Call Of The Siren

Chapter 3

Nathan slowly became aware of the pounding headache in the back of his head, though he could not recall imbibing enough to deserve it.  He recalled going to the season of that gorgeous lady that tended to spend most of her time in the country, which was odd for a lady of her age when they mostly stayed around the ton during their coming of age in the hopes of making a fair match. 

To him it had shown a sense of duty on her part that was entirely different from the other ladies her age, since it was well known that her parents had died not long after each other and left her in her aunt’s care.  After her uncle’s death and her cousin’s as well there was no male in her family.  But from her absence in the ton, it proved that despite that she was determined to make a success of their studs, which were highly sought after for coach horses and well-proportioned cattle.  He himself had bought some of her stock and was immensely proud of his coach horses.

He recalled watching her while she kept happy conversation with the men, but her eyes had remained bored, and she had kept glancing out of the French doors as if she longed to escape, so when she did he thought to introduce himself.  But when he saw her standing outside the devil took hold of him and he acted on the thought that he wanted to see if her lips were as kissable as they seemed to be.  And that they were!  He had been enthralled the moment he laid his lips on hers, even though she had not returned the kiss in her shock.

But the moment he had claimed her lips and mouth the second time, he had realized that he had ruined his chances of introducing himself and receiving any kind of respect after his actions, so he had turned and walked away without another word, despite having his interest piqued by this young lady when all the others had left him apathetic in their presence.

He was expected to marry to better his lineage, but was it too much to ask that he could at least stand to have a conversation with his future wife?  He would have to see to the duty of conceiving an heir soon; the king had requested in a missive that he required him to see to his neglected duties.  That was the reason he had grudgingly accepted the invitation to a few parties, of which that young lady had been the first to create any sort of interest in him.

His thoughts had been entirely on her when he had removed his jacket, tie and dublet and threw it on the seat before he sent his carriage home without him and started the walk to his house a few blocks away.  He needed the movement to clear his thoughts.  There had been something very different in her that he had not seen in the other ladies of the ton, and he was not considering her sun kissed skin, though that in itself had drawn his attention.

She had not been as pale as the other ladies; she was a woman who knew the touch of the sun on her face. And from what he had heard of the gossip, it seemed that she was intent on her duties on her country estate, rather than to attend the parties like the other young women.  Though she had had the mannerisms of the ladies of the ton, he had sensed a wildness in her that had drawn him to her and he had taken the chance when he had seen her slip quietly out of the French doors.  And then he had ruined his chances by acting like a boar instead of the gentleman he was expected to be.

Suddenly he remembered why he had the headache!  Someone had hit him behind his head just as he had turned the corner, he had tried to fight it, but the darkness had claimed him soon after.  He did not recall seeing anyone that looked suspicious while he had walked along the road, they must have been following him discreetly.  And he had been too lost in his own thoughts to notice.

With a groan he tried to touch the tender spot at the back of his head, but found his arms incapable of moving.  The feeling of foreboding rose in him as he slowly inched his eyes open, already expecting the worst.

He was lying on a strange bed, spread-eagled and tied to the four posts.  What in the world was going on?  Where was he?  Who had kidnapped him?  Why had they kidnapped him?

Slowly his bleary mind became aware of the slight swaying of his surroundings and he realized he might be on a ship.  Glancing to the side and upwards he saw the window that showed only water and sky from his vantage point.  That meant they were no longer in London.  Where were they going?

He started to glance around him and realized that this was the captain’s cabin, judging by the furniture and desk covered in maps, so he could not be here as a slave, could he?  He was aware that some ships stole people from the streets to sell as slaves, but they rarely did it in the upper part of town where the police regularly patrolled the rich neighbourhoods.  But there was no chance that he would allow them to sell him into slavery; he would die fighting them first.

He was convinced that it could not be for ransom, since he had no family members alive left to send the ransom to, apart from the king.  The fact would make his kidnapping an act of treason on their part and their plan fairly unlikely to be successful.  So the only logical reasoning was that they did not know of his social standing and would sell him as a slave.

He glanced up at his wrists, hoping to find a method of escaping his bindings at least, he could plan further after that.  He would be far less helpless if he could move around and use his hands in defence.  Nathan started tugging on his bindings, but they were secure, tightening around his wrists when he wiggled his fists to find a way of releasing himself.  He was not going to become a slave!

Suddenly the door opened and a young beautiful woman came inside without even looking at him while she started to pull the sleeves of her dress off her shoulders.  He stared with mouth agape at the sight; the last thing he had expected was this beauty before him, even less the fact that she was baring her tantalizing skin to his view.  Absently she tossed her purse to the bed where he was tied.  He could not stop the curse that slipped from his lips when it hit his knee with a heavy thud.  What did she have in it; rocks?

Her eyes shot to him as her hair gave way to show her already bare shoulder and a portion of her bare back since she had started to slip the dress down.  A string of curses he had never heard from a woman’s mouth, slipped from her lips before she swung round so her back was to him and she pulled her dress into place once more.

“What the hell – “She snapped and turned to him angrily, now fully clothed, and then stopped short when she seemed to notice for the first time that he was tied to the bed.  With another string of curse words that she used inventively, some he had not even known himself; she stomped to her cabin door and flung it open.  “Anders!”

A large older man with dark brown hair appeared in the doorway with a smile on his leathery face which showed that he had been waiting nearby.  “Captain?”

“There is a man in my bed!”  She stated angrily and she flung her hand in his direction, as if he was not obvious to see from the doorway and apparently entirely unwanted.  Nathan had to admit that this was an odd string of events and he found himself watching with more interest than concern at this point.  Apparently she had not expected to find him on the bed and she didn’t seem pleased to find him there – pity...

“Aye, happy birthday, Captain.”  He grinned and she put her fists on her hips while she glared at him.  She was the captain?  In truth he had first thought that she might be the Captain’s doxy, but apparently she was an anomaly.

“He is my present?”  She demanded in incredulity without bothering to glance in his direction again.  Well, he was rather deflated that she did not find him as a suitable present; wait, what had happened to his resolve to not be a slave?

“Aye, Captain.”  He grinned as if they were very proud of the fact that they had kidnapped someone as a present for her.

“You got me a….a doxy?”  Her voice became uncertain now along with her stance.

“Well, if that is what you wish, Captain.  But he’s got good bloodlines, fine home and history, unmarried; he’s a good man…”

Wait, he was her slave?  Well, he could almost like the idea of slavery, if he could do to her what his mind and body had started considering at the sight of her half undressed, but he had the feeling she was a hellion.  Though taming her might be part of the fun.

“He is nobility?”  She demanded in consternation now.  “You kidnapped a nobleman?  Do you have any idea how badly this could turn on us?”

“Well, he seems a good man, perhaps it would go well.”  Anders answered hopefully and he shrugged as if they had considered him to be honour bound to keep his kidnapping a secret when they had intended him as a gift.  He seemed less troubled by the situation than she obviously was.  Nathan had to admit that he found this situation more interesting than worrying at this point.   In fact, he might have found it amusing – aside from the egg sized bump on his head and the fact that he was tied up.

She pushed her fingers through her black tresses that tumbled around her shoulders while she paced back and forth.  Finally she stopped and turned to the man.  “I do not have the energy for this right now.  Just go, I shall think on this once I feel less like the dead walking.”  She growled before she slammed the door in the man’s unconcerned face and turned to him.

Nathan held her gaze while she stared at him for a moment with questioning eyes.  For a moment he saw vulnerability in their depths before her eyes turned angry.  She truly was a magnificent creature and he had the inkling that she had seen the interest he now had in his eyes.

With a snarl she paced to the other side of the room where there was an ornate screen.  He heard the swishing of fabric and then saw her dress fly to the corner and he wondered what she looked like under that dress and he considered that he suddenly quite liked the idea of being tied to her bed, well, maybe not so much tied to it as being in it.

His patience was soon rewarded when she stepped out from behind the screen dressed in black breeches and a white shirt with a black corset over it, a belt with a sword and knife at her hip, and it took all his willpower not to gape in wonder at the sight she was.  He did however watch her approach with great pleasure.  She had not bothered to put shoes on and she padded with bare feet towards him.  What a sight she was and showing so much for his pleasure, from her delicate ankles to her nubile body.

“I am going to untie you; there is nowhere you can go since we are already at sea.  I shall sort this out once I feel human again.”  She stated while she sat down on the edge of the bed and untied the hand closest to her as he took in her features.  Her face had a sprinkling of freckles over the nose and her eyes were a stunning violet in her sun-kissed face, though he could clearly see that she was exhausted with her red rimmed eyes and the dark circles that marred the skin beneath them, and then she moved down to his feet, before she leaned over him and worked on the knots that held his other wrist.

Her ebony tresses brushed tantalizingly over his face while she did so and her scent made him take a deep breath before he noticed her knife within his reach.  He liked the idea of bedding her, but he did not much like the idea of being a prisoner since that tended to take his personal choices out of the equation and he was inclined to prefer having a say to his actions and future.  Thinking that he would not get the opportunity again he reached out and grabbed her knife before he held it to her throat.

She froze where she still stood bent over him with an annoyed expression on her face as he watched her luscious lips part in a snarl, revealing even healthy teeth.  “Slowly keep your hands where I can see them.”  He stated in a low dangerous voice while his other hand that was now free took her sword from her belt, using that as his new weapon, while he put the knife aside out of her reach.

“Now, take one step back.”  He said while he sat up and watched her obey with some irritation; not fear as he had expected she would have at the wrong end of a sword.  “Now; to the door, if you please.”  Nathan said and he watched with a measure of amusement her eyes glaring daggers at him when she took measured steps towards the door.  “Open the door and lead the way to the deck, Captain.”

He watched while she obeyed quietly and took the steps up to the deck.  For a moment he had the inkling that this was too easy, but then he reminded himself that she was tired and had clearly underestimated him.  The ship went quiet and the festivities stopped when she stepped onto deck and he stepped in close to hold the sword to her throat and his arm around her shoulders.  She reached up and held onto his arm like he would have expected her to do. 

“Turn this ship around and return to England, if you value the life of your Captain.”  He said in a loud, steady voice and he turned so he could keep a wary eye on all the men as they stared at them with narrowed eyes.  Why were they hesitating to preserve the life of their captain?

He tightened his hold on her when he watched her men hesitate with their eyes on her.  “Do it.”  He said in a dangerous voice.  He did not want to hurt her, but she was a valuable bargaining chip and his best chance at returning to England safely.  After all, he had no way of knowing what she would do with him once she woke later and he had no intention of waiting to find out.

Next thing he knew she stepped back into him, unbalancing him, and then suddenly he was lying on his back on the deck with her blade at his throat, trying to catch the breath the fall had knocked out of him and wondering exactly how this exchange of power had happened.  Clearly he had misjudged her.  Perhaps he should have expected that she would not be so easy to overpower; she was the captain of a ship after all; that had to mean that she would need to be able to keep the men in line.

“Hang him from the spar.”  Came her cold response and he had the feeling he had made the wrong choice that would cost him his life when he watched her angry eyes pin him.  He felt the pressure of the blade to his throat and then the dampness as she drew blood.  “Do not ever threaten my life on my ship again, or I shall keel-haul you and feed you to the sharks, one tiny bit at a time, starting with your fingers and toes.”  Her words were spoken in a low dangerous tone, leaving no doubt that she intended to do just that if he ever considered repeating his previously foolish actions. 

And he had no doubt she would do exactly that while he lay there and someone tied his hands above his head.  He expected the noose to come around his neck next, but she stepped back when he felt the tension in the rope drag him a small distance and then pull him up and he was slowly hoisted up until he hung by his arms high above the deck.  The ship was still silent as the men watched the process with interest.

That was interesting, she had not killed him.  Maybe she had more kindness in her than he had thought originally.  When she had seen that he was hanging above the deck like washing on a line she sheathed her sword and went below deck, no doubt to get the sleep she had been craving.  And her men returned to their festivities as if he were not hanging above them like laundry on the line.

But after about a half hour of hanging he felt his shoulders cramping and the blood flow leaving his fingertips completely, leaving the digits numb.  Perhaps it was not kindness so much as sadism, he thought while he glanced up at the sun baking down on him and licked at his dry lips.  When was the last time he had had something to eat or drink?

After an hour he thought that this could be a fate worse than death while his shoulders threatened to dislocate with his constant weight.  Nathan groaned in pain and dismay as sweat covered his whole body and the sun and wind drew it from his skin with vigour and left him burnt and arid like a dessert. 

His tongue felt like cotton wool in his mouth and his shoulders and arms were cramping from holding his weight in an attempt to keep his shoulders from being dislocated, not to mention the muscles in his back.  He was sure he would lose his hands since he had lost all feeling in his fingertips about fifteen minutes ago and the numbness had spread to his palms and wrists.

Judging by the position of the sun, though he was barely conscious, he had been hanging there for about three hours and the men started glancing worriedly up at him despite their festive moods with the ale they had consumed while he had been drying out.  What he would give for a mug of ale at this moment.

He hung limply, unable to convince any part of his body to move anymore and he started wishing for death if only to be able to lose consciousness of this agony.  He was only vaguely aware of movement beneath him and the swaying of the ship, though he wondered how much of the swaying was his mind suffering from dehydration.

“Cut him loose.”  He heard her order and in his barely lucid state of mind he was not sure who she was talking about until he felt himself falling limply to the deck and he lay there like so many stones, unable to move.

Suddenly he was drenched in a bucket of salt water and he spluttered at the water in his nose and mouth while he tried to ignore the stinging on his burnt skin despite the cold water reviving him somewhat and she came into his line of vision, raising his lids to check his vitality.  “Water.”  She ordered when she held her hand out above her and a cup of water was gently placed into it.

He would have reached for it if he had any power left in him at all, instead he groaned like some half dead beast and she gently laid the cup to his cracked lips and allowed him to drink some water, but she took it away before he had had his fill and he moaned in weak protest. 

She was a siren from the deep oceans, causing a man to fall for her beauty, only to lead him to his death, though the myths did not mention dehydration and sunburn so much as being torn apart and consumed.

Her face was set in a scowl when she stood.  “Get him out of my sight and see that he is fed and watered so he does not die on my ship.”  And with that he was dragged away with the realization that one of his shoulders had indeed dislocated and she disappeared from his sight before he found himself below in the blessed cool and darkness.

He saw the face of a rough looking man with a scar across his cheek come into view before he felt another cup of water to his lips and he drank greedily.  He would have preferred her as the angel to nurse him, but he would take any angel at this point, as long as he got the water and food he needed. 

“Cap’n’s just peeved that ye threatened her life on her ship, she’ll come ‘round, ye’ll see.”  He grinned at him.  Well if this was what irked looked like he was not entirely sure he wanted to see her enraged.

As he finished the cup of water he started feeling some life return to him once more and he flexed his fingers, hoping to feel some life in them despite the ropes still tying his wrists.  Then the man stepped forward and harshly jerked at his arm, causing him to scream in agony, but he thankfully felt his shoulder slip back into place.

“No’ now, Gov’na, I’ll come round to help ye charm her later, ye can do that, can’t ye?  Fer now just rest yer bones; that was a long hang that.”  And with those grudgingly admiring words he disappeared out of his sight.

Nathan lay back against what smelt like a bag of flour while he tried to consider his situation.  Obviously there was not much for him to do with regards to escape, he was at sea with her and her crew for better or for worse, he could only hope that she was just “peeved” as her man had stated and that she could forgive him and grant him a chance to leave at their next port, since she had clearly not known he was on board in the first place.  And he had not been a willing stowaway.

For now he was past exhaustion as he rested his head against his odd pillow and took a deep breath.  At least in the pitch darkness he was out of the baking sun and he had had some water.  He almost felt human again.  Almost, he would feel better once he had had something to eat and hopefully more water to follow.  He would consider it heaven if he could find a pair of gentle hands to massage his sore muscles and something cool for his scorched skin, but he doubted the captain would consider that in his case.

But for now he could try and get some sleep since he had not been as tired in a very long time.  In fact, he had never been this exhausted.  He would rest; there was nothing else for him to do or that he could be capable of doing after his punishment.  He was not even sure he could stand on his feet without falling over at this point.

But as he drifted off to sleep he had a vivid dream of the lady he had kissed so passionately at her season.  He had sensed passion in her though she had not returned his kiss.  But she had tasted heavenly and he wondered if he could find her and make right what he had wronged with her.  Hopefully she would not be married by the time he returned to England since he wanted her.

He craved her lips now as he seemed to be awoken mere minutes from falling asleep and he groaned in protest.  “Come on, gov’na, ‘tis a good meal.  Ye need yer strength as ye need to pull yer weight in the morning.”  That same man’s voice spoke to him.

He felt his hands being released and then intense pins and needles when the blood started flowing freely again.  Then a bowl was stuffed into his hands and the heavenly scent of food wafted to his nostrils.

Hungrily he started gulping down his food and he thought with some dismay that the only true distance between a gentleman and pauper was the time they had between meals.  “What do you mean ‘pull my weight’?”  He asked suddenly when the man’s words sank into his tired mind.

“Well there are no free loaders on this ship, Cap’n won’t allow it, and ye’d win her respect sooner if ye show her ye can handle the work.  She doesna take kindly to foppish men.”  The other man shrugged.

He nodded understanding, if he gave her a reason to respect him, he could request to be left at the next port and then find a way home from there.  He did not intend to stay down here in the hold for the duration of the trip and if he played by her rules he might even walk away with a story to tell as the only lasting consequences of his abduction.  After all, she was the captain, and out here, what she said was law.

Once he had wolfed down the meal without an ounce of nobility, the other man stood from where he had sat patiently.  “Are ye up to standin’ on yer own?  We found ye a place to sleep.”

He raised himself slowly and then stood on weak trembling knees and the man indicated for him to follow him as he trudged to the men’s quarters.  He would gladly work with these men if he could regain his freedom, he did not know her plans for him, but he would do his best to remain out of the slave trade and out of reach of her anger.  He did not mind work at all; in fact he tended to enjoy the freedom that physical movements gave so he was probably better equipped for his near future than most noblemen.

The man showed him to a small bunk near the farthest end from the entrance.  “This is ye, fer now.  The grandest place on the ship aside from the Cap’n’s quarters.”  He stated with a taunting grin before he took his bowl and his expression turned solemn once more.  “Get some rest, three hours of hanging from the mast is no jest.  Ye can start working wi’ us in the mornin’.”

With that he was gone and Nathan gratefully sank onto the hard little bunk and allowed his shaking knees some reprieve while he fell into an exhausted sleep once more.  He had not considered the effects the hanging would have on him and he still felt sore and weak where he lay on the hard little bunk.

It was not the comfortable bed he was used to at his home, but it was a sight better than hanging from the mast.  It would do, and it was not like he had not slept in worse places, though he had certainly slept in better ones.