Chapter Text
Chapter 1
“Did you see her?”
”No, Marie.”
”But you were there, how could you not see her?”
“Shush, just eat your food.” Marie’s mother snapped. Marie sighed and looked down at her plate, picking at her prosciutto di parma. Marie hated pig meat, the thought of eating something that rolled around in mud all day disgusted her. She set her fork down and sighed.
”Well I just wanted to know what she looked like.”
”She’s probably a he you know.”
”Everyone says it’s a woman.”
”It’s a man.” Marie’s mother retorted.
“How do you know? You said you didn’t see her.”
”Marie. Stop.”
Marie stopped talking and crossed her arms. The sounds of silverware against expensive plates filled the silence in the room. Marie couldn’t believe it. Captain Redskull, the most famous and feared pirate in all of Europe just landed on the Italian coast, and her mother was only a couple of blocks away when it happened. Her mother told her that she was visiting some of her friends at a restaurant when she heard people screaming. She saw that they were all running away, and she wisely decided to do the same. Not before she had some officers help escort her home though, of course. Marie frowned at the dumbness of it all. Her mother didn’t even try to get a glance at the pirates.
Marie would do just about anything to get a look at Captain Redskull. The rumor is that the captain is a woman. Marie could barely imagine it. The idea of a woman shooting, fighting, and stealing was so extraordinary to her. It’s such a contrast to her everyday life of etiquette lessons, piano practice, and tea parties. She hated being a noble. Everything about aristocracy is insufferable. The fake-politeness, the shady political moves, and most importantly, the courting. Marie’s mother found new suitors for her almost everyday, and Marie couldn’t stand any of them. She thought of how Captain Redskull didn’t have to meet suitors and longed for the freedom of a pirate. She imagined it would be a grand adventure filled with salty sea air, sea shanties, and occasional sword fighting.
”Marie.” Her mother snapped her out of her thoughts. “Why aren’t you eating?”
”I hate pig.” Marie huffed.
”Ungrateful girl.”
”I bet Redskull doesn’t have to eat pig.”
Marie’s mother slammed her fork onto the table. “Redskull is a murderer and a thief like all rogue pirates! I will hear no more of this Redskull nonsense!”
”May I be excused?”
”Get out.”
Marie abruptly stood up from the dinner table and stomped to her room. She made sure to slam the door as loudly as possibly before jumping into her bed and burrowing herself underneath the large covers.
It’s true that Redskull is a murderer. In fact, the reason she’s named “Redskull” is because she scalps all of her victims before she kills them. Her ruthless nature is what had made her so famous. But it was the freedom that pirates experienced that enthralled Marie so much. It made her ignore all of the immorality that came with being a pirate. Marie closed her eyes and she began to daydream about what her life would be like if she was a “swashbuckler”. She didn’t bother changing into a nightgown or blowing out the candles before she started dozing off.
She imagined she was on the deck of a large ship, sailing through the Atlantic. Her daydream began to slowly turn into a real dream. Just as she was about to fall asleep, the sound of a loud explosion made her jerk awake and fall out of bed.
Marie quickly scrambled to her feet and rushed to the window of her bedroom. The sound was so loud that the cause of it had to be nearby. She tried to peer through the glass to get a good look but she could only see part of the road and the nearest building. She turned around and ran out of the door so that she could look out of the living room window instead. Her mother was already there, peering through the curtains. As soon as she saw Marie she ordered her to stay back.
”Whats going on?!” Marie asked.
”Shush, Marie! Go back to your room!”
”Let me look out the window!”
”No, it might be dangerous! What if there’s gunfire?”
”Well if you think it’s dangerous why are you standing at the window?”
”Damn, Marie! Will you be quiet? I’m trying to see what’s happening!”
Marie crossed her arms and stood behind her mother. After a couple of seconds Marie began to get impatient. She was about to try pushing her aside so that she could look too when she heard gunshots. Her mother screamed and fell to the floor.
”Get down, Marie! Get down!”
Marie gasped and fell to the floor as well. The gunshot sounds persisted, and Marie began crawling towards her mother.
”It’s pirates,” her mother said. I saw one of them. They were pretty far down the road, but those gunshots sounded close. How did they even get this far inland?!”
”Madam Miossi! Miss Marie!” A butler had run into the room. “We need to get you somewhere safe!”
Marie and her mother both stood up and followed the butler. He lead them to the cellar, where there were maids and other butlers already hiding. The cellar was fairly large, but there was only one candle available. Everyone huddled around it, and Marie’s mother embraced Marie in a tight hug. Marie sensed her mother’s fear and began to cry.
”What’s happening?” She wailed.
”Shush now dear. It’ll be okay.”
Marie’s mother turned towards the butler that lead them to the cellar. “Is there anyone else outside?”
”I didn’t check,” he answered. “You and your daughter were my first priority.”
She began to look around the room and count how many people there were. “There’s two missing,” Marie’s mother stated when she finished.
“I’ll go get them,” the butler said. He got up and quickly moved out of the cellar. Everyone squinted at the bright light that shone through the door when he opened it. Once the door closed they were left with darkness once again. Marie’s sniffles were the only sound that was heard.
”Oh, stop that Marie.” Her mother said. Marie began to cry harder. She was terrified, and her mother’s chastising didn’t help.
”I wish Charles were here. He would know what to do.” Her mother sighed.
”No he wouldn’t.” Marie retorted. “Dad wouldn’t do anything at all, that coward.”
Marie’s mother held her closer and began to rub her back. “I know that’s just the nerves talking dear. It’ll be fi-“
Marie’s mother was interrupted by another loud explosion. This one sounded incredibly close. Everyone jumped and a few people screamed.
“Everyone be quiet!” Marie’s mother whisper-shouted. Everyone froze and stared worriedly at her. She had such a scared expression on her face that it unnerved everyone to look at her. Then they all heard rapid footsteps in the house. It sounded like multiple people were running around.
”Blow out the candle,” Marie’s mother ordered. A maid blew it out, and everyone sat still in darkness. They heard heavy footsteps accompanied by shouting. Then they heard a sharp scream. Everyone in the cellar froze. There was no doubt that there were intruders in the house. They also knew that there were butlers outside that were defending them, but by the sounds of it the butlers were losing.
Suddenly, the footsteps became much louder. Then they heard the door to the cellar clicking, as if someone was trying to open it. Once the person on the other side of the door realized it was locked, they started banging on it. Everyone in the cellar began to try and move backwards, but there was nowhere for them to go.
The door burst open, revealing a large man standing in the doorway. He looked at the group huddling at the back of the room and sneered.
“They’re in the cellar!” He shouted