A Pirate's Revenge (Legends of the Soaring Phoenix)

by ML Guida

  A wave of pain surged from his tail through his body, and William clamped his jaw. He hoped ’twasn’t poisonous.

  “William, your tail.”

  Blood pooled onto the sand from an ugly gash. Mariah ripped the hem of her dress and tied it around the gaping wound, stopping the flow of crimson but not the agony.

  The sun had dipped below the horizon. Lightning crashed, and black clouds whirled in the sky. Thunder boomed, and the sky opened, pelting them with rain. Waves smashed against the beach. Mariah frowned. “Lark. He’s commanding the elements.”

  Battle cries, clanging of swords, and gunfire erupted from the forest. “The battle has begun,” she said. “We must find him before he destroys your brother and the crew. Where is Zuto?”

  She pulled out the soul catcher, and in her other hand, she held both hers and Lark’s wand. “Can you fly? We must get to the battle.”

  Despite his throbbing tail, he climbed onto all fours and flicked his head, signaling to Mariah to climb onto his back. She swung onto his hide, and he sailed toward the raging battle. Lightning bolts danced around a small clearing. He hadn’t noticed it before. Had it been hidden by dark magic?

  Crewmen from both the Phoenix and the Damsel were embroiled in battle. Kane clashed swords with Palmer. Both men were wounded, but Palmer fared better and kept Kane on the defensive. Palmer’s long strikes forced Kane to inch closer toward Zuto, who casually leaned against a palm tree with a sword in his hand.

  “The knave.”

  Ronan emerged from the jungle with his sword high over his head and lunged at Palmer. Palmer’s smile faded as he fought the two men.

  Impatience flickered in Zuto’s eyes, and he stopped leaning on the tree. He stabbed the sword into the ground and pushed off the tree. The scoundrel was planning something.

  “There is Lark on the boulder,” Mariah said. “Take me to him.”

  Palmer took a nasty fall onto his side and rolled into the jungle with Ronan pursuing him.

  Kane leaned his hand against the tree. Zuto motioned as if wanting someone to come to him. Through the trees, Hannah trudged toward Zuto, her eyes still vacant. She knelt beside the demon.

  Kane’s brow furrowed. “Hannah, my God, Hannah.”

  He rushed toward Zuto, but pirates confronted him, engaging him in battle. If he didn’t get a hold of himself, he’d get his fool head sliced off.

  “Lark, now,” Mariah urged.

  William aimed for Lark, who stood on a boulder with his arms stretched out toward the raining heavens. As they neared, Lark thrust his hand at them. Lightning sizzled and sparked, narrowly missing William’s wounded tail. He roared, and fire burst out of his mouth. Lark dove off the boulder and landed on Natasa, sending them tumbling into soggy ground. The boulder blackened and cracked in half.

  “Get off me, you fool,” Natasa said. She slithered out from underneath him and shot to her feet.

  “William, you must land,” Mariah urged. “I know what to do. We have to do this together.”

  Reluctantly, he obeyed.

  Natasa flashed a sinister smile, and with her red eyes and pale skin, her face took on the shape of a skull. Dirt smudged her black gown, and she looked like a corpse raised from the grave. “Finally here,” she said. “I thought you two had crawled away in fear.”

  Lark dragged himself off the ground and brushed the dirt and mud off his clothes. “You will pay for that, dragon.”

  Mariah reached into her bag and pulled out the soul catcher.

  Lark’s smile faded from his lips, and he stumbled.

  “How did you get that?” Natasa cried. She pushed in front of Lark and reached for Mariah, fear now etched on her face. William swiped his tail, ignoring the pain, and smashed both Lark and Natasa into a pool of mud.

  “No!” Natasa shoved Lark out of the way, causing him to fall.

  Mariah raised her arm over her head, the soul catcher in her hand. “Mother Isis,” she called. “Release his soul.”

  The demon scrambled over Lark and out of the mud.

  Mariah smashed the soul catcher onto one of the broken boulders. It cracked, and as a white fog released, the black color faded. The fog floated over Lark, who was on all fours panting. It streamed into his mouth and nose. He arched his back and cried out.

  Natasa backhanded Mariah and knocked her to the ground. William blew a gust of wind, flinging Natasa into a palm tree. She screeched and rushed toward Mariah again, her hands stretched out and nails lengthened. “Die witch,” she cried.

  Mariah, covered in dirty water and mud, stumbled to her feet and swayed. Dabbing her bloody lip, she clutched her wand.

  “If Natasa gets to Mariah, she’ll have the power to send her back to Coaybay. Do you think she’ll survive with Maketabori on a rampage? Burn Natasa.”

  William growled in frustration. If he shot flames at Natasa, he might hit Mariah. He swung his tail again, but the demon leapt over it and closed the distance between her and Mariah. Mariah pulled her athame out of her satchel and aimed it at Natasa. What good would that do? ’Twasn’t a weapon.

  He should have made sure she’d brought her bloody pistol.

  “Hannah, Hannah,” Kane yelled.

  His brother’s desperate cries seized William’s attention. Kane carved a path to his beloved. “Fight him him! Fight him, Hannah.”

  Zuto held onto Hannah and her father’s arm, hoisting them both off the ground, their feet dangling. Father and daughter dolls.

  William wanted to yell for Doc, Sean, or Amadi to stop Kane’s foolhardiness, but William would only growl, and they wouldn’t understand him. Each of them were fighting their own battles. Palmer’s men had each of them engaged in hand-to-hand combat, skirmishing for their lives. It had to be black magic that gave Palmer’s men the advantage.

  Kane whooped and hollered like a madman, swiping his sword. William swooshed into the air to swoop Kane up and fling him somewhere where he wouldn’t get himself killed. He’d then retrieve Hannah.

  “Maketabori,” Zuto called, his voice booming louder than a firing cannon. “Hear me. Natasa betrayed you and stole the soul catcher. She wants the warlock for herself.” Lightning flashed and fizzled. “I alone am loyal to you. See, I have your prizes.” He jostled Hannah and her father over his head. “Take them!”

  Hate swelled in William. Zuto, the swine. He had wanted them to go to Coaybay to seize the soul catcher for what? He had hinted he would free Hannah and make Drakon alive again. The demon had lied.

  “Noooo!” Natasa howled like a wounded wolf.

  William cringed at the sharp cry, but flew toward Zuto to keep his dimwitted brother from scrambling head-on into his death. But if he saved Kane, Hannah would die. William stuck out his talons to seize Hannah and lead Kane away from Zuto.

  “’Tis not true,” Natasa said. Her voice reverberated louder than the fray and thunder. “This is your fault, witch. You’ll pay for this.”

  William’s choices were few—save Kane or save Mariah.

  Drakon flashed in his mind. The dragon sat on his haunches, but for some reason, he seemed calm. “Save your brother. Mariah is strong enough to fight Natasa. But your brother does not have the power to fight Zuto.”

  May God forgive him. William had to trust Mariah’s magic and headed toward Zuto. Wind beat against him, and he flew erratically. Shite. More black magic.

  Palmer rushed out of the jungle and blocked Kane. William had never thought he’d be glad to see the devil himself. Criminy. Where was Ronan?

  “Get out of my way, Palmer,” Kane cried, his sword dripping with blood.

  “You’ve lost, O’Brien. Admit it,” Palmer said. “You’ll have to kill me before you can get to your woman.”

  Kane lunged.

  A black tornado formed above Zuto and crept toward him and his two limp dolls. Red eyes peered through the darkness, and William shuddered. Maketabori?

  Mariah yelled. “William, you must stop Zuto, or all is lost.” He turned his head and his hea
rt nearly dropped out of his chest as she dodged Natasa’s swipe. “Do not worry for me. I have her. For once, trust in yourself.”

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  To Mariah’s relief, William shrieked, shot into the air, and soared toward Zuto, who clutched Hannah and her father.

  “See, your dragon is abandoning you,” Natasa said. “My magic is growing while yours is diminishing, foolish one.”

  Mariah shoved her athame back into her sachet and retrieved Lark’s wand. She clutched both wands and refused to cower from Natasa. She prayed that the soul catcher would restore Lark’s white magic. He tossed back and forth on the muddy ground. His face paled, and his mouth was set in a tight line. He groaned as if in a great deal of pain. Obviously, black and white magic battled inside him. She needed to touch him with his wand to push back the black magic.

  But Natasa blocked her path. Fire burned in her eyes as she shrieked and bared jagged teeth. She lunged for Mariah. Her long red nails ripped through Mariah’s dress. Pain seared where deep scratches bled.

  Ignoring it, Mariah pointed her wand at the dark sky. “Mother Isis, I call upon you.”

  Tingles swept over her and power streamed through her.

  “She can’t help you.” Natasa circled her.

  Mariah trusted in her magic and fought back her fear. She aimed her wand at Natasa. Lightning flashed out of it. Natasa dodged into the foray of battling pirates to miss being sizzled. She did not wait for Natasa to regain her composure. Mariah needed time to conjure another spell. And time she did not have.

  His hair hiding his face, Lark dragged himself out of the muddy puddle. She rushed toward her brother, hoping she was not making a lethal blunder. “Lark, take—”

  Someone slammed into Mariah, and she fell to the ground. Agony gripped her right shoulder, and her vision blurred. She rolled onto her back, clutching both wands. Natasa straddled her stomach and wrapped her hands around Mariah’s throat. Mariah could not scream. Her breath squeezed out of her.

  Hair streaked with mud, Natasa said, “Die, witch.”

  Natasa’s face burned an illuminating white, blinding Mariah. Her once fiery eyes disappeared into deep black pits full of hate, dread, and horror. But it was the chilling smile that sent terror into Mariah’s mind. Sharp jagged teeth stained with blood curled up into a sneer.

  Dizziness blurred Mariah’s vision and she gasped. Fighting not to lose consciousness, she touched Natasa’s temple with her wand. In her mind, she called upon Mother Isis.

  Send me your white magic.

  Power surged through her shaking arm. The demon screamed and released her. On her hands and knees, Natasa scurried around in the mud frantic and shrieking. She smashed head first into a rock, knocking herself out.

  Mariah put a hand to her throat and rolled onto her side, coughing. Dizziness faded. Lark sloshed through the mud only a few inches away. She could not see his eyes. Was he a warlock or witch?

  Determined to save him, she wriggled toward him and stretched out her arm. She brushed his wand over his muddy hand, and a white glow sparked. It flowed over him. His body convulsing, he screamed and arched his back. Black smoke jetted out his nose and flung into the ground.

  He collapsed into the mud beside her. “Mariah, you freed me.” He covered her hand. “Thank you for coming for me.”

  “You are my brother.” Her voice choked. “I will always come for you.” Tears welled in her eyes. He was Lark again. His violet eyes had returned. The black magic had vanished. His soul was whole again. Grand-mère’s premonition had been right. Mariah had saved her brother and wanted to weep with joy.

  Now, she had to use her magic to save William and free Drakon.

  “Drakon, you have angered me,” Zuto thundered. “For trying to rescue Hannah and her father, you’ll remain trapped inside William O’Brien forever.”

  William answered him with a stream of fire, but the flames failed to touch the demon.

  “Maketabori hurry!” Zuto yelled.

  Mariah dragged herself to her feet. William circled Zuto but could not get close to either Hannah or Capitaine Knight. A black tornado hurtled toward them. Icy cold penetrated her bones, and Mariah shivered. Evil lived in that whirling black wind.

  She refused to give in to despair. She staggered to her feet, pulling on Lark’s hand. “Come on. Get up. We have to help William. Use your wand and break the yari binding Hannah’s wrists. Maybe it will awaken her and she can use her power.”

  Zuto swung Hannah over his head and flung her toward the swirling tornado. She sailed through the air like a cannonball.

  “Hannah!” Kane’s agony reverberated throughout the clearing, drowning out the sounds of combat.

  William flew after the lifeless form. But he would not be strong enough to defeat the evil and needed help.

  “Quickly,” Lark!” Mariah screamed.

  On his knees, his body battered and muddy, Lark nodded. He aimed his wand at Hannah and William. “Mother Isis, hear me. Break the bonds of darkness.”

  The tail of the tornado reached toward them. Vicious twirling winds hit William and he flew spasmodically, his wings collapsing.

  Mariah pointed her wand and repeated Lark’s chant. Strength and tingles of magic whirled over her. Lark’s magic sent waves of reassurance through her.

  Together their voices became stronger. White light rushed from their wands and rushed over William. The winds stopped tossing him around like a feather. He righted himself and flapped his wings. Hannah was about to fly into the tornado when he stretched out his talons and caught her legs. He wrapped his talons around her calves and flew away.

  The same light bathed Hannah.

  “I command you, yari. Fly back to Coaybay,” Lark cried.

  The yari slipped off Hannah’s wrists and hurtled into the roaring tornado. Mariah inhaled a shaky breath and smiled up at her brother. He lowered his wand and hugged her. Tears streamed down Mariah’s face, and she clung to him, not caring about the muck mashed against them. Lark was back. She had missed him so much and wept on his shoulder. “Grand-mère,” she whispered. “I have your lost mon chou.”

  Zuto faced William. “No!” His forcible voice radiated with power.

  Mariah lifted her head.

  Zuto shook Capitaine Knight. “You can’t save them both, dragon.” He flung Knight toward the rushing tornado.

  Lark released Mariah and pointed his wand. “Awaken, Hannah.”

  Mariah held her breath and clutched Lark’s arm, praying his magic would work. The light burst out of his wand and washed over Hannah, and she stirred to life. She blinked, and color returned to her face. She gazed at her father flying through the air. Hannah yelled and wiggled, her arms flailing around her. “Kane!” Desperation filled her shrieking voice.

  “Use your powers,” Lark commanded.

  “Father,” she cried and lifted her palms. Her father hovered in the air and floated away from the tornado to the other side of the battlefield away from Zuto. William followed Capitaine Knight, still clutching Hannah’s calves. He released Hannah, who landed on her stomach in a heap of grass next to her father.

  Mariah clasped Lark’s hand and smiled. “Your powers have grown stronger. Thanks to you, Hannah and her father are safe.”

  “For now,” he said. “The battle has not been yet won.”

  “Fools,” Zuto hissed.

  Mariah jumped at the anger and hate in his voice. She squeezed Lark’s hand tighter, afraid the demon would try and take him from her again. She gripped her wand, ready to battle him.

  Zuto pointed at them. “Maketabori, the warlock and Natasa have betrayed you.”

  “He is not a warlock.” Mariah found her courage and challenged the arrogant demon. “You have lost. Zuto. Your plans have failed.”

  Zuto laughed. “You think so, witch? Maketabori, punish the betrayers.”

  The red eyes disappeared, and the tornado evaporated. Rain diminished, and the sun peered through dark clouds. The ground rumbled bene
ath her. Birds flew out of the trees into the air cawing. Chills of dread shot up her feet. Something was coming. Something evil. What had she done?

  Lark frowned and wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her closer. He sensed it too.

  “We have to get the men to the ship,” she said. “We must leave this island now.”

  Zuto snatched at the hilt of his sword and stormed across the fighting pirates, his sights set on Kane. He flung men into the air and shoved them onto the ground.

  Engaged with Palmer, Kane had his back to the oncoming threat. William soared toward Zuto, talons outstretched. Zuto ducked, and William slammed into fighting pirates, sending them scattering in all directions.

  The ground grumbled louder. Men had difficulty fighting their opponents. Swords missed and slashed into thin air. Pistols fired erratically, hitting friend and foe alike. Men staggered back and forth, stumbling and falling onto their knees, swearing and yelling. Others clung to trees to keep from falling down. Still others crashed into each other. William flew back into the air.

  Mariah waved her arm. “William, we have to get the crew to retreat. Something is coming. Use your fog.”

  William nodded and exhaled a black fog that crept over the battle, blinding only the crew of the Fiery Damsel. But for some reason, it was useless against Palmer. Was Zuto protecting him?

  Kane and Palmer staggered around, still trying to battle. Palmer smiled as Zuto approached.

  “Capitaine,” Mariah cried out. “Watch out.”

  Kane turned and stumbled. Palmer ran his sword down Kane’s and pushed him toward the demon. Kane landed on his back, and Palmer laughed.

  Zuto stepped on Kane’s wrist, forcing him to drop his weapon. He pushed the sword into Kane’s throat, and blood trickled down his neck. The ground cracked and widened. Sand and dirt slipped through a crevice. As it spread, men screamed and fell backward. His sword still in his hand, Zuto smiled. Mariah held her breath. The demon knew what was coming.

  Ronan barreled out of the jungle, covered with crimson and mud. He rushed toward Zuto, his sword drawn. “Death to you, demon!”