So, shit's been fucking crazy lately, and it doesn't seem like it will be getting better any time soon. We got to chapter 106 which is about ⅗ of the story written but we had to loop back around to chapter 40.
… Okay so that part isn't fucking crazy or shocking. Any one that's been following/ reading these notes knows that we're a fucking mess when it comes to that kinda shit.
No, what's fucking crazy is our schedules. It's been an absolute misery trying to get together and Dark is going on vacation for a week next week or whatever, which yay! She never gets to go anywhere, but still, it means editing is going to be prolonged even further which sucks.
Plus, I've been sick with a head cold and horrible acid reflux that is keeping me up all night and the pharmacy is out of my meds to the middle of the month which-
*lewd gesture* they can go fuck themselves.
I'm constantly dragging ass right now and it sucks donkey dick…
Okay, enough about us
-Twisted
He bites his lip as he heaves himself onto the deck.
There.
That had to have eaten a few hours at least.
He hoped.
He needed something, anything, to keep from thinking about where T and Yensid were.
They had to be okay. They were.
Maybe they'd been separated from their books.
They weren't dead.
They weren't-
No.
He shakes his head.
He turns to the cabin, frowning when a fat raindrop smacks his face before he looks up to find dark clouds gathering under the barrier again.
So much for those clear skies.
He runs a hand over his face as the sky opens up.
He was going to miss that.
Miss walking instead of swimming like a gods damn fish.
He waves to Sam through the gray mist as he makes his way to the cabin, smiling at how at home the kid looked behind the helm now.
Good. At least people were settling into their new roles.
That or Sam was just grateful to be relieved of babysitting duty.
He pauses when he opens the door to Uma's voice.
Uma!
She was awake!
Thank the Sea Gods!
"An' Harry's been teaching people how to swim." Gil breathes out as he turns to him.
"Aye," He smiles as he gathers Uma to him and nuzzles her, the lavender that clung to her putting him at ease.
He holds her tight and spins with her in his arms, "it be ah useful distraction."
"Good ta see you too, Pretty Boy." Uma laughs tightly as he sets her back on her feet, "and thank you, both of you, for keepin' the ship together while I was down."
"Gil be doing the majority o' the ship work an' bossin'," he winks.
"James an' Beam, he means." Gil rubs his neck.
Uma smiles before she ruffles the top of Gil's head, "Ya still had to listen and make the calls, and know when to let Beam take over. It ain't always easy, I know that."
It was so good to see Uma up again.
A weight off his shoulders.
But she seemed caught up, and he desperately needed to know if the others were okay.
"I see the notebook be open…" he lets his voice trail off, hoping against hope for more good news.
He chuckles at Gil's blush as the other boy ducks his head and pulls the notebook closer, only to look up giddily a moment later.
"Yensid said they're okay!" He grins boyishly before he drops his eyes back to the notebook "An' on their way!"
"He also said minimal injuries, though he frustratingly didn't explain what that meant." Uma huffs as she crosses her arms and juts her hip.
He couldn't blame her for her exasperation.
It was annoying.
And something he would have expected from T, but not the old man.
Did minimal actually mean minimal? Or more like it would minimally affect them?
Well that was a whirlpool of bad thoughts.
He groans as he pulls Uma closer, "at least they be talkin' again."
She tightens her arms around him before she pulls back and kisses his jaw, "aye, there is that." She grins sheepishly.
"Uh-huh," he half grins as he absently plays with a frayed teal braid, "Next time I have ta be in charge o' somethin' like this will be far too fuckin' soon, I can be tellin' ya that."
"Yeah," Gil snorts before he turns to Uma, "so no more scarin' us."
Uma gives him a sharp look, "Bold words since ya be tellin' me ya be goin' down too, Sweet Boy."
"Heh," Gil drops his eyes.
"How 'bout we all try ta not freak each other out, huh?"
Gil nods quickly in agreement. "That. I want that."
"Aye," he agrees again as he braces his forearms against the back of Gil's chair and rests his chin on them.
Uma lets out a heavy sigh, "It ain't like any of us are enjoyin' any of this," she rubs his back with one hand, "But what about this whole shit-storm is there to like?"
"Ain'nah that bein' the truth."
Pillars of darkness and arching light jumping from the ground into the clearest sky he'd ever seen-
Fuck, he'd even been able to make out the dark orb that was the moon on the other side of the barrier.
The no moon.
In all his life of staring up at the barrier and imagining life on the other side, he'd never once seen the moon other than when it was full, or near enough to it.
That was the only time it was bright enough.
Which just left him feeling both awed and afraid, though even he knew the fear was just from pirate superstition and ill-timed events.
Hopefully.
Didn't make the chills stop.
"How many caught on to swimming?" Uma asks, the shifting of papers on the table catching his attention as he straightens up to watch her, "might as well get some work done while we wait."
Awake for the first time after days of sleeping, and here she was, falling right back into her role as captain.
"I be takin' ah group o' ten with me, Beam an' three others be catchin' it right quick, but two ain'nah feelin' the best 'bout it yet." He looks up with a grin, "ya should be seein' it though Uma, it ain'nah havin' nothin' on that first one Baby Girl be makin', but it be plenty big enough an' set right in the cave floor ah foot or two higher than high tide."
"It was level with high tide when she was makin' it." Gil frowns as he tilts his head to the side, "ya think the sea is going back to the way she was?"
"Maybe?" Uma's nose scrunches, "sounds like a question for Yensid when they get back." She rubs a finger over her lower lip as she shifts to stare at the bed, "I have a lot for him. And for T."
He follows Uma's gaze to the bed where Deez was still tucked in under the thin blanket.
He frowns.
Things were off.
Something was wrong with Deez.
Her skin was a dull pale gray instead of her usual blinding white, her hair limp instead of glistening like silky strands of white and blue flames.
But it was the look on her face that threw him the most.
The girl who could go from stoney seriousness to gleeful laughter in zero seconds flat always looked completely innocent when she slept.
It was one of the things he, and the rest of the family, cherished about her.
The peacefulness of her face.
The small movements she made in her sleep.
The way she gravitated towards whoever was beside her, smiling in her sleep at their gentle touch.
But that wasn't what he saw on her face.
She looked-
He takes a couple of steps towards the bed.
She looked like she was in- Pain?
He sits beside her and reaches under the blanket for her small hand, frowning at the cold chill of her skin.
Was she-
No.
Deez is a demi for sea-gods-fucking-sakes.
She couldn't get sick, could she?
He shakes his head.
He was freaking himself out. No matter how you looked at it, a spell that could knock Deez out seemed terrifying 'cause-
Because he'd seen Deez accidentally punch holes in brick walls.
Knew how strong she was, even if she didn't look it.
And right now, she just looked her actual size.
Tiny.
Fragile.
Weak.
He swallows against the bile in the back of his throat before he shoves the thought away.
It wasn't true.
Deez wasn't weak-
None of them were!
He shakes his head again, refusing to let his mind walk down that familiar darkness.
Not now.
Not after hearing that T and Yensid were alive.
Not after seeing the small note from James.
James would find them and help bring them home, he trusted that.
He looks back to the table where Uma and Gil were talking about the next step.
Or what the next step could be.
Hang out here until they got a better handle on locations or sail directly there?
Send out another group of swimmers?
Uma was up, so while he would give his opinion on matters-
He sighs as he tucks Deez's hand under the blanket before he smooths her hair down and stands.
-it was so good to not be in charge.
Her eyes settle on the bed with a frown.
She wasn't sure she'd ever seen Deez look so-
Gray.
Pained.
-sick?
Could Demis get sick?
She was half Mer-folk and she could.
Was it just Deez's human side showing?
Or was it something more?
She bites her lip.
Everyone else had woken up.
So why hadn't she?
It had her on edge with worry.
Everything felt so surreal again.
Like reality and her dreams had melded together to leave her in some type of twisted night terror.
Another flash of lightning lights up behind the curtains.
She lets out a deep breath.
Great.
Back to the shitty weather, apparently.
Another hurdle.
Another challenge.
She rolls her eyes.
It wasn't anything they couldn't handle-
But it did bring an extra layer of unnecessary complications.
Namely sickness.
Her eyes drift back to Deez as her muscles tighten.
If she was ill-
What type of medicine worked on Demis?
She groans.
She wanted Yensid back.
He'd know what the fuck was going on with her Baby Girl.
Fuck, with everything that had gone down.
Until then she had to focus on how to keep the rest of her crew healthy, they couldn't afford for any of them to fall ill- but if this rain kept up?
Yensid.
Faustina.
T.
Would any of them have any suggestions on how to keep them safe from the illnesses waiting to be contracted?
Sea Gods she-
She narrows her eyes as she looks up curiously.
Was that just thunder-
Or was someone knocking?
She jumps to her feet as the door is yanked open and a half drowned ball of blackness is shoved into the room.
Her eyes widen as T-
Fucking T-
-trips and eats the boards of the cabin, "bitch move." He grumbles as he weakly pushes himself up to glare over his shoulder.
"T!" She cries as she races forward to pull him into a hug.
Finally!
Finally they were all together-
"Umes," he breathes out as he pulls her closer and squeezes her to him.
Her anger.
Her fury.
It melts as he hugs her.
He was okay.
He was alive.
And he was hugging her like he never wanted to let her go.
"Harry!" Gil berates before he pulls Harry into the room with him.
"Shit!" Harry curses he steps out of the way for James and a grim Yensid, "ya be tellin' me ya could walk ya little-"
"I can." T huffs indignantly as he shifts them so he can look up at Harry.
Which put her between them.
She smiles against his shoulder as she hugs tighter.
"It's not my fault you're-"
"Ya know Harry," James interrupts him quickly, "ya did say someone needed ta get Beam."
"Thank you!"
"He knew I be meanin' anyone but him." Harry grumbles before he points to the door, "go get Beam so we can all be hearin' this an' then I'm ah be shovin' T in ah hammock," as soon as James ducks out he rounds on Yensid with a glare and accusing finger jab, "and don'nah be thinkin' I won'nah drag yer ass ta bed too, Ol' Man."
Yensid holds up his hands "I assure you I will not resist rest."
Her eyes narrow.
Was he-
Amused?
Wait for Beam.
Wait for Beam.
Don't ask.
Don't ask yet!
Wait for-
"What the hell happened to you guys?" She snaps the second the door closes behind Beam and James.
T's arms tighten around her.
"No shit," Beam crosses his arms as he looks between Yensid and T expectantly.
T and Yensid share a look before she sighs, "everyone sit."
It hurt more than she wanted to admit to drop her arms from around T.
He wasn't looking good, but they needed to hear this.
And then she'd make him let her tend to him.
She grins when T leans against the back of her chair but then Yensid clears his throat, pulling everyone's attention.
"We found one of the Witches. Morgana. But we were too late to do anything to stop it." Yensid explains, "they were working together, at least six of them, to bring down the barrier-"
T's head whips up to Yensid so quickly she hears his neck pop.
Affronted.
Coiling.
Readying to strike.
As if he were hearing the news for the first time.
Her eyes narrow.
But-
Hadn't they been together?
"-which they failed to do." Yensid finishes, not once looking towards T.
What, in the fucking deepest depths of the sea and hell combined, could have held T's attention more than why the witches attacked?
"We should stay on high alert. The fact that this failed-" Yensid winces as his face pinches, "they could very well try again."
Try that again?
She felt like an idiot trapped inside her own mind, repeating and questioning, but not seeing.
"Over my dead, cold ass body-" T growls as he turns towards the door.
The four boys jump to their feet at the threat.
"Wait-" she grabs T by the arm. What was she missing? This was more than the fact the witches were trying to take down the barrier. More than the backlash of the spell, "I don't under-" she struggles to clear her suddenly dry throat, "your theories?" She slowly looks up to Yensid, "were you right?"
Her heart drops when Yensid closes his eyes and nods.
Children.
The missing children were somehow involved, just like Yensid feared.
And if they were involved, but no one seemed to want to tell her-
It was a spell, how could children be involved in a-
She gasps before she pulls T to her, clinging to his arm like a lifeline.
If they had returned, and Yensid was correct about the young ones being involved-
It was just the two of them-
The only reason they'd come back with no one would be if-
She grimaces.
-no one survived.
Beam curses as he slams his fist against the table, his expression torn somewhere between anger and anguish.
"Neptune's salty barnacles." Harry swears sharply, shaking his head before he stands and pulls T against his chest, "ya don'nah mean-"
"I'm afraid so," Yensid sighs heavily.
She couldn't speak.
Her hands clapped against the cold wet hoodie wouldn't stop shaking, but it was hard to tell where her shaking ended and T's shaking began.
James scowls in the direction of the Isle as he crosses his arms. "What that be meanin' for the ship?"
"It means a whole lot of children are stuck here with witches that are more than willing to-" Yensid's head tilts to the side before he presses a hand to his stomach, "Stuck with witches who are now capable of stealing life forces to convert into more power."
Gil looks around the room with a grave expression before they settle on Yensid, "we can stop 'em though, right?"
A growl rumbles through T as Yensid slowly nods, "Yes, we can. It's not easy, but between myself and T, Morgana is no longer a threat."
Shit.
She goes to turn to Harry when she notices Beam's gaze boring into T.
So they were all on the same page then. T could not be left alone.
Not with that.
Not after that.
Not with those unsaid evils, silently left out but somehow all the louder for their absence.
Whatever they had witnessed underground-
She turns back to Yensid with a frown.
It was something that had shaken even the ancient mage.
Left him looking haggard.
Exhausted.
Worn.
…
Haunted.
And if that's how he looked-
She returns her gaze to T and shakes her head.
-how was her Problem Child faring behind the shadows of his hood?
Her heart slams against her chest, panicked throbs making her dizzy as she forces herself to take a deep breath.
"Bed. Everyone."
The order comes out as a whisper.
Hoarse.
Choking.
But heard all the same.
She was done.
"Heard," Beam nods, his eyes lingering on T.
"Aye," James runs a hand through his hair before he turns to Yensid, "Ya heard the Captain."
"Indeed I have." Yensid nods as his gaze strays to the bed.
"I'll make sure ya get there without eatin' any wood." James grins weakly.
"That is much appreciated." Yensid nods.
She waits, arms still tight around T, as everyone exits for their own beds.
But even in the silence after the door is shut tight against the horrors of what happened-
She can't let T go.
T lets out a heavy sigh before he tears his eyes off the door to drop his gaze to her as a small frown curves his lips. "You look like-"
Despite the heaviness, or perhaps it was more in spite of the pain, she snorts. "I dare ya-"
"-shit." He finishes with a twitch of his lips.
"Okay, but same though."
T snorts derisively, "I always look like shit."
"So when I say it's lookin' worse?"
"Ain't anything I can't deal with." He shrugs.
"Be ah so helpin' me mate!" Harry snaps, making both of them jump, "mayhaps ya can, ain'nah no one gonna be ah challengin' ya there. But ya be needin' some fuckin' sleep, an' we be needin' ya ta give us time."
Her arms tighten around T before she glances over at the bed.
Time would help, she knew it would.
But how could she ask that of him right now?
Kids involved with a ritual.
More death.
She hadn't been there and she felt sick.
None of them had been there, but it affected all of them.
And yet how could she even begin to understand what T was feeling?
T studies Harry for a long moment before he turns to Gil, back to her, and then finally the bed. His frown deepens. "S'wrong with D?"
She takes a deep breath as she reluctantly releases her hold on him, "she-"
But she couldn't force the words out.
Gil sighs, "she hasn't woken up yet."
T tilts his head to the side, "what's that mean?"
"When," she rolls her shoulders before she looks up, "Beam explained that when the dark pillars shot into the sky a lot of us were affected by it."
"Aye," Harry bites his lip, "he an' James be figurin' out the wielders be feelin' it somehow, an' it be knockin' 'em out. She be the only one not ah wakin' up yet."
T turns back to Deez, his hands slowly balling into fists at his sides.
"She's breathing, but she don't really move much." Gil adds as he slides onto the bed and gently pulls Deez to his chest.
T takes a step forward before he hesitates.
"When Yensid is doing better I want to ask him to look at her." She explains softly before she glances at the notebook laying on the table, "and, if he can't help-" she swallows hard.
She would hate it, hate everything about it-
"Senior." T finishes with another frown.
She nods, "I'll ask him for his help."
"Uma-" Gil reprimands with a glare.
"It ain't like I'm in love with the idea," she huffs as she folds her arms over her chest, "but I ain't too proud to not consider it."
Gil glares at her for a moment more before he drops his eyes to Deez and sighs, "still hate it." He grumbles in resignation.
"Ain'nah like any o' us be thrilled 'bout it." Harry adds with a scowl.
"And not that I'm encouraging the behavior, but I think it might work out-" her eyes narrow when she notices the few inches T had moved.
Slowly.
Silently.
Towards the door.
"T!" She snaps in exasperation.
T's head jerks towards her as he stills, "what?"
"It were ah bein' ah nice try." Harry glares as he moves up behind T.
T scowls as he quickly jumps away from him as he coils.
"T!" She calls out as he twists out of Harry's grasp, "don't you-"
But there was nothing she or Harry could do.
Before Gil can even stand T makes it out of the room.
"Fuck."
"On it-" Harry shouts over his shoulder as he races after him.
Dumb.
Everything was just so fucking dumb right now.
She looked like a broken doll.
He grimaces.
Like he hadn't seen enough innocent, lifeless bodies to last him a lifetime.
His stomach turns as he shoves down the images threatening to overwhelm him.
Like fucking hell was he-
Yensid could sleep when he was dead.
He knew the old man would want to know anyway.
Deez needed help.
Needed it.
And her, her at the very damn least, he could help.
This he could do.
Sentiment aside, what the fuck were they thinking?
That you and Yensid need rest?
Rest!
She looked fucking dead, Tina. Fucking. Dead.
I can't.
Won't.
Couldn't.
He fucking refused to lose anyone else.
His heart tightens at her silence.
Wonder-fucking-ful.
A shiver runs down his spine as he slams his fist against Yensid's door before he yanks it open. "Yo, ol' man. There's a prob with D."
Yensid blinks as he sits up in bed, still fully clothed as if he'd only just fallen into the bed, "what's wrong?" He frowns as he grabs the bag from the foot of his bed and stands.
"Been out since-" He huffs, "she jus' looks fuckin' dead. Fix it."
Yensid whips around him and out the door.
He sighs as he slumps against the wall behind him in relief.
Deez would be fine.
Yensid wouldn't allow anything less.
Not after-
He grimaces.
Had it been days since they'd taken out the fucking cunt-
Or had it just felt that way?
He didn't know a lot, questioned what he did, but-
He knew that much at least.
Deez was going to be fine-
Or no one would be.
It was that simple.
"Yensid be bustin' ass past me so quick like I be ah figurin' ya be ah lightin' ah fire under 'im."
"I do love a good fire." He twists to find Harry standing in the doorway.
"Aye, don'nah I be knowin' it." Harry half smiles as he holds a hand out, "come on you."
"I'm good." He waves him off.
"Ya don'nah be wantin' ta hear what be wrong then?"
He bites his lip.
Ugh.
"I hate you sometimes, you know that?"
"Aye," a hint of mischief flashes across his face, "sometimes." He bounces his hand, "be comin' on. We need ta be knowin'."
He sighs, contemplating ignoring Harry's offer but-
A part of him.
A part he hated, really needed it.
Just like with Uma earlier.
It was jarring how much he craved it.
Needed the comfort.
He wasn't sure he'd ever had such an overwhelming need.
But-
Did he have time for it when he was needed back on the Isle?
His jaw tenses as his fists curl by his side.
Torn.
T, you're no good to anyone in this-
Bullshit I ain't.
Besides what the fuck was he supposed to do?
Sleep?
After all that?
His chest constricts at the thought.
Fuck that.
Fuck that straight to hell-
Or the river styx-
Or wherever things that could go fuck themselves went.
See! You can't even concentrate right now, you're just asking to get us killed.
So-
So! Seriously,T! So!? You know I inhabit this body as well, right? And I for one would rather like to continue to do so. How are you going to help anyone dead, idiot?
I-
He scowls-
-hate you.
Oh, because loving you right now is so easy?
He rolls his eyes before he eyes Harry with a frown, "lead the way." He gestures towards the hall.
Harry's eyes narrow, "ya be ah comin' with?"
His brow furrows, "who else would ya be leadin'?"
"I be ah supposin' that be fair 'nough." He turns on his heel before he pauses, "thanks fer doin' this. I know we be ah wantin' ta, but we-" he sighs.
"It ain't shit the ol' man can't handle, 'sides we passed out earlier. We're good."
Seriously? Do you get off on this? I swear T, your audacity is despicable. They're not idiots. One good look at us and they're going to-
You worry too much, ya know that? It's fine.
Is it though T? Is it really?
Yes.
Despite the seriousness of this chapter, much like Yensid, I can't help but be amused.
When the Sea Fam cares, they care.
As it would it seem, James and Beam do.
At least Harry is more comfortable at being in charge than Gil.
Oooh, and we can't forget Uma waking up. Thank fucking god.
Talk about whip lash.
Not that I can blame her, worry leads to anger, relief leads to contentedness.
So happy T and Yensid have returned as well. Did that surprise anyone? That T actually came back with Yensid instead of dropping and ditching at the beach?
Yensid's amusement to me is always priceless, what do you guys think of it?
Were any of you surprised to where T ended up after bolting from the room?
Can you blame T for not wanting to return to the others?
Is F/T's interactions entertaining?
Are you concerned for Deez?
Curious what the fuck is happening to her?
Questioning why she hasn't awoken yet? Especially after Yensid has?
Have any theories?
Care to share them?
Much love and appreciation
-Twisted
