Island of Bones (The Djinn Kingdom Book 2)

by LJ Andrews

  “Did you sense that?” Co hissed.

  “Yes, Brother. She has such a strong connection,” Patus sneered.

  “But she will not use it, she is not able yet,” Virtus said, sounding as if he were mocking her.

  Nova narrowed her eyes at the brothers. She was filled with fear as they advanced toward her. Nothing seemed more terrifying than living a life enslaved to the three disgusting creatures. Nova would take Smythe over the brothers tenfold, but the question of how she might escape whirled through her thoughts.

  “See her struggle?” Virtus said. “She cannot call upon her true self, but we can use that to our advantage. She is obviously very valuable.”

  Nova felt the rage burn through her arms, slowly creeping like poison until it settled in her chest. She would not stay with the brothers. They were the foolish ones to underestimate her strength. The darkness seemed to open up within her the more she thought of the Three Brothers and their wretched desires.

  A large stone fell from high up on one wall of the cave, landing near Co. The brothers jumped back, watching Nova with fascination. She glared at them, hating them more as each moment passed.

  “I will not be staying with you,” she snarled.

  “Oh, but you are too great a prize,” Co replied, removing a twisted dagger like a deadly coil from his belt.

  Nova scoffed, feeling the heat burst in her cheeks. The woman in white had said to demand her will, but hadn’t Kamali said not to trust the woman? Nova released a long breath, feeling the confusion torment her mind as Co stepped closer, holding his dagger out in front of his chest. Now was the time to choose who she trusted more, and the brothers were nowhere near the list of trustworthy acquaintances.

  Taking a deep breath, the dark surge of power filled every facet of her body like a lost piece of soul returning. The cave shook more; larger rocks fell dangerously close to the brothers as she focused on nothing more but the power enveloping her mind and body.

  “What’s happening?” Smythe’s distant voice filled her mind.

  “Stop her,” Patus growled.

  Everything seemed to slow, and each step of the brothers’ took the time of five in her eyes. Nova unlatched her dagger and twirled it once in her hand before rushing forward against the brothers just as time resumed to a normal pace.

  Co jumped back in surprise, unaware of her sudden attack. Nova wanted nothing more than to leave the cave, and she pushed her desire forward as she sliced the dagger across Co’s wrist. He dropped his blade and cried out in such anguish it was terrifying to listen. Nova smiled contentedly as his wrist charred like burning embers along the wound. Twirling her blade once more, she rushed toward Virtus and Patus, smiling as she anticipated their fear.

  “Stop!” Patus shouted, holding out a gray, chapped palm. Nova stopped, allowing a smug grin to spread across her face. “I can see there is much more than meets the eye. Go, we want no more of this dark power near us. But I warn you, we do not forget offenses against us easily.”

  Nova threw the dagger, lodging it in the wall directly behind Patus. The blade slid across his cheek so closely it was a wonder it didn’t cut through. “Nor do I,” she snarled. “You dare threaten me again and it will be the last thing you ever do.”

  “You will see us again,” Virtus said calmly as if none of the commotion that had just gone on had even happened. “It may, someday, be in both our interests to work together against a greater evil.”

  “I doubt it,” Nova said, relishing in the fury still rampaging inside her chest. She stepped past the brothers—they watched her cautiously—and ripped the dagger from the black stone. “Let’s go, Captain.”

  Smythe watched her through his dark eyes, clutching the scroll from the brothers tightly. He gave a curt nod and stepped toward the mouth of the cave. Nova glanced behind her as she tied the dagger back to her belt, and the brothers watched her with stoic expressions. Co was again standing near his brothers, clutching his injured wrist before they stepped back against the wall and dissipated into nothing like steam from a tea cup.

  Smythe was silent as they made their way to the boat where Kane and Gold-tooth waited.

  “Ye have some explainin’ to do, Miss Nova. I do not know what I saw back there—ˮ

  “Just know, Captain Smythe, if pushed far enough there is no telling what I might do,” she seethed, interrupting him. “Now what do you know of the Island of Bones? You’ve been there before, right?”

  “As I’ve said many times, lass, nothin’ stays the same when ye be lookin’ for Dia. The island will be different as if it weren’t the same place.”

  “Were you the one who found the spyglass, at least?”

  Smythe shifted his feet, and Nova rolled her eyes.

  “Of course, you weren’t. Now the truth comes out. If we live through all this, Captain Smythe, you will regret keeping me prisoner on your ship.”

  The captain watched her eyes with surprise, the same surprise she always saw on the faces of others when the darkness swelled inside. Nova swallowed hard as she stepped into the boat, afraid to admit the strong power that accompanied the darkness was beginning to feel like the true side of her, the side she was beginning to want to keep. And it frightened her more than it could ever frighten anyone else.

  Chapter 12

  House of Djinn

  Suffocating pressure stayed in her chest for days after meeting with the Three Brothers. Nova rolled painfully to her side on a moldy blanket between two cannons. Her face was hot and the slightest bit of light seemed to set fire to her eyes. She’d disappeared unnoticed from the morning chores, curling between the heavy cannons and wishing sleep would overtake her and take the pains covering her body.

  She held sweaty palms over her eyes, listening to each pound of footsteps on the deck above her. Pirates laughed and shouted distasteful slurs at one another as they went about their duties. Every sound of their voices agitated her. They shouldn’t be so jovial when she felt on the brink of death. Her thoughts took up arms against each other, the peaceful, loving side pushing against the fierce power she’d unleashed in the brothers’ cave. Madame Vix’s words filled her mind, and she knew her pain would subside if she would choose the dominant piece of herself.

  Nova thought of the changes she’d gone through since running from home. Delirious memories filtered through her mind like a storybook: Island jumping, but landing on the deck of a prison ship. Walking down the street, laughing with her father then pulling a jeweled dagger to Smythe’s throat. Watching her mother’s expression as she resisted the bitter morning tea. Tea? Tea? Why was she thinking of Kamali’s putrid herbal tea?

  The fever raged and Nova rolled over, hitting her head against the cold iron of a cannon ball. It seemed like too much effort to react to the pain.

  Nova…a voice called to her, but was it in her head? She couldn’t tell.

  Nova, the voice came again. Her mind drifted to a vast garden. Thick vines with purple blossoms opening beneath a brilliant orange sun and beautiful flowers with velvet petals grew in thick bushes around a colossal silver fountain of a man and woman embracing.

  “Nova.”

  She looked around the garden and saw the woman in white. The woman smiled at her and held out a hand, signaling her to sit on a marble bench against one of the flowering bushes. “Won’t you sit?”

  “Who are you?” Nova heard herself ask the woman. Part of her knew this wasn’t real, but she didn’t have any pain in the garden; it was tempting to stay.

  “I’m the only person who can help you through this,” she said.

  “But who are you?” Nova said sitting on the bench and allowing herself to fully enter the vision reality.

  “You may call me Lurlina. I can help you.”

  “My mother said not to trust you,” Nova said, stiffening as Lurlina sat next to her on the bench.

  “That is regretful. Your mother was always slow to trust. I assure you I am your friend, and I understand the battle waging inside
of you. I want to help.”

  “Why have you reached out to me?” Nova asked, feeling a calm in Lurlina’s presence win over the caution.

  “I care for you, Nova. We are connected in so many ways, and I want to help you find what you’re looking for.”

  “You’ll help me find my father?”

  “If that is what you truly want. But first, I want to help you navigate the changes inside.”

  “I saw my mother with you once. Do you have her? Have you done anything to her?”

  Lurlina smiled kindly and patted Nova’s knee. Her eyes were filled with the history of someone boasting a long life, but her face was as youthful as Nova’s. Her skin was pale, but perfectly so. Her brilliant hair seemed rose gold beneath the sunlight. Something about Lurlina was familiar, like a forgotten loved one, but Nova couldn’t shake Kamali’s warning ringing in the back of her mind.

  “I have done nothing to your mother. She is not with me,” Lurlina said.

  Relief flooded over Nova and she relaxed on the bench, relishing the flavorful smells of the flowers. The longer Lurlina was near, the more a calm overcame her senses, dissolving any reservations she might have had. “I feel strange since the meeting with the brothers. I haven’t been able to stabilize my thoughts and feelings.”

  “It will continue to get stronger. You must embrace the change within you, Nova, or it will destroy you,” Lurlina said, a hint of desperation in her voice.

  “But I don’t know if I want that part of me to take over.”

  Nova, another voice echoed across the garden.

  Lurlina took Nova’s hand in hers. “It is who you are, Nova. Don’t be fearful of who you are. If you embrace it, I can guide you to your destiny. You were born for great things.”

  Nova, the voice echoed, but louder.

  “What was that?” Nova asked looking over her shoulder.

  “Think of all you could do if you would use the power. My dear, you’ve only skimmed the surface and look at the respect you’ve earned. Men who murder and destroy fear you,” Lurlina said. “Embrace the power you were born with, Nova—the power your parents tried to conceal, which is truly a shame.”

  Nova, wake up, the echo said.

  “Is that Kale?” Nova asked, looking around the garden. The flowers seemed duller. “What’s happening?”

  The garden turned to a pale gray, all except Lurlina. She smiled, but seemed disappointed. “We’ll talk soon. Remember, I can help you.”

  Once Lurlina finished, the garden vanished and Nova felt her shoulder lift from a hard surface as pale light filtered through her eyelids. Her head swayed back and forth uncomfortably as if being shaken.

  “Wake up, Nova!” Kale’s voice broke through a muffling barrier in her ears. Her body rocked and she felt herself lift from the damp blanket and heard Kale speaking low under his breath. “You’re burning up.”

  Slowly, Nova cracked her eyes open. Kale’s face was near hers, and she realized her head was resting weakly against his chest as he raced up the stairs to the main deck. Pain beat at every joint and her limbs screamed from his touch as chills drilled along her skin.

  When they broke through the dim gun deck onto the main deck, Nova clenched her eyes shut again, shielding them from the painful sunlight.

  “What’s happened, lad?” Taylor’s gravelly voice from too many handmade cigarettes soothed her screaming headache.

  “I don’t know. I just found her down there. She’s burning and she isn’t responding to me. We need to get her help.”

  “I’ll get the cap’n,” Taylor said.

  He won’t help me, Nova thought to herself, nuzzling Kale’s chest without shame.

  “Will he help? They aren’t on the best of terms,” Kale said.

  Nova felt herself lowering away from his strong arms. She wanted to protest, but the words couldn’t seem to form in her mouth without taking every ounce of energy. He slowly lowered her head onto a soft bag of flour, keeping one of her hands in his.

  “She be valuable enough to ‘im to get her healthy.”

  “Hang on, Nova,” Kale whispered. She tried to open her eyes again to thank him, but the sun was too menacing.

  “What’s happened?” It sounded like Atlas.

  “I don’t know. She’s ill,” Kale replied. “Gold-tooth went to get Smythe.”

  “Well do something!” Atlas demanded.

  “I don’t need you to tell me what to do,” Kale seethed.

  “Well don’t just sit there,” Atlas shouted, his agitated tone adding to Nova’s discomfort.

  A brush of air near her face felt as if Kale had burst to his feet. She clenched, though keeping her eyes closed as if she were afraid he might step on her.

  “Don’t pretend you’re the only one who cares.”

  Had she heard Kale right? His words were muffled again, and she couldn’t make out Atlas’s response. She wanted to tell them to stop arguing, but her voice was missing and her mind grew distant. The bustling deck of the Vengeance seemed to be fading, as Nova yearned to be in the beautiful garden again.

  Someone else had joined the argument, but she no longer cared who was near or what was happening. Inside her mind, the world spun around as someone lifted her from the deck again and carried her off.

  For what seemed like hundreds of painful, feverish hours she drifted to delirium and back to reality, catching small glimpses of men coming in and out of what could only be Smythe’s cabin. She was able to see they’d placed her on a chaise lounge against the window. Nova wished they would cover the blasted sunlight streaming happily through the window.

  “Lass, come on. Drink up.” After what felt like days, Taylor’s caring voice broke through her delirious mind.

  Slowly, she opened her eyes. The cabin was finally dark as night shadowed the sky. And only two low-lit lanterns hung by Smythe’s long desk. Taylor sat on a small stool holding a tin cup in front of her.

  “There ye are, lass. We been worried sick. Now, no…don’t ye go again,” he said, holding her head from flopping back on the cushion.

  Nova looked at him, and he smiled kindly, tipping the cup into her mouth. The liquid burned her throat with a heavy taste of cinnamon and cayenne spice. She coughed, rolling her head off the lounge and spitting the foul drink from her tongue.

  “Easy, girl,” Taylor said, patting her head. “It’ll stave the fever until we get to Madame Sienna.”

  Nova allowed Taylor to gently roll her back onto her side. “Where?” she asked weakly, feeling the spicy drink cool her insides gently.

  “Madame Sienna. She’s a healer. Ye’ve got a savage fever, lass. Sienna be a friend to pirates. She’ll be the one to help ye. Now rest. I’ll check on ye later. Lord knows those two bumbling fools can’t stop arguin’ on who should tend to ye longer than two licks, so I’ll be yer nursemaid. Now rest,” Taylor said, slowly standing and cracking his old joints before leaving her alone in the captain’s cabin.

  Nova closed her eyes, sinking deep into the padded lounge and falling into a fitful sleep filled with bitter teas, velvet flowers, and a distant woman in white.

  The morning sunlight stung, but it didn’t burn as badly as it had. Taylor had forced two more doses of the spicy drink and her body had cooled slightly. She felt incredibly weak and continued to pray for her suffering to end as two unfamiliar crewmen lifted her onto a hammock tied between two oars and carried her toward the jolly boats.

  “How is she?” Atlas’s voice came behind them.

  “I found her, so I should help get her ashore.” Kale’s demanding tone made her smile, or at least she thought she was smiling. He was the most bull-headed person she’d met.

  “Aye,” came Smythe’s annoyed response. “Master Atlas, ye need to man the helm. Brig master and Gold-tooth will go ashore with the wench.”

  “And you, Captain?” Atlas asked.

  “Ye don’t need to question what a captain does. If she dies, then we continue on our way toward the Island of Bones, and if she
lives we do the same. Now, get a move on. We won’t do well to sit so exposed for so long.”

  Smythe’s voice faded and Nova opened her eyes slightly, watching the two crewmen lift her into a boat with Kale and Taylor stepping in after her.

  “Hang on, missy,” Taylor soothed. “Madame Sienna will be able to help.”

  Nova rested in the hammock bed, occasionally looking up into the clear sky as they rowed against rough air currents. The island port wasn’t familiar when they docked. Dark bark trees towered over swampy marshes. As the crewmen lifted her from the boat, she saw moss hanging like cloaked spirits from the tree branches, and evening calls from creeping insects grew louder the deeper they went into the swamp. Every step they made squished deep into mud and shallow water. Nova breathed deeply, filling her lungs with humid air and the smell of moss in stagnant water.

  Kale walked next to the hammock, holding his flintlock pistol out, occasionally jumping at odd croaks and groans coming from the dark corners of the marsh.

  “Where are we?” she asked weakly.

  Kale glanced at her and smiled. “Welcome to the land of the living,” he joked, jumping at a distant snarl in the thick, black trees. “Taylor called it Vagis Marshlands. I remember it from military maps, but we avoided it because so many strange disappearances happened here. But don’t worry. I’m sure we’ll be fine.” He chuckled. “I never thought I’d step foot in this place. Of course, now that we’re here, I wouldn’t mind leaving.”

  Nova smiled and closed her eyes, feeling the feverish burn return across her face. Each breath was difficult as the heat filled her blood. She groaned and rolled her head to one side, feeling the haggard sound of her breath leaving and entering her lungs.

  “We’re here,” Taylor said, though his words were distant through her hazy mind.

  Nova’s ears pounded with each slam of his fist against a wooden door.

  “Bring her in,” said a woman’s voice. “I require payment upfront. There are no guarantees in this business.”

  “We are grateful, Madame Sienna,” Taylor said, though his voice sounded as if he were deep in a cave.