A Pirate's Revenge (Legends of the Soaring Phoenix) (45 page)

Zuto faced William. “No!” His forcible voice radiated with power.

Mariah lifted her head.

Zuto shook
Capitaine
Knight. “You can’t save them both, dragon.” He flung Knight toward the rushing tornado.

Lark released Mariah and pointed his wand. “Awaken, Hannah.”

Mariah held her breath and clutched Lark’s arm, praying his magic would work. The light burst out of his wand and washed over Hannah, and she stirred to life. She blinked, and color returned to her face. She gazed at her father flying through the air. Hannah yelled and wiggled, her arms flailing around her. “Kane!” Desperation filled her shrieking voice. 

“Use your powers,” Lark commanded.

“Father,” she cried and lifted her palms. Her father hovered in the air and floated away from the tornado to the other side of the battlefield away from Zuto. William followed
Capitaine
Knight, still clutching Hannah’s calves. He released Hannah, who landed on her stomach in a heap of grass next to her father. 

Mariah clasped Lark’s hand and smiled. “Your powers have grown stronger. Thanks to you, Hannah and her father are safe.”

“For now,” he said. “The battle has not been yet won.”

“Fools,” Zuto hissed.

Mariah jumped at the anger and hate in his voice. She squeezed Lark’s hand tighter, afraid the demon would try and take him from her again. She gripped her wand, ready to battle him.

Zuto pointed at them. “Maketabori, the warlock and Natasa have betrayed you.” 

“He is not a warlock.” Mariah found her courage and challenged the arrogant demon. “You have lost. Zuto. Your plans have failed.”

Zuto laughed. “You think so, witch? Maketabori, punish the betrayers.”

The red eyes disappeared, and the tornado evaporated. Rain diminished, and the sun peered through dark clouds. The ground rumbled beneath her. Birds flew out of the trees into the air cawing. Chills of dread shot up her feet. Something was coming. Something evil. What had she done?

Lark frowned and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer. He sensed it too. 

“We have to get the men to the ship,” she said. “We must leave this island now.”

Zuto snatched at the hilt of his sword and stormed across the fighting pirates, his sights set on Kane. He flung men into the air and shoved them onto the ground.

Engaged with Palmer, Kane had his back to the oncoming threat. William soared toward Zuto, talons outstretched. Zuto ducked, and William slammed into fighting pirates, sending them scattering in all directions.

The ground grumbled louder. Men had difficulty fighting their opponents. Swords missed and slashed into thin air. Pistols fired erratically, hitting friend and foe alike. Men staggered back and forth, stumbling and falling onto their knees, swearing and yelling. Others clung to trees to keep from falling down. Still others crashed into each other. William flew back into the air.

Mariah waved her arm. “William, we have to get the crew to retreat. Something is coming. Use your fog.”

William nodded and exhaled a black fog that crept over the battle, blinding only the crew of the
Fiery Damsel
. But for some reason, it was useless against Palmer. Was Zuto protecting him?

Kane and Palmer staggered around, still trying to battle. Palmer smiled as Zuto approached.

“
Capitaine
,” Mariah cried out. “Watch out.”

Kane turned and stumbled. Palmer ran his sword down Kane’s and pushed him toward the demon. Kane landed on his back, and Palmer laughed.

Zuto stepped on Kane’s wrist, forcing him to drop his weapon. He pushed the sword into Kane’s throat, and blood trickled down his neck. The ground cracked and widened. Sand and dirt slipped through a crevice. As it spread, men screamed and fell backward. His sword still in his hand, Zuto smiled. Mariah held her breath. The demon knew what was coming.

Ronan barreled out of the jungle, covered with crimson and mud. He rushed toward Zuto, his sword drawn. “Death to you, demon!” 

Zuto did not even flinch. 

Mariah’s heart quickened. “Ronan, no,” she cried.

She lifted her wand to cast a spell on Zuto to slow him down, not even knowing if she had the power to do it. “Mother Isis, hear me,” she called. But ’twas too late.

Zuto dodged Ronan’s lunge and swung his sword, severing Ronan’s wrist. Blood spurted into the air. He screamed and fell onto his knees, clutching his arm to his side. His severed hand still gripped the sword’s hilt as it hit the ground.

“Ronan!” Mariah cupped her mouth.

Zuto said something to Ronan, and Mariah was sure it was a spell or chant, but she couldn’t make it out. Ronan stared up at Zuto, his face pale and his mouth shut tight as if he had just received a death sentence. 

Palmer lifted his sword. “You’re finished, Ronan.”

Biting back her horror, Mariah aimed her wand at Palmer and finished the spell. His sword jumped out of his hand and slammed into the ground behind him.

He stared at his empty hand. “What the devil?”

The ground shifted, and a horrifying shriek wailed inside the splitting crevice. Mariah shrank. “Lark, ’Tis not human or animal. ’Tis pure evil.”

“You best get your men out of here, Palmer,” Zuto said. “Unless you want a rough ride back to Coaybay.”

Long, black, spindly legs crept out of the crevice, and a giant, bulbous spider with a swollen abdomen emerged. Eight red eyes stared at Mariah, and the massive fangs chomped, dripping saliva onto the red-stained ground. Mariah’s heart stopped, and her feet refused to move. ’Twas the same one that had chased her and William in Coaybay. 

The spider squirted strands of sticky web, and it whipped around the nearest man, dragging him toward its jaws. He was part of the
Fiery Damsel
. This thing didn’t care who it captured. All of them were in danger.

It sank its fangs into the screaming man, and drops of crimson spewed into the air. The man struggled, but soon grew limp.

Men yelled and dispersed into the jungle.

Zuto lifted the sword and bowed at the spider. “I’ll leave you to your feast.”

He headed into the jungle as the spider took a step toward Kane and Ronan.   

“Retreat, you bastards!” Palmer, not waiting to see if his men obeyed, rushed into the jungle, leaving them to their fate. Chaos broke out on the battlefield as men scrambled away from the spider.

“Ronan,
Capitaine
,” Mariah cried and held out her wand, hoping she had the time to stop the spider before it killed one of them.

A shriek captured her attention.

“William,” Mariah said.

He swooped down at the creature and exhaled fire, hitting one of its eyes. The spider recoiled, hissing. It rushed toward William, who dove through the trees. The monster spat out more of its deadly web and sliced off the tops of palm trees, leaving stumps. The beast pursued William into the jungle. 

Kane rolled out of the mud and clasped his arm around Ronan, who was swaying on his knees, his head bent over his chest. He dragged Ronan to his feet. “To the
Soaring Phoenix
, men!” he cried out.

Doc rushed over to his
capitaine
.

“Here, take Ronan to the ship,” Kane said. “I have to get to Hannah.” 

Lark grabbed Mariah’s hand. “Quick.We must help William. Together we can kill the creature.”

Mariah nodded. “
Oui
.”

Just as they made it to the copse of trees where the creature had barreled through, the ground shook again. Another pair of spindly legs emerged from the same crevice. This time, a white spider with the same red eyes and a swollen belly hurried out.

Blood drained from Mariah’s face, and her legs wavered. Her heart thundering, she fought not to faint.  

Natasa groaned a couple of feet away from them and put her hand on her head. She dragged herself to her feet. “Now, you’ll pay, bitch.”

The spider sank its feet into the mud and slowly moved toward them. Mariah clutched Lark’s arm tight.

Natasa followed their gaze and screamed. She sprinted to the jungle, shoving men out of her way, but the creature pursued her, and it spurted out reams of white sticky web. The sticky ropes covered her from behind, yanking her back. Natasa struggled, but the spider quickly cocooned her and dragged her into the crevice.

“We have to get out of here while we still can,” Mariah said.

The stone against Mariah’s chest warmed, and she knew this was the destiny
Grand-mère
had spoken of. But ’twas not with Lark. ’Twas with William. Trees swayed and black smoke whorled over the trees. William was drawing the black spider farther and farther away from them. No doubt to protect her.  

But then the direction of the smoke and trees changed. The crashing of trees came closer toward them.

“We need to help Kane get Hannah and her father to safety,” Mariah said.

They rushed after Kane to where Hannah and her father lay on the grass. But they did not get there fast enough. Zuto did. And with him came the black spider. 

William flew out of the jungle and landed next to Mariah.  

The black spider cornered Hannah, Kane, and her father against a grove of palm trees, while Zuto stood by with his sword. There was no escape. Drool from the salivating spider dripped onto
Capitaine
Knight. Acid sizzled through his clothes, and he yelped.

“Leave him alone,” Hannah cried. She knelt next to her father.

Blood dripped down her nose, and Mariah was sure her power was spent.

Kane whipped out his dagger from his belt and sliced the man’s jacket while Hannah wrapped her arms around him. Reddened burns marred Knight’s stomach.

Zuto pointed his sword at Kane. “You’ll give the girl and her father to me or I’ll have the spider burn them in acid. ’Twill be a painful death.”

“You’ll have no prize to bring to your god,” Kane said.

Zuto shrugged and patted the spider’s pawing leg as if to calm it. “Easy girl,” he said.

Mariah blanched. The thing was female?

“Your mate will be back soon,” he said.

Kane scanned around them. His men were trying to creep toward them but couldn’t get around the crevice. “Where is the beastie?”

“Taking Natasa someplace safe. ’Tis a time spider. She’ll be thrown into another time. But don’t worry. Those who are not eaten by this girl—” Zuto motioned to the spider “—will be thrown into another time. Never to see each other again.”

As if it heard Zuto’s voice, the white spider crawled out of the crevice, blocking Kane’s men from helping them.

Lark leaned close to Mariah. “Raise your wand and we’ll send that black creature back to hell.”

The black spider unleashed a sticky string and ripped Lark’s wand out of his hand.

Lark yelled. Deep lashes marred his hand.

“Lark,” Mariah cried.

He landed on his knees. “Mariah, stay clear of this creature. Get to the ship.”

She shoved her wand behind her and stepped in front of Lark, determined to protect him from Zuto and his vile spider. His wand, tangled in a sticky substance, dangled from the spider’s underbelly. If only she could utter a spell to retrieve it…

Zuto held each of their gazes as he motioned to Hannah and her father. “Dead or alive,” he said. “It makes no difference to Maketabori. But it does make a difference to
you
.”

William blew fire onto the spider, and it jumped in place, squealing.

“Stay here, stupid beast,” Zuto said. “Maketabori commands you.” 

***

William wanted to burn Zuto alive, the double crossing blackguard.

Mariah patted his back and whispered, “Change to human form. Now.”

He turned his head. How could he defeat the spider in human form? As a dragon, he had a chance.

“Trust me,” Mariah pleaded.

William’s heart pounded, and he wanted to believe her. Kane was cut off from him, and Lark was wounded. And he had barely stayed ahead of spider as a dragon. Now its damn mate was here. How could he defeat them as a man? 

“She’s right. Believe in your love.”

Despite his instincts, William obeyed their plea. Bones crunched and muscles shortened and he transformed. But now he was weary.

Zuto raised his eyebrow. “Defeated so easily?”

William resisted smashing his fist into Zuto’s sneering face.

“Give me your hand,” Mariah said. She reached into her bag and pulled out her athame. Before William could jerk away, she sliced his palm again.

“What the blazes…”

She cut her own hand and clasped his bleeding palm, their blood mingling.

“Mariah—”

“I love you, William. With my whole heart.”

“Good. Say your good-byes, witch,” Zuto taunted. “Now, admit you have lost. And I have won.”