Thank you so much to Erin for editing during my brief return to fanfic. This has been so fun, and I hope everyone enjoys the ending :)

Have a great weekend!


Death comes for me with glowing eyes and sharpened talons.

Ashley's stare is piercing, but seemingly unbothered by the sight of me. She turns to the side, then instructs the crew behind her to attack. There is no urgency in her words, but a lazy demand for them to take action. Surprisingly, they move just as quickly as Eric's crew, and their arrival is like a tidal wave. The pour out from every inch of the ship, grim faced and ready to fight. When Ashley's eyes return to me, lazy beneath long eye lashes, explosions happen before I can take a single step. The sound of gunfire is loud, and so is the booming thud when it hits the side of the ship.

Eric's ship.

"Shit. Shit. Shit."

By the time anyone realizes what's happening, the ships are close enough to touch. Eric's crew attempts to stop her before she can come aboard. They rush at her with their weapons drawn, brandishing swords and knives, and whatever else they can grab. They leap across fearlessly, unafraid of the dark water below. Once they land, the clang of metal on metal is loud. It drowns out everything else, including Ashley's command for someone to grab me.

The panic burns, mostly because Eric knocks me out of the way, draws his own weapon, and heads right toward her. I try to keep up with him, but I'm pushed even further out of the way when a few of them decide they are more interested in getting to me.

Frank, or Four, or whomever the poor soul is, is not at all what I'm expecting. He's frighteningly thin. He appears fragile when our eyes meet, and his hand shakes when he points at me. His hair is a mess of dirt and sea water. His skin holds the pallor of the worst bout of sea sickness one could imagine, and when he moves, it's like he's cursed. I can practically hear the rattle of his bones, and his shirt is covered in dark dust.

"Get her!" He yells, growing irritable when no one listens. "I said, get the girl! That's her! Are you listening to me? Is no one hearing me?"

The crew ignores him.

Four swears, violently thrashing as they rush around him, then yelps when a near miss saves his arm from being sliced off. He's much weaker looking than I pictured. His shirt is too large, and his ears stick out too far. He screams at someone who knocks into him, and in a fit of rage, pushes them overboard, right into the water.

I think back on Eric's words about Four, and how he wasn't the most skilled pirate on the sea. I wouldn't even call him a pirate. He looks more like a stowaway, dragged from the brig to come help fight.

"GET…THAT…GIRL!" He commands, to absolutely no one. Ashley is in charge of the ship, and he's nothing more than someone to entertain her. "I said –"

"Fuck!" I duck just in time.

Above me, something flies by my head, impacting one of the masts. The wood catches fire, burning at an alarming rate, until Jason appears and dumps water on it. He pulls the arrow out, then swears at whoever shot it. He vanishes back into the battle, but it's hard to miss the snap of the arrow when he breaks it, and the barked orders for someone to guard the sails.

The chaos around me is terrifying.

But I can't focus on it.

"Excuse me." I push past a few men fighting, and the crack of a gun signifies things are getting worse instead of better. I turn just in time to see Eric boarding the other ship, and when his boots hit the deck, my heart sinks.

The ships immediately part.

Seconds ago, they were touching. Now, the water pushes each ship in opposite directions, putting a great distance between us. Eric attacks someone in front of him, bone and blood thrown in every direction, while Ashley heads right toward him. Her blonde hair bounces behind her, and I think of the past few weeks where I thought he was dead, the warning of the palm reader, and the rotten feeling of knowing Eric might not return in this moment. I call out a warning, but he can't hear me.

She reaches him before I do.

The noise becomes unbearable as the ship moves violently. Large waves crash against the deck, rising out of nowhere. They fizzle and foam, spraying Eric's crew as I try to get to him. I scream his name, yelling it over and over, and when he turns to look for me, it's useless.

He realizes that he's made a mistake. His eyes widen, then he's shoved back into the crowd, and someone yells his name.

"No! No, no, no!"

There is no way to get to him. The gap is wide, too immense to jump and too terrifying to think what would happen if I fell. As Ashley grabs onto him, the ships move faster, rising so quickly it's nauseating. Behind Eric, Jason slices someone's throat in a clean line, and the blood pours out like thick syrup. Rylan takes someone's hand off with a clean slice, though to be fair, they had it wrapped around his throat. The violence of this battle is startlingly brutal. I slip in a pool of blood and sea water, then crash into Kerrie. Our ship comes alive as she emerges from below deck, and her words are brittle and horrified.

"Oh, fuck!" She swears, as delicately as a butterfly landing on a flower. Her hands fly to her mouth, then she grabs me by the arm, and insists I get to Ashley. "You have to end this. You must kill her, or it'll go on forever. The small one will be fine. His dad will come find him. But you have to kill Ashley before she kills Eric."

I freeze in place, wondering how on Earth I was supposed to get over there. The water is churning violently, and the ships keep moving. It's clear Ashley has something to do with this; a sea witch from the depths of an oceanic hell, she can clearly command the water to do as she pleases. I have little chance of killing her, especially if I can't get to her.

As if she can read my mind, Kerrie pushes me toward the back of the ship, and instructs me to jump when I'm close enough.

"We're spinning that way. You should be able to land safely. Don't let her see you." Large eyes search mine, and across from us, her son gleefully scales a mast, taunting Four to come and get him. "Ignore Four. He won't hurt you. Ignore Rylan, too. He'll survive the fall. In fact, after he falls, he'll secure a boat to save you."

"What?" I gasp, but it's no use. Kerrie ushers me closer to the edge, barely blinking when I balk at the gap. As if the stars are aligning, the ships keep turning, and in a few seconds, we'll be close enough that I can jump. "Okay, okay, but what if I miss?"

"Well..." Kerrie pauses, and her last words of advice are spoken just as sweetly. She helps me climb onto the railing, a tricky feat considering we're moving, and the water is making it hard to maintain my balance. I stand upright for one single moment, then leap right as she gently pushes me toward the ship. "Don't."

I hit the deck of Ashley's ship with a jolt, landing me right in the middle of one horrifically bloody battle.


When someone's head rolls past me, I learn the true lawlessness of the sea.

I'm lost in the thick of the fight, short enough that no one notices me, but fast enough that I can slip through the crowd without much trouble. The occasional hand flies in my direction, and a few claw at my hair. The actions are pointless, though; there are too many bodies being shoved in every direction to have any real traction. I evade a man twice my height as the ship slows its spin, and duck around a row of pirates taunting Jason. He pays no attention to them, and his casual attitude only makes me smile. A second later, Harrison attacks from the side, followed by Karl on the other side, and Rylan from above.

He spots me as he fires a few more rounds into the group, and waves in my direction.

"He's over there!" Rylan yells, and when he turns, he steps back just a bit too far. His arms flail, desperately trying to regain his balance, but it's useless "Fuck!"

"No!" I gasp right as Harrison takes hold of my elbow. He drags me across the deck, just in time to see Rylan fall. I don't see where he lands, but my heart sinks knowing he's lost in the ocean again. "Harrison! We have to get him."

"He'll be fine. You get to Ashely. He didn't fall overboard. I think he landed on a few men. I'll go make sure he didn't break his neck." Harrison holds on tightly until the last moment. He lets me go with a push, but I stop a few steps later. "She fights dirty. Aim for the head. The deeper the better. Good luck!"

"Wait! Harrison –"

There is no time. The ship sways dizzily, rising and crashing as the crews fight on. I scan the deck for any sign of Eric, and it's then that I realize I might be in over my head.

She and Eric are quite the sight.

She's nearly as tall as him, but faster. She moves gracefully, ducking the second he throws a punch in her direction, and her eyes are wild. They glow every time he nears her. When he steps away, she looks serene, almost like she'd hate to kill him, but she's not above it. I can see it in the way she toys with him, coaxing him closer, then laughing when he retreats.

His own expression is tense.

Each slice at her skin produces a cloud of dust, and a deep wound that quickly heals itself. Each stab that he manages to sink into her chest pulls away with a sticky black goo, but it does nothing to slow her down. Her yellow eyes blink in delight when he steps toward her, and when he makes the mistake of looking to the side, she lunges for him.

"No!"

I run as fast as I can. I don't think she's spotted me yet, but it doesn't matter. She knocks him back with ease, quickly pinning him to the ground. She reaches to her side, producing a sharp knife, and softly tells him it's over.

"Now, there's no reason we can't be together. In death, you'll side with me, always. The curse has no end, and you know it." She rears back, and right when she moves to stab him in the heart, I yell her name.

It works. Within seconds, I am close enough to lunge for her. It takes everything in me knock her away, and the feeling is strange. Half human, half something else, she's less solid than I'm expecting. I land beside her, and the fight changes in the blink of an eye.

"What the fuck!" she hisses, scrambling to her feet. I follow suit, but her motions are eel like. "You're ruining everything. I don't know how else to get you to realize that he'll never love you, because he can't!"

Her words are ear splitting. They rattle, spoken from deep inside her, furious over the situation at hand. Ashley steps back, and when Eric yells my name, she attacks. She hits me with more force than I'm prepared for. I'm thrown backwards, right into the side of the ship. There's a crack, probably my skull or maybe something worse, and the ship begins to rise again. This time, it doesn't level out. The crew goes flying, sliding down into the freezing water, clinging to whatever they can.

I go right along with them.

My stomach drops, churning as I realize what's happening, and I can't stop.

"You don't get it, do you?" Ashley roars, sliding alongside me. She's skilled at this, and shockingly agile. "He's cursed. He can't –"

"Everly!"

I'm jerked to safety by Eric, holding onto a large mast. He grabs me with both hands, and Ashley's expression turns bored. I struggle to hold onto him, and she knows it. On her head tilt, the ship rises vertically, sending Four tumbling right into the black water with a yelp.

"Let go of him! He's not going after you," Ashley announces. "In fact, he didn't tell you, so I will. He let you stay on his ship because he needs –"

"No, Everly. Hold on," Eric interrupts, grunting as he tries to pull me higher. "Don't let go. Just a few more seconds. Just –"

"I don't think I can!" The new angle of the ship makes it harder to hold on, and even Eric struggles to brace himself. "I can't hang on!" I gasp, and my grip on Eric weakens by the second. The screams of the crew in the water are all I can hear, especially when his fingers begin to slide between mine. "Eric, I'm going to fall. I'm—"

Below me, the ocean swirls. The black water churns violently, foaming where it hits the ship. The men and women struggle to stay afloat, while Four tries to swim away. He's nearly beneath me, even more so when the ship begins to tip even further. The floor is suddenly above me, and Eric's last words are my name.

"Everly, hold on. EVERLY!"

My hand breaks away from his. I fall before I notice Ashley, even with me. We hit the bone-chillinghly cold water at the same time, and it's a slap to the face. It's dark and somehow thick, impossible to swim through. My limbs feel frozen solid, and despite my best efforts, I can't seem to gain any traction.

I know I have to.

Above me, the ship begins to fall. The hazy outline hovers above the top of the water, casting a dark shadow. The end in the sky begins to crash down, giving me scant time to swim. I follow Four's lead, struggling to get away from Ashley, and hopefully, out of the way of the ship. I see dozens of pirates fall into the water as the ship moves, then it changes course and reverses, plunging backwards into the ocean. I break the surface right as it crashes down, and I'm met with waves of water in my face.

"Oh shit!" I gasp "No!"

It causes quite the storm. I'm pushed beneath a wave, then shoved even further down. Saltwater is everywhere. I gag a few times, trying not to drown. When the waves stop for a few seconds, I manage to break through the surface. But not for long. The waves return, violent and strong, so much so that I'm pushed beneath again. Eventually, they lessen. The seas calm, fizzing as the ship bobs up and down, and then I realize why.

Eric is nowhere to be found, but beside me, Ashley smiles. Her mouth is full of water and blood, and her eyes glow like orbs. She takes hold of my arm and shoulder, then wrenches me deep beneath the water. I flounder, blinking at the burn in my eyes and lungs, and force myself not to open my mouth. It's a struggle not to gasp for air, and the seconds tick by too fast. Despite my best attempts to swim upwards to the surface, I'm pulled down into the water, so deep it appears clear.

Ashley floats beside me, her blonde hair floating around her. Her eyes are closed, and when I jerk back, she opens them.

Her appearance changes. She's no longer human or sea creature, but something else entirely.

She cuts through the water with ease, and her slice at my skin is so fast I don't have time to react. My blood floats around me, staining it dark red, all while she watches.

I'm going to die.

My lungs burn, my chest hurts, and my scalp hurts, too.

Someone has a hold of my hair, the sensation even more painful when they pull as hard as they can. I'm dragged upwards, so fast I can barely see, and slammed onto hard wood. I hit everything along the way; my head hits the side, my limbs catch on the shallow railing, and my body hits the floor with a groan. I can't do anything more than cough up sea water, gagging when it comes up in a rush, and keep my eyes shut.

"You're fine. You have to get the water out of your lungs. When it's over, you'll feel better. Just a few more seconds."

The voice is familiar. It's cheerful and happy despite the freezing water, and they encourage me to sit up. When I force myself upright, I blink a few times before Rylan comes into focus. His expression is torn between being thrilled I'm alive, and impatient for me to snap out of it.

"Oh good. You're alive. Look, I'm glad you're okay, but she's coming back. You don't have long. Maybe a few minutes. You'll have to stab her in the head. It's the only way to kill her," he explains, handing me a piece of cloth. "Wipe your eyes off. She's almost back."

"I thought you were dead," I cough, slowly wiping my face a few times. "Where is Eric? He was on the ship. He was right –"

"Relax, he's fine. She won't kill him now. He's back aboard the ship. I saw you fall in and figured I could get to you before he could. You can both thank me anytime," Rylan grins. "Do you have a knife?"

"Yes."

The world around me comes into focus. I shiver, my hair dripping wet and my skin feeling like it might come apart at any moment, but I listen to him. My fingers hurt as I curl them around the heavy knife Eric had given me, and my teeth chatter. The ocean is oddly silent, and around us, the air fills with a cloudy haze. The sun disappears completely, making the day seem like night.

It's appropriately bleak.

"How atmospheric," Rylan comments. "I love this for her. Really."

"Where is she?" I sit up so I can kneel beside him. In the distance, yellow orbs glow in every direction. The ships are a faint outline off to the side of us, and all around us, is ice. "Is she nearby?"

"She's right there." He points up ahead, and I have just enough time to rear back.

Ashley emerges out of the water, teeth bared and her skin the color of seaweed. She comes right at me, violently hissing my name over and over. When she's close enough, I plunge the knife right into the side of her head, and our struggle is quick. Her hands are locked around my throat, but it's too late. She beings to disintegrate right before me; her skin cracks, her eyes lose their glow, and her lips begin to bleed. She grows faint when I turn the knife, driving it deeper into her skull, until she's nothing. Dust and a howl are all that remain, both carried away by the wind.

Everything turns silent.

The water ceases to move, the air is still, and beside me, Rylan knocks into me as I collapse on to the floor of the lifeboat. It creaks as he begins to paddle, and the only other sound is Rylan, reassuring me it's finally over.


"Fuck."

His hands are hot.

I try to jerk away from him, because the feeling makes my head spin. Combined with the motion of the ship, the heavy blanket over me, and the weight of Eric, I am trapped. I open my eyes to him inches away, brows knit inward, and his expression completely stressed.

It's an unusual sight for him.

"Everly?" He looks panic stricken, especially when I sit up.

"What?" I mumble, blinking away the ache in my head. "What's wrong?"

"Are you going to be sick?" Eric questions, though it's more of a demand. I shake my head no, and his expression tenses further. "Everly, are you alright? You've been asleep for days. I thought maybe she'd actually hurt you, or maybe something worse…."

He trails off, leaving a heavy moment between us.

It's obvious he thought I might have died, but it takes me too long to remember why. The memories return slowly, and I have a clear image of Rylan, rowing faster and faster, yelling at whatever was in the water that he had a granola bar, and he wasn't above throwing it at them.

"Or what?" I blink, wondering what he's talking about. "I haven't been sleeping. I was on the…the boat with Rylan…and –"

It doesn't make sense, even when I glance around the room. It's familiar; the dark shelves, the wardrobe with Eric's black clothing, his boots kicked aside with a sense of surprising carelessness, and a million blankets all over the bed.

It hits me that I'm no longer on the small lifeboat, while Rylan cheerfully headed toward Eric's ship. In my head, I can clearly see him reassuring me that everything would be fine, that I just needed to trust in the process. I couldn't figure out what he meant, but I wasn't really all that conscious. My hand was bleeding, my lungs ached with each breath, and I was cold. So cold I couldn't move. I remember looking up at the sky, the grey clouds dense and too dark, and thinking that even though I was going to die of hypothermia, at least I had killed Ashley.

Or I thought I did.

I couldn't even be sure.

My mind eventually stopped thinking any thoughts at all, and my eyes closed. I dreamt of nothing, until I woke up to Eric swearing and trying to coax me awake. His dark shirt is clean and warm looking, and his hair is even more severe than I remember. His hands stay on my cheeks, then slip into my hair to coax me closer.

"It's been two days. Rylan brought you back aboard and we got Arlene to look at you. She helped clean you up. Last night, you woke up enough to take a bath, but went right back to bed." His calm demeanor is less calm, and in fact, he looks a little pale. "You've been mumbling about Harrison and Kerrie."

There's some insult hidden in his tone, perhaps that I wasn't mumbling about him.

"Are they okay?" I scoot back when he finally moves his hands away from me. I reach to pull the covers up higher, and to my surprise, he helps. It's funny considering he hates blankets on his bed, and he especially hates doing anything anyone might think is nice. The first time I met him, he was so furious over my existence that he would barely speak to me. "Are they alive? Did everyone make it back?"

"They're fine."

"And Ashley is dead?" I tilt my head further, watching him frown. He reaches out to touch my hair, carefully pushing it off my face. "I stabbed her in the head like Rylan said. She was going to kill you."

"She was trying to kill me," Eric mutters, shrugging when we lock eyes. "And she would have killed you. But yes, she's dead. I don't think she's coming back this time."

"This time?"

"I saw you stab her. She normally…well, it's hard to explain. She usually reappears somehow. We've fought before, and she's been injured badly enough that one would assume she's dead. But this time, she didn't come back. Her crew vanished, the ship vanished, and there's no one left." He pauses, looming over me to search my face for proof that I'm not going to be sick. "Four is aboard Jeremy's ship. It won't last long, but if you'd like, you can speak with him. He'll tell you she's gone."

"I don't want to talk to him. I don't even know him," I try to sit up straighter, but Eric is much taller. "What happened to you? After I fell in the water?"

His mouth tightens.

I can tell he doesn't really want to talk about this, but there was the small fact that I didn't see him. My assumption is he was off somewhere I couldn't see, or too far away to help me.

"I was thrown in the other direction. I was lucky enough to find Jason, and we made it back aboard this ship. When we couldn't find you, Harrison sent a few of the crew down but it was too dark. By the time the fight was over, it looked like there was no one left." His fingers linger at the edge of the blanket, toying with a loose thread. "As soon as we saw Rylan, he yelled that he had you. I got you up here, and Arlene came by to make sure you weren't hurt."

"I'm not."

The lie is as itchy as the cut on my palm. I stare defensively at Eric, he stares at me, and it's clear he doesn't believe a word out of my mouth.

"Fine. Well…Quinten will be by with your lunch soon. I suggest taking some time before you rejoin the crew," he pauses, still unconvinced that I will stay alive. "Everyone is glad you're back. There's no rush. We're on track, and there's no one following us. Four's crew is gone, and the assumption is that he'll cooperate until we can dump him on some island. They're only keeping him alive to fill an empty position."

"Where are we? Are we still near Alaska?" I have no desire to get up, and if anything, I feel like going back to sleep. The thought of eating doesn't sound great, and for a split second, I fear that Ashley turned me into whatever sea creature she was. "Am I going to be fine? Did she do something? You look…weird."

He cocks an eyebrow at me.

The Eric I'm familiar with returns. He shakes his head, then a scowl forms on his lips as he stands up.

"I look weird? Funny. I suggest not looking in any mirrors then." He shrugs again, and even though I want him to come back beside me, I know there's something he's not telling me. "You're fine. You're not a sea monster, and you killed her before she could do anything. You just need to rest."

"Great."

My answer is mumbled, and his is, too.

Eric lowly tells me to lie down, and he'll be back tonight. He suggests staying below deck, perhaps for a few more days and insists that I stay in his bed and not wander around. He informs me he'll come check on me in a few hours, and if I'm feeling better, I can join him for dinner.

For once, I don't argue with him.

I fall back asleep, dreaming of sea witches who don't die, not even when I stab them over and over.


Much to my relief, I am not a sea monster.

I wake up after a horrible nap, and once I am reassured that I am back on the ship and not dead in the ocean, I struggle to come to terms with what Ashley actually was. I try to figure out how she could disappear and reappear, or how she even existed in the first place. There is no explanation that makes sense to me, but I don't think Eric can explain it, either.

Nothing feels right. It seems too easy for me to have killed her, but everyone around me is accepting it as fact. Fear pricks at my neck that she will return, but for now, we are sailing away from her, on our way to find the treasure Eric has been hunting.

In the mirror, my mouth turns downward.

I look fine. Absolutely normal, except for a slightly ghostly pallor and the dusting of bruises. Those surprise me. They dot my neck, color my cheeks, and trail down my arms. I imagine they are the work of Ashley and her magic, a feeble attempt to try and kill me. I rub at the one on my neck, wishing I had a way to make it vanish, but I don't. It stays there, bold and red as blood, now irritated.

Scowling that she'd managed to leave any sort of mark on me, I decide to take a bath. I figure I can soak for a while, and maybe I'll feel better. I could go find Eric and ask him about Ashley, but the thought of trekking upstairs to find him is daunting. I'm too tired, and while disobeying his orders would be fun, it will make him annoyed. I don't really want him annoyed. I much prefer the Eric who kissed me, but I have no idea if that Eric will reappear.

He seems hesitant to do anything other than stare at me like I might disappear before his very eyes.

But rather than agonize over how he feels, or what he feels, or if he feels anything at all, I decide I might as well try to kill some time.

So, I spend the rest of the evening beneath too many bubbles, half awake, half asleep, until the water eventually turns cold and I am forced to hurry and finish up.


This time, his hands are like ice.

"Eric! Stop! You're freezing!" I gasp, trying to wiggle away, but he's got the upper hand. He scoots over in bed, throwing his arm and leg over me to trap in me place, and all of his secrets are exposed in this moment.

If there was any doubt that Eric enjoyed my company, it's gone now.

His actions from today tell me he's missed me more than he let on. Our time apart was one thing, but the thought of my possibly dying had pushed him over the edge. After years at sea, Eric no longer enjoyed sleeping alone. Sharing his bed had proven it was nice to have someone to sleep beside, and now, he was going to sleep as close as possible.

"It's cold out there. I can't help it. Rylan lost my gloves," Eric mutters, right as his chest hits my head. He pulls me closer, one arm snaking over me to anchor me, and his legs are so cold they burn. He warms up after a minute, but it takes some adjusting before he's happy. "Why are you awake? I thought you'd be asleep."

"I was asleep, until you woke me up," I yawn, not at all mad. "I was wondering if you were ever coming back."

I never did have dinner with him. I took a bath, ate a few meager bites of whatever soup Quinten dropped off, and eventually climbed into bed and closed my eyes. I fell asleep before I could wonder if he was coming back, because I knew he would.

I just didn't think he'd be so openly affectionate.

"Eric?" I say his name slowly, knowing he'll startle and tell me to knock it off and go to sleep if he's at all suspicious. "Can I ask you something?"

"No."

His answer is dry and uninterested, but I don't mind.

"Funny." I mumble, noticing the way his fingers flex, tightening on my arm. "Eric, why did you kiss me? Back when we found you?"

I'm met with silence.

"You didn't kiss me this time," I point out, my voice low and unassuming. I'm sure he has his reasons, but for the life of me, I want him to at least reassure me that he's not going to throw me overboard any time soon. This unsureness is new, but it's as new as his current sleeping position. "Are you mad that I killed her? You didn't –"

"I don't care that you killed Ashley. She got what she deserved. And I wasn't worried. I was…not entirely sure you weren't dead. You wouldn't wake up, and when you did…you weren't you. You barely looked at me," he interrupts. His words are gritted out, quiet and low. "Arlene checked on you a few times, and she swore you were fine, but it didn't look like it to me."

"I don't remember that. Is Rylan okay? Is he on this ship?" I ask, turning to face him.

It's easier said than done. I struggle to move the tangle of blankets and sheets, while he turns over onto his back. Eric presses his palms over his eyes, then groans when I reach for his arm.

"Are you going to ask me questions all night?" He asks, pretending he can't feel me inching closer. "Because I'm exhausted, and as relieved as I am that you're fine –"

"So, you were worried?" I interrupt, smiling when he moves his hands away. His scowl is immediate. "Because you look awfully worried. And I'm worried. I want to know how I can be sure Ashley is dead."

"Everly, go to bed." He snaps, swatting me away. "Lie down and go to sleep. There's no point in talking about Ashley or what I was doing. She's completely dead. You killed her, and you're lucky you had a clear shot at her. Otherwise, you might be missing your head."

"Sounds painful," I wrinkle my nose, and his expression changes to pure exasperation. "Eric, did you think –"

"Everly." He interrupts me, sitting up abruptly. "I'm glad you're alive, but from here on out, no more worrying about me or what I'm feeling. I'm fine. I can take care of myself. I did miss you, and I told you that before. But right now…"

He pauses, then sits up.

"Right now, what?" I stare into his eyes, trying to guess. The second tick by, but he doesn't answer. "Did you want to kill her?"

"No, I want…." He pauses, just to make me wait.

"What?" I shift closer when his eyes flash with an impatience I haven't seen before. "Eric?"

"You."

He takes my face in his hands, and his mouth crashes into mine. It's a graceless act, more frustrated and demanding than anything else, but I can't say I mind. My lips burn when they touch his and my head spins. He pulls me closer, until I hit his chest, then his hands are everywhere. They tear through my hair, pulling and twisting and gripping wherever he sees fit. They skim my shoulders, shoving away the thin fabric of whatever nightgown I'd thrown on. They trail down my back, pressing carefully, then down to my waist, all while he continues kissing me.

I break away to take a breath, then he's right back at it.

"I was worried," he mumbles, the words bitten into my skin. He trails his mouth down my neck, then sinks his teeth into the bruise Ashley left. "I was worried you were gone for good."

"I wasn't going to let her kill me," I answer, and my voice sounds far away. I reach for his head, and my fingers slip into soft hair, slightly less perfect than before. "I'm determined to live."

"How ambitious," he murmurs, one hand moving to touch my throat.

He skims over every mark she's left, some more stark than others, until his hands rest on my cheek. He leaves them there for a moment to shift beneath me, then moves to pull down the strap of my nightgown.

"We have a week until we reach the next stopping point. After that, things will be different," Eric murmurs. "I promise."

"How do you know?" I rest my hands on his chest, sliding them down to the hem of his t-shirt. The fabric is soft and worn between my fingers. He smirks when I pull it up, but he doesn't stop me. "Are we going to find the treasure?"

"We," he emphasizes the word. "Are going to find a lot of things. And once we do, you'll officially be a part of the crew. You'll have no reason to leave. Ever."

The offer of permanence is a gift coming from him. He knows the importance of having a strong crew, and before me, Arlene is the only one who broke the rules by being aboard his ship. For him to offer me a place here is the first time in my life that someone has ever wanted me to stick around, and not just because I'm free labor.

"Leave you or the crew?" I want to make sure I'm hearing him right, and his clarification comes when he pulls the nightgown right over my head. I freeze on his lap, completely exposed except for the pink underwear I bought on the island, while he takes it all in. "Eric?"

His gaze is slow.

Warm.

It lingers over my collarbone, down my chest, to the waistband of my underwear, then back up to my face. There's a possessiveness to the way he's staring, especially when he moves my hair behind my shoulders and tangles it around his fingers.

"Me."

The air in the room grows still, full of warmth and promise. I don't break his stare, not until his gaze drops to my mouth.

"Are you happy here?" He asks lowly, leaning in to press his lips to mine. The kiss is startlingly chaste, until he bites at my lower lip. "Everly?"

"Yes," I answer, nodding and his hand wraps around the back of my head.

There is no real struggle here. Eric knocks me back, much stronger and larger than I am, and he's over me before I can register what's happening. I think of all the times I hung around with Landon, wondering if anything like this would ever happen. I think of every time he smiled in my direction, not knowing that behind his charming grin, was a mouthful of lies. That the longer I hung around, the easier it would be for him to sell me off to whatever ship needed crew members.

He knew no one would really mind if I was gone, and the irony of all of this, is Eric. Out of everyone in this world, he cared that I had gone missing, even if it was just for a short period of time.

"I missed you," he murmurs, against my lips, then my neck. "It was hard to sleep without you beside me."

He works my underwear down with one hand, leaving me with absolutely nothing on. He pulls his own down, kicking it away impatiently before returning to me. His teeth sink into my skin. His mouth presses down my throat, leaving a trail of wet, open mouth kisses over every mark. He stops at my collarbone, but his hands don't. They skim up my sides, slipping beneath me to inch me closer.

The space between us is nonexistent, but it's not enough for him.

His legs nudge mine apart. I can feel him, hard, between my legs, and it slowly dawns on me that never in a million years, would I have imagined this. Not him, slipping his fingers between my legs until my eyes close, or just exactly how good it feels. I gasp when he finds slick wetness, and his hips move in search of friction. He then kisses me, sloppier than before, and his eyes are half hooded.

"I wouldn't have let her kill you. You know that, right?" He asks, his hand still between my legs. I nod, but it's impossible to focus.

A warm sensation burns in my stomach, and I shamelessly push myself closer to him. His fingers are rough, but skilled. They stroke slowly, circling in a pattern that makes my eyes close, and all I can think of is how I want more. I want so much more, including him, in every way. In a hazy lust, I reach for the length of him, and his groan makes me open my eyes.

"Have you done this before?" He grits out, clearly missing my inexperience as I fumble with the angle. He doesn't seem to mind, though. He screws his eyes shut tightly, and thrusts into my hand. "Everly?"

"No."

In every way, no.

I've never been aboard a ship like this. I've never met anyone like him, nor have I ever slept in a captain's bed. I've never let anyone touch me like this, never clung to them, hoping they'd choose me over everything else. But there's something about Eric that is familiar, like we've lived a thousand adventures together. I feel it even more when he nods, moves his hand away, and pushes inside me before I can say anything else.

The feeling is impossible to describe, but it's like I've done this a million times. There's a sharp pinch, a second of stillness as he waits for me to reassure him it's okay, then the feeling of completeness. He thrusts deeper as my hands move down his back, scratching when he utters my name.

It sounds heavenly.

Like he's groaned it before. His hips hit mine, his mouth returns to biting at my lips until I part them, and his hands are everywhere. His skin against mine is warm, and when I reach his lower back, he pulls away.

Hovering over me, Eric's eyes search my own before he asks if I'm okay.

"Everly, are you –"

I'm fine. Better than fine. Seeing him like this –his cheeks flushed, his skin sweaty, and his hair falling into his eyes –is better than anything. His arms tense while he waits, and it's clearly torture. There's a hiss when I don't answer him, and my nod is not satisfactory enough.

"I'm good. Promise." I loop my arms around his neck, and pull him back to me. He resumes burying himself as deep as he can, until the sensation is more than enough for me.

I don't see stars, but an entire universe.

The warmth coils in my stomach, until it's too much. My legs tense, my head falls back, and I can faintly hear him grunting my name, over and over. I'm dimly aware of the Eric above me, but in this moment, I see him in every life he's lived. Always dressed in dark clothes, always carrying an aversion to the barest human emotions, always searching for me. He's not ever aware of what he truly needs, until the two of us find each other, one way or another.

"Fuck, you feel good."

There are dozens of shared moments between us, but I can no longer tell which ones are real. I pull him closer, sliding my fingers into his hair and digging them in, while he and I walk through the woods. I have a clear vision of the two of us in a barn, him dressed in a heavy jacket, reaching up to touch a horse. His jaw tensed, revealing dark marks down his neck that blur when I try to focus on them, and a blue stripe on the sleeve. I see him searching for me, tearing through the woods with wild abandon, and once, in a punch to the stomach moment, turning me into some woman, while his cold hands skimmed my cheeks and he told me I never should have trusted him. I see him on a high walkway, giving a rousing speech, similar to the ones he gave his crew here. I see him and I in a large room of sorts, and in some ritualistic moment, he chooses to live elsewhere to spite his parents, and his hand touches mine.

I see other things, all sharp and vivid, so intense I have no choice but to believe they've happened.

We sit in a bar, in a booth tucked away in a corner, and his hand is between my legs while everyone is distracted. In the next second, the two of us are bent over a railing, his hips snapping against mine as he thrusts inside, enjoying the fact that someone is below us, patrolling through a dark hallway. Moments later, I am in a coffee shop with him, my nightgown pulled up and an oversized sweater slipping off my shoulder while he attempts to show me parts of his life.

The most prominent scene of all, is one that hurts. He sits beside me on a hospital bed, snarling that we are going home and I'm never leaving his apartment again. In another second, he holds a baby in his arms, her grey eyes just as intense as his, while he tells me I should get some sleep. There are pink dresses, a room filled with people that I feel like I should know but don't, and dozens of people celebrating. The faces blur and fade, ever familiar, ever a stranger.

Finally, there is Eden, placing a crown of flowers into my hair. Her gaze is warm as she moves my hair to secure the crown, and in that moment, Eric turns to looks at me.

His gaze is longing, like he's never seen such a sight before.

"Fuck."

Eric comes with a hiss, my name drawn out as he stops moving. My hands skim down his back, slipping over each cut of muscle, until he pulls back slightly.

"Are you okay?" His question is soft. He touches my cheek, pulling away just enough for me to feel the separation, and his smile is one I haven't seen before. "Everly?"

"I'm good," I smile back, and for once, I am entirely at peace.

The ship sails on as he slides out of me, pulling me against his chest and sighing my name. I start to drift off before he can ask me anything else, and for once, he's the desperate one. Right as I start to dream of him telling me it's just a few more days, I hear him say my name. His fingers press into my skin, tracing an invisible pattern, and he refuses to let go.


A day later, I feel like everyone is staring at me.

The idea comes out of nowhere, but it starts with Harrison. When I see him in the mess hall, he immediately looks worried. He stands up from the chair to come hug me, and his grip is tight. He holds me against him, muttering that he's very sorry about what happened, or at least, I think that's what he's saying.

"I truly am sorry, Everly. I wish I could do more." His apology is kind, but unnecessary. "You're innocent in all of this. I tried to warn Eric."

"I'm fine. I survived, and best of all, Ashely is dead." I hold on tighter, refusing to let go. He's familiar in a fatherly way, and if I close my eyes, he could be my father. "And Eric is okay, too. Right?"

The look on Harrison's face is a funny one. He nods, but his smile doesn't quite reach his eyes. "He's…I'm sure he's…accepted all of this."

He lets go after I untangle myself from him. Much like with Eric, I can't read his expression, other than that he's bothered by something.

"Eat some breakfast. It won't be long now. You should have dessert, too."

His words are strange. I tell him I will, but my entire breakfast is spent with the crew gaping at me. Some outright stare, others elbow their friends and point at me. Jason and Rylan appear right as I'm finishing up my toast, and they look delighted to see me. But the others behind them, including Karl, look nervous.

"What is wrong with everyone?" I glance up at Rylan as he sinks into the chair beside me. He looks at Jason, and both of them raise their eyebrows. "What?"

"Oh, nothing. They're just surprised you're back. The attack was bad. Eric usually gives us a day or two to recover, but this time, he sent everyone right back to work. Even Zeke is tired, and he's never tired." Rylan waves as someone brings him a plate, and Jason snickers when it's piled high with pancakes. "Do you want some? I ordered extra when I came in here earlier."

"No, I'm good, thank you." I watch as Jason shakes his head, and his own breakfast is less intense. Some eggs and bacon, and what looks like pudding. "Have you seen Eric this morning?"

"He's in the navigation room. He's in a great mood today." Jason attempts to sound innocent, but he fails when he starts cracking up. "He must no longer be so…frustrated over things."

"He's definitely not frustrated after last night," Rylan laughs. He winks at me, ignoring when I slink lower into the seat. "He's clearly happy you're back. He normally doesn't care who falls overboard."

"Funny," I answer, but I do smile. I sit up straighter as the mess hall continues to fill up with the crew. "Can I go visit him? Do you think he'd mind?"

"Oh, Everly. I think he'd be absolutely delighted for you to join him upstairs," Rylan smacks Jason's arm, and Jason snorts into his coffee. "Tell him we said hello."

I decide I can't sit here any longer, less I be subject to their witty commentary. I smile brightly, then pick up my plate. "Will do. I'll see you both later."

"Maybe," Rylan answers, but there's no malice in his words. He's busy glaring at someone staring at me, especially when I head back toward the kitchen to turn in my plate. "I have plans tonight, but that might change. You never know."

"I'm free," Jason throws out, growing distracted when Arlene shows up to search the mess hall. Her stare sweeps the room until she finds me, and Jason shakes his head. "You better run. Now."

"See you later, guys."

I leave before Arlene can head in my direction.

But things are still weird.

The staring continues. Quinten looks at me like I have tentacles instead of arms, and even Arlene looks stunned by my presence. It gets worse when I walk upstairs, pausing on the deck to look out at the ocean. At night, it's pitch black. The waters are so dark it almost looks like we are in space, and you can't tell how high we are. Now, the sun hangs overhead, casting a cheery glow across the ship. The sails are full, the air is chilly but still nice, and the water is a deep, dark blue.

I stare at it until I feel a hand press on my lower back, and Eric joins me.


"We should stop."

Eric's words are muttered into the crook of my neck. He doesn't listen to himself, instead, he slips his hands from my hair, to scratch them down my back. I'm seated atop his lap, the skirt of my dress bunched at my waist and my legs locked around his. The position is enjoyable, especially with each thrust of his hips.

After finding me on the deck, he guided me into the navigation room. He shut the door, locking it behind him with a loud click, then lunged for me. He sat in the first chair he could find, then pulled me on top of him. After kissing me so furiously that I couldn't breathe, he shoved my underwear aside, and thrust into me. I'd never felt anything like this, and clearly, neither had he. His head tilted back exposing his throat, and the room was silent except for his uneven breathing. When my hands found his chest, he groaned my name, and the sound was like nothing I'd ever heard before.

His fingers moved between my legs, and with each stroke, I saw stars.

But my vision clears when he pulls his hand away and grabs me by the waist.

"Why?" I press my hands to each side of his face, holding on tightly as he moves. He's still mostly dressed, and behind us, the sonar equipment beeps. Every so often, there's a low alert, but he pays no mind to it.

"Because."

"You feel really good," I tell him, liking the way his eyes close. "Just as good as last night."

"Because it's not…smart," he grunts, but it's clearly not dangerous enough for him to stop. "Something could happen. Something—"

"I don't care," I announce. It's a bold declaration, considering my life has been in his hands quite a few times now. "I'm fine. You're fine. We both deserve to celebrate, just a little. Just like this. Don't stop. Please."

"Everly…" I wait for him to protest more, but he doesn't. Instead, he focuses on me, pressing his lips to mine until he groans. "Fine. Fuck it. I won't stop."

His fingers return between my legs, stroking right where I want him to. It doesn't take long for me to whimper his name, and I vow never to forget this moment. Him, strong and solid beneath me, while I writhe on his lap. The sound of him sighing when it all becomes too much; his body tenses, the muscle of his thigh tighten, and I can feel him come.

I'm not sure if he sees stars, or maybe he sees nothing but my dark hair falling in his face, but he's content. There's a satedness to his gaze, and a warmth when he lowly tells me he's glad he found me.

We stay together for longer than necessary. Until someone knocks on the door, and they leave only when Eric finally barks at them to come back later.


The land appears as the sky begins to change colors.

The late afternoon is full of vibrant colors, until it's not. I stand beside Eric, dressed as warmly as possible, while he watches. His hands are clasped behind his back, his shoulders are pulled down, and his chest is forward. His posture is intimidating, but appropriate: in the distance, the snowy wasteland rises out of the water, but its shores are full of ships. They are close together, but as spaced out as they can be. Most have dark sails above them, the rest have plain white. There are a few with red sails, and Eric's eyes narrow at those.

"Jack is here." Eric mutters, but not to me. Rylan stands to the other side of him, with one foot propped up on the railing. "That isn't good."

"Not at all," Rylan agrees, cheerfully. "He must have read the same map that you did."

Eric glares at him out of the corner of his eye. "There's only one map. He's probably here for something else."

"Sure. Maybe he ran out of cereal."

Their conversation dies as the ship slows. I keep my eyes straight ahead on the land, taking in the black sand, the thick layer of snow, and the swirling waters. The ocean is black as it crashes on the shore, and the foam is dark grey. Beyond the shoreline is a pathway, and just behind that, is a small town.

"Is this –"

"Blackwater," Rylan grins. He shifts his weight so he can elbow Eric, and the sour expression on Eric's face intensifies. "Behold, the Blackwater Islands. There are six in total, but only four are inhabited. Legend has it, one holds the Blackwater Fortune. Legend also has it, that anyone who tries to find the fortune will die a horrible fate before they leave the first island."

I glance up at Eric, and his expression is now unreadable. "Seriously?"

"Not all the time. Some have made it as far as the third island." Eric's answer is indifferent. "But most people are stupid. They show up unprepared. We are going into this ready. We have a different map than the others."

"Are you sure?" I step closer to him. My fingers graze his, and for a split second, I think he might take my hand in his. His fingers flex, but he shakes his head and steps away. "Eric?"

"I'm positive. Two days, tops. We'll be in and out before you even realize it," Eric says, looking only at me. "I promise. This is almost over."

"Then what?" Fear strikes through my chest, as I imagine him dropping me back off in Beachwood. "What will you do after that?"

For a second, Eric stares. His eyes search mine, and his lips turn up. He looks happy, almost smug, especially when Rylan demands an answer, too.

"We'll be onto our next adventure. This most certainly isn't the end. Not by a long shot."

I smile back at Eric, pleased that he's not dumping me the second he has his treasure, and there's a warmth to the way he reaches for my hand.

Unfortunately for me, that feeling doesn't last long.

Neither does his smile.


The snow sticks to my skin.

It burns when it touches the marks Ashley left. I attempt to slap away a few flakes, but I lose interest as we take our millionth turn, down a winding, snowy island pathway. The landscape is like nothing I've ever seen before. It gives the appearance of an alien planet; there are harsh planes of nothing but snow and ice, then sections where a few resilient trees rise out of the ground. My boots slip as I walk, catching on every icy section and causing me to stumble into Eric. He steadies me every time, but eventually grits out a warning to watch where I'm going, because the next section is even rougher.

Up ahead is a system of caves, with one rather dark opening facing us.

"Are we going in there?" I try not to sound terrified, but the gaping hole is completely black. Snow is piled up on the corners, while fine snowflakes fall over the top. From a distance, it looks like the entryway to some sort of underworld, one meant to lure easily fooled victims. "Eric?"

"We are. We're following the path a mile inside. Do you have your flashlight?" He glances at me out of the corner of his eye, nodding when Jason calls out the time. "The walk should take a half hour. We'll be out before long. We should have enough light to get back to the ship."

My stomach drops at his words.

The caves are far from the ship, and nowhere near any civilization. After we docked, we trekked through a small, but bustling town. It was in rough shape, sort of rickety looking and almost abandoned. Each building had a fire going, and only a few offered some seats outside. I spotted a general store, a run-down looking bar, and a makeshift hospital with the windows boarded up. The sign said they'd return in an hour, and if immediate help was needed, to head into the gift shop next door.

My nerves were immediately on fire.

Though this little town had people in it –Rylan greeted a few from Jack's ships by yelling an unfriendly get lost when he saw them –no one appeared eager to acknowledge our existence. There were plenty of people dressed like they were ready to explore the wilderness. Harrison fit in here, but even he was quiet as we passed a crumbling jail and a few stores with men bartering livestock just outside the doors. The light behind them was weak, a peaked yellow that wasn't at all hopeful.

"Are you sure we'll have enough time?"

"No." Eric's answer is sharp.

His tone changes, and the irritation is a slap to the face after our night together. I certainly don't expect him to get down on one knee and profess his undying love, but in this moment, I might as well be anyone aboard his ship.

"Make sure you stay by me. You aren't really afraid of the dark, are you?" He looks directly at me, then chews on the side of his cheek. "The path goes deep underground. If you panic when we get inside, this won't work. I won't be able to get you out of there as fast as you'd like. You'll have to walk back on your own."

"I'll be fine," I lie, hoping I sound convincing. "If I don't go with you, then…"

"Then you get nothing," Jeremy shoves past me, purposely knocking into my side. Four follows behind him, throwing me a dark sneer. He stomps after Jeremy, and the two of them pause a few steps ahead. "Is all the crew accounted for? Because, I want my fair share, Coulter. Not whatever you think is fine. This trip was far more treacherous than you promised. We're wildly off schedule, too."

"You'll get your fair share. The crew that wants to come is here. The rest should be at their posts." Eric shrugs. Before disembarking, he'd instructed several to stay behind to watch over the ships. They were acting as guards in case anyone tried to board the ships, and if I were chicken enough, I could have asked to stay behind. "There should be 12 of us. Is everyone accounted for?"

"Is she included in that count?" Jeremy's stare is glued to me, unimpressed as ever. "Or does she get half of your share?"

"I own the map. You don't. I'll pay you what you're owed, if you shut the fuck up and listen. You aren't running this mission," Eric points out, and for a half second, he sounds like someone else altogether. I'd be afraid if he spoke to me like that, especially when he steps toward Jeremy. "You'll do as I say, and keep out of my way. Are we clear?"

He's right in Jeremy's face, and to his credit, Jeremy throws him a thin smile.

"Crystal."

"Good. Any other questions?" Eric demands as everyone gathers round. I mentally name each person –Jason, Rylan, Harrison, Jeremy, Four, Peter, Quinten –a total surprise, Karl, and two others who I haven't been formally introduced to –and I'm both surprised and relieved so many are joining us. "Good. Then we head out now."

He pauses to look at me, and when our eyes meet, his smile is tense.

"Don't wander off. If you get lost, I might not be able to find you."

"Okay." I fall in line with him. My fingers graze his a few times, but he doesn't take hold of my hand, not until we enter the cave. We are immediately plunged into darkness, and the light from the flashlights is barely enough to see where I'm going. A shiver runs up my spine as the ground begins to slope, just enough to be noticeable, and the cave is quiet. Eric's palm is rough against mine. His grip tightens as we keep walking, and in the dark, the descent becomes steeper.

"Careful. It's –"

I slip, but his reflexes are quicker than mine. He manages to take hold of my arm, then yanks me to my feet.

"Icy. There's no natural sunlight in here."

"Sorry," I try to appear just fine, but the blood is pumping through my veins so loudly it's all I can hear. I'm not naturally afraid of the dark, and after weeks of the ghost of Blythe torturing me, I'm not afraid of running into some spirit. I am afraid of getting lost underground, stuck in a labyrinth of tunnels until I die. "I just…it's intense down here."

I sound afraid.

There's an ominous feeling in the air, thick and unrelenting. When I promise Eric I'm not scared, my voice shakes, along with my hands.

Luckily for me, it's dark enough that no one has noticed, nor are they even paying attention. Jason and Rylan are inspecting something on the wall, and Jeremy and Four are scouring a map, muttering that there are two paths they could take. Neither appears pleased to be working together, especially when Four snaps that he should be the one to find the treasure out of anyone here.

"Why is he with Jeremy?" I adjust my grip back in Eric's hand, tightening my hold on his palm. "Are you really sharing the treasure with him?"

"Absolutely not," Eric answers dryly. "He's here in case we need a sacrifice. No one will miss him."

"Are you serious?" I can't figure out if he's joking, and his shrug confirms his disinterest. "Is this the closest you've gotten to the treasure? Either of you?"

"Since knowing where it is? Yes." His answer is low as he steps carefully, then tugs me along with him. "Watch your footing. It drops right in front of you."

He shines the flashlight to the side of him. There's a sharp cliff a few steps away, and it takes some skill not to twist my ankle. Eric then shines the light up to the ceiling, examining a few icicles hanging from above. Some of them appear damp, dripping as we walk beneath, and others are massive. The two of us are silent as we continue our descent into the cave and the panic creeps up my spine with each passing minute.

The air grows thin.

When we near two tunnels running alongside each other, it's hard to breathe. Eric seems to be heading toward the left, but he stops when Jason shines his light to the right. He makes a face at us, one barely visible in the dark, then points past us.

"Map says our best route is left. They eventually meet up, but the right appears less drastic. If you fall off the left path, there's an underground stream you'll end up in." Jason waves Harrison over, and the area is crowded as everyone chimes in that we should most definitely go right. "Wait, is there someone down there?"

He squints into the distance. My heart feels like its lodged itself in my throat, and I suddenly long for some sunlight. I think of the days I spent walking along the beach, or the breaks I took at work where I crashed in the sun for an hour, happy to be away from Eden. It takes everything in me to keep from asking to head back, but I have a feeling Eric can tell. I'm not one to be afraid of the dark, but this is nothing like the dark hallways on a pirate ship. It's so dark that I can barely see my hand in front of my face, and the eeriness intensifies with each passing second.

"We'll go left. Stay near the wall. I have a feeling the right doesn't go all the way through," Eric announces.

"Do you think it's a trap?" Rylan scours the wall to the right tunnel, touching a few marks carved into the stone. "Because I think it's a trap."

"I wouldn't be surprised. Most would be inclined to take the easier route. The left side might be more dangerous, but the right probably ends in certain death." Eric steps away to join Harrison, then gestures for us to all to follow him. "If anyone is having seconds thoughts, speak now or forever hold your peace. If anyone panics, there's no way out except back this way. On your own, I can't be responsible for you."

"Please," Rylan laughs. "Like you've ever been responsible for us. Hey, can I ask you something? Did you uh, notice anything on the other side? Any weird shapes or anything?"

"No."

"We don't have time for this. If you want to be back at the ships before it's pitch black out there, we have to hurry. We're wasting time," Harrison interrupts. "We'll go single file. If anyone sees or hears anything, make sure someone knows. The faster we find the treasure, the faster we get out of here. Everyone on the same page?"

They all nod.

In the low lighting, Eric's stare searches for me. I can feel him looking in my direction, and my nod is just as quick as the others.

"Got it."

I move closer to the wall of the cave, skimming my fingers over the same bizarre markings that I'm guessing are on the right side. They are deep and crude, carved into the stone, and numerous. The pattern makes no sense to me, but it doesn't have to.

The warning to turn back, carved right before the tunnel starts to narrow, is the last thing my fingers touch before I realize we might be in over our heads.


"Holy shit."

In Beachwood, my life was of the utmost mundane. I lived an existence parallel to the average person trying to make it through their day. I didn't dream of adventure the way most did. I dreamt of acceptance, of the thought of excitement –milder than being stuck on a haunted pirate ship, but less thrilling than Landon attempting to sell me to whatever crew came through our town, and someday, thriving on my own.

I never dared to imagine a situation like this: miles beneath the Earth, after a maze of twisting tunnels, I would end up standing in a room filled with treasure.

Blinking jewels the colors of rainbows. Shiny gold coins, ancient but polished, stacked as high as I can see. Large chests filled with jewelry; small chests filled with books. Much like the room on Eric's ship, there are fine clothes pressed into the corners of the room, and various cups made of gleaming metal.

Everyone around me is silent.

They stand wide eyed, taking in the sight before them. Though there is no light, the room appeared to glow the minute we stepped inside. The walk down here was torturous. Half the pathway was crumbling, and the other half was an icy slope that sent most of us skidding with each step. We made it in one piece, but not without great effort.

"How the fuck do we get it out of here?" Jason speaks first, breaking the minutes long silence. He inches towards a pile of coins, squinting his eyes at what's in front of him. "Wait…Eric, everything is –"

"Black."

Up close, the fortune is not at all what is seems. The glittering treasure appears real, but there is a faint shade to it. A black shadow, cast over each piece, and a vine like darkness creeping over the surface. Eric is quiet as he stalks forward to pick up a gold bar, and in his hands, the imperfections are laced with black. His eyes fly to me, then Jason, then Rylan.

"It's –"

"Cursed." Harrison interrupts. "You didn't really think they'd make it easy on you? You've known this for some time."

"The treasure is cursed?" I walk toward Eric, and his expression is unreadable. "Or is…"

I stop in my tracks when I near the gold. It's up passed my knees, stacked in rows, completely perfect. It loses the ghostly tint, and when I touch one bar, the rest of the row becomes the same. A tower of gold, perfect and shiny, without any black to it.

"Are you still cursed?" I blink up at Eric, wondering if it's him. Weeks ago, I assumed he was cursed by Ashley. But perhaps it's something else. Something that's prevented him from coming here, despite having the map this whole time. "Eric?"

"Don't move." Eric's jaw tenses.

Off to the side, Jason and Rylan are now talking to Karl and Quinten. They each pick up a few items –dazzling necklaces, and a ring with a diamond the size of a gumball –to compare. Each item is perfect, until they touch them. The diamond splinters into a spiderweb of black throughout, and the necklace is laced with a web of darkness around each side.

Four kicks a sword with his boot, the gold handle turns brassy and dirty looking each time it nears his foot. "This isn't treasure. It's trash."

"It's not trash. It's cursed," Harrison points out, sounding unsurprised. "You can't tell me you thought you'd just find the treasure and everything would be fine"

"Listen here old man. I knew this was a risk, but what the fuck is happening?" Jeremy demands. He and Four look at each other, and neither are pleased. "You dragged us all the way down here. We are miles below land. We're gonna have to haul it out of here by hand, which is going to take forever. And it's fucking haunted. So sure, I can sell haunted treasure, but it's not what you promised."

"Is it really haunted?" I ask Eric, but he doesn't answer me.

He's focused on Jeremy, inching closer with Four.

I gently reach for a crown made of diamonds. It's heavy in my hands, and the sparkle grows brighter when I turn it over. "This one is fine. What is going on?"

"Hold up…" Jeremy pauses to wave his hand at me. "Why isn't the treasure changing when she touches it? Is there something special about her? Did you know this when she boarded your ship?"

"Everly, stay right there," Eric says, his tone unbothered. "Jeremy, don't move. It's cursed, but there's a way around it. It's on the map."

I look at Eric, and so does everyone else. Rylan is the first to object, and his words make me nervous. "Oh fuck. Eric, are you sure? Have you read the back of the map? It's not worth it. You said so yourself. Let's just take what we can and go. Jeremy's right. Haunted treasure has the potential for a high resell value these days. More than you'd think. In fact, we might even double our –"

"I read the map. I read the part where it mentioned getting the treasure out of here requires a blood sacrifice," Jeremy interrupts, turning his head in my direction. "From someone innocent. Someone who didn't know about the curse or the treasure. Everly didn't know about the treasure, did she?"

"What is going on?" My blood turns ice cold, especially when Eric chews on his cheek. He unfolds the map to its full size, and his eyes skim the back. "Eric, what does he mean, a blood sacrifice?"

"It's usually a drop of blood from someone who wasn't seeking the cursed treasure. You came along because…" Rylan stops to sigh, and his expression is torn. "Well, you came along because you liked Eric. And Eric clearly likes you. Which is why this is so hard."

"What is hard?" I try to read the map, but it's impossible. I do catch a glimpse of a few words –pure and love –but Eric quickly shoves the map back in his pocket. "Eric, are you going to answer me? I thought…I thought…"

"You're both wrong. The treasure is going to stay cursed unless he can sacrifice someone innocent. That's the curse. He's never been able to break it because he's never cared about anyone," Harrison says. His words are slow, spoken lowly, like someone else might be listening. "Ashley thought she might be the only person he ever cared about, but she wasn't a person. It's you. That's why he's made sure you've stayed alive."

"What?" My brain struggles to form a different sentence, but when Eric exhales heavily and averts his stare, I know this was a mistake. "You kept me alive…just to kill me here?"

He ignores me.

Jeremy and Four whisper something, and Four's bark of laughter is painful.

"I bet you feel stupid. You didn't even realize he was the villain all along," Jeremy sniggers. "Eric, why don't you kill her and get it over with? We're running out of time. You'll find another delusional girl in no time."

"I didn't ask you," Eric snarls. He steps toward me, and when he's close enough, his hand wraps around my bicep. "I never intended to kill her. That was never part of my plan. She's not here to be sacrificed. I told her about the treasure weeks ago. She's always known my intentions. I offered her a fair share if she came with us. Four is the sacrifice, not her. But if her blood gets us out of here, then one drop and we're done."

"Eric…" Harrison glances at me, but he clearly knew enough not to stop Eric from bringing me here. "I assumed you changed your mind after she found you. Did you talk to Everly about this?"

"I haven't changed my mind about anything," Eric grits out, visibly irritated. "She knew the risks of staying aboard. But we aren't killing her. That's not the plan."

"What?" I try to wiggle away, but I can't. His grip tightens, and when I look up, his expression is dark. "You brought me here to kill me? I thought that…you –"

"Might be in love with you? Yeah, this may come as a surprise, but he will never love anyone. Ask him about the girls before you. Ask him about…" Four stops, grinning when Eric glares at him. "Oh, ask him about the one who jumped into the ocean for him. Poor girl was devastated to learn that he wasn't going to hang around the islands for her."

"Fuck you. I didn't even know her. I barely spoke to her. Why she jumped had nothing to do with me." Eric's tone is nasty now. "There's a second part on the map. If we do it, Everly doesn't have to die. It just needs a small amount of her blood. She can smear it on the map before we take anything. That should work."

When he looks at me, the betrayal is immediate.

With everything that's happened between us, you'd think he could have at least shared this information with me.

"No," I shake my head. "I trusted you. I trusted everything you said. You'd promised you'd keep me safe. You promised –"

"I am keeping you safe," Eric protests. He looks at me, and there's a flash of raw emotion behind his gaze. "I never lied to you. Not even once."

"You didn't tell me about this," I remind him. "How could you even be sure it would work?"

"Because –"

"You know what? Watching you two argue is fun and all, but let's get this over with, shall we?" Jeremy is in front of me in a flash, and before I can tell him to leave me alone, there's a sharp pain in my side. The sensation is startlingly hot, like the time I grazed my fingers on the restaurant stove. The feeling spreads through my side, creeping up under my ribs, until I can no longer breathe. "There. It's done. Now, give me the map. She's bleeding and likely won't last long."

"What?" I glance down at my shirt, and the feeling of something wet spreads across my skin. "What did you do?"

"I hurried this along. Eric, give me the map," Jeremy demands. "We don't have long."

"What?" Eric turns, confused as ever. When his stare returns to me, his eyes widen. "Fuck, no!"

"Oh, shit." The pain burns white hot, flaring with the smallest movement. I reach down my side, and to my horror, my fingers touch the handle of a knife. It's buried deep into my skin, right to the hilt.

"No!" I gasp. "You asshole! You stabbed me! You…"

"What the fuck did you do?"

Eric's roar is miles away.

Everything is.

His hand leaves my arm, and my legs give out. My palms press to my side as Eric lunges for Jeremy, slamming him back into a chest filled with heavy looking silver bars. There's a sickening thud as his head hits the side, and the world around me is a blur. Jason and Rylan reach me in an instant, saying my name over and over while Eric attacks Jeremy. Harrison takes care of Four, now screeching that someone needs to hand him the map, and my eyes start to close when Quinten looms over me, gasping that he'll kill Jeremy himself.

I don't think he has to worry about that.

The world grows fuzzy. The sound of clinking coins and falling treasure fills the air, and the screams echo off each wall. When things become less fuzzy, I see myself on the ground, slumped against a chair piled high with coins. A few scatter to the ground when my head lolls, and once Eric is done with Jeremy, he returns to me.

I see everything from above.

I expect to feel panicky, because I'm several feet above myself, watching this unfold like the last act of a poorly scripted movie. Eric's expression is pained when he reaches for my head. He knocks Jason and Rylan away, and his breathing is ragged. In between curse words, he pleads for me to open my eyes, begging me to believe him.

"I wasn't going to hurt you. I wouldn't have done it. It said a small cut. On your finger. It's just to prove you were willing, I promise, Everly…please." The captain crashes to his knees, ignoring the sharp crack and the thud when Quinten joins in making sure Four ceases breathing. "Everly, open your eyes. Arlene can fix this. Arlene can –"

"She can't fix it. The idiot has no clue what he's talking about. It's a stab wound, not a paper cut. I always assumed he was smarter than this."

I turn at the familiar voice, and beside me, Blythe is no longer blurry. She's sharply defined and annoyingly tall. Her arms cross when I don't answer her, and her exasperated sigh is clearly meant for me.

"Don't look so miserable. You won. He loved you. Congrats. You can haunt his ship for the rest of your days, making sure he doesn't take another bride, and if it pleases you, you might even get to speak to him. I'm sure he'll agonize over this for months. He's always had a flair for the dramatics." She huffs at the mere thought, disgusted by the very idea of love. "Can you speak? Or did he cut your tongue out? I swore Jeremy only stabbed you."

"Am I dead?" I look down at myself, my crumpled body pressed against Eric's chest while he snarls for everyone to get moving, and my confusion intensifies when I see my eyes blink. "I don't look dead."

"Not yet. But you will be shortly." Blythe floats inches away from me, and even in death, she is unable to help herself. "He has a choice to make. You, or the treasure. We'll see what he picks."

"You're horrible," I glare at me, struggling to maintain my sanity. "I'm not dead. I can wake up. I can force myself awake. I don't want to be a ghost."

"Neither do I," Blythe snaps. She shakes her head, and we are gone from the cave, and somewhere else entirely. "You think I enjoy watching him ruin his life? No, I don't. I would have preferred to stay alive. But his father –"

"I want to go back." I lean away from her, trying to make sense of where I am. "He said I didn't have to die."

"He's a liar. All men are. You'll find this out centuries from now, when you're haunting your thousandth ship." Blythe's huff of annoyance would normally make me crack a smile, but right now, I feel lost. "I tried to warn you. I've seen this happen dozens of times. Everyone thinks they're going to change him. They're going to win him over and live happily ever after. I tried to get you away from him. But it appears I wasn't so successful this time around. You insisted upon staying"

"You were trying to save me?" I must look stunned, because she glares at me. "I thought you were trying to keep me away from him."

"I was. He has a tendency to destroy everything around him. You'd be included on that list." Blythe gestures to the ground, and her lips press together. "If you're not interested in dying, you need to leave now. He's going to bury you, and things will only get more interesting then."

"How do I get back?" Below me, the ground changes. Eric carries me outside the entrance of the cave, into dark, white nothingness. "How do I fix this?"

"Just open your eyes and you'll find a way." She begins to vanish in front of my eyes, fizzling away like foam from the waves. "Good luck."

"Wait!"

It's too late.

My time with her is done, and so is my time on Earth.

Everything turns dark, so dark that it eventually is impossible to do anything but close my eyes.


I open my eyes to sunlight.

Bright, blinding yellow light stretching across an endless sea. I lean against the railing to stare out at the ocean, and it's blissful. The breeze is just strong enough to tangle my dress around my legs, and the deck is warm beneath my bare feet. I would dare say the feeling is heavenly, especially when a few clouds float across the sky. In front of me, the ocean stretches on as far as one can see, disappearing into nothingness, but it's not scary. It's peaceful, like I'm meant to witness it.

Content with the sun on my skin, I find myself at pleased. It's no longer freezing. There is no snow, no waters filled with ice, or glaciers rising out of the sea. This entire area is warm and lush, the occasional speck of land dotted with oversized palm trees and white sand. Greenery is everywhere it can possibly grow, creeping up every hour or so.

I sink against the railing, keeping my eyes trained in the distance, but I don't see anything out of the ordinary. It's been this way for days, but I can't quite figure out why.

"Anything yet? The others wanted me to ask you. They get restless when their captain doesn't join them for dinner. Especially now that you feel better."

I turn to see the two girls who work as my second in command behind me. Tris smiles brightly, then tucks her hair behind her ear. The blonde color catches the sunlight just like buried treasure stuck in sand. So far, we've found thousands of coins along the coastline, and thousands more on remote islands. Her skin is more tanned than mine, and her cheeks are flush from rushing up from below deck.

Beside her, Christina grins.

"You look the best I've seen you. Not so pale," Christina agrees. Her whole face lights up as the ship sails faster, heading toward warm weather. "Is the dream gone?"

"I think so. I haven't had it in a few days. Maybe it's finally over." I turn back to look at the water, and above us, a girl named Molly sits in the Crow's nest. She calls down an order to Lauren, who immediately stops stocking the rifles to join her up in the lookout. She scales the mast with practiced ease, never once looking down. "Do you think we'll ever see them again?"

Months ago, or what feels like months ago, I died.

I have no better explanation for it, other than that Jeremy stabbed me, and Eric carried me out of the cave. I spent some time watching this happen from above them, like my soul had already left my body. I argued with Eric's mother, as unpleasant in death as I assume she was in life, until I had enough. I refused to die on a dark island, surrounded by black water, at the hands of someone who believed I was nothing but a sacrifice. I told Blythe I was going back, and despite her best efforts, she was fairly helpful.

When I opened my eyes, the snow was gone, and I was here.

In a captain's chair, sailing in the opposite direction of where I had been. We reached a few stretches of land within minutes, and to my surprise, there was no snow or icy winds, no lack of birds or animals, and no all-male crew rushing to help Eric. There was no run down, ramshackle towns filled with men looking for their next treasure, or cheetah print clad women running bars in a jungle.

I was on a ship filled with women, working hard to find an island.

But we weren't looking for treasure.

We were looking for somewhere to stay.

Eric's lust for adventure paled in comparison to this crew's desire to find some permanence. Each girl had a similar story of how they got here, though no one ever worried about it. They had the common goal of reaching land where they could settle down for a while, though they'd never give up sailing entirely.

My heart nearly stopped when Tris explained everything. She wasn't surprised by my arrival, in fact, she welcomed it. Their previous captain had passed away a few weeks prior, and after dumping Nita into the sea, they were looking for someone else to take over. None of them really wanted the responsibility of an entire ship, though if you asked me, Tris would have done a fine job. Even Christina was a skilled sailor, and my experience paled in comparison to theirs.

When I asked if I had to prove myself, and must have looked crazy when I asked how they would trust me, Tris merely shrugged. She told me that she questioned nothing these days. In fact, if I felt like I knew how to handle the ship, I was more than welcome to try. They would accept me as their captain, and if not, I could become one of the crew.

Without any hesitation, I chose to take on the task of being captain.

Much like Eric's ship, this one ran just as smoothly. Everyone worked together, and it was nearly identical to Eric's. I was given my own captain's quarters, a slew of finely tailored clothes to wear, and the admiration of a crew who knew I'd risen from the dead to join them. There were no males on board, not even in the kitchens, except one.

A tall, lanky man named Joe who spent his days fishing for exotic fish in the ocean.

"Who? Eric? I'm sure. We've seen his ship in passing before. It's unlikely we won't see them again," Tris scowls, clearly not a fan of Eric. "But you know, he did try to kill us once. He hates Christina and me. His reputation holds true out here."

"I know. He's not…the friendliest." I stare into the distance, wondering if our paths will cross again. "But he saved me, and I have a feeling he needs saving now."

"If you say so," Christina shoots Tris a wary glance, but I'm not insulted. When I woke up here, I hastily explained what had happened, and they were with me, until I got to Eric. Their faces fell, and Tris finally admitted everyone knew who Eric was. "Is he going to want this ship, too? We don't want anyone else as Captain. You've done a fine job. Everyone is happy. Even Britney, and she's never happy."

"He won't want this ship."

He most certainly won't.

At night, in the deepest, darkest hours, I swore I could feel him beside me. I could feel each beat of his heart, agonizing and devastated, along with his violent pleas for my return. He was tangible in those moments. Some nights, I would sit up, turning like he was right beside me, and I swore he was. I could see him clearly –his hair longer now, curling past his collar and his cheek rough with a beard that I loathed – so much that I would try to touch him. Once, my hand took hold of his, and when he looked up, the expression on his face was so sorrowful that our connection was immediately broken.

It was clear he never meant to sacrifice me, nor did he ever plan on hurting me.

His misery was palpable.

It took a while before I could see him again. Sometimes, he would listen when I spoke. He'd cock his head or shift his weight, and other times, he'd ignore me. I always promised him that I wasn't mad, and really, I got the better end of the deal. While he did leave with a ship full of treasure and fortune, I was given a second chance at life. He left the treasure in a locked room on his ship, while I did my best to command a crew in search of warmth.

He sold some of it.

Not enough to make a dent, and not even the best pieces. Some nights, he'd rifle through it, shoulders bowed inward and his head down. He no longer believed the treasure was worth it, something even his friends couldn't convince him of otherwise.

Even they seemed pretty down these days.

"Everly! Everly! Hey, take a look to your left. There's a ship up ahead, but we can't tell if it's friend or foe." Lauren's announcement interrupts my daydream. "If you can't see it, check the sonar."

"I'm on it."

I leave the railing with Tris and Christina, and the three of us head inside the navigation room. There is no globe in this room, but it's not necessary. By this point, most of the countries no longer exist as I remember them, and the land is used solely for reference. There is an expensive tracking system, along with sonar and several other radars that worked purely by luck. Much like everything on the ship, I didn't question it. I accepted it as part of fate, or maybe my own luck.

Certainly not my own curse.

"I don't see anything," Tris frowns at a screen, but there's a delay. A second later, the ship appears as a blip on the screen, and a low beeping informs us they're not that far away. "They're heading toward us. They must have been to the west of us."

Directions make little sense out here. Islands, landmarks, entire continents, and stretches of beach go by whatever name they have recently been given. Routes don't always make sense, and the only thing to remember is finding land is important for supplies, but never a guarantee.

"Let's slow our course slightly. We're a few hours out from land, and we'll have the advantage if we see them first." I look at both Christina and Tris, even though the decision is mine. "Are you okay with that?"

"I'm fine with it. My guess is it's someone else looking for an escape from the cold." Christina wrinkles her nose, and I remember she has a similar story to mine. She woke up here after falling off a ship and smacking her head on a wall of ice. "You really think two more hours? It'll be right before sunset."

"Perfect timing."

Out here, in the lush waters and endless waves, sunset is a magical time. I always felt like things happened then, like there was some connection that could be made if you tried hard enough.

"Will you let everyone else know?" I ask, checking the sonar one more time. "I'll meet you guys outside in a minute."

"We're on it."

The two of them leave at the same time. Their boots thud over the deck, and the sound is familiar. It's one from a thousand lifetimes, and a million moments. Christina giggles in the hallway just outside the door, and her shriek of pure joy when someone tells her the chickens have escaped brings a pang of familiarity. I think of Rylan, skulking around Eric's ship in the same spirit, and of Jason, telling tales of how the hallways were haunted.

I think of Eric, too.

He probably wouldn't like her, but it wouldn't be his fault. He'd remember her from elsewhere, and the two of them would have to start all over again.

I force the thought of him away, but I stare at the screen as the ship nears ours, and I can't help but hope it's him.

We dock as the sun begins to fall from the sky.

The ship hits soft sand, and the crew works to anchor us here. Spain blossoms into view, sprawling, sandy beaches giving way to a stunning row of homes and shops, and there's a feeling of safety here. On the land, a man watches from the distance, pushing a worn pair of glasses up his nose. He frowns when he realizes we aren't the ship he's looking for, then he carries on, heading further down the pathway to look at the others. They all look the same to me; white sails, a few darker sails, but none black.

"Are you ready?" Tris asks, knowing full well no one is staying aboard the ship except Johanna. She insisted that she'd take first watch, then we'll hire someone to stay with the ship for a few days. We have a plan to find somewhere to stay, and once we do, we'll pay to dock the ship for a month or so.

"As ready as I'll ever be."

We head off the ship together, and after a few minutes of careful navigation, my feet touch cold water, then warm sand. It sinks beneath me, leaving a trail of my bare feet and Tris' boots. She grudgingly admits she should have taken hers off, but she stops talking and practically knocks me backwards when we near the shore.

"Everly, don't move. We have to go back. It's not safe. It's –"

"Eric."

Standing steps away, with a crew of men in black stumbling around behind him, is Eric. He looks handsome as ever, almost unfairly so. His skin in tanned from the sun, and his hair is longer than I've seen it. He's slicked it back with water, but it's begun to wave as the day wore on. His own short sleeved shirt is almost too fitted, and I know from experience it would be soft beneath my fingers.

He watches me, stunned, like he's seen a ghost.

"Eric!" I say his name again, and this time, he moves. He runs toward me, striding easily across the sand, looking ready for battle. "Eric!"

"Everly, no! It's a trap! Don't you dare go see him!" Tris shrieks, but her words are understandable because things have been going well. Her own grudge again him –over a battle in which he bested her, and stole her prized sword –is why she's really mad.

"I'm fine. I promise."

I wiggle away from Tris, and her groan of protest is impossible to miss. She has a point. He very well could be a ghost or an apparition or some trick from the beyond, but I don't think he is. And if he's real, then I can't have things end like this. At the very least, he should know I'm alive and I forgive him. At the very most, perhaps he'll stay, even if just for a few days.

I've learned to keep my expectations low, but when our eyes meet, I want nothing more than to stay here with him forever. It's not in his blood to stay in one place for very long, nor is a life of domestic bliss what he's searching for, but it could be. When he's close enough, he nearly tackles me. His arms encircle me so tightly I can't breathe, and his words are rough.

"Fuck, you're alive. I thought you were dead. I buried you. I left you there, and…and…" Eric pauses, and he lets go just enough to stare at me. "Everly, say something! What's wrong? What did they do to you? Did Tris hurt you? Did she do something stupid?"

"Fuck off, Eric. We didn't hurt her. You let someone kill her." Tris' protest is dry and unamused, but it brings a smile to my lips. "You should be thanking us for welcoming her aboard."

"Out of all the ships in the sea, you found the one with Tris on it? Lovely," Eric mutters, but his stare is glued to me. "Everly, are you hurt? Are you okay? Say something!"

"I was hoping I would see you here." I take a second to examine him. I rest my hands on his chest and tilt my head up to look at his face. It's sharper than I remember, but he's warm and solid against me. "And I'm fine. Better than fine. After Jeremy stabbed me, I saw your mom. She kept telling me I was dead, but I refused. When I opened my eyes, I was on this other ship."

"You saw Blythe?" Eric's confusion loses out over his desire to make sure I'm not a zombie. He takes my face in his hands and shakes his head. "I'm sorry Jeremy pulled that shit. I should have known better. After he hurt you, I couldn't…I couldn't believe what he'd done. All over a few pieces of gold."

"I saw you kill him." I inch closer, and his expression becomes unreadable. "I saw you turn toward him, but I don't think you could see me. I was above you. In the air. I didn't know what was going on?"

"I know." Eric's exhale mirrors my own. He doesn't look like a pirate captain in this moment, but I don't either. His gaze drops to my shoulders, taking in the sundress someone had been kind enough to pick out for me, and his lips turn up. "I bet you're happy to be away from Alaska."

"You have no idea," I smile back. "I was pretty sure I would die there. And I did. But I guess, it wasn't totally the end."

"I never meant to sacrifice you. The idea never even entered my mind. We brought Four along thinking he'd suffice, but I know how it looks. At most, I thought maybe we'd prick someone's finger, and the curse would be lifted."

"Is it?"

"I guess," he shrugs. "The treasure is fine. It's valuable, and what little we've sold has been more than enough. But it wasn't worth losing you."

In the distance, the ocean crashes against the shore. The waves are loud as the tides change, and behind us, the faint yelling of greetings can be heard. Jason and Rylan greet Tris and Christina, and even Karl says hello. There are other voices, Sophia and Courtney showing up with Harrison and Kerrie, and the low grunt of Quinten declaring he's not cooking dinner tonight. Around us, the sun casts a golden glow over Eric and me, illuminating the smirk on his lips as Rylan nearly takes Jason down while yelping that I'm alive.

"They missed you. I got an earful about it. After we left, I thought they might force me off the ship. Harrison wouldn't speak to me for days." Eric tries to play it off, ignoring Jason yelling for Rylan to get out of the water. "It's been brutal, to say the least."

"Did you miss me?" I can't help but tease him. He looks so relieved in this moment, especially when he drops his head toward mine. His nod is quick, and so is the moment when his nose touches mine.

"I would have killed my entire crew to have you back."

I loop my arms around his neck, pulling him closer. The water crashes around my feet, fizzling as it hits his boots, and right when I think things can't get any better, his lips touch mine. Firmly, like we've never been apart, then desperately.

We stay like this, paying no mind to the jeering of the crews and the defeated sigh of Tris as she laments that they're going to need another captain. Eric breaks apart when he hears that, and his expression is full of pride.

"How long are you staying here?" He brushes the hair out of my eyes, refusing to look away. "A month? Two months? Or is this just a quick stop before your next adventure?"

"Honestly," I rise up on my tip toes, and he figures out pretty quick that I want him to kiss me again. "As long as we can. I think for now, I'll be happy to stay in one place. How about you?"

"I'll stay as long as you want," Eric announces. "And when you're ready, you and I leave together. Tris can oversee that ship. You can come back with me."

He pauses when I raise my eyebrow at him, then rolls his eyes.

"Fine. You can have your own ship if you want. Whatever you'd like, so long as you come back with me."

"Will you stay for a few months? Or more? At least until it gets cold here? Please?" I kiss him again, my stomach dropping when he takes my lip between his teeth, and he nods against my mouth. "Do you promise?"

Eric pulls back to look right at me, and his eyes are full of emotion. They are warmer than I have ever seen them, sort of dark and lusty but oddly soft. He smiles, a real smile, and in that moment, we could be anywhere.

A dusty barn, full of horses, while a similar crew hunts for me in the middle of the night.

An underground cave, filled with black clad men and women, all searching for fun on a weeknight.

In the woods, where I saved his life and in turn, he chooses to bring me along with him as a decayed corpse rises from the ground to kill us.

In a castle filled with carefully kept secrets, but the biggest one is how he feels about me.

Eric's final words are a vow, spoken between the two of us, while Harrison whistles in approval and Rylan cheerfully announces that this feels very familiar.

"I do."

I say it back, along with a whispered "always", as the sun finally sets.