Edward whipped his head over and leaned back. He hadn't expected an answer so quickly and succinctly. After Edward took a moment to process what she said, he nodded.
"I guess you're right. Robert was always on the side of the law, which is why he joined the marines. Well, I feel foolish. I'm receiving life lessons from a young pup."
Christina laughed. "I'm not a young pup." She playfully pushed Edward.
Edward grabbed her arm for support. "Don't, that's dangerous." But he grinned.
The two gazed at the ocean, not saying anything. They listened to the people in the town below, their muffled voices filtering to the top of the hill, the breeze travelling across the ocean, and the calls of the birds as they flew over the island.
Christina leaned over on Edward's shoulder. "Thank you, Edward."
"For what?"
"For helping me forget, even if but for a moment." Christina touched the wooden rose hanging around her neck.
Edward wrapped his arm around Christina's shoulder, pulling her close. Christina wrapped her arms around Edward's waist and held onto him. Warm tears soaked through Edward's shirt, but he did not say a word. Soon, Christina lay on his lap, breathing softly from slumber.
Edward lay back, closed his eyes, and slipped to sleep as well.
…
Edward opened his eyes and the cliff was gone, replaced by a drab house with a fireplace. A boy was playing with a wooden knight. He wore a smile on his face as he made the knight jump.
Edward remembered the toy Henry lent him so long ago. Edward also knew what happened next.
Edward's uncle-in-law flashed in and grabbed the toy in one hand, an open bottle in the other. His uncle-in-law cast the toy into the fire.
"No!" both the young and old Edward yelled.
"Think ye can bring trash into my house, can ye?" Edward's uncle-in-law yelled. The man picked the boy up by the neck and pressed his body against the fireplace, the flames licking the boy's stomach. Little Edward screamed and thrashed in pain, but the man held him still.
The fireplace disappeared, and the boy Edward lay in front of the door. Edward's aunt stood in front of Edward, protecting him. His aunt and uncle began arguing, but he couldn't hear the words. His uncle back-handed his Aunt, ending the argument, but she refused to move.
Boy Edward rose up. "When my father comes back, he'll kill all of you!" the boy yelled, rushing out the door after.
The house turned to smoke and transformed into the cliff again. Little Edward sat, his head on his knees, bawling. Another boy was consoling him.
"Why did he leave, Rob?" Edward pleaded. "Why did Dad leave me?" He cried between his legs.
"Your dad didn't leave you."
"Then where is he?" Edward yelled, angry.
The young Robert Maynard pulled Edward's arm away from his tear-filled face. "He's waiting for you." Robert pointed to the sea. "He's waiting for you on the sea."
"You think so?" Edward asked, wiping his eyes.
"You always told me he said 'A man knows no greater freedom than the sea.' He wants you to become a man and find freedom, to find him, out there."
"You promise?"
"Promise," Robert replied immediately, his youth-like assuredness in full force.
This was the day Edward decided to go to sea. It didn't matter how, he would make it happen.
The smoke returned, shifting and transforming where Edward was.
"Come back to me," Edward heard whispered in his ear.
Edward was now on the port of Badabos. Beside him was the ship he'd bought, his Freedom. Before him was Lucy, the woman he loved, the woman who loved him. The old him. The whaler, Edward.
"Wait for me," Edward replied. The old Edward.
Edward was suddenly staring down at his old self and Lucy as they kissed for the first and last time. Edward was on the port and in the air at the same time. His old self, and yet also his new, simultaneously.
Lucy turned to Edward in the air. Edward peered at Lucy from above, and she aged before his eyes. A scar grew across Lucy's eye, blinding one eye and marring her dainty prettiness. Her eyes changed in the same way as Edward, darkening from the sorrows of life. The eyes carried an edge like a knife, different from Edward's hate-filled eyes; Lucy's filled with what could only be called righteous fury.
Edward could not bear to stare at those eyes any longer and turned away. Edward noticed Lucy's right hand fall away, and was replaced with the claws of an animal. Suddenly, Lucy was no more, and Christina was there instead.
Christina took her right arm, the hand still an animal claw, and removed it from her body. Christina knelt down, offering the arm to Edward on the port, and Edward accepted.
Edward then stared at his counterpart on the port. Edward's beard grew on his face, becoming long, filling with smoke from lit wick. Edward's eyes grew dark as he grew older, until the eyes resembled another's. Foreign and filled with malice, Edward didn't recognise them. Those demonic eyes filled the dream with a darkness Edward couldn't escape. The eyes were dragging him into shadows, whether he liked it or not.
…
Edward shot awake and a chill crawled up his spine. Within seconds his dream was a forgotten memory, but the feeling he felt at the end remained. "Something's amiss."
Christina rose up, wiping sleep and tears from her eyes. "I'm sorry, Edward."
Edward shook his head. "No, no, not you. Something doesn't feel right."
Edward scanned the ocean, the harbour, the town itself and back, but he couldn't see what was causing his unease. He rose from the edge of the cliff and Christina joined him. Christina was focused on Edward and his mania. Edward peered at the town again, and like a bloodhound his head moved this way and that. He stood on the tips of his toes as if tracking a scent.
Edward ran back down the hill and into the market street. Many shops were closing despite a few hours of daylight being left. Edward glanced left and right up and down the market until settling on the right, down the market street.
"What do you see?"
"You can't feel that?"
"No," Christina said with confusion evident in her voice.
Edward kept staring down the street trying to see something through the throng of people milling about. His eyes were furrowed and focused like an eagle. Christina also focused her senses in the same direction, imitating Edward. Edward's eyes soon widened with recognition.
Edward quickly grabbed Christina's arm and pulled her into a side street and ran. "What's wrong Edward? What did you see?" Christina asked through laboured breaths.
"Not right now. Keep running." After Edward rushed Christina up and down different streets at random, their legs tired, and they ran out of breath, so he stopped. "I think we'll be safe here, for now."
"Safe from what? What are we running from?" Christina asked while holding onto her knees.
"You recall me mentioning the man in black?" Edward said through ragged breaths.
"The assassin? How could I forget? Your tale of his countenance was riveting. He's here? How did he know to come here?"
"I imagine Captain Smith, our previous pursuant, was forthcoming about our hometown to help this one's investigation. His timing is impeccable."
"I recall you saying he was injured several times when you met with him, but he didn't feel the pain and kept chasing you."
"Well, then you know how dangerous the man in black is. We need to find Henry and leave before he finds us." Edward took a few deep breaths and began walking again, albeit slower.
Christina followed Edward closely. "Why run away? We should fight."
"We are far too outclassed. I'm not sure any of our fighters could match him, even fighting together." Edward weaved through the houses, making his way to Henry's parents.
"But we've been practicing together. We can take him."
Edward stopped and turned around, facing Christina head-on, and gave her a glare so fearsome she was frozen still.
"If we fight him, at the leas
t we will be horribly injured, at the worst we will die. The latter is more likely." Edward turned back around. "We must keep moving."
Christina didn't say another word as they made their way between the houses of the town to where Henry's parents lived. Edward sprinted up to a small whitewashed house of simple design for a poor farming family, and knocked on the door loudly and swiftly. No answer came, so Edward knocked again.
A shuffling noise preceded the door slowly opening. An older woman peeked out behind the door and eyed Edward up and down with confusion and fear. Until she peered into his eyes.
"Edward? Is that you?" the woman asked.
"Yes, it is me, Mrs Morgan. Henry is here, is he not?" Edward asked politely.
"Ed?" Henry's voice sounded behind the door, before it was opened wide. "What are you doing here? What's wrong? Don't we still have a few hours left?"
"We must cut the visit short. The man in black is here."
Henry's eyes widened. He turned to his mother and embraced her. "I am sorry, but I must leave."
"Is something the matter?" she asked.
"No, no, all is well. We are simply being cautious."
"Well, please be careful. I love you."
"I love you too, Mother."
"How touching," an unknown voice said behind them.
Edward, Christina, Henry, and Mrs Morgan turned their heads swiftly. In front of the house was the man in black, the Royal Assassin. His cold eyes filled the group with fear and the image of death flashed before their eyes.
Edward raised his fists, Christina pulled a dagger from her belt, and Henry joined Edward in a defensive stance.
"Hmm, I did not see your ship in the harbour. It must be hidden somewhere. I suppose I can have a little fun for a bit." The man, dressed in a black leather longcoat, flashed a knife from his sleeve and held it lightly in his fingers with the least amount of effort.
He's toying with us. Edward's anger replaced his fear.
The jet-eyed man threw one of his poison needles at Edward. Christina, reacting faster than Edward, pulled him aside. The needle slipped past Edward's forearm. At the same time, the man with the hair slick like crow's feathers ran and slashed with his knife. Christina blocked the strike with her own knife.
Normally, the needle missing Edward would be a fortunate occurrence, but someone was standing behind him.
Henry's mother.
The needle hit her in the neck and pierced the skin. She pulled out the needle, peering at it through unfocused eyes before fainting.
Edward turned his gaze to Henry's mother. Henry had bent down and was crying her name. He examined his mother as Alexandre taught those aboard the Freedom to do. "She's alive, but I don't know for how long."
The clang and flash of blades brought Edward's attention back to the street. Christina was fiercely attacking the man in black, her anger driving her blade faster and stronger than ever. The assassin deftly blocked and parried the blows with ease.
"You have ten minutes, more likely eight, judging from her size and frailty," the assassin said, still blocking Christina despite looking the other way.
"Edward, my mother needs help." Henry lifted her off the ground.
Edward gritted his teeth and turned back to the assassin. "Take her to the ship, Alexandre will be able to help her. We'll hold him." He pulled out his golden cutlass and began a charge.
Edward slashed down. The assassin jumped back, out of the way. Edward stood beside Christina and lowered his stance. Christina set her foot on Edward's bent knee and flashed another knife into her other hand. The two were ready to battle as one.
The assassin watched as Henry headed north with his mother in his arms, and grinned maliciously. "Interesting."
Edward stared down the man in front of him. A crowd of spectators had gathered behind the man. "So, what is your name, so I may stop thinking of you as 'The Assassin'?"
"My name is Edward Russell, but as we both share a name you may call me by the name I have amongst those who fear me: The Plague."
Edward wasted no more time talking. He ran over, leaping into the air and descending with his blade. Plague stepped to the left. Christina jumped off of Edward's back and into the air with a flip to move behind Plague, then sprang forward to slash at his back. Plague spun, blocked the strike with his dagger, and kicked Christina in the stomach.
She let out a muted cry and doubled over in pain. Edward slashed at Plague. The man in black, surrounded by the air of death, ducked and dodged each oncoming swipe from Edward's golden blade.
After a momentary exchange, Plague jumped away from Edward and Christina once more. "Christina, are you hurt?" Edward asked.
She rose as she clutched her aching stomach. "I'll be fine. I can keep going."
"Eagle and the Bear," Edward said while holding out his golden blade to Christina.
Christina nodded, taking the cutlass and handing Edward her dagger.
Edward threw the dagger at Plague. Plague ducked down. Edward turned and bent down, cupping his hands. Christina ran at Edward, jumped, and landed in his cupped hands. Edward launched her into the air, then ran to the Plague. He grabbed the man in a bear hug while he was distracted by Christina, and turned around. Christina fell with the blade aimed at Plague's back.
"Foolish!" Plague said.
The assassin flexed his muscles. Edward's grip broke. Christina was still falling. Plague stepped forward, pulling Edward with him, and thrust his dagger into the air. Christina was impaled on the short blade. Edward was sliced in the shoulder with his own cutlass. Christina dropped the cutlass as her strength left her. It fell to the ground with a clang.
Plague threw Christina to the ground and she lay in a heap. "Christina!" Edward yelled, holding his shoulder. His eyes were drawn back to Plague. "Damn you!" Edward yelled furiously. "You'll pay for that."
"Doubtful."
Plague flicked his wrist and sent a dagger flying towards Edward's throat. Edward pulled up his hand in a pathetic attempt to guard himself.
From above, a spear swiped the air. The dagger flew away with a metallic ring.
Pukuh landed in front of the kneeling Edward. He didn't have on his usual warrior clothes, but that did not detract from his countenance. His strong back and arms stood stalwart in front of his brother. He had one hand on his hip and the other held his spear at his side.
"Pukuh!" Edward exclaimed.
"Take the little warrior back to the ship, brother. I will take care of this one."
Edward glanced from Christina to Pukuh to Plague. "But…" Edward shook his head and stood up. "Right. We'll wait for your return."
Pukuh and Plague watched as Edward grabbed his cutlass, then picked up Christina. She was bleeding out rapidly. Edward wished Pukuh luck, then headed north to the ship.
"So you share the name of the Mayan God of Death. We are similar. I'm called Plague."
"I do not know what this 'Plague' is, but it is not your true name, no?" Plague shook his head no. "Then we are not similar. You merely adopted a name of death. I am the God of Death."
"Let us hope you live up to the name. I have become rather bored."
Pukuh grinned at Plague's gall, and because he too was bored with those he'd fought aboard the Freedom.
Against this man, Pukuh could go wild, and he was excited.
…
Edward ran through the town, following paths memorised as a child. Pukuh will win. If anyone can, it's him.
Edward emerged on the market street where the people of Badabos were walking back to their homes after a long day. They turned to watch the tall man with long black beard carrying a young woman and leaving a trail of blood behind them. Edward kept running through the people and once more into the alley between the houses and businesses.
The blood didn't let up, and kept falling at a steady pace. Christina had fallen unconscious not long after Edward began running, and she was turning pale.
"Hang in there, Christina!" Edward yelled, unsure if his wor
ds were reaching her.
Edward picked up the pace as he ran deftly through the trees of the small forest along the path created over the years. Animals turned to watch their passing and cried out at Edward's urgency.
Edward emerged from the trees to a small sandy beach hosting the Freedom. The crew aboard were readying to set sail, no doubt apprised of the situation by Henry. When the crew noticed Edward with another body in his arms, they lowered a small dingy into the water for him.
Edward laid Christina down in the small boat, then gave a thumbs-up to raise it. As the crew gently pulled the ropes, Edward climbed up a ladder.
"Someone call for Alexandre!" Edward yelled as he jumped over the railing. "Tell him to bring the needle and thread."
Edward helped the other crewmates on the pulley bring the dinghy and Christina in. After the dinghy was lowered onto the waist, Edward scooped Christina into his arms and laid her down on the deck.
Blood poured onto the ship, soaking into the pine planks. Edward pulled up her shirt and lowered her breeches. The wound was lower and the cut deeper than Edward anticipated
Alexandre ran up the stairs to the top deck as Herbert crawled over to his sister's body.
"What happened?" Herbert yelled at Edward.
"Did you not hear the story from Henry?" Edward screamed back. "The Plague is upon us. The man in black. The assassin. He did this when we were trying to fight him. If Pukuh hadn't shown up when he did…"
"How could you let her fight that monster?" Herbert asked, his eyes shooting daggers at Edward.
Before Edward could defend himself, Alexandre pushed between the two of them. "Argue later, fools. I need to work quickly. Hold her down."
Edward and Herbert held down Christina's arms and legs with all their weight, just in case. Alexandre used a needle and thread to pinch closed the wound on Christina's lower abdomen. His thread-work was better than anything Edward had seen, and the wound was closed in a matter of minutes. The wound still bled, but not as badly as before. After Alexandre finished, he washed and cleaned the wound once more with his bottled water and cloth.
Alexandre set another clean cloth over the wound, and made Herbert lay his hands over it lightly. "Press gently. Clean any blood, but do not disturb the thread." Herbert nodded in affirmation, and Alexandre headed back downstairs.
Blackbeard's Revenge (Voyages Of Queen Anne's Revenge Book 2) Page 28
