by ML Guida
Her hair pulled back into a tight a queue, she slipped past him. “Let’s go.”
She made her way down the opposite path. “Let’s split up. We can cover more ground this way.” She was a mercenary walking to her death.
He seized her arm, impressed by the toned muscle. “Are you daft? You’ll get your bloody self killed.”
“Will you release me? You’re hurting my arm.” She stiffened her spine. “I can take care of myself. I proved that on board the Soaring Phoenix.”
“Has the sun baked your stubborn brain? Zuto is a powerful demon, and he could kill you with a whisk of his hand.” He pulled her to his chest. “You will do as exactly as I say, Gwen. I canna lose you. You and Grace are all I have.”
“Your new-found chivalry will cost you the woman you love.”
Panic whisked through him. He forced himself to not run into the jungle hunting for Isabella. His feelings were a mess, but like Isabella, he could not bear to have a single hair of his sister’s damaged. He gave Gwen a fierce scowl. “I never said I loved her.”
She jerked her arm free. “Leif Alan Black, I have known you all of my life, and I’ve never seen you even risk one pence for a lady. And now you’re risking both of our lives for her. Donna lie to me.”
He straightened and did his best intimidating stance of leaning over her. He hadn’t admitted those words to himself. How could his kid sister suspect this? Her statement chilled the marrow of his bones. “Donna put words in my mouth, little lass. You’ve not seen me for months so—”
She slugged him in the arm. “Exactly. But you’re the same stubborn oaf I remember. How could you let the woman die? She sacrificed herself for me. You’re an eejit.”
“And you’re the same wild, foolish lass I left behind.” Her scorn pricked at his pride, and he hated the idea she might think he was yellow, but it wasn’t just Isabella he was protecting, it was her. Over her head, he thought he saw something move through the trees, and dread sank into his gut. “Listen to me, if I tell you to run. You run. Do whatever you can to get to the Phoenix or William.”
“No. I can fight.” Gwen turned
He blocked her path. “We need to crouch down low. Stay as low as you can. We have to climb the hill to get to the trees beyond. In there, we’ll have a cover.” When she gave him a haughty look, he glowered. “Or is this too much to ask?”
The ground rumbled. Leif stumbled. Gwen lost her balance and fell onto her hands and knees. Trees splintered, and leaves rustled. Birds cawed overhead as if trying to escape a predator. A long dark shadow covered him and Gwen. She didn’t answer him. Her eyes grew saucer wide, and her lower lip trembled. The air turned heavy, and a loud hiss made the hair on the back of his neck quiver.
Leif slowly turned around. His heart dropped to the pit of his stomach, and his throat dried up. Zuto wasn’t there, but one of his hideous, bulbous spiders watched them. Spit dripped from its fangs, and Leif could see his and Gwen’s reflection in its eight glassy eyes.
He instinctively stood in front of Gwen. Her bravery had vanished, and she dug her fingers into his arms.
“Leif,” she whispered.
“Hush,” he said. “Stay quiet. Donna move.” Leif remembered the last battle on Zuto’s island between the Phoenix and the Damsel. Zuto’s pests had ripped men in two with their powerful fangs, and the sticky strands spewing from their mouths had sliced the tops off palm trees. But what was worse was the pitiful screams and shrieks of men. They’d been in intense agony before meeting their gruesome death. One he vowed Gwen would never know.
But Gwen didn’t listen to him. She jumped to her feet and ran back toward the sea. Quicker than he thought the beast could move, the spider chased after her. Its long thin legs sprayed sand into the air, hitting Leif in the eyes, blinding him.
Leif shook his head, and transformed into a dragon, and pursued the flopping abdomen. It blocked his view of Gwen, and he had no idea where she was. He narrowed his eyes and shot out a stream of flame that slammed into the spider’s revolting body. The creature shrieked, and rushed forward, and spun around at lightning speed. It stared at him with pure hatred in its eyes and held Gwen in its massive fangs.
“Leif! Help me!”
Her voice was a whisper, and she slowly went limp. He lurched at the creature, ready to burn the thing alive, but to his horror, it whirled around and around in the sand faster and faster, disappearing, taking Gwen.
Leif hissed out a flame, burning where the spider had only been moments ago, but his fire only turned the sand into sleek black glass.
“She’s not dead.”
The bored voice stripped away Leif’s last remaining sanity. He twisted his head and released a fireball that engulfed Zuto. The bastard had taken everything from him—his woman, his sister, the very ones he swore to protect.
Like the devil himself, Zuto stepped out of the flames, not a single hair singed.
“Tsk-tsk. Dragon fire doesn’t affect me, fool. I’m a demon. If you want to see your sister again, I suggest you change back into a man and follow me.”
Leif howled in frustration, flapping his wings, and sending sand into the haughty demon’s eyes. His choices gone, Leif transformed back into a man. He lifted his head, his fists clenched and his chest rising up and down. “I’ll kill you for this.”
Zuto smirked. “No, you won’t.”
“If she’s not dead, where the hell is she?”
The demon shrugged. “In another time. It was a time spider.”
Leif groaned. Like Mariah’s brother, Lark, Gwen could be anywhere. He hadn’t any idea how to get her back. “Tell me where it took her?”
He turned and headed into the jungle. “Only if you follow me.”
Without speaking, the demon disappeared into the foliage. His arrogance turned Leif’s gut into a thousand knots. The demon had no doubt that Leif would obey. He was, after all, a slave. Leif hesitated, looking at the burnt sand. Even if he dug as a dragon, he wouldn’t find her. Zuto had the answers.
Hate boiling in his stomach, Leif trailed the bastard into the dense jungle, knowing he was walking into a trap.
Chapter 16
Leaves and vines moved away on their own as if they were afraid to touch the demon as Zuto walked deeper into the lush jungle. Not so for Leif. He had to knock away leaves and vines to keep up with the fast-moving demon. The air grew dense and hot and heavy. Leif gasped for breath, not sure why it was so difficult to inhale. He glared at the demon’s broad, bare back, wondering what evil spell he’d cast this time.
Insects buzzed around Leif’s ear, and he waved them away impatiently. He wanted to yell at Zuto, demanding to know where Isabella was being held prisoner, but it would be pointless. Zuto would make it known in his own good time. Rushing a demon wasn’t wise.
Through the thinning trees, Leif saw Isabella hanging from a divi tree.
Dracul roared. Death to the demon!
He howled like a broken-hearted wolf over losing his beloved mate.
Leif sucked in his breath, and his beating heart threatened to explode. Her arms were stretched out high over her head, her wrists bound, and her toes barely brushed against the sand. She dangled like a fish caught on a hook, swaying in the wind. Her head lay slumped over to the side.
Not caring if he died on the spot, Leif shoved Zuto. “What the hell did you do to her, you bastard?”
Zuto didn’t even flinch. He shrugged. “I haven’t done anything to the lass...yet. This was Charybdis’s doing.”
The demon wasn’t fooling Leif. He knew the demon was lying, but to find Isabella, Leif had to play the game. Leif scanned the horizon for the heathen little bitch. “Where is she?”
I’ll burn her slowly for this, Dracul promised.
His low voice was menacing, and Leif could feel the muscles and bones rippling beneath him. He fought from changing into the dragon.
Dracul, listen. We need to find out what is goin’ on before we rush down to Isabella. Something doesn’t
feel right.
Then find out, you yellow-livered coward.
Leif gritted his teeth. He’d been called many things in his life, but never a coward. He fought the impulse to argue with the dragon. Yet this wasn’t the time or the place. His pride could wait.
Zuto grabbed his arm. “Wait. If you go charging down there now, you’ll get both of you killed. Is that what you want?”
Dread settled onto Leif’s tightening chest. “Are you tryin’ to help me?” He stared at the demon warily, waiting for the next trap to fall.
“I am.”
“Why?”
“I have my reasons. You will give me what I want, and in exchange, I’ll let you, your sister, and Isabella go free—alive.”
“If I donna?”
“You’re all dead.”
“Doesna look like I have much of a choice.”
“You don’t. I have a plan. Come with me, fool.”
Leif clamped his jaw tight and forced himself to follow the demon. Like Pandora’s box, once again his treasure chest of bad luck flew open, and he was drowning in misery.
Zuto took him to a grass hut. Darkness hid the demon except for his glowing red eyes. There was a fire pit filled with ash. A black and red aura flickered around the dwelling. Leif’s skin crawled as if he’d be struck by lightning. Obviously, ’twas Zuto’s power.
The demon waved his hand. “Come inside.”
Leif’s stomach tightened. The last thing he wanted to do was go inside that hut. He hesitated, not sure if he should do this.
A high-pitched scream of pain jerked him into action. Isabella! She was in agony.
“Leif, no!” Zuto yelled. “It’s a trap.”
But Leif didn’t listen. She was hurt. He wasn’t going to play Zuto’s games while she was tortured or one of those damn spiders dragged her away—not if he could help it.
This time he gave into Dracul’s demands and transformed—muscles twisting and bones crunching. It happened so fast he cried out. Flames burst out of his mouth and caught the tops of palm trees on fire. He rocked back onto his haunches and leaped into the air, his right wing shoving Zuto back into the hut.
He circled back to where Isabella hung. She was struggling to unbind the ropes, but her slender fingers only tapped on the rope. The bindings had cut into her delicate wrists. Blood streaked down one arm as if she’d been stabbed. She had a fat lip, but it was the terror in her eyes that tore out his heart.
She wasn’t looking at him. She was looking toward the ocean. Charybdis had her arms stretched high over her head and held a chalice filled with blood. Her long brown hair swirled around her like a billowing scarf. A red-stained dagger was stuffed into her belt.
Leif released a long shriek. Charybdis didn’t even turn around. Instead, she laughed, a shrill laughter that made his tail curl.
The sea parted slowly into two high sea walls. Water sprayed into the air. Colorful fish swam in the walls, but what caught his attention was the tallest man he’d ever seen emerged through the foam like a king. He had long black hair and wore only a loin cloth, reminding Leif of Zuto, but his loin cloth shimmered as tempestuously as the sea. He had a neatly trimmed beard and wore a crown of starfish upon his head. Anger flickered in his blue eyes. Leif had seen those blue eyes before. He had the same eyes as Isabella. He had to be her father—Eldric, king of the merpeople.
Chapter 17
Her heart beating fiercely, Isabella couldn’t take her eyes off her father. She wiggled and shook her head, ignoring the pain in her side and overstretched arms. She stared at the dreaded chalice in Charybdis’s hands. She’d no idea what black magic was brewing inside that gold cup.
“Father, ’tis a trap,” she cried. But through the gag, it came out as grunts and whines.
Her father’s turbulent eyes sent fear settling in her fluttering belly. He didn’t even look at her, but stared at her traitorous stepmother. If she was Charybdis, she’d have turned tail and disappeared into the jungle. But Charybdis didn’t even falter. She laughed as if she was flirting with a young school boy rather than the fiercest merman under the sea.
Suddenly, Leif in dragon form walked in front of her. He crouched on his haunches as if ready to attack, his tail twitching behind him. Isabella blinked, not sure she believed her eyes, and her heart beat hard enough to bust a rib. The despair lodging in her heart fled, and hope rushed in. Leif hadn’t lied. He’d come back! He’d come for her! Maybe he wasn’t the black-hearted villain she’d thought.
“Get your filthy creature away from my daughter!”
Charybdis glanced over her shoulder. “He’s not mine.”
“What?”
“He’s your daughter’s lover. Did I mention? He’s also a pirate.”
Disgust filled her father’s eyes, and Isabella winced.
Leif could save her father. With the swipe of his tail, he could knock the chalice out of her stepmother’s hands. She kicked sand at him to get his attention, but her big toe only managed to skid bits of sand. He hadn’t even noticed.
She couldn’t see around Leif. Sweat trickled down her body, and she struggled to free her wrists, but it was useless. Her arms shook, and the pain in her side renewed. She panted, trying to breathe. All she wanted to do was pass out, but her father’s life was in danger. She had to think of something.
“Nice of you to come, Eldric,” Charybdis said as she lowered the chalice.
Eldric tilted his head. “Cut her down—now.”
“No.”
He walked up to her and leaned over her. “You dare to defy me?” His low voice rumbled with disdain.
But Charybdis was too confident to cower. “After what you did to me? I have no intention of following you again.”
Her father was walking into a deadly net. Zuto had been able to draw out the baby’s power and had given the chalice to Charybdis. It had been excruciating, as if the baby’s heart had been removed. Isabella screamed through gag, but only released a muffled groan. She had to get Leif’s attention and struggled harder.
He turned his large head. His golden eyes looked at her as if questioning what to do. She shook her head fiercely.
Charybdis twirled her finger in the blood. “You don’t know what this is, do you?” She lifted her finger and licked off the dark crimson.
Leif looked above Isabella, and a stream of fire burst out of his eyes. Blazing heat radiated overhead, and she winced. A flash of yellow and orange blinded her eyes. She broke out in a hot sweat as if she were a slab of butter melting in a pan. Squinting, she looked up just as the bindings unraveled. She fell onto her knees and keeled over onto her side. Thankfully, none of her flesh was burned. She quickly unraveled her bindings, but her wrists and fingers were numb and it took longer than she wanted.
“I don’t care what’s in that vile chalice.” Her father’s sneer left little doubt that he thought Charybdis’s spell was powerless against him. “You will pay for what you’ve done to my family.”
“What I’ve done? ’Tis nothing compared to what you’ve done, Eldric. You’ve pushed all your daughters away, leaving you a bitter, angry man.”
“I’m not a man. I’m a merman.”
“You mean you were a merman.” She threw the blood into Eldric’s face. “Boya.”
Eldric screamed and put his hands over his face. Red smoke seeped through his fingers and swirled around his body faster and faster like a tornado. He collapsed onto his knees. The smoke turned white, then a flash of light shot out of the mist and into Charybdis’s chest. Lightning flickered overhead, and the sea churned. Angry waves crashed onto the sand. Water sprayed into the air, drenching Isabella.
Charybdis’ body quivered as she stretched her arms over her head. “Yes! Yes! Yes! Drain his power! Give it to me!” Her voice was like thunder.
Her mad laughter sent chills down Isabella’s spine. “Father, no!” Her heart racing, she struggled to stand on her wobbling legs.
Leif nuzzled her with his body as if trying to get her to
lean against his side.
Eldric fell onto his side, and his hands dropped from his face. His face was ashen, and wrinkles formed around his eyes and mouth. His dark hair turned white. His muscular chest caved in, and his arms and legs thinned.
Charybdis’s body changed. Her arms and legs turned more defined, and her hair thickened. She grew taller and taller. “I can feel his power inside me.” She was giddy and swirled around in the sand.
“No,” Isabella whispered as she covered her mouth with her hand.
Leif hissed, and fire blew on to Charybdis.
Her stepmother stopped twirling, and the flames died down—not one hair was singed. “You dare defy me? Let me test my new power on you.”
Leif shrieked and stepped in front of Isabella.
“Prepare to die, lizard,” Charybdis said, as she held up her palm. “Feel my power.” White light streamed from her hand, sizzling toward Leif.
He hissed, releasing a blaze of fire. The fire and white light collided. Sparks flew into the air, then landed on the sand. Chills rushed down Isabella’s sunburned skin, and the hair on her arms lifted.
The white light pushed the fire back like a hand, forcing Leif to back up. He needed help.
Isabella straightened her back and drew on her siren power. Her stomach fluttered, and a burst of energy soared through her veins. She put her trembling hand over her abdomen. This was why Zuto wanted her baby. He knew the power that her child possessed.
She smiled. Now, let’s see if she could make her stepmother regret attacking her father. Isabella wouldn’t let her father die.
Lightning fired through her veins. She opened her mouth and sang. She sang of love, of hope, of faith. Her melody filled her with strength, and she spread her arms wide as if she could fly.
Charybdis’s smile faded, and her hand shook. “What are you doing? I command you to stop singing.” She raised her other hand, and a double blaze of white smashed into Leif’s fire. Sparks grew higher, bursting into the air.