Page 14 of A Descent Into Darkness

Blood red tainted everything.

A pattern of stars in the night sky.

Revenge, rage, deceit.

Family—an auburn haired lost boy.

Petrichor filled my nostrils, I heard crowing off in the distance.

A strange, yet beautiful land.

A shining hook.

Aubergine dripping from a heart wrapped in roots.

Obsession.

The sweet smell of hydrangea mixed with campanula.

A crimson stain seeping up through ivory satin.

Agony, defeat.

I ripped my hand from his wrist and tried to hide my shock. James was not exactly who he pretended to be. I just wasn’t sure exactly what that meant, and my visions had only sparked more questions than answers. Whatwascertain was that his future was cloaked in pain and anger.

“Well?” he prodded waiting for my response.

I composed myself. When the time was right, he’d spill his truth. And if he didn’t, I’d eventually get deep enough to figure him out. Until then I decided to keep the details tomyself. I had a feeling they would soon become valuable. I cocked my head to the side and smiled. “Blood red.”

“Woman! You’re killing me with suspense. Blood red what?” Was it the blood of my enemies?

“I don’t know, James. I just saw the color.”

He looked at me with contempt. “What about Teach? What did your visions tell you that day.”

“He’ll find what he’s looking for. And so will his adversary.”

“I’ve known for some time that Teach has been searching for something. He’s had a hard-on for it since the day I met him. But an adversary? Teach is always watching his back. I had no idea there was a particular someone. Did you see what he is searching for?” James was like a dog with a bone.

“I’m not certain what it is, but I know its important to him and he won’t stop searching until he finds it.”

“What exactly is Teach hiding?” I wondered the same thing about James.

“I’ve heard him mumble the name Ruby in his sleep. Maybe she is who he is looking for? Or who he is hiding from?”

“Ruby,” he pondered stroking his beard. “Like theblood-redgemstone?”

“Teach is up to something. I can smell it on him,” Henry blurted out in the parlor ofThe Gilded Filly. We’d been drinking copious amounts of rum and it seemed to have loosened Henry’s tongue. He was right, Teach had been off these last few weeks. Some were even saying that he had gone mad. He had taken to tucking lit cannon fuse in his beard as a method of intimidation. And it had proved to be quite effective. The crew were starting to think he was the devilincarnate.

“You’ll be wise to lower your voice, my friend. Or find yourself walking the plank with Teach’s cutlass at your back.”

“The man’s brain is addled,” Henry whispered. The rum thick on his breath. “I heard him rambling on about the Tuatha Dé Danann just last night.”

That caught my attention. The Tuatha Dé Danann were fae. Definitely not from Neverland, but fae none the less. This could be the lead I’d been patiently waiting for. But now was not the time to discuss the details. Teach was just a few walls away entertaining his favorite whore, Miss Charlotte. If memory served, he’d make quick work of her.

“All these years searching. In and out of random ports. Mysterious meetings. It’s coming to a head. I can feel it, James.”

“Enough about Teach. I fear your wagging tongue will turn you to fish food.” I had to steer the conversation elsewhere. Henry was going to get us both executed. Besides, I had plans of my own for the evening and I was counting on the rum to give me the courage to follow through. I’d quietly pulled Madame Matisse aside upon our arrival and provided her with one of Kat’s gowns. I asked that Miss Alice be wearing it privately, and offered double the fee for their silence and cooperation in the matter. “Which one of these fine fillies has your eye?”

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