Sea of Darkness {Vampire Pirate Saga 1

by Isadora Brown

  “We will provide you a bath before we show your where you will be staying for your duration in rehabilitation,” Abigail continued. Her eyes dropped to Kelia’s body. A flicker of disgust filled her blue eyes, but Kelia took no offense to it. She smelled like piss and shit and dirt. A bath would be a small reprieve. “You look awful, and you smell worse. Your lessons begin in two weeks’ time. That should be enough rest for you to heal. I understand you endured twenty-five lashes total?”

  Kelia nodded. Her grip on the wall tightened. She had already been standing for a prolonged period, and the pain was starting to get to her.

  “That is the most any of us have endured,” Abigail said before gently chewing on her bottom lip.

  Kelia knew what she meant. The Sightless. No one had ever been punished the way Kelia had. The most Kelia remembered a Slayer being punished was six lashings, and, instead of being sent to a prison cell, they recovered in the medical unit. She couldn’t be certain, but that was for engaging in inappropriate behavior with a Sea Shadow. The same charge they used against Kelia. However, Kelia had allowed Drew Knight to get away. She had helped an Infant escape. A sexual relationship was certainly frowned upon, and her reputation was now tainted irreparably, but she had betrayed her family. She had betrayed The Society, and she still did not show a hint of remorse for doing so.

  That was why she had been punished so harshly. Kelia understood it, even if she did not agree with it. And she did not agree with it, because she had stumbled upon truths she could not yet prove.

  But she would.

  “I’m surprised you aren’t coming down with an infection.” Abigail’s statement almost sounded rhetorical. As such, Kelia did not reply. “You must have friends in high places.”

  Kelia’s lips twisted into a small smile. “Perhaps.”

  “Let’s go and get you cleaned up, then,” Abigail said.

  Abigail made no move to help her. Kelia had to follow Abigail slowly, as best as she could with the pain she still felt in her back. In her bones.

  Regardless, Kelia still managed to follow Abigail up the long staircase. Despite the woman’s hard demeanor, she did not push Kelia when Kelia needed as much time as she could take to get up the stairs. She made no sound, did not administer any pressure on hurrying Kelia up. Instead, she waited in stony silence, as though she somehow understood what Kelia was currently going through, to a degree.

  It must have taken at least thirty minutes before they reached the far side of the fortress, where the Sightless were housed, when it should only take ten minutes at the most. Abigail continued to be patient. Instead of leading her directly to her room, she led her to a private bathing room.

  Abigail herself helped Kelia out of her clothes as a couple of the Sightless—both girls who could not be more than fifteen—drew a hot bath. Instantly, Kelia’s muscles relaxed, and she breathed in the steam deeply.

  However, after Abigail had stripped her bare and eased her into the tub, her back seized up. There was soap already in the water so it would clean her wounds, and she let out a muffled shriek in surprise.

  “I apologize, Kelia,” Abigail said. Her voice was no-nonsense, but there was a hint of genuine sincerity in it. “We must clean your wounds, or they will get infected. Again.”

  Kelia managed to lock eyes with Abigail. Abigail held her gaze for a moment before turning back to the task at hand. “You have a very powerful friend, Kelia Starling,” she murmured. “Do not let his risk for you go in vain.”

  Kelia hated that Abigail was right. She could not help her strained cries of pain as she was submerged in the warm water. Her hair and body were thoroughly washed, and once she was finally out of the porcelain tub, it took another twenty minutes to comb through it. Her back was bandaged up, and she was given instructions to not sleep on it for the next two weeks. From there, she was dressed in a simple white shift, the typical nightdress for the Sightless. She had never been so grateful for a plain piece of clothing.

  Abigail helped her to her room. Each Sightless got their own room that was patrolled twice an hour. The Society hoped it reinforced isolation and the consequences to their actions. Kelia was just grateful she had a bed to sleep on.

  “I will get you food momentarily,” Abigail murmured. “For now, rest up. You’ve been through a lot. More than any of us.”

  When the door clicked shut, Kelia closed her eyes and warmed her face in the sun that still managed to get through the cracks of her barred bedroom window. Taking a deep breath, she allowed a small smile to touch her face. She would heal. She would get what she needed and then…

  Well, she wasn’t sure. But whatever she did would probably get her into more trouble. If it got her answers, though, it would be worth it.

  Drew plopped his heels on the edge of his desk, leaning his head against his chair. It caused his back to ache, but it forced him to focus. He stared at the grand doors to his quarters, deep in thought.

  “She still has not come.”

  Drew should not have been surprised to find Emma in his room. He had no idea how she got around, silent as the clouds moving across the sky. He glanced in her direction. The candle on the corner of his desk flickered even though his window was closed.

  “She has not,” he said.

  “Did you tell her?” Emma asked. “About her father?”

  Drew remained silent. There was a chill in his room, a coldness in his bones. Another storm was coming. He should leave the vicinity of Port George, but he could not bring himself to. Not yet.

  “She will find out,” he said in a low voice.

  “She will find out you knew and did not tell her,” Emma said, stepping forward. Shadows flickered across her determined face.

  “I will not break her any further.” Drew stood at his full height, his shoulders hunched as though he was ready to spring into action. “She is in no position to hear it.” He took a deep breath, his anger suddenly deflating. “I have already brought her enough pain. I will not bring her more.”

  “She cares about you, Drew,” Emma said, her voice softening. She did not flinch at his anger. He did not expect her to. Emma was not afraid of anything. “What will happen when she finds out you withheld this information? Do you not think that will break her even more?”

  “It is a risk I must take.” Soft raindrops started falling. He could her his sails snapping in the wind. “She will find out, I know, but now is not the time to find out her father created the breeding program for The Society.” He let out a breath. “Perhaps I will tell her, but not now.”

  Emma tilted her head to the side. “You intend to see her again?”

  “Of course.” Drew grinned. “I do have that favor she owes me, after all. And I know exactly how I intend to use it.”

  The End…For Now

  * * *

  Continue the series with Call of Darkness, Book 2 in the Vampire Pirate Saga

  About the Authors

  Isadora Brown likes everything dark, forbidden, and deadly. Expect happily ever afters after a good amount of challenges and lots of forbidden temptation. Things aren't what they seem and that's what makes them the best.

  Isadora’s Books

  New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Rebecca Hamilton lives in Georgia with her husband and five kids, all of whom inspire her writing. Somewhere in between using magic to disappear booboos and sorcery to heal emotional wounds, she takes to her fictional worlds to see what perilous situations her characters will find themselves in next.

  Rebecca’s Books

 

 

 
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