by LJ Andrews
“Everyone keeps saying that, but what am I supposed to do, Atlas? Just forget him? My dad repairs ships—why would pirates take him? And like you said, my mother just happens to have a dagger hidden in the wall? There’s something I don’t know and I intend to get to the bottom of it.”
Atlas shook his head. “I don’t know. I might have to stick with you. I don’t think I can leave a scrawny thing like you alone to face pirates.” He smiled and nudged her shoulder.
Nova blushed and looked at the ground. “Thanks for keeping me from the crew and captain,” she said after a long pause.
Atlas stood and stretched his arms. “It’s nothing, really. Captain Feigling rarely steps foot on deck. He hates transporting prisoners; he thinks they bring bad luck, but king’s orders are every merchant ship takes its turn on prison runs. But speaking of the man, I should get back on deck before the crew comes searching for me.”
“You know, it would be all right with me if you came pirate hunting,” she said quickly before he left.
Atlas turned and faced her, a playful light in his blue eyes. “Be careful what you wish for. You might not be able to get rid of me.”
Atlas winked and stepped out of the cupboard, leaving her alone. Nova fell back on the cot, trying to cool the flush of warmth in her cheeks.
As she listened to Atlas’s retreating footsteps, the ship suddenly fell in the sky. Nova clutched the sides of her cot, feeling weightless as the ship plummeted ever closer to the Below.
She screamed and gripped her bed, until a forceful lurch threw her to the floor and the ship steadied.
“Nova, are you all right?” Atlas asked, rushing back into her cupboard and helping her off the ground.
She nodded, taking a deep gulp of air. “What was that?”
Atlas looked around the brig. “I don’t know, but something’s wrong. We should get out of here quick.”
Nova snatched her bag as something inside warned her of dangers on the upper deck. No sooner had the intuition passed through her, then shouts and gunfire sounded above.
As they fled toward the narrow staircase, a distant whistle grew louder until a blast of power threw them both on the stairs. Nova could feel her mouth bleeding from where she had slammed into the wood, and her ears were ringing from the blast. Glancing at the brig, her mouth dropped when she saw a gaping hole in the side of the ship.
Several cells had been damaged, some prisoners were missing, and another man was holding onto the side of the ship as his legs dangled precariously over the broken hull. Nova cried out, imagining all those men being flung out. Whistles outside the ship signaled more cannon fire, and crushing blasts could be heard all around her as she covered her head and raced up the stairs.
Through her ringing ears, a frightening laugh echoed along the cell line. An unkempt man with a red patch covering his missing eye cackled wildly. His mouth was wide and he seemed filled with excitement.
“The wind be still, boys. They be comin’ for us,” he shouted. Several prisoners whooped and hollered back. “Send ‘em to the Below,” he cried to no one.
“Nova, move now!” Atlas shouted over the prisoner’s wild shrieks. She tore her eyes from the man’s blackened teeth and held tightly to Atlas’s hands as they ran to the main deck.
It was deadly chaos. Cannons cut through the hull of the ship like paper while another ball struck the main mast, slowly crumbling it down to the deck.
Her eyes widened as men swung from another ship off the starboard side onto their deck. They unsheathed swords and fired pistols, hitting several unprepared crewmen in the chest. The ship’s sails were black and gray, with a horned skull flapping in the wind atop the mast. Pirates.
All around her, blades clashed as the crew fought against the intruders.
“Over here, and get down,” Atlas said, shoving Nova behind a large crate. She gasped for air as she held her bag against her chest. The ship drilled fear through her heart, but seemed familiar, like a long forgotten memory. Her eyes tore away from its dark body when Atlas shook her shoulders.
“Stay hidden,” he said one final time before withdrawing his pistol and joining the fight.
She watched in fear as hordes of grimy, bloodthirsty pirates flooded the deck, cutting down the crew with pleasure. Raiders came up from the brig deck followed by a swarm of freed prisoners. She saw the man with the eye patch end a crewman’s life with his own hands. Without a second thought, he took the dead man’s sword and pistol and joined in the battle.
Nova reached into her bag to withdraw the dagger, but stopped when a shadow crossed over her hand.
“Well, what do we have here?” A man with a braided beard smiled wickedly at her.
“No, no, leave me,” she cried, backing away from him.
He let out a throaty laugh and grabbed her wrist, tossing her onto the deck.
Nova curled herself around the messenger bag and hid her face from him.
“A little thing, not even bigger than me little finger.” He laughed again and grabbed Nova’s wrists. When he forcefully uncurled her body, she kicked his midsection with all her might. Before she could scramble away, the pirate snarled and grabbed hold of her ankles, pulling her back to him.
Nova kicked and struggled trying to reach the dagger in the pouch. The pirate dug his black, jagged fingernails into her thigh. She cried out in pain, feeling the burn of her skin breaking when he ripped her closer to him. In desperation, she rolled against his grip so she was on her stomach and finally felt the dagger’s hilt in her palm.
The jewels seemed to radiate heat, sending a comforting calm surging up her wrist and arm. The pirate noticed the weapon and pulled back on her shirt collar so hard, Nova lost her grip on the only thing able to save her.
“Now, now don’t be foolish,” he chuckled tossing her bag off to the side, well out of her reach.
Nova closed her eyes tightly fearing how the disgusting man planned to end her life. He sniffed and chortled jovially as he slowly withdrew his cutlass from his belt. The same stirring filled her heart as it had against the fanged man, begging her to fight back and win. But it wasn’t enough. She curled her knees against her chest, waiting for the blade to send her to the next life and cursing her foolishness for leaving her mother’s home.
“Stop Ferdon,” said a deep, sinister voice. “Cap’n sent the signal.”
“I can enjoy the spoils, they ain’t sounded off yet,” the grimy man said, stilling his blade from descending on her.
Nova peeked through a small slit in her eyes, watching a half-dressed man with numerous guns about his waist, holding the wrist of her attacker. The two pirates glared at one another, and slowly she started scooting away.
The loud crack of a pistol sounded above the noise from the battle, drawing their attention away from her. Nova stopped moving, and looked around for the source of the shot. The air was still like death, with thick clouds of gunpowder shrouding the floating ships. The pirates’ ship hugged the hull of the Freedom, its black sails billowing menacingly in the wind.
Nova faced the black ship and saw a haunting figure standing on the main deck. On his shoulder sat a black raven which seemed to devour the Freedom’s corpses with its hungry stare.
The pirate’s beard fell to his chest with several beaded chains entwined throughout the hairs. He was clad in black from head to toe, but it was his dark eyes that sent a shiver down her spine. As if sensing her gaze, he turned his eye to her and tipped the brim of the large hat on his head in her direction.
The captain, she thought. Sudden cries from the bow tore her eyes away.
Two pirates dragged a whimpering man with gray curls feathering along his receding hairline. The two pirates held the trembling man for the entire ship to see.
“It’s Captain Feigling.” Atlas’s voice came from behind her.
“You’re all right,” she said, facing him with relief.
“For now,” he said flatly.
She tried to ignore the fear flashi
ng over Atlas’s eyes and turned her attention to the bow again. The two pirates glanced to their ship and their captain nodded curtly.
“So, this is yer captain?” The man who spoke had thick rolling muscles. His head was shaved and littered in frightening skull tattoos. He laughed as he shoved Captain Feigling in front of the crowd, and a wave of mocking laughter followed suit from the crew. The frightening pirate rubbed his pistol against Feigling’s cheek while he knocked the captain’s hat from his head. Feigling trembled and blubbered like a frightened child as the pirate circled him. “Mighty fine ship, Captain, but it is with deepest regret I must tell ye your services are no longer required.”
Without hesitation, the pirate raised his pistol and sent Feigling into the next life. Nova cried out as they heaved his body over the side, but she quickly covered her mouth when a group of nearby pirates glanced at her. She lowered her head and covered her girlish face beneath her hat, trying to peel their curiosity away.
The tattooed pirate jumped onto the side of the ship and held tight to the rigging. “Gents.” He smiled. “Ye know what to do.” With a maniacal laugh, he leapt across the gap between ships until joining his captain on deck.
Two enormous men folded their arms over their chests and faced the captured crew. The men smiled maliciously. One, wearing a long, purple coat with silver buttons, snarled through the smoke.
“Ye needs be vetted to join the crew of Captain Smythe. Any deemed unworthy or cowardly will fly to the Below. Boys, line ‘em up.” It was time to join the world of sky pirates, or die.
Throughout the deck, pirates pushed and shoved the Freedom’s crew into a single file line, with the two large pirates in front.
Nova stifled a sob when a short, angry man struck Atlas’s hip to move him in line. Behind her, a man with dark skin shoved her so hard after Atlas her head whipped back, popping her spine.
She watched as the crew members faced their judges on the bow. Nova was overcome with dizziness and felt unsteady on her feet as a crewman and a prisoner from the brig stepped forward. Though she couldn’t hear the words they said, her body trembled when the pirate in the purple coat shoved the prisoner onto the gangplank now connecting the two ships and sliced his sword through the soft stomach of the crewman. Like clockwork, the pirate tossed the unfortunate man over the rail into the Below
“Nova, tell them what they want to hear. Don’t let on you’re a girl,” Atlas whispered frantically without facing her.
“Shut it,” the small, angry pirate said, striking Atlas’s hip again.
Two by two, the line moved forward. Sometimes, both would join the pirate ship, other times two bodies were flipped over the side. Too quickly, Atlas and Nova stood before the rancid-smelling pirates. The pirate judge scanned both of them up and down. He scoffed at Nova which made her stomach flip in sickness.
Turning his attention to Atlas, he spoke. “How long have ye sailed?”
“Thirteen years,” Atlas said without a hint of fear.
The pirate narrowed his eyes. “And what be your duty?”
“Helmsman. No greater sailor in the skies than I.”
The pirate paused, but for a moment he seemed impressed with Atlas’s firm response. Finally, he flicked his finger toward the gangplank. “Welcome to the crew.”
Atlas didn’t look at her, but squared his shoulders and stepped onto the plank. Nova shuddered when the pirate turned his attention back to her.
“You’re a squirrelly boy, and of no use to us, but if ye can answer even one part of the code right, maybe ye can swab the chamber pots.” He laughed at his own wit, and several other pirates chuckled with him.
Something inside Nova burned in annoyance and anger. She tried to calm her temper, but it flared again. When she should be cowering in fear beneath his bloodshot eyes, she looked at the pirate as if he were the inferior and she greater than anyone on the ship. In truth, Nova didn’t know the pirate code, but as if the words were written in front of her, they spilled over her lips.
“What part of the code exactly?” she said snidely, not stopping to wonder how she knew what to say. A darkness filled her chest, chasing away any drip of fear she’d felt earlier. Part of her fought against the alternate side, but in the back of her mind she knew survival depended on the words she was about to say.
As if someone else had possessed her, she slammed her palms flat on the wobbly table the pirate judges sat behind. Curling her lips in a cruel grin she continued. “Every member of the crew gets equal shares in spoils, or perhaps you meant a surrendered enemy cannot be killed−unless of course they refuse to join your crew. Or did you mean attacking another ship with pirate colors is forbidden? Would you like me to continue, or did those suffice?”
The pirate gawked, seemingly shocked at her venomous response. Nova never lowered her gaze, and she could almost feel her diamond eyes burning a sense of fear into the pirate’s inner thoughts.
“I will not be going to the Below tonight, and I will be joining the crew.” She turned on her heel as the silent pirates watched her cross the gangplank.
“Did ye see them eyes?” someone whispered behind her, though she took no heed. She was focused on the darkly dressed captain they’d called Smythe, who hadn’t taken his eyes off her since she’d gone to judgment.
Chapter 8
Captain Smythe
Nova was pushed onto the main deck with the new crew members. The ghostly captain followed her steps with his fervent gaze. She finally dropped her eyes and scanned the crowd for Atlas, but was instead shoved against two scraggly men wearing gray prison uniforms and smelling strongly of body odor.
Grumbles of what was to come next passed through the crowd as the pirates from the Freedom rejoined their crew on deck. The man who had tossed Captain Feigling off the side released the Freedom from the pirates’ gangplank and untied the two ships. Several Freedom crew remained on their ship’s deck, looking relieved to be neither joining the pirates nor being thrown into the depths of the Below.
Captain Smythe stood above the crew on the deck over his own quarters and raised his sword. Nova leaned to her left and saw the port side guns peeking into the gun ports on the lower deck.
“Take aim,” Smythe hollered above them. The crew secured their cannons through the narrow ports. “Fire!”
At Smythe’s command, the cannons blasted into the night sky toward the Freedom. Gaping holes filled her sides as wood splintered along the hull.
Nova watched in horror as the frantic crew darted along the deck, taking cover. After several moments of shooting, a ball flew through the lower half of the ship near the powder magazine. In an instant, the Freedom exploded, lighting the dark sky in a fiery haze.
She covered her mouth in shock as the surrounding pirates cheered in amusement. The burning carcass of the Freedom bobbed for a moment before dipping at the stern and sinking through the dense clouds and out of sight.
Once the crew had settled, Smythe faced them again and stalked down the steps onto the main deck. His large hat shrouded his face, but the bright moon cast an eerie shadow beneath the brim, making him seem ghost-like.
Smythe stood before them with a wide smile on his bearded face. “Wherever ye think ye were going is done and ye’ll be loyal to this crew or ye’ll join your yellow-bellied captain down Below.” His eyes darkened and Nova sunk lower behind the rank men in front of her, trying to keep his wicked gaze from finding her.
“Master Kane,” Smythe said, turning toward the thick, muscular pirate who’d been over the judgment. “Get these scallywags put to work. Welcome to the Star’s Vengeance, gents.”
Smythe cackled a wicked laugh and stroked the beak of his raven as Kane barked orders for the crowd to get below deck.
Nova ducked her head and followed like an obedient dog toward the staircase leading to the lower parts of the ship. As she came to the hatch, a blade rested across her chest. Slowly, she turned and saw Smythe holding his sword out.
“Not this one. Ye s
tay here.”
Nova cleared her throat and lowered her voice. “Aye, sir.”
Her stomach churned as she lowered the brim of her hat and stepped next to Smythe. One by one, the new crew trudged below deck until Nova and Smythe were alone. Wind blew through the canvas sails as the captain watched her in silence. Nova shifted nervously, trying to avoid his piercing gaze.
“Ye know the pirate code, don’t ye boy?” he finally asked.
“Aye, sir,” Nova said again.
“What be yer duty aboard the Freedom? Mast at the helm?”
Nova’s heart quivered; Captain Smythe watched her through narrowed eyes as if dissecting what her silence meant.
“Ah, too scraggly to hold tight to the helm, I’d say,” he said more to himself. “Just know, boy, there’s something strange about ye. I’ll be keeping my eye out and anything out of place on my ship, I’ll toss ye over.”
Nova peered from underneath her brim and tried to not let him see the fear in her eyes. “Aye, sir,” she replied in a low whisper.
Nova eyed the captain standing guard over the hatch. The way his fingers ran along the tarnished handle of his cutlass made it clear he was someone never to cross.
Please don’t find out I’m a girl, she thought to herself, ignoring her heart trying to beat its way out of her chest. When the pirate code mysteriously filled her mind, she’d intentionally left out the rule of no females aboard, or death would become a swift companion.
Two flights down was the berth deck. It had an earthy smell from the constant condensation and the sweat of men seeping through the crevices. Rows and rows of hammocks hung at the level of her shoulders, each one filled with a sleeping man. Nova occasionally stole a glance at her new mates. Most were dirty and clammy, with blackened teeth from years of poor hygiene and endless rum.
Along the floor, beneath the hanging beds, were hay-filled mattresses, again each filled by a sleeping man. Nova scanned the beds, but couldn’t find Atlas. She rubbed the chill creeping up her arms as the thought of finding a familiar face filled her with desperation.
