by Lexi Ostrow
Before any could argue Eliza launched back into the explanation of the submersible. “Now for the actual mechanics of the submersible. There will be three viewing windows inside the ship. One in front for navigation and two on the sides. The closer to Hell you get, the more important it becomes to watch the side viewers for oncoming demons. We know they are down there, and based on the attack this morning, Seraphina knows we are coming somehow. My mate will communicate with you in the dark of night once you are close to the geographic marker. Using a system of air release pressure gauges, he will allow the submersible to rise. The ship has many chambers that fill and release air. It is this that will change the weight of the ship and allow it to move about in a vertical fashion. To do this, some chambers connect, via gears throughout the length of the ship, leading to a nozzle. Twist the proper nozzle, and the desired effect will occur.”
She was pointing at the chambers on the side of the submersible as she spoke, and Jacob felt the beginning of a head pain coming on. He was not one for the sciences, and Eliza was using seamlessly understandable terms, he just couldn’t focus hard enough to follow.
“Is there any portion of this ship that’s going to make sense to someone who looks at it and see’s an eel-like creature with beams of light and a top hat?” Felicia groaned.
Eliza barked out a laugh and raised her hand to her mouth. “I’m sorry, but no, Felicia. I know how little you care for inventions beyond Fido.” Eliza went back to circling the bow of the drawing. “Now, you’ll notice the lights coming off of the ship in various locales. These are the crystals. There are a series of cogs and gears, like in our steam bikes, and the steam engines the rail uses, which are perpetually moving. These will produce the desired heating effect, both keeping the ship a proper temperature, so you don’t freeze, and causing the beams to come from the crystals.”
“Ah…won’t that create a bit of a mishap?” Philippe scratched the back of his head.
“No, we ran tests, and whilst I hate saying this aloud, we know now our guns do not work in water. They will produce the needed light, though.” Eliza smiled at Philippe. “I must admit, I’m impressed you thought of that. Not to say you are unintelligent, just that last time none of you were focused on anything except falling from the sky.”
Philippe gave her a sad, twisted, half smile. “Just Kellan.”
No one said anything, and Eliza cleared her throat before continuing, “As for motion,” she pointed to the stern of the drawn ship. “It has a rudder that is controlled the same as any ordinary ship. The trick with this is to be certain never to unhinge the lid whilst underwater. If there is no dry space in the cave, well, the mission is over. There was nothing we could configure to keep an area free of the water if opened.”
The concept made perfect sense to Jacob and looking at the drawing, he felt a pang of regret that he would not get to see the vessel from the inside. He knew he should be grateful, the ship was nothing more than an oblong can with a rudder and some strange lighting he knew nothing of, but not being able to see it because he was not a legitimate member of the Alliance stung.
The buzzchime of a communicator rang out, and Odette gasped as she grabbed her wrist to answer it. Her voice was a rushed whisper as she spoke to whoever was reaching out.
“This isn’t the time. I am in the streets,” she hissed.
“There has been an attack. Directly on the guild, ma’am. Please, you must come back. We have wounded. We don’t know if anything was seen on the outside, but Imps got in and took us off guard.”
The crackly voice was not one Jacob recognized.
Odette’s eyes grew round with terror, and Philippe grabbed her hand.
“Do you need me to stay?”
Odette gave a fierce shake of her head. “Too few people last time got my father killed. Having Layel will help, but I will not take someone else off the mission. Say your goodbyes now, Thomas will be protected at all costs Felicia, I give you my word.”
Felicia gave a clipped nod of the head and pulled her husband in for a deep kiss. Lucius and Philippe did much of the same with Eliza and Odette, and once again, Jacob felt the discomfort of McKenna’s stare on him.
“Fair winds and following seas. Go bring Kellan home,” Odette said with fire in her eyes and ice in her tone.
As one, they nodded, and the group journeying to Hell picked their bags back up and walked to the ship.
Ten
The warm, salty air whipped through her loose hair, and McKenna inhaled a deep breath as she looked over the side of the beautiful sailing ship. Contrary to the stories she had heard, the sky had yet to drown them in rain, and no sea creatures, demons or otherwise, had attacked them. The water was still, aside from the churning of the boat’s rudder creating small little waves behind them. Her eyes scanned the horizon, looking for any sign of Lucius and the submersible. There wasn’t any.
They had attempted communications the first day of the journey, only to find that a ship filled with sailors was not conducive to the element of secrecy they needed. Six days into their journey and none of them had spoken to Lucius, although he and Philippe had a standing arrangement every other night for Lucius to surface just the periscope at half past two in the morning. So far Lucius hadn’t missed a check-in, and McKenna, for one, was grateful. According to Jacob, who had met with the captain the first day, they had approximately three weeks of travel before reaching the coordinates where he believed they were mining for a sunken ship and its loot.
Felicia had spent the better part of the week getting her “sea legs” as the men called them. McKenna was just grateful she hadn’t experienced the debilitating illness herself. Felicia had been cranky and unable to train with her. Which had left her the preference of being in the company of a man betrothed to another, a ship full of horny sailors, or Jacob. Philippe hadn’t been an option, but she had tried to speak with the sailors. They were filled with lewd comments, not unlike many of the hunters, but they also had too many questions that she couldn’t answer. Which had left only Jacob for company.
She’d been hesitant to reach out to him at first and had only done so under the premise of a training session late one eve when most of the sailors were in bed. She wasn’t certain if he was more at home on the ship, or if he was training with Philippe as well, but his sparring had been much better. Jacob held much more physical strength than she did, but she was slippery. Prior to that, he’d never been able to hold her still. The session was successful, and she was slightly more convinced he would be useful in a fight if he continued to grow as he had. It was also the first time they had been alone together that they had not resorted to touching one another—aside from blows during their match.
McKenna had honestly hated it, that they had not stolen scandalous touches. But, she knew he felt she was dangerous, and that she was beneath him. So, it was safer for her heart and her body if she did not give into the tempting dreams she had of the bastard prince. It hadn’t grown easier, though.
Every day they had met for training, and most recently, they’d had afternoon tea together. Her opinion on his general character had not changed. Jacob was still a self-entitled Royal. However, he was kind and seemingly as well studied in literature as Eliza was in mathematics. He was stunning to look upon and rarely had a bad word to say about anyone, despite the way the men treated him, since he was not his brother, and it was his brother’s ship.
She was growing fonder of him; all the whilst, her body grew desperate for him. The leering eyes of the sailors had disgusted her, but when she’d caught Jacob staring at her in the same fashion two days back, she had been unable to think of anything but being indecent with him.
“Are you ready?” Felicia asked as she stepped up to the railing and looked out over it as well.
McKenna looked sideways at the woman next to her. Almost a year before, she would have given anything to be in her presence. Now, after watching her and training with her, Felicia was just another woman to her. Albeit, on
e she admired greatly, but just a woman nonetheless.
“Don’t you think they find it odd, the sailors, that we spar together?”
Felicia shrugged her shoulders. “I haven’t the foggiest what they were and weren’t told. For all they know, we are spies for the Crown with skills to help with the wreckage. Either way, are you ready?”
McKenna nodded. She pulled a long teal ribbon from her breeches waistband and quickly secured her hair behind her head so that it wouldn’t get in her eyes whilst they practiced. Felicia still wore the garb of a hunter—corseted top and skirt—because she said it helped her feel in touch with who she was and changing her outfit would likely lead to hampering her skills.
A fist shot out towards her face whilst McKenna was still contemplating the differences in their attire.
“Umph,” she groaned as she dodged sideways at the final moment and twisted her back in a manner that it did not enjoy.
Immediately, she swiped her left foot out, attempting to catch Felicia’s ankle and knock her down. Unfortunately, Felicia anticipated the move and countered by swinging a wide arc with her hand and landing a punch to McKenna’s shoulder. Narrowing her eyes, McKenna jabbed out three times in rapid succession, connecting with Felicia’s lower abdomen on the second and third hit.
Felicia lunged forward, her nails raking across McKenna’s cheek. McKenna hissed and shot her hand out, grabbing onto Felicia’s arm, so she could not do it again. With a harsh twist, she spun Felicia around and attempted to put her arm in a lock. Felicia’s leg kicked backward in the same instant, and McKenna lost her grip from the painful contact to her kneecap.
As it always did when she fought, the world around her began to fade out. All that remained was a single-minded focus on Felicia. There was a deadness in Felicia’s eyes, and a cold smile on her lips. Felicia kicked, and her foot slammed into McKenna’s stomach with such a force, she pitched backward.
“Focus, McKenna,” Felicia snapped.
“What in the bloody hell do you think I was doing?” she growled back and threw herself in Felicia’s direction.
Together, they tumbled to the floor, and McKenna barely managed to grip Felicia’s shoulders and force her to the deck. Instinct took her, and she straddled the other woman, landing three punches to Felicia’s face before she felt herself being tossed backwards. McKenna’s back slammed into the wooden deck and pain ricocheted through her body. Her eyes shut, and she shook her head, trying to force the pain back.
A mistake.
Felicia’s hands wrapped around McKenna’s neck tightly. Following procedure, McKenna bucked her hips, trying to throw the other hunter off. Her kneecap banged into Felicia’s back, and for a second, the grip on her throat loosened, then tightened again. Squirming back and forth on the deck, McKenna could feel things beginning to grow hazy. If she didn’t tap Felicia’s hands with her own, it was unlikely Felicia would know McKenna was losing too much air.
She clawed at Felicia’s hands, desperation forcing her actions, and in an instant, Felicia released McKenna and stood up. Blood dripped from Felicia’s nose, and McKenna could feel sections of her body were stinging and likely bleeding as well.
Felicia didn’t bother to wipe the blood from her nose, just extended a hand down to help McKenna up. Tentatively, McKenna laced her fingers through Felicia’s and allowed herself to be pulled up. As both women were recovering their balance, the ship pitched far right and sent both of them slamming into the side rail.
McKenna’s heart beat so quickly in her chest, she thought she might faint as the top of her body teetered over the edge of the ship. Her foot slipped, launching her chest into the railing and slamming her head into the side. Pain rang through her body, and she cursed.
“Bloody hell,” Felicia growled and grabbed McKenna’s arm to help her not fall over. “I swear to all that is holy, if I find out Lucius fell asleep and rammed the bloody ship, I will kill him.”
McKenna’s thoughts echoed the sentiment quite profusely; it was near sunset and quite a possibility that Lucius nodded off. Nightmare Demons might very well be the most powerful demons next to the angel species, but they had a terrible weakness.
Queasiness crept into her stomach, and McKenna forcefully pushed away from the railing and slammed into a person behind her. Hands grabbed onto her shoulders to stop her from falling, and she flinched as pain flared up from an injury from sparring.
I need to work on my balance. I’m going to be the death of a mission if people are always helping me, McKenna thought as whoever had stabilized her was turning her to face them. She wasn’t certain whom she was expecting but staring straight into Jacob’s blue eyes shocked her.
His face went from emotionless to angry as he took in her appearance. “What happened to you?” his words were clipped, his jaw riddled with tension.
“I did,” Felicia said as she finally used her sleeve to wipe the blood from her nose and her lip. “We were practicing. Something you and Philippe have been rather lax on, and we are counting down the days.”
McKenna’s breath held as she watched anger shift to rage in Jacob’s eyes. His fists clenched and unclenched, and then he did something she didn’t see coming. He extended his hand to her, and his face softened to one of concern.
“Come with me, McKenna. Let me clean you up,” his voice was soothing.
She almost slipped her hand into his.“I do not think that would be appropriate. These men tolerate our antics, but I believe if we were to retire to your chambers alone, it would stir questions.”
His eyes didn’t leave hers, even for an instant. “Let them ask their questions.”
Jacob grabbed her hand, and McKenna sucked in a breath as the motion jerked her arm just enough to cause pain from when she’d been hit. She bit her cheek to stop from crying out.
“Go with him, McKenna. I need to tend to myself, and I can take care of my own. Let him help. You might have a shoulder dislocated, I slammed you down rather hard,” Felicia said as she picked up her skirt so it did not trail on the deck and walked toward the stairs that lead to the cabin they shared below deck.
Her stomach twisted. Jacob had not let go of her hand, and his eyes were pleading with her to come. They had been alone together plenty, and she did need to be looked at. Yet, something was holding her back, something that felt inherently wrong about stepping into the chambers of the only man she’d ever really desired.
His heart was beating slower, waiting for her to step just one foot towards him. She stood in the same bloody spot staring at him as if he was the one who’d injured her. Anger crawled just below his skin, and he wanted to scratch it away, but he couldn’t.
For a week, he’d spent cordial time in McKenna’s company, and it had unlocked more feelings than he’d been prepared to deal with. Especially seeing her, bloody and ashen faced. She still terrified him in the sense that she was physically his better at many things. She also intrigued him in a way no other female ever had. She made him want to unlock her secrets and care about what happens the next morning.
Jacob didn’t flit from bed to bed, he had flirted with the idea of courting many women, but he was not quick to abandon them after bedding them. With McKenna, he wanted to bed her over and over again, simply to wake up to the bright smile in her crystal blue eyes.
Eyes that he finally recognized.
A desperate urge to protect her, stronger than the one he’d just experienced at seeing her hurt rolled over him. As she stared at him, confusion warring with need in her own expression, he finally remembered her. McKenna had been his serving girl for a time, half a decade before when he was just coming into his and his father’s gifts. She’d been the one to care for him one night when he’d gotten piss faced and forgotten himself. How could he not have remembered what kissing her felt like?
You were a sloppy, intoxicated man and practically pounced on her. He frowned at the thought, it wasn’t much different from the two times he’d touched her recently.
“McKe
nna, please.” He blinked and fought back a wave of emotion that was lively enough that it threatened to bring him to his knees. “Let me take care of you. Let me wash your wounds and see to your injuries. I know you have feelings for me. I remember, McKenna. I can’t believe I ever forgot. But your injuries need tending.”
Delicately, his hand touched her cheek, and her head tilted slightly to the side, leaning into the caress. The need to protect her, to heal her and to bed her fought for control as she slipped her hand into his.
“You remember.”
“I remember.”
His admission was scarcely audible over the sound of the wind, but she smiled. Without waiting for her to change her mind, he led her in the direction of the stairs. The boat rocked gently as he walked in front of her, s and he braced himself, should she be pitched forward. They walked through the shared quarters lined with the sailor’s hammocks, and the area was practically as empty and smelly as ever. At the back were three quarters to be used for merchant guests, and he wondered briefly if he should have his brother look into moving the hammocks a level lower so as not to displease any merchants.
Still holding her hand in his, he pushed open the door. She was breathing rather loudly behind him as he turned and closed the door. It was dark, and he couldn’t find the matches to light the candle.
“McKenna?”
“One moment.”
He heard her shuffle, and a moment later, a brilliant green glow filled the space.
“I’ll never understand how that works simply by rubbing it, but I have seen Layel and Fallen with my own eyes, I cannot not believe in magic.”
He grumbled as he let her hand go, pulled out a handkerchief from the tiny desk drawer and turned to face her. “Let me get some of this blood off of you. I know we can’t waste fresh water, so you’ll be a little stained,” he said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood.