The Admiral

Arden Lexington

By the time we hit the warm, crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean, James was starting to regain his strength. He was feverish for days, muttering things that no one could make any sense of. I snuck in one night and thought I heard something about radiant angels, and it scared me.

When men close to the edge talk of angels and the radiance of heaven it’s usually a precursor to death.

Charlotte has taken it upon herself to care for him and is insisting on giving me regular, very detailed updates on his condition even though I never asked her for them. When she starts to rant about his gorgeous, fiery eyes I draw a line.

“Charlotte, you will not go back in there, do you understand?” I give nothing away as we walk along the deck to meet Thomas.

“But why? He will be gone very soon, why do you ruin my chances with the Ice God?”

I stop and face her, brows raised in amusement, “Ice God? Really?”

“Not just because he was found frozen amongst the icebergs,” Charlotte gets closer and wraps the hair from my long, dark wig seductively around her finger, “not because you brought him back to life with your hot body,” she drops my hair and slaps my shoulder dejectedly, “but because his heart is made of ice and cares nothing for me,” she pouts.

I try to hide my happiness at hearing James isn’t interested in her. It’s interesting because Charlotte is a Goddess to look at; long golden hair, curves in all the right places, and her French twang are a force to be reckoned with.

“Right. Well, you know what Charlotte, I think you might need a day or two on land and sort out some of these, what’s the word, frustrations you’ve been working up.”

I pat her on the shoulder before going to walk past. I’m stopped in my tracks the second I see Ox and Azizi helping James and the younger man, Adam, outside. He shields his eyes from the bright light of the shining sun, and they help him to sit down.

He looks better, a little flushed and clammy but at least he’s up and about. Some time in the warm, salty air and sunlight will do him good. The sense of relief that washes over me is a surprise. It’s almost as if I’ve been holding my breath all week and I can suddenly take a deep, satisfying breath again.

Charlotte tuts and shakes her head at me with an all-knowing smile on her face.

“Oh, go draw a fucking map,” I mutter as I make my way up the rigging. I might not be able to walk past James to go meet with Thomas, but I can go over to him.

Tonight is when we’re planning on having James and Adam debrief us on what happened to their ship and crew. They shouldn’t have been that far North and I need to know what the hell Captain Reynolds was thinking.

The equipment on our ships isn’t designed to sail into such cold waters. We have machinery on board that seize up, all the captains know this, and the whole fucking crew knows this.

I’m so fucking pissed off at the whole situation. We’ll have to take a few experienced crewmembers from each ship and mix some new recruits to replace the lives we lost. The Fleet hasn’t lost a ship like that in twenty years, this is the first one during my time as Admiral. A whole ship, a whole fucking ship of 78 crew, and only two survivors?

I highly doubt that even with five International Fleet Academies there’d be enough experienced bodies to throw into the mix.

Once we have all the details, I’ll call a meeting of Commodores and see if they have any recommendations for the higher ranks for the new crew.

As I sit on the main yard of the main mast, I can’t help but take a moment to look out at the vast sea. It’s beautiful here, and it’s the perfect temperature. We’ll be in Barbados soon for a quick re-stock of supplies, and all but for the thieving monkeys, I’d say it’s paradise on Earth.

I look around to plan my way across to the foremast only to notice Charlotte talking with James and young Adam below. Adam is smiling at her, her charms obviously working on him, yet James’ eyes are fixed on me.

I grip the rope in my hand tighter. The intensity of his gaze sets my insides on fire the same way it has always done. He can’t possibly recognize me after all these years. I tear my eyes off James’s and resume to go about my business. I managed to avoid him the rest of the day until the crew all went to gather in the galley for dinner.

Thomas and my Officers made themselves comfortable at the main table where Giddeon will write a transcript. I’ve been down here for a while now, and after a few rums, I find myself watching Giddeon set up his ledgers and pens. He’s not an ugly guy, in fact, I’d say he’s downright handsome, very handsome, beautiful even, like a dark elf shrouded in mystery. His messy jet-black hair falls over his green eyes set under prominent brows, a strong jaw, and a muscular build. He’s lovely to look at, I can see why Charlotte has her sights set on him.

Giddeon catches me blatantly watching him. For a moment he just eyes me curiously and smirks. I’m not one to look away; years of being in charge have gone to my head, but I do anyway, I’d hate to give him a false sense of hope and avert my eyes.

I already know I’m going to spend my life alone. I’m going to die out here on the ocean somewhere, my body will be tossed overboard. It’ll be as if I never existed only to be replaced by someone else who will carry on the legend of the infamous Admiral of the International Pirate Hunter’s Fleet. That’s what we sign up for; all the glory goes to perpetuate the myth, and we sacrifice everything for it.

When James makes his way down into the galley that’s when my heart lurches out of my chest and gets stuck in my throat. He wears his uniform well; they must have cleaned it for him, we don’t keep spares around.

I turn away as James walks past me to sit across from Thomas. The last of the crew trickles into the galley, Charlotte comes to sit next to me, and everyone waits quietly to hear James’s account of what happened to The Orion.