A play on chance

“Yes, sir. I am. But I would like to know why you are doing all this for me.” Calypso said. She was led to a chair, and avoided the servant’s skin.
“There are a number of reasons. You were in need of some care; otherwise you wouldn’t live for many more years. Your keeper had ideas to sell you into slavery; your skin is dark enough that you could be taken as one. My friend, mister smith as you put it, also requested that I take care of you. He was quite spooked after that night. And also, you said something. A few something’s actually that caught my attention.” Will said.
“Like your name?” Calypso asked quietly.
“That was one of them. But you said something else, Him. If I remember correctly. Who is this Him?” Will said.
“Yes, I would have said Barbossa. But I knew the keeper would talk. People already think I’m cursed.” Calypso said.
“I’ve heard as much. My question is, how do you know these names, and what did you mean when you said ‘I saw Him too.’?” Will asked.
“When your friend caught my arms, I wasn’t wearing me gloves. I touched his skin. Something odd happened. Usually right away I get images and things like that, but it was like my power had met something it liked, something familiar. Then they came. I saw that captain, I saw his memories. The violent ones. He’s a pirate.” Calypso said.
“That he is. I cannot do a thing against him either. He is a friend of mine.” Will said.
The door opened again, admitting smells. She found herself very hungry. The food was set down and Will went about getting things set up. Elizabeth came in and spoke to him, but left again. He set a plate in front of her, and silverware.
“Where is Miss Elizabeth going to?” Calypso asked.
“She has an errand to run. She will return. Her father wishes her company in a dispute.” Will said. He sat down, close to her.
“I don’t know what to say. This all seems a dream to me. But I don’t think it possible to be this hungry in a dream.” She said.
“Eat, use the silverware the best you can. I know the place you come from well enough. They only use silverware to pick their teeth.” Will said.
“Ah, yes. The ladies in the tavern I was at did teach me a few things. Things my keeper neglected, or didn’t know about. They even taught me to read. The ladies there loved me. The sometimes dressed me up. They kept telling me that if I was lucky, someday I would meet a rich man who would take me away from that dump and allow me a chance at a life I should have had at birth. They was nice ladies. Lots of them died from disease. Poor women. My keeper never allowed them to see the doctor for the slightest wheeze.” Calypso said.
“I see. You are away from that now. I may be no rich man, at least not by what they meant, but I intend to help you stay away from those type of places. Unless my friend has anything to do with it. He will have you corrupted within the week.” Will said.
Calypso smiled, and then began to eat. She was starved, to the point that she saw her ribs. When she began to feel full, she stopped. Will too had stopped and was smiling at her. She wiped her face clean, feeling her cheeks flush.
“Did I do something wrong Mister Turner?” She asked.
“No, I have never seen a woman eat that much. Not even Elizabeth eats that much. Yet you are so thin. And I still cannot get over the fact that I have seen your face before.” Will said.
“As I mentioned to the lady. You must have seen me shouting wares.” Calypso said.
“Hmm, I doubt it. There is something familiar about you. Anyway. I am off. You are to stay in this house. I don’t doubt that you would wish for some sleep. You are still healing.” Will said.
“Yes, sir. Am I allowed to practice here? I learned fighting from one of the ladies. She was a cat. She taught me to defend myself using the pole of a broom.” Calypso said.
“I think that would be okay. Stay in the courtyard, and do not over exert. I know how it is to do that. I am a blacksmith.” He said.
As soon as he was gone, leaving her in the courtyard with a stick a little taller than she, and about the diameter of a shilling. She practiced as her skirts allowed. Soon she tired, and did warm down exercises. She went back into the house. The maids were all a twitter. They helped her into something for sleeping, saying the mistress was gone to gather a dress or two for her, and ask her father for some of her old things that would fit. Calypso smiled, feeling content for the first time she could remember. She fell asleep almost instantly. The days passed, Calypso grew stronger. Will began to understand her power to see things better. He also helped her to learn more about it, and attempt to control it. She was getting better at it. Soon it would become something subconscious. She wore gloves most of the time still.
“Calypso! Time for dinner!” Will shouted upstairs.