A Pirate's Curse (Legends of the Soaring Phoenix)

by ML Guida

  She screamed as he ripped hair from her scalp.

  Slapping his meaty fingers with her hand, she squirmed, a rabbit caught in the snares of a wolf. “So, you’re O’Brien’s weakness?”

  Chapter Thirty

  Through the black smoke, Kane emerged, wielding a sword. His shirt bloody, he’d a cut lip and his left cheek was sliced opened, but he was alive. “Palmer, let her go,” he demanded.

  Hannah increased her efforts, digging her nails into Palmer’s flesh and kicking his gut. Palmer shook her and her teeth rattled. She tried to kick Palmer again, but he stretched out his arm to where she couldn’t make contact.

  “No, I’ve come along way looking for this bitch,” Palmer said. His foul breath counteracted the acrid smoke wafting across the deck. “I’m taking her back to Zuto.”

  “Your ship’s in flames, Palmer,” Kane growled. “’Tis over. Now release her.” He pulled out his pistol and aimed it at Palmer.

  Palmer pressed Hannah against his chest, using her as a human shield, and wedged his sword underneath her throat, the sharp blade slicing into her neck. Wetness trickled down Hannah’s neck and she stopped struggling. She sucked in her breath, too afraid to exhale. She met Kane’s gaze.

  “Go ahead and shoot,” Palmer taunted.

  “Release her, you coward,” Kane warned, his pistol still trained on Palmer.

  “Take a step and she’s dead,” Palmer warned, pressing the sword deeper into Hannah’s throat. “Lower your sword.”

  Kane held Hannah’s gaze as he obeyed Palmer. For the first time, his eyes dimmed in defeat.

  Palmer pulled out a pistol and aimed it at Kane. “You’re finished, O’Brien. The Phoenix is mine.”

  Hannah drew on her power, but she barely felt the tingles moving through her veins. She tried focusing on Palmer’s sword, but she couldn’t gather enough power to move even Palmer’s fingers. Battling Zuto’s magic to free Lark had been a mistake. Tears trickled down her cheeks.

  “Kneel, O’Brien,” Palmer ordered smugly.

  A pistol fired.

  “No!” Hannah cried.

  But Kane didn’t move.

  Palmer staggered, loosening his grip and giving Hannah enough room to break free. She tumbled to the deck.

  Black smoke swirling around him, William stepped out, his pistol on Palmer.

  “Get back here, you bitch,” Palmer demanded, clutching his arm.

  Kane leapt towards her, his sword drawn. “Back away, Palmer.”

  Blood dripped down Palmer’s shoulder. He glared at William. “You’ll pay for this boy.”

  Before Kane or William could move, Palmer transformed into a bat and flew back to the burning Fiery Damsel.

  Kane hauled Hannah to her feet and she cried out.

  Concern filled his eyes. “You’re hurt.”

  “’Tis not bad,” she whispered, catching her breath.

  “Capt’n, ’tis good to see you,” Ronan said, as he pushed himself up.

  Kane glanced at Hannah. “How the devil did you get here?”

  Ronan nodded at Hannah. “She freed me. Along with her father. But Lark’s still on board the Damsel. He’ll burn to death if we don’t hurry.”

  “Hannah, you’ve got to stay here,” he said. “William…”

  But William was running across the boarding plank, his pistol in one hand, sword in the other.

  “Bloody hell,” Kane swore. “Hannah, stay here. Will you listen to me?”

  She nodded. “I’ll stand guard over Ronan and my father.”

  “I don’t need anyone to guard me.” Ronan leaned against the railing, his face gray.

  “My power’s reduced, Kane,” she admitted. “I tried to free Lark and my power was drained.”

  Kane nodded, urgency in his movements. “It will be all right. Stay here,” he ordered, before racing after William.

  Looking up at the heavens, Hannah sent up a hasty prayer. “Protect him Saint Michael,” she mumbled.

  Palmer’s men were quickly changing into bats and retreating. The battle had been bloody, deadly. Kane had no idea how many dead were counted among his own men. He narrowed his eyes through the smoke, searching for William. The fool. He’d get himself killed.

  Hurrying footsteps chased after him. He whirled around, ready to engage, only to lock eyes with black smoke swirling around him. Sword and pistol drawn, Sean Mallory stepped out. Kane snorted, “You almost got my blade in your giblet, Mallory.”

  Mallory shrugged. “Didn’t think you wanted to be the only one hunting aboard this ship.”

  “William’s over here. We got to find him before he gets himself killed.”

  The Fiery Damsel creaked and shifted. An explosion knocked both Kane and Mallory to the deck, wood, splinters and metal shot over their heads. Half the bow fell into the ocean. Water splashed onto the deck, dousing them. Fire burned hotter. Sweat trickling down his face, Kane wiped his face on his sleeve. He choked on the sulfur. “Capt’n,” Mallory said. “The fire must have reached the weapons hold. We’ve got to get out of here. She’s going to sink.”

  “Not without my brother,” Kane said. He jumped up and slipped on the water as the ship tilted toward the churning ocean. He and Sean stumbled forward toward the missing bow, unable to stop themselves and the canting deck, about ready to tumble into the black water.

  The last of the bow broke off and the Fiery Damsel righted herself. Mallory grabbed Kane’s arm. “Capt’n, we’ve got to leave.”

  “You’ll pay for your insolence, boy,” Palmer yelled from behind Kane.

  Kane whipped around.

  William, his mouth was bleeding, was held tight by two of Palmer’s gruesome men. Another man, beaten, dirty and half naked, stood next to Palmer. A ruby-studded choker was around his neck. The witch, Lark?

  “Curse him,” Palmer ordered.

  “No,” the man said.

  “Punish,” Palmer said.

  The rubies glowed red and the man fell to his knees. Blood trickled down his neck.

  “I said curse him,” Palmer ordered. “Or I’ll replace you with your sister.”

  The man gasped and raised his head, his eyes filled with hate. “By the holy hell of Coaybay, I call upon the demon Zuto’s power, Nogard.”

  “No,” Kane cried. He couldn’t let them turn his brother into a vampire. Breaking away from Mallory’s hold, he ran for William, ready to strike down anyone in path.

  But he was too late.

  A whipping wind roared blowing around William and his captors. The two lackeys let go. A gust snatched William, yanking him off the deck and spinning him ten feet off the deck. He churned around and around and around in midair, green, blue and red sparks flickering from his fingertips. He shrieked, twisting into odd angles, his bones creaking and snapping. Fire spurted out of his mouth. With one final twist, William screamed and crashed onto the deck in an unconscious heap.

  Palmer laughed as Kane rushed towards them. “Lark, stop him.”

  Lark held up his palms and Kane came to a sudden halt, unable to move.

  Palmer pulled out his sword and strode to Kane. “This was too easy.” Death reflected in his red eyes.

  He raised his sword and Kane struggled to move, but he was frozen, a pig to be slaughtered.

  “I’ve waited for this a long time, O’Brien,” Palmer gloated, running his sword along Kane’s throat and leaving a thin line of blood. “Lark, we need the Phoenix.”

  Lark flicked his wrist and a gray fog overpowered the black smoke, turning into icy fingers, reaching for the Soaring Phoenix.

  “Now, my revenge is complete.”

  Gritting his teeth, Palmer swung his sword back. Powerless to do anything, Kane waited to die, to be decapitated. He only prayed his men would escape and fly to safety. Hannah would be taken prisoner. His failure burned his stomach. Victory had been within his grasp.

  On the forward swing, Palmer’s sword spun out of his hand and slammed into Lark, cutting the witch’s arm. Lark stumbled.
The gray fog vanished. And Kane was able to move. Hannah. He smiled. She had regained her power.

  “The longboat,” Palmer yelled. “Lark, get us out of here.”

  Kane hurried after Palmer, raising his sword, ready to cut him down where he ran.

  A white flash blinded Kane and he stopped, shielding his eyes with his arm. When he opened them, Palmer was gone. Kane scanned the ship. Where was he?

  Mallory knelt next to William. He put his hand over his mouth. Kane hurried over. “Is he dead?”

  “No, he’s still breathing.”

  The fire grew hotter and the smoke thickened. “We’ve got to get him off this ship,” Mallory coughed.

  “Aye,” Kane muttered. He and Mallory each grabbed one of William’s arms and draped them over their shoulders. Through the dense smoke, they hurried to the plank. Overhead, the main mast creaked and split, toppling straight for them. Pieces of burning wood fell all around them. They didn’t stop. If they changed into bats, William was dead. Kane glanced up. The burning mast hovered over them in mid-air. Not waiting to see how long it lasted, they dragged William over the planks, lowering him to the deck.

  Hannah stood with her legs apart, her palms aimed towards the burning mast. She twisted her body and the mast crashed into the ocean on the portside, away from the Phoenix. Steam and water spat into the air. Blood trickling from her nose, she dropped her arms and gave Kane a tired smile.

  He rushed over to Hannah, wanting to kiss her, to hold her. He brushed the blood away with his thumb and pulled her close to him, burying his head into her thick hair. Despite the smoke and gunpowder, the faint smell of jasmine filtered up his nose, easing the horror and allowing him to slip into a bit of heaven.

  “Capt’n, we’ve got to get out of here,” Mallory said. “The Damsel will take us down.”

  Kane nodded and reluctantly turned away. The Damsel’s smoke poured onto the Phoenix’s deck, stinging his eyes.

  Hannah dropped down next to William and pushed his hair out of his eyes. “I won’t leave him, Kane. I promise.”

  “Mallory, weigh the anchor. All hands on deck.”

  Mallory shouted, ordering men to leave the wounded and get to their stations.

  Kane’s boots squished into gore strewn across the deck. Not looking to see whether ’twas his men or Palmer’s he stepped over, he made his way to the wheel.

  The darkness faded and the moon lessened. Dawn approached. His teeth retracted and his muscles ached. The cuts on his arm burned, his chest throbbed, but he gripped the wheel and turned the rudder.

  Through the smoke, his men moved about the ship, their pace dragging, but like the staunch crewmen they were, they readied the sails and doused the flames falling onto the deck.

  The Phoenix turned away from the burning Damsel. The black smoke spun around the Damsel and timbers fell into the ocean, splashing. Water spilled onto her deck and she swayed back and forth. Wakes hit the Phoenix’s hull, but she stayed upright and sailed out to sea.

  “Palmer,” Mallory called. “I’ve spotted him.” He pointed off to the horizon. “He’s in a longboat heading out to sea.” Mallory handed Kane the spyglass and took the wheel.

  Kane sighted in on his quarry. Palmer and Lark gripped the sides of a longboat rowed by Palmer’s surviving men. Palmer shoved Lark and Lark glared, grabbing his glowing collar. He flicked his wrist and an eerie gray fog grew around them, pushing them faster and faster and faster away from the Soaring Phoenix.

  Kane brought down the spyglass and grinned. He’d be able to hunt them down. But not now.

  He glanced up at his black and burnt sails unable to capture the good winds. Palmer could wait. Holes marred the Phoenix, she needed to be repaired. His men were weary or dead and needed to heal. Hell, he needed to heal.

  Palmer had lost the Fiery Damsel, but he’d find another crew, replace the dead with new ones. Immortality was an enticement for many evil men, afraid to face their final judgment.

  Kane made his way back to Mallory. “Head for Devil’s Isle.” He scanned the deck. “Where’s Hannah?”

  “Doc ordered she be taken below along with the other wounded.”

  Kane ran his hand through his hair. “How many dead?”

  “Doc says we lost half dozen men. One of them was Michael.”

  He exhaled a weary sigh. He’d lost a good man and a good friend. Palmer would pay for each soul he killed.

  He needed to seek out Hannah, needed to feel her arms around him.

  Doc was in the crew’s quarters, tending to the wounded, one being Ronan. Ronan lay on a hammock, his eyes closed.

  Kane surveyed the cabin. “Where’s Hannah?”

  “I stitched her first, Capt’n,” Doc answered. “The shot went through her. She won’t be able to use her arm for a bit, but other than her shoulder, she’s good.” He wiped his brow. “She’s in your cabin, Capt’n.”

  Kane nodded and exited. He should be tending to his men, but Hannah came first. In his cabin, Hannah sat on the bed, a strip of cloth tied around her neck to support her wounded arm. Her tired doe eyes slowly lifted and locked on him. Kane had never seen her look so beautiful. He cradled her to him, wrapping his arm around her waist and claimed her with a rough impatient kiss that branded her to him. He raked his hands through her hair, imprisoning her, but she surprised him. Her hungry and demanding lips moved over his, ravaging him with a fierceness that left him dizzy with a longing.

  He pressed her down onto the mattress, his male hardness pushing against her thigh. Her small hand moved up his chest and ran through his hair.

  She eyed him suspiciously if expecting him to do battle with her. “So, Captain?”

  He stretched out onto the bed. Blood thundered through his veins, through his fingertips, through the raw endings of his skin. But when he sat up to rip off his shirt, her nimble fingers were already unbuttoning it. She slid her hand down his naked abdomen, fumbled with his belt buckle and reached her hand around, slowly tugging down his trousers. He hissed as she set his erection free. Soft fingers circled his rock hard cock and slowly slid up and down. He groaned and kissed her luscious lips, drawing her inside, his kiss deepening, tasting her honeyed sweetness and moving down her neck, nibbling, feeling her pulsing blood. But he only wanted her as a man. He trembled as her fingers moved along his shaft. “You ever run onto an enemy ship alone again,” he gasped, “and I’ll turn you over my knee.”

  She squeezed gently and he nearly jumped out of his skin. “Don’t threaten me Captain. I’m not a simpering fool.”

  “No, you’re not, but I don’t want to lose you, lass.” Kane had had enough of her tantalizing ministrations and moved his hands up to her waist. He ripped her already tattered shirt and chemise. She gasped. He gazed at round bosoms, nipples budded. She arched her back, offering him a sample. He licked his lips and indulged her offering. His mouth captured her perfect breast, sucking and licking her nipple. She moaned.

  “You’re my life,” he muttered.

  Her hand threaded through his hair. “Meaning?”

  He gazed up into her hooded eyes. “Meaning, I love you, Hannah.”

  She cupped his face, her thumbs caressing him, sending his body into tremors. “I love you Kane O’Brien. I want you inside me now.”

  He quickly unbuttoned her trousers and in one fluid motion, he yanked them off. Her nakedness sent his blood quickening. She spread her legs apart and touched herself. “Now, Kane.”

  He had never seen any female so beautiful, so seductive, his for the taking. He climbed on top of her, removed her hand and nestled his hips between her inner thighs. Slicked wetness begged for him to enter her sleek opening and she arched her hips, taking him inside her.

  Raising his hips, he thrust inside her, again and again. Her hips matched his rhythm, their skin slapping together, their hearts pounding together. His pleasure came in dark twirling torments as she tightened around him. She locked her legs around his hips and screamed. He soon followed spilling his seed into h
er. He collapsed onto top of her and kissed her throbbing neck.

  “I want to be with you, Kane. Promise me you’ll never send me away again.”

  “Even if I turn into a vampire during every full moon?”

  She laughed, her fingers twirling in his hair. “I’m beginning to grow rather fond of vampires.”

  “Hannah, I—”

  “I know, Captain. You want to break the curse. Together we’ll find a way. I promise.”

  Dear Reader,

  I’m delighted you decided to read A Pirate’s Curse. This book has a special place in my heart since I have a love for the supernatural and pirates. Thus, the Legend of the Soaring Phoenix was born. I hope you enjoyed the first book.

  I know I took liberties in writing this story. The term vampire wasn’t used until a much later date, but I’ve always wanted to write about pirates, especially vampire pirates.

  I’m currently working on A Pirate’s Revenge which is William and Mariah’s story which will be released around Valentine’s Day 2014.

  I love to hear from readers. I am on all the social media sites, (Facebook, twitter@m_mlguida and Good Reads). I respond to emails, Facebook posts and tweets, so don’t hesitate to contact me. If you’d like to contact me, you can reach me on my website http://www.mlguida.com/contact/ or you can follow me my blog http://www.mlguida.com/blog/

  Book loaning and reviews are ways that readers can help authors get the word out about books they love, so don’t hesitate to spread the word about A Pirate’s Curse. I appreciate all reviews, whether positive or negative.

  I have written some other books, and if you liked my work, I have an excerpt of Betrayal, the first book in the Angels of Death series through Passion in Print.

  In the next couple of months, I’ll be releasing several new stories, including A Pirate’s Revenge, and if you’d like to receive a new email release, please sign up at http://www.mlguida.com/

  Sincerely,

  M.L. Guida

  Other Books By M.L. Guida

  If you’ve enjoyed A Pirate’s Curse, I have another series called Angels of Death with Passion in Print.