I clear my throat. “No. Just teach me how not to die.”
“I can do that.” She thrusts her blade toward me, and I stumble backward, trip over my own feet, and wind up on the deck yet again. It hurts. But I can take it. I have to, because I’ve decided I’m going to survive this nightmare.
I refuse to end up staring at that goddamn cinderblock wall. If I have to fight my way out of this delusion, then I will.
Climbing to my feet, I wave Widow toward me. “I want all the smoke.”
She smiles and raises her sword. “Then let’s go, little darling.”
I spend much of the next hour on my ass or on the way to being on my ass. Widow is skilled in all sorts of combat, not just the sword. She’s lethal and clever, and I’m … well, I’m slow and somewhat bumbling. But when we’re done, Widow pulls me to my feet again and pats me on the back. “Well done for your first day. We’ll practice more tomorrow.”
“Bill!” she yells.
“Hang on.” I gulp in the salty air. “Hang on a second. I just need to catch my breath is all.”
“You’ve got this.”
The large pirate climbs up from below decks and gives me a long-suffering look. “You’re already beaten.”
“I saved some for you.” I hold my sword in front of me the way Widow taught me, while also trying not to breathe as loudly as a wounded wildebeest.
“Good. Always keep them guessing. Maybe you look fuck-all tired, but they don’t know you’ve still got some pep left underneath.” She leans back on the ship’s rail, the island looming large behind her.
We seem to be skirting the coast and heading inland between two cliffs. Widow said we’re going to Hook’s Hideaway. Catchy. All I know is that I’ll be back on Neverland, which means I’m close to Peter. He has to know by now that his plan with Calico Jack didn’t work out. Will he find out I’m at the hideaway and come find me? A lot of raw emotions wrap around that question.
Bill Jukes cracks his knuckles, the sound like gunfire, then runs one hand over his bald head. “Fine.” He sighs like this is by far the worst chore on his list for the day. “Hit me.”
“Hit you?” I lower my sword. “Like with my fist?”
“Any way you can.” He sounds bored.
I shouldn’t feel insulted. After all, he’s right to be bored—I’m already winded, covered in sweat, my leg is aching, and I lost feeling in my ass several falls ago. Even so, I want to show him I can do some damage.
“Go get him.” Widow gives me a shove forward.
I don’t lose my balance—point for me—and then charge at the huge man with my sword.
Then something happens. I don’t know how, but I’m yet again on my ass. I didn’t even get near him, and he’s knocked me down.
“What was that?” he asks.
“You’re lucky I can’t feel my cheeks.” I use the sword like a cane to help myself back to my feet.
He sighs. “If you come running like that, you deserve what you get.”
“Then what do you suggest?” I try to keep my knees from wobbling, but I’m so tired. It’s hitting me harder now that I’m trying to regroup and tackle the giant.
“Be smarter.” He drops to one knee so we’re almost at eye level. The tattoos on his cheeks are of flowers, beautiful ones with dainty hummingbirds floating in midair. They’re actually quite lovely. “You’re small. You can’t use blunt force attacks and get anywhere. You need to misdirect.” He reaches toward me—I’m too tired to even try to dodge—and he pulls a golden coin from behind my ear. “You need to use your brain.” He taps my forehead lightly, then opens his palm where he held the coin and blows a paper butterfly into the wind. It floats away over the sea.
I can only stare at him. He’s so huge and scary, but when he’s down here on my level, I realize he’s utterly charming. And he can do magic—that’s always a plus.
“Rest. We’ll spar first tomorrow.” He gets to his feet and lumbers back below decks.
I turn to look at Widow, my eyes wide. “Who knew?”
“Bill’s a bruiser. But he’s also more than that.” She wraps her arm around my shoulder and walks me back toward Hook’s quarters. “Don’t judge us pirates so harshly, darling. We may not be eternal children, but we have a few tricks of our own.”
Her words are spoken lightly, but they land a solid punch. I’ve judged everyone I’ve met ever since I left the island. Even the people who saved my life. I owe Huran an apology, and I owe Blackbeard a proper thanks for allowing his husband to take care of me and welcoming me into their home. In my quest to trust absolutely no one, maybe I’ve been a bit of a jerk. No, Idefinitelyhave. That’s sobering.
