A Pirate's Revenge (Legends of the Soaring Phoenix) (8 page)

Mariah put her hand on his arm. “Please listen to her.”

Mariah took the chain, and before he could argue, placed it over his head. Her sweet breath brushed onto his cheeks, and inhaling her flowery scent, his muscles relaxed. The jade stone lay against his chest, warming him, soothing the tension, and soreness gripping him.

He clasped the stone. “What exactly will this stone do?”

“Your dragon is angry,” Morgana said. “When you transform, the stone will calm the beast, and you can control it. If you take it off, your beast will be in control, and all who you love will be at the mercy of a raging dragon.”

“We learned how not to kill when we fed, William,” Kane said. “You’ll be able to do the same.”

How could a small stone keep his dragon from murdering people? He needed to run away and find someplace where no humans lived, where no demons dwelt, and where no one would be in danger.

“If you retreat,” Morgana said. “Natasa will find you and control you.”

At the name Natasa, Solstice growled, baring her teeth.

William lifted his eyebrow. “Natasa?”

“
Oui
,” Morgana said. “She is coming, looking for you.”

Kane stood, put his palms on the table, and leaned toward Morgana. “Speak plain. Who is Natasa?”

“I will show you,” Morgana said. She closed her eyes, lowered her head and murmured a French chant.

“
Grand-mère
,” Mariah gasped. “No.” Her face paled, and her violet eyes rounded.

William clasped her hand, and she squeezed it tight. He could feel her trembling. “What are you doing, witch?”

The flickering fire dimmed, the warmth vanishing. Black smoke swirled out of the cauldron. William cringed at the stench. He exhaled and could see his breath.

“What’s happening?” Ronan demanded. He grabbed his forehead. “I feel dizzy.”

Morgana opened her eyes. “Evil is a sickness.” She pointed at the fireplace. “Look.”

Solstice snarled, staring at the flames, her hair standing on end.

A pair of red eyes peered out of the smoke. The smoke churned into different colors of red, black, and white and whirled around the glowing eyes until a lass’s face formed. As the air turned colder, the face became clearer and sharper. Flaming red hair highlighted her white skin and ruby lips. She was beautiful, but evil reflected in her eyes.

The air seemed to be sucked out of the room, and William labored to breathe. A hand squeezed his heart, and fear penetrated deep into his soul. 

“So, you’ve summoned me, Morgana? Your powers are waning, shriveled witch,” the lass said. “Death is around the corner.”

Natasa pointed at William. He had the sensation of a fingernail scraping down the back of his neck, and he glanced over his shoulder to see who was behind him. No one. He held the demon lass’s gaze and refused to look away. She tried to instill fear in him, and damn, ’twas working.

Mariah choked on a sob.

William gripped her hand harder. She clutched him tight, her hand shaking.

“Silence,” Morgana barked at Mariah.

Natasa glared at Mariah. “So, this is your granddaughter. I can feel your power, girl. But you’re no match for me.”

“Leave her alone,” William growled.

Natasa laughed. “Ah, yes, the dragon. Soon you shall both be under my power.”

Morgana clapped her hands. With a loud pop, the fire roared. Nastasa snarled, her red eyes dimmed. “You’ll not dismiss me so easily. I’ll—”

But the flickering flames smothered away her hateful voice. The fire snapped. Darkness blanketed them. As chills ran up William’s spine, he strained to hear the demon’s foul voice. But there was nothing.

Mariah leaned close. He released her hand and draped his arm around her quaking shoulders.

Someone clapped. The fire ignited in the hearth.Warmth returned into the brick room. Morgana burned sage, the sweet smell lifting William’s spirits. 

Curious faces stared at William and Mariah. All except Ronan. His glare could have stabbed William’s heart.

Mariah’s face reddened, and she wiggled away from William.

Morgana coughed, her face growing pale.

Mariah wrapped her arms around her. “
Grand-mère.
”

Morgana waved her hand. “I am fine,
chérie
.” She clutched her fist to her chest. “Just a little weak. My heart’s not as strong as it used to be.” 

Jonas hung his head. “I am afraid ’tis true, child.” He sniffed and rubbed the crease between his eyes. “Your
Grand-mère
has foreseen her death.”

Mariah cupped her mouth and shook her head.

“You know ’tis true,
mon chou
.” Morgana hacked and cleared her throat. “You heard what Natasa said. I have a year, maybe two left.”

Tears welled in Mariah’s eyes, and William wanted to pull her into his arms, shielding her from the pain of losing someone she obviously loved dearly. 

A telltale muscle in Kane’s jaw fluttered, and his eyes blackened. He pulled out a pistol, aimed it at the fireplace. “It smells like burnt flesh. How the bloody hell could that demon get in here? I thought you said dark magic couldn’t penetrate this room.”

“
Oui
,” Morgana said. “It cannot. You have nothing to be afraid of,
Capitaine
. You were never in danger.”

“I never said I was afraid,” Kane growled.

William bit back a smile. Not every day an old woman accused his big brother of being a coward. Kane glowered at him.  

“You should all be wary,” Morgana said. “You are going into danger again,
Capitaine
.”

“I don’t need a history lesson,” Kane grumbled as he shoved the pistol back into his belt.

Morgana clasped Mariah’s hand. “
Mon chou
, you are the one who possesses the power to save your brother.”

“You are much more powerful than I am,” Mariah said. “I have never gone up against a demon.”

“Two demons,” William corrected, his voice soft and foreboding.

“Baw!” Morgana said. “You underestimate her,
garçon
. She is not going to be doing this alone. You have more power in you than you realize. ’Tis why the demons want you.”

“I am not going to be their bloody pet,” William said.

“You shall not be their pet if you combine your powers with my granddaughter’s,” Morgana said, pride boasting from the last word. “I’ve grown old these past years fighting the dark forces in our world. My life force is waning and stripping me of my power.” She put her gnarled hands on Mariah’s face. “But,
mon chérie,
yours is strong.”

William wanted to throttle the daft crone. “Against two demons? You’re sending your granddaughter to her death.”

Solstice barked, as if to argue with him. What was it with that dog? Could familiars read human minds?

“You have no faith,
garçon
,” Morgana said. “Only the two of you together can hope to defeat Natasa.”

“No,
Grand-mère
, we need you. You are the only one who can get Lark back.”

Morgana’s eyes glistened, and she blinked. “I have felt Lark’s pain these past few months and cursed that I could do nothing. The black magic is too strong. He is under a powerful spell, a spell I cannot break from this island.”

“He’s wearin’ a
yari,
a choker from Coaybay.” Ronan said. “Zuto gave it to Palmer. He forces Lark to do his biddin’. When he refuses…” Ronan tightened his lips and turned his head. “He’s been fightin’ it. I swear he has.”

Mariah could see the desperation in Ronan’s face, and the determination in her
grand-mère’s
eyes. She bit her trembling lower lip to mask her fear. “
Grand-mère
, I do not possess your power. If I fail, my brother could lose his soul.”

Kane leaned back in his chair, the lines in his forehead deepening. “If he loses his soul, will he be a danger to my ship and my crew?”

“
Oui
, warlocks swear their allegiance to a demon, and in return, gain more power,” Mariah said. “
Grand-mère
has many gifts. I do not.” She turned to her
grand-mère
. “This is why you have to save Lark.”   

“Bah,” Morgana said. “True, I have a strong gift of sight. You,
mon chérie
, were blessed with not only my blood but also the blood of your ancestors. Your power’s potent and more than enough to defeat Natasa and Zuto.”

’Twas Sharon all over again. William didn’t want to lose Mariah like he had his beloved wife. Sharon had faced an adversary, her older brother, and trusted she’d be able to defeat him, trusted she could reason with him, trusted he wouldn’t harm her. A mistake that had cost her life. “She stays here,” William said.

Mariah glared. “I shall not abandon my brother.”

“You are a fool, dragon,” Morgana said. “You cannot defeat Zuto and Natasa without my Mariah. The demons are still bent on capturing
Captaine
Knight and his daughter.”

“Never!” Kane kicked his chair to the floor. Fierceness reflected in his eyes. He’d die protecting his woman.

Yes. Bring them to Zuto.

William glanced at everyone to see if they’d heard the voice. Morgana gave him a curious look, but sipped her tea and said nothing. Where had the voice come from? He wanted to ask her, but then Kane would want to know what the voice said. How could he tell Kane that someone was urging him to kidnap the woman Kane loved and bring her to a demon? He frowned. He recognized the voice. ’Twas the same one from the dream. 

Morgana put down her cup. “They are both on board your ship,
oui.
” ’Twas more a statement than a question.

Kane didn’t answer her, and William and the rest of the men remained silent.

Morgana snorted and turned to Mariah. “To ease your burden, I have prepared crystals, herbs, and stones to help you on your quest.” She handed her the black bag. “You must take this with you. Trust in your abilities.” She gripped Mariah’s arm. “Never doubt yourself, or you shall be at the mercy of Natasa.” 

“No,” William said. “We’ll find a way to defeat Zuto and Natasa without endangering her.”

“Mariah’s the only chance you have,” Morgana insisted. “Hear me, dragon.” She pointed a crippled finger at him. “You possess hidden powers.”

The hairs on the back of William’s neck stood on end. “What powers?”

“Dragon powers differ from one beast to another and cannot be forced out. Mariah shall guide you.”

“I don’t need a governess.”

Morgana picked up her cane and smacked it on the table. “Listen, you young fool.”

William flinched and thought she might whack him over the head with it.

“If Mariah isn’t there to guide you, you will be vulnerable to turning to the other side,” Morgana warned. “Zuto cast this dragon spell on you for a reason. I do not know why, but I know ’tis not good.”

“Aye.” Ronan nodded. “’Tis for some evil purpose. Palmer’s drunk with power. All he needs now is a dragon to control.”

“He doesn’t have me yet,” William said.

The fire flickered again. A wind blew inside the locked room, and cold air chased away the warmth. William’s hair swirled in front of his face, and his skin pricked across his naked chest. He shivered.

Kane and his men’s eyes glowed red. “Bloody hell,” Kane swore.

A strong pungent smell of death hung in the air.

“I will bring them, Master.”

The voice. It communicated with Zuto?
No, you will not,
William vowed to himself.

“
We shall see.”

The wind died down. The fire burned brighter, and a log exploded, ash flying into the room. Sparks flew onto the rug and fell onto the dog. Solstice yelped and ran across the room, her nails clicking on the floor. Kane and Ronan stomped on the burning sparks with their boots. 

“
Oui
,” Morgana said. “Zuto visited us.”

“You summoned him,” Kane said as he whipped out his sword.

Morgana laughed. “Relax,
Capitaine
. He cannot penetrate this room.”

Kane slid the sword back into its sheath. “But—” 

“He is gone,” Morgana said. “He was not here to challenge or hurt us. Not yet anyway. I suspect he has another purpose. One I cannot fathom.” She gave William a hard stare as if he had promised Zuto his soul.

“Be careful with him,” Morgana said. “He has a plan and will stop at nothing.” She closed her eyes and shook her head. “I cannot see his plan. I sense his anger, much anger. Hate. His Lord and Master blames all of you, and he is holding Zuto accountable for not bringing back Hannah and her father. Zuto is cunning, more cunning than the devil himself. Be careful, all of you. I fear before ’tis over, he will offer one of you a temptation that could lead down a dark path.”