The Phoenix
Mary awoke to the sound of waves crashing against a beach.
How long has she been out for? The last thing she remembers is falling out of a window trying to escape.
The blood drains from her face. Did the guards catch her? Have they been ordered to send her away for a new arranged marriage?
She bolts upright and is met with a relieved looking Pandora. She is on Mary in a second and holds her as Mary awkwardly pats the back of her head.
Pandora pulls away and Mary takes in their surroundings. They are on the beach right near the harbor, hiding in a small cave. Light is threatening to come over the horizon in the distance.
Mary is confused. She told Pandora to bring her to Frank and Gideon, so why did she bring her here?
“Pandora, why did you bring me to the beach? I told you to bring me to Frank and Gideon’s.”
Pandora stares at her for a moment before saying “I did bring you there, you were just unconscious the whole time because of your fall.”
At the reminder of the fall Mary winces and rubs the back of her head, where a bump is forming. Pandora grimaces at her “They told me to bring you here because they have connections on a boat that is passing through that will sneak us out of the country.”
Mary nods and leans against the back of the cave, “Pandora, do you know the time?” She asks curious as she watches the sun peak over the ocean.
“It’s just pass five in the morning, and before you ask, the boat should be here at around six and is docking right over there.” Pandora points to the dock that could not be more than fifty feet away.
“Thank you” Mary tries to express her gratitude for the young girl, but she is so mentally worn out that she doesn’t even bother. She’ll make it up later somehow she thinks to herself as she stares out at the water.
***************
They stay in the cave until five fifty, when Pandora spots the giant boat closing in on the dock and forces Mary to get out of the cave.
Mary didn’t realize just how much the cave has protected her from the crisp morning air until she stepped onto the damp sand of the beach and felt the cold wind snap at her face. She shivers and wraps her arms around herself as she follows Pandora on the beach.
They arrive just seconds before the ship, a massive thing that is painted black, tied to the dock. They stand there for minutes and wait for someone to get off the ship and greet them, and just when Mary is about to tell Pandora that no one was coming and they should leave, a woman jumps over the edge of the ship while clinging to a rope and glides to the ground gracefully, and she is quickly followed by another woman.
The first woman has on a black tunic with black pants with a purple bandanna tied around her head, which holds back the many small braids with colorful beads she has added in from falling in front of her face. The expression on her face is one that reminds her of the bodyguards at the palace.
Mary peels her gaze away from the first woman to examine the other, and she swears she stops breathing.
The girl has bright red fiery hair that is mostly hidden under her hat, and a loose cream tunics that slips slightly off her shoulder that Mary is most definitely not fantasizing about biting. What is wrong with me who thinks that?!? Mary thinks to herself. The girl also has on a pair of dark brown trousers and brown boots. Then her face, a million freckles that Mary gazed upon nights before and a pair of green eyes that Mary finds herself lost in again. Lily.
“Hello madam’s” Pandora speaks first and startles Mary away from her staring. It seems to shake the others out of the little trance they were all in too.
“I couldn’t help but notice, but you have been standing in front of my ship for multiple minutes, and unless you are planning on leaving now, things might turn a little… bloody.” Lily skips the pleasantries.
“Sorry, we don’t mean to cause an issue, but we are fleeing the country and we were told by Gideon Prewett that we would be given a ride out of the country on your ship. He said to tell you we knew Fabian.” Pandora continues to speak for them both, which Mary is immensely grateful for.
Lily pauses for a moment and thinks, “Dorcas?” Lily calls out and the other woman named Dorcas apparently steps up next to her, “Tell Fabian to get down here.”
Dorcas nods and climbs up the side of the ship on a rope ladder.
Mary finally finds her voice at this point and she breathes out, “Lily.”
Lily tenses up and stares at Mary closely before realization dawns on her face. “Change of plans.” Lily says suddenly “You are getting a free ride out of the country, just climb aboard.”
Mary doesn’t trust her right now, something in the way her whole demeanor changed when she realized who Mary is unnerves her, but since she has no other options she climb’s aboard.
********
There are a few other people on the deck when Mary makes it to the top, but she doesn’t pay them much mind, much more focused on helping pull Pandora up and over the edge of the boat.
“This is a nice boat, Mary.” Pandora muses as she looks over the deck.
“It really is.” Mary agrees.
A thump behind her has Mary turning around faster than the speed of light, and she is met by the sight of Lily crouched on the edge of the ship grinning from ear to ear. She unties the ship from the dock and starts giving people on the ship orders, so Mary brings Pandora off to the side so they don’t get in their way and watch as they start to drift away from the only place they have ever known as home.
They stand there until someone clears their throat behind Mary, clearly trying to get her attention. It’s Lily. “While staying on the Phoenix, try and stay out of the way of everyone doing their jobs. If you cause issues I will have you walk the plank.” Mary stands there semi frozen in shock, clearly this is different than she thought it would be.
“Also you are to address me as Captain during your stay.” Pandora raises her hand and Lily arches an eyebrow,”Yes?”
“Why do I have to call you captain?” Pandora asks.
“Because I’m the captain of this ship.” Lily continues listing rules, but Mary is stuck on a few details.
The boat coming in early in the morning and not unloading anything, the clothing everyone on the ship is wearing, Lily being a captain.
This ship couldn’t be a pirate ship, there’s no possible way, but Mary decides that in order to disprove her fears all she has to do is look at the flag and she’ll know. She works up the courage and looks up to see a Phoenix with its wings spread out. Mary relaxes at not seeing the skull, until she looks closer and sees that on the bird's stomach there is a very small skull with bones.
“No no no no no no no!” Mary’s starts to pace and pull at her hair.
Pandora rushes over and Lily looks at her with slight concern “Mary what’s wrong?” Pandora says calmly. Oh no she brought Pandora, whose family was murdered by pirates on a pirate ship. Mary has done a lot of stupid things but this takes the cake.
Mary catches her breath just enough to say something besides no and looks Pandora dead in the eye, “We are on a pirate ship.”
Pandora's face crumbles and tears start to fall. Mary holds her close to her chest and whispers reassurances to Pandora. Her breathing calms so Mary gets up and walks over to Lily.
“Are we on a pirate ship right now?” Mary bites out.
Lily gives her a strange look “Of course you are, I thought you knew. Well welcome to the Phoenix, one of the most infamous pirate ships on the seven seas.