There was still something about Catheryn that didn’t make sense.
As they boarded the ship, Catheryn headed straight to their…his quarters. He couldn’t help but notice the other crewmen watching her as she passed. She was a beautiful woman, and it made him proud to call her his. But he noticed that Mathis’s gaze lingered a little longer than it should.
Rainier didn’t like that at all.
Chapter 9
Catheryn…
“Rainier?” Catheryn called out. She opened her eyes and looked around, but she was alone. Funny. She could have sworn she heard someone say her name. She must have been in that place between sleep and awake, that place where you can’t tell dreams from reality.
She sat up in the bed and stretched. She had to admit, she could get used to sleeping in her own comfy bed and waking when she wanted to.
Okay, it was Rainier’s bed, and he had slept in it, too. But he hadn’t tried anything. They had both been so exhausted when they finally returned they just collapsed into bed and fell asleep. Since she was going to be Rainier’s kept woman for a while, maybe she could talk to him about getting her a bed of her own. At least a mattress on the floor instead of a pile of straw would be nice, and more appropriate.
She walked over to the door and looked through the glass. She could once again see the men working, going about their business. She saw Rainier, too, but he didn’t seem to see her. He was too busy giving orders and keeping an eye on everything.
If only he wasn’t a vampire.
What? He’d still be a pirate. Actually, no, he wouldn’t. There were no human pirates. They’d all been killed or ran aground long ago. It was simply too dangerous for them. They couldn’t compete with the vampires.
Catheryn shook her head and went to Rainier’s desk where her usual bowl of grits with honey and a glass of orange juice were waiting for her. Today, there was also a fresh fluffy biscuit. The cook must have been taking advantage of the provisions they had secured last night.
Stole! she reminded herself. They stole those goods, and those people. Those poor people. Trapped below deck. Scared out of their minds. She shuddered. Maybe there wasn’t anything she could do for them, but at least she could be honest with herself about the reality of their situation.
Catheryn…
She heard something in the back of her mind. Not a voice really, but something like a memory, clawing at her, trying to get her attention. As she finished her breakfast, she looked around, hoping she would see something that would jar her memory. Then she saw her bag.
The book!
She had forgotten all about it when she arrived back at the ship. She pulled the book from her bag, took it over to the desk, and admired the artisanship in the light. It was large and bound in dark, nearly black leather. The title of the book and the skull and what looked like runes on the front were gold embossed.
She opened the book carefully and ran her fingers over the pages, which were no ordinary paper, but vellum. Each letter—each embellishment—had been meticulously drawn.
The book seemed to be a mix of folk tales and folk magic, telling stories of why hoodoo was used, who used it, and how. She read one story of how an old woman used her connections to the earth to help plants germinate and grow. Another story was about a father who loved his children so much that, when he died, he poured out his essence so that he could protect them throughout the generations. The stories were beautiful, romantic, and heartbreaking. But the one theme that ran through them all was that they were good. The people and their motives for using the hoodoo were pure of spirit.
She thought about her experiences with hoodoo before this moment. Nearly everything she knew about hoodoo came from what she had seen in the Hoodoo House, under the control of the Hoodoo Queen.
In the Hoodoo House, indeed throughout most of the NOLA Division, the Hoodoo Queen was a woman to be feared. She used her powers to control the division’s resources and elevate her status. It was her dream that NOLA would eventually be her personal domain.
The Hoodoo Queen’s use of magic was almost completely selfish, and certainly terrifying. But according to this book, hoodoo was primarily used for good, and for selfless reasons.
Catheryn decided to try a simple spell, just to test the veracity of the book and her own abilities. She found a spell for making an amulet of protection. She certainly thought that would be useful, living on a vampire pirate ship.
Almost everything she needed she was able to find in Rainier’s quarters: a small leather bag, a string of horsehair, two gold coins, and water. The last item she needed, though, was a pinch of salt. Salt, like most spices, was a precious commodity. She would have to try to find some in the ship’s kitchen.
She took her empty food tray with her and headed below deck. That ought to be a good excuse to go down there. The kitchen was on the second deck. Surprisingly, she didn’t see any of the humans who had been captured the night before. They were probably being kept in the very lowest deck, below sea level, trapped in cages. She shuddered. She would have to find a way to help them.
When she found the kitchen, the cook was scurrying around. He was a short, plump man with a friendly face. She had seen him before, when he would bring her her meals, but they had never spoken.
“You didn’t have to do that, missy,” he said, taking her tray. “I could have picked it up when I brought you your lunch.”
“I don’t mind,” she said. “I really just wanted an excuse to get out of the cabin, stretch my legs a bit,” Catheryn said, her eyes darting around the room, trying to figure out where the salt might be kept.
“It’s no mind, no mind,” the cook said. “Is there anything else ye be needin’? We got a good haul last night, as I’m sure you know.”
“The biscuit was a nice treat this morning,” she said.
“Oh, aye!” the cook replied, beaming. “Glad you noticed. Nothin’ beats grams’ homemade biscuits.”
“Is that who you learned to cook from? Your gram?” Catheryn asked, making polite conversation.
“Oh, yes,” the cook said, a wistful gleam in his eye. “Not the same, though. Hard to find some of the ingredients she used. She made everything with a big spoonful of butter, and that was many, many lifetimes ago. Hard to keep butter on a ship like this these days.”
“I’m sure,” Catheryn said. “You make due pretty well, though. I certainly love the little dollop of honey on the grits. Your grandmother must have been a southerner.”
The cook laughed as he opened a pantry and pulled out some ingredients. Catheryn noticed several small bags. Spices!
“Oh, that she was,” the cook said with a laugh, but Catheryn had forgotten what she said to illicit that response. She had to create a distraction so she could find the salt.
She spied a crate of oranges. She concentrated and willed the crate to tip over. But nothing happened. She sighed and thought about what Rainier had said about her powers manifesting when she was in danger. She certainly wasn’t in danger now, talking to this kindly cook. She had to find another way to distract him.
“Well, why I don’t I help you with these dishes,” she said as she moved toward a tub on the countertop that served as a sink.
“Oh, that’s not necessary, dearie,” he said as he reached for the tray.
Catheryn just happened to let go of the tray before he could grab it, and the whole lot crashed to the floor.
“Oh no! I’m so clumsy!” Catheryn exclaimed. “I’m so sorry. Let me help you clean it up.”
“No mind,” the cook said. “Don’t cut yourself. You don’t want to find yourself bleeding on a ship of vampires. Just let me get the broom.”
When he left to go around the corner, Catheryn opened the pantry and stuck her fingers in every bag, using touch to try to find the salt. She didn’t have much time; who knew how quickly he’d return. She felt the texture of the contents of each bag, guessing which each was: flour, sugar, something leafy…and then, there it was. Salt! Sh
e grabbed a handful, stuffed it into her pocket, and closed the door to the pantry just before the cook came back.
“You best step back,” he reiterated as he came back. “Even though everyone has eaten their fill lately, some vampires imply cannot resist the smell of fresh blood.”
Even though Catheryn thought he was just giving a polite warning, she couldn’t help feeling a sense of unease creep over her. The cook seemed like a nice, safe man…but he was a vampire, too. All vampires had a base, animalistic nature. She should never get too comfortable around any of them. They could always turn on you in a shot.
She nodded as she headed out. “I’m really sorry,” she said. “But thank you again for the lovely breakfast and good conversation.”
“Feel free to come down and see me anytime,” he said as he waved her away and crouched down to clean up the mess.
Catheryn practically flew back to her room and shut the door. She ran back to the desk and followed the instructions to construct the amulet. She placed the coins and salt inside the bag. She used the horsehair string to tie the bag shut and create a loop so she could wear it around her neck. The only part she wasn’t sure about was where it said to “carve a rune of your soul on the bag.”
What on the great seas did that mean? She flipped through the book, but could find no information about what a rune of your soul was. She finally decided that it must be something personal, something unique to each person.
Using a letter opener, she etched a symbol into the leather of the bag. She didn’t know what it was supposed to be. It swirled to the right, the left, and the right again, and she placed two dots inside two of the swirls. Hopefully it would be good enough. She placed her newly crafted amulet around her neck and recited the casting that had to accompany it.
Night and Shade
Daylight Fade
Protect the light
That burns inside
She waited, but nothing happened. She didn’t know what she expected, but perhaps the magic was more passive, more like a good luck charm. She shrugged and started to clean up the little mess she made and was looking for somewhere to hide the book when she heard a slow creaking sound behind her. The little hairs of warning perked up on the back of her neck, and she thought she felt a warming in her chest where the amulet was hanging. She turned and saw Mathis, the first mate.
“You’ve been a bad girl,” Mathis said, licking his lips.
“What are you talking about?” she asked.
“I saw you, in the kitchen, sweet talking ol’ Cook. I saw what you did.”
Her face went hot. Had he seen her steal the salt? Or was he just bluffing? She didn’t know, but she knew that he was bad news. She had seen the way he eyed her. And the fact that the amulet was growing hot on her chest told her that the spirits knew he was dangerous, too.
“You can’t…you can’t be here,” she said. “This is Rainier’s room. He won’t like that you’re here.”
“He’s a bit busy at the moment,” he said, motioning to the large window at the back of the room.
She backed up to the window, sure to not turn her back on Mathis. She looked out the window and saw Rainier and a couple of his men in a lifeboat being pulled behind The Dark Storm.
“What’s he doing out there?” she asked.
“Just assessing some damage from the fight before,” he said. “But he’ll be out there a while. Long enough, anyway.”
Catheryn swallowed. “Long enough for what?”
“I think you know,” he said as he stepped toward her.
She stepped away and held her hand out. “You better leave me alone,” she said. “I’m Captain Rainier’s private property. If you touch me, he’ll know, and he won’t be pleased.”
“You just let me worry about Rainier,” he said as he stepped toward her again, quickly this time. “You should worry about yourself.”
“Believe me, I am,” she said as she backed away, pulling a chair between them.
She didn’t know what to do. Rainier was too far away. She couldn’t control her powers. She didn’t know how the amulet worked. It was warm, but did it do anything else? Would it actually keep him away? Amplify her powers so she could protect herself? She didn’t know anything about actually using magic. She needed more time to study the book.
Mathis laughed. “That’s not exactly what I mean. I saw you, in the kitchen, using your wily woman ways on the old cook.”
Catheryn swallowed.
“I saw you stealing,” he said. “Salt is a precious commodity. Worth more than the likes of you. If the captain found out, he wouldn’t have a choice but to punish you. Maybe chop off your hand. Maybe hand you over to the rest of the crew…” He licked his lips. “But, if you were to come over here, maybe sit on my lap, maybe I could find it in my heart to not say anything.”
She backed away again.
“Stay back!” she said, more firmly this time.
Her heart raced. He had seen her stealing. She flashed back to the Hoodoo House and the witch who had caught her stealing there, too. She’d nearly killed the woman. Would she have to do that again?
“I’m warning you,” she said, her confidence wavering a bit.
Mathis guffawed. “Warning me? You are a daft girl. Good thing you have one fine ass…” He licked his lips again and lunged toward her.
She turned to run but ran into a dresser. She pivoted around it, but in that split moment, Mathis had gained ground on her. He reached out and grabbed her wrist. She spun around to slap him, but he grabbed her other wrist as well.
“Let me go!” she screamed.
The amulet grew hot—so hot it might burn.
“Don’t fight it, bitch,” he snapped as he reached for her skirt.
“Help me!” she screamed. “Help!”
But there was no magic to save her.
Chapter 10
Rainier had felt something was wrong, and as he burst through the door to his quarters, his suspicions were confirmed.
He narrowed his gaze as Mathis to loosened his grip on Catheryn.
“What is the meaning of this?” Rainier asked. “Why are you in my quarters?”
Of course, it was obvious what Mathis was doing. But Rainier wanted to give him a chance to redeem himself. The two had been together for…decades…and Mathis had always been a reliable first mate and friend. But he had seen the way Mathis had been eying Catheryn.
Mathis let go of Catheryn and gave a quick salute. “Cap’n, sir,” he said. “This girl ain’t good for you.”
Catheryn ran away from Mathis and stood by the bed.
“What do you mean?” Rainier asked.
“She’s trouble. I saw her stealing salt from the kitchen.”
Rainier looked at Catheryn. “Is this true?”
She didn’t answer, but her eyes were pleading.
“You’ll have to punish her, sir,” Mathis said. “I think…”
“You are dismissed,” Rainier said.
“…Sir?” Mathis asked, stumbling over his words.
“Leave, now,” Rainier said. “You overstep your bounds. I thank you for telling me about the girl’s crime, but you’ll not tell me how to act as captain. Is that understood?”
“Aye, sir,” Mathis said, deflation in his voice. His shoulders drooped as he headed toward the door.
“And, Mathis,” Rainier continued, “if I find you in my quarters again, or see you touching my property, I’ll chop off your hand. Have I made myself clear?”
Mathis didn’t look back at him, but it sounded as though he was responding through gritted teeth when he said, “Yes, sir.” Then he quickly exited through the door.
Catheryn audibly sighed.
“Did he hurt you?” Rainier asked.
“No,” she replied.
“Do you think he was going to?” he asked. “Were you in danger?”
“I’m certain he was going to…assault me,” she said.
“You didn’t use you powers on him?” he ask
ed. “You are usually better at defending yourself.”
“I think…” She swallowed on a lump forming in her throat. “How did you get here so quickly? I saw you, through the window, in the boat observing the damage to the ship.”
He nodded. “We can move at an uncanny pace if we so desire,” he explained. “I had a feeling something was wrong, that you were in danger. I had to come back and check on you. It was as though an alarm was going off in my head, and it wouldn’t stop until I knew you were safe.”
“I think it was my powers,” she said. “I don’t know why they called out to you instead of helping me protect myself like before, but I don’t pretend to know anything about the ways of hoodoo just yet.”
“Just yet?” he asked. “Are you learning?”
Catheryn blanched and gave a small nod. Rainier felt the edge of his lip try to turn up in a smile. She was so cute when she was trying to hide things from him. He then noticed she was wearing something like a necklace.
“What is that bag around your neck?” he asked. “I didn’t notice you wearing any jewelry before.”
She reached up and touched the bag. “Oh, it’s not jewelry. It’s a charm I made. A protection spell of sorts.”
“Did it work?” he asked, taking a few steps forward to get a better look.
“I think it called to you,” she said. “It grew hot when Mathis threatened me, and then you showed up at just the right moment.”
Rainier felt himself puff up with pride a bit at that. He wasn’t used to being considered a hero.
“How did you know to make it?” he asked.
She lowered her head, once again not wanting to tell him the truth. “I…I found something…in the village. A book.”
“A book?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yes, a book about hoodoo magic.”
“Show me,” he said.
She walked over to the desk where the book was lying open. She must have been reading it when Mathis came in.
Pirate's Curse: Division 1: The Berkano Vampire Collection Page 7
