The Charlotte Series: Book 1: The Pirate's Treasure

chapter 12

He stood suddenly and she leapt up from the little chair and stumbled as the flat of her foot hit the floor. She bit her cheek to keep from crying as ropes of fire climbed up her calves. She flinched as Blakeney stepped around the table. But rather than raise his hand against her, he pulled the second chair from the table. She stared at him in disbelief.

"Won't you join me for supper, Miss Weathersby?"

He said it as politely as if she were company and not a prisoner. She only blinked. Did he really expect her to join him at the dinner table or was this another one of his demented tests? In the end her hunger won. She set aside her hatred for the man and her indecision (and her dainty table manners) to eat with a monster. As luck would have it, the food tasted as good as it smelled.

Though he behaved the most genial of hosts, for the remainder of the meal she remained tense keeping one eye on him at all times. Several times he reached for something on the table and she flinched. For that, she hated herself but at least if he thought she was afraid of him he wouldn't be expecting her to steal his knife and plunge it into his black heart.

She was certain she would be returned to the abyss when he was finished and only the Lord knew when Blakeney would allow her to eat again. She ate more than she should have and when she could eat no more she pushed the plate away. Slowly she reached for her wine glass and Blakeney bellowed. She snatched her hand back as though it were burned and tensed. Here it comes.

The boy entered and began to clean away the mess. Two of Blakeney's apes came in behind him and stood near the door. Nervously the boy stacked the dishes and kept darting glances back at the men. He lifted an armful and stumbled as he made his way to the door. One of the plates fell with a grand clatter. Before the plate stopped rolling one of the men back-handed the boy.

"NO!"

Millicent pushed up from her chair and reached for the boy. She fell back into the chair feeling as though she had just run into a wall. The room was spinning and her ears were ringing from the blow that she never saw coming.

"Be still." Blakeney shouted at her.

She curled her fingers into fists as she glared at him. She promised not to provoke him but she felt her resolve slipping. To beat a child... She nearly lunged when she heard a small sound. Not a whimper or a whisper and if she hadn't turned away just then she would've thought she imagined it. The boy locked eyes with her.

With the slightest shake of his head he stilled her. With his eyes he implored her to be still. Her eyes blurred with unshed tears. She watched helplessly as the ape grabbed a fist full of the boy's hair and jerked him to his feet before he slapped him to the floor again. The boy didn't yelp, but she did. Blakeney struck her so hard her head bounced off the back of the chair.

She yelped again and her hand gently fingered the lump that immediately blossomed on the spot. Blakeney stepped in front of her leering down at her. She bit down on the inside of her cheek and let her hands return to her lap. She wouldn't give Blakeney the satisfaction of crying out again. I must NOT provoke him...yet...I can't kill him if I'm dead first. She stilled.

"The FIRST rule." He demanded in a steel voice meant to intimidate her.

"I am yours. It is as simple as that." She whispered.

Soon she would be his final sight, his last memory. She bit her lip to keep from smiling.

Suddenly he began pulling at his clothes and tossing them on the table. He was bare to waist. His gun, knife, and sword were on the table along with his belt. He scooped her up under her arms and sat her down hard on the table. It hurt but she just bit down on her cheek. She leaned back and groped for his knife. Promise or no she couldn't forgo the opportunity.