16 THE 6TH ACCOUNT: MUSICIANS' TALES AND TUNES 5

We were running back to the boats as fast as we could, evading traps here and there. Jacob was running behind me. We had to leave the island immediately before the women cannibals could get creative and escape the dilemma we put them into. Upon seeing us, Neville signalled the other pirates to make haste and prepared the boats.

Once we reached the boats, Jacob quickly held my elbow and directed me to the boat he would be on and we sat down beside each other. I wanted to shrug off his hold on me but I do not want to make any scene. Especially that I had just a spat with Thaddaeus. But the image of him and Namibel acting so disgustingly was still engraved into my brain and I could not shake my annoyance. I admit, it angered me. It STILL angers me!

I was silent the entire time. The pirates were laughing and singing as we rowed away from the cannibal island but I am not in the mood.

"Miss Darling did a wonderful job fighting with the chieftess," Paco bragged about me like a father proud of his daughter's achievements. "And that was her first real sword fight," he added.

Most of the pirates clapped and cheered. I gave them a faint smile, "I stumbled in the end and almost died. Jacob and Paco saved me… again," I replied. I didn't mean to be cynical but I'm just not in the mood for celebrating.

Jacob furrowed his brows. He leaned towards me and whispered, "Did you get hurt? Are you alr--"

"Do. Not. Talk. To. Me," I cut him off and turned away from him.

Jacob did not bother me after that. We rowed the whole night and took turns between rowing and sleeping. It was almost dawn when we saw what we were searching for. Labyrinth was anchored near another island. Jacob's hunch was correct… again.

"How did you..?" I had to ask even if I was still mad. I motioned to Labyrinth.

Jacob understood my question right away. "Wind direction. Besides, Thaddaeus invented a contraption attached on the sails that could move it quicker to catch the wind. Others do not know of this and would just think the sails were stuck. I made my calculations based on those two factors," he responded.

After that, he reminded the crew of the plan on how to take back Labyrinth. We all quietly boarded the ship after roping the boats and securing them to her. Lowen quickly took a musket from the gunport and checked right away if it had bullets. The other gunners followed his lead. Zaki and Sandlot anchored up. Thaddaeus and the musicians went to the ratlines to ready the sail. Jacob retrieved one of his pistols that he hid in a secret compartment near the sails.

When all were in position, Jacob stood on the main deck. He raised his gun up and fired. With that sound, the gang of thieves immediately went out from the quarters and the fight between our group and theirs ensued. There were guns shooting left and right, sword clashing here and there. I saw the musicians swinging from ratline to ratline that confused the enemies. This time, we had the upper hand. We know Labyrinth more than these thieves and this time, we were armed.

My mood was helping me become more aggressive as I attacked. I had a pistol on my left hand and my sword on my right. No one would ever think that I am a noblewoman on the way I moved. The imagery of Namibel and Jacob was still fresh in my brain so I was taking my frustrations and irritation by aiming at the thieves' legs. Lady luck was on my side because they tend to underestimate me. Thus, it was too late for them to retaliate.

We were winning. The gang of thieves were being thrown off of Labyrinth here and there. Then, I ran out of bullets. One of the thieves saw my predicament and grabbed me as a hostage. "STOP! Do not move or I'll blow her beautiful brains out!" he said and pointed his gun at my right temple.

Everyone stopped attacking at once. Jacob clenched his jaw and his fist. Lowen was about to aim but the thief saw him. "DROP IT!" he said and pressed the gun harder on my temple.

"Captain?" Lowen asked.

"Drop it!" Jacob quickly said. Lowen followed.

We were at a stalemate again! Just like with the cannibals. Nobody dared to move. I hated that! I was livid. Ughh!!! I felt like an explosion within me was about to happen. First, because I hate it when I am treated as a damsel in distress. I was angered by the way the pirates were immobile and uncertain of what to do because of me! Second, when I looked to the left I saw Thaddaeus eyeing me disdainfully again! Third, the thief that was holding me captive smelled like vinegar which reminded me of Laurel's story, and last…

LASTLY, I can still remember how Jacob's lips trailed down from Namibel's mouth to her throat. I groaned in rage. I quickly searched my sides for the dagger I armed myself with and without hesitation, I stabbed the thief on his thigh. He cursed and winced in pain. But I stood my ground. I elbowed him. We were near the left side of Labyrinth so he was off-balanced and fell in the waters. I was panting after.

Jacob quickly ran to my direction and checked if the thief was really thrown overboard. When he was sure that I was safe, he looked at me and chuckled. "Hell hath no fury with a woman scorned, eh?"

"Oh shut your trap!" I said in anger.

Jacob's eyebrows met, "Excuse me?" he said.

"Oh, you heard me! I said be quiet!" I raged.

Jacob crossed his arms, "Why are you irritated again?"

I scowled at him. "Again? I was irritated the whole time…" I fumed. "Furious even!"

Jacob scoffed. "And pray tell, why is that?" he asked with sarcasm in his voice.

His sarcasm made me angrier. "YOU…. YOU ARE AGGRAVATING!!!" I screamed. I did not care if the other pirates could hear us. I was angry. I could not help but raise my voice.

As a result Jacob became irritated as well. "Really now, Darling! Again?" he retaliated. "Why don't you enlighten me? What did I DO THIS TIME that irked you so! Hmm?" he added scornfully.

I gaped at him in disbelief. How dare he act like he had forgotten already? I put my hands on my waist. "You! And Namibel!"

Jacob narrowed his eyes. "Were you jealous again?"

HA! The nerve of this man! I pointed at myself. "Me?!!! Jealous!!! Again!!!? How many times do I tell you that I do not feel jealous!" I argued.

Jacob crossed his arms. "Then why are you so livid, huh?! Your face is raging red!" he shot at me.

I widened my eyes at him. "Why wouldn't I be? Here we are worried about what will happen to you in the hands of those cannibals and then what…" I sneered.

"WHAT?" he snapped.

"You… you…" I jabbed his chest with my finger repeatedly. "You.. you were flirting! You are such a pervert!" I replied. My anger was rising and rising every second of our argument.

Jacob's face turned red. He was beginning to be furious. "Excuse me? I was not flirting!"

I put my hands on my waist again, "Oh really? And what do you call what Paco and I saw? Huh? You were kissing her… the enemy... and enjoying every minute of it!" I sassed.

Jacob scoffed. "Well isn't that what I bargained for? For the sake of YOUR life? Have you forgotten? She wanted me to father her children in exchange for YOUR freedom!" he scowled back.

It was my turn to scoff, "Fath… Father her children!!! My freedom!!! That is not the point. The point was that you were enjoying every minute of it!"

"And what if I did?! Can I not enjoy the last moments of my life before I get eaten?!" he reasoned. His voice becoming louder and louder

"See? You admitted it! You were enjoying it!"

"What if I am?! What is it to you?!"

Fifer played a tune with his harmonica. Tibet sang, "They should just kiss and make up… kiss and make up… kiss and make up… Everything will be alright when they kis--"

Jacob and I turned to the musicians at the same time. "Oh be quiet or I'll shoot you!"

Tibet and Fifer shrugged their shoulders and left. One by one, the pirates left us at the main deck to perform their duties and responsibilities. Some of them just shrugged our banters off. Obviously, our bickering had become a routine and a sense of normalcy on Labyrinth.

Jacob and I looked back at each other. Both of us glaring and furious! No one was giving in. No one was giving up.

"I will not concede to you this time, princess," Jacob warned and stepped forward.

I scoffed and I stepped forward as well, determined to win "Neither will I, pervert," I replied and arched my brow.