Read Online The Ship of Lost Souls 1 by Rachelle Delaney - Free Book Online

heightened the silence between them.
    Knowing she was taking a great risk, Scarlet summoned all her nerve and asked quietly, “Can I see the map?”
    The few minutes during which Jem didn’t answer felt like one of the longest, most awkward silences she’d ever experienced. She’d just decided to revoke the question and abandon the boy on the nearest sandbar when he cleared his throat.
    â€œI’ve been thinking,” Jem began, still staring out to sea, “about how long Uncle Finn waited for this opportunity. I mean, he’s my uncle. And . . . as much as I really just want to go home, I feel like I should, you know, finish what he started. Plus, I don’t have the money to get home by myself. But if we found the treasure, I could use the reward . . .” He took in a big breath and swallowed hard. “So how about this. I show you the map, and we’ll follow it to the treasure together. If we find it, we’ll share it. What do you think?”
    Scarlet’s stomach turned a somersault. Another chance to find the treasure! Another chance to fulfill her original mission! Her heart swelled with admiration for the brave boy beside her, who’d just lost his uncle but was going to do a most honorable thing. She straightened up. “The Ship of Lost Souls,” she said, trying to sound captainly, “exists to help children. Of course we’ll help you. You can join us until we find the treasure, and even after that, you’re welcome to stay. Crew members usually stay on board until they’re grown up—” Here Jem began to turn pale, so Scarlet hurried on. “But we’ll make an exception for you. If you still want to leave after this mission, the Lost Souls will help you find a way home. It’s a deal, Fitz.”
    She held out her hand and, finally, he took it. The boy even ventured a small hint of a smile. They shook firmly, like sailors, then turned to watch the party. Ronagh’s tapping boot heels had slowed, and the younger pirates’ eyes were beginning to droop in the lamplight. But no one wanted to make the first move toward the hammocks below deck.
    After a minute or two, Jem nudged Scarlet’s arm.
    â€œWhat’s your story, McCray?”

CHAPTER FIVE
    These days, as hard as she tried, Scarlet could only remember a pair of hands. Long, delicate fingers twining around Scarlet’s own. She could no longer picture the person connected to them—not her eyes nor her hair or even her arms. Two slender hands had become Scarlet’s only memory of her mother, and she held on to them fast.
    She studied Jem Fitzgerald for a moment, wondering how much of her story to offer up. She’d known him for barely an hour, but already they’d made a deal that could help them both greatly. He looked earnest enough, and for a moment she thought she
might
trust him. But then, Jem had Old World stamped all over him, and in Scarlet’s experience, Old Worlders just didn’t understand. She decided instead to tell him what she’d told the rest of the crew—no more, no less.
    â€œMy mother died when I was five,” she said, “and my father, an admiral with the King’s Men, left me with a governess in Jamestown.”
    Jem frowned. “I’m sorry. What did she die of?”
    Scarlet swallowed. “The Island Fever.”
    Jem’s eyes widened. “Really? Then she was one of the Old Worlders who weren’t immune.”
    â€œUm . . .” Scarlet shifted on her barrel, hating this part of the story and hoping to steer away from it as quickly as possible. “It was a long time ago, so I don’t remember much. My father didn’t like to talk about it.”
    That was an understatement. After Scarlet’s mother passed, Admiral John McCray had completely refused to revisit the past in any way. A friendly, comfortable sort of man before the tragedy, he