Once a Pirate (Mystical Realm Series Book 1)

by Snyder, Sarah

  Jake bent to pick up a shining silver shell on the sand, turning it in his palm as he tried to calm his shattered control. He hadn’t wanted to walk away from the interrogation but knew if he remained he would have intervened. His patience for Char’s soft-handed tactics was gone. He hurled the shell toward the Ocean, watching it fall into the sea with a satisfying plop.

  “You seem to take far too much pleasure in that, Pirate,” a feminine voice spoke from farther up the shoreline.

  Jake turned to see a small, golden woman standing in the sand a few yards away. He watched her cautiously as the woman approached him. “What do you want?”

  “I am Mara of Faeria,” Mara bowed her golden head slightly in introduction.

  “I know who you are, Fairy,” Jake tilted his head. “Why have you come to me?”

  “I’ve come for Anna,” Mara informed.

  “That isn’t happening,” Jake growled, swearing if the woman came to take Anna from him he would ensure she would not leave the beach.

  “No worries, Pirate,” Mara waved her hand. “I’ve no intent to take her from you. She is safer in your care than in mine.”

  “Then we agree,” Jake remained cautious, still unsure of why the Fairy was present.

  “Aye,” Mara nodded. “But, you know someone wishes her harm.”

  “Because of the prophecy,” Jake added.

  Mara’s golden eyes grew wide and fearful. “What do you know of the prophecy? Who spoke to you of this?”

  “Tell me of it,” Jake demanded.

  Mara hesitated before shaking her head. “Nay, it is better the less you know.”

  “How am I to protect her if I don’t know why she is in danger?” Jake asked, his hand running through his hair in frustration.

  After a moment, Mara nodded. “Anna is special; she is not from this world.”

  “Aye,” Jake nodded. “She said she was taken from her family; somewhere too far to travel.”

  “She did not lie,” Mara smiled sadly.

  “Where is she from?” Jake asked.

  “Another realm,” Mara admitted. “Anna is born to the mortal world.”

  “That’s impossible,” Jake shook his head, denying the Fairy’s information. “Portals between realms are myths and legends, none can pass between.”

  “Anna did,” Mara’s expression was earnest and Jake stilled in shock at her truth. “And, in doing so, she set off a series of events which may prove end to all we know.”

  “I can protect her,” Jake vowed.

  “Nay, Pirate,” Mara shook her head sadly. “You can’t protect her. Even if you stop those out to harm her, there will always be another. She will live in fear forever.”

  “Then, what am I to do?” Jake asked with growing frustration.

  “Send her home,” Mara ordered. “Send her back to her world.”

  “And, lose her forever,” Jake concluded.

  “Aye, Pirate,” Jake’s comment hadn’t required confirmation, but Mara offered it with a sympathetic expression. “Return her to the Mortal Realm; to her family.”

  “If that’s the only way, why is she still here?” Jake asked in confusion. “Why haven’t you sent her home? You are Fairy; surely you can open the portal.”

  “Aye, I can open the portal,” Mara grew sad. “But, Anna would not survive the return trip.”

  “Then, how am I to send her home?” Jake grew frustrated by the creature’s riddles.

  “There is a way,” Mara stated. “The man you hold in your cell is of the Dark Guild. They would not take so many risks to acquire her if they did not know a way of her escape. He has the answers.”

  “He won’t speak,” Jake complained.

  “He will,” Mara assured. “You know he will, Pirate.”

  Jake didn’t need further explanation of how the Fairy meant for him to get information. “There has to be another way,” Jake whispered. The interrogation skills of Pirates were legendary and Jake was the best in his station. His chest tightened at the thought of becoming the monster he tried so hard to abolish from his reputation.

  “I have searched as far as I can,” Mara shook her head. “What secrets the Dark Guild holds are theirs alone.”

  “I gave up that life,” Jake informed.

  “You changed for Anna, to be what she needed you to be,” Mara claimed. “But, Anna doesn’t need a good man. She needs a monster willing to fight for her; willing to kill for her. Are you willing?”

  “Aye,” Jake choked on the vow.

  Mara gave him a final, sad look as she walked away, leaving Jake to wallow in the information she provided.

  ***

  Anna watched the crew play a rousing game of cards as they waited patiently on the main deck of the Crimson Jewel. Jake left the ship nearly an hour before, not telling anyone where he was headed or why. Anna tried to get answers from Char, but the Prince was vague as ever. As she listened to his obvious hedging, Anna’s patience with the man finally snapped. Her voice was most likely heard all through the ship and perhaps through the village of Everett, but she hadn’t cared. Anna was tired of people keeping things from her in their foolish ideals of keeping her safe.

  Her words were harsh, telling the Prince exactly where he could shove his overbearing, protective tendencies. She felt a pang of remorse thinking back on his look of shock and guilt but brushed it off. Char had since kept to his quarters, ignoring Anna and the crew of the Crimson Jewel.

  For the first time in weeks, Anna didn’t ache for the solitude of her bedroom. It was as if releasing her temper on the Prince gave her a new confidence. Anna was tired of allowing others to dictate her life. Whether she liked it or not, Anna was trapped in this new and unfamiliar realm. While she would always mourn the loss of her family and life in her world, Anna knew it was time to accept her situation and move forward. The first step was making sure the newest men in her life didn’t turn out like her overprotective brothers. Anna didn’t need coddled and when Jake returned to the ship, she would make sure he got the message, just as Char had.

  “Miss Anna,” Dane stood in front of her, shifting on his feet. “I wanted to apologize if I frightened you earlier.”

  “No need to apologize, Dane,” Anna assured the man, thinking the giant reminded her of a teddy bear; a little scary on the surface, but filled with fluff and sweetness. Anna doubted the man would appreciate the comparison.

  “It’s just,” Dane looked down at the deck as he continued. “Captain said no one was to lay hand on you.”

  Anna smiled at his excuse for violence. She wondered what other orders Jake gave on her behalf to ensure her safety on the ship. “I know,” Anna smiled at the man, placing a comforting hand on his beefy forearm. “Thank you for defending me.”

  Dane smiled at her forgiveness before growing thoughtful. “He’s a good man, Miss Anna.”

  “Who’s that?” Anna was confused by the change in subject.

  “Captain Reynolds,” Dane clarified. “He’s not like people say; he’s a good man.”

  Anna was surprised at the man’s defense of Jake. “I’m sure he is,” Anna smiled.

  “You don’t believe me,” Dane shook his head sadly.

  “I,” Anna stuttered at his astuteness, “I want to believe you.”

  Anna realized with a start she meant the words. She did want to believe Jake was a good man; wanted to believe he could be honorable and honest. With so many secrets and stories from his past, Anna was having a hard time accepting he was capable of change. As the day wore on and afternoon turned to early evening, Anna found she was far more focused on Dane’s claims than her indignation of being protected.

  ***

  Jake delayed as long as he could before heading back to the Crimson Jewel. Most of his afternoon was spent trying to find another way to achieve what needed done without becoming the monster required to do it. Eventually, however, Jake accepted his fate. He’d sent word for Char to meet him on the dock, unwilling to face the prying eyes of his c
rew or the woman he knew would question him. A quick discussion with the Prince gave Jake the permission he needed to interrogate Guardian Maxwell away from the protection of Char or the other Guards.

  Char and his Guards escorted the prisoner to shore, securing him to a tree just inside the line of forest off the beach. They left him there, striding past Jake and back to the ship. Char stopped beside Jake where he stood leaning on a narrow rock-faced wall cutting him off from the beach. The Prince stared out to sea next to him with an accepting sort of sadness about him. “So, you met Mara,” Char’s statement wasn’t a question.

  “I wasn’t sure you knew,” Jake admitted his omission.

  “What did she say?” Char asked.

  “There is a way to send Anna home,” Jake informed the Prince. “Your traitor knows what it is.”

  “I see,” Char looked as miserable by the idea as Jake felt, but he squared his shoulders and plastered a royal stoicism on his face. “Do whatever it takes.”

  Jake watched the Prince stalk away, his steps faltering at the sight of Anna walking down the beach. He watched them exchange a few words before Char continued toward the ship, leaving Anna on her course toward Jake. The denim of her jeans hugged her curved provocatively; the flowing material of her blouse lifting to show her bare midriff as the breeze blew from the Ocean. Jake ached to place his hands on her slender hips and pull her close to him. He wanted desperately to indulge in one last touch before she ran from him.

  Her expression was unreadable as she neared, her eyes locked on his with purpose. “You should be on the ship,” Jake commented tightly, trying to hide the desire running through his veins at the sight of her.

  “So, everyone keeps telling me,” Anna claimed. “You said we’d have dinner on the beach, but you never came back.”

  “I had things to do,” Jake excused.

  “Let me guess, things I don’t need to know about,” Anna frowned.

  “Aye,” Jake agreed, seeing by the fall of her expression he gave the wrong response.

  “I see,” Anna’s voice shook. “I’m not strong enough to handle the truth, right?”

  “Anna,” Jake called after her as she turned away from him, waiting until she turned back to continue. “I don’t believe you’re weak, but I am. I don’t want you to know.”

  “Why?” Anna asked in confusion.

  “I know what you believe me to be; the monster you believe me to be,” Jake looked away from her, unable to meet her eyes. “I tried to change; I wanted to change.”

  “Wanted to,” Anna prodded.

  “Aye,” Jake ran a hand through his hair. “I wanted to be worthy of pursuing you properly. I wanted to be a man you’d be proud to have at your side.”

  “Jake,” Anna’s voice was a breath.

  “But, what needs done now isn’t a job for good men,” Jake turned to face her, bracing for her disgust. “What is needed is a monster.”

  “Why?” Anna shook her head in confusion.

  “I wish I could say,” Jake bowed his head. “Just believe if there was another way, I’d find it.”

  “What are you going to do?” Anna asked quietly.

  “Whatever it takes,” Jake answered vaguely. “But, once this is done there will be no redemption for me; no coming back.”

  “There’s always a way back,” Anna assured him, her gentle hand reaching out to touch his forearm. “I don’t know if all the stories I’ve heard about you are true, but the one truth I am sure of is that if you want something, you find a way to get it. If you want to change, make it happen.”

  “Not this time, Love,” Jake brushed a loose tendril of hair behind her ear. “I need you to go back to the ship. And, whatever you hear, do not return to the beach.”

  Jake’s gloved hand travelled down her jawline, cupping the side of her neck with a gentleness even he hadn’t believed himself capable of. Knowing it would be the last time he was allowed to touch her, Jake couldn’t resist dipping his head and pressing his lips to hers. He only meant the contact to last a moment, but as Anna’s lips parted in surprise, Jake couldn’t resist taking a taste of her sweetness. He broke contact, forcing himself away from her with some effort.

  “Jake,” His name was a question on Anna’s lips.

  “I just wanted one taste of light before the dark,” Jake informed before turning away from her. He denied his urge to turn back and look at Anna, knowing she remained on the beach where he left her.

  Jake waited for some time, long after the sun set and darkness fell across the forest. Once he was sure of his solitude, Jake moved to the tree to which his target was restrained. He pushed every happy, soft thought of Anna out of his mind, unable to focus on what needed done with any light in his heart. With a cold expression which would have done the hardest of Pirates proud, Jake set about his mission.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Anna stared toward the beach from the main deck of the Crimson Jewel. She was able to ignore what she suspected happened on shore while the crew moved about, their loud chatter and the sounds of ship chores distracting enough to forget. As the moon rose high and evening turned into night, the sounds of the ship ceased. She tried to sleep, covering her head with the blankets on her bed, but they weren’t enough to block the sounds occasionally drifting across the short distance of sea between the Crimson Jewel and land. After a time, Anna gave up on rest and, unable to stand another moment in her cramped quarters, took to the main deck. She shivered in the breeze as her long nightshirt billowed out from her thighs.

  “You shouldn’t be out here, Lass,” Sully joined her where she sat on the railing of the deck. “Some things just aren’t right for gentle ears to hear.”

  Anna winced as a particularly loud scream from the shoreline. “I can hear it in my quarters just as well, Sully.”

  “Aye,” Sully nodded severely. “I thought you might.”

  “What’s he doing to him?” Anna whispered the question, unsure if she wanted the older man to answer.

  “What he needs to do,” Sully answered vaguely.

  Anna accepted the answer, despite her earlier confidence in wanting to know the full truth of their situation. “How could he,” Anna’s voice cracked. “How could anyone cause so much pain and not care?”

  “Jake cares, Anna,” Sully assured her with a surprised raise of his brow. “He cares more than most.”

  “Then, why does he do this?” Anna’s tone revealed her desperation in wanting to understand the contrary Pirate.

  “Because, no one else will,” Sully informed. “No one else has the stomach for what needs to be done.”

  “Everyone keeps telling me what a good man Jake is,” Anna coughed up a laugh.

  “Jake is a good man,” Sully assured.

  “I just can’t see how a good man can be capable of such cruelty,” Anna bowed her head, closing her eyes as another scream floated on the salty breeze.

  “He’s never harmed an innocent, only those who deserved his cruelty. And,” Sully paused, debating his next words carefully before sighing. “Jake has never dealt to any man what he hasn’t felt himself.”

  “Jake’s been tortured?” Anna asked.

  “Aye, tortured by his kin,” Sully nodded sadly.

  Anna thought back to the conversation she and Jake shared about their families and nodded. “He told me his grandfather was abusive, but I didn’t know it was that severe.” An image of a young Jake letting out screams such as those she heard then made Anna cringe. “What happened to him?”

  “It isn’t my tale to tell, Lass,” Sully shook his head apologetically. “I shouldn’t have said as much as I did.”

  “Then, why did you?” Anna asked.

  “I love that boy like he was my own,” Sully’s eyes watered. “I’ve seen him broken and bleeding with no fight left in him, but he’s always come back and been stronger for it; until you.”

  “Me,” Anna was confused.

  “Aye, Lass,” Sully smiled at her and held her fingers
gently with his. The feel of his calloused palm was an odd comfort for Anna, reminding her so much of her father’s roughened hand. “When that boy looks at you, knowing you believe him a monster, there’s no light left in his eyes. It’s as if he’s no hope left. I’m afraid he won’t ever be the same for it.”

  “I don’t want that. I don’t want to hurt him. I want to believe in him, but,” Anna trailed off.

  Sully nodded in understanding. “Belief is earned through actions, not through words and stories. I only ask you do one thing for me, Lass, for Jake.”

  “What’s that?” Anna whispered.

  “Let him earn it,” Sully pleaded. “Give him a chance to earn your belief.”

  “He says there’s no redemption for what he’s doing tonight,” Anna confessed.

  “And, a part of him believes that be true,” Sully winced, “which is why he needs you.”

  “What can I offer him?” Anna looked out to sea as she spoke.

  “Forgiveness,” Sully squeezed her fingers before releasing her grasp.

  “I’ll try,” Anna vowed.

  Sully sat with her long into the night until the screams faded and eventually stopped entirely. Shortly after, Jake stepped up the plank and onto the deck across from them. Anna noted he returned alone and wanted to question him, but she had no need. By the grim expression on his face, Anna knew the answer to the question she wanted to ask. Guardian Maxwell was dead. Anna turned to look out to shore once again, blinking away tears at the horrible end the man had met.

  “Did you get what you needed?” Sully asked as he stood.

  “Aye,” Jake’s tone was colder than Anna ever heard it. “We sail to Mermaid Cove.”

  Anna heard Jake move across the deck and into the door of his quarters. She looked at the closed panel, her chest aching. With her mind in turmoil, Anna felt tears stain her cheeks. While a part of her misery was for the lost life of a man she once relied on for protection, Anna knew the majority was for the lost look she’d seen in Jake’s eyes before she turned away from him.

  ***

  The dim candlelight cut through the thick shadow of the Captain’s quarters. The darkness fought the light, its gnarled fingers threatening to choke any object it touched. Jake stepped through the gloom without concern, his mind already lost in blackness. The memories of what he did to get the information required were horrible, but they paled in comparison to the look on Anna’s face when he returned. The disgust and horror in her expression speared his already tender heart.