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In the swirl of passion	By : Lywhn Category: M through R > Peter Pan > Het Views: 35043 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Peter Pan, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 13
- 14
- 15
Chapter 14 – Wendy in danger

Slowly, the girl regained conscious and blinked around her. A dull headache, a stale taste, a sickness were the first things she recognized – and that the world seemed to be swaying. With a low moan she tried to touch her head, but for some reason, she couldn’t lift her hand. It was several moments until the dizziness lifted enough to reveal that she was shackled. She now heard the quiet male voice near her, sniggering mockingly. “Sleep well?” His harsh, dark voice woke her completely.
With some difficulty, she turned her head and looked up toward the buccaneer, who sat above her. His black fur instantly identified him: Blackbeard. “Where are you taking me?” she asked, and didn’t recognize her voice at first. It was pitched low, hoarse.
“To my domain, pigeon, where we’ll have a special talk – to begin!”
The memory of the last hour rushed back to her and she paled. She knew exactly what he meant by this. “I will not betray Peter! Never!”
“Pigeon, t’is is only one part of the whole matter. I t’ink ‘tis very necessary to prune yer talons and, by the way, to show ye who has say in t’is world!”
“And you think you have it?” she asked with anger reborn. This unsavory bastard really seemed to believe he was the king of the world! Goodness, even James was humbler than that, even with his oversized ego.
Teach looked on her; his face a cold mask, his eyes shining with an unhealthy fire. “For your world, surely!”
For a fleeting moment, Wendy was tempted to tell him that he was about to do violence to the lady of his ‘partner’ James Hook, but then she decided otherwise. An inner voice told her this must still be kept secret. A shadow fell on her face, and as she twisted around to look, she recognized a high wooden wall – the wall of a ship, the sloop – The Revenge. Blackbeard’s ship. Wendy felt her heart sinking. The only remaining hope was that the Jolly Roger was on the other side, and that she could possibly alert Hook’s crew, call for help as soon as she was brought on deck.
The longboat was made fast at ship’s side, and Blackbeard rose, pulling her with him. She grimaced as he nearly dislocated her arm in the process, but pressed her lips together to suppress a yelp. The risk was too great that he would simply gag her. And how should she then call for help? She met his piercing gaze and felt a chill. This man was more fearsome as she ever had imagined.
“Impressive, birdie! I t’ought you would start to weep,” he grinned.
Wendy straightened her small shoulders. “For this you have to do more!”
He chuckled. “We’ll see. Up with you!” he nodded to the rope-ladder.
The girl looked at him with disbelief. “And how should I do this with bound hands?”
Teach grumbled something and gripped her, throwing her over the shoulder of the pirate next to him and barked for him to take her on board. The short trip up the rope-ladder was a horror. Wendy couldn’t breathe, slung over her carrier, his shoulder dug into her belly, and without the possibility of steadying herself with her hands. She could see the water below her and the longboat with the remaining pirates. Blackbeard waited for them on deck. “Take her to my quarters!” Teach ordered when the arrived at the rail.
Wendy carefully turned her head in all directions. Her heart skipped as she saw, upside-down, the mighty masts of the Jolly Roger only four or five fathoms away from the rail of the Revenge. For a moment she felt the pressure of tears behind her eyes. Then suddenly, realizing that James was only a few feet away and didn’t know anything of her awkward predicament was almost overwhelming. She saw a black face with long raster-braids near the rail of the galleon and reacted without thinking. “CECCO!” she screamed as loud as possible. “HELP!”
The next moment she received a blow to her head that made her dizzy again. “Shut up, bitch, or you’ll regret it more than your foolish attack back on the island!” hissed Blackbeard, and even if Wendy would have dared to shout again, she couldn’t have. Her eyes and ears didn’t work, and the pain that exploded behind her forehead made her sicker than before.
Her bearer climbed up narrow, steep stairs to the captain’s quarters, into the cabin and let her fall onto the floor in the middle of it. New pain shot through her, and this time she did moan. “Leave us alone!” Blackbeard’s voice came from directly behind her, and the crewmember left. She heard the door close behind him.
Wendy bit her bottom lip and flinched as she felt the short stabbing pain and tasted blood. ‘Please, Cecco, hurry!’ she prayed silently, and was suddenly pulled up and jerked into one of the chairs around a mighty table. “Please, have a seat!” Teach said derisively, and dropped her in one of them. Then he pulled another chair nearer and sat down. “Now, pigeon, let us start that whole talk again!”

Cecco meandered over the deck in the direction of Jukes, Albino, Cookson and Mullins where they sat for a bit of a chat. They and several other pirates had restocked the Jolly Roger that morning and were now finished. And that was good, because everyone of the crew had a hangover, and accomplishing anything took twice as much effort as usual. Even the parrot – Short Tom – sat tired, his belly fat, on one of the lower yards, his head hidden under one of his balding wings. He had been overfed by the other crew out of amusement, because not one of the strange pirates had ever seen such an ugly parrot before. The Revenge had a parrot, too, but a very pretty one. It was female with yellow and green feathers. “She comes from t’e sout’,” her keeper had bragged, and she had looked at Short Tom with curiosity first. Then she saw his wooden leg and his missing eye, and the pirates could have sworn that she sat beside him the whole evening purely out of pity, until he had dared to preen her feathers, which she seemed to like very much. Laughing, the men had watched the both birds. She had been shy, and he had sat near her with swollen breast. Several of the Roger’s crew had joked: “Look, now we’ve two pairs of love-birds aboard!”
Cecco looked up at the captain’s parrot. He really was a sight, with his missing feathers. Earlier, he had been beautiful as well – a brilliant yellow and an eye-piercing blue – but since they’d come to Neverland, and after the captain’s injury, the bird seemed to change with his master. Ignoring the beaten appearance, Hook hadn’t banished or killed him. None of the crew had ever thought that their commander had enough heart to allow this ugly beast to stay. But, on the other hand, the bird had served him many times, and even an ugly spy was better than none.
The giant black pirate straightened and sighed, the whole world seemingly at peace for the moment. God bless these easy days and the good mood of Hook!
Suddenly, a scream destroyed the peaceful atmosphere, he heard his name and a cry for help. And the voice came from the Revenge. What the devil--? He stopped dead and looked toward the other ship, curious as to who wanted his help. Then he paled beneath his dark skin, recognizing the small figure with the long hair, brown breeches and white shirt, lying over the shoulder of one of Blackbeard’s devils, and Teach hitting that person over the head.
“Ghosts and demons!” he whispered. “T’e captain’s lass!” He whirled around and ran to the stairs leading to the bridge.
Short Tom croaked something that sounded like Hook’s usual “Silence, you dogs!” while Mullins jumped up. “Ho, Cecco, where y’ goin’?”
“Fetchin’ t’e captain!”
“He called Smee only a minute ago. I t’ink he jus’ woke, and you know how sulky he is when he gets up!”
Cecco had reached the stairs. “In t’is case he’ll be going to very angry if I don’t come to him!” He raced up the stairs and pounded shortly at the heavy door, opening it without waiting for a reply, and stormed into the cabin. Hook was only clad in his breeches, and Smee was helping him into the harness.
The captain’s face grew dark, incensed by this rough disturbance. “Cecco! How dare you--”
“Cap’n! Blackbeard ‘as Miss Wendy!” Cecco interrupted, taking the risk.
James’ face went pale. “What?”
The black pirate nodded. “I saw her on board his ship. She seem’d t’ be a prisoner and Blackbeard hit her!”
Never before he had seen the face of his commander express such rage. Even when Pan was near, Hook’s visage didn’t change this drastically. Red sparks danced in his suddenly narrowed eyes, and the vein on his temple pulsed. “Smee, hurry!” he whispered fiercely. The old bo’sun returned life. He quickly fastened the harness and helped James into his shirt, while the captain ordered Cecco to load a pistol and to bring it to him.
Cecco had not often been in his commander’s quarters, but knew where the weapons were kept. As quickly as possible, he fulfilled the order and returned to Hook, who was almost finished with dressing. Hook buckled on his weapon-sash with his sword, took the pistol with a short nod to his black crewman, and stormed out of his cabin – even without his hat. “Smee, put the crew on alert!” he called over his shoulder and ran down the stair to the rail, climbed to the plank and pelted over the wood.
Several of Revenge’s pirates looked up in surprise, and Richards started toward him, asking respectfully what they could do for him, but James didn’t bother to answer. He turned to the stair leading to the captain’s cabin, intending only to reach his Wendy and to protect her from any danger. His blood sang in his veins and his eyes crackled with energy, sharpening his senses while anger burned in him. If Blackbeard touched her, he would not hesitate to kill the bastard!

Blackbeard closely watched the girl sitting before him. He had unshackled her and her delicate hands lay in her lap. She really was a beauty, there was no doubt. Even the developing bruise on her cheek and the small cut on her bottom lip didn’t allay this impression. She had smooth, pearl skin, lightly tanned. Her hair was brown with golden strands, silken, touchable. The torn but now knotted shirt hid her small, firm breasts, and the breeches couldn’t hide the soft sweet curves of her young body. She was the type of girl he preferred, and she was far lovelier than his current wife. But what captured him were her eyes. He’d never had seen blue-grey eyes like these before. And then there was her fire, and her courage… He couldn’t deny that he admired it. Most people he met were terrified by the simple mention of his name. Whenever he captured a ship, most of the men on them surrendered like terrified little girls.
But here sat a ‘little girl’ and had the courage to defy him, even though she knew who he was. This was a new experience for him, and it fascinated him, indeed, stimulated him – more than he could use right now. But, he sighed, duty first. He would have his fun with her later – and long before he would give her to Roberts.
“All right, pigeon. We’ll start again. You tell me where the boy hides, and I’ll not hurt you any more. I don’t like to hurt women. I prefer to do something more pleasant to ’em.”
Wendy glared at him. She tried very hard to conceal how much he frightened her, and she hoped that her show of courage would affect him as it had the crew of the Jolly Roger: a waking of respect. “Is that the reason you hit me twice?” she asked with a voice that sounded -- to her great relief -- not the slightest bit unsteady.
Blackbeard smiled – a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Pigeon, ye attacked me – threatened me with MY pistol – and even tried to kick at a very sensitive spot. So don’t be pretendin’ to be surprised t’at I reacted like every other man would.”
“Odd!” Wendy retorted. “I’ve met other men who remained something you aren’t: as gentlemen!”
Teach barked a laugh. “I’m a pirate, birdie, not a gentleman!”
“You could be both! I know a pirate, who is also a gentleman!”
“Ye mean Jas? He’s always been a gent to women. And we always get a good laugh when he treats a wench like a lady.”
“Do you even know what a lady is, Captain Teach?” the girl asked back.
“Aye! I met enough on the ships I captured. Pale, hysterical chickens. Not like you!” he added and touched her unharmed cheek.
Wendy didn’t turn her face away. She knew that her only chance was to delay Teach until Cecco had informed James – IF the giant black pirate had recognized her and IF he had gone to his captain. But this last part of her thoughts she repressed quickly.
“See? It isn’t so difficult to be nice to me,” Blackbeard grinned, and Wendy felt the almost overwhelming urge to slap him – maybe even with the balled fist. She couldn’t bear looking at him anymore and glanced around her.
The cabin was well furnished – even if most of the furniture didn’t really match. Every piece was expensive, but the different styles – Spanish, Italian, French – projected the effect of indiscriminate jumble. And the stench in the cabin was something, she had never smelled before: smoke, alcohol -- and fear! The whole room stank of the fear of so many people.
She heard Blackbeard clearing his throat and glanced back at him. He grinned strangely, and, alarmed, she saw his face drew nearer. Instantly she stiffened. “I warn you only this one time, Captain Teach. Don’t. You. Touch. Me.” She remembered that she had said the same to James, but even as he had been an enemy to her, she hadn’t felt this kind of loathing and disgust as she did now. Never! James had always fascinated her, and there had been that odd temptation whenever he had been near her – until it had changed into something that was so strong now that it should have scared her, if she hadn’t loved to feel like this so damn much.
But with Blackbeard now so near her – and his intentions so obvious – she only felt pressed and slightly sick. “Ye warn me, pigeon?” he asked slowly, his eyes went uneven.
“My name is not pigeon. It is Wendy Moira Angela Darling, Captain Teach. And for you, it’s Miss Darling!”
The smile on his face unnerved her more and more and suddenly he gripped her neck. “Miss Darling, eh? Yer family-name fits, pigeon. You could be my darling, Miss Darling, if ye stop rejecting me.”
“I cannot help it, but you have this affect on me!” Wendy snapped and tried to wriggle free, pushing at his broad shoulders.
“The boy said ye tell stories. May I tell you a story? I have a very nice house in Beaufort in Carolina, near the Atlantic. And a nice French lady, only 18 years old and a common-law wife, accompanied me there. Not of her own free will, I’ve to admit, but nevertheless she was t’ere with me. And shall I tell ye? She rejected me over and over again, fought and even scratched me. Do you know what had come of her?”
Wendy stared at him. She didn’t really want to know what had happened to the poor woman – no, girl! “She wore a rope on the nice high oak in my back yard, as I returned to sea. I gave order to my servant to take her down when she started to rot. Ye know I don’t like the rank of decomposing bodies!”
The girl could only glare at him in renewed horror, and she felt so reasons to repulse this man that it almost made her tremble. “And you’re proud of it, you bastard! How much courage does a man need to kill a defenseless woman?”
His face darkened. “Don’t insult me, pigeon, or I’ll show you how I tried to tame this French wench!”
“Is this all you can do? Threats and force?” Her fear was gradually replaced by irritation.
“This is how the world runs, girlie. The stronger takes everything and the weaker has to fall!”
Wendy’s cheeks burned with anger as she heard the nick-name again that had infuriated her as child, and no less now than then. “How dare you call me ‘girlie’!” she hissed, and, bringing her feet up to his chest, punted him backwards, then jumped from the chair and bolted for the door.
His hand grasped her and hauled her around against him. With a scream, Wendy tried to hit him, but he seized both wrists and twisted them behind her back. “I was patient, pigeon, but enough is enough!” he snarled. “You will tell me where the boy hides, or I’ll be sure that you’re smaller when I’m done with you!” He jerked her to the table, forced her right hand down on its surface, and pulled his dagger out of the sheath, setting the blade at her little finger. “It will not hinder you very much, but it’ll hurt like hell!” he growled. “And if you intend to remain stubborn, t’en it will be the next finger – and your ears. I don’t care if you’re incomplete when I take you to my bed!”
Wendy’s anger turned finally to fear. “Let me go!” she cried, and tried to escape him, but without result. He had her firmly trapped between his heavy body and the table, ignored her little left fist and her squirming, and increased the pressure of the blade, drawing blood.
“Last chance, girlie. Tell me where t’is tyke lives and where the treasure-chests are, or I will mangle ye even so that boy doesn’t recognize you anymore!”
Terrified she looked up at him and blanched at the bizarre look of pleasure on his face. This man was insane – someone who delighted in the pain he could inflict on others. “I’ll count to three and if you don’t speak, t’en it will really, really hurt!” he murmured with husky voice.
Never before in her life had Wendy felt this kind of horror. Ice flew through her veins and a brutal fist gripped her stomach, and she realized that this man really didn’t know mercy, took joy from the pain of others.
“Please,” she whispered desperately, “please, no!”
“It’s up to you, little bitch!” Teach gave back coldly. “One!” The girl wrenched at her right hand, tried again to pull free, but he held her in place. “Two!”
Tears sprang to Wendy’s eyes. “I… I cannot!” she cried out. “Please! Don’t…”
“I don’t care what you can or cannot do! Tell me what I want to know, otherwise in several seconds, you’ll have one less finger!” he growled.
Wendy felt the blade cutting her and let out a high-pitched scream, only drowned out by the sharp crack of a pistol shot. The dagger flew out of Blackbeard’s hand, and a totally perplexed Teach froze. Through her tears, the girl saw the handsome, familiar face of James Hook, white with fury, eyes blazing.
“Jas!” Blackbeard called out, starting now to laugh in relief. “A great shot! But please, warn me t’e next time. Ye know I’m so easy to scare!” He nodded to Roberts, who had arrived at his door, and the lieutenant turned and retreated.
James only had eyes for Wendy. He examined her white, tear-stained face, the terror in her eyes, and the dark cheek, the result of a brutal blow. Her full bottom-lip was split and a single drop of blood ran out of it and over her chin. He was relieved that he had come in time, before Blackbeard could permanently injure her, and at the same time, full of rage, knowing what the other captain had intended to do, and what he had already done. Hook’s whole body was shaking with fury while the urge to comfort his lady and to wipe away her tears pulled him forward. “Let her go, Edward. NOW!” His voice was like a lash.
Teach blinked in surprise. “Hey, lad, I’m just learning where the boy hides and--”
Wendy used the distraction, and stamped with all her might on his foot. It had the same effect as it had for Cookson more than four years ago. Teach squalled loudly and weakened his grip. Without hesitation, the girl shoved him backwards and ran to Hook, with a cry throwing herself into his arms, which were instantly wrapped around her. Safe! Here she was safe – in his arms!
“You’ve come!” she cried silently and pressed herself as close as possible to him. His familiar scent surrounded her; the strong arms held her, and she could hear the rapid beating of his heart. She felt his soft curls under her face, and the metal of his weapon-sash, and the smooth silk of his shirt touching her nearly exposed breasts. Untold relief washed over her, accompanied with the wild urge to sob, before the tension returned to her body.
Her knowledge of the pirate rules and of Blackbeard’s character told her that the whole mess wasn’t over yet. James tightened his embrace and pulled her form to his. “Are you all right, Wendy?” he whispered in her ear, never letting Teach out of sight.
Somehow Wendy managed a little nod – even if was almost a lie. She wasn’t all right. The fear still held her in a powerful grip. James sensed it. He fastened the empty pistol to his belt and stroked her hair with a calming motion. He didn’t care that this reaction gave away his relationship with the girl. The only thing that mattered was comforting her.
Blackbeard steadied himself at his table, holding his foot. His face was red with anger. “Ye damn bitch!” he groaned, tore a knife out of his belt and strode to Hook and Wendy. “For t’is you’ll pay! You’ll sing like a bird now or…”
James grasped Teach’s wrist in an iron grip; his eyes boring deeply into the small slits of the other man. “Don’t you dare come near her, Edward!” he hissed.
The other buccaneer blinked several times and relaxed slightly. “What the devil--” he started. “James, in only minutes you could know where--”
“I don’t care! Not if she has to pay the price!” Hook interrupted with a hard voice.
Teach rolled his eyes and pulled his arm free. “Grog and gargoyles, James, forget one moment your noble fuss around females! She is the lady friend of this boy and of course she knows where he lives. Do you want to have him or not?”
“Yes! But not by tormenting her!”
The answer was a deep sigh. “James, at times I ask myself how you ever became a pirate! To treat a wench a bit harsh isn’t really this dramatic, and sometimes you have to ask in a stronger way to get information. As far as I remember, you weren’t so prim in interrogation as well!”
The look Hook gave him could have frozen the sun. “First, she isn’t a wench, and second even I have my limits. And mutilating a young girl is below even you!”
Blackbeard folded his arms over his broad chest, cocking his head. “Have you gone soft in the last year?”
A slight shudder ran through James’ body and his eyes narrowed. “I have not become ‘soft’, Edward, I only have my scruples.”
Wendy wasn’t listening closely to the men. The only thing she felt was James’ nearness and the world began to darken around her. She knew that there was anger at hand. Teach wouldn’t give in this quickly, and James would never ever let her down.
Blackbeard glared at his future partner and the girl in his arms. He snorted. “You really haven’t changed, James. You always acted the cavalier toward the females.”
“You haven’t changed as well, Edward. You are still the cruelest man I’ve ever known!”
Teach shrugged his shoulders. “I just don’t melt because of some women-tears!” he mocked. “Maybe that’s the reason you’re rotting on this island while I collect the booty! ‘Cos I don’t go belly-up from some tears and a pretty smile!”
James could not help himself, but sneered. “And that comes out of the mouth of a man who married -- how often now? Nine or ten times?”
“T’e thirteenth time, to be precise. And she’s more than troublesome by now! If she doesn’t change quickly I’ll banish her – or sell her at the slave-market!” He pointed at Wendy, who still clung to Hook, her face buried in his chest. “If you’re so worried about her, then I’ll let her alone and sell her as well. But only because of our old comradeship and t’e very good breakfast and party yesterday!”
Wendy grew sick again and started to choke. This man was not human, but a monster. Without realizing it, she had started to weep while she held James, whose hand cupped her head; his thumb stroking in slowly circles over her temple in a comforting gesture.
Hook felt his stomach drop to his shoes. The mere thought that his girl would be denuded, presented to a rabble of wanton men, be sold to some slaveowner, and to serve him in any way he demanded – possibly lashed if she dared to offer resistance – that thought lay a red haze of wrath over his sight, and flew like fire through his body. “She will not be tortured or sold, Edward!” His voice could have split ice.
A deep crease appeared between Blackbeard’s eyebrows. He was unaccustomed to contradiction – especially not with such vehemence. And this on his own ship, in his own quarters! “This is not for you to decide, Jas!” he answered firmly. “I’ve captured her and so she is my booty. You know our laws! Whoever catches ‘em then owns him -- or her!” He looked at the slender girl and started to grin. “Hey, I didn’t plan to give her to the crew. I wouldn’t get back someone healthy enough to sell at the market.” He laughed hard and mean over his own joke.
Hook felt Wendy’s hands digging into his back and heard the first small sob. The wild urge to protect her grew. And the problem was that Teach was right. Referring to the pirate laws, Wendy really was a part of Blackbeard’s booty. “How much?”
“How much what?” Teach asked uncomprehending.
“How much would you get for her?”
For a moment, Blackbeard considered before answering. “I think between seven and nine hundred doubloons. She’s young, pretty – things men like.” Suddenly he started to laugh again. “Maybe I buy her back, when I’ve send my wife to the devil and this little bitch is tamed.” He hit his own thigh with roaring laughter. “I’d really like to see how this temper works in bed!”
Full of loathing, Hook looked at the heavy man before him, felt the tears of his sweet Wendy wetting his shirt. He put his hand up to his mouth, and with his teeth, pulled the big emerald ring from his little finger, then held it in front of Blackbeard’s nose. “Is this enough?”
The laughter died on Teach’s face and his eyes widened. “Have you gone crazy, mate? The ring is worth three or four times more!”
“Then you’re making a good deal!” came the short, hard reply.
Blackbeard’s mouth dropped open. “Jas! What has gotten into you?” Then his gaze returned to the young girl, clinging to Hook and pressing her face to his throat, while the blunt side of his hook stroked with utter gentleness over her back. He furrowed his forehead, slowly realizing what, indeed, the matter was. “This little pigeon has gotten into you. You have her under your skin, ol’ boy!” Then it struck him. The two seemed were so intimate with each other: her flight into Hook’s arms, his odd protecting manner, his incomprehensible anger. This all could mean only one thing. And the thought really amused Teach. “No!” He started to chuckle. “Don’t tell me that she’s your girl – behind the boy’s back of course.”
James only glared at him; his cold look gave nothing away. Teach stepped back, taking them in. “I don’t believe it! The bitch is your wench and--” He started to laugh. “Ain’t it splendorous? Instead of using her as bait, or to press for information, you take her to your bed. You’re so hot for her t’at you’re even willing to pay for her! Hell and damnation, James, for t’at price you could have ten wenches when we’re back in Nassau!”
“There is a difference between a wench and a lady, Edward. And you have captured MY lady. So take the price I offer for her to follow our laws, or you have to fight me to keep her. She’s mine and none will take her away from me! Not even you!” The tone of his voice backed up every single word.
Normally, Teach would have taken the challenge, but for just a moment, he saw something in Hook’s eyes, something that made him nervous. It had to be a trick of the light, but he could swear that the other captain suddenly had blood-red eyes. Yes, Teach hesitated. This crazy island was full of surprises – fairies and flying children! – And who knew what had become of this man in front of him? Taking no risk he sneered. “For God’s sake, give me the ring and have your birdie – if she really is that precious to you!” He snatched up the ring and put it into one pocket of his greatcoat. “Take her from my ship and don’t let her come near me. Otherwise you can sew a sea-sack and order salute-shots for the farewell.” He cocked his head, as another thought struck him. “Don’t tell me that you’re going to take ‘er with ye, when we’re leaving tomorrow!”
Hook picked up a still quietly weeping Wendy and lifted one brow. “She’ll accompany me, Edward, if you like it or not!”
Teach rubbed his chin and straightened his beard. “Females ain’t allowed on pirate vessels. On the other hand – f’r almost a year now we got -- not one -- but two female pirates I know about now: Anne Bonny and Mary Reade. But this little pigeon over there couldn’t count to them!” His voice was mocking.
James snorted derisively. “You’re wrong, Edward. You don’t know her as I do. And, by the way, whoever travels with me is none of your business!”
A shrugging of his shoulders was the retort. “Your decision, Jas.” Teach turned around to his table, taking a carafe with red wine and refilled his glass. “I would offer you a glass as well, but your arms are full, as I see.” Hook didn’t bother to answer, finding it beneath him. “But you’ll come this evening?” Blackbeard continued and his tone was polite and easy, as if nothing had happened.
James lifted both brows now. “Of course, Edward. Thirty-two glasses in your quarters.”
Teach looked back and smiled. “Fine! Until then, ol’ boy!”
Hook nodded a greeting. “Edward!”
With that he turned and left the cabin. He felt Wendy clinging to him and her tears on his throat. He was still furious with what Blackbeard had done to her, and he knew that he had to calm down, if he wanted to comfort her properly. Several of Teach’s pirates looked surprised in his direction, but he simply ignored them. Nodding shortly to Richards, he stepped up the makeshift steps to the gangplank and walked over it. The Revenge was not as high as the Jolly Roger and so James had to walk up a grade, but he never wavered.
He reached his ship and was confronted by the whole crew, looking worried at him and the girl in his arms. Brimstone and gall, did all these dogs really CARE for the girl?
“Is she all righ’, Cap’n?” asked Cecco and James made an approving gesture.
“Yes, Mr. Cecco. As far as you can be all right, if you were in Blackbeard’s clutches.” Most of his crew stared at the small, trembling figure in the arms of their commander and felt more than a little irritation that someone had dared to threaten the beautiful, sweet, brave girl. Most of them liked her, in a way – her climbing up into the crow’s nest had earned their respect – and they didn’t like that ‘their’ Red-handed Jill had been shaken to her boots. And that was obvious. She had her face buried in the curls of the captain and her shoulders jerked.
Hook went directly to his quarters, calling loudly for Smee, and ordered black tea. The boatswain opened the door for him, let him enter with his precious cargo, and closed the port behind him before heading to the galley.
James traversed his cabin and laid Wendy gently down on his bed. But even now, she wouldn’t let go of him, and, with a quiet sigh, he sat down on the edge of the bed and held her to him. She wept openly now. Her whole body shook with the violence of her sobs, and Hook damned Blackbeard to hell. Ever so gently, he embraced her, stroking her back, laying his head on hers and rocking her slowly like a little child.
She almost had curled around him, with her knees pulled up and pressed against his hip and back and her arms encircling his waist. It seemed as though she wanted to crawl inside him. “Shh, my sweet!” he murmured, kissing the top of her head. “Everything is all right now. You’re safe. Here he cannot harm you. Shh, my love, calm down. I have you now. You’re safe!” He whispered more soothing things to her, and rocked her softly until her tears finally began to subside.
Smee had come in the meantime, bringing the tea. The dark and aromatic liquid steamed in a fine cup on the nightstand, sweetened with honey. He had met the gaze of his commander, saw the sorrow and the lingering anger in the blue depths, and had left the cabin as quietly as he came in. After a long time, Wendy lifted her head and looked up at him through swollen eyes. Her mouth trembled, and the thin cut on her bottom lip had started to bleed again.
“Better now?” James asked gently, wiping her tears away with his hand.
“I… I’m sorry,” she stammered, lowering her gaze. “I… I’m su… such a ninny!”
“No!” he answered with a small smile. “You are anything but a ninny. I have never met a braver and stronger girl than you, my beauty.”
“Your beautiful ring!” she murmured. “I’m so sorry about it and… and thank you… I mean!” He bent down and kissed her softly, licking over the small cut to clean the tiny wound. He tasted the salt of her tears and the steel of blood, but it didn’t matter. He felt her returning his kiss and knew her longing for security and tenderness. He pulled her closer to him, rubbing his cheek on her head, and continued to calm her with gentle words.
Slowly, so slowly, Wendy felt the chills leaving her body and the terror dissipating. The familiar surroundings and sounds of the Jolly Roger, James’ closeness and his scent and his gentle caresses calmed her more and more, until her tears finally stopped. But she still clung to him. To feel him like this was far too fine. Staring at nothing, she lay in his arms, listening to their hearts beating, and relished his body’s warmth she felt through the silk of his shirt.
He held her several minutes more, before he slowly straightened himself and lifted her chin with his hook, examining her cheek and bottom lip. Then he lifted her right hand and examined the cut on her little finger. The blade had sliced the skin, but there was no damage to tendon or muscle. But the sight of the blood-daubed hand awoke the white-hot wrath in him again, a wrath that even Pan was not able to provoke. That low-born son of a bitch! How could he brutalize a young girl like that!? He knew very well the pain of a missing limb, and to do that to a female was … was … unimaginable. Yes, Teach had been right when he said that he – James Hook – had used drastic methods, too, but he had never mistreated a woman!
Even beyond that, most pirates didn’t mistreat a female captive. There was a sort of honor among thieves. To cut a woman’s hair or to victimize her was beneath their sense of justness. Most pirates had been escapees, prisoners or seamen who had been tyrannized by society or the law -- that made a big difference, if you’re a simple or a noble man. As pirates, they had more rights than the other commoners – they even chose their captains! – and had developed their own way of caring for each other or for casualties. Every one of them gave a small part of their booty to a collecting box on the island of their ship’s home port. Wounded men, unable to travel at sea again, and widows, orphans and old pirates got a monthly pension to finance their living. The sum of the amount depended on the kind of the injury or – in the case of the widows – how many children they had.
Hook remembered the faces and the gratitude of three women who had lost their men during the last battle, before the Jolly Roger’s journey to Neverland. He had paid a high sum from is private fortune to three women, who had several children. It was from his own sense of justice that he did it -- to prevent the wives of his men who were left behind having to earn their money on the street as whores.
Amazed, James realized how much he suddenly remembered from his former life, while he pulled out a handkerchief and softly wrapped Wendy’s hand in it. The blood started slowly to soak through it and she winced slightly, but bravely clenched her teeth. “Stay here,” he told her, then stood up, and turned as he felt her left hand gripping his.
“Please, don’t go!” she whispered, looking and sounding like a little, lost child at the moment, with her big, teary eyes, her trembling lips, the torn shirt and the bloody makeshift bandage.
A tender smile played around his mouth. Knowing that she longed for his presence this much awoke a deep, warm feeling in him, and doused his burning anger once more. “I’ll fetch something to cool your lip and cheek and to medicate your finger. Drink the tea in the meantime.” Wendy nodded and hesitatingly let go of his hand. He pulled out a second handkerchief and offered it for her nose, then he stepped to the Spanish wall and disappeared behind it.
Wendy sniffed into the handkerchief and looked around her. What a difference compared to Blackbeard’s cabin! Everything here was clean, coordinated, displaying James’ fine taste and a hand for style. The windows were open and clear, warm air swept into the room, lit up with golden sunbeams. The windows in Teach’s quarters had been closed, filthy, blocking most of the sunlight. Here nothing reeked of fear and sweat. Leaning back on the headboard, she took the cup and sipped slowly at the warm tea. It tasted very good, the warm liquid calmed her stomach and expelled the remaining coldness out of her limbs.
James soon returned and set a bowl upon the nightstand. He wrung out a washcloth and cleaned the face of his young lover with utter care. Wendy’s eyes never left him. His gentleness was like balm for her still shaken soul, and she asked herself, for the umpteenth time, how could this man could be so hard and cruel and so tender and caring. She speculated that the brutal side of him had come with the hardships of pirating, but that his real self was this man she beheld right now.
James wiped away the tracks of her tears and blood, letting her press the cold wet washcloth to her burning eyes, and a second one to cool her cheek. By the next day it would be quiet colorful, there was no doubt, and one time more James cursed Teach’s behavior. Then he stepped over to his cabinet and took a bottle out. Fetching a towel, he returned to Wendy and unwrapped her hand. “This will hurt, my sweet,” he said with compassion. “But we must clean it, right?”
Wendy nodded, seeing the handwritten label: ‘iodine’. She sighed. She knew that James had understated: it would burn like hell. Again she clenched her teeth, and made no sound as Hook cleaned the cut with the potent yellow fluid and bandaged the hand very carefully. “All done!” he murmured and softly kissed her cool, damp forehead. “I have a very brave girl!” he winked at her and she managed to smile back.
“Yes, and me scorning that deadly wound!” she joked with forced gaiety, and earned a softer laughter from him.
For a long moment they only looked at each other, then James asked: “How did he manage to catch you? If he didn’t know Pan’s hide-out – and that is obvious, otherwise he wouldn’t have pressed you for information – how was he able to take you captive?”
Wendy sighed. Of course he had to ask this! And she knew that her answer wouldn’t please him. “I was talking to the fairy-queen when his pirates overtook me.”
“You talked to the fairy-queen?” he repeated slowly. “Where?”
”I think it must have been somewhere between the great waterfalls and the Indian village. I followed her through the forest to ask her about--” She stopped as she saw the crease in his forehead appearing; the first sign of his irritation.
“Didn’t I tell you to stay in the boy’s home? You even promised--”
“-- to be careful. And I have been – until Blackbeard showed up.” She took his hand and hook in her fingers, holding them in her lap; handling his ‘prosthesis’ once again as if it were a normal hand made of flesh and blood. “James, the fairy-queen is one of the ancient creatures of Neverland. I talked to her because of your odd link to the island. She knows the reason why you cannot leave and--”
“And for that you exposed yourself to the danger of Blackbeard?” he interrupted, his voice rising, and shook his head. “For God’s sake, Wendy, I thought you knew so much about him! So why did you--”
“To help you, of course!” she interrupted. “I know how much you are loathe to be here, and that even Blackbeard’s arrival is no proof that you can leave. The fairy-queen knows the answer and so I asked her.” She lowered his head. “Tink had spied on the both ships, and said that you and Teach were asleep and the crews were talking to each other. So I saw no danger and--” She paled and looked up. “Tink!” she cried. “O my God, how could I forget about her?” She wanted to stand up, but James held her firmly back.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“Back to the island. The fairy-queen and several other fairies tried to rescue me. Tink was there as well and she attacked Blackbeard to hinder him, before he could get me again. He … he hit her with all his might and bashed her against a tree! She wasn’t moving when I saw her last!”
Hook looked thoughtfully at his young lover. He saw the concern on her face and in her eyes, astonished at how kind-hearted this girl was. Tinker Bell hadn’t treated her well during her first stay in Neverland. She had even betrayed her to him and his men. Gall and gadflies, the fairy had tried to KILL the girl, and now Wendy sat here and was afraid for her. He stroked her hair and her uninjured cheek. “Calm down, sweetheart. I know this fairy very well. She is more durable than all of us put together. Perhaps she lost consciousness, but you can be sure that her thick skull has protected her.”
Wendy took a deep breath. “You’re convinced of that?”
James nodded sincerely. “She is perhaps a little groggy by now, but alive.”
The girl bit her lips and winced, rolling her eyes. “Damn split!” she grumbled, touching the tiny wound. “It was odd,” she continued. “In the beginning, it seemed as if the fairies were able to defeat Blackbeard and his pirates, but then suddenly they went weak and couldn’t get near his men anymore. It was as if an invisible shield was around the men, which deflected the fairies. They fell down and had trouble flying.” She scratched her head. “I’ve never seen that before.”
James sat on the edge of the bed, and descended a long moment into a brown study before he said aloud: “Maybe it has something to do with what the fairy-queen told us yesterday morning; that Blackbeard doesn’t belong here in Neverland and that he brings no good.”
Wendy considered his words and nodded slowly. “That makes sense.” She sighed. “Confound it! If Blackbeard had shown up only a little bit later, maybe I would know now the secret of your connection to the island, and how you can escape. I’m sure that she would have told me sooner or later. She really is on our side.” Inwardly she cringed to have to lie to him, but she couldn’t tell him what the fairy-queen had reveled. Wendy believed her as she said that he had to find this way alone.
Hook smiled softly. “On ‘our’ side?”
“Yes! Think of how often she helped me to reach Peter’s hide-out, before he could ‘visit’ you to ‘rescue’ me and… Why you are grinning like that?”
Instead of answering, he kissed her sweetly. With shining eyes, he let his gaze roam over her face. “Because you’re thinking about ‘us’ and ‘our’,” he whispered and Wendy blushed.
“I think I’m staying too often on the Jolly Roger.”
He stroked her hair from her face, his own expression so warm that it took Wendy’s breath away. “In my opinion, you’re not here enough!” he murmured before he kissed her again.
Wendy closed her eyes and melted into his arms. The rest of the terror she felt still remained deep inside her, but it mattered less and less – as long as James held her in his arms and kissed her as though she were the most important thing in the world for him. “Please, never do such a foolish thing again!” he whispered at her lips. “I thought I would go insane when Cecco told me that Blackbeard had caught you.”
A silent giggle sounded over her lips. “You looked like the Wrath of God incarnate on two legs when I saw you suddenly standing in Teach’s quarters.”
He nodded. “Aye! And I felt like it.” His lips grazed her temple. “I will go berserk if someone comes near you to harm you.”
She lifted her uninjured hand and stroked gently over his cheek. “I am sorry that I worried you.”
“That you did, my little wildcat.” He cocked his head. “Let me guess: you didn’t let them capture you that easily.”
She straightened her small shoulders and lifted proudly her chin. “Of course not. As this blond guy…”
“Roberts?”
“I think that’s his name. He was there first and I tried to get his cutlass to fight him. Regrettably, it didn’t work and then came Blackbeard. Goodness, he really is a bastard! He tried to assault me and…”
James’ eyes were small slits. “Your shirt,” he began and Wendy nodded.
“He asked me how old I am, and when I didn’t answer him, he tore it.” Her cheeks turned crimson again. “Of course, he saw the proof that I am not exactly a child anymore.” She heard James taking a deep breath. “I pretended to think about his offer and, when Roberts let me go, I pulled Teach’s pistol out of his belt and threatened him with it. But then Roberts attacked me, and I ducked and he hid Blackbeard, and then were the fairies there. I tried to escape, but Blackbeard was quicker and then…” She rubbed her head and moaned slightly. It had already raised quite a bump. “… then he hit me and anything went black. The next I remember, we were at his ship and I saw Cecco not so far away. I called for his help and the rest you know.” She snuggled closer to him. “It nearly tore me apart to see the Jolly Roger so near, and to know that you were only a few feet away, but to be alone and…”
New tears rose in her eyes and she felt James’ arms tighten around her. “Now you’re here,” he answered. “I’ve got you, my love, and I will never let you down!” He examined the bump on her head, and made a face. She must have a headache, there was no doubt. “How you are feeling?” he asked, “I mean, besides the headache and the cuts.”
“Groggy and… a little bit sick in the stomach.”
James nodded. That was evidence enough. “I think you have a slight concussion. Although there’s probably not much there to concuss,” he teased.
Pouting she looked up to him, “Hey!”
He made a grimace. “Otherwise, you wouldn’t have been so brainless as to run free through the forests with a pirate crew and an insane leader at your back!”
She looked at him coyly. “Honestly, I’m used to being threatened by pirates.” She smiled shyly. “Even if said pirates are under the command of the smartest and best-” She stopped and blushed again. “I think I’ll stop now!”
His warm laughter made her heart skip. He looked so incredibly handsome when he really laughed! “Ah, my beauty, you’re priceless. But nevertheless: thank you for the compliment.”
“I’m no beauty now. Just look at me. I’m --”
“-- still the most beautiful creature in the world!” he whispered and pulled her close to him. Wendy gave an amused snort, and nestled against him. They held each other like this for several moments, until he finally lifted his head. “You should rest now, kitten. It would help your healing, and your forgetting.”
She shook her head. “I can’t, James,” she murmured. “I… I keep seeing him before me. That odd pleasure in his eyes as he questioned me and--”
Softly he withdrew from her and strode to his cabinet again. “I’ll give you something to help you sleep.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to take any sort of medicine.”
He chuckled. “Now you’re really sounding like a little child.”
“I am not a little child anymore, James Hook!” she protested, starting him laughing again.
“At the moment, you are!” He filled a glass with fresh water, counted several drops of the small bottle he had fetched and gave Wendy the glass. “Drink this, Wendy-darling. It will help. Believe me. I take it myself, when I am restless at night.”
She gave him a very knowing smile. “I know exactly how restless you are at night. Even with a hangover. But I think the liquid has lost its effect, considering how you managed to tire out at night over the last several days!”
He snickered. “You taste much better than this. And,“ he bent down over her, looking intensely into her eyes, “— you’re far more healthy and satisfying, my sweet wildcat.”
Wendy giggled and drank the liquid – and made a face. “You don’t have to taste very good to taste better than this!”
He grinned. “I don’t even dare to compare it to you!” A pretty blush crept over her face while he took the glass away and helped her to remove her boots, the torn shirt and finally the breeches. He scowled at the hand-shaped bruise on her arm. He went to his locker for a new shirt, and handed it to her as a nightshirt. While she slipped into it, he turned back the blankets, shook out the pillows and gestured for her to lie down. A contented sigh passed her lips as she snuggled into the bedclothes. “Sleep well, my sweet!” he murmured and turned to go away, but again she held him back.
“James? Would you mind staying a moment or two longer?”
He stared down at her. She looked so small in the elegant bed under the heavy blanket, her hair falling over the pillows like a fan. “No, my love. Of course I wouldn’t mind!” he whispered, fetching a chair, and sitting down beside her, holding her uninjured hand in his good one. It wasn’t long before the liquid did its work, and her eyes drifted slowly shut. Her steady breathing and relaxed features told him that she had finally fallen asleep. Nevertheless he stayed longer.
Hook blessed Cecco and his unhesitating reaction after her call to him, choosing to ignore his commander’s certain anger. His gaze roamed over his girl, and he had to repress the thought of what could have happened, if it had been only a second later, or he hadn’t learned of her situation in time. “I could never bear to lose you,” he whispered. He knew that he had given more away with this statement than he wanted; but he also knew that it was the truth. The mere thought of living without her now scared the hell out of him. She was the centre and the light in his life, which was no longer just an existence anymore. He could say that he now really LIVED, when she was with him.
And when she looked at him with shining eyes and that tender smile on her pouting lips he felt wanted – wanted for the first time in his life. She had become everything to him and suddenly – as he watched her peacefully sleeping – he remembered what he had called her in a short while ago: my love. He groaned and rubbed his face. No! This could not be! But a small voice deep inside told him that he couldn’t deny it any longer. She had even found a way to calm his temper and his hate for the children – and for her, after that first visit in Neverland – yes, she even had wriggled herself into his heart and had started to heal the man in the pirate.
He loved her joyful laughter and her big dove-blue eyes, a mirror of her soul. He loved her way of speaking and her curiosity about everything around her. He loved her open, intelligent and free spirit as well as her courage and her wits. He loved that she wasn’t easy to frighten, and even dared to fight, if she was pressured. He loved it when the wind played with her gold-brown mane while she looked out at the sea – showing the same unappeasable longing for the endless freedom that he felt. He loved the way she moved and held her head, so graceful and so proud in one. He loved how she teased him with words, or during their wild hours of lovemaking. He loved her slender, smooth body, and when she wriggled beneath or above him, answering his yearning with a passion that matched his own. He loved to have her near him and only to look at her. He loved … her! And he’d loved her for some time now.
He couldn’t close his eyes to it any longer, and pretend that it was only passion that bound him to her. He loved her, the heart of Wendy, with his own heart and soul – with every fiber of his being! He wanted to have her at his side until the end of time. He wanted to wake up every morning beside her. He wanted to regale and to cherish her and to show her the whole world. He would lay anything at her feet if she would only stay with him. The mere thought of being without her brought something like agony to his mind and soul, and he knew that it would kill him if she ever would leave him.
He bent forward and kissed her cheek and temple, relishing her familiar scent of roses, and of her skin, and the soft silk of her hair that tickled his nose. He longed to lie beside her and to hold her until she awoke, but just now he had to be sure that they weren’t in danger.
He didn’t trust Blackbeard, not for a moment, and he knew that he had challenged the other captain with his words a short while ago. He was sure that Blackbeard would not take to what had happened, and he wanted to be ready in case Teach planned something devious.
So, he pulled the blanket up to Wendy’s chin and left, after a last look at her beloved face, shutting the door firmly behind him. He would instruct the crew to be alert and would make an inspection of the ship. He couldn’t take the chance that Blackbeard was up to something. He wanted to be ready if it came to conflict – for his men, for his ship and especially for his girl!

TBC…
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In the swirl of passion