Chapter 16
1241 Words
Twelve years ago…
Tigerlily's breath caught in her throat as she heard the pirate's heavy footsteps just inches away from the table. She prayed he couldn't see her outline behind the tablecloth.
Mary's voice was suddenly light and sweet. "I feared you were going to leave me alone forever."
Blackbeard chuckled. "More likely, you feared your pixum antidote would run out."
"That's not all I think about," Mary retorted, and there was a girlish—and sexy—pout in her voice. "Sometimes, I just get lonely, down here in this gloomy place. Why can't we go above deck? I haven't seen the sun in so long…"
"I'll take you up again soon, I promise," Blackbeard assured her, and his voice was softer too now, with almost a pleading quality to it. "I just don't like the other men looking at you," he added apologetically. "You know how jealous I can be."
"We wouldn't have to stay on deck, then," Mary coaxed. "We could go somewhere else… like the beach. We could go skinny dipping." It was clear she had long ago figured out how to bargain—and what to bargain—to make life a little more bearable.
"Mmm, that is a delightful picture," Blackbeard conceded. "But I rather think you'd be more interested in giving me the slip and disappearing into the heart of the island. Oh, I don't think so, my sneaky darling."
"You know I wouldn't," Mary replied quietly. "You know I can't."
"Here, now, let's not dwell on such gloomy things," Blackbeard said. "How about a glass of wine and something to eat?"
"I'm not that hungry, thank you," Mary said quickly.
"Well, you have to try the wine I brought down, anyway," Blackbeard replied. "It's a great vintage—1522. I think you'll like it—I know how much you like sweet things."
"Thank you," Mary answered, and Tigerlily could hear a hint of apprehension in her voice. "I'll fetch the glasses."
There were more footsteps, and suddenly Blackbeard's leather boots appeared only inches from Tigerlily. She bit her lip to keep herself from gasping. Cautiously, she backed away as slowly and quietly as possible, until she backed into Mary's legs. Mary cleared her throat to cover any noise.
Above her head, Tigerlily could hear a cork being pulled out the bottle and wine splashing into glasses. There was a clink as Blackbeard and Mary touched their glasses together.
"I really do apologize for not coming down sooner," Blackbeard said, as if he were a tardy husband. "It's just that I've been so engrossed a certain situation, and I've rather lost track of other things."
"I hope it's worth it," Mary said, and Tigerlily was dimly impressed at how she was able to sound so warm and supporting. Then again, she'd had years of practice faking things.
"Oh, it is," Blackbeard assured her. "We found this little savage girl… Actually, she's more than just some savage. She's the chief's daughter. And she has been sharing such wonderful secrets with me."
Mary was quiet for some time, weighing the best response. "You say she's a little girl? How old is she?"
"Eleven or twelve," Blackbeard replied carelessly. "Something like that."
"And… how have you gotten her to share these secrets?"
"It took some… creative questioning," Blackbeard said. His voice suddenly became more defensive—clearly Mary's expression was no longer supportive. "Well, darling, it's not like she would tell us everything we needed to know without some prompting. And it's things we need to know. Hopefully, it will finally offer a solution to our pixum problem. My stash can't last forever." He laughed harshly. "And forever is exactly what we need."
"Still," Mary prodded, utilizing an impressive mix of concern and respect, "she's just a little girl. And sometimes you're so… forceful."
"Hmm, I seem to remember you rather enjoying it when I'm forceful."
Tigerlily felt like gagging, but Mary's voice stayed steady. "I just wish you'd leave her alone. It's an awful thing to do to a child. Surely there are other ways… Can't you just ransom her back? I'm sure you could get what you needed from the tribe."
"That was the plan all along, once we finished with her," Blackbeard explained, rather proud of himself. "But I don't know if we're finished yet."
"I wish you would be," Mary said. "Please, can't you be finished with her? It would mean a lot to me." There was a pause. "I'd be so very grateful."
There was another pause as Blackbeard considered. "Well, we have gleaned quite a lot from her already," he finally admitted. "It may be a waste of time to get any more. And the sooner we get the ransom, the better. Still…" His voice trailed off as he continued to consider. When he spoke again, there was a different tone in his voice, a tone that Tigerlily didn't quite understand but that chilled her anyway. "You say you'd be grateful, hmm?"
Mary understood the tone. "So very grateful," she repeated, her voice becoming huskier. "I think I'd do just about anything to show you how grateful I was."
Blackbeard was on his feet almost immediately. "That's a splendid thought," he said, his voice even deeper than normal thanks to the lust growing inside him. "I would love to see it in reality."
Mary also rose to her feet. Tigerlily could see her turning away from the table as Blackbeard's heavy footsteps approached. Suddenly she was pushed hard against the table, and Tigerlily could make out the outline of one of Blackbeard's legs pushing between Mary's. There was a thud as Mary's shoulders hit the table's surface. There were sounds of rustling fabric, heavy breathing, lips against skin. The table started rocking around her.
Tigerlily crammed a hand against her mouth to keep from crying out for Mary's sake. She couldn't let her friend do this! But, she realized miserably, what would be gained from stopping it? It would only be a temporary reprieve.
"Darling," Mary spoke up breathlessly, "can't we please go to the bed? You left such bruises last time we used the table…"
"As you wish," Blackbeard replied, and his voice was strained as well. Suddenly, Mary's legs disappeared, and Tigerlily realized that the pirate had lifted her into his arms. She heard his footsteps retreating and dared to peek out from her hiding place. She caught a glimpse of him as he carried Mary through a doorway tucked in the back of the room, where the girl's sleeping quarters were. Then the two of them were gone, and Tigerlily could only hear them—which was still far too much to bear.
She waited as long as she could, in case anyone reappeared, and then crept out from under the table. Tip-toeing to the door, she opened it with the utmost care, barely daring to breathe until it soundlessly swung open. She stepped into the corridor, closed the door with just as much caution, and hurried back to her cell, unspeakably grateful that she didn't run into any pirates on the way. She pulled the cell door closed behind her, which still felt like she was locking herself in a coffin even though she knew she could pick the lock again.
And she would pick it again—because somehow, some way, sometime soon, she and Mary were going to be free.
- Writer
