by CJ England
His heart pounded. If she said what he hoped she would, it would be the end of everything. Yet ... how could he ignore it?
"Hey, Lara ... Ooops ... sorry.” Tim came into the hall and then turned red. “Didn't know you were still occupied.” He nodded at Justin, and then turned around and made for the door. “When you can, there is some old lady who wants to talk to you."
Lara stared after him in shock, forgetting completely she'd been found in a compromising position. “Did you see that?” she whispered to Justin.
Justin had frozen in place at Tim's words. All desire fled with the surprise of discovery. “He ... could see ... me."
"I don't understand. How can this be?"
"I don't know, sweetheart. We need to find the others."
Quickly putting their clothes to right, they left the hallway and entered the salon. The music had started up again and people had gone back to gambling and having a good time. They spied Lottie and Charlie standing near the wall. They looked as shocked as Lara felt.
"Captain,” stammered Charlie as they approached. “The mortals can see us."
"He's right,” Lottie agreed. Her open face was white with surprise. “He nearly got his head taken off when he blew down some woman's blouse."
"Charlie!"
"I thought I was invisible, Miss Lara."
"What the hell is going on?” Sir Malcolm came trotting up with Diana in tow. “I just had to pull some young whippersnapper off of our Diana."
"I didn't ask for any help,” the singer complained.
The old soldier glared at her. “Don't be fast, girl. You'll come to a bad end one of these days."
"Please,” Lara said quietly. “Don't argue. We have to figure out what is going on. Why can people see you now?"
"I can answer that question, my sweet granddaughter."
Chapter Eight
There was a long moment of silence as they all turned and saw the thin form of an elderly lady. She was dressed in later period clothing than Lottie or Diana and was sporting a bobbed haircut. She had dark hair and dark eyes that held an odd light in them. She was staring at Justin with a heated expression, like she'd seen him before.
Suddenly the quiet was broken by a stream of powerful curses. “Bridget,” Justin rasped, his eyes glinting in fury. “What are you doing here?” His hands clenched and unclenched as if he would like to wring her thin neck.
"I'm here for the show,” the woman smiled at him. “You are looking good, lover."
His eyes flashed. “It was never love."
"No,” she spat at him. “And that is why you are here now. Cursed ... on this damned boat.” She turned to Lara. “And you, you aren't even supposed to be here."
Lara stared at her. This was her ancestor. The one who had caused all the trouble. It was weird ... like looking in a slightly twisted mirror. Bridget had the same coloring as she did, but that was where the resemblance ended. Their faces were totally different.
"You said you could tell us why they can be seen?"
"Because, my dear grand daughter, it's one hundred years later. Close to the witching hour, where all things are possible.” She laughed cruelly. “But not everything and it's for that reason I have come. I want to see the curse at work!"
Lara didn't understand, but she realized she didn't care. Having Bridget here was perfect for what she wanted to do. Now she'd prove to all of them that she and her ancestor were nothing alike.
"You didn't think about a woman inheriting, did you?” she said to the old woman. “But it happened. And I'm going to make up for what you did."
Bridget laughed. “There is only one way to do that."
Her eyes flashing, Lara shook her head. “I'm not sure why you're here, but I'm glad of it. I want you to see this."
Turning to Justin, she sighed. “I was going to do this later, but I think now is a perfect time.” She pulled out a folded document and handed it to him.
"What's this?” he asked gruffly, not wanting to take his eyes off his enemy. Being in the same room with her made him sick.
"Open it and see."
Frowning, Justin opened up the paper. His hands froze momentarily and then started to shake. He jerked his head up to stare at Lara.
"What have you done?"
"What should have been done one hundred years ago.” She touched his face with a gentle hand. “I'm giving you back The Lucky Lady.
"No!” Bridget screeched.
"Yes,” Lara said as she continued to look into Justin's shocked sea-blue eyes. “You used this ship to lure him to his death. It's only fitting I give it back to him in the same way ... on Halloween night."
"Lara..."
"Of course, I had to do some legal maneuvering and it has to be in both our names since you don't exist. But this way if something happens to me, it will go to your descendants.” Her dark eyes searched his. “It was the only way I could do it."
"But why?” he said hoarsely. “Why have you done this?"
She smiled. “Don't you know, Justin? Can't you figure it out?"
Everyone held their breath. There was a feeling of expectation in the group Lara didn't understand.
Justin felt like his life teetered on the edge. If she said she loved him, he would be forced to leave her, but if she didn't, he and his crew would be caught in limbo forever.
"No!” hissed Bridget. “I won't allow it. You can't. You'll ruin everything."
Lara frowned. “This is between Justin and me. It's not your business anymore. You have nothing to do with it."
Justin reached for Lara, ignoring the angry woman. He held her tight against him. “Tell me, Lara. Tell me what you feel for me."
"No!” Bridget snatched the paper out of Justin's hand and ripped it in two. “You can't do this. He's using you just like he used me."
"Don't listen to her, Lara,” Justin begged. He cast a quick glance at his timepiece. There was only fifteen minutes more till midnight. “Tell me."
Lara looked at the Ethereal group. All of them had identical expressions of worry and concern on their faces. She stepped back, suddenly uneasy. “What's going on?"
Bridget's eyes gleamed. “Has he told you about the curse?"
She sighed. “Yes, of course he did. He had to, so I'd understand everything. So we could find a way to break it."
The old witch laughed. “Oh ... poor Lara. He didn't tell you they already knew how to break the curse?"
The uneasy feeling grew. “What are you talking about?” She turned to Justin. “What is she saying?"
He was silent for so long she thought he wouldn't answer her. When he finally spoke, it was as if it was pulled from him.
"A few years after we died, Bridget called in a gypsy to exorcise us. She was tired of the damage we were doing to the ship and her reputation. But instead of cursing us again, the gypsy felt sorry for what she'd done to us. She gave us a way to beat the curse and go on to our rewards."
Lara blinked in confusion. “But why haven't you said anything to me about this?"
"It's our fault, dearie,” Lottie broke in. Tears were streaming down her face. “We knew we were running out of time and we put pressure on him."
"We are sorry, Miss Lara,” Charlie muttered.
"Oh, for God's sake,” Diana said scathingly. “It was our only choice. What else could we do?"
"Should have found something,” Sir Malcolm pulled out his handkerchief for Lottie. “Wasn't right. Wasn't right at all."
"Enough,” Justin growled commandingly. “It was my decision.” He stared down at Lara. “I didn't tell you because if I had, it would have destroyed any chance of us breaking the curse."
"I don't understand."
Bridget laughed. “You are slow. Can't you guess?"
"Be silent, woman!"
The old witch ignored him. “The only way he could defeat the curse was to have a human woman fall in love with him ... just the way he was. And he had to do it before midnight on Halloween night of the hundredth y
ear of the curse."
Lara didn't move. She didn't breathe. The words pushed through her consciousness like painful arrows of truth. Her face lost all its color as she finally realized what Bridget meant.
It had all been a set up from the beginning. He'd never really cared for her at all. He had used her, just as Bridget had said.
"Lara,” Justin said desperately. He saw in that moment he'd lost her. His heart pounded in sudden agony. “Don't believe her. It wasn't like that."
She lifted tragic eyes to his. “You didn't set out to seduce me?"
He felt his neck redden and he dropped his eyes, unable to meet her gaze. “It sounds worse than it is."
Sickness pooled in Lara's stomach. It was true ... all of it. With a moan of pain, she turned and ran out onto the bow of the ship. It was empty and she made her way to the railing, taking deep breaths of the clean ocean air.
"Lara,” Justin and the others followed her out. “Please. You have to believe me. I never meant to hurt you."
She closed her eyes. She could feel her heart shattering into little pieces. She loved him and he'd used her. Tears burned in her eyes.
"He did the same thing to me,” Bridget spat out hatefully. Unknowingly, her words mirrored Lara's thoughts. “I loved him and he used me. But I got even with him. He paid for his treachery.
Slowly, Lara turned and met the eyes of the man she loved. His were dark and angry, but she saw no shame in them for what he had done. “Why didn't you tell me?"
His jaw clenched. “I set out to seduce you. I couldn't tell you why or it wouldn't have worked. But something else happened, Lara. You weren't the one who was seduced ... I was.” He reached down and took her by the arms.
"I fell in love with you."
Her heart twinged, but she couldn't believe him. “Did you? Or was I just convenient,” she nodded at Bridget, “as she was."
"Damn it. Do you think I'd have cared if Bridget made a spectacle of herself on the bar?” he growled. “It didn't matter to me who she whored herself with and I swear to you, I never stayed up half the night worrying about her."
He stepped closer. “We have something special, Lara. Curse or not. The hardest thing I've ever had to do was go forward with seducing you."
"Why?” she whispered as she turned her face away. “I made it easy for you."
"Don't.” He shook her gently. “Don't be sorry for what we have. I hated going forward, because if you did fall in love with me, the curse would be broken and I would go to my reward.” He touched one hand to her face. “I didn't want to go. I wanted to stay with you."
Her heart throbbed in pain. “Please, Justin. No more."
"You have to listen to me,” he said desperately. “I love you. But I couldn't tell you. I couldn't tell you anything or it might ruin it for the others."
Her eyes closed as she understood what he was saying. He'd been thinking of the others, not just himself. It was just like him. It was one of the reasons she loved him. But he'd lied to her and that wasn't something she could bear. Now she would never know if he loved her for himself or because of the damned curse.
"Let me go, please."
Justin searched her face, looking for something in her face that would show him how she felt. He had the horrible feeling either way, he'd lost her. If she loved him, he would go on to the reward the gypsy had promised, but if she didn't, her knowing he'd lied to her would sound a death knell for any relationship they could have in the future.
He dropped his hands and stepped back. He kept his eyes on Lara as she stood still as a statue, her beautiful dress whipping in the night breeze. “I love you, Lara. More than my own existence. All I ask is you remember that."
Bridget cackled with glee. “Give it up, Justin. You've lost. She knows the type of man you are now! Take back the ship, girl. Show him what you're made of."
Lara lifted her eyes to the dark man standing above her. Behind her she heard the ringing of the ship's bell as it called out the beginning of the midnight watch. They were all out of time. As hurt as she was she couldn't ... wouldn't be like her despicable ancestor. Suddenly, she knew just what to do.
She turned to her great-great-great-great grandmother. “I am not you Bridget. You destroyed yourself and these people over what? Lust? Money? Power?” She shook her head. “It certainly wasn't love.” She looked up at Justin. “If you love somebody, then you want what's best for them."
"Lara—” he murmured.
She ignored the soft spoken plea. “I hate what she did to you. It was immoral and wrong. But I'm not her. You should have been honest with me. Lying was wrong too.” She sighed.
"I know you love your crew and you did what was necessary to free them from the curse.” She stepped close to him and touched his hard jaw. “Whatever the reason you did it, it worked. You have The Lucky Lady. And no matter what you've done or how you did it, I love you, Justin."
At her words, Bridget screamed. A high keening sound that was shrill in the quiet night sky. “You've ruined everything, you stupid girl. I will kill you for this!"
Her eyes were filled with hate as she threw herself at Lara, her sharpened nails reaching toward her eyes. Evil dark words issued from her mouth.
"By the dragon's light, on this Halloween Night
I call to thee to give me your might...
I conjure thee to destroy all you see ... “
"No!” shouted Justin. He threw himself between the two women, grabbing Bridget's arms before she could make contact with Lara and finish the curse. The old woman's finger's gouged scratches down his face.
Suddenly the bow exploded with a bright white light. Everyone cried out and covered their faces as they were thrown off their feet. The air was pure and clean and a feeling of peace and joy shot through them all.
"It's happening!” cried Lottie.
"It cannot be!” shrieked Bridget. She scrabbled away from the light, like a brittle old spider.
Suddenly, the brightness faded. The radiance changed to an ugly red color, undulating across the deck. Tendrils of it reached out, wrapping around the witch's struggling body.
"No!” she screamed again as the air became bitter and foul.
They all choked from the horrible smell and watched in horror as Bridget twisted and turned, screaming out obscenities as she fought against it. It seemed to go on forever before finally, she dissolved into a putrid puddle of melted flesh in front of them.
Then the light disappeared and with it, all sign of Bridget's liquefied body. There was silence on the bow for several long moments.
"Dear heavens,” Sir Malcolm said as he helped Lottie to her feet. “What has happened here?"
Charlie put a helping hand under Diana's elbow. “The witch is gone. The light took her."
Justin staggered to his feet, wiping the blood from his face. He looked back and forth across the deck. “Where's Lara?” he shouted.
Diana raced to the side. “She went over, when the light hit us.” She looked up at Justin and there was fear on her face as she held up her bloodied hand that had touched the railing. “She must have hit her head."
Icy cold fear congealed in Justin's veins. “No,” he whispered hoarsely. Without thought he jerked out of his coat and kicked off his boots. Scrambling up onto the rail he stared into the dark sea. When he saw the dark color of feathers in the moonlight, he didn't hesitate, but dove over the side.
Cleaving cleanly into the water, he opened his eyes in the stinging salt water, searching frantically for sight of her. He shot to the surface and filled his lungs with air before diving back, deep into the unforgiving sea. Deeper and deeper he went, refusing to give up.
Three times he dove, looking for his lost love. His heart pounded with fear and anger. He refused to believe they had gone through all this only to lose her completely. Suddenly, he caught a glimpse of the trailing end of a feather. Kicking hard, he swam towards it, his hand outstretched.
When his hand touched her skin, he almost recoiled
at the icy feeling, but grabbing her around the waist, he shot to the surface, his lungs burning with the need for air.
Coughing, choking on seawater, he waved his hand at the receding ship as he held Lara's head above the water. “Don't quit on me now, sweetheart,” he rasped. He covered her mouth in a life giving kiss, thankful he'd watched the classes on mouth to mouth resuscitation.
He heard a shout and saw a small boat heading there way. He waved his hand again, but never stopped breathing into Lara's slack mouth. His eyes stung from a combination of tears and salt water.
It wasn't long before the boat reached them. Charlie and Diana were there to help him lift Lara's limp body to safety. Climbing into the craft himself, he laid her in the bottom of the boat.
"Get us back as soon as you can,” he said harshly. “We've got to get her warm.” Bending low, he listened for the beat of her heart, but could find none. “I won't lose you this way,” he muttered to himself. Again, he covered her mouth with his, breathing life into her.
"Please, love,” he begged. “Don't leave me."
The small craft skimmed over the waves as Justin continued his life saving actions. Over and over again, he breathed for her, his heart pounding in fear.
God ... had he been too late?
Just as they reached the small landing platform on the side of The Lucky Lady, Lara's body twitched. Convulsing in his arms, she coughed and spit up sea water.
"She's alive!” Diana cried. Tears flowed down her cheeks.
Lifting her so she could breathe easier, Justin let the tears come. He pressed his lips against her cold forehead and tried to warm her shivering body.
"Jus ... tin?"
"I'm here, sweetheart. Everything is fine now. You're safe. I've got you."
"What ... happened?” Lara's throat felt like it was on fire. “My head..."
"Bridget's gone, Miss Lara,” Charlie said with a big smile. “The light knocked you overboard, but the Captain, he saved you."
Lara opened groggy eyes. “But ... you shouldn't be here. I broke ... the curse."
"It didn't work,” Justin said as he held her close against him. “But don't worry about it. I'm damn glad it didn't. I wouldn't have been able to save you."