A/N: A huge thank you goes out to everyone who leaves reviews for me, it's a great way to know if you like or did not like the chapter. A simple 'wow that was amazing' or 'wow that bit sucked' really is helpful. And to all the guests who have left reviews: thank you 3 I'm sorry I can't talk to you guys like I do my other readers!

Thank you to my old readers and new alike, I love you guys so much.

Warning this chapter is a bit dark and has a very adult undertone. This story will be turning M soon I think. Rape trigger warning is in place as well, so please use caution if that sort of thing upsets you.

I hope you like it guys!

The mission had been simple, infiltrate the village and remove the targets. Edward soon realized however there were too many targets to make this a clean one night hit. He would later blame it on the rum he had been drinking all day as he lite the homes on fire, taking the whole damn village down with him. His target had helped capture Mary, knew she was rotting in that prison.

It wasn't his fault and Edward knew that, but right now with rum coursing through his veins every last man who had captured Anne and Mary was going to die. He stumbled back from the screaming, shoved woman off of him who clung to him to save them as his feet began to run towards the jungle as smoke was thick in the air.

Embers fell like glowing snowflakes against the night sky, searing everything they touched. A devils kiss upon his cheek as he stared up into the sky, listening to the screaming around him. He could hear her voice, asking for him to come save her. He knew as soon as he looked down into the fires she would be there, waiting for him to join her in death.

She stood in the flames, in her prison robes, screaming in pain as the fire licked her skin.

"Mary," He whispered, walking towards her and reached out to grab her only to wince back as fire shot into the air. Shaking his head he found his way through the fire, placing his hands over his ears so she'd stop begging for him to come save her, free her from her cell.

Edward ran, feet slamming into the dirt as he jumped onto a tree branch, hoping from one to another. His back hurt from the woman clawing at his skin but he couldn't save everyone. The village was to be burned down, too many Templars held out there with their families and he had strict orders to take them out. Perhaps it was his old self peeking through but he knew Ah Tabai would have words about killing innocents as well but he didn't care, not tonight.

For now he emerged from the jungle to where Anne sat sharpening her sword, looking over her shoulder with a smile. "Did ya get it done?"

"Aye I did. Enjoy your evening off?"

"Always," She laughed, standing up and sheathing her weapon as she kicked sand over the fire. "Shall we go grab a pint?"

"It's on me, I need a drink."

"Are you okay Edward?"

"I'll be fine," He mumbled, running his hands over his face as they made their way to the fishing village in search of a decent tavern. "I thought I saw her."

"Who? Caroline?"

"Mary. She was standing there in the middle of the flames screaming for me to come save her."

"Mary's dead, you've been seeing her too much. Maybe we can talk to a shaman about stop-"

"No!" He snapped, turning to look at her before apologizing and allowing their walk to be in silence. "I can't say goodbye."

Anne opened the tavern door, her eyes cast up to him, shaking her head. She never said much to him when he was having an episode, what could she say? She looked beautiful now and there is no reason why he couldn't be with her. Sure she had shoved him off months ago in his cabin but time had passed.

"What do you want? Rum or ale?"

"You," He whispered, reaching out to cup her face. His hands ran through her hair, pulling her to his chest as her smile faded and her lips parted. She had done so well, had been growing up so fast that it had caught his attention, how could it not? Edward's forehead came to place on her own as his hands ran down her back, gently pushing her against the wall of the tavern.

"Edward," Anne breathed out, her chest heaving as she stared up at him. Her red hair faded to black, her parting lips tilted up into a smirk and a beautiful scar showing her strength ran down her eye. He closed his eyes, fists slamming into the wall as he pulled away from her and made his way over to the counter to by two pints of ale.

Mary's ghost kept finding him, haunting him as she begged him not to forget her. He wanted to love Anne, she'd make a good wife, a good mother one day. But loving her wouldn't heal his heart, he had to get away from these islands and go back home where his misery would be welcomed company.

"Edward, come sit," Anne found his arm, gently taking him away from the bar where he stood in a trance before giving her a slight smile and following her to a table. They sat with the flicker of a candle casting shadows around the room, the laughter and music coming from the other end where a party was about to begin in full swing.

"Did Mary love him? The man that gave her child?" Edward asked, easily downing half his ale.

"I don't know, she never spoke much of her love life. Why?"

"I just need to know."

"M'not sure honestly or I would tell you, maybe it'd let ya let go of her. She had a bloke on the ship she seemed fond of and there was that time at port when she got pissed and ran off with some pretty merchant man. She was always fond of pretty boys, nothing like me. I like my men to be men."

"You consider Jack to be a man then? Anne he reeked of piss most the time and was too drunk to function."

"Aye but he had a way with words that made me swoon. He made up for it all in the bed I tell you, got a big snake betwe-"

"Annie please," Edward laughed, watching her face turn red before shooting him a wink. "I miss her."

"I miss her smirk, the way she walked when she got pissed. She'd sway her hips never knew how I didn't see it when James did it. Mary was such a cute drunk though."

"Never got to see it."

"She only did it when no one was 'round of if she was emotionally compromised. Her hips swayed like a woman's do, and then she'd find a poor lad to prey on."

"Or lass."

"Oh yes the poor lasses. Then she'd pounce and who could tell Mary no?'

"She was a beauty."

"In her own way yes, she was. Not in the classical sense like most the woman around these parts but she had an air about her that made everyone want to follow her, know what she was doing but stay away for she was quick with her sword."

Nassau was on the horizon, he could feel it. The city he sailed to for so long, his old pride and joy was so close he could nearly taste the brew they used to sell at the Old Avery. It would be bittersweet, coming to his old town but he had to do it for Jenny. For Caroline.

Edward looked over as boots clicked up the steps to find Mary yawning with the sunset behind her, giving him a queer look before pulling out her pipe. They'd sailed like this for days, him with the sun and her by the moon. Mary made better time than him, but he supposed it was because he wanted his old crew back, hoped they were still alive. Mary was able to deal with any situation and make it her own.

"Sleep well?"

"Ya know I didn't."

"Miss me do ya lass?"

"Don't feel so arrogant Kenway. Found if a drink a bit before sleep I can get some rest before the dreams come on in."

"I miss you. Miss your warm body against mine, the way your butt fits so nicely against my hips," He grinned as she reached out, slapping his arm as she shot him a glare.

"We're close aren't we?"

"To Nassau?"

"Aye."

"Aye. We are. Think Annie is going alright?"

"M'sure Annie is just fine. She's a strong lass."

"Not as strong as you."

"And good reason not to be. I wouldn't wish my life upon another woman. Its hard work, having to strut 'round as a man, sleep with beautiful women and pay them a bit more so they don't tell others ya don't have a cock and for fucks sake it was hard out drinking your sorry bum."

"Sounds fun enough for me."

"It was, but it's over. Back to Mary Read."

"Mary is beautiful."

"James was strong though. He had power behind his name."

"But Mary makes men piss their breeches. Look at this crew for instance, you're leaning against the rail talking to me as I sail and they're all running around cleaning everything up. You demand respect."

"And I get it," She smiled then, lifting the pipe to her lips and taking a deep drag. "I hope Amara is fine. I hope Jenny does well with her."

"Jenny loved you."

"No, she dealt with me. I was new, I taught her things that would have made Caroline scream."

"Aye, you did."

"I did and I'll teach her more when we meet again. She was fond of my sword, can I teach her to fight?"

"We should think about this."

"Why? No daughter of yours should be some silly lass in a dress all proper."

"I don't want my children to live the life we did."

"It was fun, but I agree. But she should learn to defend herself from men like you."

"Men like me?" Edward gave her a peculiar look, turning the helm to the left as the fort came into view over the horizon.

"Ya think so fondly of yaself don't ya? I seem to remember a very young Edward waltzing around Nassau with nothing but his trousers on all 'Come 'ere love, have ya fallen from heaven? I've never seen such a beauty as you, never in my life.' Or if ya didn't feel like a fight ya were off to the first brothel in town, spending all ya wages on cunt."

"Nothing wrong with wanting a woman's touch."

"Except you were married."

"I'll have you know I went two years without sex."

"Would ya like an award Kenway? I'll carve it on a stone and hang it 'round ya neck. 'Captain Kenway, able to go without a woman for two years!"

"I wouldn't do that with you now."

"Bullshit."

"I tried, with Anne but I was drunk and lonely and she was having none of it. Every time I laid in bed I thought of you, and wanting you beside me."

"Being haunted by a ghost isn't healthy."

"It's a damn fine thing you're no longer just a memory."

Mary smiled, turning to put her hand on his arm, leaning over to whisper in his ear, "I want to talk to you of the observatory."

"What of it?"

"What did it look like?"

"I saw you, Roberts showed me a blood cube, the ones you showed me all those years ago. It had Jack's in it, he put it in this skull and all this golden wheels began to move and project Jack staring at you and Anne."

"Really?" She took a step back, looking away from him to the horizon.

"You wanted to teach Anne to fight, and he was yelling at you for it."

"I had to tell him I was a lass that day."

"Aye the same day."

"You saw it? You were there?"

"I could see through his eyes, yes. You looked beautiful."

"Ya always say that Kenway."

"Can't hide the truth now can I Mary?"

"Ya say my name like it's still a secret, all quiet and smooth."

"And you hardly ever call me Edward."

"Kenway gets ya attention. I feel like Edward is a private name, somethin' not most get to call ya."

"But you can," Edward smiled to her as he turned the ship, ready to dock in at Nassau. Mary screamed to the men to get going, pull up the sails and prepare to lay anchor. He watched her run down on the deck with them, grabbing a rope from a skinny lad and pulling away. She looked perfect being in her element, being on a ship with the wind blowing in her hair. She made docking simple by far the easiest he could have wanted it for not being his own ship. A quick glance around the bay proved to him the Jackdaw was not here: and either was Jenny.

Nassau stood still, a skeleton of the city he had grown to call home and love. The English flag waved proudly in the wind, the citizens were all good and in bed but a few drunks wondering the streets, and officers were patrolling. A black flag should be bellowing, the beach should be filled with music and the laughter of men and woman alike, and most of all his friends should be here to welcome him back from another adventure.

"It's too silent."

"It's a faint memory now, it's best to move on," Mary came to his side as he walked down the steps, heading to the dock. "A city once we ruled like kings and now no one here knows our names."

"I dream of this city. I dream of what could have been and how we should have ruled it."

"That's ya biggest problem Edward," She whispered, taking his hand and jumping off the ship onto the dock with him as they walked up the beach, their feet automatically taking them to the tavern which used to be the Old Avery. "There are somethings in the world we can't hold on to no matter how badly we want. I wish every day I would have been wiser in Nassau, tried to push harder for some sort of rules to be in place. As I watched this city fall I left it, gave up. I regret it so, I promise you that. But everything happens for a reason, do ya believe that?"

"Some days I do. If I never would have come here, I wouldn't have lived this life. I wouldn't have met you, Thatch, Annie, and Ade. I'd be a sheep farmer, living miserably in some shack with a wife who would by now hate me, but she might be alive."

"Aye she might. Are ya happy here?"

Edward turned to her, pulling her into an alley as a group of guards turned the corner. He reached up, caressing her cheeks as his lips turned up into a grin. "I've never been happier. I'm with the love of my life finding my ship and daughter on one last adventure. Now kiss me."

"Why are ya asking?" She laughed, leaning up and pressed her lips to his as the guards walked by them. His hands were in her hair, turning to press her body against the building as the torch light cast shadows over them.

"Come on now love birds, curfew ended 'bout an hour ago. Get off to bed with ya!"

Mary pulled away from him, smiling to them "We're sorry officers, he just got back from the Carolina's." She laughed, taking his hand and running down the alley until they turned, making their way now towards the bureau office. "Heathens."

"You're pretty convincing, talking like a true woman."

"Good at acting, aye I am. Don't expect none of that now. Swooning over ya Kenway, maybe in your dreams."

"In my dreams you come into my arms willing, and always smile for a kiss," Edward smiled, looking to find Mary giving him a look of disgust. He frowned, reaching for her hand once more and laced their fingers. "What?"

"Do I wear a dress too?"

"No."

"What 'bout little heals, have my hair up all proper and curled. Oh and perhaps some powder to make my skin look nice and pale like them wealthy people in London."

"No Mar-"

"Oh I know! I probably lean against the bedroom door in nothing but my knickers, chest heaving for ya. 'Oh Edward, take me Edward take me!'" She laughed which only caused him to turn red and look away. "What?"

"There was this one dream."

"Oh for fucks sake man! Dreaming of a bedding now!"

"I can't help it what I dream Mary. Haven't ya ever dreamt of taking someone or being taken?"

"I dream of old memories that haunt me. Before the prison it was of my mother and brother, of my grandparents. Every now and then Haytham would come to me, asking why I've moved on from him like it was a bad thing to do. I've dreamt of pleasant things but only recently. The night before we sailed off, I dreamt of you being a good dad and treating me well: but ya really don't have a choice on how ya treat me."

"I've never hit a woman, I wouldn't dream of hitting you."

"We have punched one another Edward."

"It was different, it's how pirates fight. M'not making excuses for the old me but I'd never treat you anything less than a princess."

"You're the princess Kenway, my damsel in distress. But I wouldn't have it any other way," She smiled to him as they walked up the bureau steps, reaching to knock on the door when she jumped back, the door being slammed open. A drunk blond man stood smiling at them, and Edward gently pushed Mary aside.

"Hello old friend."

"Edward! I-I got word you were coming a few days ago with…did ya have to bring her mate?" Upton hiccupped, smiling to Mary slightly as she shot him a glare. "She's fucking James Kidd mate. Or did you not know that…no matter. Come on in, I have a room set aside for the two of you."

"Thank you Upton, falling in love with Lady Liquor again?"

"The drink makes me feel brave mate."

"Mary isn't going to hurt you.."

"Oh don't let the siren of the sea think she's all innocent no! This bitch," He spun around, finger in Mary's face as she crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "When I was just a wee assassin with my brother, we were training and she thought it to be fun to toy with us."

"It was fake Upton," Mary mumbled, walking from him and grabbing the rum bottle on the table, pouring it on the floor and tossing it in a bin.

"She set a jaguar on us!"

"It was to test your capability of handling panic situations. Ya both wanted a bureau but Ah Tabai was worrie-"

"It nearly killed us!" Upton screamed, falling back into a chair and Edward was trying his best not to laugh. Mary looked positively vicious as she spun around to grab him up and he took her by the waist yanking her towards the room he had for them. "Take her to the bed Edward! But don't sleep with her, she's a siren!"

"I know that mate, g'night Upton," Edward smiled, shoving Mary into the room and ducked a fist aimed to his cheek as he shut the door. "Calm down."

"He is absolutely useless! I deserve this place more than he!"

"You want a bureau?"

"No but if I did, I'd want this one. Being here makes me miss Rhona in Havana, least she's fun."

"She's your friend too, and this one is mine. He might a drunk and can barely function but he's a great man Mary."

"Ya didn't watch him train," Mary mumbled, stepping back from him and began to unlace her jacket, tossing it on the chair beside the cot. Her fingers were yanking her hair down when he kicked off his boots. "It was a fake jaguar, like I said. His brother, Vance, he killed it without problem. Ah Tabai agreed to give them Nassau, but when we found out Vance was a Templar, Upton was gifted this place out of pity not skill."

"M'sure he's a good assassin Mary. Not everyone can be like you."

"I'm nothing special."

"Yes you are," Edward shook his head, getting down to nothing but his trousers, going to the bed and falling down on it. His back landed with a thud, arm draped across his face as Mary undressed. "You should have been there for your funeral service."

"Oh?"

"Ah Tabai said some amazing words, Annie told me about it."

"Didn't come to my own funeral?" She laughed.

"I was drunk and off sailing somewhere with fuck knows what vision coming to me. That was a dark time in my life. If it wasn't for Annie and the assassin's, following your last words, I think I would have shot myself."

"If I die it gives ya no right to stop living Edward," Mary whispered as he felt the bed dip. A hand laid over his arm, keeping it there as her strong thighs came to straddle his waist. His eyebrow rose though she couldn't see it, feeling the top of her knees brush over his hips. "Ya didn't love me before I died."

"That's a lie, I wasn't man enough to see it. I've been in love with you since the windmill, told you that. A woman, James Kidd was a woman. She had to have been the bravest woman I've ever met, and ya are lass," Edward smiled to her as her hand rubbed up his forearm, grabbing his hand and moving it to pin it above his head. Blue eyes glanced down to her, finding her in nothing but her shirt which made his breath stop. "Please, enough teasing Mary."

"Who said I was teasing?" Her smirk gave him goose bumps as her hips rocked down onto his, the sweet friction she was giving him was going to cause his trouser to feel tight in a moment. Her lips found his in a slow dance, him wanting nothing more than to reach up and pet her hair from her face but she held his arms down firmly. This would be how it was played then, with Mary in complete control. It was foreign to him, but he couldn't say he didn't like the hold of power she had over him.

As her lips parted for their tongue to meet a gunshot was heard, not more than down the alley. She looked up then, letting his arms go giving him his chance to strike. Edward grabbed her around the waist, flipping her onto her back and smiling. "You're gorgeous."

"That shot was close."

"M'sure it was just drunks Mary," He whispered, leaning down to press kisses down her throat. After a moment of silence she nodded, her hands finding his waistband as she leaned over to give his ear a firm bite.

Her hands reached up, grabbing his hair as his own went further down her hips, sliding underneath the tunic and rubbing her skin. It was when multiple shots went off and an explosion ripped through the air did Edward panic. Mary had him on his back, covering him as she reached franticly for her weapons that had been laid out against a wall that was no more. He tried to sit up, but she shoved him down as she held her flintlock to her chest.

"Stay put."

"Mary I-"

"Edward," She snapped, turning around as the door still standing burst open and Upton walked into the room, holding onto his stomach as blood poured from it. Mary ran to him, grabbing his waist and laying him out over their bed as she pressed her hand to his wound. Edward rushed up, ignoring Mary's words and took his hand.

"Who did this to you?"

"R-Run…g-get Mary far away," Upton coughed up thick blood that Edward brushed away, turning to meet Mary's gaze. "Templars are…t-the Templars are here. Go!"

The brush was far too thick for his liking, but he had to take a piss away from men for a while. The damn new cabin boy he had followed him everywhere begging for his advice and Ade did nothing to stop him.

'It's all in good fun!' Ade had said which had only made Edward rolling his eyes in disgust. To make matters worse Mary's ship was docked but could he find his friend? No. All her men said that captain had gone off to the brothel for his bit of fun but Edward had checked there. Not one man or woman in that place had seen the young Kidd and his cabin boy was hot on his heels asking him if he needed anything else.

His misery brought him out in the thick jungle, he was growing to hate jungles. Just as he picked a nice tree to piss on he thought he heard the faint sound of humming, surely he was losing his wits for good now. Vane would be mocking him by now, and what was one mental person's mockery to another? As he tired his trousers shut he decided to find the singing, prove to himself it wasn't in his own mind.

He briefly thought of the legends of mermaids, who sing to you before dragging you down to your death. That would be a good way to go out in the world, being dragged down with a pair of nice tits on either side of his cheeks. But as he pushed the vines apart off in the distance was a waterfall with beautiful flowers all around and the back of a very beautiful sounding lady.

Blue eyes trailed down her back, staring at her ample bottom and thinking it would be a nice thing to squeeze. He could feel his trousers tighten, it would do good to bed this fair maiden. He had been so busy finding his friend that he hadn't even found a whore to take his needs away from him. To his surprise the lady turned around, head bent back in the water but her chest turned in full view. She had nice firm tits, not to big nor to small and a beautiful tattoo…a tattoo that looks utterly familiar.

Just then the woman snapped her head to look right at him and he suddenly felt panic like he had never felt before. Mary Read stood, her hands falling from her hair and curling into fists as she walked away from the falling water and over towards the left, hoping up on the brushes of flowers and storming her way to where she had clothing laying out that seemed to be half wet.

"Edward James Kenway."

"How in heavens name did you learn my full name? Look lass I didn't know it was you," He tried to explain, slowly going over to her and covering his eyes with his hands so she stopped tossing him side glares.

"I know all about ya mate. Spying on a woman as she bathes, the nerve. Ya lucky I sensed ya before I saw ya or I would have shot you for spying. I can't have people see me with tits now can I?"

"You're felling particularly vicious today then? Let me know when I can look."

"Already seen the best bits, what's it matter now?"

"I'm a gentleman."

"Ha, funniest thing I've heard in months, ya can look now."

Edward glanced over to her. She was wearing her trousers, the boots already tucked in to perfection but now she stood tying a long piece of cloth around her chest. "Can I help you?"

"If ya would like," She looked over to him, reaching her hand out and he took it, being pulled up. He took the cloth as she raised her arms. "Now make it tight but not too tight, I need to breathe and wear it for a few days."

"Does it ever hurt your breasts?" He asked, doing as she said.

"Sometimes, but I don't feel it much anymore. Ya get used to certain pains I suppose."

He tied of the cloth in a small knot, tucking it underneath her bandages before letting her go back to dressing. Edward thought he heard the faint sound of a growl before the mass of black fur leapt towards him, reaching or his pistol as he locked arms with the beast. He felt it's claws sink into his biceps and he screamed, kicking the jaguar off as the sound of a gun filled the air. Mary stood in front of him, lowering her pistol and walking towards him, grabbing his arms and yanking him into the water to get cleaned.

"Tis but a scratch Mary."

"I can see ya muscle, ain't no scratch. Need stitching, hold still while I do it."

Pain seared in his arm but he did as she said, walking into the water and watching trails of red seep into it forming little clouds. Mary sat on a rock beside him, grabbing his arm and pouring a flask of rum over it as he clenched his teeth.

"It's good seeing you Mary."

"And you Edward," She mumbled, needle stuck in her teeth before grabbing it and began to work on his arm. "Still chasing the stench of gold?"

"Aren't I always lass? Still chasing your creed?"

"Always," She looked up to him sadly before staring down to his arm, shaking her head slowly. "I worry for you."

"I know Mary, and I thank you. It's nice to know I have a friend."

Edward stood up, turning to meet Mary's gaze as he held up his hand to her. "Please, stay here like he says."

"Ya ain't doing this without me!" She snapped, walking over to him and yanking his hand away from Upton who had seemed to stop breathing moments ago. "Whoever did this is going to pay. Ya don't fuck with my brotherhood and get away with it."

"Templars followed us here."

"Or they were here all along Edward," Mary snapped, bending down to toss him his swords. She looked to his forearm as shouting was heard outside, shaking her head. "Be quiet."

Edward nodded, bending down with her as they walked over bits of rubble, helping her over a ragged bean and wishing they were clothed better than this. Bits of wood kept poking his feet and he swore he heard Mary curse as she lifted her foot up only to get walking ahead of him. They found their way out into the night air soon enough, beams of moonlight shining in from the fallen wood. "Go left I'll go right."

"Be careful Kenway," Mary turned to him before dashing off to his left.

"Check again, they have to be in there!" A female shouted and Edward's heart began to race as he crept along the building, slowly looking around the corner to find the source. She was beautiful, her ebony hair blowing in the wind as her dark skin looked more profound with the white clothing she wore. The red cross was strapped along her waist held by belts. "Edward Kenway is in there, go!" She shoved a man who had come out to her empty handed back into the collapsing home, cursing under her breath.

"What of Mary Read ma'am?"

"If you find her first then we'll use her as bait."

"But his daught-"

"The little twat hasn't made him come chasing us, find his whore or him."

"If you call my daughter a twat again I'll put this steal through your throat," Edward stood up, walking around the building with swords in each of his hands. Her eyes found his before scanning over his naked torso, a sly grin forming on her face.

"My, my now I see why Mary was in such a rush to find you."

"Were is Jenny?"

"On the Jackdaw, it is a fine ship Captain Kenway."

"Where?" He snapped, but as he walked closer to her she merely pulled out a pistol and aimed it at his forehead.

"Behind the plantation, did you not think of checking the island before coming to bed? Oh I know, you two came touring around the tavern keep, snogging every time a guard came by. Pathetic," She sighed, turning to her left as two of her men came out and his breathing froze.

The two men were bleeding, both holding onto different parts of their chest but Mary hung limp between them, barley managing to shuffle her feet as they dragged her through the sand. They threw her to the ground in front of he and Victoria, and she fell with a hard thud groaning as Victoria snapped her fingers and he found himself with his hands tied around his back, staring down at Mary, begging her to move.

"Oh Mary, I am sorry for this," Victoria sighed, dropping her aim from Edward down to Mary as she kicked the assassin onto her back. Mary's eyes fluttered open, her mouth opening only to groan out in pain as Victoria slammed her heel against Mary's forearm, breaking the hidden blade instantly. "You were always so kind to me."

Edward was forced down upon his knees, staring at Victoria in horror. "Let her go, you have me let her go."

"Shut ya mouth Kenway," Mary groaned, turning to look up to her old friend. Their eyes locked before Mary tried to rise only to have her throat slammed down by Victoria's boot, the Templar kneeled down with a smile, watching Mary gasp for air.

"Where are the assassins hiding?"

"We know you sent a ship out to bomb the place, let her go!" Edward cried out, trying to fighting against the men holding him back. Victoria simply looked over to him, smirking as she ground her sole harder, and Mary's hands flying to her ankle trying to get it off.

"I did, but the idiots never got back to me after following you to tell me your location."

"Please…you're killing her," Edward screamed in defeat, struggling against their hold until one punched him in the jaw, watching stars fly into his vision.

"Oh no, I'm going to do much worse with her. You see Edward, Mary trusted me like a sister as we grew to one another on Aruba. It would be a shame if I let my men have their way with her, after all the progress I'm sure you've been making with her. Poor little Mary, nothing but a toy, a piece of meat for men to play with. She spent her whole life trying to be one of you it amazes me how easy she spreads her legs."

"She had no choice! If you d-dare touch her I will rip you limb from limb," He spat, feeling anger course through his veins. Mary stared over at him wide eyes and her lips turning blue and suddenly gasping for air.

Victoria bent down after removing her shoe, yanking Mary up by her hair and dragging her over to a palm tree. Mary was couching, stumbling as she was shoved into the tree and her hands were bound. "I thought ya were my friend."

"Perhaps in another life we could have been friends. You are very wise and kind and I am sorry for this," Victoria smiled, reaching down and lifting up the shirt Mary wore, revealing her body for everyone to see. Her gloved hand ran down her smooth skin, fingers stopping above a bush of black hair before turning to Edward. "Now tell me where you're hiding."

"Edward shut ya fucking gob," Mary snapped, though her panic was starting to rise as she stared down at Victoria's hand.

"You tell me, or I'm going to let each of these men fuck her cunt one by one."

"Mary I can't let them do this to you," Edward snapped to her, watching one of the men walk from his side and begin to unlace his trousers. "I'll tel-"

"I can take it shut ya fucking mouth Kenway!" Mary screamed to him as she watched the large man approach her as Victoria shoved her thighs apart, lifting her up and placing her hips on the man's own.

"One final chance before he enters her, only my hand is stopping him now," The dark woman smiled, leaning in to Mary and kissing her cheek as the other trembled, closing her eyes and shaking her head. "Edward tell me where the assassins are hiding."

He looked up and stared at Mary, trembling Mary who was reliving her nightmares right in front of him. He should tell her, let her go there and kill every last one of them so he could hold her in his arms and protect her from this mess. Edward was bound, half crying, and shaking his head in honor of her wishes.

"No? Well then, Roger's sends his regards," She smiled and Edward looked up to her at that name as Mary cried out. She walked away from them and to him, cupping his cheek and leaning in to his face.

It was then a red barrel half lit on fire rolled out from the bureau, and it was then Edward stared back at her with the sounds of Mary's crying blending in with the crackling of wood. "I'm sure you'll find him in hell."

The large barrel exploded, sending him on his back as he slammed into the ground and the world went black.

The world was dark, endlessly floating around him as flashes of colour blew past his body. He could hear faint screaming, the clash of metal, the stench of blood, and the feeling of soft hands lift him up like a child and beg for him to hold on. But he didn't want to wake from it, nothing hurt in this land of black. It was faint singing that caught his attention, turning to look around in his void, trying to find the source.

He could feel a faint breeze on his skin as the colour of red began to grow brighter and brighter until he gasped, opening his eyes and felt a hand fly over his eyes as the singing stopped.

"Shh, I'll get ya inside. Didn't think this would wake you, m'sorry Edward."

"M-Mary?"

"Aye, it's just me and ya on the beach. Sun is setting, ya been asleep for four days now. Head wound is all healed up now.

He reached up taking her hand away from his eyes and tried again to look her over. His head was in her lap, and he found she had a new scar down her left cheek that curved down to her throat but it was healing now. She smiled to him, her hand moving to hold his own.

"What do ya remember?"

"Where's Victoria?"

"Gone, nearly dead but gone. Upton had one final move against them before he passed out form blood loss, he's tougher than I thought. He's fine though, recovering just fine."

"Y-You…are you?"

"I assure ya I'm just fine. Ya can see my new scar that's forming and I know. I'm happy you're back, because I need ya pathetic smile more than ever right now. M'sorry I had to let him touch me."

Edward chuckled, sitting up with a groan and leaning in suddenly to kiss her, smiling against her lips. "I'm sorry I let it happen."

"We had no choice."

"Did she take the Jackdaw?"

"Aye, it sailed north. Waiting for a bird to tell me where she is, every assassin in these waters is looking for her now. It's just a matter of time now."

"You know, she said something funny to me before the explosion," Edward laid his head against her chest, allowing her to hold him up and run her fingers through his hair.

"What was that now?"

"She knew Rogers."