Chapter 14

Repulsive Desires

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Peter and Leah made it to the tree house without incidence. They managed to avoid the two pirates that were circling the camp by making a serpentine through the trees, and then across the river. With one last sweeping look through the darkened trees, Peter ushered Leah into the tree trunk and up the stairs to the small room, lit only by a sliver of moonlight that found its way through the space between the curtain and the window frame. Peter refrained from igniting any lights for an unnecessary fear of attracting unwanted attention from wandering pirates.

Leah crossed the small distance to the window, and cautiously pulled the curtain aside. Peering through the moonlit darkness, she searched the riverbank for any sign of movement. When it appeared that they had made it unseen, she signed and relaxed a little. She was so caught up in searching for shadows, that she didn't hear Peter moving behind her until he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Dropping the curtain she leaned back against him, and felt his warm breath puff against her ear.

"Thank you." His voice was soft, but in the silence of the room, she heard it clearly. Slowly, Leah turned and encircled her arms around his middle. For a few moments she studied his face, so young and yet the pain and wisdom that swam in his eyes was ancient. She rested her head against his shoulder and tightened her grip around him, Peter followed suit.

"It was the least I could do." She muttered into tunic. In his arms, she felt so right, Peter thought. If only there was a way to be like that forever, maybe he could forget the pain that coiled itself so tightly around his heart, like a hungry serpent around its prey. But forever never lasted as long as the word meant.

Suddenly from below them, branches crunched and loud voices filtered up through the floorboards. Without hesitation, Peter pulled them both to a kneeling position below the window. Even though there was an unlikely chance that they would be seen, he was still on edge and didn't want to risk it. Pressed tightly against him, Leah pricked her ears to listen to the pirate's conversation below, but Peter made it difficult.

"Do you think they found the Slightly and Nibs? Was it right for me to leave them so suddenly?" He whispered frantically in her ear. Leah quickly placed a finger to her lips to shush him; he obliged but had to bite his lip to prevent himself from voicing more worries.

Leah and Peter both freeze when they hear the heavy footsteps and crunching leaves stop right below them and the voices of the pirates grow louder.

"Find em' anywhere?" A deep voice grunted.

"Naw. I thought I saw the girl over here somewhere. Then she disappeared." Another voice responded. At the mention of Leah, Peter pulled her closer to him and tightened his arms around her protectively. Looking up at his face, she could see that he was on pins and needles, waiting for something to go wrong. She took a deep breath and then held it, trying to hear the conversation below better.

"People jus' don' disappear. They got to be around here somewhere." There was a pause, followed by a low guttural grunt. "I can't wait to find the girl." He laughed. "The things that I would like to do to her."

"You 'eard what the Cap'n said, 'No one touches the girl'." The first pirate scoffed and kicked the tree house trunk, making a large thump that echoed all the way up into the small room.

"But when was the last time we had a women aboard? I can just imagine the things I would do." He laughed again, a haunting laugh that shook the air around them. " I would get her under me an'…"

Leah had heard enough. She turned her head against Peter's shoulder in attempt to block out the vile things the pirate below was saying. She became sick to her stomach as they continued to laugh and describe a vulgar imaginary sexual encounter with her. Repulsed, she turned away from Peter.

Peter didn't understand everything that the pirates below were describing, but by the way Leah had tensed and pulled away from him, he knew that it was something loathsome. Watching her through the darkness of the room, he saw that she had wrapped her arms around herself and was trembling slightly, fear and disgust etched in every inch of her body.

"Leah-"

"Didja hear something?" One of the pirates questioned, finally halting his discussion about Leah. Peter quickly clamped his mouth shut, and listened.

"Naw, just yer imagination. C'mon, they're not here. Might as well get goin'."

"Yeah, I guess. But it sure whoulda been nice ter find em' though." He laughed and the other pirate joined in. The sound of leaves crunching and twigs snapping joined in with the pirates' laughing, slowly faded into the darkness. Soon the forest was once again silent.

Peter stayed crouched under the window sometime after the pirates left, his eyes intently watching Leah through the darkness. He should say something to her, but what? Peter opened him mouth, when abruptly Leah stood, her back to him.

"I'll go check on the Slightly and Nibs tomorrow." Her voice was somber, quiet. Peter rose from his position on the floor and took a tentative step towards her.

"I'll go with you-"

"No." She said firmly, still not turning to look at him.

"But-"

"I'll go alone. You should get some rest, it's been a long day." Leah turned towards the alcove that descended into the hideout and was about to climb down the ladder.

"Leah," Peter started gently. "What the pirate said…I don't…I may not understand what he meant but…" Her eyes finally met his, and inside he retreated. Her eyes were glassy, brimming with tears she was trying to conceal from him. There's was nothing more he wanted to do in that moment then to take her into his arms and tell her that everything was going to be alright, that no matter what happened, he would protect her with all that he was. But the look in her eyes paralyzed him, and he didn't know what to do.

"Good night, Peter." Then she was gone.

Peter sighed and flopped onto the bed, one arm over his eyes, his other hand fisted around the fur cover.

Damnit.

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9-4-06