Lighting flashed across the sky as The Revenge slipped over the shallow reefs that protected the bay where my hideout was located. Rev was one of the few sloops in the Triangle; no one else could get through the reef without wrecking. It was the perfect place to carve a little space out for myself in the endless sea.

Sliding up to the dock, Rev groaned under my feet, as if to express how happy he was that we were home. Smiling, I patted the railing. "I know, I'm glad we beat the storm, too." Charlie soared over my head, heading for the safety of the treehouse as rain began to fall from above. Giving Rev a final pat, I hopped off the ship. "Night, Rev."

As I reached the old wooden steps that led up into my home, the rain and wind picked up considerably. By the time I stepped through the door, the wood creaking from my hand, I had to shake rain off my hat. Gurgling from his perch in the ceiling, Charlie seemed to almost hum as he snuggled into the mismatched blankets that made up his nest. Smiling softly, I passed under him and headed for the large fireplace I had against the far wall. The rain was bringing in a chill and I wanted to get the place cozy before the storm really hit. As much as I loved being at sea and with the wind blowing against my face, I loved my little hideout just as much.

Rev and I had first found this bay a few decades after we had arrived in the Triangle. It was actually the beach where Charlie had washed up on. It took a while but I eventually built my own hideaway where no one could ever bother me. Unless I brought them in, of course. And aside from Willa, no one else had ever been inside. There was no one else in the Triangle that I trusted that much.

Pulling at a rope against the wall, a system of levers squeaked as slabs of wood swung down to cover the windows and shut the storm out. The sound of the wind deafened as I turned for the fireplace. As I stocked it with fresh wood, I couldn't stop my mind from drifting to the events of the day. My life had been simple, never changing, and I liked it that way. I could almost hear my own voice in my head, mocking me for being bored just that morning and now griping that things were changing. Flames erupted in front of my eyes and I watched the flames dance as they began to eat at the wood. Maybe living the same old same old every day for eternity wasn't so bad after all.

Groaning, I turned away from the fireplace. Whatever was happening in the Triangle, whatever the hell Heinrich was up to, it wasn't going to be solved by me thinking about it by the fire. Against the same wall was a small kitchen, put together entirely at Willa's insistence. I couldn't cook to save my own life but she refused to let me stay out here all on my own with no way to cook food. I would never admit it, but it had actually become very useful. Made even more handy when the technology to keep food cold came to the Triangle. I didn't understand it but it sure made life easier.

After making a small sandwich out of whatever Willa had last sent with me, I pulled off my sweat and salt-stained clothes and crawled into the mountain of blankets on my bed. Hunkering down as the wind beat at the sides of the house, I chewed the sandwich harsher than I needed to. Gods forbid, I'd find Kal in the morning and speak to him. I was making no one any promises that I wouldn't end up sticking my sword in him, though. He'd deserve it at any rate.

~~~

Charlie's screeching woke me with a start. Sitting up, the blankets pooling in my lap, I scrubbed a hand over my face. Groaning, I looked around the house, trying to locate my traitorous dragon. "Charlie! The fuck!" He was no where to be seen, which was strange. He usually never got up before me. With a groan that sounded more like a growl, I climbed out of my warm bed and grabbed the nearest piece of clothing. A long tunic fell over my frame as I trudged towards the rope to open the windows. Charlie was still squawking from who knows where — he was not happy about something and although usually that meant a rouge animal coming too close to his home, something about the sounds he was making were different.

The windows finally opened, revealing the sun barely breaking the horizon line, creating arms of light reaching out to the world. It would have been a beautiful morning if not for the sight unfolding on my dock. Beside Rev was a small ore boat and standing on my dock in my bay was none other than Kal Rackham. Charlie, bless him, was dive bombing the pirate's head, his screeches never ceasing.

Fury filled my veins, burning up any vestige of sleep that remained. Grabbing my cutlass off its hook, I stomped out of the treehouse and across the bridge, down to the dock where Rev seemed to still be sleeping despite Charlie's screaming. When my bare feet hit the dock, however, all noise ceased. Charlie took one final dive at Kal's head before soaring high and landing on my shoulder. By the time Kal realized what was happening, I had the point of my cutlass on his sternum. "The hell do you think you're doing here?" I could barely control the rage inside of me; my voice coming out like a dagger.

Kal raised his hand slowly, giving me his palms — both mechanical and flesh — before a small smile quirked at one corner of his lips. His eyes did a quick trip over my bare legs, the shirt that barely covered me, up to my face. "Just thought I'd stop by. Figured you'd be looking for me."

Applying more pressure, the sharp tip of my sword pricked his skin. I sick satisfaction filled me when a bead of blood appeared on his skin. "You don't get to barge into my home. No one does."

The smile slipped from his lips; an emotion I wasn't ready to delve into flashed across his eyes. "Didn't realize you had been made land owner of this island. Last I checked," he leaned in closer, pushing against my blade, "you aren't."

The muscles in my jaw flexed; if steam had been coming out of my ears I wouldn't have been surprised. Charlie sat perched on my shoulder, ready to continue to dive bomb the intruder if I told him to. But then the memories of the day before filled my mind and the anger in my body fizzled out to a low ember. Groaning, I let my sword arm fall to my side. "What do you want that you felt entitled to come here for?"

A single brow raised on his forehead as his eyes traveled from Charlie and my face, down my very bare legs and feet and back up. "Wanted to talk. I think we have similar interests in the future of the Triangle."

What choices did I have? Willa had been right — I needed to know what Kal knew, whether I'd ever admit that or not. Pursing my lips, I gripped my sword tighter before turning and headed for the stairs. Kal could follow me if he wanted to, I didn't care, but I wasn't going to have this conversation in nothing but a white shirt.

Once inside, I grabbed the closest pair of trousers I came upon and slipped them on, tucking the shirt in as Kal poked his head through the doorway. Charlie, who had positioned himself on a rafter above the door, hissed. Despite the situation, I rolled my eyes at Kal's clear hesitance to come inside. "Get in here, if I wanted to kill you I would've done it on the dock." I eyed the black over-shirt I usually wore over my white blouse in place of a corset but didn't bother reaching for it. I'd like to make Kal as uncomfortable as possible during this conversation. Turning to the kitchen, I put a pot on the stove to boil water for tea. I needed it to get through this damn conversation. "How do you know about Heinrich, anyway? You've never been very friendly with him."

"Keeping tabs on who I spend time with?"

I could hear the smirk in his voice without even having to turn around. Suppressing the groan I so badly wanted to make, I turn around to face him, leaning against the counter with my arms crossed. "You can tell yourself whatever you want to fill that warped fantasy in your head, I don't care. All I care about is keeping the Triangle the way it is."

He stood only a few feet away from me, his shoulder up against one of the support beams. His head was cocked to the side as he examined the space around him. He only spoke when his eyes drifted back to mine. "I thought you said you weren't a hero."

My nose scrunches at the word before I can even process it. "I'm not. But if keeping the Triangle the same means getting rid of that pompous ass, then I guess that's what I'll do."

Nodding in response, his lips pursed for a moment before his ever-present smirk was back in place. "You going to finish getting dressed? Or do enjoy looking like one of Madam Gothie's?" His words hold little bite and a lot teasing. Too bad I'm in no mood to be teased, especially by him.

Raising a single brow, I shrug one shoulder. It causes my blouse to fall off the shoulder, revealing more skin. "You barged into my own at dawn. I'll wear whatever the fuck I want to. You're lucky I even bothered to put on pants."

The muscles in his jaw flex but he doesn't say anything. Instead, his eyes continue to scan my personal items sitting on a shelf against one wall. He turns his back to me and I can't tell if its because he doesn't want me to see his face or if he simply can't look at mine anymore. "To answer your previous question, I've been keeping tabs on Heinrich since his Arrival. There's always been something off about him."

"Willa said you knew what he's up to."

Shrugging, Kal makes his way over to the window where a stool sits facing the water. There's a ledge there just big enough for a plate, not that I eat very often sitting there. But Kal sits down like he's very familiar with the space, shrugging off his overcoat and looking out at the bay. "I've heard talk, that he wants to cleanse the Triangle. Make it into some utopia or something."

The whistling of the teapot breaks my train of thought. Pulling it off the stove, I fill two mugs (it's a miracle I even have more than one) and drop the tea leaves into the water. Once steeping, I look back at Kal to find him watching me with a calm expression on his face. Frowning, I ignore the content look. "I don't understand. What do you mean make the Triangle into a utopia? I think it's pretty great the way it is."

A small smile tugs at the corner of his lips; his eyes turn almost soft. I hate the fact that I even notice these shifts in his expression. Fuck, I need to stop running into him. "Just because you think the Triangle is great the way it is, the way it has been for who knows how long, doesn't mean everyone does. Some people want to change some things."

"Who? You?"

A shrug. "Maybe. All I know is that murdering children isn't the sort of change I want."

I watched almost frozen as Kal stood, sauntering over to the stove and removing the tea leaves from both mugs. I had forgotten they were even there. His shoulder pressed against mine briefly as he moved; his sea salt and musk scent permeated my space. He was close enough that I could see the place where his metal arm connected with his skin, the thinnest of his shirt hiding very little. It reminded me how little I was wearing, too. I should've grabbed that damn shirt.

His head turned; his eyes scanning my face. "Have you ever thought how powerful we could be together, Elsie? We could rule the Triangle like you clearly desire to with ease."

Ignoring the way my heart pounded in my chest at the close proximity, I scoffed at his words. "If you think that's what I want most then you don't know me at all."

That damn smile was back. "You're right, I don't know you very well. Maybe it's time we remedy that."

I could almost hear Willa's satisfied voice in my head. If she ever found out that I stood brushing shoulders with Kal Rackham, she'd never let me live it down. Turning, I snagged one of the mugs and headed for the deck outside. "In your dreams, Rackham. We're much better as enemies." I didn't look back to see if Kal was following, or if, gods above, he had that stupid smile on his face. I couldn't explain it but I knew that if I looked back I might do something very stupid. Putting distance between us was the safest option.

As Kal did indeed join me outside, with Charlie settling on a branch closest to him with a snarl, I gave myself a good mental shake. It was because he was in my space, my home. That's why he was affecting me so much. Yeah, that was the only reason, of course. As I took a sip of tea, I lifted my eyes and found him watching me with a smile. Damn it. I should've kept my pistol on me. I could've blasted that smile right off his face.