Demons & Pearls (The Razor's Adventures Book 1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

Three
    ~Say Aye~

     
    When Master McCormack and I were through talking, I was whisked away and locked in with my cousins. I was allowed to keep possession of my razor, as long as I promised not to reveal it for the next three days. I also informed my dear cousins of everything that had transpired and encouraged them not to worry, but to be cautiously optimistic that we’d actually live to reach Jamaican shores. We’d made allies of a few men whom we believed to be our enemies. That alone was worth all the blood we’d spilled.
    “Ivory, I’m terrified. I realize we’d all be dead by now had we not fought them, but I believe it’s foolish for us to think at some point they’ll not rid themselves of us,” Cassandra said, embracing an inconsolable Miranda.
    “You’ve ruined us,” Miranda cried. “I didn’t want to kill anyone.”
    “Ivory, Barclay was our only advocate aboard this ship. Regardless of whatever mutiny they’d been planning, killing him was a mistake. I’m sorry, but that’s how we all see it,” Keara remarked.
    “Now hold on for just one minute,” I said as I struggled in pain to my feet, from my seat on the floor. “You are all saying that you could have easily stood and watched as Barclay’s men slaughtered every last man on that merchant ship? You can’t possibly be serious. He also had other plans for us that I only just learned. He planned to sell us off for whores.”
    “Our objective was to reach Jamaica alive. Had he attempted to sell us as you said, we could have called for the guard ashore,” Cass said.
    “Haven’t you been listening to me at all? I told you, the second and third most powerful men on this ship are pleased that Barclay is dead, but to most of the crew, we are nothing but cargo for sale. However, they intend to sway the others to let us live. I believe we may have an ally in the man who’ll most likely be the new captain.”
    “You know this lot. What makes you think they’ll side with us?” Keara asked.
    “They aren’t siding with us, Ke. They’re letting us live so they’ll get paid. There are a hundred yards between siding with us and not raping and murdering us.”
    The room fell silent but for the soft sobs of Miranda. I sat back on the floor in front of the cabin door and pressed my back against it as the three of them huddled together in the bunk. I longed for peace and safety for my cousins. I prayed for it. I also prayed that we would not be betrayed and that Green and McCormack would keep their word.
    There was but one small detail of the events of my meeting that I did not inform them of, which was my intention to join the crew and sign the code. With the money we’d carried with us, as well as what we had of value that we’d brought from the farm, I’d have enough to secure room and board for my cousins to sustain us for at least a couple of months … or until my first real hunt under the name I’d chosen to use as a sailor, Ivan Razor.
    xxx
    A hard knock came at the door and startled me from my sleep. The room was so black I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face.
    “Madame?” I heard Green say. “We are about to vote.”
    “Let me out,” I whispered, and I heard the key in the lock turn and the door slowly open.
    “Come with me.”
    “What of my cousins?”
    “Only you.”
    Green locked the door, tied my hands at my back, and led me to the main deck, lantern in hand to light the way. As we grew closer, bile rose up in my throat, but my empty stomach offered no vomit for all of the heaving I did. Perhaps it was the darkness or the solemn quiet of Mister Green that put the fear in me at last, but a sense of doom washed over me so deep it flowed through my veins. In the sweltering heat of this night, a chill ran up my back as if my blood had turned to ice water.
    “What…is the hour?” I stammered to break the silence.
    “What matter does it make? First, there was the business of sending off the dead. It is late, and we