FEVERISH

by PearlAnn SnowStar

Author’s Note: Based on my Altered Episode Submission for the April 2025 CABB Challenge.

Vincent wakes up in a cabin on a ship. It’s a captain’s cabin and he is in an outfit from the 1700s minus shoes/boots. Jamie calls out and she enters, looking like a cat in a fringed outfit that Native tribes used to wear, with a crossbow in hand. Vincent has a headache and doesn’t quite understand what is happening, but he notices most of the crew either look like him or fairy folk. They land in New York City. Is he to start a new life here? Making homes in tunnels under a city filled with humans, fairies, and elves? Catherine is human, but is this another reality? Is this a fever dream?

* * * * *

Vincent woke up with a slight headache. Slowly, he got up, noticing that his bed was shaking. He realized he was wearing a brown jacket that went down to his waist with a white shirt underneath. His trousers were also brown.

He looked around. Strange, he seemed to be in a ship’s cabin, not a chamber. His bed was next to a port window. He was barefoot, too.

There was a knock. It was coming from the door. A door? The knocking grew louder.

“Captain Vincent!” The voice sounded familiar.

The door opened. A woman who looked like a tiger, with a dark orange tone and some brown stripes on her skin, walked in. She had blonde hair and was holding a crossbow. She was wearing a leather jacket with brown fringe on the sleeves. Her pants were brown, and she was barefoot. Her feet had claws like a cat.

“Jamie?”

“Captain, are you all right? We’re facing some tough seas right now.”

“I’m coming.”

Glancing around, he couldn’t see any footwear nearby. He sighed and followed

Jamie out of the cabin.

The sight that greeted him was waves coming onto a ship’s deck. It was like a scene out of a pirate movie. The sails were being beaten against by the wind, an drain was pouring down. His ‘crew’ looked like cat people in simple clothing. They were doing all they could to keep the ship afloat.

Vincent quickly went to where someone was trying to hold the helm steady. The being wasn’t a cat person. He looked more like a mouse.

“Captain Vincent! Can’t hold.” His voice reminded him of Mouse’s.

Vincent grabbed the helm from him.

* * *

Hours later, the storm had finally died down. The crew assessed the damage and made repairs. Vincent was standing in the middle of the deck, looking around. “New York City!” someone yelled from the crow’s nest above.

Vincent looked at the skyline in the distance, which didn’t look familiar. It was like he was back in the 1700’s. The ship sailed toward the harbor. There were other ships there, some bigger, others smaller.

“We will lower anchor here, Captain.” Vincent turned and looked at Jamie.

“Very well,” Vincent said to her. “Excuse me, but I seem to be…”

“A bit off? OK. We’re here to help some folks with the supplies that are below. Some of the crew will stay on the ship. Mouse, Winslow, and I will accompany you to the docks. The others will offload the supplies and keep watch.”

“Who are we to meet?”

“You really are out of it. There is a group of humans, fairy folk, and beings who are a mixture of different species. They found a nice place to build tunnels in case there is a need for someone to hide out.” She saw the look on his face. “Not pirates, just as we are not pirates.”

He heard a deep booming voice behind them say, “Right, we are not pirates.”

Vincent and Jamie turned around.

“Winslow, where is Mouse?” Jamie inquired.

Winslow? This being looked like a black panther. He was wearing a white, partially unbuttoned shirt and brown trousers, and was barefoot.

“Mouse is coming. He wanted to get something for Lady Catherine.”

Catherine. Could it be?

“Winslow, we are not pirates,” Vincent gave him a look that meant he was serious.

Winslow just grinned. “Sure, not all the time, but most of the time.”

Jamie looked at Vincent as she said, “Captain, did you hit your head or something?”

Vincent paused. He had memories that came into his mind that he didn’t recognize as his. Or were they?

He smiled. “I apologize, but it must have been the wine.”

Winslow laughed. “OK, Captain Vincent.” He put his arm around Vincent’s shoulders. “We try to be on the up and up, however at times, when convenient, we engage in a bit of piracy, which you always insist is only done when…necessary. Oh, and no one gets hurt unless they attack us.”

Winslow let go of Vincent. He turned and saw Mouse. He was wearing brown trousers and a tan shirt. No shoes. He had a shoulder bag wrapped around him. “Mouse, what do you have there?”

Mouse frowned. “Winslow only Captain when no Captain.”

Winslow just shook his head. He looked at Vincent. “I can see you having two first mates, Jamie and me, but Mouse?”

“Mouse cabin boy,” Mouse called out. “Not first mate unless…”

“…Winslow and I are not around.” Jamie sighed. “Captain, Rebecca will helm the ship if it’s necessary to leave this harbor. But we’re pretty much safe, for now.”

“Winslow, Mouse is with us in case I have to have him get a message to the crew.” Vincent paused, then continued, “If I feel that it is safe, we’ll come back for the cargo they wanted.”

“If not…” Winslow grinned, punching his left fist into his right hand.

Vincent shook his head. “Winslow, let’s hope there is no trouble.” Vincent noticed some of the crew standing by the railing. He turned to look at Mouse.

“Lady Catherine. Her book. Something to eat, too.” Mouse shook his shoulder bag gently. “Not heavy.”

“Ah, the rowboat is ready for us.” Winslow walked over to the railing. Vincent, Jamie, and Mouse followed him.

* * *

An hour later, Vincent, with Jamie, Winslow, and Mouse, were on Broad Way Street. The street was extensive and spacious, and so, too, were the houses on the street. Horse-drawn carriages came and went. People and non-human beings were dressed mostly in the clothing of the wealthy. Vincent noticed that there were very few dressed like common folk.

“We are definitely out of place here,” Winslow mumbled.

“We’ll be going to the end of this street and then continue toward the warehouses down by the river,” Jamie said.

“Much longer?” Mouse questioned.

“We are nearing the end of the street.” Vincent looked around. No one was paying attention to them.

When the street ended, they made a left turn. There was a gray four-story building in front of them. It had many chimneys that were sending grayish smoke into the sky.

Jamie smiled. “There it is.”

“Captain Vincent and crew?” Vincent knew that voice. He looked behind him. Catherine was dressed in simple brown trousers and a brown shirt. She had a brown jacket on top of the shirt and wore buckled shoes on her feet. She was walking with two gentlemen who were dressed luxuriously, with white wigs on their heads.

One of the gentlemen spoke up. “I told my daughter to please be a lady, but she insisted that corsets and finery do not make for a comfortable journey into the Tunnels.”

Catherine rolled her eyes. “My father kept insisting that I’m going to be in trouble, dressed like this, but the fairies and elves wear comfortable clothing everywhere they go. Why can’t I?” She stared at the gentleman who spoke.

“Ahem.” The second gentleman smiled at them. “I’m an elf, but I try to make it easy for the humans to accept me. Some really get upset with our attire, that is why I’m dressed like a human. Luckily for Lady Catherine, she won’t be arrested for dressing as a man in New York City.”

“And we human women would love to wear those robes your elves wear. At least, I would,” Catherine said, speaking up.

Vincent couldn’t help but look Catherine up and down. “I see nothing wrong with a lady wearing what is comfortable.”

“Sir, for sailors and that ilk, it may be all right, but…” Catherine’s father looked at him, “we must remember that in some places, even in New York, a lady dressed like a man is frowned upon.”

“Some laws need to be changed,” Jamie angrily said.

“Well, it’s no problem among us fairy and elven folk.” The elf smiled. “After all, you could say we are quite liberal.”

“Well, my name is Charles,” Lady Catherine’s father said, looking at Vincent and his crew, then at his daughter. He continued, “We should get going.”

“My name is Fawneld,” the elf said.

Vincent gestured toward his crew and replied, “Jamie, Winslow, and Mouse.”

“We’re going to make sure everything is on the up and up before bringing the supplies to you,” Winslow said.

Charles nodded and Fawneld grinned.

“Follow me,” Fawneld said. “The entrance cannot be seen, yet it is in plain sight.”

Jamie rolled her eyes. “Elves always speak in riddles.”

Vincent just chuckled.

The group started to move toward the back of the huge building.

* * *

Two months later, Vincent’s ship was still docked in the harbor. It seemed Vincent and his crew wanted to help the fairy folk with their human friends in the tunnel project. Besides using magic, they used physical labor to make the tunnels into passageways. Some passageways went nowhere. Others led out to an underground river that led to the harbor. Vincent’s crew took turns going to and from the tunnels to their ship, which was named the Water Crystal.

Vincent was walking through a passageway and sensed that Catherine was nearby. He had a bond, a connection with her. He recalled another life where they also shared a bond. Was that another incarnation?

Catherine came around the corner and nearly bumped into him. “Oh, Vincent. Sorry, I’m lost in thought.”

He looked at her. She was wearing a pink elven robe and looked beautiful.

“Vincent?”

“I’m sorry, Lady Catherine, but your beauty has me speechless.”

“Bet you say that to all the ladies,” she said, blushing.

“Never.” He took a breath. “I noticed that the tunnel project is near completion.”

She nodded her head.

“Why the sad look?”

“Are you ever going to…come back and visit?”

He looked at her. “I might never leave…”

“CAPTAIN!” Mouse called out. He came around the corner and stopped. “A ship has been attacked by the Paracelsus!”

“Paracelsus?” Catherine looked between Mouse and Vincent.

Vincent said quickly, “It’s a black pirate ship captained by John Pater. It’s said that he is just as bad or worse than Blackbeard, or even Anne Bonny.” He turned and began to ask, “Mouse…”

“Not ours.” Mouse paused to catch his breath. “Ship that belonged to wealthy. Pulling out of harbor. Saw black ship attacking it…”

“No…” Catherine looked at Vincent. “That may be the Chandler, my father’s ship.”

There was a tapping sound behind them. They turned around and saw an older bearded gentleman walking with a cane. An elderly lady with silver hair was walking next to him.

“What is going on?” The elderly gentleman asked.

“Sir Jacob,” Vincent looked at the elderly gentleman, “I must go, now, to check on my crew.” He looked at Catherine. “Lady Catherine, stay with Sir Jacob and Lady Margaret…”

Catherine shook her head. “If that’s my father’s ship, I want to be there.”

“But there could be a battle,” Vincent said.

“Must go.” Mouse turned around and ran down the passageway he had come from.

“There’s no time to argue about this,” Catherine said, as she turned and followed

Mouse. “By the way, just call me Catherine.”

Vincent looked at Lady Margaret and Sir Jacob. “I must go.”

He turned and ran down the passageway and caught up to Mouse and Catherine. The three of them made it out of the tunnels. Catherine hailed a horse-drawn carriage and gave some coins to the driver. Mouse got into the carriage, followed by Catherine and then Vincent.

“To the docks,” Catherine told the driver.

“Hurry,” Mouse said.

The driver cracked a whip, and the carriage sped down the street.

* * *

A rowboat waited for them once they reached the docks. They got in and rowed toward the Water Crystal. They noticed out in the distance two ships engaged in a battle. The sound of cannon fire reached their ears.

After arriving at and boarding the Water Crystal, Vincent noticed that a huge warship was rounding the bend at the entrance to the harbor heading toward the Battle.

Vincent turned to Catherine. “Get into my cabin and that is an order.”

Catherine looked like she wanted to object, but Jamie took her by the elbow. “Lady Catherine, I’ll get you there,” Jamie said, winking at her.

“Vincent…we’re going to join the warship?”

Vincent turned and looked Winslow in the eye. “Yes, this pirate has finally gotten too bold. He is attacking in a safe harbor, which isn’t right.”

Winslow’s grin was sinister as he said, “YES!”

Vincent just shook his head as he watched Winslow give orders to the crew.

Luckily, a wind was blowing in the right direction. He’d put aside his worries for now. He must strategize.

He went over to the helm. A young man quickly gave the helm over to him.

Vincent looked at the man. “Zachary, ready the cannons.”

Zachary ran toward the stairs that led to the cannons below. They had four cannons

on one side of the ship.

Some fae started to use their magic to move the ship faster. Others were arming themselves with weapons. Knives and swords were drawn. Some were whispering magic spells. All braced for battle.

As they neared the scene of the battle, the Paracelsus was firing cannons at the other ship. Both ships were much bigger than Vincent’s ship. His ship had three decks, but the other two had four.

The newly arrived warship had five decks, with cannons on both sides of the ship. It also had a flag that showed it was with the Port Authority. Vincent looked at the ship that was under attack. The ship had some damage yet was still afloat. It was still firing its cannons at the Paracelsus, which was moving closer to it.

The warship started firing, which made the Paracelsus turn and point its cannons at it.

Perfect.

Vincent knew the Paracelsus was like the warship, with cannons on both sides. He ordered his ship to move behind the Paracelsus and then turn toward the outward side, at a side angle to avoid the Paracelsus’ second set of cannons.

The captain of the warship saw Vincent’s ship heading toward the Paracelsus. He immediately put themselves in front of the ship that was getting attacked. The warship guided the beleaguered vessel back toward the harbor.

The Paracelsus turned all its fury against the Water Crystal.

Vincent tried to maneuver the Water Crystal to avoid a direct hit. Some of the fae used their magic, but still a few cannon balls got through, hitting the side of a cannon window and part of the bow. Magic kept any damage to a minimum. The Water Crystal returned fire.

Vincent sensed that Catherine had left the cabin. He saw her on the deck, helping the wounded to get to the side of the deck next to where he was. Catherine looked up at him and he felt not fear, but determination.

Another Port Authority warship was coming towards them from the harbor. The Paracelsus apparently didn’t see it. Without hesitation, the warship fired all five of its cannons at the bow of the Paracelsus.

Vincent gave the order to fire at the stern of the Paracelsus. One of their cannons made a direct hit on the stern. With the damage to both bow and stern, the Paracelsus started to sink. Everyone cheered. The warship also made another direct hit, into one of the cannon windows. The Paracelsus blew apart, its fate sealed.

A few moments later, debris and bodies were scattered all over the water. There were others trying to get onto any debris around them. Someone called out from the warship to help them out with the survivors. Vincent turned towards his crew and nodded his head. Some of his crew went to assist the survivors, others went to take care of any damage that the Water Crystal had sustained.

Catherine walked up to him and put her arms around him. He returned the hug. He looked at her and thought, ‘Why not?’ and gave her a passionate, lusty kiss, which to his happiness and surprise, she returned.

After a few minutes, the crew that left to give aid to the survivors returned. Vincent was about to head his ship back to the harbor when there was another shout from the warship. Everyone on the Water Crystal looked toward the deck of the warship. They could see an official and a strong lion fae holding a very wet John Pater. They’d caught him!

Vincent felt relief that another dangerous person that roamed the seas was finally captured. He let out a victory roar.

* * *

A year later, Catherine stood next to Vincent on the bow of the Water Crystal. She wore brown trousers with a white blouse. She wore buckled shoes on her feet. He wore brown trousers and a brown shirt with knee-high boots.

Gently, he placed his arms around Catherine.

“We’re not too far away from the city. We can turn back,” he whispered.

She shook her head, saying, “I want our next year to be an adventure.”

Looking up at him with a smile, she inquired, “Any regrets about being married to me?”

“No.”

He kissed her forehead. Then he chuckled.

“What?”

“Your father was hoping I would settle down in the new tunnel community or in the city.”

She grinned, playing with his hair. “He wasn’t too happy with the idea of me roaming the seas with you.”

“Besides the romance of the seas, there are dangers. Storms, pirates, sea monsters…”

She placed a finger on his lips. “I’m aware of that. But I do want to see England. I want to enjoy the freedom of no restrictions on what I’m wearing when I can. I want freedom to be who I can be and do what I can do. Yes, there are dangers, but with you, I feel safe.”

“So, who’s going to protect me?” He had a mischievous twinkle in his eyes.

“Why, your crew.” She kissed his right cheek. “A bit of magic.” She kissed his left cheek. “The Goddess of the seas.” She kissed his lips gently.

“Then let us savor the good, as we overcome the dangers.” After another kiss, he whispered into her ear, “Together.”

* * *

Vincent woke up with a start.

“Vincent?”

He looked at Catherine who was next to him, in his bed. He was back in his chamber. He laid back down.

Catherine put her hand on his forehead. “Your fever is gone.”

He looked at her. She smiled and started to get out of bed.

“I’ll go get Father.”

He reached out and gently took her hand. “Not yet, I’m all right.”

She gently snuggled next to him. He let her hand go so he could hug her close to him. He felt so lucky and so happy. No matter what life path, what time, he would always have his Lady Catherine and she would have him.