Hey guys!! Got a bit carried away with the Blackbeard part so the pogues part is very short! I will make the next part with the pogues longer and should have Riara in it. May take me longer to write though! And, apologies for the writing again! I did edit but maybe not well. And another thing, I read that Blackbeard may have married a girl named Mary in 1718 who was only 16, omg, history can be so disturbing to read... anyway, I will not romanticize that in any form in my story cause personally I don't ever think it should be even if was a 'common' thing that happened at that time, but terrible thing. Anyways, I will look over it tomorrow. Hope you guys enjoy!
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A month after, off the coast of North Carolina, Teach is on board his ship 'Adventure' he'd used for privateering: 1718
A loud rumbling roars over the ship, moments before, splinters of wood explode in the air, sending shrapnels flying in all different directions. The ship is hit. The iron-cast cannonball rips into the side, shredding the wooden railing into pieces, then strikes into the upper deck. Thick smoke engulfs the platform, the explosion causing the ship to rattle entirely.
"Man down!" a gunner bellows. A young boy gets onto his feet, scurries off, attempting to retrieve the medic.
"Take ya match!" Teach roars over the noise, ignoring the chaotic mess onboard- "Fire!" he bellows.
Heaving with anger, Teach continues to bark out orders, his black boots tread over the mess amounted over the deck, pools of blood and bits of shrapnel and other pieces of debris lay out scattered across the damp timber boards.
The gunner sticks a slow-burning wick into the torch hole at the end of the cannon gun, and then leaps out of the way as it explodes with so much force it sends him flying back a little more. The cannon roars, ripping the ball into the air, and the blast sends it spiraling out with force toward the enemy ship. The men cover their ears, shielding them from its deafening sound, and the rise of thick smoke masks their vision momentarily, making it almost impossible to make out clearly where the heavy ball hit.
The force of the shot had erupted the ball out of the gun and out to smash into the smaller Spanish cargo ship, the men hear the crunching of wood echoing from the distance on the other end.
The men watch as Teach storms like a mad man, wildly, along the deck, ready to bellow out the next orders- although he's tempted to take on everything himself... do what his 'useless' crew couldn't do, he thinks heatedly to himself.
He works with ruthless efficiency and expects nothing less of his crew, whilst appearing as though he could blow up on them at any moment. They were sure their captain was close to losing his mind- they'd been terrified of the strong fearsome man- a once fierce pirate- one that had supposedly turned his ways.
When they'd first boarded his ship, he'd given them the firm warning that if they hadn't attended their stations in time when ordered to- he would rip a bullet through their brains.
Their captain's fierceness, his tough deliverance of orders made them alert at all times- they wondered why he'd been so hard on them, or why he'd been so hard-hearted?
Teach stalks over the wooden deck, swinging out his musket, pulling up a foot on the side railing, and takes aim. One blast from his gun, he strikes a man dead-square in the chest with one bullet, watching as the body plunges off the enemy ship and down into the dense cool waters below.
Within a couple of seconds the captain strides across the deck, swiftly moving towards one of the nearest cannon guns, shoving the gunner aside, and prepares aim himself. His aim on point, he fires the cannon, trained to the main mast- the heavy hit makes it explode- the material and wood- into shrapnels, sending thousands of little pieces flying everywhere.
As the smoke clears, they watch on as the enemy ship has begun to retreat, voyaging off into the distance, disappearing into a misty darkening horizon. To give chase would only be a waste of his time- something Teach knew when the slightly smaller lighter ship would surely out run them within a matter of minutes.
The cheering on board begins, the crew gets louder as they celebrate the victory of the retreating ship excitedly, whilst letting the relief wash over them... although Teach had been the only one to seem unchanged. He presses a hand to his upper arm, putting pressure to where it bled... he'd been hit by some shrapnel of wood that had ripped straight through his thick black coat, and sliced right through to his skin.
"You ok?" a voice came from behind him. Teach turns to find his friend Black Caesar standing behind him. He groans before lifting up his gaze and bellowing orders to a topman tending the sails, then striding around his friend. "Edward?" Black Caesar tries again.
"All be ok-" he hisses out.
"The native girl- she be on ye mind again, matey-"
"All good- I said, Caesar!" he roars, leaving Black Caesar a little stunned and left with a bewildered expression flitting across his face.
His outburst had turned some heads. His temper proved to be far worse than Caesar had originally thought. His eyes scan his friend with a strange look.
"Edward..." Caesar tries again, ignoring the clear warning signs Teach gives him. The fury in his eyes made Caesar aware he was playing with fire... but he was also aware his friend was spiraling and he just can't stand there and do nothing. Edward had pulled him out of some bad situations many times before... Caesar owed him that- to do the same... he also knew his friend well- had spent so many years sailing by his side. Black Caesar had always known how loyal Edward had been to him too. Besides, he couldn't have a murderous captain thundering around, causing a whole bunch of trouble, and causing the crew to grow mutinous. "Ya married now, mate. Let 'er go. All 'ese women be all tha same, nuttin' to work yar self up about- mate? Ya know?" he says with a slight downed look.
Teach grits his teeth. "Ya 'ave no idea Caesar- so maybe 'ust keep ya damn mouth shut, 'lright?" Teach tries to walk around him, climbing down to the lower deck and storming into his quarter, bashing the door open, and it smashes back against the wall and closes again. Caesar carefully opens the door, and steps inside, following him in, standing by the doorway.
"Mary be yar wife-" Caesar says sternly, watching him closely. "Ya may 'ave married 'er less than a month ago- but she be a real beaut, Ed... ya get ta know 'er better, and fall in love- it'll 'appen soon, mate... and ya promised the Governor- and he pardoned you of yar misdeeds- what more would ya like, mate?" he watches him, a slight glint of light in his steeled dark eyes. "The Gov attended yar wedding- witnessed ya vows been said... he witness a changin' of yar ways, Ed... the promise of a new man- wit new promises. He 'as high hopes for ya. Mary shoulda been what brought ya yar peace, what brought yar happiness, know what I'm sayin'?-"
"Ya mean 'at naive little girl?-" he grunts with disbelief, pacing the room "-'nd Eden-" Teach snarls. "-the man is not a man. He a treacherous scoundrel- he thinks I be a fool- thinks I should pay 'im gold for me peace- buy me out, 'ey?-" Teach spits.
"Mary shoulda put some purity back in ta yar 'eart-" Caesar stands by what he'd said, sternly.
"What-cha bloody hell talkin' 'bout, Caesar?!" he barks. "Ya can't buy back purity! My soul is dead- my soul is tarnished-" he abruptly stops, wiping a hand in the air, like it wouldn't matter what he'd said- it would be a waste of time- "I told ya to shut it or see what 'appens." he warns with a low growl.
There is a heavy silence for a short while as Black Caesar contemplates his words and if he should say more. He takes in his friend, slightly pitying him. Teach paces back and forth, trying to calm his temper, his pulse running wild, his breath raggard as he does so. Caesar is surprised when it's Teach that utters something first- "What-cha say? She gonna make me pure?" he laughs softly, the humor bitter... "that girl?" Then the crangy smile crumples off his face, his dark brows coming together in thought. "Urgh-" he mumbles harshly to himself as though his thoughts deeply disappointed him more. "Aiukli... she came ta me... she told me what she thinks... she sees me for what I am- reads me spirits or whatever witchery thing she do..." he huffs out a heavy-hearted sigh. "She knows I a useless good-for-nuttin' mad man... seems ta think me spirit is rotten- as rotten as a corpse... seems ta see me soul as foul- rubbish- tarnished with poison- m-maybe like tha toxins of a rattlesnake... beyond repair... I vile ta 'er..." his smirk is saddened. "...'mother earth bleeds ta tha pain I's cause- wha'ch she thinks.'" he utters under his breath. He raises a brow turning his gaze up to Caesar. "So I's called her a savage... an' she almost killed me, Caesar... almost stabbed me wit' 'er dagger right 'ere." he points to his heart.
Caesar's face creases on hearing this- not because he'd thought the girl a threat, but wondered why his friend was losing his head-
"I thought ya start over, Ed. Why ya still conversin' wit' tha girl?... Yar been settled, mate... 'at should be it... Don't matter what she thinks, mate. Gov Eden saw ya go through wit' ya vows- yar change from yar old ways- nuttin' she can do bout it, Ed-"
The rage built in Teach suddenly grows again, and he heaves breaths in to try to control his anger. He roars as he wipes a furious hand over his wooden desk, throwing things off the end. His face red, he paces, his blood raging now. And then he bites back a bitter sneer. Black Caesar could swear he saw a bit of mania bubble up in him again- "Eden? I'm not sellin' me soul to 'em traitors- not submitting to tha world we ran from- remember, Caesar?... ya think-" he taps the side of his temple indicating for Caesar to think- "I's settle for that?!... I ain't 'aving it, mate. Their corruption what made us, Caesar- what got us 'ere... I 'ave a message for me crew... they ort tar know their captain ain't no ass-kissin' bastard" he laughs. "-an' they ta refer to me as Blackbeard once again... 'e legend is back," he says holding his head high, looking down on Caesar "-and we ort ta teach our gov a lesson." he says with a darkened gaze.
Black Caesars face tenses with confusion, and then he follows Teach's order for him to leave. Teach is left to reflect... his mind drifts to memories that stir fierce emotions in him... the last encounter he'd made with the lady that made his heart blow up with feelings he can't keep himself together... she is a force... and yet, she tortures him... like she'd came into his dreams just to remind him of how beautiful she was... during the day- he can't stop thinking about her... her free- her freedom... any time he'd close his eyes he draws back to the vision of the strong woman that caught his attention, and instantly struck his heart. And then his mind travels back to the last time he'd encountered her last:
Three days prior: back on his home- outside a shred ten yards from his cottage...
"Wa do ya want?" Teach growls, scanning his eyes around. She is as quiet as a whisper against leaves on the slightest breeze. He could sense she'd been lingering around close by. She appears from out the dense woodlands, guiding her horse out along with her. He huffs out a deep breathy sigh. "Yar hurt me, Aiukli... ya never came back." he spits and turns around again to face her. "Ya tore me, ya know 'at?" he says, his voice hoarse with pain. He bends to collect the wood he'd chopped for the fireplace, trying to distract himself and his trembling hands. "Ya don't know whatcha do turning up 'ere. I'm married now, you know?-" he hums bitterly. "It's all cause ya decided ta leave. Ya' don' things ta me, whatever witchery ya hold on me- I can't seem ta stop feeling for ya... Ya don't wanna mess with a married man, ok?- I's troubled man an'-" he continues, and swallows thickly. "-I'll mess up- I will... a-and ya mess her 'eart, ya know... cause that whatcha do... you will-" he groans under his breath. The silence makes his pulse soar and his gaze spins back to her, cause now he can't get images of her out of his head.
Aiukli glares at him.
"What?!" Teach snarls fiercely. "Why look at me like that, 'ey? What da ya want." he growls with an intensity that makes him want to rip something. He spits to the side when her gaze does not falter. "You judge me, ey?!- las, ya 'ave no idea! Like ya didn't abandoned ya tribe too, hmm?- ya feel bad bout 'at, hmm? For what? Ya betrayed 'em... For ya to come back to some married man-"
"You love her?" her English is broken, but she manages to make out the words. Hit by the fact she knew english- it fell on him like a sudden hit to the face- shocked- his eyes flashed filled with astonishment- his eyes round grow even wider... it's the first time he has ever heard her voice- it was fierce, silk and strong- he can't describe how it felt to hear it- what it did to him... his heart wells with the knowledge- the sound of her voice made his heart pound even harder- more viciously in his chest- made him want to take her into his arms and pull her into him. A light glinted against his eyes and she couldn't tell if he'd looked at her astonished or murderous. "You-" she scorns angrily. "- y-you are a selfish man..." she says, some hurt in her tone. "You never know when to stop t-take... and you plunder.. and harm."
Teach's expression hardens. He swallows thickly, taking in her words carefully, very attentively. "Y-you do again... you come back take more... you start over- what else you take?" she rasps out. "You don't deserve her... and you don't deserve any of this." her hand motions to his house, pained expression on her face. She hums out a struggled breath... she doesn't know how else she will say what she wants to- her throat is too tight. Teach swallows down hard, his heart beating painfully.
"Aiukli please listen-" he says barely getting out the words, the rest lodged in his throat-
"You- y-you come back- why?" she sneers. "To grovel to Eden? To get on knees to him? Pay him gold to do more harm? You exploit just to give to corrupt man... you bad man, Edward-" his heart nearly stops at the mention of his name "-give all the gold you want- but your spirit never be clean. He promise to make all your bad go away..." she huffs. "But a man's heart hold his spirit... and your spirit will never be cleaned by ways of gold. You spirit never free- your soul never find harmony... not with greed darkening everything about you..."
Teach had never seen her look so fierce. He watches her, eyes flickering over hers in the dark. He clears his throat. "Y-you-ya came ta... ahh- tell me all 'is-" he swallows thickly, his words a little caught in his throat, and he chokes on the emotion held to them. He shakes his head suddenly lost in thoughts, struck by her.
Her face softens a little, some emotion flowing back into her eyes... the eyes he adored- the ones he remembered he wanted to look into and get lost in forever- the ones that made him want to tell her how much he could disappear away with her and never come back- the same look that gazed at him a week ago so tenderly. He takes a steady breath, heart crushing in his chest. "You... I-I thought I saw a different man... but you just the same- obsessed with you selfish desires." she replies, then manovers her horse away. Teach watches as she begins to trod off, and disappear back again into the woodlands. His heart is pounding fiercely in his chest- breaking with every beat- he would do anything to get her to stop-
And then he utters the words that make her turn, and almost end his life in a split of a second. She pulls out her dagger and sends it zipping through the air, with skillful precision it just misses him and smack bang buries itself into the log he had been holding in his arms...
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"How'd they track us..." JJ's eyes scour the area for the men that had been chasing them, before moving over Kie. He takes her by the shoulders, backing her into a market stall filled with hung fabrics and gourmets that drape around the sides,where she could stay hidden. "You need to stay here- Farras is definitely after you." His eyes lowered to her phone peeking out from her jeans pocket. "Did you leave location on?"
"Hmm?" Kie hums, confused. Her eyes drop down to where his eyes land on her phone. "W-why would t-that be an issue-"
"Kie-" he huffs, shaking his head. "No wonder they found you-"
"Someone knows it's us- and now they're tracking us-" JohnB completes what JJ had been thinking and was meant to finish saying.
"Hey-" Sarah says, looking around. "Hey guys?... w-where is Cleo?"
JohnB steps closer to Sarah, taking her hand with his, holding her protectively closer.
"Wait- where is Cleo?" Pope questions, eyes widening and suddenly a lot more alert. His gaze travels around, JJ following his gaze confused too.
"Cleo?!" Sarah calls.
"Cleo!" Pope echoes, then so do JJ, JohnB and Kie.
When they try again, wait and get no reply, JJ turns to the others rapidly.
"Wait guys, I have an idea-"
"Not another damn idea JJ." Pope complains. JJ holds his shoulder.
"Just listen ok." he says seriously, getting his attention. "But we need clothes to disguise ourselves." he steps over to the market Kie stood under, grabbing a few items of clothing that had been hung off the side, handing the lady behind the small counter some money. He hurriedly walks back over to the others. "Here. We'll need to change into these."
They all quickly take one each, and drape them over their shoulders. "Now, we'll wonder back in groups of two, retracing back our steps and see if we can find her. We need to be quick."
They all nod in agreement, except for Kiara, her face pinching up with confusion. "It's not gonna work. There are like five of us, one of us will be wondering on our own?"
JJ bites back his lip, thinking. "Kie, you follow Pope and I but we all keep a distance from each other so not draw attention, ok? That way it won't give us away."
Kie nods firmly in agreement.
"Ok, you guys-" he points to Sarah and JB "- you guys take that route, and we take the one over the bridge, alright?" JJ motions his hand toward the walk he'd mentioned.
And they all split up, keeping a good distance from the other, and head out to find Cleo.