Tied by the hands to the ship's mast, Jane wished the pirates had used another scarf like the ones covering their mouths to cover her eyes. She wished she couldn't see what was happening. The seas were rough and a storm was rolling in. The rain had started, pouring down upon them. Yet her captors did not seem at all fazed.
A bolt of lightening cued their movement toward her. The four men side-stepped around her in a tight circle, sharks circling their prey.She looked around her as they came closer. But she did not struggle. She knew there was no point. Not when she was tied to the mast.
Just as suddenly, they lept away, once again circling their prey. Little did they realise, she'd slowly been wriggling and twisting herself free once they'd come toward her, miraculously aiding her. One of them, though she wasn't sure which, must have cut the rope binding her. Or at least loosened it enough to allow her to slip free.
Jane raised her hands in a small show of victory. There were no traces of fear upon her face. Only a fierce determination to escape. But, just as she thought she were free, the men lunged forward once more, grabbing her arms, two on each side. This satisfied her somewhat though. Were they that fearful of her that they felt it necessary for so many to aid in her restraint? Jane waved them off, easily, but another pair came up to restrain her in their place. Again, she slid her arms from their grip.
She stepped forward, bending to gather her skirts. She fanned it out, revealing the intricate gold and navy pattern hidden beneath. She stood tall and strong, staring straight ahead. At them. Daring them to return her gaze. She would be messed with no longer. They would not take her prisoner though. She would not allow it.
Three of the men had disappeared, and the one who remained approached her with matching determination, and an equally steely gaze. Jane wondered whether the others had been scared off by her bird-like display. Bulls that had lost their nerve at the sight of the red flag. But, she respected the man who remained. If he was afraid, he did not let it show on his face. He stood tall, ready to face his fear head on. Brave enough to look her in the eye.
The man extended his arm, scooping it around her waist and turning her in a circle. The entire time, he held her gaze. The intensity between them was so thick one of the others could have cut it with their swords. Jane wondered if the rain falling down on them could melt it away. But she didn't know that she wanted it to.
He let her go suddenly, the speed of it sending her outward. But his grip on her hand remained. All it took was a slight pull and she was sent flying back. He led her down the length of the ship, pausing every few steps to turn and look her in the eye. While any other lady may have beenn fearful of this, Jane was not. But then, Jane was not any other lady.
They stopped when they could not go any further, and Jane reached out, trusting that her captor would not let her go as she leant out, rising to the tips of her toes before she was once again pulled back and away, partially by him, and partially by the force of the wave that had hit. He did not falter, standing strong. He was used to this, she guessed.
Jane and her captor returned to the others, standing at their post by the mast just as quickly .It was almost as if they were frozen in place, ready to attack at a moment's notice. At so much as a breath in their direction from their leader.
Before Jane knew what was happening, she found herself stumbling toward them. The three of them moved into place as a net to catch her while their leader strode away. They dipped her backwards, leaning toward her. Jane could smell the salty spray, almost feel it as it splashed up toward them...
Jane took a moment to gain her composure, regathering her skirts. Her steely gaze of the determination returned, she came at him with flapping skirts. The others trailed along behind her, shadowing her every move as their leader approached once more. He scooped her up and spun her round again. Managing to squeeze behind him, Jane finally got the chance to push him away.
Jane raised her arms above her head. If he wanted a dance battle, a dance battle he would have. And she would beat him at his own game. She moved from side to side, circling her arms in perfect timing with the movement of her steps. The allure of the movement too much to resist, her captors soon joined her as the spun, stepped and circled their arms.
Jane made to move her arms upward in a show of final victory. The moment they were in a perfect line parallel to the floor, her captors lunged. But she swung her arms loose with such force that they were thrown to the ground. She lifted her arms in the air a brief moment before she let them fall again and simply stood tall as the four men surrounding her bowed down. Just as she had planned, she was the victor.
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Inspired by the paso doble from #TeamMcVal on Dancing with the Stars, which you can watch here
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