“There were so many of them,” I said. “Intent on bloodshed. With Jack as the sacrificial lamb.”
Solo’s lips tightened. “There must be something?”
“There is.” I sucked in a breath. “Are the prisoners still locked below decks?”
Tommy piped up from the crates on the side of the deck. “They is, Miss Red, they is.”
“Good.” I nodded. “Bring me Dark Water and Charles Swan.”
The sun was low on the horizon when Dark Water and Charles were brought on deck.
“What do you want with us, Witch,” Dark water seethed.
Despite having saved his life in battle, Charles looked at me with hot hate in his eyes.
I ignored the both of them. “Is that how you address your Captain?”
“Captain,” Dark Water scoffed. “She’s no captain. She’s a witch who birthed a monster and killed her husband.”
I tried not to let the hurt of his words show on my face. Not now, not ever. The time for sentiment was over. “Dark Water, you sailed with the infamous Captain Kidd, did you not?”
He stared at me, laughter behind his eyes and a sadistic smile on his lips.
“So you should know this well. Aboard Captain Kidd’s ship, those who tried to mutiny were punished, were they not?”
The smile faded from Dark Water’s face.
“Well, were they?”
Still, Dark Water remained silent.
From the corner of my vision, Red Legs yanked the rope that was tied to Dark Waters’ neck, and he yanked hard. Something popped in the tall African. “Answer your captain,” he barked.
“She not my captain,” Dark Water seethed. He spat in the general direction of Red Legs. “And neither are you.”
I cocked an eyebrow. “Captain Kidd had a special punishment for mutineers,” I started. I paced before the pair of misfits like a lion I’d seen once in a menagerie. Back and forth. Back and forth. Pacing, staring. Never taking my eyes off my prey. Or my victims. Finally, I stopped in front of Dark Water, so close my breath had to be hot on his face. “He keelhauled them.”
Dark Water looked away.
“You already knew that, yet you tried anyway, didn’t you?” The red ring came to my vision and every ounce of anger I’d pushed down; losing Jack to losing my daughter; to almost losing my life, came to flaming fruition. “So it’s only right that we honor his legacy.”
Dark Water’s eyes widened and his jaw went slack.
“Red Legs? It’s time we keelhauled Dark Water William.”
“Yes, Captain.” Red Legs didn’t change expression as he trussed up the tall African and prepared him for the horrific death that awaited him.
Dark Water, however, did. His coffee eyes bulged and a strange sound strangled in his throat. “No, Miss Red. You can’t kill me. You don’t have it in you.”
I ignored his pleas. “Witches kill all the time, wouldn’t you agree Swan?”
Charles Swan ignored me.
Poison Lightning stepped up and looked me squarely in the eye. “Poison Lightning help Red.”
He has been waiting a long time for this.
I nodded. “Nail Swan to the deck, feet only. Long nails. He can listen while we keelhaul his lover.”
Red Legs dragged Dark Water to the side of the boat. He fought and kicked, but it was no use. In a succession of quick knots, the condemned was tied to the rope that was looped beneath The Black Otter. Behind us, Poison Lightning carried out his task to the tune of glass-shattering shrieks from Charles Swan.
“What’s keelhaul?” Rusty appeared at my elbow. Her face was screwed up in horrific planes. “What’s going to happen to him?”
I couldn’t look at her. Not yet. “That rope that runs under The Black Otter there, it is what we use when we dock. Someone has to go down and clean off the barnacles and such. Barnacles are very, very sharp. But today, it’s going to bring death to Mr. William.”
“Miss Red, please—” Dark Water’s pleading words were such that I knew he would say anything to spare his life. “You are not a killer. Or a witch.”
I unsheathed my sword and pointed it at his chest. “You tried to kill me when Blackbeard attacked. You were going to kill me if you had the chance when you and Swan tried to mutiny. And what’s worse—”
Red tinged my vision again and the words slid over my teeth in a hiss.
“You were going to leave Jack to hang like a dog.”
I ignored his tears that fell as I approached him. Red Legs stepped back when the last knot attaching Dark Water to the keelhaul rope was tied. I tossed my sword to Solo.
“You’re a coward, Dark Water. Die a coward’s death.” I drew back my arms and shoved him hard. Dark Water William, arms and legs bound and tied to the keelhaul rope, fell into the water with a blubbering shriek.
I spit where he fell then turned my attention to Red Legs. “Much obliged.” I held out my hand for the rope. “But I’ll carry out his punishment. You don’t have to.”
