by ML Guida
1
A Pirate’s Bane
Legends of the Soaring Phoenix
by M.L. Guida
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Dear Reader
Other Books by M.L. Guida
Excerpt from A Pirate’s Curse
Copyright
Chapter One
The terror was like tangling seaweed, strangling her. After witnessing the shocking horror on Zuto’s land, Isabella thought she could never be truly frightened again, yet there were times her beating heart thundered so violently, she worried it would burst. The slimy, wooden walls of her damp cell shrunk around her, closing in on her, cutting off the thin and sour air. She panted to ease the pressure squeezing her lungs.
And there were smells...
She wrinkled her nose at the stench of human excrement, wondering what the fate had been for those poor souls. Would hers fare any better? Not even the tiniest breeze eased the reek of rotting and dried gore that permeated the chamber, leaving a thin film on her split lips. She rubbed her mouth on her arm and winced, tears of frustration welling in her eyes.
Heavy footsteps creaked down the stairs. Isabella’s stomach tightened.
Quinton Palmer, Captain of the Fiery Damsel, walked into the brig, having to duck under the doorway. He was a brute of a man, but it was his watering left eye that sent fear running through her veins. “Good evenin’, Isabella.” He carried a tray of food that turned her stomach. “I brought you dinner.” His smirking tone spurred her hate.
There was a bowl of slop and a piece of moldy bread—not even fit for a hungry shark.
He sat the tray down, then opened her cell.
Despite her gnawing hunger, she met his hard stare. “I refuse to eat that.” She flicked her hand. “Take it away.”
He rushed over to her and snatched her arm, pulling her close. He was more than a head taller and seventy times stronger. He lifted her off the floor, her feet dangling. His thick red beard flickered over her chin, making her shiver, and his red eyes chilled her blood.
“I wouldn’t be feeding you if I had my way. I suggest you lose that tone.” He tilted his head at the blood-stained chains dangling from the wall. “Or I’ll string you up like a dead mermaid.”
The fool, she wasn’t a mermaid. She was an undine—a water elemental, and her father would harpoon him for making such a bad mistake. He leaned closer. His foul breath smelled of rotting fish. Fear crawled up her neck, and her lower lip trembled.
Unfortunately, he must have noticed, because a slick smile spread across his shaggy face. He released her abruptly, and she staggered.
He slammed the door shut. “You’ll have to beg to eat.”
She bit back a retort and held her head high.
“Expect another visitor soon. He won’t be as merciful as I am.”
He left her alone with her misery, wondering who she’d face next. She sat on the stained bench and rubbed her throbbing arm. She licked her split lip and winced. She could still taste her own blood.
Palmer had smacked her earlier in the ocean, knocking her out before bringing her on board his blasted ship.
The only bright point in all of this was that her sister, Angelica, was safe on board the Soaring Phoenix with her chosen mate. Against Isabella’s wishes, her younger sister had mated with a human and now was pregnant, but none of that mattered. She wasn’t here.
Isabella had helped Angelica and her mate swim to the ship with Palmer close behind. A demon had ordered Palmer to capture Angelica and bring her back. The bastard had wanted her unborn child’s soul. Something that Isabella risked her life to protect. She had hesitated to look at Angelica one more time before she disappeared in the sea, and that had been a deadly mistake.
Isabella longed to be out in the sea. She wished she was strong enough to push through the thick wooden boards to escape, but ’twas a foolish notion. There wasn’t even a blanket for her to wrap around her freezing body. She should count herself lucky at least Palmer hadn’t made good on his threat to string her up on the wall.
Isabella fingered the tiny conch seashell that hung around her neck. It had been Mother’s, and even in her darkest hours, caressing the seashell gave Isabella hope.
It wasn’t just Angelica that kept running through Isabella’s mind though. The day of the battle, the demon had tortured a man. He had the greenest eyes that changed like the coral near her home. They haunted her. She didn’t want to admit why—Undines recognized their mates upon sight. Ever. If she did like her sister, she could become pregnant and the demon Zuto would find a way to kill their child. She’d sworn to never mate with a human, especially a pirate, after what happened to Mother. She braced her shoulders. All she had to do was to stay away from the man.
But she couldn’t block out his screams when the demon had cast a spell on him, twirling him in the air like a renegade tornado. He’d turned red and orange colors, then collapsed onto the hard sand, unconscious. A fire-breathing green dragon had seized him, whisking him away from the infuriated demon. At least the man wasn’t here, tempting her. She needed to remember Mother’s pitiful screams and Father’s scorn. It was her fault Mother had died. Something Father had never let her forget.
The ship rocked and swayed. Rusted chains banged and slid against the blood splattered walls. The air grew heavy in the cell, and she had a hard time breathing. Despite being cold, hungry, and frightened, unbearable weariness overcame her. She fought to keep her eyelids open, but she kept closing them, each time longer and longer. Tingles swept over her, making her body heavy. She tried to move her arm, but it remained lifeless, too heavy for her to lift. Giving into the desire, she leaned her head back, allowing sleep to rescue her from this nightmare...
Isabella woke to the sun shining on the side of her face. Joy leaped into her heart. She lifted her head to find sand stuck to her cheek. She rolled in the sand, laughing easily. Giddiness swept over her. She wasn’t a prisoner on board the Fiery Damsel. “I’m free!”
Heavy footsteps crunched on the sand and pebbles. A blanket of uneasiness swept over her. The tallest man she’d ever seen blocked out her beloved sun. Her heartbeat stopped. She stared into glowing red eyes.
“Hello, Isabella, so we meet again.”
She scooted out of his freezing shadow, scrambling to her feet. He followed her with a curious gaze and a lazy smile.
She was a foot shorter than him. Long black hair flared over his broad shoulders. He had sculpted muscles and wore a white leather loin cloth that hid his manhood.
He stretched out his hand. “I’m Zuto.”
Her mouth ran dry, and she swallowed twice before she could speak. “Oh, Poseidon, you’re the demon.”
“Yes, I am. I’d like to apologize for your treatment on board the Fiery Damsel. I did order Palmer to feed you.”
“If you can call what he served me food.”
His eyes darkened. “I’ll talk to him about that. I don’t like my orders dismissed. But at the same time, I can’t afford to have
you singing your song, bringing my susceptible men under your sweet spell.”
The rolling waves beckoned her to dive into the blue green ocean and return home. She looked down at the sand and pebbles covering her unblemished skin. Her hand shaking, she touched her perfect lips. She dropped her arm. “This is a dream, isn’t it?”
“’Tis the only way I can leave this cursed island, and I needed to talk to you.”
“What is it you want?”
“Isn’t it obvious? I want to finish what I started.”
“Finish what?” Suspicion edged into her low voice, and dread tightened around her gut.
“Your sister didn’t tell you? It must have slipped her foolish mind. I need the blood of a mated undine to work a spell, which your sister denied me.”
The monster. She wouldn’t submit to his cruelty. “What kind of spell?”
“’Tis not your concern.”
She tilted her chin like a queen looking down at a mere peasant. “I’m an undine, daughter of Eldric. I do not mate with filthy humans.”
“Too bad your father blames you for your mother’s death,” he said.
Her breath caught in her throat, and Isabella glared. “He doesn’t hate me.”
Zuto walked around her. “I have it on good authority he does.”
Isabella pressed her fingers against her temples, trying to wake up from this horrible nightmare. “You don’t know anything.”
“Ah, there you are wrong. I know much about your family. Things you’d want no one to know.”
“Father will curse you.”
He laughed. “Your father does not have the power to kill me. He’s a mere undine. I’m a demon from Coaybay.”
“Your overconfidence will be your undoing.”
“We will see. I will soon confront your father, and we will see who is the better matched.”
Hate and terror boiled in Isabella’s gut. “What is it you plan to do?”
A woman with long silver hair and green eyes stepped around Zuto—Isabella’s cursed stepmother. Shock, hatred, and dread slammed into Isabella. She couldn’t breathe. Her stepmother was supposed to have been turned into a hideous monster.
Her stepmother slipped her arm around Zuto’s. “Why we’re going to kill your father, of course.”
“No!” Isabella charged, determined to scratch both their eyes out.
Zuto grabbed her wrist, swinging her around.
She beat on Zuto’s hand. “Let me go!” Her chest heaving, she glared at her stepmother, who tilted her head back laughing, her hair cascading down her back.
The demon grabbed Isabella’s free hand. “I think not. Now, listen to me.” He shook her. “Unlike your sister, you will obey me.”
Isabella pulled on her wrists, but it was as if an eel had wrapped its body around her flesh, squeezing tightly. “And do what?”
He pressed his fingers deeper into her flesh. “Mate with a human.”
“Never.” Isabella jerked on her hand, but she couldn’t even budge it. “I detest humans. They’re all despicable.”
“I know. Your father has turned you against them.”
“He has not. I hate them because they killed my mother. It’s their fault she’s dead.”
Zuto shrugged. “I heard she was in the way.”
Isabella couldn’t think of anything else to do and spat in his smug face.
“Cease.” The demon yanked Isabella close. “You will do as I say.”
“Go to hell.” Not caring if he killed her, Isabella kicked him in between his legs, hitting his soft flesh.
Zuto sucked in his breath. Isabella yanked on her hands, but they didn’t even budge a half-inch.
“You have more fire than your sister,” Zuto said, as he stood to full height. He seemed to grow three times his size. His blazing eyes mesmerized Isabella. “You will mate with Leif Black and become pregnant.”
Her heart pounding fiercely, she met his commanding stare. “I will not.” She braced her shoulders and lifted her chin boldly. “Besides, I’m not a virgin and have never been with child. I’m barren.” She hoped her scorning voice hid the terror tremors rippling through her.
“You’re very fertile. And you will do as I say.” He ripped off Isabella’s silver chain with a glimmering seashell coated with her mother’s tears.
Isabella twisted her body. “You bastard, give it back to me.” The necklace had always comforted her and boosted her spirits, especially when her father criticized her.
“That’s for kicking me in the groin, fish.” Zuto pressed his fingers deeper into Isabella’s wrists, forcing her to kneel on the sand. He tossed the necklace down on the beach. The tide rushed over it, sweeping it out to sea.
Tears of frustration slipped down Isabella’s cheeks. Her heart cracked, and her lungs tightened. The necklace had been the last remembrance of her mother. Watching it dance in the surf brought back all the sadness and betrayal she’d choked on when her mother had died in her arms. “I hate you.”
“And here I was going to give you a special gift. ” He smirked, his lips curling and showing his sharp canines.
He held out his palm, and a silver necklace appeared in it, this one with a clam shell. “Since I know your aversion to the human race, I’ve enchanted this shell so that when you see your mate, you’ll sing your song seducing him.”
“Please, don’t do this. Father will hate me.”
“He already does.” Zuto shrugged. He whirled her around, dragging her across the sand. She tried to lift her legs, but she was paralyzed. He locked the chain around her neck, his fingers brushing her flesh, sending cold chills down her back.
Isabella pulled on the dreaded chain with all her strength, but it wouldn’t move. The silver cut into her palm.
Zuto released her, and she crumbled onto the ground.
He pressed his thumb on her forehead. “You’ll not remember this dream.”
Isabella dropped her hand from the chain, and her eyes fluttering shut, she passed out.
Chapter Two
The Soaring Phoenix’s surgeon, Doc, finished stitching Leif Black’s cheek. For a big man, the dark surgeon was gentle with his large hands. He stood and put his tools back into his bag. “Dere. Ye’ll not have a scar, an’ yer arm will be as good as new in a couple of days.”
Leif watched him warily. “Why did Captain O’Brien have you care for me?”
“Capt’n’s a good man an’ believes even our enemies need to be doctored after a battle, but he’ll want his answers.”
“I’ve nothing to say. I donna know what the demon’s plans are.”
Doc shook his head, and his dreadlocks brushed over his shoulders. “I suggest ye rethink yer story. Or ye’ll find yerself strapped to da mast an’ feel Ewan McGregor’s lash. Capt’n’s determined to get da truth.”
Leif tensed and clamped his mouth tight as Doc inspected his bandaged arm, which was in a sling.
If he told O’Brien the truth about Quinton Palmer’s plan to commandeer another ship, Palmer would know, and the pain the man would inflict sent bone-chilling fear up Leif’s spine. Palmer wanted a ship powerful enough to sink the Phoenix.
’Twas not just himself Leif worried about. Palmer knew about the plunder Leif sent to his younger sisters, Gwendolyn and Gracelyn. With their parents dead, the twins had no way of supporting themselves, and he refused to allow his sweet sisters to work as tavern wenches or to turn tricks to support themselves. Not when he could send them jewels and coins so they could live like fairy princesses. He’d do anything to keep them safe and innocent—even swear allegiance to the devil.
“Capt’n will be down here soon. He wants to know Zuto’s plans.”
Leif didn’t answer.
After Doc left the brig, Leif paced back and forth in his cold, damp, cage. He cupped one hand over his mouth and blew hot air into his palm, trying to keep warm, but failing miserably. The bars closed in on him, and more than once, he brushed his head on the overhead beam. No daylight filter
ed into the brig; only a swinging lantern cast an eerie glow.
When O’Brien came down here, for sure he’d be strapped to the mast. He really didn’t know what the demon’s plans were, just Palmer’s. Zuto had yanked Leif out of the foray. He had claimed that Leif had been special. ’Twas not like the demon to try and save anyone unless he had an evil purpose for them. Look what he’d done to Ronan Macmillian—a member of O’Brien’s crew.
After severing Ronan’s hand, the demon had promised him he’d restore it if Ronan brought him a pregnant undine. Zuto had omitted the small fact that the undine would be pregnant with Ronan’s child. During the battle, Ronan had pleaded with him not to kill his curvy undine. The man actually seemed to love her—loved her enough to forgo his hand.
All Leif could remember was the demon uttering a single word—an incantation. What the hell was it?
The only thing he could recall was the beautiful dark-haired undine walking along the beach singing. She had a long willowy body, and her brown curly hair had tumbled down her back. But it was her sweet voice he couldn’t forget. ’Twas sweeter than a nightingale’s. Her song had melted the anger in his heart. He could still hear her voice; he replayed it over and over in his mind, easing the loneliness and fear threatening to crush him.
Suddenly, his stomach growled, but he wasn’t craving blood. Did this have to do with Zuto’s damn curse? He wanted real food, not just any food—meat and lots of it. ’Twas as if he’d not eaten in a week, which was not true. He and the crew of the Fiery Damsel had dined on a feast of roast pig and mead.
To forget about his damn hunger, he thought of the tempting undine. He couldn’t help but admire her bravery and foolishness. She’d risked her life for her sister. Not many women would have come onto a demon’s island where there was a battle between two warring vampire clans—that had taken guts.
Using vampire strength, he pulled on the bars, but they didn’t even groan. “Damn it!”
Another hunger pang doubled him over, dropping him to his knees, and he grabbed his gut. He broke out into a hot sweat, his clothes sticking to his body. He yanked off his shirt with one hand and tossed it onto the floor. He panted harder, but he couldn’t gulp air. The walls closed in on him. ’Twas too confining. He needed fresh air. He ran over to the bars and rattled them, harder and harder, but they were sturdy. “I need air!”