“Now, do you understand? To be this man, I have to allow the darkness inside of me a little room to work. And while I would have never bit you even if you had said yes, if you continue to taunt me, I’m not sure I can contain it. It would be the death of me.” He paused and looked down to his empty hands. “And you.”
He slipped out of the quarters silently as a tear rolled down my cheek. I was alone on this journey. He’d agreed to take me and keep me safe, but I was alone.
I suddenly needed air and rushed out on to the deck where the stars filled the sky above me. I looked up at them with tears in my eyes.
“Damn you, Kyrie. I need you.”
The stars did not respond.
“Miss Riggs, to the helm, please,” Seamus called out.
I quickly wiped away the tears and plodded up the steps where he waited for me on the quarterdeck. He nodded at the wheel, and I placed my hands on it.
Stu yelled to the men, “Brace for the turn!”
“Which way are we turning?” I asked.
“Up,” Seamus replied. “Deploy the pixie.”
“Deploy the pixie!” Stu repeated.
I waited, but nothing happened.
“Stu, where is she?” Seamus growled.
“I’m not sure, Sir.”
“Go find out!” Seamus yelled.
Stu darted down the steps and to the main steps into the lower hull of the ships. Seamus took deep breaths beeside me, and I kept my focus on the stars ahead. I had a purpose, and it wasn’t to buddy up with Seamus. It was to bring Callum home. I forced myself to wipe the incident in the office away and concentrate on my purpose.
Stu returned, but kept his distance from Seamus. “She says she’s not coming.”
“Why?” Seamus asked.
“Cap, she’s a pixie,” Stu shrugged.
“Take the helm. Miss Riggs, come with me,” he said, marching down the steps. I followed him down into the belly of the ship. Once we reached the back of the ship a small door with a tiny window was built into the wood of the hull. Seamus knocked.
“Go away!” a tiny female voice yelled back.
“Zinnia, it is time for us to return to Neverland,” Seamus spoke softly.
“Captain is that you?” the voice asked. Her tiny head peeked through the window on the door. A tuft of yellow hair with a tiny face.
“Why don’t you open the door so we can speak?” he suggested.
“Who is the trollop?” she asked. I looked behind me, then I realized she meant me. I saw the daring look in Seamus’ eyes, so I let it go.
“This is Miss Riggs. She is the Lady Phoenix,” Seamus said.
The door flew open and in a cloud of sparkling yellow dust, Zinnia darted toward me, circled twice, then hovered in front of my face. Her bright yellow hair hung down to her shoulders. She wore a short white dress with a green belt. Green shoes with ballerina laces twirled around her tiny legs then tied in a bow at her upper calf. Her wings were translucent with a shimmer of yellow, and she left a trail of golden dust behind her as she moved.
“I expected more,” she huffed.
“Sorry to disappoint,” I replied.
“How’s Bramble?” she asked.
“You know Bramble?”
“Every pixie knows Bramble. That Briar is a lucky duck. Sad about Thistle though. Sorry for your loss,” she said.
“Thank you. I miss them,” I replied.
“Zinnia, we need to fly,” Seamus interrupted.
“Cool your tits. The girls are talking,” she said, waving him off.
“So, are you and the Captain a thing now?” she asked, nodding toward the impatient pirate.
“Heavens, no,” I replied. I almost said we were friends, but after today, I wasn’t so sure about that.
“Is he not good enough for you?” Zinnia asked.
“He’s far too good for me,” I replied politely.
“I like her,” she said to Seamus.
“Miss Riggs is a wonderous creature. I agree, but we have business. She must get to Neverland. We have an audience with the Queen in Wonderland,” Seamus explained.
“Why in hell would you want to go there? And I mean, literal hell. Everyone is crazy there,” Zinnia said.
“It’s a long story, but I’m looking for my brother,” I replied.
“Oh, that’s sad. Did he die and go mad? Or did he go mad and die?” she asked.
“Zinnia! We have to sail!” Seamus lost his cool.
She ignored him. She held the power, and he had to wait.
“Neither. He was taken by a red-cloaked witch,” I explained.
The tiny pixie shivered, and her light dimmed. “Nasty ones those are. Well, we should get you there as quickly as possible,” she said, then darted for the stairs to the main deck.
“Is she always like that?” I asked.
“Yes,” Seamus grunted.
In that case, I liked her immediately. Anyone that could get Seamus ruffled was a friend in my book.
She waited for us at the helm. Stu tried to urge her to dust the sails, but she remained perched on the helm.
“Now what?” Seamus asked.
“You have to give the order,” she replied.
“I already gave the order and you didn’t come. Did you think I came knocking on your door for a cup of tea?” he asked.
“Wow! He’s got it bad,” she said to Stu who lowered his head. I opened my mouth to ask what she meant, then shut it thinking better of the situation.
“Deploy the pixie!” Seamus yelled. Stu echoed.
Zinnia turned to me and bowed. “For you, Princess Wynonna.” She took to the air, swirling around the massive sails of the Blood Rose. Yellow dust drifted down, coating the sheets with a light sheen.
“Should I do something?” I asked.
“Keep your hands on the helm and hold it steady. Do not turn,” Seamus instructed as he watched Zinnia complete her task. She flew back to me and sat down on the top spoke of the wheel.
“Now comes the fun part,” she said with a grin.
“Drop the weight,” Seamus yelled.
Ten men lifted a box from the deck and dumped it overboard. It splashed into the sea and sank quickly. The ship lurched forward and upward at the same time.
“Oh, shit,” I muttered as the entire ship lifted out of the water.
“Full speed ahead,” Seamus called. Stu echoed the command.
Seamus moved closer. He placed his hand on the handle below mine.
“This is amazing,” I said. The sailors tied lines and scurried below us on the deck. I felt the wind in my face as the ship picked up speed. I saw the two stars. The brightest one, and the one to the right. We were headed straight for it.
Seamus stepped closer again to wrap his arm around my waist. With his right hand, he flicked open his compass which spun wildly. I looked at it, then to him.
“No worries, Miss Riggs. All is as it should be,” he replied.
The sky in front of us began to wiggle like a mirage, and I leaned closer to Seamus who tightened his grip. Zinnia looked at us instead of watching ahead.
“All ahead, Captain,” Stu yelled.
“Hold tightly to the Blood Rose, Miss Riggs. I’m trusting her with you. Don’t you worry. I’ll hold tightly to you.” He paused. “Brace yourselves.”