Bonded by the Sea

by Victoria Mercier

  The three men stood in the silence disturbed only by the cracks of the fire and the wind rustling the canopy of the trees. Their faces were serious, eyes hidden in the unnatural gloom. They were no ordinary people, these three. Years back, they sailed with the legendary vice admiral taking a part in the most audacious missions this world has seen.

  And all the signs indicated they haven’t been about to stop the streak.

  “I’m in captain,” Mist said.

  “And so am I,” Kinson added.

  “Let’s get our friends back.”

  “We shouldn’t let them have Pace and More in the first place, cap.|

  “We had a plan, Mist. It’s time for improvisation.”

  Mist and Pembroke smiled, while Kinson made a worried expression. They were missing something.

  “Oh, I remember now,” Kinson said. “Where is that pesky orange-head?”

  Chapter 28

  Pace

  Pace was taken to the damp, gloomy cells in the belly of the naval base. Curses and hisses followed him. It looked like the pirates locked in this prison knew who he was. The farther away they went from the huge iron-enforced oak doors, the colder and damper the air became. Soon, the shouts drifted away, and their place was filled by unhealthy groans and scraping. Pace risked a look into one of the cells, but the space behind the thick bars was drowned in the darkness.

  His sore feet were the least of his problems when they reached a staircase locked behind the solid iron grill. Five men went to each side and began pulling the levers. The grill slowly rose. Wrath and pain mixed, but worse than that was the feeling of intrusion left by hideous doctor. Just a mere thought that he’d done the same to Ines, made Pace shudder with rabidity. Doctor accompanied him for some reason. Maybe he enjoyed seeing him suffer?

  Manacles pulled Pace down before the gate was fully lifted and gloved marines jerked him up.

  “Go ahead,” one of them said to Pace with a sneer. “I don’t understand why the special agent wants you on the lower level. You aren’t much more than a snotty criminal.”

  Pace wished to smash the mean marine in the nose, but his arms had been drained off the energy. It must have been that strange pattern on the metal.

  “I bet, you wouldn’t last a second against me,” Pace said. These marines looked as if they needed a bit of workout.

  “Don’t let him provoke you,” doctor’s voice cut the air with a harsh tone. “Whoever touches him will be executed on the spot.”

  So, the old man had a temper. Good. There was always a way to exploit that.

  “Yes, sir,” both men, who held Pace, said attempting to make a salute but failed due to the weight of falling Pace.

  “Lift him up, idiot.”

  “Exactly, listen to bad doctor, be good boys.”

  The marines grated but remained silent. Barely.

  The staircase led deep into the ground. The walls were no longer made of cut stone but rough-hewed rock. The air here sipped all the warmth from his body, and he began uncontrollably shiver.

  “He may not survive here,” lieutenant in the grey uniform noted Pace’s state.

  Even marines shuddered and gritted their teeth. Though, doctor and lieutenant seemed unaffected. They must use the Soult Release.

  A blood-freezing wail came from one of the cells.

  “Who is that?” doctor asked.

  “Silverbreath, sir. His bounty had been eighteen thousand three hundred black pearls at the moment of the arrest.”

  Eighteen thousand black pearls. Two monsters in this sea? What a coincidence…

  Doctor must have a similar thought because he voiced the question. But the answer was drowned in another wail. Pace knew he’d die here. If such a powerful man… or a beast couldn’t free himself from the claws of this prison, then what chances he had? I hope cap’s plan will work.

  Rows of the bars were covered with frost. Where the hell this temperature came from? Doctor commanded the marines to stay by the staircase. It seemed he had a sliver of compassion, after all. Why didn’t he want to drag them deeper into the corridor? Oh, perhaps some secrets were going to be shared. Nice.

  Lieutenant led their small group until the last cell appeared at the end. Their torches were the only source of light. Burners on the walls were silent and cold.

  As they got closer to the last cell, a sudden burst of the chilling air exploded in their faces and the bars rung with deafening vibrations. A giant man with shackled wrists and feet stood gripping the bars with terrifying strength. His manacles had the same patterns as Pace’s ones. What is this? How could someone retain so much power wearing these?

  The man’s bulk must be equivalent to four grown men. His silver disheveled hair fell in cascades to below the shoulder level. His facial hairs were overgrown. Silverbreath’s grey eyes watched them with acuity, which couldn’t belong to a madman or beast. Whoever he was, this man was very sane.

  He didn’t wail or scream now that they were so close, but he asked, “is that my dinner?”

  “You can eat them if you like. I taste bad, so you better steer clear of me,” Pace said.

  Silverbreath growled amused.

  “But you looked tastier than them,” he sniffed. “No. I’ll definitely eat you.”

  “Fuck off, idiot. I’m no one’s dinner.”

  Both marines, who held him, flinched at the offense. Their gazes jumped between Silverbreath and Pace. In their heads, they must consider dropping Pace on the frozen ground and run away. Only the stern glare from lieutenant kept them rooted in place.

  “Idiot, you say?” his long tongue snaked out and licked his pale lips. “I’ll savor you. Slowly. Member by member.”

  Doctor looked at Silverbreath, his mouth pursed in displeasure. Something was telling Pace that doctor was contemplating sending the beast to its execution. Maybe he wasn’t that bad of a guy. Except, he worked for the Government and he had raped her mind with his foul ability. No. He was bad.

  “There will be a day, when every anomaly like you, will be erased from the surface of this world.”

  Silverbreath stepped back as if punched hard in the face, then he shot forward smashing the bars with daunting power. The marines shivered. They were scared. Pace had no strength to even twitch.

  “The pattern must be imperfect,” one of the marines muttered. “It’s impossible to retain this much energy.”

  Another wail of pure savagery filled their ears with pain. Whatever this man was, he knew how to intimidate people around.

  Lieutenant unbuckled a baton, then approached Silverbreath’s cell and touched the bar with the baton. The scream that came from Silverbreath’s lungs must have burned his throat. The giant staggered on the wobbly legs then dropped to the floor.

  “Noisy beast,” he said offhandedly.

  Pace had to admit that the weapon was impressive. One touch to defeat the eighteen-thousand-three-hundred-worth man? Pace could make use of it.

  They left behind unconscious or dead Silverbreath and proceeded to the last cell. Pace recognized the resident of the spartan cell, right away. She looked almost unaffected by the cold and the recent battle. Commander had landed a series of heavy punches on her and she had barely a scratch. The Soul Release must have been at work here as well. There was no question about it. Without the Soul Release, one couldn’t rise above the fodder.

  “Captain of Songless pirates,” doctor announced. “Intriguing name for the pirate crew.”

  “Go back to your little world,” Parime replied without looking up.

  “You should be grateful. I saved your life. You were supposed to execute today.”

  If that had meant to impress the pirate captain, it didn’t do a good job. She remained with her arms chained high above her head; her eyes on the floor.

  “You should…”

  “I’ve heard the first time,” she interrupted him. “But you didn’t save me. You save this pathetic sea.”

  Doctor glanced at Pace. Something was goi
ng on here. Nothing has seemed to shake the man in the elegant black suit, until now.

  “Are you in league with the Navy captain Pembroke?”

  Finally, she lifted her face, and Pace couldn’t appreciate the look of captain. She wore a band over her forehead with a golden skull imprinted on it, her eyes retained shadows and black lines. It seemed she hasn’t been crying since the battle. There was a gold earring in her nose. Her gaze skimmed Pace and stopped on doctor. She was beautiful and if not Ines then Pace could marry her… wait, what? What is wrong with me? I must stop being like this around women.

  “Why would a pirate be in league with a Navy?” she asked amused. “Especially, with that scoundrel! He earned a bounty among pirates, do you know? Would you like to know how much it is?” Her tone balanced between nice and derisive. It was hard to tell if she was ironic about the bounty.

  “I’m not interested in captain’s bounty among your brethren, pirate. I want to know why a pirate of your caliber suddenly appears in this sea?”

  “What’s his bounty?” Pace asked not even trying to hide his curiosity.

  Parime squinted at him and recognition appeared in her eyes.

  “Shouldn’t you be dead? Didn’t Jack cut your chest?”

  “He did,” Pace admitted.

  “Shut the fuck up,” lieutenant growled. “Answer doctor’s question, pirate.”

  Her icy gaze had swept over lieutenant then landed on doctor. “I sail wherever I want. Could it be? I think I recognize you, not that we had ever met. But you hadn’t been wearing sunglasses before… oh, yes. You’re the Mindreaper. Some of my folks have mentioned you. Your bounty isn’t as high as Pembroke’s though. Sorry.”

  Doctor slightly flinched at the mentioning of the sunglasses. True, there was no reason to wear sunglasses in the dungeon. Pace could barely see with his bare eyes.

  “You mentioned that I saved this particular sea by not letting them execute you. Why is that so?”

  Pace expected a smirk or something nasty coming from captain, but she defied his expectation.

  “If news of my executions would reach my father, then… this sea would be turned into a dead zone,” her voice sounded resigned and grim. If she had such a father why not use it as a bargaining chip? Pace tried to wrap his head around the issue when doctor asked with exasperation, “who’s your father, woman?”

  She shook her head.

  “I’m surprised you didn’t track things like these. After all, your government has a contract with pirates like my father.”

  “No. Impossible,” doctor muttered, he lost his temper and yelled at her “Speak plainly!” Pace didn’t understand the situation.

  “If you wish, Mindreaper. My name is Parime Dorado, daughter of Ciron Dorado, one of the Six Devils of the Sea. Are you satisfied, old man?”

  The shock on doctor’s face spoke volumes. The daughter of the Devil of the Sea. Who the fuck were the Devils of the Sea? They sounded like monsters, but Parima was a human. Was she?

  “What are the Devils of the Sea?” Pace asked with a neutral face that contrasted with terrified expressions among the marines, doctor and gray lieutenant. No one seemed keen to answer him.

  “Lieutenant, go check it with the headquarters and if confirmed, then put captain of this naval base under arrest.”

  Lieutenant didn’t move as he was recovering from the shock the revelation caused. The other two marines went completely still.

  “Lieutenant?”

  The entire dungeon convulsed, small rocks broke off the ceiling and smashed the marines in the heads. Pace fell to the ground. The pattern was drawing too much energy for him to stand.

  “We’re leaving this place,” doctor shouted.

  Lieutenant must have regained his composure because he asked what they were going to do about Parime.

  “We take her with us.”

  Chapter 29

  Riss

  An explosion in the naval base must have been heard on the other side of the city.

  Riss reached the base. She didn’t care about the consequences. As well she might die today. But not before she’d take a hideous man – Dukas – to the grave.

  Two low-rank agents who appeared in front of the entrance to the base had thought they could stop her. She gave them a taste of her strength. The first one had smashed through the main gate and hit a fuel tank that exploded. The second one lay at her feet. He passed out from the titanic embrace of her silky pink hair. People of this sea rarely heard about the Forbidden Gifts, but the Government agents should be a bit more prepared. The shock on the man’s face made her question Purp’s words. Would Dukas really gather weaklings like those around him? It fitted his personality. A man who loved to hone his superiority.

  Thick smoke billowed high into the clear sky. Shame to taint it like this. The weather in Thousand Lakes has been on point so far.

  Behind her onlookers flowed out onto the street, in front of her rows of the marines began taking positions. Many of them wore gray uniforms. The Government dogs.

  Captain of the naval base dashed out of the main building. When he had seen her, he stepped back, then he realized the mistake of showing his weakness to all his subordinates.

  He had mustered scraps of the courage and with a handful of his officers approached her.

  “Hey, you! What’s the meaning of this?” he lamely shouted.

  “I came here to take Dukas’ head. It’s none of your business, marines.”

  “She’s kidding, right?’ captain asked one of his officers, but their expressions showed the grim truth. She was dead serious. Captain glanced back at the damage caused by her and the unconscious body of an agent.

  “You’re one of captain Pembroke’s crew. Where is he? I need to have a word with him! This is not acceptable! I’m going to inform vice admiral right away.”

  “I don’t care where Pembroke is. Inform whoever you see fit. Now, back off,” Riss growled. Murder coiled in her eyes.

  Captain clearly wanted to stand his ground but the woman before him was out of his league, and yet if he let her pass, his rank would be stripped, and his name would end up on the blacklist.

  “You’re under arrest, woman!”

  But his words hit the empty space. Riss was no longer there.

  Captain and officers gasped, then shouts from behind turned them around. Riss stood in the middle of the naval yard. Her chest expanded and she yelled one word so loud that the windows, which hadn’t broken because of the explosion, shattered now.

  “DUKAS!”

  Some marines began withdrawing while the other advanced. The confusion in their ranks was caused by the fact that Riss wore the Navy officer’s uniform.

  “Charge her!” captain regained his voice, but the words came out weak.

  None the less, some marines in grey uniforms reached her with their swords drawn. She moved too fast for an untrained eye to see. Five men fell to the ground at the same time. Gasps came from the Navy ranks. They’ve never encountered someone so strong she this woman. Even, Parime had arrived here already shackled.

  “Oh, now,” a voice boomed above them. A second later, Agent X descended shattering the flagstones. His black phantom wings dissipated without haste. “You caused quite a commotion, Riss. But it’s time for the Government to take over from here.”

  Riss narrowed her eyes at the man. This one knew how to fight. A single slip could cost her life in the confrontation. She couldn’t lose to him before she even met Dukas.

  “I have no time for you, mustached-weirdo.”

  “Do you believe, I’ll let you walk away from this?”he asked amused.

  Riss took the position preparing for the imminent attack. In her head, she pulled out all the information about this man. His weaknesses and strengths. Agent X wasn’t the Government best for sure, but he was powerful enough to drag the battle out long enough for Dukas to give him hand. She couldn’t fight them both.

  “Give me Dukas and I’ll leave you be.”
r />   “Oh, yes. You and doctor have a bit of history. I’d love to see what the old man is capable of, but my orders are clear. I’m to neutralize any threat while doctor is occupied. Now, prepare…”

  Black wispy wings unfurled, and Agent X launched himself toward her. In a blink of an eye, he made the distance between them. They exchanged punches, then broke apart.

  Riss knew she couldn’t defeat this man.

  A swish of the flying knives filled the air and Agent X blurred for a split-second dodging Purp’s signature weapon. What the hell that boy was doing here?

  He was walking toward them. Another six knives between his fingers. He had a purple vest, white shorts, and sandals. Oh, man, but this boy had difficulty wearing a proper marine uniform.

  “Leave her alone.”

  Agent X frowned surprised. His mustaches twitched, then a habit made him correct his hat. Every marine froze in anticipation. But Purp wasn’t anywhere near Riss’ level. Agent X would mope Purp’s stupid face all over the place.

  “And who are you?”

  “Purp,” he replied as if that one would solve every mystery.

  “Does this puppy belong to you, Riss? What would your father say if he knew how badly trained it is?”

  “Fucker.” Purp’s hands blurred and with a hiss, the knives shot toward Agent X. He evaded them without breaking a sweat.

  “You’re a quite annoying puppy. I’ll make a quick work of you.”

  “Wait,” a voice from the main building snapped. Riss’ blood immediately surged; her heart wanted to tear itself out of her chest. She knew the loathsome tone too well. “I want them all alive. I need to interrogate them, Agent X. So, far it seems we’ve been played, but it’s time to uncover their true plan.”