The sun shone brightly through the open windows, cascading through my cabin in the early morning rays. Dust floated in the air like pixie dust and the smell of the sea was heavy on the breeze. Groaning, feeling like my entire body was against me, I rolled over to hide my face from the sun. Once my head no longer threatened to split open from the light, I tried to take stock of how my body was really feeling.

The wound in my shoulder barely twinged when I moved it experimentally, the potion clearly having done its job well. Although, the rest of my muscles felt like I'd climbed a mountain. Which technically was true, but the tiredness in my muscles was on another level now. Every breath was a struggle, like my very lungs hurt, and didn't want to expand. Was this what it always felt like after taking one of those blasted tonics? Because fuck that, I was never taking one ever again.

Wallowing in self-pity for a few more moments, I groaned loudly as I finally rolled over and set my feet on the wood of the ship. The wood was warm from the sunlight, causing goosebumps to rise on my limbs. Glancing down at myself, remembering that I was very much naked, I scanned the cabin for the tunic I had thrown somewhere the night before. I didn't remember taking it off, I barely remembered getting back into bed. Finally finding it laying over the back of my desk chair, I shuffled slowly across the room to reach it. Every movement felt like a workout, my leg muscles especially seemed to want to cramp up. I needed water, I was probably dehydrated, but I would have to get dressed first. I wasn't about to walk out of my cabin naked with Kal running around.

As his face entered my mind, I groaned louder than necessary as I pulled the tunic over my head. I had only vague recollections of the night previously, the fever having stolen them away. I recalled getting out of bed and wandering the ship, fairly certain I remember arguing with Kal. The rest is a sort of blur, hidden behind a lace screen. I better not have done anything stupid. The tunic was one of my lightest ones and yet it felt heavy where it rested on my shoulders. I wanted to forgo anything tight for the day but we would be arriving back at the witch's island soon and the thought alone left me feeling vulnerable. No, I would grit my teeth and wear one of my leather corsets. Every woman had their own kind of battle armor.

By the time I finished dressing, there was a sheen of sweat on my brow. If it wasn't for the absence of cold and hot chills, I would have thought I still had a fever. Grabbing a thin leather strap off my desk, I gathered my long curls into a ponytail and tied it off. I did not want any piece of my hair touching my neck. My mouth was feeling drier by the second so despite how inviting my bed kept looking, tucked away in the corner, I pushed my door open. I had barely stepped two feet onto the deck when Charlie cried loudly from above and came barreling down at me, landing on my shoulder with a trill. Despite his weight feeling like far too much, I smiled as he rubbed his head against my cheek. "Good morning to you too, little guy."

"Ah, someone finally feels like gracing us with her presence."

My bed was sounding even better all of a sudden. Rolling my eyes, I turned in the direction I had heard Kal. He came down the steps of the quarter deck, a smile on his stupid face. It appeared, however, that we had the same train of thought in what we would wear to see the witch again. Gone was his loose white tunic, replaced with a tighter brown one, the material thicker. He wore his jacket, buttoned closed except for the first two buttons, despite the sun beating down on us. His pistol and cutlass were plainly visible and I didn't doubt that he had a few more weapons hidden on his person. He looked good, I was disgusted with myself to admit. "Never give me one of those things again. If I'm injured just let me die."

His smile turned crooked as he walked across the main deck towards me. "Was it really that bad? You seemed alright last night, if not a little extra irritating."

I could feel the blush threatening to rise and I tried my hardest to will it away. "I felt like death, I still feel like death. I'm fairly certain actually dying would be preferable." I turned away from him, heading for the forecastle to get a better look at how far we were from the witch's island. Charlie left my shoulder, soaring through the air in front of me before landing on the tip of the jiboom. Over my shoulder, I said, "Also, I have no idea what you're talking about. I barely remember anything."

Kal snorted, loud enough that I knew he wasn't far behind me. "Is that so? Are you so certain or are you just unwilling to remember? Because I think it would take more than a fever to make you forget stripping in front of me."

The blush I had been trying so hard to keep down rose with a vengeance. I was sure if I looked down at my chest, it would be as red as a chili pepper, too. I did not remember doing that at all. I remember taking it off at some point but I had assumed it had been in the middle of sleep, when the fever had gotten too much. Closing my eyes, the blue of the sea hidden away behind thin skin, I tried to keep my breathing even. "Please tell me I didn't actually."

Kal came up to my left side, resting his back on the railing so he was facing me and not the sea. A small smile was on his lips but it wasn't the smirk I had assumed would be there. "You did but I promise I didn't look. You climbed into bed all on your own and I didn't take my eyes off the ceiling until you were under the blanket."

That did not make it much better, but I did appreciate the effort. Clearing my throat, I gestured to the horizon with my chin, "We'll reach the island by midday, quicker if I ask Rev to speed up a bit. Maybe we'll finally get some answers then."

His eyes narrowed as he looked at me, I could see that much even though I was studiously trying to keep my eyes on the water and not him. He was clearly debating if he was going to allow me to change the subject so abruptly. Finally, he glanced over his shoulder at the water and hummed at the back of his throat. "Aye, that's what I had figured. Plenty of time for me to formulate a plan and for you to get comfortable staying on the ship."

He said it so flippantly that it took a moment for my brain to catch up to what he was saying. When the words registered, my eyes snapped to his. "Excuse me? I will not be staying on the ship."

The look that crossed his face, a sort of resigned boredom, told me he had been expecting this very reaction. Good, at least he knew me that well. "Elsie, you're still recovering. I'll take the items to the witch and get what information I can, you're too—."

"If you say weak I will throw you over this railing."

"—vulnerable right now. Do you really feel like you'd be quick enough to react if she decided to turn on us?" His eyes softened as he reached a hand towards my own sitting on the railing. I moved it away before he could touch me. Sighing, he left his hand where mine had been. "El, come on. There's no shame in knowing when you need some rest. Do you think the witch will take it easy on you because you're recovering? She'd more likely take advantage of you in any way she could."

I really didn't like that I knew he was right. The witch would see my weakened state in the blink of an eye and I wouldn't be quick enough. I wasn't even sure if I could lift my cutlass with how tired my muscles felt. But I was not staying on the Revenge like some damsel in need of a man to do the hard work. Turning my body to fully face him, I leveled Kal with as strong of a glare as I could muster. "I am not staying on this ship. We're both going to climb that damn cliff and take the items I almost died for to the fucking witch and when we're done we'll finally have answers for how to take down Heinrich. Got it?" I hoped my stance and glare was as strong as I thought it was, because I was just daring him to argue with me further. I'd throw him into the brig and visit the witch by myself if he did.

Whether he sensed my rising hostility or simply didn't feel like arguing, he shook his head before throwing his hands into the air. He turned and stormed towards the steps, "Whatever, Elsie. Next time I won't try so hard to save your life."

"Good, I didn't ask you to anyway!" As Kal's boots stomped their way down the stairs and across the main deck, the bravado I had been forcing out bled out of me with the breeze. I was suddenly very tired and even more thirsty than I had been. I'd never actually gone to get myself any water.

Charlie landed on the railing beside me, his gurgle and headbutt as telling as the way his eyes traveled from me to Kal, all the way across the ship by now. Groaning, I looked down at him, "Don't even say it." Pushing off the railing, I made my way toward the quarter-deck. I needed water and I needed to eat. I'd be ready to face the witch, then.

~~~

I was not ready. The lurching of the Revenge to avoid hidden obstacles in the fog was enough to make me want to throw up the breakfast I had just eaten. I never got seasick. I had literally been born on a ship for fuck's sake and yet if Rev turned harshly one more time I was going to spew. As it was, I didn't even bother keeping my hands on the wheel this time around, trusting Rev to get us to the island safely. It was taking all of my energy to hold onto the railing.

Kal stood on the other side of the quarter-deck, the crease in his brow deepening at every turn Rev took. Or every time he glanced in my direction, which was often. Just as I was about to try and yell at him to knock it off, the fog dissipated and the cliffside of the island appeared. Rev put on his reverse thrusters and we slowly inched our way toward the rock. I don't think I'd ever been happier to see the rocky island. All I wanted was to stand on solid ground for a moment, just so I could get my stomach under control. If my father saw me now. He would be so disappointed.

The anchor hit the water with a splash, tethering the Revenge to the seafloor. I closed my eyes briefly, to try and will the spinning away with my thoughts. I needed to find the strength, somewhere, to climb that damn cliff face. I was never going to admit it but damn it, maybe Kal had been onto something. I wasn't actually sure I could make the climb.

"Elsie."

My eyes sprang open, revealing Kal standing only inches away from me. My stomach rolled at the sudden influx of sensory input; I should not have opened my eyes that quickly. Before I could reach for the railing to steady myself, Kal had his arm around my waist, holding me close to him. Frowning, I tried to put as much steel in my eyes as I could. "Let me go." Did my voice waiver? Oh, gods kill me.

"Do you want to say hello to the deck with your forehead?" His fingers were warm where they sat just at the edge of my corset, where my tunic tucked into my pants. His brow was furrowed so harshly that I wondered if the wrinkles would stick when he finally released his frown. His eyes scanned my face for a moment before glancing over his shoulder at the cliff.

While he was clearly trying to formulate some sort of way to get me to stay on the ship, I put my hands on his chest and pushed. Well, I tried to push. Truth be told, there wasn't much behind my muscles. My fingers clenched into fists on his tunic. I had to get on the damn island. I wasn't about to let Kal go into that cave alone, not after what the witch said last time. I actually couldn't believe he didn't want to stay behind.

With a groan, he turned back to me. There was a new sort of determination in his eyes and I briefly wondered if he was going to attempt to tie me to the ship so I couldn't leave it. "You know what, fine. If you're so adamant about going, I'm not going to stop you." I could sense the 'but' before he even continued. "But we're doing it my way."

I had a really bad feeling about this.