The Founding Sisters #1 The Damned

Chapter 20

PORT ROYAL, AUGUST 1698

It was a somber trip back to Jamaica. Long Shadow didn't remember most of it. She did remember Silent Mary staying right by her side. The larger warship was just as quiet. Long Shadow felt she was grieving as well. A further twist of the knife was that Britannia's soul had gone straight to the Ancients. Long Shadow couldn't even have one last chance to speak with her.

She glanced over at the Spanish flagship, once again struck by her similarity to Britannia. Silent Mary noticed her staring and sighed. "My design was based off of hers. But more than that, I was orphaned when I was very young. Britannia took me in. I would've gladly stayed with her too but someone in the Spanish hierarchy realized where I had gone and demanded my return. I had no desire to see ships I loved die in a war for me. So I agreed. I rose through the ranks to become flagship solely so I could have the authority to station myself wherever I wanted. So I could be with her again."

Long Shadow shuddered. "I'm sorry." She rasped.

"As am I, for you. A broken bond is a fate I wouldn't wish on any ship." Silent Mary replied, resting a rigging line on her shoulder briefly.

Long Shadow returned to Port Royal, speaking briefly to Interceptor. "If it were possible, I would choose you in a heartbeat." She said.

"I am only a brig, flagship. I understand." Interceptor dipped her bow respectfully.

In the end, it was the young third rate Dauntless, still in London, who would take Long Shadow's old spot as fleet deputy. Command of the Caribbean Squadron would be given to Interceptor. And as for Long Shadow herself...

Silent Mary met her at the harbor entrance. The sun was beginning to lower in the sky but Long Shadow felt no desire to do her solemn duty. The Spanish warship turned to her. "If you are going where I think you are, then you will need this." She handed her a knife.

Long Shadow took it, admiring the ivory handle. But the blade was dark and she swore she could hear voices coming from it. "Where did you get this?" She breathed.

"I have my ways." Silent Mary shrugged. "I trust you know what to do."

"You won't stop me?"

"It would be a fool's errand." She replied. "All I will ask is you be careful. The Triangle will keep you at your word. One way or another."

"And you?" Long Shadow asked.

"I neither want nor need its powers to suit my purposes. I will help you eradicate every one of those stinking bastards from the seas. But I will do it as myself. I only ask, regardless of how you may feel now about your duties, that you guide me across when the time comes." Silent Mary asked.

Long Shadow nodded. "It's a promise, my friend." She agreed. "Wait here for me?"

"I will be here when you return, mi amigo." Silent Mary promised.

The sun was only just beginning to dip below the horizon when Long Shadow reached her destination. The wall of rock that loomed up ahead of her was jagged. It was foreboding. And it was unforgiving. The Devil's Triangle was aptly named and it suited her purposes perfectly. She sailed inside, avoiding the jagged spikes of rock that popped up to ward off normal intruders. But she was not a normal ship. Even so, it took every effort to resist the call that the last of the sunlight provided. She wanted to follow it but she could not bring herself to do so.

She pulled the knife from its sheath, the light of the full moon reflecting off the blade and revealing words written in a language few ships knew. The words were Anger. Rage. Vengeance.