“No,it’s not another man. It’s another place.”
He recoiled,confusion flooding his expression and I urged myself to continue,to make him understand. Rip the band-aid off.
“Henry,I’m not from this time.”
“I don’tunderstand.”
“I wasborn in the twentieth century,” I began, “and I came here from theyear two thousand eighteen. My mother collected things from thepast. Artifacts. Your chest, for one. After my father’s death acouple of weeks ago, I returned to my childhood home to settlethings. I found your chest among my mother’s stuff and opened it. Iaccidentally broke the ship-in-a-bottle and a massive wave camecrashing in through my house, sweeping me away. I woke up,clutching the chest, and that’s when Finn and Gus pulled me fromthe water. I feared for my life when I discovered who your enemywas… because my name is Dianna Cobham. Maria is my…ancestor.”
I stopped tocatch my breath and to let the words sink into him, which didn’tseem to be doing very well. Henry’s head shook as he fought with myterms, rejecting them. The man refused to respond, and his bodyvibrated with anger.
“Iwanted you to find the witch, so I could save my lineage and thenask for her help to send me back. And, well, you know therest.”
Silence filledthe room and Henry turned, walking toward the window where hestopped and hung his head. His silence was killing me, so I closedthe distance between us and braved to touch his shoulder. Hereacted with a swift turn, knocking me down on the floor, and hissword unsheathed.
“Youlie!”
My eyeswidened in panic at the sharp tip, just inches from my face.“H-Henry, no, I swear!”
Theblade pressed against my chest and his eyes gleamed with madness.“Then you used me, played mefor a fool!”
I couldn’tthink of a proper response because, from his side, I could see whyhe would think that. And, in a way, I did. But I never deliberatelyleveraged his feelings for me. I would have gladly sought anotherway if I could have. But, like him, I was weak and gave in to myemotions.
Henry’sbreathing quickened to borderline hyperventilating, madness andbetrayal toiling in his eyes. He squeezed them shut, seeminglyfighting with himself, and retracted the blade. “Get out.”
“Henry,please, just list–”
“Don’tever call me that again! Get out!”
Iscrambled to my feet as he swung the sword in my direction, and ranout of the room, my feet barely touching the floor as I descendedthe stairs to a quiet and empty tavern below. I found a corner witha large armchair andcurled up in it where I laid awake for hours, crying silently tomyself, before exhaustion set in and I finally fell asleep. I tookone thought with me as I plunged into a dream.
I’d brokenhim.
***
We boarded TheDevil’s Heart bright and early the next day. Henry wouldn’t comewithin ten feet of me, so I took my place next to Finn and helpedhim load the supplies. He looked possessed, like a zombie, unableto make eye contact with anyone. For two days, I watched as hemoved from place to place, ordering the crew with pointing,grunting, and glaring. The atmosphere aboard the ship turned coldand silent, unlike the homey feel I suddenly realized I’d come tolove.
Finngladly accepted me back into his double hammock; said I was like asmall, warm teddy bear. My duties never ceased, though. I cookedthree square meals a day for the crew, my crew, the men and boys I adored. They lovedme, too, I knew that. But they realized I’d made their captain fallinto a strange pit of despair, and I felt their unease around me.Especially old man Maurice. He watched me from where he sat eachday, his beady eyes examining my every move. He was the only crewmember I’d yet to come to know well, and his constant leering mademe uneasy.
With less thanthree days left to our journey, I began to grow restless. I didn’twant to leave this era without reconciling with Henry if only alittle. I just couldn’t stand the thought of his hatred for meliving on throughout history. Who knows how much I’d alreadychanged the course of the history that I knew? I could find myselfin an unknown world when I finally returned. Or maybe not at all.Perhaps I’d simply put everything back on course, returning Henryto the cold and ruthless pirate he was before my arrival.
I had plannedto say my goodbyes to Finn, Gus, and Charlie before the rest of thecrew. They’d come to be like family to me. Brothers. But, first, Iwanted to try Henry. The man hardly left his quarters. I made atray of food each day and tasked young Charlie with bringing it tohim. But that morning I’d made toutans, Henry’s favorite, as apeace offering of sorts.
“I’llbring this to the captain, milady,” Charlie said as he reached forthe tray.
“Thatwon’t be necessary,” I told him, “I’ll bring it.”
His eyeswidened. “Are you sure? I don’t mind.”
I gave thesweet boy a smile. God, I was going to miss him. He was like thelittle brother I never had. “No, I’ll be fine. Can you stay hereand make sure the men get theirs? And be sure to grab some foryourself? I made plenty extra, so fill your belly.”
I could tellhe didn’t want to hand over the task, so loyal to his captain. Butthe child inside took over and he happily accepted my place behindthe counter. I’d shown him enough and hoped he would take over forme as ship’s cook when after I left. I removed my apron and headedto Henry’s quarters with the tray of toutans and fresh molasses. Iknocked on the door but got no response, so I pushed it open andentered quietly.
The smell wasatrocious, and I held my breath as I carried the tray to his desk.No candles were lit, and the drapes had been partially closed overthe large stern windows, casting the room in a dreary grey.
Then Ispotted a figure sitting in a chair, his face cast out to the ocean behind us where thedrapes pulled back slightly. The only movement I found was the slowrise and fall of his chest.
“Hen–” Istopped myself, determined not
