A Pirate's Revenge (Legends of the Soaring Phoenix) Page 25

  Doc splashed water over Palmer and doused the flames. Palmer lay motionless, groaning.

  Kane shoved men out of the way as he marched over to Palmer, sword raised over his head.

  “Capitaine, no,” Mariah cried. “We need Palmer.”

  “He’ll not tell the truth,” Kane said. “No mercy for the man who killed my father and stole my woman. I’ve waited a long time to kill him.”

  “Kane, won’t you listen?” William asked.

  “Killing Palmer will not bring Hannah back,” Mariah said. “We need to know their plans to save her, oui? I need to know Lark’s powers. Please.”

  Doc rolled Palmer over. Mariah gasped, her face ashen. He couldn’t fault the horror in her expression. Palmer’s clothes had melted into his blackened skin, and half of his hair was gone, leaving a scorched skull.

  “I know you don’t care, Capt’n,” Doc said, “but he’s done hurt bad.”

  Kane lowered his sword. “He’ll heal. Take him below and leave him with his pain. If anything happens to Hannah, he’ll lose his head.” He pointed his sword at Mariah. “If she dies…”

  William shoved Mariah behind him and forced himself to stand. Tingles swept over him. An urge to change into the dragon seized him, and puffs of smoke snorted out of his nose. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, forcing the transformation back. He refused to attack his distraught brother. “Leave her alone, Kane.”

  Desperation flared in Kane’s eyes, and a vein in his temple throbbed. “Don’t threaten me, you eejit,” he said. “I’m the bloody capt’n.”

  “I know,” William said. “You’re not yourself.”

  “Don’t test me brother.” Kane cast his gaze over him and frowned. “Put some bloody clothes on.”

  “Where’s my Hannah?” Captain Justin Knight maneuvered through the crowd and clutched his cane with Solstice by his side. His face haggard and his eyes tired, he demanded, “What’s happened?”

  “Captain Knight,” Palmer moaned. He motioned. “I have…a…message….about…Hannah,” he gasped. “To save…her—”

  The scent of rotting flesh blew over William, and he wrinkled his nose at Palmer’s foul stench. Iciness gripped him, and he shivered. He sensed something, something vile.

  Knight wobbled over to Palmer. “Hannah? What of her?”

  “Come closer,” Palmer said, his eyes closed and his voice faded.

  The iciness grew stronger, and William could see his exhaled breath. His stomach churned faster. Something was amiss. He grabbed Knight’s arm. “Stay back.”

  Knight hit his arm with his cane, and William jerked back. “You damn fool,” William said.

  “Leave me alone,” Knight said. “He knows where my Hannah is.” He hurried over to Palmer with the dog trailing behind him. Solstice sniffed and growled.

  “He’s a liar,” Kane said. “Don’t waste your time, Knight.”

  Every hair bristled on the back of William’s neck. Evil was close. There was something inside Palmer’s breath. Men mumbled, and Kane scowled at Palmer, but none of them seemed to have the same sense of urgency as William did. Not even Mariah’s serene face shared his same growing fear. Why couldn’t anyone sense danger except the dog?

  “Palmer,” Knight pleaded. “Tell me how to save her.” He moved around Solstice and dropped to the deck next to Palmer.

  The eerie sensation grew stronger. William grabbed Knight’s shoulder and pulled him back. “Get away from him.”

  Knight slapped his hand. “Release me.”

  “Listen to me.” William gripped his shoulder tighter. “Something is not right.”

  Palmer opened his eyes. “The warlock sends you a message, Knight.”

  He opened his mouth, and blue smoke swirled and sailed up into Knight’s nose. Knight’s face paled, and his eyes rolled back into his head, Knight stiffened and fell back against William’s legs.

  “Damn it.” William pushed his palms against Knight’s wide back. “Doc!”

  Doc rushed forward and lifted Knight’s eyelids. “Take him to the crew’s quarters.”

  Palmer chuckled, but his snort quickly turned to a hacking cough.

  “Get Palmer out of here,” Kane ordered.

  William carried Knight down to the crew’s quarters. Knight had been so heavy when he’d first met him. Amadi could barely carry him. Now, the man was nothing but a heap of flesh and bones.

  “Hang on, Knight,” William said. He laid him gently onto a hammock. “Hannah needs you.”

  His face drawn, Knight moaned. William cursed himself. He should have moved faster and yanked Knight away from Palmer instantly.

  Doc put his hand over Knight’s mouth. “He’s breathing. Barely.”

  First Hannah, and now her father. Damn it. Their enemies were leagues ahead and soon, all would be lost.

  Mariah appeared and held a necklace with a purple stone in her hand. “Here, have him wear this.”

  “A stone?” Doc wrinkled his brow. “How will this help?”

  “The smoke he inhaled attacks the soul,” Mariah said. “’Tis a healing stone, and it will help mend his broken heart.”

  His little witch. Her magic had to win. “It won’t hurt, Doc,” William urged.

  Doc shrugged and allowed Mariah to slip the chain over the man’s head. His pale color faded, and he inhaled.

  “It will take time to heal,” she said.

  Solstice plopped down below Knight’s hammock and whined. William knelt and petted her head. “You knew something was wrong, too, didn’t you girl?”

  “You sensed it, oui?” Mariah ran her fingers through his hair.

  He reveled in her soft touch, and would never tire of her caress, her scent.

  Kane hurried over to Mariah and clasped her shoulders. “Do you think ’tis true? Has Hannah been taken to Coaybay?”

  William understood Kane’s anguish. He’d be going out of his mind if Palmer had taken Mariah and handed her over to the demons. Lord knew what was happening to Hannah. He wanted to tell Kane that his woman would be fine, that Zuto wouldn’t torture her, but it would be a lie.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Mariah hung her head, not able to peer into le capitaine’s wild eyes. “I cannot lie to you. Oui, I fear Lark will take Hannah to Coaybay.”

  He shook her, and her teeth rattled. “Use your magic. Find her.” He nodded to Capitaine Knight. “You helped her father.”

  “Kane,” William growled. “Stop shaking her.”

  Kane stopped shaking Mariah. Her arms throbbed where he had dug his fingers into her flesh. She stole a sideways glance to Capitaine Knight who lay in the hammock, his face pale and sweaty. She had slowed the spell down, but he needed to fight the incantation to heal. The poor man must be giving into evil, thinking his daughter had been taken to hell.

  “Then you find her, you overgrown lizard.” Kane shoved William. “You both come aboard my ship and tell me to hunt for her blasted brother. And now, Hannah is missing. I hold you both responsible.”

  “We will find her,” Mariah said. Le capitaine was riddled with pain. A man desperate to do anything to save the woman he loved.

  He slammed his fist into the wall. “Then go find her, damn it.”

  Sean Mallory sneered at Kane with pitiless disgust. “Are you done?”

  “Done? Done with what?”

  “Acting like an out of control milksop.”

  “I’m—”

  “Aye, you are. You’re the captain,” he said. “’Tis time you started acting like one.”

  Kane ran his hand through his hair. “Hannah. She could be dead.”

  “She is not dead,” Mariah said. “I would feel it if she were.”

  “How?”

  “She has magic. Different than mine. But magic, nonetheless. And magic shifts when a light goes out.”

  Kane’s face brightened. “Then you can find her.”

  “Black magic veils her. I will need to conjure a spell and I might be able to locate her.”


  “There’s another way, capt’n.” Ronan leaned against the mast.

  “How?”

  “Palmer.”

  Kane shook his head. “He’ll not talk.”

  “Not willingly. But there are ways to make him confess.”

  “Torture?”

  He sauntered over to Kane. “You’d rather have Hannah killed?”

  “He’s been in league with demons, Ronan. What possible thing could I do that would make him talk? Besides, torture only makes a man more determined to prevail over his enemies. I won’t resort to it.”

  “I need time, Capitaine,” Mariah said.

  “I need a course, Mariah,” Kane said. “I will not sail idly around the sea.”

  “Give me time.”

  Evil laughter filled the cabin. Hannah’s father groaned and thrashed in the hammock. The men whipped out their weapons. William and Ronan wedged Mariah behind them. Cold air rushed through the quarters, hammocks and lanterns swayed, chests skidded across the floor.

  “Reveal yourself,” Kane demanded.

  The lanterns dimmed, and the outline of man formed in the corner of the quarters.

  “Damn you, Zuto,” Kane growled. “What have you done with Hannah?”

  The man’s features became clearer, and he swaggered out of the corner. Dark brown hair flared over broad shoulders. The lantern light glistened off the gold chains around his neck. A flamboyant red shirt opened to the navel revealed three long scratches on his smooth chest. Trousers hugged his muscular legs. Familiar eyes held her gaze. Not violet. Black. Soulless. Arrogant.

  She was too late. Mariah clasped the stone around her neck. “’Tis not a demon.”

  “No, ’tisna possible.” Ronan lowered his sword and took a step toward him. “Lark? You’ve escaped?”

  “Imbécile! I am not on board this ship, oui?”

  “He is projecting himself,” Mariah said. “Stay alert. He is dangerous and not who you remember.”

  Lark shrugged. “I do not know any of you.”

  “Lark, what’s wrong with you?” asked Ronan. “Ye donna remember me? We were prisoners aboard the Fiery Damsel.”

  Lark lifted his eyebrows. “Prisoners? Highly doubtful.”

  “Lark is not your friend, Ronan. Not anymore,” Mariah said, her voice consumed with grief. “He is under a spell.”

  “You must be the witch, oui,” Lark said.

  “And your sister,” William said. His voice was strong and commanding, willing Lark to remember his past and fight the spell.

  “Sister?” Lark studied her, his brows knotted. He waved his hand. “No. Je ne pense pas.”

  Mariah bit her lip hard not to argue. She wanted to grab his shoulders and shake him until he remembered. Shout at him to remember their past, their bond.

  “Which one of you is Capitaine O’Brien?” Lark asked.

  Kane stepped forward, pistol trained on him. “I’m Captain O’Brien. Why are you here?”

  “I have someone who wants to see you, oui?” He pointed to the opposite wall. The shadows on the wall flickered and swirled—yellow, black and gray. Amongst the colors, an image formed. Black lines became thin bars. Yellow turned into lanterns, casting an eerie glow. A dank cell emerged. Mariah peered closer. Someone—a man—hung suspended from the ceiling by an unseen force in the corner. His long brown hair masked his face, and his arms were limp. Manacles studded with what appeared to be diamonds bound his wrists together.

  The man raised his head. Not a man. A woman.

  “Hannah,” Mariah gasped. “Lark, what have you done?”

  “’Tis a yari,” he said. “It—”

  “We know what it does,” Ronan spat. “Are you afraid of her power?”

  Lark glowered and refused to answer, but his scowl grew more sinister, if that was possible. “I am afraid of no one’s power.”

  He lied. Mariah could feel the magic recoil inside him. He was afraid. Afraid of who? William? Her?

  Kane cocked his pistol. “You’re a dead bastard.”

  “You can shoot if you want, Capitaine.” Lark chuckled. “Your bullet cannot touch me. You will waste gunpowder, oui? Not that I care.”

  “What have you done to her?” Kane demanded.

  Lark strolled around the crew’s quarters with his hands clasped behind his back. “She annoyed me. Lied to me. Do not worry. I do not plan to kill her.” The curves of his lips curled into a tight sneer. “At least not yet.”

  “If you hurt her, I promise I’ll kill you,” Kane swore.

  Lark laughed. “I would like to see you try.” He bowed slightly. “S’il vous plaît, I dare you to try, oui?”

  Mariah could not control her rapidly beating heart. She prayed that neither William nor Kane would attack him. He wanted them to lose control, a chance to discover their weakness.

  “Tell me, Capitaine, is your woman passionate? I have not been with une belle femme for some time.”

  Kane made a low guttural hiss in his throat and lunged for him.

  Mariah cried out, “Capitaine, no!”

  William seized his arm. “Kane. He’s baiting you.”

  Lark circled William and Kane. “Brothers, oui?” He stopped and peered at William. “You are the dragon, no? Soon, you will be worshiping my mistress.”

  “Never.” William’s eyes flashed gold.

  “Leave him alone, Lark,” Ronan demanded.

  Lark meandered over to Mariah, and William cut him off, smoke exhaling from his nostrils.

  “She is your mate, oui,” Lark said. “The witch.” He held Mariah’s gaze. “You will face my mistress soon. Se préparer à mourir.”

  She could not believe he would let her die. Lark had to be fighting to defeat the spell. She gripped William’s arm, relishing his strength. “You do not recognize me, no?”

  “Are you daft? I said you were the witch.”

  Mariah clasped her stone tighter, drawing on its power. “I am more than a witch. I am your sister.”

  Lark grimaced and put his hands on his temples as if he were wounded. He staggered and shook his head. “Lies.” He snapped his gaze to Kane. “If you want to challenge me for your bride, Capitiane, bring your beleaguered crew to Zuto’s island tomorrow at sundown. We fight to the death.”

  His image faded; the last to disappear were his merciless black eyes.

  Melancholy overwhelmed Mariah, and she slumped against William. “I was too late. Lark is a warlock.” Her stomach tightened, and she wiped away a lone tear. “I am afraid I will have to destroy him.”

  William wrapped his arm around her and held her tight. “I’m sorry.”

  Ronan paced the floor. “Is there naught you can do? Your destiny was to save him, na kill him.”

  “’Tis our destiny,” William said. “She can’t hope to defeat Lark without my help.”

  “Will he…hurt Hannah?” Kane asked. He whispered her name, his husky voice filled with love and fear.

  The hesitancy and worry in his tone broke Mariah’s heart. She lowered her gaze. “I do not know. My brother has crossed over.”

  “This is what your Grand-mère predicted,” Kane said. “’Tis not the time to cower. All of our lives are at stake. I suggest you find some courage, witch.”

  “Tell me, Capitaine,” Mariah said. “If you had to kill your brother, how would you feel about the challenge?”

  Kane chewed on his cheek. “Point taken. This does not change the battle thrust upon us. We will set a course for Zuto’s island.” He turned and marched out of the crew’s quarters with everyone following except for Ronan, William, and Mariah.

  Ronan shook his head. “I canna believe that Lark has turned completely evil.”

  “He walks down an evil path,” Mariah said. Fear and trepidation emitted from her wary voice. “I need to go to sleep.”

  “Sleep?” Ronan asked. “Why the hell would you want to take a nap now?”

  “I need to see if there is any good in him. Awake, he is dangerous. Asleep, there m
ight still be some good in him.”

  William folded his arms across his chest. “He is a warlock. Is he dangerous in your dreams?”

  “No, he cannot harm me in dreams,” she lied. Warlocks were unpredictable, and she had no idea the depth of his power.

  William gave her a suspicious look. No doubt, he did not believe her. She might not ever wake up. Still, she had to chance it. Her brother’s very soul depended upon it. She pulled her hair into a bun and avoided William’s penetrating stare. “It will be dark soon. I need to prepare.” She headed for the corridor. “Where is Cook?”

  “Why do you need to see Cook?” William asked.

  “I need some wine, and if we do not have any wine, boiled water.”

  “I donna understand,” Ronan said.

  “Besides wearing my stone, I will prepare either a tonic or a decoction with herbs that are designed to protect me.”

  William towered over her and glared. “I thought you said visiting him in dreams wasn’t dangerous.”

  “I will be safe.”

  He pulled her against his broad chest. “You need to take me with you.”

  “What?”

  His grip tightened on her arm. “I go with you or I tie you up and you will not visit him.”

  “William, ’tis too much of a risk. He will sense that you are there.”

  “I’ll be invisible.”

  “But—”

  “’Tisn’t open for discussion. You’ll obey in this.”

  “You must do as he says,” Ronan said.

  Mariah looked between the two pirates. She had thought Ronan would come to her aid, but she’d thought wrong. She would find no allies in doing this alone. “Ronan,” Mariah said, “See if Cook has any wine. If not, I will need boiling water.”

  “Aye,” Ronan nodded and darted out the door.

  “Please,” a muffled voice said.

  Mariah glanced down. Capitaine Knight’s eyes were open. His face was drawn and white. “Please save my little girl. ’Tis my fault. Tell Lark I will go in her stead.” He struggled to get out of the hammock.

  William gently pushed his shoulder down. “We will bring her back alive. Hannah needs you. It would break her heart if you sacrificed your life.”

  Knight’s eyes glistened.