Chapter 16
Chapter
Sixteen
“Have you forgotten everything I taught you?” Widow dances out of range as I swing my wooden sword at her.
“No!”
“Seems like you did.” She swings her sword, narrowly missing my arm as I jump back.
“You’re just trying to make me mad so I do something dumb.” I back up and adopt a more defensive posture.
“It works every time.” She shrugs.
“It does.” Bill nods from his spot on the sidelines.
“Not helping.” I glare at him.
Widow streaks through my peripheral vision, and I spin and strike out, my sword smacking her in the ass as she sweeps my legs.
I fall but catch myself on a rope hanging from the mast beside me.
Widow’s back is turned, because she’s certain I’m on the deck. When I place my wooden sword on the side of her throat, she whirls. “Seriously?”
“You’re seriously beaten.”
“That fairy juice fixed you right up.” Bill gives an amused snort.
“Fairy juice? Gross.” I lower my sword.
Widow squares up again. “I guess I’ll have to stop holding back now.”
“You weren’t holding back.” I kick my chin up.
“Lass, she’s definitely been holding back.” Hook steps up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist.
I lean against him. “I can hold my own.”
“You’ll get there.” He kisses my ear, which I’ve discovered are much pointier than before. They aren’t full fae, but they certainly aren’t the rounded tips I’m used to. “Just have to keep practicing.”
Widow looks up at the waning moon. “We’ve been at this for hours. I need a break.” She sheaths her sword and strides off toward Starkey, who’s waiting with a cup of water—or rum.
“How soon before we make it to the Crystal Caves?” I turn in Hook’s arms and look up at him.
“A day.”
“Widow said we have to get through the Neverstorm first.”
“Aye. We could dodge it, but that would take us all the way back around the island, past the cape, and up the other side. We don’t have that much time, not when Peter’s still after you.” He presses his lips to mine. “I won’t rest until that twat is in pieces.”
“You’re so romantic.” I kiss him back, then pull away. “We still haven’t talked about everything. You snuck out before I woke up.”
“I’m a pirate captain, lass. Always work to do,” he says easily. A little too easily.
“Are you avoiding talking with me?”
“What? We’re talking right now.” He moves in, his hands at my waist as he bends me backwards, kissing me roughly as he takes my breath away.
I dig my nails into his shoulders to get him to let up, but it only makes him growl into my mouth and tongue me more deeply.
He’s insatiable, to say the least. A pirate through and through.
I’d be lying if I said I don’t love it. But that brings my mind to a screeching halt when I remember what the Spinner told me.
“Captain, we’re getting close!” Smee calls from his spot at the wheel.
Hook slowly sets me upright, then lets me go, grumbling under his breath as he climbs to the upper deck.
Cookson limps up to me, a plate with bread and cheese in one hand and a cup of water in the other. “You worked up an appetite with all that fighting, didn’t you? I figured I’d bring these ter you, give you a little pick-me-up.”
“Thanks.” I take his offerings. “You always show up at just the right time.”
He beams. “Happy to be of service.”
I sit on the stairs and have my snack as Smee and Hook discuss our route through the Neverstorm while poring over a map Hook’s knifed to the wall outside his cabin.
The sky is dark up ahead, far darker than usual.
No moonglow penetrates the sky, but every so often I see a flash of what must be lightning. The Neverstorm.
“No, the gale blows backwards through these parts.” Hook points to a spot on the map. “Can’t navigate it.”
How can there be a map of a storm? I would ask that question, but I’ve discovered that nothing in Neverland has an easy answer, and there are still plenty of things even the Guardians can’t explain. The Neverstorm probably fits right into that category.
Once I’m done eating, I glance at Hook. He’s still deep in conversation with Smee, who honestly seems glowingly happy that Hook is talking to him at all.
I leave them be and wander below decks to return my dishes to Cookson.
He’s sprinkling some unknown herbs into a big pot of lamb stew.
It smells amazing. Maybe one day he can show me his ways.
As it is, the galley is too hot and close for me to stay inside it for long.
I grab a fresh cup of water and another hunk of bread with a slice of cheese, then sneak out the way I came.
I run into Shiner and Skylights.
“Hey, I thought you two wanted to practice with Widow and me. We just finished.”
“Oh, I um, I had some things to do. Sorry I missed it. I’ll get the next one.” Shiner hurries away.
“What was that about?” I ask Skylights.
“Nothing.” He steps past me, and when he walks directly beneath one of the lanterns, I gasp. “You’ve got a hickey!”
“What?” He turns to me. “A what?”
I tap my neck. “Right there!”
He reaches up and pops his collar. “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Looks like you two have been practicing all on your own.” I cross my arms over my stomach. “Don’t you dare deny it.”
He gives me a wry smile. “I don’t deny it, but Shiner might.”
“You’re her sneaky link?”
He cocks his head to the side, clearly confused.
“Her booty call?”
His head turns even farther, like a German Shepherd listening to its owner.
“Never mind. You two have fun.” I turn to walk away, then stop. “But be careful. If you cross her, it won’t end well for you.”
“I’m aware. The danger is just a bonus.” He strides away whistling, a strut in his gait.
Here I was thinking Skylights was the standup guy on the crew.
He’s a doctor and the quartermaster, respected and smart.
But he’s still a pirate—and when he sees something he wants, he takes it.
But Shiner isn’t a treasure to be won, she’s a lot more.
I think I’m going to enjoy watching her put him through his paces.
I keep going farther toward the back of the ship, then climb down a ladder to a lower deck. The air is close down here, and the smell isn’t exactly pleasant. But I suppose that’s true of any ship.
“Come for a social call, have you?” Anne sits on the floor of the brig, which is nothing more than a metal cage bolted to the floor of the deck.
It reminds me of where Peter kept me in the cave, but if I think about that, I’ll run out of here and never come back. Instead, I slide the plate of food through the grate in the door, then hand her the cup of water.
She takes it, drinks some, then spits it out. “This is water!”
I roll my eyes and sit down, crossing my legs. “I’m not bringing you alcohol. It’ll only dehydrate you faster.”
“I knew you were a bitch the moment I laid eyes on you.” She pulls the plate over to her and sniffs the bread, then takes a ridiculously huge bite, working the piece into her mouth for a while before swallowing and continuing to chew.
“Has Cookson been feeding you?”
She just stares at me.
“Hook told him to let you starve. I hope Cookson doesn’t take that to heart.”
She scoffs. “What sort of captain would your loverboy be if his cook didn’t follow his orders?”
“It’s a good point, but I think Hook was a little blinded by rage when he captured you, what with you trying to slit my throat and all. I figure he’ll cool off … eventually.”
“Then you don’t know him as well as you think you do. ‘Cool off.’” She rolls her eyes. “Hook lives for vengeance. That’s it.”
“Maybe so, but I’m not going to give up on you.”
“Why?” She rips off a piece of cheese, then puts the whole slice in her mouth.
“I don’t know. I guess because women should stick together.”
She scoffs so hard she almost chokes. Once she’s swallowed her cheese and chased it with water, she wipes her mouth with the back of her arm. “That’s a load of bullshit if I’ve ever heard it. Women don’t stick together. We all have to do what’s necessary to survive—man or woman.”
“It can be that way, yeah.” I nod. “Or we can try to be better and help each other.”
“Fat chance.” She kicks the plate out of her cell. “Thanks for the food. Now get the hell out of here before the rats eat you.”
I lean forward, catching her gaze in the low light. “I misjudged someone. I thought she was my enemy, but really, she was just doing what was necessary to survive—as you said. She was cunning and clever, and she might have been the only chance we had at defeating Peter.”
“Tinker Bell,” Anne says quietly. “I heard you done her in and took her power.” She leans closer, eyeing me. “You certainly look better. Wings are nice. Last time I saw you, your face was like a dog turd left to dry in the sun. Chalky shit.”
“You really have a way with words. You know that?”
“I’m even better with a sword. How about you bring me one of those next time instead of food?” She grins.
“Not a chance.” I stand. “But I hope you think about what I said. I know you wanted to avenge Calico Jack, but I promise you he wasn’t worth your time or trouble. Maybe he was yours, but you deserved better.”
“Girl, if you had any clue about what I deserve, you wouldn’t be down here talking to me.
You’d be jumping over the side and swimming for shore.
Never you mind about my personal business.
Pirates don’t have much of a code except one.
If it’s mine, don’t fucking take it. Simple.
Because stealing from another pirate is the one sin none of us will forgive. ”
“Even if what was stolen was a horrible person who had it coming?”
“Even then.” She gives me a stiff nod.
I sigh. “I’ll be back with more food later.”
“Don’t waste your time.” She scoots back until I can’t see her eyes for the shadows. “I’m going to die down here. Either that or I’ll find a way to kill your captain and take his crew for myself.”
I pause, my spine straightening as fiery anger licks along my soul. “If you did that, I would hunt you down. I wouldn’t stop until you were dead, Anne.” I mean every word.
“There. Now you understand,” she says from the dark.