--------------------------- Captain Jack and his ship the Kraken were created by Dave S. I take no credit for it's creation, though all text, and descriptions here are from memory or my own agenda. Other characters in the crew either belong to their namesakes, or are created to fit into the ship as I find room. I do apologies to Dave if i have misrepresented Jack at all. --------------------------- This chapter is Dedicated to My big Kitty, and to Dave, the real Captain Jack. --------------------------- Life takes it's turns, often in directions that you never expect. In all my travels, though i have come to the sea i have never sailed upon a ship. Now the sea was my home. Many people go though life in fear of her depth and granduncle, but i took in her beauty and the awe of exactly what she was. I stood upon the deck, wrapped in the tattered remnants of a dress i was packed off in from my previous master's keep. I looked out over the open water, not caring about the eyes that watched me. Many of the men feared me, saying that a woman was bad luck to have aboard the ship. Others gazed at me with a hunger that only the captain's wrath could keep at bay. I was his property, and they did not want to find them selves in Davey Jones' locker just for an exotic maiden. The captain himself was a good man. A pirate yes, but a good one at that. He was very different from other owners that i previously had known. His methods were just, and when it came to me he would rather let me adjust myself to this new setting. to get my "sea legs" as it were. I was still weak from what ever that priest had done to me, so the captain was letting the sea air heal me before giving me any strenuous tasks. One day, as i was standing at the bow of the ship, watching the waves and fish scatter before us, one of the crew approached me. "Girl, the captain wants to see you." I turned looking at him a moment, then nodding i followed him. --------------------------- "Anna, i am glad to see you are recovering. You are still looking pale, but your health seems to have returned to you. As you know, every member of a ship must be responsible for themselves. To keep it running smoothly, every one must take up a task. I have not asked about your past, i don't really want or need to know. By the condition you were in I would say you have seen your share of experiences What other skills do you have though? Can you cook and clean? many slaves these days are only breed to pleasure their owners." "I can clean yes, and cook... though not well..." "We have a cook, but he can always use help scrubbing pots or pealing potatoes. " "I know how to read, and i know a little about healing magick." "I do not trust magick. One wrong word or movement and instead of healing a man you could set the ship ablaze. but yes, you do seem like a smart girl. I want you to report to the galley and help the cook with dinner. Come to my cabin after, i want to see what other skills you possess. --------------------------- Working in the kitchen, or galley of a ship is hard work. Having to feed hundreds of people is not the easiest task. I did my best to keep up, helping as much as i could, and eating myself when i was finished and dismissed for the night. I returned to my cabin, and quickly dressing in a relatively clean dress i made my way to the captain's cabin. "My dear you look wonderful. The cook said you did a good job. i am pleased, though i understand that some of the men were harassing you." "It's nothing, men have always made comments like that a me." "Well these men are under my command and if i tell them to leave you alone they need to listen. Next time one of them says anything again report it to me." "Yes captain" "Now to the matter at hand. I called you here because i want you to move your things to this cabin. You shall be my personal cabin girl. That bunk along the wall shall be yours when you are not sharing mine. For now though, i want to see what you can do." He moved forward to kiss me. I smiled, returning his kiss, my arms wrapping around him as we moved back upon the bed. --------------------------- As time went by, i got more comfortable with the ship. Whenever Jack would bring a new girl on, like any woman i would suffer a fit of jealousy, though he never kept any other girl in his room, and usually after the fist night she want to his men and was let off at the next port. The men, knowing this order began to accept me as a member of the crew, and treated me as such as well. Soon i was granted shore leave, with a guard of course. I was allowed to explore the port, shop, eat in the local restraints... though i was guided away from the taverns and places that had heavy guards. After one such excursion, i returned to the ship, settling into my bunk to read a book i had purchased. There were a few hours before the men had to be back and i knew i would have some time alone to do some research. I had found a tiny book store which specialized in books or arcane nature. Especially on beasts and plants. I found one specifically about dragons as well. Not knowing the cause of my aliment which restricted my transformation, i took this as a sign that it was time to deal with my problem. As i sat reading, i heard footsteps. I drew the book mark across the page looking up as Jack entered the room. "The men said you had returned. Are you feeling alright? Did anything happen?" "I am fine. I found some books and i wanted some time to read when the ship was quiet before all the men returned." "As long as your alright." He kissed my forehead, sitting next to me. "So what kind of book is so interesting that it would keep my jewel enclosed in her room rather than about in the free air on the dry shore?" "I'm trying to find what is wrong with me." "What do you mean little one? You seem fine to me." "I look fine, but, this is not how i am supposed to look... that priest who brought me to that tavern... he did something to me. I can't even form my wings anymore. I know of an incense that could stun me and stop my transformation, but it never lasted for more than a few days. It's been almost a year since you took me upon your ship and i still look as human as the day i came aboard. I don't know if it was a spell or a poison, but i need to fins what happened." I looked up as i stooped speaking, jack had risen, standing before me white as a sheet. 'You are not human? What be ye then? An angel, or some other creature here to entice men away from their cares?" "No, nothing bad. I'm just a dragon." "DRAGON!" he screamed, "You never told me anything about being a dragon!" he stormed off. Later, i heard the men coming back to the ship, no one came near the room. I didn't dare leave. I was unsure what Jack would do to me. I had seen him mad, but never storm off like that. It scared me, it scared me allot. I wondered if it was the right thing to do, sitting there waiting to see what my fate would be. Finally the door opened. "Anna, h'm sorry to treat you this way but you need to see things from my prospective. All the dragons i have encountered before have tried to destroy my ship. I can hardly believe that you are not human, but i know you would not lie to me. I will do what i can to help you, but once you return to your natural form you must leave my ship forever. The men would never respect me if they knew i was keeping a beast like that upon the ship, and not using it to attack our enemies." --------------------------- "I'm sorry, i should have told you before. I was scared though, i still am. I don't know what happened to me, or why i am like this now." Things were never the same after that, but why should they be? I had hurt Jack, who i had come to love. It's a wound that would never properly heal, like the scar Zero left on my heart, or the one left from Gwen's torture. Every port we visited, the captain and i would seek healers and mystics, seeking to unravel the mystery of the "disease" as we called it that inflicted me. The books i had found only stated that a poison could be made to stop a dragon's magick. They did not say what it was made from or how to reverse it. It was up to us to find the cure. At first no one would take, believing that we were looking to poison a dragon, which would cause it's wrath upon the local villages. Then as it became known that we were trying to heal a beast they became more cooperative. Thinking that if they healed the beast, they would get part of it's treasure. I didn't like that rumor, but Jack said to let it go, men were greedy and would help if they thought there was something in it for them. Finally we came to a small fishing village, parched just beyond the last free port. This was the last stop before the continent let go of it's grip on the sea, and the waters became uncharted by those who ever returned to tell about it. There was a woman, shriveled with age and wisdom. She looked at me and smiled. "I thought the rumor was untrue. There is no dragon hoard, but there is a dragon. That is a strange turn of events. Yes, there is a way to reverse the spell. Come my child, i will help you return to who you really are. It will be painful, and it will take a lot out of you. You may be stuck as a dragon for a long time, to balance the effect of the magick." I looked at Jack, and seeing him nod, i agreed to stay with the mystic and have her help me. The Kraken stayed in port for three days, and when i did not return Jack said on with out me remembering our deal. I walked upon the beach, the sand sifting through my claws as i watched the Kraken disappear. I thought it was best if Jack did not see me this way. I would find him again, i promised myself. I would find him and thank him for helping me. I turned back to the woman's house, taking care not to damage anything as I lay down to rest and heal up. I knew i had a long journey ahead of me when i was well enough. Maybe the last journey i would ever have to take.