Page 39 of A Descent Into Darkness

“Then there must be another way out. I don’t think we can go back the way we came,” she said, staring back at the dark crack we’d just come through.

I scanned the impressive cavern. There didn’t appear to be another exit, at least nothing that was blatantly obvious. Definitely nothing large enough for a ship to sail through. “I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to get out of the water. Are you able to swim to the ship? We can go about making a new plan once we’re dry and had a moment to rest.”

“Are you sure it’s safe? Where did the mermaids go?”

“I followed one through here, but I don’t see any sign of her now. I think the sooner we get out of the water, the better the odds are that we may live to see another dawn.”

We made the short swim to the ship, and I breathed a sigh of relief that we’d been unmolested by mermaids or any number of fae that might be guarding this place. We clawed our way up the anchor chain. Our drenched bodies spilling out on the main deck. The feel of solid wooden planks beneath me was heavenly.

“Do you think we’re alone here?” Kat whispered.

“Not like we were stealthy when we boarded. It looks abandoned to me,” I said, trying to ease her worry. “But from what I saw back there, you can handle yourself in a fight. Where’d you even get those pistols?” I asked, a smile tugging at my lips as I propped myself on my elbow to look down at her.

“The caves are littered with gold and weapons… and a lot of dead men. Apparently, men have come here armed to the teeth, but never walked out alive.”

“Then I guess it’s a good thing I came with a woman. I think I need to get you a set of pistols when we get out of here. You look positively delicious when you’re armed.” I leaned down, brushing my lips against hers. My cock twitched in my pants. Adrenaline still pumped in my veins and the feel of her underneath me was all the encouragement I needed. I ground my hips against her, and she let out a soft moan.

“James, we should probably have a look around, don’t youthink? We wouldn’t want to get caught with our pants down. Plus, I need a moment to clean up.”

I groaned and rested my forehead against hers. She was right, but the desire to sink myself inside her was hard to rein in when she was this close. I wrenched myself away, pulling her with me as I got to my feet.

“Come on then. Once I’m certain I have you all to myself, we can pick up where we left off.”

We explored every level, searching the decks for any signs of life. The ship itself, although built in the same style as theQueen Anne, exhibited subtle signs that it hadn’t originated from this realm. The sheer size of it alone was impressive, but we managed to clear every level. It was completely abandoned. We entered the storeroom, and it was dripping in treasure. Chests overflowed with rare jewels and gold coins marked with symbols I’d never seen in the known world. Pottery and silver sat in piles, while textiles and fine clothing overflowed the storage trunks. The fabric and design of the outfits were like the fae clothing that Teach had kept on theQueen Anne.

“Do you think the ruby is in here?” Kat asked.

“Possibly, but if it’s as special as Teach seemed to think, I doubt it would be lumped in with the rest of the treasure. We’ll have time to look for the ruby later. Why don’t you find yourself something to change into, and I’ll find us a place to get some sleep tonight.”

She smiled at me, looking relieved to have a moment of normalcy in these wild circumstances.

“Okay. Maybe we could even find some food that hasn’t spoiled in the galley.”

“I already know what I’ll be feasting on tonight,” I growled, pulling her into me for a punishing kiss. “Come find me in the captain’s quarters when you’re done. And don’t be long, because I’m famished.”

I leftKatherine in the storeroom, knee deep in satin gowns. I made my way to the captain’s quarters, allowing my mind to fantasize about what I could do with this ship. How it would aid me in my plans to return to Neverland eluded me at the moment, but fate had brought me here for a reason. I opened the door, finding a shadowed cabin appointed in dark mahogany. Muted light filtered in from an expansive window. From what I could see, it was spacious and neatly appointed in dark crimson fabrics. A large four poster bed was nestled to one side, and an ornate table sat at the center of the room.

I walked in and a strange sense of belonging washed over me. A feeling like coming home after so many years. Strange maps and scrolls covered the table, charting lands and seas that I had never seen before. I slid the lid from a carved box on the table and the aroma of tobacco wafted up. Cigars neatly lined the bottom, and nestled on top was an unusual contraption. I wrapped my fingers around the cold silver piece, realizing it was meant to hold two cigars to smoke at once. I helped myself, fitting two cigars into the holder andlighting a match. I pulled in a deep inhale, the tingle of tobacco lingering in my mouth before I blew out a large plume into the darkness. A creak of the floorboards was the only warning I had before a familiar face emerged from the shadows, shrouded in the swirling smoke.

“Teach,” I snarled.

“Why, James, is that any way to greet your captain?” Teach said condescendingly.

“You’re not my captain anymore.”

“That brand on your arm says otherwise. Or have you forgotten the oath you pledged to me?”

“The moment you tried to have me killed is the moment my oath to you was broken.”

“Had you not earned it? You and that little whore thought you could outsmart me? That you could be rid of me so easily? You should have cut that mark out of your arm before you deceived me.”

“She is not a whore. Don’t you ever fucking speak of her again!” I barked.

“You mean my property? My property that you fucked behind my back,” he said, a wild look in his eyes as he took a step toward me. “Let me tell you something, boy, it’ll take more than a kraken to keep me from what’s mine!” He banged his fist on the table, the box of cigars spilling on the floor.

“You brought this on yourself, Teach. All those years you promised me revenge, and yet you delivered me nothing. You were a waste of my years.”

“I’m to blame? I brought you under my wing when you were nothing more than a sorry excuse for a man. I taught you everything you know. How to fight. How to think. How to endure. I taught you how to be a man. I treated you like a son. I favored you over all others. We could have been unstoppable together. I warned you never to get attached, but I see now that fine pussy was your downfall.” He walked around the table, glaring at me as his words set in. It wasn’t a lie. He’d molded me into a ruthless killer. Only Katherine had saved me from losing my soul completely.

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