The Blackened Soul

by Candace Osmond

  He was coming for me.

  I scrambled to my bare feet and took off into the forest, dodging branches and jumping over crooked roots. If I could just get through, get to the beach on the other side, I’d have someone to help me. My chest burned from the exasperated breaths I heaved, and my legs begged to stop. But I wouldn’t. I only ran faster. Especially once I heard the heavy and fast crunch of footsteps gaining from behind.

  “Dianna, get back here!” he growled.

  I pumped my arms and pushed my legs to go faster than I’d ever run before. Tears broke through and streamed down my face. Don’t stop. Keep going. I made the mistake of stealing a glance over my shoulder to see how close on my heels the pirate was when my toes hooked under a rogue tree root. I went tumbling down, smacking my face off the ground and ripping the skin from knees. It hurt like Hell, but I had to get up. I had to keep going.

  “Dianna?” a voice called again. But it wasn’t Benjamin. He came from the other direction.

  I lifted myself off the ground and limped along, heading toward the voice as my eyes desperately scanned the thick forest for the source. Three dark figures blurred in my vision, coming into view, and I squinted to make out the details. They were men; one abnormally tall, one short, and one with long blonde hair. Adrenaline lit fire to my veins and my injured legs somehow found the will to sprint across the forest floor.

  Unable to believe my eyes, I opened my mouth to speak.

  “Henry?” I squeaked out, my strained throat inept to push out sound.

  They were closer and began running toward me. I could see his face then. Those black eyes piercing through the distance, his ragged hair blowing behind while his big leather boots squashed the earth below as he ran for me.

  “Henry!”

  We collided with a hard smack and Henry’s long arms wrapped around me, lifting me into the air as he crushed my body against his. I twisted my arms around his neck and held on tight. Every fiber of my being threatened to unravel in his hold and I cried like a baby. My tears soaking into his hair, his neck, wherever my face pressed. He pushed away and grabbed my cheeks with his shaking hands.

  “I can’t believe it’s you,” he said and crushed his trembling lips to mine. Our tears streamed down and seeped into the cracks of our mouths before he pulled away again. His hands still holding me. “I never thought I’d see you again. When I witnessed you go overboard–”

  “Shh, it’s okay,” I told him, but partially for myself. I was in shock. “I’m here. You’re here.”

  His arms slipped down to my belly. “And baby?”

  I smiled. “The baby is fine. It’s strong. Like its father.”

  The relief that poured over his face was hard to ignore. He kissed my forehead and crushed me tighter. “I would say it’s more like its mother. You never cease to amaze me, Dianna. How you survived on this island by yourself, I’ll never understand.”

  Panic forced every bit of joy from my limbs and I spun around, searching. No one was coming. No sounds could be heard. Did I imagine Benjamin chasing me through the forest? Or was he lurking in the shadows? Deep down, some part of me knew he was there. Somewhere. I held tight to my pirate king.

  “Aye, Lassie, ye gave us quite the scare,” Finn spoke as he approached us from behind Henry.

  I broke free of his embrace to wrap my arms around Finn’s torso, nearly knocking him down. I’d missed my friend more than I thought. “God, it’s good to see you.”

  He pat my back. “’Tis a bloody miracle we even found ye,” he replied. “We were heading in the other direction when Gus here spotted the smoke in the distance. Even with the spyglass, it was hard to see. I said, Christ, there was no way. No island exists out here. But good ol’ Gus wouldn’t have it.”

  Gus finally caught up then, stopping at our little circle and gave me a smile as he bent over to catch his breath. My eyes glossed over.

  “Thank you,” I told him, and he swatted his hand in the air as if to shrug it off. “No, you don’t understand. I thought I was going to be trapped here forever. Finn’s right. It is a miracle you even saw my fire. I could have lit it at any other time, any other day. But you saw it at just the right time.” My voice lowered just above a whisper as I choked back the heavy tears that threatened to pour out. “You saved me.”

  Gus had calmed his ragged breathing and stood tall. “Yeah, well, it was either that or put up with a miserable captain for the rest of my life.”

  I looked at Henry then and he took my hand, pulling me back into his embrace. I inhaled the scent of him as his face nestled into my hair. “I’m never letting you out of my sight again, Time Traveller.”

  I stretched my neck to look up into his tired face. He looked like he hadn’t slept in days. “I won’t argue against that.”

  He kissed me then, a long and deep kiss full of desperation and love. He found me. Just like I said he would. Benjamin had sworn there was no way my ship would have survived the storm. But I knew it couldn’t be true. Fate had other plans for me and my beloved Henry.

  “We best be headin’ back to The Queen, captain,” Finn spoke up. “This wee adventure has set us back. It’ll be near impossible to find Maria at this point.”

  Henry’s brows raised. “Are you ready to go home?”

  Yes, every part of me wanted to crawl back into my bed. To see Lottie. Hug Charlie. But there was something holding me back. Something that I couldn’t just leave behind, knowing I could have helped. I turned to the trees, scanning the empty space between the thick trunks for any sign of movement. Benjamin had been hot on my heels. He didn’t just disappear. My guess was that he hid nearby. Watching.

  “Benjamin, you can come out,” I called to the forest. When he didn’t appear, I tried again. “Look, I’m sorry for running away. But you have to understand that I don’t belong here.” I took a few steps away from Henry, but he refused to let go of my hand. “And neither do you.”

  “Dianna, who are you speaking to?” Henry whispered to me with concern.

  “A man named Benjamin Cook. He found me when I first washed ashore and took me aboard his ship.” I decided to leave out the part about being a prisoner and the fact that his captain is a cannibalistic psycho.

  “A ship?” Gus clarified. “Where? We didn’t see any ship.”

  “Um, it’s–” I cleared my throat nervously, “It’s hidden by an invisible cloak which I think is from the same old magic that binds them to this island.”

  “You’re correct, sweetness,” Benjamin confirmed as he stepped out from behind a massive evergreen.

  Immediately, Henry, Gus, and Finn drew their swords. Benjamin followed suit and they stood across from one another, in a silent standoff. Testosterone heavy in the air.

  “Guys!” I yelled and stepped between them. “There’s no need for this! Lower your damn swords.”

  Reluctantly, my men did as they were told.

  “Aye, Captain,” Finn said.

  Benjamin quirked an eyebrow at me and grinned. “So, you were telling the truth, then.”

  I shrugged. “Of course. These are three men from my crew. Gus, Finn, and Henry.” I took a couple of steps toward my pirate king and took his hand in mine. Benjamin eyeballed the gesture and finally sheathed his sword.

  “Ah, so this is Henry,” he spoke seemingly to himself as his eyes scanned the man up and down before falling on me with sadness glistening in them. “So, you’re just goin’ to leave me, sweetness?”

  Henry’s fingers gripped mine tightly and I heard a low growl erupt from his chest. “You’ll watch your tongue, Sir. Address her as Captain Cobham or Dianna. Nothing more.”

  Benjamin glared at him challengingly as his massive frame leaned against the tree. “With all due respect, I’ll call her whatever I please. She and I have become quite close, you see. Sharing stories, secrets. I even shared my bed with her.”

  Finn and Gus moaned in the background, and Henry stiffened at my side.

  “What?” Henry roared.


  I rolled my eyes. “Calm down. He’s just prodding you.” I turned to Benjamin, slapping him with my stare. “You shared your quarters with me, not your bed. Stop being an idiot. I’m trying to help you.”

  He scoffed. “Help me? How could you possibly help me?”

  “By breaking your brother’s curse and setting you all free,” I told him.

  His face paled. “You wouldn’t do that.”

  “Why not?” I replied, offended. “What? You think I’d be one of those who’d run off with the gem?”

  “Of course! Who wouldn’t?” he barked back at me.

  “Me. My crew. We’re honorable people. And I want to break your curse. It’s the least I can do.”

  He stood there, lost in his own mind. I wondered, had Benjamin even prepared himself for the possibility that one day the curse could be broken? That someone like me would come along and save him? The tortured look on his face told me no. He’d accepted his fate many years ago.

  “Aye, we dinnae have time for this, Captain,” Finn spewed impatiently.

  “Yes, we do,” I told him. “They’ve been trapped here for nearly a hundred years. I’m not about to let them spend another century tethered to this damn island.”

  “But, what about Maria?” Henry added. “Your mother?”

  With a sigh, I replied, “I’ll find my sister. I’ll figure it out. But, right now,” my eyes flicked to Benjamin and back to Henry, “I couldn’t live with myself if I left them here.”

  Benjamin cleared his throat. “You’d have to come back with me.”

  “Absolutely not!” Henry bellowed angrily.

  “It’s the only way it will work,” the cursed pirate insisted with all seriousness.

  I realized then, what he meant. Captain Cook would be suspicious if his brother returned from the island without me. He wouldn’t let Benjamin anywhere near that gem. In fact, I may have been the only one who could get close enough to take it.

  Henry stated through gritted teeth, “Dianna will not be leaving my side.”

  As much as it killed me to even consider leaving Henry again, I knew Benjamin was right. Gently, I slipped my hand over Henry’s arm, pulling his attention to me. “He’s right. It’s the only way. His captain is insane. He guards the gem with his body and if Benjamin returns without me, it could very well set off his delusions.”

  My words were like slices of a blade on his heart, I could see that from the pain which emanated from his glistening eyes. With trembling hands, he gripped my arms and then held my face, tipping my chin up.

  “You cannot expect me to let you go, not after I just got you back. And to a ship full of dangerous pirates, no less?”

  “Please, I have to do this.”

  His voice broke with the strain of emotion. “You’ve no idea what you’re telling me to do, Dianna. You may as well ask for a piece of my soul.”

  “I know,” I told him. “I’m sorry. It’s not fair for me to put you through this again. But I promise,” I grabbed the back of his neck and kissed his lips, “I’ll come back. I’ll always come back, remember?”

  He pressed his forehead to mine and closed his eyes tightly, fighting with himself. At last, he let out a defeated moan. “Fine.” Henry let me go and stomped over to Benjamin. “If she is not back by dusk, I’ll be coming for her. And I shall not be merciful to those that cross my path.”

  They stood there, two burly pirates, in a silent standoff. Benjamin finally replied with a grin. “No harm will come to Dianna, that much I swear.”

  “I need more than that,” Henry demanded.

  Benjamin rolled his eyes. “She shall be back by sundown, I promise.” Then, over Henry’s shoulder, he said to me, “But we best get back now before the rest wake up and see that you’ve run off in your bare feet. We may not be able to explain our way out of that one. And that fire,” he said to my crew, “It needs to be out. If my captain sees the smoke, it shall not be good for anyone.”

  “Lassie,” Finn piped in, “are ye sure there’s no way one of us can sneak aboard? In case ye need help?”

  “No, it’s too risky,” I told my loyal friend.

  I watched as he removed one of his many leather belts, a small one that held a sheathed dagger. “Here, put this on and hide it under yer jacket.”

  I gladly accepted the weapon and strapped it around my waist before tucking it under the cover of my coat. My stomach felt sour with worry and fear. I’d risked everything to escape The Black Soul that morning and now I was handing myself back to it. I told Henry I’d come back but, truthfully, I had no idea what awaited me once Benjamin and I returned. Benjamin walked a few steps back in the direction we had to go and then stopped to wait for me.

  Before I joined him, I fell back into Henry’s arms and held onto him for dear life. I didn’t want to go. The thought was akin to ripping every bit of skin from my body, slowly and painfully. I layered the tear-stained kisses on his lips, one desperate touch after another and he hungrily ate them up as his arms held a death grip around my body.

  “Come back to me,” he finally said once I pulled away.

  “Always,” I promised.

  His palm pressed gingerly against my stomach, giving a silent goodbye to the baby inside, and then I broke free of our embrace. Our eyes locked on one another as I reluctantly backed away and I knew, if I didn’t turn then, I’d give up. I’d run back to him. I wanted to be brave and honorable. To help save my friend. But, deep down, I was weak. Love ruled my heart, and my heart sat on the throne of my very being.

  So, I turned my back to him.

  I met Benjamin down the trail and we sprinted back to the beach where the tiny rowboat waited. I sat like a lump of deflated emotions on the narrow seat as a silent Benjamin rowed us back to The Black Soul. I stared down at my bare feet. They were scratched and dirty, bleeding from tearing through the forest in the panic I’d been in. They never hurt until then. I shifted in my seat, dipping them in the salt water to cleanse the dirt from the fresh wounds and winced from the sting.

  Benjamin moaned. “Am I that horrid?”

  “What?”

  “You jumped over the side of a ship, risking the lives of you and your baby, and ran across the island in your bare feet just to be free of me.”

  “No,” I replied, my chest filling with guilt, “It wasn’t you I was escaping. It was him I was fighting to get back to.” He didn’t answer and let the boat fill with an awkward silence as we passed through the invisible curtain. “I’m sorry.”

  He scoffed and looked away. “What do you have to be sorry for?”

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t be what you wanted me to be,” I explained.

  We brushed up against the side of the ship and Benjamin stood to grab the rope ladder that hung from its side, holding us in place. He peered down at me before ascending.

  “Do not be sorry, Dianna. I was a fool to think I could keep you.” I watched as his chest heaved up and down. “If you can break this damn curse, I’ll owe you my life.”

  I smiled and took his calloused hand in mine. “When I break this curse, you can keep your life. Just promise to do some good with it.”

  He couldn’t help but smile back. Even though it were weak and backed by a sense of sorrow he seemed to squash down. “You’re quite the woman, Dianna. Henry is a lucky man.”

  Laughing, I replied, “I know,” and let go of the pirate’s hand. “Now, let’s get this over with. I have a plan, so just follow my lead. Okay?”

  “Aye, Captain,” he answered jokingly and began to climb the ladder.

  I followed him up and over the side, immediately scanning the deck for signs of life. All clear. We were lucky. It didn’t seem as though anyone had woken up yet. We quietly sprinted across the deck to his quarters and shut the door behind us.

  “Here, put these on,” he told me and tossed my leather boots at my feet. “Now, what is your brilliant plan?”

  “I never said it was brilliant,” I replied as a slipped on my boot
s. “I need to be alone with your brother, so I can get close enough to take the gem from around his neck.”

  He pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’re right. That’s the worst plan I’ve ever heard. I promised to bring you back, Dianna. If Abraham gets you alone, I have no way of protecting you. And won’t it seem suspicious that you’re suddenly wanting to be alone with him?”

  “I won’t need protection,” I said and flipped open my jacket to remind him I was armed. “I’ll make him some food and bring it to his quarters. I’ll wait until he invites me to stay, which I’m convinced he will, and I’ll accept. Nothing suspicious about it. He’ll just think I’ve finally given in.”

  Benjamin paced the floor. “I don’t like it.”

  I shrugged. “It’s all we’ve got. Unless you have a better idea?”

  The man’s face morphed into something dark. “I could kill him and take the gem myself.”

  I gasped at the sudden change in his tone. “Benjamin, you don’t have to do that. He may be mad, but he’s your brother.”

  He shook his head, eyes drifting in thought. “No, my brother died many years ago. A shell of a man sits in his chair. I should have rid the Earth of him long ago. But I was too much a selfish coward to do it. I didn’t want to be left alone.”

  “I can’t ask you to do that,” I told him. “To live with that.”

  He shrugged helplessly. “Look at what I’m already burdened to live with, Dianna. The things I’ve done for that man. The poor souls I’ve sentenced to death aboard this vessel. What’s one more life?”

  I chewed at my bottom lip. “No, just let me try first.”

  He grew impatient with me. “We don’t have time.”

  “Yes, we do,” I replied. “We have until dusk. Stay calm and act as if everything is normal. Let me get close to him. I’ll knock him out if I have to, but I’ll get the siren’s heart without bloodshed. No one is losing their life today.”

  I hoped.

  Chapter Eleven

  Iholed myself away in the kitchen to prepare some food for the crew while I mulled over my plan. Playing nice and letting myself be alone with Captain Cook was going to be hard. The more I thought it over, the more I wanted to take Benjamin up on his heinous offer. But I wouldn’t.