Perilous Waters (25 page)

Make it stop,
Kaitlyn demanded.

“I’ll make it stop,” Julia whispered.

She began drawing the magic away from Angie. “Don’t freeze time,” Angie said as the sun rose and set. “We can’t risk the creatures.”

But it was too late. “Hold,” Julia said.

Abruptly everything paused. Angie almost stumbled forward at the harsh, lurching motion, feeling as though she had been in a car that had come to a stop far too quickly.

“Whoa,” Julia blurted out.

“Unfreeze time, quick!” Angie said.

Julia complied, a burst of magic flaring out from her body as the world went back into motion.

Sorry,
Angie said, tucking her hair behind her ear. The sun was bright and people on the docks bustled about, no one suspecting that three invisible girls stood on the empty ship docked in their harbor.
I
should have been sure about how to stop the spell before I started it.

The spell worked and that’s all I care about,
Kaitlyn said.
Let’s go to the city and figure out where we are.

But there’s no gangplank anymore,
Angie said, realizing the short wooden bridge joining ship to land had been taken away after so many days—or had it been weeks—had gone by with the ship docked.

“This place is busy,” Julia whispered.

Julia can Journey us,
Kaitlyn said.
I’ll wait until we’re in town to make us visible again.

That would be best,
Angie said, pausing a moment. Listening.
They’re speaking English. Let’s find out where we are.

Angie sensed excitement through their shared connection and smiled at Julia. But it wasn’t her excitement, she realized. It was Kaitlyn’s.

I bet this is Nassau,
Kaitlyn said.
This is where we’ll find Anne Bonny.

~ Chapter 19 ~

Julia

Julia
built the magic inside of her. It was only a short distance, compared with having Journeyed them across continents and oceans before, but her heart still raced as she held the place in her mind where she wanted to take them— an empty spot near a sunny fountain.

Can you even do this?
Kaitlyn asked.
Your jaw is so tight I’m surprised your teeth haven’t cracked.

Julia exhaled, unclenching them. She couldn’t let Kaitlyn get to her. As their formless bodies reached the spot near the fountain, she slowed the spell down. For a moment, their glass-like bodies flickered in a shimmer of light.

A woman near the fountain glanced over at them. Julia held her breath. Even invisible, that little glow from the teleportation spell could be seen.

What do we do?
she asked.

Nothing. It’s okay,
Angie replied.
She’ll think it was a trick of the light or something. We’re invisible.

Unless she has the Sight,
Kaitlyn said.
Like that Native American woman did.

Angie fell silent. Julia waited, watching the woman.

But the woman’s gaze went through them, darting about with confusion. She placed a hand to her brow and whispered something under breath before lifting a pitcher and filling it with water.

Julia exhaled. It felt like there was a spring inside her ready to pop. She loosened her grip on the other girls’ hands.
That… was scary.

Oh, please,
Kaitlyn scoffed.
What’s one servant girl going to do? Even if she could see us?

I’d rather not be accused of witchcraft in a time in history when burning people was allowed,
Julia countered.

We would blast our way free,
Kaitlyn said in a blithe tone that got under Julia’s skin.
No one is burning us.

Let’s just play it safe,
Angie said calmly.
No matter how powerful we are, anything can go wrong. Besides, we don’t want to influence the world timeline.

Kaitlyn’s annoyance rippled through their connection.
Sure, take her side,
the barely perceptible reply whispered through their minds.
Like you always do.

Julia lowered her eyes as Angie glanced up.
Do you think we should stay invisible a bit longer, Kaitlyn?

Kaitlyn remained silent. Julia didn’t understand the strange vibe passing between them. Kaitlyn was guarded… but at the same time, trying to figure them out. Or, at least trying to figure Angie out.

No,
Kaitlyn finally replied.
We have the right clothes and we’re in a big city with a lot more people than the other little town we were first in. I think we risk more by staying invisible and maybe bumping someone than we do by being out in the open.

All right, I agree,
Angie said, urging them toward an alleyway.
This spot should be safe enough for us to become visible again.

Kaitlyn nodded, and a moment later they shimmered into view.

For a tiny second, Kaitlyn’s eyes lost their snakey, witch-like harshness. Julia didn’t dare try to delve into her thoughts to see what that was about. Before she could think much more about it, Angie urged them toward an alleyway.

“Now, for a cover story,” Angie whispered. “There’s no way three girls would have been alone during this time period.”

“That’s not true. Look at that girl,” Kaitlyn said, pointing to a girl walking carelessly down the street. “She’s not even wearing lace or anything to cover her head.”

The girl had hair as red as flames that made her impossible to miss, as bright as it was against her pale skin. She sat at the fountain and cupped her hands beneath a stream of water pouring from a lion’s mouth. Her lips met the water as her eyes slid closed.

“Blimey I was thirsty,” the girl murmured, standing and pushing her way past a couple of men on her way through a door.

“Let’s be like this girl,” Julia said. “She knows how to get around town without worrying about whether she’s alone or not.”

“Seriously,” Kaitlyn said, taking off the formal Spanish headdress and wrapping the lace around her hands. “That servant girl wasn’t wearing these horrible clothes, either.”

“I’m so glad we’re not in Cuba anymore,” Julia said.

“Wait, we might need that later,” Angie said, cringing as Kaitlyn tossed the lace headdress on the cobbled road.

“I’ll fit in just fine without it,” Kaitlyn said, bringing down the ruffled shoulders of her evening gown to reveal more cleavage. She took out her fan and opened it. “I have a cover story for us,” she said, fanning her chest as her voice dropped low. “We escaped a convent in Cuba after being sent there for being… naughty.”

Angie blinked rapidly. Julia flushed at the slow way Kaitlyn’s lips wrapped around the word ‘naughty.’

Kaitlyn lifted her open fan, bringing it up to her face until only a pair of lush black lashes could be seen sweeping across dazzling green eyes. “And now that we’re free from the convent, we’re ready to have some fun.”

~ Chapter 20 ~

Angie

Angie
swallowed at the sight of Kaitlyn in her element, doing outlandish things and not caring about the consequences. She clenched the ruffles of her gown, hardly daring to imagine what kinds of things Kaitlyn considered fun. With a tight breath she took a step back, unable to rouse any disdain for the dark-haired girl. She could hardly understand what would inspire someone to be so reckless… but that didn’t mean she didn’t admire it a very small bit.

Kaitlyn snapped her fan shut with a red-lipped grin, her scar making her look dangerous and bold. “I’m getting some answers from that girl,” she said as she left the alley, gazing out at onlookers as if daring them to say anything to her. “Follow me or wait here. It’s up to you.”

Angie watched as Kaitlyn followed the girl into the tavern. She only hesitated a moment before doing the same, with Julia right at her side. But while the men at the door had paid no attention to the redhead, and did little more than glance at Kaitlyn as she waltzed inside, they stared with open curiosity at Julia and Angie, both in their high collared Spanish day gowns and enormous headdresses, complete with lace veils that fell down their backs.

“Now, what be a pair of sweet Spanish lasses like yourselves be doin’ in a place like this?”

Angie swallowed noticeably, but her eyes remained steady. “I’m looking for my cousin. She went inside just now. Excuse me, please.”

The men rose, curiosity glittering in their eyes, but they made no move to block them. Angie and Julia entered the room. The dank surroundings caused her a moment’s pause as the smell of unwashed bodies hit her like a wall.

Julia covered her mouth. “Oh, gross.”

“Blend in,” Angie whispered.

They moved past tables that had layers of grime so thick they looked painted black. In the midst of the gloomy, crowded space, the redheaded girl shone like wildfire in a dark forest. She sat with Kaitlyn at a table, laughing outright at something Kaitlyn said.

“Oh no,” Angie moaned. “She’s
talking
to her.”

“So?”

“History changing, the timeline being affected by our presence, remember?”

“I don’t see how just talking to someone can change the course of history,” she muttered. “We talked to people in France and the world didn’t go bonkers.”

Angie didn’t answer, having already gone over that issue countless times with Julia. They had been forced to interact in France, and in all honesty, there was no way to know if the things they had said and done had impacted people’s lives in ways they couldn’t understand. At the moment, however, they needed to minimize their effect on the past as much as possible.

Yet, she couldn’t help wonder what Kaitlyn was learning from this girl, who looked to be around their age. When she and Julia reached the table, the redheaded girl gave them a cursory glance before turning back to Kaitlyn. “These be yer relations, then?”

Kaitlyn shrugged a single shoulder. “Something like that.” Her eyes sparkled as she looked from Julia to Angie. “Julia, Angie, this is Anne Bonny.”

Julia’s eyes widened, but before she could blurt anything out, Angie took her arm.
Quiet. Whatever you were going to say, just don’t say it.

But… she’s Anne Bonny! The pirate chick!

Anne Bonny sat up a little straighter, her eyes brightening as she smiled, but Angie didn’t miss the sharp scrutiny in her gaze. Anne took a long swig from a mug in her hand before saying, “Pleased to make yer acquaintance, to be sure.”

Angie schooled her features, revealing nothing in her expression as she catalogued the time period, taking into account Anne’s existence and demeanor. She wore an off the shoulder dress in a pretty pale green that complimented her complexion and brought out her eyes, but she sat with the hem of her skirts hiked to the knees. The laces running up her bodice were undone, allowing the exposure of what was undoubtedly underwear.

“Fine ladies ye be, just as I once was,” she said, laughing without reservation. “But runnin’ away from a convent, it sounds like we have some things in common, eh? We mean to have a bit o’ adventurin’ before we join the devil.”

Angie just blinked, abruptly remembering one book referring to Anne Bonny as New Providence’s most infamous harlot.

“Ah, thar be my beau.” She finished her drink and said, “Ladies, yer company’s surely a pleasure, but I won’t be missin’ time with my Jack.” She stood, tossing back her hair, which fell in loose, messy waves. Abruptly her eyes narrowed and she looked hard at the three of them. Angie held herself erect against her suddenly venomous green gaze. “If any of ye think of takin’ a fancy to Jack Rackham, ye best be thinking again. I’ve set me cap for him, and I won’t be losin’ him to ne squallin’ she-brats escaped from a convent.”

Julia shook her head. “I have enough trouble with boys as it is.”

Anne Bonny’s expression changed again, and she burst into raucous laughter. “You and me both, lass.” She laughed again before sauntering over to the man who had entered the room. Several other men whistled appreciatively at the sultry movements of her hips as she approached Jack Rackham.

“Shut yer gullets,” she called out. “Not half of ye would know what to do with me if ye had me.” Her throaty chuckle elicited more laughter, which swiftly turned to whoops and whistles as she sat on Jack Rackham’s lap and gave him an open-mouthed kiss.

There was certainly no doubt that it was Calico Jack Rackham. He wore a colorful, calico vest over a white, billowy shirt that laced up the middle, but he left it untied on top, exposing the tanned skin of his chest and neck. His face was peppered with dark stubble, and his dark eyes remained fixed on Anne Bonny.

Angie felt warmth creep up her cheeks at the way he touched her.

Kaitlyn watched them with a small smile on her lips. “Anne Bonny and Calico Jack,” she murmured. “I thought I liked Paris better, but the Caribbean is turning out to be pretty fun.”

Angie cleared her throat, turning away from the couple before she saw exactly where Calico Jack’s hands would go. “Good job finding out our time period,” she said brightly. “Anne Bonny and Calico Jack were only together for two years before he died. Then she disappeared from history.”

“How sad,” Julia said.

“She’s only like, seventeen years old,” Kaitlyn added.

“Our age,” Julia murmured.

“And she’s already been married to someone else,” Kaitlyn said. “She’s about to ditch the other guy and set sail with Jack Rackham to have herself a life of murder and pirating.”

“She’s divorced from the other guy?”

“Not exactly yet,” Angie said.

“Not exactly at all, you mean,” Kaitlyn laughed. “She didn’t give a crap about whether she was married or not. She wanted Jack and she told her old husband to go screw himself.”

“Gosh, how old was she when she married him if she’s already—”

Julia was cut off by a desperate male voice outside. Chairs scraped and men rushed to the doorway and tiny windows.

“Anne!” a man cried out in a high-pitched voice. He burst into the tavern. His chest heaved as he stared at Anne in Jack Rackam’s lap. “How dare you make your traitorous heart so publicly known. Have you no shame, woman?”

“Let’s go,” Angie said under her breath. “There’s no reason for us to be here.”