I hated to admit that Lock was right. The day after the rainstorm, my head bursted and a nasty cough had made its way into my lungs. I coughed the entire crew together that morning. Absolom brought me a new shirt and jack but the cold never seemed to go away. « Get Paulina. » I heard Lock demand to some of the men. I was too tired to even bother opening my eyes but as soon as they mentioned Paulina I wanted to get out of the hammock as fast as I could. Absolom pushed me down again. « Don't think about it. Be happy we're not calling Dickens or you could've shared your cold with the fish. » Lock motioned the others to go to work as those of the night shift entered the room. Soon Castor returned followed by Paulina. She carried a smaller and a bigger glass bottle. When she saw me, she couldn't help but smile smugly.

« It was just a matter of time, wasn't it? » She asked as she sat down in the middle of the hammock, nearly crushing my arm and making the fabric swing from one side to the other. Absolom addressed her an obvious eye roll but Castor watched her amused. « Drink this. » She handed me a spoon of a dark sticky liquid coming from the smallest bottle. The smell reminded me of the amphibious Tom and I used to capture in the nearby ponds when we were kids. I shook my head in reflex but received a smack across the cheek in return « Don't act like a child. » Paulina gritted between her teeth. « Trust me. » She added a bit softer as she nearly pushed the spoon between my lips. I couldn't avoid the sticky good entering my mouth. The bitter taste followed my tongue as it made its way to the back of my throat. I wanted to cough and even vomit to get the sirup out of my system but Paulina immediately handed me over the bigger bottle. « Drink. » She ordered and she didn't hesitate to put the bottle to my lips forcing me to take a drink. The warm liquid was a lot tastier than the sirup and in an instant my entire intestines felt warm and fuzzy.

Castor grinned stupid as Paulina got up and left the hammock hanging. « Rest until the next wait and get to work, handsome. » She took off and left me alone with Absolom and Castor both grinning as idiots. « What? » I mumbled, still pleased from the last drink she gave me. « You need a doctor, Felix? Maybe Paulina can be your nurse. » Absolom taunted in a high voice and Castor snickered behind him. I rolled my eyes and turned to my side, trying to hide the shame that was creeping over my cheeks. « Rest. » Absolom repeated and he gave a last swung on the hammock before they both left the quarters.

I must've fallen asleep when someone poked my sides. I grunted as I looked over the side of my hammock to watch Paulina reading a book whilst poking me with the back of the sword in my back. « I'm awake. » I mumbled, still sleepy. « That's good. » She tried to sound playful but it didn't seem sincere. « I just wanted to make sure you didn't oversleep. How are you feeling? » She asked as she observed me. I felt stupid having her watching over me like that and once again I felt useless and more a bother than a gain. « I'm fine. » I said firmly and I stood up. Paulina's head was at the height of my shoulders but she was way more intimidating than I could ever be. « Is that why you're here on the ship? As a doctor? » I asked as I ruffled through my hair. She chuckled and walked away, making me follow her up to the deck. « I do all kinds of things on this ship. This ship is my home. »

« So if you're the lady of the house, does that make us your children? » She laughed and slapped me on the arm. « Handsome, you truly are a source of fun. » But I felt she knew what I meant. Paulina avoided answering as usual, leaving me thinking about her relationship with Dickens some more. She handed me over the sword she held earlier. « You would like to learn? » I wondered if she could read my mind. For days I wanted to be more of a use and now she offered me the chance to increase my capabilities. « You know someone who could teach me? » She grinned.

« The best there is. » she said fierce while she stepped back. « And I have from good sources they would be very pleased to help you out. Just come to deck after work and I'll see you there. » I took the sword and watched her leave. I couldn't wait to finally get to spend my time useful...

I did as I was told and showed up after my chores were finished on deck. I watched as the men occasionally looked at me and wondered which one would teach me. Who would want to teach me, a snob of a boy with the legs of a jellyfish? I tried to act casual but honestly, I was so excited I could barely stand still. I stalked from one side of the ship to the other. « A little nervous, kid? » Someone's voice thundered over the deck. « No, captain. »

« Then tell me, what are you doing here? »

I swallowed. I didn't want to get in trouble. « You're not trying to escape now, do you? » Dickens walked towards me. He didn't resemble like one to hang over the ship just to get in touch with the ocean. He took measured steps, his face glowing in the sunset. « No, captain. » I replied, hoping he wouldn't suspect anything. « Why are you here, then? » He said dangerously, his pale eyes directly locking with mine. I hesitated...

« Felix! » Paulina's voice sounded. She ran towards us and strategically stood in between Dickens and I. I couldn't help but notice how she calmed him down by just pushing him a little back with her hand on his chest. Again I was sure there was more to them than they showed. « I'm helping Felix out, Conway. » She said softly, knowing perfectly how to handle the pirates captain. « You? And what are you going to do then? »

She looked back at the sword in my hands and then held out her own sword. « Teach him how to handle these. » She grinned. Having her as the one to teach me sword fighting caught me off guard but I tried to hide my surprise. « And why would you do that? » Dickens took her by her arm and guided her away from me. With a warning look, Paulina made clear not to interrupt them but I heard everything they said anyways, as their words were carried away by the wind.  

« You want him to be useful, no? » Paulina started but Dickens immediately stopped her. « I could care less about the boy, Paulina. Why do you really want to teach him? » His voice sounded sincere and worried. « I'm bored, Conway. Don't overthink the situation. » He let out a bass laugh. « You are bored? In the middle of the ocean? That's new. » He tried to keep his voice low, disappointment running through every gesture he made. Paulina rolled her eyes. « I need to rearrange my focus. » Dickens closed the space between them, his eyes never letting go of Paulina's stubborn features. « One hour. Nothing more. And afterwards I expect you in my quarters. » He let go of her and left without acknowledging me. Paulina watched the man leave, as if she hid some form of sadness before she shrugged it off and came back to me.

« You heard him. We better get started. »

I had hold a sword before but dueling with Tom was for fun. Here on the Serena, it really meant something. Pauline launched herself at me, time after time. She scratched my arms and legs where possible, just to get the satisfaction of pointing out my weak sides. I grew frustrated. As the night fell slowly, she seemed to gain more energy, easily avoiding my attacks if she ever made room for them. At the end of the hour I was panting, she was simply leaning against the railing. Enthusiasm was radiating from her skin, whilst mine stuck with sweat. « It's fun, huh. » She said, jumping on the railing and letting her feet dangle in the air. I wiped the sweat of my forehead with the back of my dirty hand. « You didn't teach me anything. » I let out, heavily leaning on the railing next to her. « Yes, I did. You'll see tomorrow, you'll be a lot better than today. » She ruffled through my hair, and jumped down back on the waist.

A figure was looming on the upper deck, giving us the unnecessary affirmation of being watched. « You should head inside. The Captain is waiting for you. » I told Pauline who didn't look away from the Captain, who was heading inside by now. She shook her head, causing her brown locks to tickle the middle of her shoulders. I noticed her shirt sticking on the skin of her back though she pretended our training hadn't influenced her physique at all. « He isn't waiting for me. I'm not his property. »

I shifted uncomfortable. I didn't want to have the Captain's fury on me, if Paulina didn't show up. « He expects you to come inside now. » I tried to convince her. She let out a high laugh and somewhere a seagull responded to it but Pauline didn't notice. « That man expects so much. He has yet to figure out I'm not the one to follow orders. » By now, the wind was speeding up, causing the sweat to immediately dry on my face. « Well, I'm going inside. Don't want to catch another cold. » I said, not wanting to be in her presence any longer. If the Captain was as jealous as Absolom said, I really didn't want to figure out what he would do if Paulina stayed with me for another moment.

I heard her whisper something under her breath before I disappeared in the darkness of the insides of the Serena. The silent rocking steadily increased, the hammocks waving from one side to the other. We could hear the wind howl high above us. Water was splashing against the surface. The night crew quickly made their way up, leaving the others downstairs. Absolom found me as soon as I was comfortable in my hammock. I was really tired of the day, though I had slept through half of it. « Don't you want to come with us, we're having a drink in the kitchen. » He said as he snatched an empty bottle of the floor. I really didn't want to but I had no choice as someone else pushed me out of the hammock. I landed on the wooden floor with a thud. Rubbing my sore shoulder I looked at the grinning faces of Lock and Absolom.

Together we descended the Serena, getting a level or two deeper into the magnificent ship. Even though I lacked the seamen's gene, I could only acknowledge how utterly perfect the Serena was. Of course there were some scratches and ruined pieces of wood, but they seemed to add more character to the ship than be regarded as a fault. We entered the kitchen, the hot feeling immediately surrounding us as the stench of alcohol nearly tumbled me over. The crew sat at different tables, Lock and Absolom steadied their passes to one near the end of the room. I quickly followed, but noticed that of course not a chair was saved for me. Castor glanced at one of the trunks in a corner, giving me the sign to use that instead. I shove it closer and felt more out of place than I had ever felt. Back home, I used to be the center of the popularity. Everyone wanted to share their table with me and Tom, curious to what stories we would have to tell. Here on the Serena, nobody gave a shell about me. It was even worse than being hated. Nobody really acknowledged me. I sulked away in the shadows as rum was passed amongst the others. I took a gulp, unaware that Castor was keeping an eye on me.

« Ai shrimp! Tell us about home. » He winked as he grabbed the drink out of my hands before placing the bottle on his lips. He took long gulps, before I noticed he was talking to me, the eyes of five other men burning my presence in the shadows. « Home? » I stuttered, not really sure what Castor meant. « Well, don't tell me you got stories from overseas? What happened back at the Island to ya? »

I didn't want to talk much about home. For every time I woke up on the sways of the hammock, I wished it was all a bad dream and I would wake up in my comfortable bed, breakfast ready downstairs and a clean shirt on the chair. I shook my head « As if I have any respect amongst you... I'd prefer not to give you another chance to mock me. » A few of the man grinned and snickered. However, Lock leaned in closer, his hands grabbing a new bottle of rum from behind me. « You don't have to share your biggest secrets and fears, shrimp. Just a little background. »

Castor sighed and leaned back in his chair, solely resting on two feet. « I, for one, chose the seaman's life above labour in the fields. » He said nonchalant as if it was the most obvious choice to choose a dangerous life at sea above the save harbor of hard but certain work on a farm. Lock glanced back at me, instructing me to go on. Absolom finally did it, gave me a nudge at the back and said: « Don't act silly, Felix. We promise we won't laugh. » He overdid a wink, only one guy chuckling as the others watched with a frown.

« There's not really much to say. I live in a manor, am served to satisfy any of my desires, and spend the day doing nothing more than flirting with ladies and drinking with fellow aristocrats, all because my father has inherited the agriculture grounds of his father. »

The sarcasm was dripping of every word I said. The table returned completely silent as these grown up man with scruffy beards and inks, tanned and scarred skin, smelly and grease, looked at me, in normal occasions their outmost opposite. From the moment I had found some structure aboard of the Serena, I knew. Although my life back home was pleasant, it meant nothing. I did nothing significant. These men, to whom I always looked as if they were the filth of the streets, the most barbarian of all, had developed certain useful skills, had a goal in life, an ending they were working to, all the while I was gossiping my time away in fancy tea rooms. In a way, I was jealous of them.

Castor was the first to break the silence. « All your desires? » he snickered a suggestive glint in his deep brown eyes. The rest of the group deemed it good to break the tension and laughed, however not whole heartedly. « So no specific girl waiting for you, then? » Lock continued, his drink never far away from his mouth.

« Not really, no... »

« Not really, so there's someone. » Castor taunted, making kissing sounds and plucking his lips to my face. I grimaced. « Leave Maud out of this. » I grinned. Obviously the rum started to work on my tongue. I shut my mouth, forcing it to never mention her name in the presence of the pirates again, but they were convincing. A few bottles of rum later, the entire crew dedicated a song to the beautiful black haired goddess of an unknown, tiny island, listening to the name Maud.

Later I found myself stumbling towards my hammock, my legs barely supporting me on the waves of the ocean. I knew I was lost, so entirely lost. I couldn't even remember where I was heading to. I only heard fellow inhabitants of the Serena chanting away into the night as I grinned and leaned heavily against the soft red wood of a largely decorated hallway. I closed my eyes for a second, feeling the ups and downs of the ship underneath my fingers. Perhaps all seamen were constantly drunk, their moves reacting to those of the streams beneath their ship. My head felt heavy, my breathing deepened when suddenly a boot kicked me in my side.

« Handsome, what have you done to yourself this time ? » a remarkable clear voice echoed in my head. I reluctantly opened one eye, trying to get a decent view of the figure in front of me. « Maud? » I asked, but soon was met with a slap in the face. No, not Maud, definitely not Maud. I innerly screamed out in pain as my brain seem to burst out of my skull.

« I'm nothing like that silly girl. » Her stern voice replied. I heard a sigh, arms folding over fabric and finally the girl bend down. Mystery Girl, Paulina. She looked at me, a snicker still on her face. Her eyes were dangerously burning, the color of it turning and coiling around her iris. I felt my stomach turn with it, a groan escaping my lips as I pressed my hand on my stomach. « Oh, Felix. » Paulina said, hooking her hands underneath my arms and pulling me back up on my two legs. I fell against her side, a chuckle escaping from somewhere deep in my chest. « To the hammock with you. » She grinned and shove me away, urging me to put one foot in front of the other.

« It is indecent... for young girls... like yourself to accompany a man... in my state... » I finally got said as we approached the room where my hammock would wait for my return. I turned around, suddenly the ground beneath my feet felt steady again, trustable. I hoisted myself to lean against the wall, its cold surface cooling down my heated cheeks. I couldn't resist to glance down at the bunch of sea salty curls next to me, her eyes filled with pleasure and amusement. « I'm not really a young girl, Handsome. I have carried away many men in your state. »

I hiccuped and closed my eyes. « I doubt that. » I let my eyes roam over her figure from underneath my eyelashes. Even if she was incredibly self absorbed, she had every right to be. Paulina was gorgeous. Her hair, much shorter than the ladies fashion back on the island, was now tucked up with a scarf of some sort, her curls demanding to be released as the strands escaped one by one. She was wearing a shirt, stained and greased, but the vibrant red waistband covered most of its dirt. Her long legs were covered in black leather pants, leaving nothing to imagine as it practically followed every inch of her skin before disappearing into plump black boots.

Curiosity made Paulina's eyebrow shoot up. « And what exactly does that mean? »

I chuckled. Paulina was strong-willed, stubborn, incredibly rude, annoying, a pain, but she was also a woman. A very beautiful woman. I leaned in closer, the feel of the strong liquids of the kitchen supporting my very move. « My state is one of... » but I couldn't finish my sentence as I fell to the side, the ship tossing me to one side. I heard her laughter before I opened my eyes to see her skidding away back into the insides of the ship. Her laughter haunted me as I stumbled to my hammock, lay down and pinched my eyes closed. Paulina's face was projected on my dreams as she stood next to Maud. It seemed as if my mind was comparing the two but found not a single shared feature. My head had to stop thinking as it bounced around the room. Oh, how I would regret the last bottle of rum I had ever finished alone in my entire life.