by ML Guida
Ewan rushed over to Palmer with his sword high over his head. “Palmer, ye heartless demon.”
Palmer faced him and laughed. “You’re a sapless fop, Kelley.” He pointed his sword toward the sea. “Did you think I came here alone?”
As if on command, the time spider emerged from the sea like a black wave and screeched. Water spilled off its metallic body and splashed into the sea. It's six remaining shiny eyes stared at Ewan with pure hatred, making his heart clench. ’Twas full of rage. Obviously, the time spider hadn't forgotten he’d stabbed it in the abdomen.
Palmer walked around him, waving his sword, cutting off any escape as the deadly creature crawled onto the beach.
The two pirates on the beach snagged Leif’s arms and hauled him to his feet. Blood dripped from the cut on his forehead where Palmer had stomped him. Crimson was smeared underneath his nose and mouth, looking like his face had split in half.
“Ewan, run… while…you can.” He panted, then spat out bloody spittle, staining the white beach. His eyes were filled with fear. “That…beastie will kill you.”
“You’ve nowhere to run, Kelley,” Palmer said as he stepped closer. He tilted his head at his men.
One of them took out a blade and held it under Leif’s neck, forcing him to lean his head way back. “The beast wants to have another round with you, Kelley. Try and turn tail and run, and the yellowed-livered cod fish will have his throat slit.”
Ewan wrapped his fingers around the hilt of his sword and faced the foul spider. It approached him cautiously. Its jaws clamped back and forth, and saliva spilled onto the beach. It spewed out a silver strand that wrapped around Ewan’s sword, then it yanked hard, ripping the weapon out of his hands. It flew through the air and ripped leaves as it disappeared into the dark jungle.
His heart sank. There would be no way he could retrieve it. Not unless he wanted to be minus one dragon.
Behind him, Palmer chuckled. “Prepare to die, Kelley. Just to let you know, Zuto wants the girl brought back to his island, then he’ll have the spider bite her. Then he kills yer daughter for ye interfering with his plans”
Ewan fought to stay calm, but it was becoming harder. It was his turn to taunt Palmer. “Doesna trust ye to fulfill yer command? Must be hard to always be the failure.”
Palmer’s face turned beet red, and he narrowed his eyes. “Pray you die quickly.”
“And I ye,” Ewan said, refusing to show the slightest bit of fear, but his insides tightened as he remembered what the spider had done to him. Zuto would do far more to his little girl.
The creature stuck one long leg into the sand. Its black shadow slowly covered him as if night had returned.
Sweat trickled down Ewan’s face, and he stared into the spider’s eyes, seeing his own death. He was weaponless and vulnerable. His vampire powers were no match for the creature. Being ripped apart wasn’t his idea of a grand death. He just hoped it would be quick.
“I am here, Palmer. Call off the beast.” Penelope stepped out from two palm trees.
Ewan’s eyes widened. She held his sword in her slender hands. Except for her curly blond hair, he would have thought she was Hannah. “Let both of them go.”
The smile faded from Palmer’s face, and he pointed his sword at her. “And if I don’t, lass?”
She raised Ewan’s sword. “Then you’ll live to regret it.”
“Do you even know how to use that?” Palmer asked as he walked toward her.
Ewan shook his head. “Penelope! No! What are ye doing?”
She met his gaze. “Saving your’s and Leif’s life.”
“Isabella…wouldn’t…want this,” Leif gasped.
“Isabella wouldn’t want the father of her child to be a spider’s meal, either,” she countered as she faced Palmer.
The time spider turned away from Ewan and hurried toward her. Obviously, it thought victory was at hand, but it underestimated his little snow queen.
She lifted her palm, and a flash of ice hit Palmer’s feet, freezing them into the beach.
He howled with rage and gripped the hilt of his sword, then stabbed the ice. “Release me, you bitch.”
The spider spit out another strand.
Ewan ran toward her, drawing on vampire speed. “Penelope, get down!”
She dropped onto the sand, still holding onto the weapon. The strand whisked over her head, tore away leaves, and split a palm tree in half. The palms on top of the tree fluttered then it slowly tipped back and forth. Its shadow grew as it fell.
Penelope screamed and rolled in the sand, trying to escape, still clinging to his sword. He stretched out his hands to grab her arm. His fingers brushed her sleeve. He snatched her, and she gripped his arms tight.
“Kiss me,” she said.
“What––?”
She silenced him with a desperate kiss that stole his breath, her tongue searching the recesses of his mouth. Passion flared in his heart, but this wasn’t the time to indulge in a good-bye kiss, and he pushed her away.
She cried out.
The palm tree swooshed past his shoulder, and leaves hit him in the face. He brushed them away to see Penelope crawling to her feet her eyes huge.
“No!” She yelled as she ran toward his discarded sword. Her hair hung in her face, and he couldn’t figure out what she was rebelling against.
Palmer smiled sinisterly. “Ye’ll never make it, wench.”
“Ewan, look out!”
He whirled around at Leif’s frightened voice.
He looked over his shoulder and cursed. The time spider loomed over him. Its saliva dripped and landed on his face. He hadn’t even heard it approach with his pounding heart and fear for Penelope.
He stretched his arm out toward Penelope. “Hand me my sw––”
Excruciating agony seized him.
He released a bellowing scream, and blood poured out of his mouth. The time spider dug its fangs deeper into his flesh, slicing through bone and muscle. But something oozed into his body––poison. ’Twas as if scalding fire pumped through his veins. Energy drained from him as if the creature drew on his vampire powers.
He couldn’t breathe.
He couldn’t think.
He couldn’t move.
All he could do was inhale the spider’s stench of evil and salt water. He beat on the creature’s fangs, but he was so weak he barely could make a fist.
“Let him go!”
Penelope’s strong voice steered through his pain. He opened his mouth to tell her to leave, but only gurgled. Blood coughed up his throat.
The spider screeched and flung him through the air. He landed in the sea, water washing over him, swooshing his blood around in the surf.
“Ewan!”
Penelope’s voice was full of terror.
He wanted to rush to her, but he couldn’t move. He drew on his power, but he didn’t feel the slightest tingle. His muscles turned rigid and hard. He couldn’t even move a finger.
Shite, the spider’s venom had paralyzed him. Everything––including his voice. All he could do was helplessly watch her.
Penelope swung his sword at the beast’s legs repeatedly. “You killed him. You killed him. I hate you. Die. Die!” She repeated over and over with each thrust. Her curly hair flew around her with each strike.
The spider shrieked and jumped on the sand. She raised her palm, and ice fired at the beast. It spun around as its hard shell froze.
His heart sank to the sea. Penelope was so consumed by her fury that she’d forgotten about Palmer. He had finally broken free and stalked toward her. He had his sword high over his head.
Ewan tried to scream, but he couldn’t get either his mouth or tongue to move. Sea water rolled into his mouth, and he couldn’t even gag. Lord, he was going to drown and watch his new mate be raped or killed.
“Penelope,” Leif cried out.
“Shut yer mouth, cur,” the scrawny pirate said, holding him. He pulled out his sword and stabbed Leif in the gut. Le
if gurgled, then went silent. Saliva and blood trickled down his chin and splattered on to his chest. Both men released him, and he toppled onto the ground where he lay motionless.
“Good riddance,” the other grizzled man said, then kicked Leif in the gut. He shook his foot. “Damn, done got my boot stained.”
“Let’s leave him.” The other one eyed the spider nervously. “Before that thing turns on us.”
Ewan wanted to yell at the bastards to leave Leif alone, but he was as helpless as a stillborn lamb.
Palmer struck Penelope with the butt of his sword, and she yelped before she fell. Ewan’s sword fell at her feet.
Hate filled Ewan, and Palmer was as good as dead. Ewan drew on all of his vampire power.
Kill. Kill. Kill.
The pulsing thought sent energy surging through him. He willed himself to stand and tried to move his muscles––any muscle––but all he could do was spit out sea water.
His heartbeat slowed, and surprisingly, tears seeped out of his eyes as he watched Palmer throw Penelope over his shoulders. The dreaded time spider followed him like a pet dog.
The rest of the crew crept out of the jungle like cockroaches and got into the longboats, leaving him and Leif to die.
Chapter Twenty-One
Zuto sat in a grass hut that he had specifically built on this side of the island for his new prisoner––Catriona Kelley. He hoped Natasa would not venture over here and spoil his plans. Thick foliage covered the hut, and unless she was looking close, she wouldn’t notice it. Besides, Natasa hated flying bugs and preferred sandy beaches.
The sun lowered into the ocean and twilight beckoned. He had a fire pit and the flames flickered on Catriona’s freckled face. She had Ewan Kelley’s same hair color and eyes.
“I have to leave shortly again and won’t be back until dawn.” He handed her a wooden bowl of fruit. “Here, eat.”
She slowly put down the raggedy doll that she clutched to her chest and reached for the bowl as if she could see. “Thank ye. Where are ye goin’? Can I come with ye?”
For such a small child, he was amazed how attuned her hearing was. She intrigued him. “How did you know where the bowl was?”
“I could smell it.” She moved her nose along the bowl and pulled out a banana, then peeled it. “Ye didna answer me question. I dona wanna to stay here.”
“You’ll be safe here I promise.” He stroked her silky red hair, and like always, she didn’t recoil. No one had allowed him to show any affection without wanting something from him. He never thought of himself as being a father, but she had melted some of the anger in his heart. He actually wanted to protect her. “As I have told you before, I have to meet someone evil.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t have a choice.” He choked on the bitterness of those words. “No matter what you hear, you stay here.”
“Is it me Pa?”
Her voice was so small he actually thought about hugging her. What was happening to him? He’d never thought about doing this with any other child.
“Why do you think he’s evil?” If Ewan had ever left a mark on her, he would wish he’d never been born.
She lowered her head. “I dona know. He never comes to see me. He doesna love me.”
“Then he’s a fool. I have only known you for a short time and I have grown quite fond of you.” Surprisingly, that was the truth. Catriona had only been here a few short days, but she’d brightened his bleak world. What was wrong with Ewan Kelley for abandoning his own child? If he’d been watching over her or had her on board the Phoenix, Palmer would have never found her.
“I must leave. The sun has set.” He lifted her chin. “You will stay here.”
His voice came out stronger than he intended, and she winced.
A tear ran down her chubby cheek. He released her. She grabbed the doll and buried her face in its red curls that matched her own. “I want me grammy.”
He didn’t have the heart to tell her that Palmer had slit her throat. Using his most patient voice, he said, “Catriona, I will not hurt you.” Not unless her father forced his hand. He liked Catriona, but not enough to remain imprisoned on this cursed island.
“I will return at dawn. If you venture out, you will be killed. Do you understand?”
She raised her head. Her lower lip trembled, and his gut tightened over her frightening her, but it was true. If Natasa found her, she’d kill her. Natasa believed only the strong should survive.
“I promise.”
He softly shut the door and left to go see Natasa. So far Catriona had obeyed him. But this was an island. There wasn’t anywhere he couldn’t find her.
Several degrading hours later, Zuto lay next to Natasa on a hammock, naked. ’Twas the last place he wanted to be. It slowly swayed between two palm trees. Over Natasa’s tousled hair, he watched the moonlight glisten off the black ocean. All he could think about was escaping from this dreaded island. If only the time spider and Palmer could find the simpering wench, Penelope, he wouldn’t be trapped and forced to endure Natasa’s touch.
Pain stung his back where she’d scratched her fingernails, but what was worse was the throbbing misery on his shoulders. Her demands in lovemaking left him feeling used and spent.
Natasa raised her head. “Now, that wasn’t so bad, was it?”
There was only one answer she wanted to hear, but he was tired of being compliant and decided to wipe the satisfaction off her smug face. “Why do you ask me something when you already know the answer?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Why do you insist on being punished?”
The disappointment in her voice gave him a small victory, but he wasn’t done yet. He refused to plead for mercy. “Do your worst.”
“As you command,” she hissed. Quicker than a mosquito, she straddled his legs and impaled herself on his flesh. “Move.”
His empty victory gone, he gritted his teeth, but did as she asked. He thrust his hips up hard, wishing she’d fall off the hammock, but he had no such luck. She played with her nipples then licked her lips. He didn’t like the predatory look in her eyes. She reminded him of a slave trader ready to exact a humiliation on his property.
He hoped Catriona stayed in the hut, but even if she ventured out, she wouldn’t see this disgusting display of dominance. However, the sounds of grunts and groans and hisses and slaps would be enough to make a grown man wince.
Natasa tilted her head back and curled back her lips, revealing razor sharp fangs. He braced himself for more agony. She arched her back, then she slapped her body onto him. Jagged incisors cut and ripped into his already tender flesh. Fierce pain seized him, and he clamped his jaw tight. She sucked hard, slurping like a drunken sailor. He counted backward and stuck his arms to his side to keep from shoving her off. She absorbed his soul, punishing him for challenging her and stealing his last remaining dignity.
He clutched the hammock as hard as he could. Wetness dribbled down his shoulder and onto his chest. She sat back on his hips and wiped the blood off her chin with the back of her hand. She licked the crimson off, turning her lips dark red. She moaned, “Mm, so good.”
She arched her back and purred as she plunged herself down on him again and again. Zuto kept her furious pace, wishing he had the power to raise the sun, but the sun took its stubborn time in showing its yellow face.
“Yes, yes!” she screamed. Her release was fast and furious. She rolled off him. “I’m still not done yet, slave.” Her nails lengthened until they were dagger sharp. “This can all stop, if you will tell the time spider to stop spinning its web.”
“No.”
“You’ll pay for disobeying me. ‘Tis Maketabori’s law.”
Zuto panted hard and kept his face wooden, not moving a single muscle. He tried to look bored, but he couldn’t still his pounding heart.
Natasa smiled. “You can’t fool me, lover.” She laughed shrilly.
Shivers ran down his spine. She spread herself on top of him, and he
braced himself for more misery. She opened her mouth again, and this time bit him hard on his nipple and dug her nails into his biceps. Pain nearly stopped his thundering heart. He focused on the horizon, willing the stubborn sun to rise.
But he had to endure hours of anguish before the sun’s rays peered over the horizon. He’d grown weaker and could barely move or breathe. Natasa had drained so much blood he felt his skin becoming stretched and thin. Not caring about what she’d do to him, he drew on his last remaining power and mustered the strength to shove her off. She scrambled to her feet and held her claws out. Blood dripped down her chin onto her breasts. She rushed toward him.
He winced.
But she never made it. The sunlight touched her naked body, and she shrieked with rage as she disappeared.
Tomorrow night it would be another night of torture, but he didn’t care.
He tumbled out of the blood-soaked hammock and landed on his gut. He lay there struggling to breathe. Sunlight chased the chill from his bones, and he crawled toward the beach. He wanted to wash her feminine stench from his body. Salt water would sting, but at least he would be clean and would smell of the sea.
The warm sand coated his stomach and caked into his wounds. All he cared about was getting to the water. His power was spent. She’d taken so much blood, too much blood. He was even more determined that she’d be trapped in time. He couldn’t endure this torture twenty-four hours a day. He’d had to get free.
He rested to catch his breath, but the cool salt air called to him. Determination pulsed through him, and he dug his shaking hands into the sand and inched toward the rolling surf.
The first wave washed over him, taking away the filth and sand and blood, but it stung his wounds. He lay in the water until he couldn’t smell her and could only smell fish. Warm sunlight bathed his bruised and bloodied body.
Something tingled through him. Something powerful was coming.
He pushed himself to a sitting position and caught the sight of white sails of the Fiery Damsel.
Bubbles bloomed in the waves, then his precious time spider emerged. Water dripped off its shell and it rushed toward him. Eagerness and excitement flickered in its eight eyes.