Page 3 of A Descent Into Darkness

The bed groaned with his added weight pulling on the ropes supporting the stained mattress above me. The sounds of their escapades quickly filled the space. Making me uncomfortably aware of the predicament I found myself in. Hopefully, he would make quick work of his needs with Charlotte, and I could get back to my chores.

While the two of them were distracted with each other, I seized the opportunity to rifle through the man’s pockets. A handful of Spanish dollars, an old and weathered compass, and to my surprise, a small vial of golden sparkling dust.Could it be?

My heart started to pound in my chest. I rolled the vial between my fingers. Watching as the contents glimmered in the dim light. I never thought I’d see it again. I quickly openedthe vial, said a prayer to the Divine, and smeared a bit of the dust across my now oozing wound. I winced as the pain flared. A smile spread across my face as I watched my shoulder mend itself. The pain instantly subsided. It was indeed faerie dust.

This was it. My way back home—back to Neverland. A chance at sweet revenge. I had to find a way to befriend this Edward. He was obviously more than your ordinary sailor, or was it a façade to hide his true nature? I needed to figure out exactly who or what he was, and what he knew of the other realms. Find out how he got his hands on faerie dust. Surely he had valuable connections. Connections that could lead to Neverland. If I was going to get back, I was going to need a lot more than this small vial. I stuffed the money back into his pants and rolled the vial of dust once more between my fingers. I couldn’t bring myself to put it back. What if I couldn’t find more? I pocketed the vial and the compass. If I played my cards right, I might be able to use the compass as a way to get an audience with Edward. For the first time since being dropped on the unfamiliar streets of Charles Town, I had a glimmer of hope. This would be my ticket home.

Edward keptCharlotte busy for the better part of an hour before he finally left the room. I scrambled out from under the bed, ignoring Charlotte’s laughter. She must have thought I was scarred from the experience. But I no longer cared what she thought of me. My mind was solely focused on one thing. I needed to get to Edward. I followed himquietly down to the common room, slinking along the walls so as not to be seen.

For a Sunday afternoon,The Gilded Fillywas bustling with patrons. Several of the girls were entertaining potential clients, hoping to seduce them out of their coin. Others simply enjoyed a voyeuristic drink. I lingered in the shadowed corners, silently watching as Madame Matisse offered the captain her finest bottle of rum. He sat at the bar alone, forgoing the glass and drinking straight from the bottle. He was a large man. Considerably taller than me with a full beard of black hair. His wild eyes were intense, almost sinister in their appearance. This was my moment. It was now or never. I had heard him tell Charlotte he would be gone before day’s end. Time was fleeting. I had to get it right.

“Mr. Edward,” I mumbled. Catching his attention was intimidating, to say the least, but I needed faerie dust, and this man had a connection.

“Edward,” I said it with confidence this time. He turned to face me.

“What do you want? I’m not interested in fornicating with a young man.”

Young man. His words hit a nerve. Reminding me of the pain Peter had inflicted for the inescapable sin of growing up. No matter how hard I’d wished, I was powerless to stop the march of time. And yet, Pan had punished me anyway. All for something I couldn’t control. Man… it was a simple word, and yet it stoked the rage boiling deep within me.

I took a cleansing breath. I wouldn’t allow my anger toget in the way of this opportunity. I pulled the compass from my pocket. “I believe this belongs to you, sir.”

His brow furrowed as confusion set in. “Where did you get that?” He reached for the compass, and I quickly retracted my hand.

“I found it outside of Miss Charlotte’s room. She told me you were leaving before daybreak. I— I…”

“Out with it, boy. I haven’t got all day.”

“I would like to join your crew.” The words just blurted out. “The compass for a position on your ship. I’ll prove myself worthy, sir. I’m a hard worker.”

He pondered my offer, taking a long pull off the bottle of rum. I took the slight hint of amusement on his face as a good sign. “A brave soul you are trying to barter your way on to my ship using my own belongings. Tell me, what exactly makes you valuable to my crew?”

“I’m willing to do anything. Please, just give me a chance.”

He sighed and took another pull from the bottle. “You’re in luck. As it were, I need a new powder monkey.” He reached up stroking his full black beard. “The last one got careless with the gunpowder and found himself burnt to a crisp.”

“Yes, a powder monkey! I’ll be the best powder monkey you’ve ever had.” I had no idea what a powder monkey was. I didn’t care as long as it got me on Edward’s ship.

“Get your ass down to the docks before sundown. Don’t be late. I won’t wait for you. Now, I’ll take my compass back. What’s your name, young man?”

James, sir. My name is James, but you can call me Jas. Thank you. I won’t disappoint you.” I handed him back the old compass.

“It’s Captain. If I catch you stealing from me again, I won’t think twice about cutting off your hands. Do you understand, Jas?”

“Yes, Captain.” I had no idea who this man was or just how dangerous he might be, but my options were limited. I could stay here in Charles Town and hope for another vial of faerie dust to fall into my lap or I could take my chances with this mysterious stranger who harbored secrets that might just get me back to Neverland. The choice was simple. I was off to sea.

My head hung heavy as I waited for my fate. Distracting myself with the minute details of the weathered decking beneath my feet. I’d gotten myself into this position. There was no use regretting it now. I sank into my bindings, enjoying the sting from my wrists. The pain meant I was still alive. I was bound to the foremast above my head. Just enough so my feet barely grazed the wooden planks and my body swayed with the roll of the ship. I heard the crack of the whip before the bite of it radiated across my back. As much as I tried to hold it in, the shock ofit pulled a groan from my lips. The warm, wet trickle told me he’d drawn blood this time.

“Nothings better than the scent of blood on the sea air, ain’t that right, boys!” Captain called to the crew that had gathered to watch the spectacle. I had learned long ago that Edward Teach had a soul as dark as the devil himself. He had insisted on completing my initiation personally, and he had been vicious in his execution. The moment he declared I would take over as bo’sun on the ship, the torment had commenced. I had to prove myself worthy of the rank. Show my unwavering loyalty to Teach by subjecting myself to torture and degradation.

The last two weeks had been hell. The rigors of pirate life were never easy, but I’d grown accustomed to the grueling labor, and found some solace in it. It helped to swage the vengeful demon that lived within me, impatiently waiting for my chance to return to Neverland. But this was different. Teach had taken great pleasure in my suffering. It had been nothing more than entertainment for his sick, twisted mind.

Tonight, it would all end, one way or another. Either I’d prove my worth or die in the process. I tried to remind myself that I was resilient. The constant work had hardened my body. Pirate life had hardened my soul. Now I was a formidable match for anyone on the ship. All the more reason for Teach to break me.

I’d spent the duration of the initiation on the brink of starvation, granted nothing more than a handful of molded scraps to eat. My hands and feet had been shackled and I’dbeen forced to work from sunup to sundown. He’d stripped away the very clothes on my back, subjecting my skin to the unrelenting sun. The lingering burn intensified the stinging pain from the lashes on my back.

“How goes it, Jas? You yield?” his graveled voice growled in my ear, the scent of rum thick on his breath.

“May I have another, Captain?” My voice quavered as my body screamed with the pain. It was my will alone that forced the words from my lips even while my soul wept at the idea of the whip across my sensitive flesh.

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