A Red Sky Is Upon Us Read online

  Shoving the sword out of his face, Jonathan responded, “Without that sword, what are you? You are just an uneducated ruffian. I have been trained in combat by sailors in the English Navy. I am more than able to defeat you in a fair fight.”

  Shrugging his shoulders, Riggs sheathed his sword and put up his fists. As Jonathan lunged forward, Riggs kicked him straight in the groin. The ambitious young man fell to the ground in pain and was met with a kick to the head, knocking him unconscious again.

  “Looks like this ‘uneducated ruffian’ just beat you.”

  Julia rushed to Jonathan’s aid. Riggs’ kick had split open the man’s forehead and he had hit his head on the ground pretty hard. She ripped off a small strip of her dress and tried to stop the bleeding. As she cradled Jonathan’s injured body in her arms, Julia glared at Riggs. All he did was laugh.

  “He asked for it, love.”

  “That wasn’t fair, you poor excuse for a…”

  He laid his hand on his pistol again, instantly cutting off whatever Julia had to say. The terror on her face was satisfying to him, but her defiance was even more intriguing.

  “I’ll tell you right now, there’s no such thing as a fair fight wit’ a pirate. None of you can touch me.”

  Without warning, Riggs was knocked to the ground from behind. Richardson had regained consciousness, and he was angry. He was extremely angry. Blood was oozing from his mouth, and several of his teeth were missing.

  “What the bloody hell is the meaning of this, Riggs? What are all of ye devils doing? Help me throw this scoundrel overboard.”

  None of the pirates moved to help Richardson.

  Looking around him, the former captain said, “You all had better do what I say or ye’ll be sleeping with the fishes. Do ye understand?”

  Calmly getting to his feet and pulling out his sword, Riggs answered, “We just mutinied against you. You’re not fit to be captain of this ship. Now, the Red Sky is mine, and I will do with it what I please. We’ll all be famous, rich, and legendary.”

  “Like hell you will. You will not amount to anything, you disgusting mongrels. I am the lifeline of this ship, and without me, you will be destroyed.”

  “We’ll see,” snickered Riggs.

  Drawing his sword, Richardson growled, “You won’t live to see the sun set, you traitorous bastard.”

  Then, he charged.

  As Richardson swung his sword, Riggs ducked to the ground, just missing the blade. Blocking with his own sword, Riggs jumped out of the way of another one of his former captain’s thrusts. Using Richardson’s momentum against him, Riggs waited for him to turn around and slashed his blade across the man’s legs. Richardson dropped his sword and fell to the ground, the tendons in his knees severed. Riggs had his gun trained on him in a heartbeat.

  “Don’t make me do this, Captain.”

  “I’ll see you in the Locker, Riggs,” said Richardson, grabbing his sword from the ground.

  Without hesitation, Riggs shot him through the heart. The captain stopped, almost in mid swing, and fell to the ground, dead.

  Putting his gun away, Riggs said, “I warned you, Captain.”

  Turning to the crew, Riggs shouted, “Round up the prisoners and put ‘em in the brig. This is a new era for the Red Sky. Now, we sail as true pirates!”

  With a loud cheer, the crew sped to accomplish their task.

  CHAPTER THREE

  The brig was smelly, disgusting, and had not been washed for a long time. It was not the place to which the upper class Englishmen was accustomed. It was small, with barely enough room for all of the prisoners. No one was comfortable.

  “I do say, this is an awful mess,” complained one of the high-class prisoners.

  “Do they ever wash this place? It is absolutely revolting,” whined a woman.

  For several days, the prisoners sat in the brig, uncertain of their fate. Once he had awakened from his beating, Jonathan had analyzed their prison, trying to find a weak point. There were none. Nothing short of a miracle could free them from their captors.

  The first night, to the prisoners’ shock, Doc came down to the brig to attend to the wounded. Eli acted as his guard, making sure that no one tried to escape. Once Doc finished tending to the cuts, gashes, and broken bones, both he and Eli locked the cells, leaving the prisoners in the dim light of the lanterns.

  The next day, the only interaction that the prisoners had with the pirates was when the ruffians would bring them food. It was minimal food, but still enough to keep them on their feet.

  What followed was a rather restless night. Julia spent most of it thinking about what the pirates were planning on doing. Were they going to hold them for ransom? Would they torture their captives one by one for their own sick pleasure? Was it all just a demented game?

  Julia’s went to sleep and woke up nearly five different times in less than four hours. The clomping of feet on the floor above made a good night sleep impossible.

  At last, she awoke to the sound of the other prisoners scrambling to the door of the cage. Coral Jack had come with food, and everyone was eager to have their hunger quenched.

  As the boatswain set the food on the ground and walked by the bars, one of the captured soldiers said, “I demand that you give us some blankets. We are citizens of the Crown and you will treat us as such.”

  Jack sauntered closer and leaned on the bars. He had a devilish smile on his face as he answered the soldier.

  “This is how we treat citizens of the Crown. Be glad you’re alive.”

  At that moment, footsteps could be heard coming down the steps to the brig. Everyone turned to see the new captain of the Red Sky enter the room. Riggs was now wearing a worn black coat and trihat in addition to his usual wardrobe. He had a new air of confidence about him as he strode over to Coral Jack.

  “Nice coat there, Riggs. Ain’t that one of Richardson’s?”

  “Aye. Always wanted to have it.”

  A disgusted Jonathan walked up to the bars and said, “That’s despicable. Taking a dead man’s clothing is not honorable in the least.”

  “Remember who yer talkin’ to. I’m a pirate. Now, if you’d kindly move, I’d like to talk to the lass behind you,” he said, pointing to Julia.

  “I will not bow to your demands,” said Jonathan, standing his ground.

  “Do you want to get knocked out again?” asked Riggs sarcastically.

  Jonathan defiantly continued to stand where he was until Riggs grabbed him by the collar and yanked him into the bars. Adjusting his coat, Riggs looked straight at Julia and motioned for her to come closer to the bars. She remained where she was.

  Leaning against the cage, Riggs said, “Sweetness, I’m wantin’ to talk to you. You’re not gonna get a metal bar to the face like your friend ‘ere. I promise.”

  “Why should I speak to you?”

  “Because it might help you and your fellow prisoners, that’s why.”

  Reluctantly, Julia stood up and came face to face with the pirate.

  “I can cut you some slack, hon. I like you. Somethin’ about you makes me not want to shoot you when ye talk back to me. That’s new to me and that’s why I want to get to know you better. One of my crewmembers will be comin’ down here later to let you out. He’ll be bringin’ you to my quarters for what we like to call a ‘formal dinner.’ I’ll see ye later.”

  “And if I refuse?” asked Julia.

  “You don’t really have much of a choice, love.”

  After a teasing goodbye wave, Riggs walked out of the room. As soon as they were out of earshot of the prisoners, Coral Jack rushed after him and spun the young captain around to face him. He had a concerned look on his face.

  “Riggs, what the bloody hell are you doing? You can’t be gettin’ chummy with a nice woman. And she’s a prisoner, no less. Do you know how disappointed the girls in Rebelde would be if ye started making the moves on a respectable woman?”

  Adjusting his hat, Riggs answered, “Are ye sayin�
�� I can’t court a good girl?”

  “Alright, that part about Rebelde was a joke, but now I’ll be serious. Do you know what’ll happen if you get attached to her? If she has to be killed, you’re not gonna be able to do it. If the ship gets attacked, you’re gonna be thinking more about her than your own crew. It’s not safe.”

  “I’m not gonna get attached. I just want to see what a ‘respectable’ girl is like.”

  “What’s goin’ on?” asked Clint, who happened to be walking past and heard the conversation.

  “Riggs’s fallen for one of the prisoners.”

  A knowing look spread across Clint’s face.

  “Oh… a lady, eh?”

  “Aye, now what’s the problem with that?”

  Clint said nothing. Riggs could tell he wanted to say something, but he did not want to anger his captain.

  Placing his hand on Clint’s shoulder, Riggs said, “Tell me what you’re thinkin’, mate. It’s about the girl, ain’t it?”

  A darkness spread across the navigator’s face as he spoke, “Even the most feared pirates can be brought to their knees by a pretty face, Captain. Many, many years ago, the most feared pirate on the seven seas was a man named Amos Marstow.”

  “Never heard of ‘im.”

  “He was a ruthless cutthroat captain… treated everyone worse than Richardson treated us. Legend has it that even the English Navy was shakin’ in their boots when they heard the name of Captain Marstow. After twenty or so years of terror, the pirate captain came upon the dreaded mermaid Ororis, and he fell in love. He was never the same again. His allies claimed that he had become soft and deserted him. According to the legend, all of his crew left him, leaving ‘im alone with his ship, and to this day, there is no trace of ‘im. No ship, no body, no nothing. Nobody really knows what happened to ‘im. He just disappeared, like a fog on the sea.”

  Riggs turned to Jack, then turned to Clint, and removed his hat. Placing it over his heart, he said, “My prayers go out for that poor mudsucker. Now, help me prepare my cabin for my guest’s dinner.”

  Coral Jack and Clint rolled their eyes, but they acquiesced and started to search for some good food.

  Later that night, Riggs was sitting across from Julia at a table full of fruits, vegetables, meat, and, of course, rum. Famished, Julia tried to moderate how much she ate. She was actually trying to remember her table manners, even though she knew that none of the pirates were neat diners. She could sense Riggs staring at her, but she refused to return his gaze.

  Riggs did not care.

  As he observed her, he tried to imagine what kind of person she was. Was she the daughter of a rich person? Was she able to be swayed? Was she wild at heart? He had never met anyone like her. On the rare occasion that the Red Sky raided a ship, the women would always break down at the first sign of trouble. Curiously enough, Julia had actually tried to stand up to him and his crewmates. He needed to know more about her. At long last, Riggs broke the silence.

  “The name’s Captain Robert Briggs, or Riggs, as you already know. What’s your name, love?”

  Wiping her mouth with a cloth, she answered, “Julia Hamond.”

  That name rung a bell in Riggs’ head. Hamond. Hamond. He had heard that name before, but he could not remember where. So he asked.

  “Do I know you from somewhere?”

  “I don’t recall meeting you anywhere. I would have remembered the foul stench.”

  “Hardy-har, Julia. I meant that your last name is familiar. Who’s your father?” asked Riggs as he lifted a bottle to his lips.

  Straightening her posture, Julia proudly answered, “My father is Commodore Matthew Hamond of the English Navy, captain of the HMS Magistrate.”

  Once she mentioned the Navy, Riggs recognized the name. Commodore Hamond was a name that pirates dreaded to hear. In Rebelde, he was known for his relentless pursuits of criminals. The few that managed to escape him told tales that would send shivers down a pirate’s spine. Never in Riggs’ wildest dreams could he have seen himself capturing the daughter of a commodore. That revelation could lead to some unforeseen problems.

  “Commodore Hamond is your father?” he asked, trying to make sure he heard correctly.

  Smirking, Julia said, “Yes, he is. Does that change our situation any?”

  Riggs scratched at his scruffy chin, asking, “If you were in my position, do you think it would?”

  “Well… yes.”

  “Wrong answer. I’m in no hurry to let you go free. Why would I let go of my only bargainin’ chip?”

  Disappointment showed on Julia’s face as Riggs continued drinking as if nothing had happened. She had been expecting him to act like the pirates in her father’s stories, becoming cowards once they heard his name. He was still just sitting there, calmly chewing on a chicken leg.

  Placing her utensils on the table, Julia asked, “Why attack us? Nobody on the Grandeur did anything to warrant your violence.”

  Riggs tossed a chicken bone onto his plate and wiped his mouth on his sleeve.

  “Here’s somethin’ you need to learn, sweets…”

  “Ms. Hamond.”

  “Julia… I’ll compromise for now. You’re gonna learn that when we pirates run into Navy ships, we don’t give a rat’s ass who’s on the ship. We just destroy it or run away.”

  “Like the cowards that you are.”

  Ripping the meat off the chicken bone, Riggs said, “There’s a difference between bein’ a coward and livin’ to fight another day. This is our lives. You bigwigs have homes to go back to. We don’t. The Red Sky is our home. If this ship is taken from us, one way or another, we would have no worth in this world. This crew has connections to this ship for a multitude of reasons, but none love this ship as much as I. In a way, this ship is my identity, much like it was with Captain Richardson. He once told the crew about how he brought it from the Navy because he could not bear to part with it. He left many sunken ships in his wake during his time captainin’ this ship.”

  Puzzled, Julia asked, “If he was such a great captain, then why did you kill him?”

  Grinning, Riggs said, “Because I could do better. Richardson got too careful too fast. I still have psychotic impulses, so I can take more chances, leadin’ to more riches and fame.”

  “And what do you hope to accomplish once you do get riches and fame?” asked Julia, gradually getting absorbed in the conversation.

  “I want to be the most notorious pirate to sail the seven seas.”

  Resting her head in her hands, Julia continued, “Is there anything else? Anything at all?”

  Catching the look in her eye, Riggs said, “A companion of the female persuasion always sounds mighty fine.”

  Suddenly, Julia realized that she had been staring at him, actually getting involved in the conversation. She quickly averted her eyes toward the table, but it was too late. Riggs got out of his chair and walked over behind the girl.

  “Maybe a companion who happens to be the daughter of a commodore? Think of it… a life of adventure. No rules. No one to tell you what to do. A life where ye are free to run wild,” Riggs whispered in Julia’s ear.

  “You disgust me,” exclaimed Julia, hurriedly standing up out of her chair.

  “Tell me somethin’ I don’t already know, love. Just say the word and you will be free to stand by my side as the Red Sky sails the sea.”

  “I thought I was just a bargaining chip,” said Julia, turning her back to the pirate.

  “Is that what you wish to remain?”

  Riggs took her by the hand and led her to the cabin window.

  “Or do you want freedom?” he said, directing her gaze toward the sea trailing behind the ship.

  “Join me,” he continued, “and every man that sails these seas will know our names.”

  Julia pulled herself free of Riggs’ grasp and backed away from him.

  “Take me back down to my fellow prisoners. I don’t want to speak to you anymore, Riggs.”

&nb
sp; “Suit yourself. After you, Julia,” said Riggs, gesturing toward the door.

  Escorting her back down to the brig, Riggs was determined to sway the girl to his side. Walking past Coral Jack, he quietly said, “I’m attached.” Jack just slapped himself on the forehead.

  When both Julia and Riggs reached the brig, he opened the door for her, leading her by the hand. She could not tell if he was mocking her or if he was actually trying to be a gentleman. Once she was safely on the other side of the bars, Riggs locked her back in the cage with the other prisoners.

  Hanging up the keys, Riggs said, “I’m not done with you yet, sweetness. You’ll be seein’ more o’ me. Goodnight.”

  Once Riggs left, Jonathan rushed over to Julia, obviously concerned.

  “What happened? Did he hurt you in any way?” he asked frantically.

  “No, he didn’t hurt me at all. We just talked and ate food… really good food,” answered Julia, salivating as she remembered the taste.

  “Why are they doing this to us?” prodded Jonathan.

  “I don’t know. He seems to fancy me though, in a creepy way.”

  “Eww, that’s horrible.”

  “Yes, it was. I had never been so disgusted in all of my life.”

  “No matter what happened, I’m glad that you’re safe.”

  “As am I,” she said.

  For minutes, Julia was bombarded with questions from the other prisoners. She answered what she could, but many people had to retreat back to their corner of the cage in despair. Her dinner with the Captain had not given her enough details about their predicament to satisfy everyone.

  She sat down next to Jonathan, not quite tired enough to fall asleep. There was one detail that she kept to herself however. Try as she might, she could not bring herself to hate Riggs. He may have been a pirate, but he was unlike any pirate of which she had ever heard. He did seem to have some redeeming qualities. He was courageous. He was daring. He was kind enough to let her eat his food. He was loyal to his crew and ship. He was adventurous. Maybe there was more to him than Julia could have possibly known.