I thought ofall we had to do, how we’d yet to track down my sister and that ourmission had barely begun. My crew would need me soon. I couldn’tjust leave them with the burden of it all. Although, I know they’ddo it in a heartbeat. But I’d pulled us along on this ridiculousjourney of stopping Maria Cobham and I wouldn’t stop.
I promised thegood doctor to get some rest, and I would. For now. He left,followed by Wallace, and I laid there, holding Henry’s gaze fromacross the room as we each yearned to be next to one other.
“The baby isfine,” I assured him. “The doctor is just taking extra precautions.I can feel it moving around as we speak. Nothing feels different.Don’t worry, alright?”
Henry’s mouthwidened. “If you say so.” He tried to shift, to find a comfierposition in the bed and winced again. He was clearly in more painthan he let on. “I wish I couldlay with you.”
Carefully, Ipulled myself from my cot and darted for Henry, slipping in next tohim. Mindful of his wounds. My lips found his and I placed a gentlekiss there before we both dozed off into a comfortable sleep, theglaring sun of the afternoon pouring in and casting a warm blanketover us.
***
The fog-likehaze which surrounded my vision told me it was a dream. But, still,my body coursed with fear and panic at the sight of her. Of mysister, her hair as black as mine blowing in the wind. She turnedto face me; her leather boots dangerously close to the edge of thecliff on which we stood. Her dark, soulless eyes held mine and hercrooked mouth twisted into a sick grin as one boot stepped back,toward the edge.
“No!” I calledafter my sibling. I wouldn’t let Maria take her own life. That wasa right I had claimed for myself. To take her life in my hands andhand it over to the authorities where she would then suffer out therest of her years rotting in a cell somewhere for all the horriblethings she’s done.
But it was toolate. Before my arms could reach, she took one more step and flungherself from the giant windblown cliff. I ran to the edge in a fitof desperation and dropped to the ground to peer over to the abyssbelow. There was no sign of her body. I stood, speechless and slowfrom the tendrils of the dream, only to be met with Maria. Face toface. Her breath hot and heavy on my skin.
“Come and findme, sister. I’m right here,” she said and then gave one mightyshove at my chest, sending me flying over the cliff I’d witnessedher fall from only moments before.
I awoke with astart, as if falling back into my own body, and sat up in a coldsweat. Clawing at my chest, gasping for air. A sleeping Henry layby my side, unaware of the soul-shattering nightmare I’d just been thrown out of. Iknew it was a dream, but I could still feel the warmth of mysister’s breath on my skin. I shivered and quietly removed myselffrom the bed. The sun had gone down and our room had filled withthe light of the December moon.
I crept downthe hallway toward the room where I had bathed, where I left mytrunk. I wanted to fetch my satchel and get some Advil for Henry’spain. Something I couldn’t have done with the prying eyes of thedoctor and Wallace watching over me.
I wandered theempty halls. Past tables taken over by massive flower arrangements,giant floor vases and stone statues. Paintings that loomed overheadwith eyes that seemed to follow me every which way. The stickyechoes of my bare feet on the cold marble floors the only sound tobe heard. After opening a few doors, slightly confused by the mazethat was The Siren’s Call, I found it, and looped the satchel fullof futuristic goodies over my shoulder before heading back out tothe house.
But I turned acorner and smacked right into someone. I tried to stifle the yelpthat squeezed from my throat which became easier when I saw that itwas Finn. The moonlight catching the fiery glimmer in his red beardand haphazard hair.
“Christ,” hewhispered loudly. “This place is like a damn maze.”
“What are youdoing up?” I asked him.
He quirked abrow. “I could ask ye the same.”
I lifted thebag to show. “Needed my things. For Henry. He’s in a lot of pain,he’s just too stubborn to admit it.”
He nodded inunderstanding. “I seen ya pass meroom, the door was open. So, I followed ye.”
“Couldn’tsleep?” I pried as we walked the halls together.
“Nae, ‘tis tooquiet here,” he said. “Like sleepin’ in a bloody graveyard. I missthe sound of the sea beneath me arse.”
I heaved asigh and a cough followed, telling me the smoke hadn’t yet clearedfrom my lungs. “I’m sorry, Finn. I know you’re all itching to getback home. I am, too. I promise, I’m saving my last wish to get usthere. Once we find Maria.”
“Aye, ‘boutthat,” he said hesitantly. “When do ye think that might be?”
We turnedanother corner and I spotted the familiar hallway in which Henrylay sleeping somewhere. I knew because it was the only hallwaywithout a massive painting hanging on the wall. This one boasted amirror around a giant bookshelf. I turned to my friend.
“Soon. Why? Doyou doubt that we’ll find her?”
He wouldn’tlook me in the eye, and I could see how he struggled to find theright words. For fear of making me mad or upset. “I just… we, thecrew thinks that perhaps the wishes dinnae work.”
“What?” Istopped in my tracks. “How could you think that?”
Finn shrugged.“How could we not?”
“No,” I shookmy head stubbornly, “The wishes worked. They had to. Because, ifthey didn’t… that would mean Benjamin is still trapped aboard TheBlack Soul somewhere in the middle of the ocean, hidden away fromthe world.” I took a deep breath, trying not to get too emotional.“Just waiting for me to break the curse. How long would a man holdon to
