What happens when you grow up

Chapter 6

12 years ago…

Tigerlily took a deep breath, willing herself to stay calm. It was becoming harder and harder to control her pitching emotions as it became clear just how much danger she was in. "I don't know what you're expecting," she started, choosing her words carefully, "but I really don't know anything that I can tell you."

"Well, let's start with an easy one," Blackbeard replied, perching on the edge of his desk. His knee brushed hers, and she automatically retreated into her chair. "Where did the fairies go after they left Hob's Quarry?"

"I don't know," she answered, too quickly. "Only the elders know."

Blackbeard chuckled, glancing over Tigerlily's shoulder at Harrison. "Children are such terrible liars." He leaned closer, cupping her chin. "I don't think you quite understand, child," he said, the charming veneer thinning to reveal the ruthlessness underneath. "If you don't tell me what I want to know, I'll hurt you. I'll hurt you, repeatedly, until you do tell me."

Tigerlily gazed into his dark eyes, feeling helplessly lost. She believed the pirate would do everything he threatened, but she was the fairies' guardian, too. She couldn't betray them. "I don't know where they went."

Blackbeard held her gaze, his mouth drawing into a tight line. Around them, the stateroom suddenly felt twenty degrees colder. "I see." Tigerlily braced for the pirate's anger, but he abruptly broke into a grin, the dark mood gone as quickly as it came. "We'll just have to work harder at convincing you to share," he announced, practically chipper, as he bounced up and headed towards the door. "Harrison?"

Tigerlily was herded deeper and deeper into the heart of Blackbeard's ship, down below the galley and through the munitions hold. The farther down they climbed, the lower her heart sank. There were so many passageways and turns that she would never be able to figure her way back out, even if she had the chance.

"You'll see your quarters soon enough," Blackbeard called over his shoulder from up ahead, "but first…"

He pushed open one last door, and Harrison pushed her inside afterwards. Tigerlily's eyes widened as she took everything in. The room was small, but it was full of chains, tools, weapons and other objects that Tigerlily had never seen before. Shackles hung off rings on the wall, and a bellows was tucked into the corner.

"This is our interrogation room," Blackbeard explained, sweeping his arm out proudly. "This is where we—ahem—convince people to talk to us." He strolled farther into the room, pointing out different implements. "I've had quite a few years to collect the very best instruments for advanced interrogations. We have thumbscrews, ankle crushers, skin peelers…" Tigerlily felt panic start to well up inside her, threatening to spill over. "Oh, this one is fun—" He reached into a wooden box on top of a shelf and pulled out a long piece of steel. "This one, we heat it until it's red-hot and slide it into your—"

"You can't be that stupid," Tigerlily burst out. "My people will never stand for me to be harmed."

"Your people have no choice," Blackbeard snapped, storming over to her. "And your only choice, Princess, is how painful you want this whole process to be."

"I'll never help you!"

"Let me change your mind," Blackbeard retorted, and struck her hard across the face. Tigerlily stumbled back, her cheek on fire. Before she could recover, he struck her again, from the other side this time, so hard that her head snapped back. Then he grabbed her by the arms and shook her viciously, growling, "Tell me what I want to know!"

Tigerlily regarded him silently, her mouth filling with the salty taste of her own blood. Then she spat in his face.

Blackbeard only chuckled. "Now, that's not very ladylike."

He hurled her against the wall, and she bounced off and fell to the floor. Before she could scramble to her feet, Blackbeard kicked her hard in the gut, knocking the breath out of her. He kicked her again, so hard that she was knocked onto her back. Desperately, she tried to crawl backwards, but Blackbeard caught her by the ankle, pulling her back to him. He slammed a fist into her jaw, and pain exploded across her face, so sharp and nauseating that her vision blurred. Then he grabbed her by the hair, dragging her to her feet and tossing her to Harrison.

"String her up," he ordered.

Silent as always, Harrison grabbed Tigerlily's wrists and jerked her upwards until she was standing on tiptoe, her legs straining underneath her painfully. Her hands were shackled high above her head, the metal biting into her wrists.

"Perhaps you need more time to come to a decision," Blackbeard said. "We can revisit this topic in the morning." He started for the door, turning to give her a bow. "Pleasant dreams, princess."

Harrison slammed the door behind them, plunging Tigerlily into darkness. Every part of her ached. It hurt to breathe, and her face felt like it had swollen to twice its usual size. Her legs hurt the worst; the longer she was forced to stand on tiptoe, the more they burned. If she tried to shift the weight off her legs, her wrists screamed in agony as the shackles sliced into the skin.

There was no telling how long she stayed awake, engulfed in darkness and pain. Now that Blackbeard was gone, she finally allowed herself to cry, great big sobs not only for herself but for Little Wolf too. In the end, it was the mental anguish that finally proved too much for her, and her mind began shutting down. As she faded into unconsciousness, she could no longer distinguish what was real and what was in her head.

With the last of her awareness, she recognized that the sound of singing—a woman's voice, high and pure—had drifted through the walls. But before she could latch onto the melody's words, darkness consumed her.