The Band of Shadows (The Djinn Kingdom Book 3)

by LJ Andrews

“How are you feeling?” she asked, taking one of his frail hands in hers.

  “It sliced me good, lass. The healer gave me some terrible potion of sorts, but it be just awful.”

  Nova smiled. “Make sure you take it, you stubborn pirate.”

  “Missy, I’m glad ye came. There be somethin’ I been wantin’ ye to know.”

  “What is it?”

  “I want ye to know, ye saved me. I haven’t felt nothin’ worth feelin’ for years, lass. All I wanted was me next plunder. Ye gave me a feelin’ that I never felt since I held me own little lady in me hands.”

  Nova’s jaw dropped. “You have children, Taylor?”

  His eyes saddened. “I did, lass. I did. A beautiful blondie. She be taken with her mother years ago from island fever. What did I have left after me girls died? So, I joined the pirates of the skies. But until ye came, I didn’t realize I sailed the skies to run from all me pain inside. Ye don’t know what ye done for me, girl.”

  Nova wiped tears from her cheeks and rested her forehead on his hand.

  “What ye blubbering for?”

  “I just wouldn’t have made it off that ship alive without you. You taught me so much about defending myself. I was so sure of who I was on the ship, on what I had to do to escape, but now that I have…I’m lost, Taylor. I don’t know what side I need to let in, or who I need to be, or who to trust.”

  Taylor coughed for a short spell before patting her hand. “The way I sees it, lass. Ye don’t have no changin’ to do. Ye know who to trust, and ye got some good people around ye. But don’t forget what ye set out to do in the first place. Ye got some demons to hunt down, lass, before ye can be whole again. Find ‘em, and kill ‘em. Be the pirate I knows in there.”

  Nova gave him a watery smile as his eyes fluttered open and shut. She bent over and kissed his forehead. “I will try to remember that, Taylor. Now, try and get some rest.”

  “Aye, lass. I think I’ll do that,” he said, letting his head slowly roll to one side.

  The night was beautiful and clear, with soft clicks of night insects singing in the garden. Nova breathed deeply, escaping out the back without bringing any notice to herself. Voices were coming from the path leading around the back of the house, so she quickly moved toward the front of the porch, hiding from view.

  “I don’t know what you were thinking, if you don’t mind me being frank, darling.” It was Geni. “Bringing someone like that to your home and letting her be around little Theo. It’s irresponsible.”

  “How do you know your friend Dirk is so trustworthy?” Kale’s voice replied.

  Nova wanted to leave, but she couldn’t bring herself to tear away from the argument as she leaned further around the corner.

  “He was a true friend when I thought you were dead, love. I would trust him with my life.”

  “That much, huh?” Kale’s flippant response came.

  “Yes, that much. Which is more than you can say for her. She’s a pirate, Kale.”

  “In a lot of ways, I would agree with that.”

  Nova felt her heart fall to her feet as her tongue tasted metallic coins from gnawing her lip a moment too long. Why would Kale say such a thing?

  “Then you’ll do what is honorable, and ask your father to have her to leave?”

  “Well, it isn’t so easy,” Kale said, a hint of sarcasm coming through his tone. “You see, that pirate, as you’ve described, risked her life to keep me alive when they raided the treasury. Once I was locked in the brig and they beat me every day, that pirate girl, the wretched thing, she did everything the captain said—against her will—because if she didn’t they would take it out on me.”

  “No need to get short, darling. I see your point, but you must realize she’s still a pirate. Dirk says she’s been a pirate since he met her. He said she had jewels in her bag when she attacked him. That whole story about her chasing her lost father, you don’t really believe it, do you?”

  “You know Geni, I used to think the same thing about Nova—I did. Until she proved me wrong. She changed my mind about many things. And yes, I do believe her story. Want to know why? Because I met her mother, and that’s her uncle inside that house. Everything she’s ever told me has turned out to be true.”

  “Kale, why are you getting so worked up over this? It’s not like you.”

  Kale paused, and Nova held her breath waiting for his reply. “I suppose there are a lot of things that have changed about me.”

  “I’m not sure what you mean by that,” Geni huffed. “Perhaps you’re tired. Just remember, soon you’ll be back in your post. And with a little nudge from my father, within five years I’m certain you’ll be Commodore. Imagine it, darling.”

  “We should get back inside,” Kale answered flatly as Geni flittered on about the vast opportunities awaiting in the navy.

  Nova snuck off the porch quickly, shrinking in the bushes, so they wouldn’t see her as they passed by.

  “Did you enjoy listening to that?”

  Dirk stood behind her, his hand resting on a knife tethered to his hip. Nova glowered at him, feeling a surge of rage pump through her veins.

  “Leave me be,” she said trying to go back to the porch stairs. But Dirk stepped in front of her, blocking her escape.

  “You certainly don’t look like that little boy anymore,” his eyes scanned her figure. Nova’s stomach twisted as she looked at him, letting the darkness flood everything. Dirk was nothing more than a creeping insect. If she wanted, she could dispose of him without thought or remorse. The intensity of her disdain frightened her, and she could imagine Lurlina laughing in satisfaction as she succumbed to the Djinn inside.

  “Remember I’ve spent the last year with pirates,” Nova said, lifting an eyebrow. “Are you certain you want to stand in my way?”

  Dirk pulled out the knife, running his thumb down the back of the blade slowly. “No need to get testy,” he said. “Why don’t we put the past behind us and move forward. I know how to treat a woman, not like that Kale. What Geni ever saw in him, I’ll never know.”

  Dirk lunged toward her and everything seemed to slow. She saw each flicker of the flame in the lantern on the porch, each blade of grass bend in the easy breeze. Dirk had the knife aimed for her throat. She smiled, letting the Djinn encompass her. Dirk didn’t know what was coming his way.

  Time fell back into place as Dirk slammed her against the rail of the porch. He held the knife against her throat, his eyes full of anger and power-lust. “That’s more like it. Not so tough without your little sword, are you? Now, let’s forget the what’s happened before. Why don’t you give me a kiss?” he chuckled wildly.

  Nova scoffed. “I suggest you step back, now.”

  “You never learn, witch,” he said. “I know you’re tricky. There’s more to you than these people know; I saw it that night. And if you cross me, I’ll be sure and let them all know what kind of sorcery you’re playing with.” Dirk pushed the knife closer to her neck.

  Nova narrowed her eyes, smirking as the power trickled down to her hand as she slid it subtly down her leg. Dirk’s face was inches away, so she could smell the rancid smoke left on his breath from an old cigarette. Her hand crept under her dress, just slightly, and wrapped around the silver handle. She’d snuck it from the kitchen in case a moment just as this happened. As Dirk was about to press his cracked lips over hers, Nova ripped the knife from the tether on her leg and pierced his side with the blade.

  Dirk cried out, staggering backward. “You…you stabbed me.”

  “It was a warning,” she said twirling the small kitchen knife out in front of her. Pounding footsteps thundered through the house behind them. “It’s a minor wound, but if you come near me again, I’ll make it more permanent.”

  Nova twirled the knife once more, scoffing in disdain as she turned toward the porch as the door hinges creaked loudly. Atlas pushed through first, glancing at Nova briefly before pulling his pistol and pointing it at Dirk, who immediately lifted his
hands in surrender. Captain Tucker and Briggs came next, shortly followed by Kale and Geni.

  “What happened out here?” Tucker said, eyeing Dirk’s bleeding side.

  “Nova, did he try and hurt ye?” Briggs snarled. Atlas cocked the hammer on his pistol.

  “He might have tried, but you can see where that got him,” she said. “Sorry for interrupting the party, Captain Tucker.”

  The captain eyed her with raised eyebrows, either out of surprise or admiration, Nova couldn’t tell.

  “I didn’t do anything,” Dirk said. “She just attacked.”

  “Shut it.” Atlas scowled.

  “See,” Geni cried, tugging on Kale’s arm as he watched Nova saunter up the steps. “She’s dangerous, Kale. She tried to finish him off.”

  Nova chuckled and wiped the blade with the hem of her dress, enjoying Geni’s look of disgust. “More like Dirk tried to finish what he started a year ago.”

  “I don’t believe you,” Geni said angrily. “There’s no way you could overpower him. He’s much larger.”

  Nova smiled arrogantly. “You’re right, he is larger. But as you pointed out to Kale earlier, I’m nothing but a pirate.”

  Geni clenched her jaw. “So now you listen to conversations not meant for you.”

  Nova opened her mouth to respond but stopped when Raine rushed out onto the porch, breathless. For a moment, her eyes took in the knife gripped in Nova’s palm and Dirk clutching his side. Geni pushed toward him, offering sympathy, while the others stepped back toward the house. Shaking her head, Raine grabbed Nova’s hand.

  “You three should come with me, quickly.”

  “Raine, what is it?” Kale asked, his voice rising in urgency.

  “It’s Taylor,” she said before darting back into the house.

  Chapter 3

  A Pirate’s Life

  Lanterns spurred to life like dancing fire dwarfs as the party flooded Taylor’s room. The old man’s breathing was ragged and heavy as if an iron weight rested on his chest.

  “Taylor,” Nova said kneeling next to his bed. “Did someone send for the healer?”

  “Jenna did as I came outside,” Raine said, wiping a tear from her cheek. “Nova, I’ve seen this, the same thing happened to my grandfather when I was a child. Infection can spread, and sometimes it… shuts everything down.”

  “No, he was just fine. I just spoke with him,” she said. Taylor’s eyes were closed as he struggled for air.

  Atlas stood next to Raine, watching nervously, while Kale knelt next to Nova.

  “Taylor, can you hear us?” Nova begged. Slowly, the older man cracked his eyes open.

  “Gold-tooth,” Kale whispered. “We’re right here with you.”

  Taylor smiled weakly, flashing his glimmering teeth. His bony fingers reached up, cupping Nova’s cheek. “I’m gonna see ‘em again, lass,” he choked out.

  Nova leaned her face against his clammy hand. “But we need you here,” she said through tears.

  She felt Kale’s arm wrap around her shoulders; it told her the inevitable was happening and she cried harder.

  “Ye don’t…ye don’t need me anymore, lass,” Taylor wheezed. “Just pro…promise me ye’ll…be you…for you. That’s all…all ye need.”

  “No, Taylor, listen,” she said under her breath. “You know I can change the course of fate if I want. Let me try, please.” She appealed to the Djinn power, ready to use it to create everlasting health for her beloved friend. If the power of twisting fate could be used for anything, this was the moment.

  He rolled back on his pillow and stared at the ceiling as if focusing on someone else. “But I don’t…want to change it, lass. Look at ‘em—don’t ye think they’re beautiful, Missy?”

  “Taylor, no,” Nova begged, reaching for the old man, while Kale pulled her back against him.

  Taylor’s smile froze, and his eyes were still bright on the ceiling as his chest fell for the final time. The room was silent as if in shock until the healer rushed in the room. He was too late.

  “Taylor,” Nova cried. “Taylor, no!”

  Kale lifted Nova to her feet, pressing her hard against his chest as she sobbed while the healer checked for any sign of life. He turned, looking at Tucker, and shook his head. Nova bit her lip, as a pain unlike anything she’d ever felt ripped through her chest.

  Atlas hung his head while Raine dabbed her eyes. The houseguests watched from the hallway silently, Rachelle and Lydia leaving shortly after it was over. Briggs stepped behind Nova and took her from Kale’s arms.

  “Come on, let’s get out of here.”

  Nova leaned against Briggs’ shoulder as the nurse and healer prepared to transfer Taylor from the home.

  Dawn glistened like a golden chain across the horizon. Nova sat on one of the wooden porch steps, her knees clutched tightly against her chest. Kale, Atlas, and Raine had sat in silence with her for hours.

  “The healer said the infection had spread too quickly and because of his age…there just was no stopping it,” Raine finally said.

  “I could have stopped it,” Nova replied.

  “He didn’t want you to,” Kale whispered. “This isn’t on you. Sometimes you have to let people choose their own fate.”

  Nova shook her head and turned away from the others. A rock crushed her chest as emotion, regret, and grief weighed heavily around the Tucker house. She wanted the rough, old pirate to limp through the door, but the Island of Bones had claimed another person she loved. Nova’s jaw pulsed as her teeth scratched along one another.

  “I need to clear my mind,” she said, trudging toward the garden.

  “Nova, you shouldn’t be alone,” Atlas said, ready to follow her.

  “Please, let me have some time,” she said over her shoulder.

  The air was chilled and cool dew drops hugged each blade of grass. Nova rubbed her arms as bumps shivered over her skin, but inside she felt numb. As the sun grew in the sky, the flowers peeked open, ready to greet the day. Nova watched the glistening horizon, thinking of her days aboard the Vengeance. Taylor had taken her on as a pupil, and though he was reluctant at first, he’d become a true friend, and she had loved him.

  The clouds looked so warm and welcoming off the coast of Silva, but she knew better. True terror could be found in the open skies. And she needed to face it, or more people would be ripped from her life forever—just like Taylor.

  “Nova,” Briggs said, stepping through the stone wall surrounding the garden.

  “I’m fine,” she said, hugging herself tighter.

  “I’m sure ye are, ye always are,” he snipped. “Sit down.”

  “I really don’t want to talk about it, Uncle Briggs.”

  “Lass, I don’t care what ye want to talk about,” he said so forcefully, Nova turned in surprise. “There’s some things I think ye should know.”

  Slowly, Nova slunk onto a stone bench next to him. “What is it?” she asked, feeling a sudden wave of anxiety pass over her.

  “First off, I’m sorry about yer friend Taylor. He seemed as decent a man as any and he didn’t deserve what he got.” She nodded, swallowing her grief again. “But, somethin’ ye said last night hasn’t left my mind. When that snobby lass was askin’ ye why ye left home, that fool Dirk mentioned somethin’ about Captain Phoenix. I’ve gotta ask, was it true?”

  Nova held her breath. She had left home to find Phoenix, but after reading her father’s hidden ledger she’d learned so much more about the legendary captain. “I thought at first if I found him he might be able to help me. I found the seal of the Scarlet Moon next to the dagger. I thought he knew our family.”

  “But now, ye think different?” Briggs asked slowly.

  “Uncle Briggs, I know the truth about my father. I found his pirate ledger,” she said quickly. “The stories you told me as a child about Captain Phoenix, they were true, weren’t they? Except they were about my father posing as the captain. You were his first mate, weren’t you?”

&nbs
p; Briggs puckered his lips so his gray beard tickled the bottom of his nose. “Aye. Seems ye know a little more than I thought about yer pap. It be true—he took over the Scarlet Moon years ago.”

  “And what about me? Did you know what I was the entire time?”

  “That ye come from a Djinn lineage? Aye, lass. I respected yer parents’ choice though, of tryin’ to keep ye from the eyes of the temple.”

  Nova scoffed. “You know it’s ironic I set out to find Captain Phoenix and to find my father, but I was looking for the same person the entire time.”

  “But, there is a real Captain Phoenix, lass,” Briggs said darkly.

  “The ledger said he was disposed of by someone my father kept calling the Great One.”

  “True, but there be signs in the skies, Nova, signs he could be back. And if he be back he be lookin’ for his revenge.”

  Nova’s eyes widened. “So, all those shipwrecks…you think those could be the real Captain Phoenix.”

  “I think we should assume it is, ‘cause I know for certain Varick wouldn’t go about slaughterin’ people like that.”

  Nova’s lips parted and she tugged her curls anxiously. “You don’t suppose he could’ve found my father already?”

  Briggs shook his head, but his eyes were shrouded in concern. “I don’t think he’d be leavin’ any wreckage if he’d found yer pap. I think if he be back, and he be turnin’ Launi upside down, it’s ‘cause he’s still lookin’ for Varick.”

  “I need to find him. I need to find both of them,” Nova said, kicking a stone across the garden angrily. “Briggs, do you think I’ll be able to get my mother back? Lurlina keeps saying if I come to the temple I can be with her, but mother told me I couldn’t trust her.”

  Briggs’ lip curled under his teeth as he nervously gnawed on his scruffy beard. “I didn’t want to believe it, but when I saw ye speakin’ to yer mother on the island, ye seemed so acquainted with the woman. How much have ye connected with her?”

  Nova’s brow furrowed. “Several times. I told mother I had before she was taken away. Lurlina told me it was Djinn law, once my mother returned to the temple after being taken she was returned to the court and had to stay.”