A Pirate's Curse (Legends of the Soaring Phoenix) (35 page)

She ran across the plank. William pulled out his sword and engaged a charging pirate. Ronan
wasn’t moving. She hurried over to him, but out of the black smoke, a figure emerged and her heart sank. 

Jacques D’Aubigne
circled her, angling his sword to her, eyes blazing murder. “So, we meet again,
mademoiselle
. I told you Palmer’s men would free me, no?”

Hannah braced her legs apart and waited. She didn
’t have to wait long. Jacques lunged forward with his blade. It took all of Hannah’s skill to put aside the thrust.

Retreating,
Jacques glanced at Ronan and her father. “After I slit your pretty little throat, I’ll gut those two.”

“Never,” she hissed, but she kept her anger and fear under control, knowing Jacques was trying to ba
it her, to get her to make a mistake, one she couldn’t afford to make.

Jacques walked slowly around her and Hannah followed him. His back to the flames, the angles of his face were sharpened by the flickering glow of burning embers. His sword flashed and Hannah moved to block it. The two blades crossed and slid down to the hilts, sending a rain off the steel. The strength of his blow shuddered down her arm and forced her backwards towards the railing. 

He chuckled,
baring his teeth, toying with her.

She was no
swordsman, and he knew it. She was no pirate, and he knew it. She was no match, and he knew it. 

We
apons parted and hit again. Hannah’s arm shook. Kane’s instructions ran through Hannah’s mind and she hoped this trick worked.

She deliberately invited Jacques to lock swords again, then, gave her wrist a twist, bringing the blade around and up, surprisingly breaking the strength of Jacques’ arm. Jacques smiled and leaned back, thrusting forward, following through with a death cry. Hannah grimaced, waiting for his sword to slash against her flesh, muscle and bone. But Jacques stumbled and missed, nearly falling onto his face. 

Hannah pivoted away Jacques’ sword missed her by mere inches. She glanced down. Ronan had clutched Jacques’ ankle.

“I’
ll kill you for that,” Jacques swore, kicking free of Ronan’s grip. Ronan tried rolling away, but Jacques stepped on his arm, pinning him.

Hannah whipped out William’s
pistol, praying she loaded it right, and fired. Jacques cried out and jerked to the side, freeing Ronan. Ronan kicked Jacques in the back of his knees and Jacques fell to the deck. Not caring that he was defenseless, Hannah raised her sword, but Jacques whipped out a pistol from his belt and fired. The shot tore through Hannah’s shoulder and she cried out. Hot pain seared her flesh, bringing tears to her eyes. She had never felt such pain.

One arm dropping to his side, Jacques stumbled to his feet.
“I’m through toying with you, bitch.”

He lunged for her
. Ignoring the pain in her shoulder, Hannah darted away. Jacques staggered past her towards the railing and slipped on the wet deck. With the grace of a dancer, Hannah whirled around and brought her sword down onto Jacques’ back, putting all her rage, anger and hatred into the impact. Her cutlass slashed deep into his flesh, slicing through tissue and bone, nearly cleaving him in half. Her cutlass embedded into his back, he screamed and tumbled through a broken gap in the bulwark, crashing into the black sea.   

Hannah sank to her knees and clutched her shoulder. She bit back a sob. God, she
wanted Kane. She wanted him badly.

“Hannah,” Ronan gasped. “Behind you.”

She raised her eyes. Black boots planted wide apart, followed by black trousers and a red shirt, straining against the broadest chest she had ever seen. The wind blowing his long red hair and beard, Quinton Palmer stood in front of her. His wild crimson eyes stopped Hannah’s heart. Blood drenched his torn shirt, but she couldn’t tell whether ’twas was his or someone else’s.

He
snarled, revealing sharp fangs and snatched her hair, lifting her off the ground.

She screamed as he ripped hair from her scalp.

Slapping his meaty fingers with her hand, she squirmed, a rabbit caught in the snares of a wolf. “So, you’re O’Brien’s weakness?”

Thro
ugh the black smoke, Kane emerged, wielding a sword. His shirt bloody, he’d a cut lip and his left cheek was sliced opened, but he was alive. “Palmer, let her go,” he demanded.

Hannah increased her efforts, digging her nails into Palmer’s flesh and kicking his gut. Palmer shook her and her teeth rattled. She tried to kick Palmer again, but he stretched out his arm
to where she couldn’t make contact.

“
No, I’ve come along way looking for this bitch,” Palmer said. His foul breath counteracted the acrid smoke wafting across the deck. “I’m taking her back to Zuto.”

“Your ship’s in flames, Palmer,” Kane growled. “’Tis over. Now release her.” He pulled out his pistol and aimed it at Palmer.

Palmer pressed Hannah against his chest
, using her as a human shield, and wedged his sword underneath her throat, the sharp blade slicing into her neck. Wetness trickled down Hannah’s neck and she stopped struggling. She sucked in her breath, too afraid to exhale. She met Kane’s gaze.

“Go ahead and shoot
,” Palmer taunted.

“Release her, you coward,” Kane warned, his pistol still trained on Palmer.

“Take a step and she’s dead,” Palmer warned, pressing the sword deeper into Hannah’s throat. “Lower your sword.”

Kane held Hannah’s gaze as he obeyed Palmer. For the first time,
his eyes dimmed in defeat.

Palmer pulled out a pistol and aimed it at Kane. “You’re finished,
O’Brien. The
Phoenix
is mine.”

Hannah drew on her power, but she barely felt the tingles moving through her veins. She tried focusing on Palmer’s sword, but she couldn
’t gather enough power to move even Palmer’s fingers. Battling Zuto’s magic to free Lark had been a mistake. Tears trickled down her cheeks.

“
Kneel, O’Brien,” Palmer ordered smugly.

A pistol fired
.

“No
!” Hannah cried.

But Kane didn
’t move.

Palmer staggered
, loosening his grip and giving Hannah enough room to break free. She tumbled to the deck.

Black smoke swirling around him, William stepped out, his pistol on Palmer.

“Get back here, you bitch,” Palmer demanded, clutching his arm.

Kane leapt
towards her, his sword drawn. “Back away, Palmer.”

Blood dripped down Palmer’s shoulder.
He glared at William. “You’ll pay for this boy.”

Before Kane or William could move, Palmer transformed into a bat and flew back to the burning
Fiery Damsel
.

Kane hauled Hannah to her feet and she cried out.

Concern filled his eyes. “You’re hurt.”

“’Tis
not bad,” she whispered, catching her breath.

“Capt’n, ’ti
s good to see you,” Ronan said, as he pushed himself up.

Kane glanced at Hannah. “How the devil did you get here?”

Ronan nodded at Hannah. “She freed me. Along with her father. But Lark’s still on board the
Damsel
. He’ll burn to death if we don’t hurry.”

“Hannah, you’ve got to stay here,” he said. “William…”

But William was running across the boarding plank, his pistol in one hand, sword in the other.

“Bloody hell,” Kane swore. “Hannah, stay here. Will you listen to me?”

She nodded. “I’ll stand guard over Ronan and my father.”

“I don’t
need anyone to guard me.” Ronan leaned against the railing, his face gray.

“My power’
s reduced, Kane,” she admitted. “I tried to free Lark and my power was drained.”

Kane nodded, urgency in his movements.
“It will be all right. Stay here,” he ordered, before racing after William.

Looking up at the heavens
, Hannah sent up a hasty prayer. “Protect him Saint Michael,” she mumbled.

Palmer’s men were quickly changing into bats and retreating. The battle had been bloody, deadly. Kane had no idea how many dead were counted among his own men. He narrowed his eyes through the smoke, searching for William. The fool. He’d get himself killed.

Hurrying footsteps
chased after him. He whirled around, ready to engage, only to lock eyes with black smoke swirling around him. Sword and pistol drawn, Sean Mallory stepped out. Kane snorted, “You almost got my blade in your giblet, Mallory.”

Mallory shrugged. “Didn’t think you wanted to be the only one hunting aboard this ship.”

“William’s over here. We got to find him before he gets himself killed.”

The
Fiery Damsel
creaked and shifted. An explosion knocked both Kane and Mallory to the deck, wood, splinters and metal shot over their heads. Half the bow fell into the ocean. Water splashed onto the deck, dousing them. Fire burned hotter. Sweat trickling down his face, Kane wiped his face on his sleeve. He choked on the sulfur. “Capt’n,” Mallory said. “The fire must have reached the weapons hold. We’ve got to get out of here. She’s going to sink.”

“Not without my brother,” Kane said. He jumped
up and slipped on the water as the ship tilted toward the churning ocean. He and Sean stumbled forward toward the missing bow, unable to stop themselves and the canting deck, about ready to tumble into the black water.

The last of the bow broke off and the
Fiery Damsel
righted herself. Mallory grabbed Kane’s arm. “Capt’n, we’ve got to leave.”

“You’ll pay for your insolence, boy,” Palmer yelled
from behind Kane.

Kane whipped around.

William, his mouth was bleeding, was held tight by two of Palmer’s gruesome men. Another man, beaten, dirty and half naked, stood next to Palmer. A ruby-studded choker was around his neck. The witch, Lark?

“Curse him,” Palmer ordered.

“No,” the man said.

“Punish,” Palmer said.

The rubies glowed red and the man fell to his knees. Blood trickled down his neck.

“I said curse
him,” Palmer ordered. “Or I’ll replace you with your sister.”

The man gasped and raised his head, his eyes filled with hate.
“By the holy hell of Coaybay, I call upon the demon Zuto’s power, Nogard.”

“No,” Kane cried
. He couldn’t let them turn his brother into a vampire. Breaking away from Mallory’s hold, he ran for William, ready to strike down anyone in path.

But he was too late.

A whipping wind roared blowing around William and his captors. The two lackeys let go. A gust snatched William, yanking him off the deck and spinning him ten feet off the deck. He churned around and around and around in midair, green, blue and red sparks flickering from his fingertips. He shrieked, twisting into odd angles, his bones creaking and snapping. Fire spurted out of his mouth. With one final twist, William screamed and crashed onto the deck in an unconscious heap.

Palmer laughed as Kane rushed towards them. “
Lark, stop him.”

Lark held up his palms and
Kane came to a sudden halt, unable to move.

Palmer pulled out his sword
and strode to Kane. “This was too easy.” Death reflected in his red eyes.

He raised his
sword and Kane struggled to move, but he was frozen, a pig to be slaughtered.

“I’ve waited for this a long time, O’Brien,” Palmer gloated, running his sword along Kane’s throat
and leaving a thin line of blood. “Lark, we need the
Phoenix
.”

Lark flicked his wrist and a gray fog overpowered the black smoke, turning into icy fingers, reaching for the
Soaring Phoenix
.

“
Now, my revenge is complete.”

Gritting his teeth, Palmer swung his sword back
. Powerless to do anything, Kane waited to die, to be decapitated. He only prayed his men would escape and fly to safety. Hannah would be taken prisoner. His failure burned his stomach. Victory had been within his grasp.

On the forward swing,
Palmer’s sword spun out of his hand and slammed into Lark, cutting the witch’s arm. Lark stumbled. The gray fog vanished. And Kane was able to move.
Hannah.
He smiled. She had regained her power.

“The longboat,” Palmer yelled. “Lark, get us
out of here.”

Kane hurried after Palmer, raising his sword, ready to cut him down where he ran.

A white flash blinded Kane and he stopped, shielding his eyes with his arm. When he opened them, Palmer was gone. Kane scanned the ship. Where was he?

Mallory knelt next to William. He put his hand over his mouth. Kane hurried over. “Is he dead?”

“No, he’s still breathing.”

The fire grew hotter and the smoke thickened. “We’ve got to get him off this ship
,” Mallory coughed.

“Aye,” Kane muttered. He and Mallory each grabbed one of William’s arms and draped them over their shoulders. Through the dense smoke, they
hurried to the plank. Overhead, the main mast creaked and split, toppling straight for them. Pieces of burning wood fell all around them. They didn’t stop. If they changed into bats, William was dead. Kane glanced up. The burning mast hovered over them in mid-air. Not waiting to see how long it lasted, they dragged William over the planks, lowering him to the deck.

Hannah stood with her legs apart, her palms aim
ed towards the burning mast. She twisted her body and the mast crashed into the ocean on the portside, away from the
Phoenix
. Steam and water spat into the air. Blood trickling from her nose, she dropped her arms and gave Kane a tired smile.

He rushed over to
Hannah, wanting to kiss her, to hold her. He brushed the blood away with his thumb and pulled her close to him, burying his head into her thick hair. Despite the smoke and gunpowder, the faint smell of jasmine filtered up his nose, easing the horror and allowing him to slip into a bit of heaven.

“Capt’n, we’ve got to get out of here,” Mallory said. “The
Damsel
will take us down.”

Kane nodded an
d reluctantly turned away.  The
Damsel’s
smoke poured onto the
Phoenix’s
deck, stinging his eyes.

Hannah dropped down next to William
and pushed his hair out of his eyes. “I won’t leave him, Kane. I promise.”

“Mallory,
weigh the anchor. All hands on deck.”

Mallory shouted, ordering men to
leave the wounded and get to their stations.

Kan
e’s boots squished into gore strewn across the deck. Not looking to see whether ’twas his men or Palmer’s he stepped over, he made his way to the wheel.

The darkness faded and
the moon lessened. Dawn approached. His teeth retracted and his muscles ached. The cuts on his arm burned, his chest throbbed, but he gripped the wheel and turned the rudder.     

Through the smoke, hi
s men moved about the ship, their pace dragging, but like the staunch crewmen they were, they readied the sails and doused the flames falling onto the deck.

The
Phoenix
turned away from the burning
Damsel
. The black smoke spun around the
Damsel
and timbers fell into the ocean, splashing. Water spilled onto her deck and she swayed back and forth. Wakes hit the
Phoenix’s
hull, but she stayed upright and sailed out to sea.

“Palmer,
” Mallory called. “I’ve spotted him.” He pointed off to the horizon. “He’s in a longboat heading out to sea.” Mallory handed Kane the spyglass and took the wheel.

Kane sighted in on his quarry. Palmer and Lark gripped the sides of a longboat rowed by Palmer’s surviving men.
Palmer shoved Lark and Lark glared, grabbing his glowing collar. He flicked his wrist and an eerie gray fog grew around them, pushing them faster and faster and faster away from the
Soaring Phoenix
.

Kane
brought down the spyglass and grinned. He’d be able to hunt them down. But not now.

He
glanced up at his black and burnt sails unable to capture the good winds. Palmer could wait. Holes marred the
Phoenix
, she needed to be repaired. His men were weary or dead and needed to heal. Hell,
he
needed to heal.

Palmer had
lost the
Fiery Damsel
, but he’d find another crew, replace the dead with new ones. Immortality was an enticement for many evil men, afraid to face their final judgment.   

Kane made his way back to Mallory. “Head for Devil’s Isle.” He scanned the deck. “Where’s Hannah?”