Page 32 of A Descent Into Darkness

“It was me,” Henry broke the silence.

“No, Henry, don’t?—”

“I did it of my own accord. James had nothing to do with my thieving, but I never tried to hurt Miss Katherine.”

“Liar!” A man shouted and the crew erupted. They were bloodthirsty and wouldn’t settle for anything less. I was pushed aside as the men surged toward Henry. I kept my eyes locked with his. I could see the resignation in them. He knew this was it. I was the one who was having a hard time accepting it.

Teach hadn’t needed to dispense a punishment. The crew were judge, jury, and executioner. The captain only watched as they dragged him into the rigging. A lump formed in my throat. Henry was a good man. The only man I’d ever considered a friend, and he would die because of me. I stood stoic, clenching my fists at my side. My heart told me I was a coward for standing by while they murdered him. But my rational side knew that if I tried to save him, we’d both die, and his sacrifice would have been in vain.

Henry never took his eyes off me, and I forced myself to hold his gaze. The only comfort I could offer in this hopeless situation was to let him know he wasn’t alone. With a cheer from the crowd, they pushed Henry from the crow’s nest, swinging from the mast by his neck. His whole body twisted on the rope, struggling as his face turned purple. My stomach lurched as I watched him suffer. I could feel a part of my soul crack and shatter. My hand was on my pistol, curling around the handle too tightly. I paused momentarily, asking the Divine to save my broken soul, then I fired a shot. Henry stilled instantly, a stain of blood spreading across his chest as his limp body swayed in the wind. The men whooped with morbid glee as they made sport of throwing rotten apples at his lifeless body. As they celebrated, I felt as though I were losing my grasp on reality. The image was forever etched into my memory. His suffering was over, but mine was only growing worse.

It was a gunshot. I knew that sound. It was unmistakable. I dropped the small sketch I’d been working on. The pounding of my heart drowned out the flutter of falling papers. Was it James? Did that single shot have his name on it? Edward was deteriorating the closer we got to the ruby. I only hoped he wasn’t completely mad by the time we reached it.

The sound of heavy boots in the passageway had me on my feet. I stumbled toward the bed, tripping over my full skirts, desperate to retrieve the dagger hiddenunder my pillow. A nervous breath escaped my lips when my fingers curled around the cool handle. The footfalls grew louder as they approached my room. Either my fate or my executioner hid behind the door. Keys fumbled against the metal lock, threatening to break the fraying hold I had on the panic rising in my chest. When the door swung open, my fear evaporated.

“Oh James! Thank goodness you’re alright,” I breathed, dropping the dagger and clutching at my still racing heart. He lingered in the shadows of the passageway, silently staring at me.

“James?” I questioned as I took a step toward him. His brilliant blue eyes were dark, and deep lines etched his face in a scowl. The tempest within him raged out of control. A chill ran up my spine. This was a different version of the man I loved. “James, what’s happened?”

“It’s Henry. He’s gone,” he said mechanically, his words devoid of emotion. I gasped, a knot of sadness welling up in my throat. I knew what Henry meant to James, and my heart broke for him.

“What happened?” I asked, taking another hesitant step toward him, unsure of how to comfort him.

“Teach.” The name rolled off his lips in a growl. “Please tell me we’re close, because I’m not sure how much longer I can do this.” I grabbed for his hand, pulling him into the soft light of my room, closing the door behind us. James had always been so cautious, ensuring our relationship remainedhidden, but he wasn’t thinking clearly. His normal discretion had been replaced by grief.

“We are close.” I told him what he needed to hear. The visions didn’t work in absolutes. Everything was always fluid. But the look in his eyes forced the lie. I had to give him something to hold on to. “I can’t say for certain. Likely we have only a few days at the most. What can I do? Tell me how I can help you?” I took a chance and stepped into him, wrapping my arms around his neck.

He stiffened at my touch, and my heart sank.

“What is that?” he asked, a frantic tone overriding his melancholy.

“What is what?” I followed his gaze until my eyes landed on the drawing that had fallen to the floor.

“It’s just a sketch.” I said, taken aback by his strange comment. He stooped over, picking up the drawing pad, tracing his fingers over the lines of the apple I’d been drawing.

“Why an apple? Are you trying to torment me too?”

“I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

“The apple, Kat! Why are you drawing a fucking apple? Did he put you up to this?” He shouted at me, his fingers digging into my shoulders in an iron grip.

“James, you’re scaring me.”

“Tell me now, why were you drawing an apple?” His wild eyes were locked on mine as he waited for a response.

“I just was!” I said defensively. “I found an apple in myroom. I was trying to distract myself. Drawing helps me to forget.” James let out a sigh, his grip loosened on my arms.

“I’m going mad, Kat. That man will be the death of me. The apples—I’ve been seeing them everywhere. Either he knows of our betrayal, or the Divine is conspiring to drive me insane.”

“An apple?”

“Yes, don’t you see? The ultimate forbidden fruit. It’s a sign.”

“He can’t know. We’d both be dead if he did,” I said, changing the subject from James’ delusions.

“Don’t look at me like that, Kat. That’s what he wants. He wants to drive a wedge between us. He wants you to believe that I’ve lost my mind. That’s why he hasn’t killed us. Death would be too easy. He means to fuck with us, break us down. It’s not enough for him to kill my body. He plans to kill my soul, too.”

“James,” I said his name softly, pushing a strand of hair back from his face. “I won’t let him break us. I know you’re not losing your mind. Wewillsurvive this. We just need to hold it together a little while longer.”

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