“Please, call me Calypso!”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, such a waste of a pretty face. Tis a shame we’ve not been properly acquainted Milady, but I suppose there’s time fer that.” Gilly moved his hand to touch her leg but Ella kicked it away, nearly knocking him out of his chair. His expression soured and he swiftly used the same hand she'd kicked away to smack her hard across the face. “Ye’ll play nice ’er it’ll be a much longer trip between you and the gallows.”
“Just kill me and be done with it.” Ella choked out in a weak, raspy voice. “I’d rather die by your hand than his. At the very least to spite him the satisfaction of doing so himself.” Gilly responded by simply shaking his head. “Then what will you do with me till we reach Plymouth, keep me chained here?”
“If you behave, you’ll find I can be quite accommodating.” Gilly moved closer with a wicked grin. “Or, I’ll throw ya in the bilge and let the rats chew on ya!” Gilly burst into laughter as he brushed his hand against her chest and then doubled over as a violent cough seized him amidst his laughter. Ell noticed blood on the edges of his mouth as he wiped it away with the back of his hand. Gilly stood up to fetch himself some water. Ella pressed her lips into a tight frown to keep herself from smiling. The water did no good to soothe his cough.
“That’s a terrible cough Captain. I do hope it’s not as bad as it sounds or you may be dead before I.”
“Shut yer gob woman or I’ll plug it with mi cock.” Gilly regained his composure and the coughing slowed.
“Please hear me, whatever Hadwin has promised you, I can pay you double. The fortune is with my father and is not Hadwin’s to spend freely, he is not a rich man. Believe me it is a trap! He is more likely to hang you beside me than to give you what he’s promised.” Ella pleaded.
“It doesn’t matter what ya offer, yer a no-good muderin’ molly and the law is coming fer ya! By my hand er not, yer days are numbered.”
“My father is the law in Weymouth, I can assure you unhindered business in exchange for my life! Besides I am innocent!”
“It makes no difference to me!” Gilly returned to his wicked grinning and leaned over her, resting his hand on the wall beside her head and brought his face close to hers. “I’ve made a deal with the Navy long ago. Sea crabs like their pleasure and who do ya think be providin’ it? It ain’t Weymouth I’m after. The good Captain’s provided me safe pass ta London. Not all the money in yer mother’s purse could buy me that!” Gilly grabbed her between the legs. Ella thrashed and managed this time to force enough spit from her mouth onto his face. Gilly merely wiped it away and smiled. Ella knew there was nothing she could do but she tried to resist him anyway as he tore at the ties of her stays. Suddenly there was knock at the door. Gilly paused. The knock came again, sounding more urgent the second time.“Piss off!” Gilly shouted at the door but the knock repeated. Gilly reluctantly rose to answer it muttering curses under his breath. “Aye?” He cracked open the door and in pushed Cormack, carry a tray of food.
“Yer supper Captain!” Cormack chimed with a glowing smile and set the tray on Gilly’s table.
“I gave no word fer supper, out wit ya!” Gilly growled. Cormack ignored him and began removing the food from the tray and setting it on the table. His hands moved quickly to avoid shaking. "Did ya not hear me boy?”Gilly asked and eyed him suspiciously. Cormack gave him a calm grin and strolled towards Ella.
“My apologies Captain, I came see our lady in chains.” Cormack leaned over Ella with a fixed grin to hide his concern for her disheveled state. Ella looked up at him, puzzled.
“What do ya think yer doing?” Gilly said and put a heavy hand on Cormack’s shoulder.
“You were right about her, ain’t nothing but trouble. Just glad to see it sorted is all.” Cormack continued and pushed a stray bit of hair away from Ella’s face. Ella bit at his hand and he pulled it away quickly.
“Come on, out! Say yer goodbyes at the gallows!” Gilly barked and pulled Cormack away from her. “Tis a storm, we need ya on deck.” Cormack spun around and faced Gilly.
“Captain... Uncle…” Cormack placed his hand on Gilly’s shoulder with a stern look in his eyes. “Handin her in be fine by me, she’s been nothing but grief since first she came, but if there is to be any justice done here and now, I’d like to be the one do it miself.”
“Why you dirty little rake!” Ella shouted at Cormack.
“Shut up woman, I’m warnin’ ya!” Cormack turned to her with his hand raised. Gilly chuckled and made his was over to the table to pour himself some wine, now properly amused by Cormack’s behavior. “You see Uncle-”
“Captain is fine.” Gilly poured himself a glass and took another from the tray, pouring it for Cormack.
“Ya see Captain, she never paid me back for the coin I’d lent when this draggle trull lied of being ill.”
“Ya must learn to trust no one miboy!” Gilly said and handed Cormak the glass of wine.
“Always making some kind of a mess.” Cormack said and brought the glass of wine to his lips, Ella’s eyes widened and she shook her head slightly, terrified that Cormack might actually sip it, but instead he lowered it to speak again. “A mess Duchess, that I had ta clean. Leave ’er to me she’ll pay back every bruise and penny I’ve suffered on her behalf.” Cormack turned to Gilly and raised his glass as Gilly settled into a chair beside the table and returned the gesture between stifling coughs. Cormack brought the glass to his lips once more but before the red liquid could reach his mouth Ella threw her body forward and kicked him in the leg. The wine splashed out of the glass. Most of it landed on the floor in front of Cormack, some of it landed on Ella. Cormack bent down and grabbed Ella roughly by the hair, pulling her face up to his. “Ya bleedin-!” Cormack hushed as Ella whispered something too quietly to hear. “What’s that?” Cormack brought his ear closer.
“Don’t drink the wine!” Ella whispered. Cormack released her hair. “I said your mother was a whore and I’ll piss on your grave!” Ella shouted in his ear. Cormack shoved her back to the wall and swiftly slapped her across the cheek.
“I can see why yer husband wants ye dead.” Cormack said sternly. Ella thrashed in her chains but he moved away from her legs reach. He returned to the table to pour another glass and refill Gilly’s, who had been intermittently drinking between coughing and laughing.
“Good show miboy, but there’s just one thing I forgot ta mention.” Gilly said and grabbed Cormack by the wrist as he went to place the bottle back down. “When I spoke of trusting no one, I also meant thee.” Gilly took his double-barrel pistol from his side and pointed it at Cormack, keeping a tight grip on his wrist.
“I? Captain, I don’t understand-” Cormack said genuinely surprised by Gilly’s action.
“What’s yer plan? Steal mi keys? Think I’m fool enough ta leave ya alone so you can set her free?” Gilly rose to his feet, towering above Cormack. “You plannin’ ta kill me boy?” Gilly questioned sternly and cocked one trigger.
“No! There was no plan! He truly hates me, I swear it!” Ella offered, suddenly fearing more for Cormack’s life than her own.
“Hush!” Gilly pointed the pistol at Ella momentarily. “I’ve enough bullets fer ye both!” Gilly returned his attention to Cormack. “Rather I tie ye down and make ye watch as I have mi way with yer favorite trollop!” Just as suddenly as he had grabbed it, Gilly released Cormack’s wrist and shoved him backwards, pointing the pistol at his head. “Out!” He barked. “Or I swear ta Christ I’ll shoot ye.”
Cormack turned and took a step towards the door. His fists balled with rage. Gilly settled back into his chair keeping the pistol aimed at Cormack and took one last sip of his wine. He began to sputter and choke. He clutched his throat, blood bubbled about his mouth. “You!” He pointed the pistol at Ella and began to rise from the table. Ella shook her head in fright.
“No-” She whispered and closed her eyes as he cocked the other trigger. Bang! A shot rang out and echoed loudly across the room. Ella's ears rang and the world went black. After a moment of not feeling any pain Ella opened her eyes. She saw Cormack standing with his pistol aimed at Gilly. He had pulled from his waistcoat where he had hidden it. The shot he fired went clean through Gilly’s head and lodged itself in the wall behind.
“I’m sorry Uncle, I was tryin’ to avoid doin that but-” Cormack said and lowered his pistol. Gilly’s pistol fell from his hand and he fell face-forward onto the table, then rolled to the floor.
“Good-God! Cormack you-” Ella spoke quietly from shock and relief as she watched him calmly walk over to Gilly’s body. “You killed your own uncle… for me?”
“He were a bastard anyway.” Cormack sighed and unhooked a ring of keys from Gilly’s belt. He looked at Gilly for a moment, who stared up at the ceiling, blood pooling around his head. He shook his head and closed Gilly’s eyes with his two fingers, then stood, and made his way over to Ella. “Ain’t rightly sure he were really mi Uncle.”
“What do you mean?” Ella questioned as he unchained her right wrist.
“Well, he ain’t look nothing like me ma, and clearly ain’t look like me.” Cormack said and unchained Ella’s left wrist, then helped her to her feet.
“Yes he certainly does lack your charm. Did, did lack. I suppose he’s dead now.” Ella glanced at Gilly’s motionless body and then flung her arms around Cormack and hugged him tightly. A wave of relief brought a few tears to her eyes. “Thank you.” She whispered. The two embraced for a few moments more until Cormack broke the silence.
“So ya think I’m charming then?” Cormack grinned and Ella looked up at him. Their faces were so close, their lips were almost touching, for a moment Cormack thought she was about to kiss him. But instead she pushed backwards and gave him a hard smack on the cheek. “Ah! What the devil was that for?” Cormack clutched his stinging cheek.
“You’re a horrible liar! And you didn’t have to hit me!” Ella crossed her arms and pretended to pout.
“I was just tryin’ to make it believable!” Cormack reached for her shoulder but Ella turned away.
“Well, you scared me half to death!” Ella tried to frown but a smile crept across her face instead. Cormack caught her smiling and leaned over to whisper in her ear.
“So then ya did believe me.” He teased. Ella shook her head and turned to Gilly’s body, slowly stepping closer to examine it.
“Well what do we do now?” She pondered, contemplating the size of Gilly and how they could possibly move him. Cormack walked over to the table and retrieved Gilly’s double barrel pistol, then took Ella’s hand and flipped it palm-up.
“Anything you want, Captain.” Cormack grinned and placed the pistol in Ella’s hand.
“Me? Why not you? It was you who killed him, and you’ve grown up on this ship! I don’t know anything about being a captain, besides being married to one…” Ella protested and tried to hand the pistol back to Cormack. Cormack shook his head.
“You’ve the respect of all the women, I don’t think they’ll take kindly to a lad such as I givin ’um orders. Besides, bloody revenge and what not.” Cormack smiled and pushed the gun back into Ella’s hands.
“Well. It seems you’ve procured me a gun. I guess that makes us even.” Ella smiled and examined the pistol more closely. The smile faded from Cormack’s lips as he glanced over at Gilly and the blood around his mouth.
“So, what was all that with the wine?” Cormack questioned.
“I’d been been filling it with small amounts of glass for weeks, not enough that he would notice, but I don’t think he would have lasted very much longer.” Ella smiled, taking the bottle and examining what remained. She poured a few drops between her fingers and pressed them together, revealing tiny cut where the glass sliced her skin. Cormack watched in bewilderment. “But I suppose you did save my virtue, what little I have left.” Ella shrugged and tossed the bottle to the floor.
“Why not poison?” Cormack asked.
“Poison? Well I haven’t any.” Ella shook her head.
“Ya could have asked.”
“You have poison?” Ella asked, her voice tinged with concern.
“I told ya before, I know where ta get some.” Cormack shrugged.
“Remind me never to take tea from you.” Ella laughed.
“Well just stay on mi good-side then.” Cormack winked.
“So what do you figure now?” Ella smiled then crossed her arms, surveying the room. “Gilly was only half the problem, we’ve others to account for.”
“I say we take them down now, before they catch wind of what’s happened and make plans to take the ship themselves.” Cormack said and Ella nodded in agreement.
“Then, shall we head to the kitchen first? After all, I am starving.” She quired with a smirk.
“Aye, aye... Captain.” Cormack playfully saluted.
“Please, call me Calypso!” Ella grinned and headed for the door.