Free Open Waters by Valerie Mores

she knew would never have taken such abuse from anyone, not without a sarcastic comment or an insult to their person.
    But there was still a sliver of doubt in Jane, one she tried desperately to squash, but was having very little success.
    "But I'm familiar with ruses," Lock continued, "and know one when I see it."
    Cecily's smile just heated further. "Then ya should know my offer is genuine, Cap'ain."
    Lock paused at that, seeming to contemplate Cecily's subtle challenge. Doubt flickered across his face briefly before his arrogance won out once more and he grinned predatorily at her.
    "The following night, you will watch as your so-called Captain is ravaged to prove your intentions are, in fact, genuine. Until then, you shall not be let out of my sight."
    Cecily glanced over at Jane, her eyes full of hatred and a wicked grin on her face. "It would be my pleasure."
    Lock nodded in satisfaction. Without taking his eyes or his hands off Cecily, he addressed his crew, "Lock 'em in the brig!"
    She glanced up, seeing that her crew—no more than fifteen strong with the addition of the new recruits, who had been found and dragged up on deck—remained at gunpoint, all their weapons thrown into a pile on the port side of the main deck. All except Cooksley and his two supporters, who, when offered to join Lock's crew, had accepted readily and were now standing amongst them looking happier than they had even been under her command.
    "Traitorous bastards," Jane muttered under her breath.
    But she couldn't help feel a bit of warmth and pride seeping back into her soul. Most of her crew had stayed loyal to her, had refused to join Lock's crew, even knowing they wouldn't live to see another sunrise should they choose to do so. She didn't delude herself into thinking that in any way gave her an advantage, but it did give her some comfort and strength. Jane shifted in the grip of the two men, earning her a growl and a painful squeeze to her upper arm from the one on her right.
    "Aye, Captain," one of Lock's men guarding Jane's crew stated, his tone betraying his confusion at the order, but his loyalty making him follow it nonetheless. Jane understood his confusion. Once offered a place in the victorious pirate's crew, the remaining members were killed and thrown overboard, or left to sink with the ship. For all intents and purposes, the brig should be emptying at this point, not filling.
    Lock tore his eyes from Cecily, who continued to pet him adoringly, and grinned at his men. "It's a long, arduous journey back home, and I think we've found our entertainment!"
    Cheers of "aye" answered Lock's proclamation, Cooksley and his mates the loudest of them all.  And they began herding her crew toward the hatch and the brig below.
    Jane herself was propelled forward, the men restraining her walking her forward to join her crew in the hold.
    But Lock's voice rang out once more, stopping the three of them in their tracks. "Not that one," he commanded, his gaze glinting at Jane, as Cecily ignored her from his side. "She's coming with me."
    *~*~*
    Jane kicked at the floor with her heel in frustration. Of course, he would keep her in her own quarters. Because being humiliated, degraded, having her purity threatened, crew taken, and title stripped were not enough. No, she had to be locked up in her own quarters, too.
    Lock had produced shackles from somewhere—she'd be surprised if they weren't the ones she kept on board the Tantibus, because that just seemed fitting right about now—and secured her wrists to the bedpost of her own bed. It was done in such a way that she could neither stand properly nor get atop the bed, having to instead awkwardly sit on the floor, chained up like an animal. Just another cut to her pride and dignity.
    "Comfortable, Captain ?" Lock sneered, crouching down in front of her, devoid of both his coat and hat, making  himself at home in her quarters, the bilge rat.
    Jane spat at him, not daring to look at Cecily standing