Scarlett didn't know what time it was when her brother entered the crew's sleeping quarters but it didn't feel like long enough. She wiped the tear stains from her cheeks and blinked her blurry eyes, pulling her legs closer as she waited for his condemning words. But he didn't speak and instead, sat silently beside her. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders, prompting Scarlett to choke back the fresh set of tears flooding to her eyes.

"Well, you might as well say it," she said.

"No," he said, shaking his head. "I just came to tell you that we're getting close to docking in Southampton if you want to come. Unless you want to be alone, then that's fine, too."

"No, I will go. I need some fresh air. Besides, why should I hide from that man? I'm not the one who should be ashamed." Scarlett stood up from the cot and walked towards the door.

William raised his eyebrows, wary of his sister's infamous temper and unsure of how to respond. She didn't wait for one, however, and led the way out. He jumped up and followed quickly behind her through the gun room.

Above deck, Scarlett determined it was nearing high noon. She squinted in the bright light as the sun shone overhead through the white overcast clouds. It did little to warm the air, however, as it was still cold and a brisk wind blew through her skirts. Having lost her cloak in Swansea, Scarlett could only do to wrap her arms around herself. She met eyes with the Captain at the helm, who watched her with a brooding expression before turning back to the approaching town. Quickly, she lowered her hands to the bulwark and straightened her posture, vainly attempting to hide any signs of discomfort.

Following his gaze, she observed the town before them as they entered the bay. It was a small harbor, dotted with stone-front buildings along the docks. Several large vessels were housed here and telling by the flags they flew, they were from all walks of life: merchants, the Royal Navy and some with no identifying flags at all. The Captain's ship remained void of a flag.

Steering far away from the Royal Navy, the crew navigated their way into the shipyard. They drifted through the canal, sails furled, and docked along the pier. Several men on land appeared, waving at the crew with familiarity, as rigging was tossed down to them to tie around the large dock pilings. Once the ship was secured, a plank was quickly lowered down and the Captain disembarked with Leslie fast upon his heels.

"Well, if it isn't Captain Jones," said a man who approached, a wide grin on his face. "It's always a good day when your pretty face walks in."

"It's good to see you, too, Percy," the Captain replied.

Scarlett and William descended the plank as well and watched the interaction before them. Percy was of a stout figure and stood attired in dirty ragged clothing, his hair nearly reaching his shoulders in stringy, grey curls. He placed his hands on his hips and clicked his tongue as he glanced over the Captain's ship.

"What kind of trouble have ye gotten yourself into now?" he said.

"Nothing much this time. Just wayward cannon fire, I suspect."

Scarlett let out a scoff and rolled her eyes off to their side, unable to hold back her reaction. Hearing the Captain dismiss Percy's question with a blatant lie only added to her anger that still fumed underneath her cool facade. Percy peered at her with curiosity for a brief moment but the Captain ignored her.

"Well, let's look 'er over and see what we can do," Percy said, ready to climb aboard.

Meanwhile, the crew were disembarking from their ship, jovial at the prospect of some time away from their duties. They threaded past Scarlett and William to venture into the town, likely making a straight line for the nearest tavern. Scarlett turned on her heel to leave as well but was stopped by the Captain's grasp on her arm.

"Hey, where are you going?" he said.

She pulled her arm away to release his hand. "Into the town, if that's okay with you."

"No, it's not. I'm not letting you wander off by yourselves."

"But I'm not. We're following your crew."

The Captain huffed in dissatisfaction. "Just wait a minute," he said, before turning back to Percy. "Pardon me--women, aye? Now, I'll show you the damage."

"Oh, I got a wife meself," Percy replied, following at the Captain's side to board the ship. "I know what ye mean, ye poor soul."

Scarlett stood with her brother, watching the Captain and Percy chuckle together as they boarded the ship. Their amusement with the situation made her blood boil but yet, she stayed put as instructed. But as a few stragglers of the crew strode past Scarlett, a tinge of jealousy arose in her as she watched them leave her behind. His crew had more freedom than she did and suddenly, she felt like a prisoner again. If they were going into the town, there was no reason why she couldn't follow. She would be sufficiently protected and it was better than staying with the Captain, who she wanted to avoid talking to as much as possible. He's just trying to control me, she thought. She glared back at him. He had led the repairman to the bow to look around and Percy scratched his scruffy beard thoughtfully as he scrutinized the damage. Realizing Alexander heeded no attention to her now, a rebelliousness came over her.

"Come, William," she said. "We're going with the crew. He'll be a while, anyway."

"But he told us to stay here."

"Don't listen to him," she said, setting off towards the town.

Hesitantly, William followed suit, glancing around anxiously as they meandered through the townsfolk on the docks. He had only a glimpse of Blackbeard's looming ship in the darkness on that fateful night. Any of the ships before them now could have been his. Yet, William knew he couldn't fight his sister when she was angry. He kept his station loyally beside her, fearful of letting her out of his sight again.

Past the bustling harbor and the center of the town square, they reached the doorstep of the nearest public house. The inn stood quietly next door adjoined to the building and a brothel resided conveniently on the other side. To Scarlett's relief, its inhabitants were not yet loitering outside in the light of day. It would be nightfall before they would emerge but the sight brought a chill to Scarlett's spine all the same.

The crew filtered in through the pub boisterously, helping themselves to a large table in the middle of the room. They hollered towards the counter and several barmaids appeared with tankards ready in hand. Scarlett and William sat at the end, receiving tankards of ale as well and watching the crew gulp their drink or smother their women.

William opened the lid of his tankard and peered warily inside. "Well, I hope this is better than what I had on the ship," he said with a grimace.

"It's on the house," said one of the barmaids as she passed by and brushed her hand over his shoulder, producing a blush on his face. "For my favorite crew and their new recruit." Then she glanced over Scarlett dismissively and added, "Where's Jonesy?"

"''Jonesy?'" Scarlett repeated. She squinted at the girl but she wasn't heard. As if on cue, the Captain and Leslie walked in and the barmaid rushed over to greet him.

"Oh!" she squealed. "Well, look what the sea tides have brought in. Hello, Alex, dear." She slipped her arms around his neck and placed a sloppy kiss on his cheek.

Scarlett watched the spectacle before her, taking particular notice of the flirtatious smirk on his face and his arms around the girl's waist. She let out an angry huff and turned away, focusing her eyes on any other patron in the pub who landed in her gaze. Her brother snuck a careful glance in her direction but she ignored him.

"What did I tell you?" came a sudden voice over her shoulder.

Scarlett looked up to see the Captain peering down at her. His face was void of expression but she knew very well that he was angry. Regardless, she turned away from his piercing eyes, choosing not to engage in a fight. But he left her no choice as he moved closer into her view.

"I told you to stay," he added. "You were not supposed to leave my sight until I was finished and then we could come into the town. But no, you took off anyway."

"I told you we were following your crew."

"That doesn't matter. You disobeyed my direct orders."

"I'm not a child."

"Oh, aren't you?"

Scarlett glared at him, standing up to meet his face. "Well, I'm certainly not your wench."

He only smirked in response, which irritated Scarlett more than anything he could have said. Interrupting their feud, another barmaid came swooping by and placed a tankard in the Captain's hand. He received it and thanked her as she clung to his arm. She blushed and giggled underneath his gaze before taking her leave.

"It looks like you have plenty of those to go around, anyway," Scarlett added.

"Sit down," he said. "Stop being such a jealous woman."

He took a large swallow of ale and stepped away before she could say anything in retaliation. She was left standing awkwardly defeated by his indifference and meeting her brother's concerned gaze, she sat down.

William leaned forward and spoke as low as the din around them would allow. "Scarlett, are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

"But are you? Do you think all this is a good idea after learning what Captain Jones is involved in? I see the way you are upset."

"Well, what would you suggest we do?" she replied, sharply.

"What if we took a different ship? We could search for a merchant on the docks again to take us to Plymouth. The Captain said it isn't far from here. We only have a little bit of our journey left before we make it to our sister."

Scarlett peered at him, scrutinizing the sincerity in his eyes, and then turned to the crew. They bellowed and chattered away at the other end of the table, the Captain joining in heartily with the barmaids giggling at his side. Scarlett and William were ignored completely.

"But you forget one thing," she said. "We don't have any money."

"We may be able to work for our keep."

"Don't be silly."

"Scarlett, you know I never liked the idea of traveling with pirates anyway and now that we know his dealings with Bastian and with Blackbeard on our trail, do you really think it's a good idea to be with him?"

She placed her chin in her hand as she listened. "Perhaps you're right."

"Besides, for all you know, he may even betray us and hand us back over to Bastian. I heard him yelling at you in his cabin. I don't trust that man, Scarlett, no matter how much you love him."

"Don't speak of that," she said, curtly. "And don't think such things cloud my judgment."

She turned again to look at the Captain at the end of the table. Their eyes met briefly for a moment but she saw nothing in his expression that reached out to speak to her heart. He diverted his attention away at the mere touch of a barmaid's hand upon his shoulder.

"Okay," she said. "Let's do it. We'll sneak away at the next chance we get."

William leaned closer, surprised by his sister's willingness. "How?"

"Well, I've done this a few times before. Just follow me. Might as well drink that while we wait."

William shot her a confused look as she took the tankard before her and brought it to her lips. She made no effort to leave the table but he copied her movements all the same, waiting with anticipation. It wasn't long before the crew were visibly light-headed and demanded a song to be played. A makeshift trio then appeared with lutes, mandolas and flutes to play what sounded to Scarlett like a sea shanty. The rhythm was lively and the pirates around her beamed and hollered in delight, jumping to their feet, taking barmaids in hand and twirling them around on the floor.

And then, though an unsettled feeling appeared in Scarlett's stomach, her moment had arrived. A bouncing barmaid rushed up to the Captain, panting heavily from the excitement, and urged him to dance. He obliged without a second thought or a glance in Scarlett's direction. She watched on as he took the girl in his arms and closed the space between them, moving in perfect unison, hand in hand. He peered down into the girl's batting eyelashes before lifting her into the air at a jovial change in the music. Her squeal shrilled throughout the room.

Scarlett could do nothing to take her gaze away from the ridiculous performance before her. Tears threatened to flood her eyes as she watched the man who had supposedly longed for her during their time apart. There had been something special between them when they kissed or so she thought. But now he gave all that attention to someone else. And upon the realization of his business dealings and the angry outbursts and his past sins she had tried to overlook, it was suddenly very clear to her. He didn't need her and he was flaunting it. All he needed was money, the sea and a few wenches on the side.

"Come, William," she said. "It's time to go."