Pirate Chronicles

The kitchen table was a riot. The pirates were complaining about the food's appearance. Teresa just arched her brow and told them to sit down while Jeu laughed heartily at the sight of the grumbling crew following the woman's orders. Teresa pointed at a seat beside her just across from Jeu. I sat down and heard my stomach growl. I looked down at my food  and I finally understood what the commotion was all about.

Each of us has a bowl of black goo. There were octopus tentacles sticking out from the bowl and the sticky, slimy substance was slowly dripping down. I swallowed hard and my stomach churned. I've never seen such a grotesque food presentation! I was not even sure if they were edible!

My widened eyes shot straight up at Teresa. She was watching me with a smirk on her face. I scrunched my forehead and looked at the ten men still grumbling about the food but at the same time scarfing them down like there was no tomorrow. At first, I thought the pirates did not have a choice but to eat since they needed the nourishment to survive the voyage but after a few spoonfuls of the black goo concoction, the complaints died down.

My curiosity heightened as I looked back at my share. For the love of mercy, it BUBBLED!!! I blinked again. My lips winced but I clenched my fists to control my disgust. Yes, sure enough, I was a princess before  and thus, my taste buds were used to delectable food. However, I had been a slave and a rogue assassin where I experienced the lack of food and forcing myself to eat some of the worst food just to survive. Yet, NONE of those looked like this. I took a deep breath and looked up again.

Jeu caught my eyes. He smiled and encouraged me. "It's not really that bad," he said and scooped another spoonful. He looked at me, opened his mouth and I saw how the bubbling goo touched his tongue and vanished when he closed his mouth. I nearly gagged!

With eyes not leaving mine, he swallowed and smiled again, "Try it. It's not poisonous… promise," he said.

I nodded slowly and looked at the bowl in front of me. I tried to hide it but my hand began to tremble as I reached for my spoon.

"Only brave souls can handle food such as this. A perfect testament of our lifestyle," the man with a band around his head to my right said. It sounded like he was underestimating me.

Ojoz laughed, "Don't scare her or she'll end up starving herself to death!"

Waldo responded, "She did claim she was an assassin and she nearly killed me a while ago." Yes, they were definitely underestimating me!

Teresa cleared her throat and held her hand out at me with an annoyed look. "So, are you just going to stare at the food?" she challenged me.

After she said that, everyone stopped eating and stared at me. Jeu leaned back on his chair, placed his elbow on the arm rest, and rested his chin on his clenched fist. His eyebrow arched a bit and his lips formed a mischievous smile. I could tell he was challenging me as well!

"Not up to something this exotic, princess?" he teased. 

His remark irked me and I narrowed my eyes at him. His crew chuckled as if they were mocking me. Teresa scoffed, "Don't hope for a special treatment here, Your Highness. Grotesque is my cooking style," she said with sarcasm.

I snapped, "I do not require special treatment! AND I AM NOT A PRINCESS!"

"Prove it," Jeu replied coldly. His smirk vanished. He was indeed challenging me!

I met his gaze sternly, took a spoonful of the black goo, and gobbled it up. I was expecting a strange and repulsive taste to shock me but instead I was surprised as the unique delectability of the dish exploded and took my taste buds to a new dimension. I took the spoon out of my mouth and savored the food.

Teresa smirked again. This time she was pleased. Jeu smiled triumphantly at me and everyone resumed eating. I looked at everyone as I finished my food. I don't quite understand this crew. They change their moods ever so quickly. I can't determine whether they were joking, serious, or being sarcastic. Each of them is an enigma to me. I could feel that they are all equally dangerous as their presence gives me the chills and sends shivers up my spine. They were assassins but not like the assassins I have known. I have killed many but I am aware that I am not up to their caliber. 

I watched them one by one as they now ate while calmly conversing with each other, wondering what their skills might be and my eyes stopped at Jeu. He was laughing at what the small strong man said and he smiled at him. Such gentle eyes! Such gentle demeanor! Then, I remembered his speed and the way I could not force him to make an opening when I attacked. The tiny hairs on my arms stood up. How dangerous is this pirate with the gentlest smile I've ever seen?

Jeu felt someone looking at him so he looked back. He touched his lips in reflex as he did that. I gasped as a response. I found his mannerisms alluring. He was staring back and I could not take my eyes off of him. He gave me another sweet and gentle smile with his finger still on his lips. I felt my cheeks warm up! How charming could he get! 

Teresa cleared her throat, "Isn't Captain Jeu's smile so captivating?" she teased.

All the crew shot their eyes at me almost simultaneously. I could feel my cheeks flushed even more.

"So soon?" asked the tallest and lankiest pirate in the crew.

"Pay up," the one beside him elbowed him.

Teresa chuckled so I looked at her questioningly, "There was a bet going on on how fast you will be captivated with the Captain's smile. Patrick said during breakfast. So, he won."

My blood boiled. I slammed my hands on the table as I stood up, "I am not captivated and WILL NEVER BE CAPTIVATED by his foolish smile!!!"

Jeu watched me with an amused face while his crew laughed! I stomped out of the kitchen in rage and embarrassment.. I heard Jeu scolded his crew quietly as I stepped out but they remained laughing at my expense. What did I get myself into?!