“What kind of ship?” Mike asked.
“We couldn’t tell,” Clyde said. “It was freaking spooky, I’m not kidding you. One minute, there was nothing there, and then there was this strange fog, and all you could make out was the vague outline of some kind of ship. We couldn’t even tell how big it was. But it was flying a big black skull and crossbones flag, and this huge guy suddenly steps to the end of the prow, almost on top of us. Luckily, we weren’t going very fast, since the picture people were still hoping to see something.”
“Did anyone get a photo of this Blackbeard guy?” Bethany asked.
Clyde shook his head. “Most of them didn’t even think to try, we were all so startled, but the couple who did just got a blur that looked much bigger than this guy - who was pretty damned big - that seemed like it was surrounded by smoke.”
“So how did you know he was a ghost?” Bethany asked again.
“Because Nicky the genius here tried to shoot him with a spear gun, and it went right through him.” Clyde glared at the man sitting next to him, who turned red and took another drink of his whiskey. “He coulda gotten us all killed. But this Blackbeard guy just laughed.”
Alexei raised an eyebrow. “He laughed?”
“Damn straight,” Clyde said with a scowl. “Like we were amusing little runts trying to take out a giant with a flyswatter. Which wasn’t much off, probably, but still. Then he turned around, picked up the spear, and threw it back at us so hard, it is still stuck in the side of my damned boat.”
“So he was real enough to pick up a spear and throw it,” Alexei mused. “Interesting.”
Bethany narrowed her eyes at him. She could tell he was thinking something, but she couldn’t tell what. She’d wager a year’s earnings that whatever it was, it was going to cause trouble, though.
“What happened next?” Someone else asked.
“You mean after he skewered my boat like it was an olive in a martini? He told me he was going to let us all live so we could bring back a message to anyone else who might be foolish enough to venture into his waters. His words, not mine.”
Duh, Bethany thought. No fisherman she knew talked that way.
Clyde went on. “He said I should tell everyone I knew that Blackbeard’s ghost had come back to claim his rightful treasure, and that anyone who got in his way would be sent to their rest on the bottom of the ocean, where their bones would turn into sand and their flesh be eaten by the creatures of the sea.” He shuddered.
“Flowery sort of guy, wasn’t he?” Alexei said. “That’s quite a turn of phrase.”
“You should have heard him,” Clyde said. “I swear, it’s like every word was etched into my memory with acid.” He swallowed the rest of his whiskey and stood up, followed by his two men, who did the same. “Well, I delivered his message. Hopefully that will satisfy the freaky bastard and I’ll never see him again.”
“So you’re not going to take monster hunters out in your boat tomorrow?” Bethany said, genuinely curious.
“Oh hell yeah I am,” Clyde said with a lopsided grin. “I’m not turning down good money. I’ll just take them in the other direction from where the thing actually might be. I’m guessing one piece of ocean will look pretty much as another the same to anyone not from around here.” He grimaced. “I wish I’d thought of that this morning.”
After Clyde and his crewmen left, everyone returned to what they were doing before things got interesting, leaving Bethany alone at the bar with Alexei.
“Fascinating story,” Alexei said. “Do you think he was telling the truth?” He stroked his beard, which looked both neater and softer now that he’d cut it.
She’d always liked her men clean shaven before she met him. Of course, she’d never liked men who were huge and muscular, either. Mostly, she just liked Alexei. Damn it.
Bethany laughed, looking down at the glasses she was washing so she’d stop staring at Alexei. “You mean, do I think he actually met Blackbeard’s ghost? Of course not. Do I think something strange came out of an unexpected fog and frightened him? Yeah, that I believe.”
“What do you suppose it was, then?”
“I have no idea,” Bethany said. “Somebody playing a practical joke? Another fisherman who had the same idea he did and was trying to scare off the competition?” She stared at him. “Why? You don’t seriously think it was a ghost, do you?”
Alexei looked thoughtful. “I’ve met a ghost or two in my time. Never met one who could throw a spear hard enough to imbed it in the side of a wooden boat, though. I think I might wander down to the docks and take a look at Clyde’s boat, just for the heck of it.”
“And if there really is a spear sticking out of his boat? What then?” Bethany was almost afraid to ask.
“Then I might decide to take your father’s boat out to see if I can meet this Blackbeard fellow.” He tugged on his own beard and grinned at her. “Maybe if I can find him, we can compare facial hair.”
“That sounds like a terrible idea,” Bethany said, glaring at him.
“Okay,” Alexei said with a shrug. “We can compare tattoos instead. Whatever makes you happy.”
Bethany bit her tongue so she wouldn’t tell him what would make her happy. That would be an even worse idea than trying to chase down a bloodthirsty pirate ghost.
“If you’re set on doing this,” she said, knowing him well enough to tell that he was, “why don’t I get the neighbor to come in a little early tomorrow, and I’ll see if I can get my day bartender to cover for me until I get back.”
The eyebrow went up again, quirking in a way she found ridiculously attractive. Damn it.
“You’re coming with me?”
“If you’re taking my father’s boat out at sunset to try and confront a ghost, I’m not letting you do it by yourself. Somebody needs to steer the boat while you’re being all dangerous and fierce.” She grinned back at him. “Of course, if your friend Beka is back by then, I’m happy to let her do it.”
She didn’t know which one of them was crazier. Oh, wait. Yes she did.
* * *
Hayreddin was feeling quite proud of himself. He had put on a masterful performance the previous night, if he did say so himself. (And he had, repeatedly, to the increasing annoyance of Len and their remaining two pirates. Dragons were not known for their modesty.) A little simple dragon magic to create the illusion of an eerie mist and mask the sound of their approach, plus his own innate ability to change his form, and suddenly Blackbeard was back from the dead.
He could tell his appearance had had the desired effect. Those poor fools had nearly wet their breeches with fear. Red rather admired the one man who had kept his head enough to fire a spear at him, although of course it simply glanced off his tough dragon skin without doing any harm. He might take on the guise of a man, but he was still a nearly indestructible dragon under it all. Still, it did do rather a fine job of reinforcing his “ghost” impression.
The seas had been pleasantly empty all day. No fishermen or foolish gawkers to intrude upon his treasure hunt. He was getting close; he could feel it in his bones. And a dragon’s bones never lied about treasure. Another day or two without distractions and surely the kraken’s search would finally bear fruit and Hayreddin could leave this dreadful place and return home to his lovely, peaceful, Human-free cave.
His plan had been brilliant. If he did say so himself.
“I told you so,” he said to Len, who was sullenly wrapping his hand, bloodied again after another turn at summoning the kraken. “My plan was brilliant.”
“Oh yeah?”
The man was an imbecile. “Indeed. We have been left alone all day. The Humans are so afraid of this area now, we probably won’t see another ship out here until after we have completed our task.”
“What about that one, then?” Len said, pointing with his bandaged hand. “Maybe it is another ghost ship, come to get in on our act?”
Red spun around. He could not believe his eyes. The imbecile was
, incredibly, correct. A small fishing boat was moving slowly in their direction. What in the name of all the gods was wrong with these Humans? Could they not understand the simplest of messages? Fine, then. He would simply send it again. This time, it would be written in blood.
Chapter 15
“Thar she blows!” Alexei shouted in delight.
Bethany couldn’t bring herself to be quite so thrilled. What the hell was she doing out here anyway? Did she really believe she could somehow keep this giant warrior safe if he couldn’t do it himself?
“Isn’t that for whales?” she asked dubiously, slowing the ship down to a crawl as they approached the strange foggy spot in the middle of an otherwise clear sea. The sun was going down, and its orange glare lit the mystery boat with an additional ominous aura. As if it needed one.
Alexei gave one of his huge, booming laughs. The crazy man was actually enjoying himself. “Probably,” he admitted. “But I don’t know the proper term for sighting a supposedly haunted pirate ship.”
“Probably ‘this blows,’ would be sufficient,” Bethany muttered.
“You just don’t know how to have a good time,” Alexei said.
“You have a very short memory,” Bethany countered.
“Ha,” he said. “But that’s different. This is dangerous and uncertain.”
Bethany thought back to their wild coupling. “And I say again, you have a very short memory.”
Alexei scooped her up and kissed her, then put her down with a thump. “Oh, I remember every moment of that night, believe me.” He grinned. “Perhaps we’ll repeat it once I have dealt with our supposed pirate.”
“Don’t bet on it,” she said, glaring at him.
“Which?” he asked. “The pirate or the repeat?”
She smacked him on the arm, which only hurt her hand. “Either. Both. Now, what’s the plan?” It occurred to her that she probably should have asked that question before they left port. Oh well, too late now. A grim, darkly bearded figure was striding toward them out of the mists, their boats so close to each other they were almost touching. Alexei strolled down to meet him.
“Foolish churls, you are trespassing on the waters claimed by the ghost of Blackbeard the pirate. Be gone and never return, lest I send your bones to the bottom of the sea to become food for oysters!” The figure brandished a long, curving broadsword.
Alexei leaned casually against the side of the cabin. “No, I don’t think so.”
“What?!” roared the bearded man. Smoke wreathed his head and mingled with the eerie fog.
“Well, for one thing, oysters don’t eat people. That’s just silly. For another, you’re no more a ghost than I am a ballerina.” He straightened up. “So I’m kind of curious as to what you’re up to here and why you want people to stay away. Care to enlighten me?”
“I am the ghost of Blackbeard the pirate!” the man thundered. “How dare you speak to me that way, you miserable failure? You are the laughingstock of the Otherworld. You are nothing but a shadow of your former self. You should abase yourself before me and run away in terror.”
From her vantage point above him in the raised cabin, Bethany could see the muscles in Alexei’s neck and shoulders tighten as the other man taunted him. For a minute, she was afraid he would lose control, but instead, he simply responded with a soft drawl that belied the tension that coiled in his body.
“Well, which is it?” he asked. “Abase myself or run away? It’s kind of hard to do both at the same time.”
Despite the seriousness of the situation, Bethany had to try and smother a laugh. Dark piercing eyes followed the sound and glared at her with a hatred that made them seem to glow red around the edges.
“You bring your Human whore with you to confront me?” the purported Blackbeard said. “What kind of fool are you? Her bones will lie beside yours, twenty fathoms deep.”
Alexei’s hand tightened on the side of the boat so hard, Bethany could hear it creak. But when she expected him to respond with anger, he surprised her by smiling.
“Not as big a fool as you are, whoever you might be. You just told me that you know who I am. Very few people on this side of the doorways would, so I’m guessing you’re from the Otherworld. I’m also guessing that you are here without the queen’s permission. Now that really is foolish.”
The figure took a step back, suddenly less aggressive. “This is none of your business, Rider. Leave this place now and I will let you go in peace.” He made a gesture to someone unseen behind him and his boat slowly began to move away. His voice, thick with malice, drifted to them over the widening gulf of water. “But I warn you, Rider. If you do not stay out of my way, I will make you and yours suffer in ways that made what that insane Baba Yaga did to you seem like a gift. Heed me in this, or pay the price.”
The pirate boat drifted away, taking its strange fog with it. It faded into the growing darkness within minutes, as soon as it was out of range of The Flora MacDonald’s lights.
“Well, that was interesting,” Alexei said, rolling his shoulders in a way that revealed that he’d been much more tense than he would ever have admitted. He rejoined her in the cabin as they headed back.
Bethany realized her hands were trembling as she fired up the engine to take them home. “Interesting? That’s what you want to call it? I don’t know about you, but I thought that guy was scary as hell, even if he wasn’t a ghost.” There was something about the man’s casual malice that frightened her to her core. No wonder Clyde and his men had been so shaken. “I sure as hell wouldn’t want to meet him in a dark alley. Hell, I don’t think I’d want to meet him in a sunlit park.”
“Mmm,” Alexei said. “A thoroughly unpleasant character, I agree. But coming out here was well worth the trouble. I learned something very important about our friend Blackbeard, something that Beka needs to know as soon as possible.”
Bethany thought back to the confrontation. “Wait, you said he was from the Otherworld. That’s how he knew who you were. How can that be?”
“Some Paranormal folks do visit from time to time, as long as the queen consents to allow it. Or if they keep a low profile and happen to have access to one of the portals that lead to this world; although most of them are guarded, there are always random doorways if you know where to look,” Alexei admitted. “But this fellow didn’t strike me as a casual traveler. You saw how he reacted when I accused him of being here without the permission of the high queen. No, he’s not supposed to be here. I’d bet my Harley on it. And that means that whatever he’d after is important to him and probably valuable.
“Plus, I’m guessing from the way he talks that the last time he was here was some time ago. That may help us to narrow things down nicely, especially if Beka gets an answer to whatever it was that she couldn’t quite remember.”
“I’m glad it was helpful,” Bethany said. “But I’d still just as soon never see that man again.”
“Oh, no worries. I don’t see any reason why you would,” Alexei said.
But Bethany wasn’t so sure.
* * *
Hayreddin was so furious, it was all he could do to hang on to his Human shape. Inside, his dragon roared and raged, wanting to breathe fire at the sky and torch this fragile wooden boat until it burned to a crisp, taking its insignificant and annoying occupants with it.
How dare that Rider laugh at him, Hayreddin the mighty, the glorious, the renowned? A fallen hero, pathetic and useless, dared to put himself in the way of Hayreddin’s plans? This could not be allowed to stand.
But what was he to do? Killing the one who insulted him would be temporarily satisfying, but the queen had a ridiculous soft spot for the Riders, even in their current reduced state. And the Baba Yagas…those witches would hunt him to the ends of the earth. So killing Alexei was out of the question, alas. But there were other alternatives.
Red knew the Riders of old. They were well known throughout the Otherworld. Everyone knew Alexei was restless, always wandering (his brother
s had been too, and Red had no idea where they had ended up, being simply grateful they were not here for him to deal with in addition to Alexei). It was passing strange that he had stopped in this tiny port town for long, although less so that he pretended to be helping the Baba Yaga as he once had. Still, as far as anyone Red talked to could tell, the only thing keeping Alexei here was his apparent infatuation with a barmaid. A Human, whose father he was caring for. It was beyond Red’s comprehension.
But he supposed that when one was a former Rider, with no real useful occupation, anything at all might seem worth doing. Or perhaps it was the free beer. Either way, it was unlikely that Alexei would stay around for long. Hayreddin intended to see to it that the Rider moved on sooner rather than later.
One of the men Red had hired had been at The Hook and Anchor the night Alexei had wrecked the place. The whole fishing community talked of little else for days. So Red knew that the woman who ran the bar had told Alexei that if it happened again, he would be forbidden to return. If Alexei angered her, she would no longer wish him to care for her father, and he would leave town.
Simple enough.
“I have another brilliant plan,” Red shouted back to where Len was sitting, as far away as possible.
A groan was his only answer.
* * *
Alexei sat at the bar and watched Bethany through half-shuttered eyelids as he pretended to listen to a drunken sailor tell some long, rambling story about a sea monster that turned out to be a lost Russian submarine.
About a tenth of Alexei’s attention was focused on the story - enough so he could grunt in the right places. Another third was focused on the door, hoping that Beka would walk through at any minute. Now that he knew their mysterious fake pirate was from the Otherworld, it shed an entirely new light on the whole matter.
Alexei really needed to talk to Beka and compare notes. Assuming she had learned something worth sharing, of course.
Dangerously Fierce (The Broken Riders Book 3) Page 16