Chapter Three

The Plan:

Danica pulled Ariadne into her fathers office and carefully shut the door. She walked over to the window and closed the shutters. The room instantly got dark. The sunlight spelling in from the window cracks as Danica blindly makes her way to the desk. Feeling around she found a candle on the desk and lit it. The amber glow lit the room and Danica motioned for Ariadne to come over. Adriane raised her eyebrow at her.

“This seems a little over the top, what do you got going on Dani?” Ariadne asked as she walked slowly over to the desk. 

“Ok but you need to be open minded.” Danica said to her, making a face at her.

“Ok ok, just tell me.” Ariadne said wanting to know what exactly was going on.

Danica frowned and then began pulling the book and journal out of her bag. She set them both down in front of Ariadne. Ariadne looked down at them and back to Danica confused. Her face asked Danica what was this? Danica sighed, rolling her eyes. 

“This is dad’s old journal. Before he started the trace business with Ma.” Danica explains.

Ariadne waved her hand in a “get on with it” motion. Danica waved her hand back at her. As she pulled out the book.

“So this isn't an ordinary book. Look, see here.” Danica explained as she opened the secret compartment in the book.

Ariadne stepped forward looking at it. Dancia then pulled out an old style map. Ariadne looked at the paper. It was stained with age and creased over and over again. Ariadne didn't know how it was still intact. Danica unrolled the map and Ariadne immediately noticed her father’s hand writing. She saw his marking and followed the route with her eyes.

“The Hollow?” She asked, running her hands over her father’s handwriting.

Danica slammed open his journal and showed her the entry mentioning The Hollow. Adraine skimmed it and glanced back at her sister trying to piece together what Danica was trying to tell her. 

“Treasure...it's a treasure map.” Danica said, spelling it out for her.

“And..”Ariadne said, her forehead creasing with confusion.

“Oh for love. Treasure map Ari as in money, as in gold. As in we need money.” Danica said, rolling her eyes at her sister.

“You want us to go treasure hunting.” Ariadne said, getting frustrated.

“Are you not here. Am I not speaking english?” Danica asked sarcastically.

“Or maybe I am talking to a child. Dani we cannot leave to go after some treasure that may or may not be real. While Mom’s and Dad’s hard work disappears.” Ari said, becoming angry.

“Ari, this might be the solution. It’s Dad’s handwriting, it's Dad’s map. His journal he thought it was real.” Danica said, trying to not get angry at Adriane.

“Dani, I'm not talking about this anymore.” Adriane said, starting to walk to the door.

“Fine, go cower to those bastards. Go strike a deal. Mom and Dad would be so proud.” Danica said in anger.

Ariadne froze in the doorway, her hands clenched by her side. She was starting to shake from being angry. She forced herself to walk through the door holding her tongue. She wasn't going to say anything to her sister she was going to regret. Danica instantly felt bad as she watched her sister leave. She put the map back into the  binding of the book. Stuffing them back into her bag. She looked around the room before storming out too.

Ariadne had stormed up to her room, Danica knew by the way the door slammed as she made it out to the kitchen. Danica's aggravation growing she decided to leave. She stomped out the door and kept walking. She didn't know where she was going but her anger kept growing the more she replayed the conversation her and Ariadne just had. How could she not think it was a good idea? She was the only one that had an idea? Ariadne seemed like she just wanted to give in to the Smiths. Danica thought as she walked harder and faster. Her feet pounding on the pavement as she went along. 

Before long she found herself down by the docks. The sea air was refreshing as she paused watching the men come and go from the ships. Her eyes wandered over the boats. The Crown was sitting proudly waiting for its next voyage. Her parents had taken The Morning Star and auntie Claire and uncle Jack had been gone for a little bit now with The Evening Star. 

“I would need one of the ships that they wouldn't miss right away but that would be strong and had all the quirks of the others.” Danica said out loud looking over the other ships of the companies. 

Most of them had started to become just trade ships, there were very few that acted a punch when they became mostly trading ships. Her father’s pride and joy was The Morning Star and the Crown fell second. She couldn't take The Crown Ariadne would notice right away. Her eyes scanned the ships more carefully. 

“The North Star.” She whispered

She began walking to it ignoring everyone on the dock. She made her way up the walkway to it and began studying it. She walked about the ship mentally taking notes of things. The men on board moved out of her way as she did. Three masses, equipped with cannons, and it had all the little details her father liked. The ship was made from a darker wood, it had a hughe of rich brown in it but it also wanted to be grey. She walked up the stairway sliding her hand over the railing as she did. She smiled seeing the detail her father put into this ship. A blue turquoise line went up the side of the handle rail, looking about this turquoise color was etched into the ship. Across the rails out lining the cabin doors. As she reached the upper deck she made her way to the helm. Standing in front of the wheel, she stepped forward, taking the wheel in her hands. It felt like it was meant to be hers. The wheel had the same turquoise blue lines down each side of it. She smiled. She glanced up at the sails, they were gray in color but the very top sail, where the colors of the ship flew, was a dark grey sail and in the middle of it a turquoise color star. This was her ship, she felt it in her gut, felt it in her bones. It was meant to be hers.

“Can I help you with something Miss?” One of the crew members came up to her asking.

“Aye, prepare the ship to be ready to sail. We're leaving tonight.” Danica said with authority.

The man looked at her a little confused but nodded and went to gather the crew. Another man approached her, he was older, his hair just starting to become salt and pepper. He smiled at her as he approached her. Danica could see the crow's feet at his eyes as he smiled.

“Dani! What brings you on the ship?” Adam asked as he approached.

“Adam! I almost didn't recognize you.” Danica laughed.

“I came to let the crew know we are leaving tonight...late.” Danica smiled brightly.

“Leaving? Late?” Adam asked, raising an eyebrow at her with a small smile on his lips.

“Aye.” Danica said with a nod.

“Dani, what’s going on? I’ve known you since you were a babe. I can tell when you're up to something.” Adam smirked.

“Oh fine but follow me. I don't need Ari finding out.” Danica said, shooting him a look as she made her way away from the helm.

Adam followed Danica across the lower deck and out to the docks. He paused looking at the ship as he waited to hear what was going on. He glanced back at Danica and motioned for her to start talking. She sighed and let a big breath out.

“So you probably know that Smith and Brother’s have been underhanding all of our contracts. We are losing money. We need a good sum of money for everything to work. The deadline is three weeks.” Danica said frustrated thinking about the whole situation.

Adam frowned slightly and motioned for her to ocnintune.

“I found one of my father’s old journals and a map. The map is marked for treasure at a place called The Hollow. If we can find this treasure and get back in time we can settle everything.” Danica explained.

“Dani, how do you even know if it is real?” Adam asked her, his tone not condescending but concerned.

“My father’s journal entries. It’s all there and the map isn't just marked. The voyage is charted.” Danica said to him trying to become upset with him.

“I just don't know lass.” Adam said quietly.

“You have your father’s journal?” Jacob asked quietly, coming up from behind the two as he walked by on the dock.

“Jacob. Aye that she does.” Adam smiled at Jacob as he nodded saying his name.

“I only heard a piece of it. What are you doing with the journal Dani?” Jacob asked.

“Jacob, you're one fo the few that have known my father the longest. Have you heard of the Hollow?” Danica asked him softly.

“How do you know about the Hollow?” Jacob asked her.

Adam raised an eyebrow at him and turned to studying him as Danica responded.

“So you do know it...I have the map.” Danica said quietly.

“You found his map?” Jacob asked, repeating her.

“So it’s true?” Adam asked Jacob.

“Aye, it's real. Gavin had one heck of a time with that map. The only good thing about it was that's how he met Morgan. It’s real all right but no one has tried to go after it.” Jacob said.

“I am.” Danica said with certainty.

Jacob studied her, he recognized that look. He had seen it before in Morgan and in Claire. Danica had their fire and there was no telling her no when she set her mind to something.

“Allright lass but I’m steering.” Jacob nodded.

“All right?” Adam repeated.

“We're leaving tonight. We can’t tell Ari. when it's dark we will meet here.” Danica said to both of them.

“Aye, I will find a few more men that can handle this type of voyage.” Jacob said to her.

“So it’s settled, we leave tonight.” Danica said to both of them.

Adam stood there confused but if this was what was happening he was being left behind. He watched Danica leave the dock, he shook his head softly and went to speak to Jacob. Jacob laughed and shook his head at him. He patted him on the back before heading off down the dock as well.

“Well I guess I'll make sure the ship is taken care of.” Adam muttered going to the ship.

Patrick happened to be walking by the docks when he overheard the whole conversation. He debated with himself what to do. He should go tell his father but everything his father was doing was wrong and he disagreed with it. He watched Danica walk back towards her home, her long raven hair moving back and forth as she did. She was something else he thought. He could go for a good adventure.