With a sigh, Ireplied, “I’ll find my sister. I’ll figure it out. But, right now,”my eyes flicked to Benjamin and back to Henry, “I couldn’t livewith myself if I left them here.”
Benjamincleared his throat. “You’d have to come back with me.”
“Absolutely not!” Henry bellowed angrily.
“It’s theonly way it will work,” the cursed pirate insisted with allseriousness.
I realizedthen, what he meant. Captain Cook would be suspicious if hisbrother returned from the island without me. He wouldn’t letBenjamin anywhere near that gem. In fact, I may have been the onlyone who could get close enough to take it.
Henry statedthrough gritted teeth, “Dianna will not be leaving my side.”
As much as itkilled me to even consider leaving Henry again, I knew Benjamin wasright. Gently, I slipped my hand over Henry’s arm, pulling hisattention to me. “He’s right. It’s the only way. His captain isinsane. He guards the gem with his body and if Benjamin returnswithout me, it could very well set off his delusions.”
My words werelike slices of a blade on his heart, I could see that from the painwhich emanated from his glistening eyes. With trembling hands, hegripped my arms and then held my face, tipping my chin up.
“Youcannot expect me to let you go, not after I just got you back. Andto a ship full of dangerous pirates, no less?”
“Please,I have to do this.”
His voice brokewith the strain of emotion. “You’ve no idea what you’re telling meto do, Dianna. You may as well ask for a piece of my soul.”
“I know,”I told him. “I’m sorry. It’s not fair for me to put you throughthis again. But I promise,” I grabbed the back of his neck andkissed his lips, “I’ll come back. I’ll always come back,remember?”
He pressed hisforehead to mine and closed his eyes tightly, fighting withhimself. At last, he let out a defeated moan. “Fine.” Henry let mego and stomped over to Benjamin. “If she is not back by dusk, I’llbe coming for her. And I shall not be merciful to those that crossmy path.”
Theystood there, two burly pirates, in a silent standoff. Benjamin finally replied with agrin. “No harm will come to Dianna, that much I swear.”
“I needmore than that,” Henry demanded.
Benjaminrolled his eyes. “She shall be back by sundown, I promise.” Then, over Henry’sshoulder, he said to me, “But we best get back now before the restwake up and see that you’ve run off in your bare feet. We may notbe able to explain our way out of that one. And that fire,” he saidto my crew, “It needs to be out. If my captain sees the smoke, itshall not be good for anyone.”
“Lassie,”Finn piped in, “are ye sure there’s no way one of us can sneakaboard? In case ye need help?”
“No, it’stoo risky,” I told my loyal friend.
I watched as heremoved one of his many leather belts, a small one that held asheathed dagger. “Here, put this on and hide it under yerjacket.”
I gladlyaccepted the weapon and strapped it around my waist before tuckingit under the cover of my coat. My stomach felt sour with worry andfear. I’d risked everything to escape The Black Soul that morningand now I was handing myself back to it. I told Henry I’d come backbut, truthfully, I had no idea what awaited me once Benjamin and Ireturned. Benjamin walked a few steps back in the direction we hadto go and then stopped to wait for me.
Before Ijoined him, I fell back into Henry’s arms and held onto him fordear life. I didn’t want to go. The thought was akin to rippingevery bit of skin from my body, slowly and painfully. I layered thetear-stained kisses on his lips, one desperate touch after anotherand he hungrily ate them up as his arms held a death griparound my body.
“Comeback to me,” he finally said once I pulled away.
“Always,”I promised.
His palmpressed gingerly against my stomach, giving a silent goodbye to thebaby inside, and then I broke free of our embrace. Our eyes lockedon one another as I reluctantly backed away and I knew, if I didn’tturn then, I’d give up. I’d run back to him. I wanted to be braveand honorable. To help save my friend. But, deep down, I was weak.Love ruled my heart, and my heart sat on the throne of my verybeing.
So, I turned myback to him.
I metBenjamin down the trail and we sprinted back to the beach where thetiny rowboat waited.I sat like a lump of deflated emotions on the narrow seat as asilent Benjamin rowed us back to The Black Soul. I stared down atmy bare feet. They were scratched and dirty, bleeding from tearingthrough the forest in the panic I’d been in. They never hurt untilthen. I shifted in my seat, dipping them in the salt water tocleanse the dirt from the fresh wounds and winced from thesting.
Benjaminmoaned. “Am I that horrid?”
“What?”
“Youjumped over the side of a ship, risking the lives of you and your baby, and ran acrossthe island in your bare feet just to be free of me.”
“No,” Ireplied, my chest filling with guilt, “It wasn’t you I wasescaping. It was him I wasfighting to get back to.” He didn’t answer and let the boatfill with an awkward silenceas we passed through the invisible curtain. “I’m sorry.”
He scoffed andlooked away. “What do you have to be sorry for?”
“I’msorry I couldn’t be what you wanted me to be,” Iexplained.
Webrushed up against the side of the ship and Benjamin stood to grabthe rope ladder that hung from its side, holding us in place. He peered down at mebefore ascending.
“Do notbe sorry, Dianna. I was a fool to think I could keep you.” Iwatched as his chest heaved up and down. “If you can break thisdamn curse, I’ll owe you my life.”
I smiledand took his calloused hand in mine. “When I break this curse, you can keep your life.Just promise to do some good with it.”
He couldn’thelp but smile back. Even though it were weak and backed by a senseof sorrow he seemed to squash down. “You’re
