A Party

An intro to the book.

It was alive with laughter and dancing onboard the Lady Lovingbond. A cheerful gathering of prestigious figures in the royal family were here to celebrate the marriage of a young man and maiden. A small group of chamber musicians were playing down below in the ship's quarters. The rum was plentiful, the interior was decorated with white lace; drunken men were starting to sing.

"Cheers to Price Edward! And cheers to his lovely bride!" Shouted a stout man with a deep voice. The entire room raised their glasses as to salute the happy couple who were sitting together at the head of the table.

The bride blushed and giggled as she covered her face. She was a young woman of almost twenty. A dreamy brunette who was shy but very attractive. Any man would consider himself lucky to be wed to her. "Come now darling smile, this is what we been dreaming about for years." Prince Edward said to his wife. "It wouldn't be right if you didn't have a good time tonight." 

"I am having a good time." Chimed to bride. "It's just hard to believe that this is really happening. I am so happy!" The party continued on. Drinking songs and sea shanties were sung. The dancing had turned into a scene of drunken foolishness. With rum covering the floor the storm continued on outside.

Up on the deck, there was a lone man; the helmsman. Prince Ewards best friend and the most skilled man to handle a ship in the whole royal navy. With soaked boots and a death grip on the helm, he braved the storm with seemingly mad intentions. "Curse this rotten ship! Said the helmsman. "Curse this wretched wedding! She should be mine! No man but I should have her. If death is the only way, then let it be." Suddenly he turned the ship hard tilting the port side high. Bottles crashed to the floor and the party turned into panic as the storm grew violent in its waves and lightning. The Prince rushed up the deck and ran to the helm. "John! what on earth are you doing? Have you gone mad?" The prince fought with John for control of the helm. Throwing John to the ground the prince attempted to steer the ship back on its course. John got up in a furious rage. Wiping his mouth he withdrew his dagger and plunged it into the prince's ribs. He then wrapped his arm around the prince and drew him close to whisper into his ear. "By god as my witness Edward, I shall have my bride. If not in this life but in the next, I'll have her all to myself. Mark my words." John growled the last words to the prince as he withdrew his dagger. The prince fell dead into the ocean as his bride watched in horror. Paralyzed by what she just witnessed. "We shall have our day my darling." Shouted John above the thunder and rain. "My dear Annette, with you as my bride, we shall have our day! If it takes a hundred years, you shall be mine." He then turned the ship away from a giant wave that was approaching. Turning the ship onto its side it soon sank into the sea. Never seen again. Not a soul survived.