“I’m sure you would have,” Drew said, his voice strained. “I told her to talk to you. She needed to see that an Infant is not a ferocious beast. An Infant is actually more human that any type of Shadow.”
“Your friendship with her is surprising,” Christopher said.
“I would not call it a friendship,” he said, still staring at the sea. The waves were starting to pick up, as was the breeze. Another storm was coming. If they did not finish patching this hole by the time the first drop fell, they would be in deep trouble. Swimming to shore was not an option, and there were beasts that lived in the ocean, waiting for helpless victims. “If they have her, Rycroft would have displayed any trinket that meant anything to her like a prize. What we need to do now, since we know they do have her, is pinpoint exactly where she is.”
“I thought that was why you made friends with a Slayer,” Christopher pointed out. “Granted, this is the first time we’ve officially met, but she can’t stop talking about you. And it’s clear you would do anything for her. As would I. When the Slayer approached me, I told her to go to you and then you told her to come to me. A circle of Shadows, as it were. And yet, the Slayer has proven herself not only trustworthy but resourceful as well.”
“I will not risk her,” Drew snapped before he could stop himself. “Not after what she already endured.”
“You don’t always have a choice,” Christopher snapped.
Drew slowly turned so he could look at Christopher, a warning littered in his dark eyes. He understood that Christopher was worried about his fiancée. Drew was as well. She was important to Drew, perhaps more important to a degree than she was to Christopher. Regardless, he refused to allow Kelia to risk more for him than she already had. And while he could respect Christopher’s passion and his concern at rescuing his fiancée in a timely manner, ensuring she was still alive and as safe as she could be, that did not mean that Drew needed to risk someone else he felt close to to do that. Even if she was someone who would be able to help them.
“I understand your concern, Infant,” Drew said slowly. “Do not forget who you speak to. But just because I have empathy for your cause does not mean Kelia should be compelled to join your fight. She has already done enough for you. What more could you possibly want from her?”
“I will not rest easy until I have my fiancée back here, with me,” Christopher told Drew. Though Christopher did not apologize, there was some regret laced in his tone, as though he felt shamed at having spoken to Drew in such a way.
“I understand,” Drew said.
“Do you?” Christopher snapped. “The whole reason you affiliated yourself with the Slayer was to insure you had a friendly face within The Society to see if she was even with them.”
“And we found out she was,” Drew said with gritted teeth. The breeze picked up, ruffling his dark hair and mussing up the locks. There was a chill in the air, which typically did not affect him the way it might affect a human, but he could feel it now. “Does the ring not prove that to you?”
“Yes,” Christopher said, looking somewhat reprimanded. “Yes, of course.”
“And do you not realize what Kelia risked to obtain that for you?” Drew asked. “You know the ins and outs of The Society thanks to your relationship with the queen. She told you everything she knew as she told me before you. How do you think she feels now that you’ve left her side, in search of your fiancée? You realize The East India Company was behind your transformation. They must have paid a pretty penny to involve her. The queen does nothing if it does not benefit her in some way.”
Christopher’s face paled. “I have not thought of the consequences of my actions,” he muttered. “I do not care what happens to me as long as my intended is safe.”
“Her safety will mean nothing if you are not safe,” Drew pointed out, arching an eyebrow. “Do not let her sacrifice be in vain.”
“And you?” Christopher asked, crossing his arms over his chest. If he was not a Sea Shadow, Drew would have assumed the action was to brace himself against the cold. “You returning and helping the Slayer with her wounds. Was that not the same thing?”
“It looks like the hole has been repaired,” Emma cut in, the crew dispersing. Her brown eyes looked at the new piece of wood preventing any more water to enter the ship. “Thank goodness. Perhaps next time, we make a hasty retreat rather than talk?”
“And why do you assume you and I play by the same rules?” Drew asked, ignoring Emma’s barb and focusing on Christopher. Anger bristled through his body, and he could not help but snap his teeth at the Infant. “You will find it beneficial to mind your place. I may not be the Queen, but I still run a tight ship. It is why my crew respects me, why they obey me, even now. And just because you have emotional ties to someone important to me does not mean you can talk to me in any manner you see pleasing. You will respect me, and you will respect my rules. Do you understand?”
Christopher nodded. “It was not my intention to upset you, Drew,” he told him finally. “I know we have both seen better days. You have done more for me than I could ever hope, and I’m grateful to you for that. I suppose I’m just excitable we’re so close to getting her back. The way you’re talking…” He shook his head, his eyes still watching the sea as the waves got stronger thanks to the moon’s heavy pull. “It almost sounded as though you had no interest in getting her back. In following the plan.”
“Might we make our way on deck?” she asked.
They emerged from below to grey sky, the sun blotted out by clouds. Drew’s nose tickled because of the salt in the air. The scent used to calm him, reassure him. Now, it reminded him of his loss and how he was not as certain about things as he used to be.
“Do not make assumptions,” he said, but the bite did not meet his words.
“And now?” Christopher asked after a moment of silence, where the only thing that could be heard was the ship gently swaying in the sea. “You know The Society has my fiancée. At least, they had her ring. She’s still alive. I know it in my bones. The Slayer has given The Society cause to think you have completely fled from the island.”
Drew turned his body and gave Christopher a reluctant stare. “Since you know everything,” he said drolly. “What do you suggest we do?”
Christopher blinked, as though the answer was obvious. “We go after her, of course.”
“And how do you suppose we do that?”
“Your affiliation with the Slayer—”
“She has ten scars marring her back,” Drew snapped, glaring. “She’s barely recovered. My only hope is they attempt to rehabilitate her. At least that way, she’ll stay alive in hopes to get the answers she seeks.”
“What then?” Christopher asked in a low voice.
“What do you mean, what then?”
“Let’s say she solves the riddle,” Emma said. Drew turned to give her a surprised glare. “She’s still stuck in The Society. She’s still trapped, powerless to do anything.”
“I do not know how many times I have to tell you,” Drew said, his voice a low growl. “I will not risk her.”
“So you will abandon her to her fate then?” Emma asked. She ran her hand along the side of the ship and frowned when she saw the accumulation of dirt on her finger. Wiping it away, she said, “Leaving her where she is, indulging her stubbornness? At the very least, make her sacrifice count. Use her. See if she is willing to be used.” She took a step forward. “The Society knows of your ties to her. Knows you had a relationship. They will be using her to get to you. At the very least, you can do the same.”
Drew took a threatening step toward Emma, clenching his fingers into fists. “She is not a pawn.”
Emma held Drew’s stare, refusing to back down, even with Drew standing so dangerously close. “You cannot just leave her to her devices, either,” she snapped.
As angry as Drew was, he understood Emma was being led by emotion right now. He knew she cared for Kelia and Wendy. He cared for them both as well. He
cared for Kelia more than he probably should.
The thought startled him a little, but he did not let his hardened expression waver. Yes, Drew understood where Emma was coming from, but that did not change what needed to be done, or who was in charge here.
Unfortunately, in this case, Emma was right. She usually was.
Drew growled. As much as he did not want her to be correct, he could not help but agree.
He could not leave the island.
He could not leave Kelia with The Society.
He narrowed his eyes at Christopher, who leaned insolently against the mast. “Prepare our best men,” he said finally. “We move at sundown.”
“We just left,” Christopher pointed out. “You left with me. Do you not think it will be more difficult to get back in there? Especially when the entirety of The Society is looking for you?”
“Emma has a contact on the inside to let us know when the best time to arrive would be,” Drew informed him. He saw Emma nod once in agreement. “Even more than that, everyone will be searching beyond the fortress walls for me. They believe my ship escaped. They would not assume I would come back for Kelia.” His voice had dropped low, his eyes narrowed on the black fortress before him. “I am supposed to be a beast with no emotional capacity, yet somehow, they punish her for our rumored relationships. They’re a bunch of black-hearted hypocrites.”
“And you expect they will not prepare for you to rescue her?” Christopher asked, doubtful.
“How could they continue to explain I am a monster if I also possess sentiments?” Drew asked. “They might stick a guard or two outside her cell, but that will be because they do not trust her, not because they expect us to return for her.”
“You are mad,” Christopher muttered, shaking his head. “We are free to search for my betrothed. Why go back for Kelia?”
“Because she is worth the risk.”
Chapter 27
Kelia dreamed of Drew’s cold hands on her back. The way it soothed her, made her feel both content and sleepy. His hands were somehow both soft and callused, as though he was a gentleman and a warrior.
When she pushed herself into a standing position, she let out a muffled grunt at the pain ripping through her skin and forcing tears to her eyes. However, she refused to simply sit and think all day. If she was forced to stay here for an indeterminate amount of time, she might as well make the most of it and attempt to clean up her cell. She might not be able to do so for long periods of time—already she wanted to sit down once more—but she wanted to at least try.
She stared at the brick walls in front of her. The heavy, musty scent permanently stained her nostrils, so much so she was almost used to its heaviness. Her head was starting to hurt, because she couldn’t stop thinking about Drew and Christopher and that stupid ring.
What was so significant about that ring? Why was it so important that Drew retrieve it? Hell, why was it so important to Christopher—besides the sentimental value? There had to be more to it, however. If it was only something sentimental to Christopher, Drew Knight would not be interested in it. However, their brief conversation while here implied that Drew recognized the ring and that was all it took for him to rescue Christopher.
She closed her eyes and thought back to their conversation—the one between Christopher and Drew. He seemed surprised Christopher had it even though Drew had given her the idea of where it was in the first place. Either he did not think Kelia was capable of retrieving and delivering the ring, or he did not believe Rycroft had it. However, it was important to him. That much was clear.
Why? She did not know.
Perhaps he knew Christopher’s fiancée. Perhaps Drew cared about her in some form or another as well.
Drew cared. About her. Even as he lectured her. Even as he sighed with obvious frustration at the fact she refused to allow him to take her away. He cared about her. And clearly, despite her best efforts, she cared about him. She would not have allowed herself to endure such pain, to completely turn her back on a society she had grown up in her entire life, who had raised her, who had instilled such beliefs in her. Of course, what had happened to her father was the catalyst for change. However, the more Kelia thought about it, the more she hoped she would have found her way—this way, away from the teachings of The Society—on her own.
Kelia started to walk around the cell, her eyes taking in the amount of dust, dirt, and unmentionable things still littering the ground around her. Choking on the scent, she nearly keeled over to wretch up her insides. She clutched the wall to keep her balance, blinking away the tears that accumulated in her eyes.
Truth be told, she did not know for sure if that would have been the case. Kelia had given The Society blind loyalty without thinking to question them about anything. She had simply believed that what they taught her, what they shared, was the absolute truth. It did not help that her father appeared to believe what they said as well. Clearly, that was not always the case, and if Kelia had known that before, she might not be so entangled in it now.
What happened then does not matter, her conscience said. What matters is you know this now. You can do something about this.
The problem was, Kelia was not sure how she was able to do anything. The balm Drew had given her had worked wonders on her back. It had only been a day or so since she had last seen him and Christopher, but the sharp pain had transformed into a dull ache, which meant she was on the way to healing. In a few days, she would be consumed with an uncontrollable itch in her back because the wounds would start scabbing. But she would not get an infection. She would not burn with fever.
She would be all right. Because of Drew.
Kelia took a couple of more steps around the cell before she had to stop. Leaning down and collecting trash would be impossible with this pain. Perhaps instead of clean, she would stand and stretch her muscles so they did not get tight from lack of movement. She paused, inhaling a deep breath before taking a few more steps.
One foot in front of the other, until she reached the bars and nearly lost her footing again. Her hands clutched the metal, holding herself up.
Kelia needed to figure out now what her next steps would be. She assumed she would be stuck in this cell for the next few days or so to see if she would live or die as a result of her wounds. When they discovered she would live, The Society would either kill her or make her a Sightless and attempt to rehabilitate her. Those were the only options.
At that moment, she heard the heavy wooden door to the dungeons slowly creak open and tentative footsteps creep down the stairs. Kelia sucked in a breath. Who was there? Were they coming down to see her?
She knew it wasn’t Drew Knight. In fact, she highly doubted she would see him again after everything that had happened. And she couldn’t blame him, either. After what she had gone through for him, she would not want him to risk anything on her behalf. Instead, if she could tell him what she did want. she’d ask that he focused on the task at hand. To do whatever he intended to do. To expose The Society for what they were:
Liars. Cheats. Scaremongers.
The footsteps were slow as they walked down the stone staircase. Kelia closed her eyes and tried to listen better. They were hesitant, almost as if they had never been here before. If that was the case, her interest was piqued. Who would choose to come down here if they did not have to? Unless, of course, this was a mind game The Society was playing.
Kelia knew nothing, so she tried not to make assumptions. Instead, she would wait. She had nothing better to do anyway.
It felt like forever until the footsteps reached the flat base of the prison. Kelia tried to crane her head to get a good glimpse at who it might be, but she did not want to put herself in a vulnerable position by doing so. They could only be down here for her anyway. There was no other reason why someone could be down here—unless they were looking for Christopher. No one besides her knew he had been rescued yet, but it was only a matter of time before they found out.
Perhaps tha
t time was now.
“Key?” a shaky voice said, piercing the silence. Though the voice wasn’t loud, it felt as though it echoed off the walls.
Kelia crouched and resumed her position on her stomach. She did not want anyone to know she was able to move around just yet. The least they thought she was capable of, the better.
“Jennifer?” Kelia managed to get out. Her voice was raw and dry. She hadn’t realized how thirsty she was until that very moment.
It was only when she saw Jennifer walk in front of her did she smell the strong aroma her friend carried with her. A tray. A tray filled with food. Kelia arched her back, then had to bite back a yelp. She was so hungry. So thirsty. And she had not even realized it until she had such things in front of her.
“Oh, Key.” Jennifer set the tray of food down in front of the bars, making a disgusted face before slowly kneeling so she was face to face with Kelia. Kelia could not blame her. The floor was utterly disgusting. Kelia was surprised Jennifer still opted to sit down regardless of that.
However appreciative Kelia was that Jennifer was here, her eyes were focused on the food, and before she could do anything to stop herself, Kelia reached between the bars and snagged a roll.
“Now, Key,” Jennifer whispered, her eyes filling with concern. “Don’t overdo it. I don’t know the last time you ate, but if you compel yourself to eat more than you can stand, you will retch it up all over your cell.”
Kelia made sure to take slow bites even though she could have devoured the bread in two bites. “It’s not like it would make the cell smell any worse.”
Jennifer’s lips quirked up. “No,” she agreed. “I suppose not.”
As she ate, Kelia could feel her friend’s gaze on her, but she could not be bothered to care too much about the scrutiny. Not when Jennifer had brought her good food and a large glass of water to wash everything down with.
“Everyone is talking about you, you know,” Jennifer said.
Sea of Darkness: Book 1 in The Vampire Pirate Saga Page 22