Ghosts' Stories |Chapter Twenty-Three|
On the night of Samhain or Halloween, as the off-islanders call it, Greek row is hopping. All around the islands, huge bonfires burn, encouraging those who've departed within the year to find their way to the afterlife. Within the Greek houses, wild Samhain parties rage. Both inside and out, a mixture of costumed foreigners mingle with those from the islands who prefer to keep their faces hidden with masks to ensure malevolent spirits can't find them. Tonight the veil between the living and the dead is the thinnest. Many embrace it by attempting to communicate with the dead. The only contingencies the locals have is that they must do it outside. No one wants spirits within their houses, especially troublesome ones. That and their windows and doors must stay lined with salt so that nothing unwanted crosses them.
In Kade's frat room, Truly finishes the black around Kade's eyes to give them both a more demonic look befitting their demon masks. Truly grows frustrated when he flinches again. "Would ye stop movin'."
A look of irritation crosses Kade's face. "Stop tryin' to blind me, and I won't have to."
"I ain't trying ta blind ye. I'm putin' a feckin' brush ta ye eyelid. Ye keep flinchin' and I will blind ye jist ta get it done." Truly gives him a warning glare as she tries to go in again.
"Yer pressing hard enough." Kade grumbles, regretting the fact he agreed to this.
"Oh... me... stars." Truly finishes up his right eye and moves to his left. "Ye are such a baby. I'm barely touchin' ye."
"Yer touching me plenty and in none of the places I prefer."
Truly leans in and gives him a quick peck on the lips. "T'ere, ye happy enough ta hold still for t'ree more seconds, pirate?"
Kade's lip thin as he pretends to consider his options. "It's a hard bargain, Treasure, but I'll accept it. You're lucky I love ye."
A smile crosses her face as she finishes up his eye. "Aye, I t'ank me lucky stars every day t'at ye do." She rises on her toes to wrap her arms around his shoulders and kiss him. The gold medallion fringe belt around her hips jingles. "I love ye, too. Aa oosalle," my pirate. "Now, get ye mask on before some hobgoblin decides ta carry me handsome pirate off ta te netherworld."
Kade rolls his eyes, snagging his masculine devil mask as requested. "The doors and windows are salted. We're safe in the house." They're safe outside as well, in his eyes. He's not superstitious like his fellow Atlanteans, including his wife.
"Well, t'en do it so ye don't look like some new species of ring-eyed monkey." She playfully smiles. Stepping back, she grabs her feminine gold demon mask with two spiral horns coming off each side. She carefully places it on her face and ties the black satin ribbon around her head to keep it in place.
Throwing her a light glare, Kade secures his own in place. "Don't make me throw ye over my shoulder and drag ye down with me."
Truly raises a brow. Not that he can see it past her mask. "Has me pirate turned siren?"
"Follow me into the sea and find out. I'll make it worth your while." A playful grin forms beneath his demon mask.
"Oh, aye?" Truly takes a step back toward the door. "When me mum warned me about mermen, I thought I'd jist have ta watch for t'em in te sea. Who knew I'd find one on land."
"Adaptation." His grin grows. "It's a thing. I had ta follow my prey ta shore."
Truly burst into laughter. If only me family were here ta here t'at one t'ey'd laugh t'emselves inta an early grave at ta irony. "I like yer theory, pirate. Come me love." Truly nods toward the door. "Let's raise ta dead."
Kade takes her hand and leans in. "Are ye actually planning to do that tonight?"
She lightly shrugs. "I usually bring back Orison every year. I brought Pasha back...once."
He raises a brow beneath his mask as they head down the hall to join the others. "Of all the..." Why in bloody hell would you want to talk to that bastard? Wait, Pasha? "Pasha? Ye mean the merchant's daughter he kidnapped? That poor lass who wanted nothing but ta leave. What would you possibly want to ask her?"
"Pasha was no merchant's daughter." Truly huffs at the very idea. "She was Amphirite's daughter." A frown crosses her face, knowing what her family pushes as history. "She was bloody royalty." Truly's shoulders drop, knowing that she's supposed to stick to the lie. "She didn't want ta leave ta island. She was very happy with Orison. As happy as he was with her."
"Right..." Kade takes the stairs down swiftly, knowing better than to voice his disbelief on that. "How exactly did ye all escape a curse like ours, then? And how did this place not get sunk by Davy himself after everything the fleet did for that matter?"
"Cause we didn't make anyone mad." Truly chuckles. "Stonewalls don't have a curse either. As far as Davy goes, accorin' ta our myths, he was Orison's father-in-law. T'at makes him me many great ovas granddah. No reason why he'd want ta sink an island ova his daughta gettin' hand fasted. Even if he had ta power ta do t'at."
He raises a brow. "'He's far from the only one who'd have pissed the man off if the myths are right. The Winters did a number on them and still are paying for it and well." He gestures to himself as the pulsing music from the basement greets them as they hit the main floor. When they join the fray, Kade instinctively pulls her closer to his side. "I'm sure he'd be thrilled ta see you with me." Heavy sarcasm laces his words. "Do me a favor and never try to raise that man, aye?" His eyes flick down to her. "Ye'd likely get me hexed on sight. Course, so might his daughter. Amphitrite might be best." He playfully smirks, not really believing anyone would come. He doesn't believe in ghosts. "She'd at least like me."
"I can't, Kade." Truly frowns up at him. "She's not behind de veil."
"All dead are said to dwell behind it. She should be no different. We can always use one of the ouija boards outside and see who's around."
"She not t'ere, but we can talk ta other if ye want. Ye jist gotta tell me who and I'll do me best ta pull t'em forward." Truly looks up at him. "But jist so ye know, I can see t'em. Board or noh, and t'ey can see me taday."
His eyes snap to her as a sense of unease fills him. Mama Adébáyọ̀s had always warned such people lit up like beacons to the dead.
'Dem di ones yuh get tuh watch out for. They'll always find dem selves pestered and di dark ones will wanna possess dem.' Her warning whispers in his mind.
"Is it a good idea for you ta try an summon?"
"Oh sure. It's fine." Truly waves her hand nonchalantly. "I'm wearing protection charms." She gestures to a vial hung around her neck. "Plus, I have me mask, and I've cast some protection spells t'is mornin'." As she lets her gaze drift over the group of Psi's and Theta's in the room. "What are ye wantin' ta do tonight?"
Kade shrugs. "Drink, dance with ye. I don't much care. I'll likely ask Sparrow ta read me tarot. She's good at it, and it's one of the few times she willingly joins us. Most of us try to ask, just ta get to know her better."
"T'en I guess I'll watch ye do t'at."
"She'll do yours as well unless you're against it like you are me reading your leaves."
"Noh." Truly vigorously shakes her head as she grows uneasy from the offer. "Noh, readin's."
Stepping out of the way of another, Kade forces her closer to the wall as his voice turns softer. "Are you afraid it'll be blank again?"
Truly frowns as her body goes stiff. "How do ye know about t'at?"
"Finn. His temper slipped the night he brought me ta the island." He leaves out the fact his own did as well.
Her shoulders drop. "It's not t'at I'm afraid it'll be blank again. I know it will. Nothin' eva comes up."
"Always?" Confusion laces the word as his brows furrow, but she can't see behind his mask to tell that. How do you get a blank tarot card reading? They have bloody faces. There's not a way to get a blank reading.
"Aye, every time. With every type of reading, always." Truly wraps her arms around herself. "Tarot cards are t'e most unearvin'."
He reaches out and caresses her arm as the need to comfort her fills him. "Good thing I prefer the unknown. I'd rather you always keep me guessing than have it all predicted."
"Well, ye don't have much of a choice." Truly lightly smiles.
"I don't need Sparrow reading me. We can do whatever you like, Treasure." Kade's eyes widen behind his mask as he lifts a bit more on his feet to see over the crowd. "Bloody hell, we're never living this one down." He shakes his head as Killian comes into the room dressed as a damn female mermaid with a female pirate at his side. "Best cover yer ears for the rest of the night. Ye might get bewitched."
Truly pulls herself up high on her toes, using his shoulder for support to see what he's talking about. A smile spread across her face. "He got me shell bra ta work!"
Kade's head snaps down to her as his eyes widen. "You're in on this...? Belay that you let him tarnish one of yer bras? I love you in those!"
"Calm ye seas, I can get it back. T'ough it was an old one t'at I don't even wear anymore." Truly drop back on her heels. "And he looks so good in it. Betta t'an I do. Who knew me black-hearted daddy made such a fetchin' siren."
"To you. My brother's and I won't be living this down for ages." He nods towards the man. "Did you see who his pirate was? Something tells me she lost a bet."
"I didn't need ta see. Killy already told me who he was bringin'." Truly smiles, knowing Heather is the one hanging on his arm. "She said if he actually got up on time and wasn't late for one of t'ere formal meetin's she'd let him pick t'ere costumes. Apparently gettin' up at ta arse-crack of dawn, as he calls it, was worth it ta him."
"So that's why he asked Brandyn ta wake him." Kade smirks, knowing no one survives that man's wake-up calls. He's seen him throw people into the pool to wake them. "Speaking of which, he's been asking if you ever found a spare tri-cord."
"He can find he's own spare." Truly rolls her eyes. Who keeps feckin' spare tri-cords? "Took me t'ree years ta make ours. I'm not about ta insult someone by askin' for hers."
"Think we can get her ta bed him finally?" Kade's breath tickles her ear as his fingers slide to her bare stomach.
"Aye. I t'ink she's been waitin' on him ta make a move for a while now." Truly rest her hands on top of his.
Kade softly groans. "Kill's got no intention of moving in on her. He would have by now, if he wanted, just ta chip her cup. The man likes her too much to ruin what they've got." That, and his predecessor, taught him never to bed your equivalent chair, which is likely why he didn't sleep with her at the start.
Truly pouts. "But t'ey like each other so much. Ye can see it when t'ere tagetha. Heatha might act like he drives her batty, but t'ere's a glint in her eye t'at shows when he's around."
"Ye know what this means?" Kade's lip lightly turns up. "We need ta get them three sheets ta the wind. We need someone ta keep up with Kill, know anyone?" Few within their house can.
"Oh aye, lots, but I don't t'ink ye have enough room, or enough alcohol, ta accommodate me entire family." Truly smirks at him.
"Kill's only got three kegs for the both of ye. I know cause a senior dared ta ask for some." An amused look crosses his lips. "It was an amusing lecture about stealing from nursin' babes."
"Me gast, I'll neva hear ta end of t'at one." Truly cuddles into his grip. "We don't need ta egg them on, anyway. Killy always gets pissed. If Heatha stays glued ta his hip, she'll drink more jist ta keep up with him. Did ye want ta get ye cards read? Jist cause I won't, doesn't mean ye can't. Or we can go outside and watch people trying ta talk ta de dead."
"We can, but I'd like ta get some rum in me first before I dive into that rabbit hole. Are ye planning to drink or do you need to stay sober?" His eyes slide over her.
"It's best if I keep me mind, but a couple of beers shouldn't botha me. I can still keep me wits."
"Let's head down to the bar then." His fingers slide over to her hip and lightly squeeze. After a few drinks for Kade and a Guinness for the baby unicorn to nurse courtesy of her daddy, the two finally head outside where the real entertainment is.
"I'll take ye to meet Sparrow and Sawyer." Scanning the area, Kade leads her towards a table where a tall boy with long blonde hair. He stands protectively behind a petite girl with demeanor features as she sits with a deck of cards before her. "Sawyer!"
Sawyer snaps his head their way and nods. "Blessed Samhain, Kade." His attention shifts to her. A hint of a lilt mixed with something else tells her he's from the Northern part of East Haven. "Is this the misses I've been hearing about?"
"Aye." Kade grins, pulling Truly in front of him as his arm wraps around her waist. "Truly, this here's Sawyer and Sparrow." He nods his head to the girl a few years older than him as she does another's reading.
Briefly flicking up her eyes, Sparrow flashes her a shy, polite smile before her eyes turn back to her cards.
"Pleasure." Sawyer flashes her a friendly smile as he stays firmly behind his intended.
"Nice ta meet ye both." Truly nods.
"She can read you next, if you like."
"I'll do mine." When it's his turn, Kade sits before Sparrow and draws just three cards.
Sparrow already knows he's not one to sit through a full reading.
Flipping over the first card, Sparrow eyes the four pentacles. "Your past is still the four of Pentacles." As she recalls, it was that last time as well. "You're secure and successful, but you worry about missed opportunities and losing what you've worked so hard to achieve."
When the present flips over, the seven pentacles bring a small smile to Sparrow's lips. "It's reminding you, you're making long-term plans and you're in for the duration. You might get frustrated, but your hard work always brings rewards."
The last card is his future. When she flips it over, the Seven of wands stares up at him, bringing a small frown to Sawyer's face behind her. "You're going to struggle to maintain your position. Others are plotting against you. They intend to undermine you." Sparrow's eyes flick up to him. "You need to defend what's yours or you may lose the treasure they seek."
Kade's mind instantly jumps to his family. When don't they? "Thank ye Sparrow. Blessed Samhain." He stands, taking Truly's hand. "Cards are better than my cup readings," he softly informs her as they meander towards the closest bonfire.
"If ye don't like t'em, t'en why do it?" Truly's gaze wanders across the lawn, watching the spirits walk amongst the living. Most completely unaware that they're there.
"It puts others at ease to see me do it." Kade's cognac eyes seem to glow behind his mask as he looks down at her thanks to the firelight. "I ostracize myself enough being meself. I learned the hard way when I had ta defy my own father. It's not good to have no one at yer back."
"Wow." Truly's eyes go wide. "I had no idea so much relied on simple readin's."
Kade rolls his eyes. "It's simply respectin' the culture to do it. No one likes me analyzing how it's done just because I wanna see if I can disprove it. Only the four winds knows how many times Mama has nearly cursed me herself for pressing Drake's luck."
Truly raises a brow. "Ye find me a deck of cards ta borrow, I'll let yer scientific mind analyze me results, cause honestly, I'd love ta blow ye mind."
"Don't gotta find a set. Gideon's got one." He smirks as he pulls her against him to dance beside the fire.
"If ye promise not ta freak out, and we're alone, I'll show ye." She wraps her arms around him.
"I'm not gonna freak out about a bunch of cards." His hand drops to her low back as their dance turns more sensual. "Find me a real kraken ta study, or drop the bomb on me yer pregnant one day and then I might." He teases.
"I found ta kraken, but I ain't pregnant..." She tilts her head to the side in thought. "T'at I know of."
Kade lightly shakes his head as a smile crosses his face, knowing there's no way she found that. "Good thing there are ways ta find out now if need be."
"I betta not be, t'ough ye seems hell bent on testin' me birth control's efficiency," she playfully teases.
"Oh, like ye mind." He angles his head down and nips her lips as his hand instinctively slides down to her ass to knead it. "You seem quite content ta help me test it yerself, Treasure."
"Aye, t'at I am." Her hands trail up the back of his neck and entangles in his hair. Despite the music around them, Truly starts singing in her own hauntingly sweet voice. "The world stops when you come this near. Starlight on your skin. The sky sways as you pull me in, and I wanna swim in your ocean. I... Wanna know how to love again."
As she sings, an odd glow and an ancient yet familiar presence grips her very soul. She finds her gaze drifting from her lover to scan the crowd. A gasp escapes her lips when she sees a man that looks eerily similar to Kade, just a bit older. He's also semi translucent. Drake. There's something wrong with him. Truly can't quite pinpoint it, but it's as if Drake's soul is missing something. It isn't quite as strong as the others around him.
With her eyes locked on the man, Truly pulls slightly away. "I'll be right back, me love."
Kade's head turns, following her gaze, but there's nothing there to his eyes. "Treasure." A hint of unease laces her name.
"I'll be alright." She pulls away from his grasp and heads over to Drake's apparition. Despite the risks, Truly pulls her mask up over her head and approaches him slowly.
Spirits are often disoriented and confused in death. Though he can see her, it doesn't mean he understands what's going on or that he's even dead necessarily.
As he feels her attention on him, Drake's gaze shifts from wherever in the veil he was looking to her. His eyes instantly lighten as a breathtaking smile crosses his lips. For a moment, his body briefly flickers as he shifts to match her age and the time in his mind she's in.
"Maawen." Drake's name falls from her lips in her native language. "What brings ye here?" She would have never thought she'd find him here, not without being summoned.
"Ta me own ship?" A playful grin crosses his lips. "Shouldn't I be askin' you that, Amph?" His eyes scan something behind her. "Ye didn't let the others see ye, did ye?" His expression turns a bit more serious. "There's talk of sirens in these parts now. Stonewall lost another ship in his fleet off the rocks on the far side. Ye need to be careful."
A smile spreads across her face. "Of course yer on ye ship. Are ye happy, Drake?"
"If yer back to stay this time, aye." Reaching out to her, his hand touches hers, though not actually, as a chill from his presence merely brushes her fingers. "Ye left in the night on me again. What happened ta makin' a go of it?"
"What do ye mean?" Truly frowns as she glances back over her shoulder at Kade, who's watching her as he takes a drink of something he didn't have before. "Makin' a go of what?"
"Staying here aboard with me. Sailing where ever ye like. My fleet and I have no ties ta these islands. It'd make the lad happy. Dour keeps asking me about ye," he adds, bringing up their son. Reaching up, he runs a hand through his hair like Kade often does. "He's driving the other's right mad. Orison intends ta drown' him himself if he keeps swimming in the sea on 'em. He's sick of fetchin' 'em."
Truly's shoulders sag in revelation. "So ye did leave him with t'em. Ye gave Dour ta Pasha and Orison." It was something that Orison had said when she spoke to him, but she never had proof of it. Not that talking to Drake's ghost is proof.
"Brigit did, aye. The Sapphire wasn't in port when I docked. She gave me a right dressin' down over the boy. No way that bloody Irishman wouldn't have joined in with her and Stonewall. Ye should have just set sail with me, Amph. I don't fear that man."
"Aye." Truly nods. Her soul aches for him. A regret from a past life still stains her spirit. "Perhaps she should have."
The man before her suddenly seems to become more solid before her as his attention shifts to a different version of himself. "Ah..." A look of realization crosses Drake's face as he sees her for who she truly is. "So you're where my Amphitrite went off to. He's a handsome fellow." He nods behind her.
Coming up behind her, an unmasked Kade slides an arm around her waist, pulling her back into him. "You're getting looks talking to yourself, omen." The word love from her language rolls off his tongue with ease as it had before in his treasure vault.
"Aye, he is." Truly's gaze shifts up to Kade before focusing on Drake again. "He takes afta ye afta all, Drake."
"Drake?" Kade raises a brow at the space in front of her. "That so?"
An amused look crosses Drake's face. "He's humorin' ye. He canna see me. I did the same ta me Amph, and I knew her for what she was."
"Aye, he doesn't believe in ta mystics." Truly leans into her husband's warmth.
"Don't I know it." Drake lightly laughs. "He's a brazen one. Never thought he'd make it on ta me Keep or think ta riffle through Brigit's ship. Even Orison ain't that foolish." Showing he must have a tie through Kade to the present since he shares a piece of his soul. "I'll humor ye, if ye want ta ask him what he wants ta know. Can even help prove it to him later ye were talking ta me. I've seen me ship, the real one. There's a hidden cabinet with something that'd be an interest ta both of ye in me cabin. If ye let me, I can show ye how ta get into it. Ye'd have to let me in ta that pretty little head of yours for a moment."
"Aye." Truly nods, going against everything she was ever taught on dealing with spirits. Letting one into your head opens you up for possession, but she's willing to take the risk in this case. "Ye have me permission."
Behind her, Kade tenses, but there's nothing he can do to stop the man from stepping into her. Instantly, images of the real Black Raven fill her mind, and she watches as her own masculine hands unlock a panel hidden within the wood against the wall that his mattress covers.
'Push there and it pops open below. See,' his voice whispers in her head as the drawer appears below the bed from the woodwork.
Content she can do it, Drake pulls away. "Tell him ta ask his questions, the man's bound ta have 'em and make him take ye to that ship soon."
"He says ye can ask questions, if ye want." Truly's gaze turns up to Kade.
Seeing no reason not to, Kade's eyes train where hers were inadvertently meeting Drakes. "Where's the locker?"
Drake's brow rises, impressed the kid would start that brazen first. "The one I stole ta heart from and met Amph was off the islands northeast of the keys that have no name. Set of three large ones and a two small ones."
"Aye, I know where it's at." Truly shakes her head. It's off the Barkholm Keys, which her family owns, and Kade can't go. "Ye can't go t'ere. Next question."
"Why not? He did and you seem to know it."
"Cause, ye can't." Ye'd drown anyway, but I can't tell ye t'at it's only peak yer curiosity more. The Locker's hidden away where no man can reach, not without help anyway. "Do ye have anymore questions?"
Surprise crosses Drake's face as his descendent flashes a look of irritation he was well known for. "Yer one like her, aren't ye? It's why you refuse ta tell him about those isles."
"Aye, I am." A grin crosses her face, knowing Drake is going to love this. "I'm of Orison and he's wife's line."
Drake openly balks. "Of all the accursed luck. Tell me yer at least not Merrick's." Drake shakes his head. "I should'a known the man would bed himself his own siren. He could never stand for me ta get the better of him."
Truly narrows her eyes on him. "Watch it, Brovern. I'll summon his arse here ta set ye right, and I'm from t'ere son Hurley's line." Truly names Orison and Pasha's first-born son's name.
"Thank the winds, and ye say that like he doesn't already haunt me." Hos eyes flick to Kade. "Now tell me what else, lad. I ain't got a lifetime ta spend here."
"Are we truly cursed and is there a way ta undo it?" Kade asks as if having heard the demand himself.
Drake's lips thin as his eyes flick to Truly. "Cursed with what, lass?"
"T'at yer descendants are cursed ta wander with a t'rist for gold, and t'at ye and yer heirs can't find love." Truly's lips turn slightly down in the corner.
"The blaggard." Drake curses. Unaware Davy had extended it to his line. "I was, aye. That mer gave me natural instincts a good kick. I've never been one ta stay in a place. Got a dash of the Devil's luck, too. That tends ta get me the best hauls since I take the risks. I love Amphitrite just fine, though. Even after he learned Dour was mine and she said he cursed me. It was only after he started taking potshots at ta Black Raven she started ta get right scared. She was starting ta show with our second then."
"Ye had two with her?" Truly's eyes widen in shock.
"Two what? With whom?" Kade nudges her with his body, not able to follow along since he can only hear her side. "For wanting to know me questions, yer awful unforthcomin' with the answers, Treasure."
Truly grunts. "Ye ain't goin' ta believe a lick of t'is. I'm gonna sound like a loon." Despite that, Truly repeats everything Drake told her about himself and Amphitrite.
Kade frowns. "There was only one recorded."
"Aye," Drake agrees. "On purpose. After we returned from the West Indies, she begged the only lass who happened ta be married and just had a child ta take him and call him her own. Sadly, that was Orison's wife, and he had a few things ta say about that."
"Well, aye, Pasha was her daughta." Truly, in turn, tells Kade Drake's response.
"Her what?!" The air in front of her crackles in irritation as Drake turns and bellows. "Orsion, ye bloody Irishman, where the bollox are ye!? I wanna talk te that wife of er's. She's got some explainin' ta do."
The hairs on Kade's arms instinctively rise, and his eyes suddenly become more alert.
"Oh please, not Pasha." Truly begs. "She has a hard time with me. She sees her mum, and she finds it hard."
"I don't need ye ta talk to her, lass. Don't fret yer pretty head, but she will be explainin' ta me why I'm learning she's me Amph's daughter. Oi, Orsion, ye Irish bastard!"
"Quit yellin' yer arse off." Orison's deep voice comes from the shadows before he forms in front of Truly. "Me after life's supposed ta be pleasant, yet I ended up listenin' ta yer belly aching for five hundred years." His blue eyes turn to Truly and Kade. "Well, feck me sideways, t'ere two of ye now? Come, lass." He beckons Truly. "Step away from the blaggards, yer granddah will save ye."
"Ye realize she's me Amphitrite, yet git." Drake's lip curls up as the look of mischief she sometimes sees in Kade's eyes appears. "He don't know, do he lass?" His eyes flick to Truly.
"Know what?" Orison's gaze shifts down to Kade's arms around her. "Oh, ye poor t'ing. Ye done got yerself weighed down wit' a Brovern. Ye such a pretty t'ing. Why'd ye choose such an ugly git?"
Beside him, Drake scoffs. "Keep tellin' yerself that, Davelvon. We both know who the lasses preferred, and it wasn't ye."
"Cause ye had ta pay t'em, me," Orison tilts his head, "not so much. Practically spread t'emselves out in ta streets in front of me."
"Ha!" Drake throws his head back and laughs. "Want me ta tell yer wife about that little trip ta Port Royal of ours? Or Nasau's? Oh," he snaps his fingers, "don't forget that week in Tortuga." A sly grin crosses the man's face. "I'd bet she'd find it interesting. Especially what ye were spendin' yer money on."
"Ye do, and I'll make ta next five hundred year hell for ye." Orison warns.
Truly tries to back away, foreseeing this going on for a while, only to bump into Kade. "Run, luv," Truly whispers.
"Why...?" Kade's fingers on her stomach lightly tighten as he eyes the air before them, which feels a bit electric.
"Horrible t'ings are happening. Two five-hundred-year-old- ghost are arguing about who got more whores bedded. Me ears can't take it."
Shaking his head, Kade takes a step back, his hand shifting to catch her own.
"Wait, lass," Drake calls after her, shushing Orison with a hand up in the man's face. "Ye need ta get him ta swallow a pearl or two of yers."
"Ye dumb arse," Orison scoffs. "Not just a pearl. It's gotta be one of 'er pearls."
Drake turns an annoyed look back at the man. "I said of yers, ye blaggard, pay attention. Don't make this like the Spanish main again." He gives him a pointed look.
Orison raises a brow. "Ye seen 'er vault? We got lots of pearls. It needs ta be a pearl from 'er, is what I meant."
"I don't care about yer bloody vault. Amphitrite's pearls practically litter in me own."
"T'ere were none of her pearls in ye vault. I would have noticed." Truly frowns. "T'ough she visited ye all ta time. She wrote ye someti'ng quite pretty in Atlantean, and t'ousands of prayer stones litta the floor, but no pearls."
"I know. I've read the damn thing a thousand times." Drake scowls. "And there were thousands of her pearls. She cried over me for what felt like years. It's why I stayed behind. And no." He points a finger at Orsion, knowing the man is about to mouth off. "She didn't take them bloody with her. She could barely drag her own self away."
"Ye had ye self buried with ye gold." Orison tsks as he shakes his head. "T'at's bloody arrogant of ye."
Drake scoffs. "Like I'd tell me crew where me vault was. They'd rob me blind."
"What? Ye just walked ye meat sack in t'ere yeself t'en?" Orison smirks.
"When was the last time ye saw the dead walkin'? It'd be on yer ship if they happened. Ye held no quarter."
"Aye, prisoners are cumbersome. And," Orison gestures around them to all the walking spirits. "T'ey be walkin', Brovern."
Drake rolls his eyes. "Oh, like ye saw that before, much less with their bodies in tow, like yer suggesting. Speaking of which. Mine at least looks as good as that one." He points to Kade. "Yer bloody bones."
"Would ye two stop long enough ta tell me why one of me pearls?" I'll be here all night with t'ese two.
"Well, if he's one of Dour or Merrik's lads, t'en he'll grow himself a tail." Orison tells her, making her eyes go wide.
"Aye. Amphitrite tried it with me first. It was the same as kissing her for me. Dour though... he gave her a bit of a surprise when we were sailing to the West Indies."
"Her!?" Orison's head snaps to him. "Ye fecker, ye didn't warn me and me wife when ye brought ta little shite back ta us. Little devil went divin' in ta waves, and I pulled meself out a bloody fish boy. Had to t'rough him back so Brigit didn't see."
Drake's hand automatically goes to rest on his cutlasses, just as Kade does when he's mad. "Ye threw my boy in the bloody ocean like he was a fish?! He was barely three when I gave him to you, ye blaggard. I hope she tanned yer hide for that!"
Truly sighs. "T'ere at it again." She nudges Kade. "Now before t'ey drag me back inta it again."
As they walk away, Kade snags her mask and puts it in front of her. "Put it on. If there's something out there, I don't need it following us home."
"Aye." Truly agrees as she puts her mask back on. She likes Drake and Orison on their own. Together, not so much. "I need ye ta take me ta t'e real Black Raven soon, luv. T'ere is somet'in' on there ta ye might find interestin'."
Kade throws her an odd look as he secures his mask. "How do ye even know I can go on her? No other can."
"Ye really t'ought I was talkin' ta meself t'at whole time?" Truly raises a brow at him. "I know I mutta ta meself a lot, but not like t'at!"
"I know you don't." His tone comes off mildly offended as he throws her a sideways look. "Ye were making eye contact with something. I'll give ye that. When you talk to yerself at home, you do these cute little things with your hands." He twirls his hands in front of him just to show her. "The most amusing is your lists." He smirks at her. "You set your items down as you talk about them. Or... ye tell the dogs yer walking them only ta break Navi's heart cause it's not now."
Truly huffs. "I do not. And Drake told me ta have ye take me. Simple as t'at."
"We can go tomorrow if you like. Did he even say which supposed Davelvon was Drake's."
"Aye, or Orison said his name. It was Merrik. I don't know all te names in me family's history, but we keep good records. We should be able ta find it. Ta books are in ta vault. When we go for winta solstice, we can look t'en if ye want."
"Do ye think it'd say, one way or the other?" Kade's eyes flick to her as they head inside the Psi house. Eager to get over the salt lines, so nothing ancient and argumentative follows them. "I doubt yer books are like ours." Reminding her his family marks the bastards down even if they aren't claimed.
"Aye." Truly snorts. "T'ere easier ta trace back."
"Since I assume we intend ta stay inside. Do ye want to have something ta drink or?" His eyes slide over her as he lets the innuendo speak for itself.
A smile spreads across Truly's face. "I don't usually turn down a drink, but I like ta sound of t'at or."
"I'm not opposed to doing other things so long as I get ta bed ye later."
"I'm in ye bed every night." Truly laughs. "I don't t'ink t'at's a real concern."
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