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The Virtue Of Sin	By : camp30 Category: S through Z > Southern Vampire Views: 9864 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not have any right to the Southern Vampire novels, nor doI do not have any right to the character created by Charliane Harris and I make absloutly no money from this fiction

Chapter List
- 13
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- 15
The captain cleared his throat to get the Duke’s attention and instantly regretted it when he felt the chill of his eyes on him “This girl must be quite a beauty,” he remarked.
The Duke nodded “Yes and if I do not find her every man on this ship will die,” he was looking out at the sea when he made that grave pronouncement.
The Captain gathered his courage. “That’s not a very healthy attitude to have Yer Lordship. Yer just one man among many.”
Ravenheart smirked “You would do well to remember that behind me sits the throne and my wrath is legion,” he paused and his face turned to stone “And I know the royal dungeons and their instruments well.” He turned his head “Bring me something to drink.”
Eric grimaced at the foul taste of the rotgut “This is swill, have you nothing better?”
The Captain scowled and spit overboard “This here taint a drawing room or your private billiards Your Ravenheart, you’ll have to make do with what we have.”
The most feared man in England held out the chipped tankard “Again, bring the barrel.”
Captain Romther smiled a dark brown smile “Let me bite yer gold and feel its weight in me pocket and you’ll have all the drink you wish.”
Ravenheart moved so swiftly he seemed a blur. Before the smaller man knew what he was about he felt the Duke’s massive hands cutting off his air “I have already given you more gold than you make in ten years’ time, certainly enough for you to replace every rotted tooth in your gaping maw,” he snarled.
Eric placed a boot to his throat and sent the man to the filthy planks “I believe I will commander your quarters and your alcohol.” He pressed down slightly and captain Romther gasped. Around the two the sailors were watching with varied expressions. Most seemed indifferent but a few wore looks of disgruntlement.
Eric lifted his eyes to them “Any man that has issue with my treatment of your captain step forward now.”
Sookie stared at Captain Black debating her ability to lie. But her damnable cheeks were flushing already. “Yes it’s true, I was kidnapped nearly two fortnights ago by His Grace,” she admitted.
Captain Black seemed unsurprised by that and he slugged his tankard of whisky. Wiping his mouth he banged it down. “I thought as much,” he sounded grim. “How much of this man do you know?” he glanced up at her as he filled his mug once more.
Sookie felt a strange dread build in the pit of her stomach “Not much, just that he is cousin to the King. I suspect that he is mad.”
Captain Black’s eyes burned like two bits of coal in his sun weathered face “I never believed the rumors,” he said softly. “For years I told my friends that a nobleman wouldn’t ever be an assassin, that’s for the lower class,” Sookie noticed that something had changed about the Captain’s voice, some subtle distinction of breeding and education.
“I wasn’t always a sea captain,” he continued. He ran his hand through his sooty curls and sighed. “It happened two years ago, a servant saw him leaving like a thief in the night. There was blood on his shirt and he wore a smile.”
Captain Black’s eyes closed “I have seen what I never saw again and again in my mind.” They opened and the pain in their depths nearly made Sookie gasp. “I see him bent over them as they slept and the glimmer of his knife when he slit their throats.”
Sookie knew who they’d been. “Your parents,” with the words her stomach twisted. And she knew that she was almost in love if not in love with a monster.
Captain Black nodded and poured more whisky into his grimy tankard. “But why?” she asked.
The black haired man shrugged “There was a deal that the king wanted to pass, my father sat in the House of Lords and he was riling up the others to reject it. It had gone too far for the king to simply ignore.”
Captain Black seemed to come out of his trance of remembrance and he stared at Sookie with an ominous glint in his eyes. “I have wanted to thwart him ever since somehow and now here you are.”
Sookie recoiled back across the bed “What do you mean to do?”
The handsome captain with his black eyes and curls smiled grimly “I don’t rightly know yet. Perhaps I’ll rape you and get you with child. Or maybe I’ll sell you to an exiled Lord on the islands.”
Sookie drew the hood of her cloak over her hair as if she could hide from him “But you are a gentlemen,” she protested knowing that it was most likely hopeless.
He was bigger than any man on board and they could see the bulge of his pistol under his coat and a long sword swung from his waist. He was the type of man they told their children about to scare them into behaving. Their eyes grew ubiquitous with fear.
Surely they could have taken him had they all banned together but sailors are made up of independent souls and generally only unite under extreme circumstances. Not a boot moved nor did a hand rise in protest. Eric smiled coldly down at the captain “It seems your men have abandoned you, perhaps one of them will give you his pallet to lie on tonight.”
The Duke lifted his massive boot from the Captain’s throat and boomed out “From this point forward until we overtake “The Cold Maiden” I will be captain of this ship,” he announced.
Eric’s had no real reason to take over; it was simply his natural dominance asserting itself. Again no one refuted him and he made his way to the cabin and shut the door behind him after leaving Pierre to stand guard. His groom was well armed with a double barreled pistol and sword.
Eric was getting steadily intoxicated. He was unused to the strength of this sort of liqueur. He stood and opened the door of the cabin when he heard the cry of a raven. So odd was it to hear when at sea that he was compelled.
A raven with a scroll in its talons swept from the deck and Eric wrenched the pistol from Pierre and shot the bird down. It fell in a lucky stroke upon the deck. The Duke strode over to the bird and knelt to retrieve it. He unrolled it and spread it out on one knee. It was written in rough childish English. “Brother, there’s been a takeover of me ship. A man by the name of Ravenheart has overcome me. My coordinates are 50N and 32W. Send the bird back to me and come quick. I think this man means to kill me.”
Eric crushed the note is his palm and stood. “Bring me your Captain,” he commanded the nearest deck hand. He realized that Pierre was right behind him. It made him think of his father and Anton. But he made no motion for his groom depart, he would need him.
Captain Romther came in between two sailors not being dragged but the threat was there. Eric smiled and held up the note and kicked the dead bird. “It seems you’ve been busy writing the alphabet,” The Duke glanced up from the note “Do you have any more birds? And can they fly anywhere but to your brother?”
The Captain chewed his tobacco and spit it one Eric’s boot “The bird can only fly to me brother’s ship or to my parent’s house in London.”
Ravenheart scowled “That’s unfortunate. For you. Kneel.”
Captain Romther began to quake and Eric laughed like a winter breeze “Your pathetically written note was right about one thing in a way,” he paused and the captain felt his bowels release. “You will die by my hand.”
Eric pulled his sword from his sheath and wrinkled his nose “It seems you’ve shit yourself, what a sad way to end ones life,” he laughed again “Put him to his knees.”
The sailors looked at each other than complied. The smell of feces and fear was heavy in the air. With one brutal yet oddly graceful stroke the Captain’s head parted from his neck. Blood sprayed in a gust of ill timed wind. With the blood splattered on his cruel face the duke smiled and crouched to wipe his blade clean on the captain’s soiled shirt.
“Throw him overboard,” The Duke commanded.
Eric knew much of navigation having sailed for more than a few years his own vessel. “First mate step forward now,” he ordered.
A small man perhaps five feet two stepped forward; fear carved on his face. “That’s me,” he stammered.
“You are to have five men watching the horizon at all times for “The Cold Maiden”. I will leave you in charge of your peers. Should you feel the need to air any grievance of theirs or yours don’t hesitate to remember this,” with that the Duke picked up the former Captain’s head and tossed it to the first mate.
“Lash that to a mast,” were his last words before returning to the cabin.
Captain Black smirked his eyes glimmering with intoxication “That’s in the past. My days of drawing rooms and balls are past. The sea is my betrothed. My inheritance and title are gone. Taken the night my parents were slaughtered like pigs in their bed.”
Sookie was now against the far wall. Tears filled her eyes “I’m most sorry for your loss Captain Black. Please show me mercy. I have been raped countless times at the hands of your enemy. I couldn’t bear it anymore,” her voice the captain noted was surpassingly lovely; low and lilting.
His black eyes regarded her with something approaching pity “Even if I don’t take you, whoever I sell you to will. You are a woman and you have no rights. A pity for Ravenheart that he didn’t marry you then nothing in the world could keep you from him.”
The captain stood and began to pace the mean little room. He clasped his hands behind his back “If I keep you here aboard my ship he will wrest you from me and murder me.”
Sookie gazed up at him and slowly got off the bed “But surely all your men will protect you,” she murmured.
Captain Black laughed darkly “I have only five men aboard this ship and Ravenheart is as deadly with a pistol as he is with a sword. He would blow and carve them to bits.”
He whirled towards her “There is only one option.”
Eric lifted his head when he heard the knock upon the cabin door “Enter.”
Pierre came in and set his sword down near the table as he sat. His dark eyes were shadowed with apprehension. “The men aboard this ship are restless, I hear them whispering to one another to storm this room and wrest control from you,” his voice was grave in his high brow French.
The Duke put his chin in a large hand and smiled “There are nine men aboard this heaving piece of trash they call the “Devil’s own,” and I can take them all most likely, any that escape me you shall kill.”
Pierre nodded “We need the men Your Grace to man the vessel; two men can’t do that alone, not a ship of this size.”
Eric lifted his face and poured whisky into two tankards and shoved one across the table. Pierre lifted it and sniffed with disdain before taking a disgusted sip. His employer stood “Shadow me,” he ordered opening the door.
The crew was on deck and Eric could hear their rumblings. “Be silent,” he thundered.
The filthy bearded rouges fell quiet. Their eyes hot with dissension. One stepped forward “You had no cause to kill Romther,” the man’s beard was thick and his teeth black as he spit on the deck.
Ravenheart parted his jacket to the show the butt of his pistol. Slowly he pulled it free of its holster. “And yet I did,” he sighed out. “You see I had every intention of allowing your pathetic breeches shitting captain to live. Then he had to send his pet for help from his brother. That annoyed me and I don’t do well when I’m annoyed.”
Eric cocked his pistol and before the man could move shot him in the forehead. The bearded man fell face forward. It had happened in a matter of a second or two. A heavy silence fell across the ranks. Ravenheart laughed “Now, will someone step forward and say “You had no cause to kill what’s his name?”
No one did nor did anyone seem to get his sense of dread humor. He twirled the gun in his hand and tossed between his hands. “If I succeed in retrieving my betrothed from the “Cold Maiden” each one of you will be paid handsomely and not another one of you will die.”
His cold eyes went from one face to the next “Should this unwarranted hostility towards my person continue I will kill you one by one and take you apart piece by piece.” He turned away and stared out at the sea “Bring me and my groom something to eat.”
Captain Black reclaimed his seat just as a bell rang from the watch station atop the ship. He went to the door and left it open. Without thought the Countess followed.
A ship was on the horizon and a voice boomed from above stating what her eyes could clearly see “It’s American Captain.”
Captain Black craned his head up and then out at the sea as the clipper drew closer. The design of the ship was sleeker than “The Cold Maiden’s but it’s hull was thick which could mean that it was a cargo ship or that it held slaves. Since it was American it most likely held the latter.
“Captain what should we do?”
Captain Black scowled and then his eyes lit up “Hail the ship, raise the parlay flag.” With his order a blue flag rose and a pistol shot rang in the air. Fifteen long minutes later the ship came to its side. And a small craft settled into the water. Two swarthy men rowed close and at Captain Black’s gesture climbed the rough ladder to the deck. Immediately their eyes settled on the Countess. Captain Black turned his head and saw her there.
“This is a noblewoman that I have captured. I want to be rid of her for the right price.”
The tanned men stared at her, drool coming from the corners of their mouths. “What manner of shrew is she that you’d want to sell her to us?” the taller one asked.
Captain Black smirked “She’s no shrew she’s just a liability,” he paused debating whether to be honest with them. “Give me the name of your ship and Captain.”
The taller one answered “She’s called “Midnight Vale” and our Captain goes by the name of Captain Sterling.”
Having the query answered Black went on “There is a man in pursuit of this girl who will stop at nothing to reclaim her.” Black’s eyes went behind the two men quickly tallying up the men he saw on deck. There were roughly ten or twelve men aboard.
“Ask who this man is,” a cultured voice rang out from the other ship. At a glance she saw who had spoken. It was a massive man nearly the size of Eric. His face was exceedingly handsome even if it lacked the impossible beauty of her former captor.
Black lifted his eyes to the man “His name is The Duke of Ravenheart, perhaps you’ve heard of him?”
A long silence followed “No I’m an American and we don’t pay any mind to Dukes and Kings and their ilk.”
“Seems to me that you’re the one who should be paying us to take the girl off your hands,” he called over.
Black turned to Sookie and lowered her hood and pressed her against the railing “I think not, this girl that is in my possession has the whole of Britain in awe of her beauty. Send your men back to collect you so you may get a closer look.”
A sharp whistle cut the air and the men climbed back down the ladder and rowed to their captain. He came minutes later and was on deck before her. His big hand went to her delicate face and she flinched. “Open your eyes girl,” he said in a deep husky voice.
She did and the captain gasped “Never have I seen eyes like this,” he whispered. His middle finger went between her parted lips and lifted her upper lip. “Good teeth as well.”
He reached down and grasped her long braid and stroked it for a moment before letting it drop. “I’ll take her but I won’t pay a single shilling for her.”
Black scowled “Then you can’t have her,” he snapped reaching for Sookie. The massive captain Sterling swept his hand towards Black and knocked him to the deck. “You have five runty men aboard this chamber pot ship. I have twelve big Americans. You do the arithmetic.”
“Come along girl,” Sterling picked Sookie up and threw her over his shoulder and the three men got in the little craft and made their way back to the “Midnight Vale”
Eric overcame the “The Cold Maiden” the next night.
“Let down the messenger boat,” he commanded. The little boat settled down and Eric and Pierre and four others crossed the short distance.
Sookie was shoved into a spacious cabin. Velvet curtains hung around a portal window. The floor was clean and the air held the tang of lye soap. On a table of modest size sat a bottle of wine. Two fairly clean goblets graced it.
“Sit down girl,” Captain Sterling said taking a place across from the other chair. She did and went to draw her hood over her head “The hood stays down.”
Slowly her small hands went to her lap. “Look at me girl,” he ordered. Sookie did and she saw with some nervousness that the giant captain seemed entranced. “What manner of devil are your parents?”
Sookie shook her head “What do you mean sir?”
Sterling poured two glasses his gray gaze keen “I mean that you have unnatural eyes. Beautiful but not right.” The Captain’s mother was Irish and he’d been raised on tale of the Fearies. A long shiver crawled up his back.
He pushed the goblet toward her “Drink witch.”
Sterling saw how small and delicate she was when she lifted the goblet to her lips. There was a sense of longing in him to take her over and again. But something about those eyes stayed his hand.
Women aboard a ship were bad business; unless of course it was a savage from the wilds of Africa who was meant for sale. Even then it boded ill.
She set the glass back down and his gray eyes smoldered at her “Tell me your name.”
“Sookie Mayfair, and you are Captain Sterling and this is “The Midnight Vale,” she softly replied.
She widened her eyes and then slowly narrowed them “Woe betide the man who steps into my garden. I come from a land beyond this world and the wrath of my people will be upon your head should you touch me.” What had made her say such a ridiculous and asinine lie was a mystery to her.
Captain Sterling scoffed at first until the dying sunlight was caught in her eyes and seemed to make the swirls of bright green glow and turn in their pools of gold. He stared and a lovely and eerie smile grew on her lush mouth.
“You will take me to Wales and give me back to my people, won’t you Captain?”
Slowly the giant man across from her nodded “Yes My Lady.”
I HATE THIS CHAPTER TOO, I MIGHT RE WRITE THEM AT SOME POINT
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The Virtue Of Sin