Princess of Death

by Cortney Pearson

  Cali didn’t like the sudden interest in the sailor’s garbled tone. He and the other sailor with the spike in his ear towed them toward the stairs where the supplies were being loaded.

  Cali fought against the man. She didn’t like the idea of that opening. It led to darkness, to hidden horrors, and to a captivity she wasn’t sure they could get out of. Didn’t the sailors know what would befall them with Bae on board?

  “Don’t do this,” she told Dutch. He chuckled, reeking of fish and sweat. His teeth looked as though they hadn’t been cleaned in, well, ever. She swung her gaze to the sides of the ship, to the gangplank, and then in the direction Bae went, toward his father’s quarters, praying for inspiration. What could they do?

  Soraya reached the stairway first. Spike ushered her forward, pushing her head down as she descended through the hole.

  “Your turn,” Dutch said.

  “Bae Kelsey is cursed,” Cali said, wrenching away from him. “You don’t want to be on this ship with him. Don’t do this!”

  “Shut yer trap and move. Now,” Dutch ordered, ignoring her as he manhandled her none too gently to the black hole.

  Cali nearly lost her balance down the wooden stairs, catching herself on the rickety banister right before she tumbled the rest of the way down. Gritting her teeth, she managed to make it to the bottom without further incidence.

  The noise below was almost deafening. Men were everywhere, shouting orders, stacking crates, laughing at their own jokes. Hammocks were strung between wooden posts. Pigs were corralled in a corner, giving off a terrible stench and releasing high-pitched squeals at the taunts coming from another pair of sailors.

  “Where are you taking us?” Soraya asked.

  “Where the captain can keep an eye on ya,” said the sailor Cali had decided to dub Spike in reference to his choice of ear adornments.

  Cali fought against Dutch’s grip. A dark sense of foreboding pooled within her chest. “You can’t do this. We’re princesses, and I will not allow you to cart us around like prisoners.”

  Dutch and Spike laughed. Dutch increased his grip around her arm, squeezing tight enough to leave bruises. At their laughter, several of the other sailors took notice and began whistling and catcalling.

  “Who ya got there, Dutch?” said one in delight.

  “Oh good, we need some entertainment during this voyage,” his fellow sailor added.

  “Glad the captain thought to bring us such fodder!” They tipped bottles to their lips between their guffaws, alcohol-red faces flushed and cruel.

  Rage boiled through Cali. First, the rough treatment. Now, blatant insinuations, too? Who did they think she and Soraya were?

  Or worse, did they even care who they were?

  Soraya turned to Cali, cheeks tearstained, and Cali wanted to shake her. Don’t cry in front of these varmints. Do not show weakness.

  Cali straightened her shoulders, staring them down with what she hoped was her fiercest scowl.

  Dutch and Spike stopped near a set of bars welded below the low ceiling. It resembled more of a cage than anything else.

  “In with ya,” Dutch said, propelling Cali forward into the dismal cell. Soraya followed after. Cali knocked into the knobby wooden side before turning back, but the door clanged shut behind her. Dutch was already working a key into the lock.

  Cali gripped the gritty bars, shaking them so hard they rattled. “You can’t do this. I command you to set us free. I demand to speak with the captain!”

  Several men roared with raucous laughter, Dutch and Spike joining in. A few of them mimicked her words.

  “If not the captain, then Bae. I demand you to allow me to speak with Bae Kelsey!”

  A man with mouse-brown hair tied down his neck, who lugged a barrel over one shoulder, stopped long enough to smirk at her. “Bae has more pressing matters than to answer any request from the likes of you.”

  The likes of her?

  Cali flicked her eyes at Soraya, but the other princess was huddled in the corner, her arms hugged tightly around herself. Frustration seeped in. Cali couldn’t sit by on a ship—being treated as a prisoner, no less—waiting to arrive at the boundary between Zara and Lunae Lumen, all while enduring heartless comments and mockery from these sailors.

  What did the captain expect her father to do? He didn’t have the power to take the boundary down. What did Kelsey want her for?

  “I’m sorry.” The small voice crept up Cali’s nape, and she turned to her cousin.

  Soraya had sunk to the floor. Cali knelt beside her, resting a soothing hand on the knee of her cousin’s soiled skirt. Soraya focused forward, lost in a daze.

  “You have nothing to be sorry for,” Cali reassured her.

  “If it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t be down here. If I’d just been brave enough to meet Bae head-on, this wouldn’t have happened. Captain Kelsey killed my father because I was a coward. I was selfish.”

  “No, you weren’t,” Cali said.

  “I tried to stop him—but I missed. I should have scorched him.” Her tone chewed at the word scorched, and she fisted her skirt in one hand.

  Cali surreptitiously peered around, careful to lower her voice so the spectating sailors wouldn’t hear. “Can you do that now? Are you up to it?”

  Soraya stared at her hands. Her bottom lip quivered, and another tear leaked out before she met Cali’s eyes. “Not yet. It’s still too soon.”

  Fighting the despair erupting up her throat, Cali patted Soraya’s hand again. “It’s okay. We’ll find a way out of this.” Though she didn’t have a clue how.

  Cali ruminated to the last time she’d been on a ship, four years before. Her father’s stories replayed in her mind, about pirates who paid no homage to the sea witch, who sailed with a skewed view of morals that pegged a different kind of target on their backs, one her father had always referred to as a curse.

  She knew now he hadn’t meant an actual curse, not like Bae’s. But it was one they dealt with nonetheless.

  She heard her nurse’s song in her head, the one warning of casual dalliances with the sea without considering the consequences of tempting the sea witch’s attention. They were certainly going to do that now, if Kelsey was out to destroy the boundary. If what Bae said was true, it was Undine’s home. She wouldn’t take kindly to it being destroyed.

  Beads of sweat trailed along Cali’s upper lip. What if they encountered Undine because of these filthy pirates? She should have known better. Curse it, she should have followed her gut instincts about them, slipped away, and found the plants on her own, without entangling herself up with any of this.

  Pirates were vile. They weren’t to be trusted. She should never have fallen for Bae’s pretenses. Her heart ached for Darren. She loved Darren! Always had. What had she been doing flirting with Bae, dreaming of kissing him? She’d told herself it was to get plants for Darren, and that had been partially true. But she was loathe to admit she’d also been intrigued by the pirate prince.

  He’d seemed unique. Different from the stories she’d heard. He didn’t come off like the scallywag type to plunder ships and take what didn’t belong to him. She’d believed him to be genuine. In the moments they’d spent searching for the gardens, riding in the surrey, even while sailing before the finfolk had attacked—he’d acted like any other boy, baring himself enough to get to know her, to let her discover more about him as well.

  Fool as she was, she’d allowed herself to be deceived. She’d fallen for his devious smile, for the dark chaos in his blue eyes, for the way his hair tumbled across his forehead, and the burning she’d felt inside at being near him. That phrase—the one about tigers being unable to change their spots—rang truer than the clearest melody. Bae was a pirate. Nothing he did would change that, just as nothing his father did to her would change her status as a princess.

  Not only that, but he was also a cursed pirate. Cali and her cousin were locked in a cage on a ship with a cursed pirate. If they didn’t manage to escap
e, the finfolk would ensure their demise.

  It hadn’t taken long for those creatures to attack, relentless in their quest. Did Bae think because Soraya was on board that she would protect him? How could she when she couldn’t yet access her magic again?

  Cali inspected the dismal cell, trying to think of something—anything—Bae might have told her that could help, but her mind was void. She knew nothing of sailing vessels or ships, and even less now being captive on one.

  Footsteps and activity bombarded the boards above her head. Men continued passing with their arms full of supplies. Fortunately, their interest in the two princesses had waned, at least for the time being.

  Cali grew tired of standing, but there wasn’t so much as a bench inside with them. And even though Soraya had given in, Cali refused to sit. She remained on her feet, pacing from one end of her cage to the other.

  More boots descended the stairs to her right, and Captain Kelsey came into view. He wore a shirt and breeches, with that same revolver tucked into the sash at his waist.

  “Ah, they’ve got you settled in, have they?” His attention was on Soraya. Cali didn’t like the scheming behind his flaring eyes.

  “Have you thought more of my offer?” Cali interjected.

  Kelsey’s brow quirked. He didn’t answer her but instead said, “I require your assistance, Soraya.”

  Soraya pushed to her feet, dusting her skirts free of the filth clinging to them. It didn’t do much besides smear it farther.

  “You’re not taking her anywhere,” Cali said. “Not without me.”

  “It seems my son will be joining us.” Kelsey spoke on, ignoring Cali. “He wants to see me bring down the boundary that has caused him so much grief lately.”

  “You mean his curse?” Cali cut in.

  “I’m not helping you,” Soraya said, her voice too timid. Too soft. Yet, it still held an edge of promise in it, and she stepped closer to stand beside Cali. “As soon as my magic rejuvenates, you’ll regret ever taking me on board.”

  Good girl, Cali wanted to say. To her surprise, Kelsey seemed pleased by the threat as well.

  “Just what I like to hear. A girl with some spirit. Your magic makes you strong, Soraya, and I’m pleased to see you haven’t lost your need for vengeance. You’re going to need it.”

  “What does that mean?” Soraya asked.

  “It means I need you to direct it at some rather foul creatures. We’re going to embark in a few moments. Thanks to the sea devil Undine, it doesn’t take long for the finfolk to seek my son out, and they’ll take down the Lady’s Bane if we don’t do something first.”

  “Sounds to me like you shouldn’t set sail,” Cali said.

  His eyes slid her way. “I don’t let anything get in my way, Princess. Not even curses.”

  “What do you want from me then?” Soraya asked.

  Kelsey inspected the hinge at his eye level. “You will accompany my son during this voyage. You’ll brandish your magic at the first sight of the finfolk, keeping us safe until we reach the boundary. And then you’ll use your magic to take the very boundary down.”

  “My power isn’t limitless,” Soraya said. “It has to be recharged even after the smallest use, and that can take hours.”

  “Then I trust you’ll use it wisely.”

  “And if I refuse?” Soraya met the captain’s eye.

  Kelsey’s malignant expression dimmed. “I’m not opposed to persuasion.”

  “It doesn’t matter what you do to me.” Soraya’s exhausted tone reflected her defeated behavior since the throne room. “I won’t give you what you want. You’ve already taken my father and my kingdom. I have nothing else to lose.”

  “Not even your dignity?”

  The threat sent a chill through Cali.

  “My men are always eager for…companionship.”

  Fear built behind Soraya’s eyes. “I am still a princess.”

  “A coward,” the captain countered, “who hides behind the strength of others.” He gestured mockingly at Cali.

  “Enough,” Cali demanded. “I won’t hear anymore.” She couldn’t bear to listen to his filthy insults or implications, especially not when he’d praised Soraya for her strength only moments before.

  Kelsey’s lips folded at the corners. His glance swept conspiratorially from one princess to the other. The look sank into Cali’s stomach.

  “You claim you have nothing else to lose, Soraya. Nothing but a newfound cousin, at least. It’s no secret that King Emir and Queen Elana were brother and sister. Perhaps persuasion isn’t the best course for you. But for Caliana…”

  “You will not touch her.” Soraya’s voice ignited with threats and rage as dark as ocean’s depths.

  Captain Kelsey grinned. His hand shot through the bars, gripping Cali by the throat.

  Cali’s air supply cut off. She gasped for breath, her vision fading, her eyes rolling into her head. She clawed at his hands, but he only squeezed tighter, crushing her windpipe.

  “Don’t,” Soraya cried.

  “Give me what I want!” He squeezed tighter still.

  Soraya pried at his hand, digging in with her nails. Another sailor joined the captain, reaching through and taking Soraya by the hair. She reared back with a squeal that rivaled the pigs in the corner.

  “Your word, Princess,” Kelsey said. “Or I crush her throat.”

  “Okay!” Soraya’s tears made the word a screech. “I’ll do it—let her go!”

  Kelsey opened his hand. Cali’s feet gave out from beneath her. She fell to the filthy planks, gasping heavily. Air clawed at her throat with knives for fingers, scraping all the way down. Her windpipe felt as though it’d been shattered, and she lowered her forehead to the boards, coughing.

  “That’s what I like to hear,” Kelsey said.

  Colors danced in Cali’s brain as she heard the cell door open. And then Soraya was gone.

  Chapter 20

  The planks smelled of fish and decaying wood, of salt and sweat and doom. Cali’s throat felt as though the captain had forced a blade down it. She nursed her hand against it, swallowing and taking small gulps of air.

  Had he damaged it for good? Would she even be able to speak after this?

  A cranking noise erupted from somewhere to her left. The anchor was being lifted and reeled into its place. The ship began to move, treading out to sea. Where had the captain taken Soraya? She was probably on deck beside the Kelseys, waiting to defend against any finfolk who might dare to attack. Cali hoped her cousin was strong enough to do so.

  Voices resounded above, cheers and chorales of laughter and excitement. All Cali could do was lay in the closing darkness.

  “It’s too late,” she muttered, the words tender on their way out. At least she could speak, though it hurt like spikes in her flesh. But she’d spoken the truth. Their voyage had begun, and she was trapped in here.

  Her thoughts went to Darren. Her oldest friend, her private confidant. He’d talked about sailing. He’d wanted to see the world.

  “What is there outside of Zara?” a younger Cali had asked, unable to understand the fear that had accompanied Darren’s declaration of wanting to leave. And then there was their conclusive, awful conversation the day after her fourteenth birthday.

  “You can’t control everything,” he’d said.

  “Yes, I can.”

  “You can’t control me.”

  “I can.” She curled her hands to her stomach at the memory of such a stupid impulse. “I command you to stay in Zara. You are never to set foot on another ship as long as I’m alive.”

  Her foolish childishness had forced Darren to stay. He’d sulked and glared at her after that, swore he’d never kiss her again, but he’d stayed. A few weeks later, he’d become the healer’s assistant. And now he’d caught a sickness she hadn’t been able to get the cure for and was probably already dead.

  Hunger set in, eating at her stomach with constant nagging. A tinny squeaking sound was heard as a rat
scurried along the edge of the boards. Cali shook, hugging her legs close to her body. She was hungry, cold, and tired, not to mention alone, so alone, trapped with rats and the stinking smell of rotted wood and despair.

  The ship moved with swiftness. Darkness settled over her completely like a night without stars. Cali waited for the sound of a struggle, for the finfolk to attack the ship as they’d done Bae’s Lady Bold, but she heard nothing aside from the men laboring above. Clinking bottles, melodies strummed on a guitar, singing and clapping. The sounds only made her more frightened.

  Rising to her knees, she removed a pin from her hair and attempted to work open the lock, but the angle hurt her wrist and she had no clue what she was doing. She was fairly certain wriggling a small piece of metal would do no good, and it made matters worse when the pin slipped from her fingers and landed out of her reach. Bone-weary, she gave up, sinking to the floor and plunging her head into her hands.

  The glow of a lantern roused her from her despair. It was accompanied by a man with a beard and a long trench coat. He rattled an empty glass bottle against the bars of her cage.

  “Look at this lovely,” he slurred in a drunken stupor. He raised the lantern, giving her full view of the haggard eyes and missing teeth. He shook the door as though that alone would open it. “You’re set pretty securely in there, ain’t ya?”

  Cali rose to her feet, refusing to allow him to loom over her. “I will kill you if you touch me,” she said with as much malice as she could manage. In truth, he frightened her to the core. Where was Soraya? Was she okay? Cali doubted Bae would treat her badly, so at least there was that comfort.

  The man shook the bars again, stringing together more despicable words Cali wished she could erase from her mind. “A princess for a prisoner,” he added with a slur.

  The man was struck from behind. He froze with a groan before toppling over when Bae stepped into the dim lantern light, all dark lines and unsmiling mystery.

  “Are you all right, Caliana?” he asked.

  Cali hated him. She hated his piercing eyes and the curve of his lips, the effect his voice still had on her as it wrapped itself around her name—her real name. His very presence had been a ruse to get her to fall for him. She hated that even now, attraction and relief flared, making her desire the enemy. She wanted no part of it—no part of him.