S1:EP1 - Sea Crow

Captain Grace Flynn (NOVEL)

Grace entered the tavern and gazed at the patrons within the smoke-filled room. The menagerie of villains examined the newest arrival, some sneered, some moved into nearby shadows, others began to whisper to each other with wide eyes. 

Grace smirked...She knew many in this place wanted to kill her and perhaps she would give them the opportunity. She felt no shame in welcoming their deadly advance and murdering them with little forethought. She had not survived this long, fearing strangers and their motives.  

She silently scanned the room as she moved among the throng filled with brigands and questionable locals, all who felt the need to give her a death glare and nothing more, till one sea-dog, felt his territory was being invaded.  

The heavy smell of salt, ale, and tobacco proceeded the brute as he grabbed Grace's shoulder. 

"Yur..kind is not welcome here...Sea Witch!" The man spat with drunken enthusiasm. 

Grace stopped. Suddenly the flowing tendrils of her long red scarf, wrapped like angry constrictors upon the man's arm. The pirate spun on her heels, her signature pepperbox gun clicked to life and it rushed through the air to meet the man's flabby jowls. 

The man winced as the strange scarf tightened on his arm, beads of sweat burst upon his forehead. A hush fell over the tavern as all eyes watched Grace and her newfound enemy locked in a deadly dance.

"I don't remember askin' your permission, perhaps you would like to trade some lead for me entrance fee?" Grace smiled wickedly. 

The man quickly realized that in his attempt to pick out prey, he had found a deadly predator. "My apologies, I did not recognize you in this low light, Captain Flynn."  

Grace sneered at the man and pushed her gun deeper into the flesh of his fat neck. "I see...well let's help you to not forget." 

The strike came quickly as Grace's gun smashed into the man's nose; blood erupted as a resounding crack echoed within the tavern. The sailor moaned in pain and gripped his nose when Grace's scarf released its hold upon his arm. The wounded man scurried away like a defeated bully and the tavern suddenly sprung back to life as if nothing had ever occurred.

Grace looked about the room, to see if any other dance partners felt the need to join her. None sought to approach her, and Grace walked around the nearby bar and headed to a more secluded room located at the back of the building.  The men here were far more dangerous and important than the ruffians Grace had encountered upon her entrance. Many of the pirate captains eyed Grace but did not engage her, a few their guards however reached for various weapons as she passed them by.

"Well, Luv...you certainly know how to make a dramatic entrance." A voice remarked ahead of Grace.  She gritted her teeth upon hearing the endearing term, that she despised most deeply.  She located the origin of the voice. A tall lean man waved her over with his many-ringed hand. 

Grace stormed over and pointed a finger at the man. "Must I tell you repeatedly not to call me that?" Grace barked. 

The man’s bearded face broke into a smile, it was obviously a fake one. 

"Grace...I assure you, after your recent display of congeniality. I have no intentions of angering you." The man motioned to a table upon which sat two tankards brimming with ale. 

"Shut yer saucebox...Nereus and let's have this get-together over with." Grace growled and sat at the table, she reached for the ale and took a healthy swig. She wiped the froth off her face with the sleeve of her coat. 

The man named Nereus sat opposite of his guest and took a sip of his ale as well. He then drummed his long fingers upon the wooden table, eyeing Grace intently. Grace looked in return and raised her chin in mock defiance. 

"Grace...I have a need, to disappear upon the waves for a bit." Nereus stated flatly. 

"Made new friends have we?" Grace paused and let her comment sink in. "Why should I help you avoid the wrath of your mistakes?" Grace questioned her host. 

"Always so direct, a good quality I assure you. However, I have something that you will find most interesting." Nereus offered cryptically. 

Grace laughed suddenly. "Are you going to offer me a map to some buried treasure for my help?" 

Nereus smiled awkwardly. "No certainly not. I have something far more valuable." He then leaned in and whispered low, "I have in my possession the Atlas of Death."  

Grace went silent and her mocking smile faded. 

Silence hung in the air between them, Nereus could tell Grace was absorbing his last statement and calculating a response. 

"Before you ask, I had the handwriting confirmed by his own brother, who is currently enjoying an extended stay, in one of Her Majesty's more eloquent prisons, in the heart of England," Nereus added. 

"Let me see it," Grace demanded. 

"Really Luv, do you think I would bring it here among such refined," Nereus remarked as he moved his head to indicate the company about them. "I have this as proof." Nereus reached in his coat and pulled out a handkerchief wrapped around a small object. He then slid the parcel across the table to Grace.  

Grace moved her empty tankard aside and reached quickly for the object. She took it in her hands and proceed to carefully open the cloth. Inside, she found a fresh red wax impression, it was still slightly warm. She instantly recognized the symbol from a flag she had seen once...long ago. Thankfully its ship and her crew were busy destroying a British warship. Allowing Grace to quickly leave the area without drawing attention to her own vessel.  But the mere sighting of the legendary vessel and its memory brought a cold chill presently to her spine.

"How did you come upon this?" Grace said crushing the wax quickly and wrapping it once more in the handkerchief.

"That is a story for another time," Nereus replied vaguely.

Grace leaned back in her chair. "This is a dangerous gambit, one that could get us both killed." 

"When has that ever stopped either of us before?" Nereus asked with a grin. 

"Is it true?" Grace questioned.

"That it contains the locations to his vast spoils?" Nereus inquired and he nodded silently. 

"He will hunt you if he knows you possess it," Grace remarked.

"Ahh...but dead men don't tell tales," Nereus informed. 

"I want two-thirds of the take," Grace demanded. 

"Really Luv, the best I can offer is half." Nereus bartered. 

"Two-thirds or you can try your luck with any of the honest men for hire in this place." Grace waved her hands about. 

"Fine...I accept your terms." Nereus said through his teeth. 

Grace stood and straightened her coat. She nodded at Nereus and turned to leave. "We sail at dawn. You best bring your book with you next time." 

"I shall Flynn...I shall." Nereus said putting on his plumed cavalier hat and standing to leave as well. 

Grace turned one last time and eyed Nereus from under her tricorn. Her long ruddy scarf's tendrils fluttered unnaturally behind her. Nereus knew that Grace's red adornment was not an ordinary cloth.  It was a Bloodsilk, that had once belonged to a Redcap, a malevolent creature that Grace had somehow killed long ago. Grace was already a formidable opponent to any scalawag

, but her supernatural artifact made her extremely dangerous. It was the source of her power and the reason for her moniker, The Crimson Scarver.

"One day that ruddy thing will consume you whole," Nereus warned.

"Don't be late you fop," Grace spat mockingly and left. 

Note from Author: I hope you have enjoyed this episode. Your comments and feedback are always welcomed. Don’t forget to subscribe and support this story and all the others that I create here. ~Cathalson