Avast there Shelby and Ariel, any more of this infighting on who gets the dibs and I’ll be sending ya both to the brig escorted by Dawn. And remember she’s a hair puller.
Finey-McFine I wanted to give you a big YAY on your dibs but no feedback till late tut tut
You wrote
‘Rickster...You rock!!!’Awww thanks but it’s you girls who read my little adventure and give me your feedback who really rock.
Willow does have a softer side but being the pirate queen that she is she rarely has the time nor opportunity to show it. But now that Tara is in her life it should come out a lot more.
Now both girls have admitted their feelings it will lead to lots more loving, and that’s a promise.
I’ve never thought that Xander got the full respect he deserved in the show so to make him that little bit more of a hero was something I really wanted to do with this fic.
I hope you found my fic to be better than the film lol.
Ariel There’s only one type of hotness and that’s W/T hotness.
On the ‘Golden Palace’, a lot of these little touches usually come in at the last minute when the main story is written. I’m just glad you didn’t think it was a Chinese restaurant like my sister did.
If you liked the details of Willow holding Tara’s hand wait till Willow sees naked Tara. Coming in a few chapters, I promise. I’m only sorry that I couldn’t make Buffy’s entrance funnier, as for Xander see my reply to Finey above.
THE ADVENTURES OF RED ROSENBERG
DEAD MAN’S ISLAND
Author; Willowtaralover
Disclaimer; All Buffy characters are the property of Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Fox. The story and all original characters belong to me, so nyah.
Rating; PG-13 to R for sex, violence and naughty swearing
Story; Rough, tough pirate captain goes in search of treasure including romance with a beautiful blonde, betrayal from a trusted crewmember and deadly danger from a dark sorcerer and his undead army.
All thought’s are in italics_____________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 13
Witch
“I…I was a…able to heal Mr. Xander so…so easily be…because.” Tara hesitated, fear tying her stomach in knots.”
“Be…because I’m… I’m a witch.”
The admission came so abruptly it shocked everyone into silence. Xander looked as uncomfortable as Tara felt, and only in part due to the rapidly fading burning sensation on his chest. Everyone around the quartet started talking amongst themselves about Tara’s statement Meanwhile Willow and Buffy could only gape at the young blonde’s confession. Finally, Buffy regained the power of speech.
“You’re a witch?” Her voice was as disbelieving as that of a child who had just been told that Liana, the goddess and guardian of all children did not exist.
“Y…y…yes, I…”Here Tara’s voice faltered and the blonde girl bowed her head in shame and fear.
Willow eyed the girl, with whom, not fifteen minutes before she had been busy making out. There was no suspicion in her eyes, just inquisitiveness for this girl to whom she was equally fascinated by and attracted to.
“So did ya learn yer craft at yer Ma’s knee or are ya a disciple to a darker master?”
While Willow’s question was asked lightly, there was no mistaking the darker undercurrent to her tone.
“N…n…n…no,” Tara scrabbled to reply so quickly that her stutter re-emerged. “My m…mother taught me all she kn…knew and th…those were only spells for p…protection and magic. Their p…p…power comes from the p…pure elemental f…force of the world around us.”
“When were you planning to tell us you were a witch?” Buffy queried while Xander moaned softly from where he lay on the deck while Tara’s magic coursed through his body, healing his wounds and injuries.
Tara lowered her head so that her long blonde hair became a curtain covering her upper face. Her toes were twitching nervously and she felt sick in her stomach, as if she might throw up on the deck any second. This question was one that she had hoped to avoid but there was no getting past it now. Tara took a deep breath before answering.
“I…I…I…I was hoping that I would never have to,” her voice was very quiet, more so than usual.
Willow and Buffy exchanged glances at this. Neither girl was sure as to how to react to this news. Tara had become a well-loved addition to the crew, her cooking was the best that the crew had ever eaten on any voyage and her healing abilities had ensured that the crew had been working at full capacity all through the expedition.
Alternately, the fact that she was a witch, and hadn’t been planning to reveal it to anyone was a cause for concern. It was said that any ship that either harboured a witch or willingly took one aboard as a member of its crew would be cursed by the gods and death and destruction would befall the ship and crew. Understandably then, Willow was incredibly horrified by this new revelation, both for herself and her crew. It was also a huge blow to her heart, which had been captured by the young blonde. Could Tara have cast some spell on the redhead so she would fall in love with the witch?
Everybody was quiet for a long time and the pirate Captain and her lieutenant both looked at Tara, trying to work out what to do next. As the others were pondering their next move, Chou-Lee suddenly stepped forward, her sword drawn and began to advance on Tara.
Then something happened that nobody expected, least of all Tara or Willow.
Dawn suddenly placed herself directly between Tara and the sword wielding Slayerette, her hand on the hilt of her own weapon. She stared the other girl straight in the eyes.
“You do anything to try and hurt Tara I swear I’ll gut you where you stand.” It wasn’t a threat; it was a promise pure and simple.
“Chou-Lee, Dawn, what the hell’s d’ya think yer doin’?” Willow cried out, her voice tinged with exasperation and exhaustion over the day’s events.
“She is a witch captain, by her own admission. If we do not kill her now then a great doom will befall us all.” Chou-Lee replied over her shoulder towards the Captain but constantly kept her eyes on Tara, almost daring her to move.
“I’m following your orders. You told Simone and me that we had to look after Tara, that we were her bodyguards, so that’s what I’m doing. I’m guarding her.”
“Aye, I know what I said but I don’t recall saying anything about challenging other crewmembers. Now ya both sheathe yer swords or ye’ll be facin’ me.” This warning was growled by the angry redhead but neither girl made any move to put their weapons away.
There was a loud moaning from the deck and everybody suddenly looked to see Xander painfully push himself to his feet. He rose determinedly to move himself in front of both Dawn and Tara.
“Chou-Lee, put yer damned sword away now,” he gasped through gritted teeth. His eyes were hooded with anger and his glare was so powerful it could have been classed as a lethal weapon.
He turned slowly to face all the girls’ near-by and let out a ragged breath.
“Ya all know how I feel about magic users,” he called out loud to the watching crowd. “I don’t like em, they scare the shit outta me. Ya can never trust em cos ya never know what they’re gonna do t’ya. But Tara here, she’s done nowt but good for us and far as I’m concerned anyone who wants ta get rid o’ Tara, they’re gonna have ta kill me first.”
Despite the slight wobble in his legs, he stood defiantly, fists clenched at his sides daring all those round him to attack. Some of the girls noted the point where the bold young man’s thumb had been sliced cleanly off by the Angelus’ invisibility. The tip was blackened as if it had been burned to neutralise any infections.
Tara stood behind Dawn watching the events with a great deal of nervousness. She was fully aware of the fear everyday people had for witches, sorcerers, warlocks and other magic users.
To hear Xander affirm that fear added to Tara’s feeling of dread. That he had then supported and defended her made it quite evident to the girl that she still had much to learn about this roguish crew and their fearless Captain who had willingly taken her under their wing. Slowly Chou-Lee put her sword away while Dawn removed her hand from the hilt of her sword.
After five minutes of no one moving Willow finally took charge once more, having stayed silent all during the time Xander had stood in protection of Tara.
“Dawn, take Tara back ta the galley and stay there with her, ev’ryone else get back t’ yer duties,
Buff, Xander, yer wi me.” With that, she led her friends back to her cabin as the rest of the Slayerettes started getting the ship going again. As Dawn escorted Tara to the galley, Buffy hung behind Willow and Xander a little till her sister had caught them up and approached her.
Dawn swallowed hard wondering what reprimand Buffy may give her. All the time she kept her hand on her sword hilt, ready to face anyone who may want to attack her ward. As Buffy drew near Simone kept watch from a distance, primarily watching Dawn, love and admiration clear in her eyes to everyone who saw her. Buffy drew level with Dawn and Tara placing a gentle hand on her sister’s shoulder halting her progress. As the girls stood to talk, Tara looked about herself nervously, chewing her lower lip.
“You did a nice thing there, for Tara” as Buffy spoke, she flicked an eye towards the girl in question.
Dawn just shrugged her shoulders, slightly embarrassed by the praise. “It was nothing really, just what Willow said to do.”
“No, it was a really good thing. I am so incredibly proud of you right now and I know the Cap’n is too even if she doesn’t say anything. I’m pretty sure that mother is too, wherever she is.” Dawn just nodded solemnly at this as she recalled the circumstances under which their parent had vanished while her sister turned her attention to Tara.
“Tara, are you alright?” Tara turned rapidly upon hearing her name. So rapidly in fact, that she almost fell over.
“Y…yes thank you Buffy. A little scared but I’m fine,” and she smiled in gratitude at the attention that had been paid to her.
Unseen by the trio Simone continued to stare longingly at the girl she loved until Willow looked over, spotted them and yelled…
“Oy, Dawn I thought I said ta get Tara ta the galley. Simone, what the fuck ya standin’ around fer, get up in the crow’s nest or help trim the sails or summat, ya can pleasure each other later. Buffy I said yer wi’ me. Yer sanding round like three gossipy hags.”
Her face redder than a ripe tomato, Simone quickly approached Dawn and gave her a quick peck on the lips then all four girls went to their respective duties.
*********************************************************
As Dawn and Tara entered the galley the first thing that struck them was an incredibly strong, overpowering stench. It was as if a hundred million people had farted all at the same time making the air noxious and almost impossible to breathe in.
Tara immediately sensed something unearthly about the place and quickly scanned the room.
She saw the food that she, Dawn and Simone had bought across from the Angelus. The fruit, rabbits and pheasants were all starting to rot. Everything was covered in a green spider-web like fungus. Some of the fruit had started to exude a strange, green viscous substance that made them think of vomit. What was more frightening was the fact that the table where the meat had been laid was beginning to vanish.
It was becoming as incorporeal as the Angelus herself had been.
Quickly, Tara took command of the situation, “D…Dawn help me throw the meat overboard, a…and throw it as far as you can from the ship.”
“But what about the fruit?” Dawn enquired as they rushed to the deck, bundles of meat in their arms, startling everyone in their path.
“I’ll help you c…carry the tubs a…and we throw those overboard t…too.”
“Er, Tara do you really think you’ll be able to help carry those tubs, they’re pretty heavy. It was easy for me and Simone since we’re both pretty strong but you..”
Tara stopped in her tracks and fixed Dawn with a steely glare.
“Are you s…saying that I’m w…weak?”
Dawn looked back with a similarly defiant stare.
“Yeah, I am.”
“Then you s…still don’t know me v…very well do you,” and with those words Tara continued to the side of the ship and threw the decomposing meat away by grabbing the feet of the creatures, whirling them round her head and throwing. Using this method both Dawn and Tara were able to throw the meat far enough from the ship that it wouldn’t get affected by the rancid meat.
After all the rabbits and pheasants had been disposed of, the two girls dashed back to the galley. By now the table had fully returned, but Tara still pressed gingerly at the area where, only a few minutes before there had been nothing. The tips of her fingers glowed slightly for a second and a small smile formed on her mouth.
“Tara,” Dawn queried and the blonde turned to see her assistant, one hand already on one of the handles of the tub of apples. Tara crossed to where she stood and, bending at the knees, took a firm grip of the other handle and lifted. Dawn was startled by how easily Tara lifted and carried the apple tub as the blonde set a brisk pace that Dawn had to jog to pace with.
Once at the side they heaved the tub together over the side, then repeated the same for the tub of oranges. After all the contaminated food had been gotten rid of Tara turned to Dawn a smirk on her face.
“Guess I’m not so weak after all,” she said pointedly and her smirk grew into a grin. Dawn gave a faux scowl but she wasn’t able to hold it for long before she too grinned.
“No, I guess not,” came the reply and they returned to the galley.
“I guess this makes us friends then,” Dawn said cautiously. Tara turned to her sharply but there was no denying the look of hope in her face.
“I…I hope so. I’d very m…much like that Dawn, for us to be fr…friends.”
There was a long awkward silence between the girls and the hope in Tara began to fade. It was almost diminished when…
“I’m sorry.”
The words were spoken so quickly Tara wasn’t sure what she had heard.
“I…I’m sorry, w…what did you say.”
There was a small sigh from Dawn before she looked Tara straight in the eye.
“I’m sorry.” though she spoke in a quiet voice, to Dawn it seemed to echo around the room and the entire ship itself. Indeed, she was positive that Willow herself could hear the apology in her cabin, despite the two rooms being placed at opposite ends of the Slayer.
A small frown crossed Tara’s face out of fear for Dawn’s safety and as she wondered what the wannabe could have done now
“Dawn, what are you sorry for? What have you done wrong?”
Dawn couldn’t look Tara in the face anymore and her head drooped so she faced the wooden timbers that made up the floor. As she spoke her voice was little more than a whisper
“Its…well…I’ve been such a complete shit to you. I’ve said horrible things to and about you and…well…I’ve just been a complete bitch to you. If anyone had treated me that way I’d have left them to their fate on the ghost ship.”
Tara saw the mix of emotions on the younger girls face. Fear, sadness, hurt and guilt and the witch’s heart filled with compassion for Dawn and she moved closer to her.
“But I’m n…not you Dawn.”
A tear silently made its way out of the corner of Dawn’s eye and slid down her cheek. Tara moved her finger across to where the tear was coursing down the red cheek and gently brushed it away.
“Tara, I’m sorry I’ve been such an evil fuck to you. I…I…I was wondering if y’know…maybe…perhaps we could start again and, be friends this time.”
Tara’s smile grew a little wider at Dawn’s offer.
“I’d l…like that,” she hesitated a moment before continuing. “Is this a p…pinky promise?” She asked seriously. She folded her thumb and other fingers then extended her pinky giving it a little wiggle. The action made Dawn grin and she too folded her fingers before wrapping her own pinky around Tara’s and shaking it.
“S…so we’re friends now right?”
Dawn nodded her head in joy as her heart was filled with ecstasy and she realised that now she had another reason to stay aboard the Slayer. She had a friend that she knew she could trust and she had a woman that she loved, and who loved her in return. For Dawn it looked as if everything was coming up roses.
“Dawn, could you f…finish preparing the meal p…please, I feel exhausted after today, n…nearly falling to my death Exploring that ghost ship, s…saving your life, reviving in Willow’s quarters, saving Mister Xander’s life, throwing all that bad food overboard and now making friends with you.”
“Taking advantage of our friendship already, tut tut Tara, and here’s me thinking you’re such an innocent.”
“It’s being on a pirate ship Dawn, it rubs off on you, arr me hearty,” Tara replied with a big grin that her new friend reciprocated. The blonde yawned hugely stretching her arms into the air and walked, or rather shuffled over to where her hammock hung an hauled herself up into it while Dawn finished began to prepare that nights meal.
******************************************************
“So now we know she’s a witch what do we do wi Tara?”
Willow, Buffy and Xander were in the Captain’s cabin. Though he had been offered aid by Buffy to the cabin, Xander had refused knowing the best way for his body to heal was by using it as much as possible and ignoring the lingering pain from the scalding water.
They were all sat at the table in Willow’s cabin trying to decide what to do about the newly revealed magic user. The redhead glanced over to the bed where just a short time earlier she had been kissing Tara. The bedding was still mussed up and Willow gave a small smile as she recalled the wonderful feeling of love that had emanated between the two of them. At the same time however, she was also beginning to wonder if she hadn’t made a big mistake in allowing herself to become so involved with the girl she had rescued and fallen for. But actually knew nothing about
But she can’t be evil. How can she be with eyes as blue as that. And her smile, it’s as bright as the sun. No she can’t be evil, I won’t believe it. But still, what if she’s been using me somehow for her powers? All these thoughts ran through Willow’s mind as she tried to work out what the best thing to do was. Not merely for herself, but the ship and the rest of the crew, and if she had to she would willingly sacrifice her own future happiness to ensure their own safety.
“I don’t know Will,” Buffy spoke up taking Willow from her thoughts. “I know she’s done a lot of good aboard this ship but what do we know about her?”
“Well I know she had to live in a sewer, was treated like shit by her father and brother and that she saved my life, that’s good enough for me, she should stay.” Xander spoke up, his voice was firm with conviction and confident in the belief that was Tara was a good person.
“No Xander, she only seems to be a good person. For all any of us knows Tara may be after some sorcerous power. We know now that she is a witch and if she knows that we are headed to Verminas, a place that Giles told us was the last resting place of an evil sorcerer who worshipped a chaos goddess and tried to raise the undead.
"Has anyone considered that Tara knew about the existence of Verminas and wants to try to gain access to this sorcerers’ power?” Buffy looked between Willow and Xander, and the alternating facial expressions of pondering and anger on each respective person.
“I don’t buy that, if she had that type o’ power why didn’t she use her mojo and leave her dad’s place whenever she wanted.” Xander’s retort was angry and disbelieving. Being the only person who had seen her living conditions he found it very hard to accept that if Tara could have used her magic she would have stayed in such an environment.
“Maybe she was waiting for the right person to come along, someone who knew about Verminas and was looking for it. Manipulate their minds a little and er…alakazam, or whatever it is she says, you can be on a ship taking you where you want to go.”
“Sorry Buff but I don’t believe it, not of Tara.”
“Fine, give me proof that she’s completely innocent and I’ll consider it,” she replied in an even voice.
Xander had no response to this and all he could do was scowl furiously at Buffy.
“Ya both make good points but it still don’t tell us what to do though does it?”
Willow reminded them both that she was still in the cabin by speaking up. Buffy and Xander looked up at each other and then at their friend. Willow’s face was a study in intense concentration as if she were trying to get her desk to float by willpower alone.
“Ta be honest wi’ yer’s, I jus’ dunno. Everything Xander says is true; the crew aint eaten so well on a voyage before, and she’s done a fine job in healing crewmembers who get hurt or injured.
Dawn seems t’ be doin’ good working under her too. All in all she’s been good ta this ship an’ crew.
But Buff is right too, Tara has admitted ta being a witch and we seen her power on display on that ghost ship when she were fightin’ whatever it were. And it had ta be her in the crow’s nest makin’ that ball o’ light. She has serious power there, an if she knew about Verminas then she could’a done summat to us t’ get us ta take her there.”
“But what about you Will, you’ve clearly got a big yen on for Tara. What’s your opinion?” Buffy asked the question, not unkindly. She knew about Willow’s relationship from some years before with Roberta. A relationship that had ended tragically with the girl’s death. Seeing now how much joy Tara had brought to the Pirate Captain’s life, Buffy sincerely hoped, for Willow’s, Dawn’s, everyone’s sake that the blonde could stay.
The redhead stared at her friend for a long time before lowering her eyes to the floor as she thought long and hard about her decision. Finally Willow looked up and met the eyes of her two lieutenants.
“Fer now Tara stays, if it looks like she’s gonna cause trouble then we deal wi’ her.”
Buffy and Xander took this in and slowly nodded their heads in agreement.
“I’m good with that, but if there’s any sign that she’s to be banished from the ship then I go with her.”
The two girls looked at Xander with more than a little surprise.
“Why Xander?” Buffy questioned him, hoping her wasn’t planning on doing anything stupid.
“I feel responsible for her, after seeing where Tara had to work and live; I promised myself that I’d always watch over her.”
A small smile played over the lips of the Captain as she regarded her friend.
Typical Xander, always thinking of the others first. Willow then took a deep breath then nodded.
“Aye fair enough, but jest so ya know Xand, I aint planning on sending Tara anywhere,” after a moments thought she amended this. “I might order her t’ me cabin but that’s it,” she finished with a big dirty grin on her face so huge Buffy and Xander could nothing else but join her in her smile.
“A’right then, seeing as we’re all agreed you two get back ta training the newbie’s. I’m gonna look over the map again, see if I can make any sense of it this time,”
as opposed to the last five thousand times when it didn’t. ***************************************************
The Figure made its way down the corridor. Though it moved with the confidence and grace of an angel, it had dark deeds on its mind.
It came to the same cabin it had visited earlier with the maps and again knocked and waited. A minute later, footsteps were heard crossing the wooden flooring to the door. Then the door itself opened a crack and an eye peered out.
“Oh, yer here again, don’t worry I told the boss and she welcomes ya ta the new crew and she thanks ya fer the maps.”
“I have new information for her. The blonde we picked up on Narina, she is a witch.”
The person behind the door took this in and nodded slowly.
“I think she will find that very useful, very useful indeed. Thank ya fer that.”
The Figure nodded once then departed, heading for the deck while the person hiding behind the door closed it and went back to their plans.
**************************************************
Tara and Dawn were in the galley. After the stressful time she had had over the last couple of hours, Tara was sleeping in her hammock, which was strung up between two overhead beams. Dawn was doing what she could to prepare food for that evening’s meal when Simone entered.
“Hey,” she said in a quiet voice so as not to waken the sleeping girl. As soon as she saw her lover, Dawn’s face brightened and she went to hug her. As soon as she wrapped her arms round Simone, Dawn felt all her fears easing from her. She loosened herself a little from the woman she loved and looked at the face she adored so much before leaning in and kissing her full on the lips, delighting when Simone began to kiss her back. They stood there for at least fifteen minutes just kissing and exploring each other’s mouth.
Finally, they had to pull apart, something neither wanted to do as both felt they had not full discovered all there was to know about the other girls lips.
Dawn indicated that Simone take a stool at the table while she sat at another by the girl that she loved so much.
“Simone, I was wondering if you would care to go to bed with me tonight. It’d be just you and me in my bed in the cabin I share with Buffy, but I’ll get her to stay with Willow for tonight.”
Simone’s face brightened even more at this,
“Oh gods yes Dawn; I’d love to go to bed with you. I’ve wanted to be with you since I first saw you at the island a few years ago. To spend just one night with you will be beautiful.”
Dawn didn’t know what to say next. Rather she knew what she wanted to say but not sure how to say it. Should she just say what was on her mind? No, she couldn’t, it would scare Simone off, but she needed to let her know so badly.
Gods, how does Willow do this? She just picks em up and fucks em anywhere, back alleys, whorehouses, on the ship. Hell, this is so damn hard. “S…Simone I…I…I w… won…,"
hells, now I’m bloody stuttering like Tara. Dawn took a deep breath as she tried to figure how to say what she wanted to say.
All this time Simone was looking at her lover with worry on her face.
“Dawn, are you alright?” Simone asked softly. She gently placed her hand on top of the other girls and interlaced their fingers with a rare tenderness.
“Dawn, you know you can tell me anything don’t you?”
The darker haired girl looked deep in to her lover’s soft grey eyes and saw nothing but love and concern for her in those orbs.
“Simone, when we go to bed,” Dawn began slowly. She knew what she wanted to say but she wanted to be sure that what she said was the right thing and not embarrass her or make Simone feel uncomfortable in any way.
“When we go to bed I want us to, ummm.”
She paused knowing this was the awkward part. Could she say this and not come out of it seeming an idiot to Simone.
“When we go to bed could we, erm you know, er, maybe umm, you and me, umm, you know erm maybe pleasure each other?”
The last three words came out in a rush, and once she had spoken the words that so terrified her she bowed her head, afraid what her friend may think of her.
Simone regarded Dawn for a moment before gently placing two fingers under her chin and raising her head. Simone’s soft grey eyes looked deep into Dawn’s hazel ones and she held her hands before speaking.
“Dawn, we don’t have to have sex together, not yet.”
“But I thought that maybe you…”
Simone smiled gently at the other girl, understanding her friends need to make her happy.
“What I expect or want doesn’t matter right now. Dawn, when I said I love you I meant it. Yes, I do want us to make love together but not yet. I don’t want us to rush into this or we could both get hurt and I would not want to see you hurt in any way.” As she gazed into the eyes of the young woman she adored so much Simone saw that Dawn’s eyes were wet with unshed tears.
“When we make love I want it to be something special, something magical between us. I have never done this before and neither have you. Please don’t let’s ruin this beautiful thing we have.
Dawn we have plenty of time and when we finally confirm our love, I promise you it will be something you will never forget.” She smiled gently at Dawn and wrapped her arms around the girl in a warm hug. “I’m not going anywhere Dawn,” she whispered softly in the brunettes ear I’ll always be here for you.”
She placed a tender kiss on Dawns cheek making the girls heart swell with love.
******************************************
Dawn had finished preparing the meal which was now bubbling merrily away in a pot over the cooking fire.
She looked over at the still sleeping Tara. She looked like a goddess in repose as she lay in her hammock. Her beauty was unmistakable, her face taking on an even gentler persuasion if that were possible. Some of her blonde hair had fallen over the girl’s face getting in her eyes and brushing her lips, and Tara’s face frowned with a cute little furrow appearing on her brow.
With great delicacy, Dawn brushed the offending hairs out of Tara’s face. After a little restless shuffling, Tara fell once more into a peaceful slumber as Dawn kept her vigilant guard over her ward.
She looked over at Tara, then around the galley and a thoughtful frown appeared on her face.
Dawn looked once more at the girl who was now her friend and made her mind up. She quietly backed away out of the room checking the corridor both ways before closing the door behind her and heading to the deck.
I’ll only be a few minutes, no one will miss me for just those few minutes, she thought as she tried to justify her actions to herself.
************************************************
On the deck the young girl carefully bypassed other crewmembers until she found who she was looking for.
“Kat?”
“Aye Dawn, what can I do fer ya?”
“Ya know the offer ya made me. Ta be first mate aboard yer own ship when ya leave?”
“Aye lass, I do.”
“I have ta turn ya down.”
Kat was surprised at this turn of events, which showed only in her raised eyebrows. Despite this though, she kept everything friendly with the younger girl.
“Oh why’s that. Ya seemed real keen an’ all Dawn.”
“Simone wants ta stay, she feels an obligation ta Willow because Will saved her a couple ‘a years ago, and I want ta stay with Simone. I love her see.”
Kat seemed to consider this for a while before deciding
“Aright Dawn, I see yer reasons and I respect ya fer them.”
“So ya don’t mind me staying on the Slayer.”
“Course not, ya have ta stay with ya gal while ya got her.”
“Anyway’s I gotta go check on the evening meal. Then I get to spend the night with Simone.” She said this with a huge smile on her face, while Kat gave her a knowing smirk.
“Good fer ya. Go on lass, get on with yersel’, get ta yer gal,” and she winked at Dawn who just grinned back before setting off to the cabins. Kat just watched her go a small smile tugging at the ends of her mouth.
************************************************************
The rest of that day passed by in relative peace. Dawn stayed in the galley watching over Tara and making sure the meal was cooked properly and served up to the crew with aid from Simone.
Now it was late evening, the sky was a deep shade of purple and growing darker. Here and there little stars were beginning to glow, like pinpricks in the night sky where light from the Golden Palace was showing through.
Tara had finally woken up from her long sleep and silently yawned. She stretched before noticing the young dark haired girl sitting at the table. Her boredom was evident by the fact her body was virtually slumped over the table, the side of her face supported by her right hand and only the elbow stopping it from appearing as if she were asleep.
“D…Dawn, what are you d…doing here? Sh…shouldn’t you be with Simone?”
Hearing Tara’s voice startled Dawn and she almost fell of the stool in her haste to see Tara.
“I…I wanted to check that you were all right, make sure that you were safe before I left.”
Tara smiled at this, appreciating the care and attention that Dawn was showing toward her.
“Friends?” Tara questioned, just wanting to be sure. Wanting to know for sure that the friendship they had just forged was a true friendship and not just a brief thing that Dawn had come up with after Tara had saved her much earlier.
“We’re friends, positively,” Dawn confirmed, giving Tara the assurance she needed.
The two girls smiled at each other, both happy in their newfound friendship.
“So I’ll see you here tomorrow, alright?”
“Yeah sure,” Dawn replied.
With that Dawn set off down the corridor to her cabin for her rendezvous with Simone, happy for her new friendship.
******************************************************
Simone was walking along the magically expanded passageways towards the cabin Dawn shared with her sister. According to Dawn, she had been able to persuade both her sister and Willow to allow her to share the cabin with just Simone.
As she passed one of the many cabin’s she heard low voices from within.
“The plan to get rid of that blonde bitch fell through cos of Dawn. The boss better have a plan B. If Rosenberg finds out she may use the witch ta fuck us over.”
“Don’t worry, the boss has been planning this for ages there’s no way she’ll let that bint get in the way of her coup.”
Now whilst Simone was not a very well educated girl she did understand the meaning of the word coup. The young girl quickly ran down the corridor looking for someone she knew she could trust.
She blindly turned a corner and ran smack into a person coming the other way.
“Hey, what the fuck d’ya think yer doin’? Yer know running aint allowed below decks unless an emergency.”
Simone was so relieved to have found someone, she didn’t care she had broken any rules and would happily take any punishment Willow deemed suitable.
“I…help me please,” she gasped out the words, panting for air after running. “I overheard some people talking in one of the cabins. They’re plotting to take over the ship and oust the Cap’n.”
The other figure looked at Simone with slightly narrowed eyes for a moment before speaking.
“A’right, do you remember the cabin?”
“Aye, I can take you there if you want.”
“Lead on,” the other figure replied and fell in step behind the younger Slayerette.
Suddenly a powerful arm reached around Simone’s face and a hand with an incredibly strong grip held tightly against Simone’s mouth. Her eyes opened wide and she began to struggle against the person holding her. Despite her attempts to wrestle herself free from the other Slayerettes grip, the arm held fast. Then Simone’s eyes opened even wider as she saw the shiny metal blade of a dagger in front of her eyes. She began to move even more violently in her attempt to wrest herself from the stronger girls grasp but all was in vain.
The touch of cold metal stroked Simone’s throat and the young girl wet her britches out of sheer terror.
“This is what happens to nosy little fuckin’ bitches who learn too much,” the voice was harsh in her ear, the voice of someone who wanted her dead.
Simone felt the ice cold, razor sharp edge of the blade cut into her. It sliced into soft, tender flesh before severing the muscles and arteries of her throat. She felt the blood seep out of the evil smile where her throat had been slit and her life force drained away. Her legs started to wobble beneath her when she suddenly felt herself being lifted up into strong arms and carried. Though she was fading fast, her senses told her she was being taken to the deck. If she could, Simone would have cried out for help, but her mouth burbled with blood preventing this. As she tried to speak, her words sounded as if they were being formed underwater.
Her hand clutched at the brooch on her shirt, she so wished she could look at it one more time, the present that Dawn gave her as a token of her love for Simone. Feebly she tugged at it, trying to tear it free from her garment. She suddenly gave an almighty jerk and the brooch came away in her hand, ripping at the material of her shirt. Unfortunately, by this time she was dead and the jewel fell to the deck from her lifeless hands, but nobody noticed it fall behind a coil of rope.
The killer struggled to wrap the body in some material used for repairing the sails. Once enfolded in the material, a rope was tied around it and the killer placed the body on the guard-rail, picked up the other end of the rope and slowly lowered the body over the side. Once it reached the water, the figure used the dagger to cut the rope at their end so that it fell in to the ocean with a soft splash.
That’s that little problem sorted, the figure thought coldly before looking about to ensure sure no one was watching before disappearing back down below.
And in the water, sail cloth for a shroud, the young innocent stared with vacant eyes into a world she couldn’t see.
TO BE CONTINUED