“Hold the needle in a flame first,” I blurted out.
He froze, looking at me in surprise. “Why?”
“It’ll help kill the germs,” I explained, silently wondering if the world knew what germs were in the seventeen century.
“Germs?”
That was a big nope.
“Just do it,” I sighed. “It’ll help me feel better.”
Giving me another odd look, he drove the needle down into my leg sharply, ignoring my request and causing a quick gasp to flee from my lips. Thankfully, he’d anchored his legs against mine, sitting on a stool in front of me, and was able to keep me steady. “Why are you helping me?” I asked as he worked. “To get me ready for your Captain?”
“Ach, no!” he exclaimed. “I’d as soon as leave ye alone on the island than have your bad luck on deck.”
“Then why did you bring me out here?” I asked in surprise.
“Your leg needed tending.”
“Good guy pirate, huh?” I wrinkled my nose at him, feeling like I was being held captive more than being assisted. “So you’ll be taking me back to shore when you’re done then?”
“No.” He finished the stitches and tied off the string, releasing my leg.
“What do you mean no?” I demanded, standing up shakily.
“Ye heard the captain. I’m not one to disobey a direct order.”
“Uh, no, I’d like for you to take me back. Right now!”
“I will do no such thing,” he replied coolly. “Ye’re going to stay here and that’s final.”
Panic flooded me and I looked around anxiously. I had to return to the island and figure out how to get home. Whether that meant waking up, or actually having to travel through time—again—I needed to do it right away. There was no telling where I’d get carted off to if I stayed here.
“Please?” I asked, a slight hint of begging to my tone. “Don’t make me stay.” Maybe I could appeal to his nice side.
“No such luck, lassie. Yer on board for a while, I’m afraid.”
Suddenly, white-hot rage and fear filled me and I reached out, slapping him hard across the face. “Take me back this instant,” I demanded.
“Listen here,” he said angrily, grabbing me by the wrists. “Do ye not understand what I’m trying to do for ye?”
“I’ll not be served up like some dinner dish to your Captain!” I screamed. “Let go of me!”
“Stop shouting!” he yelled back. “I’ve half a mind to teach ye a lesson and take ye here myself!”
“Do it,” I dared him. “Then you can always remember what a monster you are!”
Face burning with rage, he shoved me back, stinging my leg as I fell onto the bed. “Stupid woman!” he scolded, his voice going very quiet. “The Captain was so drunk, ye might be lucky and he’ll forget yer even here! If I were ye, I’d pray that be the case. He’s not kind to his women. He beats them something fierce, one almost to death since I’ve been under his command.”
My mouth gaped like a fish as I stared at him, trying to find words to express what I was feeling. “You brought me aboard a ship not only to be raped, but beaten as well? What the hell is wrong with you?”
“Argh!” he groaned in anger and frustration. “A pox on ye, ye witch! I’m trying to help ye!”
“By locking me in his room to wait for him? How is he going to forget I’m here then, huh?”
“This is my room, ye fool! I’m tryin’ to hide ye!”
“I’d much rather go back to the island, if you don’t mind,” I said in a clipped tone. “Thank you for your help, and the medical assistance, but I’d rather not risk a beating.”
“I’d just as soon beat ye myself,” he replied snidely. “Yer not to leave this room until I say.”
“Watch me,” I shot back.
“Woman!” Looking as if he were about to explode from anger, I was sure my snotty smile was driving him further into the red. With a sudden decisiveness, he moved forward and very strongly pressed his palm against my wound.
“Ow!” I cried, scrambling back further onto the bed to get away from him.
“Stay here,” he said sternly. Turning on his heel, he marched right out the door, slamming it shut behind him. After a second, I heard the turning of the lock and knew I was trapped in this nightmare.
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About The Author
Kamery is not the person who grew up dreaming of the day that she would clutch her very own novel to her chest, tears brimming over the rims of her eyes as she thought about how she'd written it herself, finally! In fact, anything remotely like that didn't even happen until she was actually holding her first book in her hand, amazed that she'd written it and wondering how on Earth she'd managed to do it when it hadn't ever occurred to her to write one until months before. Surprisingly, though, it was just what she never realized she loved doing.
When starting out in life, Kamery had (and still has) big dreams to perform on Broadway. She loves music and acting very much, while she and dance have a love/hate relationship; she would love to do it and every form of dance decides it hates that about her, haha! The one constant she always had between the performing world and the book world were the stories, tales that transported her to other worlds and made her feel like she really could do anything. Finally, she decided she wanted to do that for someone else and sat down to write.
It's been a few years since she held that first book, realizing that she really liked writing and wanted to do more, but the love that blossomed in that moment has only grown. Currently, Kamery works from home in Arizona, while taking care of her two adorable kids, a girl and a boy, and talking her sweet husband Jake's ear off about the insane amount of characters in her head who are ready to fight to the death for a chance at their own novels. It truly is a wonderful life!
www.kamerysolomonbooks.com
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