Page 6 of Enchanted By a Pirate
What was going on? Her pulse pounded in her ears and her legs threatened to give way as she froze and looked around. Along the sides there were numerous cannons. The deck was raised in the front and back, and the helm was located in the rear. One of the men was standing behind it, though it was so dark that so she could barely make him out. In general, for such a large ship, there seemed to be few men on board. Or were the others below deck? Anna had to escape before the entire crew attacked her.
As the ship gained speed, one of the pirates approached her. He was wearing a red-checkered scarf on his head and when he laughed, he bared two gold teeth that stood out among the rows of other yellowing ones. He was unshaven and his blue eyes shone greedily on his weathered face. Grinning hideously, he wiped his dirty hand on his tattered pants. The smell of rum drifted over to her. Was he the one who had abducted her from her living room?
"Well, doll?"
"Who are you? What do you want from me?"
He laughed loudly. "I'll have time to deal with you later. Until then, I'll take precautions so you can't run off!"
"Run off? How am I supposed to get off a flying ship?"
He laughed, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Quiet, otherwise, you'll get the bag over your head." There was a click and before she knew it, a chain attached to the railing tightened around her ankle.
"Hey, what's this? What…" But seeing the pirate's admonishing finger, she pressed her lips together. Better to keep her mouth shut and an eye on the men than to suffocate in the smelly sack.
"It's iron, so don't get your hopes up."
Iron? Weren't all chains iron? Why did he mention this specifically? Did he believe she could break shackles made of a different metal?
With the ugly grin still on his face, the pirate turned and stalked off toward his crew.
Even if Anna didn't know how it would be possible, perhaps there would be a moment when she could escape. But to where? One look over the railing was enough to make her dizzy. Damn it. Her slight fear of heights would make escape difficult. Her heart was pounding at a pace that couldn't possibly be healthy. As she took a few steps back, the chain rattled over the planksand Anna rammed her back against the mainmast. She clung to it as if it gave her security, a certainty that this would all end well. Or that the situation was really just a nightmare. When would she finally wake up? A jolt shook the ship and the back of her head hit the mast. Ouch! You don't feel pain in dreams.
Below her, the city lights had long since disappeared. Nothing but infinite darkness stretched beyond the ship, which sailed through the air as if it were the most normal thing in the world.
Was it a flying ship? Some sort of zeppelin? She tilted her head back, but apart from the huge sails billowing in the wind and the tall masts, she could see nothing above her except the twinkling stars and the broad crescent of the moon. How was that possible?
She heard a low voice in her head, whispering one word over and over.
Magic.
Magic? Were these unkempt, bellowing pirates capable of something that special? Or were they using a spell? One they had stolen? An incantation that had to be spoken? Maybe it had something to do with the glitter that was all across the ship.
Had she gone completely mad? Was she losing her mind? When would she finally wake up from this nightmare? She smacked the back of her head against the mast again. Ouch! Why did she feel pain? Did that mean this was truly happening? She had been abducted by pirates? With a flying ship? Panic threatened to overwhelm her.Stay calm. Stay calm.There would come a moment when she could escape — and she'd have to recognize it and take advantage of it. Despite the fact that everything inside her wanted to scream for help, she continued to examine the ship.
Even at her feet, she discovered glitter. She slowly bent down and ran her finger along the plank. A little bit stuck to her fingertip — like it had outside her apartment yesterday.
Had that really been just yesterday? It seemed like such a long time ago when she'd been lounging on the couch, peaceful and protected, watching TV. Then again, she obviously hadn't been protected at that point. The dormer window. These men must have opened it and looked around the apartment. Which had happened yesterday! They'd left the glitter on the doormat in front of the apartment door and on the window frame.
Anna had already had a strange feeling when she entered the apartment. Why hadn't she listened? Why hadn't she gone out with Nele and spent the night with her? Why hadn't any of the neighbors or news channels noticed a huge ship on the roof of the building? Or had the pirates landed later? But they had searched her apartment the day before.
Her thoughts were racing when someone's voice brought her crashing back to the here and now.
"When are we going to get to her?" the fattest of the men shouted. Sweat glistened on his low forehead and his striped shirt stretched across his stomach. It wouldn't have taken much for the fabric to give and roll up.
"As soon as we are in safe territory," replied the one with the checkered scarf who had just spoken to her. He caressed his saber as if it were a beloved pet. "She cannot be allowed to escape us."
All the abductors focused their threatening gazes on Anna, and she involuntarily took two steps back until her back hit the railing. Panicking, she clung to it. Beyond that, there was no means of escape. How was she supposed to defend herself against the scoundrels?
She scanned the area for anything useful, but all she saw was rope and a bucket of coarse brushes. Maybe the bucket wouldcome in handy — it was wood, after all. If one of the men came too close, she could hit him with it. That was definitely better than being defenseless.
The men were once again engrossed in conversation, so Anna hurriedly crept toward the bucket. Damn. The chain around her ankle tightened. She stretched, but the bucket was too far away. She couldn't reach it.
"Want to scrub our deck?" one of the men above her said. It was the one in the striped shirt. His grin was chilling.
Anna's throat tightened as she nodded calmly at the bucket. "Sure, I have to pass the time somehow."
"You think I'm stupid, don't you? I don't know what tricks you've got up your sleeve, but you're not going to get anything from me." Keeping his distance, he grabbed the bucket and stomped away.
