replying, “Tonight. You can stay in the guest cabin until you get to know the rest of the crew.” With that said, he angrily turned around and stomped down the steps into his own cabin. Aurora rolled her eyes at his childish antics.

 

“Honestly, what's his problem?” she asked incredulously. “I haven't done anything to him.”

 

Cassie grinned slyly, patting the girl on the back. “Don't worry, you'll get used to it. He's not normally that irritated, though…” She paused, glancing at Aurora and then back at the direction Noir went. “It may be because he foolishly mistook you for myself.” She leaned closer, curving her hand around her mouth to whisper, “He's a bit bigheaded, perse. You know how captains are.”

 

Aurora giggled quietly, then blushed when he heard the other crew member laugh along. “That's damn true,” he said, laughing heartily. “Noir's more full of himself than his old man.”

 

“Oh?” inquired Aurora, mildly interested. Not surprising, though, she thought. Like father, like son.

 

The man flashed her a warm smile, holding out his hand. “I'm Jack, and this here is Cassie,” he said. Aurora shyly took his hand, shaking it lightly, then doing the same with Cassie.

 

“Nice to meet you,” she said, forcing a smile on her face. She stood looking embarrassed for a moment, then finally cleared her throat. “Um, do you have any… spare clothes I could wear? These aren't quite right to wear on a ship,” she said, laughing nervously as she smoothed out her skirt.

 

“What strange garments,” muttered Jack, just noticing the uniform that Aurora was in. “I've never seen anything like that before.”

 

Aurora smiled nervously, reaching up to run a hand through her messy hair. “Well, it's a school uniform,” she explained. “I don't dress like this normally.”

 

Jack chuckled, patting the girl on the head. “Well, I'm sure Cass has some spare clothes for you. I'll see you at dinner,” he said, sending her another smile as he left. Aurora smiled back, trying her best to cool her heating cheeks.

 

“Wouldn't mess with that one,” said Cassie as she led Aurora to her personal cabin. “You'd be lucky not to. He's quite the ladies man.” She looked irritated, and Aurora wanted to ask why, but decided it would be better not to ask questions. “Anyway, this tunic and these breeches ought to fit you. They're damn well too small for me. I'll meet you in the galley for dinner, and we'll introduce you to the rest of the crew.” She gave the girl a small smile and left the room, quietly closing the door behind her.

 

Aurora frowned as she took in what Cassie had told her. And I thought he'd be one of the nice, normal ones that just happened to be on a pirate ship, she thought bitterly. Well, at least I was warned. Cautiously peeking at the door, she quickly undressed herself and put on the borrowed clothing.

 

 

Noir paced around for nearly ten minutes until he heard a knock on his door. He briskly walked over and opened it, seeing none other than Cassie. He made a face, then grunted and let her in. Cassie frowned; was he expecting someone else? Brushing off that particular thought, she sat down on his desk and stared hard at him. But he would not meet her eyes.

 

“We must not go back,” he said after a few moments. “No, we can't go back.” Cassie looked confused. “We can't,” he said, stressing the word.

 

“Yes, we can,” Cassie argued. “We have the girl who can help us get there. She'll find her own way back, if that's what you're worried about—”

 

“No!” he shouted. Glancing around to make sure no one outside of the cabin heard his shout, he lowered his voice. “We can't. She is the key to unlocking the treasures of this world. She controls air—it was in some old story book, or something or other, that I read back home—and not only can she create a portal with her powers, she can also control the wind. Savvy?” Cassie shivered at the glint in the captain's eyes.

 

“Treasure hunting?” she asked, exasperated. “Haven't we learned our lesson? There are sorcerers in this world, Noir—not simply one that just happened to pop up, like in our world. They'll be just as bad, maybe even worse than James Dickson… He sent us to another world, Noir. Imagine what sorcerers here can do.” She stared hard at him, determined not to give up. She was not willing to lose her life searching for treasure because they had miraculously found the “key” to doing so.

 

Noir smirked. “I knew you'd say that,” he said calmly, walking towards the window. “And that is why I am fully prepared to explain. You see, man was not able, even in this presently future time to us pirates, to find all the treasure in the world. There could be jewels, maps, clues that lead to bigger and better treasure—all in places never found by man. And why?” He waited for an answer until he realized he wasn't going to get one. “Because man is still not able to control the winds. These sorcerers are so caught up in their future times—rather, present, for them—that they don't think to use their powers for such a foolish thing as treasure hunt—”

 

“This is precisely why we shouldn't!” she retorted angrily. “Noir, have you stopped to think that if others see our ship sailing in a different direction than theirs, that they won't try to—” Once again, the woman was cut off by her frustrating captain.

 

“Darling, you forget she's a sorceress,” he said, grinning slyly. “She concealed herself well in the shadows the other night—with a bit more magic, she could conceal the entire ship.” He smirked when he saw Cassie's face fall as she ran out of `what if's.'

 

“Noir…” she started, shaking her head. “You'd better know what you're getting into.” She gave him one last look and left for the galley.

 

 

Aurora had quickly changed into the tunic and breeches and was glad that they fit her extremely well. They weren't too tight—loose enough to hide her feminine features—but not baggy or in the way. In fact, she was in such a good mood, she was contemplating on apologizing to Captain Noir for getting off on a rough start. Not that he deserves it, she thought, but what the hell. She smiled the entire way until she reached his cabin, but stopped short as she heard stressed voices.

 

Aurora wasn't normally the type to eavesdrop, but if there was a conversation that seemed interesting enough, she guiltily listened in. At first, she thought she heard the captain say that they can't go back to their own world. I wonder why? she wondered. She pressed closer to the door, regretting it as she heard a loud shout of “no.” Startled, and yet still curious, she once again pressed her ear to the door.

 

“…the key to unlocking the treasures of this world. She controls air…with her powers, she can also control the wind. Savvy?” Aurora had to quickly, but quietly, slap a hand to her mouth to stop her from gasping and getting caught. Herself, Aurora, control the wind? It was true that she was better at air bending than any other element, but she never tried to control the winds. She was not ignorant of the strength of the winds, and how impossible it was to even attempt to control them.

 

Her spirits sunk lower than they had been before as she made her way to the galley. It was not like she didn't expect to be used for one thing or another; they were pirates, after all. In this case, it was either getting them back home or finding them treasure. She wasn't sure which would be worse, though she assumed the latter.

 

Aurora's previous thoughts ceased to a halt as she heard her stomach grumble loudly. Thankfully, she was the only one in the galley at the moment, but she still thought it quite embarrassing. Has it been three and a half hours since I took this potion? she wondered. As if to answer her, Cassie walked into the galley, looking worried; she carefully changed her mood as soon as she saw Aurora, though it was much too stressed.

 

“Well, the crew doesn't have dinner until later, so—” she started, but Aurora cut her off. This greatly irritated the woman, because she had been interrupted many times less than ten minutes before.

 

“Um, I know this is weird to ask, but how long have we been sailing?” she quiestioned, quite embarrassed. Cassie raised an eyebrow, but said that it had been about four hours. “Thank god!” Aurora whispered to herself. “I'm starving.”

 

Cassie smirked, hearing the girl's growling stomach. “Well, as I was trying to say, the captain has invited you to dinner,” she said, and immediately the atmosphere turned stale. “He wishes to speak to you of… the plans to get back home,” she added hastily, avoiding the girl's upcoming questions.

 

“Alright,” she replied ineptly. She stood up and followed Cassie back to the captain's cabin, acting as if she didn't already know where it was. She felt guilty, but also apprehensive about what they were specifically keeping from her.

 

Noir smiled cheekily at the girl once she entered his cabin. He nodded to Cassie and she shut the door. “Hello there, dear,” he said, grinning, letting his silver-capped teeth shine in the candle light. “Thought I'd apologize for getting off on a rough start.”

 

Aurora blinked, quite confused at the setting as well as the captain's new attitude. She was going to like the thought of him sucking up to her, but she knew that even if she made the best of it, in the end he would get what he wanted and leave her somewhere—probably not in her own world.

 

She looked around, brushing off what the captain had said about apologizing. She had almost mentioned that she was thinking the same, but bit her tongue as she remembered the conversation she had overheard. She blushed somewhat, seeing a table for two set up with a nice tablecloth, candles lit above it, and a vase with a single rose in it. Even if it was to bribe her or to get on her good side—whatever reason Noir did this, she was delighted.

 

“Ay, girl. Take a seat. It's not all that fancy,” he said, interrupting her train of thought. “Usually it's bare and only has plates of food stacked on it. Either way, it's nothing special.” He shook his head slightly, stopping himself from rambling. Aurora assumed that he had drank too much as he was thinking of a plan to persuade her to help him.

 

Noir admitted to himself that, although he did not know why, he had a gut feeling he would need her permission to go after these hidden treasures. They weren't much good without her—it was either sail the seas of a foreign land and possibly get attacked, or have her at least return them home. After they hunted for treasure…or so he was hoping.

 

“Miss…” Noir started, pausing because he had no knowledge of the girl's name. Aurora rolled her eyes and gave him her full name. “Ah, yes, Miss Williams. I understand you're training to become a sorceress?” he asked. She simply looked at him, her face saying that they had been over this twice already. “May I ask why?”

 

“Look, Captain—” she started.

 

“Just Noir is fine, darling,” he said, smirking surreptitiously. His grin widened when the girl blushed. “Now, about our deal… I have a, proposition, you could say.”

 

Aurora attempted to look confused, asking, “What sort of proposition, Capt—Noir?” Feeling the name roll off her tongue felt strangely intimidating, though she did not understand why. Before Noir was able to reply, she quickly added, “Just tell me what you want and get it over with.”

 

Noir just grinned quite smugly, replying, “You're quite the sneaky one, ay?” He chuckled. “Yes, darling, there is something more that we want from you. I can guess you know what it is, judging by the look in your eyes.” When Aurora raised an eyebrow, he sighed and stood up, pacing about the cabin once more. “Love, you can control…elements, can't you?”

 

“Yes,” Aurora replied. “And it's Aurora.” She glared, though the captain still kept his smile in place as it grew bigger, if possible. “I control air,” she added slowly, helping the captain get to the point.

 

“Ah, yes, air,” he muttered, a flicker of mischief passing through his eyes. “Of course. Well, dear—Aurora—you are exactly what we need. I propose, in payment of getting us caught back there, you command the winds to take us wherever we please, and in return, we will ensure your safety back home. Oh—you'll have to conceal the ship too. Wonderful job you did the other night, remember? A ship shouldn't be that hard to hide for a sorceress of your skill.”

 

Aurora blushed at the compliment. She had, after all, been studying for three full years. Though she never overachieved anything, unless it was of particular interest to her. “Well, I suppose I could try, but…”

 

“Perfect!” said Noir, cutting her off as he laid his hands down on the table to get to the planning. “Now, in our world, we had some knowledge of this world—also telling us where its deepest, most secret treasures were hidden…” He stopped, noticing the girl had risen and slammed her hands on the table.

 

“Captain Noir,” she said sternly. “You and I both know that no sorcerer nor sorceress, even in my world, has ever been able to control the wind. It is very difficult, and the only man who ever did accomplish it—if he was anything but legend—died about 500 years ago! Let's say I do have the strength and will to do so. It wouldn't matter, because it could take months, even years to master it.” The captain pursed his lips, bringing a hand up to gently stroke at the small stubble upon his chin.

 

“Darling, you have far too little confidence in yourself. Must I prove to you that you can accomplish said task?” Satisfied at her perplexed face, he stood up and walked to a bookshelf in the corner. “I have much more knowledge of your world than you give me credit for,” he mumbled irately, and just loud enough for her to hear.

 

“Oh, yes, Captain, please do prove to me that I can accomplish such a difficult and impossible task.” She rolled her eyes and slowly sat back down.

 

“Here it is!” Noir plucked a thin, worn out book from the shelf and set it on the table. Opening it, he turned a few pages, and then turned it around for Aurora to see. “Right there,” he said, pointing. “A girl, just ripe of age—we assume that is you—who can control the element of air better than any other, will realize her potential while sailing at sea. Legend has it, you're part of a prophecy, love. To help me crew and I to find the lost treasures of this world.” He laughed heartily at her annoyed face. “The proof's right there!”

 

“It says at sea, Captain. That could be any woman. We have bigger roles than in your world, or so I've heard.” She frowned, reading the description aloud in her mind. `Prophecy tells of a girl, just ripe of age, who will come upon a mysterious people from the world above and in balance with her own. Her potential as a sorceress will succeed tenfold as she sails at sea, effectively controlling the winds, just as her ancestor, Joseph Barks did thirty-two and five-hundred years ago.' Her eyebrow creased as she read the messier print written underneath the passage. `Said ancestor will be born in the year of the Horse, the month of the Libra, on the first day of the eigth month.' Her eyes widened in realization. “This…”

Noir nodded, smirking. “It's you, love—ehm, Aurora,” he said, quickly correcting himself when she glared at him. “I know it's hard to believe, but there it is. You can't deny it much longer, darling.”

 

“Wel… Wait, how did you know my birthday, then? That's the only way you would know that it was me you needed,” she pointed out, leaning back as she became more suspicious of the captain's intentions.

 

“Now, now, my dear, don't flatter yourself. It's not hard to see that you're the proper age, and I knew it was you, because the moment I looked into your eyes, I saw them command the wind.” He smiled to himself when he saw her baffled look. “You'll understand it, Aurora. All in good time. So, `ave we got ourselves a deal?” He held out his hand.

 

Aurora looked uncertain, unappreciative of the little time she had to make a decision. What could I possibly walk out with if I help them? My powers will certainly be realized, but is it worth it? I could die… The captain cut into her thoughts, saying, “Life isn't easy, darling. You've got to take chances at some time or other.”

 

Somewhat agreeing, she slightly grinned at the captain. He was quite an interesting fellow—she could not understand why this man was so obsessed with treasure that he would even sail in a foreign world just to recover it. Yet, he intrigued her. Perhaps I should study more about pirates and the Caerni, she thought. Less hesitantly, she shook his slightly callused hand. “You've got yourself a deal, Captain.”

 

“That's Noir to you, Miss Williams.” With the deal finally verbally sealed, he sat down and began to eat his long-awaited feast.