Until We Become Untethered (The Forever Pirates) #3

002

I swallowed, not needing to ask how she knew this information. She was a witch. It was what they did. They knew things. Whether they saw it, planned it, read someone's mind. It didn't really matter. Their knowledge remained extensive and powerful.

"My relationship with Hongjoong is mine. Whatever happens between us is between us." I replied. My stomach felt uneasy. "What do you need from me?"

"All in due time." Her eyes slithered back onto me. "I have grand plans for you, Seonghwa. You've been under my protection ever since your mother told me she was pregnant."

A beat.

More unknown about my family.

My mother, the woman who raised me for nine short years, was a person I did not know. Someone I knew less, the more I found out about her.

"If I asked about her, would you even tell me? Or would you ignore me like last time?" I asked, treading carefully.

"Your mother was a dear friend of mine for quite some time. She came to me when she found out she was pregnant. She wanted you gone, too afraid to bring a child into this world. Especially with the risk of who would be raising you. I promised her your protection. I knew, even then, that you would be special. And I saw you. Bright, and beautiful. And everything I had been waiting for."

"How? How am I special to you?"

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves. If you did what you originally wanted to and killed your pirate, we could've continued this conversation. But sadly, it will have to be postponed, as you are not ready yet. It'll happen. Patience, baby. Go back to your pirate. He'll be worried."

She waved her hand, dismissing me with a gesture before I could get another word out, and there I was, face to face with Hongjoong suddenly.

My knees gave out, not strong enough to hold myself up anymore, and he caught me, steadying me in his hold.

I recovered quickly because I had to. I had to shove his hands off of me, push him away, and ignore his concerned eyes.

"Seonghwa-" He breathed, genuinely disturbed by whatever he had just witnessed.

Just as I had been dismissed, I dismissed him and said, "Where are we going? We've been drifting nowhere for months."

His guard raised just a quickly, like being smacked in the face. "T'at be a good question, my dear. Ask Jongho. Or Yunho. Or San. Or anybody fuckin' else, because nobody be t'o keen on havin' me in charge. But oh! Ye knew t'at. Because t'at be why ye did it!"

"There's only so long Yeosang can lure fish to the ship! We need to dock soon! Is there nowhere you want to go?!"

"I didn't t'ink I'd be alive t'is long." He said flatly, his eye bored.

"So what? You're just going to isolate yourself then? I didn't recall you being so fucking pathetic!" My voice raised, I almost screamed it at him. He irritated me. His very presence irritated me. And any time we had any sort of conversation, he slipped into the same drab attitude as I slipped into my rage. He provoked me, just as I did him. Like a never-ending dance between the both of us, locked in our resentment.

"I don't recall ye bein' so whiny-"

I let out a shaky breath, my fingers twitching as I ached to strike him.

His eyes narrowed at my rage, so completely uninterested.

Our relationship changed, and it was obvious why. But it made it so intense, so much more intense than it ever had been before. 

He clicked his tongue, shifting away from me, "I'm workin' on somet'in. And I'm not floating in t'e middle of nowhere." 

"You mind filling me in?" I asked. 

He stared at me for a while, debating internally until he smiled. "No. Leave." 

"They won't listen to you." I warned. 

"Ye did everyt'in in yer ability t' make me hate ye, Seonghwa. I don't. I feel not'in at all." 

And that stung worse than I thought it would. "I can hate you enough for the both of us, don't worry. Figure out where we're going. Now." I turned on my heel and marched out, slamming the door shut behind me. 

A/N: I'm getting pretty far along in the book. I'm hoping to be able to start updating more of this story faster. Ngl, it's kinda crazy going back to the beginning and reading where I'm at since things get wild. I love you guys and I hope to have more out tomorrow. <3