Chapter 5
Flint was on edge as he warily guided his horse through the bustling streets of Nassau. Although his person was almost completely covered by a niqab, his senses on full alert for any indication of any sort of jeopardy that might hasten to befall him. He had to be very careful not to be recognized by any British Royal Navy personnel who might get a hard on to haul in the notorious pyrate Captain just to try to make a name for themselves. He really wasn’t in the mood to have to kill anyone today. But he would if at all necessary.
Flint had heard rumblings that Lord Webb and Lord Powell had sent for reinforcements from nearby Harbour Island and the lowly landsmen had the task of scouring Nassau and the surrounding area for any sign of Lord Webb’s wayward bride. He had quietly observed them clamoring like rodents at the whiff of an ample reward, each presuming that her rescuer would be basking in the glory of being the "hero" that saved the vulnerable damsel in distress from whatever abhorrent situation she may have inadvertently gotten herself into.
Actually, Flint wasn’t the only mortal affected by presence of the Navy. The whole population of Nassau seemed ill at ease at the presence of British lawman foraging about their town. Even though the hunt didn’t warrant a whole fleet of King George’s agents, it was enough to ruffle the feathers of most of the impious citizens of the ambiguous island they called home.
Flint sighed in gratified relief as he finally located his abettor at guarded attention outside of the predestined meeting place, an off the beaten path, less noteworthy brothel per John Silver’s inherited instruction. He thoroughly scanned the immediate area for any perceived hindrance, and satisfied that he was in the clear, nimbly dismounted from his horse, gruffly greeting his appointed taskmaster with a curt nod.
" You have been given exact direction on what the assignment is at hand?" Flint considered the eager man with an appraising gaze, swiftly gathering his impassioned written plea to hand off to the anxiously awaiting courier.
" Sir, ..err I mean, Captain.." The man stuttered nervously, apparently awestruck to even be in the presence of such a greatly revered immortal . He was being paid handsomely to accomplish said mission, and as an added incentive, a promised position amongst the Walrus’ crew if he successfully completed his given objective. He had every reason to want to impress Flint, and he was going to make damned sure the esteemed captain would repeat his name with high regard after he proved his worth.
Flint coolly nodded his approval, reaching into the niqab that was competently camouflaging him from prying eyes, and procuring a sizable pouch of coins, tossed it directly to his awaiting dispatcher. " Tell me what direction Silver conveyed to you about the delivery of this letter."
The anxious man easily caught his prize, nodded his appreciation, and recalling from memory repeated the instructions that Silver had imparted on him. " The letter that Captain Flint will entrust you with has to be dispatched to Okracoke Island as soon as possible, as there is an agent there that will be waiting to transport it to its intended destination. An arrangement with Capt. Hornigold has been made for immediate passage to Okracoke Island. "
The courier took a deep breath and steadily continued his mantra. " There, I am to wait for the agent’s return , which should take no longer than a day, and deliver my answer to Mr. Silver, who should then be boarded on the Walrus, making necessary preparations for its’ impending journey, and contingent on the agent’s reply, will hopefully be Okracoke Island. "
A curt nod from Flint validated the emissary's mandate. "John Silver will know how to get in touch with me when our objective is complete." He then intentionally captured the determined gaze of the robust young man whom Silver had suggested help execute said undertaking.
" By the way, " Flint tilted his head curiously, he recalled Silver telling him the operative’s name, but for the life of him, he seem to couldn’t produce it in his memory. " Would you mind telling me what you are called again?"
A confident smile flashed across the brawny blonde’s lips. " My given name is William Manderly." He earnestly extended a hardy hand in cordial greeting. " But my friends call me Billy…Billy Bones."
Flint nodded civilly, firmly gripping Billy’s hand in a tight salutation. " It is of the utmost priority that that letter reaches its’ intended destination, Billy." His aqua gaze rested directly on Billy’s resolute stare, determination flashing within. " I hope that you understand the urgency this quest entails."
Billy responded with an adamant nod, a thrill rushing through his blood, ecstatic that the esteemed Captain Flint was entrusting him with such a crucial purpose. " I will most certainly accomplish what has been asked of me. You have my word, Captain Flint."
Flint allowed a tinge of a smile to touch his lips as he observed the confident young envoy scramble off to begin his assigned expedition. His mood was vastly improved, now that he had personally engaged Billy, he had noticed an air of assurance about the lad, leaving Flint believing that his future was much more destined to where he inclined it to be.
Flint was exuding confidence as he left Billy Bones to his task, galloping his mount as quickly as he would dare, every minute away from Evangeline meant less time spent with the woman who had so easily conquered his heart.
In a couple of weeks time Flint would know if his letter had made it to its intended destination and he would have the answer to the inquiry he so urgently sought. Flint was brimming with hope as he finally reached his and Evangeline's hideaway, if all went as intended in a very short time Evangeline would be safely ensconced with Richard Guthrie, while Flint planned on retrieving the conquered riches he had so carefully stowed away throughout the whole career of his captaincy.
Flint was not only a calculating captain, he was also a shrewd businessman, trading his portion of many hardwon caches and transferring it through his benefactor, Richard Guthrie in some other lucrative avenues of capital.
Flint, by all intensive purposes, did not have the means to live like a king for the rest of his days, but he still would be able to survive comfortably if he decided to retire from his tenure as Captain Flint and finally become James McGraw once again.
But, would Flint even consider relinquishing his hold as one of the fiercest and lucrative pyrates ever known, abandon his seafaring existence, and settle down in a much more domesticated situation?
Captain Flint had actually been contemplating his entity as a pyrate captain much more then not lately, and although the pillaging of his dreaded enemy’s ships, help to quell the fury that raged within him, deep in his subconscious he was both physically and mentally exhausted from perpetrating this hard driving existence. He'd been enacting his lifestyle for almost 15 years now, and if he was to be brutally honest with himself, more then not lately, he yearned for a chance, a different path, another destiny.
Flint had never let himself be acquainted with a life outside of his all encompassing need for revenge. His entire world until presently was consumed with enacting his vengeance on England and its corrupt masses as repayment for the terrible atrocities his family had suffered. But he was gradually coming to realize that after he expelled all of his fury on the deserving bastards, the exhilaration he fleetingly celebrated often led to him feeling empty and devoid of all sentiment.
The constant swing of emotions from euphoria to dark nothingness was convincing him more and more that this would be the cause of certain death for him.
And then by sheer extraordinary luck, Flint chanced to stumble upon Evangeline, and suddenly a whole new opportunity opened his eyes as well as his heart. Something that he had never before allowed himself to experience. She brought hope into his being just through her rapturous laugh, her stolen glances, her adoring touch. She offered him a totally new outlook on what their life could become …If they just allowed it to be.
The last few days just being in her presence, had been a complete turnaround from his usual reality. He had not battled the usual fits of rage ritually plagued him and he attributed that to being in Evangeline's presence. He surmised that although he had recently been her rescuer, she was presently his saving grace from the only monster he was truly frightened of...Himself. Evangeline was exactly what he needed at this exact point of his life, and he would do anything in his power to keep her by his side.
Flint's hopeful ruminations of what was conceivably to be turned to a disquieting caution as he came upon his private abode. His faculties were tingling, an undeniable warning that all was not seemed to be. Flint's accomplished gaze swept expertly over the sparse habitat.
He noted the scattering of a multitude of horses' hoofs imprinted in the dirt just adjacent to Evangeline's beloved garden and his blood instantly ran cold. Something wasn't right. He swiftly reached for his scimitar, dismounting quick as lightning, almost tripping over the discarded garden fork lying askew in the path leading to the cottage.
" Evangeline!!" Flint bellowed, his heart pounding as he raced to the entry way of the bungalow, furiously crashing into the vacant room, his psyche screaming as he promptly realized that she wasn’t there.
There was hide nor hair of Evangeline to be found within their secluded abode or on the grounds adjacent. Flint clambered further into the scrub that surrounded the shrouded road leading to the covert dwelling, hoping somehow Evangeline may have wandered off path somehow, but seeing no sign of her, he frantically made his way back into the emptiness of their sanctuary, his mind furiously racing as to what could have possibly befallen his new found love.
Flint was beside himself with desperation, his mind whirling furiously with illusions about what could have possibly transpired with Evangeline. He couldn't fathom that she had absconded willfully after she had adamantly professed her everlasting love for him.
He ran his hand though his chestnut hair in dire frustration, sighing weightily, when out of the corner of his eye he caught an object that he'd seen many times before and his breath hitched in his throat, almost choking him completely. His azure eyes widened in shock, his trembling fingers unsteadily reaching for the offensive object.
Flint stared, bewildered, at the all too familiar object he had tightly clutched between his trembling fingers. He had seen this before. He recognized who the eccentric trinket belonged to, and a cold feeling of dread began in the pit of his stomach. Vane.
Reaching for a stable place to sit, Flint slumped in the nearest chair, confusion running rampant through his thoughts. Distressing questions swirled maddingly in his agitated brain.
Why in the hell would Vane be immersed with anything that had to do with Evangeline? He knew Vane well enough to know that if he was involved , it just didn’t have to do with any kind of reward offered, there was something else he craved. But what? And… what did exactly did Evangeline have to do with it?
“FUCK!! " Flint cursed vehemently, suddenly launching from his sitting position, guilt, rage, and urgency coursing through his blood. He had to locate Vane , there was not another minute to waste.
Flint bolted to his mount, tucking Vane's ominous calling card inside of his waistcoat. His immediate burning objective was to track Vane, confront him, and enact whatever measure it took to coerce him to confess to his role in Evangeline's sudden disappearance.
Flint frantically spurred his horse to garner greater speed, the wind whistling loudly in his ears as he raced furiously to unearth Vane, gritting his teeth to try to quiet his racing thoughts. Where was Evangeline? Was she in any danger? Had Vane harmed her in any sort of way?
"FUCK!!" Flint roared again, feverishly urging his horse on, he was livid with grief, frustration and the anguish of not being aware of Evangeline's fate at this point in time. He urgently needed to locate Evangeline, if Vane had inflicted any wrongdoing on her, he would rain holy hell down upon him, and anyone else that was involved in this travesty. And that wasn’t just an idle threat…That was a justified promise.
Evangeline's eyelids fluttered wispily as the sun streamed through the seams in the shuttered room. She raised an unsteady hand to shield her adjusting vision to the shimmering rays of light. She moaned softly as she curled up on the silken blanket of the ornate bed she had been carefully laid on, slowly allowing her vision to come fully into focus. A helpless whimper started in her throat as snippets of her memory sparked through her clouded mind.
"Evangeline…..Darling."
Evangeline’s whole being froze at the sound of her deplorable husband smugly calling her name. She drew in a sharp breath and held it, terrified, at what she assumed was inevitably to transpire next. Please ..Please let this be a horrible dream...Wake up Evangeline...Please for the love of God… Wake up !! She squeezed her eyes tight and curled up as snugly as she could, as to make herself disappear from the torment her husband was undoubtedly going to self righteously afflict on her.
Lord Webb snickered softly, sauntering insolently around the bed to face his obviously apprehensive wife, his fingers possessively tracing an eager path across the length of her taut body.
" Evangeline. Listen to me very carefully, my love." Lord Webb slid a chair very closely to Evangeline’s bedside, leaning precariously closely to her inattentive presence, his hand reaching over and gently smoothing back the honey colored curls that had covered a considerable portion of her lovely face.
A thin smile touched his lips as he noted her evident tension, it was almost palatable . Good, he mused silently, she was afraid of him…That’s exactly how he wanted this relationship to proceed. He needed the upper hand on her if he was to continue his lucrative partnership with Lord Powell.
" I know you can hear me, darling, so I’m only going to say this once. " Lord Webb lowered his voice to a sinister whisper, his breath fanning hot on Evangeline’s flushed cheek. " Whatever liaison you and Captain Flint entertained is now very much over and done."
Evangeline could practically taste the fury in her husband’s proclamation, and she lie perfectly still, her eyes still squeezed tightly shut, her heart pounding relentlessly in her ears, praying fervently that he just withdraw and leave her intact. But to her dismay, she heard him expel a deep sigh and felt his hand deliberately caress her cheek.
Evangeline gasp loudly, her eyes flying open, stunned as Lord Webb viciously grabbed her wrist and ruthlessly pulled her up from her prone position to fully face his wrath. She winced as his grip became vice like, his sneer a stark reminder of the reason why she had instinctively bolted from him.
"Darling..." Lord Webb hissed. " I have a massive stake in this island and in our marriage, to make this business accord a reality." He jerked Evangeline closer to him, his dark eyes full of indignation and rage. " If you even surmise that I am just going to forgive you for your appalling display of vulgarity, then you are quite delusional, my love."
Lord Webb drew in a cleansing breath to try to compose himself, a spurious look flashing over his maleficent features. " Just know this Evangeline. Only a select few know of your...tryst....with... Captain Flint."
A hateful sneer formed on her spiteful husband's lips. " The story others will hear is that since you are unfamiliar with drink, you were overwhelmed by our wedding toasts , went out to procure some air, and lost yourself on the complexities of the Island."
Lord Webb stood suddenly, his feverish gaze burning hotly into Evangeline's wide eyed disbelieving gape. "Yes, and you were heroically rescued by a private search party and promptly brought home safely to your long suffering husband."
A self effacing smirk spread slowly over the haughty Lord's face. " That will be what our circle of acquaintances will discover, Evangeline."
He clasped his hands together, silently congratulating himself for his cunning adeptness. "No one will ever be the wiser of your despicable infidelity, my darling, and you will never regard your precious Captain Flint again. "
As a matter of fact, my love," Webb continued callously on, " The only way you will ever lay eyes on him again is when he is swinging dead from the gallows for his role in your….Hmmmm... shall we call it… kidnapping? "
He grinned vindictively at his astonished wife. " That is what I shall inform the authorities if I ever hear that you even breathe his name in passing."
Lord Webb stared cruelly into Evangeline's stunned stare. "Am I making myself completely clear..... My darling wife?"
Evangeline felt the beginnings of a cold dread creep through her, she suddenly realized that Lord Webb must have gotten an inkling of what had transpired between James and her from the Captain who had so indifferently delivered her unceremoniously back to her scheming husband. Vane? Was that his moniker?
Evangeline was horrified at her husband’s declaration to have her beloved James hanged for an infraction, in all reality, he did not commit. Furor surged through her like she had never before felt in her life, and to her surprise, she actually felt emboldened by the anger coursing through her veins. A malicious smirk set upon her lips and her emerald eyes sparked with the fire of her ire.
"Dear husband, " she hissed ominously, drawing a wide eyed stare from a very surprised Lord Webb. " If I were you, I would be very cautious about making idle threats against an adversary that could cut you down without as so much as batting an eye."
She held Lord Webb’s stunned gaze with her own determined one, her tone blunt and deliberate. " It would do you good not to make a rival out of “Captain Flint”. I absolutely believe that you would live to regret that unwise decision."
Lord Webb swiftly drew aback, thoroughly shocked by the abrupt unforeseen change in Evangeline’s demeanor. But his initial surprise gradually turned to anger. Never had a female ever asserted herself to him in that way before. He would not allow a woman, much less his wife, to speak to him as insolently as Evangeline just had...Now, he would have to show her who the master of this domain was once and for all. His unbridled ego would demand nothing less.
Lord Webb bounded angrily onto the bed, his lanky body completely straddling Evangeline's petite frame, his fingers curling tightly around her delicate wrists, pinning her, utterly defenseless to the mattress, his livid facade just inches from hers.
"You will never convey yourself to me as you just did in my own house ever again, darling." A vicious snarl curled on Lord Webb's lips as he virtually spat out his directive.
" I am the Lord of this manor and whatever I say is absolute unmitigated law." His ragged breathing conveyed just how enraged he was. " You will obediently follow all of my rules and not protest, or I will have the Navy arrest your cherished Captain Flint so quickly, it will make your pretty little head spin."
Lord Webb lowered his head closer and forcibly brought his lips to hers in a domineering kiss. " You are MY wife…You belong to me and you WILL conduct yourself as so, or your adored Captain will greatly pay the consequences. "
Lord Webb released one of Evangeline's wrists and forcibly turned her chin to lock her rebellious gaze with his. " Trust me on this, dear wife, I have extensive contacts in influential places and I am certainly not afraid to make use of them."
Evangeline winced in pain and revulsion as Lord Webb twisted her fragile wrist in his grasp, her desperate attempts at trying to escape his malicious tirade futile at best.
Evangeline stifled a whimper as Lord Webb continued to ply her with his unwanted advances, her brief sense of bravado faltering as she fearfully realized that no matter how urgently she struggled, that he was not going to yield, he meant to take what he declared was rightfully his.
She tried mightily to thwart his undesired efforts, but he was, of course, physically stronger and fueled by determination. As he so adroitly exclaimed, he was going to "Have the wedding night that she so selfishly denied him."
Evangeline cried out in feverish protest, as the resolute Lord tore furiously at her binding petticoats with one hand, while she aggressively wrestled under the weight of his body straddling hers, her wrists firmly constricted by his vice-like grip.
"Stop resisting Evangeline!!" Lord Webb hissed in indignant irritation, stopping his onslaught for the briefest of moments to garner a well-placed backhand sharply against Evangeline's flushed cheek, abruptly halting her struggle and spiraling her into a foggy daze. She moaned in confusion, barely deciphering the stoic diatribe her husband unleashed on her next.
"We are legally married, and though you unlawfully so willingly gave to a disreputable pyrate captain what is legitimately mine, I will ensure this marriage is properly consummated, whether you wish to participate or not, my darling. " Lord Webb smirked victoriously, relishing in the fact that he now had the use of both of his hands, his formerly resistant wife now so compliant by his essential act of necessity.
"Don't worry, my love," He whispered smugly, intently preparing himself for their belated wedding nuptials. "You behave exactly as I wish and no harm will befall your beloved Captain Flint."
Lord Webb leaned in close, placing a passive kiss on the tender cheek he had just ravaged, an eager grin playing on his lips, knowing the intended conquest of his unruly wife was imminent. "Just heed my instruction, Evangeline. I shall have him killed right in front of your very eyes if you do not respect the authority I possess in this relationship."
Evangeline unsuccessfully tried to elude the lingering fuzziness that was plaguing her, her thoughts were so addled she was barely cognitive. A single tear trickled down her battered cheek and she closed her eyes in defeat, realizing that her feeble attempts at resistance were futile at best, her deranged husband was to have his way and nothing she could do would deter him.
James. Evangeline sobbed inwardly to herself as Lord Webb continued his relentless violation on her unwilling body, her spirit annihilated and her heart shattered, until mercifully a compassionate darkness enveloped her , leaving her benignly unaware of the harsh reality thrust upon her, and she was safely back into the arms of the Captain she so completely and fully gave her whole heart to. A reverie that was so desperately needed to facilitate her in nullifying her tortuous circumstances.
Many fitful hours later, Evangeline woke with a sudden start, a startled gasp escaping her as she bolted straight up in bed, panic and confusion wreaking havoc on her befuddled thoughts.
She shivered slightly and wrapped her bruised arms tightly around herself in an effort to control her erratic breathing, her eyes darting apprehensively around the grand bedroom she still found herself imprisoned in. Relief flooded her aching body as she realized that her pompous husband had finally left her alone to access in detail the physical damage he had so callously afflicted on her.
Evangeline drew in a sharp breath, her unsteady hand reaching to caress her throbbing cheek, as she painfully clambered from the unkempt bed to gingerly make her way to the dressing mirror to visualize the injury that Lord Webb had so violently unleashed upon her. She gasped in abject horror as she stood unsteadily before her most disheveled reflection in the smoky glass.
Her cheek was bruised, her lower lip cut, and her left eye grossly swollen and discolored from the force of her husband’s intense blow. Her stunned gaze took in her tattered dress, lace and sequins dangling unceremoniously from their silk moorings, as was her fractured soul at the calamitous turn of events that had tragically befallen her.
Evangeline covered her battered face in her trembling hands and sobbing uncontrollably, sank passively down in the darkened corner of her involuntary prison, helplessness shrouding her as reality swiftly came crashing down, it's burdening weight cruelly crushing her, leaving her breathless from the sheer thought of her distressing predicament.
How, in such a short span of time had she gone from the embrace of the man, who in a few short days she had grown to cherish, joyfully planning a hopeful future with him; To being involuntarily imprisoned in her sadistic husband's home, virtually ordered to obey his every command, living every second in fear that he would make good on his threat to have her "pyrate lover" hanged til the death before her very eyes?
Tears continued to flow unchecked Evangeline's injured visage as her memory of what just transpired hours before continued to torment her like shards of glass slicing into her very soul. A wry laugh nearly choked her as she tried to reason how the most fearful pyrate in Nassau's history had treated her with more love and care then her "noble" British husband, ever could...Or would for that matter.
Wouldn’t the upstanding society brethren that he obviously revered so much be astonished at that depraved tidbit of information?
Evangeline remained wilted in the bedroom niche for what seemed like an eternity, her soul tortured, her body bruised and battered; her heart decimated. The longing to be back in her Captain’s arms and far away from this noxious situation that was forced upon her made her being ache with the want of it.
The only hope that she clung to was that somehow James would find and rescue her from the despicable farce of a marriage and the abuse that she instinctively knew Lord Webb would continue to oppress her with. She also established within herself that she wouldn’t be dismayed in the least if James had to kill her husband to do so.
The only stipulation that thoroughly distressed her was the fact that her husband held over her head as menacing as a guillotine’s blade, was the threat of having James arrested and subsequently executed if she failed to honor and obey his every whim.
She could only pray that her Captain could successfully extricate her from Lord Webb’s possessive grasp, and if it took murdering the maligning Lord to rid him completely from their lives for good, then so be it.
Living out her days as a fugitive with James was a far more enticing option then being coerced to subsist with a husband whom she had not one ounce of affection for.
Evangeline winced at the creak of the bedroom door , her whole body tensing with trepidation as she peeked out from beneath inflamed bloodshot eyes to observe her husband domineering the doorway, a vanquishing smirk playing smugly on his lips. " Evangeline, darling."
A cold shiver swept through Evangeline at his aloof tone, and she wrapped her arms around her curled up form as if to offer protection from Lord Webb’s disdainful demeanor.
An impatient sigh escaped from her deceptive husband, and crossing his arms pompously across his chest, he shook his head at the wretched sight of his piteous wife curled up in the corner like some frightened animal fearing for its’ very life.
" Evangeline", his imposing form now towering over her cowering figure. " You know you brought all of this…unpleasantness …on yourself, my darling. It didn’t have to be this way."
Lord Webb unsympathetically raked his gaze over his wife’s tattered appearance. “Unfortunately, my love, since I cannot even fathom how I am going to begin to try to have trust in you again, I will have to confine you to this room for the time being."
He wrinkled his forehead in consternation as he continued his directive. " I am certainly expecting that you will come to your senses and conduct yourself as my obedient and loving wife in the very near future."
Taking one last indifferent glance at his harried wife, the haughty Lord turned swiftly to make his leave. " My caveat still rings true regarding your pyrate Captain, my dear. Please remember to keep that in the forefront of your mind as you begin your transformation into an impeccable version of a perfect, compliant wife."
Reaching purposely for the doorknob, he added adroitly. " I’ll be sending a servant to tend to you soon. I shall be unavailable for the rest of the night. Enjoy the rest of your evening…My darling.”
Evangeline squeezed her eyes shut in revulsion, a shudder overtaking her wearied body as she replayed her husband’s spiteful words in her head. She sighed a lengthy breath of relief as she heard her bedroom door shut and lock with a resounding click, at least the repellent Lord would be leaving her in peace for the rest of this horrid day.
A feeling of utter helplessness washed entirely over Evangeline, and she listlessly wiped at the stinging warm tears that started to stream down her cheeks again.
"I need you, James...Please…" A strained whispered plea fell from Evangeline’s quivering lips, hoping against all reason that somehow her Captain would locate and deliver her from the fresh hell she knew her husband would be tormenting her with from this day forth.
She fervently prayed that he could liberate her sooner than later, because she honestly couldn’t fathom being in Lord Webb’s possession for even one more day, not even taking into consideration the rest of her natural born life.
Evangeline recognized, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that she wouldn’t survive long in his deranged grasp, that either James would have to save her, or she would have to take drastic measures into her own hands to escape his cruel intentions. And if somehow James couldn’t extricate her directly, then she would have to figure a way out of her abhorrent situation herself…The sooner….The better.