Island of Bones (The Djinn Kingdom Book 2)

by LJ Andrews

  Nova dug her heels in the mud, stopping herself from being led by the bright tunnel’s current. Her throat gulped as she fought the pounding in her lungs. Quickly, she changed her course and allowed the river to tear her down the dark tunnel, away from the light. Away from her escape.

  She closed her eyes as black dots filled her vision. Her mind was hazy and she knew it would be soon. The pain in her chest wasn’t as powerful as she faded little by little. Nova allowed the water to push her onward as she resigned herself to the inevitable. She smiled as she dreamed of sweet, clean air filling her lungs. Her lungs expanded with the burn of oxygen as if it were true, while cool air blew against her face.

  “Nova, keep breathing,” Kale shouted.

  Her eyes snapped open, and she was floating on her back in a shallow pool. The pool was shaded by a great rocky ceiling. But the cave was open, and she saw a new landscape shining in a brilliant sun just outside. Kale was soaked, his brown hair sticking to his face as he pushed his nose closer to her. Nova coughed and gasped as she flailed in the pool until she found her footing.

  “I didn’t die,” she said, feeling like a fool for stating the obvious.

  “No.” Kale chuckled. “You didn’t die. I can’t speak for much of the crew though. Only a few have ended up here. Unfortunately, Kane is one of them,” he said, ending in a whisper.

  “What about Taylor?”

  Kale smiled and pointed to a sandy bank. “He made it. I think the old man is right that nothing can kill him.”

  Nova beamed and saw Taylor ringing out his blue bandana before wrapping it over his balding head again.

  “How did you know which tunnel to take?” she asked in disbelief.

  “I took a gamble. Once I had Taylor in my grasp, I figured the island was tricky. The obvious choice would be to follow the lighted tunnel, but it seems we made the right decision. Where’s Atlas?” Kale asked.

  Nova’s breath died as if someone had ripped it from her throat. She turned around, watching as a few crewmen popped their heads above the surface periodically. Had Atlas eventually lost his footing and been torn down the muddy river? What if he took the wrong tunnel? The thoughts whirled through her mind as she waded deeper into the pool, slicing through the water and hoping harder than she ever had that he was all right.

  “Kale, I don’t see him,” she said, her voice trembling the longer time went on.

  “Over here,” Kale shouted after what seemed like hours.

  He crouched over and pulled Atlas, coughing and gasping for air, from the water. His hat was long gone, and the black bandana he wore was water logged against his head. He’d lost one of his three pistols, and his cutlass was missing.

  One side of Atlas’s face seemed to be bleeding, but as Nova stepped closer, she realized only the gold chain had ripped from his ear.

  “You made it,” she said gratefully.

  “Only just,” he admitted, his voice hoarse. “I was about to follow the lighted way when I got caught in a rogue current and it forced me this way. I’m glad it did. Any idea if those who went the other direction made it out?”

  Nova shook her head. “It doesn’t seem like it.”

  “The island be tryin’ us,” Taylor said, as they made their way onto the sandy beach.

  “For once, Taylor, I think you’re right,” Kale teased.

  The surviving crew had gathered outside the shrouded cove and were mumbling fearful pleas to Kane about something she couldn’t see. Nova pushed her way through the crowd, followed closely by the others. Kane stood in the front of the crowd, glaring straight ahead.

  “Oh, my,” Nova whispered as she followed his gaze.

  Kane faced her at the sound of her voice. “Ye survived, witch. It seems we have one last task. I would bet me life the spyglass be in there. This is the end of the line, for ye and the brig master. If ye survive, remember I gets to be killin’—ˮ

  Nova threw her hands in the air. “Would you give it a rest? Yes, you want us dead, but we’ve proved just as capable as you on this island, and who’s to say I won’t get to you first?”

  He looked affronted and angry, but Nova didn’t wait for another threat. She took a step and pushed open an iron gate. Green, thorny vines were wrapped around the sharp bars, and beyond the gate was a large, luscious garden. Colorful birds, blue and gold lizards, black dog-like animals scurried around her as if she were the master. She looked up. Kane had to be right. The building was old, older than any structure she’d seen before. The heavy stones making its walls were white with specks of gold throughout. It seemed as if it had survived many battles as some of the walls had crumbled or were missing pieces.

  One gold door stood between her and entering the room. The words Gids voor goden were embossed on the front of the door. Slowly, Nova turned around. Only a third of the crew was left, and what a pathetic bunch they were. The men were exhausted, wet, and frightened, even for pirates.

  “This is it,” she said. “The guide to gods. It’s here.”

  The pirates scuffled excitedly, rejuvenated by the words, as they stepped through the gate and into the garden. The small dogs snipped at their feet, the birds cried warnings to the intruders, and the lizards hissed. Nova’s stomach turned in excitement, but also in a sense of danger.

  She had no idea where they were, where the ship was, or which island of the Keys they were on. But one thing was certain—the spyglass was behind this door, but she had a feeling something else was, too. Something worse than they’d yet met on the Island of Bones.

  Chapter 18

  Battle of the Dead

  The door opened easily, and Nova’s dagger gleamed as they passed through and into a large open courtyard. Branches and large vines tangled through the ruins. Several trees grew inside the walls of the building, shading the entire courtyard.

  Pirates huddled close together, holding flintlock and blunderbuss pistols in front, ready for anything. Some chopped violently through the trees and bushes with rusted cutlasses, but nothing came their way. Nova pushed away heavy, dew coated leaves, and there it was. In the center of the courtyard was a large, stone altar and standing, propped up, was a sleek silver spyglass.

  “We did it, gents!” A pirate shouted, followed by whoops and hollers from the small crew. The men rushed toward the altar, but Kane shouted for them to halt.

  “Stop, ye fools. Have ye learned nothin’? She be the one to touch it first.”

  The dirty pirates pulled their greedy hands away from the altar and watched Nova maliciously.

  “Take it, wench,” Kane said. “The sooner we can leave this cursed island, the better.”

  Nova looked behind her at Kale and Atlas. “Be prepared to defend yourselves against Kane,” she whispered. “Something is going to happen once we take the spyglass.”

  “The island won’t give it up that easy,” Taylor agreed.

  Kale cocked his pistol and nodded. Atlas looked over his shoulder in Kane’s direction while scanning the surrounding foliage for anything that might surprise them once Nova took the spyglass.

  While shifting her eyes side to side, she gulped as she stared down at the silver spyglass. It seemed harmless, and yet, she could feel the tingle of power ripple through it. Slowly, she reached down and wrapped her hand around the cold metal.

  Wind whistled through the courtyard, blowing Nova’s damp curls around her face furiously. The moment she touched the spyglass everything in sight swirled like a fierce storm around the band of pirates.

  The bright sunlight faded and the courtyard was covered in a darkness unlike any night; it was cursed and powerful. Groans and snarls surrounded the pirates, followed by dragging footsteps tromping toward them.

  Nova jumped off the small mound where the altar stood, clutching tightly to the spyglass in one hand and to her dagger in the other. The wind blew angrily, and Atlas reached for her arm.

  “We have to get out of here,” he shouted over the storm.

  “This way,” Nova said, rushi
ng toward a broken wall in the white building. The rest of the pirates huddled with their backs facing inward. Kane glanced nervously as the sinister noises grew closer.

  Kale and Taylor darted after Atlas and Nova. As they were about to leap through the opening, they stopped abruptly. The wicked snarls were outside the building, and as Nova froze in place something came into focus beneath the dark cover. Her mouth dropped in stunned horror as before her stood a line of death.

  Decomposing, wretched faces blocked their escape, their hands wrapped around hilts of cutlasses made of bone. Some had patches of rotting skin falling from their skulls, others were nothing but yellow skeletons dressed in rags of ancient clothing. Soulless eyes watched their every move as the dead army advanced on the pirates.

  “Cursed demons,” one pirate screamed.

  “Run, gents,” cried another.

  Nova knew it was impossible. The final task of the island was at hand.

  “We have to fight them,” she said darkly. “It’s the only way to escape.”

  Behind them, a blast of gunfire sounded. Kane fired his pistol into the chest of one of the skeletal attackers. It fell to the ground in pieces, but the others advanced on at a chillingly slow pace. The army of dead had them surrounded, and there was nowhere the pirates could go.

  Kane lowered his pistol slowly. His eyes widened in surprise as the one he’d dispatched creaked and snapped until it stood back in the ranks, a gaping hole in its chest. Atlas dropped his pistol and withdrew his cutlass. Nova glared at the army, feeling the darkness swell inside her. She thought back to all that Taylor had taught her about swordplay and prepared to fight. One of the rotting corpses lifted a long, old-fashioned cutlass, ready to strike.

  Nova swung the dagger’s blade and locked against the sword. As if their movement had been a signal for the rest of the dead, the line swarmed about the pirates, swinging their blades dangerously.

  The pirates fought back, firing their pistols and slicing their swords through the midsections of the rotting assailants. Nova spun around, avoiding a fatal blow from the skeleton’s blade. She sliced her dagger across the other arm, tearing a deep gash into what remained of its rotting flesh. With a chilling shriek, the corpse fell into a pile of black dust onto the ground.

  Nova’s mouth dropped, but she had no time to marvel at the unbelievable victory. More attackers came, faster and with more fury. The crewmen’s blades dispatched the skeletons, but no one had the same effect as the dagger. Another corpse attacked her. She blocked his advance with the blade before twisting away. Nova engaged in a fierce sword fight while the others did the same.

  Atlas took on two of the dead, stabbing his cutlass through the open chest of one, will tearing the blade out in time to block a blow from the one behind. Kale ducked as a large man swung his blade awkwardly. The dead man seemed to have perished only months earlier. His skin had pock marks from rot and decay. His teeth were yellowed and what skin remained intact was a translucent gray color.

  While the man wavered on unsteady feet, Kale came back and thrust a blade he’d recovered from a fallen pirate deep into the ribs of the corpse. Black, tar-like blood stained the tip of the sword when he ripped it out.

  “Nova, watch out,” Kale called.

  Nova spun around as a fierce skeleton lunged on top of her, snapping its jaws and scratching its bony fingers over her face. She tried to cover her face with her arms, but the undead dug deeper. She felt her skin dripping in warm blood. Inside, her chest burned as she wanted to destroy all the wretched corpses.

  Atlas cried out as three skeletons piled on top of him. Pirates all around fell at the hands of the skeletons. Men screamed as rusty blades struck their hearts, ripping them from life. Her blood burned as the fury passed through her, but it was dulled by the painful scratches from the undead biting and gnawing on her flesh. She watched as Kane fought desperately against a hoard of corpses, but even with his skill and training, the wretched first mate was taken to the ground, hidden beneath the hungry attack of the corpses.

  Nova cried out in angry frustration. Suddenly the ground began to shake as if the island were responding to her cries. The white stones making up the building began to crumble. The corpses responded by attacking with more fury. Nova rolled onto her back, scrambling for the dagger which lay untouched just inches away. The wind was back, and with the ground shifting beneath them, it seemed as if they were all trapped in a swirling vortex and the only way to escape was through death.

  She turned her head and saw the spyglass had fallen from her hand. As if someone had seen her attention shift, she watched in horror as a rusted blade came down on the silver, slicing through the glass. It was gone, destroyed. The thing they’d risked their lives for was worthless. Nova felt the agony of it surge through her body. She would die on the Island of Bones. She cursed the irony; though she’d escaped the Star’s Vengeance, she would never be free of the evil island.

  Someone’s feet padded close to her head. “Nova, you must fight back. They keep coming. You must stop them,” a familiar voice shouted above her as delicate hands ripped the dagger from the ground. She heard the dagger burn through the skeleton ready to kill her and choked on the black dust as it disintegrated over her head.

  “Nova, now. Let it in. It’s the only way to stop this,” her voice commanded again.

  Nova’s cheeks were coated in tears as she listened, she didn’t want to turn around in case she was wrong. Finally, she rolled onto her back and released a muffled sob.

  Kamali sliced the dagger with expert aim through another half-decomposed body, sending it up into a flurry of dust. Nova watched in awe as Kamali thwarted every attack seemingly without effort.

  She watched Kamali hold out a palm as a skeleton charged. The undead stopped. When Kamali closed her fist, the bones trembled before crushing into a fine white powder. The creatures from the outer walls flocked near her mother and tore into the bodies. The dogs ravaged the bones as if they’d never had a meal. Birds wrapped their large talons over the skeletons, tearing the bones from one another. The creatures seemed to do anything Kamali directed, and it was an amazing sight.

  Shaking the disbelief from her thoughts Nova lifted to one knee, feeling her lips tug into a wide smile. Before she could move, another ragged, bony hand wrapped around Nova’s neck as she was about to call out to her mother.

  “Get off ‘er,” an angry, gruff voice said before another blade ripped through the skeleton’s back, bringing it to the ground in pieces.

  Nova looked above her at the man who’d saved her. With a joyful cry, she jumped from the ground and wrapped her arms around his neck in relief. “Uncle Briggs, how…” she stammered pulling back.

  “Never mind that, lass,” Briggs said. “Time to stop this madness. It be up to you.”

  Nova furrowed her brow, feeling the overwhelming power embrace her. It was warm, and it seemed so right.

  “Command it, Nova!” Kamali shouted, stabbing another corpse. “The island is yours to control.”

  Nova kneeled down on the ground., unsure how to obey her mother’s command. She focused deep, allowing the heavy power to fill her mind, her soul. All around her the battle waged. Pirates falling to their deaths. She could hear the blood pumping in fear. The corpses snarled as she focused on them. The smell of rot and decay burned her nostrils.

  She thought of the end of the fighting. She thought of her friends who would die if it didn’t stop. Her mother was right; no matter how many corpses were destroyed, more came. Nova felt the surge of fury, the thrill of the power overwhelming her. She wanted it to stop. No, it would stop, she demanded it.

  “Enough!” she shouted. Her voice echoed along the white stone walls. The ground shook with such force she fell to her side.

  On her command, the undead army crumbled. Bodies were strewn along the courtyard. Some freshly dead, others nothing but old bones and limbs. Another moment later, everything stopped. The courtyard fell silent, and the ground steadied until onl
y those living stood in silence, taking in the unbelievable scene. Kale sat near her, and quickly he crawled over and helped her stand.

  “What did you do?” he asked, his tone tired and grateful.

  “I…told it to stop,” she admitted, wiping her tears from her cheek. Her palm was coated in blood and her hair was filled with leaves and twigs.

  Kale smiled, though it was difficult as his lip swelled from a blow to the face. “I’m grateful you did.”

  Atlas sat up beneath a pile of broken bones. His face was bloody from long gashes when he met her eye before falling on his back, breathing deeply as adrenaline seeped from his body.

  “How did you know what to do?” Kale asked.

  Nova looked over her shoulder and felt her stomach tighten. Kamali stood from the ground, clutching the dagger in her hand. Her mother smiled gently at her, her perfectly blue-tinted dark hair braided down her neck. She was dressed in a tight white shirt and had a leather belt with a pistol hanging from one side. She wasn’t the same Kamali Nova had left behind a year earlier. Her mother was powerful, unafraid, and had known exactly what to do.

  “I knew because she told me what to do,” Nova whispered pointing toward Kamali. Kale followed her hand.

  “Who is that?”

  Nova sniffled as Kamali rushed in her direction. “Kale, that’s my mother.”

  Chapter 19

  The Two Djinn

  Kamali wrapped her arms around Nova and held her tight. She stroked Nova’s hair, while Nova buried her face against her.

  “You were wonderful,” Kamali said.

  “How are you here? How did you find me?” Nova sniffed as she pulled back.

  Kamali’s eyes seemed sad as they brimmed with tears. She rubbed a hand gently over Nova’s cheek, wiping away her tears. “It’s a long story, my love, but the short side can be credited to a young woman who said you saved her.”

  Nova’s brow furrowed trying to figure out who she’d met along the way. “You don’t mean Queen Neah?”

  Kamali smiled. “She prefers to be called Raine now. I believe the man who is sheltering her also is missing a child. He lent us a ship and we charted a course straight to the Keys. I knew you’d come here eventually after Raine’s report. I’m so relieved we finally found you,” she said pulling her tightly against her.