Chapter Seventeen #3
“Simon. I’ve no doubt you’re exhausted and will take some time to recover. What you did…I mean, what you did up there. That was…I can’t begin to describe the event.”
I gave him a weak smile. “Impressive?”
“Dear God. I had no inkling of your powers, even with what I’d seen before.”
“I’m not sure what came over me.”
He gazed at me in all seriousness. “I think you were fed up. And you’d decided enough was enough.”
“Yes. I suppose I had,” I said. “I don’t recall what happened before I came to my senses, except that the experience seemed a terrible dream. And then you were talking to me. And you sounded so frightened.”
“Rooster. You were hanging off the mast when we caught sight of you, looking out to sea like you wanted to…to…”
“Fuck.”
“I woke up in our bed and saw the rope untied and laying on your pillow. You must have…or the demon must have…”
“I was on the rail?”
“Crouched there, your hair flying madly in the wind, staring out at the ocean. You stood, balanced so precariously…”
“And almost fell.”
“Yes. I nearly perished at the sight. But you grabbed onto the rope and we came and took you down.”
I frowned, remembering. “Someone mentioned my arm…”
I lifted a limb from the sheets, pleased that I could, then examined both arms, turning them this way and that. They were uninjured and unmarked.
He’d gone pale and looked queasy.
“Yes. The limb had become…tentacle-like and inky blue.”
My eyes went wide. “Truly?”
He nodded. “The sight was terrifying. That’s when we realized the monster had taken you over and was transforming you into…well, into itself, I suppose.”
“Bloody hell.”
“Precisely.” He ran a hand over his face, as if he could barely countenance the memory. “That horrible voice. When those words came out of your…your beautiful mouth, the creature staring at me from your dear face, I thought I would go mad.”
The love in his expression was quite humbling.
“I’m so sorry.”
“No, Rooster. This is not your fault. What that thing did to you… I will never forgive it. Never.”
“Well…” I said, gazing at him with all the love in my heart. “Good thing it’s gone, then.”
His expression changed from exhausted and bleak to one of delight and whimsy.
“Yes. Thanks to you.”
I shrugged. “I feel…such relief,” I said. “And a little bit of triumph.”
“Good God, Rooster. You should feel triumphant. I don’t think that horrible creature—or demon or monster—will be troubling you further.”
“Not if the beast knows what’s good for it. I’ll send the creature down a million times if I have to.”
“Hopefully it won’t come to that, my lovely lad. Now stop talking and rest, for heaven’s sake. I’d like to have supper with you later, and the crew wants to see that you’re all right.”
“Tell them, will you? I’m…happy.”
He smiled, his eyes shining. “Of course, my love. Now close your eyes and sleep. Dream of me?”
I think I nodded, but sleep took me under quickly.
***
When I woke again, I felt much better. My head was clearer. I felt almost myself again. I even professed a desire to get out of bed.
The captain helped me dress, in spite of my protests.
“Nonsense,” he said. “Let me do this, since I was helpless in the face of our foe.”
I stilled his hand.
“Helpless?” I blinked at him. Did he not know? “I would have been lost without you, my captain. My heart.” I stroked his chin and kissed him. “You are my strength. You are my life.”
He glowed with pleasure at my words, his eyes shining with emotion. We came together, ignoring that I was half dressed, and the kiss we shared became our world for several moments.
Until someone knocked on the door.
Dinesh pulled back, licking his lower lip with regret as he looked at me.
“Yes?” he asked in a loud voice, not breaking from my gaze.
“It’s Domingo. May I come in?”
“May Domingo come in?” the captain asked me in a quieter voice.
“I’m not exactly decent.”
“He’s seen you naked before,” Dinesh said.
“Aye. So he has.”
“Yes, come in!” Dinesh said, letting me do up my own trousers whilst he fetched my shirt.
Domingo opened the door and rushed in. Pearl barked and ran to greet him, but he ignored her and came right to me.
“Dios mio, are you all right?”
“Aye, I’m quite well. A bit tired, but feeling much recovered.”
“Oh, thank goodness. I’ve never witnessed anything so terrifying in my life, and I hope never to do so again.” He assessed me with a frown. “Well, you look the same. But you’re…I don’t know…” He put a finger on his chin, contemplating. “You seem different.”
“I don’t have a tail, do I?” I asked, pretending to be worried and craning my neck to look behind me.
“Are you playing with me?” Domingo asked.
“Well, you’re so much fun to play with.”
Domingo looked pleased. “Well, that is true. No, I only mean that you look…older? Or…smarter? Something.”
“He looks like a man who knows his strengths,” Captain Martin said, handing me my shirt, which I pulled over my head and tucked into my trouser waist.
“Squid came to see me,” Domingo said, finally giving Pearl some attention. “Oh, yes, you’re a good girl, you are. Good lass.”
“Oh?”
“We spoke about what we’d seen on deck, how horrible and terrifying the occurrence was.”
“Did you reassure him?”
“I think so. At any rate, I…distracted him.”
A smile spread over my face. “You rascal.”
Domingo clicked his tongue. “Not that way, you dolt,” Domingo said, glancing at the captain, then the door. He lowered his voice. “I’m not the sort to take advantage of a distressed man.”
“Oh.” I tried not to sound disappointed.
“Well, we did get close, so I think there is something there.”
“What do you mean?” Dinesh asked. “Something between you and Squid? Romantic?”
“Mayhap. I suppose we’ll see. Seems that I have to do the seducing in this instance and be, well, patient.” He sighed. “Which is very difficult for a former whore.”
Dinesh covered his mouth and sputtered a laugh.
“Do you good. Must be refreshing to not have men begging for your favours,” I suggested.
“Truly. But frustrating when the one man you do want begging seems to take forever to make a move. Or to suggest that he wants me to make one.” Domingo frowned. “But I’m terrified of scaring him off. That’s already happened once.”
“What did you do?” Dinesh asked, eyes going wide.
“I kissed him.”
I rolled my eyes. “He’ll come around. Once he’s certain he can trust you.” I turned to the captain. “Can we go up on deck, please? I need some sun and fresh air.”
“Of course, and yes, I think that would be good for you. Here. Take my arm.”
“I’m all right…”
“Take my arm,” Dinesh ordered, then smiled to take the sting out of his manner.
I took his arm, and glanced apologetically at Domingo.
“When he takes that tone with me…”
“Yes, I see,” he said, gazing at Captain Martin with approval.
“Are you joining us, Domingo? A little siesta on deck for Rooster’s health and recovery.”
“Wouldn’t miss the chance.”
Pearl followed as well. I didn’t think she’d let me out of her sight for a long while, which suited me.
Dinesh walked at a more sedate pace than usual, and I was glad.
Going up the steps to the deck tired me more than I’d expected.
I must have used up most of my resources battling the demon and sending him back where he belonged.
The men on deck noticed us coming.
“White! There you are. Hip, hip, hooray!” Martinéz said.
“Hip, hip, hooray!” Lahiri echoed, with a grin.
The others took up the cry.
I pressed close to Dinesh’s side.
“What is happening?”
“You are getting the appreciation you deserve, at last.”
“Oh,” I said. “I’m not sure I like being the centre of attention.”
“I’m afraid that’s beside the point.”