Page 33 of A Descent Into Darkness

“I never should have brought you on this ship. Everything that’s happened is my fault.”

“I would have been burning on the witch’s pyre if you hadn’t saved me.”

“And I would have been a moth following you into the flames.” He pulled me toward him, his lips finding mine in an urgent kiss. “Katherine, I don’t want to wait anymore. I don’tknow how much time we have left. I need to lose myself inside you.”

“I want you, too, but not like this. You’re hurting. You’re not thinking clearly. We made a vow, and if I take advantage of you now, we’ll both regret it in the morning. If there is one thing in my life that I will do right, it’s this.”

“But what if we don’t survive? I’ll be doomed to an eternity in hell without ever knowing what your heaven feels like.”

“This isn’t the end. There is more of our story to tell. If we die on this ship, we’ll find each other again in the next life. Maybe that one won’t be so painful.”

James sighed, his forehead resting against mine. “Why didn’t anyone warn me that love is nothing more than blissful anguish?”

“And you, my love, are waxing poetic,” I giggled. I could feel the tension melt out of him and his shoulders slumped as he held me close.

“What I wouldn’t give to have you make me forget life for a night. Thank you for reminding me I can still be an honorable man,” he sighed, the weight of so much sorrow still lingering in his voice. “I should probably go. I need to put my friend to rest. I’ll be laying low as best I can for the next few days.” He kissed my forehead and turned to go.

“James, look out for yourself. We have a date with destiny, and you best not keep me waiting.”

It had beenthree days since Henry’s death. I hadn’t seen James since that night. I’d been relegated to my room. Teach reassigned the cabin boy to my care, and he was the only visitor I had. He spent as little time as possible to bring me meals and clean clothes. He’d been completely mute, ignoring the barrage of questions I asked every time he entered my room. Even Edward had been absent. In the quiet space where there was no one to save me from my own thoughts, I felt like I was losing my own grasp on reality. Maybe James was right, and he knew. I spent my days confined to the small room. Pacing what was now my prison. Even drawing didn’t seem to settle my fickle mind.

The only solace I had were the random pieces of parchment slipped under my door. The romantic quotes scribbled in James’ hand were the only proof that he was still alive.

I will live in thy heart, die in thy lap, and be buried in thy eyes,

was the quote written on his note this morning. Shakespeare’s line fromMuch Ado About Nothingseemed an ominous premonition from my lover. I’d gone to the door the moment it had appeared, and called out for him. Butthere was nothing. I slipped my finger under the door, like we’d done so many times before, and yet they remained cold. No warm touch to give me comfort.

I flung myself on the bed, the isolation finally breaking me. Manifesting in a well of tears that wouldn’t stop. I was supposed to be a strong, capable woman. At least that was the armor I hid behind. But I couldn’t be strong anymore. At any moment, a kraken could swallow the ship, and I knew I was ready. I was ready to welcome the peaceful oblivion the ocean offered. Then none of this would matter. My chance at happiness rested on a knifes blade. One wrong move and I’d be gutted. Was any of this truly worth it? The suffering I’d endured just to roll the dice one time. I was beginning to realize the odds had never been in my favor.

I stayed on the bed, shamelessly crying out every sorrow from years of abuse until I had no more tears left to cry. My skin felt tight against my bones, my eyes swollen and burning, when the sound of keys scraping against the metal lock of my door announced an unexpected visitor. The door burst open, slamming against the wall. Edward stumbled in. One look at him and I knew he wasn’t in his right mind. Lit cannon fuses sparked from his beard, a tactic he reserved for his enemies. His eyes rolled in his head, and he struggled to keep his balance, a bottle of rum spilling on the ground as he staggered into my room.

“There you are, whore,” he said, slurring his words. I glared at him. My pride locking up any words I had for this man. I was damned no matter what I said. He grabbed afistful of my hair, dragging me to my feet and pulling me from the room. I couldn’t hold back the scream that escaped my lips as a shock of pain radiated from my head.

He pulled me up the narrow stairs and onto the main deck. It was the first time I’d breathed fresh air in days. The sun was just beginning its descent into the infinite horizon, lighting the sky in a blood orange. The beauty of it seemed unjust when my world was nothing but darkness.

“Edward! What are you doing?” I screeched. My panic rising as a hoard of men waited for me on deck with eager eyes. The setting sun cast their faces in dark shadows.

“I’m in a giving mood. These men have served me honorably. They have been the picture of loyalty…” He exaggerated the word before continuing. “I think they deserve to be rewarded. What do you say, lads?” The men all grunted their approval. Their wicked snickers crawling all over my body before they’d even touched me. They couldn’t hide the excitement in their eyes. Months at sea had whittled away their morals, and now they were nothing more than feral dogs.

“Please, Edward. Please!” I begged. My pride crumbled, and I would have said anything to stop whatever he had in mind.

“Katherine, you’re nothing more than property. Either, you’re mine and I’ll share you with my friends. Or you’re not, and I’ll give you a fate worse than death.”

With his fingers still embedded in my hair, he pushed me over a cannon, shackling my hands around the barrel.

It took only a moment before the first man took up position behind me. I recognized his face. His name was Gunder. The new bo’sun that weaseled his way up the ranks. He took the spot when James was promoted to first mate. The stench of his unkempt body stung my nose as he pushed my skirts over my back, exposing me to the gathered crew. I’d never been a modest woman, but my cheeks heated as the sheer embarrassment of my position broke me down even further.

I could feel him, hot and hard against my leg, ready to take me without a second thought. Frantic fingers tried to force their way inside me, and all I could picture were his filthy hands and dirt-caked fingernails. Bile rose in my throat, and I struggled to hold the contents of my stomach down.

“You’re dry as a bone,” he grumbled in my ear. “Did Captain break ya?” He chuckled to himself as he squeezed my breast. “No matter. I’ll take his sloppy seconds on the account that you’re easy on the eyes.” He snorted then, clearing his throat, and I heard the unmistakable sound of him spitting into his hand. I jumped when he slapped my sex. His thick sputum sliding down my leg. I couldn’t be here. This wasn’t my life. I squeezed my eyes closed, desperate to shut everything out. To be anywhere but here. The lewd jeers, the snide laughter, broke my focus and there was no escape.

“Kathrine!” The familiar voice flooded my mind.

I heard the scuffle of feet behind me, followed by ahollowed groan. A warm trickle splattered against my back and then he was gone. A heavy thud rattled the planks beside me and Gunder’s vacant eyes stared up at me from the deck, blood covering his chest from a gaping slit in his throat.

“Edward, call off the men and unchain her now, before I send the rest of them to hell.” James’ voice was deadly calm.

“Ahh, James. I was wondering how long it would take. Took you a fair bit longer than I expected. But showing your true colors, nonetheless,” Teach sneered at me. My fingers flexed around the hilt of my cutlass, my knuckles turning white as I gripped it too tightly. Using every restraint I had not to attack him then and there.

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