The Captain's treasure
Chapter 5

–violet–

Over two dozen eyes were on me and I couldn't move. Frozen in place I was at a loss as to what to do or even say To the burly crew of captain Ace's ship. What Was I supposed to say!?

I had never been put in the spotlight like this before, people usually just ignored My presence And overlooked me.

My eyes Darted between each and every man before me before I finally cleared my throat.l and spoke up in a small voice. “H-hello.” 

Awkward silence was all I got In return. “Come now No need to be shy! We're all one big family here!” Ace stepped up beside me gesturing to the rest of the crew. A few seemed quite unamused while others were finding the situation quite funny. 

I shied away a bit, rubbing my arm while awkwardly standing there. 

A loud ‘tsk’ drew our attention as someone came down the steps from the quarter deck above. “Are you done with these antics? Or are you going to continue to keep the crew from doing their jobs?” The man practically scolded Ace before turning to face the deck. “Everyone get back to work!”

A few men snickered as everyone slowly turned Their attention away to continue working without much of a response, and I couldn't help but feel embarrassed and ashamed, with only one thought running through my mind. I shouldn't be here.

“There's no need to be that way! Just having a bit of fun!” Ace stepped over. 

“more like disrupting Everyone and distracting them from their jobs.” The man looked back at me and I looked up at him curiously before realizing who the man was and turning pale. 

He was the one who walked into the tavern right before I passed out. He saw everything… 

“Violet I'd like to introduce you to my first mate, sir Ivan de f–”

“Ivan is good enough.” He sighed.

“Right. Well Ivan, violet here is going to be working with us until we hit port at st. henders. She'll be acting as our temporary cabin boy, working alongside Johnny.” 

“Guess there's no turning back now anyways.” Ivan huffed. “Alright, ken!” He called out to one of the crew who was across the deck tying a rope down. “Tell Johnny to get up here! Captain's Orders!” 

“Aye, aye!” The man quickly went below deck disappearing from sight.

“Alright, Miss violet.” I Flinched before looking up to face Ivan as he stared me down. “What skills do you have?”

I blinked confused. “W-what?” Ace leaned against the railing peeling an apple with a knife, and ate a few slices. ‘Where did he even get–’ 

Ivan rolled his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Skills lady, what skills do you have?” I Anxiously gripped the bottom Of my shirt unsure how to respond. What was he expecting? Pickpockets? Horse riding? Shooting? 

Ace hummed as he cut up the last slice out of his apple and threw the core over the side of the boat before stepping in front of me and tilting my head up with one hand. He put the apple slice to my lips with the other and I reached up to take it only for him to push My hand away and give me a strange look.  Annoyed, I parted my lips to say something only to have him pop the apple slice into my mouth.

“He's asking what you're good at darling. Do you know how to clean? Mopping, dusting. Can you cook? Things like that. It's easier to assign you to tasks if we know what you're capable of.” I chewed the apple slice realizing just how hungry I actually was. I hadn't eaten since dinner yesterday…

“I can clean and mop just fine…I've never cooked but I've watched my family chef cook since I was a little girl. I am also good at embroidery.” Ace whistled to A man carrying a sack below deck. The man opened up the bag, pulled out another apple and tossed it over. 

Catching it with one hand he pulled out his knife again and started peeling off the skin and slicing it up. I watched intrigued until he lifted another slice to my mouth once more. When I tried to use my hands he pulled it away and I gave him an annoyed glare before letting him feed it to me while Ivan watched intrigued.

“The men tend to wear out their clothes quite often. It would be helpful if you could fix the Holes And tears in their shirts. I'm sure they would appreciate it.” I snatched the next Apple slice from him, smiling at my small victory as I quickly ate it in front of him. Ace's smug Smile fell as he waited before slicing the Rest of the apple up. 

“I guess that will do for now.” Ivan said.

A young boy ran up in a hurry panting as he stumbled and came to a stop. “You called sir?” 

Ace stuffed the last slice in my mouth before tossing the apples remains away and sheathing his knife. “Ah good, Johnny you'll be getting a new partner to help you with basic cleaning and chores around the ship for the next few weeks. I want you to show her around and help her get familiar with the crew and where everything is.”

“Yes sir!” the boy responded.

“Both of you can start off by sweeping below deck and checking the food stores.” Ivan spoke up. 

“Once you finish that, send Her back to my quarters” Ace waved us off before retreating back to his personal space. 

“W-wait, that's it?-” the younger Boy quickly grabbed my wrist and pulled me away before I could stop him. 

“Come on, we should get busy!” He urged me down below deck.

“But-” glancing back, Ace was already gone and Ivan had returned To the helm of the ship to steer. 

Johnny led me down below past the crew's sleeping quarters and other areas to a corner where a few mops and brooms were. “Here you go, oh and uh It's nice to meet you miss–”

“Violet, you Can call me VI or violet.” I responded, taking the broom from the boy. I looked him over curiously seeing just how young he actually was.

“Alright then vi it is!” He smiled happily Before getting started Brushing up all the dust on The floor.

“Aren't you a little young to be working on a ship? Where Are Your parents?” I asked curiously.

“I'm 12 years old, and I have no parents. Captain took me off the streets when I was 10 and brought me onto his Ship!”

“you were living on the streets instead of an orphanage?” 

“Yeah…I ran away from the orphanage I was at before. The lady in charge wasn't very… nice. I preferred being outside than In that house. Even if it meant I didn't get a bed to sleep in or warm food.” John paused feeling upset over the subject but quickly became cheery again.

“But when the captain brought me in he made sure I would have a bed, new clothes, and warm food every night! What about you? Why is a noble lady doing so far from home?”

I was a bit befuddled by the question and stuttered slightly before clearing my throat. “You can tell I'm a noble?” I glanced down at the raggy oversized clothes I wore and Johnny laughed.

“Of course! Only noble lady's have faces as pretty as yours!” I looked at him momentarily surprised before smiling and chuckling. 

“Well, I'm not so noble anymore. Like you ran away from your orphanage, I decided to run away from home.” I continued to sweep the floor as Johnny watched.me with his head tilted to the side.

“why’d you do that? Don't you miss your fancy house and having servants to take care of you?”

I briefly paused, keeping my gaze to the floor. “Not really. I lived in that house My entire life but my life never really felt like my own. I never got to make my own decisions. Each day that passed just felt like another day trapped in a prison.” 

“That's still pretty crazy, I still don't get why you would leave such a cozy life. I mean won't you miss your family?” 

I didn't meet Johnny's eyes as I stopped sweeping the floor. “I don't have a family anymore.”

“Hmm… but how did you end up here?”

Snapping out of my daze I blushed and glanced at the boy as he leaned against his broom waiting for an answer. It would Probably be best if I didn't tell him everything that happened between me and Ace.

“Well I needed a way off the island and to make some money so your captain uhm– offered me a job so I wasn't completely empty-handed.”

Johnny practically beamed hearing such. “I knew it!” He stood up excitedly as I looked at him confused.

“When the others were talking about how the captain brought a woman on board they all kept coming up with nasty rumors and ideas like he bought you from a brothel or slave market to keep his bed warm o-or that he kidnapped you and possibly tricked you but I knew he wouldn't do that! Our captain would never do that!”

I blinked watching the boy excitedly sweep the floor in a rush as he rambled on. “Our captain is the most noble and strongest man in the seven seas! He’s like Robin hood! He would never do something so devious. He is a fair man who takes care of people, not take advantage of them!”

I could only stand by awkwardly, keeping my mouth shut as the younger Boy went on and on about his hero. I wasn't willing to burst his bubble and tell him that his captain practically brought me onto this ship because I owed him money. This Kid was too innocent, believing his captain was a saint, I didn't want to ruin that for him.

Sighing I simply shook my head and continued sweeping as he rambled on and told me stories about how amazing captain Ace was. How he fought twenty Men single handedly or even slayed a siren bare handed in the water. Stories that were clearly exaggerated but entertaining nonetheless with how excited They made the younger boy. 

Hours passed after we finished sweeping below deck and then counted the food stores. Most of the crew passed us by without any issue, giving a few glances here and there as they went about their business.  

It was surprising just how calm and collected everyone on the ship was. I had always imagined pirates to be rowdy and unhinged but these people seemed to work just like any other crew of sailors. Perhaps I was wrong? What were the chances these were just freelance merchants?

To think I may have insulted Ace and his entire crew by calling them pirates. Sure their ship isn't as fancy as others and sure they don't wear uniforms and their captain is a bit intimidating at times but besides what happened at the tavern they seem pretty normal. 

Maybe I should apologize?

“hey! Johnny! Chef wants you below deck to help cook! And the captain is looking for the girl.” 

“Okay! But I gotta finish–” 

“Chef needs you now! Hurry up or the geezer might poison our food for real this time!” the sailor called out. 

Pouting Johnny jumped To his feet and brushed off his pants before glancing at me. 

With a smile I nodded. “Go ahead, it's fine, I can finish up.” 

“alright I'll see you later then!” He quickly ran off. Looking at the small stake of potatoes I made quick work of putting them back into the barrel and placing the lid on top. I had to put all my body weight into it just to close it back up. Takinging a deep breath I wiped my forehead with my arm and made my way out of the storage room to go up to the main deck.

Before I could leave the room however my path was blocked As a man stepped in my way. I stumbled nearly running into him and just barely managed to stop myself. 

“Sorry– excuse me.” 

He didn't move and I noticed another man close behind him as he grinned, making my blood run cold. He suddenly put his hand over my mouth pushing me back against the wall. I felt a blade press to my neck and whimpered as it cut into my skin. “not a single word or i'll gut you and toss your body to the fish.” the man warned me. 

“mack this is a bad idea–” 

“Shut it! If ye gonna be yellow then leave! The captain says no women on the ship then proceeds To bring some brothel whore on board under the guise of making er A cabin boy?! What a load of scat! He wants er to himself!” he spat. 

“tha lady don't look like no brothel maiden!” the other man stuttered worriedly.

“Will ye shut up already and keep watch!? Brothel whore or not you an aye both know she's just here To warm the captain's bed for coin!” He looked back down at me and Smiled as he spoke again. “Ain't no harm in havin er keep me satisfied as well, I'll make sure you give you somethin in return, don't worry.”

“Mmm!?” I grabbed at his wrists and shook my head trying to push him off of me. My struggles against him seemed futile until I managed to bite his hand and free myself. 

“gahh!!” The man yelled, pulling his arm back.

The blade slipped and cut across my arm as I broke free and scrambled towards the door with a shriek.

“fucking wench!” I was harshly tackled to the ground, knocking the wind out of me as the one who grabbed me before pinned me down with most of his bodyweight atop of me. “You are gonna pay for that!”

The other man backed away uncertainly as the guy atop of me grabbed me by the hair and slammed my head into the floor dazing me. “Hey stop! Yer Gonna hurt her!” 

“Shut it! She's the one who attacked me! Nearly took a chunk Outta me hand!”

“You need to stop the captains sure to find out about this!”

“This was yer idea too! stop ya crying already and help me if your so worried! Get this over with a lot quicker with more hands!” 

I felt dizzy and couldn't hardly understand what they were saying as I was recovering from the blow to the head. It was noticeably hard to breathe with the man on top of me but I couldn't muster the strength to push him off. As I opened  my eyes I could see something red moving closer as the two sailors argued. 

Tears stung my eyes and I whimpered as the weight on me grew and I tried to gasp for air. Why was this happening to me?

Suddenly the weight disappeared and I could breathe as a loud thud and the sound of something hitting the wall could be heard beside Me.

Looking up I saw the familiar red coat as a hand reached down to grab me by the arm and help me back up to my feet. I stumbled until another figure stopped me from falling and helped to keep me steady as I recovered. I quickly took not that the one helping me was none other than ivan.

“not even a whole day…” I heard the distinct sound of a gun click behind me. Glancing back I saw Ace standing before the two men who had attacked me. One of them on the ground holding the side of his face that was bleeding profusely. “and I already found rats scuttling about.”

“W-Wait please! We won't do it again capt! We promise!”

“y-yeah! Tha girl was teasing us and a few of the others! You can ask them! She was practically flaunting herself around! We wer just having a bit of fun!” the bleeding man tried to reason. “If anything she was asking for this!”

I could hardly believe what I was hearing! I did no such thing!

“hmph so you think forcing yourselves onto a defenseless woman Is fun…” Ace mused.

“N-no that's not–” he pointed his gun at the man's head instantly Making him shut up. After a moment he glanced back at us. His gaze was cold and hard, it sent rivers down my spine seeing him so serious. Even with his anger not being redirected towards me I couldn't help but lower my head. He nodded to Ivan who quickly nodded back in understanding.

“Let's go.” Ivan quickly led me out of the lower deck and whistled another sailor over, before telling them to take me back to the captain's quarters. They didn't question the order before guiding me u

To the main deck. 

I looked back as Ivan went back down  Below where Ace was. Part of me didn't want to leave. I didn't feel safe not being around the captain but I knew I probably wouldn't enjoy what was about to happen either. 

 Deciding it would be best to cooperate i Looked forward, and went with the sailor, to the main deck and back to Ace's room to await his return.

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