Kelsey and the Kraken (closed for Silvertongue217)

[SinisterSpiders]

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Kelsey Bennet stood on the prow of the ship, the wind whipping through her unbound chestnut hair as she clasped her hat in her hand. She looked out, keep eyes scanning the horizon with glee as she saw the sails blossoming before her.

"PIRATES AHOY!" A voice bellowed from the crow's nest.

Indeed, as the sails in the distance ballooned out Kelsey could see the tell-tale sigil of the renowned pirate captain, Angel Dese Murtes. Though that was his name he was known to the English folk as the Kraken; a monster of legendary proportions. To most his was a myth, but anyone who had been at sea for any length of time had been witness to his path of destruction.

Kelsey could hear the nervous shuffling of the crew behind her as they all gathered up, all wanting to catch a glance of the infamous ship before they got to close. The mood on deck was tense now, though Kelsey was anything but. Months of research, hunting and pursuit had finally come to a head, and now she could complete her mission.

"Get us closer Captain!" Kelsey cried out, turning back to the man. He stiffened, glaring at her and hating the fact that he was taking order from her. A woman.

The Captain didn't bother replying to her, or even saluting as he should have. Instead he went about the business of getting the ship into shape, throwing out the orders that would see them speeding towards Des Murtes.

Kelsey watched, eyed glittering in the high noon light, body already buzzing with the anticipation of the spectacular battle that was to come.

All others before her had failed. Kelsey was the one that the Queen called upon when things went wrong.

And things had indeed gone wrong.

~*~ Six Months Earlier~*~

Kelsey Bennet bowed, her head lowered respectfully.

"You may rise," a venerable female voice said graciously. She did.

"Thank you your Majesty," Kelsey's eyes raised to meet those of the Queen. The Queen gave her that signature small smile and invited her to sit down before she settled onto the stately chair behind her heavy mahogany desk.

"These are your new order," The Admiral slid a thick roll of parchment over to her.

"The Leviathans were unable to apprehend Dese Murtes?" Kelsey asked, unfurling the scroll and running her warm brown eyes over it.

"No, he subdued their forces, took their resources and left them stranded on a barren strip of coastline before he ravaged some nearby towns," The Admiral said, a deep pitted frown appearing on his sullen face.

"We need him dealt with," The Queen said, an air of finality to her tone.

Kelsey was but one person. With the orders of the Queen herself she would be able to command whatever forces she wanted, though she would keep it small. She rolled up the orders and looked at the Queen and Admiral, waiting to see if they had anything to add. When they remained silent she rose, gave a bow, and left the room clutching the scroll tightly under her arms.

Three weeks later she strode aboard the Queen of Thorns, the ships crew looking at her with curious gaping eyes. A couple of the lads stepped up, their uniforms crisp and clean as they always were at the start of a journey.

"Can we help you Lass?" One of them asked, eyeing her with unabashed curiosity. She rolled her eyes. They had ignored the fact that she was wearing the same uniform as then, albiet one tailored to fit her curves.

"Lass? My name is Captain Kelsey Bennet. Do you not salute senior officers on this ship?" Kelsey bared, the three sailors before her looked at each other, mirth glinting in their eyes.

"Captain Kelsey Bennet?" A gruff male voice called from behind her. She turned, looking at Captain Fitzkirk of the Queen of Thorns. "There are no female captains in the Queens service Madam."

"There aren't any females in the Queens Service. Any ladies on this here ship are the saltwives, " One of the soldiers behind her snickered.

"You'd best be off lass, before the real Captain Bennet arrives and decides to bend you over the railing and spank you for your impertinence," Fitzkirk said, his eyes dancing as he winked at the sailors behind you.

Kelsey took her pack off her back and set it on the deck, she opened it up and withdrew the scroll containing her orders and the Queens on seal. She pushed it against Fitzkirk's chest with a smug smile. As he read it his face blanched. His black hair fluttered about, some of it pulled out of his braid by the wind. He looked at the orders then up at her.

"I wasn't aware that there were female captains in the Royal Navy," He said, rolling it up and holding it back out to her. Kelsey snatched it from him and cocked an eyebrow.

"Yes, it would appear that there are a lot of things you are unaware of," she snapped, "Now, are we going to stand around and make more jokes about who will be fucking me first, or are we going to get down to the real business?"

~*~

Six months later the relationship between Kelsey and Fitzkirk had not mended. Some of the men aboard had come to see her as one of their own, yet others were still caught on the notion that it was bad luck to have a woman aboard. The rest, well, they were still flabbergasted that Kelsey was a woman. She reminded them time and time again that Kelsey was a unisex name, and that it was merely their own pigheadedness that had misguided them.

Nevertheless, as they gained speed on Dese Meurtes' ship the anticipation of battle flavoured the air. They had a plan, a good one, and the Queen of Thorns was just the ship to execute it on. Built for speed and manouvering, it would be able to keep up with the Pirate's vessel with ease. But below deck were some cannons, new technology that would pack a punch Dese Meurtes' ships would be unable to escape.

Kelsey was looking forward to this. Dese Meurtes had a reputation as the most fearsome pirate on the coast. The number one enemy of the English peoples. He had raided and ravaged their coast line for a decade, his ferocity going unchecked. He was a master tactician and a captain without a conscience. It was a combination that chilled Kelsey to the core and made her want to take him down all the more. Monsters like him were an affront to nature, and she could not abide such evil in their world.

 

[silvertongue217]

"What will shall we do with the drunken sailor"

"What shall we do with the drunken sailor"

"What shall we do with the drunken sailor early in the morn in"

"STEADY LADS" Angel hollered from his helm at the wheel "Storms a comin"

Angel heard the Aye captains that signaled they had heard his orders and he laughed eyeing the dark storm clouds before glancing back. The ship that had been steadily gaining on them, the clearly british ship seemed to show no hint of slowing down or lessening its tack.

Which meant they were fools

"Seems some one really wants to meet you capin" His second in command Mr. Clean said his shiny head glimmering in the rapidly darkening sun "the lads are preparing as we speak"

"Whoever it is there none to bright" Angel said "there so intent on getting close and catching up before the storm that there throwing caution to the wind! Take us into the rocks of the island we will pin them there give em a choice between running aground or being blasted to pieces"

"Aye capin" Mr. Clean said nodding before turning to below his orders. Angel smirked tipping his head back and running a hand through his jet black hair as he breathed in the storm.

"Come on darling you and I always been good to each other" He said speaking to both the clouds and the sea as they finally slipped under the storm "I sent ye many a ships and you in turn have helped keep mine afloat lets see if we can add one more to the list eh?"

And with that the sky opened up

"Take the wheel Mr. Clean" Angel said releasing the wheel "take her in just how I like her" he said clapping the man the back before turning he shrugged on his long red cloak and making sure his six well placed flintlock pistols were kept safe from the elements ran down the steps to begin helping the crew. They were already braced for rough seas so they set about preparing the canons for the ship that was on their tail.

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Thunder cracked the sky in two and it fell. Rain tumbled from the heavens in thick, pelting sheets. It hit the deck, bounced off, and then drained off. Though soon, even the drainage holes weren't enough.

Kel stood on deck, her fingers gripping the railing as she watched the Queen of Thorns dancing with the Kraken's ship. She had never thought of ships that way before; as partners in an intimate dance. But that was what she saw now. Every move of the Queen of Thorns was countered by the Kraken, his own ship guiding them onto a new path. They would accept or reject it, and he would respond in kind. Unlike a dance though, there was no clear leader here. As the storm raged on the dance turned deadly.

The waves rose, the cliffs drew nearer and nearer, and each move became more dangerous. Each tilt of the ship, each turn of the wheel, the need for precision became more and more important.

Soon enough though, the ships were so close they were almost touching. In normal weather, Captain Fitzkirk would have sent boarding parties across. It was the best chance they would get, being so close to the Kraken's ship.

That had been their plan, at least. They had a ship full of elite soldier sailors, equipped with some of the best guns known to the British Empire. However, the weather presented a hazard not only for the boarding, but for the temperamental gunpowder.

Kel swore as she watched their progress. Boarding now would be sheer madness, and she knew they had to withdraw before Angel got any wild ideas. She turned, letting go of the rail and riding the rocking of the ship as she made her way to Fitzkirk. It was a horrid trip, and she barely managed to keep her footing on the quickly flooding deck.

"Fitzkirk!" Kel said, stepping up beside him and yelling through the roar of the storm. "What is the state of the canons? The gunpowder?"

"We've kept them strapped up, not sure if we can get them settled in this weather without injury. We're too close to fire though. Suicide!" He said, looking at her as though she was stupid.

"Well get this blooming ship back then!" She cried out, rolling her eyes at him.

But then there was shouting from the deck, and she turned, dread ripping through her.

 

[silvertongue217]

Angel laughed his voice hollering out over the raging storm. His men hollered back thumping their swords against the wood as the two ships danced closer and closer to the island. They were right on top of each other by now so close some of his men had taken to going to the edge and flipping the other crew off.

"How are ye feeling men?" Angel hollered "shall we go greet our new friends?"

"Aye Capin!"

His men rushed forward clambering over the netting and hanging off of it technically speaking jumping from one ship onto another during a raging storm was madness. It was however the kind of madness that no sane person would ever attempt.

He however was not sane

"We have practiced this men!" Angel reminded them moving to the canons "men rope them in! Jump on my mark" He hollered pulling out his scarab and jumping onto the railing. He waited his eyes focusing on the board as he waited for the right moment.....

"Now!" He hollered launching himself into the air. He hung their for a moment before he crashed into one of the soldiers and drove his sword into his skull. He rose up as his men dropped from the sky tackling and killing the bulk of the men as the pirates did the one thing they never expected.

 

[SinisterSpiders]

"WE'RE BEING BOARDED!" The cries from the main deck pierced through the storm and Kelsey swore under her breath as she saw pirates swinging across the deck.

"RETREAT!" Kelsey ordered the Captain before drawing out her sword. "Get this ship away from them!"

Kelsey turned, taking het sword in one hand and musket in the other as she raced down the stairs and threw herself into the fray.

Beneath her feet the ship was groaning, struggling to steer away from Angel's vessel. All around her pirates were engaged in fights with the men of the Royal Navy. Luckily this ship carried the best fighters in the force, she only hoped it would be enough to keep them afloat until Angel showed his face. Then, he would be all hers.

 

[silvertongue217]

Angel laughed dancing across the deck. The men which he had figured out were the british were vastly outnumbered and not used to fighting in the middle of a storm. His men were moving through them with little difficulty. So far the captain of the vessel had yet to make an appearance though there were reports of a woman who seemed to be in charge.

Then he saw her

The crowds parted she was moving her expression as fierce as it was beautiful. She was engaging three of her men and doing a fair bit of work on two of them.

"Excuse me lass!" Angel called pulling out his pistol and aiming it at her "Might ye command the members of your ship to stand down? So we may parlay? I would hate to have to put a bullet in your head"

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Lass?

Kelsey turned. Being the only female on the ship she had no doubt he was talking to her.

So, this was the famous Pirate Lord. Angel Dese Meurtes.

He was younger than Kel had expected. And somewhat more dashing.

Nevertheless she held her cutlass high, her pistol where he could see it.

"Parlay with you?" She called through the storm, glaring at the man before her. "Why would I trust a word you say?"

 

[silvertongue217]

"Because if you dont my men will kill you and every one on this ship" Angel said waving with his hand to show the two ships clashing "of course we are also hurtling to the rocks" He said pointing at the shore line approaching them.

"so if you parlay we will abandon this ship and your remaining men will be given safe passage home as well as you and by home I mean dropped on the nearest island and left to fend for them selves but hey they have a fighting chance and these waters are fairly busy" He said cocking his pistol "that is however the BEST offer your going to get from me so choose wisely lass"

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Kel listened to the Pirate and gritted her teeth.

"Aye, we're heading for the cliffs," she said, "But then both of our ships will be dashed! At least we'll take you down with us!"

The men on board were standing now, watching through the sheets of rain. Kel's hat had blown off in the storm and her hair was plastered to her face. He holstered her pistol, knowing it would be useless in this weather.

"I say we settle this now. You and me."

 

[silvertongue217]

"As tempting as that is" Angel said rolling his eyes "I very much doubt your men will want to sit here and watch us "settle things" as we plunge towards some rocks" He said pointing at the rocks.

"What do you say lads? Do you fine british men want to sit here and watch us fight while you slowly creep towards death?"

They turned looking at each before laying down their arms. The pirates hollored and work began quickly as they moved the men onto the other ship.

"What say you lass?" Angel asked turning "you want to come or stay here and die?" He asked raising an eyebrow and sheathing his sword.

 

[SinisterSpiders]

The crew of the Queen of Thorns knew when they'd been beat, but their lack of fight dismayed Kelsey. She even saw the gutless Fitzkirk dropping his weapon. What did he think would happen when the Pirate took them.

Kelsey didn't lower her sword,instead she stalked towards Dese Meurtes with a loom of murderous outrage in her eyes.

"If you're giving me a choice just know I wont come easily," she spat, holding her sword between them and getting into a fighting stance.

 

[silvertongue217]

"Really now?" Angel scoffed shaking his head at the woman advancing on him with her sword "were about to be dashed against the bloody rocks! You want to worry about aiming a sword at me"

He turned showing no fear of her blade "I guess the captain wants to go down with the alright lads time to get off this ship"

He turned raising an eyebrow at her ""I really will leave you in a second" He said smiling at her before jumping onto the railing "what would you like to do?" He asked her waiting for her answer.

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Kelsey looked over her shoulder as though hesitating. The Queen of Thorns siddled closer and closer to the cliffs, being tossed about in the storm. Her own footing became treacherous and she knew she had only moments before it would be too late.

Seeing the Queen of Thorns dashed against the cliffs would be a sorry sight indeed,but a necessary sacrifice if she was to succeed. She only hoped the Queen would agree with her when the time came.

With a shouted curse, Kelsey ran for the railings,jumping on and grabbing the tails of the Pirate's coat just before he jumped.

"This isn't my damned ship!" She told him with a grimace of defeat.

 

[silvertongue217]

"Well I feel sorry then for whoevers ship you just lost" Angel remarked nevertheless pulling her aboard and tossing her onto the deck before jumping clear himself. His men went to work escorting the prisoners down into the brig while also detaching from the ship.

"Welcome aboard the Raven" Angel said smiling at her "I am the Kraken though you already know that since you were after me"

"Capin" Mr. Clean said coming over "what are we going to do with her? She can not be with the other men"

"Yeah yeah" Angel said shaking his head "she shall be my quest in my cabin for now" he said nodding at her to go towards the captains cabins.

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Kel struggled to her feet, slipping on the deck of the Kraken's ship as rain pelted on her back. She got to her feet in time to hear the pirate's commiserations.

"The Queen," she panted, "It's the Queen's ship."

She straightened to see a tall, bald mad coming over to them, seemingly fine with the rock and slam of the ship. When he spoke Kelsey grimmaced. Then the Kraken decoded she was to stay in his quarters. Fear lanced through het st the prospect, though she knew six years ago that this might had been a possibility when she set out.

"I'd rather take my chances with my own men," she said, giving the Captain a look of distaste, her eyes lingering on the snatch of chest she could see beneath his jacket. It was then that she realised he wasn't wearing a shirt. "At least they know to tk dress themselves." She added before commonsense could bite the comment back.

 

[silvertongue217]

Angel rolled his eyes "your men will rape you and I doubt you can hold your own against them all without any weapons"

He grabbed her by her shirt and forced her into his room before shutting the door behind him "I am going to ignore the clothing comment" Angel said turning and lighting a lamp revealing a room full of books posters and maps.

"You can sleep in here I will go sleep in the crows nest" He said shrugging off his sodden coat. This of course made him bare except for his black pants and boots.

"Unless you have an issue with that?"

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Kelsey gasped as the Angel dragged her into his cabin and slammed the door shut behind him. When the lamp flared to life she looked around, not surprised to see the maps, but interested to notice all of the books. It was much warmer in here. And dry.

He undressed before her and she took a step back, stumbling and falling against a desk, hard. She swore, taking in his bare torso and feeling a stab if arousal course through her. Her eyes widened, shocked by her reaction.

"What? You'll sleep in the Crows Nest... In this weather? In this storm?" She scoffed, unsure of what his game was. That would be madness.

Maybe he was trying tk lull her into a false sense of security.

Mayne it was part of some sick game.

"Fine. Do as you will. I have no problem with that."

Her eyes met his, her eyebrows raised as she stood up straight, ignoring the pain in her back from where she collided with his desk.

 

[silvertongue217]

"storm will clear sooner rather than later" Angel said smirking noting the way she reacted his eyes ran up and down her body drinking her in.

"Of course I can stay if you want" He said smirking in pleasure folding his arms and flexing his biceps "sea can be a lonely place lass for a pirate and for a bounty hunter if you want I can let you tie me up even" he said a sexy smirk on his face as he regarded her.

 

[SinisterSpiders]

The Kraken's eyes burned into her, his words hitting her with the force of a wave. Her body reacted instinctively, drawn to his allure and charm. She bit her lip and forced it down. He was a monster, she couldn't believe her body would betray her like that.

"Give me some rope and I'll gladly tie you up," Kelsey challenged, a glint of malice in her eyes. She'd tie him up alright, and throw him right overboard.

 

[silvertongue217]

"Ah not tonight lass not when you have that look about you" Angel said shaking his head snorting and going over to grab a bottle of rum. He popped the cork and to a large swing before reaching out swishing the bottle to get her attention.

"come on lass break bread with me or whatever you British call it" Angel said collapsing in his chair "or are you to afraid? I know the stories about me I am sure thats why you were sent"

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Kelsey grinned, her eyebrows cocked as turned her down.

Wise man.

When he offered her the rum she took it gladly. He had taken the first swig, so she took a risk on it not being poisoned. She took a quick whiff of it before drinking, not smelling anything untoward. It ran straight down her throat, warming her to the core and making the apples of her cheeks flush pink. She handed it back to him.

"Well, I wasn't sent to parlay," she told him. She looked around then, observing his cabin in the dim light of the lamp. "I didn't know pirates could read," she said, gesturing to his grand collection of books.

 

[silvertongue217]

"Most pirates cant though all captains can" He reminded her taking another large swig before gesturing at his work bench "after all we all need to be able to read maps follow directions and navigate the sea.

He chuckled "what did you think lass we were all uncivilized monsters?" He laughed shaking his head "you should not be so ignorant to the world lass it may surprise you"

 

[SinisterSpiders]

Kelsey turned away from him, her back to him, as she ran her still damp fingers over the leather of a book on his desk. She flipped it open, eyes scanning the words. She was wondering if he would get angry at her, stop her from touching his things.

"Maps are one thing, but this..." She trailed off before slamming the book shut. "Ignorant?" She mimicked, anger flaming to life at the insult. "No, not ignorant, just misguided. I always figured pirates were too busy with other things. Murder, raiding. Pillaging... Rape." The last word tumbled from her lips and she shuddered, the cold of her wet clothes and his intense gaze chilling her to the bone.

 

[silvertongue217]

He rose and shook his head "We have been known to do a fair bit of that some times your Queen even pays us to" He said snorting and going over to a pile of clothes thrown off to the side.

"Here lass before you catch your death and a chill" Angel said tossing her an undershirt before sitting back down "I cant very well have you dying on me" He said kicking his boots up making no move to turn and give her a decent change.

 

[SinisterSpiders]

The Queen paying him? Now that was a joke. He was toying with her. And he continued to do so when he threw her the shirt but gave her no privacy to change.

She leaned against his desk again, glaring at him, as the water in her clothes seeped towards his books... His maps... She would not change while he was watching. Her wet clothes would remain on and damaging his property until he allowed her that dignity. She knew that she was playing a dangerous game, pushing him like this. Je had a reputation for being unpredictable and quite mad. Though he seemed reasonable now, and had no move to harm her. Yet.

"And why would you care if I live or die?" She asked.