Moonlight on the Caribbean

Chapter Eight

Jason uttered a short, foul word as he allowed his cutlass to drop back to his side.  "Mimi Lockhart, what the hell do you think you're doing?" he spat out, his fear at what he might have done causing him to be shorter with her than he otherwise would have been.  "I could have killed you!"

Mimi barely registered his words, her eyes instead were glued to the weapon which only a moment before had been in a position to take off her head with one quick slash.  Her hand immediately went to her throat, as if to assure herself that she was still in one piece.  "I…I'm sorry," she breathed, when speech finally returned to her.  "I…that is, Belle…Lady Black…she wanted me to find her father, and…"

Jason frowned as her words trailed off.  The fright she had received was still clearly evident in her deep emerald eyes.  It made him want to wrap her tightly in his arms until the trembling ceased; and that protectiveness didn't sit well with him.  He didn't like the feelings she roused.  He had never in his life needed to worry about anyone's neck but his own; and now with one simple, startled glance, Mimi Lockhart had become his ultimate responsibility. 

"I'm right here, Mimi," John Black's voice interrupted the tense silence surrounding the two.  His tone was harsh, and he was glaring daggers at the pirate who had so unnecessarily endangered the life of a girl he considered practically part of the family. 

Finally tearing her eyes away from the sword by Jason's side, Mimi looked up to see the small cell which housed the proud man.  "Oh, your lordship," she gasped, partly in relief, partly in astonishment.  Without another thought for Jason or what he had the power to do to her, she stepped into the room and ran up to the bars.  John's large, rough hands closed around her small ones and seemed to impart some of his strength to her.  Her shaking stopped.  "Are you all right?  What did they do to you?"

"I'm fine, Mimi," John assured her easily.  The poor girl needed someone to be strong for her after the scare that blasted scoundrel had given her.  "They haven't harmed me in the least.  Nor will they, so they say.  What of you?  Are you all right?  And Belle?  And Chloe?  They haven't…hurt you, have they?"

Mimi's face flushed at the peculiar note in his voice as John said the word "hurt."  She knew only too well what he meant.  "No, your lordship.  No one has laid a finger on any of us.  We're all safe and well.  We have food and water and clothes to spare."  She fidgeted nervously with the monstrosity of a dress she was wearing.  "Lady Isabelle is a bit sun burnt, and she worries dreadfully; but other than that, we're absolutely fine."

"Tell my Izzy it's all going to turn out right," John ordered, giving Mimi's hand a squeeze for added reassurance.  "We'll get out of this.  It's only a matter of time before the Dolphin makes it to Port Royal, and then Shawn will have the whole of the English fleet in the West Indies after us.  Tell my daughter that, and she'll sleep better at night."

Mimi nodded, thinking again how much Lord Black loved his daughter and how well he knew her.  If one thing would restore some hope to the grieving lady, it was the thought of her fiancé, her knight in shining armor, so to speak.  Recalling the mission which brought her here, she asked quietly, "Is there anything I can get for you, your lordship?"

"No, Mimi.  Just take care of my little girl.  Let her know I'm all right, and we'll be reunited shortly.  I have everything I need.  These pirates have been surprisingly…civil with me."  He shot a lethal glare over her shoulder at Jason who stood in the doorway, uncaring if they knew he was eavesdropping.  "As long as all of you are safe and well, I am perfectly capable of bearing this confinement."

"I think Lady Isabelle will want to come see you, m'lord," Mimi confided, the uncertainty of her tone easily apparent to both men in the room.  She had almost been scared out of her mind on this expedition.  She didn't think her mistress's frail constitution would be able to stand the excitement.

"We could arrange an escort for her, Lord Black," Jason broke in, before John could speak so much as a single dissenting word.  "She'd be perfectly safe in the company of myself or the captain."

Wary looks settled upon both the viscount's and the maid's faces as they turned to face their pirate guard.  They had both, for their various reasons, been doing their best to ignore Jason's presence, and he had made it impossible.  Mimi visibly reddened under his bold, unabashed stare.  John was moved in yet another way…towards anger.  "After the display I witnessed mere moments ago, Masters, I hardly think I'd feel safe with my daughter in your company.  How do I know it's not her neck you'll be slicing next?"

Jason's jaw clenched before he forced himself to visibly relax.  "I was acting on instinct, your lordship.  I apologize to both yourself and Mistress Lockhart, but you must know I would never have willingly harmed her in any way."  Shifting his gaze back to Mimi's down-turned face, he added in a softer tone, "You know that, right?"

Mimi's head jerked up again at the almost gentle words escaping his lips.  He sounded so sincere, like he really did care about her.  Despite herself, Mimi nodded an acceptance to his apology.  She knew she was safe with him.  She knew he would never hurt her…in fact, this strange, contradictory man before her might very well die for her if need be. 

Lord Black watched the silent interplay with interest.  One of the things he'd always valued about Miriam Lockhart was her high moral standards.  He'd never had to worry about any low-bred sailors sneaking around the kitchen door waiting for her.  He'd never had to worry about any man where she was concerned.  So he'd somehow developed the notion that Mimi's sole purpose in life was to serve his daughter, and she took the whole pride of her existence from it.  But this flirtation with a murdering pirate was clearly unacceptable behavior.  "Mimi," he said sharply, disrupting their moment.  "I want you to return to my daughter's side.  She's in need of you at this time, and I trust you will not leave her again."

Mimi's cheeks turned crimson with humiliation at Lord Black's unexpressed censure.  Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Jason glaring in angry disbelief at her employer; but she forced herself to ignore it, or to gain any satisfaction from it, as she curtseyed respectfully before the viscount.  "Yes, m'lord.  I'll return to her immediately." 

With another curtsy, she turned and made for the doorway, the only drawback being she now had to face Jason Masters and his disapproval.  It was radiating out from him.  He thought she should have said something more, should have somehow stood up for her rights.  But he knew nothing about her life.  He knew nothing of what it was like to be dependent on a rich family's good temper for everything you had.  Mimi knew; and because she knew, she played by their rules.  This was her life; and if an outlaw like Jason Masters didn't understand that, what was it to her?

~~*~~

Chloe's mouth was dry, her head was spinning, and she was having difficulty even remembering the question he had asked, let alone the proper answer to it.  A bead of sweat ran down along his chin and dripped onto his solid bronze chest, before continuing down to even more beautiful sights.  Lady Chloe Wesley had never been prone to fainting fits like her best friend, but she suddenly felt her legs give out under her and began to melt onto the deck.

Arms like steel wrapped round her and lifted her up effortlessly.  She had not strength to resist, even if she had wanted to—which she most definitely did not.  She relaxed entirely into the warm, firm contours of his body.  Her face flushed with embarrassment; yet at the same time, it felt right to be in the captain's arms.  It felt like one of Belle's grand fairy tales come true.  Only she didn't believe in fairy tales.

"You shouldn't have come on deck without shade or escort, Lady Wesley," Captain Blackheart scolded her.  She detected more than a trace of concern in the reprimand.  "The tropical heat is too much for a lady such as yourself."

All thoughts of resting in his arms disappeared at his last sentence.  Chloe came to her senses and stiffened in his arms, kicking to be free.  "Put me down, Captain.  I am perfectly capable of walking for myself.  It wasn't the heat.  I am fine!  I can take care of myself."

He laughed mockingly, but he put her down under a tarp set up as a shaded awning.  "When have you ever taken care of yourself, milady?  In your castle in England, with your parents and a household of servants to fulfill your every whim?"

Chloe flushed red again, this time with rage and humiliation.  "Even assuming you are right about that, you must admit that I have done fine looking out for myself on this ship."

Blue eyes glinted with sardonic amusement behind the black mask.  "When would that be, m'lady?  Last night, when I found you wandering around the ship against captain's orders?  Or just now, when you would have fainted to the ground if I hadn't caught you?"

She raised her chin in open defiance.  "I explained my actions last night.  I refuse to be a prisoner in that horrible little cabin.  I would go mad in there.  As for today, well, I can only say I have never fainted before in my life, nor am I likely to again.  I blame this hideous dress.  It is insufferably hot."

His eyes swept over her in the heavy purple gown.  "I admit it's not what you're used to, but options are limited on a ship such as mine.  Of course, you could always take it off.  I doubt my crew would complain."  He raised an eyebrow suggestively.

Chloe could not believe her ears.  She had never been so insulted in all her life.  It was pure instinct that brought her hand sweeping across his face.  "Never speak to me like that!" she ordered, with no thought for her precarious position.

Blackheart didn't even flinch as her palm made contact with his flesh.  He had expected it and deserved it, but it was worth it to see the flush of rage—and something else—in her cheeks.  For all her cloistered upbringing, Lady Chloe Wesley had a fire in her he had never seen before.  He doubted she even realized the depth of the passion residing in her.  His mouth tipped up in a rueful grin.  "I'll accept the slap, m'lady; but one of the first things you'll learn during your stay on the Vengeance is the only one who gives orders here is me.  You would do well to remember your life is in my hands."

Chloe shrunk before his icy stare and even colder words, but only momentarily.  In a matter of seconds, she had rallied all the defiance breeding inside her.  "If you're going to kill me, go ahead.  I would rather face death than live with the threat of it."  His cold laughter chilled her to the bones.  "What is so humorous, Captain?"

"You, m'lady, facing down death.  You are such a child.  A brave child, 'tis true; but bravery only brings trouble when not accompanied by experience."

She cocked her head to the side mockingly.  "What's this?  A pirate philosopher?  Tell me, then, Captain, what makes you so wise?"

"Life," he replied instantly.  "I have lived it.  You have not.  It's that simple."

He was right.  She knew it.  Chloe didn't even have the desire to fight him this time.  Living life was the one thing denied to any woman in her situation.  Her parents had kept her sheltered and pampered all her childhood.  Philip wanted to put her up in some ivory tower where she would remain unaffected by the world for all her days.  No one ever asked what Chloe wanted.  No one ever stopped to think she might want something more. 

She turned away from the pirate and walked back to the rail, looking out over the rolling waves.  All she could see was the blue sea for miles, until it disappeared beyond the horizon.  Chloe knew she should be praying for rescue, yet instead she looked longingly out across the ocean.  "Have you ever wanted to go so far away no one could ever find you?"

The captain knew by the low tone of her voice she was speaking more to herself than to him, but he saw her misery and found himself wanting to comfort her in some way.  He stood beside her and looked into the sea he knew as well as his own mother.  "I used to."

Surprised, Chloe lifted her eyes to study him.  She wished he wasn't wearing the mask.  All she could tell from his profile was that his jaw was set.  "What changed?"

He shrugged.  "I actually did it.  I ran away from everything and everyone I knew, and I never looked back.  How do you think I ended up here?"

She felt a wave of envy assault her and turned back to the rail.  "Of course you can do that.  You're a man.  The rules are different for you."

"Maybe so," Brady agreed.  "But what's stopping you?  What do you want to run away from?"

Chloe shook her head, laughing bitterly.  "It doesn't matter.  There's no escaping it.  I chose for myself, and now I need to make myself accept what my life—or lack thereof—is going to be."

"Nothing is forever in this world, Lady Wesley.  The only finality is death."  Astonishing even himself, Brady put his hands on her shoulders and turned her face towards him.  He looked into the deep wells of sapphire blue and pierced beyond their exterior shell to see the fire, the hurt, the fear, the passion lying beneath.  "What do you want?"

Her entire life had been spent waiting for someone to ask her that simple question.  Lord and Lady Wesley never had, and she had finally given up hope they would.  Belle had always assumed Chloe wanted the same things she did.  Philip…Philip didn't care what anyone wanted except himself.  Now here she stood, face to face with her kidnapper, with the man she was supposed to fear, loathe, and avoid more than any other; and he alone spoke the words she longed to hear.

"What do I want?" Chloe repeated.  "I want…I want to be free.  I want to be somewhere where no one tells me what to do or where to go or what rules I have to follow.  I want to be able to follow the wind, turn cartwheels, scream at the top of my lungs.  I want life, that's all."

He didn't laugh at her words as she had been afraid he would.  He didn't demean her or mock her.  He simply nodded as if he understood.  "If you want it, Lady, you have to take it.  No one is going to give adventure to you.  You have to find it for yourself."

Chloe smiled.  "Well, you and your crew seemed to have found some for me."  She bit her lip indecisively for a moment before continuing.  "I…I shouldn't say this.  I shouldn't even think it, but I'm almost glad we were abducted…as long as nothing happens to us, of course.  I—I don't want to reach Jamaica anytime soon."

Brady knew what she meant without her having to say another word.  It was unsettling even to himself the way he understood her.  "Your marriage, my lady.  You don't want it, do you?"

Again, Chloe hovered between what she knew was proper and what she truly felt.  The whole conversation was surreal.  Here she stood talking with her kidnapper and feeling he knew her better than anyone else she'd ever known—even Belle.  What was it about this man that drew her towards him?  Whatever it was, it also made her incapable of lying to him.  "No, Captain, I don't." 

Even as the words left her mouth, she felt a great weight lift off her shoulders.  She had been carrying that around with her for so long.  She could never tell Belle or her parents.  Belle would never understand, and her parents would have used it as justification to keep her in England with them.  Telling the truth to this virtual stranger granted her release without adding any guilt.

Brady's mouth turned up at the corners.  It was gratifying to know that a woman of such extraordinary spirit, intelligence, and beauty didn't fancy the obnoxious planter.  "I don't blame you, Lady Wesley.  I happen to have some personal knowledge of Philip Kiriakis, and he's something less than honorable."

Chloe frowned, her normally smooth skin creasing.  "How could you possibly know Philip?"

"Ah, you'd be surprised what I know, Lady Wesley," the captain replied in a husky, mysterious tone that sent shivers up her spine.  "The Vengeance carries many secrets aboard."

She was suddenly acutely aware of his close proximity to her.  If he wanted to, he could pull her into his arms.  A thrill of excitement went through her, but she pushed it ruthlessly away.  "What about you, Captain?" she asked quietly, unable to resist.  "What are your secrets?  Why do you hide behind the mask?"  Her hand reached for his face, wanting to remove the black shred as if that would lay even his soul before her.

He caught her hand effortlessly.  A shock of electricity passed between them the moment their skin touched, and their eyes met, echoing the other's surprise.  Brady kept his grasp on her wrist while lowering it down towards her side.  He could feel her pulse throbbing against his thumb.  Fear and desire mingled in the flushed cheeks.  "My secrets are my own, lady.  And we all wear masks.  Some are just more visible than others."  Before she had time to ask the question he could see forming on her lips, he abruptly dropped her hand.  "Now, if you'll excuse me, Lady Wesley, I must relieve my first mate in guarding Lord Black.  Can I accompany you back to the cabin?"

Chloe tried to cover from the whiplash she encountered from his sudden change of mood.  He had gone from mysterious, to seductive, to distant all in the space of a moment.  She did her best to match his formal tone.  "No thank you, sir.  I can find my own way."

He bowed slightly and turned to leave.  Her gentle hand on his shoulder stopped him.  He couldn't believe she felt secure enough to touch him.  As soon as he turned back however, her hand dropped away.  She averted her eyes as a blush rose to her cheeks.  "Yes, my lady?  Was there something you needed?"

"I…well…I wanted to thank you, Captain."  She gazed off far into the distance, afraid to look him in the eyes lest he read her heart inside her gaze. 

Brady frowned.  "Thank me?"  He couldn't remember anyone thanking him since…well, ever.  "For what?"

"For listening.  For talking to me.  No one's ever asked me what I want before.  I wanted you to know it meant something to me."  She gathered the courage to raise her eyes to his.

Brady was struck by the vulnerability he saw in her.  A vulnerability it would be all too easy to take advantage of.  He frowned, hating how she managed to get under his skin.  "You're welcome," he returned gruffly and turned away.  He had to keep his distance from that girl.  He had given his word, and he'd be damned before he broke his only promise to his father.

~~*~~

"Mimi?  Mimi, are you listening to me?"

"Huh?" Mimi murmured, trying to pull herself out of her stupor.  She had been like that ever since she returned from the prison below decks.  As hard as she tried, she could not stop thinking about that damn pirate.  Every look, every moment, every word was emblazoned in her memory and replayed over and over with no sign of cessation. 

"I asked if you remembered to ask about the dresses," Belle repeated impatiently, shaking a fistful of lace in her maid's face for emphasis.  Honestly, she couldn't remember ever seeing Mimi so distracted before.  The girl had the strangest, glassy-eyed look on her face.  "Mimi, are you okay?"

Mimi pulled herself together in an instant.  There was no way she could tell Belle that she was fantasizing about one of their abductors.  Belle would never understand.  "I'm fine, m'lady.  Perhaps a bit tired is all.  And no, your ladyship.  To answer your question, I forgot to ask about the thread.  I will remember to do so the next time they bring food."

Belle studied the other girl with genuine concern.  Mimi might be her servant, but she was her friend as well.  It hurt knowing there was something she was keeping for her.  "Mimi, whatever it is, you can tell me.  Is it Jan?  Has she been giving you a hard time again?"

Mimi shook her head.  "No.  In fact, I've barely seen her all day long."  She couldn't muster up a trace of sadness for this state of affairs.  As soon as she had arrived back at the cabin, Jan had excused herself to get some air.  She hadn't come back.  "Really, m'lady, it's nothing.  Let it be."

Sighing in defeat, Belle leaned back on the bed.  Normally, she wouldn't give up so easily, but Lady Isabelle Black had been having a bad week.  Between seasickness, pirate abduction, questioning her father's love for her, and being separated from her beloved Shawn, it didn't look like life could get much worse.  "So I might get to see my father soon?  That's what you said, right?"

Mimi nodded, glad to have the focus off herself.  "Yes, m'lady.  They were discussing it when I left.  We should be notified soon."  Her mind again began to drift to the last look on Jason's face, but she managed to pull it back this time.

Before the highly frustrating conversation could continue any longer, the door opened and in swayed the third member of their little band.  If Belle had thought Mimi was acting strangely, it was nothing compared to the dreamy look on her best friend's face.  "Chloe, are you all right?"

"Hmm?" Chloe sighed, barely seeming to notice her miserable friend sprawled across the cot.  Indeed, she barely seemed to notice anything at all.

Mimi tried to hide her grin; but judging from the disapproving look Belle sent her, she wasn't very successful.  "Lady Wesley, may I help you with something?" she asked, as a way of amends.

"No, Mimi, I'm fine.  Besides, I told you to call me Chloe.  In fact, everyone should call me Chloe from now on.  No more Lady anything.  I'm sick of it," Chloe remarked with sudden passion which belied the airy quality she had exuded when she entered the room.

Belle rolled her eyes.  She was used to her friend's dramatics by now.  "Any particular reason for this decision, Chloe?"

Chloe flushed, shrugging her shoulders in a very unladylike fashion.  "Freedom," she murmured, staring through the small porthole at the birds soaring through the blue sky overhead. 

Mimi sat down on the other side of the window, staring up at the same birds.  "Exactly," she agreed quietly.

Lady Black gawked at both of them in dismay.  What was going on here?  Was captivity already making them crazy?  All she knew was that staring at her best friends, each lost in a world that she did not understand could not be a part of, she had never felt more alone.  "Oh, Shawn," she whispered, "please come soon."  With sudden insight, she knew that if they were on this ship for very long, Chloe and Mimi would be lost to her forever.

~~*~~

Jason rose, unsheathing his cutlass, as he heard a noise at the door again.  Three short raps sounded on the cabin, followed by a pause and then another knock.  Relieved, Jason put his weapon away and opened the door for his friend.  "You're late, Captain."

Brady shrugged, his eyes moving to the cell where his father was getting to his feet.  "I was detained.  All is well, I trust?"

"No, all is not well," John snapped before Jason could reply.  "This ruffian of yours nearly beheaded my daughter's serving maid this morning."

Brady's curious eyes fell on Jason's red face.  "What happened, Jase?"

It was Jason's turn to shrug.  "Mimi Lockhart opened the door without knocking and ended up a little too close to the point of my blade for his lordship's comfort, that's all.  You know me, Br…Blackheart."  John's eyes widened at Jason's mistake, but he said nothing.  "The girl was never in any real danger.  I like to know who I'm killing before I swipe off somebody's head."

Brady's eyes had turned to steel the moment Jason misspoke, but he tried to gloss over it.  He turned to his father's cell and offered a small bow.  "I apologize, Your Lordship, if you were afraid for the safety of the lass.  But Jason speaks the truth.  She was never in any real danger.  It is a protective measure to have a guard by your cell.  We're not exactly in the business of killing people onboard our own ship.  However, if you wish, I will have Masters apologize directly to Miss Lockhart for the fright."

"No!" John said a little too emphatically before bringing himself back under control.  "That is to say I want the ladies to have as much distance between themselves and your crew as possible.  I told you that already.  I think it is best simply to let the matter drop."  He didn't voice his fear that there was a strong possibility that further interaction between Mimi and that particular pirate would end in something ruinous to all.

"As you wish," Brady demurred, with another bow.  "If you'll excuse us, Your Lordship, my first mate and I have something to discuss.  We'll be right outside the door…for your protection, of course."

"Of course," John replied smoothly, his tone every bit as falsely pleasant as the captain's.  There was no way he was going to let a murdering pirate beat him in a game of chivalry.  "I'm sure you know I'll be waiting when you return."

Brady struggled to hide his grin.  He began to understand where he got his sadistic sense of humor.  With a jerk of his head in Jason's direction, he led the way out of the makeshift brig. 

Jason followed, his arms crossed defensively.  He knew he was about to catch grief over something.  He didn't wait for Brady to begin.  The instant the door was closed, he attacked with, "What's the matter now, Brady?"

"That is the matter, Masters," Brady hissed in a low tone.  "You almost slipped up in there.  I gave explicit orders not to use my name.  I never thought that would be a problem coming from you."

"I forgot," Jason shot back.  "It's hard to school myself not to use a name I've been using for years, especially since you won't give me the reason why not.  I'll ask you again, Brady.  Do you know the Blacks?"

Brady advanced, glowering at his friend as only he could do.  "And I told you before to mind your own damn business."

For his part, Jason was unintimidated.  He stood his ground admirably.  "Look, you're entitled to your secrets, Captain, the same as the rest of us.  But if you're putting a personal agenda before the good of the ship and crew, I think I have the right to know about it.  Somebody's got to keep you on track."

Brady turned away, trying to deny the justice of his first mate's arguments and unable to.  Finally, he groaned, turning back to Jason.  "You're right.  You have a right to know.  But what I say dies here.  Got it?"

Jason nodded, unable to believe he had actually been able to talk reason to Brady.  "You know you can trust me, Brady.  We're brothers of the sword, you and I."

The captain smiled, knowing Jason's weren't idle words.  Pirates could pledge fealty and change at a moment's notice, but such was not the case between them.  They had forged a true friendship in the midst of unimaginable circumstances.  "I trust you with my life, Jase.  In fact, I now trust you with the life of all my family."

"Family?" Jason repeated, dumbstruck.  Suddenly, revelation hit him.  "You're related to Lord Black somehow, aren't you?"

Brady nodded curtly.  "John Black is my father."

~~*~~

From her position concealed around the corner and behind a barrel, Jan bit back a gasp.  Lord Black was the father of the most notorious pirate in the Caribbean?  This kept getting better and better.  A cold smile adorned her lips as she pictured all the ways she could use this information.  Oh yes, life was very good to Jan Spears.