Crow and Genevieve

Chapter Two- Dead Man's Raft

A child no more than sixteen, Genevieve stood beside the boy she had come to know as her first love while the water had managed to vanquish their boredom. Using the gift of water allotted from the icy Atlantic, the young lovers spent this particular afternoon set within Ironwall's garden; a multitude of floral and foliage collections of colors laid from variations in bloom as they ventured from its entrance and to the exit. 

The very atmosphere around them seemed impossibly romantic as the serene weather and pleasure of the other's company had managed to set the scene. However, he was an uncomplicated romantic whose happiness was inspired by the expression of one he caused upon her own lips. He had become focused upon her perfect kiss, desiring to press his emotions to her mouth in clarification of his feelings. Alas, he was far too frightened to lose her. 

By nightfall, the couple made their journey towards the beach that overlooked the cold body of water they knew to be the sea. Beneath the stars and isolated from all curious gazes and naysayers, he managed to gain the confidence needed to speak of his feelings to her in truth. 

"I adore you, Genevieve...surely, I do not hide it well…" he spoke as she nodded, a humored grimace emerging from the edges of her lips as he continued. "We have always been truthful with each other and despite the risk I am taking in you turning away from me forever...you must know…"

"What is it I am to know, Tobias?" Genevieve was stilled upon the sand, the water freezing against the boundary made by her toes. Yet, despite this frozen distraction, she was devoted to supplying him with her attention. 

Genevieve's eyes followed Tobias as he closed the friendly distance between them and presented his palms to her cheeks, rosy from a fresh raise in her blood pressure. Without a word, Tobias moved to her in slow succession to allow her the chance to pull from him if she did not reciprocate those feelings. Yet, as he continued forward and his lips met hers, he was unable to remain a gentleman. 

For the better part of two decades, Tobias and Genevieve had always remained so close, yet so far. They had exchanged previous kisses, but none that were more than an inexperienced peck. Whenever they would become this close, her father would cease the moment or the threat of the unknown had made either shy away from this potential outcome. But now, Tobias kissed her with a gradually increasing passion. As his touch had begun at her cheek, it began to fold into her hair as she challenged his kiss with one of her own. 

Pleased and increasingly aroused, Tobias began to walk her back towards the closest surface, that happened to be a Sorbus Torminalis, or a checker tree. The stable trunk allowed a firm surface for both of their bodies while the branches outstretched to keep them concealed. The duration of the kiss shared had been lost upon both Tobias and Genevieve-so much so that they were unaware of the large maritime vessel making its way to Ironwall in the close distance. 

Braided into each other, Genevieve began to understand the blissful joy of a first love, unaware how short lived this moment would harbor in reality.

With her leg lifted to his waist, Genevieve found her thigh to be in her lover's possession and her neck exposed to his lips. Helplessly enamored by the cusp of her virginal relinquishment, Genevieve reached to the placed pantaloons awaiting her dismantlement. As her touch attempted to lower to him, a sudden isolation from his body had forced Genevieve to open her eyes to realize he had been absent from her. 

"Please!" He began to beg from nearby, his voice becoming less intelligible with each second he and Genevieve had been apart. As her feet attempted to march in his direction, a quickening hold ceased her from charging ahead after Tobias. 

"Release me at once!" She commanded in anger before feeling the cold steel of a recently unsheathed weapon meet her throat. Swallowing hard, her eyes were forced to witness Tobias upon the edge of the water, members of aquatic voyage keeping him on his knees via a cutlass to his abdomen. She attempted to speak calmly to the man who made her stay frozen in place, but only found the blade to then push against her neck with more force. 

"Tobias!" She cried to him as his silhouette, although impossible to make out details within the darkness, turned to face her. At the very minute his head focused towards her, he released a groan before falling forward in the sand. Caring precious little for her own safety, she managed to break the hold upon her guard and sprinted to his side before being pulled back by those she deducted as having been pirates. 

Those employed to keep Genevieve safe had begun to descend to the beach, swords in hand in an attempt to rescue her from this dangerous altercation. As one of the navy officers came upon Tobias, he took his fingers to the young man's neck to discover he had no pulse. A somber moment for those of kind hearts, Genevieve then watched the pulse taker's life end as well as the blade from a saber emerged from behind him and through his abdomen. The moonlight from above illuminated the metal edge of the sword, now present with blood upon the once lustrous blade. Screaming at the sight, Genevieve fell onto the sand while the pirates scrambled to make their escape, knowing their wooden nautical vessel was anything but subtle and they would be terminally outnumbered.

"Take the body!" The captain spoke before Genevieve took hold of his fingers. The lifeless still of his skin managed to transfer the loss into her soul as she kept a tight grip upon his hand. Knowing when she let go that he would be lost forever to the sea, she fought to keep a grasp that was eventually broken by the force of a pirate captain's crew. "Make haste!" One of the men spoke as Tobias's corpse was taken aboard and the ship disappeared from the dock by the time Genevieve's father joined Genevieve at her side. Attempting to aid his daughter's pain, he was helpless to the tears pouring down her face as she had witnessed the murder of her first love and best friend.

This moment did not wean from her memory, even as she passed into adulthood. The sight of his head turning back to her and the feeling of his fingers remaining connected to her own up until their forced separation had kept her the emotional hermit she was. Her body jolted awake when dreaming of this night in exquisitely painful detail that forced her to develop tears within her eyes. But the sadness had not awoken her bedfellow who was fast asleep beside her. Thankful that he seemed uninterested in claiming her as a lover, she was intact in every way but emotional. Recalling losing Tobias, Genevieve had become motivated to not meet the same fate. After all, she had nothing more to lose. 

While the Captain of Dead Man's Raft snored at her side, Genevieve attempted to find a way to protect herself. She believed if she harbored a weapon that he would then no longer be able to threaten her in fear for his own life. But with each step around the captain's quarters, Genevieve was met with a squeaky floorboard that was unforgiving to her steps. 

Squeezing her eyes together incredibly tight, Genevieve anticipated the ruthless hand of her captor, but only found the cold air from the water around them having remained uninterrupted around her. Using her sense of touch, Genevieve caressed the wall in front of her, the wood of the room having delivered a splinter to her finger. Gasping to the sudden sting, she turned back to eye Captain Marrow, who was still at peace in his slumber. 

Unsure of her exact plan, Genevieve knew if she could locate Helene, that they would be able to conjure an escape plan. But she had every element working against her, among them having been her naivety at how many other pirates were present and just where they were located. Nevertheless, she had to try. 

As she ventured beyond the Captain's quarters and onto the main deck, Genevieve found the breathtaking beauty of the stars above her and forgot of her circumstances for a quick moment. This serenity was broken at the sound of doors coming to a close and an uneven gait having traveled in her direction. 

Hiding behind one of the large barrels, Genevieve watched as Helene was escorted by one of the fellow pirates. The man was of sickly appearance, yet held a sword upon her back in an attempt to keep her in line. But this mariner was unaware of Helene's determination and stubbornness. 

"Hurry up." The man spoke to her as Helene placed herself over a bucket used for releasing one's waste. Relieving herself, Helene then rose to the drunk man as he turned from her in disgust. Using a piece of wood having been taken from an unknown time, Helene projected the piece of oak into the pirate's throat. His hands clasped angrily at his neck as he attempted to breathe through his exposed wound. As blood began to gather within his esophagus, making it difficult to breathe, he began to stumble towards the edge of the ship. 

Helene's eyes scanning her surroundings one final time, she located Genevieve and motioned for her assistance. Frozen for a moment as she was surprised that Helene could take a life so easily, Genevieve also knew how it would only aid in their escape to have one less pirate aboard. With a single forceful push of joined strength from the women, his body was hoisted over the edge of the boat and given to the sea. No matter the elements that lingered in the water or the wound upon his neck, "Two Tooth Whenden" was forgotten from the world. 

Before Genevieve was able to process the entirety of the situation she had become an accomplice to, Helene took hold of her. "They are to dock in Carpathia tomorrow night...we will make our escape then...until then...we must keep attention from ourselves." Helene paused. "We cannot speak or look to each other...we cannot allow them to know our plan to rid ourselves from this creaking death sentence…" Helene was able to sense the fear upon Genveieve's expression as she tried to hide it beneath her initial shock. 

"I promise you that you will return home to your father...you will know the comfort of your bed and the aroma of Mirabelle's pastries once more. I promise on my life." Helene swore as the doors to the captain's quarters flew open in a rage. 

"Where is the girl?!" He called to the air as Helene pulled her close one final time. "Be strong, my dear." The maid evanesced from sight as Genevieve was then spotted by Captain Marrow. His angered gait traveling to her until he then held her locks in his hand, he spoke devilishly to her; "There she is." With a wicked grin, Marrow pulled her back to his quarters and away from Helene's protection.