by Sam Ryan
Yates paced in front of the three women like an officer during a spot inspection of his troops. His hands clasped behind his back and everything.
“Normally,” Yates said, after he had finished his inspection. “I would hand you over to the Trevelians, get a reward for you and be done with it. However, the captain has ordered that you lot be brought before her so she can decide what’s to be done with you. So consider this your lucky day.”
“And who might your captain be?” Madilyn asked.
A wicked smile crept on Yate’s lips. “None other than the Iron Maid herself, Captain of the Iron Rose.”
There was a loud cheer from the people hiding in the windows.
“The Queen of the Pirates?” Max gasped.
“Please. She prefers Pirate Queen,” Yates stated, glancing back at Max. “The implication being different. Queen of the Pirates implies that she somehow rules over all pirates. Pirate Queen simply means she is the best pirate there is.” He smiled as he glared at Madilyn for some reason. “Which she is. Of that there is no doubt.”
Madilyn did not say anything in response, only returning the old man’s glare. What would the Iron Maid possibly want with them? And who were these blokes surrounding them? They supposed to be her crew?
“Now,” Yates held out his hand. “If you would please hand over any weapons you may have to me and Skyler here, I will then take you to see the captain.”
“Like I would ever hand over my weapon to the likes of you,” Madilyn growled, her hand twitching as she fought the impulse of cutting the old man down. She was sure she would be shot down instantly but she felt it would be worth it to slice open that arrogant wrinkly face of his.
“Madilyn,” Sophia chided, shooting her a serious look. “Do as he says.” Sophia reached into Max’s coat and pulled out the pistol that was tucked in there and handed it to Yates, Max not putting up any resistance or complaint.
Begrudgingly, Madilyn set her armor down in front of her, kicking it forward as she unclasped her saber from her belt. Skyler lifted the bag of armor like it was nothing and took the saber from Madilyn, resting it on his shoulder. The fine blade looking like a knife against his massive body.
Sophia offered out her cane to Yates who simply smiled and shook his head. Sophia smiled back and tapped it on the ground, putting her weight on it slightly.
“Now.” Yates turned and started moving forward. “Let’s not keep the Captain waiting.”
Yates started making his way down the street, Skyler taking up the rear glaring at the women as they followed the old pirate.
“We could still get out of here,” Madilyn whispered to Max. “Once we are out of view of those riflemen, all I have to do is get my saber back from Skyler. I’ll take him out while you and Sophia go after the old man.”
“You really think it will be that easy?” Max said, keeping her eyes forward.
“You don’t think I can take on the fat mountain?” Madilyn asked. Her tone a little defensive.
“I’m more worried about the old man,” Max mumbled.
Madilyn frowned, looking the man over. “Why? He is spry for his age granted but you should be able to take him.”
“My father was a sailor,” Max stated. She looked up at the Madilyn. “He died before I was ten. As is the fate of most people who have such a dangerous life.”
“And?” Madilyn was not sure what this had to do with anything.
“One thing I have learned in my life.” Max rested her gaze back on Yates. “Always be weary of old men in a profession where people often die young.”
Madilyn took a deep breath as she looked back at the old man leading them. She had not even thought about that. It was a common enough saying in the military, the knight she squired for, Sir Reginald, had said something similar. She imagined that it was doubly so for the life of a pirate.
“We’ll be fine,” Sophia assured, her cane tapping rhythmically with her steps. “Trust me.”
Madilyn fell silent. Felling she had little other choice they followed Yates to the back door of a pub. The sign out front had an etching of a cat riding the back of a rooster. Madilyn frowned at the image, thinking it was trying to say something more than the happy little picture implied. She did not get long to study it as Skyler pushed her on the shoulder, urging her forward.
Madilyn shot the oaf a dirty look but she did not say anything as she did what she was told.
“Down here,” Yates said, taking them to a set of stairs leading to the cellar. He did not wait for a response before heading down, grabbing a lantern from where it hung on a hook and used it to illuminate their dark path.
It was a typical enough cellar, with crates full of what looked like flour, along with kegs of beer stacked on top of each other, pushed against the walls. There was also a shelf of different, finer looking alcoholic drinks lining the wall.
Yates led them to the far wall, reaching out his free hand and pressing into one of the bricks. The brick gave under the pressure and slid back. There was a sudden sound of cogs turning and grinding together. The shelf of finer drinks then slid back on steel tracks and moved out of the way, revealing a room on the other side that flooded the previously dark cellar with light.
None of them seemed all that surprised. Why else would they be lead into a cellar after all?
The room on the other side was not only well lit, but the floor was also carpeted with a fancy sky blue rug at least an inch thick. At the end of the room sat a large chair that could easily be mistaken a throne and on it sat a young, fierce looking woman. She was dressed in black trousers and a white shirt with ruffles and lace at the cuffs and neck.
“So, you must be the trouble makers who have brought such a mess to my city,” the woman said, crossing her legs. Her hands were laid out on the armrest as she sat back in her would be throne. Her stare ice cold. That was the thing that got to Madilyn the most. Her sky blue eyes that seemed to stare directly into their souls.
This woman, in many ways, imbued all the characteristics that Madilyn strived to have. She was tough, having to prove herself in a man’s world. But she did not alter herself in order to do it, still presenting herself as a woman. She had long, flowing dark hair that fell around her shoulders and down her back. Her trousers were tight fitting and her long white shirt hugged her body tighter than normal but was still open and loose.
“Who are you supposed to be?” Sophia scoffed, not at all impressed by the woman.
“Have you honestly never heard of the Iron Maid before?” The woman smiled, but those blue eyes of hers were not amused.
“Oh, I have.” Sophia nodded. “And you are definitely not her.” She took a step towards the woman sitting in the chair, leaning forward so she could better examine her.
Yates moved to intercept her, his hand reaching for the pistol in his belt but the woman raised her hand, stopping him.
“You got the eyes though,” Sophia stated, still looking the woman over. “If I had to venture a guess.” She pulled back looking down at the woman. “Daughter?”
“Close,” another voice rang out. “She’s actually my granddaughter.”
Madilyn turned to the sound of the new voice and saw a young woman standing at the entrance to a passageway, off to the side of the room.
She wore black striped trousers that hugged her legs and a black leather collared coat that cut off at the elbows and midriff. Her white shirt could at best be described as bra, covering almost nothing of her chest and tied in a simple knot in the front, showing off her rather tanned skin. A blue tribal tattoo wrapped around her collarbone and down the middle of her chest and probably arms as well but was hidden by the leather coat. Holding back her long hair, so blond that it was practically white, was a grey piece of cloth with a skull and crossbones stitched into the side. Beads were sown into the cloth and sides of her hair so they dangled between her ears and eyes.
Madilyn was sure that the voice had come from her, but there was no way this woman was anyone�
��s grandmother. She looked no older than Madilyn, probably in her mid to late twenties.
“Jezebel!” Sophia cried out, running towards the woman with her arms outstretched, ready to embrace her.
“Sophie!” the woman called back, opening her arms wide and embracing Sophia in a tight hug. She lifted Sophia off the ground and spun around several times before plopping her back down. “It has been so long.” She began playfully kissing Sophia’s neck and cheek making loud kissing sounds as she did so.
Max and Madilyn could only stand and stare, their jaws hanging open as they watched the scene unfold.
“Sophia’s a pirate,” Max said. “Did not see that coming.”
Jezebel seemed to notice the other two for the first time, her eyes locking onto them. Her eyes were just like the woman sitting on the throne. Only they were somehow even more piercingly blue, like the sky themselves were trapped inside.
“Who’re your friends?” Jezebel asked, releasing her hold on Sophia. Her hand resting on the large cutlass that hung from her hip.
“This is Sir Madilyn, a Knight of Lear,” Sophia said, pointing at Madilyn. “And 2nd Lieutenant Maxine. Lear Flying Navy. Girls.” Sophia smiled, gesturing to the woman next to her. “This is Jezebel, also known as the Iron Maid. Captain of the Pirate ship, Iron Rose.”
“Now do they know about us?” Jezebel asked in a half whisper to Sophia.
“I think I am starting to,” Madilyn said, stepping forward. Yates was already there, holding up his hand to block her path. Sophia was in league with pirates? It was just so unbelievable.
“No.” Sophia shook her head, looking only at Jezebel.
“Well, I’m not one for lying or keeping secrets,” Jezebel said. Taking a step forward she pulled a pistol out of her waistband and cocked the hammer back. “So let’s just get the crux of the matter.” She pointed the barrel at the ceiling. “You see, Sophie and I-” Jezebel turned and leveled the pistol at Sophia’s chest.
“No don’t,” Sophia cried out, holding up her hands in a futile effort to shield herself.
The pistol went off and Sophia’s chest exploded as the bullet tore through her. With a slight cry of pain, Sophia’s back hit the floor, her hands flopping lifelessly beside her.
“No!” Madilyn tried to lunge forward but Yates’ arms wrapped around her, holding her in place with a surprisingly strong grip.
“-are actually immortals,” Jezebel continued, cocking the hammer of her pistol back once more. She aimed the pistol at her own chest and pulled the trigger. She did not fall like Sophia had, instead only staggering back a few steps from the impact.
Everyone else in the room seemed completely unfazed by the fact that their supposed captain had just shot herself through the heart.
“And we cannot die,” Jezebel said, righting herself. Pressing the hand holding the pistol to her chest to put pressure on the wound. She sounded winded but otherwise unharmed. She looked down at Sophia laying on the floor next to her. “Would you get up already? I missed your heart.”
“But you did hit a lung.” Sophia shot up from where she lay. Her arms stretched out over her knees like she was reaching for her toes.
Madilyn stopped struggling against Yate’s grip as she saw Sophia sit back up. She could not believe what she was seeing. It had to be some kind of joke or trick. Sophia did not even seem hurt. There was a large red spot on her blouse where blood had stained it as well as a hole where the bullet had torn through, but she did not seemed injured in the slightest.
“And seriously?” Sophia looked up at Jezebel, tugging on the front of her blouse. “This was my best shirt. And how about a little more warning next time?”
“Eh?” Jezebel shrugged, tucking her pistol back into the front of her trousers. “I always had a flare for the dramatic.” Her shoulders started to bounce as she began to laugh. “You should have seen the looks on their faces though.” She pointed at Madilyn and Max, unable to contain her laughter any longer. She hunched over, placing a hand on her knee for balance. “They were so freaked out, it was adorable.”
“Only you would think so,” Sophia scoffed, grabbing her cane lying beside her as she reached her other hand out, wiggling her fingers at Jezebel. Getting the hint, Jezebel reached out and pulled Sophia to her feet.
“Let’s try this again,” Jezebel said, walking towards Madilyn and Max, a warm smile on her face.
Yates released his hold on Madilyn and stepped back. She was still in too much shock to do anything but stand there in disbelief. She could hardly fathom what had just happened. She had seen this woman shoot Sophia and herself and yet both of them seemed perfectly fine.
Jezebel stopped directly in front of Madilyn. There was only a slight scar where the bullet had passed through, and even that seemed to be slowly fading.
“I’m Jezebel,” she said, resting a hand on her chest. “Though you probably know me as the Iron Maid, Captain of the Iron Rose.” Her voice swelled with pride as she puffed out her chest ever so slightly. “This here is my first mate, Commander Yates.” She pointed at the old man standing off to the side of her. “And my second mate, Clementine.” She reached out and hugged the woman around the waist with one hand. The woman smiled, quickly returning the hug. “And yes,” she turned and looked back at Sophia. “He is my son and she is my granddaughter.”
“Nice to meet you.” Sophia nodded at them, rubbing the spot on her chest where she had been shot.
Yet she was still alive. No matter how many times Madilyn went over it she still could not believe it. How was this possible? Not only her miraculous survival but these two somehow being Jezebel’s son and granddaughter? That was impossible too. There was no way the old man was her son.
“Hey.” Jezebel snapped her fingers in Madilyn’s face, getting her attention. “Looks like we got us a real non believer.”
“It’s probably shock from being overwhelmed,” Sophia said, standing next to Jezebel. She looked at Madilyn and nodded. “Yes, I am immortal. So is Jezebel and so is Tara.”
“Wait.” Madilyn blinked twice, her brain starting to work once more. “Then everything Tara said last night about you two was true?”
“Oh, Tara is here too?” Jezebel squealed in delight, her face brightening up. She turned and faced Sophia waiting anxiously for her answer. “I haven’t seen her in ages.”
“She was,” Sophia sighed. “She was taken by the Trevelian’s a little while ago.”
“Really?” Jezebel said, rather dejected. “How did that happen?”
“She sacrificed herself to help Madilyn escape.” Sophia jabbed her thumb at Madilyn. Her tone was not accusatory or bitter, she was merely stating a fact.
“That doesn’t sound like Tara,” Jezebel said with a doubtful look.
“Said she didn’t want me to nag her for the next thousand years.” Sophia sighed.
“That sounds like her.” Jezebel nodded.
“If I may?” Yates moved forward towards Sophia.
Jezebel took a step back, giving him plenty of room.
“Hello,” Yates said, offering out his hand to Sophia. “It is a pleasure to meet you. Momma has told me a lot about you. Well, about all of you. But her stories of you specifically are always so fascinating to listen to.”
Sophia’s face melted at his words. “Thank you,” she said, moving past his hand and giving the old man a hug. “Wait. Fascinating?” She pulled back suddenly, gripping his shoulders. “You sure she was talking about me?”
“So then.” Madilyn took a step forward, a frown still on her face. “Are all your sisters Immortals as well?”
“Awe,” Jezebel smiled. “You called me your sister. That is so sweet. I love you too my little sister.” She moved in and wrapped her arms around Sophia hugging her tightly.
“Why am I younger?” Sophia gasped, her arms getting squished into her body.
“As if you’d be older,” Jezebel scoffed, pulling away. She turned back to Madilyn. “There are six of us that we know of.”
She held out her hand and started counting. “There’s me, Sophia, Tara, Elena, Allora, and-”
“Stella’s dead,” Sophia stated. Her tone was suddenly cold, having lost all the warmth it had only a moment ago.
Jezebel froze, what little color her skin had drained from her face, her hand hovering out in front of her. Her head slowly turned towards Sophia as if the gears in her neck were caught on something. “What do you mean dead?” she asked. “Stella can’t die. That is part of being an Immortal. You mean she faked her death.”
“No.” Sophia shook her head. “I mean dead as in no longer alive.”
Jezebel turned the rest of her body towards Sophia, a dark shadow falling over her face. “Are you sure?”
“Tara is,” Sophia said. “She is the one who examined the body. I only found out about it a few weeks ago.”
“How?” Jezebel asked, a distinct edge in her tone.
“Don’t know,” Sophia shook her head. “That’s what we’re trying to find out. We think it might have something to do with a Legendary Relic that she was looking for to help with Trevelia’s power shortage. You know she was a Trevelian Official?” Sophia gave a look of unbelief.
“I know.” Jezebel nodded, sharing the look. “It’s actually the reason I came to Trevelia. I figured I’d help her out by reducing the piracy here.”
“Reduce piracy?” Madilyn had to hold back a snort. That was probably the most unbelievable thing she had heard yet. “How does a pirate reduce piracy?”
“Because.” Jezebel lifted a finger. “Any pirate worth their salt knows not to hunt in the territory of the Iron Rose, if they value their lives that is. I do not take well to competition and deal with it decisively and fatally.”
Clementine and all the others pumped a fist into the air, all letting out an identical war cry that reverberated off the walls.
Jezebel turned back to Sophia, her face growing cold once more. “I hadn’t heard anything about Stella being killed though. I would have thought that I would’ve heard something at least. How long ago did it happen?”
