Stuck in the Past - Chapter One

I lay curled up in the blankets on my bed within the warm cherry wood walls of my cabin, sleeping peacefully for the first time in nearly seven weeks after I have finally gained control over my powers and sent Haden away. Over the past few weeks, I hadn't been sleeping too soundly, either having strange dreams of the black horse I had seen or simply being unable to sleep. But, over the last week, I'd finally been able to sleep soundly through the night.

That night, however, was really trying to keep me awake. And just as I fell asleep, I was quite literally thrown from my bed when the ship slammed roughly into something very, very solid. I rolled onto my stomach and looked around in confusion. What in the world had we hit?

I gasped when a particularly violent wave slammed in through the window and splashed me with freezing cold sea water. I hopped to my feet and, ignoring the fact that I was only wearing a tee shirt and underwear, I high-tailed it up onto deck and promptly lost my footing before falling flat on my back. Groaning, I fought my way onto my back before standing up and turning when Captain Chen and Lyra stepped up onto the deck. I walked over to them just as First Mate Hayes appeared on the deck. She hurried over to the captain and sighed heavily. "We hit one of the rocks but it didn't penetrate the hull. She should be able to sail until we reach a port." Hayes informed us.

The captain sighed before looking back at Lyra. "Set a course for the nearest port." Chen ordered before turning back to Hayes and I. "Get back below deck. There's nothing we can do right now." He said.

"Yes Captain," I said and made my way down below deck but stopped when Aslansa poked his head out of the shadows and motioned down at my lower half. "Cute underwear you have on there." He smirked and vanished amid the shadows before I got the chance to smack his arm out of embarrassment. "Better get into something warm before you catch a cold." He laughed from inside the shadows.

I growled in annoyance before hurrying back to my room to get into some dry clothes.




It was early in the morning by the time that we finally limped into the nearest port of a small town called Lifvana. I changed out of the clothes I had slept in before climbing up onto the deck, wearing a pair of dark leather trousers, my white boots, a white shirt with poufy sleeves and finished it with a tight black corset.

I stepped up onto the deck and was glad to see that the storm had finally passed and the sky was clear blue with beautiful cirrus clouds high up in the sky. I smiled up at them. Cirrus clouds had always been my favorite. All the way up there and made of ice crystals and stretched into wispy formations. They were the most beautiful clouds in my opinion.

I shook myself out of my imagination and hurried to follow the rest of the crew down the gangplank and onto the pier. I followed closely behind Sparky and Athanase, the latter of which was the newest crew member and already a good friend.

I followed them until we came across a dirt road that led north while cobblestone walls about three feet high flanked the road. Sparky immediately hopped on top of the walls and cartwheeled along it. I smiled and laughed but stopped as we neared the town. There was something about it that made me feel…off. I couldn't understand it let alone explain it.

As we drew closer to the town I started to notice some buildings that came into view. The houses that were visible were mostly identical – one-story buildings with tall, gable rooftops. They looked very much like regular log cabins with small windows.

I hurried up to Lyra's side and tapped her shoulder. She turned around and looked down at me. "Do you have any idea where we are?" I asked her curiously.

Lyra's face fell and she shook her head. "I honestly have a clue where we are. I've never seen a place like this on any map before." She replied softly.

I sighed in confusion but looked up and was surprised to see a rather young man walking steadily towards us. I brushed a stray strand of hair out of my face to take in this man's appearance. He was a rather young man and very fit with broad shoulders. His face was quite handsome and I was quite drawn to him. He had a strong, oval face with a pointed chin, arrow-straight nose, and slightly sunken eyes. Those eyes of his, however, were what drew me in the most. They were slightly sunken, just enough to cast a shadow on them, and yet their violet color shone out like two beautiful beacons. His entire face was framed nose-length bangs and a very long tail of hair that stretched down to his waist in a tight braid.

He beamed as he approached us. "Welcome, travelers, to the lovely town of Lifvana. I am Mayor Lucero Deadwick; it's a pleasure to meet you all." He said and let his violet words rove over each of our faces. I instinctively stepped closer to Athanase when Lucero's eyes found me. Athanase wasn't much bigger than me but something told me to put something between Lucero and myself.

Lucero's eyes narrowed as his eyes fell on me and I stepped further behind Athanase but he quickly adopted his cheerful face when Captain Chen stepped forward. "Good day, sir; I am Captain Chenbeard of the Black Fedora Pirates and this is my crew." He introduced, waving an arm behind him at the entire crew.

I continued to eye the mayor and noticed that when Chen called us his crew, the happiness on his face faltered. "What do the women do aboard your ship?" He questioned.

"We work aboard the Sangue-Padre. What else would we do?" Hayes asked.

Lucero's eyebrow twitched and he turned to glare at Hayes. "I do not believe I was speaking to you." He snarled.

"And I don't believe you need to take that tone with her." Lyra snarled furiously.

"Do not speak to me in such a tone, woman!" Lucero ordered at her, snapping around to glare at the navigator. He then turned angry eyes on the rest of the women of the crew. "Tell me, do any of you have the slightest idea of how to behave like proper women?" He sneered.

"Who are you to say we don't act like proper women?" I demanded before I could shut my fat mouth. "And, yes, we do know how to behave like proper women. But we're also stronger than any man you throw at us." I continued.

Lucero growled and stomped over to me. When he was so closed that our chests almost touched, he breathed down heavily on me, snarling so softly that only I could hear him. As he stared down relentlessly at me, I glared right back but his eyes suddenly flashed with a strange light. I gasped and stumbled back so suddenly that my feet tangled together and I fell back on my bottom.

Athanase knelt down beside me and glared up at Lucero and he shook his head and turned back to Captain Chen. "Forgive my outburst," He said with a strange voice before adopting a kind smile.

"You are forgiven. Might I ask for some help to repair our ship so that we might continue our course?" Chen asked, glancing back towards where we had left the Sangue-Padre.

"Of course; in the meantime, would you be opposed to the idea of me taking your ladies to my mansion so that I could show them the ways of our ladies?" He questioned in a manner that made it seem like it would be rude to deny him his request.

"You may escort them." Chen agreed after a moment.

I growled softly as Athanase helped me back to my feet as the men and women of the crew split up. I stepped over towards Sparky, Riddle and Angel, glaring at Lucero. I did not trust this man and would keep a close eye on him. There was something bizarre about him.

"Very good; I shall ask some men from town to head down to the docks and put in a special request with the carpenter. While they get together, you men can go to the diner and tell the young maid there that I sent you. She will feed you all." He smiled before turning back to the women of the crew. "Now then, come with me." Lucero smiled kindly and set off towards the north. I watched as everybody split paths and I hung back, watching them go. Why did they all seem to trust him? What was he doing to them? And was I the only one that didn't trust him? Growling protectively, I hurried to catch up. I had to know what this creep was up to. And I would be sure to find out.

One way, or another.