Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
CYRUS
Tally falls apart in my arms. The weight of everything crumbling down.
My heart breaks as I feel her shatter. Tally is usually so strong, so put together. Right now, all of that has fallen aside. The strain of the last few months is obvious to see.
Squeezing tight, I keep her close, her head pressed into my chest.
It feels so good to have her wrapped all around me again. It feels right, like I never should have left this.
But I need to tread carefully. She’s fragile and I don’t want her to think my feelings have suddenly changed in pity. She means more to me than to rush into something, especially when her attention is elsewhere. Right now, I need to just be there for her.
Which means, I need to get her away from the bloody mess.
Gently turning her away from the scene, I intend to get her away when the breeze ruffles over the scene. A piece of parchment flickers between bloodied feathers.
It’s out of place in such a scene.
“Stay here, don’t move. Don’t turn around, okay?” I whisper in Tally’s ear. I wait for her to nod and then slowly release her.
Even though I’m a pirate– I literally kill and steal for a living– whatever these arseholes have done to this poor creature is beyond barbaric.
Hurting animals for no reason isn’t something I stand by.
Bypassing the horror show, I reach out for the parchment.
Taking a fortifying breath before opening it, the words swim in blood but it’s clear to read the threat either way.
THIS IS WHAT YOU GET FOR CALLING THE VICIOUS OUTSIDERS, WHORE. YOUR TURN IS COMING.
Trying not to gag, I do one more scan of the area, finding no one here still. Folding up the parchment and tucking it away to make sure Tally doesn’t see it before heading back over to her.
She’s still shivering, arms wrapped around herself and tears streaming down her face.
I hate it.
This isn’t how my Tally is supposed to look.
Gathering her back up in my arms, I lift her up until her legs wrap around my waist. With her kept safe within my arms, I can finally breathe. Now I need to get her out of here.
I carry her the whole way back to the inn, her light frame against mine never once a hindrance.
As we enter the tavern, Amara and Mabel come down the stairs. Both ruddy faced and giggly. Oh boy. The last few months have been full of enough of these moments, that I know immediately what these two have been up to this morning.
A bout of anger rises through me. We’re here to figure out this mess not to fuck around. There’s serious issues going on and Tally deserves better.
Amara clocks me holding Tally and grins wide, a teasing glint flickering in her irises. “Cyrus, what’s going on?”
With a growl, I bypass them heading up the stairs towards my room, muttering, “Come with me.”
I need them to clean up the mess, but I’m not going into details in front of Tally. I need to calm her down; not upset her further.
Carrying Tally into my room, not bothering to check if the others are even following.
Kicking open the door, I head to the bed, placing her under the covers.
She looks so fragile. Soundless sobs wrack her tiny frame, cheeks wet with rivers of tears.
Her eyes are so red and glazed over, from past experience I know she’s currently not seeing anything other than whatever is playing in her head.
Amara and Mabel appear by the door, their happy, giggly selves tucked aside for looks of confusion and concern.
Brushing my hand down Tally’s cheek, I lean in. “I’m going to talk to Amara real quick and then I’ll be back, okay?”
She doesn’t respond, but I didn’t really expect her to.
Standing back up straight takes a lot of effort, when all I want is to be here comforting her, but getting this mess cleaned up and having people out there searching sooner rather than later is mandatory.
Leaving Tally in bed, each step heavier than the last, I direct Amara and Mabel into the hallway, gently closing the door behind us. Tally doesn’t need to hear the repeat of what she just witnessed.
I relay everything that happened, one citizen bringing the note to us, going behind the barbershop to find the bloody scene and the second note.
I watch as Amara’s face morphs from concern to anger to her Captain’s expression. The expression that means she’s about to bark out orders and get shit done. Once I’m done talking, she nods, takes a second to think, then comes the orders.
“Cyrus, stay with Tally, that's an order. Keep her safe. Mabel and I will head down to the barbershop and clean up the scene. I’ll find August and Mary and get them tracking. See if we can dig up anything.”
When I nod, they leave and I have to trust– and I know I can trust– that they’ll find something, anything, to give us a lead on what’s going on.
Exhaling is difficult.
Now I’m alone, everything comes crashing down.
For three months, everything was nothing. I couldn’t feel anything. Now that Tally is back in proximity to me, I can feel everything.
It’s a tsunami of emotions, so many feelings and thoughts. It’s not the time to be having a mental breakdown, but I can feel the waves of darkness seeping in. My chest gets tight, knees buckling under the weight of the world on my shoulders.
My body shuts down, even with me shoving the reminder at it that Tally needs me. Tally needs me and here I am falling apart because I’ve never been able to stop myself falling apart when I’m alone.
The world is a black fog around me, the feeling of numbness biting at my extremities. Heart a wild horse in my chest, deflating my useless lungs. Nothing is working in this pathetic body.
Until a door slams down the hallway. A far away voice wishing me good morning before walking away.
The presence of someone being around, is enough to make my body subconsciously snap back online.
My ever-longing need to protect my reputation, of being the stone-like first mate to the most ruthless pirate ship on the seas.
The tendrils of black rescind, even as my heart continues to race.
A minuscule piece of strength comes back, with the smattering of oxygen that's able to return to my battered lungs. Pushing off the wall on shaky legs, I inhale forcing air inside.
I’m a fortress and Tally needs me. Time to pick up the pieces and get moving.
With a look of determination, I open the door back up and step inside.