Chapter 31
Chapter Thirty-One
TALLY
My heart is hammering in my chest.
The slamming of the rain pounds against my flesh, as the wind nips through the air, chilling my bones.
Within five minutes, I can guarantee the rain would have stopped, but I couldn’t wait inside any longer, not once I clocked the ship cresting the horizon.
It’s always a marvel to watch ships dock, how they’re able to move directions so smoothly. Tonight doesn’t hold the same marvel, not when my stomach is laced with worry, a lead weight dragging me down.
Worry about what’s happening on the island. Worry about what's to come now that I’ve called in reinforcements. Worry about seeing Cyrus again, after admitting my feelings, knowing she’ll never feel the same.
Forget butterflies, my stomach is being swarmed by angry little wasps, stinging my insides like it's their only job.
My eyes squeeze shut, as I force my lungs to take in oxygen.
Think of the island, think of your people. Don’t think about her.
Don’t think about her.
Don’t. Think. About. Her.
A loud clunk draws my eyes open. The ship is officially docked, the plank smacking down onto the ground, making the puddles of water bounce and ripple.
Amara is the first off the ship, Mabel close behind her. A few others, whose names I never really bothered to learn follow. The palest woman, with stormy eyes, an intense anger and a facial scar to boot, and a Black Woman with the greenest eyes and most dazzling smile I’ve ever seen.
Then comes Cyrus.
Her wet hair dripping onto her already saturated clothes. These deep ocean eyes latch onto me, keeping me locked within their vortex.
Rope attaches itself to my ribs, twisting and turning around my vital organs and squeezing tight. I wonder if this is how Cyrus feels every time she panics?
No. No, Tally, we are not wondering anything about her right now.
I need her crew's help, but not hers specifically.
“Tally, good to see you. How are you?” The sound of Amara, breaks my tether to Cyrus.
I have to clear my throat to remove the growing lump in it. “Been better. Ready to get checked in?”
“Of course. Then we’ll have a catch up, must have been a busy few months.” I understand she’s trying to not let on to anyone who might be around that I sent for her, but she could phrase it a bit differently.
“Sure.”
Without another look towards Cyrus, I turn and start up the path towards my inn. Crossing my fingers in front of me, in hopes that bringing the Burnt Bones here will actually benefit me.
And that my wistful heart can last long enough, until Cyrus sails away once more.
The tavern is still technically closed, but drinks have been poured and the Burnt Bones crew are in here. The main members of them, circled around the table, with me at its point.
I’ve explained all the incidents that have taken place so far, pointing them out on the map laid out on the table. I also have a stack of all the posters I’ve taken down so far, for them to read.
Cyrus went straight for those.
It made my heart fracture, as I watched her expressions shift as she read through them. She morphed from shocked, to pained, to anger. Before calling bullshit and throwing the bundle back onto the table, huffing as if she’s an angry bull.
“Do you have any idea of who may be behind all this?”
I shrug, running through a mental list of people who live here that could hold grudges.
There’s only one person I know like that around here.
One who gave me a veiled threat, not long after they left.
“At first we thought it was kids. It’s not the first time horses have been let loose in the middle of the night and probably not the last. But as its gotten more extreme– with the posters and the fire– I tried to do a deduction list. The only person on the island who has that much hatred stored up, would be Hago.
But he was here working late, when the fire was set. ”
“Just because he has an alibi, doesn’t mean he hasn't got someone– or someones– helping.” Amara adds. “We’ll start there, I’ll put someone on his tail. See if we can find anything out.”
I breathe a sigh of relief. “Thank you.”
“I’ll split the crew into small teams and have them take patrols around the island. We’ll keep the teams small enough to slip by undetected, but big enough that if something happens, I won't lose any of my crew.”
“Understood, you have full permission to go anywhere on this island, as long as you're respectful.” She nods and suddenly, as the plan starts falling together, it becomes a little easier to breathe. “Thank you.”
“If he isn’t working alone– which by the magnitude of shit happening, it’s likely he's not– anyone he has repeated conversations with needs tailing too, before we confront him with whatever we have. We need everything before we out any culprits.” That timbre has shivers racking over me, gooseflesh rising as the hair on my arms stands up straight.
Cyrus.
It’s the first time she's spoken. Well, the first time I actively let her speak.
When we entered the tavern, she offered a small ‘hi’, but I bolted before she got the chance to try and talk to me further.
My body aches to hear her speak some more.
To listen to her rasp in my ear, her breath skating along the shell.
God, how I’ve missed her.
No.
No, Tally, remember what we said.
Think of the island, think of your people. Don’t think about her.
Don’t think about her.
Don’t. Think. About. Her.
Psh, like it was ever going to be that easy.
“Yes, I understand, can you spare more of your crew to deal with that?” I ask Amara, blatantly ignoring the fact that it was Cyrus that asked the question.
“We can.” She nods once more, easing a few more nerves.
I knew bringing them here was the right option. “And the most important thing is– no one is to know I brought you here to act as sniffer dogs. You’re simply here for a bit of time on land and to stock up on supplies.”
I watch as everyone around the table nods and declares, “Aye.”
Another gush of air leaves my lungs, relief swarming me now that I have backup, people that care and will be on my side no matter what.
“Okay, then that’s probably all for now. I’ll clear up, then open officially and get all your dinners brought out. How does that sound?” Another round of ‘aye’ goes off, before everyone is up and moving.
I immediately get to work clearing away the map and stack of humiliating posters, when Amara gets up close in my personal space.
I raise an eyebrow at her, not quite enjoying the unnecessarily size difference. Not like I do with Cyrus– did with Cyrus.
She leans down and keeps her voice low as she speaks, “I know Cyrus and you got close and she probably did something wrong before we left, but I’m asking nicely, talk to her now.”
Blood rushes in my ears.
Did Cyrus tell Amara what happened between us? Or were we not as secret as I hoped we had been?
She chuckles under her breath at my expression. “She didn’t tell us, it wasn’t difficult to figure out and Mabel managed to wiggle out a few answers too. She’s good at seeing behind people's walls without them even realising."
Did Mabel also figure out that Cyrus is in love with her Captain? I have a feeling she wouldn’t still be standing if that were the case.
“I know she’s a tough one to crack, but give her another chance.”
My vision turns glassy as I think back to our last few conversations. How I spent the last week of her visit here hiding away. Using my small stature to my advantage, to hide in corners no one dares to look, or slipping through cracks that most usually ignore.
Everything feels too raw still; with everything that’s been piling up on top of the heartbreak. I don’t feel like I have had a minute to sit and work out a way past it. I need a little more time to work on getting over Cyrus, before I can have a mature conversation with her.
“Not tonight.”