Open Waters (10 page)

It was clear to Jane that she had been the one to release her.

Jane stared back at Cecily, searching her eyes for… something, anything that would convince her without a doubt that she wasn't just fabricating lies based off her own hopes and desires. That Cecily, the Cecily she knew, had been the only Cecily the whole time, just hidden behind a mask, instead of the other way around. That she had been hers and only hers and still remained hers.

"My lioness," Cecily said, smiling down wickedly at Jane before bending down and sliding her lips against Jane's. And Jane knew immediately that Cecily was hers and had always been hers. She leaned up into the kiss, deepening it and feeling Cecily respond enthusiastically.

But the moment broke all too fast for Jane's liking as Cecily pulled back.

"Later, I promise," she said with a small smile. "But for now, let's take ya ship back."

Jane nodded before tensing as she became aware of a shuffling movement by the door of another person in the room.

Her head shot over, expecting Lock or one of his crewmen to be standing there, leering at her. But the sight that greeted her was a better one. The tall form of Worth, slightly bruised, roughed up, and just a bit uncomfortable at the display of affection he had no doubt just witnessed, but otherwise unhurt.

He cleared his throat upon noticing her focus on him. "Captain," he greeted with a dip of his head.

Jane could feel her face fall at the title and she looked down, ashamed. She had killed her own men, those loyal to her, just to spare her own life. "I am not worthy of that title."

"According to us, you are," Worth corrected, looking quite adamant and determined.

Jane got up from the bed, wincing slightly as her sore muscles stretched and strained before walking over to Worth and clasping him on the shoulder. She tried to convey all her thanks to him, not just for today, but for all the years he had stood by her and helped her and helped her.

Worth just nodded back in understanding.

"We really ought to move along now," he whispered with a glance back toward the door as though he expected it to open any second. "I'm not sure how long the rest of the crew can stay hidden before their absence from the brig is discovered."

"What?" Jane asked, surprised. But really it should have occurred to her earlier, seeing as how Worth had so obviously gotten out. "How'd you all get out?"

Worth just nodded toward Cecily in answer.

Cecil shrugged in response, like helping condemned men escape the brig was easy. "I managed ta flitch Lock's keys while he was uhhh… sleepin', and unlock the brig. I told them ta wait for an opportune moment, and well, tha' seems ta be now, so we best be movin' along."

"But where's Lock?" Jane asked in confusion. He was supposed to be keeping an eye on Cecily, and if she was here…

"Drinkin' with his crew," Cecily spat, scrunching her nose in disgust. But Jane couldn't help how adorable the look was, despite the nature of it. "They're spread out all over the ship, so gettin' here was a little tricky, but Worth was able ta cut down their numbers on our way here, so tha' should be beneficial."

"And noticeable," Jane commented, and Worth gave a nod. They really needed to get moving.

Jane strode quietly over to the door, Worth and Cecily behind her.

"I estimate no more than thirty now remain aboard," Worth stated, with just a hint of smugness. Jane grinned, knowing he was the reason for their drop in numbers. There are eleven of us, including you, so I think the odds are decent enough."

"Aye."

"Here," Worth said, offering a sword, "you best take this."

"You know about my stash." It wasn't a question, merely an amused statement as Jane recognized the sword in her hands. She kept a secret stash of various weapons in these quarters, well-hidden and hard to find, unless you knew where to look.

"Yes, of course, I'm your first mate. I feel it's my duty to know."

Jane just grumbled half-heartedly as Worth slowly opened the door, checking to make sure the way was clear. She was incredibly grateful that he had come to help her, that he hadn't given up on her, and still saw her as his captain, despite all that had happened. She just hoped the rest of the men felt the same.

"Looks like the crew got a little impatient," Worth announced, throwing open the door wide as a few of Lock's men approached, swords at the ready and murder in their eyes. The sound of metal clanging and shouts could be heard from beyond, proving Worth’s theory.

"Coll probably put them up to it," Jane accused, stepping forward to meet one of the men head-on. She feigned to the right, only to slice the man clean across his torso as she shifted direction at the last second. He dropped at her feet with a pained cry. "That man is too damn persuasive for his own good."

"Yes, well then, let's hope he did a fine job of it!" Worth called from ahead, cutting his way across the deck.

"Aye!"

Jane turned around then, about to order Cecily to stay in her quarters, only to find the woman behind her, a pistol in her hand. She stared at her in shock.

"Wha'?" Cecily asked innocently, and Jane was immediately reminded of their first meeting in the captain's quarters of the
Liberty
.

Suddenly, something behind Jane caught Cecily's attention, and she shifted her weight in order to turn around. But before she could face the threat, Cecily had raised the pistol and fired, the shot brushing past Jane's head, the air from it moving her hair. She finally turned fully, watching as the man that had been sneaking up behind her toppled over lifeless, a hole in his head.

Jane looked back at Cecily in shock, mouth agape comically, if Cecily's bark of laughter was anything to go by.

"I may not know my way aroun' a blade, but a pistol is pretty damn easy," she explained, hurrying past Jane toward the downed man. "Just aim and shoot."

"You've used your one shot."

"Don't worry," Cecily appeased, reaching down and snatching up the dead man's pistol at his waist. She checked it over and finding it loaded, nodded in approval. "I'll be collectin' them along the way."

Jane laughed, not knowing if it was due to the absurdity of Cecily knowing her way around a pistol, or to cover up the flush of her cheeks at the arousal it spurred in her. But it was soon wiped from her face as a man to her left gave a cry of outrage, charging, and she was slammed right back into the fight.

*~*~*

Jane would love to say that the battle had been clean and neat. That she and her crew had taken back the
Tantibus
with ease and little loss or injury. That everything had gone off without a hitch.

But that would be a lie.

It had been bloody and gruesome, men lying on the deck, bleeding, their innards on display for all to see, limbs severed and blood, so much blood, staining the wood. It would take ages to get it out, if it was even possible.

Jane had done the best she could, taking down men right and left, shouting orders to her crew as she spotted them, hoping that they all shared Worth's resolve that she was still a worthy captain.

They did, following her without question and grouping behind her, so their strength grew with their numbers. She led them with confidence, Cecily by her side. The woman was a force to be reckoned with when determined enough, taking down men with any pistol she could get her hands on, and when there were none, bludgeoning her opponents with the empty gun.

Jane had to remind herself on multiple occasions to focus on the fight occurring around her, as she got distracted watching Cecily fight, and wondering how on earth this woman was hers. She loved her, truly and wholeheartedly, and hoped Cecily knew that.

Well, if they made out of this alive, she would just have to show her.

When they finally did take back the
Tantibus
,
it was by forcing the remaining six of Lock's crew members—not including Lock himself, as Jane had personally slit his throat in a very anticlimactic fight seconds before—to surrender to her and her crew. Despite her hate for these men, she decide that they were needed and offered them the usual choice, join her or die. Needless to say, her offer was taken up by all but one of the men, her prowess from earlier most likely still remembered.

With that, she ordered all able hands aboard the ship to turn her about in order to fire upon Lock's warship still following not far behind. By some miracle, they managed to knock half its cannons out of commission with the first round, enabling them to win a firefight that would have otherwise been suicide, with minimal damage.

Several of her crew had lost their lives in the initial battle, and a couple more in the following firefight, including Coll. He had been more a man of words than weapons, so it came as little surprise that he had died, but it still weighed her heart. Especially when the rest of her crew confirmed that he had been the one to persuade them to begin the fight early. It had most likely been the reason they had come out victorious. A few minutes later, and the element of surprise would have been lost.

Most of her crew, however, came out of the battle with few wounds and bruises, including herself. But Jane didn't care much. She was once again manning her ship, steering her toward their cache island to repair and regroup. The battle had been won.

"Come on
Cap'ain
, let's tend ta those wounds," a silky voice demanded to her right, followed by a sweet, intoxicating smell that caressed her senses. A pair of arms wrapped around her shoulders, a hand covering her own lovingly, where she had been stroking the ring about her neck. She winced, several of the wounds twinging with the contact.

Jane glanced over at Cecily, her heart nearly bursting with the sight. Warm, brown eyes shone with adoration, full lips parted slightly in a coy grin as fingers danced lightly over her shoulders. Cecily would never know the effect she had on Jane, for there were no words she could use to describe it. Love would never be able to fully explain it, but it was the closest word she had.

Cecily seemed to read it all in Jane's eyes, though, for her smile turned into a more serious expression as she stated, "I know." Then her smile was back the next instant, teasing. "But if we don't get those wounds wrapped, ya won't be aroun' for me to show ya just how
I
feel."

Jane grinned, despite the pit of nervousness that had opened up in her stomach, trying to swallow her excitement whole. But she ignored it, glancing away to see Worth approaching to take the helm in her place. She nodded her thanks to him, and he, in turn, cocked an eyebrow and smirked knowingly as Cecily took her hand and led her away.

Toward her quarters.

Toward a new life.

Toward the rest of their lives.

Valerie (aka Val) has been creating stories for a little over a decade and frightening her few readers just as long. While the dark and sometimes depressing nature of her words has greatly dimmed down, it still lies in wait, just biding its time until the appropriate moment to reappear comes about. Until then, she continues to push the boundaries and ensure that a little pain and angst still makes its way on paper along with that enticing happy ending.

But writing takes up only a small chunk of her time, the rest being filled by putting her fashion degree to good use costuming in the film industry.