Corsets & Crossbones (19 page)

“Charlie,”
Diablette said, speaking up, turning her head to look at him, “let me simplify the situation you are currently in; either she solves this riddle, or I kill her, and then I kill you.”

Charlie looked into Brooke’s sea green eyes.  Her brow was pushed together, not quite certain of what to do.  She was looking at her captain to give her orders, and if he didn’t, she would continue her reign of silence whether it risked her life or not.  Charlie looked upon Brooke with such sadness.  She did this all for him.  Her unwavering loyalty to him still amazed him, and he had to stop himself from reaching out to her to gently caress her face.  His anger was brewing inside of him at the thought that they would even think of hurting her, and he knew that he would extract his revenge when the time was right.  Even if Sutherland would not release them, as he claimed he would, finding the treasure would at least buy them time.  Her eyes looked at him imploringly, and finally, he nodded
in such a way that only she noticed, indicating that she should solve the riddle.  Brooke nodded in return, and her eyes scanned the paper once again.

On a sea of green

Atop a vertical mast

Unlock a treasure

Of treasure’s past

In a sea of would

Until you actually do

Different trunks

Different values

Brooke read the riddle over and over again, her mind racing with different explanations.  She looked out at the sea, her eyes scanning the ocean thoroughly, as if she was looking for something. 
Diablette, Sutherland, Charlie, and Diablette’s crew all looked out to the sea, trying to find what Brooke was looking for.  Brooke looked back down at the parchment once again, and then smiled.  She turned around so she faced the island and silently proceeded to enter it.  Charlie kept his eyes fixed on her, especially when she moved.

The island itself was rather small.  Sand outlined the island, but green grass made up the majority of
it.  Tall trees provided shade, while flowers, weeds, and bushes decorated dusty paths.  There was a spring in the center of the island, and animals inhabited everything from the trees to the ground, making homes in the green leaves and the dirt.  It was rather peaceful, and if the circumstances were different, Brooke could appreciate it more.  However, she was being held here against her will, attempting to solve a riddle that would possibly save her, as well as Charlie’s, life.

“What is it?”
Diablette asked, following the girl on the island.  “What have you solved?”

Charlie quickly followed Brooke, joining her at her left side.
  This was his place.  It always had been.  He wrapped his arm around the small of her back providing her with stability.  Brooke felt herself naturally leaning into him, feeling suddenly safe in a hopeless situation.  She sighed with content, and then began to explain the riddle to Charlie instead of Diablette.

“When you read
In a sea of green, atop a vertical mast
,” she began, “you would automatically think of a ship on the sea.  However, the map leads us to an island, not a place in the ocean; therefore the treasure is not lost at sea, but buried on this island.”

“We already knew that,”
Diablette snapped on her other side.

Sutherland, as well as
Diablette’s crew began to follow the three.  The crew was holding shovels, preparing to dig wherever the girl told them to.

“However,” Brooke continued, ignoring the woman’s presence, “the sea of green could also refer to being surrounded by greenery, as in grass.”

Diablette’s eyes widened.  “So we’re looking for a meadow?” Diablette guessed.  “Then what does the vertical mast mean?”  Brooke did not answer, causing the older woman to seethe.  “Answer me, goddammit.”

Charlie opened his mouth to respond, but Brooke beat him to it.

“You asked me to solve this riddle,” Brooke snapped, “not make idle conversation with you.”

Charlie’s brow shot up in surprise, and he smirked, squeezing her side very slightly.  Brooke and Charlie continued on rather slowly for Brooke’s comfort
as well as both their safety.  If they didn’t move as much, didn’t draw attention to themselves by walking in such a grand manner the way Diablette, her crew, and Sutherland were, maybe they could get off of this island without being noticed.  Every step pained in her in some way, but she was getting used to it.  She relished in the comfort that Charlie’s presence brought her.  With his arm around her waist, she was able to walk steadier.  Her confidence had increased, and she was filled with a sense of newly rekindled hope.  His shoulder was a comfortable resting place for her head, and she felt calmed.  She was so incredibly glad that he was with her.

Charlie glanced down at Brooke, her head
sittting  on his shoulder, despite the bumpiness of their walk.  His anger was still brewing inside of him, but was repressed due to Brooke’s presence.  He was just glad she had returned to him, and that from then on, he would be there to protect her from whatever would come.  He did not like the feeling of her not being around him, whether she was protected in Port Royal with her father and friends, or she was taken from him with force.  In a way, her presence relaxed him, and he felt completely balanced out when she was with him.

The trail they followed was shaded by the tall trees, blocking out the blue sky, but also the incredible sun.  Brooke noticed strange markings on the trees, markings that had to be made by humans.  They were almost like pictures.  She bit her lip, wondering if the island was indeed deserted.  It was a nice, January day, a slight breeze blowing against the
group’s back.  Birds chirping could be heard, and little rodents scampered and scurried between the group’s feet to find their home in the trunks of the trees or holes in the ground.  It was a long trek in the winding trail; two hours had already passed, and they had still not found a meadow.  Diablette’s patience was wearing thin fast.

“Where is this place?”
Diablette asked through gritted teeth.

“If the map is correct, then it’s on this island,” Charlie snapped
back .  He did not like anyone speaking to Brooke the way Diablette was. 

“Well, why aren’t we moving faster?”
Diablette asked.

“Maybe because I can barely walk,” Brooke said, her nose scrunched in anger.

“Honey, if you don’t want to walk, I will personally break both of your legs
for
you,” Diablette said, her voice rising.

“You break her legs, I’ll break your neck,” Charlie growled, glancing at
Diablette over Brooke’s head.

“The trail’s breaking,” Brooke said, raising her arm to point ahead of them.

Diablette ran ahead of them, and once the Spaniard raced off the trail, she ended up surrounded by green grass.  She let out a bark of laughter, and then turned back to race back to her crew.

“Up ahead!” she exclaimed. 
“
Vamonos
!”

The crew followed
Diablette off the trail, and they two were surrounded by green grass.  The meadow was not full of flowers and bushes, but merely grass.  It was a secret pocket on the island, surrounded by the forest that inhabited the majority of the island.  It was in the shape of a perfectly round circle.  Sutherland went to go stand next to Diablette, murmuring loudly with her as they both looked at the parchment.  When Charlie and Brooke reached the meadow, they relaxed their tense posture and just took in their new surroundings. 

“Are you ready for this, love?” Charlie murmured in Brooke’s ear.

She felt a shiver run down her back when she felt his hot breath on her face.

“I think I would be happier if the circumstances were quite different,” Brooke retorted
under her breath.

“I’m glad the battered state your body is in has no effect whatsoever on your charming personality, darling,” Charlie quipped back dryly.

Brooke smiled up at him.  “I’m glad you are with me, Charlie,” she told him.

He returned her humble smile.  “As am I, love,” he whispered back.

“Oy, you two,” Diablette said, dashing over to the pair.  Her dark eyes burned at Brooke.  She hated that she needed this wench to solve this riddle for her.  She hated Brooke even more due to Charlie’s preoccupation with her.  “We found the vertical mast.”

Charlie and Brooke followed
Diablette’s pointed finger to a large mast that appeared to be sticking out of the meadow, somewhat blending in with the tall trees.  It was wooden and sturdy, and was the same height as the trees.

“Oh my God,” Brooke
murmured , her eyes going wide.

Charlie remained silent, but he too was stunned.

“Now, I have figured out the second part of the riddle,” Diablette continued.  She looked at the parchment in her hand, and began to read.  “
’Unlock a treasure of treasure’s past.
’  I believe that’s referring to a key; a key that is somewhere on the mast.”  She paused, and then nodded at Maria. 

Maria walked over to Brooke and pulled her away from Charlie’s grasp. 

“What do you think you’re doing?” Brooke demanded as she struggled, albeit weakly, against the taller woman’s pull.

“You see, I believe that the key is on the very tippy top of the mast,”
Diablette said as she followed Maria and Brooke.  Charlie followed Diablette, seething as he did so.  “Therefore, I am sending the two of you up the mast to retrieve the key for me.”

“How, exactly, are we supposed to get up to fetch your precious key?” Brooke spat.  Her head was beginning to throb, and the pain she was feeling seemed to dramatically increase along with her headache.

“Use your resources,” Diablette said with a wicked grin.  “You have trees; trees have branches.  I assume you are a smart girl.”

“You want her to climb up trees to reach the mast?” Charlie asked, appalled at such a notion.  “She can barely walk, and you expect her to climb up a tree to reach a key?  Do you even realize how dangerous that is?”

Diablette whirled around to glare at Charlie, who matched her glare with one of his own.

“Do you realize how I do not care how dangerous it is?”
Diablette told him.  “Any life is disposable for this key.  Any life is disposable for this treasure.  It might calm you that I am sending Maria up there as well.”

“You’re only sending Maria to make sure Brooke doesn’t hide the key from you,” Charlie said.

“Well, she did hide the whereabouts of the treasure for you,” Diablette pointed out.  “Who’s to say she wouldn’t hide the key?”

“And if she falls?” Charlie asked through gritted teeth, taking a step forward toward the pirate captain. 
“If Brooke falls?”

“Well, Maria will be up there with her,”
Diablette said.  “I’m sure Maria has it in her full capacity to save your lass.”  A smooth smirk crawled onto her face.  “But then again, I make no promises.”

Without thinking, Charlie grabbed
Diablette’s throat in his hand, and began to squeeze.  A dark scowl hid his calm facial features as he choked her.  All of her crew had pulled out their weapons as quickly as they possibly could, and pointed them at Charlie.  Brooke’s mouth dropped open as she watched; Charlie would choke her to death which would result in his demise.

“Charlie!” she exclaimed, her eyes pleading with him.  “I will do it.”  He looked at Brooke, but did not release
Diablette.  “Please, Charlie, let her go.  I will do it.”

Slowly, Charlie released the Spaniard, who immediately began gasping for breath.  Brooke walked over to him, and her breath hitched in her throat.  She reached at the touch his face, but hesitated, unsure if this was the correct way to handle the situation.  The palm of her hand cupped his cheek, and her fingers curled around the side of his face.  His brown eyes returned to their normal hue, looking down at her sadly.  They both knew Brooke had no choice but to do what
Diablette had ordered her to do.  Charlie opened his mouth to speak, but Brooke smiled sadly and shook her head.

“Come back to me,” he whispered in her ear.

“I will,” she promised, and then turned to walk over to Diablette.

“Are you sure you’re finished?” the Spaniard
said with a sneer, looking at the young girl with agitation.

Brooke glared but remained silent as she trudged behind Maria.  They both walked over to a swarm of trees adjacent to the mast.  Brooke glanced up at it, raising her arm up to shield her eyes from the rays of the sun.  At that moment, something shimmered in the light.  Brooke’s mouth dropped, and she glanced at Maria, who was reflecting her action.  However, the taller woman was still looking up, missing the shimmer of the object resting on top of the mast.

“Let’s go, princess,” Maria chided.  “You first.”  Brooke glanced sideways at Maria and then up at the tree.  “C’mon, don’t tell me you are afraid.  I’ll be right behind you.”

Brooke exhaled. 
Because that reassures me
, she thought dryly.  With a grimace, she reached up and grabbed the thick branch and pulled herself up.  Every muscle in her body screamed bloody murder, and she had to release the branch and shake out the pain.  Charlie looked on her with concern, but Diablette placed a firm hand on his chest, keeping him in his place.  Brooke sucked in a deep breath and released it before reaching up and pulling herself up.  Despite the pain, she managed to swing her leg over the branch and pull herself up.  Brooke glanced up, and continued her trek upwards.  The first branch was the hardest to overcome.  The more she ascended, the closer the branches were.  Maria was right behind her, climbing up with ease.  Brooke couldn’t help but be envious of Maria.