by LJ Andrews
“As if that would be any better,” she said angrily.
Atlas paused. “There are ways to escape Dieb. I’ve done it, Nova. In a selfish, twisted way, I thought maybe you could escape, too. It was a risk I didn’t have the right to take with your life.”
“You were on Dieb? When?”
“It doesn’t matter now,” Atlas said, notably tensing. “I chose wrong and now I don’t see how you will ever get out from under Smythe’s hand.”
Atlas turned to leave the brig, leaving Nova stunned, confused, and speechless. Before he stepped too far away from the deck, she called out. “Who did you choose over me Atlas?”
He closed his eyes in shame and didn’t look at her. “Smythe told me he’d kill him. I don’t know why it mattered so much looking back on it now.”
“Who was it?”
“I chose my father.”
Nova’s jaw dropped as Atlas bounded up the stairs out of sight. Her lip trembled as angry tears spilled over onto her face. For once, she didn’t cry in anger against Atlas; she was crying over Smythe. The wretched captain extorted every person on the ship. She knew a little about Atlas’s history with his abusive father, but he’d once told her he had a happy childhood before his sister died. Smythe had found his vulnerability and appealed to the happy times, she was sure of it. She wondered if she would’ve done the same if the tables were turned. Her blood boiled. Atlas had been wrong, and Nova knew she could never fully trust him, but Smythe was the true guilty one. As the ship once again rocked into a ghostly silence she let the boiling darkness fuel her desire to end Smythe once and for all.
For the entire day, Nova was alone in the brig. Kale hadn’t shown for the morning chores, nor the midday swab. As the sun settled low in the clouds, splashes of orange and white rivers cut along the dark wood of the brig. Nova’s stomach grumbled like a thunderstorm; even the pitiful scraps of hard bread and the occasional dry meat stick sounded delightful.
Finally, the hinges along the hatch groaned angrily and Kale’s light patterned prance down the steps calmed her ravenous insides.
“Where have you been?” she demanded, feeling more irritable as time passed since Atlas’s strange visit.
“Smythe’s been using all hands on the main deck. We’re sailing underneath islands, not in the common currents around the islands. It’s actually been pretty fascinating,” he said breathlessly. “I haven’t gotten such a close glimpse at the caverns beneath some of the outer islands. It’s like a whole new kingdom.”
Nova’s lips pressed together. “I’m glad you boys are enjoying yourselves up there.”
Kale frowned, his eyes warning not to make his report into a fight. “You know I can’t ignore Smythe’s orders. I would’ve been down here sooner if he’d have let me.”
Nova glanced away sheepishly, ignoring the frustration building in her chest as she tried to bring her logical senses forward. “Sorry. I know you would’ve. I’m starving. What’s for my glamourous meal tonight?”
Kale kicked at a loose nail in the floorboards and tucked his hands in his pockets. “Nothing right now; I’m here to bring you on deck.”
Gripping the bars tightly, Nova closed her eyes and let her head flop back as she breathed out a frustrated sigh. “What does he want now?”
Kale’s voice was soft as he turned the rusty key in the deep lock over her cage. “Nova, I don’t know. I’ll be honest—I don’t like the looks of where we are. You’ll see when we get up there.”
Nova furrowed her brow and followed closely behind Kale as he led her toward the upper decks. The sky was strange as she stepped from the darkness of the lower decks to a pale blue shadow from barriers covering the happy sunlight. Instead of pillow clouds floating dreamily by the hull, large rocky cliffs bombarded either side. Jagged shards of glittering gold manu filtered through the rocky land masses, keeping them afloat over the dreary Below.
The crew either didn’t notice or didn’t care she’d come on deck. Men held tight to the rigging, pulling the canvas sails tight as the Vengeance slithered through the crevices of rock like a slimy sky eel.
“Pull her about.” Smythe’s gravelly voice sent shivers down Nova’s spine.
Several pirates grunted and moaned as they pulled tight. Atlas ripped the helm’s spokes so the wheel turned heavy toward the starboard side as a narrow opening came into view. Nova gaped as the ship slipped through the cave with ease.
“Are we going inside an island?” she asked breathlessly.
Kale stood next to her, mouth open, too, not saying anything and only nodding in response. The inner tunnel of the unknown island was dark, but occasionally the lanterns lining the deck would flash a golden glare from the minerals and rare manu casting a foreboding shadow along the way. Everyone stood silent and only the creaks of the rocking ship were heard as the crew of the Star’s Vengeance ventured onward toward a destination once thought impossible by most.
As the ship sailed carefully around a wide bend in the tunnel, the crew saw rosy light and heard distant, boisterous laughter.
“Easy to the docks now, gents. We be keen to make a good impression with this lot.” Nova glared at the captain when he glanced in her direction. Her stomach churned as he tromped toward her, stroking the devilish raven’s black beak. The bird seemed to gnaw into her soul with its empty eyes. Thankfully, the creature squawked and flew away before she had to endure another moment of its sinister presence.
“Did you ever imagine such a place, Miss Nova?” Smythe asked, smiling wickedly.
She glanced at him. “Where are we?” she snarled finally, not wanting to show any interest in the truly fascinating dock.
Smythe held out his hand, drawing her attention to the ever increasingly loud port inside the belly of the island. Flames filled numerous lanterns lighting the area as if it were only night, not a cave. People bustled around small streets lined with pubs and businesses. Most seemed like sailors, but some appeared finely dressed and prominent in this society.
“No formal name exists for these places,” Smythe said smugly. “They be known only as the Underbellies. Where runaways, fugitives, or people of unique natures gather to escape the wicked eye of King Insel.”
“What are we doing here?”
Smythe chuckled, his black teeth looking more rotted than ever. “I have yer pap to thank for this idea. His ledger suggested saving frustration for this spyglass we be after and instead seek out some curious men known to the pirate world as the Three Brothers.”
A pirate gasped behind them and Smythe laughed harder and pointed at the crewman. “See, not everyone likes to be around such sorts, but I need to make a deal with these brothers and ye’ll be comin’ with me seein’ as they’ll need to inspect the one goin’ after the spyglass. They’ll determine yer worth.”
“What do you mean my worth?” she asked shrilly as two crew members grabbed tightly to her upper arms leading her toward a rickety dock built into the side of the rocky tunnel.
Smythe ignored her and shouted back toward Fat-Hugh who stood near the bow. “Hugh, Kane be joinin’ me. Keep the Vengeance out of range of guns.” Fat-Hugh saluted the captain and nodded his head causing his flappy chins to shake in time with his head. “Time we be goin’, missy.” Smythe stepped onto the gangplank behind Nova, followed by Kane, and pushed her forward toward the strange, underground town.
The streets were made up of a soft, fine soil. The homes seemed much like the ones on the surface of the islands, but were covered in a green film of moss from the extra muggy air trapped in the cave. Nova wiped a stream of perspiration off her forehead and tried to tug her arm from Smythe’s grip, but he was relentless as he pulled her through town.
All around, people stopped to stare at the newcomers. Women held baskets of green leafy foods, their skin pale from the lack of sunlight. Men leaned against the storefronts, every belt secured with flintlock pistols and knives. The people were strange, like a wild band of pirates had formed an underground tribe. Now evo
lution had taken them somewhere between the wild swashbucklers to topside pleasant villagers.
“In here,” Smythe growled, shoving her into a hot, humid pub filled with the harsh scent of sweaty cotton.
Kane stayed outside the pub, standing guard like a dark demon with his black hat and long-tailed coat.
The room was filled with small round tables, most surrounded by at least four men drooling over the tin mugs. The pale people looked up at Smythe and Nova, but soon lost interest and sank back into their amber colored drinks.
“Whatcha doin’ here stranger?” an old man with one center tooth in his mouth asked.
“We be seekin’ an audience with the Three Brothers,” Smythe said confidently.
Instantly, the room fell silent and every, drooping, bagged eye lifted curiously in their direction. It was obvious even Smythe was uncomfortable by the sudden attention, but Nova feared her heart would beat through her chest as the raging darkness pummeled her insides, yearning to protect her.
She stepped back toward the door, but no sooner had she resigned to run from the strange pub than a thick, black sack covered her head. Nova screamed, kicked, and fought against her attacker, with every shout inhaling the bitter taste of stale alcohol and body odor.
Someone held tightly to her arm, leading her somewhere else, away from the muggy front room of the pub. The moment before Nova felt inclined to release the dark power and take up arms against the strangers, the black hood was ripped off her head.
They were in a different room. Three lanterns lit the small table. Nova saw two men with arrow tattoos on each of their biceps standing in front of a small opening with their arms crossed. Taking a deep breath, she pushed her wild curls out of her face and glanced at Smythe. He sat upright and rigid and stared directly across the table.
Nova followed his gaze and gasped at the sight.
“Hello, travelers,” a man with translucent eyes said. His skin was pale and his hair had no pigment. It fell just over his ears in a perfectly symmetrical haircut. His body seemed so thin it appeared as if he’d never eaten in his entire adult life. But it wasn’t his unusual appearance that frightened her. It was the identical men who rested calmly on either side. The only thing missing in their pale, colorless faces were eyes. Nova stared in disbelief as they cocked their heads as if studying both her and Smythe with their empty sockets.
“We’re so glad you came today,” the man continued. “We are affectionately known as the Three Brothers.”
Chapter 5
The Three Brothers
His lips were pasty and stretched thin over his big teeth. The brother with the eyes seemed to revel in their discomfort. “I am Patus. My brother here on my left is known as Co and our other brother is Virtus. What is it you want of us?” Patus’s voice was smooth, yet high pitched for a man. Nova shivered under his twinkling gaze. Something within her felt that Patus was more devious than his skinny, colorless face was letting on.
Smythe stepped closer and cleared his throat. “We be after the spyglass for the mountain of Dia.”
Virtus let out a breathy hiss and curled his fingers together. “Dia is not for the faint of heart, and I detect your fear of us. How would you survive the journey through the Unknown?”
“Now, now brother,” the other blind man, Co, began. His voice was deeper, and Nova easily detected the arrogant cynicism as if he weren’t trying to hide it at all. “Don’t you realize this man has been there before? And we all know every journey is the same to Dia. Of course, he’ll survive it yet again.”
“Brothers,” Patus said, smiling. “They’ve traveled so far to speak with us. We should at least hear them through. Forgive my brothers, but we’ve seen too many overly-confident explorers fall to the mysteries in the Unknown on their journey toward Dia,” he said once he faced Smythe again.
“How…how did he know I’d been to Dia?” Smythe asked bewildered.
Patus laughed loudly, followed by Co and Virtus. Their mouths were dry and when they stretched their lips the surrounding skin cracked. “I think you’ll find not much escapes our eyes,” Patus said once he composed himself.
Virtus suddenly stepped out from behind the table, his body just as emaciated as Patus. Despite his lack of sight, he easily maneuvered the room until he stood directly in front of Nova. His pigment-free eyebrows pulled together, scrunching the empty eye sockets. “This one has a strange aura; something calls to the mountain even from here,” Virtus reached a thin hand out and held a handful of Nova’s curls. She wanted to run and leave the terrifying man behind, but he held her hair tightly, rubbing it incessantly between his fingers.
“You want to fight against me,” Virtus said quietly, smiling in satisfaction.
“No, I would never,” Nova replied.
“I see it,” he said placing a hand over her heart.
She held her breath, trying to ignore the fierce burning in her veins as the dark desire inside her threatened to unleash against him.
“How…how can you see…” she stammered before closing her lips tightly as he stepped closer.
“There are many ways to see, and I have a strong gift to see inside, into the inner emotions of a heart. You are a storm of confusion,” Virtus continued. “Why do you resist such a gift when it could give you all you desire?”
“I won’t be controlled by anything other than myself,” she said with vigor.
Virtus scoffed and removed his hand from her chest. Turning back toward his brothers, he slunk toward his seat, resting again in front of both Nova and Smythe. “If the girl will succumb to the inevitable, she could survive the journey,” he stated flatly.
“But you ignore her thoughts,” Co responded, his dark empty holes watching her. “She does not want to succumb, nor serve this man. She is not motivated by the lust of Dia.”
“Perhaps making her stronger?” Patus chimed in, glancing at Nova.
“Enough,” Smythe shouted, causing Nova to jump. The brothers smiled and looked at Smythe. “This girl be not the one who’ll be takin’ advantage of the treasures of Dia. She be me prisoner and be a means to the end is all. So if ye want to direct the one who’ll be leadin’ the way to the mountain then talk to me.”
Virtus stood, leaning his weight on his skinny arms. “What makes you so certain you will survive long enough to see the mountain again? Dia has powers unbeknownst to you, and She doesn’t take kindly to second-time visits.”
Nova drifted her crystal eyes and watched as Smythe stiffened under Virtus’s empty gaze. He looked directly at him, yet how was it possible for the man to see anything?
“I think me skills of sailing and my knowledge of the mountain will only strengthen our journey,” Smythe argued.
Virtus’s empty eye sockets seemed to glare at Smythe. “Your pride will be your undoing. If I were you, I would run from Mount Dia as far as I could. She will send her powers to destroy you.”
“Now, Virtus,” Patus said. “He does seem to physically be able to survive. He did find us, Brother.”
“That’s not enough and you know it,” Virtus responded.
“If he had any sense, he’d allow the girl to lead them on their way. He is too blinded by revenge and that is never enough of a motivation. I declare my advice,” Co said as if about to deliver a judgment at Smythe. “Abandon this mission to Dia or suffer her wrath. And you,” he turned toward Nova. “Embrace your inner battle. Allow it to shape you into who you’ve always been meant to be.”
“The girl is nobody,” Smythe shouted. “Now are ye goin’ to be tellin’ us how we get this spyglass or should we be on our way?”
Patus sighed; he neither looked disappointed, nor angry. On the contrary, despite trying to hide it, the pasty man seemed pleased to send them into danger. “If you insist on ignoring our wise counsel, then we shall discuss payment arrangements.”
Smythe ruffled through his inner pockets, mumbling about skinny boys and murdering.
“Ah, ah,” Co said in his deep breathy
voice. “We have no need for your worthless coin. We desire the Eye of a Beholder; without payment, we will see to it you shall not succeed in your journey.”
Smythe scoffed and folded his arms. “And how might ye be accomplishin’ that?”
Virtus snarled, his empty holes darkening more. “We have ways sir, we assure you.”
Nova pretended it was her imagination when she caught one of the guards by the doorway shift uncomfortably and rub his hand which was missing three fingers.
“Do we have an agreement?” Patus said.
“A Beholder huh? I can find one,” Smythe relented.
“Wonderful,” Patus said clapping his white hands together. With an extra bounce in his step, he turned to the other two. “Brothers.”
The three men stood in a circle, Patus removing a small oval bowl. Co unstopped a small jar and poured thick silver liquid into the bowl. It radiated heat like blood as it swirled around.
Nova shivered and backed toward the two men with arrow tattoos when the brothers clasped hands. Patus closed his wild eyes while Co and Virtus raised their black sockets toward the ceiling. Rocking back and forth on their heels, the brothers groaned and hissed in unison as if speaking some forgotten animal language.
Patus stopped suddenly and looked into the swirling bowl. “What you seek will not come willingly. It is hidden with great care, under impossible guard. If you wish to continue you will be proven worthy. Seek out the Island of Bones, but we warn you it will claim a number of your souls for its prize.”
Nova wrung her fingers like a damp cloth. Something raged within her. They were moving toward danger she couldn’t explain. The Island of Bones sounded familiar, like a forgotten horror story she’d read as a child.