Lunars of the Caribbean

Tell Me What Happened (34)

Thorne laid Crescent down on his cot. She was ice as cold, frail, and asleep. The old poet's shirt he'd given her was torn in a dozen places, and she needed a pair of pants desperately.

Without thinking, Thorne found a new shirt for her and slipped it on over her old one. Careful not to harm her, he cut at the old shirt beneath her new one, removing it piece by piece until it was gone.

He took out his medicine kit and unraveled the strips of cloth he set aside to wrap burns and cuts. Along with the vial of healing serum Winter made for him a couple years back.

Thorne took care to apply the serum to the strips and wrap them around Cress's wrists. With a slight pinch, he tied the ends of the strips together on each wrist.

He found a blanket under his cot and spread it out over Crescent. For a few minutes, he stared at Cress's wrists with disdain. Mostly for himself and what he'd done. The rest was preserved for the world.

Crescent never hurt a soul before being taken by Sybil and her evil cult of sadists. And she old fought off those mermaids before they were going to eat Thorne alive. She never did a thing to deserve that happened to her.

Why was is the only ones who were harmed were those who had done none?

........................

Her whole body ached, her mind begged for rest. But Cress forced her eyes to open when she regained consciousness. She was grateful for the area's dulled lighting, and the lack of blaring noises.

The first thing she saw was a man sitting by her side. Though at a weird angle. His boots were on the wall and his body somehow defied gravity.

Then, it occured to Cress that the man could be sitting, and she could be lying down. Which would make infinitely more sense.

As she regained more sensation in her body, she felt a soft fabric beneath her. Her head was on a pillow, her hair still slightly damp.

Her eyes adjusted, and she saw the smiling face of her captain. His hand was a hair from hers. When she glanced at their hands, she saw bandages on her wrists.

How sweet, she thought. My captain patched me up.

She managed a faint smile at the idea. She knew Carswell could be protective over her at times. As he'd been especially when they once visited Tortuga and a strange man approached her. She hoped her captain would someday learn that she could hold her own just fine.

Stretching her fingers, she brushed Thorne's hand, making him flinch. Her smile broadened. Stars, he could such a fool sometimes.

"I'm not infectious," she breathed, her voice soar.

He gave her a taunt smirk and let his hand cover hers. The warmth raced up her arm and to her chest.

"That depends on who you're talking to, Damsel."

"Good stars, you won't let me have any fun without barging in, will you?" she joked. She wiggled her toes beneath the blanket draped over her. Waves of heat washed over her again and again. It felt so nice to comfortably warm and not dehydrated again.

Carswell, shook his head. "You call being held by Levana and her henchmen fun?" he remarked, playing along for her benefit.

"Not exactly," she told him. She willed her fingers to grasp the cuff of his sleeve. Making her captain flinch again. She then thought he may be flinching for a reason other than nerves.

"I'm cold, aren't I?" she asked.

"As the atlantic in winter," he answered. He cupped her hand in his, finally. Another surge of warmth flooded Cress's mind. It was almost enough to make her forget why he was so glad to see her.