Beauty's Beast Read online

  Beauty's Beast

  African Shaman

  Paulina Woods

  Published by Paulina Woods, 2017.

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  BEAUTY'S BEAST

  First edition. February 9, 2017.

  Copyright © 2017 Paulina Woods.

  Written by Paulina Woods.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  From The Author

  Mist of Remembrance | Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Ship of Death | Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Isle of Plenty | Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Home | Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Two Years Later

  Other Works | Witches Amulet Series

  African Shaman

  Sign up for Paulina Woods's Mailing List

  From The Author

  I never dreamed that one day I would be writing stories I had dreamed about since I was a young girl. Yes I loved reading the Grimm fairytales but I always figured something was missing. I mean come on a girl does want to read about people who look like her and talk like her. So one day as I was watching Beauty and the Beast a story idea hit me between the eyes and wouldn’t let go until I had finished the story.

  Was it easy? Nope. I struggled to get each part of this story right but I did know one thing, my female lead was going to be strong. I didn't want a woman who cried over spilled milk or had to depend on a man. Nope I wanted a sea goddess and I think I found her in Beauty. I can only hope that in this story readers can find the escape I did when I was younger.

  Bless Be.

  Mist of Remembrance

  Chapter One

  Beauty stood on the quarterdeck feet braced against the bucking of the waves. Her loose fitting black pants and red shirt gently flapped in the wind. The ends of the scarf wrapped around her head slapped against the back of her neck. She held a hand up to shade her eyes from the midday sun as Hugos, her helmsman, kept the ship on a steady course.

  They had just weathered a summer storm and she could see another brewing on the western horizon. A sigh passed her lips as she tried to think of a port close by that they could find shelter in. Her crew may be devoted but they just might mutiny if they had to power through another storm while still making repairs from the last.

  "Captain."

  Beauty's hand dropped as she glanced to her right and watched as Amina, her quartermaster and best friend, climbed the stairs from the lower deck. Amina was a formidable woman with nappy hair she kept shaved close to her head, pitch-black skin, and a scowl that could flay a person alive. Her ability to laugh at everything had kept Beauty sane on more than one occasion.

  "Aye?"

  "My bones are aching and my head is spinning. Another storm is on the way." Amina slapped her on the back hard enough to jar her teeth. "A good time to be alive."

  “Wipe that smile off your face.” Beauty scowled and tried to rub the sore spot Amina's show of affection had left behind. “A storm is no laughing matter.”

  “Nay, but to feel the spray on ones’ face, makes you remember you’re alive.” Amina braced her feet and clasped her hands behind her back. “A day without a whip on my back is a good day, aye.”

  "Aye." Beauty agreed as the scowl slowly slid from her face. She gripped the rail as she stared down at the men and women of her crew. Each one had been a slave at one point in their lives. Even the one pale skin among them had been an indentured servant whose master had not allowed him to leave when his time was done. The oldest was a man of sixty, and because of his bent fingers, he couldn’t help on deck but he could make anything taste amazing. She had asked him once how he did it and he just smiled. Her eyes swung toward a young girl of ten who was playing with a cornhusk doll. Because everyone had to work, Beauty had given the young lady the job of cabin girl. Every morning she would make sure the captain's quarters were cleaned. Many of the crew were working in scant amounts of clothing and their scars stood out in stark contrast to their ebony skin. "And they call us savages."

  "At least we are free from the physical chains they put on us."

  “Dolphins.” The cry went up from the crew as many rushed to the side of the ship to watch the majestic animals play in the water. The high-pitched giggle of the cabin girl reached Beauty's ears and a grin threatened to form.

  "Captain, there's a ship moving fast on our starboard." Amina's voiced pulled her from her musing.

  “What colors are they flying?” Beauty asked. The crew seemed unaware that a ship approached as they continued to watch the dolphins play. "A merchant?"

  "Nay," Amina rubbed her hands together. "They are flying black."

  A jolt of excitement shot through Beauty and she laughed. A merchant would have been flying the colors of their country, instead they were out for blood and today they would find their prey hunted back. "Hoist Jolly Roger! No mercy." Beauty stepped back from the railing and clasped her hands behind her back. Maybe today would bring some much-needed excitement.

  "Stop your lolly gagging, you wankers, to arms," Amina yelled. “No mercy.”

  An excited murmur started between the crew as they rushed to their battle stations. Beauty watched with pride as a black flag with skull and crossbones was raised. Beauty itched for a good fight and hoped the captain wouldn’t turn tail when he figured out he wasn't up against normal pirates. Beauty could just make out the captain standing on his quarterdeck staring at them through his spyglass. He was not one they had run into before and if he knew what was good for him he would turn around and not look back. With the price on her head and the heads of her crew, many captains had lost sight of the fact that they were going up against a very ruthless crew. As the ship continued to approach Beauty knew this captain needed a reminder.

  A quick glance showed her crew already in place. Six manned the cannons ready to fire on her command; others leaned against the railing, guns cocked. When her eyes came to rest back on the captain she knew the exact moment he realized he was in trouble. He dropped his spyglass and started shouting orders to his crew but it was too late.

  “Steady, steady.” Beauty held her sword in the air, excitement making it quiver. “Fire.”

  Boom after boom rocked the air, as each cannon was unloaded on the approaching ship. Each cannon ball found a home and wood splinters shot into the air.

  “Next round. Ready.”

  “Aye captain.” The cry rang in the air.

  “Fire.”

  The satisfying sound of cracking wood and the screams of the crew as they were thrown into the ocean brought a cheer from her crew.

  As a white flag was slowly hoisted, Beauty turned to Amina with a smile.

  "Do we trust it?"

  "They cannot put up much more of a fight." Amina jumped to the lower deck and made her way to the first jolly boat, which was lowered immediately.

  Fingers tapping a tone on the railing, Beauty watched the boarding crew pull up alongside the sinking ship and board. They had to move fast if they were going to salvage anything before the ship sank to its watery grave. She only counted five crewmembers left on deck and they were all on their knees with their hands in the air. She watched, impatiently, as her quartermaster spoke with the five crew members before pointed back at The Freedom. They swung aboard and were imme
diately surrounded and liberated of any weapons they had. With a glance at Hugos, she jumped to the lower deck and headed over to the kneeling men.

  “We request to be taken on as crew.” The tallest spoke for the group.

  “Where is the rest of the crew?” Beauty asked.

  “They ran.” The speaker pointed north where she could make out two jolly boats making a hasty retreat.

  “The captain left his crew?” She asked in disbelief.

  “We are slaves.” The speaker said. “The captain left us to go down with his ship. Said we were better off dead.”

  Beauty scowled and glared after the retreating boats, they wouldn’t live another day. “You will agree to the contract as crew. We all share in any booty found and if you want to be dropped off anywhere you need to pay your way.”

  Beauty left the men to the care of her crew and climbed back onto the quarterdeck. Impatiently she waited for Amina to return so they could chase after the captain that thought leaving any of his crew behind was a good idea.

  “Captain.” Amina called as she swung back on board. “Can we go after the crew now?”

  “You have to ask? They left part of their crew to die.” A grumbling rose from her crew. “Do not fear, they will regret the day their mothers birthed them. See to it the five new crew men have a duty and a place to sleep.” She nodded at Hugos who turned the ship in chase of the two fast escaping jolly boats.

  The men in the boats heard them coming, Beauty could see the fear tighten their shoulders. The voice of the captain, who was standing in the foremost of the closet boat, drifted over the waves.

  “Row men. Row for your lives depend on it.”

  Beauty smiled. No matter how fast they rowed they had an appointment with death and she was going to make sure they kept it.

  As soon as they were close enough, six of her crew tossed ropes over the side of the ship and swung down, dropping into the smaller boats. As was their custom, her crew overpowered the British and used their knives to leave small cuts on their legs, arms and chest before tossing them into the sea. Let them try to out swim the large predators in the sea. Beauty laughed.

  “Captain.” One of her crew called from where she stood in one of the jolly boats. “There be a box on board. What are we to do with it?”

  “Bring it to me you simpleton.” Beauty yelled.

  As the crew members climbed back onto the ship Beauty watched as a few of the bodies of her enemy sank below the waves.

  Chapter Two

  Beauty tipped her head back and welcomed the burn as she poured whiskey down her throat. The rowdy uplifted voices of the crew drifted through the closed door of the captain's cabin. This was her refuge. The one place where she was no longer captain but a woman trying to survive. She looked around and grimaced at the unappealing set up but it couldn’t be helped. She kept her gold for the day when they would have a port but maybe she should buy a rug or two. The door opened and Amina slipped in and closed it behind her.

  “The crew is in high spirits.” Amina tilted her head towards the door.

  “They celebrate life.” Beauty saluted the door with the bottle in her hand before taking another gulp. “Why don’t we see what the British captain was so keen on hiding?” She picked up the oddly shaped box and turned it in her hand. "This is not wood as I first thought but some type of ivory. But there is no keyhole."

  “Why can’t they just be simple," Amina moaned. "You know a key we could take from someone.”

  "It looks like it's a puzzle." Beauty bit her lip as she stared hard at the contraption.

  "It could just be an empty container."

  "If it was empty the captain wouldn't have taken it with him." Beauty looked up at Amina and shook her head. "No whatever is inside is important enough to for him to want to carry it to his death."

  "True but how are we to open it?"

  “I think I got it.” Beauty leaned forward and twisted the top of the box and a loud click sounded. "Twist this way." A loud pop sounded as the top slid open. "What is this?" She pulled out a folded piece of paper. "Slave papers? But why would he care if they were lost to the sea?"

  "I don’t think its slave papers." Amina shook her head. "He left his slaves to die."

  Beauty slowly unfolded the paper and spread it on the table, running her hands over it to smooth it out. "It's a map."

  Amina picked up the box and examined it. "There's writing on the underside of the top. Should I call Joe?"

  Joe had been an indentured servant turned unwilling slave. He had been taught to read enough to help with his master's dealings and Beauty usually called upon him when something needed to be read.

  "Aye."

  Amina went to the door and opened it yelling for Joe. While they waited, Beauty handed Amina a bottle of whiskey and they reminisced about the adventures of the day.

  “Aye Captain.” A short red faced man stumbled into the cabin. “What ya need?”

  “I see the whiskey has been good to you.” Beauty motioned to the map on the table. "We need you to read what's on that box."

  “Sure.” He burped and hiccupped. “But I was just getting to the good part of me story and don’t want to keep my audience waiting.”

  Beauty handed him the box. “This won’t take but a moment of your time.”

  He squinted at the writing and frowned.

  “Well.” Beauty demanded. “What does it say?”

  "Not all is as it seems. What you see is not real. What you hear cannot be seen. What you touch cannot be taken. What you smell is no longer there. Not all treasures are meant to be found. Follow the moon for it will show the way."

  Beauty frowned. “That's all, you're sure?”

  Joe placed the box on the table and took a swig from the jug in his hand. “Yup.”

  Beauty looked at Amina in confusion before dismissing Joe. “Don’t tell anyone about this.”

  “Aye captain.” He stumbled out shutting the door behind him.

  Beauty sat back and took a long pull from the whiskey. "That just leaves more questions than answers."

  "Aye but tomorrow we follow the map and hopefully it shows us a great treasure."

  Amina held her bottle up in a toast before tossing back the contents.

  BEAUTY PACED THE QUARTERDECK with one eye on the crew and the other on the sun. A day had never seemed so long, not even when she had been forced to work the fields. When the moon finally started to peek over the horizon and the sun started to fall below Beauty stopped her pacing and gripped the handrail, it was almost time. The moon was already a quarter way into the sky when the last rays of the sun slipped below the waves and the stars started to show their face. A low murmur rose from the crew as they waited to see what would happen next.

  "Captain," a crewmember yelled. "A fast-moving mist be on the starboard."

  Beauty glanced at Amina from the side of her eye, this was the moment they had been waiting for. Would the writing on the box come true? “All hands to your stations.”

  “This is going to be an adventure like no other.” Amina said with an evil grin. “Just wait until we get into port with the booty we shall have.”

  “Don’t count it yet.” Beauty warned. “This would be nothing more than wishful thinking.”

  “Captain.” Hugos called with alarm in his voice. “That is not mist but a storm. Never have I seen one move as fast and close to the water."

  Beauty turned and stared at the storm racing towards them. What had started out as a low mist was now a raging bank of clouds with lighting and the sound of thunder. “Turn the ship, catch wind and get us out of here.” Beauty cried.

  “Yes captain.”

  Just as the mist reached them a roar rocked the ship and darkness descended.

  Chapter Three

  Deep within the earth the beast stirred, someone approached his prison. He growled as he shook out his fur and took the first breaths of consciousness in over two centuries. With shaking legs, he made his way from the enc
lave he used to slumber and stumbled to the larger cave he called home. As the heat from the molten lava singed his fur he dragged his claws on the wall to sharpen them.

  His heart raced as he stopped in the opening of a large cave. This cave and the treasure it held was the reason he was trapped below the earth. His greed for the power the treasure held was the reason his people were dead never to be remembered. He was the last of the tribe entrusted to bring the Tree of Life to the last holdout when darkness descended. He had been young and stupid. Believing he could control the darkness with the power of the tree and so he had betrayed his family. He had watched them each be taken by the darkness and destroyed. When he closed his eyes, he could still hear the screams, as they were ripped apart. He could hear the last words of the high shaman as they cursed him. When the darkness was pushed back he had found himself locked below the earth. But that was not punishment enough, the shaman had cursed him to walk as a beast and he could only view the world through water. Never to walk the earth as a free man again.

  Cries of pain cut through his thoughts and pulled him back to the reason he had awaken. Whoever approached one of the entryways to his prison had awakened the curse that entrapped him.

  Curiosity got the better of him and he called upon one power he still had, astral projection, and used the mist to travel above. His breath rushed out of his lungs as he beheld the most beautiful woman he had seen in centuries, no, ever. She stood proud on a ship, eyes closed, fist clenching the railing but refusing to yield to the memories he knew were assaulting her.

  The dark swirling around the ship did nothing to distract from her magnificent dark skin, which looked smooth to the touch. Her teeth were bared as she fought to keep the screams, her throat was trying to expel, in. Her bravery spoke to a part of him he thought long dead and his soul stirred.