Page 19

Taking Good Care

S omehow, I had saved us all.

On purpose this time. I didn’t know quite how or why I had these powers. But I’d been able to channel them in a way that had eluded me up to this point.

I was a hero. I didn’t know how to deal with the unfamiliar role.

Faraday had ushered me out of the captain’s rooms so he could deal with Dinesh’s injury, and then go and attend to some other minor wounds that had been suffered by the crew. The captain’s had been the most serious. By some miracle, no one had gone overboard or been struck down.

Domingo had kissed me on the cheek and gone to the galley to return Esmaralda to her bigger cage, then help Guthrie put everything to rights. Everywhere below decks was a shambles and would take some time to clean up.

I tried to find out what had actually happened from the men who’d been on deck.

“I don’t rightly know,” Hillier admitted, shaking his head. “One moment the sky came all dark and exploding with lightning and thunder, worse than anything we’d seen yet, and the next moment it all snuffed out like a candlewick. So quickly, we stood there in a bit of shock for a time. I’ve never seen a storm go down like that.”

“Two of them, you mean,” I said.

“Never saw more than one. Whatever you called down on us took the storm away, White. Don’t quite understand, but I ain’t gonna worry about it.”

Everyone wanted to shake my hand. Nobody was afraid of me. But now I felt an enormous sense of responsibility and wondered if this would be my new job and whether I could actually call up my magic again.

I ended up in my old hammock down in the hold, where I fell asleep for the remainder of the night and woke up feeling worse. I found Domingo in the galley, helping Mr Guthrie tidy up.

The mess table was bolted to the floor, and the counters were built into the ship. But the chairs had been in piles, and the pantry was a mess of spilled food and flour. I helped Domingo restore order, whilst Guthrie tossed random things into a giant pot of boiling water and made a stew. There was no lack of fresh rainwater, collected in strategically placed items on deck and also from unintended sources. There had been such a downpour that rain had gathered where no rain had gathered before, and members of the crew had collected the fresh water in syphons and bottles, then poured it into barrels. We’d replenished our regular water stores whilst on Tortuga, so there was no worry on that end.

Domingo had been quiet, likely due to embarrassment at losing his habitual confidence and take-it-as-it-comes demeanor. So I tried to chit-chat as we mopped and cleaned the galley while the doctor tended to Dinesh.

“You know, I was terrified. I really did almost shit myself when you came into the captain’s rooms.”

He might as well know I was embarrassed about the whole thing too.

Domingo didn’t respond, simply renewed the force of his scrubbing. Which was unusual for a man who didn’t normally enjoy manual labour, or shutting his mouth.

I kept talking.

“I hope the captain’s all right. The wound wasn’t deep, and I know he lost some blood, but his colour was good when I left him.”

Domingo and I scrubbed harder. He still didn’t say anything. So I chose a different tactic.

“I hope he’s not laid up for too long. He was talking about inviting you to his bedchamber to have another go…”

This was a total lie, but I thought my words might get a reaction.

When they didn’t, I threw the mopstick down and stood before him, with my hands on my hips and the angriest expression I could summon.

“Domingo! Why won’t you talk to me?”

I hadn’t expected him to look at me the way he did then. He made the sign of the cross over his chest.

“Oh, what the fuck now? You’re not scared of me. You’re not scared of anything!”

He sat back on his heels and gazed at me. Licked his lips. Frowned.

“I don’t want to be! But your powers are—”

I folded my arms across my chest. “My powers are a gigantic pain in my arse, Domingo. I figured you should know that.”

His frown wavered. “How do you mean?”

“Well, for one thing, every time I use them I feel like I’ve died or travelled to another plane of existence. Nothing looks right, and everything goes very strange. It’s not a fun feeling.”

He considered this.

I crouched down so we were eye level.

“And the crew thinks I need to be handled with kid gloves, or avoided. Or they need to make me happy all the time. It’s…strange.”

A thought occurred to me.

“Oh God, Domingo, what if the captain starts coddling me? I don’t know if I can handle that.” I sat on my arse and put my head in my hands. “He knows just how to deal with me, and I like things rough and wild.” I jerked up and raised a finger, as if I were teaching a lesson. “There shall be no coddling in the captain’s quarters, not when we’re together in our sins.”

Domingo fought a smile but still appeared guarded.

“Are you a witch, in truth, Rooster? Are you a godless thing?” Domingo asked carefully in hushed tones.

I shrugged. “I don’t think so. Not sure I believe in God or the devil, to be honest.”

He didn’t tumble in shock, so at least he’d probably realized that.

“I’m surprised you do,” I admitted.

“What? Believe in God?”

“Well, yes.”

“Because I’m a whore?” Domingo said, enunciating the word with a certain relish.

“Were a whore. You ain’t one now.”

Domingo shrugged, but he didn’t look particularly happy.

“Then what am I, Rooster? If I’m not a dirty whore, I don’t know what I am.”

My heart ached for the look in his sad eyes, and I hastened to reassure him. I needed all the friends I could get.

“Oh, Domingo. You’re a part of the Arrow’s crew. You’re a friend of mine, and of Captain Martin’s. And Guthrie’s assistant. You’ve made a name for yourself aboard this ship, and your reputation doesn’t have anything to do with that life.”

Domingo nodded, blinking back emotion. “I miss some things. For one thing, there were significantly fewer possibilities of winding up at the bottom of the sea.”

I shook a finger at him. “ Fewer . Not none.”

He smiled this time. “No, Rooster, my dear. Not none.”

“The way I see things, you’re better off aboard this ship, with your friends.”

“ Are you my friend? Truly ?”

“Domingo, of course I am,” I said, taking a step toward him. He didn’t flinch, but he still looked wary. “If you can handle being friends with a witch or whatever the fuck I am.”

“Well, I suppose I’ll have to be. I’m sort of stuck here, at least for the moment.”

“Aye, that’s true,” I said.

“You’ve been nothing but kind to me, Rooster. And you fuck like an angel. I’m not used to being treated so gently as part of a monetary transaction. I’ve wanted to tell you that for a long time.”

I was truly touched, both at his compliment, but also at the thought of what the reality of his life had been.

“Thank you, Domingo. You’re very easy to like, you know. And I shall always remember that night as being very special.”

“Thank you.”

“Friends again?” I said, holding out my hand.

“Friends again,” Domingo agreed, standing and enfolding my fingers with his own. “What you said about Captain Martin wanting to…” He waggled his eyebrows and gestured in the direction of the captain’s chambers.

“I was trying to get a rise out of you. But I won’t say another go with the both of us isn’t a thought he’s had.”

Domingo grinned. “Hmm.”

“Or that I have had…”

Now he laughed. “Well, well, well. Never been tupped by a witch before.”

I met his gaze with a smug look. “Well, in actuality…”

“Oh, fuck. Yes, I have. Although you struck me more like an angel at the time.”

“Not so bad, then?”

“Not at all.”

“Now look, we’d better get on with this cleaning, or Guthrie’ll have my arse,” I said. “And he’s not the one I want dealing with that part of my anatomy, to be frank.”

Once we’d made a dent in the cleaning, I asked for permission, from Mr Guthrie, to fill two bowls with stew. I grabbed two spoons and carried them to the captain’s cabin.

Boone was in his regular post outside the captain’s quarters with his arm in a sling.

“Oh dear, what happened?” I asked.

“One of the men fell on me. The break is a clean one, Faraday said. Didn’t you hear me scream when he set the bones?”

“No. Did it hurt that much?”

“Aye, and more. Still aches like a bastard. But I’ve got a ration of rum here that’s helping. And Faraday says my arm’ll heal well.”

Since my hands were occupied, Boone used his good hand to rap on the captain’s door.

“Yer witch is here, Captain, with your supper,” Boone barked.

“Thank you, Boone. Let him in, please.”

Boone ushered me in, then shut the door behind me.

The space had been put to rights, I was pleased to see. The errant sextant was in its place on the captain’s desk. Dinesh himself was laid out in bed, propped up on some pillows that, the last time I’d seen them, had been halfway across the floor. A miracle everything had stayed dry. He was wearing one of his everyday linen shirts, with the ties undone at his neck.

I placed the bowls of stew and the spoons on the dresser.

“Come here, Simon,” Captain Martin said, beckoning me over.

“How are you feeling, Dinesh?” I asked. “How is your leg?”

“I’ve had enough rum to keep me from despair and to dull most of the pain. Faraday stitched the wound and says if I can keep the puncture clean the injury should heal completely in a few weeks.”

“Can you walk, do you think?”

“Aye. I might have a limp, though, if the pain is great.”

I made a face. “Oooh. I don’t know if I can love a man with only one good leg,” I said, with much gravity and a pretence of distaste.

He looked taken aback until I gave him a broad smile and confessed to the joke. He rolled his eyes.

“You are a cheeky little devil.”

“Correction: a cheeky little witch .”

“ My little witch.”

“Will you eat some stew? Mr Guthrie said you might.”

“I’d love some. Thank you.”

I brought his bowl over, the scent of the rich broth seeping into my nostrils. My stomach growled.

“Here, I’ve got that,” he said, taking his bowl and spoon. “You get yours. Sit beside me, please?”

“Of course.”

I got my bowl of stew and settled myself on the bed. We didn’t have to wait for the liquid to cool as the trip from the kitchens had done that already. My first bite proved the perfect temperature: hot enough to warm us, but cool enough to eat with haste.

“Fuck, this is good,” I muttered, chewing and swallowing.

“What’s this made from? Chicken? The flavour’s wonderful,” Captain Martin muttered, slurping the broth from his spoon.

I froze.

“I…didn’t ask. Oh God, it is chicken…”

The captain met my horrified gaze.

“Oh, Rooster … ”

“It’s fine,” I said, lowering my spoon into the bowl.

“Squid popped in to see how I was and said two of the chickens had perished in the hubbub of the storm. I wasn’t going to tell you. I suppose Mr Guthrie decided to make use of them.”

I nodded. I wanted to eat the rest of my stew, but now I was filled with sadness and regret. Of all the things that could have brought me to tears over the past twelve hours, a meal wasn’t what I’d expected to affect me.

I turned away from him. I’d tried to be so brave all this time.

“Are you crying, my darling?” Captain Martin asked.

“Not because of the chickens.”

Well, not solely because of that.

An arm circled me and pulled me against the captain’s warm chest. He nuzzled me and kissed my face. “It’s been a hell of a day,” he whispered in my ear.

And I released what I’d been holding so close, all the tension from thinking I would perish in the storm, the stress of trying to call up my powers, when I had never done so before, and seeing the captain injured. The effect of all these things had piled up and now spilled over.

“Oh, fuck, I’m sorry. You need to eat your stew and get well,” I blubbered.

“It’ll keep. I want to make sure you’re all right.”

“I just… I don’t know who, or what I am. Or what I can do . Or if I should do it.” I tried to explain. “I’d assumed the magic to be out of my control. Now, I’ve been proven to have some, but that brings with it all kinds of other considerations.”

“Yes, I suppose that’s true. You’ve a lot to bear, Rooster. I do see that.”

“Thank you.”

“And I will be with you and stand by you to help you learn more about these powers. They’ve done nothing but good for me. I wouldn’t be here right now if you didn’t have them.”

I started sobbing again, thinking about that very valid fact.

After a bit, I recovered my emotions, wiped my face with Dinesh’s handkerchief, and we ate the rest of our meal.

“How is Domingo faring? That storm frightened him,” Dinesh said.

“He’s all right now. Except that I had to explain to him that I wasn’t the devil’s child, only as confused about my fucking powers as everyone else.”

“I don’t know how he could think you had anything to do with the devil.”

I shrugged. “He believes in God, and heaven and hell, and all that malarkey. I can’t fault him for his beliefs, but they do make him quick to jump to conclusions.”

“Do you not believe in God, Rooster?”

I looked at him funny. “I…do not. I didn’t think you did, either, to be honest. I hope my words haven’t offended you.”

“Not at all. I’m still open to the…well, to the idea of God, I suppose. Perhaps not an old man looking down on us from above, but a greater force in the universe. Some entity that might have blessed a beautiful young man with great powers because he loves so much and so ferociously.”

“Do I?” I asked, sitting on the bed beside him and leaning in. “Love ferociously?”

“Most ferociously,” he said. “I’m afraid you wear your heart on your sleeve, Rooster. You try not to, with your rough talk and rude words, but your sweet, soft heart is plain to see by everyone around you.”

I frowned. “That’s a load of bull.”

He laughed. “Ask anyone. I dare you.”

“All right. I will.”

He gazed at me in benign surprise when I stood and went to the door.

I opened it.

“Boone.”

“What?”

I glanced over my shoulder at Captain Martin, who had an amused look on his face, then turned back to Boone.

“Do you think I’m fucking sweet, or a foul-mouthed and belligerent rascal?” I asked, folding my arms over my chest and planting my feet apart.

Boone thought about that for longer than I’d expected him to.

“Well, though I think the captain should wash your mouth out with soap, then put you over the rail for a good hiding, your nasty words ain’t but a cover for the loveliest heart I’ve encountered on these open seas.”

Well, that made me mad. How dare he prove the captain right about me?

“Boone! For fuck’s sake!”

He smiled and made a kissy face at me. I slammed the door and turned to the captain.

“That proves nothing.”

The captain threw back his head, laughing with delight. Then he gazed upon me with so much love I thought I might explode, even after hearing the cruel words he’d said about my heart.

“I can assure you that if I were to bend you over the rail, it would be for a very different purpose,” he promised.

“Oh my God. In front of everyone?”

He sighed with regret. “I suppose that would be a little much.”

“Although, they probably wouldn’t be as intimidated by my powers after seeing me in such a position.”

He nodded. “Truly. We must consider the idea.”

I went up to the bed and lifted the blankets, peering underneath. As I’d suspected, Dinesh was completely naked below the waist, but for a wide bandage wrapped around his injured thigh. The dressing made him look vulnerable and helpless, especially with his poor cock standing at the ready after that conversation.

“Would you like me to help you with that, Captain?” I asked.

“Only if you want to, my dear Rooster.”

“My God, man, how can I resist?”

“You can’t possibly. I’ve manifested it just for you.”

“Mmm,” I said, folding the blankets down at his knees, exposing him. The most adorable bubble of fluid sat at the very tip of his pink prick.

For one moment, I felt guilty about taking the time to have fun with the captain, when the rest of the crew repaired the damage the storm had caused. But then I decided that making sure our beloved captain would be comfortable and at ease so his leg might heal well didn’t feel such a wayward occupation. I convinced myself I was doing a valued duty for the entire crew.

“Wait,” he said, as I zeroed in on his rampant appendage.

“Why?” I whined, gazing at him in frustration.

“Well, because I had a rather filthy thought.”

I feigned surprise. “You? Never.”

“Mmm. Would you do something for me?”

“I was about to.”

“Something else .”

I put a hand on my hip and narrowed my eyes at him. “You can’t move around, you know. You have a lightning injury.”

“A splinter, nothing more. But, yes, you’re right. This wouldn’t involve me moving at all.”

“Oh. Then what do you want, you confusing, confounding man?” I asked, with put-upon frustration.

He seemed suddenly bashful. “Well, if you wouldn’t mind…”

I raised my eyebrows.

“I’d rather like to see you…bare from the waist…”

Not too shocking.

“And kneeling at the foot of the bed…”

Still, nothing we hadn’t done before.

“Playing with yourself, I’d really like to watch that.”

Oh, I see . That was different. But would such an activity fulfil the requirements?

“With my cock, you mean?”

“If you’d like…”

“What would you like?”

“I’d like to see you—” He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and sighed, as if contemplating a religious ritual. “—playing with that sweet hole of yours. That is what I would like.”

“Is that all?”

He opened his eyes and smiled beatifically. “Yes. That is all.”

“A simple request.”

“I thought so.”

“But specific.”

“Mmm.”

“And then you want your prick sucked?”

“Yes, that would be lovely,” he said, as if I’d just offered to serve him afternoon tea.