A Pirate's Revenge (Legends of the Soaring Phoenix) (39 page)

He stormed over to her and seized her wrist. “You are trying my patience. I could have Kane lock you in the brig.”

She tilted her chin. “Locking me in the brig will not prevent me from telling him what happened to Hannah.”

“I will not give you the wands.”

Hating to play her spade card, she whispered, “Then your brother’s heart will be broken.”

“You would do this to Kane?”

She stared into his hurt eyes and wished she had not had to resort to this wicked behavior. Her victory weighed heavy in her heart. It lay hollow, choking out her breath. “I would do this to protect you.”

He dragged her out of the cabin and up onto the deck.

“William, will you release me?” She tried to pry away his fingers that bit into her flesh. “You are hurting my wrist.”

Ronan blocked William’s way and reached for Mariah. “Release her, O’Brien.”

William growled, the dragon’s anger rumbling inside him.

“Stop it. Both of you,” Mariah ordered.

“Land ho,” Amadi called from the eagle’s nest.

’Twas Zuto’s island. It looked like any uncharted island with palm trees and sandy beaches. But it was not just any island. A faint black aura fluttered around it.

William released her wrist. “How did we get here so fast?”

“I donna know,” Ronan said. “The
Phoenix
moved faster than she ever has.”  

Cold chills rippled across her skin. Nausea swirled in her stomach, and she swallowed down the vomit. A wave of power struck her, and she gripped William’s arm tight.

“Mariah, are you well?” Ronan’s brow bunched in concern.

“I…can…feel the power,” she panted. “’Tis evil. And they are waiting for us.”

Ronan brushed her hair away from her throat. “What the devil is that around your neck?”

“We were in Lark’s dream, and I—”

“Bloody hell, O’Brien. Ye couldna protect her?” Ronan said. “Do you know what Lark went through when that damn thing was around his neck?”

William’s face blanched. “I do.”

Mariah winced at Ronan’s accusatory tone and William’s strained look. 

The
yari
tightened around her neck, and she gasped for breath. “Take me to see
le capitaine
,” she whispered. Every word was a struggle to utter.

“Mariah,” William warned.

“We must form a plan. They want us to storm the island. I can feel it. Where is he?”

“At the helm with Sean,” Ronan answered.

William wrapped his arm around Mariah and pulled her close. She did not know if it was to protect her or silence her from telling
le capitaine
the truth.

Kane paced back and forth at the helm. “We will dock in the cove and search for Hannah.”

“
Capitaine
,” Mariah said.

He stopped pacing. “What’s that around your neck?” 

“’Tis a
yari
.”

“How did that get around your neck?” he asked.

A stream of red light soared from the island toward the
Phoenix.

“Capt’n,” Ronan pointed. “Somethin’ is comin’ from the island. They’re firin’ on us.”

Kane unsheathed his sword. “Prepare for trouble, men. Be ready to fire at my command!”

Each man knew his job, crouched by their cannons, ready to unleash hell.

Evil permeated the light. Mariah raised her arms to conjure a spell to stop it.

“The diamonds,” Ronan said. “They’ve changed to rubies.”

With each word she chanted, her neck stung. The sensation grew stronger as the light grew closer. “’Tis not a weapon.” Pain bore into her neck, and she winced. “Black magic.” The red light grew closer then splintered into yellows rays like shooting stars. Agony stabbed her flesh. She grabbed the choker and pulled, but it would not move. Her vision blurred, and her knees weakened. She tilted her head back, and all she could see was the
Phoenix’s
sails flapping overhead. Muscles betrayed her, and she arched her back and collapsed.

William scooped her up before she hit the deck. “Mariah?”

The shimmering lights slammed into the
Phoenix
, then the ship tilted back and forth. Men swore and yelled as they frantically hung onto anything around them to keep from being dumped into the ocean. Mariah shut her eyes to block out the pain and light, and sloshing ship. Nausea stirred in her stomach. 

The ship steadied, and she forced her eyes to open. Men returned to their cannons and readied for war.

“Capt’n, on the bow,” Amadi yelled.

Mariah fought her fear. Natasa stood on the bow and smirked. “Not so powerful are you, witch?”

Pirates swarmed around Natasa with swords and guns drawn.

Natasa flickered her hand at the men. “Your weapons can’t hurt me.” 

“I would like to test that claim,” Kane said. 

Mariah pushed against William’s chest and wiggled. “Put me down, William.”

He tightened his hold. “But—”

“Now,” she said.

William slowly glided her onto her feet, his arm wrapped around her waist.

Mariah forced her wobbly legs to stand. “Take this
yari
off me, and I will show you, demon.”

“Even if I wanted to, I could not,” Natasa said. She clasped a diamond pendant hanging around her neck and caressed it with her thumb. “I did not put it around your neck. Your dear brother did.”

“Where is Hannah?” Kane demanded.

Natasa raised her eyebrow and focused on Mariah. “You didn’t tell him, witch?”

Mariah held Natasa’s gaze and refused to cower or look at William.

Kane aimed his pistol between Natasa’s eyes. “Tell me what, demon?”

She tapped Kane’s pistol with her finger. “Your little whore is dead.”

Quiet murmurs broke out around the crewmen.

One man raised his sword. “Tis a trick.”

Another glared at Mariah. “Aye, ’tis true. The traitor has cursed us.”

“You lie,” Kane said as he cocked his pistol.

Natasa laughed. “Ask her.”

Kane glanced at Mariah with fear and denial gleaming in his eyes. “Well?”

“
Je suis désolé
,” she said, her voice filled with sorrow.

His face paled, and the blood drained from his tight lips. His powerful shoulders slumped, and he slowly lowered his weapon, his hand shaking. “No, ’tis not true.”

William grabbed Kane’s shoulders. “Kane, listen to me,” he said, his voice desperate. “We don’t know this is true. You can’t lose faith.”

Mariah bit her lip. Kane was a fierce captain and had fought gallantly to save his crew. He did not deserve this. Natasa hankered to have an anchor chained to her neck and be thrown overboard, never to be seen again. 

“Don’t worry, Captain,” Natasa said. “You’ll join your little bitch. I will see you both soon.” She snapped her fingers, and smoke swirled around her.

Tears glistened in Kane’s eyes. He screamed and shoved William, knocking him to the ground, then fired his pistol at the dissolving smoke. 

Natasa’s red eyes peered through the smoke. “I have a proposition for you, Captain. Bring Justin Knight to me, and I can resurrect your dead whore. She dies, and he lives, or he dies, and she lives. Your choice.”

The smoke faded along with the eyes. Kane whisked out his sword and stabbed at the mist repeatedly. “Hannah, you killed my Hannah. You’re dead, bitch. I’ll gut you and cut your heart.” His loud voice was full of hate, and he was as terrifying as when Mariah had first seen him with the prostitute.

Mariah tried to think of a spell that would show whether or not Hannah was dead. The
yari
tightened around her neck, blocking out her air. She grabbed the choker and tried to rip it off her neck, but ’twas as if the choker had melted into her flesh.  

Kane violently shook Mariah. He then slapped her across the face. The impact of his palm sent her falling to the deck. Pain exploded across her cheek, bringing tears to her eyes.

“’Tis your fault she’s dead,” Kane said, his voice trembled. 

William snarled and sprung forward, diving low. He tackled Kane, and they crashed into the bulkhead. William slammed his fist into Kane’s chin, and Kane’s head snapped backward.

Kane flashed a deadly smile and cracked his knuckles. “You’ll be sorry, little brother.”

“No, you will be. I’m stronger than you.”

“Mutton head, I’m a vampire.”

The two men circled each other, then they attacked, a crunch of flesh and bone. Kane charged and smashed his fist into William’s nose.

Blood spurted into the air, and Mariah was close enough to feel splatters fall on her face. She was at a loss on how to stop them from killing each other.

Grunts and curses assailed the sea air, reinforced by the sound of flesh pounding flesh as the two brothers rolled onto the deck, William briefly gaining the advantage, dripping crimson onto Kane’s face and chest.  Kane managed to throw William off. The two warriors dragged themselves to their feet. They panted heavily, sizing each other up. Kane launched the second round and rammed his fist into William’s gut, doubling over him. William fell to his knees, gasping for breath.

“’Tis your fault she’s dead,” Kane yelled. “Yours and your little whore.”

Heat washed over Mariah’s cheeks and she wanted to hide. She could feel the eyes of the crew upon her, hear them mumbling in agreement with
le capitaine
. He was mad with grief, but nevertheless, his words stung.

William lumbered to his feet. “You bastard,” he said. Droplets of red trickled from his split lip onto his chest.

Mariah had not credited William’s rage as a weapon, but he wielded it now and charged his brother. He rammed his head into Kane’s stomach, knocking him down. He sat on Kane’s chest, pinning him to the deck.

Kane spit into his face.

“You’ll not hit her again.” William smashed his fist into Kane’s face again and again. Bones cracked.

Mariah stared in horror. Why wouldn’t someone pull them apart?

Crimson stained the deck, and her stomach lurched. She covered her mouth, not from the gore, but from watching two brothers kill each other. This was not right. This was dark magic. This was Natasa’s fault. “Stop, William,” Mariah yelled.

As if her words broke a spell, men seized William’s arms and dragged him off Kane. Red drenched Kane’s shirt, and he rolled onto his side, spitting up blood.   

Doc knelt down. “Capt’n?”

Kane shrugged off Doc’s arm. “Lock them in the brig.”

“No,
Capitaine
,” Mariah said. “We must all go to shore. Natasa is planning on us losing control. Do you not see? This is only the beginning. William and I can help. Do not give into grief.”

“I tire of listening to you.” He wiped his face with his sleeve. “I gave an order.”

William stared at his bloody hands. “My God, what have I done?”

Sean and Amadi gripped his arms. He bowed his head bowed and let them led him away. Pirates crowded around Mariah, weapons still drawn, and blocked her view of William. Men glared at her, their eyes brimming with hate.

“Traitor,” a burly pirate murmured and spit on the deck.

“Hand her over to her brother,” another said.

“Should be hanged.”

A tall skinny man shook his head. “No, turncoats should be burned.”

Mariah fought back tears. The memory of her parents flashed in her mind. France all over again. Was this Natasa’s plan for her to follow her parents’ fate? Her heart raced, and her lungs failed to exhale.
Stay calm.
  

Kane held onto a mooring line to keep from falling down. He stared at the island.

“
Capitaine
, please listen,” Mariah said.

He ignored her, his other hand caressing the butt of his pistol. She opened her mouth to plead once more, but when he released the mooring line and started to load the pistol with powder, she thought better of it.

The sea of hate parted, and Ronan maneuvered through them. “Bloody hell, ye louts. Leave the lass alone.”

A pirate pointed a sword at Mariah’s throat. “’Tis her fault the Capt’n’s bride’s dead.”

She recoiled and wished she could draw on her power. But she was powerless. Defenseless.

Ronan unsheathed his sword and flicked the man’s blade away from Mariah. “Harm her and you’ll face me. Now, stand back, ye devils. Capt’n said to lock her in the brig. Not kill her.”

The man sheathed his sword. Ronan pulled her off the deck and wrapped his arm around her waist. He lifted her into his strong arms. “You’ll have to forgive the capt’n,” Ronan whispered. “He’s stricken with grief. Hannah was his life.”

Mariah leaned her head against Ronan’s chest. She did not blame
le capitaine
. Tears slipped down Mariah’s cheeks, and she buried her face into Ronan’s shirt. “
Le capitaine
is right. ’Tis my fault. My magic failed me.”