Page 31 of A Descent Into Darkness

“My apologies, Captain. I was simply seeing to my duties with Katherine, and I’ll be on my way.” Teach peered over my shoulder, his eyes roaming over Kat, who was still in her shift.

“Doesn’t look like you’ve accomplished much. She isn’t even out of bed yet. I should reassign her care to another member of the crew. Looking after the token whore is beneath your status.”

“It’s fine, Captain. I can manage. I’ll be finishing up here in a moment.”

“No matter. She might as well stay in her shift. Less work for me to strip her down.”

“But, Captain, she isn’t well.”

Teach cocked his head at me. “Since when is that any of your concern?”

“I am your first mate. It’s my job to look after all of your assets. As well as pointing out when you’re being unnecessarily reckless with said assets. She is the only link we have to finding that island. If you break her, then everything is lost.”

“Is that so? You are looking out for my best interest?” He said before he pulled an apple from a pouch at his belt and regarded me with a suspicious look. My eyes caught on the apple in his hand, reminding me of the one in my room. He slowly sunk his teeth into the skin, taking a bite, the very symbol of Eve’s betrayal. Was it a warning? It couldn’t be. The fae gave no credence to the religious tales of mortal men, and yet I couldn’t dismiss the possibility that he was manipulating me with a symbolic display. A veiled acknowledgment he knew of our affair? Or was my conscience playing tricks on me?

“Yes, Captain,” I seethed.

“Captain, that right there is the word I’m looking for. Last time I checked, I am still the captain, and you are the first mate. I make the rules. You follow them.” He took another bite of his apple, drawing out the moment, waiting to see if I’d push him further, but I kept my mouth shut. “If you hadthe crew’s best intentions at heart, then we should throw her overboard, lest she gets the rest of the men sick.”

“If you want to find the ruby as badly as you say you do, then that’s an order you’ll never give. At least not until you’ve recovered the gem.” I called his bluff rather than show my hand, because the moment I let on that there were any feelings between Katherine and I, that would be the last confession I made.

“Seeing that we both agree that I’m the captain, the ship needs a good swabbing this morning. See to it that all the decks are shining before you start your normal duties for the day.” He smirked as he handed down the order. It was meant to humiliate me in front of the crew, and it would send a clear message that the captain and I were at odds. One thing about pirates, a majority of them were cutthroats and would be quick to stab me in the back if it meant a raise in ranks for themselves.

“And, Katherine, you best drink up that concoction of twigs he’s brought you and be the picture of health when I come for you this evening.” He glared at her, and there was no missing the threat in his tone.

I wipedmy brow as I rested against the foremast, still clutching the mop in my blistered hand. The seas ahead remained quiet.Too quiet. The calm before the storm I knew was coming for us. Several among the crew had smirked and snickered at my expense. Purposefully spilling things on the deck after I’d cleaned it. Worst of all were the numerous rotten apples I’d found littered about the ship. The mundane sightings wreaking havoc on my sanity. I’d questioned the crew and not one man could account for where they came from.

I took mental notes about who I could and couldn’t trust on this ship. Henry had been noticeably absent. I’d have to seek him out once things had settled and get a handle on all the talk amongst the men. Things were tenuous, and tempers were short. I only had to hold it together for a little while longer.

I turned; my attention diverted by a commotion behind me. The boisterous chatter of men swelled, like a growing storm on the horizon.

“String him up!” one shouted, and I whirled around to see what had riled the crew. The men had all gathered in a crowd with a bruised and bloodied Henry at the center of it all.

“What the fuck,” I mumbled to myself as I made my way down to the main deck. I elbowed my way through the throng of men, pushing my way into the center. “What the hell is going on here? Take these shackles off of him immediately,” I barked, silencing the men.

“He’s a thief!” One man called from the crowd.

“Aye, and he tried to poison Miss Katherine!” said another.

“Poison? What are you even talking about?” My mind whirled with the ridiculous accusations. Before anyone else could answer, the men parted, and heavy foot falls announced the arrival of Teach.

“Captain, these long days at sea have addled their brains. The men are restless, and poor Henry here has become good entertainment,” I explained, waving it off.

“I disagree,” he said as he stroked his beard. “You, yourself, informed me of Miss Katherine’s condition, did you not?”

“Well, yes, but that has nothing to do with Henry,” I said, glaring at him. I could feel it in my gut. Teach was up to something.

“As it were, I found a cup of strange herbs at her bedside. Turns out, someone pilfered Cook's rations just this morning. The coincidence didn’t sit well with me, so I questioned some of the men, and with a little encouragement, each of them pointed a finger at Henry.”

“That’s a goddamned lie, and you know it!” I challenged.

“Is it though?”

“It was on my orders that Henry took the herbs from the galley. If you’re looking for someone to punish, I’m your man,” I admitted. I wouldn’t let Teach punish Henry just to get to me.

“Best choose your words carefully. Are you saying that it was you who tried to poison my whore?” he asked. The surrounding men hung on our every word. I could see the excitement flare in their eyes the moment the accusationspointed to me. Tensions had been building in the long months at sea. The men needed a distraction, and nothing would suit that need better than the first mate being punished for such an indiscretion. Especially when the sentence for such a crime was death.

All of them stood, silently waiting for my confession. I swallowed hard, trying to calculate my next move. Teach had me by the balls, and the smug grin on his face told me he knew it.

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