Chapter 14

            Howard had not slept a wink during the night. His dream kept haunting him. He couldn’t help but look at his crescent moon tattoo. He could feel his soul being torn in two, or was it from drinking too much rum? He did not know. Getting off the bed he walked towards the kitchen He noticed Diana was sleeping soundly in the corner and Nicholas was cooking breakfast keeping quiet as possible. Howard growled and looked to Nicholas.
“Why isn’t that gypsy wench helping you?” He yelled to Nicholas who was now shaking.           

  Diana awoke with a start and stood quickly. She scrambled to help Nicholas with the breakfast as the captain watched her as she moved.  Nicholas noticed how Diana cowered from the Captain when she would usually defend herself. He noticed the red marks on her neck and his eyes widened as he looked to the captain. Staying quiet he finished preparing the captains breakfast and served it to him on a plate. Howard ate quietly and rapidly. He could feel Diana’s eyes on him but he ignored her. He was to meet Kevin today in the market to discuss their next adventure. He Looked to Nicholas and to Diana and smiled.

“Nicholas I want you to let Diana do all your chores show her where everything is, except you are to clean out the weapons, do not let her anywhere near them or you will find yourself lashed” He said as he took a sip of ale.

“Aye Capin” Nicholas said and saluted.           

  Diana kept herself busy by cleaning the counters. She wanted nothing more than to keep herself busy and stay out of his way. She only hoped that she could sneak away to see Alexander. He would be able to help her with this dilemma. She followed Nicholas who showed her where everything for cleaning was. Her mind wandered to las night but quickly shook her head to pay attention to Nicholas.

“The well is behind the house, and the bucket should be next to it.” He said“Thank you” She said softly as she walked towards the back of the house.          

   The wind was blowing in her hair as she approached the well. She proceeded to turn the handle sending the bucket down for water. Once the bucket was full she carried it into the house and started to clean. Howard sighed as he got dressed in his finest cotton slacks with a white shirt and brown vest. Looking at his coats he chose his red coat with gold trims and his black hat with white feathers. He looked at himself in the mirror and smiled at how he looked. He gasped when he saw his gypsy self leaning against the wall behind him through the mirror holding his side and reaching out to him with a bloody hand. He turned from the mirror and walked out of his room and into the hall. To see that Diana had already started to clean the kitchen floors on her hands and knees. He smiled to himself and walked off towards the front door slamming it in the process. He stood in the mornings light and took in the fresh morning sea air. With a new approach in his sights he set forth to the gun shop to meet with Kevin.            

 At the gun shop Kevin was looking at the latest pistols. He wondered where the captain could be for he was running late. He could feel something stirring in the air, he knew it had to involve Diana and he wasn’t sure if it was good or bad. He sighed with relief when he saw Howard walking towards him flirting with the women who passed him by. It seemed that the captain was back to his old self but only time could tell.

“Ahhhhh Kevin, here have you met Ninnete?”  Howard said as he presented a woman with long golden hair in curls, the bluest eyes bluer than the sea, fair skin and a dress that accented her curves and more.

“ma’am” Kevin said as he bowed and kissed her hand.            

Kevin and Howard spent the rest of their time talking to the ladies and looking at the artilleries for their ship. Even though Howard tried to turn cold against Diana he couldn’t help but wonder if she was alright. Back at the house Diana had finished cleaning the floors and was doing the captains laundry when she heard someone whisper her name. She turned her brown eyes towards the bushes to see Alexander hiding in them. Diana looked around for Nicholas making sure he wasn’t in sight as she made her way to the bushes.  She brushed the few strands of brown hair behind her ear and she looked at him her eyes full of worry.

“What is it my dear? Is everything alright?” he asked.  

“Oh Alexander, last night after I went inside he was drunk and well, let’s say he wasn’t himself, I’m locked away as a prisoner here doing chores, though I did not expect him to be like this” she said as she tried to fight back the tears that were threatening to come out.  

Alexander frowned and cursed inwardly he needed Howard to care for her for his plan to work. He gently caressed her cheek and pulled her in for a hug as she sobbed into his chest.  He gently stroked her hair and made shushing noises. He began to think in his head as she cried on his chest.

“Even though he is my enemy I need to make him come out with his true feelings so I can smash them to bits” he thought           

Diana began to calm down and looked up at Alexander. She was thankful that they had met and hoped that he would help her in her time of need. She took his arm and walked towards a nearby tree to sit down.  

“Alexander I have decided to just ignore him and let him be, maybe he’ll come around. I should let destiny work its magic” she said.

“That you are right sweet, he needs time to cool off and think” Alex said “Why don’t you tell me about that bodice you are wearing the patterns look very familiar to me”

“Well I saw this pattern on a man in my dreams; it was before I was kidnapped. I was walking along the shores of a beautiful beach and this man appeared. He held me in his arms and kissed me but his face was never shown. The only thing I was able to remember was this marking he had on his right wrist” She said softly as she trailed one of the patterns with her finger tips.

Diana turned her head as she heard Nicholas calling her name. Looking at Alexander she gently nudged him towards the bushes. Alexander hid and watched as Diana walked towards Nicholas.

“Are you all right Diana?” He asked worried for hi new friend and sister.

“Yes, yes I’m just feeling a bit sad. I miss my home terribly and I just wish I could get out of here” She said softly as she walked back to the Large Basin Full of laundry she had to finish.            

Nicholas watched as she worked sadly on her chores and walked towards her. Running his fingers through his short hair he rolled up his sleeves and helped Diana with the Captains Laundry. Diana Smiled at him and continued to wash the laundry. Once they had finished Nicholas and Diana began to prepare lunch for each other, since Howard had not returned they figured they would prepare dinner for him to eat alone as they ate in the cellar.            

 Kevin and Howard sat at the local pub with women surrounding them. Howard laughed as Kevin told an old pirates joke. Howard abruptly stopped laughing when he saw Captain Alexander walk into the pub with his men. He growled in anger as Alexander walked right towards him.  Howard and Kevin both stood up making the women laugh. Alexander walked towards them his eyes looking right at Howard. With four large steps them men where toe to toe, the pub grew silent looking at them.

“I see you are doing well with a table full of women, you always were a womanizer” Alexander said and laughed.

“Well I see you had a wonderful time with my captive last night but it be your last” Howard said and sneered at Alexander.

“Oh I don’t think so Howard. You act as though you love this girl but we both know what she is good for, warming a bed” Alexander said and smiled at Howard.           

 At that moment Howard punched Alexander right at the raw sending Alexander flying back towards his men who caught him. Growling he unsheathed his sword and stood in front of Howard who did the same. Both men circled around each other, their eyes meeting in a glare. Kevin kept an eye on Captain Alexander’s men making sure they wouldn’t interfere as Howard made the first Parry. Their swords clanged and crashed as they moved up on tables and around the pub, the onlookers dodging the swords letting the captains fight out on their own. It was a fierce battle and it ended as soon as Howard sliced a cut on Alexander’s cheek but not before Alexander cut Howard on his right shoulder. Both men pulled back holding their wounds.

“We are evenly matched, but I warn you Howard, you don’t know what you have awaiting you at your house, that woman will only last so long being a captive” Alexander said and turned towards the door signaling his men to follow.            

 Kevin rushed to Howard’s side and helped him up. He could tell by the look on the captain’s face that he was thinking about Alexander’s words.

“Come Captain we should head home” Kevin said as they walked out of the pub and straight to Howards home.            

Diana and Nicholas finished the laundry and were now busying themselves with cooking dinner and cleaning the floors. Diana decided she would take the time to clean the floors while Nicholas cooked the captain’s meal. Diana whipped the sweat off her brow as she scrubbed the wood floor, making sure that it was spotless. She heard the footsteps coming up the path way but continued her work. As the door opened she could see Howard walking through the door with Kevin behind him. Howard looked behind him to see the muddy trail on the floor and cursed himself for not being more careful.

“Leave it” He told Diana as he rushed off to his rook with Kevin following behind him to care for the wound.            

Diana ignored him and went to washing the floor once again. It had taken her almost all day to clean it, and she would make sure she would keep it clean no matter what the captain said. Howard heard the faint scrubbing from his room as Kevin prepared to sew his wound shut. He took a drink of rum to numb the pain and bit down on a piece of leather to keep from screaming. Kevin took a deep breath as he pressed the hot needle through Howard’s skin closing the wound. One they were done Howard put on a clean shirt and made sure not to show pain as he got dressed. Opening the door to his room he motioned for Kevin to help in the kitchen as he carefully made his way towards Diana who was scrubbing the floors.

“I told you to leave it” He said angrily as he pulled her up by her arm.           

Diana looked into his angry eyes. She felt her body shiver in fear. All she wanted to do was keep the house clean so that he would be happy and leave her alone. Apparently that was not the point. Howard could tell she feared him and cursed himself for doing it. They both stood in silence. Their eye’s gazing at each other intensely. It wasn’t until that moment that Howard noticed the crescent moon patterns decorating her bodice.

“Where did you see this Pattern?” He asked, his tone still that of an angry and ruthless pirate.           

 Diana avoided his gaze and broke free from his grasp as she continued her work on scrubbing the floors. Howard groaned in frustration and pulled her up once again and slammed her against the wall his hand now holding her chin. She looked at him through the strands of her hair that had fallen over her face. Their breaths mixed together as they stood gazing into each other’s eyes. Howard waited patiently for her to tell him about the pattern on her bodice. When she stayed quiet he grew impatient.

“ANSWER ME! WHERE DID YOU SEE THAT PATTERN ON YOUR BODICE?” He yelled making her jump.           

Diana felt the tears threaten to fall from her eyes. She fought with herself of telling him, but she was also curious as to why he was concerned about the crescent moon patterned bodice. She took her gaze away from his for a second and noticed Kevin and Nicholas watching the scene. She looked back to Howard and took a small breath.

“I saw it in a dream” she said in a whisper and pushed him away from her.           

 Howard watched as she stormed off and disappeared into the kitchen. He could feel the eyes of Kevin and Nicholas looking at him. He ignored it and turned to his room to think.

“Call me when supper is ready” He said simply as he slammed the door behind him.            

Kevin and Nicholas looked to one another and walked back into the kitchen. Diana was busying herself with making sure supper did not burn. She ignored the looks as she walked out towards the back door to watch the sunset. Something inside her began to call out she could feel the seguria rhythm and began to sing a familiar song.

 Respira.. positivate y riete de tí toa la vida
Renace.. quien dijo que era fácil la partida
Tú eliges... juégala!

Descansa.. Carretera y manta
Tranquilita niña y no pierdas la calma
que tó llega, tó llega, tó llega...
Solo tarda lo que tiene que tardar
Respira! Coge aire!
Respira!!

El viento sopla, casi cada día, algún ratillo,
casi como todos los dias, pero nunca igual
Resuelve el pulso!
Déjate llevar! Déjate llevar!
Para los tic-taques y la cuenta atrás
¡Coge aire!

Así no hay manera, suelta te
Tira la moneda, tú tienes madera
Conserva tu eje, no pierdas el este
Con el que arremete, nuestro soniquete
No es ningún discurso, resiste al impulso
No pierdas el pulso, esto es un abuso.

Ven p'acá morena y abandona penas
No pierdas la calma, falta mucha tela.
Respira. Coge aire ¡¡¡ Respira !!!

La vida es breve y dos veces bella
tres veces dura y cuatro te revienta
cinco veces te adormece y otras de desvela
una te equivocas y otra aciertas
una entiendes y otra no entiendes una mierda
y otra dan las seis y media
la rueda sigue... ¡vaya dilema! ummmmm

Playas mojadas, bajan la guardia
en mi cabeza
y la espuma de tu cuerpo que embelesa y que dá ganas
así despacito reconozco libertad
Yo que más quiero:
te escribo mis canciones, descansan mis visiones
le canto a la alegria, que se vayan desdichas y desamores
por un instante...sin dan las siete...¡que más da!

Así no hay manera, suelta te
Tira la moneda, tú tienes madera
Conserva tu eje, no pierdas el este
Con el que arremete, nuestro soniquete
No es ningún discurso, resiste al impulso
No pierdas el pulso, esto es un abuso.

Ven p'acá morena y abandona penas
No pierdas la calma, falta mucha tela.
Respira. Coge aire ¡¡¡ Respira !!!           

Dianna got on her knees as she finished the song and began to cry sobbing uncontrollably.