A Pirate's Revenge (Legends of the Soaring Phoenix)
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Authors: ML Guida
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Legends of the Soaring Phoenix
M.L. Guida
Table of Contents
This book is a work of fiction and I did take certain liberties during this time period. Although vampires were not popular until the 1800’s, I wanted to write about vampire pirates and thus, my characters did know the traditional legends of vampires and now, dragons. With both the vampire and dragon lore, I added a twist.
March, 1671
The full moon cast an eerie glow on the white sandy Caribbean beach, and waves slapped on the rocks. Zuto, a demon from the underworld Coaybay, sat alone, crossed-legged in front of a burning camp-fire. Within the flames, he watched the current battle between the two frigates, the
Fiery Damsel
and the
Soaring Phoenix
. Zuto’s ally, Captain Quinton Palmer, sailed the
Fiery Damsel
alongside the
Soaring Phoenix
. Her shrieking cannons tore through the
Phoenix’s
sail and rigging. She came along the
Phoenix’s
portside, but Captain Kane O’Brien of the
Soaring Phoenix
was ready for her. And once again, Palmer underestimated the cunning
Phoenix’s
captain.
The
Phoenix’s
gunners held wicks soaked in saltpeter and spirits of wine, the fuses burning red hot. Others clenched wadding, shot and powder to reload the minute the cannons fired. When the gunmaster brought down his fist, the men lowered the wicks to the touchholes and lit the charge of powder. A moment later, guns exploded simultaneously, the deck grumbling from the force of the recoiling carriages.
Gray and black smoke twirled around the decks of the frigates. Zuto swore as his men were flung in bloody lumps as high as the topsails. Wood from the
Damsel’s
smashed railings and bulkhead splintered. Her main mast split and swayed. Grappling hooks locked onto the
Damsel’s
railing and O’Brien’s crew invaded the lopsided
Damsel
. Palmer was defeated. His ship was sinking, and he had lost Justin Knight and his daughter, Hannah, Zuto’s most coveted prizes.
“Damn you, Palmer.” Zuto stood and paced back and forth, unable to watch his hopes die.
If he disappointed Maketabori, his Lord and master, he’d lose his chance at freedom. He’d do anything to get out from under the god’s claws and leave Coaybay. Maketabori was the lord of the dead, master of demons, destroyer of all that was good. Zuto detested Coaybay. The endless heat, the foul fumes, the desolation. But worse, was the monstrous betrayal among demons, the fear, the hate, the anger.
Humans. They didn’t realize how lucky they were, to live in the world with color, with tantalizing smells, and with warm feelings. Feelings that Zuto didn’t understand, feelings that made humans glow. Love seemed to be the most powerful, the emotion that fascinated him the most. Made him want to keep his human form. Lured him out of darkness. Forced him to hand over an innocent.
He picked up a shell and threw it into the ocean, wishing there was another way to escape, but there wasn’t. Too bad for Hannah. Unlike her father, who had left three men infected with small pox on an island and wiped out the majority of Maketabori’s loyal subjects, including a shaman’s young daughter, Hannah had committed no sin.
But Zuto had no choice. Several weeks ago, he had sent Palmer to bring Hannah and her father back to Zuto’s island, so he could hand them to Maketabori. But the fool couldn’t even follow this simple order.
Palmer had sunk Knight’s ship, but Hannah and her father managed to jump into the ocean and escape. Before Palmer could bring them aboard, the pursuing
Soaring Phoenix
fired upon Palmer. His antagonist, Captain Kane O’Brien foiled Zuto’s plans and rescued Hannah and her father.
Zuto refused to disappoint his master. Maketabori had promised that if Zuto brought Hannah and her father to Coaybay, he’d be granted freedom. His lord was obsessed with Knight and Hannah’s death. Yet he didn’t just want Knight and his daughter dead, he wanted the Caribbean inhabitants punished. Why? What was so special about this girl?
Zuto suspected she was more than just a shaman’s daughter. Maketabori had lost subjects before and had never been this upset, this angry. Not that Zuto’s Lord ever confided in him. No, Zuto was just Maketabori’s damn slave, sent to curse a freshwater lake and turn pirates into vampires during every full moon. The blasted idiots
were
supposed to do his bidding.
He wasn’t a fool. Maketabori could easily go back on his promise. He’d done it before. Zuto could bring Knight and his daughter to Maketabori and still not receive his reward. Maketabori could still put him in chains and order him to carry out another dark task.
Shoulders slumped, he headed back to the flickering fire to watch the battle. Fire and smoke twirled around the deck of the
Fiery Damsel,
and men clashed with swords. Pistols fired. Two of Palmer’s lackeys dragged a struggling man toward Palmer. The man dug his heels into the wood, but his boots slid across the blood-stained deck, his effort useless. Brown hair hung in his sweating face, and black smoke hid most of his body, but Zuto recognized him. He was William O’Brien, Kane’s younger brother.
Palmer was twice the size of the men before him, but still shorter than Zuto. Through his scruffy red beard, he flashed a you’re-dead smile and lifted William’s chin with the tip of his sword.
Zuto arched his eyebrow, and he couldn’t help but smile as hope surged through him. Another plan formed. One more chance to get off this island, one more chance to escape Maketabori forever.
If
Palmer could follow orders…
He waved his hand over the flames and sent his thoughts to Palmer. Palmer stiffened and his eyes glossed over. Or at least his right eye did. The ever-present milky film clouding his left leaked constantly. Palmer had been too slow and careless with a prisoner, and the prisoner had wrestled a sword away, stabbing him in his eye.
Palmer lowered the sword and nodded as if he understood Zuto’s plan. For his sake, he’d better understand it.
Palmer motioned, and two more of his crew hauled over a man, shirtless and barefoot. Greasy hair stuck to his head. Fresh whip marks covered his torso. Torn breeches hung low on his hips, and dirt and blood covered his emaciated body. The only thing not filthy was the
yari
, the diamond choker from Coaybay around his neck, but the man held his chin high and tried to fight. Zuto curled his lip at the brave front of their struggling prisoner, Lark Fey.
Palmer gestured at William. “Curse him.” He ordered Lark.
“No,” Lark said, his voice deafening.
Palmer stepped back as if a gust of wind had hit him, but ’twasn’t wind, ’twas magic, Lark’s bound magic.
Anger and heat spurred through Zuto, and he vowed that the young lad would pay for his deviance. Because ’twasn’t Palmer’s orders he was defying, but Zuto’s. A fatal mistake. He’d not like his next punishment.
“Bloody fool.” Palmer’s red eyes blazed with malice. “You will curse him.
Bohiti
.”
The diamonds on Lark’s neck grew darker and changed to fiery rubies. His face turned purple, and blood seeped down his neck. Arching his back, he screamed, his hands grabbing and slapping the collar, but ’twas useless.
Palmer’s thin lips turned up into a sneer, and he released a low guttural laugh. “Now call upon the demon Zuto and curse him—slave.”
Rubies dimmed. Lark panted, and his hands dropped to his side. Hate festered in his eyes. Beaten and submissive, he was ready. Good. Zuto raised his hands over his head. “Drakon, I command you to awaken and come to me.”
The flames crackled and rose, and the face of a blue and green dragon appeared in the shimmering fire. The dragon had been dead for over a hundred years, slain by Maketabori for defying him.
“You will possess William O’Brien, then destroy the crew of the
Soaring Phoenix,
but bring Hannah Knight and her father to me alive. Only then will I bring back your body and set you free.”
“Maketabori is the God of the Coaybay. You’re just a demon. How can a mere demon break a god’s spell?” the dragon asked.
“If I couldn’t, you wouldn’t be here now.”
Doubt filled the dragon’s golden eyes. The beast had little choice if he wanted to live again.
Zuto didn’t want Kane to know what was coming. He sent forth his spell and hid what was going to happen. They would know soon enough a dragon was among them. He planted the spell word in Lark’s mind.
Lark’s eyes widened, and his face paled, lips whitened. He put his hands on his head and shouted, “By the holy hell of Coaybay, I call upon the demon Zuto’s power,
nogard
.”
Tingles ran down Zuto’s spine. The spell pulled on his power. “Drakon, go now.”
Drakon vanished. A whipping wind roared around the men. The gust snatched William, yanking him from his captors’ grasp and spinning him around in midair. Green, blue, and red sparks flickered from his fingertips. He shrieked, twisting into odd angles, his bones creaking and snapping. Fire spurted out of his mouth. With one final twist, William screamed, and crashed onto the deck into an unconscious heap.
Zuto smiled. Triumphant at last. “Well done, Drakon. Bring Knight and his daughter to me, or you’ll be trapped inside William O’Brien forever.”
Tonight was the full moon. Tonight he’d turn into a vampire. Tonight, for the first time, he’d be forced to suck human blood.
William O’Brien rested his head on his arm against the Green Parrot Inn’s window. It had been a month since he, his brother, and the
Soaring Phoenix’s
crew had battled the
Fiery Damsel
. Kane had granted the crew shore leave at Tortuga while repairs were made, the wounded healed, and supplies gathered.
The glowing sun sank lower and lower behind the mountains, changing white clouds to purple, yellow, and orange. Blue sky dimmed, turning to a light gray. He’d always loved watching sunsets, the clouds, the soft colors. Until now. His heart pounded hard, and with each thump, he knew he was alive, he knew he was human. But with each beat, he worried it would be his last. Thanks to the demon Zuto, he’d change into his worst nightmare.
The door opened, and William turned around. Doc strolled inside and closed the door behind him. He flashed one of his famous smiles, his white teeth highlighting his black skin. Despite his glowing red eyes, the man still remained jovial. William couldn’t help but smile back.
Doc’s knowledge of medicine never failed to amaze him. He had learned much in the way of remedies, sutures, and anatomy, as a plantation slave before escaping his cruel master. “Da Capt’n done sent me to find you, lad,” he said.