Again I'm so sorry for the delay in this story! No, I haven't abandoned it, I've decided to rewrite portions of the coming chapters and as such it's taken be a bit longer than desired to post the next chapter. As always comments and feedback are LOVE!
His thumbs began to caress the lush velvet of her lips. Her skin was as soft as a lamb's, making him wonder almost as an afterthought if she would be that malleable everywhere he touched. "Please" she whispered as if she could divine the dangerous direction of his thoughts as his fingers tangled in her dark hair. Yet this time her words were not laced with the unmistakable undercurrent of fear, but something deeper darker.
"The soul is eternal, Captain. And I suspect yours isn't quite as black as you'd like me to believe."
Dark hair.
He hadn't been expecting that.
A fist pounded on the door.
"Charles!" The voice sounded far off.
Vane grunted.
"Charles! Charles! Open the fucking door!"
"Quiet that bleedin' racket or I'll 'ave your 'ead!" A third voice shouted over the pounding.
With great effort, Vane decided it was not, in fact, his head pounding, but the door.
"Charles! For the love of great mother, church open the god damned door!"
With a wince, Vane swung himself into a sitting position rubbing a hand over his bleary eyes. He hadn't had that much to drink in, well…a damn while.
"Charles!" The third voice Vane registered as Bellamy barked again, "if you don't open the door I'll shoot ye myself!"
Vane glanced to his left registering Bellamy's glare before taking in the sight of a very naked Ginny, the perfect white globe of one pert breast exposed as she blinked blearily up from her spot curled against Bellamy's side.
Rubbing a hand over his face Vane stood with some effort and opened the door revealing none other than his first mate, fist poised even with Vane's nose.
"You knocked?" Vane growled, the gravel timbre in his voice conveying his displeasure at such an awakening.
Jack looked contrite for a moment before regaining his sense.
"Charles, we have a problem."
A creak. Something prickling at the back of her mind, urging her to open her eyes. Rolling over Kati dismissed the thought, it was nothing. After weeks of swaying back and forth along the Atlantic waves the lack of motion disturbed her, more than she cared to admit. Yet here they were, bobbing aimlessly somewhere.
Anywhere.
At first, she feared that they had reached their destination, yet when clearer thoughts prevailed she reasoned that it could not be so. She knew the voyage to the Carolinas was supposed to take the far side of four months, yet they had only been at sea for maybe two or was it three months?
With a silent yawn, Kati opened her eyes and squinted into the black gloom. A sound. There it was again, at the far end of the hold. That's all it was, yet the sudden noise after such a prolonged stillness made the breath stop in her chest. It couldn't be morning, it felt like mere hours ago that Jack Rackham had arrived to bring them their dinner. She had tried, unsuccessfully over the last few days to wring a scrap of information about their whereabouts from the man but to no avail. He had merely winked at her, applauded her for her attempt and swept from the room in a sashay of brightly colored fabric.
Did she imagine it?
The soft jingle of the lock, then the low groan of the door.
No, she wasn't imaging it, someone was coming.
"Lizzy, wake up," Kati whispered gently placing a hand over her sister's mouth in a subtle warning to keep quiet. "Lizzy," she whispered again, this time giving her a gentle shake.
Elizabeth sat up so fast they nearly bumped heads, eyes wide. "Whazzit?" Elizabeth muttered. Rubbing her eyes.
"Shhh, someone's here." Kati tried to keep her breathing calm as she peered into the darkness, an unmistakable snake of fear coiling in her gut. It wouldn't be Ms. Bonny, nor Jack Rackham. Each always announced their presence in some manner or another, though Rackham more cheerily than his red-haired companion. Their Captain? No. Kati immediately dismissed the thought. It wasn't him. Their Captain had a presence that was unmistakable and imposing, Kati felt she would have known for certain whether or not it was he that stood before them, even in the absence of light.
Her deductions gave her little comfort.
The door shut, then clicked.
"Who's there?" Her voice cracked on the last syllable.
No answer.
Breathing. Heavy Breathing.
Elizabeth began shivering, though this time not from the cold.
"I said who's there?" Her voice sounded stronger this time.
Hard footsteps moved slowly and cautiously across the room.
Kati scrambled to her feet, urging Elizabeth behind her.
A rustle, then the sound of a match striking. Light instantly filtered through the darkness. The soft glow of a single candle illuminating a man's face. One she'd seen, only once before. She knew him instantly, the tufts of dirty blond hair, the flat gaunt face, and wild black eyes. It was the man from the passageway with Jack Rackham, Hawk or Hawkins. She couldn't remember.
"What do you want?" Kati asked.
The man took a step forward, his hulking bulk making the space suddenly seem very narrow.
"Aye, so there be two. And what a lovely pair the two er ye make." He ran his tongue over his lower lip letting his eyes run the length of her tattered night dress from the tips of her dirty toes to her ragged bust. "We've been 'a sea 'a very long time," he said licking his lips again.
"I have heard absence makes the heart grow fonder," Kati said briskly, fighting to hide her growing fear. She knew he would only feed on it. She desperately wished she was wearing a proper dress or a cloak. With her body draped in the flimsy nightdress, she felt worse than naked. "I'm sure your captain would not appreciate this intrusion."
His cruel eyes alighted with amusement as he caught the shadow that flickered across her face. "A woman is a rarity 'a sea, so I be wonderin why 'e Cap'n has you locked away, why 'e's not sharing. Is 'e keepin whats between ye thighs for hisself?"
"We're close to shore, I would imagine owning to our decided lack of motion. Why do you yet remain aboard Mr. Hawk?" Kati began to back away from him, pushing Elizabeth along the wall behind her. Desperate to put distance between them and this man. Whatever he intended it wasn't good. He followed her step by step, the rancid tang of his alcohol tinged breath following ahead of him.
"Aye, so ye do remember me, Rosie. Had ta see ma pretty English Rosie again, just had ta wait ma chance." Kati shuddered, unwilling to let her mind run to conclusions.
"Ye seem cold as ice, but I bet ole' Hawk can warm ye right up." His pockmarked face broke into a menacing toothy grin.
Elizabeth chose that moment to bolt to the side, "Lizzy don't!" Kati screamed, but it was too late. Elizabeth let out a blood-curdling shriek just as the man's arm shot out and clamped a dirty hand around her thin waist, pinning her up against him.
"If you touch her so help me…" Kati spit the words at him all pretense of calm evaporated.
"Oooh little kitten has claws does she." He taunted. "Ole Hawk canna be a very capable man, more 'en enough to go around for the both of ye's."
Kati's spine stiffened.
"I think not sweeting. I like 'er right where she be." To punctuate his statement he wretched a dirty hand into Elizabeth's long golden hair, yanking it back with enough force to make her whimper. "O' yes, yer a pretty little thing."
"Let her go." Kati spat, pushing her fear aside.
"No." He began to laugh then, a deep bellied huff, jiggling the meat hanging from his sweaty frame. Still gripping Elizabeth's tangled hair, the man twisted her around. "Oh yes, 'e goin ter 'ave fun with you my sweet little lamb." The man gave Elizabeth a sharp tug, pulling her flush against his broad chest.
"Stop it!" Kati screamed.
"Come now lassie, no need a fear," then almost as an afterthought he hooted, "much," crowing as he reached down towards his belt, and produced a small carving knife that gleamed wickedly in the meager light.
Elizabeth's eyes went wide, terror reflected in their depths as the man brought the point against her throat. "All that lovely skin wuld be a right shame 'a tarnish it."
Without a second though Kati charged at him. Jumping on his back, grabbing, biting, and kicking at him anything to get him to get away from her.
The man let out a wail, more surprise than pain.
"Lizzy run!" Kati screamed still clinging to him as he twisted frantically from left to right trying to dislodge her.
"Get off me ye' right she-bitch!
She couldn't see, but still, she gripped him, fingers clawing to find purchase on the sweaty lumbering flesh.
Twisting to pull her off, Kati yelped as white hot pain lanced through her side and something heavy clattered to the floor. She was dimly aware of a sticky warmth before the man backed up and slammed her against one of the wooden support beams. Pain exploded behind her eyes as her head made contact with one of the metal couplings. Taking advantage, he reached out and wrapped a hand around her slim ankle, pulling her down. She had only a moment to brace herself before she crashed stiffly to stomach, knocking the wind from her burning lungs.
Breathing heavily through his nose the man's watery yellow-tinged eyes shifted to Elizabeth over Kati's prone form as if sharing a private joke.
"Kati!" Elizabeth cried. "Kati, please get up! Get up!" her voice breaking on a wailing.
"Ooh, yer sister is a feisty one lass." Elizabeth turned to run, but the man was too quick, grabbing her by the hair and tugging her across the floor to him once more.
Through a thick hazy fog, Kati slowly registered the unyielding hardness beneath her. Her side burned, and something warm and sticky dripped into her eyes.
She had to get to Lizzy.
Flinging her arms out wide she tried to push herself up, but her arms betrayed her, collapsing once more.
Hawk let out a guttural grunt, halfway between and laugh and a cough at her meager attempt. "What do you think sweetin'?" He asked turning his attention to Elizabeth, "I bet your sister 'll fight like a cat when I sink ma teeth into 'er. What do ya think?" To punctuate his query, he bit down hard on Elizabeth's exposed shoulder eliciting a scream of pain.
Slowly shaking her head, Kati tried again to pull herself up. Flinging her arms out wide, she let out a hiss as her pinky scrapped along something solid and cold.
His knife.
Hawk laughed a guttural grunt as Kati crawled along the floor away from him.
Taking advantage of Hawks brief moment of distraction Kati clasp her fingers around the small handle and pushed herself to her feet her back towards him, swaying slightly with the effort.
"Back for more eh?" Hawk cawed, laughing as though he'd made the funniest of jokes.
Kati blinked hard, trying to clear her field of vision from the encroaching black "Let her go!" She turned, brandishing the small knife towards him. It suddenly looked much smaller clasp in her hands.
Seeing her slash the small dagger he backed up a pace but continued to laugh. "With that? Ha! That wuldna even cut my bread!" A chilling smile pulling at his weather-worn features.
She swallowed, "I swear if you don't release her, I'll score you from naval to nose!"
"Ye sure ye know what ta do with that Luv? Would be a true shame ta miss." He surveyed the curve of her body crudely as he leaned in close to Elizabeth.
Kati charged him again, ducking below his out flung arm, she struck, driving the small knife into his shoulder with all her might, eliciting a howl from Hawk.
"I'll kill you! I'll kill you both!" Reaching around behind him he grabbed her wrist and squeezed. The warm slick blood oozing from the wound on his shoulder coupled with the strength on her wrist forced her to lose her grip.
Elizabeth took that moment to flee. "Oh no, ye don't bitch!" The man yelled as he slapped her hard across the face, knocking her onto her back a few feet away from Kati.
"Lizzy!" She screamed.
Elizabeth barely stir.
He reached back and yanked the small knife from his shoulder flinging it away.
"I'll make ye pay for tha' ye stupid little whore!" Immediately he was on Elizabeth, his long dirty nails digging into the tender skin of her throat, squeezing and choking.
Using the last dregs of her strength, Kati staggered as she moved forward and threw herself on him again. Kicking, clawing, scratching, and screaming. Anything she could do to get him to let her sister go.
He let out a howl of frustration but wouldn't loosen his hands.
Kati was desperate, Lizzy's eyes were turning red and her struggles weakening. Without a second thought, Kati lowered her mouth to the man's ear and sunk her teeth into the soft, warm flesh. Immediately the sharp, hot taste of copper filled her mouth. She held out, pulling and thrashing, eventually separating flesh and tearing the skin.
He screamed then, a high-pitched howl of pain. Letting go of Elizabeth he reached both hands up to his tattered ear. "My ear!" He screamed.
Rolling off of him Kati failed her arms out wide, crawling forward on her stomach, her fingers searching frantically for the knife once more. Rapidly the man was on her again. With a snarl, he let loose a harsh kick to her side making her scream. As he threw himself on her, the force rolled them to the side, crashing them into the wall.
"You stupid bitch!" Hawk snarled looming over her.
"Damn it! Where was that knife!" Kati cried, hot tears of frustration rolling down her cheeks, blurring her vision and making her eyes burn. Reaching out to the side she clawed along the floor, oblivious to the ripping pain in her fingers. A glint of silver against the wall. There!
Without a seconds hesitation, she wrapped her hand around the weapon and jammed it up into the side of his neck.
He froze, stunned.
"Well fuck me." He let out before he crumpled to the floor, a harsh, wet, gurgle falling from his lips then stillness.
She couldn't move. She just stared for what felt like ages at the lifeless body before her. Only the sound of Elizabeth's heavy coughing shook her from her thoughts. Scrambling to her feet, away from the body Kati crawled to Elizabeth's side. Catching the front of her dress in her hands, she gave her sister a gentle shake and tugged her into her arms. "Lizzy! Lizzy! Are you alright?" Elizabeth gazed up at her in mute disbelief.
"I'm so sorry. So sorry." She croaked as her fingers fluttered over her helplessly, checking for any severe damage.
Just then the door crashed open flooding the hold with harsh light. As his eyes adjusted to the dim Charles Vane took in the image before him.
The sight that greeted him was one he never expected.
The crumpled body of Hawk Hillman lay directly in front of the door. The floor was a mess of overturned barrels, and a dark sticky substance he strongly suspected was blood. Yet to each of these items he only paid the barest attention. As his eyes swept the chamber all his focus was drawn to the slight girl now staring him down unflinchingly, the proper Miss Katriona Annesley. Her once white nightshift was drenched down the front in dark stains, her hair a wild mess of curls and a thick crimson smear streaked across her lips and chin, running down her neck.
"Jesus," Anne spat somewhere behind him.
"It would appear that our little English rose has thorns," Jack whispered, all humor gone from his voice.
Kati pushed herself to a standing position in front of Elizabeth, one bloodied hand clenched into a fist, the other brandishing the little knife.
Vane met her gaze. Assessing. He had not expected this. Had she done all of this? "What happened here?"
Kati met his ice blue gaze without flinching, her voice laced with disdain, "We were the recipients of your hospitality" she said between sobbing breaths.
His jaw tightened as if she had struck him an unexpected blow.
He took a step forward.
"Stay away from me!" She yelled giving the little weapon a slice forward slice for emphasis.
Her hiss of pain upon the movement and the hand that closed along her side did not go unnoticed by Vane. "Give that to me," he commanded.
"What, so you can attempt the same?" She offered, her voice dripping with disdain.
"Give it to me."
"No." She held her ground, though the effort to do so was not lost on him.
Vane took a deep breath "I meant you no harm."
"No harm?...No harm?!" She choked out on a disbelieving laugh. "You abducted us, murdering everyone in your wake, throw us in here, and you mean us no harm?" She scoffed swaying slightly. "Go to hell."
Vane's gaze hardened. "Where do you expect to go Miss Annesley? You are on MY ship, under the watch of MY men, under MY orders in the middle of the fucking ocean."
During the exchange, Kati had been so focused on Vane that she missed the shadowy figure slip from behind Rackham making its way over to Elizabeth's crumpled body. "Do as he says," came the calm voice.
"Wha-," Kati whipped around. The slender figure of Anne Bonnie, her face obscured beneath the brim of a large hat crouched next to Elizabeth's prone form.
"No! Please! I…" Kati choked.
"Miss Annesley," the soothing voice of Jack Rackham began, "She needs a doctor," he said letting his concerned gaze sweep her form "as I suspect you do as well." Jack made a few steps towards her, and she didn't flinch away.
"Just please do not hurt her." Kati took a deep breath before letting the knife clatter to the floor along with the last dregs of her strength. From her knees she met Vane's eyes, once more refusing to let him see her tears fall.
"So it is your sister then." Vane said coldly.
In that instant she hated him.
A moment later Rackham was at her side, fingers feathering over her attempting to assess her wounds. "Charles, we need to get them out of here" a worried frown creasing his brows.
"The little one's unconscious," Anne added quietly from the corner. "Someone will have to carry her."
Closing his eyes, Vane took a deep breath, "how many men are ashore?"
"All," Jack replied, "well, at least we believed it to be all."
"You better be right this time," his low-pitched growl seemed to resonate all the way through to Kati's tired bones.
"Anne, can you carry her?" Vane asked motioning towards Elizabeth.
Her curt nod acknowledged her assent.
"Jack, clean this up and get rid of the body. We'll be back by nightfall."
"Charles…"
Cutting him off Vane continued, "Give her your Jacket. We can't go ashore with her looking like the fucking witch of Billingsgate."
Without a word Jack shrugged out of his coat, handing its silky softness to Kati without glancing back at Vane.
She gingerly took the proffered garment before stealing a glance at the man standing against the wall next to her. "Thank you, Mr. Rackham," she murmured, dabbing covertly at her overflowing eyes with the expensive linen.
"The pleasure is mine Miss. Annesley," he whispered with a small smile.
A moment later Vane's sharp eyes were on her, "get up, we need to go."
Kati grunted with pain as she made to stand before collapsing back against the wall, hand clutching at the darkening linen of her side.
At that moment two sets of eyes turned on Vane, he was well aware of the accusation in their depths. Grinding his teeth, he took an almost imperceptible step in Kati's direction. In an instant, she went scrambling backward on elbows and heels like a wounded crab.
Still glaring daggers at him, she again tried to stagger to her feet with marginal success.
Vane slowly began to advance on her again. Although he didn't so much as twitch a muscle in her direction, his intentions were clear.
Good God, he meant to carry her. "Stay away from me."
Unnerved by his inscrutable gaze, she began to back away from him. "What are you doing?"
"You can't stand" he replied, matching her retreat step by step.
"Is that so?" She grunted out, "I seem to be managing just fine."
He reached forward suddenly and tugged her towards him, wrapping one of her arms around his neck. Caught off guard by the unexpected movement, Kati let out a squeak, the sudden movement jarring her side painfully. Before waiting for her reply, he scooped her up like a doll in strong, muscle corded arms.
She went stiff as a board.
Just as she made to protest a soft disdainful voice whispered in her ear, "Don't make me drop you."
Her heart throbbed painfully.
She hated him.
Despite the tenderness of his touch, his eyes still glittered with anger.
