You are my storm

They were coming after her. Raelyn Saylor could feel the danger in the murmurs of her belly. This time she would not escape. She had been hiding for three years from the pirate Matt Waveson, the Sea Wolf, but they both knew she could not hide forever from the most sinful and dangerous pirate who had ever crossed the Seven Seas. She exhaled the air from her chest and decided to leave the pub from Crown Harbor when she came face to face with the danger of her life.

„Well, well, well. If it’s not Miss Raelyn Saylor disguised as a man."

The massive pirate measured her from head to toe with a satisfied grin on his face.

„It’s a crime to wear men’s clothes with a countenance like your, Little Ewe .”

Raelyn expected anything, but not that. His green eyes like playful waves glistened, and his disheveled black hair caught attention with its short haircut. „He’s not an ordinary pirate,” she thought. Raelyn would gladly slap him for the indecent remark, but she controlled herself. „It will be an even bigger crime if he continues to be a bastard.”

„If you came just to admire me, you can choose another day. Today I’m busy getting rid of the villains."

„What a pleasant coincidence! I’m a bastard too, but I have to admit you broke my heart, Little Ewe. You don’t run away from me, do you?”

„No,” she rolled her eyes, „I was just coming to invite you to tea.”

„I have to admit that sarcasm suits you. But I advise you to put him aside, because on Comnander you won’t need it anymore. Now, we will quietly get out of this pub like two friends who known each other for a lifetime. Do you understand, Little Ewe? ”

The short woman with dark brown eyes looked at him ugly, but had no choice but to follow him out of the pub.

„I’d really appreciate it if you wouldn’t call me Little Ewe, Mr. Waveson.”

„Well, come on, I’m only five years older than you, and you must be twenty-two, if I’m not mistaken.”

They boarded a boat in the harbor and headed for the proud ship that awaited them at sea.

„How do you know? I doubt my father told you anything about me or that you remembered something so insignificant.”

„On the contrary, Raelyn. Your father talked a lot about you, and I was glad to know that somewhere, there was a child who had the privilege of being loved by his father. And call me Matt. We will spend some time together.”

„You stole my father’s ship and pushed him to jail. I assure you that two strangers like us have no reason to spend time together.”

„You’re wrong, Little Ewe. I’ll give you some reasons right away.”

They boarded the famous Commander and Raelyn was surprised to find that it was not a typical ship of pirates. Cleanliness reigned, and the crew was orderly and disciplined. „Such a captain, such the ship and the crew,” she noticed. The men nodded briefly and looked at her with some hostility.

„Gentlemen, I have the honor to introduce you Miss Raelyn Saylor. Rick Saylor’s daughter.”

A murmur arose among the crew. „The pirate’s daughter,” they whispered to each other. But they were surprised to see that the woman did not even tremble at the sound of those words. Raelyn advanced toward the pirates and took off her hat. The men had said nothing, but it was clear that they appreciated her long, dark brown hair braided in a thick ponytail.

„I have no reason to be ashamed of these words, gentlemen. Rick Saylor is the best pirate I know and an excellent captain. And I’m proud to call him father.”

„Gentlemen,” she shuddered when she heard Matt’s voce behind her, „our guest thinks she has no reason to... befriend us. I think it’s our duty to make it clear.”

His hand on her shoulder miraculously helps her relax.

„Now, if we have established that we don't like each other, can anyone tell me why I am here? I doubt it’s just because I’m the pirate’s daughter who was your captain.”

„You are right. You are the daughter of the pirate who brought the curse of anchoring upon us."

Raelyn turned to Matt with an expression of shock and horror on her face.

„My father left Rick as captain until I was the right age, but he wanted to keep the ship for his daughter. After i requisitioned the ship and became captain, your father cursed the ship and the crew so that we could never anchor ashore or in any port until we found our stolen treasure. So for three years we have been sailing unstopble and tirelessly at sea, like lost souls who cannot reach the harbor.”

„My father... what treasure is this about?”

„Before handing himself to the authorities ...”

„Because that’s the only way he could be caught,” she added.

„Your father hid a very valuable piece of treasure on the Invisible Island. As you probably know, the island is invisible. It can only be found by those who know exactly where it is, but no one knows... except your father."

„Even you find it, the island can only become visible if you throw fairy magic dust over it. And everyone knows that nothing is harder in the world than catching a fairy.”

„Speaking of fairies..."

A small winged creature flew from under the pirate’s hat.

„That’s a... fairy! But how? It’s impossible!”

„Maybe no one told you, but I use to make the impossible possible. And please, her name is Ruth”.

Raelyn lifted her hand and the little fairy sat in her palm. One of Raelyn’s gifts was approaching different creatures, especially the fantastic ones. They trusted her and approached her curiously.

„Have you ever tried to escape from the ship?”

„Thousend times. An unseen barrier prevented the ship from anchoring, and whenever we left the ship in boats and reached the shore the next day we wake up back on the ship. So we are doomed to sail the seas until we recover our treasure.”

„So removing the curse is yours only chance... and how are you going to find the map to the Invisible Island? I bet Ruth can’t help you.”

„On the contrary, Little Ewe. Ruth found out where you were and took us to you.”

„To me? If you want revenge on my father, you’ve already done it. I lost my job at the library and became the most wanted fugitive. It can’t be worse.”

„The day Rick cursed the ship and our lives he mentioned the only person who knows where the map to the Invisible Island is.”

Raelyn had feared these words all her life.

„It’s you. So you see, Little Ewe, if there was no reason you wouldn’t run away from us. You wouldn’t be hiding... if you had nothing to hide. It can be even worse than that.”

"I... I don't have the map."

"I don't see why you couldn't take us to it."

"There is a tiny little problem. The map is not a map. The map is... a man. It's... Jack the Odious. "

"You mean the only one who can take us to the Invisible Island is the most cunning and dirty pirate?"

"I thought you have that title."

"I, my dear, am a gentleman. And if you want me to act like one, hold your tongue! ”

They set out for the port of Constanta, where Jack the Odious was. Jack was a bearded, toothless creature.

"Jack, old man, I'm glad to see you again! Where have you been, you marine rapscallion?”

"Ha! One like me can't stay in one place, Sea Dog. How did you find me?"

"I have a trustworthy spy. And it's Sea Wolf.”

"Eh," Jack said shaking his hand, "it's the same. What do I care about grammar? Say why you came.”

There seemed to be silence in the tavern at once.

"Rumor go that you know where the Invisible Island might be."

"Who is she?"

"How did you know I was a woman?" My disguise is perfect!”

"You are the only one who seems to think among them. I've known enough women in my life to recognize a quality one when I see it. And you, my dear, have too generous shapes for a man, if you allow me to say it. That's right," he turned to Matt, "I know where it is. But why would I tell you?"

"Because I'll give you the Heart of the Waves medallion in return, after we retrieve it from the i sland and break the curse."

Jack the Odious was not an easy-to-convince pirate, but he knew how to recognize a good deal when he was offered one. They boarded the Commander and Jack showed them the way. The trip to the Invisible Island was not a luxury cruise. Danger lurked everywhere. There were other villains looking for the Invisible Island to get their hands on the precious medallion. And the Crown had put a pretty nice reward on Matt’s head, so they had to be vigilant and not trust anyone. It was a difficult twelve-day journey in which Matt and Raelyn discovered that they had much in common. They were both brave, stubborn, and loyal. Their problem was that none of them wanted to open their hearts. Raelyn hadn’t completely forgiven Matt for the imprisonment of her father, and he didn’t want to have any feelings for any woman.

On the tenth day, the ship was attacked by the Giant Squid, a sea monster guarding the road to the Invisible Island. The pirates fired cannons at him, but nothing seemed to affect the monster. The mast was broken and the crew was in danger of death.

„Wait. I read in a book about it when I was working at the library. We need to pierce that brown spot from his head. This will make his nervous system fail and he will die. Follow me!”

She and Matt climbed the mast, cut the ropes at the same time, and pierced with the sharp tip of the broken portion the squid’s head. The crew was happy to get rid of the sea creature and they congratulated Raelyn, throwing her up and shouting „Lityle Ewe”.

„It’s not just my work, Matt helped me too,” she tried to calm them down.

Matt watched as she was applauded by the crew and smiled sadly. He returned to the cabin and for the first time wondered how long he would be alone. He had no false hopes. He knew the woman would leave at some point. The experience with the squid made them both realize that it was more than attraction between them. It took a whole day to correct the damage done by the squid and at nightfall the crew was exhausted. Raelyn climbed on the main yard and contemplated the stars, and the captain was at the helm.

A mysterious force drew him to her, as the sea was drawn to the shore. He entrusted the helm to Jack, who was not in the habit of sleeping at nights. He climbed on the main yard and greeted each other.

„I still can’t believe my father stole your father’s ship.”

„Well... Dylan The Otter is not my biological father.”

„He’s not? How so?”

„He was my fencing teacher. There is no one better than him. We used to sneak into the pantry every night to eat sweets and chocolate and he would tell me the most captivating stories of pirates. Dad was angry that I was spending time with him and listening to his stories. He wanted me to take over his job. The day Dylan told me his only life is on sea, I knew I wanted to be a pirate. I managed to get out of the closet where I had been locked up and did not look back. Dylan took me on his ship and as his son. He taught me everything I know about the sea, he taught me to be a pirate. I became the Sea Wolf because of him. He is my real father.”

„I appreciate your devotion to your father, but you must know that it is not because of him that you have become what you are today. You made a name for yourself and fought hard to get that far... Wait a minute. You are the son of the governor of Crown Harbor who is said to have died! You had a spectacular comeback from the dead, Captain.”

„I didn’t die. Only the child I once was. It’s dawn, it’s time to release the boats."

„We will be ready immediately, Captain. And Matt? Thank you for telling me.”

Ruth sprinkled magic dust over the site of the Invisible Island and it became visible. The pirates lowered the boats and reached the shore. They didn't have much time until the island became invisible again, and then they would be trapped on it forever. As they moved ashore, Matt noticed that it was too quiet.

"That can't be good," Raelyn whispered.

The lightning strike took them by surprise. The Blind Pirates captured them as they set foot in the woods and tied them up. In vain did Matt try to explain that he was only coming to retrieve his stolen treasure.

"Let me try." Raelyn cleared her throat. "Gentlemen, the inhabitants of this wonderful island can only be exceptional. If you don't mind, how did you caught us? ”

"Nothing simpler," their boss, Charlie, replied. "We can’t see in colors, but we see in smells. For example, you smell like ocean waves, and your lover over here smells like sea storm. ”

"He's not my lover."

"But I could be."

Raelyn turned to Matt, surprised by his answer, then frowned at him.

"And what do i smell like?" Jack the Odious asked.

"Stinky algae."

"Ha! The bastard guessed me right! That's my natural smell!”

"Gentlemen, if there is anything we can do for you, we will do it in exchange for our release."

"You can't restore our sight, miss. And as long as we remain blind the island will be invisible too.”

Charlie leaned over to Raelyn and placed a white flower in her hair.

"Enjoy the island as much as you can, because you will soon become invisible forever.”

"You promised me the Heart of the Waves medallion, Matt, and instead I get chains. I thought the dogs were trustworthy!”

"Wolf, okay? My nickname is Sea Wolf. And I didn't say the exact time I was going to give you the locket."

"Wait!" Raelyn shouted suddenly. "I know this flower. It's a Crinus Farmaecus, the Enchanted Lily. I read about it, it has healing properties. Let me prepare the medicine and you will regain your sight, I promise!”

The Blind Pirates consulted and decided to untie Raelyn.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Matt asked worriedly.

"Have some trust, please. You must know that I don’t read just books about pirates and love novels.”

Charlie grabbed Matt by the arm and lifted him to his feet, with his pistol aimed at Raelyn.

"If the woman makes a wrong move or tries to trick us, you, Captain, will be the one to shoot her."

Raelyn prepared a large cauldron on the fire and when the water boiled she threw the flower petals into the cauldron.

"Now, we only need stinky algae. Where can we find... Bring Jack!”

Raelyn cut a strand from the screaming pirate's beard who swore with all his lungs and threw it intot he boiler. The cure was ready. The pirates anointed their eyes with ointment and they were not a little surprised when their eyes opened and they could see. They released Matt's crew and gave Raelyn a coin to call whenever she needed them.

Charlie told Matt that there was no treasure on the island, then he and his crew set sail, eager to escape the island that had held them captive for so long. Matt and the pirates boarded the Commander, glad they had escaped, but sad that they did not release the curse.

"It's look like there is no redemption for us. I'm sorry, Jack. All I can do is to fulfill Rick's wish. I’m handing over the ship to you, Raelyn. Welcome aboard, Captain Saylor!"

A breeze blew across the sea and shook the ship. The curse was broken. They were finally free. Really free.

"This was my mother's necklace. I think it should belong to you."

She took off her medalion in heart shape and gave it to Jack.

"I am not going to be the captain of this ship, Matt. It's your right. The day we met, I knew I wanted to be a pirate.”

"You want to sail with me? I mean... with us?”

The pirates laughed heartily at Matt's delight and excitement. They had never seen their captain in love before, and it was a grace that their captain had finally found a woman more valuable than all the pearls put together. Everyone knew that the two strangers had become so more than friends.

"I think the sheeps should follow their shepherd, don't you think, Captain?"

"I thought you'll be obedient like a beautiful lamb, but I was so wrong! You're not an ewe. You are a perfect storm. My favorite storm".

They two celebrated her joining to the crew with a kiss. They embarked on other incredible adventures on sea, which are worth to be told and listening to.

Life on sea is amazing. Because that's the sea's special power: to make strangers friends.