Treasure Tides Part 23

Stede looked at Blackbeard in surprise. With the exception of the word 'wench,' there wasn't one trace of pirate in his speech. Stede narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Why have we been speaking in pirate jargon, Matey?" He moved toward Blackbeard running his fingers over the black handled dagger sheathed at his side. "I did not realize you were such a student of the English language these days."

"Just keep'n you on your toes, Matey. I can't reveal all of my secrets, now can I?" Blackbeard said blandly. He chose not to acknowledge the none-too-subtle combative gesture made by Stede. Seriously! Was she listening to this insane conversation, between two dead pirates? What was Stede going to do? Kill Blackbeard?

News flash-- someone had already been there-- done that. Stede made his way toward Joanna. "May I introduce myself, La.s.s?" he asked, in a gentlemanly manner. He then paused to wait for her response. At her nod he continued, "My name is Stede Bonnet. I am also known as the gentleman pirate," he emphasized the word gentleman. "At your service, my lady," Bonnet declared as he bowed low at the waist.

"Oh, for Neptune's sake, Stede.... Stop fawning all over her. The la.s.s is smart enough to know which of us in this room is privy to the location of Blackbeard's hidden treasure... and who in this room is not,"

Blackbeard boasted gleefully. He strode pompously forward inserting his body between Stede and Joanna.

Stede shrugged in temporary defeat and moved to retrieve his gla.s.s of grog. He drained it in one large gulp.

"As I was saying before I was interrupted," Blackbeard said casting a narrow look in Stede's direction, "when I am again a flesh and blood man, I would suspect you will not be so stand-offish toward me, La.s.s. I promise you I know how to please a fire-filled woman such as yourself,"

he said raking his eyes boldly from the top of her head to the painted tips of her toes.

Joanna took a step back retreating from his invasion of her s.p.a.ce. Blackbeard puffed his chest out, the ruffles down the front of his s.h.i.+rt adding to his impressive albeit ghostly image. "I happen to be very rich," he declared, "as well as heavily endowed." He grinned while waggling his eyebrows up and down.

At that, Stede barked with laughter, slammed his gla.s.s back on the table, and crowded Blackbeard out of the way. "I too am very rich.

Additionally, I'm much more refined than this scalawag. As to the rest, I will let you draw your own conclusions, my lady." As he finished, he strategically tucked his thumbs into the waistband of his velvet britches, bringing attention to the bulge in his trousers.

The Quartermaster was long gone, having fled shortly after shoving Joanna into the stateroom. Joanna rubbed her head as it was beginning to pound incessantly.

Really? Not one-- but two h.o.r.n.y pirate ghosts! Joanna stifled a chuckle by turning it into a groan. G.o.d, Royce would never let her hear the end of this. That is, after he got over being p.i.s.sed that she had boarded a ghost s.h.i.+p alone in the first place.

"Please. Sit down my lady," Stede insisted as he grasped her elbow to guide her to a large table dominating the room. "May I get you some sort of refreshment, something to eat or drink?"

"Um-- I'll stand. Thank you. I'm not hungry, but I could use a drink,"

Joanna said, casting a wary glance toward the a.s.sortment of bottles and gla.s.ses lining the table.

Blackbeard scrambled to direct Joanna's attention back toward him.

"Allow me to pour for you," he proposed grandly, already splas.h.i.+ng grog into a mug for her. He winked broadly as he wrapped her fingers around the mug full of dark liquid.

Joanna eyed both pirates suspiciously. They each grabbed a mug and poured themselves a drink from the same bottle. Stede and Blackbeard crashed their mugs mightily together in a silent salute, took a deep swallow, and then held their mugs high in her direction. Ok, maybe it was safe to drink? Trying not to think about how many hundred years the refreshment had been on board this s.h.i.+p, she lifted her mug to salute them with a gentler b.u.mp. "To new friends," Joanna toasted before drawing in a healthy mouthful of the liquid. Oh, G.o.d! Room temperature grog flowed over her taste buds.

Joanna felt tears sting her eyes and try as she might; she just could not bring herself to swallow. Reflex and self-preservation overtook good manners...Joanna could not help herself; she spit the disgusting muck back into the mug.

"What-the h.e.l.l-- is that foul tasting mess?" she asked scrubbing her tongue on her hand. She desperately searched the room for something to clean her mouth with. They evidently didn't stock bar napkins on pirate s.h.i.+ps.

"You idiot," Stede said reprimanding Blackbeard. "She is obviously too delicate for the potency of grog," he observed, s.n.a.t.c.hing the mug of regurgitated liquid from Joanna.

"Please accept my apologies, beauty," Stede beseeched. Nodding toward Blackbeard, he observed, "He obviously left his brain in the grave. Not," he continued in a loud whisper, "that he was all that smart to begin with."

"Grog?" Joanna croaked, "What the h.e.l.l is grog... and is it fatal?" "No, my lady, 'tis nothing harmful. Just a refres.h.i.+ng bit of fire." "You've obviously never heard of a skip-and-go-naked or s.e.x-on-thebeach," Joanna complained, s.h.i.+vering a little. Talk about an after-taste. Both men began to chuckle, eyeing her with great interest. She was going to be a fine s.h.i.+pmate for one of them. She was beautiful and full of enthusiasm.

"We will, no doubt, have to duel for her," Blackbeard announced to Stede wearing a bemused expression. "Pistols at dawn?" he suggested. Ok, enough is-- too much! Joanna decided it was time to get some answers. She took a moment to pull herself together by finger combing her hair and smoothing her shorts. She was desperately wis.h.i.+ng for a mirror, her favorite tube of lipstick, oh... and a breath mint.

Joanna took a deep breath as she prepared to dive into the Where's and What For's. Both pirates' eyes immediately dropped to her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and intently watched as they expanded with her indrawn breath. WTF? She felt a static-electric sizzling feeling engulf her and fought to control the surge of anger. These two idiots would not understand a sparking Witch.

"Excuse me, boys," Joanna gritted between clinched teeth. Bending her knees to put her face in their line of vision, she pointed out, "My eyes are up here."

Blackbeard sighed. "Ah, but you have such lovely--"

"Stop right there!" Joanna interrupted. She spied a coverlet draped over the foot of the bed. She s.n.a.t.c.hed up the piece of cloth and wrapped it securely around her shoulders.

Distractions concealed, she began, "If you would have a seat, gentlemen," she said gesturing toward two of the uncomfortable looking chairs surrounding the ma.s.sive table. "I have some questions. I would appreciate honesty from you both," she insisted as she aimed an I-meanbusiness look toward both men.

"Now, as I started to say--" Joanna began, only to be interrupted as a knock sounded on the door to the stateroom. This knock sounded more frantic in nature than the previous one had, the one announcing Joanna's arrival.

"Oh, for the love of--" Blackbeard rolled his eyes and bellowed.

"What is it now?"

"Cap'n, the Ranger be fast approachin' 'n she be sailin' th' Jolly Rodger from 'er mast."

"Vane," Blackbeard said gravely.

"Aye, and Calico Jack," Stede added.

"My lady," Blackbeard said with a sigh, "we must continue this conversation at a later date. It seems I have company, and I must warn you that these scurvy bilge rats know no honor. They'll not think twice before making you walk the plank. Fear not, we will stow you away.

You are a fine treasure, and this room was built for hiding valuables," he confided mysteriously.

"I'm quite capable of taking care of myself," Joanna a.s.sured him. She hid a smile imaging their surprise at her particular skill-set.

"Cap'n she's droppn' anchor," the Quartermaster reported urgently through the door.

"We will be on deck shortly to meet Calico Jack and Vane. And, William..." Blackbeard paused.

"Aye? Cap'n?" Quartermaster William Howard responded. "Anyone mentions the la.s.s, loses their tongue," Blackbeard promised darkly. "Savvy?"

"Savvy, Cap'n. I'll be spreadn' the word."

As the Quartermaster hurried away, Blackbeard crossed the room to open an armoire positioned on the far wall. He pushed aside a wide array of ornate coats and lavish poet s.h.i.+rts, the real pirate variety with ruffles galore. He felt around until he found the release trigger he was looking for. With a click, the false back opened and... surprise of surprises... an entire room was hidden behind the armoire.

Stede escorted her across the room and kissed her cheek before bundling her quickly into the secret room. As he pushed her through the opening, he whispered "Be very quiet no matter what you hear. You will be safe in there."

"Really," Joanna protested, "this is not necessary. I--"

"Be silent, La.s.s," Blackbeard added his warning. "We will protect you. Worry you not." He strode past her to light a candle sitting on a mammoth desk littered with various maps and trinkets.

Joanna was still sputtering as Blackbeard swept past her on his way out of the secret room. The panel closed quickly, effectively putting an end to her protests. Glancing curiously around the room, she spied several hanging chandeliers loaded with candles. With a wave of her hand the candles danced to life completely illuminating her safe room.

Joanna was surprised to find a lavish hide-away complete with velvet covered armchairs and silk wall covering. The smell of tobacco lingered in the air. Looking more closely, she noted the cleverly placed vents which allowed fresh air to continually flow into the chamber.

Blackbeard's journal graced the center of the desk. The open journal looked as if he had started the log for the day. Joanna ran her hands lightly over the journal to see if she could pick up anything out of the ordinary. She found nothing particularly threatening in nature and began flipping through the pages. She read about one voyage after another. Queen Anne's Revenge had certainly been busy in the year 1717.

Blackbeard's notes cataloged his life. Joanna smiled at some of the entries depicting adventures from the time he had been a young man. He actually had been quite popular with the "la.s.ses" judging from his notes detailing the virtues of each and every one of his dozen wives.

One entry, dated within the past month, was particularly interesting; "There will be a grand gathering of pirates on Pinckney where we shall finally close Davy Jones locker for all time. Calico Jack has also heard rumors of the coin's reappearance. He cannot be trusted! He shall not get his hands on such a weapon again."

Joanna's heart began to race as she flipped rapidly through the next few pages. A more recent entry read, "The coin has been retrieved from beneath the sea once again. I shall settle the score with Vane for the part he played in deceiving me. He and Calico Jack must not be allowed to reclaim the coin. With it, they would have the power to-- alas, I dare not even put the possibility of such atrocity to paper."

The power to what? Joanna wracked her brain as she read and reread the pa.s.sages. She suddenly gasped. Blackbeard has the coin? Was it possible that the coin referenced in Blackbeard's journal was the same coin ART had been commissioned to recover? Even more concerning after reading Blackbeard's writing was the fact that she suddenly remembered...Vane and Calico Jack were boarding the s.h.i.+p.

There it was again! The inexplainable pull grabbing at her subconscious. Joanna shook it off, determined to stay focused on the tangible...well, somewhat tangible anyway. She moved quickly to place Blackbeard's journal in the exact spot where she had found it, remembering to turn it to the proper page. There was no reason for Blackbeard to know that she had been snooping.

Suddenly the s.h.i.+p pitched starboard; almost simultaneously, she heard shouts and pistol fire. As she stood quickly, one of the large rubies littering the desk rolled onto the floor. Joanna crawled under the desk to retrieve the ruby just as the s.h.i.+p rolled once again with even more force. Crack! She banged into the underside of the desk with the back of her head.

" Mother-" Joanna cried out, instinctively pacing her hand over the injury to check for blood.

"That freaking hurt," she exclaimed, relieved to find a small gash rather than the expected gaping hole in her head. Wis.h.i.+ng for an icepack, she backed out from under the desk planning to see for herself what the h.e.l.l was happening above deck. It sounded like a war was going on up there.

As Joanna backed up the last few inches, she glanced at the offending timber to see if she had left any blood on it. Immediately, she noticed that one of the wooden panels had become displaced when she hit her head.

"That's great, Jo, destroy a piece of history," she muttered. Reaching out to pull the panel back in place, she could not believe her bad luck, when it completely came off in her hands. "Oh for crying out loud," she lamented. That was when she noticed a small velvet-wrapped bundle stashed behind the obviously removable panel.

Her breath seemed to be caught in her throat as she slowly reached for the prize. Joanna didn't take time to unwrap it but quickly stuffed it in the pocket of her s.h.i.+rt and replaced the false panel on the desk. Joanna's hands began to shake. This was the coin! She just knew it.

She hurried over to stand directly underneath one of the chandeliers thankful that she had lit them all earlier. Barely daring to breathe, she untied the silk cord securing the swatch of velvet.

As the contents of the pouch was unveiled, Joanna reached out to touch the diamonds surrounding an ancient ankh symbol of inlaid rubies. The cross consisted of a loop for the top extension and a shorter crossbar. This was the symbol of life used in ancient Egypt.

"No!" Joanna heard and barely stopped her fingers from making contact with the coin. "Hide the coin. Danger." She turned abruptly to see who had spoken to her, but she was alone in the chamber. She carefully turned the coin over, making sure not to touch it directly. On the reverse side was a black spider fas.h.i.+oned from black onyx and surrounded by rubies. She quickly wrapped the coin in its velvet shroud, and then tucked it securely in her bra.

She slipped the cell phone out of her back pocket and dropped a text to Sean. Chas Harb. Don't tell R. B home soon. Jackpot! Joanna hit send taking comfort in the fact that if something went wrong they would at least know where to start looking for her.

She extinguished the candles preparing to transport herself back home. She did not want to be responsible for a fire aboard the s.h.i.+p. Could ghost s.h.i.+ps catch fire? As she snuffed out the last candle a loud crash emanated from the other side of the secret door. She tiptoed across the room to press her ear against the panel. Blackbeard and Stede did not seem to like Vane and Calico Jack. From what Joanna had read in the journal, they were indeed "without honor" as Blackbeard had advised.

History had not been one of Joanna's strongest subjects. Although she remembered that Calico Jack had designed the famous Jolly Rodger flag with a skull and crossed swords, she struggled to recall even one fact about a pirate named Vane. Another crash sounded. This one was followed by an angry booming voice. "Give me the coin, and maybe I will raise you along with the rest... but if you continue to run this blockade, you will find yourself in Davy Jones locker for eternity. Savvy?"

Joanna rubbed her temples and furtively wished she had been more attentive during history cla.s.ses. Who is this Vane? Swords clashed and voices raised as the struggle carried on in Blackbeard's quarters.

With a sigh, Joanna pushed away from the panel. Looks like it's time for an intervention of the magical variety. She heard a soft click as the panel swung open. She hadn't been locked in after all. She slid out of the secret room into the armoire.

Seriously, does one pirate need this many clothes? Pus.h.i.+ng her way through yards and yards of ruffles and billowing s.h.i.+rts, she decided pirates were a vane lot.

Boom! Joanna stopped short of swinging the armoire doors open. Was that pistol fire?

She burst out of the armoire, stopping abruptly. Unfortunately, she came face to face with an angry pirate waiving a pistol in one hand and a sword in the other. He was not handsome, nor did he ooze charisma like her two hosts. This pirate looked downright mean even with a head full of curls hanging past his shoulders.

"What have we here?" he drawled in a creepy voice.

Blackbeard and Stede both lunged in Joanna's direction, only to be stopped by another large, rather ugly thug in pirate garb.

"Uh-- Uh-- don't get too close mates. We will need to keep a sharp eye on this la.s.s," he taunted.

"Leave her alone, Vane. She isn't involved in this," Stede commanded.

"Not involved?" Vane repeated incredulously. His eyes fairly bugged out while his pistol still targeted her heart.

Arrogant a.s.shole! Joanna had just about had all the fun she could possibly have here. She stiffened her spine and began to work a spell sure to put the s.k.a.n.k pirate and his buddy down.

Suddenly, a pistol pressed up against her temple.

"Best cease, La.s.s," Curly locks suggested. "I may look less than substantial, but this can still drop ye where ye stand," he gritted in her ear.

"Enough, Vane, she has had a h.e.l.lish day. Leave the la.s.s alone. We've claimed her. She is with us and will not be harmed," Blackbeard decreed, twisting his beard around his fingers leaving curls in the long dark strands.

When Vane and Calico Jack made eye-contact, a secret signal pa.s.sed between them, and everything abruptly went black for Joanna.

Landon handed Royce his cell phone and turned to go back into the garage. He and Kurt were reviewing the maps and planning their strategy.

"What's up, Sean?" Royce asked.

"Ummm-- welll--uhhh," Sean tried to think of a way to break the news gently. Unsuccessful in his quest, he blurted," Your father and Tammy just landed at Charleston International." He began with the notso-good news. Then he moved on to the unquestionably worse news, "And...Joanna is missing."

Silence greeted the latest announcement.

"Joanna is what?" Royce asked in a deceptively quiet way. He was very good at lulling a person into believing that he was calm, when in reality an explosion was moments away.

Landon stopped mid-stride, pivoting to move toward Royce. He made no attempt to mask his interest in Royce's conversation.

"How long has she has been missing?" Royce asked again... very quietly.

"Since she left uh-- since this afternoon," he said. "I thought it was a glitch in the GPS system. You know it failed when you were-- well..."

Three-- two-- one. Kaboom!

"Are you f.u.c.king kidding me?" Royce raged.

Sensing that Joanna was in danger, Landon's Wolf surged to attention. With eyes that were turning a golden-yellow. He breathed deeply.

"At what point did you think it was a good idea to keep this information from me?" Royce yelled into the phone.

Royce glanced at Landon, and summoned backup. "Kurt, we may need some help here!"

Kurt had heard Royce raise his voice and was already in motion. He saw the problem as he approached. Moving to Landon's side, he immediately began talking him down.

"Landon, look at me buddy. We need to handle this, whatever it is, rationally."

Suddenly, Landon's pack filled the yard. Feeling the Wolf's distress, his pack had responded.