Authors Notes: Be cautious before reading as this is a dark/horror story and some may find it uncomfortable, though it's mainly the second chapter I'd be very cautious of. It's much darker than The Dangerous Love Of A Pirate. Slight gore, nothing explicit.
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Never sail after dark.
Never sail on All Hallows' Eve.
Those were the words of warning given to Evie on the day of her husband's funeral. Madame Mim, an old friend of her mother's and a fellow witch, had been adamant that she take heed of those words. No matter what, no matter how desperate she may be, she was never to set sail under those conditions.
Evie hadn't understood the older women's strange caution, nor the desperation in her voice as she had told her. She had been so numb with bereavement that she had only smiled politely at Madame Mim, assuring her offhandedly that she would listen to her advice.
Truthfully, Evie had never been fond of the sea, her heart only yearning for one who had sailed on it. Harry Hook. Her friend. Her lover. Her husband. And now dearly departed. He had died at sea, stolen away from her by a black-hearted fiend, the notorious Captain Blackbeard. She would never forget how her legs had buckled, her lungs refused air and the pain of the floor hitting her knees upon hearing the news.
He ran him straight through with his sword, Uma's pained whisper haunted her. Right through the heart.
Uma and Gil had been unable to retrieve his body, barely able to make it out alive from Blackbeard's attack themselves. Harry's grave was an empty one, sitting on the edge of the beach, overlooking the sea he loved. High above it, upon the white, chalky cliffs lived his other love, his princess alone in her castle, longing for a husband who would never return.
Knock, knock, knock!
Evie turned away from the large portholes, seeing Uma enter her little cabin. She smiled at the other women, watching as she closed the door behind her. Uma and her had become closer in the years since Harry's departure of this world, both girls's finding solace in one another. She was sure Harry would have been ecstatic to learn of their friendship, the girl's previously having been on tense terms with one another. He adored the both of them dearly and had always wanted them to get along better, despite taking great amusement in their snippy banter and polite - if overly tense - arguments.
"I just came to let you know that we've set sail," Uma said. "Provided the wind stays on our side and the weathers nice to us, we should get to England by sunrise."
Evie nodded, letting out a breath of relief.
"In the meantime, I think you should get some rest. I know you're worried about Madame Mim, but I'm sure she'll be fine." Uma walked over to her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "That old witch isn't going to let a mild case of malignalitaloptereosis get her down. It's not the first time she's caught it either."
