by J A Campbell
He sighed. “Did you receive any training?”
“Well, yes.”
Shaking his head, the man pointed to the bathroom. “Stick to the order. You clean the bathroom first, then the floors, then you change the sheets last, after tidying up.”
Hagatha frowned, not seeing what difference it made. She couldn’t even be certain he wasn’t yanking her chain. Elise wasn’t done, however, so she had to delay.
“I think I’m out of cleaner. I was going to put fresh linens on, then head back to the supply cabinet.”
The supervisor uncrossed his arms long enough to point to a bottle on the side of the cart.
“Well, I need cleaning rags.”
He took a step forward and yanked a few off of the other side of the cart. Several fell to the ground as he handed a rag to her.
“Brush?”
“The rest of the supplies are individual to each room and are in the bathroom closet. Do you need me to show you?”
“No. I still don’t understand why I have to do the bathroom first. Doesn’t it make more sense...”
“Now!”
Hagatha jumped, and sparks flickered around her fingers. Shoving her hands behind her back, she straightened and hoped he hadn’t noticed.
“Fine, but I have to sing while I work.”
His eyebrows rose.
Hagatha let loose with a famous rock lyric.
The supervisor clamped his hands over his ears. “You are off at the next port!”
Smiling, Hagatha continued with the song, walking slowly to the bathroom.
The supervisor fled.
She trailed off as soon as the door shut behind him.
Elise stuck her head out of the bathroom. “I got it.”
“Good. Can I finish my song?” She grinned.
“No! Though, you can glance out in the hallway to see if the supervisor is gone.”
“Sure.” Hagatha poked her head out, saw the coast was clear and gestured for Elise to join her. “Where to, cousin?”
“He’s up a couple of decks. We may need to ditch the crew getup, though.”
Before Elise could say anything more, Hagatha magicked Elise’s uniform into an elegant, emerald green evening gown. Elise’s eyes widened.
For herself, Hagatha chose something closer to a 1920s flapper dress, in lavender. It would fit in well enough.
“Hagatha, we may need to fight in these.”
She shrugged. “Change later. Come on. Besides, you look lovely.”
Elise smiled and shook her head. “This way.” She pointed, and Hagatha led the way.
As they hurried down the hallway, they passed the supervisor. She strode past like she owned the place, and knowing Elise, her cousin did the same. His eyes tracked their movement, and he stared, jaw dropped slightly. Finally he shook his head and went the other direction. Hagatha cackled.
At the elevator, Elise pushed the button for two levels up. “There’s a private dining room, or something like that. Hopefully we’ll be able to get in without too much magic. I want to save my energy for the fight.”
Hagatha wished for her lost bag of stones and nodded. She’d managed to reacquire a few pieces, which she had in pockets, but it was nowhere near what she normally had available to her. No matter, she’d won duels without her stone backup pieces before. She could do it again. Of course, those duels hadn’t been on a floating tin can. She shivered and tried not to think about the expanse of ocean that surrounded her.
If they went down, she’d have to remember to magic herself a life jacket. That was all there was to it.
Clinging to that thought, and trying not to remember how little good the jacket had ultimately done Elise when last they’d wrecked, she hurried after her cousin when she exited the elevator.
Their feet, still in black shoes—she hadn’t changed their footwear—sank into the plush carpet as they hurried toward their goal.
Two men in suits opened doors for them as they approached. Neither questioned the women as they showed them inside.
Elise and Hagatha scanned the diners, but it only took a moment before they sensed the essence of power in the corner, and both turned their heads that direction. While Hagatha tried to decide their plan of traversing the room without being awkward, a maitre d’ came up to them and bowed slightly. “Mister Mataraci requests that you join him.”
“Of course.” Elise went so far as to offer her arm to the maitre d’. He smiled and escorted them to the table in the back. After a quick bow, he released them into Ulvi’s care.
“To what do I owe this pleasure?” Ulvi stood and bowed.
“I’m Elise Macrow, and this is my cousin, Hagatha. I had hoped you were expecting us.”
“I know who the two of you are, but I wasn’t aware I should be expecting you.”
Elise and Hagatha shared a frown. “Is there some place we could talk privately?” Elise glanced around the full dining room.
He arched his eyebrows and offered his arm to Elise.
Muttering that Elise always got the special attention, Hagatha followed as he led them to a side room where they could have more privacy. Though short, the aquamancer was quite hot, with his dark curls and piercing eyes. He cut a fine figure in a tailored black suit. Everyone moved aside for the pair while Hagatha followed and seethed, contemplating how wrong it’d be to wish her cousin’s perfect, tanned back would break out in zits.
“What can I do for you?” Ulvi offered them both seats.
Elise shook her head, remaining standing. “You’re in danger. Did you not get our message?”
“Often,” he agreed. “And no, nothing has been relayed to me. My cell is missing. I misplaced it yesterday, it seems.”
Frowning, Elise shook her head. “Perhaps I should say everyone on this ship is in danger.”
“Perhaps this is why I’m sensing so much magical activity on the ship. When Security identified key members of the Council, I worried less.”
Hagatha wondered why he’d been sitting down to dinner instead of investigating further, if he knew about their presence on his ship, but she didn’t press the question.
“A society of dragons may have targeted this ship for raiding. They’re after the jewels and treasure, but we believe you are also in danger. We suspect Valonna Macrow and Lord Clarion are conspiring with the dragons and have targeted you. Marcus called in reinforcements as soon as we found out, and now we’re here to warn you.”
“Very well. Perhaps we should head to the upper decks. I’m certain the attack will come from the very waters that currently support us.” He shut his eyes for a moment. “Ah, yes. She tells me they are coming.”
“She?” Hagatha glanced around.
“The ocean.” He said the words with reverence and led the way out another door into a narrow, utilitarian hallway. “I saw no need to decorate the back corridors that only a few of us use. I find I like the austere environment. It is peaceful after the glitter and clamor of the more peopled decks. Tell me, how many of these dragons are after my ship?”
“We’re not sure,” Hagatha said. “We haven’t managed to get a head count yet. Are you familiar with them?”
“Yes. Though, I thought their kind had been dealt with centuries ago. Marcus is usually very thorough when dealing with a problem.”
Elise and Hagatha traded another look. They hadn’t had much time to talk to Marcus about his role in sealing the dragons away previously.
The lights dimmed for a moment before snapping back to full strength. Ulvi stretched his legs, and Hagatha and Elise matched his pace.
Stopping outside of an elevator door, he pushed the call button. “I’d hesitate to take the elevator after that just happened, but we don’t have time to climb flights of stairs, and we’re mages. If we can’t work an elevator with magic...” He chuckled as the doors slid open.
They stepped inside and zipped upward. It stopped without incident, and the doors slid open. Hagatha rushed out onto the bridge. It was beautiful
, the control center of the ship. She wanted to rush to the wheel and... Where was the wheel?
Looking around, she saw plenty of computer monitors, but no ship’s wheel. Shouldn’t a cruise ship have a beautiful wood and brass wheel? Disappointed, Hagatha rejoined Elise and Ulvi.
Captain Jeffers, a tall black woman with close-cropped hair, wearing a sharp white uniform, spoke to Ulvi in quiet tones. “We’re not sure. We have engineers looking now, but something interrupted the power.”
Elise addressed the captain. “Captain, were you on duty several hours ago?”
“Yes, I’m about to hand over, in fact.”
“Did you receive a radio message indicating the ship may be in danger?”
She shook her head. “We’ve only had routine communications.”
Hagatha followed the woman’s gaze to a console where a creamy-skinned blonde sat. She focused on the screen in front of her, headphones obscuring part of her face. Everything seemed normal, but when Hagatha reached out with her magical senses, she could feel the woman’s power.
Something alerted the woman, and she looked up, eyes wide. They fixed on Hagatha and narrowed.
Before the woman could react, Hagatha called up an energy bolt. It slammed into the blonde, throwing her out of her chair. The communications officer screamed and writhed on the floor. Creamy skin began sliding and darkening to a light orange as scales replaced her human form. Arms and legs bent and popped, hair absorbed, face elongated, until a serpentine dragon lay on the bridge. A black streak marred her hide, and her sides heaved in pain.
The other crewmembers stared, mouths open with shock. The captain reacted first. “Call security!”
“We’re here.” Hagatha sprang forward. “Call Tallon!”
“He’s sending someone,” Elise said and strode forward with Hagatha.
They stood over the dragon, prepared to bind her with magic, but she didn’t react. Hagatha’s shot had been true.
Ulvi joined them. “Yes, these are the dragons from years ago. Crew,” he raised his voice, “we are under attack. Alert the staff. Get the passengers in life rafts. Su Ana willing, we won’t need them.”
The captain gave orders, and the crew rushed to follow them while Elise guarded the fallen dragon. The lights flickered again.
Elise pulled out her phone and sent out a quick text. “Melanie gave me the group text she used for everyone on board,” she explained. “I’m letting them know, so they can assist the evacuation and prepare for battle.”
A Native American JM mage Hagatha recognized but didn’t know personally rushed onto the bridge. She glanced at the downed dragon and gave Hagatha a brief nod.
“I will transport her to holding.”
Hagatha let the mage do her work, grabbing Elise’s arm and tugging her to the exit. “Come on, let’s fight the dragons.”
As they hurried from the bridge, the ship lurched. Alarms lit up across the boards.
Melanie winced at the discordant music playing across her mind. The tension of waiting for an attack made her wish for a rock song to drown out the anxiety. Marcus practically radiated magic, and it prickled across her skin.
They’d already checked in with the mages and Grayson forces on the upper decks. When Marcus had tried to send Tallon on an errand, the vampire had steadfastly refused to leave Melanie’s side, instead calling another Grayson agent to perform the task, with a polite apology.
Her fiancée had taken the refusal in stride, but Melanie recalled that Marcus had wanted to kill Tallon when they first met, and they’d been at loggerheads often. Had they reached some sort of détente? Marcus didn’t take insubordination lightly. Tallon had finesse—she’d seen him in action—but she didn’t think he’d ameliorate what appeared to be a long-standing hatred of vampire-kind on Marcus’ part. She made a mental note to ask Tallon what he’d done.
The lights flickered. Passengers around her looked up, and a quiet mutter took the place of the soft ebb and flow of conversation.
Melanie walked to the rail and looked out over the ocean, wondering if she could sense the dragons coming. Night had fallen while they waited for Elise and Hagatha to locate Ulvi, and the air contained a chill that made her shiver. They might be in southern seas, but it was still winter in the northern hemisphere. She was born and had spent her first five years in San Francisco before her family moved to Dallas when she was five, and she recalled those waters well. Even in the summer, they were ice cold.
Marcus touched her shoulder. “Your Highness, do you require a coat?”
“No, thank you. I suspect I won’t be needing it soon.” He was calm, his handsome face reflecting none of the tension she fought to suppress. Too often what she felt was written plainly on her face.
Nodding, Marcus glanced out toward the sea and pointed. “There they are.”
Squinting, Melanie tried to see what he pointed at.
“I see ‘em,” Tallon said. “At least they had the decency to attack after dark.”
Marcus chuckled. “Have you learned to enhance your eyesight yet?”
“No,” Melanie said. “I haven’t learned much of anything, and I’m short-sighted to begin with. Well, I’ve learned some.” She touched the utility bracelet she wore. She’d gift him with a more masculine version when there was time.
“If you’ll allow me. I suspect the lights are about to go out.”
She nodded. Marcus put his hands on either side of her head. Warmth tingled through her, though she wasn’t sure if it was from the magic or his proximity, and then her eyesight sharpened.
“Bloody hell,” she whispered as she looked out over the ocean, now able to see the pack of dragons charging in their direction. She braced herself and forced her breathing to even out.
Marcus’ phone beeped, and he answered. “They’ve captured a dragon on the bridge. I sent Trinity to retrieve her. She was masquerading as the ship’s communications officer. That would explain why our radio messages didn’t go through.”
“Normally, I would caution against open magical display, but it’s going to occur regardless of how we feel about exposing ourselves. I’m sounding the attack.” Marcus sent out another text and slipped his phone into his pocket.
Guests exclaimed in wonder as blasts of energy streamed out from the upper deck where many of the mages had gone.
It was definitely time to shed the heavily-sequined gown. It made her movements languorous, which was perfect for an evening of dining and dancing, but not so good if a girl had to move fast. Melanie slid the back zipper down and let the designer frippery hit the deck then kicked it away. Beneath it, she wore a one-piece bathing suit and leggings, which would be more suitable to fighting.
Marcus and Tallon both glanced at her, eyebrows raised. She simply grinned. “I’m billing the JM for that gown.”
“Noted,” Marcus replied.
The deadly energy sizzled and snapped where it hit the water, sending up small eruptions of foamy water. One or two dragons called out in pain, and then they disappeared from view.
“Elise cast a shield around the ship. I’ll aid her. Tallon, keep an eye for anyone on deck who may try to attack,” Marcus said.
“Right, Boss.”
Melanie, feeling somewhat useless in the magical realm, touched her bracelet again. She may not have enough control to fight with magic, but she could fight with a sword, and anyone that got past the vampire would get a taste of her blade.
The magical barrage from above stopped when the dragons dove below the surface.
Crewmembers hurried about, working on getting guests to the lifeboats.
The ship lurched, and the guest cries of wonder turned to fear. Alarms sounded, and the hesitant migration toward the lifeboats turned into a rush. Frightened passengers jostled past, and Melanie dodged a few elbows before Marcus and Tallon bracketed her, keeping her safe from the worst of the press.
Fortunately, most passengers were on lower decks, so the initial rush went by quickly. The quiet, ever-pre
sent thrum of the engines died, and the ship lurched again, rocking slightly. Melanie shivered. The amount of force it must take to move a ship like this…
“How are the shields doing, Boss?” Tallon glanced around and spoke to Marcus. Melanie raised a brow, but neither man noticed.
“They’re helping, but they won’t stop the dragons forever. Their claws are meant to rend wooden hulls easily. I imagine they won’t have much problem with metal either, though the actual destruction should take longer. Undoubtedly, there are more onboard.”
“Undoubtedly, you are correct,” a voice hissed before something large dropped down from the deck above.
Tallon, with vampire-fast reflexes, pulled out a gun and fired. The dragon staggered backward, mouth dropping in a fang-filled grin. “Nice try.”
Melanie clamped her hands over her ears and jumped as the bullet pinged off the railing next to her.
Tallon cursed and holstered his gun as Marcus let loose with a blast of energy.
The dragon crashed backward through a window.
Not wanting to be defenseless, Melanie touched her bracelet with magic, and it melted into her glowing green saber.
Both Tallon and Marcus turned and stared at her.
Melanie grinned. “What? I’m a fae.”
“The only problem with that sword is that you are quite visible from a distance,” Marcus said.
Huffing, Melanie shrugged. “You’re just jealous.”
Marcus chuckled. “I’m also correct. Simply keep that in mind.”
“No time to fix it.” Melanie said. “Besides, it can do this…” She cut a metal deck chair in half with one smooth stroke.
Two more dragons dropped down from above. Not waiting for them to gain their balance, Melanie thrust with her sword. It didn’t exactly hack off limbs, but the sky-blue dragon she aimed for twisted and snarled in pain.
He slashed at her sword and howled as the blade bit into his claws.
Melanie still didn’t want to fight dragons, but this one made it pretty easy as he swung around, swiping at her with his barbed tail. She jumped, thrusting once before her feet hit the ground again.
Tallon swore behind her, and Melanie heard the snap of more magic as Marcus let loose.
