37. The Rough Cord

Chapter 37

The Rough Cord

The Pirate

M y body was a battlefield, scars of love and war littered my skin, and the inky darkness claimed more and more of me with every passing hour, threatening to consume me completely if we didn't see this quest through soon. The death surrounding me seemed to feed its hunger. I could feel it clawing at my control, desperate to break free and take control again, as I stood at the helm of my ship with the sea witch's island looming somewhere in the distance.

The memory of last night flashed within my mind as I replayed the conversation we'd had in the quiet moments of the early morning after we'd spent the night worshiping each other's bodies. We both knew something had changed between us, an acceptance that what we felt for one another was more than either of us wanted to admit.

I'd tucked the hair behind her ear as she lay next to me, completely spent from our love making. I'd whispered with a strained voice, "When the time comes, you're going to have to end my life."

She'd shook her head violently, anger flaring behind her beautiful, royal eyes as she'd pulled away from my touch. But I'd reached toward her, holding her in place at my side as I'd leveled my gaze onto hers, letting her see the fear and desperation within me as I'd bared my soul to her. "You have to do this," I had commanded, my grip tightening as I'd added, "please."

My heart had nearly shattered at the sight of a single tear slipping from her eye, rolling down her flushed cheek as she'd sucked in a deep breath. Finally, she had nodded as I'd used the pad of my thumb to wipe the dampness away. Bringing my lips gently to her tear-stained cheek, I had pressed a kiss to her soft skin.

"Don't cry for me, my fierce, little siren." I'd smiled at her then. "There is no better way to die than at your hands. Besides," I had said, my gaze glittering at the thought of what would come. "Then I'll have finally given my heart to a worthy female."

Talia had tipped her forehead to mine, breathing me in as she'd sighed. "You know, we don't really want to do that. Us sirens, I mean. We never wanted to have to go to shore and manipulate a human to fall in love with us so that we could claim their heart. That is simply something we've been forced to do. Cursed, like you. If we don't claim a heart, we remain powerless, becoming mortal if we are lucky, but likely dying, never to return to our home within the sea."

"I never knew that," I'd replied, holding her to me tighter as she'd shared her history with me.

"Sirens were never meant to have to claim their powers this way." She'd sighed. "I never asked for any of this."

I'd turned my attention to the ceiling, her words stirring memories I'd long since tried to forget but had failed to do so. "Rarely does anyone ask for the path they are given…" I'd paused. She'd been forced into this fate by everyone in her life, including me. It was such a contrast to what I faced. "… unless you are like me. I asked for this power. I deserve these consequences."

That adorable little line had creased her brow as she'd pulled my gaze back to her. "You deserve to be consumed by the darkness? To lose yourself in the process?"

I had nodded. "I deserve an unhappy ending. I'm not a good man, Talia. I'm a selfish man who has done everything in my power to get whatever I wanted. I never cared who it harmed in the process. I'm not going to fight against what I deserve anymore."

Talia had shaken her head. "No one deserves an unhappy ending, Kipp. No one," she'd stated firmly. "I once thought that becoming queen and fulfilling my mother's wishes would bring me happiness, but if I'm being completely honest with myself, all I want is to be free from it all, and it is you, Kipp, who made me realize that."

I'd leaned closer, pulling her into my tight embrace as I'd placed a kiss to her brow, the tip of her nose, her lips. "If we had the chance to run away together now, no curses or birthrights hanging over our heads, would you?" I had asked, a mixture of emotions stirring within me as I waited for her response.

She'd blinked up to me, confusion behind those gorgeous aquamarine eyes. "I…I don't know. That's not our reality right now."

"Just tell me now before we meet this witch and fate decides what's next for us," I had demanded, letting my fingertips brush against her cheek, her jaw, unable to get enough of her.

With her lashes brushing against her cheeks, she'd closed her eyes as if she had been taking the time to envision what I had asked. "Yes… yes, I would travel the seas with you. I would search the horizon for our next adventure, and I would stand by your side as we crossed the oceans together," she had admitted, and I had let out a breath as I'd savored her declaration.

As sleep nearly claimed us both, I'd murmured, "If only that was our fate."

Talia had curled into my side, her arm across my chest as she snuggled in and readied for slumber. "If only," she'd agreed.

I'd left her a few hours later, heading toward the upper deck to relieve Patton, asking if he'd followed my instructions to lead us toward Circe's island. I didn't even have to ask. Even recovering as he was, he still was one of the greatest first mate's I'd had aboard my ship since those long-ago days when I'd had Willy at my side.

At the first sign of the sun lightening the colors of the sky ahead, I sent someone to collect Talia. Within minutes, she was at my side, her hip pressing against mine. I glanced her way, lifting a brow at the clothes she wore.

"Camilla," she said with a shrug. "I guess she got tired of seeing me strut around the ship in nothing more than an oversized shirt."

I cast a look to where Camilla scrubbed at some of the stains that still darkened the wooden deck. "I'm going to have to have a talk with her about that," I said, smirking at the beautiful siren at my side.

Her elbow dug into my side, but the smile that stretched across her face gave away her amusement.

My fingers dropped into my pocket and closed around the smooth brass compass. I pulled it free, casting a wary glance down at the device that had started us both on this journey together before I passed it to Talia, who would use it to guide us to the end of it. Her fingers brushed against mine, stilling within my palm for a moment as if the weight of what she was about to do weighed on her as well. Then she pulled the compass from my hand, clicking it open and watching as the arrow spun.

I worked the wheel of the ship, following the direction of where it pointed as she held it open within her palm. The two of us stood at the helm for a little over an hour, until the dawning sun lifted above the horizon and the morning fog drifted along the surface of the ocean.

"There!" I exclaimed, a mix of relief and despair sending my heart racing as I spotted the first signs of the island ahead. "Do you see it?"

Her voice was quiet as she replied, "I see it," closing the compass with a soft click as she passed it back to me.

I tucked the small, brass device back into my pocket as I guided the ship forward. Several of my crew already jostled into action as they readied the ship to slow, lifting the masts and scurrying about the deck as they prepared for what lay ahead.

Within the hour, Talia and I were lowered down into the waters in a smaller boat. The crew no longer looked to her as if she were the enemy, having watched her save our asses on multiple occasions. She had earned her place among them, and as they guided our small boat to the water, they wished her and I success, making it clear that they expected us both to return.

My shoulders strained as I rowed us to shore, the mist clinging to the water and beach like it had all those years ago. The closer we came to the sand ahead, I realized how similar everything still appeared. The only difference were my motives. Then, I had come to ask for power, taking something that had never been mine to take. Now, I came to ask her to take it back.

I hopped out of the boat when we were close enough to the shore, pulling it the rest of the way until Talia could step out onto the sand. Then I dragged it further so that we wouldn't risk it disappearing out to sea while we made our way through the island to where I still remembered the sea witch's hut to lie.

We crossed the beach in silence, Talia following my lead into the nearby trees. The village stood to our left, seemingly recovered from previous attacks by pirates, and I knew we should evade their attention. It would be a distraction and a waste of time I feared I couldn't afford as I felt the darkness tighten its hold on me. It was as if it knew my intentions and fought furiously to maintain its claim on my soul.

A twig snapped to our side, and I halted, a pit growing in my stomach as I turned, facing a line of villagers who held various weapons out defensively in front of them. Pitchforks, spears, and arrows all aimed directly at mine and Talia's chests. My vicious siren's teeth bared as she snapped at the air, but I held her back, lifting my hands to indicate that we weren't a threat… at least not to these people.

"Put them down," a powerful feminine voice called out before the old crone stepped out from behind a thick tree ahead. She didn't hold the form of the ancient witch though; instead, she held the beautiful shape of the goddess who had transformed before my eyes when I'd originally been cursed. Her silky dark hair cascaded over her shoulders as she sauntered closer.

My spine straightened, and I stepped toward Talia, wanting to shield her from this sea witch. Circe's gaze lingered on us both, twinkling with delight as they fixated on Talia.

"Hello, Talia," she crooned, a slow smile lifting her glossed, plump lips. She looked to me again. "I see you have brought me a present."

With a wave of her hand, everything around us faded from view. Within a single blink, we went from standing within the forest along the edge of the village to confined in Circe's home, with Talia and I strapped to chairs by thick rope that sunk into our skin with how tight we were bound.

Circe looked at us with a sly grin as she circled where we sat like a frenzied shark in bloodied water. "Well, well, well," she drawled, clicking her tongue as her eyes glinted mischievously. "Look what we have here. The siren queen, and the black-eyed pirate, come to visit me in my humble abode. How very interesting. I was wondering when you'd show up."

She stopped at my side, running a long nail along my arm and shoulder. I bared my teeth at her, trying to break free of the ropes that bound me, but these were no ordinary ropes. Gold twined with the rough cord, strengthening its hold and making it impossible to break with force alone.

She continued lazily walking around our chairs. "I have to admit… it took you far longer than I thought it would."

Circe paused in front of Talia. She clearly enjoyed this game she played. "Though, I must say… you brought me such a prize."

Talia lunged forward, but even she couldn't break free of the bindings. She hissed at her, her sharpened teeth snapping as she spat, "Let me go or I will rip out your throat, witch."

"I bet…" Circe laughed with a disbelieving shake of her head. She placed her hands on either side of Talia, leaning forward until their gazes were leveled. "…that dear old dad would pay a pretty nice price to get you back. I heard a tale on the wind that you are no longer Queen." She tilted her head. "Or have you come to see if I can help you get it all back?"

Talia glared at Circe as she stood again. When the sea witch stopped in front of me again, I demanded, "Let us go!"

The anger surged inside of me, and I knew the darkness wouldn't be held back for much longer. I was already close to the edge of losing it.

A knowing glint filled the witch's gaze. "Have you enjoyed my little gift all these years, Kipp?" she asked, her voice holding the lilting tone of a siren's song. "You demanded it after all."

"Not like this," I growled, feeling my control slip a little more.

"How do I free the sirens?" Talia asked, trying to take the heat off me so that I could get my darkness under control again.

"I can't tell you exactly," Circe said, her fingers steepling as if this was nothing more than simple entertainment for her. "…only that it will come at a steep cost."

"Sacrifice," Talia announced, and Circe nodded. "All curses require sacrifice."

"Or love, or an impossible feat." Circe shrugged. "There are a whole multitude of ways to break a curse."

"It's always tied into the curse though," Talia continued.

"Yes, but I'm afraid you won't be able to end any curses, my dear." Circe smirked as she crossed the room, taking a seat in a high-backed chair next to the flickering fireplace. "Oh, do stop trying to fight against those restraints. You'll never break through them. It's god rope, made by Hephaestus himself."

The heat of the shadows raced through my veins and despite the slow breaths I tried to take, I still felt it expand methodically through me. Consuming me as I watched the exchange happen while an urgency to reach Talia and stop whatever sacrifice Circe had planned ignited within my heart. The darkness spread like a virus, infecting every part of me until a void opened within me, pulling me down into its depth with no hope of return.