Edward Teach Died on a Beach (OFMD)

Chapter 11

No thoughts just Pedro Pascal edits

Ed had been asleep for an hour or so. He'd lulled himself to sleep by listening to the sound of the crew singing softly outside. As he slept, though, he had an odd dream about being chased by a pack of dogs.

He woke up in a cold sweat, with the unshakable feeling that he was being watched. He turned slightly to glance around the room, but saw movement out of the corner of his eye. Before he could reach for his dagger, he was tackled onto his back and a blade was pressed against his throat. A hand was smacked tightly over his mouth.

In the dim moonlight, Ed could barely make out the face above him. It was a man, definitely. The man had dark hair and a short beard. Ed's eyes widened.

"Vane?" Ed tried to say under the hand.

"If you scream, I'll kill you and then anyone who comes in to save you," Vance whispered, slowly removing his hand from Ed's mouth.

"Vane?" Ed asked again sheepishly.

"Blackbeard," Vane said quietly, staring down at him.

Ed shook his head. "Not anymore."

"Doesn't matter. We're doomed anyway."

Ed frowned. "Get the fuck off of me."

Vane got up, glancing around the room. He found a bottle of rum and opened it. Ed sat up slowly, a hand over his dagger.

"What are you doing here?" Ed asked warily.

"I saw your Captain on the shore and decided I wanted to come back and hide in his room for when he came back. Figured I'd gut him or something. Maybe maim him."

Ed ran a hand through his hair. He quickly glanced over at Vane. "I'm glad you didn't. You didn't kill any of my crew, right? I quite liked them."

Vane looked at him like he was an idiot. "No. That's pathetic, though."

Ed rolled his eyes. Vane took a few swigs from the rum bottle and then held it out to Ed. Ed shook his head slightly.

"So why are we doomed?" Ed asked slowly.

Vane grinned. "Hornigold's been on my trail for weeks. You know what, though. He slowed down a little bit. I know he knows about your supposed death."

Ed crossed his arms. "Do you think he'll go after us?"

Vane shrugged. "I don't have a damned clue."

Ed raised a brow.

"I mean," Vane said slowly, "He might. If anything, he'll go after your little plaything."

"Stede," Ed replied.

"Steve?" Vane asked.

"Stede," Ed repeated.

Vane rolled his eyes. "Whatever. My point is that he's going to go after you and he's going to kill you all."

"Wouldn't you like that?" Ed replied.

Vane wasn't just a captain of his own ship. He'd acquired that position by getting voted into it and subsequently kicking Hornigold to the curb. Ed had met him only once before, but his reputation preceded him; the man was the closest thing to evil he'd ever heard of. He made Blackbeard look like a child's attempt at playing pirates.

Vane enjoyed attacking merchant ships and skinning the sailors on them. He was decent to his crew, but unfair to just about everyone else. In fact, Ed was surprised that he hadn't just skinned him while he was asleep.

"So what do you want from me?" Ed asked warily.

Vane grinned, pointing his bottle of rum at Ed. "Smart man. I think we need to work together."