The Gilded Fan (Choc Lit) (14 page)

‘Hold her, you lackwits!’ he ordered, clutching his wounded arm with one hand. ‘Are you goin’ to let one tiny little woman get the better of four grown men? Pathetic!’

He was so furious, spittle sprayed from his mouth as he yelled. Unfortunately for Midori, his words had the desired effect, and after a further struggle she found herself without the knife and held in a vicious grip once more. ‘Keep still, woman,’ Jessop hissed behind her and the menace in his voice made her shiver. Barker kicked her for good measure, presumably to expend some of his anger. Then he ripped her clothing from throat to waist, leaving her exposed and humiliated. Midori shut her eyes so she wouldn’t have to see the men’s voracious expressions.

The whole process of smoking the pipe was now repeated. No matter how much she tried to fight them, she ended up sucking the hateful smoke into her lungs time after time. Her insides felt dry and burning, threatening to burst, and her throat was on fire. Midori coughed until she thought her ribs might crack.

When she was sure she couldn’t take any more of it, Barker and his friends suddenly stopped and stood in a circle, staring at her expectantly. Midori frowned, not understanding. Soon, however, her body began to feel strange, floating almost, as if her limbs were no longer part of her. Weightless, relaxed, she sank back on to the cushions placed behind her.

Calm descended on her brain, making her smile up at her tormentors, who all grinned at each other knowingly. Midori didn’t care. A state of well-being invaded her entire body, so much so that she stopped wondering about anything happening around her. Instead, her gaze drifted to one of the silk lanterns, studying it in minute detail and admiring its beauty. The rest of the room swam in and out of focus.

‘Remember, she’s mine first,’ she vaguely heard Barker say. ‘Is the back room free?’

Midori closed her eyes, giving herself up to the enjoyment of floating freely. Someone picked her up, jolting the pleasurable feeling slightly, but it soon returned. She leaned her head against the shoulder of whoever had lifted her.

‘That’s my girl. I knew this’d do the trick.’ An evil chuckle failed to stir any response in Midori other than another smile.

Time held no meaning and when she was dropped unceremoniously on to another pile of cushions, she didn’t know whether a minute or an hour had passed. She didn’t care. A commotion broke out around her as she landed with a whoosh and she opened her eyes a fraction to see what was going on. There was a flash of metal and the clang of steel against steel, but Midori couldn’t make any sense of it. Slowly, she sank back against the cushions and rested her head. It felt so wonderful, so soft, she wanted to stay like this forever …

The noise wouldn’t leave her in peace. Each clang reverberated around her skull, making her wince, and in order to escape it Midori opened her eyes a crack. She blinked to try and understand what she was seeing, but there was movement everywhere, flashing in and out of her vision. Nico, scowling ferociously and jumping around in what looked like a strange dance. Barker, Jessop, shadowy and vague, joining in. Midori wanted to laugh out loud, they looked so ridiculous.

Tiny heads suddenly became huge and inflated. Faces with grimacing expressions like the strange masks worn by
kabuki
players – absurd, inhuman. Metal, bright as the sun, weaving in and out of the dance, so beautiful. Nico floating above the floor, circling, never still.

The ladies of the night with mouths and eyes wide open, their sinuous bodies merged and separated, like a writhing nest of snakes suddenly joined together into one enormous entity. Shiny clothing turned into smooth reptile skin, flailing arms weaving in and out among the snake’s tails.

Midori shut her eyes for a moment. She couldn’t make sense of it all.

What sounded like the distant roar of dangerous animals made her open them again, and she saw that Nico was now dancing by himself. The others were all lying down, obviously tired out from their efforts, but howling like dogs in the night. Midori knew how they felt. She was so tired herself, so exhausted. She just had to rest.

He had arrived in the nick of time, and only because he’d hit on the idea of bribing a gang of street urchins. They kept their eyes and ears open and saw everything going on, leading him first to Harding, who’d been hit over the head and left in a doorway, and then to the opium den.
Thank the Lord!
Nico pulled a hand through his hair and drew in a deep breath. It had been very close.

By the time he’d rescued Midori, Harding had recovered enough to take charge of Barker so that Nico was able to carry Midori back to the ship.
He sat beside her now, watching over her as she lay on his bunk. He’d brought her to his own cabin, as there was more space and light, but he wished now that he hadn’t. The image of her in his bed wasn’t one he’d forget in a hurry, even though she was decently dressed now. She looked as if she didn’t have a care in the world. Smiling dreamily, she stirred from time to time, but mostly she just gazed into space. Nico wanted to shake her and ask what had possessed her to go wandering around the back streets of Batavia, but he knew it wouldn’t have any effect whatsoever. The drug had to run its course.

Harding burst in through the door without even knocking and stopped dead at the sight of Midori. ‘Cap’n? Is she …? I’m so sorry, I should’ve …’

Nico held up a hand. ‘It’s all right. I don’t think she has come to any harm. She’s just drugged.’
At least I hope that’s the case.
He had no way of knowing for sure, but he wasn’t about to tell Harding that.

‘Drugged?’ Harding stared at her as if he hadn’t taken in her appearance before. ‘How? I mean, why …?’ He walked over to peer closely at Midori, who smiled benignly as before.

‘Barker’s doing.’ Nico’s fists clenched involuntarily and he shoved them into his pockets. ‘No doubt he thought to ravish her while she was incapacitated.’

‘The scurvy worm!’

‘My sentiments exactly. Did you take him to the hold as I instructed?’

‘Yes and I sent five men to collect the others. They’ve just arrived. Good thing you bribed the Chinamen so they didn’t let ’em escape.’

‘Yes, I doubt Barker had paid them as much. Where are his henchmen now?’

‘They’ve been fettered on deck. One of ’em was spoutin’ a lot of nonsense, but I think we can make him talk sense a bit later. If he gives evidence, we can hang Barker, though I’d prefer to choke him with my bare hands, the brainsickly little whoreson.’

‘No, no, there’s no need for that, Harding. The matter will be dealt with properly.’ Nico made himself sound calm, when in fact he’d wanted to kill the man, too. He knew he had to stick to the rules, however, and put his own feelings aside.

Harding growled, then glanced at Midori once more. ‘You sure she’ll be all right, Cap’n?’

‘Yes. They made her smoke opium, but it should wear off soon. I’ve seen it before. A friend of mine was foolish enough to try.’

‘Well, I’ll go below deck and await my punishment then, sir.’

‘Punishment?’

‘For not guardin’ her properly, like you told me to.’

‘Oh, that. Don’t worry, I won’t hold you responsible. They hit you on the head from behind, you wouldn’t have stood a chance. You were only just coming round when I found you. Does it hurt much?’

Harding rubbed the back of his bald pate. ‘Just a bit, but it’s no more’n I deserve. Although I did try to tell her not to follow that Jessop fellow.’

Nico shook his head. ‘And no doubt she wouldn’t listen. I know how headstrong she can be and it’s not your fault, so don’t fret.’

‘Thank you, sir. I … thank you.’

‘How is the boy?’

‘I’ve just been to see him and he’s still feverish, but someone’s been spongin’ him and it seems to help like she said.’ Harding shrugged. ‘I gave the herbs she bought to the ship’s surgeon and he said he’d make up a tisane.’

‘You’d best return to Jochem straight away then.’

‘Yes, Cap’n.’ Harding bowed himself out and Nico returned his attention to Midori.

Some time later her dreamy gaze came to rest on him and she smiled a smile so dazzling he had to blink. ‘Nico.’ She stretched out her arms to him, tempting him to lean forward. Her hands caressed his neck, pulling him towards her. ‘Nico,’ she whispered again. ‘You’re scowling today. I don’t like it when you’re scowling.’

‘Midori, you shouldn’t—’ he started to say, but his words were cut off abruptly when she suddenly put her mouth on his.

He made a strangled sound and tried to pull back, but she twined her arms around his neck and trapped him. He could have used force, he knew that, but her lips were so soft and they were moving slowly over his in a sensuous way he couldn’t resist.
Just this once
, he promised himself.
What harm could it do? There’s no one to see.
Wrapping his own arms around her, he pulled her on to his lap, holding her so close he could feel her calm heartbeat. She was warm and pliant, and she smelled wonderful, despite the slight odour of opium which still clung to her. When the kiss ended at last, he buried his face in her hair, inhaling its fresh scent and tried not to remember the incredible sight of her naked to the waist.

Dear Lord, but she was perfection itself, with a figure like a goddess!

‘Nico.’ She repeated his name, over and over again like a mantra, and he loved the sound of it on her lips. That mouth was too close for comfort, too close to be ignored and so beautiful …

Nico didn’t know how long the second kiss lasted – a minute, an eternity, it made no difference. It felt like a lifetime and he never wanted to stop. The taste of her and her joyful response made him almost crazy with desire, and it was only with the utmost effort he tore his mouth away at last, simply in order to breathe.

Still holding her tight, he could feel her shaking and his own body responded. He bent to recapture her lips, but just then she tensed and let out a moan which sounded as far from desire as was possible. He looked into her face, which had gone deathly pale.

‘Midori? What’s the matter?’

‘I … I don’t feel well. I’m going to be sick. I … sorry …’ She leaned over and Nico only just had time to snatch up a chamber pot before she cast up the contents of her stomach.

‘A plague on it,’ he muttered and cursed himself for a fool. Midori had made him forget that the initial stage of euphoria induced by the opium soon wore off and could give way to more unpleasant effects. He should have been on his guard, not dallying with a woman he had no business touching. He swore again, if only to combat the desire that still raged within him.

The nausea continued to plague Midori for another hour or more, then she broke into a sweat and her limbs took turns to cramp up. She doubled over in agony, and Nico massaged the afflicted parts as best he could without removing her clothing. He tried not to notice how soft the skin of her arms was and how perfectly formed the limbs he was touching through the silky material. He gave her some water, then at last she fell into a restless slumber, which by the look of it was broken by nightmares.

Nico collapsed into his chair, exhausted by his efforts and emotionally drained. He closed his eyes and wished himself a thousand miles away.

Nico was kissing her and it was the most wondrous thing. Midori squirmed in his arms, urging him ever closer until they were all but joined up, but just then fear tore through her and she opened her eyes to find that she wasn’t kissing Nico, but Barker.

She could smell his fetid breath, see the rotten stumps of his teeth as he smiled in triumph. ‘I’ve got you now, woman. I’ve got you now …’ His laughter echoed all around her and she put her hands over her ears to shut it out, but that only made it louder.

‘Let go of me! Leave me alone!’

Barker’s voice taunted her. ‘I will have you, I will …’ His words bounced from one side of Midori’s head to the other, making it spin. Weakly, she fought against him, against his voice and that ever-present mouth.

Arms grabbed at her from every direction, holding her down, lifting her up, dropping her and then suddenly throwing her up in the air. Her stomach did somersaults, the nausea rising and falling with the rest of her, and she heard herself cry out. Fingers clawed at her, tearing her skin to reach inside her. Pain exploded in every part of her body.

When at last they let go of her, she opened her eyelids to find herself surrounded by Chinese lanterns. Dusty and blood red, they all had Barker’s face stamped on to their surface, laughing again and leering at her. The lanterns swirled around her head in a huge circle, coming closer and closer until each of them attacked her in turn, leaving Barker’s mouth imprinted on her skin like leeches wherever he touched her.

Revulsion and horror welled up inside her and she screamed until one of the mouths fastened itself on to hers, cutting off her breathing. She fought for air, but the mouth wouldn’t let go and her arms were held down once more. Her lungs burned, the pain branding her from the inside out, until at last the blessed darkness claimed her…

‘Nico? Where am I?’

The weak voice woke Nico some time later. He opened his eyes and realised he’d fallen asleep in his chair, and his body was now telling him just how uncomfortable that was. He tried to straighten his neck, rubbing it with both hands, and then stretched to ease his twisted back.

Midori was still lying on his bunk, staring at him with a strange expression on her lovely face. The memory of how she had clung to him earlier suddenly came flooding back. Nico felt as if someone had punched him in the stomach and drew in a deep breath.

‘Nico?’

He brought his gaze back to Midori with an effort. ‘You’re in my cabin,’ he said, ‘so I could watch over you until the drug had run its course.’

‘The drug? Oh, yes, I remember now.’ Her eyes clouded over and she turned her head towards the wall. ‘Thank you for coming to my aid. It was you, wasn’t it?’

‘Yes.’

She glanced over her shoulder. ‘Did he … had Barker …?’ She closed her eyes as if she couldn’t bear to say the words.

Nico clenched his fists and stared at the floor. The thought of what she had gone through made him go cold all over. Barker and his cronies had had her in their power for long enough to do whatever they wanted and the worst of it was Nico had no idea whether that included rape or not. There were no outward signs, apart from dirt and bruising, but then he hadn’t wanted to remove her clothes to have a closer look. Somehow he’d assumed she would know herself. He wanted to kill Barker with his bare hands for this and for his cowardly way of going about it, too. Nico knew as well as Barker that he could never have bested Midori one-to-one except for when he’d caught her by surprise in her cabin.

‘No, he didn’t,’ he said flatly. If she couldn’t tell, there was no point in making her suffer more by adding to her burdens, he reasoned. Midori didn’t reply and Nico looked up to find her regarding him with a small frown. ‘Are you feeling ill again? Shall I have you carried to your own cabin?’

‘Yes, please. That would be … kind.’

Nico went to the door and shouted for Harding. He heard the message being relayed and turned to reassure Midori. ‘He’ll be here any moment. Is there anything else you would like?’

‘Some water, perhaps? My throat feels as if it’s been singed in a fire.’ She hesitated, then added, ‘Nico, when I was asleep before, I dreamed that you … that we …’ A faint blush spread across her cheeks as she struggled to formulate her question.

Nico knew very well what she was asking, but had no intention of helping her. In his opinion, it would be best if the entire episode was forgotten. He smiled as if humouring a child. ‘I’m sure you dreamed many things. Judging by the smile on your face as you slept, they were very pleasant dreams, too, at least at first. Then came the nightmares. It’s all part of the effects of the drug; you must put it out of your mind.’

‘I see.’ Midori nodded, as if trying to convince herself. She opened her mouth to add something, but just then Harding knocked and came charging into the cabin.

‘Mistress Midori! Are you well? I can’t believe—’

‘Harding.’ Nico put a hand on the big man’s arm. ‘She is very tired and would like to be taken to her cabin. Can you carry her, please?’

‘Why yes, of course. Yes, sir.’

Harding lifted Midori almost reverently and bore her out of the door, which Nico held open for them. Nico didn’t look at Midori as they went past. If he had, he might have reached out and taken her from Harding’s arms to carry her himself. He was strangely reluctant to let anyone else touch her.

When they had gone, he thumped his fist on the wall until the pain became unbearable.

This has to stop!

Midori woke abruptly and found herself lying on her own bunk with nothing but the screeching of gulls to disturb her. She felt dirty and bruised, and her throat was dry and scratchy, but these were minor irritations compared to the turmoil inside her head. As the vague memories returned, she frowned, trying to piece together the fragmented images in her mind. The opium den, she remembered clearly, and the strange feeling of calm which had descended on her, but after that everything was hazy. Barker’s face, with its ugly expression, appeared at various stages. He had carried her, of that she was sure, but where to? What had he done to her?