Alice was slightly relieved when Vic relented, burly arms wrapping around her. It was an unfamiliar sensation, but it was comforting. She relaxed slightly in his warmth and scent, closing her eyes and leaning her face into his shoulder. She just stayed like that as he held her, not thinking about anything at all. His shirt came away slightly wet from her tears. She nodded slowly at his suggestion, fingertips tracing her wound again. A battlescar. Marring her pale skin, that she'd been instructed to protect - for marriage, her father had said. She had to look beautiful, to entrance the highest stature of man. Yet here she was, amongst the lowest. She shook her head at his question.

Alice blinked as he wiped at her wound with the wet fabric, wincing as he continued on. It stung, but it cleaned the wound - and it was surprisingly caring of him. She hadn't expected such a thing from Victor (although it was still a little bit gross). She watched him as he took down extra bedding, quiet as a mouse as she sat on the edge of the bed. As he became comfortable next to her, she swung her legs back up again and sighed softly. Then she wriggled herself down until she was lying down again, on her side and facing him. This was... a strange arrangement. A man in her room. She'd thought that the first time this happened, it would be on her wedding night. She used to dream about some handsome prince - perhaps from France, or Germany - sweeping her off her feet at the wedding altar. How silly she'd been.

But perhaps not all princes came with titles, or fine manners. Being a prince wasn't only about that.

She stared at him in the dark for a few moments, unsure of what to say now. This was new for her, after all.

As he noticed her eyes lingering on him as she laid there, and he sat up so that they were eye level. He had a grim expression on his face as he gazed at hers for a moment. "Alice..." he spoke softly. He put a hand up and moved a piece of hair that had fallen over her eyes. He realized that his closeness might have made her uncomfortable, which normally amused him. But right now, he just wanted to make sure that she was okay. "I must grab something, I shall return in a moment!" He stood up and quickly walked out of the room, and when he returned, he had a bottle in his hand. "Can't go far without it, I'm afraid," he chuckled as he sat back down, leaned against the wall, and took a swig of the bottle's contents. Vic some to her as always, but he was not sure if she would be up to it. He really was not sure what to do with himself at this point.

"Alice, I am very sorry this happened. It is my fault you have landed in such a place." He paused and scratched his beard. "I, uh, sent a letter to your father today. He should have it in hand by morning, and I should hear back from him no later than the day after tomorrow. Hopefully, this means you can return soon, to your father and your home." Vic looked down at the floor as he spoke, and as he finished, he took another gulp of rum. He set it on the floor and sat staring off into the darkness of the room. He thought for a moment on what he had just said and shook his head. How would he keep her with him? She wouldn't survive in his world, just like he wouldn't in hers. "If," he cleared his throat as he began to speak again, "your father doesn't accept our demands, I shall still return you. You should not be out at sea any longer."

He laid down on his back with the pillow behind his head and folded his hands on his stomach. He had nothing left to say. What could he? Victor was quite sure that she hated him at this point. Thought he was a monster. A brute. And he was, in some sense, all of those things, and he thought he had come to terms with that a long time ago.

Alice watched him go, and she wasn't all that much surprised when he came back bearing a bottle of rum. She'd expected that he was getting something to comfort him. He was still laughing, but not with all that much humour as he'd had before. She shook her head at his offer. She didn't want to lose control over herself again tonight, to anything. It was slightly surreal. Maybe this was all a dream - showing her what silly desires could lead to. The world outside of her safety bubble was scary and dangerous. It wasn't the sort of place where she belonged. But Vic... She looked at him when he talked, memorising each line in his face, the graceful sweep of his jaw and high cheekbones. If she never saw him again, she wanted to remember him. Like this, a hero in some strange way... She was sympathising with her kidnapper, and she knew it. But the past few days of her life had been more alive than any others.

Her face and tone registered surprise when he spoke about returning her. "You will?" she murmured softly. And she looked at him for a bit more. Pirates weren't all that the stories made them out to be. People... Were people. No matter where they came from, they could be brave or cowardly, gentlemanly or crude. And she could like Victor, even if he was a pirate and her kidnapper. For he'd shown himself to be far more than the labels that she'd stuck on him. "Thank you." The moon shone down through the open window, curtains flapping gently in the night wind. The pale glow made even him look ghostly. For a moment, she hesitated, before lying down as well. Her breath bated, she let one of her arms droop over the bed. Her fingers brushed the wooden floor. Alice didn't always sleep like that. Maybe she just wanted to be a little closer to him. She'd seen the expression on his face, the haunted look of someone who'd lost their way and was doubting themselves.

~The next morning~

Light began to peak slightly through window that was above Victor's head, and it made him stir until he finally awoke. It took him a moment to realize where he was and why, and when he looked up see Alice, he sighed in frustration. He recounted the details of last night and rubbed the bridge of his nose. There had to be something wrong with him; he had felt all of these emotions - guilt, regret, anxiety - since he got to the island that he had not had to deal with in years. "The island," he whispered to himself as bells and whistles began to go off in his head.

He got up and left the room as quietly as he could and headed downstairs to see Madam Blue preparing for breakfast. He weaves his way past the girls bringing out plates and silverware, of course winking and saying good morning, and as he approached the woman, he kissed the top of her head. "Mornin' Blue, do you have a moment to speak?"
Blue set down the tray she was holding and had a curious expression on her face. "For you, boy, of course. What is the matter with you? You have not been the man I know and love. Not used to seeing you quiet for more than a minute at a time," she chuckled and grabbed his arm lovingly.
"Ah, yes. That is why I am concerned. I have not felt like myself since I came to the island. I feel... guilt. Worry. Ashamed of who I am. Quite frankly, I do not like it one bit." He smirked a bit as he spoke. He found it hard to be upset in the presence of Blue. She had a calming energy about her.
"Hmm," the woman murmured as she put a hand to her chin. "Only since you have been on the island, you say? Are most of your feelings inspire by "your guest" that you have? The guilt?"
Victor looked to the floor and nodded. "Yes, Blue. Nearly all of it."
"Ahh. I see. Well, Victor, I have a suspicion. La Culpa." She shook her head and sighed.
Victor's facial expression changed to a puzzled one. "What does that mean, Blue?"
"Unfortunately, I do not know much, boy. I have a friend though. Down the road. Her name is Esmeralda.” She pointed west.
“Esmeralda? That crazy woman? How could she help me, Blue?” he asked. “I’m not going insane. I’m just… off.”
“Boy, have I ever done you wrong?” she questioned as she rubbed his arm. “Go. See the woman.”
“Only for you, Blue,” Victor nodded and headed out the door.

He made his way down the road to a tiny structure on the end of the strip. It was dilapidated and looked like it could fall to rubble at any moment. Before entering, he took a deep breath, and then pushed his way through the door. “Uh, hello, Esmeralda? It’s Victor. Victor Hemming.”
A woman with dark skin and very mesmerizing eyes appeared behind a beaded doorway in the back. “Ah, yes, Victor. Please, sit down.” She pointed to a small, round table that was covered by a ornate cloth that sat two.

------------------------------------------------------------

Victor left Esmeralda’s shop feeling better AND worse about the situation he was in. She had explained to him “La Culpa.” An old spell many thought to be a myth that is used on one’s enemies. If they are unable to reach the person they wish to harm, they can cast the spell at a certain place, most likely one that the enemy frequented, and it was a sort of net – once the person enters the place with the spell, they fall under it. La Culpa is meant to destroy the enemy from the inside out; self-doubt and shame will bubble up inside them until they can no longer take it. Many who have been under La Culpa had offed themselves or engaged in reckless behavior that caused their death.

Esmeralda said she could sense the negative energy strongly on Victor and that he had to try his best to avoid the feelings it had caused him until she could remove it, which could take some time. She explained that since he is well known for coming to the island, that it would have been an easy spot for the curse to work. He had not necessarily worried about himself and how he felt, but this new information made him worry about who he was really dealing with. If Alice’s father, the Governor, was the one to create this chaos for him, he could be way more powerful than Victor had anticipated, which could mean harm to his crew and his ship. If it wasn’t the Governor, then they could have unknown enemy that they are prepared to battle. Either option was not a good one, Vic decided.

He made his way back to the Inn where most of his men were gathering around for breakfast, and Madam Blue gave him a knowing nod when he entered. He returned it and mouthed out a “thank you” as he made his way to the table to eat. His eyes lingered on the empty chair next to him, knowing Alice would probably come to join him soon. At least being more knowledgeable on this situation lifted his spirits, but for the time being, he did not know if she could be trusted. All he knew at the moment was that he was hungry, thirsty, and ready to make more profits from their goods.

Carla came up to him and began to rub his shoulders as breakfast was placed in front of him. “Good morning, Vic,” she spoke in a sultry tone, “how did you sleep last night?”
If he was to be honest, horribly, but to be polite, he lied. “Wonderfully, thanks to you girls,” he said as he winked to her.
She scurried off and left him to finish his meal. He was partaking in conversation with his crew, laughing and cursing, and he began to almost feel like himself again. It was relieving, to say the least, but he knew he had much more to figure out before he left the island, and definitely before he had to deal with his enemy.

Alice did not sleep so easily that night. In fact, she barely slept at all. After the fright she’d had, she was awake at every bump in the night. And this wasn’t exactly the quietest of households, either. Every time, she looked across to see the large figure of Victor spread across her floor. It was a very comforting sight. Somehow, his presence made her feel safer than that of any hired guard. He... really did seem to care for her wellbeing. When she came to her senses in the morning, he had already left her. She frowned a little, disappointment welling in her chest. Hold on- she hadn't actually been wanting to see him in the morning, had she? Oh, well. To be honest, she wondered what he would look like in the morning. Perhaps actually vulnerable, maybe even cute...

Letting her imagination run free for a bit, she rose from the bed and dragged on her clothing. The open wound on her neck was still sore, and she let out a soft gasp as the material of her shirt was pulled over it. "Shit," she hissed, then immediately thought better of it. What was getting into her? She was forgetting that she was a lady, in these rough areas with rough people. It wouldn't do to forget where she came from if she was going back. The incident from last night had made her jumpy, but she still recalled how Victor had hugged her. He'd felt so strong and yet so soft and warm, one hand gripping her arm tightly. It was the sort of thing that girls like her dreamed about - forbidden and attractive. She hesitantly pulled a brush through her hair, unused to having to do such things herself. The pendant on her neck was still there, warm against her skin. A bit of blood had leaked down onto it, and she had to scrape it off with a nail.

Alice could now remember the way down to the dining hall, and she wondered how many more days she'd be remembering it. If all went well with her father, one or two more. Then she'd be back. And she didn't know how she felt about that. Feeling a little troubled on the inside, she entered the rowdy dining room. Giving Tiny a small wave (he seemed to be staring at her bosom a little less), she made her way to Victor's side. The sight of the serving girls made her a little jealous, to be honest. To think of what they did with him, how they made him feel - she had no right to think of these things, but they pervaded her thoughts nonetheless. She took a plate and the same as yesterday; bread and a sausage. "Good morning," she greeted Vic evenly, glancing at him. "Did you sleep alright...?" It couldn't have been comfortable on the wooden floor.

The sight of Alice approaching the table made Victor smile, and he scooted his seat over a bit to make some room for her. "Aye, yes, love, it was fine. I have slept in much stranger places," he chuckled as he picked at his plate. He would surely miss the meals and hospitality at the inn when they left Isla Imorda, but he knew soon enough he would itch to be on the water if he tried to stay. He looked over to her and eyed her neck. "Ah," he said, squinting his eyes as he examined it. It looked to be okay, nothing irritated or infected. She had looked like she had a rough night of sleep; Her appearance was fine, but something in her eyes told him she was tired. "If you would rather stay in today, Miss Rohan, I can task a crew member to sit outside your door to keep an eye on things while I'm out." He nodded to reassure her that he meant what he said, and moments later, he finished his breakfast. "Delicious as always, Blue!" he nearly shouted across the room to Madam Blue.

"Well," he began as he used a cloth to dab his mouth, "shouldn't be too much work today. We sold most of what we needed yesterday to get the supplies we need to sail again. We shall stay on the island until we hear back from your father, and then be off to the port once again." Victor began having second thoughts after he visited Esmeralda about returning her if her father had rejected their demands. It would make the whole operation pointless and Vic look weak, which he did not want either to happen. But, Victor took great pride in his word, so he decided that if they needs are not met, he would stall a little bit. Possibly negotiate. He would not quit until he got access to the port again.

Sarah ran over, as always, and grabbed the plate almost immediately after Victor put down his fork, and he said a quiet "thank you," as she began to leave the table. Normally on a trip to the inn, he would be flirting wildly and drinking already, but there was business to be handled. He stood up, groaning as he stretched his long body, and looked down to the small girl next to him. “We shall be heading out within the hour. Let me know what you decide.” He pushed in his chair and headed down the long hallway to find his room.

He removed his shirt and plopped down on the bed, sighing in relief to feel the softness under him. He wanted to attempt to get some shut eye before the day, as he didn’t get much the night before. Soon enough, his eyelids became heavy, and he drifted off to a heavy sleep.

Alice was not too sure of what she wanted to do this day. Of course, she was still shaken and feeling a little poorly. But was it any show of strength to hide away in her room? If she allowed such a thing to upset her to the extent of becoming a hermit, then it would be a poor show of any sort of nobility. She could not allow the world to downtrod her spirits so much. She continued eating after Victor left, even sinking her teeth into an apple. A couple of the men had glanced over to see her neck, and Tiny sat down next to her with a big smile. They talked idly for a little while, although he was occasionally distracted by the scantily-clad girls.

"Let Victor know, when he emerges, that I am to join him," she told Tiny. He nodded eagerly, eyes bright (and ever dipping down). She nodded back at him politely before walking back to her room. She winced slightly at the noises coming from behind some of the doors - most terribly vulgar. Would she be expected to make such noise one day, to her (probably ugly and elderly) husband? Dear lord, please no. She couldn't imagine doing that - surely nothing felt so good as to induce those sounds? Her cheeks dusted pink as she closed the door behind her, heading to the window. The girl peered out at the world before her, marvelling slightly at the sights and sounds of freedom.

Victor awoke almost an hour after he had fallen asleep, and he abruptly popped out of the bed at the realization that they needed to head out soon. He grabbed the blue shirt quickly off the sheets, and dashed into the hallway with it in his hand. He wouldn’t blame Alice if she didn’t want to join him, but he had to admit, he truly did enjoy her company – especially now that she was beginning to open up to him. When he had first taken her, he figured she would be like all of the high-class women he had dealt with in the past, who were usually very snobby and ostentatious. But not her. Even if she tried to put on a show, he was beginning to see who she really was.

He rapped on the door lightly before entering, and as the door loudly creaked open, he saw her standing by the window, hair flowing freely down her back. “Miss Rohan, have you made your decision?” he questioned her as he entered the room slowly. The look on the girl’s face made him realize his shirt was still off, but instead of rushing to try to cover himself, he stood there unabashed. Esmeralda told him to fight of the feelings of guilt or shame, and that was exactly what he was doing. Before Alice came into his life, he would have never cared about something so trivial. Why should he now? It was nothing she hadn’t seen before.

As he awaited her answer, his eyes scanned her up and down. Each day he had been with her, he noticed different things about her that he found quite attractive. Today, it was how elegant and graceful she was in her movements. She was almost like a ghost, floating while she walked or turned. He subconsciously cocked his head to the side as he stared at her, but once he caught himself, he nonchalantly shot his eyes to the floor. “So,” he cleared his throat, “what shall it be?”

Alice didn't have to wait for Tiny to come and fetch her. Instead, Victor came to her. Somehow, she knew it was him before he even opened the door - and that was when she realised. She knew the sound of his walk. It was the slight swagger that lead to his slow pace that covered large distance due to his stature, and the way his feet lingered on the ground. It was lazy and relaxed and confident. In other words, Vic. She turned away from the window as he started to speak to her, and her own mouth opened when... oh. That had been unexpected.

He was just standing there, bare chested and bold in the doorway. His tousled brown hair was messy, and he still seemed to exude sleepiness. The lines on his chest, both pale faded scars and black tattoos, made a mosaic across muscles she'd rarely gazed at before. What was this feeling, in the pit of her stomach and to the left of her chest? Why was her longing so strong? Clearing her throat, she glanced away. No wonder the girls here threw themselves at him. Perhaps she was starting to understand their mentality. "I-I'll be joining you," she finally managed, trying not to look too much at his torso. He seemed to be looking at her quite piercingly too; probably in her imagination. She walked toward him, passing by Vic to stand in the passageway. A hand subconsciously brushed against her pendant. It was bizarre, to think that he'd bought this for her.

Alice didn't have to wait for Tiny to come and fetch her. Instead, Victor came to her. Somehow, she knew it was him before he even opened the door - and that was when she realised. She knew the sound of his walk. It was the slight swagger that lead to his slow pace that covered large distance due to his stature, and the way his feet lingered on the ground. It was lazy and relaxed and confident. In other words, Vic. She turned away from the window as he started to speak to her, and her own mouth opened when... oh. That had been unexpected.

He was just standing there, bare chested and bold in the doorway. His tousled brown hair was messy, and he still seemed to exude sleepiness. The lines on his chest, both pale faded scars and black tattoos, made a mosaic across muscles she'd rarely gazed at before. What was this feeling, in the pit of her stomach and to the left of her chest? Why was her longing so strong? Clearing her throat, she glanced away. No wonder the girls here threw themselves at him. Perhaps she was starting to understand their mentality. "I-I'll be joining you," she finally managed, trying not to look too much at his torso. He seemed to be looking at her quite piercingly too; probably in her imagination. She walked toward him, passing by Vic to stand in the passageway. A hand subconsciously brushed against her pendant. It was bizarre, to think that he'd bought this for her.

Vic smirked as she passed him, feeling amused again by how uncomfortable she became around him. It was almost like a game to him. He swiveled around to face Alice as she waited for him to continue, and he held her gaze as he slipped on his shirt. “I am glad you like it,” he said as he nodded his head at the bird-shaped necklace sitting on her chest. “I think it fits you.” He winked and walked past her down the hallway to the heart of the inn. The men were moving about getting everything prepared for the day ahead, and Victor slipped right in to join them until everything was set.

“Alright, boys. Everything that we did not sell to our bulk buyers will be sold to the street vendors. I have a quick stop to make with Alice, and then we shall join you shortly after, yeah?” A collective “Aye!” was shouted back at them as the men began to move out of the inn. He said his goodbyes to Blue, as always, and signaled for Alice to follow him. After they stepped outside into the sunlight, Victor took a moment for a deep breath before continuing - the sun on his skin, next to water or a woman, was his favorite feeling. “We are heading to a friend’s. Esmeralda. She asked to meet you,” he vaguely explained as they walked down the already crowded street. The woman told him to bring Alice in to see if she could read anything off of her. If her father was responsible for a curse put on him, Esmeralda was confident enough that she could sense it.

Victor brushed his hair back and worked his hands into it until it stayed put in a knot. “I must warn you, she is a strange character; very inquisitive,” he chuckled. “But you needn’t worry, she is a friend of mine.” He looked a foot behind him, making sure Alice was keeping up with him. He slowed his pace slightly, noticing he was nearly making her jog to keep up with him, which caused him to snicker. “Must you be so slow, Alice?” he groaned, obviously joking. The smile he had been missing yesterday was back on his face today.

---------------------

As they walked into the dusty, dimly lit building, Esmeralda came to greet them in a thick Spanish accent. "Hello, Victor, welcome back. And this must be Alice," she inquired as she approached the girl. She paced in a circle around her, observing everything she could. "Well, Victor," she said, her voice gruff with age and tobacco, "you know how to pick your prisoners, aye?" Victor laughed at the remark. "Ah, yes. Always a talent of mine."

Once she was done eying the girl, she nodded to Victor and shook her head nonchalantly. This meant that Alice's dad was not responsible for the witchcraft that took place. This made his mind race; if it wasn't him, who could it be? He knew that he could have a boatload of enemies that he wasn't aware of - scorned love ones of someone he slaughtered, a surviving member a ship The Black Star had sunk. But with the possibilities endless, it would be quite difficult for him to find the answer.

"Esmeralda, always a pleasure," he said as he leaned down to kiss her cheek. He nudged Alice with an elbow gently to signal her that they were going to leave. "We have got a bit of business to attend to. We shall you soon, yeah?" He waved and guided Alice out of the shop with a soft touch on the back until they reached the street again. "Well, we should be heading back. I suppose you'll need a change of clothes for after we leave the island. Don't exactly have maids on the boat, now do we?"

The fact that the letter from her father should be in his hands by sunset almost made it hard to focus on anything else. Once he had he the answer from him, he would be able to devise a plan of action to gain back control of the port. He knew one thing - he wasn't ready to return Alice to her home. Not yet.

Alice glanced sideways at Vic, slightly suspicious after his announcement. He wanted to take her off somewhere separate? That was strange. She couldn't think of anything that he'd want with her. Although, her imagination caused the scene of him whisking her around a corner, hands on her waist and lips close... Casting the forbidden image from her mind, she cleared her throat and continued on next to him. The purpose was nothing of the kind that she'd imagined (of course). It seemed that he wanted to take her to a woman, for whatever reason. At his teasing, she glanced up, angry for just a moment - before realising it was humour. She gave him the lightest slap across his arm, shaking her head with a grin.

The woman was strange, indeed. Alice watched her with some reserve as Esmeralda peered around. Some sort of message seemed to pass between her and Victor after a moment, and she was quite intrigued. The whole situation was bizarre. From the looks of it, she was some kind of witch - she'd heard of them. Women had been burned for witch-craft. It was in places like these that they took shelter. A shiver ran down Alice's spine at the thought - had Esmeralda cursed her?

She walked alongside Victor again on the street, head bowed slightly. "Probably," she murmured, eyebrows furrowed as she took in the dusty road beneath their feet. The presence of his hand on his back was distracting - in a good way. But she glanced up at him, head tilted back. His face was hard to see due to the sun behind his head. "Why did you take me there?" she asked directly. Since her time with him and the crew, she'd become more direct. Or maybe that was just the effect of having been around him for a while.

As Alice questioned him, he came to a complete halt on the street. He had not planned on telling her why, and he figured with how reserved she was, she would not ask. But, he could also not find a reason to keep it from her. He turned to face her with a stone cold expression locked on his face. “Well, Miss Rohan,” he began in a hushed tone, as he did not want others to hear, “it seems as though a hex of sorts has been cast upon me. I was thinking that, uh, maybe your father was related in some way, seeing as he is the biggest threat to me and my crew currently, but Esmeralda confirmed, by your presence, it was not him.”

Victor laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder and met her gaze. “This means I have an enemy I am not aware of, which is a danger to my crew and…” his voice trailed off and his eyes lingered softly on her for a moment. He didn’t want to frighten her; she had already faced enough turmoil since she had been in his possession. “I shall be fine, I just need to get to the bottom of it!” He nearly shouted in a positive manner, almost to convince himself everything would be okay. “She says that they may be on the island, so later in the evening, I’ll need to sneak off as to a wee bit of investigating.” He removed the hand from her shoulder and began to walk again. “The boys and I will be down near the Inn, getting rid of the last bit of merchandise. If you would like, you can go to the shops and pick something out that you would like to bring back on the boat. But if you would wait for me to finish so I can accompany you, that is quite alright.” He pulled a small leather pouch that jingled with coins and placed it in her hand. “Please,” he smirked, “no ball gowns.”

He noted in his mind that he had to stop at George’s soon to see if the long awaited letter had arrived from the Governor. Victor was confused by his thoughts – he would be ecstatic to receive news that he would be allowed access to the port, but that would mean that Alice would return home to the posh lifestyle she belonged to, but he would never see her again. It is not like he and his motley crew would be invited to dinner. The Governor may even want retaliation for the kidnapping of his daughter. On the other hand, a letter of rejection could start a war between the pirates and the port’s government. He sighed at the thought, trying not to get himself too worked up before he even received it.

“Actually,” he began as he turned back around to face the woman, “I would like to show you something I think you may enjoy.” He grabbed her hand and led her off the street into a grassy field with a beaten path that cut through the middle. Vic released her hand as they followed the trail that ended with dense trees and the roar of the ocean. “Watch your step,” he warned as he held out an arm in case she slipped on the now rocky terrain beneath them. The last time he had said that to her, it was completely sarcastic, and now here he was, deeply concerned that she may hurt herself. Strange.

The roar of waves crashing grew closer as they cleared the trees and approached a grassy clearing that only had a wall of blue after it. A cliff. Victor’s favorite spot on the island, which until now, had only been inhabited by him. “For ten years,” he explain with a loud tone so she could hear him over the wind and waves, “I come here every time I visit the island to think or relax. Be careful near the edge though, quite a steep drop." He smiled as he brought her closer carefully so that she could take a peak.

Hexes and curses. Magic. Alice's lips pursed. It was the sort of thing one did not hear about often in her society. The closest they'd had was a fool from a foreign territory; he was the high-class fool, the type who entertained with wit and tricks. He'd performed the most delightful magic by making a woman seem to disappear! In any case, that type of magic had quite the different feel to the dingy, dark feel of a witch's cave. She was glad to be outside, in the sun again. It was having an effect on her pale English skin; her exposed collarbones and the tip of her nose were beginning to turn red from the past couple of days.

She took the leather bag with an air of surprise, mouth forming a small, 'o.' She'd never actually been given money to spend on herself. Usually her father went with her to the shops, or a chaperone with her father's money. The freedom the small satchel gave her... It was quite astonishing. Everything about this place was free, including him. "Of course I'll wait," she murmured, quite taken aback and a little stunned. She tucked it into the pocket of her long skirt, then let him take her hand. The walk along was beautiful, truth be told. And the place he lead her to, even moreso. It was just like her own place, back home...

"It's stunning," she said honestly. Ten years? Such a long time on the sea. Creeping forward with her hand still in his, she peered forward - it certainly was a steep drop. Letting out a soft squeak of fright, she stumbled backward and bumped into him. Turning around, she found herself quite close to Victor's chest. The top of her head came to about his collarbone. "Sorry," she apologised. But she didn't step away, a little bit mesmerised truth be told, as she looked up at him. All he had to do was lean down and...

As the girl began to stumble, Victor caught her fall, expecting her to squirm right out of his grip as soon as she got her footing. But she didn’t. Her eyes traveled up to his and lingered there. What he saw in them, he thought, was just his imagination. He had possibly seen enough women to look at him like that where he was able to see that longing in any eyes. He was a pirate, a savage. Alice could not possibly want anything from him other than to be brought back home to find a noble man to marry – the opposite of Vic.

“We, uh,” he started as he propped her back up into a standing positions, “we should be getting back. I have to make sure everything is moving right along with the boys.” His eyes darted away from her and he headed for the trees that lead to the path in the field. Even if Alice did really look at him that way – he could not let her have those feelings for him. She was young, naïve, and was probably just infatuated by a lifestyle she was not privy to before being taken. Letting her mistake those feelings for anything other than what they were would be bad on Victor’s part. He had met these women before; they wanted a break from their boring life, their boring husband, their boring routine. But after they saw the real side of what being a pirate was, they ran for the hills.

He knew his feelings about her had changed since they had first met. He developed this strong urge to protect her constantly – maybe it was just the curse – and he knew he would not be able to keep to her safe much longer on the sea. It would be selfish on his end to have her there with him on the sea, where she could get hurt or killed. She belonged on the port with the high class society she came from, not with the likes of him.

After they had made their way back to the bustling downtown, Vic approached his men and made sure that everything was running smoothly. After a few laughs and jokes, Vic turned to Alice and forced a smile. “I have an errand to run. I shall not be long. When I come back we will pick something out for you, yeah?” He nodded and walked down the street again to go see George Smith to see if the letter they had been waiting for had finally arrived.

Alas, still her fantasy did not come true. Alice did not react to his questions, nor did she say anything. She just nodded in agreement and followed closely behind him. Her eyes roved down his back, to the soles of his shoes, then back up to the top of his head. His long, natural hair in a bun was slightly exotic compared to the men with white wigs of Great Inagua. The way the nape of his neck had small wispy pieces trailing down... It was the little things. Besides that, his height was impressive as well. She knew all of these urges were rather strange; she very much wanted to hold onto him.

Feeling in a little bit of a daze, she was shaken out of her reverie when Victor talked to her again. Blinking, she nodded, wide-eyed. "Yes, of course," she replied, voice a little high. She watched him walk away for a bit, before turning back to the group of men. She stood awkwardly on the outside of the group and watched how they did business with the traders. There was a fair amount of haggling involved, and she had to admire an older women who held her ground against a scary-looking, insistent crew member. Tiny waved her over, and she walked to him eagerly. "We have a couple more goods to sell," he explained. "Then we'll return back to the inn." His eyes dipped down for a second - but not for nearly as long as before. "Thank you," she said, interlocking her hands behind her back and rocking on her heels. She was becoming more comfortable here, and the feeling of the sun on her skin was rather nice.

Once he arrived at Smith’s, he stood outside for a moment and stared at the building. He wasn’t sure how prepared he was to receive the news – whatever it was. But, Victor new he had no choice but to take action. He was the Captain; it was his job. He pushed himself to enter, and as soon as he walked in, George greeted him. “Ah, Victor! Hello again,” the old man smiled sincerely as he welcomed him. “Let me go see if your mail is here, son.” The old man scooted to the back of the store and soon returned with a letter in his hand. “For you, Vic! Looks important!”

Victor took the envelope from the man’s hand and flipped it over to eye it. It was indeed from Alice’s father, he could tell from the expensive parchment he used. He sighed as he stared at it, but thanked George for the letter and exited the building. He had a knot in his stomach as he thought over all of the outcomes that could be sparked by his decision. The letter was slipped into his shirt, and he began to walk back to where the rest of his crew and Alice were.

“Boys,” he greeted them, forcing a smile. “I am going to retire for a little while. Should be back out soon. Keep an eye on the lady for me, yeah?” The men agreed as they continued his work, and Victor bowed his head to Alice as he headed for the inn. He thought it would be better to open it alone, so he can think on things before he needed to present anything to the crew. Maybe he would get some quick shut eye too; he had been exhausted since he stepped foot on the island. He was ready to return to the dark, small room he had been sleeping in.

Victor felt a surge of power travel from his finger tips to the rest of his body as he held the envelope sealed with a golden with raised a crest on it. His fate – along with the crew’s and Alice’s – laid in his hands in the form of scribbles on a piece of parchment. Unsure if he was ready to reveal the Governor’s response quite yet, he tossed it onto the desk in front of him, rested his elbows on the wood, and buried his face in his hands, his fingers lacing through his brown, messy hair. A sigh slowly escaped his lips as he mulled over the possibilities of what the letter could entail. Was he ready for a potential war against enemies more ample than him and his crew? Was he ready to possibly lose his ship? Or Alice?

As he sat at the desk, he eventually fell asleep on it, his arms as a sort of pillow folded under his head. The curse that was cast upon him, he thought, was possibly the cause of all of the undue exhaustion, and he thought he could fight it. But, he eventually subdued to his heavy eyelids and blurry thoughts.

Alice eventually grew tired of standing, and Tiny offered for her to sit on a nearby bench while they continued on. She crossed her legs the ladylike way, at the ankle, and started to wonder where Victor was as the day went on. An hour went by, and the sun hung down lower in the sky. The men finished their work, also murmuring about themselves about their captain having been away for a while. They put it down to him being distracted by one of the brothel's women, most likely. A little bit of strange jealousy sparked in her chest. He'd rather spend time with those women, than with her. It was understandable, of course. But it still made her feel a bit angry.

Starting to feel out-of-place, she asked Tiny to escort her back to the inn. The rest of the men snickered, hollering teases at his back. The small boy's ears turned red. Alice felt rather sorry for him, but it was a part of being in that part of society, with that crew. He'd have to get used to things like that - she was a born and bred lady, and even she could see that. Put it down to having to navigate many a social situation. She just stayed quiet by his side, walking with her hands interlinked in front of her. They reached the front of the inn without incident, and she bid him a good-bye.

Entering the inn, she was greeted by one of the girls she'd seen around the place. They offered her a glass of cool water, and she gladly accepted. Alice sat by herself at a table in the corner, sipping idly and taking in the various sights in the room. Beautiful girls, some tipsy men she hadn't seen before and Madam Blue whirling around. She finished the glass of water and then asked one of the girls serving where Victor was. There was a flash of jealousy in her brown eyes, but she responded that he'd headed up to his room. Alice didn't really think about what he could be busy with, but she headed upstairs as well. Finding the room number, she breathed in and knocked softly. It took a fair amount of courage for her, really. When there wasn't a response, she decided to see if he really was in there - and opened the door.

It was a small room. Light came in through the window and door. And on the table, she could see the distinctive seal of her father across from Victor's bowed head. She held her breath.

The dreams were colorful and vivid. Images - the ocean, the blue sky, the Black Star, Alice - flashed quickly and repeatedly in Victor's mind as his mind was deep in sleep. A scene of him touching Alice's face softly kept displaying itself in the midst of the chaos, with her smile beaming at him while they were on the cliff. The dreams felt so real, so tangible.

He was awoken abruptly by the sound of the door opening, and as he sat up, his eyes fell onto Alice. Her dark, long hair opposite her pale skin. The tree-green eyed. Her lips. Her small figure. All of it was shouting at him while he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and used his sleeve to remove the saliva from his mouth that began to form. He smiled faintly and laughed. "I guess I was a bit more tired than I thought, aye?"

Her gaze was intense, but it was not at him. His expression showed pure confused until he followed her stare to the letter sitting on the desk. He sighed. "Ah, yes. The letter. I have yet to open it." An arm reached out to signal for her to come join him at the desk. "Would you like to do the honors, Miss Rohan?" he nearly whispered across the room, a smirk on his face. Victor wanted to make light of the tense energy in the room, so as she approached him, he pulled her down to sit on his lap. He looked up to her deviously. "You know, so we can both see it," he replied to her confusion nonchalantly.

He handed her the letter and nudged her. "Don't keep your audience waiting, Miss Rohan. Go on," he chuckled as he awaited for her to open it, desperately trying not to succumb to the anxiety he was feeling. As she sat on his lap, he placed a hand on her back subconsciously as he leaned in to watch her open it.

Alice was relieved that Victor was not shocked or angered by her coming into his room. He didn't seem to prize privacy very much, but she realised then just what she could have caught him doing. Oops. A light pink colour to her cheeks, she walked closer. A letter from her father. Did the pirate send one to him first, or the other way around? Tense anticipation flared in her chest as she looked at the envelope. She couldn't quite believe his suggestion of her opening it. At home, she'd never be allowed such freedom, and things like these weren't treated with nonchalance.

She laughed softly as he pulled her down and onto his lip, looking at him with confusion written across her features. His reason seemed more of an excuse, but she didn't comment upon it. It was sort of nice. And forbidden. And very very naughty. Her lips curled a little. What a juxtaposition - between sitting on Victor's lap and holding her father's written word in her hand. The stationery was smooth and creamy as she turned it over with her hand. She brushed the seal with her thumb, breath bated. She didn't know what had gone on before this. The feeling of Victor's hand on her back was distracting as well, and she straightened a little, feeling self-conscious. And also a little pleased.

Alice cracked open the seal, just imagining her father pressing the hot wax with his seal ring. This had travelled all the way from home... She sighed softly, paper creaking as she pulled out the letter. Unfolding it, she read the words that would determine her fate.

Dear Captain Victor,

I am not a man who bows to pirates, and neither is my daughter. As such, I will not be succumbing to threats that will lead to the social destruction of Great Inagua. Pirates will never be welcome on our shores.

You have a choice. Firstly, you may bring my daughter safely back to me and you will come to no harm. I am a man of my word, as my daughter may confirm. Secondly, you may deign to meet my ships in battle in one days' time, off the coast of Haruda, and battle as a gentleman. If I win, you will give me back my Alice and leave forever. If you win, you may trade on our shores. I doubt your integrity will compel you to do either of these things, so I offer you the third option: You may run, but I will come after you with my fleet. We will find you, and we will rescue Alice before sinking your ship.

I hope that you will make the smart decision.

Regards,

Sir George Rohan
Governor of Great Inagua in the name of Her Majesty the Queen of England.

Alice was silent as he read it as well, swallowing back a lump in her throat. She slowly put the letter on the table. Things were getting violent, and fast. Her father seemed more concerned with beating down Victor than rescuing her. It... honestly, it hit her a little hard. It was like there was a heavy weight hanging in her chest now. Even the warmth of the pirate beneath her wasn't comforting. Her whole body was rigid, shoulder's slightly hunched. She glanced over at Victor, turning herself on his lap. Her father's fleet was large and strong; this ship was no match for them. What are you going to do?