Angelicangel: Haha sorry! Yeah no Jecily in this story :/ They're just friends in this. Anyways, enjoy this chapter! Hope it's not too much torture :P
Vialovesbooks: I guess it's similar… you'll see in this chapter. I'm not saying when the Wessa moment will come… you'll just have to wait and see.
millisiana: Yay! That's what I want everyone to feel :) I hope this chapter makes up!
nicoleherondale: Sorry! It'll happen, but later. But maybe the cannibals do like Will... guess you'll find out soon!
The-Finale-Hope: Sorry! Wow I keep saying that to everyone haha. Lol I wish I was teaming up with Rick... that would be a dream.
Silvah and Black: Ahhh that would be ideal. I want my own Will!
Guest: you know that's what they were fishin ;)
JillHerondale: Hi there! Yes cannibals! More thrill! Hehe I just love being evil. No you're English is not bad at all! Glad you liked the chapter! Wow it gets hot in Sweden? I wouldn't have expected that. Eep and 12 hours of being in a car sounds painful D: Enjoy your vacation though!
Personorwhatever: Aren't you? I really want to build it up. Well, guess you'll find out now!
"Where do you think they're taking us?" Cecily whispered to Tessa as they trudged along through the jungle.
"You, be quiet," spoke one of the cannibals, jabbing Cecily in the back with the blunt end of his spear. Cecily threw him a menacing glare and rubbed her back. She looked back at Tessa, who only shrugged, not wanting to risk speaking up.
They were going who knows where on the island. After the cannibals had surrounded them, they started marching them towards some general direction. Men and women flanked Tessa, Jem, and Cecily from all sides to ensure they had no way to escape. Oddly enough, they allowed Will to be in the front with the leader. Why Will was so special, Tessa had no idea and even he was seemingly confused.
Jem walked right next to her, and was perfectly quiet. Of course he would be one to abide to the commands of these brutal men. Actually, come to think of it, he hadn't uttered a single word since their capture. It was almost like he wasn't there.
They kept on going forwards. Tessa couldn't even tell what time of day it was, but it certainly was getting darker. Whether if it was the time of day or that the trees were getting closer together, Tessa couldn't really tell.
Then, out in the distance, Tessa saw an opening. As they neared it, she noticed that it was another grassy patch, but this one was much bigger than the one she and Will found each other in earlier.
They stepped onto the grass, and Tessa felt the smooth ground beneath her feet, rather than the crunchy groundcover in the jungle. She glanced up at the sky, which was a mix of red and purple hues; it was nearly nighttime. She then looked around and saw that in the corner of the patch, there was tents set up. This must be the place where the cannibals lived. Tessa realized with a pang that is must have been lonely here. It made sense that these men were so grouchy and desperate to eat. Even though they were dinner.
"Wait," the chief commanded them abruptly. He brought Will forward, who gave them a hopeful look over his shoulder as he strolled away with the chief. It didn't look like Will had much of an option.
So Tessa, Jem, and Cecily waited. There were other men around them to make sure they didn't step out of line. Tessa's stomach rumbled and she placed her hand atop it. She hadn't eaten in so long… she had lost complete track of the time. And she certainly wasn't going to eat in this dreadful place.
"So what do you reckon they have in store for us?" Cecily said in a low voice. There was enough noise and movement around the camp, and the guards around them were far enough to not hear what they were saying.
Jem shrugged. "We are definitely not the guests to this party."
"Ugh," Tessa groaned as she watched the men and women start a huge fire in the center of the camp. "I can see this not ending well at all."
"You can say that again," Cecily agreed. "We're absolutely not going to see the end of this. I guess this is goodbye."
"Don't be ridiculous Cecily," Jem scolded her. "We have to get out of this."
"Oh yeah?" Cecily challenged. "How do you think we're going to do that?"
"No idea," Jem said nonchalantly. "Tessa?"
"Why do I have to come up with the plans? I don't even know what the hell is going on," Tessa said in irritation.
The chief stalked towards them, holding three wooden poles and a whole coil of rope. He tossed them to the guards.
"You know what to do," he instructed the guards in his thickly accented voice.
One of the guards hit Tessa squarely on the small of her back, and she fell painfully to her knees. She looked to the side and saw the same happened to Jem and Cecily. Before she knew it, she was facing up at the stars, her hands and feet above her bound tightly to the pole. The men lifted the stick, and Tessa's head dangling just an inch above the ground. This had to be the most uncomfortable position ever.
They marched forward, each step being even more painful than the next. Tessa was scared that her head was going to bang against the ground. They then hoisted the pole and situated it atop some sort of apparatus. She felt a wave of heat hit her face and heard the cackling fire beside her.
Tessa lifted her head to see Will sitting down on something. He was staring straight at her with a look of intent worry. At least he cared. But that wasn't the only thing that caught her eye.
He was sitting on a throne of some sorts, leaning forward. It must have been the chief's throne. It wasn't just any throne of that matter. It was constructed entirely from human thrones. Will appeared to be incredibly awkward.
The chief emerged next to Will and started shouting out words. Unfortunately, Tessa couldn't hear him above the popping fire. She glanced to her two sides and saw Jem and Cecily, also in the same position, were struggling to discern what he was saying. The chief was finished with his speech, and Will had visibly paled.
"Will!" shouted Cecily. This time, no one shut her up. "William Herondale! What the hell is going on?"
Will glanced at the chief, who nodded encouragingly. Then, he took a deep breath and said, "these men here have explained to me the legend. The legend of the blue-eyed deity who is supposed to be their savior." Tessa understood immediately what this meant. "And this is feast for his honor. And the three of you will be the meal."
Sure enough, Henry's Sensor was correct. There was a port city that was close by, though Henry's maps and calculations. Ithuriel straggled along the calm seas and was easily able to dock upon arrival to the city.
"I'll just be going," Henry said cheerily. "Chop chop. We need to fix up the boat as fast as possible."
"Hold on there," Gideon said, blocking Henry from the gangway. "You're not going alone."
"I'm not?" Henry said in puzzlement.
"No," Gideon shook his head. To tell the truth, he was a little nervous about absent-minded Henry Branwell meandering around this city they had never known to exist by himself. "I am acting captain right now, so I will accompany you."
"Oh good!" Henry beamed at Gideon, his red hair wild and his hazel eyes alight with joy. "The more the merrier, eh?"
"Can I come with," Sophie piped in. Gideon turned to face her. She was looking as beautiful as ever, her dark brown hair blowing in the wind and her dark eyes peering up at him expectantly.
"We don't know where we are," Gideon said, wary of this place. "And I don't want there to be any risks. Henry and I will go alone, and we'll try and be as quick as we can."
"Very well," Sophie said with disappointment.
"I'll be fast. I promise," Gideon said. Without thinking twice, he kissed Sophie on the cheek and followed Henry.
They made their way down the gangway and into the city, which was a small one of that. It almost completely deserted.
"Oi!" yelled a man to their right. Henry gestured for Gideon to come along. "What do you think you're doing?"
"Oh, well," Henry started, looking flustered. "You see, my ship here is pretty heavily damaged, and we were hoping to get it repaired. We have the money to pay for it."
"Hmmm," said the man, and then he eyed Ithuriel. "It will take a few days to fix."
"A few days?" exclaimed Gideon. "We need it to be as good as new as soon as possible. Tomorrow if preferable. We're in an awful hurry."
"What you need to learn is patience," the man said sternly.
"But we needed now," Henry said worriedly.
"Then no can do," the man said defiantly, and then stalked away from them.
"Well, that went well," Gideon said dejectedly.
"Are you looking to mend that ship?" said a voice behind them. Gideon and Henry whirled around to see a man standing before them, smoking what seemed to be a pipe. He was tall and lean with jet black hair and tanned skin. But that wasn't what made them stair. He had cat-like eyes, that were watching them cautiously.
"Excuse me," Gideon cleared his voice. "And you are?"
"You can call me Bane," he smirked. "So you're saying you want to fix that ship?"
"Yes!" Henry said excitedly. "You see, we were attacked by a kraken and – "
"I don't need to hear your sob story," Bane interrupted with a wave of his hand. "So you need it done by tomorrow at the latest?"
"If that's even possible," Gideon sighed.
"I can have it done by tonight," Bane said, as if it were a piece of cake.
"How?" Gideon and Henry said simultaneously.
"Magic," Bane grinned.
Tessa stared at Will at horror, unable to wrap her head around what was happening. She could barely register the shouts that Cecily was cried out to her brother. Jem, was abnormally still beside her.
"Will Herondale!" Cecily screamed. "What the hell do you think you're doing? We can't be your dinner! We're more than family, and you know that."
"We do as the chief commands," Will simply said, looking sick.
"Will, you free us at once!" Cecily shrieked.
"Shut up, you stupid girl," one of the cannibals said, stepping forward and poking Cecily hard in the side with the other end of his spear. Cecily fell silent at once.
The chief turned his attention to Will and began whispering words again. If even possible, Will seemed even more ill and hopeless at the same time. Tessa couldn't help but feel the same. She never thought she would meet her end like this. This was even worse than the kraken, being roasted alive. This adventure just seemed to get more awful by the minute. Tessa knew she was doomed.
At that moment, Tessa wished she were back home at her palace in Idris. Even though she wasn't given much freedom, she still could seek refuge buried behind a pile of books and getting lost in those worlds. Never did she imagine that those worlds would come to life, like it did now.
Will looked up, the fire reflected in his dark eyes. "The chief says I must make the first kill. And he has already decided who it would be."
Will rose from the bone throne and sauntered towards Jem, Tessa, and Cecily. Tessa's heart pounded through her chest in anxiety. Surely Will wouldn't kill them. He was her friend, maybe even more.
He approached them from the side. He walked right past Cecily and stopped before Tessa. Tessa gulped long and hard and strained her neck to see Will gazing downward at her. To her surprise, he was grinning. He bent down towards her, unveiling his sword.
"Let's get out of here, shall we?" Will whispered into her ear. It was almost intimate.
Then, in a flash, Will flicked one of the stakes that was implanted in the fire straight towards the bone throne with the hilt of his sword. A perfect shot. It landed right on the throne and set it ablaze. The fire then spread, lighting the ground and nearby tents on fire.
Screams filled the air. Men and women rushed around trying to put out the flames, but were unsuccessful. Will turned his attention back to Tessa. With two clean cuts, he was able to release Tessa from her bonds. Tessa fell backwards, landing excruciatingly on her back. Will reached a hand out to her, and she took it, helping her up on her feet. Without thinking, Tessa threw her arms around Will, pulling him into a tight embrace, which he reciprocated.
"Thank you," she muttered to him.
Will ruffled her hair. "Now why would I leave you that way? Hurry and free Cecily. I'll take care of Jem. I bought us just enough time to escape."
He let go of Tessa, and she didn't need to be told twice. Tessa unsheathed Needle, which was still attached to her belt, and freed Cecily, though with not as much ease as Will.
"Thanks Tessa," Cecily said, rubbing her wrists. "I thought we would never get out of that."
"Neither did I," Tessa said hurriedly, turning to see Will and Jem on their feet. "We best be going."
Will nodded and broke out into a sprint away from the burning camp, Jem, Cecily, and Tessa behind him. Tessa glanced over her shoulder to see the cannibals still actively engaging with diminishing the flames. To her shock, they hadn't noticed them missing, but she shouldn't dwell on that. They would discover that they were gone sooner than later. Will led them back to the jungle, and they vanished from view from the cannibals.
It didn't help that it was nighttime. The trees were thick, and the darkness made it hard to skirt around them. Still, the four of them were somewhat successful, ramming into trees here and there but for the most part staying intact. It was quiet where they were. The only sound was their feet scurrying along, trying to get as far away from the camp.
Shouts and screams filled the air. Tessa felt another wave of panic.
"They must have found us missing," Will said in exasperation.
"Where are we going?" Cecily asked.
"I don't know!" Will shouted. "Must you keep asking questions that none of us have answers to?"
Cecily shut her mouth and the four of them kept going. The noise wasn't getting louder nor softer, but they continued their pace. A sloshing sound soon started picking up.
"Do you hear that?" Jem said.
"It must be the ocean," Will said firmly, and hastened them ahead.
The trees cleared around, and there was a beach before them. But not the white sandy beach that Tessa and the others had landed on. No, this one was filled with sharp rocks.
"Now what do we do?" Cecily said in fear. "Time is running out."
"Over there!" Tessa said, pointing to a huge boulder on the side.
"It looks like we don't have a choice," Will said grimly. They ran to the boulder, but as they got closer, they noticed it wasn't a boulder, but rather the side of a cave. There were no sharp rocks around it, but rather dark sand.
Will went in first, and Tessa was right behind him. Moonlight reflected on the water, illuminating the cave. Will stopped in his tracks, and Tessa nearly bumped into him. She followed his gaze to see what was there.
A ship.
"What in the name of the angel?" Jem breathed next to Tessa. Tessa could only stare at it in awe.
"I say we explore this place," Will said.
"Are you mad?" Cecily said, smacking her brother on the head.
"Ow!" Will yelled. "That hurt Cecy. Please, don't damage my beautiful head."
"Your damaging my beautiful eyes," Cecily rolled her eyes.
"I'm with Will," Jem said.
"Thank you, I always knew you would stand beside me James," Will smiled at Jem. "And you Tessa?"
Tessa shrugged. "It wouldn't hurt. Plus, it puts us further away and in a better hiding place from those monsters out there."
"Couldn't have said it better myself," Will grinned at her.
"Really you guys?" Cecily shook her head. "Fine, but if anything happens, I am blaming you three."
Will edged around the side of the boat and found a gangway. He stomped up it with the others following suit. Sure enough, there were no signs of life aboard.
"Oh look, there's no one here," Cecily squealed.
"Come on," Will said in irritation.
They walked around, and the floorboards creaked beneath their weight. It seemed like no one had been there for years. Whatever the fate of these poor people who had once sailed on this ship, Tessa would never know. Would the same thing happen to them? Tessa shuddered at the thought.
"Over here," Will announced to them. He was standing by a door, and Tessa and the others rushed over to him. "Must have been the captain's quarters."
Will gingerly placed his hand on the knob and carefully pushed on the door. It swung open, welcoming them with a blast of dust in their faces. Tessa felt her lungs fill with dust and coughed it out, the others doing the same.
When the dust cleared, Tessa could easily see inside. If it was the captain's quarters, it was bigger than Will's. But that was not what caught her attention. There was a table in the center with about ten chairs. And sitting in the chairs were skeletons.
And not just any people. Pirates. At the head was presumably the captain, with a large pirate's hat and an eye patch. Tessa glanced over to Will, who seemed unfazed. He was focused on what was on the center of the table: a treasure chest.
Will scooted around the chairs and made his way towards the chest. He seemed unaffected by the ten dead pirates that surrounded him. He reached for the chest, making sure not to touch the skeletons.
"Um Will," Tessa said. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" She wasn't sure why, but this place gave off bad vibes.
"I'm with Tessa on this," Cecily said, her voice wavering.
"Why are you such girls?" Will said.
"Hey don't insult us," Tessa scolded him.
"Yeah," Cecily nodded her head. "And like I said, if anything happens, I am blaming you."
"Very well," Will said, who didn't mind this threat at all. Slowly but surely, he opened up the chest, which flipped up with ease. The four of them crowded around it to see it was filled with sparkling golden coins.
"Oooh, they're so pretty," Cecily said with awe. Tessa thought so too, but there was still something off-putting about this whole place and the atmosphere. Will extended his arm and reached for one of the coins.
"No Will, don't!" Tessa shouted. But it was too late.
BAM.
The moment Will touched the coin, there was a big explosion. And the skeletons jumped to life.
"Yeah, I blame you," Cecily said.
I'M SO ANGRY. The Internet literally died right before I was going to post this, and it took forever to figure out how to boot it up. It didn't help that it was 4 in the morning too…. Gah just my luck. And it took me 45 minutes to fix. At least it's back and working.
I'm too angry to say anything more.
Bleh.
Please review, favorite, follow to make me happy. And also to find out how they escape.