by ML Guida
Morgana slammed her cane hard onto the floor. “You have not answered my question, demon.”
“All I will tell you is that I need Zuto trapped on the island.”
Morgana lifted her head. “I never thought I would see it, but you are afraid, demon. Very afraid.”
Natasa’s red eyes glowed darker, and the corners of her mouth turned into a frightening sneer. “Silence!”
Her voice echoed off the walls like a booming cannon.
Penelope jumped in her chair, her knees hitting the table and knocking over her goblet. Both women stared at her—Morgana with disappointment and Natasa with amusement.
She opened her mouth to say something strong or witty, but only a squeak escaped. Morgana reached underneath the table and clutched Penelope’s shaking hand.
Morgana didn’t look at her, but focused on the demon. “When does Zuto plan to unleash the beast?”
Natasa ignored Morgana and focused her terrifying gaze on Penelope, freezing her into her seat. “You have twenty-four hours. The gun master on board the Soaring Phoenix is your only hope. He is destined to help you.”
Penelope’s heart beat faster, and she couldn’t breathe. He was a pirate and an expert with a whip. He was tall and powerful and terrifying––and a vampire. He could strangle her with his bare hands. Pirates had murdered her mother, and she didn’t want to share her mother’s fate or disappoint her father. He’d already lost two daughters to pirates, and she wanted to fulfill her vow to him. “And marrying a pirate is not an option.” Her voice was stronger than she expected. “To develop my powers and save my people I must remain untouched.”
“That’s your father talking.”
Morgana squeezed her hand hard, and Penelope winced. But she refused to do this. She couldn’t do this.
“You little fool, if you choose to stay, there is no escape.” Natasa faded. A flame shot out of the fire. “I’ll see you soon, and you’ll pay for not heeding my warning.”
Penelope cringed, and her body shook from her fingers down to her toes. “Morgana?”
“Hush, don’t speak yet.”
Morgana grabbed some powder out of the opened jar and flung it into the flames. The blaze flickered and died to burning embers.
“’Tis safe to talk now, chèrie, the evil is gone.” Her voice softened, and she patted Penelope’s hand.
“I have to leave, don’t I?”
“Je suis désolé mais oui. Take heart, mon chou, this is your destiny.”
Penelope’s heart was heavy at the thought of leaving Angelica and the twins. “I’ll return to my people.”
“No. Evil will follow you there.”
Penelope frowned. “Why? Spiders cannot swim underwater.”
“This is a time spider from Coaybay. Our natural laws do not apply to these creatures. I suspect it has powers to pursue you underneath the sea.”
Penelope put her elbows on the table and rested her forehead in her fingers. “Where should I go?”
“I do not know. Let me think on this. This is not something we should approach rashly.”
Penelope caught the warning in her voice, but the demon had said that Zuto would unleash the spider soon. She couldn’t stay here and put her precious niece and nephew in danger. To protect them and the rest of her people, she needed to stay alive to develop her powers to defeat Zuto. Rashness appeared to be her only option.
Chapter 3
Ewan Kelley rowed the longboat toward the mysterious island. Uneasiness slipped into his heavy heart. The last time he’d followed Captain Kane O’Brien to an unknown island, a demon had cursed a lake, and after drinking from it, their lives changed. Now, during every full moon, they transformed into vampires. If they resisted, an unbearable hunger possessed them, turning food and drink into ash. Only blood would fulfill the hunger. Kane had taught them how to feed without killing, but Ewan was tired of being one of the undead. He missed his nine-year-old daughter, Catriona and hadn’t seen her for over a month. He only visited her while she was sleeping. He was too ashamed for her to see what he’d become––a creature of the night. She deserved a better father than that. The last thing he wanted was to be damned with another bloody scourge.
He studied the island. It didn’t look unusual. Palm trees swayed back and forth; waves rolled onto the shore like they had for thousands of years. But there was something different.
The air tingled and the colors were brighter, sharper. Power radiated over this island, making the fine hairs on his arms stand straight up. Panic fluttered in his chest. He glanced at Kane, who sat straighter in the boat, but he hadn’t issued an order for them to turn tail and run.
Shame slapped Ewan in the face for wanting to turn the boat around and head back to the Soaring Phoenix. He owed Kane his life. In their native Ireland, a band of drunken British soldiers had strung Ewan up on a horse and threatened to hang him. Kane and his best friend, the boatswain Sean Mallory, had attacked. The soldiers had fled. With nothing left in Ireland, Ewan decided to follow Kane to the Caribbean and join his crew.
But ’twas not the only time Kane had been there for him.
Six months ago, his precious Wynda contracted yellow fever had died, leaving him broken hearted and with a small daughter, Catriona. Wynda had been a woman he met on St. Kitts, and she’d been the love of his life. When she died, he went mad with grief, nearly drinking himself to death and thinking of taking his own life. Kane had found him and had brought Catriona.
He’d never forgotten her stricken face. Tears had glistened in her blue eyes that always reminded him of the sea, and her lower lip had trembled. Frightened, she had run into his arms sobbing. “Please dona leave me, Pa.”
He had wrapped his arms around her shaking body and kissed the top of her brow. “I promise I will never leave ye.” Her red hair had hidden her terror. She’d reminded him of her fiery mother and he remembered his promise to always protect her. To this day he’d kept that promise.
Thanks to Kane, he’d realized how much he loved his daughter and pledged his life to protect her. He owed Kane again and had vowed his life to follow Kane anywhere, including an island that could change his life forever. Against his better judgment he rowed toward the island.
Kane glanced over his shoulder at Eldric, king of the merpeople. “Are you sure he’s here?”
King Eldric was a water elemental, and a blue aura surrounded him. His long white hair flowed behind him like a shroud. “I assure you, Captain, he’s here.”
He had the power to control the sea, but Ewan could detect a hint of fear in his voice. It wasn’t surprising since less than a month ago the demon Zuto had almost destroyed him. At least Ewan wasn’t the only one who was uneasy.
A cry overhead caught Ewan’s attention. Kane’s brother flew toward the island. He was a shape-shifting dragon, and his mate, Mariah Fey, sat on his broad back. Between the two of them they were a deadly force against the evil, and Ewan was glad they were on the Phoenix’s side.
“Bloody hell,” Kane muttered shaking his head. “I told my brother to stay on the ship.”
“Leif is back there.” Ewan looked over his shoulder. A red dragon sat on the deck. “Hannah’s safe.”
Hannah was Kane’s love, and he’d risked saving her and keeping her out of Zuto’s clutches. Kane didn’t answer him. Leif had been a member of the Fiery Damsel’s crew, their mortal enemies, and had switched sides, but that didn’t mean Kane would trust him with Hannah’s life.
A sea breeze blew over them, and Ewan stiffened. Gooseflesh broke out on his arms. It was as if an unbelievable power was hidden in the wind.
Ewan reached the shore, and they got out of the boat. Water splashed onto Ewan’s legs, and it felt unusually warm. Something wasn’t right.
Kane must have noticed it, too, because he turned around, sporting a frown that would have sent his crew scrambling to follow his orders. “What type of creature are we facing, Eldric?”
“To be honest, I don’t know what he is.
Don’t be shocked when you see him.”
Ewan’s stomach tightened as he hauled the boat onto the beach. “Is he a monster?”
“No, he looks like a man barely out of his teens.” He nodded. “See––he approaches.”
A yellow glow in the shape of a man wove in and out of the jungle.
William waited for them in dragon form, and Mariah sat on his broad back. She was petite, but her power made even the demon Zuto think twice of attacking her. She was Morgana Fey’s granddaughter, and her magic was even more powerful than her grandmother’s. Kane, Eldric, and Ewan raced over to them. The wind blew her long blue-black hair, and she watched them approach with violet eyes.
“He won’t harm us,” Eldric said, but fear hung on his every word. The sun glistened off his golden crown and trident. He gripped the trident so hard his knuckles turned white.
Kane unleashed his sword. “Somehow, I think you’re hiding something. I don’t like secrets.”
He didn’t need to say anything to Ewan. Ewan already had his sword out, and his other hand brushed over the whip on his hip. Faster than an eagle’s wing, he could flick a bee off a flower.
Ewan held his breath as the glow approached him. He expected a tall, menacing demon or some other foul creature, but what stepped out of the jungle made his mouth fall wide open.
A long-haired blond man approached them. He was younger than all of them, and Ewan couldn’t grasp that this was where the power was emitting from. True, he was handsome, but he was so ordinary looking and couldn’t possibly have any experience pirating. This could be any wet-behind-the ear cabin boy.
“Greetings, King Eldric. I see you have brought guests.” His melodic voice possessed a hint of reproach.
Eldric lowered his head. “I apologize, but we need your help.”
“Weapons drawn, and a dragon and a witch? Do you plan to take my help by force?” He tilted his head and broke out in a teasing smile.
Kane lowered his weapon. “Who are you? Where is your ship?”
“I have no need of a ship, Captain.”
Mariah slid off William. “Then how did you get on this island?” Her husky French accent was full of curiosity, not fear.
The man bowed slightly. “Lovely as ever, Mariah Fey.”
William growled, and smoke puffed out his flaring nostrils.
“Don’t worry, William,” the man said. “Your woman is in no danger.”
Kane crowded the man, who was at least ten years younger than his thirty. His reputation didn’t seem to frighten the man. “I asked you a question. Who are you?”
“Always the persistent captain. I have watched you for a long time, and now, it’s time to set you on the right path. To answer your question, I am Raphael.”
Kane glared. “Raphael who?”
The man tossed his head back and laughed. It wasn’t a sinister laugh, but a happy one that strangely lifted Ewan’s misgivings.
Mariah’s violet eyes widened. “He is an angel.”
Kane lifted an eyebrow. “You mean the archangel?”
A bright light emitted from Raphael like a radiant shield. “Precisely, Captain.”
Ewan winced and shielded his eyes. He’d never felt anything like this. Peace, goodness, love radiated from the illumination. He fell onto one knee and bowed his head. He wasn’t a religious man, but he was standing in front of an archangel with the power to look deep into his soul. All the evil deeds he’d ever done flashed before him––the victims that he’d drained of blood. He could hear their pleas not to kill them, but he couldn’t stop himself. He had been mad with the blood lust; his heart was filled with darkness. Men and women, the young and the old, all had fallen prey. Remorse only filled him after he looked at their drained corpses and the curse had been satisfied. He didn’t deserve mercy, but he needed it, needed it desperately.
As quickly as it came, the light dimmed.
Mariah rushed over and knelt at the angel’s feet. “S’il vous plaît, Raphael, please help us. My brother—”
Raphael’s laugh died down, and his eyes turned solemn. He placed his hand on top of Mariah’s dark head. “I know of your brother’s plight.”
She looked up at him, tears turning her eyes into violet pools. “Will you help him?”
Raphael lifted her chin. “Lark isn’t the only one lost. You’re missing Cé Jackman and Gwen Black.”
Cé had been Leif’s best friend on board the Fiery Damsel. During the most recent battle on Zuto’s island, he’d risked his life and attacked Zuto in order to protect Isabella and Ewan from the time spider. Zuto responded with commanding the time spider to attack him and fling him through time. Gwen was Leif’s sister and suffered the same fate. Zuto had promised Leif he’d bring her back if he killed the woman he loved.
“Oui, will you help us?” she asked again as she pressed her hands together.
He walked past Ewan, Eldric, William, and Mariah. He looked at Kane. “I will set one of you upon a path to retrieve your loved ones, but I warn you the path is perilous.”
Kane narrowed his eyes. “I don’t like riddles. I am the captain and I alone will go on this trek.”
“You are an excellent captain, but your problems have just gotten worse. Zuto has found a way to escape from his island.” Raphael’s voice was patient as if he was addressing a small child having a temper tantrum.
Kane gritted his teeth. “Bloody hell. How?”
“He needs to drink the blood of a mermaid bitten by a time spider.”
Eldric sucked in his breath. “What mermaid?”
But the angel didn’t answer or look at him. Instead, he looked at Ewan long and hard until Ewan shifted uncomfortably. The thought of Zuto escaping sent Ewan’s heart racing. Zuto was deadly trapped on his island and consumed with revenge. What if he came after those that they all loved? Catriona’s sweet face flashed in his mind and he broke out in a sleek sweat.
Kane’s shoulders sagged. “What is this quest you want me to go on?”
Raphael slowly smiled. “The quest requires a man buried with guilt to fulfill this task. He must allow the time spider to bite him.”
Kane jerked his head up as surprise flickered in his eyes while panic fluttered in Ewan’s chest and he prayed it wouldn’t be him. Catriona would be helpless in this world, and he’d granted Wynda’s dying wish that he’d protect their precious daughter.
Fear flared in Eldric’s eyes. “Answer me, Raphael. You mean Penelope? Don’t you?”
Raphael focused on him. “Yes, I do.”
“She’s the hope of my people.”
“I know,” Raphael said softly. “Zuto is angry that your two other daughters sabotaged his plans.”
Ewan had only seen Penelope a couple of times and had actually danced with her at Ronan’s and Angelica’s wedding. With her white curly hair and deep blues, she was the exact opposite of his deceased wife Wynda. Wynda had had hair black as midnight and dark eyes. He’d thought she was the most beautiful woman. Before she had died, she had made him promise not to marry or be with a woman again until Catriona was full grown. He hadn’t betrayed her memory and hadn’t even wanted to until he saw Penelope. Her laughter had chased away his blackest thoughts and her smile had melted his dark heart and lifted the burden of being a widower, trying to keep his daughter safe.
But that been short lived. He didn’t have time to think of a beautiful woman––not with raising a wee daughter from afar and shielding her from his damnable curse.
Eldric’s face turned gray. “He plans to destroy us?”
Raphael clasped his arm. “I am afraid so. He plans to use his time spider to destroy all of you and those that you love.”
Ewan’s heart twisted. “He knows of me daughter?”
Sorrow filled Raphael’s eyes. “Yes.”
It had been over a month since he’d last seen Catriona. Her red hair had spread across her pillow, and she’d kicked off her blankets. As usual, she’d been asleep in her bed. He’d left a red rose near h
er bed, which was her favorite flower. If he’d known Zuto was hunting her, he’d have whisked her away.
“Bloody hell.” Ewan’s will hardened at the thought of her being murdered by the demon. He’d not let something as foul as a time spider hurt his wee daughter. What kind of father was he that he kept putting his wee girl in danger? This had to stop. He couldn’t live like this anymore. Hell. Catriona couldn’t live like this anymore.
As if reading his mind, the archangel said, “Yes. But there is still hope.”
Eldric paced back and forth and kept looking at the sea as if deciding whether to go to Tortuga to fetch Penelope. “How can this be? She has not mastered her power yet.”
Raphael stepped in front of him. “You have underestimated her, because she is your youngest. She possesses all that is good, and her heart is as strong as her mother’s. She has the power to shake the core of Coaybay.” He lowered his voice. “If only you believed in her.”
Eldric shook his head. “No. She has not mastered her power and doesn’t have the strength to fight Zuto.”
Raphael remained silent.
Eldric stabbed the edge of his trident near the angel’s foot. “Raphael, we must leave now. She’s all alone on Tortuga.”
Raphael picked up the trident and handed it back to Eldric. “If you step in and try to save your daughter, you will condemn your people to die. She must develop her powers on her own.”
Eldric opened his mouth, but then shut it. His cheek twitched and he stared at his trident. Ewan couldn’t help but think that the king was dangerously close to striking the angel down and starting a blood bath none of them would survive.
Kane demanded. “Then who is it?”
“I told you. The appointed one.”
A vein twitched in Kane’s temple. “I am the captain and I will do what is necessary.”
Raphael lifted his eyebrow at Kane’s boldness, but did not argue. Ewan did not think that Kane had won the war.
Eldric persisted, “But my daughter––”
Raphael clasped his arm. “Will not die…tonight.”
Ewan’s gut tightened. That didn’t mean Penelope or Catriona wouldn’t die soon. He had to get to Catriona to make sure she was safe, but the full moon was a couple of days away before he could turn into a bat and fly to her. He frowned at the thought of Zuto taking his revenge out on his sweet daughter. He understood Eldric’s pain. He’d be insane with worry if ’twas his daughter that the time spider would bite then drag to Zuto’s island.
