Chapter 33
Hook
Blackbeard narrowed his eyes. Silence reigned, punctuated only by the creak of wood and the call of gulls from the nearby rocky spit of island. Finally, he waved one gloved hand.
Blackbeard’s crew swarmed his, ripping free gags with little care. His narrow gaze never left Hook’s. “Who’ll join me? Speak now.”
Hook braced for the inevitable. They’d served well, loyally, for years. This wouldn’t be a betrayal. Not really. Their legacy would live on. Someone needed to protect the families at the cove.
“Do it,” Hook snapped, craning his neck to try to see his crew. Those he could see stared back, faces hard and resolved.
“With ya ’til the end, Captain,” Smee said.
Fuck. He hunched in on himself, struggling against the bindings.
“A little persuasion?” Blackbeard marched to the side of the ship.
“Ready tha’ cannons. Light tha’ arrows. Bring us round.
Beach tha Jolly Roger...there.” He thrust a finger toward the rocky islands before turning back to Hook.
“Let all who see ’er remains know what happens ta those who tangle with tha Kraken.
” Blackbeard laughed as he strode away to see to his commands.
“You idiots,” Hook railed at his crew.
“Won’t leave ya now,” Barley said with a wince as he rolled his injured shoulder.
“Your wife, your kid!” Hook protested.
Barley stiffened his jaw and remained silent.
“Together ’til the end,” Sage said.
He twisted frantically, trying to stare each of them down. “You have families!”
Anne looked away, suddenly pale. She wouldn’t leave her child. The boy was only three. She couldn’t.
“We knew what we signed up for.” Slowly, she raised her face toward him. “You pulled us up from death before. This won’t be the end.”
Idiots, every one. He fought against the ropes. Their coarse strands cut into his already raw and bleeding skin. If only he could angle his hook a little more…
A deep, rolling thump and the groan of wood struck him like a boot to the chest. His ship, run aground. He couldn’t bear to look. Fucking bastard. More cracks and crashes reached his ears as the waves battered the ship, likely canting her onto the rocks. It’d take forever to fix.
But she was a ship. His baby, but repairable, replaceable. His throat constricted. His crew, his love…they were not.
“Tink,” he said.
His call snapped her from whatever veil of shadow she’d fallen under. She looked up at him, eyes red, cheeks flushed, damp hair matted to her face.
“Go with Lily.”
Her eyes widened. Her mouth puckered with distaste. “No. I won’t abandon you.” She glanced over his crew then back to him. “None of you.”
Fury surged through him, mingling with pride. He didn’t know whether to yell at her or rejoice. Crazy, beautiful pixie.
“Begin!” Blackbeard called.
The Kraken groaned and shook as a massive cannon heaved its contents straight into the Jolly Roger’s hull.
Wood shattered. Another booming cannon fired, the sound ringing in his ears.
Fragments clattered onto the deck near them.
This time, Hook couldn’t look away. His ship deserved for him to watch its demise, no matter how deeply it hurt him to do so.
Flaming arrows zipped through the air, catching the sails, landing on deck.
They must have spread oil or tar. Fire caught fast, licking at canvas, turning it black as night.
Bastard. Blackbeard had planned this before they’d even given him their answers.
He’d never planned to spare Hook’s ship, no matter what they said.
The acrid smoke wafting into the air confirmed his suspicions.
The blast of the cannons continued to echo through his body, jarring his teeth where he gritted them at the horror unfolding.
His ship was a goner. There’d be no coming back from this. The attack was overkill—a punishment for him. Of all the things he’d stolen, his ship hadn’t been one. It’d taken years for Smee and him to save and steal enough for her. Custom built, just for him. Their home on the sea.
Already the waves lapped into the splintered side. The bow dipped, settling into the rocky sea. Burned pieces of canvas let free and drifted down to the sea.
“Now then.” The words crawled up Hook’s spine as Blackbeard approached.
“Any takers?” He scanned the crew, circling them like a butcher choosing a goat for slaughter.
The croc’s crew were even worse—snickering and leering.
If he’d been free, he’d have cut one’s eyes out just for the way he looked at Tink.
The cannons ceased firing. Blackbeard’s crew stared at his, watching, waiting.
No one spoke. They wouldn’t betray him, not even to save themselves. Shit. He had to do something. Anything.
“Drop them at the next port, and I’ll join you.” Him for his crew.
“No!” Tink yelled. He caught the flail of her blonde braid as she lunged for him.
“Pathetic,” Lily sneered, having re-emerged from somewhere. Her boot connected with Tink’s legs, knocking her to the ground. Tink screeched in pain.
“You bitch!” Hook yelled.
Lily whirled on him.
“Enough!” Blackbeard roared. He snarled in annoyance. “Take tha boys below.”
“But—” Lily sputtered.
“Now.” It was perhaps the only act of mercy he’d ever offered.
The youngest lad whimpered at the sight of the sinking ship canting over onto the rocks. I feel ya, boy. The anguish cut deep, enough for him to yearn to sink below the waves with his ship. It’d be better than whatever Blackbeard had in store. But he couldn’t, not until he saved Tink and his crew.
When the kids had been hustled away, Hook repeated his offer. “Take me. I’ll serve. But let them go.”
“Captain—” Sage began.
Hook snarled, demanding silence.
Blackbeard toyed with a section of his greasy beard, rubbing the black ribbons tied through it. Slowly, his impassive face broke with a grin. Golden teeth glittered between their rotting siblings. “Aye, a fine addition. We’ll let them go.”
He sagged in relief. Adrenaline ebbed, making his raw and bleeding wrists and bruised face all too known.
“Now then.” Blackbeard unsheathed his curved blade and stalked toward Tink.
“No!” Hook roared. “Stop! What are you doing?”
Tink went pale and still, her bound hands stretched before her.
“Don’t!” Rope dug into his wrists, burning worse than fire.
Blackbeard swung.
Tink screamed.
The rope binding Tink with the others fell away.
She panted for breath as she opened her eyes.
Okay. She’s okay. He didn’t hurt her. Hook repeated over and over to himself. His ship he could lose. It hurt, worse than the aches of his body, but a ship could be rebuilt. Losing Tink?
Impossible.
He’d rather lose his other hand. His own head. Anything.
Blackbeard slammed his sword back into its sheath. “Milady.” He held out a hand to her like the gentleman he wasn’t.
Fear clutched at Hook’s throat. If he did anything to her…
Tink looked at him, her eyes wide.
He gave the slightest nod. It’d be to her best interest not to anger him.
Reluctantly, Tink reached her bound hands toward Blackbeard. He grabbed the ropes that tied them together instead and jerked her forward. “Bring out tha plank!”
No. He shuddered. A scream lodged in his throat.
Tink looked at him, confusion written on her face. She didn’t know. Bloody hell. She had no idea.
“You said you’d let them go!” Hook yelled.
“Aye,” Blackbeard replied. “I’m letting ’em go.” He pulled Tink across the deck to where his men readied the plank.
She saw. She understood. Her heels dug in. She wrenched herself backward, to no avail. He strained, the rope biting deep.
“What do you want?” Hook screamed. “I’ll give you anything.”
His crew chimed in, but he barely heard them. He could barely hear himself over the rush of blood to his ears and the pounding of his heart.
Blackbeard laughed. “Looks like I picked tha right one ta start.”
Two men grabbed her by the arms, hauling her up on the plank. Tears streamed down her face. Her body shook. With her bent wing, she wouldn’t be able to fly, not far enough.
“What do you want?”
Gold teeth glittered through the other captain’s beard. “I have it all.”
“The scale of Leviathan!” Tink blurted.
Blackbeard froze. His whole crew looked at Tink as if she’d sprouted a second head.
“Ya have tha scale,” he said at last, barely a whisper.
“Let us all go, and we’ll give you the scale,” she said again.
Smart girl. Brave girl.
“That’s right, let my crew off safely, and I’ll give it to you.”
He stomped over to Hook. “Why? When I have tha clues.”
Hook notched his chin higher. “It’s not there.”
“You?” Blackbeard cocked his head.
Hook’s lips thinned. He looked past him to Tink, begging her, pleading in silence for her not to speak. She couldn’t give him the real scale. No matter what. A fake, he could give him that. He’d have to hope it worked, and it bought them time.
He toyed with the ribbons in his beard. “For ’er? Why?”
Hook looked at Tink. “Because I love her.” Bloody hell, I do. Fuck all, I love that thieving pixie.
Her lips parted. She sniffled.
“Well, now,” Blackbeard said as he wandered over to the plank. “Isn’ that something?”
His heavy black boot slammed onto the plank. The board wobbled. Tink swayed. Time seemed to slow as her balance faltered. A deep, roaring bellow filled the air. Hook’s own. Her eyes widened, locking with his.
And then she fell.
Her scream reached through the air, ripping out his heart, shredding his soul.
Water splashed.
Blackbeard looked over the railing before he turned and grinned. “Who’s next?”