Chapter 4

"Before the Storm"

POV: Charles Lee

"Cormac, you are a pathetic fool!" I hissed as I exited the room when Master Kenway politely asked us to leave him and Shay alone. What kind of conversation does Haytham have with the wounded man after what happened. I felt Gist touch my shoulder as if trying to calm me down; I jerked his limb away from me and glared at him with evil sparks in my eyes. The quartermaster gulped and took a step back holding his hands in the air as if giving up.

"Charles, please." The doctor sorrowfully looked at me with his little dark eyes. His big glasses clumsily slid down his long nose and he tried to push them back up one time after another. I sighed and shook my head at him, but agreed that throwing fire at everyone would not help in any way.

"My apologies, gentleman." I said. "Please excuse me." I added rushing to the second floor of the quarters where my room was located in the end of the hallway. I used the bedroom in the quarters rarely; I usually stayed at the mansion that I rented in New York when I was in between the mission. But today nothing could bring me to leave these quarters; some invisible power was holding me here. Curiosity in knowing the conversation between Cormac and Kenway pushed me toward a crazy action.

"Ah devil!" I whispered as I climb out on the balcony and hung down the railing. I suddenly felt my cloak getting stuck on a magically existing hook on the wall; it was preventing me from jumping down. On the other balcony near the open window, where in the dull light of the candles, Shay and Master Kenway quietly talked.

I cursed again and finally got myself off the hook by swinging my sabre and cutting off a little piece of cloth. I felt saddened as I watched the grey piece swing on the hook in the light wind; I loved this cloak and felt disgusted of my behavior for a moment. Yet curiosity took over me once again as I heard Haytham's voice raise a little. I jumped down on another balcony under me without any noise and sighed in relief; I then pressed myself against the wall and leaned over a little listening to the voices.

POV: Haytham

"So, what is the real deal here?" I asked with a smirk creeping on my lips. Mr. Cormac looked very pale in the gloomy light of three big candles Gist lit up by his request. Shay sat on the bed in silence; little droplets of sweat glistened on his forehead. I could tell he was nervous and perplexed with my question. I sighed and came over to the window locking my hands behind my back. "Let me rephrase that question." I said feeling Cormac's eyes move down from my head to my back.
"I am listening, Master Kenway." His voice was weak; I knew he tried to hide the slight trembling. I turned my head and looked at him over my shoulder. Shay quickly looked away feeling embarrassed for something that troubled him in his thoughts.

"What kind of dream did you have?" I asked turning around and making my way toward the bed. I sat down next to him on the corner of the bed; his face is red, probably from the flu that did not leave the poor man yet.

"I-I…and you…" He started stammering a little; the start of his thought planted many outcomes of the sentence in my mind. Some of those imaginary ending came out very impious, but I quickly shook them away focusing on Shay again.

"Continue." I said demanding for the answer to come out immediately. I crossed my hands on my chest and tilted my head to the side watching Cormac lower his eyes and look at his hands that he hid under the blanket.

"We were on my ship traveling to our destined mission…" He said finally daring to bring his eyes up and look at me. I smiled a little and apparently, it triggered another way of redness on his face. Before he could continue I leaned over to the table and grabbed another cloth moistening it in the cold water. I then placed it on Shay's warm forehead and asked to continue without any interruptions. Cormac hesitated for a minute not sure of my sudden caring actions, but then nodded his head slightly so the cloth would not fall off again.

"We both discussed the sea, and I gave a promise to show you some lands I have discovered. You talked to me about how sailing with me was exciting and then-"his words trailed off and he closed his eyes frowning as if trying to remember. I was silent, watching his every movement; Mr. Cormac is indeed, an interesting man; he was curious about everything but never showed it. "Then you slapped me." He suddenly said and surprised me with a sudden action of sitting up sharply. He bit his lip regretting his doing; the wound probably caused a lot of pain, but he ignored it, yet I could tell how much suffering he was going through.

"Mr. Cormac, what are you doing? Please slouch back down." I took off the cloth from his head, it was hot, and then placed my hand on his burning chest and tried to push him back down. Shay suddenly grabbed my hand and squeezed it in his. I paused and arched my eyebrow looking into the man's eyes that glowed wildly in the candle light. "Mr. Cormac, please." I repeated more strictly, but he seemed to ignore me. He continued staring into my eyes and pressing my hand against his chest, I could feel his heart beating fast as if trying to escape from its prison.

"Master Kenway, what holds me here?" He suddenly asked licking his dry lips. I could tell the flu was getting worse and messing with Shay's mind.

"I told you this morning." I said pressing my other hand on his chest and pushing harder to lie him back down. The man did not move and frowned glaring up at me trying to see my face from the shadow of the triangular hat I dearly wore. "Your wound is keeping you hostage in this bedroom," I said and received a skeptical look from Cormac.

"Please be honest with me, Haytham." He suddenly called me by my name, his voice sounding odd as if he was trying every letter for taste. I grimaced and snatched my hands away from him. "Haytham, please!" He exclaimed and leaned over ignoring the hellish pain from the wound.

I growled and slapped him across the face with my right hand that he was holding a moment ago. The room was quickly filled with tomblike silence. Shay turned his head to the right from the hit and lowered it staring on the floor. I sighed and pushed his on the pillows forcing a painful groan escape his lips. That is what he gets for being careless.

"I am very sorry, Master Kenway." He whispered not looking at me. Good, I do not need to see his eyes full of pain and sorrow. "If there is anything I could to pay off this disgusting misconduct, tell me immediately." He said biting his lip till little droplets of blood crawled down his chin and fell to the floor

I sighed and took his face into my hand forcing him to look up at me. I leaned over to him bringing our faces close together; I could feel his hot breath on my lips, his eyes widening by seconds. Our lips were barely touching; I could almost feel the metallic taste of his blood in my mouth.

"Rest and get better." I whispered in his lips and pulled back making Shay gasp in surprise. I stood up from the bed and fixed my jacket; I heard a heavy sigh from Cormac and slowly turned my head to look at him. Our eyes met in a thick silence in the room; I heard someone interrupt the peaceful day outside the window, but decided not to care much about it.

"Master Kenway," his voice was quiet; his heavy breath interrupted the precious stillness in the air. I made my way to the door and glanced at him waiting for him to finish the thought. Shay only gazed at me for a long moment and then closed his eyes turning his head to the side. He did not say anything, maybe it is for the better. I was curious to find out the things on his mind, but surpassed the temptation and walked out of the bedroom.

As I left Shay to his rest and peaceful slumber, I saw Charles clumsily walk down the stairs. I arched my brow and watched him slow down and stop on the bottom step looking at me with wide eyes. I tilted my head to the side and locked my hands behind my back slowly making my way toward Lee.

"You look very exhausted." I said noticing leafs and dry grass in his hair. I could not help myself but to smirk, forcing Charles into an awkward situation. I knew there was something wrong with him, I never saw him so shaken up before. In the corner of my eye I saw a large piece missing from the end of his long cloak, as if it was forcefully torn from the cloth. "What happened to you?" I asked trying to catch his eyes that he desperately tried to keep away from me.

"Sir, I- there was a suspicious person on the roof of the quarters, I went there to check but got stuck on a hook and fell down." His voice was quiet but reassuring. I slowly nodded my head and narrowed my eyes at him; Lee finally looked up at me and gulped.

"Thank you, Charles." I suddenly smiled and made the man shiver. His blue eyes showed terror but endless gratefulness. "I already started to think that you were listening to my conversation with Shay." I patted him on the back and laughed; the man smiled nervously and chuckled.

"I would never do anything like that, Master Kenway." He said and rushed to excuse himself. "I am going to go check how Morrigan is doing, I hope to bring Mr. Cormac good news to somehow cheer him up." I nodded my head and stood aside watching my dear friend make his way to the door and vanish in the sunlight that embraced the entrance to the house.

"Surely you would not do anything of that sort, Charles, you are a respected man after all." I said with a smirk on my lips. I knew that he was there the whole time; I decided to give him a precious moment and listen to our conversation that was not a secret from anyone. I did ask for some privacy, but I guess Lee was too tempted with his curiosity. I bet he saw everything too. I wonder, what he thinks of me after seeing me almost…

"Master Kenway!" Thomas ran into the house without even thinking of knocking on the door. I turned around interrupted from my thoughts and frowned at the man.

"What is it, Mr. Hickey?" I asked walking toward the man; he took his hat off and nervously looked from side to side. "I have some news for Mr. Cormac from Mr. Gist…"he said trying to sound calm, he was obviously worried about something, even saddened. It was very unusual for an energetic drunk head like Thomas. "It is about the ship." He concluded and I immediately pointed at the door were Shay was resting.

"Go ahead, tell him the good news." I said with a hint of smile on my lips. Hickey frowned at me and gloomily glanced at the door coming over to it.

"They are not exactly good, not at all I'd say…" He said with a dull tone and slowly opened the door coming into the chamber.

I watched the door close behind him and stood silently for a moment as if waiting for something miraculous to happen. I sighed and turned toward the exit; I needed a long walk before I could come back and visit Cormac again. I swallowed nervously as I opened the entrance door and slowly walked out pulling my hat on. Shay…

"Did I plant fear or hatred in him? Which one is more true to match with his gaze?" I whispered to myself as I made my way over to the tall trees away from the people. I leaned on the wide trunk and looked up at the green leafs that quietly hissed in the slight breathe. The soft wind caressed my skin with its warm hands; I closed my eyes and sighed heavily. Shay…

Unwillingly, the images of Cormac's dark eyes staring into mine with disbelief came up in my mind. I frowned and tried to shake them away from my thoughts, but the culprits would not disappear no matter how hard I tried. I bit my lip and tried to imagine something else, but Shay's gaze did not rush to vanish.

"Master Kenway…" A familiar voice asked for my attention and I slowly opened my eyes. Charles was standing right in front of me, his face very close to mine. His blue eyes watched me as if I was a prey and he was a hunter.

"Good day, Charles, you got back very fast" I asked trying to pull back, but the tree trunk prevented me from any escape. Lee narrowed his eyes at me a little and titled his head forward. I could feel the heat of his body wash over me; I shivered.

"I was going to go see the ship, but Hickey already has done it. Gist said that the ship is in a horrible condition, and they have to wait-"his voice trailed off as he suddenly grabbed me by my collar and pulled me over to him. Our lips barely touched and I quickly jerked myself away from Lee. "Master Kenway." His voice was soft and dreamy and his eyes were foggy. I grimaced and shook my head at him; I quickly realized that he was drunk.

"Charles, look after Shay, I have some business in Greenwich." I said pushing him aside and walking away without any other words. I violently wiped my lips with the back of my hand. The disgusting feeling of a bare touch of Lee's lips was still present.

"Master Kenway!" I heard him call me, but I ignored his desperate hailing. He needed to sober before I am back at the quarters; otherwise I am going to teach him a lesson. I continued walking toward the region I mentally marked on my imaginary map. I had to clear my mind and relax from the tiring heavy dust of the house. I had to realize that I am now stuck in with Cormac for another good month or so after the "good" news from Hickey and Charles about Morrigan.

The wind became stronger and I tightly held my hat so it would not fly away. The sky quickly became dark from the grey clouds; I knew a strong storm was coming, but not for another hour or two. I still had some time to rest and forget those damned dark eyes that stared at me with hope. They gazed with hope for something sacred and forbidden.

"Fear or hatred?" I repeated to myself as I walked into a gloomy tavern, darkness slowly consuming the day.

Something eerie was creeping around the corner.