by Guida, ML
Mariah clutched her bag tighter, wishing she was back home. Did he not want them to know he had a ravaged her? He was just like all of those people who condemned witches, thinking they were evil, intent on seducing innocent souls. Never mind that she’d kept him from becoming a mindless slave to a demon. She hitched her chin higher and squared her shoulders. “If you will excuse me, Capitaine, I am tired. I need to retire.”
Hannah punched Kane in the arm.
“What—” He glanced between Mariah and William, and comprehension saturated his eyes. So, he thought her a seductress too? Not waiting for him to accuse her of seducing his pigheaded brother, she brushed past them and headed for the crew’s quarters.
When she found Lark and freed him, she’d return home and never leave again. Trying to maintain her anger and not burst into tears, she made her way to her private space. Inside, she put her bag into the chest and slumped onto the floor. The red-stained blanket reminded her of what she had done. Tears welled in her eyes.
Something wet and cold nudged her hand. She turned around, hoping to see William and hear him apologize, hear that he loved her, but he was not here. Solstice gazed up with her soulful eyes. Mariah flung her arms around the dog’s neck and buried her face in Solstice’s fur. She wept, hugging the dog close, wishing for William, afraid she’d lost him forever.
A sharp pain seized her heavy heart, and Mariah tightened her hold on Solstice. She gasped for air and choked on her tears. Had Natasa returned? Fear chilled her, and she scanned the cabin for dark shadows. The lantern flickered, and the hammock swayed with the rocking of the ship, but she could not detect an evil presence.
She wished William were there to wrap his arms around her and whisper she was safe. Her heart fluttered again. Realization slammed into her. She groaned and laid her head against Solstice’s back. Like a complete dimwit, she had fallen in love with William—a man who scoffed at witchcraft. She had hoped their destiny meant he would love her too. Grand-mère had said they were meant to be together. But love had never been mentioned. She had assumed that destiny meant they would fall in love. Imbècile! Why did the gods have to be so cruel?
“Mariah?”
Mariah stopped hugging Solstice and wiped her tears. “Oh, Hannah. I am sorry. Just missing my family.”
Hannah sat next to her and petted Solstice. “You’re not fooling me, Mariah. William’s hard-headed when it comes to magic.”
“I know, but mating us—” She choked on her own words. “Was the only way I could save him. Otherwise, Natasa would have won.”
Hannah frowned. “Mating?”
“Oui, white magic sealed our fates together.”
“How?”
Mariah lowered her head, and heat stained her cheeks. Shame kept her from telling Hannah the truth. What if she told William? ’Twas bad enough he scorned her magic, but for him to know that he had stolen her heart would be too much to bear.
“Oh, I see. William’s got Kane in an uproar.” Hannah glanced at the opening and lowered her voice.
Mariah raised her head. “So, that’s why you came down here?”
“Yes.” Hannah rubbed her arm. “Kane did send me down here. Don’t get me wrong. I know you were not practicing the dark arts. I did want to check on you to make sure you were well. ’Tis not easy to convince these sea dogs that you’re not the enemy. It took a while for them to trust me. After being cursed, they are leery of magic.”
“I am a witch. What did they think I did?”
“I know.” Hannah wrapped her arm around Mariah’s trembling body. “Men. Stubborn and ignorant.”
Mariah rested her head on Hannah’s shoulder and tears slipped down her face. Hannah smelled of jasmine, reminding Mariah of Grand-mère’s garden. And when she hugged her tighter, Mariah fought not to bawl. Solstice laid her head in Mariah’s lap and gazed at her with deep brown eyes. At least Mariah was not alone on this ship. She had Hannah and Solstice. When she freed Lark, she would flee to Tortuga—forget about Natasa, the Soaring Phoenix, and William O’Brien.
“I don’t mean to be such a nuisance.” Mariah lifted her head and sniffed. “I’m weary and need some rest.”
“You’ve had a hard day. Why don’t you take a little nap? You can’t fight Natasa and her horrid crew if you are spent.” She patted Mariah’s thigh. “Come on. Crawl into the hammock. I’ll have Cook fix you something to eat, and when it’s finished, I’ll wake you. Fair enough?”
Mariah nodded. Hannah had become a friend. Someone she could trust. Without her, she would have descended into deep despair.
Hannah helped her into the hammock and draped a blanket over her. Mariah pulled the blanket up around her neck and curled into a tight ball. Hannah left, and Solstice curled up on the floor, guarding her.
Mariah’s inner thighs throbbed, and her skin was raw where William had kissed her. The intensity of her feelings for him surprised and terrified her. She wished she could harden her heart like he had and forget about him, forget his kiss.
Too tired to cry anymore, she shut her eyes. She took a deep breath and snuggled deeper into the swaying hammock. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she sighed, thinking about Tortuga, Grand-mère, Grand-père.
Stop it. Forget about everything.
Mariah forced herself not to think, not to dwell on the past or the future. She clenched and relaxed her muscles three times, releasing the negative energy. She inhaled and exhaled again and drifted off.
An overpowering scent of dried grass and human stench permeated her cabin. She shook her head and groaned.
“Mariah, wake up.”
She opened her eyes. Rather than the Phoenix’s canvas walls, dry brittle grass walls surrounded her swaying hammock. She was dreaming again, or hoped she was.
Lark hung from a stake. His hair was matted and greasy. Dirt, cuts, and dark bruises covered his half-naked body. “Listen to me. I do not have much time.”
“Mon Dieu, your eyes.” No longer gray, they were black with glints of red.
“I am losing the fight, Mariah. By sundown, I will turn. I am sorry. When you see me again, you must kill me.”
“No!”
“I will no longer be your brother. To save yourself and the crew of the Soaring Phoenix, you must do this.”
“I cannot.”
He hung his head. “Then I will kill you.”
She woke to her heart pounding, and her clothes sticking to her hot skin. The dream had been too real.
Solstice growled, and she trembled. The lantern cast a dim light in her cabin. In the shadows, someone sat on her trunk with long legs stretched out. She couldn’t move. Did not want to move.
William put his finger to his lips. “Shhh, Solstice.”
Relief flooded her. ’Twas her dragon.
“You’ll wake her.” He rubbedSolstice’s head. “Come here, girl. I’m not going to hurt your mistress.”
Liar. He already had. Mariah gripped the blanket tighter, afraid to even breathe. He was here. Why?
Solstice put her head on the hammock. Mariah wanted to tell her to go away, but she didn’t want William to know she was awake. Too frightened to face him.
“Solstice, get away from her.” He got up off the trunk. “She’s exhausted.”
A coward and unable to face him, Mariah shut her eyes tight. Solstice whined. Mariah opened her eyes.
“Mariah, are you awake?” he asked gently.
Caught. Damn.
He knelt, scratching Solstice’s ear.
She refused to look at him and stared into Solstice’s tender eyes. “Why are you here?”
“I wanted to check on you. I heard you moaning. Did you have a bad dream? A nightmare about Lark?”
She couldn’tt tell him about the dream. It might not have been true. She hoped it was not true. “I am well. Go away.”
He brushed a strand of hair sticking to her cheek. “Are you? Somehow I don’t believe you.”
“I don’t care what you believe. Leave me alone.” She s
ighed, trying to pretend that she wasn’t enjoying the warmth of his touch. But no, she wanted to feel his hands on her body, feel his lips on hers, but ’twas not what he wanted. “William, the spell can be broken. After we combine our powers to defeat Natasa, you do not have to be chained to me. Grand-mère has the power to break the bond and will set you free when we return to Tortuga.” She rolled over to the other side, and a tear crept down her cheek. “So, go.”
He sighed, and she waited for him to argue with her, to tell her that he did not want the bond broken, that he had come to apologize. He granted none of those wishes and shuffled out of the room.
Her heart broke. He wanted to be free of her. She was a fool, a stupid fool.
Soft footsteps entered into her space. “Mariah?” Hannah clasped her shoulder. “William said you were awake. Would you like some soup? Cook made some especially for you.”
Mariah turned her head. “I am not hungry.”
“Please, he made it special. I’ll eat with you. You won’t be alone.”
Solstice barked.
“Yes, Solstice.” Hannah laughed. “You can come with us.”
Mariah wanted to pout like she had as a little girl and refuse to come out of her cabin. But she was not a little girl. She wanted to slip into her mother’s lap and tell her about the nightmare and the bad man who hurt her. But her Mother had been dead for fifteen years and would not approve of her cowardice. She would scold Mariah and tell her that she was a grown woman and Fey women did not cower in their beds. They faced foes head-on. Be strong. Be brave.
She got out of her hammock and quickly braided her unruly hair and straightened her dress. Hannah waited and walked with her, arm-in-arm, to the galley. She was her shield. Solstice padded on the other side. Mariah wanted to tell Hannah about her nightmare, but she could not bring herself to do so. Hannah would tell Kane, and Kane would order that either she or William or one of the crew members kill her brother. It might not be true. ’Twas only a dream, a bad dream.
When she entered the galley, she froze. William sat the trestle table, nursing an ale and talking in a low voice with two other crewmen. One of them was Hannah’s father, and at first, Mariah did not recognize him. The man who sat at the table looked nothing like the broken shell she’d become used to seeing on deck. The man’s salt and pepper hair was pulled back into a neat queue. His gray eyes and rosy cheeks showed evidenced that he had been getting exercise. He had changed his clothes and wore them like an officer, his purple, short-waisted doublet clean and crisp.
Solstice sauntered over to him, and he patted her head. “Hello, girl. Where you’ve been hiding? I’ve missed you.”
Solstice wagged her tail and nuzzled his hand.
Mariah smiled.
Hannah squeezed Mariah’s arm. “I can’t thank you enough for Solstice. You were right.” Tears brimmed in Hannah’s eyes. “She healed him.”
Mariah and Hannah sat at the end of the table, opposite William. He remained quiet and thumped his fingers on the table.
“I’ll be right back,” Hannah said.
Mariah squirmed in her seat and tried to ignore William. She wished someone would come and sit next to her—Doc, Amadi, anyone.
William pushed away from the table and plopped into the chair next to her. “So, you’re not speaking to me?”
“I am not ignoring you.”
“Then why didn’t you say anything when you walked in here?” He sipped his ale.
She wanted to slap him. “This is not the time or place to have this discussion.”
He slammed the ale down. “You’re right.” Before she could protest, he grabbed her arm and whisked her off her seat.
William dragged her back to her cabin and pushed her up against the wall. He put his hands on either side of her face. “Tell me about this mating.”
“I told you earlier. It was the only way I could save you.”
“All I want to do is be by you. I can’t think. I can’t eat. What does mating mean?”
“’Tis funny. I don’t feel the same way about you,” she lied.
He drew his chin and moved his finger down her cheek. “You’re trembling. I don’t believe you. I think you want me as much as I want you.”
“Well, you are wrong.”
“Mm, really?” He leaned over and kissed her.
She tried to break free, to not fall under his spell, but her body surrendered, and she raised her arms and slipped her hands around his neck. He pressed his body against hers and revealed his strength. Their kiss deepened, and she relished his masculine taste mixed with ale and fire.
He moved his lips down her throat, and she ran her fingers through his thick locks.
“I can’t get enough of you whether ’tis a spell or desire,” he murmured. “What have you done to me?”
Mariah froze. He still did not trust her. Hurt pooled in her gut. He might as well have chained her to the anchor and cast her overboard.
“William,” Amadi called from outside the canvas. “Cap’n needs you and Mariah now.”
William groaned. “Bloody hell.” He straightened and reached for her hand. She knocked it away and rushed out of the cabin, nearly bumping into Amadi.
He gripped her shoulders. “Watch it, lassie.”
She jerked free.
William quickened his step. “Mariah, Will. You. Wait?”
She refused to answer, and lifting her skirt, ran up the stairs. William thundered behind her.
Out on deck, Kane was at the bow, peering through his spyglass. Ahead of them was a swirling squall with black clouds and flashing lightning.
The hair on the back of Mariah’s neck stood up straight. Blood drained from her face, and she trembled. The war between her and her brother had begun.
Chapter 21
The tub and food were gone. Natasa had them removed. Lark was alone with his stench. His thirst. His hunger. His body and limbs were numb to the throbbing pain. Death was not too far off, and he would welcome it. He had not given into Natasa and could die a witch with honor.
Natasa strolled in and wrinkled her nose, waving her hand in front of her face. “God, the smell.”
Lark hung his head. He wanted to glare, wanted to yell, but his strength was failing.
“Still not talking, handsome?” She smiled. “I have a remedy for your stubbornness. I’ve been to see my Lord.” Her smug voice stung his heart.
He refused to speak, his dread too burdensome. She moved toward him, and he shuddered.
“Maketabori is tired of waiting for you to change and bring the Phoenix to the island. He wants Knight and his daughter. And of course, he wants your sister.”
“He can’t have my sister.”
“The God of the Underworld isn’t the only one your sister has to worry about. She has thwarted my plans one too many times. I don’t like to have my power challenged.”
“You cannot defeat her, oui?” Lark wished his voice was stronger.
She laughed and stretched her arms. Her cruel laughter twisted his insides into frayed knots. She unraveled her curled fingers, and in her palm laid a glowing, solid black stone. Electric tingles swept over his body, as if a thousand red ants scurried over his skin, biting him. He wanted to kick it out of her hand, but he was helpless to do anything.
She stroked the stone. “Do you know what this is?”
Lark said nothing.
“’Tis a soul stealer.”
At her words every hair stood on edge and his skin turned to gooseflesh.
He pursed his lips together and spit. Merde! He could not even conjure enough saliva to spray the wench. So pitiful.
Her red eyes darkened. “I tire of your insolence, slave. Time for you to succumb to your destiny.” She blew onto the stone. Black smoke leaked out and formed a clawed hand. “Seize his soul.”
“Mon Dieu, no!”
The clawed hand clutched at his naked chest. Nails burrowed into his flesh, and he wrenched his body to dislodge the fingers. ’Twas useles
s. He couldn’t breathe or move. Fear paralyzed his heart and blood. He thought the claw would rip out his heart.
He whispered a spell and called upon his magic to stop the hand. The yari squeezed his neck, the rubies stabbing him. Pain blinded him, and the words died on his lips.
The claw stopped digging inside him and wiggled backward, pulling something stringy out of him. White light streamed out his chest, pure and bright. The skeleton fingers clutched the light and yanked. He threw his head back with unbearable agony, and he screamed. All the good, all the fight, all the Fey ripped out of his very being.
The smoke disappeared into the stone, taking the white light with it.
Lark slumped and emptiness consumed him.
Long fingers cupped his chin and lifted his face. “Feeling any different, Lark?”
Lark stared into a woman’s deep ruby eyes. Flaming red hair cascaded over her shoulders, and he had an urge to run his fingers through it to see if ’twas silky as it looked. “Who are you?”
She smiled, and those red lips tempted him. “Success.” She released him and raised a black stone streaked with white over her head. “Coaybay.”
The stone shook and vanished.
She flicked her hand. “Chains release him.”
Manacles clanked, and he fell onto the ground into a crumpled heap. Stiff muscles ached, and his stomach growled.
“You need a bath.”
He raised his head. “Who are you?”
“Your mistress.”
Mistress? He was a slave. How had he gotten here? Why did he smell like human garbage? He tried to stand, but his legs betrayed him, and he collapsed again. Fuzziness gripped his mind, and when he tried to think, a thundering headache pounded between his temples.
“Your strength will return in time. As will your magic.”
“My magic?”
“Yes, you’re a warlock, and together, we will rule the Caribbean.”
“I am?”
She laughed and left him alone. He tried to catch his breath to clear his mind. Why did it hurt to remember?
He moved and winced. He glanced down and was surprised to see three long red scratches on his chest. Had she scratched him? He didn’t remember her doing it. Why would she?