Ocean Blue Ch. 02

Katherine whimpered, knowing that there was no way out of this. She took a deep breath, slowly letting it out as she locked her gaze on his green eyes. "Gabriella. My middle name is Gabriella."

Philip smiled and let go of her wrist. "It's very pretty. Everything about you is beautiful, beauty." He watched as the apprehension slowly melted from her eyes, a small smile crossing her lips. "Was that so bad?" He reached out and cupped her chin in his hand, giving her a sly smile. "You've had a bad day. Go get some sleep."

"Thank you for everything, Philip." She whispered as she turned to go back to the cabin. 'Maybe he doesn't know.' She thought, her heartbeat calming as Philip offered his arm and Katherine gladly accepted as they started across the deck.

"What kind of man would I be if I didn't help a damsel in distress?" He said with a laugh as he escorted her back to the cabin and saw her inside.

Once the door was closed, Philip pumped his fist in the air, practically clicking his heels together at his good fortune. With a broad smile on his face, he made his way below deck, finding his friend Albert hunkered in a corner of the dim cabin, smoking his pipe as he watched a card game with high stakes going on a few feet away. He had known Albert for almost six years now, which seemed like a life time to the twenty year old.

Born from a French whore and a English politician, Albert had taken to the sea early in life to make his fortune. Not much of a looker, Albert made up for it with a knowledge of almost everything under the sun, from medicine to the address of ever whore from London to Timbuktu. "What eese thees smile for?" He asked in his thick French accent as Philip slid down the wall to sit next him on an old crate, the smile still wide on his face.

"You remember those stories that the crazy old man use to tell us when we were doing the run from Africa to Ireland? Lucky Jack was his name, I believe. Crazy guy, one good eye."

"Aye, I remember Jack. He and hees stories about zee Ocean Blue. Yees, I remember very well." He said, puffing a ring of smoke into the air.

Philip sat up, staring at his pudgy friend, his green eyes alive with mischief. "About that family. The father, who was the captain, the mother, with flowing red curls, the little boy, who was sharp as a whip, and the little princess as he called her."

"Look, I was one zee same ship, Philippe. But zee man was crazy. Too much time in zee sun in my opinion." He said with a laugh, his gray eyes almost lost in the flesh of his cheeks as his face crinkled in merriment.

"Not so crazy, my friend. I found her." Philip stated with a laugh as Albert looked at him as if he were crazy.

"Found who?"

"The little girl. The princess. She's here on this ship."

Albert straightened up and stared at Philip, his gray eyes cocked in interest. "Zee maid." He said with a laugh as Philip nodded frantically. "How do you know eet eese her?"

"The man said that here name was Katherine, but everybody called her Kit. That's one mark. She had long red, curly hair and eyes the color of the ocean on a calm day. That's two." He slowly explained, watching as Albert's face lit up. "And here's the kicker. What was the mother's name?"

"Gabriella."

"Same as..."

"Zee little girl's middle name." Albert said, finishing his sentence. "That maid eese zee Katherine Moore?"

"Daughter of Jim Moore, captain of the Ocean Blue. Well, former captain, but do you remember how the story ended?"

"She escaped from zee ship after her father died, right? Running from Bega and hees crew as they took over zee ship. Lucky Jack was zee only survivor, or so he thought."

"And rumor has it that Bega offered a huge reward for her return. Imagine, my friend, all of that gold just for that girl. It would be well worth it." Even the mention of Bega's name sent shivers up Philip's spine. He had met the man once, while he had was in a tavern in the south of Italy, getting ready for a run to Northern Africa. The man was silent with an opposing figure and black eyes that would cut through you like a knife; not someone you wanted to mess with.

"Bega offered eet five years ago, Philippe. He has to think she's dead by now."

"But if he doesn't, then we would have enough money to stop these small heists and finally retire!" Philip insisted, watching as Albert nodded, puffing on his pipe in thought. "You with a wife that can pleasure you beyond anything you imagine, with a whole brood of pudgy little kids running around under foot. Me, I make my home on land and let my roving eye take me where it will."

Albert sat silent for a moment, puffing on the pipe as he thought everything over. With Albert's consent, Philip knew that it was a sound plan. He waited with bated breath as the Frenchman took a long draw and slowly let out the smoke. "Zhen call your ship, captain." He whispered so low that only Philip could hear.

"Already done, my friend. Already done." He whispered back, a knowing smile plastered on his face as he watched a sailor win the game, slapping his cards on the table in triumph. Soon, Philip would have his triumph and a ship filled with gold and little Miss Moore was his ticket to the easy life.

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Chapter 3 coming soon: Katherine and Philip grow closer as Philip's true identity reveals itself.