by Nancy Gray
His shadow regarded her with a cynical smile and said in an echoing, high-pitched dual voice, “I could feel you using your powers. First you healed yourself without even realizing it and replenished most of your blood in your sleep. And then, you actually merged your mind with the shadows to spy on your friends. I knew that you would be a natural.”
Mercy glanced down at her hand. She realized it was no longer hurting and even though the wound was still fresh, it somehow looked smaller than it did before, as though the skin on the sides was slowly knitting together. The skin felt tight. It was as though it was fighting to mend the wound to the point that she could actually feel the cut closing. The more she concentrated on the sensation, the faster it healed. She knew that one of Erebus’ abilities was to heal quickly, and it seemed that was one of the gifts that his shadow demon passed down to her.
“How is it that I can use these powers? I don’t feel the need to feed off of blood. What’s fueling them?”
“You might feel the need to feed if you keep using them. Currently, it’s just your force of will that’s allowing you to harness your new abilities. I guess you noticed how tired they make you, though.”
Mercy scowled. “You mean I might start craving blood? Is there anything else I should know?”
He cocked his head. “Helping you wasn’t part of our deal. But I want to see if my little experiment works, so I will. I wouldn’t try anything too powerful, or try anything in front of the others. Otherwise, you’ll get to experience what Erebus did that evening in the cave.”
“So I’m using magic – real magic, and now I’m under the oath, too?”
“You should know by now I couldn’t be telling you this if you weren’t. You’ve inherited more than just natural abilities.” As he said it, a little blood dribbled out of the side of Erebus’ mouth.
“May I please talk to Erebus?”
“How will you know that you’re not talking to Erebus right now?”
“His eyes change color according to who is in control. It’s a pretty easy tell.”
The demon gasped and for a moment a look of displeasure spread across its face.
She chuckled and said, “Didn’t you know that?”
It ignored her question and muttered under its breath, “So be it. I still have plenty of time to come out and play.”
Erebus’ eyes closed, and when he opened them again they appeared gray instead of red. Mercy knew that they were really sky blue. He looked up at Mercy but then quickly glanced down again. It was as though he was ashamed to speak to her and was trying to pretend that she wasn’t there.
“You affected my dreams. All of that was real, wasn’t it? I really did make a deal with your shadow.”
When Erebus spoke it was still in the echoing voice, but it wasn’t as high-pitched and the voice sounded closer to his own. “Yes. If I had known that you were going to do that, I would’ve never contacted you. You don’t know what you’ve done.”
“I don’t plan on using these abilities unless I have to.”
“Mercy, you’re using them right now! You’re seeing in the dark, you’re healing at a rapid rate, and you’re eyes are glowing yellow.”
Mercy asked in a terrified whisper, “What?”
“You’re eyes are glowing like mine in beast form. Did you think that you really could gain that much power without any cost? You’re bound to him now, and you’re becoming one of us. If you’re not careful, you’re going to develop your own shadow. That’s what he wants.”
“What do I do if that happens?”
Erebus said flatly, “You fight it and hope that you win.”
“Why didn’t you tell me any of this when I was making the deal with him?”
“Blood pacts are one of the most sacred rites that my people perform. It’s one of the most powerful abilities that we have. When someone starts to make a blood pact, no one is allowed to interfere. I couldn’t tell you all of this because I was the witness. Why do you think I was trying so desperately to stop you?”
She sighed and looked away from him in shame. “I’m sorry. That wasn’t fair of me. You did try to stop me. I told you that I accepted responsibility for my actions. I shouldn’t blame you for the consequences.”
Erebus struggled feebly against his chains. “Well, now that you know what the consequences are, go ahead and use the favor so that everything goes back to normal.”
“But if I do that, if he gains control again there would be nothing to stop him from hurting me or our friends!”
Erebus slumped back down. “Then you’ll just have to trust that I can control him. Please, Mercy, I don’t want to see you get hurt!”
“It’s not that I don’t trust you, Erebus, but I don’t know what we’re going up against. I might need that favor.”
He sighed. “You’re so stubborn. When you set your mind to something, I know there isn’t any use reasoning with you. Just remember that magic will enslave you. You don’t have any control over it yet.”
“Then, when things calm down, I’ll need you to teach me how.”
“Yes, and I will.”
“Why are you coughing up so much blood? Did Pyron do this to you?”
“No. After he knocked me unconscious, he and Beryl immediately tried to shackle me in here, but I woke up. I hope they’re okay. I wasn’t in control and my shadow tried to kill them. It was before you made your pact.”
“They seemed to be okay. I saw them on deck.”
“Good. I hate losing control to him. It’s like my body is a puppet, and all I can do is watch while he pulls my strings. I hope that they know I wouldn’t have done that if I was myself.”
“They know, Erebus. Pyron even said that he knew you wouldn’t do anything to put me in danger. He’s going to try to protect you from the rest of the crew. I’m afraid all of them know what you are now.”
Erebus cursed under his breath. “I think you made the wrong choice, Mercy. Pyron would’ve been much better for you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Is now really the best time to talk about this?”
“It’s just that he and Beryl really care about you, Mercy. They care about you so much that they risked their lives trying not to kill me, even when I was attacking them, because they thought it would hurt you.”
“I’ve made my choice. Besides, I don’t think that’s the only reason they didn’t want to hurt you. I think they like you more than they would care to admit. All of us have been through a lot together.”
“Well, I’m glad at least they’re still on my side. I think after what I did to you, I’ll need their protection.”
Erebus coughed and another glob of blood fell onto his chest.
“What’s happening to you?”
“I broke two blood pacts by attacking you like that. I promised your father that I would protect you for as long as we were traveling together, and I promised you that I would never take more blood than you could safely give. I’m lucky that I’m even conscious.”
“But it was your shadow demon that attacked me, not you.”
“I was fighting him, trying to stop him. I gained control before I let go. Besides, whether he was in control or not, it was my body that hurt you, and he is a part of me. It’s my responsibility to keep him at bay. The worst part is that I’m wasting all of the blood you gave me.”
Mercy sighed. “It does seem a waste. You’re going to need that blood.”
He groaned. “I don’t like the way you said that. I woke you up because I heard a rumor that a siren shark is about to attack. What’s going on up there, Mercy? I’m too weak to use the shadows to listen.”
“It’s looking bad. Pyron thinks that there’s a traitor among the crew and that we’ve been set up. He thinks that the storm was magical, and that the whale carcass was meant to draw a siren shark to us. He also thinks that destroying your blood barrel was all part of the same plan to make us vulnerable so that The Knave can attack.”
Erebus strained against his chains
. “The Knave is attacking?”
“It isn’t yet, but it will be. Beryl said we had about thirty minutes, but you and I have been talking for at least half that time.”
“You’ve got to get me out of here, Mercy! I might be weak, but I can help.”
She sighed. “The moment I let you out, the shadow demon is going to take control. Even if I hadn’t made an agreement with him, I think it would be an opportunity he couldn’t pass up.”
“That’s true. Once he’s gained control, he fights much harder for his freedom. At least now he won’t be able to hurt any of our friends again.”
“I bet he’s starved for blood right now. I also think I’ve got an idea about how he can get it.”
Erebus frowned. “You mean the sailors from The Knave?”
“If they’re going to attack us, there should be more than enough blood to satiate your thirst and, at least temporarily, his. You’ll be back in control again before the evening is out.”
“Only if you can convince someone to let me out of here, or steal the keys. If I get out of here, the other sailors will probably take the opportunity to kill me.”
Mercy shook her head. “Not if you’re fighting the enemy. They would be stupid to kill someone helping them, especially if the fight is going to be as dangerous as I think it will be.”
“Go pitch the idea to Pyron. He has more sway with the Captain.” Erebus’ eyes suddenly got wide and he shouted, “Mercy, duck!”
Mercy dropped down just in time as two cannonballs attached by a chain ripped through the wall of the hull, sending splinters of debris everywhere. She heard a whistling sound as they whipped over her head where she had just been standing and slammed through the other wall. She didn’t have much time to reflect on her near death experience as a swell of sea water sloshed through the hole and into the brig, then sloshed back out again nearly sweeping her out with it.
Erebus shouted, “The brig is going to flood. Get out of here, now!”
Mercy took his advice and ran, just as a larger wall of water gushed into the room. She glanced back and saw Erebus straining against his chains trying to keep his head above the wave. He plead with her with his eyes to hurry. She treaded water until it receded enough to run. The moment that she was able to, she bolted so fast that she slammed right into Pyron on the stairwell leading out of the hold. They both went sprawling in separate directions, but somehow Pyron caught his balance.
“Mercy? You’re awake? Are you alright?”
“A cannonball shattered the hull in the brig. Please, you have to help! Erebus is down there. He’ll drown!”
Pyron put his hands on her shoulders. “He’s not going to drown, Mercy. I was heading in that direction to check the damage right now. They don’t want to sink the ship. If the water reaches the hold, it’ll ruin the cargo.”
Mercy hugged him around the waist. “It was bad, Pyron, and Erebus is shackled so he can’t stand up. Please, please help him!”
“I won’t let him drown, Mercy, but right now The Knave is attacking. Remember what we discussed? I hate to ask this, but if you’re up for it, I really need you to get your weapons and get up onto the deck.” He pulled a set of keys from his vest pocket. “I’ll take care of Erebus.”
Mercy nodded and ran to the women’s quarters getting her bow and arrows from her pack. She also grabbed her silver knives and attached them to her belt. She took a deep breath as she heard the cannons of The Serpent Queen answering The Knave’s challenge. Mercy could feel the energy from the crew, especially above deck. Some of them were terrified, while others were simply excited and ready for the fight. There was also another emotion that permeated through every part of the ship. It was everyone’s binding awareness of their own mortality, the knowledge that if the enemy won this battle, everyone on board would die.
15
As soon as Mercy emerged onto the upper deck she gasped at what she saw. A ship with red sails was within one hundred yards of The Serpent Queen and closing fast. It was about twice as big as The Serpent Queen and Mercy could see about twenty sailors on deck getting ready to fight. The ship’s figurehead was a skeletal pirate entwined with a terrified looking woman, and the wood of the ship was stained so darkly that it looked black. Even though it was hard to make out much detail on the other ship, she saw one man standing on the forecastle.
He was an Ashen man with dark-gray skin and long, black hair that billowed in the wind behind him like a writhing tendril of shadow. What unnerved her most about his appearance were his eyes. They were as black and lifeless as polished obsidian, and from a distance it looked as though he had no eyes at all. Mercy didn’t have to ask who he was to know that the man had to be Nicomedes. The cruel smile on his face was visible even from far away.
Mercy had trouble noticing the details about the rest of his crew. They were carrying ladders and looked as though they were getting ready to board. Even without seeing much about them individually, it was easy to tell that nearly all of them were from the Sylvan Islands. They looked a good deal like her people except they were taller with lighter-colored hair. All, that is, except for three standing apart from the others.
At first, Mercy wasn’t sure what she was looking at as she tried to discern the appearance of the three sailors. They were bigger and bulkier than a normal man and their skin was as pale as the cap of a mushroom. She gasped in horror when she realized what they were. They were beast men like the type that Mirilee described in her vision. They looked like an odd combination of a shark and a human with wide jaws that seemed to consist of nothing but row upon row of serrated teeth. Their eyes were as black as that of their captain.
Mercy was conscious of Erebus’ presence before he even spoke. He was standing behind her with his face low, close to her shoulder. She could tell just by his demeanor that his shadow demon was in control. Despite the shadow demon’s presence, it was a relief to know that Erebus was safe. She looked around and saw Pyron heading for the forecastle of the ship. He glanced at her briefly and nodded with approval. Mercy had barely even noticed that her bow was in her hand and ready.
The shadow demon whispered in his dual voice, “Those three are Waterbloods. You’ll want to kill them off as soon as possible. They have many abilities, all of them dangerous. I’ve heard that they can control water and blood. They also have a special connection to sharks.”
“Sharks? Do you think they could control a siren shark?”
The Demon said with a grin, “I’d say that that it’s a good possibility. From what you told me, that whale carcass was torn apart by one.” He glanced in the direction of the carcass and said, “The fact that harpoons are also in the carcass suggests that a ship might’ve assisted the shark in making the kill.”
“But, why?”
He raised an eyebrow. “Why indeed? Think about it. The crew that killed that whale didn’t salvage the oil, as though they knew that we have an ex-whaler onboard who couldn’t resist taking the time to try. Then my host went into frenzy which set us back from repairing our sails. I agree with Pyron on this one. We have a traitor in our midst and a damn clever one who has somehow been feeding information to our enemy.”
Captain Morrissey shouted, “Off the port bow, siren shark! Ailfrius, Mirilee, and Kylas get over to me!”
He began passing out harpoons to everyone he called. Mercy couldn’t help herself and looked to port. There she saw something that made her feel as though her heart would simply rip itself out of her chest in panic. The shark was as long as the ship with bluish-black coloration and elaborate patterns in white that crisscrossed along its back. The white pattern looked almost like a swirling reflection of water, only the pattern glowed with an inner light. She could see the beast had four eyes on each side of its pointed head, clearly relying on sight as well as smell. As it got closer to the ship, she noticed that the pattern on its back suddenly turned from white to red. She could feel the creature’s agitation and anticipation of the kill as keenly as if it was a physical
force about to ram them.
Erebus’ shadow demon whispered, “Focus, girl. Let them deal with the distraction. They think the shark is the most dangerous threat, but they’re wrong. Those Waterbloods are the most dangerous threat, seconded only to their captain. I’m not sure what he is.”
“Did Pyron tell you a plan?”
The Demon nodded and grinned widely. “Yes. He wants you to take care of the Waterbloods, and as many of the ladders as you can. But, should any manage to board, they’re mine. I would consider it a personal favor if you would allow some of them to board.”
“You don’t have to worry about that. I’m only one person. I’m sure a few will get by me.”
“Good enough.”
Mercy felt the nervous energy of the crew reaching a climax as Incenda managed to blow a gaping hole into The Knave’s hull with the hidden cannon. Despite the fact that Captain Morrissey was shouting orders over the deafening cannon fire between the two ships, everything felt eerily calm. Mercy remembered being in her village during one of the attacks from the Blood Wings, at the point where worry turned into resolution. Some people would die, but so would some of the enemy. The ship shook from a grazing blow from a cannonball, jostling Mercy out of the thought. She saw a ladder cresting upward, about to fall onto their boat, and she shot the two men riding the top of it. One toppled into the water, dead, and another fell in alive with a frenzy of sharks greeting him.
Mercy heard Beryl say, “There could be more Waterbloods under their boat. Good news, Lavirin, you don’t have to keep my secret anymore.”
“Yeah, I’m ecstatic. Be careful down there, Shark Chum.”