With an exasperated grunt, both of them dropped their hands and took a step away from each other.
“Understood,” Evander replied gruffly, his red eyes giving away his displeasure before he turned and stalked away.
“He’s not coming on my ship,” Eaton spat.
I turned to him, fangs extending while I let my eyes turn from brown to red. “You don’t get to make that call.”
“She’s right. If you can’t set aside your petty grudge, I will remove you and take your ship,” Catherine threatened.
Slowly, Eaton’s eyes returned to their normal hazel color, and he bowed his head to her before straightening and walking away.
Watching him leave, I retracted my fangs.
“You’ll make a good captain,” Catherine observed, then turned on her heal and stalked away.
My attention returned to Jameson, who had stood by during the whole exchange. He shrugged, not agreeing or disagreeing on the matter. I rolled my eyes at him and he just smiled, grabbing my hand and leading me off the ship.
The readying of weapons with my venom went smoothly. When we started, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it ended up being very simple. Jameson, Solomon, and I each had a jar of venom and with every blade, we dunked it into the liquid, then held it above and waited for the excess to drip back into the glass. Once it did, the remainder seemed to almost seep into the dagger, making sure no venom was wasted and leaving a dull sheen on the blade.
After we fortified everyone’s weapons and the ship was loaded, we set sail once again. The locals had told us there was nothing more to find on the string of islands we currently navigated. With their word, we set our course for the next section.
We made our way through the islands at a quick pace, finding evidence of vampire activity at the next string of islands. We were closing in on them. Everyone remained on high alert as we drew closer, following the obvious trail of destruction they had left behind. At first, I wondered why the route was so clear, but then I realized that Prime wanted us to find him.
About midmorning, one of our smaller scouting ships returned with news. Prime and his fleet had been spotted. They were anchored in the large bay of an island, east of our current position. A thrill skittered down my spine.
We were close.
The battle to end Prime and protect this world would soon be under way.
Everyone was tense as we slowly made our way to where Prime had been seen. Sleep was difficult, but it was needed. The only time I seemed to be able to get any rest was when Jameson was holding me against him and I had his dagger in my hand. Dreams plagued me, but not the kind that Prime had once pulled me into. These were nightmares, in which I saw all my loved ones dying before my eyes, while I could do nothing to stop it.
I was powerful, but even with all of that power, I was helpless.
The morning dawned when we would finally meet Prime in battle. We planned to engage him on two fronts, by land and by sea. Those on the smaller ships would attack by land, while the bigger ships with the biggest cannons would attack by sea. Solomon would lead the ground forces and Catherine would lead the sea.
We had laced all of the daggers with my venom, and we had almost equal parts vampire and hunters. The vampires would incapacitate the enemy, so the hunters could come and stab those that fell. It was a simple plan, and I hoped that it would be enough.
Our main group, which would head to land with Solomon, included Ruth, Evander, Jameson, and me. Prime’s ship was spotted in the dock, and it was most important we found him as quickly as possible. The longer it took for us to kill him, the longer the battle would last, and the more lives would be lost.
Alice was still on bedrest, but even if she wasn’t, none of us would have let her enter the fight with the small life growing inside her. Henry was assigned to assist Catherine’s ship, so he could stay close to Alice while still being able to help. Saying goodbye to them was harder than I expected it to be, and I had to turn away before tears trailed down my cheeks.
“We’ll see them again,” Jameson reminded me, but unlike before, his words weren’t reassuring.
Once all of the goodbyes were finished, we separated into our groups and the ships parted ways. My natural instincts told me we were doing the right thing, but the humanity in me was struck with fear. I called on my darkness, letting its power seep into every facet of my body until most of my humanity was blocked.
We watched the other ships make their way toward the opposite side of the island. There was no turning back. We would be spotted soon, if we hadn’t been already, and the battle would begin.
“I love you,” Jameson vowed, wrapping his arms around me. “Whatever happens, remember that.”
I grinned, the only semblance of a smile I’d been able to muster over the past several days. “I know,” I answered, using what he had said to me when we last battled Prime.
His green eyes sparked as heat gathered in them. Leaning down, he captured my lips with his own. I drew closer, wrapping my arms around his shoulders in an effort to keep him against me, but all too soon, a throat cleared.
“We’ll be there soon,” Evander informed us awkwardly. “Have you reached out to the Sea Witch, Lavinia?”
“No.”
“Why don’t you do so now, and let her know that we are about to engage Prime.”
“Evander, what…?” My words faltered as I tried to understand. He wasn’t making any sense. The Sea Witch made it very clear that she couldn’t interfere.
“Just trust me,” he added, then motioned for Jameson to follow him.
Perplexed, I watched them walk some distance away, never leaving my line of sight. Turning back to the sea, I let out an exasperated breath, while mentally cursing Evander’s timing. With another sigh, my eyes closed, and I cleared my mind. I called up the memory of how talking to her felt, what it had felt like being in her presence, and the raw power that she emanated. When I had a solid grasp on that, I called out her name.
“I wondered when you’d reach out to me,” a voice spoke in my mind.
I sucked in a breath, not having expected her to answer at all. “I didn’t know I needed to.”
“I told you to call out to me if you had a need. I know you are drawing closer to the final battle. While I cannot directly help, I will do what I can from afar. When you reach the land and set your eyes on Prime, say my name to the wind, then look to the horizon.”
“What? What are you talking about? What do you mean?”
There was no reply.
Turning, I set my gaze on the green-eyed vampire. His eyes widened, looking rightfully frightened as I started toward him. “What the hell was that?”
“What was what?” he asked, taking a step back, his eyes widening even further.
“Talk,” I spat as Jameson wrapped an arm around my waist, preventing me from advancing any further toward Evander.
“When we were in the Obsidian Caves, the Sea Witch spoke to me.”
I frowned, remembering her speaking only a few sentences to Evander about how his good deeds would count for something when the time came. Evander lifted a finger when he noticed my confusion and pointed at his temple.
“Ahh,” I added, with sudden understanding.
“She said to remind you to reach out to her, and I would know when the time was right,” he informed warily.
I nodded while Jameson let go of my waist.
“What did she say?” Evander asked while taking a step closer, his curiosity winning over his fear of my wrath from his secret.
“She said when we reach land and I set eyes on Prime to speak her name, then look to the horizon,” I replied.
“What does that mean?” Jameson asked while wrapping his arm around my shoulders.
“I don’t know exactly. She expressed she couldn’t help directly, but she would do what she could from afar,” I explained, then leaned my head against Jameson’s chest.
“Well, it could be worse. She could have refused to hel
p at all,” Evander pointed out, rubbing the back of his neck.
“We can use all of the help we can get,” Solomon agreed, having watched and heard the whole exchange from his position at the helm. Turning, he took us in with a ghost of a smile on his lips before returning his attention forward. “We will enter the bay soon. I suggest you prepare.”
With those words, we were brought back to the present and the imminent battle we all faced.
Chapter 17
As our group separated, we rounded the bend that stretched before us. Ships were anchored all over, so many that it was difficult to count them all, but there was only one I needed to confirm for myself was still present.
Prime’s ship was one of three docked at the port. Its sails were now the color of crimson while the pirate flag flew on the mast, flapping in the wind. Glancing around at the others in the bay, I could see movement on the ships we were approaching. None of them were in firing range yet, and I hoped Catherine’s ships would be in position before we got much closer.
I squinted my eyes at the dock, hoping to spot Prime somewhere near his ship. When I didn’t see him, my gaze began searching the beach and the buildings further back. Finally, I caught sight of his gleaming red eyes as he stood sentry at the base of a lookout post. I knew the exact moment his eyes found mine. My jaw clenched, letting my own eyes change to red as I remembered the Sea Witch’s instructions.
Tearing my gaze from Prime’s, I whispered her name into the ocean breeze before promptly glancing at the horizon behind Prime’s ships. Nothing happened for several long moments and I opened my mouth to say her name again, but a disruption in the water gave me pause. Oversized tentacles burst from the depths of the sea, smashing the ship nearest to us into splinters.
The Sea Witch had sent her kraken.
“What was that?” Evander came from around the corner, having missed the initial attack.
“Our present from the Sea Witch.” I didn’t have to explain further. The kraken’s tentacles were moving through the water at a surprising speed for its size, causing waves to ripple all the way to shore. The beast had found its next target, and I heard the shouts from Prime’s men as captains ordered the cannons to point in the opposite direction of our vessels.
The kraken had provided the distraction we needed to get on land safely, and without interference from the opposing vampires. I sent my gratitude to the Sea Witch but received no response. We were on our own once again.
There were several spots open in the port, and Solomon pulled our ship into the last one. My eyes searched for Prime again, but he had already disappeared. In what direction, I wasn’t certain, but I knew he would find us. Because of the dream he captured me in, I knew he needed me for his twisted plans, and I would use that to my advantage if I could.
Before our ship fully stopped, Jameson and I were already moving for the rope ladders. When I peeked over the rail before throwing the ladder, a vampire was grinning up at us.
“Come here, Lass. I won’t bite. Hard.”
Shuddering, I glanced at Jameson, wondering what we should do, but before I could ask, Evander moved. Without pause, he lifted his dagger and threw it at the vampire. The blade stuck in his shoulder, and I held my breath, wondering what would happen.
The vampire’s sinister laugh reached us. “Did ye really think that would—”
His words cut off as his filthy face contorted in pain. His hands desperately grasped for the blade, but it was too late. His body began to disintegrate before our eyes.
“Well, at least we know your venom works.” Evander shrugged before tossing the ladder over.
The instinct to punch him for doubting our plan was strong, but I let it go. All that mattered was that we knew all the work we had done to fortify the blades wasn’t for nothing.
Evander went down the rope first. I followed, with Jameson right behind me, and several others came after him. Solomon led another small group down the opposite end of the vessel. We were to meet in front before splitting up once more.
When my feet hit the water, Evander was just pulling his dagger from the sand, inspecting the blade. “The sheen looks strong. Hopefully the venom will hold for several more vampires.”
Jameson stepped next to me. “Even one is more than most would have been able to kill on their own.”
“You’re right. I didn’t mean to show doubt. It’s more curiosity and surprise that there is something besides magic from the Sea Witch that can kill a vampire,” Evander said.
“Technically, my venom is from the Sea Witch.” My shoulders eased at his admission. I didn’t like feeling as if someone we trusted doubted me, but his explanation made perfect sense. Evander often seemed to look deeper, beyond the surface, and it shouldn’t have alarmed me that he was curious about my venom.
When everyone in our group was off the ship, we moved as one toward the dock, and I was thankful to Ruth’s seamstress who had made me custom trousers. They were made from thick linen, with two lined pockets on each side, along with a tight loop that held Jameson’s dagger. He had insisted I use it during the fight while he stayed armed with two venom-laced blades.
When our two groups merged together, Solomon was rigid. My first instinct was to reach out to him, but I hesitated. Then, I realized I had no idea if I would see him again once we parted, and there was no point in holding back any longer. He needed to be certain that I had forgiven him since our shared moment on the beach, even if I hadn’t said the words out loud.
My arms wrapped around him, uncaring as to the others who stood mere feet from us. It took him a second, but he followed my movements, and I felt his shoulders relax against my touch.
“It’s going to be all right, Dad.”
He pulled back with a shimmer in his eye and rested his forehead against mine. “Thank you.”
Our moment lasted several seconds longer before we both moved away. I hadn’t called him “Dad” since seeing him again, and doing so then felt right. Even though we weren’t alone, it had been just what we needed to finally put the past behind us.
When I stepped next to Jameson, he wrapped his arm around me and placed a soft kiss to the side of my head. I knew he was just as happy as I was to see me fully forgive the only father that really mattered to me.
Commotion from behind us broke the silence. Turning around, I saw the kraken dive under the water, leaving behind a trail of blood.
“It’s up to Catherine and her crew now,” Solomon stated, and I heard Evander hiss behind me.
I imagined it was hurting him to know he wasn’t there for her during the biggest battle of their lives, but I appreciated that he had stuck to the plan to assist with Prime. Evander knew him best out of all of us, and we needed him if we wanted the best chance at success.
Solomon went over the plan one last time. His group was going to go up and around the buildings in an attempt to block Prime in, as long as he was where we hoped. Evander seemed certain he would be somewhere he could see what was happening all around him. The lookout post he’d been under was the perfect spot, but didn’t him give him much cover. We’d start searching the buildings nearest to it, beginning with the tallest ones, and spread out from there if we didn’t find him.
Jameson and Evander took the lead alongside me, while the rest of our crew followed closely to watch our backs. We could only hope Prime didn’t keep disappearing on us, but one way or another, this would all be over soon.
Before we separated, Jameson pulled away from the group. “If something happens to me, I need you to promise me that you’ll leave with Evander. Find a way to the mainland and hide. Don’t let Prime get his hands on you. He’ll be unstoppable if he can force your power out.”
My hands cupped his cheeks. “Leaving you will never be an option for me, and I would sooner die than let Prime use me, so we either both leave together, or we don’t make it out of here. Those are the only two options I see for us.”
His head shook. “I don’t like it.”
“Neither do I, but it’s the life we’ve been given, and we have to hope that fate is on our side today.”
His arms wrapped around me in a tight embrace and I savored the moment, but I wasn’t afraid. I knew what was meant to be would happen. If our lives were forfeited today, it would be for a greater purpose, and I was fine with that as long as where Jameson went, so did I.
When the groups were finally separated and began moving with purpose, I pulled our dagger free from its place on my trousers and readied myself. My eyes never stopped moving as we stalked across the sand. Vampires skittered up ahead of us, but they were being smarter than I anticipated.
The few I spotted seemed to be prepared for our arrival instead of acting without thought. I didn’t expect them to have a plan. Most of Prime’s crew had seemed to act erratically when I last encountered them, and the fact that they were now moving with determination threw doubt into my head.
Taking a moment to myself, I called on the darkness once more. It was ready and waiting to lash out when requested. Waves of nearly overwhelming power pulsed through me as I channeled it into my hands and my blade. My muscles clenched with the need to attack, but we had a plan and needed to stick to it, especially if Prime was one step ahead of us.
“We need to split up,” Evander whispered. “They’re going to try and separate us anyway if we don’t move in quickly with our attack.”
“How do you know?” Jameson countered.
Evander pointed. “Two heads keep popping out from behind that wall, and three more are hiding in the entryway of the building directly in front of us. If we continue together on the path we’re on, they’ll have the advantage.”
Glancing around, I realized he was right. I couldn’t see the ones in the building, but I saw the two on the side and knew I had seen a few more head in the opposite direction. Evander suggested our next course of action and nobody disagreed.
Jameson and I continued down the path alone while Evander and the others behind us split into two groups of three. As long as there weren’t more vampires hiding within the building, we wouldn’t run into any problems.
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