Chapter 4: The Mission




The ship loomed in sight, a dark, metallic shape against the otherwise bleak, black ocean waters, bobbing back and forth with the waves. They weren't too far off, but it would be an awful long swim and Vvinu wasn't sure she knew how to swim yet. Fortunately, Elizabeth pulled her off to the side before they reached the shore, leading her toward a dock (also metal and severely rusted from the ocean salts) where a small, rubber boat was tied to an iron post. Elizabeth lifted her up and set her inside the boat before hopping in after her and picking up a pair of plastic oars.

"We've got some time before we reach the ship,” Elizabeth cast a wary glance in its direction,” But anyone could be watching. Don't act odd."

Vvinu's lips curled. Her? Act odd? And what exactly did a bunch of murderous pirates think was odd?

"Simon was right, of course, we do need to come up with some...reason for me to have you. The crew believes I'm bringing them something to burn."

Vvinu stirred, wringing her hands in her lap,” You could tell them I'm your daughter."

Elizabeth coughed, losing control of the oars for a minute and sending them a little off course. She ran a hand through her bangs before snatching them up out of the water and continuing to row toward the ship,” I’ve been working on that ship much too long to have a daughter." No one would believe it anyway.

"Your sister then."

Elizabeth frowned, brow furrowed,” Why are you so insistent on making us 'family?" she sneered a little,” I thought you didn't like me?"

Vvinu frowned, crossing her arms over her chest,” I don't! But we look alike...unfortunately, and I can't think of anything else. Can you?"

Elizabeth paused, and Vvinu watched her brow scrunch up in thought. Eventually she shook her head and sighed.

"All right. But not my sister."

"Why not?"

"The captain is my grandfather, sweet heart. Any relation that has anything to do with his daughter, he'll know about." Or, at the very least, he'd suspect something. Lillian had been missing for years now.

"Half-sister then."

"Thomas, our captain, knows my father as well,” Elizabeth dropped the oars, leaning back against the edge of the boat,” This isn't going to work. We need something else."

Vvinu snorted, rolling her eyes,” How 'bout this then, you kidnapped me."

Elizabeth's brow furrowed,” Thomas knows me too well to realize I wouldn't willingly...take a child under my wing."

"Oh?" Vvinu chuckled heartlessly,” Is that why you all but dragged me out here, completely against my wishes, I might add. I want to stay with Simon."

"You're not staying with him!"

"I know!" Vvinu leaned against the side of the boat, trailing her fingers in the icy water,” So, what are we going to do?"

"We'll say you have a wealthy family with a storage of wood hidden somewhere. I've taken you hostage, left a name with them in case they wish to contact me, and will return you to them when they give us what we want."

"They'll believe that?"

"Yes."

Vvinu scowled at the water,” Fine."

.:.:.::.:.:.

"Back already, Elizabeth?" Thomas' face appeared over the edge of the ship, grinning down at the pair in the little rubber raft,” And you've brought a friend, I see." He disappeared out of sight and shouted for someone to fetch the ladder. Moments later he repapered, followed by a couple crewmen carrying a chain ladder (there was little rope left in the world, and it was much too useful to use as a mere ladder), which they tossed over the edge toward the raft. Elizabeth set Vvinu on it, urging her upward, before placing her feet in the rungs herself.

"Who's our guest?"

Vvinu felt herself being pulled up over the edge of the boat by a pair of strange hands. As soon as her feet touch the floor she shook them off and squished herself against the side of the boat, grimacing at the men and wiping frantically at her arms as if they had somehow passed some sort of disease on to her. Hell, for all she knew they had, horrible, scruffy looking bunch that they were.

Elizabeth hoisted herself yup over the edge and strode toward Thomas,” Her name's...Vivian."

Vivian! Vvinu scowled at her, crossing her arms again and giving a little huff before turning on heel and pressing her chin to the rim of the boat, staring back down into the water.

Elizabeth cast her a reprimanding glance, completely wasted as she wasn't looking, before turning back to Thomas,” She’s a hostage."

There something about the tone of her voice that didn't sit well with Vvinu. Cautiously, she craned her neck to watch the pair of them converse.

"Ah,"said Thomas, catching her eye. He smiled warmly at her, wiggling his fingers in a semblance of a wave,” We’ll have the crew show her to her quarters, and then I believe we have something to...discuss."

Elizabeth nodded, rolling back her sleeve to show Thomas...whatever it was that Simon had written on her arm. Thomas' eyes widened momentarily but he nodded his head, rubbing at the thick stubble collecting over his chin and cheeks.

"I see,"he stood back, clapping his hands to catch the attention of the two crewmembers who'd fetched the ladder,” Show the little lady to a private cabin, would you? And see that she's properly taken care of."

The men nodded and went to collect her.

"Don't touch me!" Vvinu hissed, yanking her arms out of their grips. She glared up at Elizabeth, who merely shrugged and offered her a mock shrug.

The men glanced up at Thomas, spreading their hands helplessly.

"If she doesn't want to be touched don't touch her, but do lead her to her cabin,” he cast his gaze at Vvinu,"You'll follow them, won't you Vivian?"

Ugh! "Fine."

"See? All you had to do is ask, now, off with you."

"Yes, sir,” said the men,” Right this way, miss."

Vvinu rolled her eyes and wandered after them. Elizabeth was going to pay for this! Leaving her alone with...with...pirates! Ugh!

.:.:.::.:.:.

Elizabeth slammed the device on the table,” She’s the answer to our problem."

"Her? Little Vivian?"

"Vvinu,"corrected Elizabeth,” I got her from this,” she tapped a finger against the lid (or one of the sides, anyway) of the device,” She’s a phoenix."

"A phoenix! Elizabeth, phoenixes..."

"Exist inside this little device, even if they don't here. You know what we can do with her, don't you?"

"Yes...yes, of course, but,” he shifted his gaze to Elizabeth's arm,” Your father certainly won't approve, will he?"

Elizabeth leaned across the table and gripped Thomas' chin,” He’s not going to know."

"Of course not,” Thomas leaned back, rubbing his chin where Elizabeth had pressed her fingers,” When can we start?"

"Not yet. She can't do anything yet. Her feathers-"

"I didn't see any feathers on that child, Elizabeth."

"Of course not, do you think I'm daft? She's a shape shifter. We're not going to show a fledgling phoenix to the crew!"

"We're not?"

Elizabeth shook her head,” We’re not."

"Hn,"Thomas leaned back, folding his hands on the table top,” What do you propose to do about them, then?"

"They're your crew, Thomas."

"Very well. Back to her feathers?"

"They're not grown in yet. She won't be able to do anything until she's an adult."

"Hm,"Thomas bobbed his head,” And until then we simply keep her here, pretending she's being held hostage in return for wood?"

Elizabeth nodded.

"How does she feel about this?"

"She wants to return to Simon."

"Ah,"Thomas nodded and reached across the table, taking Elizabeth's arm in hand and pushing back her sleeve,” I’m assuming that's why he's sending us on...this particular little mission?"

Elizabeth nodded,” Three weeks, and then we bring Vvinu back to him so she can decide who she'd rather stay with."

"We have a lot of work to do then, don't we?"

"Hm."

.:.:.::.:.:.

Great, just great! Vvinu flopped back against her bed, burying her face in the peculiar looking pillow. Peculiar smelling, too. With a groan of disgust she whipped the pillow out from under her and tossed it at the wall.

"Doing all right, are we sweet heart?" Elizabeth slipped into the room with a smirk, plucking the pillow up off the floor and setting it down on the opposite end of the bed. She pulled a chair up next to Vvinu and took a seat.

"I have a name, you know."

"Yes, Vivian."

Vvinu scowled,” No."

"Whether you like it or not, that's what you're being called from here on out. You need a human name if we're going to pretend you're not what you are, and Vvinu is not, in any way shape or form, a human name."

"But Vivian."

"Close as I could get."

Ugh! "Can I at least be Vvinu in private?"

Elizabeth shook her head and flicked the nearest wall,” Paper thin, sweet heart. Anyone could be listening."

"Fine, but I'm not going to like it."

"Good, you shouldn't. You're a hostage, after all, sweet heart."

Vvinu gave a 'harrumph' and turned over to stare at the wall.

"We're going out to sea, now, we won't be docking again for at least a few nights, now,” Elizabeth got to her feet and strode toward the door,” I hope phoenixes have strong stomachs."

"Where are we going?"

Elizabeth turned, brow arched,"Hm?"

"You never told me where we're going."

"Ah,"Elizabeth strode toward the bed, rolling up her sleeve and shoving her arm in front of Vvinu's face,” We’re going to Ireland, to find my mother."

"Your mother?" Vvinu frowned,” Why do we need to find her? Why does Simon care."

"Because, sweet heart, Simon's my father,” and, with that, she strode out the door, swinging it shut behind her.

But...Simon was a priest! He couldn't be- Vvinu gave a little gasp. Elizabeth had called him father, hadn't she? But Vvinu had just assumed...

Well. She wrinkled her nose, flipping on to her back. This was just turning out better and better, wasn't it?

.:.:.::.:.:.

The next three days had been nothing but horrible. Between the rotting, disgusting slop the cook fed her, to the uneasy rocking of the boat (which caused her to lose said slop over the edge of the boat), and the constant jeering from the pirates, Vvinu had certainly not been enjoying herself. Not in the least. She saw Elizabeth rarely, and usual just in passing. Every time she caught her eye Elizabeth would shoot her a smirk or a nod and greet her with "Good afternoon, sweet heart" before continuing on with whatever duties ailed her. In fact, Vvinu's only real companion during the trip had been Thomas.

From the first day onward he stopped in to see her, making idle chit-chat and brushing her hair for her in the morning. He'd sneak her sweets and fresh fruit (or, semi-fresh, anyway, not the freeze-dried stuff the other's were subjected to), and bring her in toys to keep her occupied. Despite being a captain of a pirate ship, he really wasn't all that bad. He'd even taken her into his cabin once and showed her all the little knick-knacks he'd collect. Vvinu had really been enjoying herself until he informed her he'd gotten them all from various raids throughout the years. She'd kindly excused herself after that, but he didn't seem terribly offended.

The third day came and went and finally the shore loomed in sight. Exsaughted and relieved, Vvinu watched the boat dock itself behind a cove and the crew prepare for landing.

She felt a hand fall on her shoulder and craned her neck, smiling,” Thom- Elizabeth!"

Elizabeth's brow shot to her hairline,” Expecting someone else, sweet heart?"

Vvinu frowned and whipped her head back around to the water,” No."

"The captain doesn't leave his ship when we dock, sweet heart. He and a few of the crew stay to keep it protected. Someone has to make sure it doesn’t float away."

Vvinu shrugged, snorting.

Elizabeth whipped a cigarette from her pocket and lit it. Stuffing it between her lips she took hold of Vvinu's arm and led her toward the row boats.

Vvinu yanked her arm back,” What are you doing?!"

"Taking you with me."

"I don't want to...want to go on a raid with you!"

"Would you rather stay on the boat? Just because we're docked doesn't mean the water's going to be any smoother."

Vvinu wrinkled her nose,” Fine."

Elizabeth took her hand again,” Thomas will be here when you get back."

"I'm not worried about him."

"Of course not,” she loaded Vvinu into a row boat, climbing in after her. She extracted her revolver from her belt and shot a round upward,” To land!"

"To land!" the crew cheered.

Vvinu rolled her eyes.