Shut up, thoughts!
Not knowing how much time Silas was going to grant us together, I drew Kodiak toward a table, planting him down in a seat and sitting opposite him. His chair groaned under his weight, but didn't buckle. His cheeks reddened, and I quickly tried to distract him.
“Facts: we're on a cruise ship, god knows where. I don't know how many people survived the attack or how many were even brought here in the first place. Someone could be back at The Sanctuary making a rescue plan right now. But I don't like our chances.”
Kodiak remained silent, as he often did. He was a thinker more than a talker. When I was done rambling off a list of every little fact I'd managed to salvage from Silas, he spoke, “This ship must be home to a lot of staff, and presumably to a lot of Immortals too. All of them will need supplies. Food...clean water...toiletries.”
“Hair products,” I added, thinking of Silas's perfectly quaffed hair.
Kodiak continued as if he hadn't heard me, “Judging from the size of this ship, I'd say they can store a lot of rations. But no supplies are endless. So we have a choice.”
I liked his logical tone, it reassured me. “What?” I pressed.
“We wait until the ship docks for a supply run, which could be months, possibly even years, or we speed up the process by finding the supplies and destroying them.”
I chewed the inside of my cheek, concerned. “I prefer option two.” I was not going to remain on this ship, forced to see out this pregnancy and give birth to a child that would be experimented on to no end. Holy shit. If I actually decided to keep it, I wasn't going to do it on their terms. And it surprised me how strongly I felt about that.
“Okay,” Kodiak said thoughtfully. “There is one problem, though.”
“Which is?”
“They may never dock.”
“But you said-”
“I know what I said,” he cut me off, completely composed. “But there is also the possibility that this ship is home to another boat or two, able to make runs to shore. Or even...” He gazed thoughtfully toward the window. “A plane...a helicopter. Anything's possible.”
“And likely,” I sighed. “This ship wouldn't go undetected for very long if it docked at ports around the world.”
Kodiak rubbed his stubbly chin, his eyes glazed in thought. “Then we need to find out their supplies method. Boat or plane, whatever it is. If we can find out, we can use it to get-” Before he could finish that sentence, the door opened.
“That's quite enough time,” Silas said, strolling toward us. When Kodiak didn't move, Silas clicked his fingers by his ear. “You in there, bud?”
Kodiak smacked his arm away, and a realistic wolf growl left his throat. He stood, towering above Silas; he must have been nearly seven feet now. Kodiak's shadow fell threateningly over him like a storm cloud. Silas didn't flinch. In fact, he looked kind of bored.
Even if he had ten men waiting outside the door, surely they wouldn't get in here before Kodiak broke his neck?
“I'm not sure either of you have been told about the implications of killing me.” Silas looked between us, eyebrows raised. “Think of it this way. I'm royalty here. The son of a king. So anyone who murders me, has explicit orders to be executed.” He moved closer to Kodiak. “And you know what? Dead isn't dead anymore, thanks to my new project. So go ahead. Rip my head off and drink the insides for all I care.”
Kodiak's shoulders stiffened. I heard his pulse raise. His fingers flexed. I tried to stop him, really. I was afraid of what Silas had said. But Kodiak apparently wanted to find out. Because his claws slashed Silas's neck open and two seconds later he did exactly what Silas had just urged him to do.
Brains and all.
Jameson
Seeing as I couldn't pronounce the name of this 'town' for shit, I gave it a more tongue-friendly name. Bastardsville: home of the Hund family.
The forest was the kind of place you'd expect the Blair Witch to hang out. And her buddies Maleficent and that hungry one with the gingerbread house. Mmm...gingerbread. I could go for some gingerbread. In fact, I'd probably have let that creepy witch fatten me up then walked willingly into her oven for the sake of a decent meal. Bet I tasted fantastic. So it'd be win-win for everyone involved.
We reached the top of a hill, gazing down into a valley and Ulvic halted. We gathered around him and I followed his line of sight to an ancient house built from black bricks with barred windows. It looked like the sort of place dreams went to die.
No wonder Ulvic was socially awkward. How many friends could a kid have had growing up here? Friends that weren't rocks he'd painted faces on, that is. My guess? None. Unless you counted his father. Which, judging from the friendly exterior of his house, wasn't likely. But who knew? Maybe a happy-go-lucky Papa Hund was laying out a welcome feast for us now, cake and all.
Mmm...cake.
Goddammit, why hadn't I thought to bring more food? Ulvic had brought 'rations'. Which basically consisted of some disgusting cardboard-flavoured energy bars he called 'nutritious'. Yeah, I bet that crow I fed my last one to was feeling really 'nourished' right about now.
“So we doing this, or what?” I started down the hill, but Nadine caught my arm, giving me a serious look before nodding in Ulvic's direction. Mercy was perched on a boulder behind him, fiddling with her gun.
Nadine now had a ticket directly to my heart. So anything she wanted, brought out the urge in me to give it to her. I sighed, walking to Ulvic's side. “Problem?”
He shifted and dry leaves cracked beneath his boots. “It's just...been a long time.”
“Yeah, and now it's been a few minutes longer.”
“You wouldn't understand,” Ulvic muttered.
I tongued my cheek, looking to Nadine who gave me an encouraging look.
I sighed again, growing restless, but knowing I had to do something if I was going to please Nadine. Which was my new M.O these days. “Look, I get that this is hard or whatever. Your dad hates you. And that's totally understandable but-”
Ulvic shot me a glare and Nadine cleared her throat. I changed tact, unable not to. “Mekiah and Reason are in there. We're not here for your father. We're here for them. So forget him. We've come here to...” I battled the words back in my throat. The words that would make Nadine happy. And probably make her think I was marriage material. But they found their way out anyway. “To get our family back together.”
Ulvic blinked, gazing up at me, adoration filling his eyes. “Yes, Alpha, you're right.” He clutched my arm. I ground my teeth. I wondered if even he knew how deeply his command ran in my veins.
“We'll do this together.” Ulvic lifted his chin, leading the way ahead. Mercy followed him down the hill and Nadine hurried to my side, pulling me into a hug before I could go after her. Her body was flush against mine; I could feel all those soft curves pressing into my hard planes.
I leant down, she leant up. And oh no, it was going to happen. I couldn't stop it this time. I tensed the muscles in my neck. I was rigid and yet somehow still pulling her into this kiss.
Don't kiss her. For the love of God, stop!
Our mouths met and traitor-me took over, giving her a good show. I was handsy and ballsy and dominating. Like I always was with women. But this was wrong. So wrong. My heart was the only one battling this, thumping wildly out of rhythm, screaming and fighting.
Nadine was breathless when she pulled away, smiling coyly. She bit her fat lip and from the reddened welt I spotted on it, I reckoned I'd had a bite too. My mind was already trying to mentally erase what I'd done. Had I cheated? It felt like I had. Even though Cass and I weren't official. I'd promised that we would be. God, what did she think of me now? She must have hated me. I kind of hated me.
“We'd better catch up,” Nadine said, taking my hand and pulling me after her.
I knotted my fingers with hers, following, smiling. Why was I smiling? Stupid face. Stupid handsome, alluring, woman-confounding face.
As we approached the house, the woo
ds grew deathly quiet. I couldn't see the building now we'd descended into the valley. But I knew it was there. That house affected this place like a disease. Everything around me was dead, even the wind. The trees looked like they were frozen in an eternal winter. Even the birds steered clear of this part of the forest.
I listened as hard as I could, but my senses were swallowed by the crunch of twigs and dry leaves beneath our feet. I didn't like it. Every step made me want to morph into a wolf. My hearing would increase. I'd be faster if things turned to ugly...
I was about to suggest it to the group, when a loud metallic, SNAP sounded and Mercy screamed. So loud and piercing, I swear she busted one of my eardrums. Half-a millisecond later, she fell to the ground, writhing, clinging to her leg. I darted toward her, but Ulvic got there first, clamping a hand over her mouth.
She fell silent, but her scream echoed on through the valley, spreading outwards like an alarm, telling anyone within a ten mile radius that we were here.
“Shit, shit, shit,” Ulvic muttered.
I stepped past him, my gut clenching at the sight of the rusty bear-trap locked around Mercy's leg. There was so much blood, apart from one, suspiciously white protrusion. Bone.
Urgh.
I dropped to Mercy's side, clutching her shoulder.
Ulvic slowly released his hand from her mouth.
“Oh god, oh god,” she panted through her teeth, her eyes searching wildly then locking with mine. “Help me.”
I guessed I was the obvious hero around here. But hell, I didn't want to be right then. I took a slow breath, glancing behind me and fishing a piece of wood from the leaves.
“Bite down,” I instructed Mercy and she nodded, sweat pouring down her brow as she closed her teeth around it.
Ulvic watched me, pale-faced and desperate. I could feel Nadine hovering around me like a humming bird. Everyone was waiting for me to sort out this mess. And I was feeling the pressure like a tonne of bricks on my shoulders.
I took hold of the metal contraption, glancing at Mercy. She gave me a nod and I used my enhanced strength to wrench it wide. Mercy slumped backwards onto the ground, screaming against the stick in her mouth. Miraculously, she managed to keep fairly quiet.
“Okay, worst part over,” I encouraged, gently moving her leg away from the grip of the trap. Her chest shuddered with silent sobs.
I looked to Ulvic. “We have to move,” I growled.
“It's too late,” he breathed. “He'll know we're here.”
I swallowed, wanting to take control of the situation, but knowing Ulvic was more equipped to do so. I didn't know what we were up against, but he did.
I could hear footsteps approaching, still far off, but we didn't have much time. I counted two heavy sets moving this way.
“Ulvic,” I growled. “Decision. Now.”
“I-I...I d-don't know,” he stuttered, fear gripping his features.
Useless.
“Okay.” I shed my pack, taking control. I unzipped my bag and plucked out a shirt, sliding it under Mercy's leg. She winced sharply as I tightened the tourniquet around her thigh, but the girl was being brave as hell. Her Hunter blood must have been helping her cope with this amount of pain.
I scooped Mercy up and dumped her in Nadine's arms. Nadine gazed at me, awaiting instructions as I moved to Ulvic's side and yanked his arms behind his back.
“Right. We stick to the plan. Just let them come to us,” I explained as calmly as I could. “They're going to think you're our prisoners. A Helsing and a Hund.”
“What if this doesn't work?” Nadine hissed.
“It will,” I said simply.
Ulvic gestured to me. “Open my bag, there's some rope in there.”
I did as he said, and had his and Mercy's wrists bound before I could say Hvordetikkelyserlys. Which wasn't saying much, considering I was never gonna be able to pronounce that shit.
“Remember the plan?” I murmured to Nadine, rubbing a thumb over her cheek.
A thumb over her cheek.
Jesus.
“Yep. We're bringing Ulvic and Mercy here to trade for our pack,” Nadine echoed, looking fierce. She could handle some serious pressure. I'd once seen her win a high-stakes game of poker in Vegas, bluffing people out of perfectly good hands. Hands that would have beat her ass ten times over. She had a great game face, and it was currently making a cameo.
The footsteps grew closer and I had some fun, jerking Ulvic roughly against me and yanking his arms so tightly backwards that he let out a pained whimper. “Jameson,” he snarled.
“Just playing my part,” I whispered, shooting Nadine a grin. She returned it – dammit.
I glanced at Mercy. Unconscious. Shit. Had to hope Daddy Hund kept some V blood on tap around here. Probably should have brought some with us...
The cocking of rifles clicked through the air.
I braced myself. “We're here to make a trade!” I called out to the trees. “I have your employer's son, Ulvic Hund!”
A dart hit my neck. An effing dart.
I stumbled forward, blackness swooping in so fast, I couldn't fight it. I fell forward, full bodily on top of Ulvic, flattening him to the ground with a collective oomph.
Tortuga, 1805
A year went by and I found no trace of Varick. I knew he was out there. The truth lived in me, bone deep. A Vampire. He was a bloody Vampire. Immortal, living out the dream I longed to join him in. Despite forcing Pud to tell me stories of the Vampires over and over again, no new scrap of evidence came to light. And he'd even admitted to me one night, drunk as a skunk, that he'd never really seen one until that fateful night at Kaitlin's castle.
I'd assumed the role of captain without question from the crew. But despite the fact I'd fantasised about governing my own ship since the day Varick had gifted me my Flintlock, I'd have given up the position in a heartbeat to have him back. A part of me felt I was holding the place for him. The Meadowlark had been his father's ship, after all. And it wasn't my right to captain it.
I soon started having a wild dream that followed me into the night. Almost an obsession. I'd find Varick, he'd turn me Immortal and any of our crew who desired it, too. Then we'd sail the seven seas for all eternity, pillaging, looting, living the life that I had fallen in love with all those years ago. The problem was, I was stuck in purgatory. The in-between of waiting for my dream to come true.
I missed Varick with all my heart and his absence had taken a toll on me that the crew had noticed. I spent hours poring over maps in the captain's quarters. Days would slip by as we sailed on, enduring storms and sea fog to make it toward my next destination. I was driven mad with desire. I had to regain what I'd lost. Varick, my brother, my family. I would find him. And piece back together the perfect life we'd made on this ship.
We made port in Tortuga. I'd not been there for months. It had once been one of my favourite places on earth. The women were beautiful, wholly open-minded and very forthcoming. But I stayed onboard the ship as my crew departed, all of them looking thinner and in need of a good meal. I wouldn't begrudge them a few days of pleasure in the port. But I was too distracted to join in, lying in a hammock on the lower deck, hand cupped behind my head, daydreams of immortality keeping my mind occupied.
“Captain?” Pud's voice carried to me. He'd shot up half a foot in the last year. He was starting to look more and more like a man. His fair hair was pulled back into a ponytail, bound with a black ribbon.
I raised my brows as he came into view, spotting a piece of parchment grasped in his now calloused-fingers. Months of hard work on deck had started building him into a worthwhile member of the crew. His stories weren't the only reason we kept him around anymore.
“I recently learned my father is living in Tortuga. I sent him a letter when we last docked and today I received his reply.” His hand quivered on the letter and I sat up, straddling the hammock as I took in his vulnerable expression.
“This was left for me after -” Pud cleared h
is throat. “-after his death, Captain.”
My mouth pulled down at the corner. “I'm sorry, brother. Were you close?”
Pud hung his head. “When I was boy, we were, sir. He was the one who told me the stories. He was a tradesman. He sailed the seas, trading precious metals. But he never took me with him, said it was too dangerous. But he always came home with his stories...”
I nodded, reaching out and patting his shoulder.
“He was angry with me, Captain. I shouldn't have left home. I shouldn't have run away and joined your crew.”
I sighed, swinging my legs over the hammock to stand, pulling Pud into my shoulder. “We all have to make our own way at some point in life, Pud. It's a brave thing to follow one's heart against the wishes of our family.”
“Yes, sir.” Pud said into my shoulder, riding the back of a sob. He pressed his fist to my chest, the letter crumpling in his palm. “I think you should read it, sir. It might help with your search for Captain Varick.”
He pressed the letter into my palm, sniffing as he pulled away, hurrying from the cabin. I gazed after him, wondering if I should follow. But the kid clearly needed some time alone.
I unfurled the creased letter, tilting my head as I read it.
Son,
It is good to hear from you, but I write this reply with anger in my heart. To hear that you abandoned your mother and sisters is most grievous indeed. I wish you to return home post-haste. Not only do they need you, but there is also a grave danger riding the waves of late. I hear tales that curdle the blood in my veins. A crew of Immortal beings are sailing the high seas. They leave bloody trails in their wake, destroying entire crews, leaving their half-eaten bodies for the gulls to devour. The most recent of cases occurred just south of Barbados, so at the very least, I urge you to avoid these waters.
My time in Tortuga has extended due to an illness which has me in its grips. I fear death lurks in the shadows and that I will not see you again in this lifetime. Please, as a man's dying wish, show honour to our family by returning home to care for our beloveds.
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