Page 2 of A Descent Into Darkness

“You’re no trouble at all. Actually, I could use your help. Come in.” She reached out and grabbed my hand, pulling me forward and into the small room she used to entertain half the men in Charles Town. “I was thinking about moving the bed closer to the window. Thought I might fancy the view, and the breeze from the harbor is quite nice in the heat of summer. Do you think you could arrange it for me?”

She stood too close. Her delicate fingers lingered on my arm, scorching the skin beneath. I’d never been this close to a woman. At least not one that made my mind whirl with impure thoughts. It had been my interest in the beautiful nymphs back in Neverland that had further exposed my secret. Not only had my body been changing, but my mind had begun to lust after things only a man would desire. As much as I’d tried to hide it, Pan had figured it out. I broke his cardinal rule.

Never, ever grow up.

And yet I couldn’t prevent it, no matter how hard I wished it to be so.

I swallowed hard, taking a step back from the seductivetemptress. Thoughts of Pan helped to pull my wayward mind back into the present.

“I’d be happy to help you, mistress, but Madame Mat?—”

“You really are filling out, aren’t you?”

“Well, yes, I?—”

“Have you ever been with a woman before?”

“Umm, well, yes—I mean, no. What do you mean by ‘with a woman?’ I’m here with you—a woman—right now.” She laughed, the sound like sweet bells in my ear and in that moment she looked like a pixie in human form. She closed the small gap between us, pressing her large breasts against my chest. I wondered if she could feel my heart pounding away just beneath the surface.

“You are too sweet. Maybe I could take away some of that sweetness. I might be willing to take on a charity case. Show you how to treat a woman,” she purred.

“That’s awfully kind of you, mistress. But Madame Matisse sent me with an urgent message. I was to tell youQueen Anne’s Revengehas arrived at port.”

Charlotte’s eyes widened as the news finally broke through her seduction, and her demeanor changed instantly.

“What else did she say?” Her voice quavered for a moment as she grabbed a fist full of my shirt.

“That you were to prepare yourself.”

“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, he’s returned early this season,” she mused to herself. “Did she say when?”

“No mistress, just that I was to come straight away.” Aflash of fear flitted across her beautiful eyes before she started pushing me toward the door.

“Off with you. He mustn’t find you here, or else—” Her words were cut short by the sound of heavy boots echoing in the stairwell. Charlotte froze, her fingernails biting into my arm as she clung to me. We both stood motionless, silently waiting to see if the stranger in the hallway would simply pass us by. Charlotte jumped when a heavy fist pounded on the door, the solid wood trembling with the force. A thick silence hung in the air for what seemed like an eternity. Charlotte’s hand trembled as the color drained from her features.

“Let me in, sweetness. I know you’re in there,” a deep, graveled voice rumbled through the closed door.

“Jas,” she whispered, “you have to hide. Get under the bed. Stay there until I tell you to. Don’t come out, no matter what you hear.” She knelt down on the floor, coaxing me to follow her, her eyes pleading with me to do as she said. The door rattled again, the banging becoming urgent. “Please, if you won’t do it for yourself, do it for me!” The look in her eyes, the frantic tone of her voice, had my heart pounding, this time from the fear that radiated off her. My head bobbled in a shaky nod, and I scrambled under the bed. The lace fell into place just as Charlotte opened the door.

His leather boots were worn and weathered, and they clunked ominously as he crossed the floor, stopping mere feet from my shrouded face.

“Edward,” Charlotte spoke his name as if the word itself brought promise of sinful pleasures. “Your back early this season.”

“I’m not here for small talk. I’m here to get my cock wet.”

“We both know you’re here for more than that,” she cooed.

“Not today, Charlotte. I’m only in port for abreath. I’ll be gone before tomorrow breaks light. Now, why aren’t you on your knees?” His words were short and demanding, and Charlotte wasted no time dropping to the floor.

I had often spied on the fae having sex back in Neverland. It wasn’t hard to do. They were a wanton people who didn’t care much for modesty. But I had never been this close to humans doing it. Curiosity piqued my interest, and I watched through the lacy windows of light. Edward’s pants fell around his ankles, exposing his dirty, hairy legs, while Charlotte kneeled in front of him. I wriggled closer to the lace concealing my hiding place, trying to see above his knees, but they were too far away. I could hear his excitement. He was groaning loudly, while Charlotte, on the other hand, was gagging and gasping for air. Did she like that? Was that normal? Fear had me paralyzed. Was he trying to kill her? I began to panic. If Charlotte died while I stayed silently under the bed, Madame Matisse would have my hide for sure. Charlotte had said to stay hidden no matter what I saw or heard. But this was nothing like I had seen in Neverland. I was about to expose myself in a chivalrous attempt to rescue my damsel in distress when Edward pulled her up from the floor and dropped her shift in a puddle at her feet.

“My dirty little whore likes it rough, doesn’t she?”

“Aye, My Captain,” Charlotte’s voice was full of lust. “Use me for your pleasure."

I held my breath. Fearful he would hear my rapidbreathing. Charlotte gasped before he pushed her back on to the bed.

“Play with your pussy while I take off my boots. I wanna see how wet you are for me.” His words were vulgar and yet they stirred a need within my pants. I wanted desperately to see what was happening but all I could manage from this position was a silhouetted reflection against the wall, flickering in the candle light. Charlotte’s knees were bent, and she was leaning back. Her hands busy between her parted legs and soft moans escaped her lips. His boots hit the floor in a series of loud thuds. One after the other startling me from my locked gaze, moments before his pants dropped directly in front of my face, obscuring my view.

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