A Pirate's Darkness (Legends of the Soaring Phoenix Book 6)

by ML Guida

  She wrapped her slender fingers around the bars. “There’s something I should have told you on the island. ”

  Instead of scorn and hate, her voice was full of concern.

  He couldn’t take his eyes away from slender neck, and he remembered how sweet she’d tasted. Lust gripped him, and he wanted to sample her again, but this time he’d rip her clothes off and pleasure her as he drank her blood. A ball of shame slammed into his gut. “Penelope, ye should not be here. I am too dangerous.” His throaty voice was barely a whisper.

  She rubbed a bandage on her neck. “Yes, I know.”

  Doc must have placed it there. Guilt ate him. Lord save him, he wanted to rip off the bandage and suckle her.

  “What then? You came down to tell me that you hate me and never want to see again?”

  “If you’re asking if I have forgiven you for attacking me the answer is no.”

  “I dona expect yer forgiveness, but I canna say it won’t happen again. There’s something evil inside me. I canna control it.”

  “I believe you and I don’t trust you, but even with that,” she hesitated. “You deserve to know about my dream.”

  “The archangel visited ye?”

  Her brows knotted together. “Archangel? No, the demon Zuto did.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “And you didn’t think to tell me this?”

  “I didn’t think it was true. ’Twas to horrible to think that anyone could do this to a child.”

  “Are you talkin’ about Catriona?”

  “I am afraid so. The demon’s gone after her.”

  All the pent-up fury inside him unleashed. He flew across the brig and slammed into the bars, making them shudder. If they hadn’t been enchanted, he would have busted through and attacked Penelope. He curled his lips, revealing his pointed fangs. She jumped three feet back, and the same fear he had witnessed on the island returned in her eyes. He didn’t care. “If she’s dead, I’ll hand you over to the demon myself.”

  He couldn’t hide the burning in his words. All his hard work in keeping Catriona safe had just evaporated. If Penelope was the one he was supposed to forgive, then the archangel could forget it. He’d never forgive her for keeping this from him.

  He shook the bars. “Kane! Get me out of here!”

  “He’s never going to let you out with you rattling the cage.”

  “Stay away from me.” He wanted to throttle her. “Kane!”

  “I will not let the demon hurt Catriona.”

  Right now, he couldn’t even look at her and walked back to the other side of the brig. He ran at vampire speed and slammed into the bars, only to fly backward. “Why should I believe ye?” Her eyes had widened so he got the satisfaction of scaring her, but ’twas empty and bitter.

  She put her hand on her throat. “Why would you––”

  Suddenly, cannon fire cut off her voice. He wasn’t sure what she was going to say, but he recognized those cannons. Shouts and cries broke out above them, and angry footsteps ran overhead.

  He raced over to the bars. Agony seized his arm, and he grimaced. “Listen to me. Ye need to let me out. Palmer’s here, and if he is, he must have Catriona. The time-spider canna be far behind.”

  “You can’t defeat him without me.”

  “Aye, I can. Just go back to your miserable people.”

  She bristled. “Do you want to defeat the time-spider and save your daughter?”

  “Obviously.”

  “Then we do it together, and then we never have to see each other again––agreed?”

  He put his arms across his chest. “We have an accord.”

  Loud voices cried overhead, then the Phoenix’s cannons recoiled. The smell of sulfur hung in the air. Ewan paced back and forth. He was the gun master and should be with his men, not locked in a cage. Since he’d been a member of this crew, he’d never missed a battle. Even with a broken leg, he’d found a way to be useful.

  Guns exploded. The Soaring Phoenix lurched. Penelope screamed and tumbled onto the floor.

  “Get the key.” If he yanked her against the bars, he could feast on her throat. The diamond that lay against his chest grew warm, and he clasped it with his hand tight. Tingles raced up his arm and eased the hunger. His incisors retracted.

  Mariah’s amulet had worked.

  For now.

  Penelope pushed herself up off the floor and grabbed the key off the wall. She stuck it into the lock. “When I unlock this, I need your word that you won’t attack me again.”

  The hunger returned and roared inside him. He pressed his back against the wall, trying to gain what little control he had left and clasped the amulet.

  Feed. Feed. Feed.

  The thought echoed over and over again his head. The craving for blood consumed him, but he drew on his last remaining honor and fought it until it was only a soft echo in his mind. He gritted his teeth. “I promise.”

  She opened the door. “Then follow me.”

  She stretched out her shaking hand. “Come with me. We’ll find William together.”

  He stared at her hand as if ’twas a snake. He prayed that Mariah’s magic would work.

  As if on demand, the amulet vibrated in his hand, and a surge of warmth washed over him.

  She took a step closer. “Ewan, please, before it’s too late.”

  Screams and yells echoed down to the brig. Cannon fire exploded again and again. Ewan could smell smoke. The ship was on fire.

  “Ye better learn yer power fast because there’s no second chances with Palmer or Zuto.”

  She bit her lower lip. “I am not afraid.” She touched his arm.

  A cool sensation raced up his arm, and the pendant grew stronger. He pulled on every ounce of determination he had and battled the desire to attack her. His gut tightened, and his body shuddered. He took deep breaths. The pendant stopped vibrating, and the words echoing in his mind to attack her ceased.

  He wasn’t sure what had happened. He stared at Penelope in wonder. Had her cool touch eased the hunger or had it been Mariah’s magic? He slowly released the diamond. He could feel the hunger lurking in his mind, ready to unleash, but for now, he had it under control.

  He took her hand. “We’ll do this together. Afterward, I never want to see you again.”

  She nodded. “You won’t.”

  He wasn’t sure he believed her, but she’d forced his hand. He led her out of the brig, putting all of his faith into a delicate undine and a small jewel that were both supposed to be powerful enough to combat the power of Coaybay.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Penelope clutched Ewan’s hand tight as he dragged her out of the brig and up on deck. Men raced around the deck preparing for battle, their faces grim. Ewan maneuvered her through the panic, and no matter how much her heart thumped, she was determined to follow his lead.

  He grabbed a crewman. “Where’s the captain?”

  The man tilted his head and grunted. “He’s at the stern.”

  A pirate high up in the crew’s nest covered his mouth and yelled, “Captain, she’s readying her guns!”

  Ewan released the man. Both he and Penelope followed the crewman’s gaze, and Penelope’s heart skipped a beat.

  Off on the starboard side, a three-masted Spanish carrack was closing in fast, and full sailed. She flew her red flag with a bloody black skull. ’Twas the Fiery Damsel. Her high, rounded bow parted the water like an angry whale determined to crash into the Phoenix.

  Penelope’s breath died on her lips. The deeds of the Damsel were legendary and knew no limits. She scanned the square-rigged carrack, afraid she’d see a frightened little girl, but thankfully, she was missing. The high rounded bow sat higher than the stern, and Penelope could see the helmsman, but had not yet seen the ship’s dreaded captain. Even with holes in her mast and flames flickering on her upper deck, the Spanish carrack was terrifying––the nightmare of the Caribbean.

  “Ewan, I do not see a little girl. Zuto must have been lying.”
/>   “He could have her hidden.”

  Her stomach tightened at the thought of a sweet girl who could be trapped in the dreaded Fiery Damsel’s brig. Ronan’s description of it had given her nightmares.

  Through the black smoke, she saw men scrambling to put out the flames. Then she saw the tall, red-haired titan––Quinton Palmer. Her blood chilled. His shaggy red hair, flowing beard, and blazing crimson eyes made him look like an escaped devil from Coaybay. Angelica had told her how he’d forced himself on her, but she’d fought him. The only reason he’d not raped her was because of the demon Zuto. But she wasn’t Angelica. How could she hope to defend herself against the giant of a man? All she could do was make a few flakes of snow. A snowball would only unleash his fury.

  He slapped one of his men so hard he fell off the ship. Penelope grabbed Ewan’s arm, hating herself for revealing her yellow streak.

  He grimaced as if she caused him pain, and she groaned, remembering his shoulder. She immediately released him.

  “Stay calm, Penelope,” he said, as he stared at the carrack. “Panic leads to deadly mistakes.” He turned his gaze upon her. “I swear, I’ll get ye out of here.”

  Determination flashed in his green eyes and rang in his voice. His fierceness edged away some of her fear, and she realized she believed in him. She took a deep breath, trying to drum up courage like her sisters had shown when they battled against Palmer, but fear still possessed her.

  The Fiery Damsel and Soaring Phoenix were parallel to each other and had their guns drawn.

  “Death to ye!”

  “Sink to the bottom of the sea, ye bloody scallywags!”

  “A pox on ye!”

  The men’s angry cries and shouts sent more fear slicing into her heart.

  The Fiery Damsel closed in on them, and her twelve guns aimed at the Phoenix’s haul. Palmer fixed his spyglass at the Phoenix, and Penelope hid behind Ewan, afraid Palmer could see her. She hated herself for being such a yellow bellied sea horse. She’d never had to fight anyone because either Isabella or her father had shielded her. But they weren’t here. She was alone and unprepared.

  She’d acted so brave in the brig when she was alone with Ewan, but seeing the Fiery Damsel for the first time doused her spirit. She glanced at the sea, wanting to jump into the water and swim to safety.

  But the dreaded time spider could be waiting in those depths. She pressed her body against Ewan, needing to feel his strength.

  Kane aimed his spyglass at the Damsel. His ability to outmaneuver ships was legendary, and she hoped it proved to be true this time.

  His crew was well trained. They opened gun ports and hauled guns into position. Gunners held wicks soaked in saltpeter and spirits of wine, the fuses glowing red hot. Others held wadding, shot, and powder, ready to reload the instant the cannon was discharged.

  “Ready the guns,” Kane cried over his shoulder.

  “Aye, Captain.” Ronan stood near the gunners, taking Ewan’s place as gun master. He had his back to her, but she would recognize him anywhere with his dark hair, broad shoulders, and the ends of his right sleeve tied into a knot where his hand used to be. The demon had offered to restore his hand if he would renounce Angelica and allow Zuto to take her, but Ronan defied him. He often told Penelope he’d never regretted his decision. She thought he was one of the bravest men she’d ever known.

  Until she met Ewan.

  He had taken on the time spider alone and had pierced its belly with his sword.

  Ronan held a sword in his left hand high over his head and waited for Kane’s orders. She could feel the tension on the ship like an overstretched string ready to snap in two.

  Ewan lowered his head and whispered in her ear. “The captain’s playing possum.”

  His warm breath and calm voice sent tingles sweeping through her. Even though they were at war with each other, he squeezed her hand, and reassurance flooded her heart.

  Penelope realized that the Phoenix’s sails were doused as if she was wounded and fleeing in distress. The Fiery Damsel increased in speed as it approached. Palmer obviously thought he could overtake the Phoenix and sink her to the bottom of the sea. Penelope held her breath, wanting to scream at Kane to do something before the ship was blown into a million pieces.

  The Fiery Damsel loomed dangerously near, as if she thought victory was close at hand. Then Kane smiled and yelled, “Fire!”

  Ronan lowered his sword and echoed Kane’s command.

  “Stay close,” Ewan said, as his lips brushed over her ear.

  Men lit the fuses. The loud boom of the guns fired, hurting her ears. A fog of smoke blinded her, stinging her eyes, and she choked, tasting sulfur on her lips.

  “Come on,” Ewan said. “We have to find William and Mariah!”

  Ewan dodged men running along the deck to brace the lines and to put out small fires. Her shirt stuck to her skin from the roaring heat, and sweat trickled down between her breasts. Her heart beat wildly with fear, and she tried to picture Isabella’s face to help her summon some bravery. Since her mother had died, Isabella had taken her place, and her sweet song used to chase away all of her fears, but all she could hear was the terrifying cannons booming and the blood thumping through her.

  A cannon ball whined and crashed onto the deck, sending a man flying into the air screaming.

  Through the smoke and commotion, Hannah aimed her palms at the man. As if by magic, the pirate reversed direction and landed safely on the deck.

  Relief flickered in his eyes, and he gripped her arm. “Thanks, Hannah.”

  “You stubborn, wench!” Kane yelled. “Get below deck.” His voice was full of fear and anger.

  But Hannah didn’t obey him and went to help Doc with an injured man. She was as brave as Isabella. Hannah was pregnant, but she didn’t hide below deck like a frightened sea ray hiding in the sand. Shame doused Penelope’s fear. Unlike Hannah, she would have scrambled to the cabin and hid like a scared clown fish.

  Ewan dragged her to where Captain Kane O’Brien was frowning, but surprisingly, he didn’t go after Hannah.

  “Captain,” Ewan panted. “We’ve got to get Penelope out of here.”

  Kane watched them approach; his eyes full of fury. “How’d the devil did you get out of the brig?” He glowered at Penelope. “I don’t like my orders being disobeyed, and if …” He stopped mid-sentence as realization dawned in his green eyes.

  Penelope shivered at his dark scowl and low voice. If there was a next time, she knew he’d make her regret the decision to defy him.

  “If you get me out of here, Captain, the time-spider will follow, and both you and your crew will be safe.”

  He ignored her, and his harsh voice softened. “Ewan, Mariah and William flew to Saint Kitts.”

  Even with the thundering cannons and smoke, ’twas as if time stopped.

  “And?” Ewan asked.

  Before the captain spoke, Penelope knew the answer.

  Kane gripped his shoulder. “We were too late.”

  Ewan tilted his head back and screamed, then fell onto his knees.

  His anguish ripped away Penelope’s anger at him. Besides her father, she’d never seen a warrior show such emotion over losing a child. Knowing this was her fault, she wiped away her shameful tears.

  Kane knelt in front of him and gripped Ewan’s arms. “Listen to me. I swear we will find her if I have to tear apart the blasted Damsel and Zuto’s island myself.”

  Ewan nodded his head. “Then let’s board her now. We have to rescue her.”

  Panic and fear rippled through his usual steady voice.

  “Listen to me.” He tilted his head. “I swear we’ll find her, but if we go off half-cocked, we’ll never find her. D’ye hear me? Use your head man.”

  Ewan flashed her a deadly look and Penelope flinched. She had to make this right.

  “Take her below, Ewan.”

  “No,” she said. “I want to stay and fight.”

  “Haven’t ye done enoug
h damaged?” Kane muttered.

  She blinked back tears but stayed where she was.

  He motioned toward Ronan. “As soon as they’re primed, I want the gunners to fire a full broadside. Mallory, turn her about.”

  “Ready on your command,” Sean Mallory called from the helm.

  Gunners quickly reloaded the guns and relit the fuses while others soaked the wicks in saltpeter. They stood ready for the captain’s command.

  But instead of turning to engage in another battle, the Fiery Damsel suddenly veered to the port-side and backed her sails as if in an attempt to outrun them. Pirates climbed up the shrouds, then steadied themselves while men released the tension in the rigging lines that allowed the sails to be reefed and lashed up the spars. The wind caught the billowing canvas, and the helmsman steered the ship away from the Phoenix as if the devil himself was after them.

  “There’s something amiss,” Kane said as he lowered his spyglass. “They are not reloading their guns. Palmer seems to be yelling something and pointing at us.”

  Uneasiness crept into Penelope’s over taunt nerves. “Ewan, has Palmer ever done this?”

  He shook his head. “Palmer, may be many things, but a coward isn’t one of them.”

  The crewman in the eagle’s nest pointed. “Captain, to the starboard side!”

  Penelope followed his gaze, and her heart stopped in her throat. A funnel of water churned faster and wider. Even before it emerged, Penelope knew what was coming. The time-spider had found them.

  Its eight eyes reflected the image of the Soaring Phoenix that filled Penelope with dread. The rest of its bulky body followed, and it floated on the surface until a wave lifted the spider as if by magic and hurled it toward them.

  Ewan stepped in front of her and drew his sword. “Palmer––that bastard. He must have known the beast was here and sailed out to sea to save his own yellow-bellied skin.”

  Kane screamed, “Fire!”

  Fuses were lit, and the guns recoiled. Shot flew through the air at the swimming spider. Smoke danced around the guns. The spider sank into the water as the cannon balls slammed into the sea. Penelope held her breath, hoping it was wounded or dead.