TessaElsaHerondale: Thank you again! There will be more Gabriel-Will humor in this one too! Oh Will's name *swoon*. If only there was a real Will Herondale in real life. My life would be complete. Okay I'll read them! When I'm done with HP and the other books on my shelf haha. I'm ready Game of Thrones now, so that's gonna take awhile D: You'll find out about the mysterious man. It'll all come together :)
Guest: Thanks! I'm not sure about A Year Abroad... I was brainstorming it the other day, but I have major writer's block for that one. So eventually, just not now. My TDA fic should be updated soon though! I'm working on rewriting it.
The Iron Sister: Awww thanks girl! Yes, I finally decided to show the real Will Herondale now, so you'll be getting more of that. Ahhh the first kiss... you'll just have to wait for that haha. Glad it was your favorite! I didn't expect it to be haha.
Vialovesbooks: Yes he finally is! Glad the love/hate relationship is working. You'll find out more about his personal library :)
millisiana: Don't worry about it! I'm just happy that you're reading this story. Ugh I hate reviewing on my phone too... it can be so annoying at times. Glad you liked the name Needle! It really stuck with me from GoT, so I decided to add it to this story. Yay for being the 99th reviewer!
Wessaalltheway: Yay! You're the 100th reviewer! Glad you liked the chapter. Awww I wish I could go into writing, but parents are holding me back :/ I am working on my own novel though, so I'll see where that takes me. Thanks for the review though!
nicoleherondale: Yes, you will find out more with Nate. Haha you know me too well though ;) And no, you're not looking too much into this! Let the Wessa begin now haha. Awww thank you for reading this fic!
Personorwhatever: Lol that's funny. Although, Tortuga is like torture haha. Awww no :( Finish your homework so you can read it! It's amazing.
Books'N'Life: Thanks for the review! For the purpose of this story, Nate is the brother. There is no Aunt Harriet in this story, so to make things easier, I just made him the brother.
The-Finale-Hope: Yeah, I couldn't leave Nate hanging. I dunno when you'll see him again. No worries! We're all tired haha. Thanks :)
Silverandblack: Om nom nom. Awww thanks friend! The cookies were delicious :D
Matilovesbooks: Hehe there's a reason I left it hanging ;) I hope you'll be able to read this chapter though! Have fun camping though! Oh, I just thought it would be funny to call him Lightworm in this. Clearly, Will dislikes Gabriel, and the feeling is mutual, so he just calls him that to poke fun at him. But no worries! Thanks for the review :)
Tessa had awoken the next morning with new news regarding the quick trip to Tortuga. She had certainly heard about Tortuga. The place was notorious for being the center of all misfits and pirates alike. Tessa never thought that she would actually go there.
But here she was, on a ship heading right to Tortuga. Before, it would have been one of her worst nightmares. But now, she was not as scared as she should have been. Something had definitely changed…
Tessa had also been updated about their final destination: Cadair Idris. She had known plenty about Cadair Idris, but not actually exact details. Few have lived to ever recount what happens there. Tessa had no idea what they had in store there, but she was bound to find out soon.
"Look, there it is," breathed Cecily, who was standing beside Tessa. They were situated at the deck of the forecastle, looking straight in front of them. "Isn't it beautiful?" Cecily added.
"It sure is, Cecy," said a voice. They spun around to see Will standing, also admiring the view.
"What are you doing here, William?" Cecily said, rolling her eyes.
"Well, I am captain of this ship," Will explained to no one in particular. "So that means I can do as I like. I want to see the island, this is clearly the best spot to observe it, and so here I am."
"Fine, do as you like Will," Cecily said, turning away from her brother and leaning against the rail.
"So what do you think of the island, Miss Gray?" Will asked, looking at her curiously.
Tessa shrugged. "I can't say much until I actually explore it, sir."
"We've already gone over this," Will said, exasperated. "Please, call me Will."
"Than you shall call me Tessa," she said firmly.
"Very well, Tessa," Will said delicately, still looking at her in that curious fashion. He broke away from their gaze and stood on the other side of Tessa. Cecily seemed to be studiously ignoring them.
"Cecy, darling," Will coaxed without looking at his sister, "will you do me a favor, and gather the crew up for me?"
"Very well," Cecily said abruptly. "I have nothing better to do." She left without another word, leaving Will and Tessa alone at the deck.
"So," Tessa said, breaking the awkward silence, "what exactly are we doing in Tortuga?"
"Henry is insistent on finding a better way of getting Cadair Idris," Will said, firmly pressing his mouth together in a disapproving manner. "With best of luck, we should be able to find safe passage."
"Why are we going to Cadair Idris?" Tessa said without double thinking it through.
She half expected Will to blow up. But that was the old Will, the Heron the Great she had first met. Things had definitely changed since then.
But instead, he ignored her.
"Did you know that Tortuga is shaped like a turtle?" Will mused.
"Is it really?" Tessa said, half interested in the subject. She really wanted to know by Cadair Idris, but judging by Will's behavior, he wasn't going to tell her. Or not quite yet.
Will nodded. "The head is where all the activity takes place. As for the shell and the feet, it's just dense forest. No one ever ventures in there."
"Let me guess. Cannibals and flesh-eating monsters lurk in deep, dark corners there?" Tessa said sarcastically.
Will laughed. "If only. Then, our tale would be loads more interesting."
The bell sounded, signaling the near arrival on the island. At the same time, Will and Tessa turned around to see the crew making their way towards the main deck.
"We best be going now," Will muttered into Tessa's ear, then set off to join the crew. Tessa followed right behind him.
Nearly everyone was there, and Tessa found a spot between Jem and Sophie to stand between. Jem gave Tessa a small smile, before turning his attention towards Will. Gabriel came straggling from below the deck, and stood next to Cecily, who was behind Tessa.
"Now that everyone is here," Will started, giving Gabriel a pointed look, "we need to discuss our plan of action while we're in Tortuga."
"Let me guess," Gabriel said lazily, "we're going to have to stay put like last time."
"I would prefer if you would hold your tongue, Lightworm. Especially for someone who arrived late," Will snapped.
Gabriel opened his mouth to say something in retort, but Cecily elbowed him hard in the side.
"Anyway," Will began, turning away from Gabriel to face the rest of the crew, "you all are free to explore the city. But do be careful if you chose to."
"We are?" Cecily said, clearly surprised.
"Yes," Will nodded. "Although, I want a couple of tasks delegated to some of you."
"So much for freedom," Gabriel whispered to Cecily, though Will didn't seem to hear him.
"First off, Henry, Jem, you both will be coming with me," Will instructed. "We need to find the remaining bits of information in order to make it safely to Cadair Idris."
"Sounds easy enough for me," Henry said, grinning goofily.
"Gideon, could you and your brother gather supplies?" Will said, with a little menace.
"Sure," Gideon shrugged, while Gabriel didn't look particularly happy. It wasn't like he had any other options, though.
"And Charlotte, is it alright if you stay behind and guard the ship? Make sure that no damage comes to her," Will added.
"Of course," Charlotte smiled.
"The rest of you are free to do as you like. Just make sure that we meet back here within the next hour… we don't want to spend too much time in Tortuga." And with that, Will spun around and made his way down the gangway, Jem and Henry right behind him.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Tessa said skeptically. She didn't want to fully admit it, but she was terrified of setting foot on Tortuga. She had many stories of the place, none of them good, and didn't want to endanger her life. Not that being on a ship full of pirates helped.
"Positive," Cecily beamed. "Besides, you've got me here!"
"And ever more the reason to worry," Tessa mumbled to herself.
"Hey, I can hear that!" Cecily exclaimed. "Plus, Sophie hasn't left the ship yet. Isn't that right Sophie?"
It hadn't even dawned on Tessa. Sophie hadn't been on land in the longest time, even longer than Tessa. At least Tessa got a break when they were at Blackfriars Port, but Sophie didn't even have that opportunity.
"It's true," Sophie shrugged. "But if Miss Tessa isn't comfortable, then we can stay."
Cecily looked disappointed at this. She huffed in irritation.
"Sophie, how many times do I have to tell you not to call me that?" Tessa said sternly. "And I've changed my mind. I'll go."
"You will!" Cecily automatically perked up before Sophie could reply. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah I'm sure. I do – ," Tessa started, but she couldn't even finish.
"Great! Let's get going!" Cecily shrieked in excitement. She grabbed both Tessa and Sophie's arms and marched them down the gangway.
"Where are you taking us?" Sophie said nervously.
"No idea!" Cecily said cheerily. "Just go with the flow you two. You have to be spontaneous."
Tessa found there was no point in arguing with the Herondale sister, so just followed her everywhere. Cecily's enthusiasm was tiring, but entertaining at the same time. She never seemed to shut up and talked about everything and anything.
That was anything except for Will. She was closed off about her brother. Whenever Tessa would ask her about him, she would shrug and just say, "it's Will," as if that fully explained the question.
Tessa took the time to observe the surroundings around her. Tortuga was loads more shadier than Blackfriars Ports. There were pubs and brothels at every corner. Women with barely any clothing roamed the streets, as random brawls broke up in the middle of the streets.
"Is anyone interested in buying a wench?" shouted a voice suddenly from the side. The three of them looked around to see a shady building in the side. There was a man with a bunch of women in ridiculous dresses, as if they were more clowns than women.
"What is that?" Tessa said in alarm.
"Prostitutes," Cecily murmured to her and Sophie. "Come along. We best not be seen."
Cecily pushed them along with the crowd, trying to avoid the man who was trying to auction off the women.
"I'll take her for five gold coins!" someone in the crowd shouted. Tessa stopped and watched it.
"Very well, five gold coins," reiterated the man. "Anything higher? Going once, going twice." No one said a word. "Sold, for five gold coins!" He pressed forward with a girl, who looked younger than Tessa, in an oversized purple dress, forcing her towards the man who bought her. It was digusting.
"Tessa, keep going," Cecily said hurriedly, not wanting to be stuck in this.
"And how about you, milady," said a voice. A pair of rough hands grabbed Tessa and spun her around. It was the same man.
"Get your hands off me," Tessa said, pushing the man from her.
"You're a pretty one," he smirked. "You could go for a good price."
"This one is not for sale," Cecily interjected. Behind her, Sophie looked horrified. Cecily had her hand at her belt, and Tessa saw the hilt of Cecily's sword flash in the little sunlight there was.
"Says who?" the man snorted.
"My brother is the powerful Heron the Great," Cecily said through clenched teeth. "And if he hears what you did, then consider yourself dead."
"Oh yeah?" scoffed the man. "You and what army will do that? I see no Heron the Great here. I need to see it to believe it."
With a blink of an eye, Cecily pulled out her sword and struck the man down. Tessa couldn't even process how fast it happened.
"Run!" Cecily shouted at Tessa and Sophie, and they did as they were told. The crowd parted as they took off. Tessa glanced over her shoulder to see the man struggling to get up. Cecily abruptly turned around the corner, as Tessa and Sophie followed. She kept running until she hit another corner and hid behind a building.
Cecily bent over, panting furiously, trying to catch her breath. "I think we lost them."
Tessa peered around the side of the building. There was not a soul in sight. "I think we did."
"Psst," whispered a voice. The three of them twirled around to see a woman standing before them, eyeing them curiously. They were outside a shop, and hadn't even realized it. But that wasn't what surprised Tessa; it was the woman herself. Or not particularly a woman: she had periwinkle skin and white hair that flowed about her.
"Hyacinth!" Cecily squealed in delight.
"Hello there Cecily," the woman, Hyacinth, said. "And who might your two companions be?"
"This is Tessa, and that's Sophie," Cecily said, gesturing to them. Tessa gave an awkward smile.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," Hyacinth said sweetly. She had a sort of singsong voice.
"Ours too," Tessa said, relaxing a bit.
"That was quite a scare you had out there," said Hyacinth, a worried look crossing her face.
"You saw?" Cecily said.
Hyacinth nodded. "You caused quite a commotion. It was hard to go unnoticed."
"Sorry about that," Cecily said, looking down at her boots.
"Don't apologize for that child," said Hyacinth sympathetically. "Tortuga has become worse than before."
"What do you mean?" Tessa said. Tortuga has always been dangerous, and Tessa never thought it would be worse than it already was.
"Oh yes," Hyacinth went on, sounding troubled. "More crime, more violence. These streets are not safe, especially for three pretty girls like you wondering about."
"See Cecy. We told you!" Sophie reprimanded Cecily. Cecily gave her a guilty look.
"What's that you got there," Hyacinth spoke up. She was looking right at Tessa.
"Me?" Tessa pointed at herself in confusion.
"Yes, that necklace you got there," Hyacinth indicated towards Tessa's clockwork angel necklace.
"Oh, it's nothing," Tessa waved it off. No one really knew about her necklace, besides her mother of course.
"It's definitely something," Hyacinth said stubbornly. "May I see it."
Reluctantly, Tessa unclasped the necklace from behind her neck and handed it to Hyacinth. She didn't know why, but she trusted Hyacinth somehow. She couldn't quite put a finger to it.
"Hmm, this is most curious," Hyacinth observed, twirling the necklace between her slim blue fingers.
"What is it?" Tessa asked inquisitively.
"I haven't seen something like this in years," Hyacinth went on. "And this clockwork mechanism. It's most intricate."
"You've seen this before?" Tessa said, raising her eyebrows expectantly.
Hyacinth nodded. "I would wear it at all times child. It may come in handy at sometime." Clearly she knew something that Tessa didn't know, and gently handed it back to Tessa. Tessa put it on and felt the comfort of the angel dangling below her collarbone.
"Now, the three of you best go back to your ship before any more danger comes. It's not safe here." And with that Hyacinth disappeared into her shop.
"So what's the deal with her?" Gabriel said, giving Gideon a sideways glance.
"With who?" Gideon asked nonchalantly.
"Sophie," Gabriel said pointedly. "You know the girl who we kidnapped from the Gray girl's ship? Don't tell me you haven't noticed her."
"I know who she is," Gideon said rather abruptly. In fact, he had noticed her. More than he was used to. They had been spending a lot more time together, and Gideon was used to her constant presence. She was quiet around everyone, except for him. She was beginning to open up to him and he enjoyed having her around.
"So you have noticed?" Gabriel winked at Gideon. They had reached the supply store and started gathering up necessary supplies. It felt weird not having to loot for a change. Gideon took a sudden interest in getting what they needed.
"No, not at all," Gideon said quickly.
"Uh huh, sure," Gabriel said, laughing to himself. They had finished collecting what they needed and paid for everything, leaving the store. In their hands they carried bundles of food and other things that Will wanted.
"I'm sure, it's nothing," Gideon said again.
"Tell me when it happens, brother," Gabriel said, and pushed his way forward.
"So what do you need?" Will said to Henry.
"A map," Henry simply said.
"A map?" Jem repeated in alarm.
"Henry, you're telling me that we docked at Tortuga just so you could get a map?" Will said in shock.
"Yup," Henry grinned, acting as if nothing was wrong. He ruffled his bright orange hair.
"Henry do you know what you're saying?" Jem said, catching onto where Will was going with this.
"Yes, I do," Henry said, sounding a bit irritated. "We are at Tortuga to get a map."
"Henry!?" Will shouted, losing his temper. "You're the sailing master of our ship. Don't you keep damn maps for yourself? Please tell me that you do."
"Well, of course I do dear boy!" Henry said, still smiling.
"Then why don't you use those ones?" Will said exasperated. He begun to walk away from Henry and back towards the ship.
"Ah, that is where you're wrong, Master Herondale," Henry said, placing his hand on Will's shoulder and steering him the opposite direction. "I need a special map."
"Do you really, Henry?" Jem said politely.
"Yes, James," Henry said, pressing them onwards. "Now come along. I know what I'm doing."
Will looked at Jem in bewilderment, and Jem, in turn, just shrugged and followed Henry.
Henry reached a shop labeled "Inventions, Trinkets, and Everything More" and opened the door, ushering Will and Jem inside.
The place was unlike any other kind of shop that Will had seen in Tortuga. There were things flying about the store, clockwork gadgets in every corner, and different inventions all around.
"Wonder what he wants here," Will muttered to Jem. They peered over at Henry, who seemed lost in his own inventions.
Jem reached out to touch a ticking wheel, when Will slapped his hand away. "Be careful James! Don't want to damage anything here."
"I guess you're right," Jem agreed.
"I found it!" Henry announced. In one hand, he was holding a piece of parchment, presumably the map, and in the other was a black object.
"What is that?" Will said in awe.
"This, my dear boy, is a map," Henry said, raising the parchment up in the air for extra emphasis. "It shows a full illustration of the sea and will make it easier for me to navigate us to Cadair Idris."
"I know it's a map," Will rolled his eyes. "But what is that." He pointed at the black thing.
"A Sensor!" Henry said, jumping up and down like a little child. "I've always wanted one of these." He held it up to his eyes, admiring it.
"What does it do, Henry?" Jem inquired. He seemed to not be annoyed. Will envied Jem's saint-like nature.
"It lets me know if there are dangers in the sea," Henry explained. "It'll be especially useful as we venture to Cadair Idris, especially since barely anyone has made it that far. I heard krakens lurk beneath the passage to there. So best to be safe than sorry. Am I right, boys?"
"Henry, there are no such thing as kraken," Will said. "No one has ever seen one before."
"There are," Henry said. "And this Sensor will protect us from them."
"I guess you're right," Jem said, nodding his head.
"You believe in krakens too?" Will said in irritation.
"I'm not saying that I do," Jem said. "But something like that may come in handy. Well done, Henry."
"Yes, very well done," Will said half-heartedly. "Now, are we done here? We should be going soon." He reached into his coat's pocket and pulled out a pocket watch. It was nearly six in the evening, so it had almost been an hour.
"Yes, let me just go pay for this," said Henry, shuffling towards the counter. He quickly paid for the Sensor and the map, and the three of them left the shop.
By the time they reached Ithuriel. Everyone was already on board. Will said Tessa in the corner with Cecily and Sophie. Tessa was busy fiddling with something, and as Will approached them, he noticed that it was a necklace. He had seen the necklace before, but never paid much attention to it. As he came closer, he saw it was an angel made of clockwork gears.
"So Will, are we ready to go?" Cecily said, diverting his attention away from Tessa.
"Um, yes. We are," Will said, shaking thoughts from his head. "Let's go Henry!" he shouted.
"Aye aye captain," Henry said in response. The crew pulled the gangway up and Henry steered the ship away from port.
"Did you find what you wanted?" Tessa said.
"Henry did," Will said. "And you? Anything interesting happened?"
"No, not really," Tessa said rather swiftly. She was hiding something. Will was sure of it. But, he wasn't going to pressure her into telling him. If she wanted to, she would in due time.
For now, Will looked into the sunset as the ship pulled away from Tortuga and towards their final destination: Cadair Idris.
This has got to be the longest chapter yet. Much longer than I anticipated. 3,295 words minus this A/N and the review responses. So yay!
THANK YOU GUYS! We finally surpassed 100 reviews! You all get a virtual cookie :D So could I get another 10 for the next chapter?
On a side note, I just finished Prisoner of Azkaban. 3/7 books complete now!
Okay I'm done now. Okay, bye. (Hehe Frozen reference. I'm tired now).
~The Pale Red Queen
