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Nov 17, 2019

Captain Blood (Pt.1)

Captain Blood (Pt. 1)

Chapter one | Constance pt.1 : Constance pt.2

Chapter two | Mister Topper pt.1 : Mister Topper pt.2

Chapter three | Madame Leota pt.1 : Madame Leota pt.2

Chapter four | The Hostess

Chapter five | Captain Blood pt.1 : Captain Blood pt.2

Chapter six | Emily DeClaire pt.1 : Emily DeClaire pt.2 : Emily DeClaire pt.3

Chapter seven | Finale

WARNING THIS STORY CONTAINS THEMES OF VIOLENCE AND ABUSE!

Constance moved toward me first but with a wave of my hand she was knocked back.

“I wouldn’t if I were you.” I lifted my arms on either side of me, “Surely you weren’t just planning to attack me? I thought you ladies had questions!”

Red got up and I waved my hand again but this time nothing happened, she walked toward me as I kept trying to propel her backwards and then punched me in the face, now if I wasn’t a gentleman I would have retaliated.

And I am not a gentleman.

I grabbed her by the throat and slammed her into the wall - we went spiraling through the insulation till we were back in the hallway, Red’s form solid now as I pinned her to the ground.

“You killed Emily and you’re making everyone in the mansion miserable!”

“Red!” Constance and the Hostess were in the ‘Cast members only’ doorway, I looked as Constance followed her shout with a gasp.

“What is going on?” My body went rigid which gave Red ample time to flip me off of her and pin me down herself, I looked past the red glowing woman to see Emily standing just down the hall - I had to reach her before…

I felt a cold sensation in my chest and I reached out my hands.

“Let me up! Before she-!”

“Before she what? Remembers everything you’ve done?” I was overwhelmed with the feeling in my heart.

“It’s too late, Emily can… passively influence someone with emotions.” Emily waved her hand and smiled.

“Oh that’s just a little party trick, my real talent is that I can cry on command!” Her smile remained on her face as Red and Constance both looked very concerned. Red let me up and we all returned to the Hostesses bedroom - since it seemed we had all calmed down. “So what WERE you two doing on the floor?” Emily nudged my ribs while wiggling her eyebrows in a suggesting manner.

“Why are you so chummy with him? He’s been forcing you to forget the life you lived! And it’s effecting the other members of the mansion.” Red placed her hands on her hips, “And I’m not into guys, especially not murderers.”

“Hey!” Constance shouted.

“Except you, my deadly dame.”

“I already knew he was making me forget, but he had good intentions! I promise!”

“You knew?” I was even shocked, I had thought she would forget no matter what.

“Yes, but that is no reason to fight!” She wagged her finger at the lot of us, “Do you two want to end up like the dueling brothers? Permanently damaging each other for all eternity?”

“No…” Red and I responded in unison.

“What was that?”

“NO!”

“And YOU mister, you need to explain yourself to these ladies! And stop brainwashing me if it’s hurting the mansion! You’re job is to try to keep us all safe, like Terra, alright?”

“Fine…” I rolled my eyes while crossing my arms.

“Don’t give me that tone!”

“Hold on,” Constance chuckled, “Why do you let HER talk to you that way?” I could feel heat filling my cheeks but tried my best to keep my expression taut.

“Why don’t you mind your business?”

“William!” Emily jabbed me in the gut with her finger, “Be nice! Why don’t you just tell them about your mortal life?”

The two girlfriends were laying on their chests on the bed, chins in their hands, and legs kicking back and forth while the Hostess sat on the floor holding a pillow to her chest.

“Yeah, go on William!”

“Tell us!”

I tried to fight the urge to tell them anything, but the coldness in my chest turned warm - turning my gaze to Emily I saw she was eagerly awaiting my story as well.

“Fine…”

❧

I had a painstakingly boring upbringing, learning from the same tutor everyday, practicing the same instruments, and hearing the same criticisms.

“William I don’t understand why you’re slacking, your brothers never had test scores this low.” or. “William I don’t know why you aren’t picking up the violin - Dorian plays it like a professional.” And even, “William I just don’t understand why your papers are so poorly written, Vincent’s writings are just so fascinating.”

My brothers were fantastic at everything as far as my parents were concerned, you would think this would reflect into my two older siblings but… no.

Dorian was the middle child, he never once even mentioned to me how he excelled in certain subjects. No, Dorian rather spent his time asking me about outfit choices and if his hair looked okay - not exactly humble but he wasn’t cruel either.

Vincent wasn’t boastful either, he spent his times musing about the afterlife or what the ghost of our grandmother had to say regarding my parents poor furniture choices. You see my brother believed he could speak and see the dead - which lead him to fantasize about one day joining the afterlife and wearing a noose around his neck.

The start of things changing happened when the town heard the news.

“So I saw Mrs. Hatchaway this evening in town.” My step-mother said as we all were sat at the dining table.

“Did you?” My father was cutting into his pork chops, “Has she considered marrying her daughter to one of our sons?”

“No dear, she told me that the Mayor’s son has passed away.”

“Claude? Why he couldn’t have been much older than Dorian … What happened to the poor boy?”

“Seems he was mixed up in a carriage accident with a slave woman.”

“Such a shame, people are dying more and more these days.”

Vincent nodded in agreement, “Yes the lucky ones get to go out so much sooner.” He leaned on his palm as he popped part of his pork chop in his mouth. “What a blessing to be young and dead.”

“I have to agree with Vincent,” Dorian chimed in as he wiped his cheek while inspecting his reflection in a steak knife. “I would much rather be young and dead than living long enough to get all…” He shuddered with his tongue sticking out. “… wrinkled.”

“Well it’s too late for that, it seems.” I pulled on the corner of my eye - indicating to Dorian who shrieked and looked closer at his knife.

“That is not funny William!” My step-mother scolded. “Apologize.”

“I’m sorry Dorian’s face looks like a raisin.” I shrugged and wiped my mouth with my napkin.

“What a good joke!” Vincent patted my back, “And a very accurate depiction of decaying skin.”

“YOU THINK MY SKIN IS DECAYING?!” Dorian was breathing heavily, “I need to be excused!” He threw his napkin down as he hurried to the washroom, leaving Vincent and I to snicker.

“Both of you that is enough, William I have no idea what to do with you.” Step-mother sighed, her hazel eyes glaring at me. “I would have thought we reminded you well enough to act better.”

I rubbed my bandaged hand while looking down to my empty plate.

“George, perhaps we need to try again, Elizabeth says that usually once isn’t enough.”

“Mary … I don’t know.”

“I wouldn’t worry mother.” Vincent chimed in, “William is still so young - personally I think you didn’t even need to remind him the first time … PERSONALLY I think it was rather cruel you reminded him at all -.”

“Excuse me, I don’t think I need to sit in on this conversation seeing as no one has once asked my opinion on the matter.”

“Sit down William, of course we would like your opinion on the matter.” My father tried his best to be understanding of the situation I found myself in.

I was a bastard.

My mother was a ‘slave’ as the town called her, they also called her a harlot and a temptress. Because apparently my parents COULDN’T have loved each other since they were of two different social classes, no, instead my father was a victim to a devil woman.

And I was the result of it.

But my father persuaded my step-mother to keep me, since I looked nothing like my birth mother. This also meant I never got to know my mother because that woman sent her away.

“I don’t think we do.” My step-mother corrected my father, “He’s hardly earned the right.”

“Just like we had no right to cremate dear Granny.” Vincent sighed, “And yet we did, now everyday when she coughs a little bit of her ash comes out.”

“Shut up, you can’t talk to ghosts.” I grumbled while rolling my eyes, “If you can then why don’t you find the Topper’s? They were ‘mysteriously’ never found right?”

“I don’t think anyone would believe me if I did say.”

“Because you don’t know, is there anything your imaginary friends CAN help with? Other than reminding us we messed up Granny’s burial?”

“Yes actually, they told me we have a visitor during the night in our graveyard.”

Father and Step-mother seemed rather alarmed, “A grave robber perhaps?”

“No … It seems our visitor is mourning.”

“That can’t be, there are no Gracey’s visiting.” Step-mother mumbled, I couldn’t fathom why it was they insisted to take Vincent so seriously! I excused myself from the table again and headed out to the graveyard - at least if there really was a grave robber or something I had somewhere to place my frustrations.

❧

Hours passed while I sat leaned against an unmarked headstone, inside the house I could hear them shouting, father and step-mother.

“You baby him too much! That is why he isn’t excelling!”

“I’m trying! Lord Mary can’t you see I’m trying?”

“Obviously not hard enough!”

I closed my eyes while they screamed, trying my best to fall asleep instead of listening to them argue about what was wrong with me.

I felt something brush against my hand in the grass - making me flicker my gaze open and grab onto someone’s wrist.

“I’m sorry!” A girl dressed in black shouted, she winced as if I was about to strike her.

“Who are you?” I looked at what brushed against my hand, flowers?

“E-Emily …” She whispered, “I just… I didn’t mean to wake you up.”

“What the hell are you doing here anyway?” I released her wrist and leaned back on the headstone with my arms crossed.

“Oh, I’m just placing flowers on the graves.” She gave a sad smile, if I hadn’t have been looking so closely I would have missed it. Her lips tilted upwards but her eyes remained tired and dark.

“Why? They aren’t your family.” She took a seat beside me now, holding a bouquet of wildflowers, her tanned fingers were caked in dirt.

“Because my family is … far away… So I thought I would remember the people here.” Emily traced her fingers over the faded headstone letters.

“How ridiculous, none of these people would care about you when they were living - I wouldn’t give them the time of day.”

“You don’t know that, this one could have been the kindest man you had ever met, and that one with the purple flower could have been an amazing opera singer.” She paused a moment as she considered the two headstones beside each other. “They could have been lovers, but they were only brought together by death.”

“Or they were stuck up rich people who only choose to talk to someone if they’re the same social class.” She bowed her head sadly, picking at her flowers.

“Maybe they were loving parents…” I thought she was trying to take a jab at me initially, but then I noticed the tears watering the flowers in her hands. “Maybe they shouldn’t even be in a grave … Maybe they should be walking through the door, apologizing for taking so long.”

“Hey, are you okay?”

She lifted her head and wiped away the tears with a smile, “Of course! It’s my fault really, I have allergies and here I am picking flowers.”

“Don’t lie to me, was that … did you lose someone?”

“It’s nothing really.”

“Hey! I said don’t lie to me!” She chuckled and gave a sad nod.

“My parents passed away about a week ago maybe? I honestly can’t tell, I’ve been cooped up in my room most of the time … It was my fault though, I insisted they take a night for themselves and then …” Emily hugged her knees. “They had an accident that night.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“It’s alright, it just feels so good to talk about it.” She smiled, a genuine smile, I was almost knocked backwards when I saw it. There is little I can do to describe it, it was a smile that conveyed such a feeling inside me as if I were enveloped in warm arms - as if I was just told everything will be okay, that things will work out.

As if I were falling…

“I’m - um - glad I could help.”

“Will you be here tomorrow night? I’d love to see you again.”

“Y-yeah I’ll be here!” I answered so quickly, what was even the matter with me?

❧

I hardly got any sleep that night - because when I dreamed I dreamed of her, she was in a white sundress in a field of those flowers she picked, Her blue eyes were turned to me as that smile kept me entranced. I walked toward her, taking her soft hands only for her to move toward me and right before she would kiss me.

I would wake up.

I had entirely given up on trying to sleep the rest of the morning so I headed into the dining hall where sounds of the servants preparing breakfast could be heard.

“A bit early for you isn’t it William?” Vincent was already sitting at the table with a glass of orange juice in his hand, beside him was another glass which had already been emptied. “Just in time! Granny was telling me all about your date last night.”

“And was ‘Granny’ watching through the kitchen window?”

“Now William, I would never spy on your entire conversation … Just the interesting bits.”

“There wasn’t anything interesting anyway, just some girl leaving flowers in the graveyard.” Vincent leaned over to me as I took a seat beside him.

“Just a girl that is keeping you from getting any sleep right now.” I felt the heat rise in my cheeks. “I had a love like that once, and then she went to study abroad … Ah what I would do for just one more conversation.”

“She’s not my love and I’m not IN love, if mother and father have shown me anything it’s that love creates nothing but bitterness.”

“You have your own life to live, don’t let anyone keep you from what makes you happy.” I couldn’t help it but I actually smiled to Vincent.

❧

Emily and I met up in the graveyard several times, mostly we would talk about life and the things that bothered us but overtime we transitioned into teaching each other to dance. I can’t say I was surprised that Emily was so light on her feet, but I was impressed with how fast she could pick up any dance. This also lead to her teaching me new songs since her parents used to sit with her when they had a moment of peace, and sing her to sleep. Her voice was lovely … it was lovely in a way that broke my heart, a tune that sounded warm and inviting but beneath it felt lonely.

Amazingly as days moved forward life at home didn’t seem quite as dreary, my father and I became closer - he would often share stories about my mother … About how much he loved her. My brothers and I even grew closer as I asked Dorian for advice on what I should wear to impress Emily, I asked Vincent what things I could talk with her about? His answer of course was to talk about the family since we were in the graveyard, surprisingly good advice.

Step-mother seemed to have gotten worse, she would silence herself at the mere mention of the graveyard girl - as well as I believe she may have overheard father talking about his affair with my mother.

But that day…

I know she had something to do with that day.

“I don’t understand! What have I done?” I screamed at father.

“Your mother and I agree that you’ll be taught proper discipline in the Naval forces.”

“She is NOT my mother!”

“You will hold your tongue! This is why you need to be sent away! You are a spoiled boy and that GIRL has filled your head with fantasies!”

“FANTASIES? Because someone actually cares about me even if I am a bastard? Because she doesn’t pity me like YOU PEOPLE!”

Vincent had stepped into the library where we were talking, “Finally! Vincent tell them! They think I should be sent away!”

“Well William, given the news I heard it’s better for you this way.”

“WHAT?!”

“You don’t understand the spirits-.”

“OH MY GOD! ENOUGH WITH YOUR STUPID SPIRITS!”

“Fine! Let’s not lie to the boy! He wants it outright!” I had never seen Vincent angry before, but he marched toward me and grabbed the collar of my shirt. “You managed to piss off that girl’s grandfather! And unless you want to end up on his list you’ll leave!” He shoved me into the bookshelves and huffed. “I invite death, brother, but I’ll hang myself before I have you die first.” And as soon as he was there he left.

“What about Emily?” I growled while I looked to my parents, “I’ll go anywhere so long as I know Emily won’t be punished.”

“She’ll probably be sent to a convent, same as your mother, for being a harlot.” Step-mother sighed, holding her arms as she looked at me sadly. I wasn’t happy hearing that but a convent was better than an asylum.

“She isn’t a harlot, and I’ll hurt anyone who harms her.”

❧

The first ship I got on I was worked to the bone, sword training, mopping the decks, carrying produce to the galley, and various other tasks before finally given real sailing experience.

Everyday I worked on that ship I grew more and more tired, we hardly got food and hardly got paid, I could see in the faces of my crew-mates that they were exhausted.

I had every intention of making it to Captain one day - to getting my own ship- but due to the conditions I sprang at the opportunity to start a mutiny.

And once we had the ship we were unstoppable!

It’s amazing what one can accomplish with a happy crew, we went from town to town and took what we pleased! I gained a reputation from my ruthlessness - Captain Blood they called me, for the ‘B’ burned into my hand.

Part time I would also take jobs from the Kings, Queens, Mayors, and Moyoresses whom requested I ‘get rid’ of the undesirables in their cities. Undesirables can be a lot of things, homeless folks, thieves, and even gypsies. So it was no surprise to get a letter from the Mayor of Liberty Square requesting my services to ‘get rid’ of a band of gypsies loitering in their town.

I also considered this letter as a way to perhaps visit my parents and see how they had been getting on as of late.

❧

We made port along the river and I made it my mission to visit the mansion first - only to find out … Father and Step-mother had passed away.

Upon asking the town they had claimed someone killed them in their sleep, taking nothing from the mansion other than its former owners. Vincent and Dorian both had their own mansions by now and so this one was left to rot, I found it rather suitable that I might take this mansion in place of my parents - and seeing as I was on my way to speak with the Mayor…

I knocked upon his door only to have a servant woman answer and lead me inside to wait in the foyer.

I inspected the mayor’s pictures on the walls, most were of his son - Claude I believe? I could hardly remember seeing as I hadn’t been back here for years. There was something familiar about Claude though, he had remarkable blue eyes - I could have sworn I had seen them somewhere before? If he hadn’t passed away I surely would have tried to bed the man, he was quite handsome.

“Captain Blood.” Came a deep voice from the entrance to the dining room, standing in the doorway was a large man with white hair and a white beard.

“Ah, Mister Mayor! A pleasure to make your acquaintance, I heard you had a problem with a little band of gypsies.”

“Just one.”

“One? From the letter it seemed you were referring to an entire band?”

“The issue of the group has been dealt with by other disgruntled townspeople, however there is one that is still pestering my town.” His eyes seemed to glance to the stairs for a moment before he looked back into my own. “The town has begun referring to her as the canary, normally something so minuscule as this could be handled myself but…” He closed his eyes with a frustrated sigh, “Evidently she’s convinced those of the law and citizens alike that the structure of this town and class systems are to just be ignored, which is why I’ve turned to you for help in this matter - a man with murder in his blood surely can bring her here so I can see to it she is dealt with accordingly?”

I scratched my chin a little as he spoke, this wasn’t just any regular job where I could find new homes for some unfortunate people - it seemed the Mayor was more concerned with keeping his position as the top of some class system.

“I’m not sure I completely agree with your logic, one person can’t overturn how a society is ‘structured’ overnight, and besides towns change! People die off! Some things are inevitable!”

“No!” He stepped toward me but composed himself almost immediately after, “We should not let a born criminal roam the streets impacting those around with lies, the lies should be stopped and the criminal punished accordingly.”

“Do you not trust your own people to think for themselves, Mayor?” I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned back onto the wall decorated with his family portraits. “I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase ‘you can lead a horse to water but cannot make them drink’, correct?”

“Horses can be broken.”

“I don’t think you understood what I was saying-.”

“I understand that you are not willing to proceed with my request, and if you will not change your mind Captain I would prefer if you would leave my home.”

“Well that is the other interesting thing, I am looking to purchase a plot of land here, that abandoned mansion specifically.” I nodded in the direction of, what I could assume was the mansion next door.

“I already have a gypsy pestering my town Captain, I do not need your kind as well.”

“How about this, you let me purchase that mansion and any of my men that stay back with me are yours to pay to find this enchanting canary girl for you? After all I have some rather sketchy lads in my outfit I’m sure one of them has so few morals as to fulfill your request.” This made the Mayor consider me for a moment.

“Alright, agreed.”

“I do have one stipulation, no murdering, you see murder in a little town like this can get so out of hand and I don’t need the heartache of my men going through that - not to mention this canary business is so tedious, so if that stands to reason with you?”

“Why of course, Captain, I would never wish to be so corrupt as to attempt a murder.” His smile didn’t convince me much but I could only really take this man at his word.

“Good enough for me, now if you excuse me I have a mansion that needs renovating.”

❧

I worked tirelessly with my men on building the mansion, bringing wood, wallpapering, and polishing old marble. It was a sight to behold - if my parents could see it now.

And that night as celebration we snuck into the town- I could hear the gypsy caravan’s music in the distance, I think I got through two houses with a sack full of silvers and gold when I heard my men laughing in the distance as well as another voice.

“Got a whale of a tale to tell you lads! A whale of a tale or two! Bout the flappin fish and the girls I’ve loved on nights like this with the moon above! A whale of a tale and it’s all true I swear by my tattoo!” I rounded the corner and almost laughed, my men were clapping and singing with a little gypsy girl. “There was typhoon tessie!” The girl hopped up on a lamppost across the street, “met her on the coast of java! When we kissed I… bubbled up like molten lava!” She acted like she fainted into the arms of the men and hopped back onto the streets, flipping around her yellow dress as she danced and sang. “Then she gave me! The scare of my young life! Well blow me down and pick me up she was the captain’s wife!” And then the men were all singing.

“Got a whale of a tale to tell ya lads! A whale of a tale or two! Bout the flapping fish and the girls I’ve loved on nights like this with the moon above! A whale of a tale and it’s all true! I swear by my tattoo!” I was leaning on the lamppost watching now but I figured I needed to intervene before someone woke up and saw a girl who was possibly 5’nothing dancing with pirates who were 6’0” or more.

“Alright!” I called out to them with a chuckle, “Get your shit back to the ship and get out of my sight, I need a word with our entertainer.” The men all laughed and said their goodbyes while the girl waved them off with a large smile on her face, she looked to me now and held out her hand. As I approached I got a better look at her, her dark brown hair was framing her face as some wisps kissed her red lips, her blue eyes were almost illuminated with the blue held within, warm brown skin that was being hugged by her dandelion yellow dress, and falling from her hair were white wildflowers.

“Hello, I’m Emily.” I shook her hand as well as lifted her knuckles to my lips.

“Captain Blood, a pleasure to meet you.” She withdrew her hand and gave a rather bashful smile, considering she was just having a midnight concert with pirates. “My dear, I thought they taught girls to stay away from pirates?”

“I guess I don’t listen very well.” She shrugged and then placed a hand on her hip looking me up and down. “And what about you?” I was taken aback.

“Me?”

“I just thought a pirate captain wouldn’t be so scared to dance.”

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