VILLAIN

Chapter 8

I screamed, scrambling back under the bed.

Unfortunately, Captain Blackbeard was faster, grabbing my arm in a vise-like grip and pulling me out from under his bed. He held me to his chest, unsheathing his sword and placing it across my neck, pinning me, before I could so much as blink.

I tried feebly to get away, but in my heart of hearts I knew it was useless. I stopped fighting, begrudgingly accepting the fact that I would only succeed in slicing myself if I struggled.

"Well, well, well," said Blackbeard, the clear glee in his voice making me sick. "Look what we have here. Gunner! Leeman! Get in here."
His words were met with pounding footsteps, and the door was thrust open, four or five other scraggly pirates entering the room. I paled, letting out a strangled whimper.

"Now, now, lassie, no need to cry," Blackbeard said with mock sympathy, throwing me into the mass of other pirates, who quickly grabbed onto me.

I struggled again, now free from the threat of the blade, but it didn't last long. Blackbeard thrust his sword across my windpipe once more, stilling me.

"Feisty one, aren't you, lassie?" he mocked. Then, turning to his crew, added, "Take her to the deck."

The pirates quickly obeyed, jerking me this way and that until we emerged onto the deck, into the light of the noonday sun, where several more pirates had already gathered. Blackbeard followed, looking far too delighted. I wanted to rip the look right off his disgusting face.

"My, my, such hatred," he commented, his long, silver sword glinting in the sunlight. "Don't you worry, little girl. There will be time for that soon enough."

"I'm not going to help you," I spat.

"No?" he questioned, tsking. "But, you see, I'm quite sure you are."

"Well, you're wrong!" I yelled back at him, fighting against my captors.

They tightened their grip, and Blackbeard's sword came down on my cheek. I hated how it made me tense.

Blackbeard chuckled. "Ah, not as brave as we thought, are we?" he noted. The tip of his sword traced up my temple, stopping beside my eye. "Oh, and what have we here? A Villain, nonetheless. Well, this is definitely a surprise. Although...it might make things a bit easier."

I opened my mouth to say I wasn't a Villain, but something told me I might want to hang on to that card for later, so I closed it again, settling for a scowl. "What do you want with me?" I demanded, tired of his power plays.

Blackbeard only smiled, the sight sickening. "Oh, I don't want anything with you, lassie. I'm much more interested in your little Peter friend."

"And what do you want with him?" I asked, although I had a feeling I already knew the answer.

I was buying time with my questions, frantically trying to think of a miraculous plan that might get both Peter and I out of this alive. However, no such plans were coming to mind, and the chances were growing slimmer and slimmer with each passing second.

Blackbeard's horrible smile grew, and his sword trailed down my face to rest on the little indent in the middle of my collarbone.

"Only what every pirate wants with a flying troublemaker such as dear Peter – to kill him."

I swallowed hard, trying to remain calm. The task was getting more and more difficult as time wore on with no miracle-plan in sight. I wasn't sure what exactly I was hoping for, but I needed something. And I needed it fast.

I sucked in a breath as Blackbeard's sword slashed into my cheek, leaving a shallow gash that stretched from my temple to the tip of my jawbone. It wasn't a deep cut, but it stung fiercely, and I felt blood trickle down the side of my face.