Chapter 1: MAX

There was a knock at the door. I put down the brush I was supposed to be using to do my hair – it seemed to just make it worse – and called, "Come in."

The knob turned and my handmaiden came in holding a corset. I backed into my dressing table.

"Nuh uh," I said sternly. "No way."

She sighed like a long-suffering parent. I seem to have that effect on people.

"Lady Maximum, I'm afraid I must insist," she told me. "Your parents ordered you to wed today, did you forget?"

I sighed and scrubbed my face. My mother, Lady Martinez, and father, Lord Batchelder, were the highest up in society. They ordered me to marry, and if I didn't chose they'd pick a suitable courter for me. I didn't chose. They made arrangements.

I was to wed Sir Dylan Gunther-Hagen, the Golden Boy of the village. He lived in a castle, for the gods sake! He was basically a prince. But I didn't like him. In fact, I detested him.

"Come on, my lady," the maid insisted, holding out the corset. I jumped away.

Not half an hour later, I was in the most decorative dress in the history of fashion, and I could barely breathe. It was pure white, like dove-down, with a high back and a long train and veil. My wedding dress. I heaved for air as I got into the carriage. My back prickled as the family's darkest kept secret brushed its feathers against my skin.

Yes I did say feathers.

My parents believe I was cursed by the gods, but I thought it was the kindest blessing anyone had given me. I was born with wings – like an angel. I used to dream as a little girl that I was destined to meet a winged boy and fall in love with him. I laughed at this now. My parents were cruel when it came to my wings: no one could know, no one could see, no one could feel. I was doomed to wear tight and painful dresses for the rest of my life and never showing my true self to anyone.

All in all, it sucked major butt.

My mother glared at me as I pressed my hand to my chest, trying to get my breath back.

"Maximum," she scolded, "don't be foolish. It's not that bad."

I wheezed and glowered back at her.

"It is," I growled, "for woman with something to put in the corset!"

Her cheeks flushed red and my father gave me a disgusted look.

"Hold your tongue, Maximum," he ordered. I crossed my arms and leant back, glaring. I hated my parents. I always have and I'm sure I always will. They were the worst in the world. In all my seventeen years the only person I've detested more than them was the Gunter-Hagen's.

The carriage started moving and I stayed as far away from them as I could, thinking the first option that came up I'd take it and run.

I looked out the window as we moved into the forest, watching the trees slide by. This was almost like Death Way, or the march to the Gallows for my own personal hanging. I'd rather that than marry Dylan.

Not an hour later, I was standing behind the closed doors of the main church room where hundreds of people were waiting for me to enter. I felt sick. Not nervous or anything, just plain disgusted and up-chuck-all-over. I was marrying Dylan. Dylan Gunther-Hagen. Not many knew – because he actually got rid of the people who did – but he was an evil man. Anyone who defied him was smuggled away during the night and never seen again. He convicted people suspected at pirates when there was no evidence. He hated pirates. I never knew why, but I did know he had a mortal enemy who was a Captain of a ship at sea. There isn't a word for how much they loathed each other. His name was all over the place on Wanted posters – Fang Ride, Captain of the Black Feather Flight. The bounty on his head was more than my family even had, and we were one of the richest in the district.

The organ started playing and the doors in front of me opened slowly. I saw the crowds of people craning their necks to see me, and I ignored them and moodily stalked down the aisle. My father was supposed to escort me, but instead it was Dylan's, Lord Gunther-Hagen. I recoiled at his very presence, and when he had to hold my arm I nearly threw up. By the time we reached the alter, I was considering faking my own death.

Dylan gave me a charming smile. I returned it with a snarl.

The preacher started preaching – and there is a whole career in a nutshell. I wanted him to go preach to someone who cared. Like, you know, not me.

"Do you, Maximum Martinez, take Dylan Gunther-Hagen, to be your wedded and trusted husband, till death do you part?"

We would be parting sooner than expected then. I wouldn't spend a single night with the guy.

"Might I answer that for her, Bishop?" A voice high above me suddenly called. "Because then the answer would be no, no she will not take Mr High-and-Mighty as her husband."

Everyone's heads swivelled upwards to the rafters of the church, and out of the corner of my eye I saw the ugliest scowl on Dylan's face. His lips were pulled back in a seriously postal snarl and his eyes were narrowed to the point he was squinting.

At that moment something dropped down from the ceiling. I stared at them as they straightened up, a small and wicked grin on their lips. I realised it was a boy.

His hair was black as midnight, slightly overlong, tied back in a pony-tail that most guys wouldn't be able to pull off, but he did. He had a black bandana over the lower half of his face, and his eyes were so dark it was like I was staring into a black hole. His black tunic was mostly undone, and his dark leggings and boots were the same shade. His belt was grey. It held an empty dagger scabbard. The weapon was in his hands. He looked no older than seventeen.

"Ride!" Dylan growled, and the boy looked at him. His eyes danced a little as he looked at the man seething beside me. I stepped away from Dylan. His hand shot out and grabbed my arm, pulling me back. Dylan pointed to the guards on either side of the doorway.

"Arrest him!" he cried. "That's Fang Ride, you fools. Arrest him!"

They jumped to attention at ran at Fang. The pirate Captain simply raised his hands and two more figures fell from the roofing.

A duo of boys straightened up, and something creamy flashed in my vision before it disappeared and they looked around, armed to the teeth with swords and … bombs! I doubled back in amazement. Fang's eyes snapped to me and a small, honest smile played on his mouth for a moment before it disappeared. He flipped his dagger around and started walking towards Dylan and I. Dylan went for his waist, where a long sword was sheathed, and he pulled it out, consequently letting go of me.

"Surrender, Ride," he hissed as Fang silently strolled up the steps. Fang gripped his dagger and rolled his eyes, yanking the bandana away from his face and letting it rest around his neck.

"What would you do if I finally said, 'Of course I'll surrender, Dylan.'?" Fang quipped. "I can't imagine your life would be much fun without me."

Dylan shot forward at Fang and tried to stab him point-blank. In a flash of shadow, Fang skipped to the side, and suddenly it was him who was beside me at the alter. I stared at him blankly, and he looked at me.

"Excuse me, Lady Maximum," he breathed, "for future discomfort."

Another shadow suddenly dropped down behind me and I kicked them right in the stomach without looking around. They fell over, groaning. Fang's eyes widened minutely before he called to the other boys, his eyes not leaving me.

"Iggy, Gaz! Come over here, you're needed."

The two looked over and ran, right as Dylan swung at Fang again. The pirate ducked down and rolled between his legs. Something huge and black flicked out of his back and sent Dylan flying into the stain-glass windows. As soon as it appeared it was gone though. I didn't see any more because of the two pirates in front of me.

"Ig, your call," said the smaller one, a little blond boy with large blue eyes and spikey hair. He only looked around twelve. The other nodded. This one was tall with strawberry blond hair and glassy ice-blue eyes. I realised, with a shock, he was blind. He looked seventeen as well.

Iggy held out his hand to Gaz. The kid nodded. They both faced me again.

"Sorry, miss," they said in unison, before Gaz flipped his hands in the air and Iggy whacked me on the head. My vision went completely space-o, and all I saw before I passed out was Fang walking towards me and heaving me into his arms. Then, instead of the black of his shirt, I saw the black of my eyelids, and fell into unconsciousness.

~ "I don't Damsel well. Distress I can do. Damseling, not so much." ~

What I woke up to was honest to gods the most shock-inducing scene ever.

I blinked, sunlight burning my eyes, my head throbbing in pain. I closed my eyes and ran over what could have made me feel like someone had just used my skull as a drum. Marrying Dylan… he wouldn't have beat me, would he? No, there was something else…

"Fang, she's awake."

I snapped my eyes open, ignoring the sun. The pirate attack! They knocked me out. Picked me up. Took me somewhere. I stared around.

There was a crew of four sitting in front of me, looking up at me with wide eyes. I blinked again.

One of them was a little kid, around eleven, with bouncy blond curls and big adorable eyes and a bright smile. Next to her was a dark-skinned girl with black hair and beautiful iris's, smiling like I was a close friend. Next to them were the two boys, Iggy and Gaz, looking at me like I was the best thing in the world. It took me a second to realise it was Iggy who'd spoken.

Footsteps sounded from behind me and I strained to look. Only then did I realise there was a huge pole at my back, it was freakin' uncomfortable, and my hands were tied behind me with more rope around my waist. The mast. Perfect. Just what every distressed damsel wants. Problem was though, I was no damsel, I wasn't distressed, and the guy that just came into my view was the pirate Fang Ride. I was in so much trouble.

"Welcome to the Black Feather Flight, Miss Martinez."

Though trouble was looking like a lot of fun right about now.

Well, um, oops? This was not supposed to happen I have too many stories as is but I couldn't help it!

So, how is it? And yes, Fang will indeed be a cocky ass throughout, kind of OOC, but such is life. I'll be having Maximum Ride quotes as the line breaks. Hope you enjoy!

Jasmine Out!