The Four Kingdoms

by Maryam Durrani

  They weren’t tentacles after all. The attackers were giant, leaping sharks.

  EIGHTEEN

  My mouth was glued shut. They had knives for teeth, leaping, biting.

  “Stay away from the edges!” I managed to shout out. “Fire at sight!”

  There was a loud splash. The piercing sound of a harpoon being released followed. They were moving too fast for us to catch.

  Slam. We were hit from the left.

  Boom. Something knocked us from the right.

  “Fire!” I shouted. “If it moves, shoot.” Shing! Another harpoon was released. They had already pulled Cornell over. We couldn’t lose anyone else.

  “You!” I pointed. “Do not look over the edg—” I heard Isabel scream as one of the giant fish jumped, slamming its giant body over the edge as it latched onto the screaming man, nearly biting his body in half.

  Ollie was ready. Aiming, he shot, piercing its side. Blood almost as black as its body spilled out, staining the wood scarlet as it toppled over, taking the man with him. I heard Jax curse loudly, stumbling away.

  “Captain,” I ordered, pulling out my sword. “Whatever you do, don’t stop the ship.”

  He nodded, eyes wide.

  Suddenly, a dark shape leapt out of the corner of my eye.

  It was about to fall onto the deck.

  “Move!” I screamed.

  SLAM! The entire ship groaned as the huge, almost twenty-five foot long shark threw its body onto the Andromeda. It writhed, lashing with its tail, curling and snapping its long jaws. It slammed down one of the masts, ripping the sails. The ship moaned as the mast creaked, slowly bumping into the edge of the ship and sliding into the water. The creature’s tail knocked another person. To my horror, I realized it was—

  “Ollie!” Favian shouted. “No!” he wailed.

  Favian and Ollie had been best friends. I’d never paid attention to them, but I knew it. Everyone on board knew it. They’d been the oldest two to join the crew, and now Ollie, the one I’d saved in the storm, was being ripped apart in this black sea full of these carnivorous fish and who knew what else.

  Before it could do any more damage, I let go of the rope, jumping onto the writhing fish. With my sword in hand, I aimed for its neck, stabbing it.

  Thick liquid poured out of its neck. I jumped off, pulling the blade through its tough hide. Warm blood poured onto my shoulders and into my boots.

  Its body squirmed, the tail snapping and crushing barrels, throwing things overboard. On the other side, Xavier finished sawing the rest of its head. It thrashed for a few more moments, and then went still.

  “Push it overboard,” I ordered. Together, the crew heaved and pushed.

  “It’s too heavy,” Favian said, wiping his forehead on the back of its sleeve.

  “Roll the head off first,” I said.

  They pushed with their shoulders.

  Out of nowhere, the fish snapped its jaw, causing everyone to jump back.

  “How is it still alive?” Isabel shrieked.

  “Nerves,” I raised a hand. “It’s dead. Just stay away from its teeth.”

  With a final heave, the head rolled off the edge.

  After pushing, shoving, attaching heavy barrels to the body of the fish and throwing them over the edge, it finally rolled off. Guts and blood decorated the deck. Jax gagged as he stepped in the liquid.

  After standing on guard for a while, we weren’t attacked. We must’ve passed through creatures’ home. For now, we were safe.

  We’d lost four members of the crew, with twenty-one remaining.

  I headed towards the front of the ship. A dark shape moved in the corner. I froze.

  “Who’s there?” I asked, resting a hand on my sword.

  The shape stood up. “It’s me. Favian.” He stepped into the light, his eyes bloodshot. “I apologize.”

  “What’s wrong?” I slid my sword back in.

  “I . . . I told Cornell he had nobody. Before he boarded this ship, he was with his mother. He promised her he’d come back,” Favian said, his voice wavering. “Nothing like this has happened before, in all my years of sailing. People have gotten injured, lost arms and legs, but we’ve never been attacked like this. And now, Ollie’s gone as well. I knew him since I was five, miss.”

  Suddenly, I felt nauseous—and it wasn’t because of the gore that was stinking up the ship, or the dried flecks of blood in my hair and caked behind my ears.

  “I’m sorry,” I said.

  Favian swallowed, nodded, and walked past me.

  Day Ten . . . and-a-half.

  Jax had been injured when the mast fell. There was a small but dangerous gash across his chest. He was being treated in the sick bay, but Isabel was on edge, jittery and picking fights with everyone.

  “Get out of the way,” she grumbled, slamming her shoulder against Leonard’s. “None of you know how to fight!” she shouted. “You all are childish, scaredy-cats.”

  “Isabel, are you sober?” I asked under my breath.

  “Yes. Get off me.”

  “Good. We can’t afford anyone that isn’t their right mind, especially now.”

  “Is that all you’re worried about?” she shouted. “My brother could die, just like the four other people on this ship. Do you even know their names, Adalia?” she asked, her eyes blazing. “How could you be so calm?” She pointed a finger at me. I took a step back. “The one with red hair. What was his name?” I stayed silent. “Did you even ask?”

  “Why are you being like this, Isabel?” I gave her a little nudge.

  “It’s because you didn’t care. You’re acting like you don’t give a damn.” Xavier pulled her back, out of my face. She turned around, lashing out. Xavier staggered back, clutching his bloody nose.

  “Don’t touch him,” I said automatically. She turned, and to my surprise, tried to hit me. I grabbed her arm, pulling her towards me and then turned, giving her back a push. She landed on all fours.

  Shocked at the way she was acting, I took a few steps back.

  “Isabel, stop it.” She faced me, furious. Her hair whipped around her head as she reached for me. “Don’t!”

  “You act as if you can’t feel anything,” she scoffed. “But that’s how you were raised, weren’t you? Don’t walk away from me.”

  I turned. I couldn’t deal with this, not now.

  “I said, don’t walk away from me.” She spun me around, and finally, her fist slammed against my jaw. I stumbled back, pressing my palm to my jawbone. Pure rage burned at my throat as Isabel walked away. Xavier stepped in front of her, trying to block her path but she yanked her arm back, threatening to punch him. At the same time, I leaned forward to pull her away. Unfortunately for her, her elbow caught my nose with such a force tears sprung to my eyes. I felt my teeth sink into my lower lip, and all I could see was red. Isabel turned and laughed.

  “You get what you deserve.”

  And then I lunged at her, punching her cheekbone. Shocked, she fell to the ground and then I was on top, trying to land a blow. I felt her boot in my stomach and a searing pain ran through my middle. I pulled back my fist to slam her again, when someone caught my elbow, fighting against me. It was Xavier, yanking me back, off my friend.

  He pulled me onto my feet and I spun around.

  “Don’t you touch me,” I sneered, pushing the base of my palm against his shoulder. He took a step back, barely swayed by my bursts of anger.

  I whipped around to face Isabel.

  “His name,” I said, pressing my palms to my stomach, “was Roland.” I spit out the words. Her eyes were wide. I walked away.

  Jax lay on the bed, bandages wrapped around his chest. His eyes brightened when he saw me.

  “I’ve been waiting all day for you. Even your dark prince

  came to see me.”

  “Sorry,” I apologized with a smile. “I was a bit busy.”

  “What happened to your face?” he asked. Slowly, his eyes widened in realization. “Was i
t, by any chance, my lovely little sister?”

  “I’ve never seen her act that way before,” I admitted. “She’s the scariest thing I’ve seen in my life.”

  “Worse than those leaping fish?”

  I shuddered. “Have you seen her teeth?”

  Jax laughed. “Sit down.” He pulled on my sleeve. I sat next to him.

  “I have to go back up,” I said to him.

  “Not yet.” He stared up at the ceiling. “You looked amazing when you jumped onto that fish, you know that?” he laughed. “I thought you were going to fall right in between its jaws.”

  “Who do you think I am?” I nudged him. He gently moved over, giving me room to sit.

  “You’re right, Assassin. Dying this way would be too easy.” I smirked. He grinned.

  “How bad is it?” I motioned towards his chest. His face suddenly turned dark.

  “My guts slipped out.”

  I could feel the blood drain from my face. “Really?”

  Jax laughed. “No. It was just a scrape,” he said. “It’s been stitched up, even though it wasn’t worth the fuss.” He pushed down his blankets, showing me his scarred lower abdomen. “It’s a new addition to my collection.” I rolled my eyes. “And,” he added quietly under his breath, “don’t be angry with Isabel. She was crying here when she thought I was sleeping. She’s scared, and I’m worried about her.”

  “I understand,” I patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry about

  Isabel. I can take care of her. Just get better for now.”

  Day Eleven.

  To relieve my guilt, I memorized the names of every person on the crew.

  Jake, Leonard, Milo, Garret, Vaughn . . . and sixteen others. The people we’d lost a day ago were Ollie, Cornell, Roland and Gasper.

  Sixteen hours, Carac had said. Six of those sixteen hours were left to leave Amghadon, and so far, no other ships had been spotted. We’d cleaned up the gore on deck, but there was still dried blood caked between the wooden boards.

  Jax was walking around, but wasn’t allowed to lift anything.

  Isabel was quiet, to herself.

  There were three hours left when we saw it.

  The other ship. It was sailing, although not in our direction.

  “Close the sails,” I ordered. The sails were pulled down. The ship didn’t look like a pirate ship. “Maybe if we keep going,” I told Carac, “They’ll ignore us.” The captain nodded and continued, ignoring the other ship completely. I’d sent Jax down to get some rest, thankfully. Isabel went with him.

  I saw Xavier approach us, dark hair whipping in the wind. He blew loose strands out of his eyes.

  “Did you see the ship?” he asked.

  “Yes. It’s not moving,” I pointed. “Take a look.”

  Xavier reached up, wrapping his hand around my finger.

  “How many times do I have to tell you; it’s rude to point,” he said, but he wasn’t annoyed. There was an adorable smile on his lips.

  “Xavier, focus.” I pulled my finger away, hiding my red face.

  He did focus, then.

  “Either they haven’t seen us, or they think we’re one of them,” Xavier frowned, serious.

  “Let’s hope it’s the second one.”

  Xavier stood beside me, his shoulder brushing mine. I leaned away slightly. The closer we got physically, the more I found myself unable to use my brain.

  He rested his elbows on the wooden edges, leaning forward.

  “We’re almost there, Adalia. Don’t worry.”

  I nodded. He was right. Two hours, and we’d be out.

  He turned, pulling himself up onto the rails, and leaned back.

  “Xavier!” I grabbed his arms. “You’ll fall. Get down.”

  “I won’t.” He held my hands in his. “Not if you’re holding

  on.” I was pretty sure at that moment I resembled tomato.

  “Xavier—” I paused when I saw the look on his face. It was a dark look, and he was staring to his right. The sharp edge of his jaw was set. “What is it?” I asked, looking past him. The ship was still there. I leaned forward, his knees brushing my stomach, and followed his gaze.

  There was another ship following us.

  NINETEEN

  “Carac! Sail straight. We need to out-sail the ship,” I shouted.

  Carac nodded, but I knew what he was thinking. We couldn’t sail faster than a pirate ship.

  Xavier jumped down from the edge, his chest brushing the end of my nose.

  “Don’t get yourself killed,” he warned, walking past me. “We’ll have to fight this one out.” My hand shot up to my nose and I stood there, frozen.

  “Adalia,” Carac said, patting my shoulder gently. “We have a problem.” He pointed past my head. I turned, only to see the ship that hadn’t been moving before sailing straight at us, full speed.

  I pressed my hands on either side of my head. What do we do, what do we do?

  “Should I keep sailing, or should we fight?”

  I can fight them off. I can protect everyone.

  “Stop the ship, Carac.” I pulled out my sword as orders were given to lower the anchor.

  “There’s another ship,” Garret called. We were surrounded.

  Two-hundred feet.

  One-fifty.

  One hundred.

  Isabel climbed up. I ran towards her, leaning down to talk before she could crawl out.

  “Stay with Jax. Protect him.”

  “What is it?” she asked, confused.

  “Pirates, Isabel. They finally found us.” With fear in her eyes, she climbed back down to find her brother. I shut the door.

  Fifty feet.

  Boom! The deafening roar of cannons shook our ship. We were shooting at them. We waged war.

  SLAM! One ship was hit. The ship on the right pulled up next to us, running their side against ours. The Andromeda jerked with the force. The ship on the left shot grappling hooks, latching onto us. My heart sank.

  Our cannonballs weren’t affecting them as much as theirs were affecting us. Plumes of smoke emitted from our ship as the cannonballs hit us in return. One of them landed right on deck, the place where the giant fish had squirmed two days ago.

  “Damn it,” I hissed as wooden splinters flew everywhere. The grappling hooks started pulling us closer, close enough for the pirates to throw planks to connect the two ships.

  The little hope I had that they could be friendly ships was lost when I saw the people on them. There was no mistake; they were pirates. Shouting and hollering, they pulled out their curved blades. With smirks on their faces they climbed aboard. I backed up to the center of the Andromeda where everyone else stood.

  I held up my sword.

  “Attack!” I shouted.

  The two sides collided. It was twenty-three of us against more than forty pirates, with more on the way from the third ship. One with an eyepatch and golden teeth swung at my head, chuckling as I ducked. I spun around, faster than he could catch up with and sliced my sword though his shoulder. I ignored his screams as I delivered the killing blow across his throat.

  One down, over forty to go.

  They were trained and used to these types of raids. I prayed our men could handle them.

  A blade nearly ripped my ear off. I leaned back, dodging the attack. I pushed my blade through a pirate’s stomach. Spin, stab, duck. Spin, duck, stab. Fingers and arms were cut off. Someone bumped into me. I spun around to slice him in half.

  “It’s me,” Xavier said breathlessly, holding his hands up. “I have your back.”

  I nodded as we twirled, sword clanging. I elbowed one of them in the jaw, and he stumbled back, teetering over the edge. Raising my boot, I kicked him in the chest, sending him toppling into the black water below.

  “To your left,” Xavier called. I ducked as a sword swung at my neck. Holding my sword tightly, I pushed the man to the ground. I held down his arms as he tried to break free. Above me, Xavier brought his sword down on his che
st.

  “Thank you,” I said, taking a step back to catch my breath. We were doing well.

  “We’ve lost three men,” Xavier said, noticing the relief on my face.

  A chill ran up my spine as I tried to figure out who they could be. Favian? Carac?

  “Wake up,” Xavier said, knocking my shoulder with his. “Your head needs to be here, on the battlefield. We’ll worry about who we’ve lost later.” His eyes widened. “Adalia, move.”

  He pulled me back. The tip of a sword brushed against the

  spot under my collarbone, slicing it open. Blood stained the front of my tunic. Xavier pushed his blade through the gap between my arm and waist and into the bald-headed pirate. The old man fell to the floor.

  “We’re outnumbered,” Xavier said. He was starting to run out of breath. “We’re losing too many people.”

  “How many of us are left?” I asked, brushing loose strands of hair behind my ears.

  Xavier’s eyes scanned the people. “I counted fifteen.”

  “Do you see Jax and Isabel?”

  Xavier shook his head. Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead and above his collarbones.

  “We keep fighting,” I said. The third ship reached us. Suddenly, Isabel pushed the trapdoor open, climbing out. Her eyes flickered around, looking for someone. Below her, I saw another blond head.

  Jax.

  Isabel’s eyes fell on me, and she bent down, pulling Jax up. She pulled out her knives, flicking her wrist. Around her, pirates fell to the ground, clutching their bleeding necks. She ran towards me. There were bruises along her jaw and under her eye.

  “Why did you come up?” I asked her. “And you brought Jax?” I looked at him. A cut ran along his cheek.

  “They’re downstairs. We fought to come up,” Isabel gasped, bending over to catch her breath. “The Andromeda,” she said between breaths, “is sinking.”

  “Sinking?” Xavier asked as he cut through a pirate’s arm.

  “Water is pouring in. We’re going to drown unless we take one of their ships.” My heart beat in my throat.

  I came to a decision.

  “Then we do that,” I said. Slowly, we started moving towards the ship that had emptied its pirates into our vessel.