Tainted Tides

Chapter 35

*Ant's POV*

"Emma!"

"Hiya Ant," Emma smiled back at me with the same crooked smile she always had. I had forgotten how much I missed her until I saw the joyous flash of her teeth. "I've missed you," she continued.

I pushed myself out of bed and enveloped her in my arms. "I've missed you too. I'm so glad you're doing okay and I'm glad Bonnie took you in..."

"Speaking of which-" I cut off Emma accidentally as I turned to Dec.

"Dec! This is my baby sister! She came after Sarha." Dec nodded politely still full of trepidation, which Emma returned with a light giggle. "Wow, you're excited, huh bro? And who exactly is Dec?"

"Dec is..." I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly, "my partner... Romantically and all..." Emma grinned back at me and pinched my cheeks teasing y, "Aww look at you growing up!! Nice to meet you Dec. I can tell you make my brother happy."

"Hey!" I swatted her hands from my cheeks, "I'm your OLDER brother..."

"Only technically... I've always been very mature for my age..."

"Sure, Emma... I swear last time I saw you, you were still shovelling sugar down in your mouth straight from the sugar pot!"

"... I still do that... Bonnie even got me my own supply of sugar..."

"I'm glad she's taking care of you," I grinned.

"Speaking of Bonnie," Emma replied," she sent me to collect you two... It seems you caught her attention making it through the siren song unscathed and not tied to the mast like the rest of your crew... Or what remains of them at least."

"Fuck..." I rubbed my hand down my face, "that really wasn't a dream..."

"Unfortunately not, Ant."

"Where's my crew?"

"Held in cells... This room was your reward for surviving... Bonnie wanted it to be clear that this is the full extent of her kindness ."

Dec crawled out of bed and stood behind me on my left, his right arm hidden behind me. I could feel his hardened glare pointed past Emma. He wasn't hostile towards her but he was ready to face Bonnie. His demeanour reminded me of who I'd learnt to be as a captain. The hardened man who rarely wavered. I calmed myself down with a deep breath before speaking to Emma, "let's go."

Emma led the way out of the room and we followed. She guided us through dark corridors, our footsteps echoing off jagged stone walls and distorting as if they were mocking us. The hair at the back of my neck stood on its end, and I felt Dec walk closer to my back. I couldn't tell if it was fear or support he was exhibiting. Either way, I was glad to have him close by.

The seemingly never-ending corridors finally opened into a large room, sunlight streaming in from an unknown source and torches lining the walls to illuminate the furniture. Ornate wood and stone-carved furniture filled the room, the most notable of which being an intricately carved bench of obviously exotic wood, along with a plush cushion laying atop it. On the bench sat a woman not much older than myself, but her sole experience and skill well beyond mine.

Anne Bonnie.

She leaned back on the bench and moved her hand to toy with the pommel of a small dagger strapped to her hip as she inspected Dec and me walking into the room. A curious smile failed to hide behind her sharp glare. I caught movement at the edge of the room from the corner of my eye. I refused to turn and divert my eyes from Bonnie. Seeming to notice my resolve, she let her curious smile show.

Behind me, I felt Dec turn his head to investigate the movement for a moment before turning back, he subtly hid his face behind me as we walked just long enough to whisper to me, "It's our crew. They're tied up in the corner." Immediately after speaking, his eyes were back on Bonnie, clearly gaining her interest as her gaze moved from me to him.