“Afraid? Of the Prince of Darkness? The most dangerous criminal in the lands?” I scoffed and stepped forward to prove I wasn't afraid.
We were inches from each other. His brow rose curiously. He moved his hand and I flinched back. He laughed. “You are afraid.” He paused, thinking. “The Prince of Darkness? I like the sound of that.”
He turned around and slowly began to walk along the side of the deck, gesturing for me to follow with a jerk of his head. I nearly had to jog to keep up with his long legs. It came naturally to a runt. He remained silent, but I could tell something lingered on his mind.
“Do you plan to betray us, little Red?”
I shook my head. “Of course not.”
“I suppose you would say that either way.” Before I could defend myself, he continued. “I'm sorry about what happened with Keiran.” He glanced at me as he stopped to look out over the water once more. “He was quite young when his family passed into the Shadowlands. The last war with Krev took many of our people. As you can see, he has not been forgiving.”
A war? There hadn't been a war with the Kingdom of Shadow in centuries. I glanced at Demetri's youth, remembering his immortality. How old was he?
His hand brushed against mine, a surge of fiery excitement ran through me.
“What are you doing with the Red. Telling her my story.” A voice came from behind us. A hiss. Keiran.
Demetri spun around. “I thought I told you I didn't want to see you,” he growled.
Keiran attempted to match the tone of anger. “You know just as well as anyone what her kind has done.”
The Prince of Darkness strode forward, Keiran jumped back from him. “She may be the answer we've been searching for.”
“How? You're just giving the Red more information to bring back to Krev. She's a spy, Demetri. They're probably planning to ambush us as we speak. Finish us off once and for all.”
Before the Prince could respond, a screech echoed above the ship. Whatever it was, it was hidden by the thick fog overhead.
Zander ran up from under the deck, hand on his glowing sword as the loud screams continued. “What drew them to us?” he whispered.
“Probably smelled murder,” Gwen said, her eyes flicking to Keiran.
“Zander, alert the crew,” the Prince said, his voice quiet. “Keiran, douse the lights.”
Before long, the crew stood on the deck, swords drawn and eyes to the sky. The screeches had become a terrifying chorus, getting closer and more angry.
The fog hung all around, blocking the ability to see the creatures. The shrieks came with the thundering flutter of a thousand wings.
A dark figure flew at the ship, screeching the entire way. I threw my hands over my ears at the deafening noise. It landed like a bird on the railing, wings folding back into place. Large talons wrapped around the railing. Brown crumpled wings took the place of arms, ribs protruding from its skeletal body. Matted hair covered the human-like head, which remained expressionless as its solid black eyes looked over the ship. A harpy.
The harpy tilted her head at the onlookers, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. Her body looked unbalanced without arms, but she easily remained upright. One of the crewmen jumped forward, stabbing his sword toward the harpy's chest. The harpy's eyes widened, launching itself into flight. She opened her mouth and released a gut-wrenching scream, higher-pitched than the others. And the swarm descended upon the ship.
I ran to the captain's deck where the others had gathered. “Fire the ballistas!” the Prince shouted. The harpies swooped in, grabbing and clawing at the sailors. Some were snatched away, carried into the fog. Others beat at their captors until they were dropped into the murky waters.
The screams of the men melded with the screams of the harpies, a symphony of battle. Everyone fought, even Celeste yielded her two daggers and fended off several harpies.
“Give me a sword. I can help,” I yelled, looking to the Prince.
He strode up to me, “How could you help? You can barely handle a sword. We don't need to be worrying about protecting you. Now, get below deck to safety.”
I frowned, knowing I was just as capable as any of the frightened sailors who risked their lives to defend the ship. But I backed off and rushed down the steps to the main deck. A harpy pelted toward me, and I jumped under the railing, hiding below the steps.
I watched in horror. Aimless slashing at impossibly fast-flying enemies. Panic silenced by hydra-filled waters, lurching from the waters for the feast. The talons dug into flesh, blood mixed with early morning dew. Huge arrows blasted through the air, felling the beasts from the skies.
A rumbling sound filled the air, the water bubbling next to the ship as the vessel began to rock. “Secure yourselves!” Someone yelled. Before I could react, a hydra lurched from the water into the air, several heads feasting on the swarm of harpies. The harpies scattered away from the display. I grabbed hold of the railing as the creature landed, drenching the entire ship in a spray of water. The ship rocked, angling it sideways.
Keiran slashed at one of the few remaining harpies, a talon scrapping into his arm and leaving a long gash. His sword flew from his hand and skidded against the wood planks, skidding away as the ship moved. He fell backward, looking from side to side for any defense, but there was nothing. The harpy puffed out its chest, flapping its wings in victory and squawking as it prepared for its final blow.
I rushed out from under the stairs, grabbing Keiran's fallen sword, and slashing at the harpy's chest. The creature sprung itself back into the skies. Blood on the sword shimmered in the twilight. I spun around, Keiran watched me from the ground, unmoved and stunned. My free hand reached out to help him up, but he didn't take it as he stood, snatching the sword back from me.
“The Prince ordered you to get below deck.” Keiran glared as he spoke, glancing around as the crew began to cheer. The harpies retreated to the skies.
“He's not my Prince. Besides, you'd be dead if I hadn't intervened.” Before I could help myself, I added, “That's twice tonight.”
“I didn't need your help, Red. If you haven't noticed, we don't like your kind here. We like them more than you.” He jabbed his thumb in the direction of a dead harpy on the deck. “They've killed less of us than you.”
“Keiran!” Zander strode up, taking notice of the argument. “Get rid of the bodies and swab the deck. Prince's orders.”
The tattooed man glared at me, like his punishment had been my doing. And maybe it had been.
12
We passed by a rare sight of land, giving the impression that the ship moved so slowly, it would be faster to walk. I pushed the thought away, wondering if anyone at home had even noticed me gone.
Within a week aboard the ship, everyone had grown tireless. There was little to do, and small comments incited full-blown arguments. Hydra-infested waters and swarms of harpies in the sky kept us all prisoner. The only one who seemed to enjoy themselves was Thana. She smiled and hummed, going on about weather patterns, the water speeding up, or the Tides. Most of what she said was nonsense.
The Prince avoided everyone except for Zander, who he spoke to on the captain's deck. It had been days since the harpy attack, the last time I had spoken to him. If he wasn't steering the ship, he was hidden away within his quarters. I wondered spitefully what it was like to sleep in a nice bed instead of a hard cot.
The bell rang for supper and I headed below deck, where the line was already at the staircase. I grabbed a bowl and held it out just as the stew sloshed in. It looked far less appetizing than it had two nights ago. But my stomach grumbled and I ate it. Perhaps I was growing spoiled. Even the stew was tastier than the daily mush of Krev.
Nobody spoke to me, as Gwen didn't show up in the mess hall. I tried to hide my disappointment as I headed to the cots and laid back on mine. The room was already dark, but I wasn't tired. I listened as others filed in and their breathing slowed.
When I couldn't stand it any longer, I lurched up, tigh
tening my boots before creeping over to the doorway. I peeked my head through the curtain. Candles burned, keeping the hallway lit. I slipped through and crept up the steps to the main deck. With Shadow all around, I wondered why I bothered with stealth.
Besides a silhouette at the wheel, the deck was abandoned. The huge river pushed the ship along through a thick fog. I carefully moved to the railing, squinting for any landmarks.
“You're not going to jump again, are you?”
I spun around. The Prince. “I thought everyone was asleep.” My heart thundered and my lips suddenly felt dry. He stood several feet away from me, eyes piercing into mine.
“That's not an answer,” he said.
“You've been avoiding me.” My cheeks heated from his gaze and I looked away.
“Have I?” He took a step closer and my back hit the railing. The top half of my body propelled backwards, my hands flailing to grab hold of something. My feet lifted from the wood planks.
In a wisp of Shadow, the Prince appeared, his arm around my back and away from the edge. Adrenaline surged through my veins at his touch, every nerve excited. And terrified. An amused smirk rested on his face, watching me.
I pushed his arm off me. “I wasn't going to fall.”
“That's not what it looked like,” he said.
“I don't need some slimy Stalker putting his hands all over me.” The words escaped like vomit.
The Prince's eyes turned dark. “As if I have any desire to touch a Red. You are a means to an end, Princess. My end of the bargain is to protect you. That's all I'm doing.”
“I'm safe.” I smiled falsely, angling my head. “You can go now.”
The Prince stepped forward, looking down at me. “You are in my kingdom. You are in no place to give orders.” We stood so close, his smell intoxicating my senses. We glared at each other, locked in a silent contest, each unwilling to back down. “Just remember who won the fight between us.” He gave a forced laugh and turned to walk away.
“I was tired.” I said. “It was an entirely new style of fighting to me.”
A blade flashed in the starlight as he held it out. I glanced down to the sword at the Prince's hip, where his remained sheathed. “Perhaps a rematch, Princess?”
He must have brought it in anticipation for another chance to upstage me. Another chance to prove I was unworthy to be Queen of Krev. I had gotten lucky last time, able to cover the cut I had gotten. It would not be so easy a second time. But refusing seemed worse.
I grabbed the weapon, narrowing my eyes at him. I let the weight of the sword adjust in my hand. Rocking it in my palm. Though it was heavy enough, I wondered if the thin blade would hold up against his heavy swings.
“Ready?” He asked, pulling out his jeweled sword, the blade glinting like obsidian.
My heart pounded into my ears. I knew the risk, the tiniest cut could expose me. I cursed myself for leaving my armor back in the sleeping quarters. “I'm not quite dressed,” I said finally, nodding to his garb.
“I'll go easy on you,” he said, stepping forward, one arm behind him and the side of his body to me. “But if you want any chance of becoming queen, you need to bulk up, little Red.”
His sword extended. I smacked it away when he got too close, beginning the fight unintentionally.
His sword flurried faster than I could block, and he began to back me down the main deck. “Your form is completely wrong,” he said casually while I already was out of breath. “You have no shield. Better to lose an arm than an organ.”
As he spoke, he slowed enough to allow an opening, and I pierced the sword at him. He stepped forward to avoid the blow, circling me and almost hitting my back. Every movement I could make was forced into a block. When I finally got another swing at him, the sword felt like it weighed a hundred pounds.
He easily sidestepped the sluggish attack. “The advantage of rapiers is agility and speed, not brute force. Don't put so much energy into everything.” He was going easy on me, allowing me to take little advantages. He didn't even Shade. “You fight like you're afraid of being hit. You will heal, little Red.”
If only he knew.
He swung with a renewed force, and my adrenaline pulsed, somehow giving me the energy to fend him off. “I'm only afraid of hurting you, Prince.” I wished I could hide my heavy breath.
“Call me Demetri,” he said, pausing for a moment. Our swords gently pressed against each other. My blade lowered and he smacked it away. The hilt vibrated out of my hand, clambering on the wood several feet away. He stepped forward, meeting my eyes. “If you manage to hurt me, I'll jump to the hydras.” He raised his sword, pointing to my dropped weapon. “Again.”
I picked it up. Once in position, I raised the blade. We began a volley of strikes, another dance across the deck, our swords like flashes of lightning. Every time the metal glided over me, my heartbeat skipped in anticipation, but the warm flow of blood never came.
“Keep your eyes up!” He smacked the sword from my hand again. “Are you a Red or not?”
My heart clenched in shame, giving me an urge to prove myself. I snatched the sword just in time to block his newest attack. I twisted my blade around his, trying to force it from his hands with a smack. My blade missed as he ducked his head and spun, regaining control of the fight within seconds.
He continued to win each engagement, occasionally correcting me in the form of cruel jokes. With the insults burned into my brain, at least I would learn quickly.
My arm felt numb, and the slightest hit knocked the sword from my hand.
I keeled over, hands on my knees as I looked to the planks with blurred vision. My entire body was sore from the exercise and bruised by the blunt end of the blade. A drop of sweat slowly streamed down my face, burning against the itch of dry salt that covered me.
I looked up, the Prince's eyes fiery with rage. “Pick it up,” he said, his voice a growl. I shook my head. “Pick up the sword,” he said again, more slowly, anger dripping like venom.
“Why? Looking for an excuse to kill me?” I forced a smile. “You can already do that. We're in your domain, Prince.”
“You said you could beat me. I wanted to make sure you knew the truth.”
“You're the Prince of Darkness. More feared than any other. How can I be expected to beat you?”
He scoffed. “You're weak, little Red.” He shook his head, seeming to speak to himself. “How could you ever be queen?”
I cringed. New adrenaline surged through me, snagging the sword and readying myself for the next fight.
He smiled, sheathing his sword. “Hold your position.”
I froze awkwardly as he walked around me once, stopping behind me. His warm hand touched under my elbow, raising the sword. His fingers pushed my hip, turning my body slightly. I inhaled in silent shock.
His breath hit my neck, sending shivers through me. “Watch the sword when you fight. Your feet will figure out what they're doing.” His words went fuzzy in my brain. I tremored from his touch, heart pounding. My arm began to drop, weak from the nerves of him standing so close. He grasped my elbow, more firmly, holding it in place. “Stand still—”
He stopped, letting go of my arm.
“What's going on here?” Zander said, confusion plastered on his face as he approached us. Demetri immediately jumped back from me. Not meeting my eyes as he marched past. How long had Zander been watching?
“Keeping order on my ship.” Demetri strode away, his cabin door slamming behind him.
I turned back around, looking out at the river and hiding my face from Zander. Hopefully the misty breeze would cool the heat of embarrassment. He stood next to me, his leather boots silent against the wood. The black bird on his shoulder took to flight, gliding over the waters below us, likely in search of his dinner.
“Here,” I said, holding out the sword. “I don't think he meant to leave this with me.”
Zander grinned, taking the weapon. “No, I don't think he did.” He looked down at th
e sword. He gave a look of disbelief before holding it aside, glancing toward the door to the captain's quarters. “Are you enjoying Astrea?”
“Some vacation,” I said sarcastically before continuing. “It's like nothing I ever imagined.”
“Wait until you see Emyprea.” A smile spread across his face as the black bird landed back on his shoulder. I waited for its beady eyes to return to me. “This is Max.”
“Pleasure.” My distaste for the bird must have shown on my face.
“Stygian birds can use the Shadow much like we can.” I looked to the bird closely, noticing that it was not covered in feathers, but instead with Shadow itself, wisping in the still air. “They can even create Shadow.”
There was a long silence between us before he spoke again. “He has a lot of responsibility.” I turned to Zander, realizing he no longer spoke of the bird. “Astrea hasn't been united since his father's rule. Since the day we were condemned to hide beneath the ground like animals.”
“You needn't defend your Prince,” I said.
“I want you to understand, so when you are home, you can stop this rivalry between our peoples.”
I thought of home. Of the competitions and the constant drive for war. I thought of the dry desert heat on my skin. And when I returned my gaze to Zander, he was gone.
The heaviness of my eyelids drew me toward the sleeping quarters. I didn't know how long I slept in the perpetual twilight, but my mind rested on the Prince. Demetri. His warm hands on my back, my elbow. The graze of his breath against my cheek. A tingling feeling erupted. I stifled it with one word.
Stalker.
13
I awoke to the red glow and fierce heat of fire. I jumped off the cot, the circular windows revealing the river of lava ahead. I sprinted to the dock, where many had already gathered.
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