The Sea's Rough Magic Read online

  James scowled then glanced down at the cock before him. To his horror, the flesh was marred by long scratches as if from fingernails or teeth. He looked back up into the blue eyes. “Quiet. I’ll hear no more of that, do you understand?”

  There was an audible swallow from the captive and James took the flesh into his mouth. He let his tongue play over the head at first, causing Raven to gasp repeatedly, his hands tightening spasmodically on his hair. Without thinking, he began to gently press a slender digit against Raven’s back passage. To his horror, Raven sobbed aloud at the sensation. Feeling sick, he withdrew the hand and raised his head.

  He began to stroke Raven’s side as he pulled himself back up to kiss his lover’s lips. Between kisses, he whispered to him. “I’m sorry. Please, I didn’t mean to frighten you. I wouldn’t- I won’t hurt you, you have my word. Please forgive me.”

  They both heard McSwain shift, the chair creak, and it sent a jolt through them. The captive rested his forehead against James’s collarbone, drawing rapid breaths as he fought the panic down. James petted the dark hair, noting as he did that it felt like the finest silk. He buried his face against Raven’s hair. Perhaps if he stopped, he could convince McSwain to take him instead. “I’ll stop now and tell him I refuse to go farther.”

  At that, Raven’s head raised, his black eyes wide. “NO! Please . . . “

  James swallowed at the bile that rose in the back of his throat then heard McSwain laugh softly from his vantage point nearby. He refused to look at the pirate captain but he cast his next words in the villain’s direction. “What do you mean by laughing?”

  McSwain spoke, his voice still amused. “He don’t want ye t’ stop ‘cause he knows it means he’ll be with me next. Ye sure ye want to stop, boy?”

  James found himself gazing up into the blue eyes, seeking courage where he saw only fear. Seconds passed then, without warning, he stole a hard kiss from Raven. He would make certain Raven received at least some pleasure from this act.

  )O(

  Angus McSwain watched the navy man make love to Aaron Johnson and smiled. He would never admit it but losing Aaron would destroy the final bit of humanity within him. He knew, if there was ever a chance for him to return to real life, he had to keep that spark alive. In order to do that, he had to keep Aaron alive—and that meant rekindling hope in Aaron’s broken heart. When he saw the Lieutenant leap to Johnson’s defense, he knew he’d found the right man to do just that.

  Aaron’s mine now, forever, McSwain felt the smile broaden into a grin but suppressed the laugh that caught at the back of his throat. He’ll fight to stay alive now just in case the Luff comes back for him. We’ll keep the tar aboard for a few days then let him “get away.” That’ll keep Aaron going.

  )O(

  Chapter 8:

  Escape

  James wasn’t sure how long he was aboard the Maid. At most, it was a week. Every morning found Raven cautiously taking refuge in his arms. Every evening was a battle of wills with Captain McSwain over whether his captive could dine with them. By the fourth night, James suspected the battles were more for show than not. McSwain made no complaint when Raven stole food blatantly from the table now. Occasionally, he caught McSwain smiling in his direction. It made him wonder what he was doing that played into the Captain’s evil plans.

  Raven still didn’t speak to him. As soon as McSwain left the cabin, Raven would join him on the blankets he slept on in the floor. The first day it happened, he had been shocked. As a result, he was hesitant to put his arms around Raven and embrace him but there was no other way to soothe the trembling away. When he did, Raven was finally able to sleep. Realizing that Raven needed sleep more than he did anything else at the time, he obliged.

  Had anyone asked him to hazard a guess, he would have said it was the sixth day. Raven came to him as usual, pressing his face against his chest and clutching his shirt in both hands. James held him as he had the previous days but he grew aware that Raven’s trembling wasn’t going away, nor was his breathing easing into sleep. He finally looked down to see tears streaking the face.

  “What’s wrong?” He asked softly.

  At the words, Raven flinched. Cautiously, James raised a hand and wiped the tears from his eyes. The tears made his heart ache anew. “Why does my voice frighten you so? I would never hurt you, you know that.”

  The black eyes rose to his. The voice, harsh and barely above a whisper, reached his ears. “I don’t know that. I- I’m afraid it’s all a dream. He’ll kill ye soon an’ I’ll- I’ll be alone with him again. I can’t fight ‘im anymore. I just can’t.”

  “I won’t leave you. I swear it. We’ll escape together, hmm? As soon as we make landfall somewhere, I’ll take you away from here. I promise you.”

  Raven looked away, unable to control the tears and the sobs any longer. James held him harder, feeling the ridges of his spine press against his inner arm, the ribs jut out through the skin, and the arm joints cut into his own muscles. He remembered with tears in his eyes, the feel of the hip-bones against his hands the first time he buggered Raven and the sight of the bruises in the flesh where his own hands rested as lightly as possible. He also remembered the smell of hot blood that rose from Raven when McSwain assaulted him. It made him sick nearly every night and only his fervent desire to rescue Raven ultimately gave him courage.

  “Tell me your name,” James finally said, allowing his lips to brush against Raven’s hair.

  “I- My name?” Raven looked up, drying the tears from his face with a sleeve. “My name is--.”

  “Well, well, well, plottin’ t’ escape now, are we?” McSwain’s voice made Raven’s face go gray. “Can’t have none o’ that, now, can we? Think maybe it’s time t’ replace yer playmate?”

  Before James could do anything, Raven scrambled to the Captain’s feet, pressing his forehead to the tops of the other man’s boots. “No, sir, please, don’t. I- I need him.”

  McSwain laughed suddenly. “Ye need him! Ye ‘needed’ the Lash, too, din’t ye? Maybe we should do t’ the Lieutenant here what we did t’ him?”

  Raven made a strange choking sound and James reacted without thinking. He snatched Raven to him, drawing him away from the Captain. He held Raven against his chest and glowered at McSwain.

  “That is enough!” He swallowed hard and dropped his voice to a hiss to keep from revealing his emotions. “You have done enough to him. If you must attack someone, make it me. I will not stand idly by and see you--.”

  McSwain caught him across the left cheek with the back of his hand. “Shut up!”

  It was the first real violence the pirate had done to him and it shocked James. To his surprise, Raven reacted before he could. The smaller man propelled himself at the Captain, teeth bared and hands clawed. Their impact seemed to super-heat the air in the cabin and James found himself fighting to breathe. The struggle didn’t last long. McSwain soon had Raven by the throat, his fingers digging hard into the flesh, as he pulled a pistol to point at James.

  Frozen in place, James prayed blindly, not certain what he wanted. Instead, just as McSwain squeezed the trigger, Raven managed to shove the Captain’s arm and ruin his aim. The shot destroyed the globe of a lantern then lodged in the bulkhead. McSwain threw the pistol aside then punched Raven hard in the chest. At that, James started forward. Instead, McSwain glowered at him, a knife suddenly at Raven’s throat.

  “Don’t even think about it!” He snarled. “It’s time fer some punishment, lad, ain’t it, hmm? Ye’re thinkin’ yerself above yer station, aren’t ye?”

  “No,” James spoke, breathing hard. “Don’t do this, Captain! Take me instead.”

  McSwain scowled at him then sneered. “Ah, the brave Lieutenant wants t’ take yer place, Miss Molly, ain’t that sweet? No, Navy, I don’t think ye’ll be takin’ th’ easy way out.”

  Shifting his grip to the back of Raven’s hair, McSwain turned and dragged the prisoner from the cabin. The door slammed shut and James heard t
he key turn in the lock. He tested the door-latch then started looking around for something to try to pick the lock with. When he found the pistol, his next thought was to look for shot and powder. He had no luck.

  )O(

  Hours had passed when McSwain returned, dragging Raven behind him. James stepped forward but McSwain glowered at him. He tossed Raven onto the bed carelessly then helped himself to a bottle of wine. James tried to make his way to Raven’s side undetected but, without warning, McSwain had the edge of a cutlass at his throat.

  “Back off! I b’lieve we’ve had enough of yer assistance, haven’t we, ye bugger?” He paused as if waiting for a response from Raven. When there was none, he laughed.

  James felt his chest compress. Was Raven dead? He concentrated hard and was comforted to see the hands move spasmodically as his head tossed slightly. No, not dead, not yet, at least. He took a step back and raised his eyes to meet McSwain’s.

  “Why? What’s the purpose to this?” Dunbar could barely speak for the lump in his throat. “Why do you hate him so much?”

  McSwain lowered the bottle and wiped his mouth on a sleeve. “Ah, t’ be young an’ stupid again. Nay, lad, it ain’t hate that drives me. Far from it. Now, if you’ll be so kind as t’ back yerself off. Me an’ my little friend here won’t be requirin’ yer services tonight.”

  “But, he’s injured!” James felt his stomach twist. “You could- He could die!”

  McSwain laughed. “All the better, boy. There’s somethin’ t’ be said fer dyin’, in proper circumstances. Now, move yerself t’ the starboard an’, remember, bother us an’ I’ll keelhaul ye both, eh?”

  In shock, Dunbar saw the Captain begin to divest himself of his clothes. James bit his lip and moved to the opposite side of the room. He buried his head in his arms. Dear God, make this stop. Surely, Raven’s done nothing to merit this type of abuse. Please don’t let this continue. He clamped the palms of his hands over his ears to try to block the noises Raven made as McSwain abused him.

  )O(

  James didn’t know when sleep took him, just that when it did, he was grateful. Hearing the sounds that were made as Captain McSwain assaulted Raven—seemingly unendingly—was too much to bear. When he woke, his first thought was not of escape but of Raven. Cautiously, he approached the body on the bed. It breathed, slowly and deeply, but the face wore a permanent scowl of pain, the slightest movement turning a breath into a sob. He knelt, carefully, beside the bed and touched his shoulder.

  “Are you all right?”

  The terrified eyes flew open and he threw himself backwards, away from James. An impact with the bulkhead caused him to curse, his eyes squinted in agony, favoring his upper back between the shoulders. The portions of his naked flesh revealed by the blankets as they fell away caused James’s eyes to tear up. Bruises and abrasions marked him entirely. He buried his face against the pillow and drew the blanket to his chest.

  “Don’t hurt me,” The words caused James to cringe. “Ye can take me if ye want, jus’ don’t hurt me.”

  Dunbar swallowed hard to keep the contents of his stomach in check. “No, please, that’s not what I want. I- I just want to know if- how you feel? Can you tell me?”

  “You got t’ go now. Don’t let him catch ye here. Get away while ye can.”

  Raven’s words made James realize the ship was not in motion as she would be if she were on the high seas. They were docked or at least anchored somewhere. He slid his fingers around Raven’s hand and was rewarded with a glimpse of the sapphire eyes.

  “Come with me,” He said gently. “Let me get you away from here.”

  The eyes narrowed, considering, then returned to normal size. “No, not possible. He’ll know an’ he’ll kill me. No. Leave while ye can, love.”

  James leaned forward and brushed a gentle kiss against Raven’s forehead. “I’ll do as you ask but I will come back for you. I swear. I won’t let you stay here like this any longer than I have to, do you understand?”

  Raven shook his head and placed a trembling hand on James’s cheek. “I won’t hold ye to that. Go now, please?”

  James nodded. Aware that Raven was conscious but not watching him, he found a large stick to use as a club and gingerly tried the door. It opened and, to Dunbar’s amazement, was unguarded. Feeling heartsick, he left the cabin and closed the door behind him. He prayed his words to the other man had not been in vain.

  )O(

  Chapter 9:

  Five Years Later - May 1718

  “Miss Molly, I brought ye a new playmate,” McSwain’s voice made goose-flesh on Aaron’s body, as it did every time.

  He watched from the dark as Brennan dropped the new captive on the bed then strode out of the room. Angus remained, his eyes sweeping the room until he thought he spotted movement in the shadows.

  “Don’t be a coward, Johnson. He’s sleepin’ like a baby right now. Come see who we got fer ye, eh?”

  Aaron hesitated. Was it the navy officer again? At the thought of him, his eyes filled with tears. That was years ago, He thought, I’m probably no more than an occasional nightmare now. Despite the thought, he couldn’t help but recall the sensation of the long, pale hands against his face, the cool lips brushing his throat. There was little hope that he’d ever see James again, let alone be welcomed into his arms.

  “It’s not a request, Johnson, ‘tis an order. Come see who’s goin’ t’ fuck ye tonight,” McSwain hissed.

  Aaron stepped out of the shadows, startling McSwain a bit, and sidled closer. “What do I care? Ye’ll end up doin’ the damage anyway.”

  “Ah,” McSwain’s voice turned gleeful as a nasty smile lit his face. “But ye see, Aaron, we found an old friend o’ yers. I think ye’ll be happy t’ see him, eh?”

  James, the ever-hopeful little voice said in his mind. Aaron nearly shook his head negatively at the optimism and stepped close enough to see the face on the pillow. Despite some nasty bruises, he recognized McSwain’s newest guest.

  “Isaac!” He gasped and heard Angus laugh. It was Henry and Sarah’s son and he felt his heart break. “Ike, love, can ye hear me?”

  Several minutes passed. Aaron ignored McSwain, his taunts and threats. He fetched grog and a washrag to begin tending the injuries. He was cleaning up the cut on the boy’s upper arm when Ike spoke.

  “Keep your hands off me! Filthy--,” He managed to get a good look at Johnson and it silenced him abruptly. “Captain Aaron! You found me.”

  He sat up despite bruised ribs that had to be sore and flung his arms around Johnson. Aaron, never able to resist indulging the slightest whim of Henry’s little boy, followed suit and tried almost successfully to stifle the tears. The little boy was no more. He was a young man now, who bore a striking resemblance to Henry.

  “Aaron? Where’s father?” Ike asked, drawing away slightly.

  “Gone,” Aaron said, unable to look Isaac in the eye. “Gone to Davy Jones’s locker, love. My apologies.”

  Ike cupped a hand under Aaron’s chin and raised his face to look into the blue eyes. “What’s wrong, Captain? Why’s your voice—like that?”

  McSwain, never able to keep his own mouth shut for very long, laughed. “Years o’ dissolution, boy. An’ he ain’t been the captain o’ this ship fer years.”

  Ike’s eyes went from Aaron to McSwain, “What?”

  “The Maid is mine, boy,” McSwain smirked. “B’longs to her rightful Captain now, she does. Jus’ like Johnson and you, hmmm?”

  Aaron felt Ike tense under his hands. He tightened his grip a bit. “’Tis true, love. ‘Tis fer the best, savvy?”

  Ike’s eyes slid from McSwain to Aaron. “For the best? What are you talking about? He can’t-.”

  “Shut up!” McSwain snarled and slapped Ike.

  Without an instant’s hesitation, Aaron threw himself at Angus. He attacked with all the ferocity he could summon from his starved, abused flesh. He slammed McSwain into the door, feeling the heavy wood give slightly but hold. McSwai
n swung at him and Aaron ducked under it, ramming the mutineer with his shoulder and knocking him backward onto the small table where McSwain kept his produce. The bowl and fruit scattered. Aaron found himself atop McSwain, hands on his coat lapels, banging his enemy’s head into the deck.

  It was at that second, McSwain began to laugh, softly at first but increasing in volume as the intensity of Aaron’s onslaught decreased. Finally, Aaron’s hands clinging to Angus more for support than to effect violence, Johnson realized it was over. He looked into the jaundiced eyes and shivered.

  “Not smart, Aaron-me-boy. Ye tipped yer hand, eh?” McSwain sat up and grabbed Aaron’s shirt up high so it choked him slightly. “I need the boy right now but mebbe, once I’m done with him, I’ll give you over t’ the crew an’ keep Master Isaac here. Prettier ‘n his old man, younger ‘n you. Tighter, I bet, too. Whaddaya think?”

  For a brief moment, the old fire flashed in the blue eyes but a quick glance back at the stunned boy on the bunk made the eyes lower. “Please, don’t. I-I beg ye, Captain, not that.”

  McSwain chuckled and shoved Aaron away, regaining his feet. When he stood, he kicked Aaron sharply in the ribs. “Now clean up this mess!”

  Cringing away, Aaron nodded. He set to work with trembling hands, locating the wooden bowl and restoring the peaches carefully. While he was working, Angus left.

  At that point, Ike joined him, his young, strong hands making short work of loading in the final few pieces of fruit then righting the table and restoring the bowl to it. Carefully, he offered Aaron a hand up.

  Aaron found his eyes drawn first to the callused hand, hard from cutting bait and hoisting nets. Then his eyes slid upward to take in the youth’s golden skin and hair. There were trinkets braided into young Ike’s hair—a coin from the Orient that Aaron remembered giving Ike, a shark’s tooth, even trade beads as he used to wear in his own hair. When Ike smiled at him, he could see the boy’s teeth were white, even and strong, as his father’s had been.