Midnight Lady

by Jamie K. Schmidt

  “That’s not going to fire underwater,” Maggie said, ignoring her mother.

  “It fires darts. The chamber with the firing pin is watertight.”

  “What else do you have in your bag of tricks.”

  “Some nutrition bars and water.”

  “That’s kind of you. The Federales must be hungry.”

  “Or in case we’re down there longer than expected.”

  Maggie made a face at him. “We’re in and out in an hour, tops.”

  “If we are, I’m buying drinks.”

  “I’ll hold you to that,” Belle said.

  Maggie spent the next hour thinking of everything that would go wrong. She knew they were getting close by the feel of danger. It was like something was warning them away.

  “I’ve felt that before,” Quick said when she mentioned it.

  “And you ignored it.”

  “What kind of pirate cuts and runs at the first hint of trouble?”

  “A smart one,” Maggie muttered.

  “Says the Scourge of Stormsurge,” Belle said, laughing.

  “I was fifteen,” Maggie said.

  “You mean to tell me you’re no longer reckless?”

  “Sometimes, I buy sushi at the gas station, but that’s as reckless as I get these days.”

  “You like running your bar?”

  Maggie shrugged. “It pays the bills. I get to sleep late, stay up even later, and my bar tab is paid for.”

  “Sounds like being an airship captain, only not as exciting.”

  “Well, you never thought I was very good as an airman.”

  “Captains usually aren’t.”

  Maggie was trying to find the hidden insult in that statement when Benicio called back to them. “We’re eighty-five feet and coming around the far side of the ruins. I don’t want to get too close to that vortex, but the sub will be in sight of it.”

  “Any critters?” Quick asked.

  “A few morays swimming in around the south side. A couple of turtles. Octopi. There’s a huge one on the monument to the north. He’s been aggressive, so avoid him if possible.”

  “Sharks?” Belle asked.

  “A couple of nurse sharks. They’re harmless. Don’t let their size fool you.”

  “How big are they?” Maggie tried to peer out the windshield, but it was pitch black. “How do you even see?”

  “Per the fish finder, no more than ten feet.”

  “Is that all?”

  “It’s the tiger sharks you need to watch out for. They’re easily double than that.”

  “Any of those?”

  “Not that I can see.”

  “Great,” Maggie said, and tried not to think about it while she geared up. Adrenaline raced through her and it felt like she had just eaten a bag of licorice. Giddy, jittery, and slightly sick to her stomach.

  She also felt more alive than she had in years. She was glad that her regulator hid her grin. They huddled in the back of the sub. Maggie had a moment of claustrophobia when the cabin doors slid closed and locked. Water trickled in, from the outer doors filling up the staging area.

  No need to panic, she told herself, but she reached down to squeeze Quick’s hand anyway. When the water covered her head, she was breathing fine through her regulator. And when the sub doors opened out, they swam out using hand held propeller units with a headlight on it so they could see in the darkness.

  The creatures didn’t seem too interested in them and as they rounded a large pillar, Maggie almost dropped her unit. There was the vortex.

  She could almost see the malignant presence Alarna had mentioned. To her it was like an enormous octopus slithering around the ruins.

  Belle didn’t hesitate and swam full speed into it. Maggie forgot to breathe, wondering if it would spit her mother out and she would have that image of her mother’s last moments in her head forever.

  It all seemed so stupid now. The bickering. The fights. But after a few tense minutes, nothing happened. She was next.

  Quick flashed “I love you” in a hand gesture.

  Now? Now, he was going to say it? She signed it back to him and gripped his arm. Following, Black Belle’s lead, Maggie hit the vortex at speed.

  What she wasn’t expecting was to have the propulsion unit ripped out of her hands. The world swirled and colors assaulted her eyes. It was like the nethersphere, but so very cold. She could feel it even through her thick suit. After what seemed forever, she was falling.

  Maggie landed hard on a stone floor. She was no longer in the water, but she was blind. The colors still danced over her eyes. Arms helped her to stand and it was all she could do not to fight them. She couldn’t hear either. Spitting out her regulator, she called out for the first time in fifteen years.

  “Mom?”

  And even though it had been almost that long, she recognized the arms that came around her. If Black Belle was still standing, things were going to be all right.

  Her hearing came back first. Excited men’s voices spoke in rapid Spanish. She caught enough of the conversation to figure out they found their Federales. Her eyesight came back next. And she met Black Belle’s eyes. She was expecting to see mockery in them, but was surprised at the warmth.

  Maggie pulled away just as Quick came tumbling through. She wanted to be his eyes and ears until he regained his senses. But he sprang up immediately in a fighting stance, swinging and kicking. She didn’t dare go near him.

  Now that she could get a better look at their surroundings, she could see seven men wearing Mexican Federales uniforms. Their dive equipment was huddled in the corner. The stone room reeked of fear, desperation and human waste. The malignant presence was here too. She could almost see it out of the corner of her eye.

  Belle was trying to reason with the Federales that the submarine could only fit five, but they were having none of it. Once she explained how to leave, they were clambering into their wetsuits and gear.

  “We came down with fifteen men. We’re all that’s left,” one man said.

  “Half of us dove. The other half took the sub. We’ll fit. We can’t stay here a minute longer. The walls talk. This place is cursed.”

  “Maggie?” Quick yelled.

  “I’m here,” she said, and dared to get close to grab his hand. He hauled her to him.

  “We’re all right. We’re all good,” she told him. She didn’t realize how shaken she was until his arms came around her and steadied her.

  “Do you know who we are?” Belle said, still talking to the Federales. “I’m Black Belle and this is my daughter, the Midnight Lady. We’ve come to return the stolen treasure and rescue you.”

  “I thought you were pirates,” one of the men said, checking his tanks.

  “Maggie, here is a different type of pirate. She’s a do-gooder. Always has been. That man over there is Quick Donner. He’s a member of the Syndicate.”

  The Federales nodded.

  “You’re going to hear a lot of bad things about us. But remember, our mission was rescue and to make things right. Now, you’re going to be guests on my airship until we finish our business here. And then you can go back to your homes.”

  “Will there be food on your ship?” another man asked.

  “All you want. And the sub will take you there.”

  “Thank you.”

  Each man nodded or shook their hands. One by one, they threw something of theirs into the vortex. And all geared up, they swam through.

  When no one got spit back through on this end, Maggie sighed.

  “Twenty minutes,” Black Belle said. “Look around, but don’t touch anything.” She pulled a golden statue out of her dive bag. “I’m going to find where this was and put it back.” She walked out of the large room.

  “Should we really split up?” Quick asked.

  “Suit yourself,” Belle called back. “Watch your step. We don’t want to trigger any of the traps.”

  Maggie saw evidence of terrible things in this room. There
were skeletons littered around, some still in wetsuits. Others broken into pieces. Blood lined the walls and scratches marred the surface. She kept her regulator handy remembering Nicholette’s warnings about poisons.

  “Let’s get out of this room,” Maggie whispered unable to face the horrible deaths of the divers.

  Quick slung an arm around her. “You have to admit, this is pretty amazing. We’re breathing air, ninety feet below the surface.”

  “Are we still underwater?”

  “I think it’s a pocket dimension. We saw the outside of the ruins in Cozumel. But inside, we could be in another place.”

  “Or time.” She walked into the side room, remembering to keep to the left corridor like Nicholette warned. Even though she had the truth globe as proof Nicholette hadn't lied, she would have liked to have read Jovan’s journal herself. “I wonder if there’s another way out of here?”

  “Or where it would lead.”

  This room was an altar. There were still traces of dried blood and filled goblets of liquid Maggie didn’t even want to know what was in it. Nicholette was adamant not to eat or drink anything from this place, not that Maggie was planning on it.

  “Do you think we’re alone?” Quick asked. “Maybe there are more survivors that have adapted. I wonder what happens if you drink from that cup.”

  “I think you need to shut the hell right up,” Maggie said. “This place is creepy as shit.”

  “But unbelievable. Look at the colors. It’s like how I imagined the Mayans had it thousands of years ago. I bet if there is a way out we’d find ourselves back in time.”

  “It’s a temple of magic and death.” Maggie needed out of this room. She darted back into the main room and then down the corridor where Black Belle was. She was standing in a doorway, her hands on her hips, shaking her head.

  “Are you all right?” Maggie asked, coming up to her. Following her gaze, she saw that the room was a treasure trove. Gold coins spilled over treasure chests, and shiny jewels in every shade were stacked up in lush velvet dressing tables.

  “Trap,” Quick said. “Has to be. Nothing should sparkle like that in a place this old.”

  Belle squatted down and placed the statue on the floor. “Guess this will have to do.”

  A dull roar sounded. Followed by a slight tremor. The stones rattled and a mist of dust rose in the air.

  “What did you do?” Maggie said, fumbling for her mask and breathing tube.

  “Nothing.”

  “That was cannon fire.” Quick frowned at the ceiling.

  “Put your mask on,” she said, or tried to. She wound up shoving it up to his face.

  A higher pitched whine was next and then a tremendous crash boomed so loud, they staggered.

  “Missiles,” Black Belle said. “We’re under attack by an airship with significant fire power.”

  Cannons struck again. This time darts shot out of the wall and stuck into Quick’s suit.

  “Duck,” Maggie said and pulled them all down.

  “We have to get out of here,” Quick said, grimacing as he pulled the darts out.

  “Are you hit?” Black Belle said.

  “They didn’t pierce my suit. It’s reinforced.”

  “Let’s go.”

  “It hasn’t been twenty minutes yet,” Maggie said, taking her regulator out of her mouth so she could be understood.

  “The ruins are going to be destroyed before twenty minutes is up. They’ll either collapse on top of us or the vortex will be destroyed and we’ll really be stuck here.”

  “Who’s shooting at us?”

  “You’re not that stupid,” Black Belle said. “Now, let’s get the fuck out of here. Quick, you first. Then, you. I’ll bring up the rear.”

  A missile barrage screamed in and the walls shook.

  “The next one is going to punch through,” Belle said.

  Maggie wasn’t sure how Belle cold be so certain, but now wasn’t the time to argue. They were ready to go through when the next cannon attack came.

  “You’re right behind me. I love you,” Quick said, kissing her hard on the mouth before putting his regulator back in.

  “Go,” Belle snarled.

  Quick tossed his lighter through the vortex, and dove through.

  “If I don’t make it, my ships are yours. Avenge me Maggie. You know who is firing at us.”

  Maggie blinked back tears. She couldn’t believe her father would do this. Nicholette, definitely. But Amos wouldn’t. She hoped he wouldn’t anyway.

  “You’ll be right behind me, right?”

  Belle nodded.

  Maggie secured her gear as she heard the missiles screaming in. We’re not going to make it, she thought frantically tossing her extra flashlight through the vortex.

  She dove through, hoping Belle was on her heels. Maggie felt the impact of the missiles when the vortex buckled with her in it. It was like she was in a washing machine.

  When she first came to Cozumel, she got caught in a storm surge with a vicious riptide. This made that experience like a lazy float down a river. Maggie crashed into stone and then was flung back into water. The pressure cracked her mask and she prayed it would hold. Without her propulsion unit, she would need all her strength to swim.

  But she was being squeezed as the vortex contracted. It wasn’t going to spit her out. Not in one piece. Poor Quick. She hoped he wouldn’t have to see her die. Then one more soul rattling explosion and she was free. She wasn’t sure where she was. There were no ruins. No cannon fire.

  No Quick.

  Maggie hung in the water and looked all around her. Perfect blue water, crystal clear with schools of fishes swimming by undisturbed by missile fire or cannons. Far above her, she saw the sun’s reflection on the ocean.

  Checking her air, she confirmed that only a few minutes had passed. It should have still been dark in Cozumel. Turning again, she was alone in the ocean.

  No sign of Belle, Quick, the submarine, or the ruins.

  Guess there was no other way to go but up.

  Chapter Eighteen

  When Quick came to, he was face down in the sand. He tasted blood in his mouth and he could feel the hot sun through his suit. Man, he hadn’t had a bender like this since Mav got a shipment of Andarian liquor.

  Groaning he got to his hands and knees before he remembered what had happened.

  “Maggie!” he yelled, shooting to his feet.

  That was a mistake. The bright sun blinded him and he staggered. His head was throbbing and he was nauseous. He wasn’t even sure where he was or what had happened after he went through the vortex. Nothing looked familiar. He must have hit his head.

  Quick could understand instinct taking over and getting him to the surface. Shrugging off his tanks, he was surprised to see they were mostly full. But he wasn’t anywhere near the dive site. There weren’t any Federale troops, or barriers.

  Hell, he wasn’t even sure he was in Cozumel.

  “Maggie,” he called again, feeling sick.

  He would fucking destroy Nicholette and that coward Amos. Hanging was too good for them. He’d keelhaul them through the nethersphere until their skin was flayed from their bodies.

  “Maggie,” he whispered, allowing himself a moment of utter despair. He couldn’t lose her now. Not after they finally realized how much time they had wasted.

  Quick took a few staggering steps across the beach. He was alone, which was odd because it seemed like it was around noon. The wind kicked up as he trudged along. The pristine white sands turned to scrub brush and a steep incline.

  Grunting, he climbed up and was relieved to see a road. It wasn’t paved, but a road meant it led somewhere. He walked for an hour before having to sit down. Digging into his dive bag, he pulled out a thermos of water and ripped open a packet of dried fruit.

  It didn’t do anything for his screaming headache, but he felt a little more centered. He walked for another hour before a truck rattled down the road. Flagging it down, he almos
t wept when it stopped.

  “Can you give me a ride to town?” he asked in English and then in Spanish.

  “Get in,” the man said. “I’m Sameer.”

  “Quick.”

  “This truck only goes one speed.”

  “No, man. That’s my name.”

  “Nine months and that’s the best your Mama could do?”

  His aching muscles were thrilled to sit down, even if he could feel every spring on the seat. The air conditioning was weak, but it soothed his head.

  “I know this is going to sound like an odd question, Sameer, but is this Earth?”

  He gave him a glare out of the corner of his eye. “Where were you expecting to be?”

  “I don’t know. I hit my head.”

  Sameer’s face cleared of suspicion. “Ah, that explains it. You’re in Castaro. The waves can get pretty rough.”

  “Castaro,” Quick said. “Where’s that exactly?”

  “Tobago?” Sameer prompted.

  “Tobago,” Quick marveled. The vortex spit him out on the other side of the world practically. It would take his airship eighteen hours to get from Mexico to Trinidad. “Have you seen a woman along this road? Beautiful, dressed for scuba.”

  “Sorry man. You’re the only person I’ve seen.”

  Quick had a problem. He may own two cigar and coffee plantations, but at the moment he didn’t even have a cell phone. “Is it possible for you to drop me off at the nearest airship dock?”

  “Yeah, I’m going into Scarborough anyway.”

  He was bound to find someone he knew there, eventually.

  “You like cigars?” Quick asked. “I can set you up with some good ones.

  TWO DAYS LATER, QUICK was trying to double his money at the Scarborough Casino. He had worked on the docks for some under the table cash. He just wanted enough for a hotel room. Somewhere he could take a shower, order room service and call civilization. He had already sold all his dive equipment for food and a new set of clothes.

  He wished he had a cigar and a coffee with Sambuca in it. But most of all, he wished for Maggie. If he had to put up with this any longer, he’d consider stealing an airship. When he got back to civilization, he’d make sure that the Syndicate did regular rounds to islands like this. They would make a killing in imports.