Of Magic and Rum (Beyond a Contemporary Mythos)

Chapter 7

I’m going to kill Jack. Maybe some of the crew that voted to hand me off as well. But with the Seas as my witness, I will kill Jack Rackham. I tried on the dress Jack forced on me, noting how his eyes roamed my body and stored this in my mind for safekeeping. I changed into filthy clothes to continue my duties for the next couple of days until Jack gave me the “head nod,” a universal ship code for “it’s time.”

I’m now in a dinghy with rope binding my wrists, dressed in the frilly kelly-green dress. Jack’s in front of me, grinning and rowing us toward Vane’s ship. I keep my face expressionless, save for my eyes, which are mentally carving holes into Jack’s skull. I hope that the silence and glower will somehow intimidate this pirate captain.

“Come now, Anne. You’re still going to be on a ship, just not— mine .” Jack lays back as he rows with both oars, still grinning at me and so damn proud of himself.

I rub my palms together and focus on our boat cutting through the water. “I have nothing to say to you.”

“Oh, thank Christ. Thought I’d have to listen to your twaddle the entire ride,” Jack mumbles.

And I can’t help myself. Grunting, I lodge my foot into one oar, jostling it from Jack’s grasp and splashing it into the water.

Jack blinks before reaching for the oar, which is already floating too far to grab. “What in the flying hell are you doing? You do realize two oars make this little jolt far easier?”

I zip my spine straight. “I’ll swim if I have to.”

“Yeah? With your wrists bound?” Jack scoffs and continues rowing with one oar.

“You’d be surprised how strong these legs are.”

Jack hangs his head before raising his eyes to the skies as if in a silent plea. “In normal circumstances, I would’ve made some quip about accepting the challenge of being between your thighs, but for some bizarre reason—” He slams the oar into the water with extra vigor. “—I’m not in the mood .”

A victorious smile begs at my lips, but I hold it back.

“Aw. You poor little pirate.” I point at his rowing skills. “You’d get more distance if you flipped the oar to the same side every time.”

Jack pauses and tosses me a scowl capable of scaring off surrounding fish. “Would you like to row, Miss Bonny?” He holds the oar out to me with one fist, droplets landing on my skirt-covered legs and making me rigid.

I pretend to think about it before rapidly shaking my head. “No. I refuse to row myself to my demise.”

“Who says you’re meeting your demise?”

Men gather at the railing of Vane’s ship, pointing at us.

“Some things are worse than death,” I answer, my voice distant and whispered.

A man with a tri-cornered hat props his knee on the ship’s edge. An unsettling knot forms in my stomach when I recognize him from the tavern. Jack hadn’t been exaggerating to his crew; he did see him talking to me. But how did he know I shot him down? This is Vane. Charles Vane.

“Rackham, you’re lucky I didn’t blow several holes in your ship in the time it took you to mosey your way over here in that little dinghy.” Vane rests a forearm on his raised knee, the crew behind him snickering and barking.

Jack winks at me and touches his finger to the side of his nose. He rotates the boat sideways. “You didn’t because you know my crew would’ve unleashed hellfire on you in return. Wouldn’t want your pretty ship with as many holes as your britches now, would you?”

Vane flicks the cutlass’s hilt at his hip, making a metallic pang . “What the hell are you doing, Jack? And who—” He points a stern finger at me, his dark eyes narrowing, trying to make out my face, but I’m not looking in his direction. “—is this?”

“You don’t recognize her? Here, let me get a bit closer.” Jack reaches for the oar.

I lift my foot, ready to launch it into the water even if I’ll have to swim like my life depended on it, and it would . But despite Jack’s arrogance and disregard for other beings, I know I’d fare better on his ship than Vane’s.

Jack moves the oar before my limb can connect with it and wags a finger at me. “Nuh-uh, lovely. Fool me once; that’s on me. Fool me twice—” He inches forward and rows us closer to the ship’s hull with an awaiting rope ladder. “—you don’t.”

I can drown him where he sits—call on an orca to leap from the water and devour him. But I don’t.

“Recognize her now, Vane?” Jack calls out but keeps his gaze fixed on me.

Vane is slung over the railing, a devilish grin snaking his lips. “Well, well, we meet again, my dear.”

Bile works its way up my throat, and I press my hands to my stomach, fighting back the nausea, and remain silent as the grave.

“And why exactly are you doing this?” Vane’s attention turns to Jack.

Jack remains seated, securing the oar out of my reach. “I’m tired of you scaring off merchants because you have nothing better to do with your time than chase me around the Caribbean. I offer you Anne here as a ‘Fuck off’ gift.”

“Anne, hm?” Vane’s eyes are on me again, his tongue skirting the corner of his mouth. “And why are you so willing to give up such a treasure? What’s wrong with her?”

“Not a thing. I’ve—” Jack pulls me across the boat, not harshly enough to hurt me, but so suddenly it pulls a gasp from my throat. “—have had my fill of her.” Those mahogany eyes drop to my lips, giving me a singular second to process what he’s about to do, and his lips are on mine.

A hand presses to the back of my skull, keeping me put long enough for several brushes of our mouths and a final swoosh of his tongue that he easily darts between my lips. He tastes like rum, bananas, and faint tobacco. The moment my stomach twists, I shove him away, using more force than intended. It’s enough to make him jerk his head, surprised. He drags a finger over his mouth. Did it feel as tingly as mine does? Static mixed with trickling grains of sand?

“Alright, Jack. She’s good for a month of reprieve. No more and no less.” Vane pounds his fist against the ship.

“A month?” I seethe at Jack, tugging his shirt. “This isn’t getting you a permanent reprieve, but just one bloody month? That’s what you’re giving me away for?”

Jack’s nostrils flare near my neck as if smelling me. “That good of a kiss, love? Suddenly don’t want to be rid of me?”

I clench my teeth so tight I fear one cracking.

I have never met a mortal or other being who enraged me as much as intrigued me all in one breath.

Harnessing my sliver of dignity, I push to my feet with my head held high and move toward the ladder. A hand bunches the back of my dress, and Jack slowly pulls me to the bench seat next to him.

“Vane, I’ve had a change of heart. I think—” Jack announces. “—we shall take most of your supplies instead.”

With precise timing, the sounds of numerous flintlocks cocking behind Vane and his crew echo against the wooden floorboards.

“What—” I blurt out, my stomach growing heavy.

Jack flings hair from my shoulder and grins. “I always have a plan, Anne. And I’m eternally grateful for you being such a pivotal part of it.”

“You used me. Made me think you were—” Heat flushes my chest, my fists rising still within the confines of the rope.

Jack presses a hand over both of mine and lowers them to my lap. “You make it sound so volatile. It would’ve never worked if you knew the plan. Think about it.”

“You’re done, Rackham. Fucking. Done . After this, I’ll make your life a living hell on the seas.” Vane stands at the ship’s edge with no sword or pistol at his waist now, his palms held up like the rest of his crew, surrendering.

Meanwhile, Jack’s crew rummages the deck, grabbing crates and bags to haul onto the approaching Revenge.

“Perhaps you will, Chuck. Perhaps you will. But it won’t be today, and it won’t be tomorrow. I’m leaving you with enough supplies to get back to Nassau. But it’s not enough to follow me and find another place to resupply.” Jack rests his chin in his palm. “Think that gives me a decent head start, wouldn’t you say? Especially since you have no clue where I’m headed.”

“I’ll be the last thing you see before you leave this world, Rackham. Mark my words,” Vane hisses, balling his hands into fists.

Jack puts a hand on the small of my back, ushering me to the bench across from him before plunging the oar into the water and turning us around. “If I had a ruby for every time I’ve heard that one, I’d not need to be a pirate.” He pauses, catching my gaze. “Still would, though.”

Vane roars into the wind, the sound so ear-splitting we can still hear it from the other side of the Revenge. Jack holds the dinghy steady near the rope ladder and yanks a dagger from his boot, pointing the tip of it at my wrists. “You going to try something foolish if I let you out of those?”

The universe knows I want to more than anything.

“I won’t. You have my word.” I lift my hands to shield myself as Jack lurches forward. “But, Jack. Since you’ve made it clear you have no intention of hurting me, I won’t hesitate to protect myself should that decision change.”

That kiss still burns against my lips, and I fight the urge to touch them. I force my focus on his eyes even though I want to look at his mouth.

“The same can go both ways, sweetheart. Do not take my generosity as a sign of weakness. And it’s why we’ll need to chat when everyone’s back on board.” With one quick tug of the dagger, Jack frees me from the binds.

“Everyone?” I rub my wrists and grab the ladder.

“It’s not only my decision whether you join our crew.” Jack holds out his hand. “Need a lift?”

His crew.

“I don’t need you—” I start, but his palm cups my ass and hoists me. When I toss him a glare, he grins at me like a damned fool—far too handsome for his own good fool .

The deck is a flurry of activity, with everyone carting supplies to store away. I rub my sweating palms down the skirts of my dress, unsure what to do with myself. Mary appears within the sea of bodies, hurling burlap sacks, and I make a beeline for her.

“You,” I yell, pointing at Mary.

Mary drops the bag, her blue wide with remorse. “Anne,” she shouts, pushing past the grunting crew to get to me.

“What was all that talk about having each other’s backs?” Haughtily, I fold my arms.

Mary rests her hands on my shoulders and winces when I brush them away. “You can trust me, Anne. But the world of piracy is an entirely different world. You need to adapt. Wasn’t sure you could.”

Confusion and remorse settle over my brain like a dozen meddling gnats.

“You were testing me? How did you know Jack wouldn’t go through with it?”

Mary pulls on her hat’s brim. “Because it’s Jack. I was ninety percent certain he had something else in mind.”

“Ninety—” I flick my hands and turn away from her.

I have no place speaking of trust when I’ve deceived them once and am already doing it again, hiding my immortality.

“Trust is a fragile thing, Mary.” I spin to face her again. “And say I learn to trust you. I can’t see myself ever trusting Jack.”

“And you shouldn’t,” she says bluntly.

“What? He’s your captain, and you don’t trust him?”

Mary’s gaze shifts to Jack ascending the helm, garnering the attention of every crew member without an announcement. “I trust him with my life, yes. But do I trust him not to swindle me out of coin during a card game? Fuck no. Persuasion and deception skills are as important in this lifestyle as swordplay and a good sense of direction. And Jack Rackham? He’s one of the sneakiest and smartest bastards I’ve ever met.”

She trusts him with her life .

“Everyone, excellent work. We brought in more haul than an average merchant ship at half the effort.” Jack’s voice resonates with command. He paces back and forth and rakes a hand through his long, dark hair.

“I do like it when someone else does the dirty work,” one man says, followed by a laugh.

“I’d say the distraction was rather bountiful, too, eh, lads?” Another man stammers, standing on a crate so everyone can see him holding two melons in front of his chest.

The distraction. Me.

“Yes, but we also must consider how kind fate has been to put Anne in our path. If it weren’t for her, we wouldn’t have had such an enticing hand to work with.” Jack still spots me despite dozens of people cramming the space between us. “She’s already been on board for a week and officially committed her first act of piracy. I ask you all, should she swear by our code, will you see her on our crew?”

Committed her first act of piracy.

There’s no end to the games, and I doubt there will ever be one. And none of them know the most cunning game of all plays right under their noses—a sea nymph in their midst. I’m as bad as they are.

“Why the bloody hell not?” A man says, throwing his hand up.

Mary smiles at my side and throws her arm into the air.

The deck becomes an endless ocean of raised limbs, the waves of cheering and hollering foreign to my ears. A numbness starts at the tips of my fingers and works into my chest because despite this crew voting for me to become one of them, I remain transfixed on the captain. He’s strolling toward me, the men parting ways like a seam unraveling.

His hand is outstretched, beckoning mine. “We have a few things to discuss, Anne. My cabin?”

The kiss was pure fire but a performance nonetheless. Jack did it because he knew it’d only enrage Vane further with his want for me. And I’ll still only trust him as far as I can throw him, but welcoming me into their crew has to count for something.

I look to Mary for reassurance, and once she gives me a confident nod, I slip my palm against Jack’s and follow him into his quarters.

“Even if you’re thinking of swearing to the code and joining this crew, there are a few things to set straight before you do.” Jack closes the door behind me and moves to his desk, sitting on the corner.

“Then why put it to a vote now?” I try to hide my smile when Truffles leaps behind Jack and begins to rub himself up and down his arm.

Jack tries to ignore him but quickly succumbs to the cat’s will and pets him. “No point in wasting my time or breath on you. If they would’ve voted no, why would we need to talk?”

“I’ll give you this, Jack,” I scoff. “You certainly don’t sugarcoat anything.”

“Life is too short to piss in the rain and pretend it’s not happening.” Jack scratches behind the cat’s ears.

Pressing my back to the door, putting distance between us, I throw my hands at my sides. “You said there are matters to discuss?”

“First and foremost. Is there anything I should know about you that may jeopardize the lives of myself or anyone aboard this ship?” Jack grabs a ball of twine from the corner of his desk and rolls it to Truffles, distracting him as he pushes to his feet and crosses the room.

The proximity gives me nowhere to retreat and no choice but to stare up at him.

And here I am about to lie to the face of a renowned pirate captain. If I wish to make it to the Mediterranean Sea—to home —there’s no way out of it.

“Me? The daughter of a dead grape farmer trying to seek passage to Greece to lay claim to the land?” I inhale deeply, the scents of brine and something citrus-like lacing his skin, making my head fuzzy.

He presses that damn tanned forearm above my head on the door again. “Lying doesn’t become you, Anne. But I applaud you for thinking so quickly on your feet. We may make a pirate out of you yet.”

“I thought no one was concerned with the other’s background here?” My traitorous hips tilt forward, and I shove my backside against the door.

“All I need to know is if there’s something—anything—that we’re taking on by signing you to our crew that could come back to bite us in the ass.” Jack shakes his head, wavy tendrils of chestnut hair falling over his gaze. “That’s all.”

The Charybdis can do a lot more than bite an ass. It consumes you. But what are the odds of it coming to that aboard a ship? It never attacks ships.

“No, Jack. I’m just trying to get to my family, and I didn’t have the money to buy a ticket.”

Jack nods, his face closing in on mine, his lips a breath from my brow before he pushes off the wall and turns away. “Family, eh? Husband?”

“Does it matter?” Dropping my gaze to my feet, I adjust the dress’s sleeves.

Jack chuckles, swipes a wooden pick from his desk, and uses it to clean his teeth. “Only curious whose heart I’ll eventually break by stealing you away.”

My stomach dips, and my chest tightens. I’ve known enough powerful, arrogant people to last me multiple lifetimes. But they have immense power, some with enough to alter the cosmos. And Jack is just—Jack. It’s either insanity or abundant confidence—probably both.

“Was that all you had to ask me?”

Jack tosses the pick and yanks the cutlass from his belt, the blade resonating with a satisfying schling sound. “Do you know how to use one of these? Because I’d hate to have our lives banking on a dagger.” He bounces his brow where I’ve hidden my knife, attached with leather to my thigh. How does he know these things?

Changing my stance, I clear my throat. “I can hold my own.”

“Good. Get some rest, then. Because tomorrow, you’re going to prove it.” Jack sheathes the sword and waltzes for the door. “On deck. So, you can prove it to the crew as well.”

My insides become one massive jumble of nerves. It’s not because I doubt my skills with a blade; he has no idea what I can do, but how far should I go before I’m unable to explain myself?

“Fine. Where are my clothes?” I follow Jack after giving a fluttery wave to Truffles.

“Your shit clothes?” Jack scrunches his nose. “Tossed ‘em overboard. You’ll have to make do with that dress. Get Mary to do her magical cuts or tears or whatever the hell she does.” He moves about the deck, business as usual, with me following behind him like a rebellious shadow.

“Tossed them—but you had no right.” My chest bumps against his stomach as he suddenly turns to face me, and my skin instantly heats.

“I had no right? Because those clothes were yours? Not stolen?”

I bat stray hair from my eyes. “Not all of them.”

“It’s a new era for you, Anne—time for something new. Talk to Mary and figure it out before tomorrow morning. Because—” Jack lowers his lips near my ear. “—you’ll need to move freely .” The hair of his beard brushes my earlobe as he smiles against it and steps away.

I’ll devise any excuse because there’s no chance I’ll let Calico Jack outmatch me in a swordfight. Fighting with a blade—is in my blood .