Kidnapped.
Across from her, Gerald lounged against the opposite side of the boat, looking entirely too comfortable for someone participating in a kidnapping. He was older than her by immortal standards. Much older, but immortals were irritating that way and he didn’t look ancient. Perhaps forty-five at most.
Dark hair threaded faintly with silver at the temples. Expensive coat. Elegant posture and handsome in the polished, upper-class way powerful men often were.
Unfortunately, that was where the attractiveness ended, because underneath all that refinement lived a controlling, manipulative sack of sentient disappointment. Gerald glanced up suddenly and caught her staring. A slow smile spread across his face.
“Liking what you see?”
Edith mock gagged immediately. “Gods no,” she said flatly. “I’d rather snog a Kraken.”
Silence, Gerald just looked at her like he couldn’t understand the concept of sarcasm.
Mark glanced up from where he stood near the wheel and frowned.
Gerald’s smile thinned slightly. “I see Krakens Hole corrupted your manners quickly.”
“Oh no,” Edith replied sweetly. “I was always rude. They just encouraged it.”
Mark looked away toward the sea again. Edith narrowed her eyes slightly because the brother had changed since the park. There was tension in him now, not guilt exactly but something more complicated.
Good. She really hoped he felt awful. Gerald sighed softly like she was an exhausting child.
“You’ll learn.”
Edith smiled brightly. “And you’ll drown eventually. We all have goals.”
The ghost pirate barked out a startled laugh from the front of the boat before quickly pretending he hadn’t heard anything.
Gerald’s gaze sharpened faintly. “You are not in a position to test my patience.”
The old fear tried to return at the tone, but Edith crushed it instantly like a cheesy Wotsit.
No… not anymore. Edith suddenly she realised something very important. They expected obedience and had expected tears. Expected her to break quietly and slide back into the role they had chosen for her.
And Edith was deeply tired of being what other people expected. Her fingers curled slowly around the rope securing her to the railing.
Binky’s voice echoed loudly in her head…
When in doubt, create problems.
Honestly? Solid life advice, if any. The familiars had taught her many things over the time she had called Krakens Hole her home.
Petty theft, creative swearing, how to cheat at cards without technically cheating. And most importantly… chaos was an art form.
Edith looked slowly around the boat and took stock of her options.
Ghost pirate, loose ropes, wooden deck, open water, one emotionally constipated bounty hunter… and a Gerald.
Her lips curved slightly. Oh yes. She could absolutely work with this.
Because one thing Gerald clearly didn’t understand, Edith had survived Krakens Hole. Which meant she’d survived Binky and, frankly, after that, fear became relative.
The boat rocked gently beneath them as the coastline faded further into the distance. Open water stretched endlessly now, cold and deep. Mark continued staring at it.
Edith watched him carefully for a moment. “You know,” she said casually, “your brother’s going to be furious with you.” Mark’s jaw tightened slightly, but he didn’t respond.
Oops, direct hit then, and that was interesting.
