Of Magic and Rum (Beyond a Contemporary Mythos)

Chapter 11

Aranck fusses over me, checking me over, astonished by what Anne has done to bring me back to life. It’s one of many questions in an ever-growing list consuming my mind. It’s enough to make the world spin, and I push Aranck away along with anyone else who tries to stop the trek to my cabin. It didn’t feel right to send her to the brig, but what else could I have done?

She’s a fish. Or something, or fuck me, I don’t know. And she saved my life .

I cross the threshold of my quarters and slam the door behind me. Instead of the satisfying sound of wood pounding against wood, something muffles it and keeps it from closing. Sighing, I spin on my heel and flop in the desk chair. Truffles is on my lap and kneading within three seconds, and his soft fur against my palm barely calms my nerves this time.

Duke breezes into my space, closing the door behind him and holding his hands up like he’s about to get chastised. “I’m only here to talk some sense into ya.”

Groaning, I slump into my seat and rest my head on the chair’s back. “You’re wasting your time, Duke. She lied. She deceived us. And I can’t risk her harming anyone on the crew with those death claws she calls nails.”

Duke combs his beard with his fingers and begins pacing a square in front of my desk. “She lied. She deceived. She’s a pirate .”

“Correction.” I lift my head long enough to say, “She’s a fish pretending to be a pirate.”

Duke stops and glares at me. “You know she’s not a damn fish. And yes, this is a blow, but have you stopped to think of the advantages of having a creature like her on our side?”

No. I haven’t. I’ve barely had the time to process her hiding it, let alone what she is and how I can use it.

“It started as a plan to manipulate a human woman. I know human women. Know the way they think. But her? Whatever she is makes her unpredictable at best and a liability to the crew.” I poke my finger into the desk with every point made. “She also never mentioned it. Not once.”

“Why the hell would she?” Duke splays his arms to his sides. “She’s a being that’s not supposed to exist. If you ask me? She put a lot of faith in you and this crew to not turn her in to the first interested party we may come across.”

My lip twitches.

No doubt she’s worth a lot of money. And no doubt they’d strap her to a table and do ungodly, despicable experiments on her.

“Answer me this—” I lift a finger and scratch Truffles’ head before moving him to my desk and rising. “—I’ve always believed in magic, myth, and the paranormal. So, why now, am I the one being cautious and skeptical?”

Duke grimaces in pain before limping to my desk and sitting on the corner. “Because honorably, you’re concerned about your crew. But me? I’m not getting any younger, and I’m only glad I’ve gotten to witness magic, which is real .” He chuckles and slaps his knee. “Believe me, everyone out there is feeling a mix of fear, excitement, and disbelief.”

A knock sounds at the door.

“Come in,” I call out.

Ragnar enters and looks between us. “Are we tossing her overboard or marooning her?”

“Ragnar,” Duke scolds, flashing a warning glare at him. “Don’t give him any ideas.”

Ragnar jerks his head back. “I don’t understand. Bror , you know it’s dangerous keeping her on the ship. Not only has she been hiding it, but we don’t know her capabilities.”

Nausea bubbles in my stomach, and I turn to stare out the porthole window. The storm has moved on, the dark clouds streaking to reveal patches of glowing white starlight. And the rain has finally stopped. “I hear what you’re saying, Ragnar. But I’m contemplating all possible uses for her. Because given what we’ve witnessed, she could’ve also killed us and commandeered the ship—” I catch Ragnar’s gaze. “—but she hasn’t.”

Ragnar scrapes the pads of his fingers over his beard. “A single person cannot sail this vessel. She’d need, at minimum, six to operate it.”

“Semantics, friend. You know where I was going with that.”

Truffles bumps his head under Duke’s arm, waiting for him to lift it so he can stroll onto his lap.

“Considering she’s been on this ship for some time now and has posed about as much of a threat as Jack’s damn cat, I’d say she’s worth more to us not held up below deck.” Duke sputters as Truffles flicks him in the mouth with his tail to tell him precisely what he thinks of that remark.

“And I say, there’s no stopping her from using her powers, and only God knows what those are. Now that we all know she’s not human—” Ragnar tugs on his hair. “—she has no reason to hide them, so what’s to stop her from murdering us in our sleep?”

A pain begins to throb in my right temple, and I slam my fist onto the desk. “Enough. Both of you. You’re giving me a bloody headache.”

“Go talk to her, Jack,” Duke encourages, welcoming my cat into his arms in a silent apology.

Ragnar thumbs his ear. “I’m going to come right out and say it. This is a bad idea.”

“Opinion noted,” I say, more gravel in my tone than usual. Checking my flintlock is adequately armed, I slip it back into my belt and crack my neck. “If you hear screaming, make sure to check on me. Otherwise, I’m not to be disturbed. Understood?”

Ragnar’s mouth draws into a rigid line, and his grip tightens on his cutlass, but he nods in affirmation.

Sucking in a breath I intend to hold until I reach the brig, I make my way on deck. Murmurs, accusations, and outlandish remarks from the crew flood my ears.

“Think Cap will let us keep her?” One man asks Red.

Red rolls his eyes and shoves the man. “She’s not a bloody dog.”

“Did you see those scales? And those bumps ? Disgusting,” another man spats.

Irritation courses through my veins. Over what? The crew turning Anne into a scandal? Why did I care ? Or do I like the way she looks? Scales and all. I awoke from unconsciousness only to find a sea goddess peering down at me. She could’ve left me for dead—could’ve let the water in my lungs drown me on the deck and claimed she did all she could to save me and steal my crew. Or she could’ve not bothered to pull me from the ocean altogether.

But. She. Did.

Growling, I storm below deck, pausing only when I hear Mary’s voice. She’s saying the crew is willing to bleed for each other because of my captaincy. And it edges into Anne earning my trust again.

Trust. Such a damn concept. And one I’ve never been much good at.

Anne and I need to hash this out now .