The Return of The Pirate's Revenge

It had been such a short time since Cassandra had managed to get our escape and in doing so we were now cursed. I was only allowed to step ashore during night and she could only have one day ashore every two years.

I had been instructed to hide her chest which contained her heart on the island she specified and she now had the key. Cassandra of course was out for her own revenge and she knew exactly where the Young Duchess was at this time.

As night fell, I was instructed to go ashore and capture her as she slept. I now had one eye and one hand too but had several of the new crew with me. As we arrived on the shore, we were very quiet so as not to wake anyone and we approached the back of the Palace where we noticed the young Duchess with her light on getting ready for bed on the ground floor, it must have been a guest chamber. When the light went out, we began our move.

We closed in on the castle and as we went we slit the throats of the guards patrolling and we entered the castle to where Katherine's room was and she had two guards outside it. We were very quiet in approaching and as we came up behind them, we slit their throats and I slowly and very quietly opened the door to where Katherine was sleeping in her bed. I nodded to the other crew members as I was limited to what I could do and approaching the bed, I put my hand over Katherine's mouth startling her as she woke up and look petrified at seeing me again.

"Surprise Duchess, seeing me I bet you did not expect that. My Captain would very much like to see you. I say to her and before she could even scream or reply, the crew place a cloth gag in her mouth and then bag her head as we snuck back out unnoticed to the port where the ship was docked. I whispered to Katherine as she was struggling but her hands were bound behind her back. "You are going to regret everything you did I say with a giggle as she is walked up onto the ship and placed on her knees in the middle of the deck and then the ship set sail and as it did, I removed the bag from her head and she looked around.

I looked around at everyone and I could see Robert smiling being proud of himself. I knew that they would somehow or another escape from that Island. . I know that they are going to kill me.  Robert and Cassandra are vile people and they are cowards. And I know that by them being cowards they will torture me first. But I will not give them the satisfaction of showing fear. That is what Cassandra is waiting to see from me. I will miss my family......

Robert I really cannot say that I am surprised to see you. I just did not know when. Actually I already regret seeing you.

I was already aboard my ship as I was now marooned to the see and I was very impressed when I heard Robert coke back onto the ship with a prisoner. I was very hopeful I would be able to exact my revenge. I came out from my cabin and through my shirt a scar could be seen where my heart had been cut out. I looked at Robert. "Tobert I must say that I am impressed by what you are the crew have done and with such quickness too. Very well done. I say as I then look at my prisoner as she looked towards me.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't Katherine Tudor, the lady who has caused me so much distress and pain recently. I have so been waiting for this moment to finally exact my revenge and kill you Katherine. You are probably wondering how I escaped from that island, well those two dim pirates Phoebe and your foul mother marooned me on that Cursed Island where no one escapes from alive, well they should not have underestimated me for I made a deal with the islands mage and hear I am. I am going enjoy your torture and shortly I will present my gift to you Katherine.

I looked around and I see Cassandra Pennyfeather.  I hate this woman but I do not like to use the word hate.  Actually I do not care about her or Robert.  I wanted them to die but Phoebe wanted them to be marooned on this island.

Well, well, well.  Cassandra Pennyfeather.  I hoped that I would never see you again.  I never caused you trouble.  I was being attacked and I was defending myself.  You were tormenting me.  Taking me while I slept.  You wanted to harm me.  Robert kicked me hurting my stomach.  What did I do to you specifically?   I did not come after you.  I finally spoke to Elizabeth Hampton.  She apologized to me for the pain that she caused me.  But you claim that I did an injustice to you.  I did not start this why did you come after me.  I am a stranger to you.  But that is of no importance to you. You mentioned that you killed men so that you could kidnap me again but you never said how you were able to free yourself from the island. I was told that no one has been able to escape, but you did. How?

I looked at Katherine and smirked as she was curious about how I escaped. I looked at her and was angry she used the same words as me.

"How dare you use my same words back to me, you do that again and I will hurt you more. You offended me by locking me in that prison in that horrible mask and you ruined what I had planned for that Hampton woman. I had no choice but to take you at night as during the day it would not have been possible.

I am pleased that Robert kicked you and hurt you, for that is minor for what I will do to you. Now that I have you here, you are going to be brutally tortured and then you will die I slow death when I take you to be hanged.

That stupid pirate Phoebe and that pathetic mother of yours should have killed me, but they were stupid enough to put me on that island. What you hear from it is true, no one is allowed to leave there buy I made a deal with the mage that ruled the island, but because of it I am now cursed but also glad as I finally have my chance to kill you.

You see in exchange for my freedom, I had to sacrifice my heart to a chest, for which I have the key and then spend two years at sea with one day ashore, but Robert here can go ashore only at night, that is why day is no good for him to go ashore, but anyway I am here now and I have a little present for you which you will recognise. I say to her as I then held up the iron mask that she had put me in before her. I could see fear on the face.

"Look familiar? Well now you will see what it is like to wear it and see how you like it. Unlike mine I modified yours to have a mouth hole so you can still talk. I say to her and nod to the crew and they hold her steady as I came forward with the iron mask and put it over Katherine's face.

She is right I do not like to be in this contraption.  I will try not to show her my fear.  I do not want to give her the satisfaction of knowing that she has taken power from me.  But yes I am frightened.

Before you do this let me speak please. I know that you think that I did something to you. Caused you pain. I only defended myself. In France I wanted you arrested and placed in the Bastille. I did not want to place you in the iron mask. King Philip insisted that it be done. I wanted you secured so that you would not hurt anyone. I spoke with Elizabeth Hampton. She was hurt that you lied about her being with King James and her having a daughter. But I did not set out to injure you. Right now you are going out of your way to kill me. I do not know why. You said that your heart is locked away is that literal or metaphorical.?

I listened to her and she continued to plead her innocence.
"You had me arrested and placed in the Bastille. You should not have done that. I am tired of all your words. You continuously disrupt my plans every time. You are right, I will kill you just not yet. My heart is literally locked in a chest but still beating, that is the curse. You need not know. Now enough talk, it is time to put you in the mask." I say nodding to my crew as they place it on Katherine.

I could not believe what I was hearing from her. She really did believe she was innocent.

"You foiled the plans I had for Elizabeth and for Abigail Smith, but I will exact revenge. You see at least I know no one will ever be able to get into the chest with my heart let alone open it as I myself have the key to it. Now I think we have had enough of you talking, time to go into the mask and you know after that, remember when we were in Hungary and I promised I would tie you to my mast naked, well you have that to look forward too Katherine. I say as the crew close the mask on her face, she could see nothing now.

Cassandra.  What were the plans I foiled.  You hurt Elizabeth Hampton in her heart.  What you put her through was something that she will never forget.  She was under the impression that Queen Marie was the reason for her pain.  Her anger from this was ultimately taken out on me.  I am not involved with your plans against Elizabeth.  As for Abigail I suppose that is the reason why I am here.  But whatever you think that Abigail has done to you I am not involved with that either.  Why is your heart in a chest.  That is strange that your heart is locked in a chest.  Do you think that someone is going to do something with your heart ?. I thought that she was already without her heart.  Especially after what she did to someone she called a friend.  It is rather funny that her heart is locked away.  This is just a literal statement.

What is happening.  I listened to Cassandra.  She wants to humiliate me in the worse way.  I wish I never heard the name Cassandra Pennyfeather or Elizabeth Hampton.  Elizabeth is really the reason why I am here.  How am I going to get out of this.  Why did Phoebe keep them alive.  She bargain her way off of this island.  Is it truly cursed.  How can it be if she is able to get away.  I am angry and I want them died.  No one knows where I am.  This witch and her minions watches me all of the time.  I hear them whispering and laughing and I am raging and all I want to do is get my hands on her heart.  How can someone find me.

I looked at Katherine as she was struggling with the mask on. My whole story about being cursed was a great lie and I would enjoy seeing how she dealt with it. As I was preparing what I would do to her next, another pirate ship pulled up alongside mine and I knew who it belonged to. It was Nadia.

I had heard what Cassandra had done in capturing the young Duchess and I did not know why she held a grudge against her. The instructions I had given her were very clear, she was not to hurt the Duchess but only rob her and take her away so she would not spoil my grand plans I had for my mother and father in Sweden and many other monarchs too as it was. I sent my man onto her ship.
"Go and talk to her and explain to her the consequences of defying me. I said as he went aboard the ship. I had a cloth over my face so the Duchess would not know who I was.

I listened to the command that Nadia gave me and it was clear that she was quite annoyed at my sister once again. I left the ship and came aboard Cassandra's ship as she looked happy with herself and I glanced around and looked at the young Duchess whom I knew would recognise me as the iron mask was removed from her face so she could see me.

I turned to look at my sister. "For God sake Cassandra, what do you think you are doing? Your orders were to rob her and the others not kidnap her and torture her. This is the second time you have defied our ladies orders as you decided to act against Elizabeth Hampton rather than follow orders. You are to release the Duchess at once. I say as I turned to look at Katherine whom I knew would be surprised by this, she had only ever seen me with Elizabeth Hampton.

Finally that dreaded iron mask was taken off and see that Matthew Brown was here on the ship. I heard him say that Cassandra was to release me. I can not understand why does she hate me. None of that matters now.

Matthew what are you doing here. I saw Elizabeth before she left. She was very kind. I believed what she says. She wants to get better and perhaps get better acquainted. Have you spoken to her. Did you know that Queen Mary my aunt has had her baby. They have a baby girl and she is beautiful. If you speak to her would you please tell her for me. Can I get off this ship now?

I escorted Katherine off of Cassandra's ship and on to my own ship that Nadia was also on. I had given Cassandra a firm warning.

"You do not know this Katherine but Cassandra does happen to be my sister, as hard as that may sound. She is a loose cannon and do not believe what she tells you about being cursed, it is all crap. I can tell you now that she does not like you because you are prettier than she is and that Elizabeth actually likes you and believe me she is not easy to please. Cassandra has been informed that you are the daughter of King Henry of England who she fears so you are safe from her.

I had not heard that your aunt gave birth, I am pleased for them both. Elizabeth is doing well herself. She is recovering well and her husband's sister is a great support to her. You should visit Belgium, her home. Did you know that she too is with child?

We will take you ashore as you are not our prisoner and you may thank the Captain here for your release. You may well remember her. I say as Nadia came over and removed her hood so Katherine could see her.

I looked at Matthew with a puzzled look as he spoke.  

Matthew thank you for getting me away from Cassandra.  I know that she does not like me but I never understood why.  I am surprised to learn that she is your sister but being a loose canon is an understatement.  I spoke to Elizabeth just before she left to return to her home.  She has written to me telling me how her session with her doctor is going.  I am proud of the progress she has made.  She did tell me that she is with child and that is wonderful news.  It is good that she is doing well. Perhaps I will visit her in Belgium.

But Cassandra knew that King Henry is my father because she knew of my aunt Queen Mary.  I am certain that Elizabeth told her about it.  But I hope that this time she will stop trying to kill me.  I would just like some peace.  Everything going so fast.   I have never been in so many countries in such a short period of time.   Nadia thank you for releasing me.  I spoke to your mother and I said that she should not be to harsh.  You only knew what you were told.  I can understand that.  I wish that we met under better circumstances but I am happy that we met.  I hope that I will see you in happier times.  I hope that I can call you friend.  Again thank you both again for your kindness.  Where will you go now?  Wherever you go I hope that you will have a safe voyage.

I smiled at Katherine.

"Katherine, I can only apologise for any inconvenience that my sister has caused you, she does not know why she does it most of the time. She takes after mother, who was the same. She will not cause you further trouble. Elizabeth is doing really well and from when I spoke with her a few days ago, she was doing much better. You should attend the ball they are having in Belgium at the weekend to celebrate the King's birthday. I have my invitation and I can bring a guest, why not join me Katherine, you would like the way she is now.

That may well be true that Cassandra knew that but she does not always engage very well with others in a social conversation, but with that news she will likely stop the trouble. We are both heading to Belgium if you would care to join us there Katherine? We should go into the cabin, for it looks as if a strong storm is coming.

I thought his invitation.  I would like to come with them.  I started thinking about my mother and father.  I also am thinking about meeting Phillipe finally.  But I think that out will be nice to see Elizabeth Hampton since I did tell that I would go to see her.

Thank you Matthew perhaps I will like to come to Belgium with you.  I know that Elizabeth would like to see me now that she is getting better.  Especially since we met on less than amiable circumstances.  So yes I would like to visit Elizabeth.  I thank you.

I smiled at Katherine.

"I am glad that you accepted my invitation to Belgium, I am not sure if you have ever been there before but it is a very beautiful country. We shall sail for Belgium now if you do not mind.

I was aboard the ship and in the short time that Katherine had been here I had already begun to like her. I looked towards her as she accepted the invitation from Matthew.

"I wanted to thank you Katherine for speaking with mother, I was able to unite properly with my family and she got father to see reason, however he has forbidden me to attend public outings for a whole month. That is why I have something for you. I was invited to the ball in Belgium too, but given that father has grounded me for a month I cannot attend it and so I would like to hand the invitation to you. I know how much you care about your mother so why not give the invitation to her and invite her to go with you. She can take a companion. I say handing her the invitation.