Chapter Seven

Stars:

"Are you okay? "Jason asked, trying to help Morgan stand up.

"I'm fine. Honestly I'm pretty much used to it by now." She didn't mean to let that out but  Jason didn't pick up on it.

He thought she was just talking about Gavin.

"He's not like that. The last few months have really changed him. His wife did die in a fire and it was his first mate that started it. Travis, that's why he keeps speaking of a Travis." Jason said studying her face.

She shrugged lightly and waited for him to continue.

"Gavin and Travis grew up together. Did everything together. Became pirates together. They were amazing. Could read each other's minds. Then Christina came along. She was this blonde hair, blue eyes little thing and Gavin melted. No one knew much about her or where she came from but all that didn't matter the moment Gavin laid eyes on her. Now back when they were pirating they came in possession of a map. It was some rare treasure. To make sure they continue being fair to each other and they tore it down the middle. Gavin had the end, being the captain he got to keep the part with the treasure. So anyways Christina came about and Gavin saw a whole different life. They hadn't even been together more then a month and Gavin retired; brought a small little cottage for them. He took his piece of the map with him. The crew went their separate ways. Some stayed with Travis, others went to find a new captain. It wasn't too long after they started living together that the house fire happened. I found Gavin sitting outside the ashes clinching a note in his hand.  It was from Travis admitting he burnt the house down and calling him back to the sea." Jason said, staring at the captain's cabin.

"Since that day the only thing he can think of is killing Travis for taking everything from him." He said softer.

Morgan noted that she felt bad for him but not completely. Every man seems to have some story to justify their actions.

She looked at Jason and said "Revenge won't do anything. It will just consume him and everything around him. Even when he gets it. Believe me I've watched it happen."

She heard a small giggle and knew it was from Claire. She seemed to look herself over, nodded to Jason and followed the noise.

He slammed the door behind him. He rushed over to his desk gripping it with both hands. He could feel every part of himself shaking. He needed a drink.  He needed space. He glanced around the cabin trying to control his anger. Seeing the map in front of him made him angier. He swung his arm across the desk. Everything on it crashed to the floor.  He made his way over to a tall wooden cabinet in the corner of the room. Opening it up and taking out the bottle. He didn't waste any time. He grabbed a hold of the bottle pulling the top off and taking a long swig. He leaned back against the wall and slowly sank down to the floor. He was losing himself. He had to get a grip. It wouldn't be long now and then it would be over. If he wavered or faltered, he could lose everything. His crew admired him for being leveled. He needed to be that person. He needed to be strong and needed to control himself. He exhaled trying to grip. He thought about Morgan. She looked frightened of him; her green eyes betrayed her as she had tried to hide it. He gritted his teeth. The image of her trying to get away from him flashed in his mind. He closed his eyes, letting his head slump back into the wall. What was wrong with him?

The sun was setting, Morgan and Claire we're sitting by the railing of the ship watching it go down over the ocean.  The sunrays were dancing across the waves, giving everything a golden glow  Claire rested her head in Morgan's lap. As Morgan ran her hand through her soft curls. She watches Claire in moments like this; she was almost a kid like she is supposed to be. Morgan could feel her wounds on her back seeping through her bandages. Her whole back was throbbing from earlier. She shut her eyes pushing back the pain as she listened to Jason and Claire talk.

" So where do you come from? "Claire asked Jason with a raised eyebrow.

"Originally I came from a small island where I grew up with my parents. Then I became an orphan. I was living on the streets when I met Gavin." He said short and sweet.

"Morgan was an orphan too and then she came to live with us. Her parents got sick and died. She didn't. She's my cousin. I was lucky she came to live with us. She stopped-" Claire flinched as Morgan had reached over and pinched her.

"So you became a pirate after meeting Gavin?" Morgan asked, trying to turn the conversation.

Jason noticed the exchange between the girls but he left it alone. Morgan clearly didn't want any information out about them.

"Yes....as soon as he got a ship. I became his narrator." He said his eyes on the horizon.

Morgan went back to looking out over the sea. The golden shimmer had faded and the stars were starting to twinkle.

"How do you know you're going the right way?" Claire asked.

"We use the sun and the sky." Jason answered her.

 "But at night there's no sun." She said innocently

"At night we use the stars." He smiled pointing up to the sky.

Claire's eyes shifted upwards. Morgan watched a big smile come over her face. She could see her wheels turning as she studied the dark sky.

"But they all look the same, " She stated, still looking upwards.

 Morgan was looking up at the sky as well smiling to herself. It warmed her heart that Jason didn't mind the endless chatter. She had been watching him off and on through the conversation and he had never been annoyed.

" You have to look for the right one." A deep voice said from behind them.

Morgan shifted slightly, sitting straighter hearing his voice. She wasn't sure what to expect and didn't want anything else to continue. Claire didn't notice the change in Morgan's body language and how her guard was now up. Morgan found herself counting his footsteps as he walked across the deck approaching them.

"The right one? They all look the same." Claire said, turning her head one way and then another trying to find the "right one." 

"Captain." Jason started with a nod as Gavin walked by him.

It was almost like he was feeling Gavin out with the one word.

He nodded back at Jason and squatted down beside Claire. Morgan was studying him. Her heart was racing. He didn't seem hostile right now. She watched him smile slightly at Claire as his eye scanned the sky. He pointed upwards, finding the star he was looking for.

"Right there. That's the one." He said, showing Claire.

His eyes slightly glanced at Morgan. She was expressionless, it was close to the blank shut down expression she had earlier but he could feel her studying him and waiting. Her green eyes were masked but burned into him.

"That one?" He tore his eyes from Morgan and smiled down at Claire.

"Yes. It's called the north star. If you can find that one you'll always know where you're heading." He glanced back to Morgan who was now looking up at the sky.

Claire looked like she was memorizing it. She was really looking hard. Her brows scrunched together. Morgan cracked a smile looking at her. 

"What about fog?" Claire asked. 

"Ah lass you're gonna know everything one day." Jason said through his chuckles.

Gavin looked like he was about to answer her when Morgan stood up.

"Claire, that's enough. It's late. Tell Mr. Jason thank you." 

"Ugh fine. Can I ask you more stuff tomorrow?" Claire said, popping up.

"Of course lass." He chuckled.

Claire skipped over to Morgan happily. Morgan ruffled her hair and then looked at Gavin; her face flashed a few different emotions. Concern, fear, nervousness.

"Captain....are we still able to stay in your cabin?" She asked her voice flat but you could tell it took alot for her to ask.

"Of course." He said quietly.

Morgan nodded and made her way to the cabin. Claire is still chatting next to her.

Gavin let a long sigh he been holding in as he watched them walk away. He ran his hand through his hair, he tended to do  this when he was frustrated which was a lot lately.

"Ya know boss you could go talk to her." Jason said quietly.

"I know. I just..." He almost looked defeated.

"Just go talk to her. She's been through alot too captain. Even a blind man can see that."  Jason said watching Gavin shift his feet debating with himself.

"You just need to heal, captain. It's ok. " Jason said quietly.

Gavin stiffened and the nervousness was gone. He needed to get things in order.

"I'll heal when he's dead." Gavin sneered.

Morgan stepped into the cabin. It was dark. She had Claire wait in the doorway so she could find a candle to light. Stumbling, she made her way over to his desk. She had seen a candle on it before. She scraped her foot against something and heard what sounded like paper. Reaching out she found the desk and felt around on it. Nothing was on the desk.

"Morgan?" Claire called to her, being a little impatient.

"Hang on." She called to Claire as she reached downwards.

Everything was on the floor. She blindly felt around until she felt the candle grabbing a hold of it. She placed it on the desk. She made her way around the desk knocking over more items on the floor. She pulled open the desk draw and grabbed hold of the matches. She quickly lit the candle. She held back a surprise look when she confirmed everything that was one the desk was indeed on the floor. She frowned looking at the mess.

"What happened?" Claire asked as she came into the cabin.

Anger....that's what happened Morgan thought looking down. She smiled up at Claire and pointed to the bed.

" I knocked some stuff over trying to find the candle. Now bed." She lied.

"I didn't hear you do that" Claire started.

"Bed." Morgan said, narrowing her eyes at Claire.

"Ugh fine." She grumbled plopping down on the bed.

Morgan began picking up the mess. She grabbed hold of the map and placed it down first making sure it wasn't damaged. She then picked up the various books and placed them back in their spots. She grabbed his compass, compass rose, and nocturnal from the floor and placed them to the side of the desk. The hour glass that used to sit in the right hand corner was on the floor cracked. Sand spilt out of it. She sighed, picking up it and the glass pieces. She spotted a small can in the corner for trash and placed it in there. Picking the can up she brought it to the desk to begin scooping up the sand. As she did, a bottle rolled out from under the desk. Whiskey. She felt her stomach sour looking at it. She picked the bottle up knowing it was part of the cause of this mess. She chunked it into the can too. 

Claire was tossing and turning while Morgan worked. She looked over at her to find her blue eyes watching her.

"Can you tell me the story?" Claire asked, batting her eyes.

Morgan smiled standing up.

"Ok." She said dusting the sand off her knee and made her way to Claire.

She sat on the bed, her back facing the door and brushed a strand of Claire's golden hair out of her eye.

"Once upon a time there were two sisters. One younger sister and an older sister. The younger sister had hair the color of sunshine and eyes bluer and brighter than the sky." Morgan began.

"And the older sister had eyes green like the grass and hair the color of fire!" Claire yelled excitedly.

" Shh. They lived in a small house in the woods. With the golden hair sister's father. He was a loving father until one day he left and an evil man took his place." Morgan said quietly.

"The evil man would punish the girls often but the Fire hair sister would always protect the golden hair sister. She would never ever let anything happen to her. She loved her so much. One day while the evil man was sleeping the fire hair sister came up with a plan. They would leave the house in the woods and find a new home." Morgan said, watching Claire's eyes start to close.

"So in the middle of the night the girls ran away. They ran so far away the evil man could never find them. The fire hair sister found them a house to live in. The kitchen in the house always had food. The golden-haired sister could run and play in their yard and be happy. They lived happily ever after." Morgan said her voice slowly getting quieter as she told the story.

Claire was fast asleep as Morgan finished. She sighed deeply, hanging her head.

"I will find happiness for you." Morgan whispered as she leaned forward kissing Claire on the forehead.