The ship became lively as its crew scurried about to follow their Captain's orders. Several pirates jumped onto the shrouds and climbed aloft while others pulled heartily on the rigging to hoist the sails. Leslie stepped up to man the helm and consulted with another man, ready to set course.

In the meantime, a spare sail had been located and as instructed, Hansen and Collins began patching pieces together to strengthen the thickness of the flaxen. The Captain watched on, supervising as several men lowered it down the side of the ship over the gaping hole in its bow. It was a blow just above water so leaks would be slow but no chances were to be taken with their beloved ship.

Once the sail had been fastened as best as possible and the ship began its course to Southampton, Alexander made his way back towards his cabin. He gazed at Scarlett briefly, who marched closely at his heels and urged for William to close the door behind them.

The cabin was dark as the sun had yet to rise above the cloudy horizon, the curtains were still pulled shut and the bed left in disarray from Scarlett's abandonment. Alexander walked over to it and picked up her dress lying at the foot, throwing it across the room to her. Quickly, she pulled it on, tightening the strings on her stays as she watched him retrieve a bottle of rum and a goblet from the cabinet. After setting them on his table, he pulled out several papers from the drawer and sprawled them out noisily.

"Tell me what is going on, Alexander," Scarlett said, raising her voice and walking over to him. "Who was that man? And why the bloody hell did they blow a hole in your ship?"

"That was Bastian's right-hand man," he said, sitting down and pouring himself some rum. "And it was a warning shot."

"How was that a warning shot?'"

"Not enough to cause casualties or to sink my ship but enough to remind me of my place--and God forbid, cost a significant sum of money to repair it." He downed his rum swiftly in one swallow.

"And what is your place?"

The Captain sighed through his nose and tilted his head up to face her. "Scarlett, do you have any clue how deep--how widespread--this is?"

"Not exactly," she said, hesitantly. "Other than what you have told me and obviously Blackbeard trying to sell my brother and I."

"Prostitution," he said. "That's the real treasure trove that pirates are after. It's a raging business these days and there's lots and lots of money in it."

Scarlett closed her eyes for a brief moment. "And what does all this have to do with you?" she said, fearful of the answer.

He poured another drink and scrutinized the contents of his cup as he held it between his hands. "I haven't been entirely truthful with you...but you might as well know now. Blackbeard isn't the only one selling slaves. So am I."

"I knew it," William sneered from the side of the room. "He wasn't there that night to save people. He was selling them!"

Scarlett let out a heavy breath. "To Bastian De Leon."

"Aye, to Bastian De Leon," the Captain said, lifting his voice to a mockingly flamboyant tone and spreading out his arms as he leaned back in his chair. A wide grin was plastered across his face. "That conniving bastard."

"Is this all just a joke to you?" Scarlett said, squinting at the Captain.

"My ship just suffered an attack from cannonfire," he replied, his expression serious as he leaned forward on his table. "What would you think?"

"Then you seem to be handling it very well. Or is it you just take it and don't fight back because you bloody work for the man?"

"Love, do you even know who Bastian De Leon is?"

"I have never heard of him before in all my life."

"You've been fortunate. But don't let his fine clothing and long curls and feather-touted hat fool you. He may seem like a gentleman but he's a scoundrel."

"Well, I gathered as much. Gentlemen don't buy slaves."

The Captain raised his eyebrows and then laughed. "Oh, they don't? You have much to learn, love."

"Well, who is he, then?"

"He is the leader of this whole operation. Everyone in this business reports to him. He's a man you don't mess with and when you're working for him, you do anything it takes to appease him. That's why I know Blackbeard is following us."

"But why doesn't he just find other slaves, then? There's plenty of people loitering on the streets."

"Love, he wants you. He already got his hands on you and if I know anything about that man, he's as stubborn as the Devil. Besides, he technically sold you and Bastian is likely holding out on him until you are found. Hence, one of the reasons why they came after me."

William scoffed. "Just one of the reasons."

Prompted by her brother's response, Scarlett felt the anger inside her coming to realization. She gazed at the man before her--the man who had stolen her heart and whose arms she trusted to embrace, the man who she felt safe with and looked up to as a kind-hearted pirate among his villainous comrades. Suddenly, the world she had fallen in love with was changed and everything around her was coming into a full and new perspective.

"William, would you excuse us, please?" Scarlett said.

"Considering the circumstances, I think I should stay--"

"For God's sake, I can handle myself! Now leave."

"Yes, ma'am," he said, giving a single nod and sheepishly removing himself from the cabin.

"So is that what this rivalry with Blackbeard has been about all along?" Scarlett said, her voice low as she addressed the Captain.

"Yes, we're competitors--usually trying to see who can get to Bastian first and get a high price."

"I can't believe you," she said, shaking her head. "I can't believe you would be involved in such a God-awful thing!"

The Captain sighed. "Scarlett, don't begin this. I don't have time for this."

"So you just want me to ignore it and pretend that everything's fine? How dare you--capturing poor, innocent people, stealing them from their families and selling them to a disgusting man for his selfish reasons! You're no better than Blackbeard. I really thought you were different but you're a scoundrel just like all the others."

"Don't you speak to me that way," the Captain said, jumping to his feet. "You have no idea what you speak of."

"Oh, I don't? Then you tell me what it's like being captured and dragged to a dark room where men start putting a price on your head. Tell me what that's like!"

"Then you tell me what it's like having a full crew of men to feed--men who are complaining against their captain because they aren't getting the money they were guaranteed when they signed up for this life!"

"That's no excuse for ruining other people's lives."

"If you were fighting to survive in this bloody monarchy, you would be surprised by the things you could do, too--love," the Captain said, anger shining in his eyes as he used her name of endearment spitefully. "But what would you know about that?--with your perfect, little villager's life and your quaint baker's family."

Scarlett felt her blood begin to boil at his condescending tone. "And what's so wrong with that? At least we make an honest living! You're just a lowly coward--a barbarian, just like my father said."

"I do what I have to do!" he said, slamming his hands on the table. "It's a tough world out there for pirates, especially in these bluecoat-riddled waters. Sometimes a pirate's life doesn't give you a choice. And if you're like me and my crew and cast out from society, you will do whatever you can to survive. You just try living that life for a while. When you're the captain, you have to make hard decisions."

"Then why didn't you just tell me the truth? You lied to me, Alex! After everything we've been through, I thought I could trust you. But now I'm starting to see you're not the same man I used to know. I felt something different from the moment I saw you again. Maybe my sister was right."

"Shut up," the Captain said quietly, keeping his gaze down. "Don't say anymore. I want you out of here."

"What?"

"You heard what I said. I want you out of my cabin."

Scarlett hesitated, trying to read the expression on his face. Her heartbeat quickened, spurred on not only by her rage but from the fear of having crossed the line.

"Get out!" he said, lifting his head and pointing towards the door.

"Fine, if that's the way you're going to be, then I'll gladly take my leave!"

Scarlett spun around and flew open the door, slamming it shut behind her without another glance. It banged loudly, drawing all eyes from the crew on deck. William leaned against the bulwark with his arms crossed, looking up as she emerged. Concern creased his brow and something else Scarlett hated--a look saying he told her so. She wanted to slap him across the face.

Instead, she stormed past her audience and climbed underdeck, meandering her way through the gun room towards the cots. They were unoccupied as everyone was above deck at work. Finding a dark, hidden spot in the corner, Scarlett settled herself down on a bed and pulled her knees up to her chin, finally allowing the tears to flow--tears she had been contending with for so many months, tears that were once from longing for the man she loved. But now they were only tears of pain and she realized getting what she wished for was not what she had imagined. Suddenly, she wished she was back in the safety of her home with her family, pushing every thought of the Captain from her mind.