“Extremely?” Vera asks wrinkling her nose. “I did sing in my church choir as akid—”
“Not relevant,” I say quickly cutting her off as I glance at Wendy out of the corner of my eye. I see her eyes flash murderously.
“I’m sorry, Captain, but you will forgive me once I’ve broken the spell she has over you.” She pulls the dagger back. The metal glints in the lanternlight.
I’m not quite sure how I react so fast, it’s almost as though time is moving in slow motion. I lunge forward, throwing my hand up until my palm meets Vera’s throat. For a second it looks like I’m actually trying to choke her, but then Wendy swings the dagger around and I feel the stinging bite of the dagger cutting through my flesh.
And all I can hope is that I didn’t just lose another hand.
If I wound up getting called Captain Hooks, I will lose it.
Wendy screams and drops the dagger just as Vera yells, “What are you doing?”
I clench my teeth so hard that pain shoots up my head. I’m trying to keep from yelling out and showing how much that hurt. I pull my hand back, shaking it around, but feel my eyes widen as droplets of blood splatter on the wooden planks of the bridge.
“Oh, no,” I gasp out. I think I’m going to black out.
Vera grabs my hand, holding it tightly between her two hands. I reach my hook out unsteadily until I find thebridge’s railing. I sag against it, suddenly no longer able to hold myself up. My head is swimming. I think I’m going to be sick. I’m going to throw up my caramelized apple everywhere and waste the copper piece I spent on it.
“Hook!” Wendy gasps out, stumbling back and holding her chest. “I didn’t mean, I—”
“You didn’t mean to what?” Vera snaps, stepping slightly in front of me, my hand still firmly held between hers. I hope she is staunching the bleeding. I can’t even look at it. I appear to still have my hand, but what if Wendy cut through tendons?
Am I going to be okay?
Black dots fill my vision, and I sink a bit lower.
“Captain,” Wendy breathes, moving closer.
“Don’t talk to him,” Vera hisses, holding up a bloodstained finger. I groan a bit at the sight of it. I think I’m dying. How much blood have I lost already?
Wendy snaps her mouth shut, before she glances at me. “Captain,” she tries again, her voice is softer this time. “I’m sorry I hurt you, but please know that I never intended to cause you harm.”
I blow out a slow steadying breath, still trying to fight the urge to pass out.
Vera widens her stance. “I’m serious, get awayfrom him. From both of us.”
Wendy’s eyes dart from Vera to me, then they pause on the dagger and my blood staining the bridge. Finally, she looks back up at me. Her eyes are glistening.
“Just go please,” I say weakly.
Wendy bites down hard on her lip before she finally turns and takes off across the bridge, racing away from us.
I groan as my knees buck slightly and I slide down the bridge. Vera follows me down, her eyes locked on my hand.
