The Witch's Pirate! (Book 1)

Bayou

Max whispered something in Crystal’s ear, causing her to looked at him with wide unbelievable eyes. He nodded, turning to face me. I arched a brow.

He didn’t, my mind connected as Crystal ran up toward us. Belle frowned, looking up at me, as if to question, What did he tell her?

I just shrugged. Crystal suddenly laughed nervously.

“Let’s go shopping then, I don’t know what to wear, since it’s been so long since I have been to a carnival.”

Crystal took a hold of Belle’s hands.

“Oh, right, well, um, see you later Captain,” Belle waved at me, while Crystal nodded at her. Then she glanced at me. Something was there in her eyes. She looked scared, almost worried. I frowned, lifting my gaze to see Max, who was trying to avoid my sight.

“Aye, we will meet in an hour right here,” I yelled both girls nodded and started to head out. I moved closer to Max and gave him a death glare. Once again, he avoided me.

“So you had to tell her, didn’t you Papa?” I crossed my arms. Max lifted his head and patted my back rather hard.

“You’re my son, is my job to protect you. Plus, she’s your wife if he gets to know that, with the hate he has for you, he will do anything to hurt her, just to get to you. Plus, he works for the king, and he might catch on that she’s no princess,” I fisted my hand at his words.

“Thanks for the reminder, I will deal with him my own way.”

“No killing Bayou, you know that. Remember, you’re not the only one cursed now, think of Crystal, she really cares about you, and such. Also, we need to concentrate on getting Belle’s sister and then the other half of the map,” he added. I nodded, and looked up at the afternoon sky, watching as seagulls fly by.

“That map makes no sense, every time we looked at it.”

Max nodded at me.

“That’s why we need the other half,” Is true, every time we examined it, it looked like jumbled words and numbers altogether. We went quiet for a minute.

“The carnival won’t start until later,” I broke the silence. Max nodded at me.

“It’s a good idea to let the girls had a day off,” Max said. I shrugged at him.

“They haven’t been able to relax a day, is either trying to survive or work on the ship, though it would be a good idea, remember how much I loved the carnival?′ Max nodded, looking out in a distance.

“I remember, but not all night long, we have a mission to do,” he reminds me.

“Don’t worry, I sent Shawn and the others to look it up. Remember, this mission literally hangs in our hands, and rushing in won’t work. You know how much I dislike rushing. While we see what’s going on, we can’t do anything.” I told him. Max sighed and nodded at me.

“I wonder where you got patience from?” he asks. I chuckled, shaking my head.

“From you Papa. You always taught me patience is the key to winning rather than going in blinded like a fool,” I told him.

“Then I thought you well my son,” he chuckled patting my shoulder. I chuckled as well and moved away from him.

“Let’s go shopping, I need to look good for my wife,” I gave him a toothy grin. He arched a brow.

“You seriously are becoming to attach to her, are you sure you’ve not fallen in love with her?” he asked. I shook my head.

“No, she’s just my partner, that I cherish,” I told him. Max sighed and looked up at the blue sky.

“Even cherishing someone, can turn into love, and you, my dear son, are falling for her hard. I couldn’t ask for anyone better. Doubt any other woman could keep up with you. I’m your father, and sometimes I want to bash your head,” he laughed, going down the wooden bridge, that connected us to the town itself.

“Well, you had no other choice and you speak nonsense.”

“Am I, boy? You’re still young, and never been in love, so you don’t know your feelings just yet. When I fell for your mother, I was the same way as you. Oh well, just let time tell you.”

With that, he went quiet. I frowned, at the mention of my mother.

“Papa, I have a question about Mama,” I asked, he stopped to looked up at me.

“Yes?”

“Why did Mama lied about my father, when I awoke from the king’s curse? Knowing that can jeopardize her.” Max went still, and shrugged.

“Did you want to hear, ‘Oh, your father die?’ She was your mother, she couldn’t let you go. Mothers do anything for their children. Plus, it was meant to be.”

Something in his tone seemed off. I arched a brow.

“That’s not it, I discovered the truth about my curse and my real father death at the age of seventeen. You two could have told me earlier. I don’t even remember my real father. I have vague memories of my earlier years, only one, in particular, but that’s something else. All I know is what you told me. That my parents betrayed the king, I’m grown enough to know the truth. Why was I cursed? Why did Mama lie about you being my biological father? Why did you go with it? ” Max’s body tensed at my question.

“Everything will be answered when you break the curse with Crystal, leave it at that, let’s go before the sun goes down.” he said seriously, trying to avoid my questions.

With that, he went ahead. I groaned, running my hand over my face.

“That’s not what I meant Papa, and you know it.”

I could see the people of the island moving rapidly for the carnival, holding pastries and drinks in hand. The streets filled with balloons and lanterns, the smell of cooked food filled the air, and I looked down at my new clothes.

I bought myself two outfits. The one I was wearing was a lacy black long shirt that was unbuttoned halfway, some tight blue pants, and brand new boots. I combed my hair to the side. Might as well looked presentable for the carnival before we went to his mansion.

I looked around, but I didn’t spot anyone, not even Shawn or Max. I sighed, rubbing the back of my neck.

“Where in the world were the others?” I jumped down on the flat board off the coast of town, where I told the girls where we should meet. It had been over an hour already.

“Come on Crystal, is not that bad, you look stunning,” I heard from my right. I turned my gaze toward Belle’s voice, to see her pulling on Crystal’s arm. Crystal hid behind a building. I slowly walked up to Belle.

“What’s wrong?” I asked. Belle let go of her arm and turned to face me.

“Oh, there you are. I bought some clothes for us, and made your wife change, but she refuses to come out. I really want to go to the Carnival, but she won’t come out,” she complained. I nodded, tilting my head, trying to see Crystal. It was no use. All I could glimpse was her arm.

“Aye, go on ahead and change, Max told me he’ll wait for you at the plaza.” Her eyes sparkled.

“Then I’ll leave your wife in your hands, today is my day, I get to spend time with Max, and get my sister later tonight,” she clapped, bending down to grab some bags and rushed toward my ship. I crossed my arms and leaned against the wall and cross my leg. I gave Belle one last look.

She really is trying to cover her worries. I hope we can make it in time before anything terrible happens to her sister, I prayed, watching Belle enter my ship. I turned and glanced at the ground.

“So am I supposed to enjoy the carnival from here?” I asked Crystal.

“Go ahead, I’ll just stay in Max’s cabin,” her voice was soft.

I sighed, and I lazily pushed myself up, going around.

I made contact with her, my breath caught when I saw that she was wearing a soft blue dress, that reached up to her calves. It showed off her curves in the right places. It had short sleeves, and small white heels, that matched. Her brown hair was combed into a braid, hanging gracefully down her right shoulder. From what I could see, she had a small amount of red lipstick painted on, which made her lips looked even bigger, but not to the extent of overbearing. They looked shiny, making her green eyes pop out. I also took notice that my necklace, the one I had given her, laid gracefully on the base of her neck, showing my ring on top of her cleavage.

She looked so beautiful, oh God, My mind went, soaking her in, in every way possible.

“I looked hideous, I know, I told Belle, when she went and dolled me up. This isn’t for me,” she moved, causing me to grasped her arm. She looked up at me.

“Trust me, you don’t even come close to hideous.”

“Bayou?” She called out surprised by my words. I swallowed hard and shook my head.

“C....Can I court you tonight?” my voice cracked. Her eyes widened at my words. I felt my hands starting to sweat. This was new to me.

“Court me? You want to court me?” she asked surprised. I nodded.

“Before we go and save Captain Belle’s sister, let me show you a little about having fun. Ever since you came here, a month ago, you haven’t been able to enjoy yourself. So let me be a gentleman, and court you,” I told her.

“A gentleman? You’re everything but a gentleman,” she gasped out making me chuckle.

“Dear, I have always been a gentleman, you just haven’t taken notice. So, do I get the honor of escorting you?” I asked, feeling my heart race. She seemed to hesitate.

“This is the first time anyone has wanted to court me. Normally they would ignore me.”

“Then they were blind, and stupid,” I told her.

She actually giggled and avoided my gaze. She moved to grab my hand, but hesitated to do so. I took in a breath and grasped her small hand, lacing her fingers through mine.

“Okay, only this once, you can court me, even though I have no idea what to do,” I smirked, loving the fact that I was the first man to ever court her.

“Don’t worry, it’s not that bad, I’ve courted many women before.”

“You said you didn’t.”

“I haven’t, but when I needed something from them, I courted them to get what I want, but never courted because I wanted to,” She went still, and glanced up at me.

“And then you bed them right? I mean, that’s what I read in books, and you’re a pirate,” I arched a brow surprised by her words.

“What kind of books do you read, love?” Her face turned scarlet while we passed through the throng of people.

“Err, nothing much, but as a male, I gather you are very experienced right?”

Something in her tone told me it bothered her that I could have bedded most of them. I sighed and looked up.

“Don’t worry love, I don’t bed anyone, I have my pride, and most girls I court were married or engaged. I do tend to hate cheating.” I assured her. She looked up at me.

“Really? Me too, I hate cheating as well. Then do you bed the, um, girls in the bars, like last one we were at?”

Oh, that’s good, the thought of it, makes me want to puke, I thought, but then her last question dawned on me. I stopped in my tracks, surprised how blunt she is. I looked down at her, she is looking down at the ground.

“Why were you so out front to whom I bed?” I asked her.

“I just want to know, alright,” her face couldn’t get any redder.

“Alright, I don’t bed just anyone, I am a gentleman after all, and my father always taught me to treat a woman with respect, even for the easiest girls. So no, I don’t bed them, I do drink with them from time to time, but that’s all,” I told her. Again she looked up at me, and I could see her green eyes wash over with relief.

Why does she concern herself so much about it?

“Oh? Then will you tell me who was your first kiss?” She asked again. My eyes narrowed as we reached the plaza, a large place, filled with seats and round tables dressed elegantly in a beige color. The sun was setting, so the oil lamps and torches lit up the place and music had already begun playing.

“Why do you ache so much on knowing who I kissed first?” She lowered her head and shook it.

“I just want to know, as your friend, since you know I never kiss anyone,” she whispered. I smiled, as we reached a table, and I pulled the chair out for her. She gave me a shy smile and sat down. I sat across her and placed my arm on top of the table.

“If I tell you, will you curiousity calm down?” I asked her. She nodded at me, readying herself to hear my confession. I moved closer and smiled at her.

“My first kiss,” I paused, my eyes betrayed me, since this talk was about kissing, my gaze dropped to her mouth. The ache to kiss her plump lips pulsed in my veins once more.

Not good, I want to kiss her again, I wonder how would she taste, if I were to claim her right now? Be the first and only one to touch her. I thought, licking my own lips. Moving back, I cleared my throat, debated on telling her or not. I watched her body jolt with anticipation.

Bad thinking Bayou, bad. I wonder why she ached so much to know? I sighed and moved back.

“I will let that cat die from curiosity, and later revive it, alright love.”