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With a curt nod, I settle down into the bed, pulling the thick fur blanket up to my shoulders. It’s soft against my skin. Sebastian leans down to kiss my forehead.
“Thank you for everything,” I say, snuggling into the pillow.
“Don’t mention it, darling,” he whispers as he steps back into the shadow being cast along the floor by the lantern hanging on the wall. The darkness wraps around him and he disappears.
13
Scarlet
Themomentmybootshit the dock, the harsh ambiance hits harder. The cold stones, slick with something I hope is just seawater, make for treacherous footing. The coarse laughter of sailors, the grating sound of ropes strained to their limits—it’s all so jarring. But nothing prepares me for the raw crystals jutting up from the ground. They’re huge… Each splits light into a riot of colors and pulses through the land and from beneath the water. The waves hold a blue iridescent glow as they roll off the black sand along the coast as if the stars themselves had come to rest here. I’ve never witnessed anything like it before.
“Welcome to the Luminaries, Scarlet. Your new home,” Sebastian says, helping me down off the dock.
I tear my gaze away from the crystals to take in the bustling port. A magical mix of creatures fills the streets. Mages, merfolk, and elementals, I’m sure. Some are light elves, like Nelvin with pale skin and hair, and other various shifter-like creatures or non-humanoid ones like Zephyr. The buildings are a blend of architectural styles, some elegant and regal, others are quaint and charming. It’s mesmerizing.
“Let’s go bitches,” Smee says, catching up to us. “I’ve never been so happy to be home. Just wait, Scarlet, you’re going to love it here.”
We make our way through the labyrinth of cobblestone streets, leaving the lively port behind. There are shops and bars, a bakery, and so much more as we pass. It’s a city…but it’s also a city filled with rebels and their descendants. As I take in my surroundings, I’m also very aware of the glares I get as we pass. My hair is a dead giveaway of my lineage and, clearly, Sebastian’s people weren’t enthusiastic about him becoming a prince. Or maybe they just aren’t about him being married to me.
I can feel their stares, the unease that ripples off the villagers as we pass. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think I was on my way to be executed. Shaking my head, I try to dispel the nerves that seem to spark with warning. Even my body knows I’m unwanted here. It makes the hair on my arms and the nape of my neck stand on end.
It isn’t long before we arrive at their family home, tucked away in a quiet corner of the island. Its exterior is made of wooden shingles, painted a nautical blue, the roof from some sort of metal that’s covered in moss and carpeting flowers. Where the other homes we’ve passed have been placed side by side, their home has a small section of land around it. The grounds are landscaped with some sort of iridescent moss I’ve never seen before, but it lights up beneath the canopy of trees surrounding the small structure.
“Home sweet home,” Smee mutters, rushing up the two steps of the front porch and pushing open the heavy, wooden door.
As I step inside, I’m struck by the beauty of the place. Tall windows let in streams of sunlight, illuminating dust particles that flurry through the air as we move. Sheets cover most of the furniture, but it’s the mementos of Sebastian’s father that truly make this house feel alive. It’s like stepping into another era, one where Captain James Hook’s presence is as palpable as the air itself. His legacy is everywhere—in the form of frayed maps, trinkets, pictures, and more.
“Sebastian,” I say softly, turning to him. His eyes hold a dark ring to them. The usual kaleidoscope of greens now is barely separated from the dark pupils in their middle. It’s nostalgia… Something tells me he’s no longer with us in the realm of the living. Between Smee’s teary eyes and their frozen stares, I don’t need a blood bond to feel their heartache.
Sebastian shakes his head, blinking long and hard before offering me a forced smile. “It’s been a long time since we’ve been here,” he admits, his voice barely audible. “But it’s your home now, just as much as ours.”
“Ours,” I echo, the word feeling both foreign and familiar on my tongue. In this house, surrounded by memories of a life I never knew, I can’t help but feel like I don’t belong. This will take some getting used to. And I just hope Sebastian’s people will come to accept me the way his crew has. His friends had no problem introducing themselves and making me feel included, and though I didn’t get a chance to talk to many of the crewmen on his ship, since it only took us a day and a half to sail here, they weren’t hostile either. The people we passed on the streets, though, looked like they wouldn’t have any problem putting me in the gallows.
Sebastian and Smee begin to peel back the sheets on the furniture, and each uncovers beautifully carved pieces that only a master woodworker could make. The couch and chairs are lined with blood-red velvet, the floors a dark wood. Even the windows are unique, made of textured glass panes that someone has cut and shaped into images of a mermaid and the sea, but they’re still clear.
As we walk deeper into the home, Sebastian points out various portraits lining the walls, but I can’t look away from one in particular. His father. The man in the painting looks fierce, with piercing eyes and a confident, almost arrogant stance. I can see the resemblance between him and Sebastian, both possessing an air of authority and a magnetic charisma.
“Was he good to you?” I ask, curiosity getting the better of me.
Sebastian hesitates for a moment before answering. “He was a complicated man, but he loved us in his own way. He never hurt us, if that’s what you’re asking. He was just a captain first and a father second.”
“Sometimes that’s all we can ask for.” I trace the ornate edge of the frame with my finger. There’s a little boy in the photograph with him, just a toddler, but there’s no doubt that it’s Sebastian.
Each room we stepped into reveals another piece of the puzzle which is my new husband. I find myself drawn to the smaller details, like the intricate carvings on the wooden banisters and the worn pages of books that must have been read countless times. Ship models sit on wooden bookcases, intricate maps marked with Xs and cryptic symbols adorn the walls, and a table stands in one corner, cluttered with sealed letters and trinkets.
“Quite a collection, isn’t it?” Smee catches me taking in the relics in the living room. Her books clap against the floor as she moves closer, reaching for a black feather the size of my forearm. “He was quite the man. He swore this was a feather passed down through generations of our family, that it belonged to the Devil himself. I’m pretty certain it was a lie. He used to threaten to summon him with it when me and my brother would act up.”
She hands it to me and I run the smooth edge over my palm. “Where do you think it’s from then?”
“My guess? A bird or something, but as kids, we didn’t question it.”
“Sebastian... he must have looked up to him, huh?” I hand the feather back and she places it onto the shelf.
“More than you’ll ever know.”
Sebastian emerges from the hallway, his gaze falling on me as I pretend to study the map on the wall. He needs his space.
“While I’m gone, make this place feel like home for you. I’ll make sure your trunk is brought by,” he says, his boots thudding against the wooden floors as he starts toward the front door.
