Sea of Darkness

by Isadora Brown

  From where Kelia was positioned, she could see the second one lean his head in. Even though it was dark and shadows completely littered the cargo hold, there was a chance he would be able to see her pressed underneath the bench.

  “How many did Rycroft say there were?” the first one asked.

  The second one shrugged, standing back upright. “Dunno,” he said. “Rycroft didn’t say. All he said was they’re expecting a big shipment. I guess they need the lot for feeding purposes.”

  Kelia pressed her finger to her chin. Feeding purposes. What the hell did that mean? Was there a huge need for food at headquarters to the point they needed to bring in a huge group of slaves to help serve them? That made absolutely no sense, though, as then the slaves would need to eat, too, and that would just use up more resources.

  “Oy,” the first one said. “Is there something under that bench right there?”

  “What are you going on about?” the second one drawled, turning his head.

  Kelia held her breath, but she knew it was too late. If they spotted her, she was done for. She would be able to defend herself against them, and did not think they would attempt to harm her or even imprison her, but they would definitely turn her in to The Society the minute they touched Port George.

  “There,” the first one said, pointing over at the bench.

  Kelia decided now would be the perfect time to make her appearance. She slid out from the bench and stood up. Her fingers itched to replace her disheveled hair in a tight braid and dust off her outfit. Instead, she tightened her grip on the hilt of her sword and stood her ground.

  “Where the hell did you come from, girl? Aren’t you the one whose father we burned the other day?” the second one asked.

  “I am,” she said curtly. “You did.”

  “What are you doing here?” the first one asked.

  “Rycroft did not think you were capable of handling this mission by yourselves,” Kelia replied, thinking fast. “He sent me as protection, just in case you were intercepted by Sea Shadows.”

  The two men regarded each other as though they didn’t believe her. Kelia shifted her weight.

  “All right, then,” she said. “So you’ll be the ones explaining to Rycroft why you didn’t check each cabin on this ship before departure like you are required to?”

  “Come on, Bruce,” the second one said, throwing his eyes to the first. “We’re nearly docked. The human cargo is waiting for us. We’re on a schedule. Why else would she stow away on our ship if Rycroft hadn’t sent her?”

  The first man, Bruce, continued to peer at her with obvious suspicion. He ran his hands across the point of his chin, narrowing his eyes. “Her father was the one who took his own life, Rickard,” Bruce said, speaking as though this should make things obvious. “I wouldn’t trust a girl who had to endure that.”

  “I’m not asking you to trust me,” Kelia said through gritted teeth. She tried to control her anger, a voice that sounded suspiciously like Drew Knight’s reminding her that she needed to control her emotions or she would give everything away. “I’m asking you to allow me to do my job. Why else would I be here, on this ship?”

  “You sort it,” the one called Rickard said. “We’re about to dock, and there’s no way I’m allowing damage come to this ship.”

  With that, he turned and headed up to the deck.

  Bruce stayed where he was, continuing to stare at her with a glint in his eyes that said he did not trust her and nothing was going to change that.

  Kelia didn’t know how long they stood there, glaring at each other. It was only when he heard Rickard shout something on deck that he turned without another word and headed up.

  Kelia took that as her cue to follow. She headed up the narrow staircase, the wood creaking under her weight. When she made it to the deck, her entire body froze. Rickard had already docked the ship and a couple of hundred men, women, and children—children!—stood on the deck, waiting as Bruce began to herd them onto the ship like cattle.

  She swallowed, her throat burning. This was wrong. This was wrong on so many levels. These people were dark-skinned, tied together with rope at the ankles so they could not run off. A few of the women were crying. Others were muttering things, angry words she could not decipher. It was clear they did not want to be here.

  Why did The Society need these people?

  There was no explanation that could make her see a reason.

  She couldn’t let this happen. She could not sit back and allow for this to happen, even if it would explain motives The Society had that Kelia did not understand. It wouldn’t be worth the information she might discover. And using these slaves to acquire it… she was no better than a slaver.

  The thought made her stomach tumble, and she nearly wretched overboard despite the concoction she had taken before stepping aboard the ship.

  At that moment, a loud pounding on the deck of the ship caused Kelia to straighten despite her unsettled stomach. She whirled around, and her entire body stiffened.

  What was going on here?

  Kelia’s face paled, mouth dropping, as she watched the cargo ship get overtaken by an onslaught of Sea Shadows.

  Chapter 12

  “Well, well, well,” a familiar seductive voice said from the mast of the cargo ship. He wasn’t terribly tall but somehow, he loomed over the three Slayers, as though he was a tree among bushes. “What would a crew of Slayers want with human cargo, I wonder?”

  Kelia froze from her position on the ship. In a way, she was relieved to see Drew Knight standing on the mast. At least she knew the human cargo would be safe. Which seemed incomprehensible that Kelia thought that Drew Knight would be a savior for humans. She had only spent two evenings with him. How had her mind shifted so much?

  “Ah, and we have a princess on board as well,” Drew continued, setting his sights directly on Kelia.

  Kelia felt her heart jump at the immediate contact. They were on different sides of the same playing board now. She blinked, hoping no one saw she was not afraid of him, that she actually felt…okay in his presence. She would not use the word safe. Not yet, at least. But she did not feel threatened, and she did not feel as though any harm would come to her.

  “Tell me,” Drew continued. “Did Rycroft dispatch you himself? Or did you tag along because you wanted to increase your rank? Let me guess: you flashed those big green eyes of yours to these idiots—” He nodded at the two sailors. “—and they fell to their feet?”

  Keli had to refrain from rolling her eyes. She knew he was trying to get a reaction from her. She knew he was testing her ability to control her emotions—something he had no problem pointing out was lacking and insufficient with her job as a Slayer. Why he was helping her be a better Slayer, she did not know. All she knew was that his advice was sound, whether she liked it or not, and she tried to learn what she could.

  Of course, Kelia did not trust him blindly. He was still a Sea Shadow, a slippery one at that, and she questioned him constantly last night.

  “How did Knight know about this?” one Slayer whispered to the other.

  “Dunno,” the other said.

  They were both so dumbstruck by Drew Knight’s presence that it seemed to stop them from becoming fearful. It was almost as though they were in awe, as if the devil himself had come up from the gates of Hell to stare two mortals in the face.

  The first one leaned closer to the other and whispered, “What’re we gonna do?”

  “Shut up, you idiots,” Kelia snapped. “Don’t you know how to fight?”

  “We aren’t Slayers ‘cause we can fight,” the second one replied, clearly offended by her tone. “We’re Slayers ‘cause we can sail. I dunno how to use a sword.”

  “Then use your bloody hands,” Kelia muttered, unsheathing her sword, crisp and fresh and ready to make a Shadow bleed.

  Except, Kelia was not sure if she should actually kill the Shadows. They were Drew’s companions, and she was working with Drew. So, in a way,
she was working with them as well. She didn’t trust the Slayers to know how to fight. She didn’t think they could defend themselves, which meant she would need to engage in battle to make the Slayers believe she didn’t know Drew Knight. To make them believe she hated him as much as they did.

  The first Slayer stepped slowly toward Kelia. “What do we do?”

  “First, you were ready to drown me because I wasn’t supposed to be on this stupid ship.” Kelia’s words were sharp over the howling wind. She rolled her shoulders, getting into position. “Now, you’re looking to me for advice. Don’t you see something wrong with this picture?”

  “Hey, we’re on the same side here,” the second one said. “We need your help.”

  As if that had not been apparent to Kelia.

  She grunted and rolled her eyes. “You have weapons, don’t you?” she asked, nodding to their hands. “I hope you know how to use them. Be quick. Keep your feet planted. They beat us in everything—their speed, their power, their looks. We need to beat them in perseverance.”

  “You know much for a Slayer,” Drew said, taking a step off the mast and dropping down, only to land gracefully on his feet like a cat. When he stood at his full height, both Slayers jumped.

  Kelia was ashamed of her fellow Slayers. Granted, this was Drew Knight. When she first met him, she was afraid, too. She could understand fear. But they should at least have a sense of pride. At least try to hide that fear. Because the display they were putting on was unfathomable.

  “How did you get stuck with these goons as your partners?” Drew continued. He eyed the blade in her hand. There was an approving glint in his eyes, as though she was positioned the right way, holding the blade the right way, standing the right way. “When you clearly surpass them at every turn?”

  Kelia tried not to let her skin warm at the compliment. She didn’t need his approval.

  “Is your blade the only weapon you have, darling?” he asked. He seemed to be ignoring the other Slayers cowering somewhere behind her.

  “I have my hands, should I need them,” she told him, feeling her lips curl up in memory of the previous evening.

  His held her gaze with his, approval still in his eyes, as he advanced another step. “Do you know how to use them?”

  Kelia took a step back, keeping her sword pointed at Drew just in case he got too close. She knew this dance well.

  “When it is required of me,” was her flippant remark. She did not like the way her own lips tugged up into a grin, like she was happy to see him. A Sea Shadow. Drew Knight.

  There was no fear in her body when she was around him anymore. It amazed Kelia how comfortable she felt around him after only two encounters. She understood they danced between a thin line of their respective sides and should a betrayal occur, things could get deadly. But there was something in Kelia, something that told her all would be well between them. That he was trustworthy. That he would not harm her in any way.

  Drew’s smirked. “God help the man you marry,” he said so quietly she was sure only she had heard him.

  Kelia fingered the hilt of her blade. She recognized that stance from last night; he was going to pounce on her directly, which meant she needed to be careful of where she placed her blade.

  Because, she found, she did not want to harm him. He was still too valuable to her, and it was obvious he had no intention of hurting her now. That this was all for show.

  Yelps behind her indicated her fellow Slayers were in their own trouble. Instead of verbalizing anything, she quirked an eyebrow, hoping he would understand she wanted to make sure the imbeciles did not get hurt. He shook his head once in response, then, he lunged.

  Thanks to her practice from the previous evening, she was able to sidestep his attack, twirling out of the way, before widening her stance and bringing up her blade so it was poised and ready to strike. His grin was nothing short of feral as he appraised her and, again, there was an approving glint in his eye.

  Not that she needed it or cared.

  He went for her right side, knowing it was her weak side. She almost snapped at him for choosing to exploit her weaknesses, but she already knew he would simply smirk and claim it was what pirates did.

  Kelia managed to spin out of the way, but only barely. Using her momentum, she stopped abruptly before lifting her left foot in the air and kicking Drew in the chest. Her booted foot landed with a thud, and she managed to knock him back. But it wasn’t enough to throw him off his feet.

  Without hesitation, she lunged with her sword, knowing he would dodge her attack. He did and then tried for her left. This made it difficult to strike using her sword, forcing her to attempt a punch. Kelia was still not comfortable with her punching and kicking. She felt disoriented much of the time. She needed more practice, which meant more time with Drew Knight, which was something she wanted to avoid because she was starting to…

  Like was the wrong word. She did not like him. He represented everything she hated.

  He represented fear, nightmares, bloodthirsty, uncontrollable urges, unchecked lust, quick tempers. Sea Shadows were beasts, to put it plainly. They were animals who lived on instincts and urges, not rational thought.

  But that can’t be entirely true, Kelia’s inner voice pointed out. He has not tried to rape you. He has not tried to drink your blood or harm you, despite the agency you belong to. Sea Shadows cannot be entirely without conscious thought. Look at Drew Knight. Look at the Infant.

  Kelia did not like the way her stomach twitched at the thought, even while keeping in time with Drew during their physical engagement. It seemed like there was more to Sea Shadows than The Society told their Slayers, as though they were not as vicious as Slayers were initially led to believe. And if that was true, what else was The Society hiding from them? What else were they blatantly lying about?

  “You’re distracted, darling,” Drew murmured so only she could hear. “If I was putting any effort into this fight, you would be in ribbons, your blood painting the deck of this ship.”

  Kelia narrowed her eyes. His words caught her attention, and she scowled at him. He reacted by giving her a triumphant grin.

  “You would harm me?” she asked. She didn’t know why she sounded so surprised. This was Drew Knight, she had to remind herself. He was not her friend.

  “Only my enemies,” he said. “If I wanted to harm you, I would have already tasted your blood and feasted on you like the animal you think I am.” He paused, tilting his head to the side as he dodged a jab Kelia had thrown at him. “You realize I have already released the slaves, correct? They’re back on land, free as birds. I’m sure your Society needs to find more food for their pets.”

  “What exactly are you implying?” Kelia demanded.

  Too surprised he would even insinuate such a thing, she failed to block his attack as quickly as she should have. He managed to catch her off-guard by grabbing her arm and putting her in the same position as he had the previous evening—her back against his chest, her neck completely exposed.

  “You know,” he said, his voice tickling her ear. “If I really wanted to, I could give those two loons a show by sinking my teeth into your flesh and tasting you. You would receive the greatest pleasure you could imagine, you know. Wouldn’t you at least want to try?”

  Kelia’s knees trembled, and it was not because she was afraid. She almost hated herself for how nervous he made her.

  Instead of replying, she kept quiet, then stomped on his foot as hard as she could, taking him by surprise. Immediately, he released her, and she took the opportunity to whirl around and swing down her blade. Drew caught the edge with his bare hand just before it touched his neck.

  Kelia’s eyes widened. She hadn’t meant to harm him, not even to draw blood. However, she watched as crimson streaks fell from his palm and caressed his outer hand, dripping down to his wrist and splashing to the deck of the ship.

  His blood ran red. Just like hers.

  Kelia swallowed. She opened her mouth,
ready to apologize, before shutting it. How would it appear if she apologized to the very Sea Shadow who was attempting to thwart The Society’s plans? When she met Drew’s gaze once more, he tilted his chin down, communicating to her with just his eyes. He approved of her decision to remain silent. Which meant he knew she was going to apologize.

  This seemed to infuriate her, that he had this effect on her where she would want to say sorry for drawing blood even when they should be enemies.

  “Good,” he said in such a low whisper, Kelia was almost certain she imagined it.

  That word was enough to make warmth flood through her body, and she hated herself for it. She did not need his approval.

  At that moment, Drew lunged, his speed too great for her to anticipate. With his bloody hand, he grabbed her neck and lifted her up into the air. She immediately dropped her sword; it clattered on the deck of the ship, and she used her hands to claw at his fingers.

  “As lovely as this was, darling,” he said, assessing her with dark eyes, “I’m afraid I must take my leave. You see, while you were brilliantly fighting me, your two sailors were being promptly tied up and placed in the cargo hold you so desired to throw these innocent men, women, and children into. I, of course, could not, in good conscious, let that happen.” He brought her close to him, to his face, so her toes barely scraped the deck of the ship. “And judging from the horrified look on your face the moment you realized what was happening, you could not, either.”

  “You used me,” Kelia managed to choke out, her hands still trying to force his to release her. She could feel the blood stick to her neck, like some kind of marker of her betrayal to The Society. And his betrayal to her. “You used me for this information.”

  “I wasn’t sure if you would free them,” Drew told her seriously.

  “You didn’t trust me.”

  Drew shook his head once. “No,” he said. “But now I see you and I are not as different as you like to believe.”

  “You betrayed me,” Kelia said through gritted teeth. “You kept that from me. You knew exactly what The Society was picking up. You knew it, and you did not tell me.”