The crew arrived at the door. Finding it locked, they pounded and kicked. It wouldn’t take long for them to break it down.
“No, Papa! Come with me! I can’t leave you!” I sobbed.
I squirmed and fought, but he forced me inside the bureau. “Yes you can, and you will. They will look for you, but since I’m the one they want I can buy you time. This passage will take you down to the bowels of the ship. Stay quiet and stay hidden. Go, now!”
My small hands clung to his wrists, desperate not to let go. “Papa, no! Please!”
I’d never witnessed my father crying before. Fear for his only son snuck the tears from his eyes. “I love you, Rowan Wade. Don’t you ever doubt that. Move quickly and be safe.”
Those were the last words my father spoke to me before yanking the back of the bureau shut and plunging me into darkness. Garments squeaked across the hanging bar as he repositioned them. I knew I should run, but my legs were frozen in fear. Father was in danger and there was nothing I could do to help him. I fought against the door, but it wouldn’t budge from this side. Suddenly the muffled noise from inside the room amplified. The crew had gained entry. I heard the bangs and crashes of the scuffle as they seized hold of my father.
I recognized the voice of Thomas, the young lad father offered a second chance, as he yelled, “Sink him to the depths!”
All the chaos and bedlam in the room prevented them from hearing my fists beating against the door as I shouted with enough force to strain my throat for them to let him go. The room fell silent as they dragged him off. My knees went slack. Sliding to the floor, I sobbed.
Now
The wonderful aroma of java wafted up as I hunkered over my coffee mug and inhaled deeply. This was cup number three and seemed to be the magic number to break through my rum induced haze. But, honestly, did the diner have to be so bright? It’s not like they were performing surgeries here. This level of illumination was unnecessary.
Across the table Terin sat with her arms folded in front of her, her eyebrows raised in expectation. “Well, you still look like something a dog leaves in the yard, but the party boy gleam has left your eyes. Before the regret and nausea become too overwhelming, shall we attempt conversation?”
“Nothin’ to talk about,” I grumbled, raking a hand through my disheveled hair. “You said Celeste needs me, and like I told you that lass doesn’t need nor want anything from me. She sees me again, she’ll kill me. Guaranteed.”
Terin cocked her head. When she spoke, condescension dripped from her tone. “Spoken like someone that’s spent too much of his long existence surrounded by the more unsavory side of the battle between good and evil.”
“Spare me the judgment. Why don’t you go ahead and tell me why you’re here so I can tell you to sod off. Savvy?”
Shifting her weight, she crossed her legs under the table and assumed an even haughtier, business-like posture. “The Counsel sent me, Rowan. They’ve been watching you.”
“Last night?” I smirked. “I hope they brought popcorn and took notes.”
A rosy hue filled her cheeks. Perhaps my jest was closer to the truth than I thought …
“Not just recently, but for a long while now. They were actually pleased when you bonded with the Conduit of the Gryphon. Something big and nasty is heading her way and having a … friend … with your particular skill set could mean the difference between life and death for her.”
Friend. What a nasty word. Slumping in my seat, I stretched my arms out on the back of the booth. “And what makes you think I care in the slightest if Celeste Garrett lives or dies?”
Terin grabbed her glass of water and brought it to her lips. When she replaced it on the table, she let her finger trail along the rim. “How long have you been searching for Klaus Turner?”
My jaw tensed at the mention of his name. “Centuries. How do you know about that?”
“You’d be surprised how much we know about you, Rowan.” She wiped her moist hands on her napkin then folded them on the table in front of her. “You’re tracking him for revenge purposes, yes?”
“Aye.”
“A deep seeded revenge that is the driving force behind your every action. Is that the line you’re going with?”
“It’s not a line.” Grinding my teeth together, I tried to remember that not only was she a lady but a well-connected one. “It’s the truth.”
“Really? And yet he left the bar tonight a good hour before I revealed myself to you and you didn’t even notice. Maybe your need for vengeance isn’t as crucial as it once was?” Her eyebrows rose questioningly.
I rubbed a hand vigorously over my face. He left? How had I not noticed? My whole purpose of being there was to watch and follow him. And just like that, this all knowing redhead found herself skating on my last nerve. “I drank too much. Simple as that.”
She leaned forward, placing her elbows on the table. “The question is why did you drink too much? Conscience bothering you?”
“That’s it,” I growled and scooted out from the booth. “I’m not in the mood for games, little girl. There’s a reason I didn’t join your side. I always thought it was because of the whole lack of morals thing, but now I see it’s because I find the lot of you maddeningly dull. So, thanks for the coffee, but I won’t be joining Team Gryphon any time soon.”
“Rowan, please sit down.”
“Give me one reason to.”
“I’ll help you find Klaus, and the Marie Ann.”
Slow and hesitantly, I eased myself back down into the booth. “And why would you do that?”
Her mouth curled up in an almost grin. “Mostly to prevent you from doing anything stupid along the way.”
“I accomplish stupid daily, love.” I smiled. “If that’s your only reason I fear you’ll be wasting your time.”
Digging in her purse, she pulled out clean, crisp ten dollar bills to pay our tab then slid them and the bill to the edge of the table. “I’m hoping along the way that you’ll decide to do the right thing and help Celeste. The Counsel has even granted me a gift, of sorts, to give you when the moment is right to help aid this decision for you.”
“I do enjoy gifts. But are you okay with the fact that this might be a no-win situation?” I asked while giving a wink and a nod to the middle-aged waitress that collected our bill. She blushed and gave me a girlish grin in return. “There’s a high likelihood you’ll help me and I’ll leave ya standing on the dock as I sail off into the horizon.”
Terin pressed her lips together, as if to prevent unwanted words from tumbling out. She took a beat to answer, “Then the Counsel and I will have our answer about you once and for all, and we won’t bother you again. I do have one question, though.”
“What’s that?”
“When you catch Turner, what do you plan to do with him?”
I stared out the window into the darkness and watched the cars that zipped past. “Oh, I’m gonna make him take a little walk.”
***
Then
It was a thirst so intense my raw throat ached and my tongue had turned to sandpaper, which brought me out of hiding in the under belly of the ship. Father was dead. I had overheard enough brutality, which would forever haunt me in my dreams, to know that. He hadn’t pleaded for his life. The crew complained about that when they came back to ransack his cabin. I wanted to make them plead for theirs more than I’d ever wanted anything in my life. When the bureau door creaked open, I finally found the motivation to move from my hiding spot in the compartment behind it and scurry to the bowels of the ship like one of the stray mice the crew made sport of killing.
There was no way of telling how long I’d stayed hunkered down there, hidden by empty barrels and crates. Light dared not venture here. I slept when I could, but spent the majority of my time analyzing every creak or squeak for a possible threat and tearing a wooden crate apart with my hands to make weapons with the shards.
With one especially pointy stake in hand and another tuc
ked into the back waste band of my dirty trousers, I crept out and quietly made my way through the ship. I had guessed the lull in noise right. It was night, most of the crew was asleep. If I could sneak up one staircase, past the crew’s quarters, and down a narrow hall I would make it to the kitchen. There I planned to load up on as much food and water as I could carry to take with me back to my dark and dingy sanctuary.
The stairs squeaked their disapproval under my weight. I froze and listened. When no noise followed I ventured on with careful, cautious steps. Reaching the next deck, I tiptoed down the hall with hurried movements. Pausing outside the crew quarters, I listened for any roused sailors that may jump at the chance to turn my guts to garters. Silence urged me to proceed. My heart pounded in my chest with such force I feared it might wake the whole ship; especially when I stepped in front of that open door. I hesitated … held my breath … then peeked around the doorjamb. A choked gasp eeked from my throat when an eye peered back at me from within the darkness. I only regained the ability to breathe when I realized it was Crazy Joe’s glass eye that he couldn’t close to sleep. Before my luck actually ran out, I bolted past the door.
The kitchen door was open a crack, beckoning to me like a desert oasis. Paradise, bliss, just down the hall …
But like any good mirage it’s easily foiled. In my case by voices descending the stairs from on deck. I spun in a circle and tried to find a place to hide. Three closed doors, what lay behind them now was a mystery to me; taking my chances on one of them or cowering in the crews quarters were my only options. Paralyzed by indecision, I flattened my back to the wall and tried to blend with the shadows.
Let them turn the other way, I pleaded in my head. Please, let them turn the other way!
But that plea didn’t rise higher than the ceiling. They rounded the corner headed straight for me. Squeezing my eyes shut, I waited for the moment of discovery. Would they throw me overboard like they had Papa? Slice me in two just for sport?
My pulse drummed in my ears as I waited the moment of discovery. I bit the inside of my cheek to stifle a panicked whimper that threatened. Behind me a door creaked open. My head whipped to the side in time to see a woman’s hand shoot out. Her hand closed around my upper arm as she tugged me inside and shut the door.
Chapter Four
Now
A fog horn sounded in the distance, and a passing ship jangled its bell in response.
“Really?” I muttered in disbelief. “All this time, all these centuries of searching, and you’re just gonna drop me off at the docks with a ‘There ya go, mate. There’s the ship you’ve been searching for and the chap you’re after will be along shortly’?”
“Pretty much.” Terin pulled the collar of her tweed coat further up her neck to fight off the draft caused by the water. “I told you we’ve been watching you.”
With hungry eyes, I took in the sight before me. The Marie Ann. How he’d changed her. Her worn and barnacle-clad sides had been replaced by immaculate cherry stained wood with intricate woodwork that dressed her up like a gingerbread house. No doubt through the centuries she’d been made to endure every update and tweak that Klaus fancied. I cocked my head and tried to feel that old sense of nostalgia for her. However, with all the changes all I saw was a ship. “Huh. This is shockingly anti-climatic.”
Her hair blew into her eyes as she peered my way. “Your father was the heart of the ship and he no longer resides here. Nothing you do will change that. You need to ask yourself if an empty vessel is worth fighting for.”
I shoved my hands in my pockets and gave her my best look of utter indifference. “Does it get tiring being good all the time? Because, quite honestly, it’s exhausting to listen to.”
“So don’t listen. Continue to be a hard-headed jackass and find it out the hard way.” Her lips drew together in a firm white line and flames encircled her irises. This chick had the world’s worst pokerface. “Matter of fact, here’s your big chance.” She jerked her chin in the opposite direction.
I followed her gaze. Klaus strolled down the dock, headed straight for us, whistling to himself with that ever present bottled water in his hand as his only companion. I didn’t think, didn’t speak, just stepped forward into the light from the pole beside us.
The casual smile on his face slowly turned to abject horror when his gaze fell on me. The water bottle slipped from his hand and cracked against the dock, its contents streaming out. All color drained from his face as his mouth fell open. “Thaddeus? Is that you?”
My brow pulled down in a scowl. In my head I remembered Father as a weathered old man, therefore being mistaken for him wasn’t what I considered a compliment. I know I’m three hundred, but geesh. “No, Klaus, I’m …”
But it was too late. Ole Klausy boy had made up his mind to go ahead with this bout of jibberish. He fell to his knees, his arms out-stretched. “Captain! I knew your spirit was in a state of unrest! I knew I would see you again! All I can offer after all this time is my woeful apologies. I am so sorry for what I did. If I had known the cost—the soul-sucking burden on my soul—I would never have agreed! I would’ve thrown that evil sorceress into the sea without a second thought! Now you return from the grave to seek your owed vengeance. I ask you, my Captain, what can I do to help put your soul to rest and ease my own guilt after my wicked deeds?”
Terin nudged my arm and whispered out of the corner of her mouth, “Tell him who you are.”
That was one way to go. Or … I could take advantage of an opportunity.
“’Tis I, the Captain of this vessel that you betrayed you villainous dog!” I boomed.
Terin’s eyes widened to large Os. “Well that’s not right the right answer.”
I ignored her and shook my fist in the air. “I come here to take back what’s mine and demand retribution from you, Klaus Turner!”
“Where exactly are you going with this?”
Klaus visibly trembled. His mouth opened and shut like a fish out of water, sweat dotting his brow. “I beg your mercy though I know I don’t deserve it.”
White hot rage shot up my spine at the memory of my father cramming me in the bureau to save my life. “Did you show me mercy? When you cast me overboard where was my mercy then?”
Klaus’s chin fell to his chest as he sobbed. “You got none, sir. No mercy, but weighted boots. I’m so sorry.”
My breath caught at that declaration, pain gripping my heart in a tight fist. All these years I hoped that maybe—just maybe—Father had been able to stay afloat long enough for a passing barge to pick him up. Now I knew his life ended that very night.
“Your life isn’t worthy to be saved,” I murmured.
“What … what are you going to do with me?” His head twitched back and forth from me to Terin and back again.
Terin kept her voice soft and calm, almost maternal. “He’s a broken man made miserable by his own curse. You don’t need to do this.”
“Who is she? What part does she play?” Klaus demanded in his angst.
Terin raised her hands, palms out. “Me? I play no—”
“She’s the Angel of Vengence!” I shouted over her. Her head whipped around, the look on her face clearly questioning my sanity. “Here to exact my revenge!”
“I’m not exacting squat!” Terin protested then turned back to Klaus. “You have nothing to fear of me. I’m not here to … OWW!!”
Her words turned into a pained yelp as I reached over and pinched the back of her neck. Instantly flames shot from the top of her head and shoulders.
Klaus fell to his rump and crab crawled backward. “He speaks the truth! You bring the eternal hell fires!”
“No!” Terin took a step forward but halted when Klaus cowered from her. “No hell fires.”
“Looked like hell fires to me.” I shrugged.
“You may be the most maddening individual I’ve ever met,” she grumbled through clenched teeth.
My eyebrows raised in mock shock. “That’s saying a lot
since you work for Beelzebub.”
“I do not work for Beelzebub!” Terin blazed. Anger caused flames to bloom from every inch of her. I made a mental note to ask her later what prevented her clothes from burning right off of her.
Klaus whimpered as he scrambled to his feet then made a mad dash down the dock. I focused my gaze and willed him to stop right where he was. Like a mindless puppet he obeyed my command.
Terin’s jaw flexed. Her skin steamed and smoldered like rolling lava. “Rowan, what are you going to do?”
I said nothing, but let my lips slide back in a wicked smile.
***
Then
I spun to gaze into the blood red eyes of my savior.
“The witch,” I croaked in place of the ‘thank you’ I had intended.
Straightening her spine, she folded her arms over her chest. “A witch, am I? Wouldn’t a witch have let you die out there? Or better yet have used some spell to rescue you instead of simply grabbing you?”
“A thousand apologies, madame,” I said with a slight bow, just as father had taught me. “There were whispers as such. Not that I would ever imply …”
With the flick of her wrist she raised her hand for me to stop. “People gossip about things they don’t understand. Witches need spells and concoctions to achieve their magic. Mine is a part of me. Should I be faulted for something that is now at the core of my very being?”
She admitted to using magicks! I gaped at her, my eyes wide with surprise.
The lovely red arches of her brows raised expectantly.
“N-no ma’am,” I stuttered.
“There’s a good lad.” Her expression softened and her gaze flicked over me. Her skin was the soft, silky hue of the petals of a white rose. “You look a fright, boy. When’s the last time you’ve eaten … or bathed?”
Sacrifice (The Gryphon Series Book 3) Page 22