Chapter 26: The Battle between Good and Evil

The next few days passed in a blur of mindless activities and endless hours. Charlisse did her best to keep her hopes up and not succumb to the discouragement and fear that ate away at her. With Merrick in prisonhis fate yet unknownand her father somewhere in Port Royal, conflicting emotions assailed her. Her father's proximity tugged at her heart. Like the grapnels of a ship, it wrenched the distance between them, dragging her closer and closer. But when their ships collided, would she find him the vicious pirate everyone said he was, seeking only what he could get from her without offering any love in return? And what of Merrick? Thoughts of him locked in that dank cell consumed her like a fire that burned but was never quenched.