by ML Guida
But the beast emerged and shrieked.
Men raced around the deck in a sudden panic.
“Hold true,” Kane yelled as he withdrew his pistol.
His booming voice seemed to calm them.
He fired and hit the beast in one eye. It shrieked, then it spewed a sticky strand that wrapped around the Phoenix’s mast. A loud crack exploded as the mast crashed into the sea, and the ship rolled to the starboard side. Water splashed high into the air and soaked Penelope. She longed to return to the sea, but she refused to abandon the brave crew. Besides, she had no idea how fast the beast could swim. Who knew the bounds of the demon’s black magic?
Ewan stood next to the Kane. “Captain, where’s William and Leif?”
“I had them hunting for the spider on nearby islands. I had no idea the bloody thing could swim underwater. They will not return in time.”
Penelope looked around. “What about Mariah?”
“She’s with William, of course,” Ewan grumbled.
The spider splashed water onto the ship, knocking Doc into the sea.
“Help me,” he cried as he tried to desperately swim away from the beast.
Bloodied and covered with ash, Hannah stretched out her shaking arms and faced her palms out. A trickle of blood dripped down her nose. Penelope wasn’t sure she was strong enough to save Doc, and Mariah wasn’t here. If it had been a full moon, Doc could have turned into a vampire, but as a man, he was as helpless as a mortal.
Kane yelled, “Bloody hell, Doc!” He aimed his pistol and fired, hitting the beast in another eye. It cried in agony but didn’t release Doc.
Hannah lifted him into the air, but the spider shrieked, and a strand wrapped around Doc’s abdomen. He screamed as if in agony. Maybe it was Hannah’s fearlessness. Maybe it was Mariah’s belief in her. Or, maybe it was the gut wrenching fear swirling inside Penelope, but she sprang into action. She drew on her power and pointed her finger at the strand threatening to rip Doc in half.
Snowflakes dropped onto the strand. She groaned, but when Doc screamed in agony, she tried again. Determined to save him, she drew on every ounce of energy she possessed and pointed both arms at the strand. Energy that she’d never felt before flowed through her. An icy ray jetted out of her fingers and hit the sticky strand. It changed from white to an icy blue. It slowly cracked and broke in half. Doc crashed into the ocean.
Men cheered and clapped.
“Blimey, God bless the lass.”
“Praise to the ice princess!”
She put her arms down and caught her breath. She smiled sheepishly as euphoria rippled through her. Men patted her on the back, and Kane even hugged her.
“You have done well, lass.”
She basked in the captain’s praise, but ’twas Ewan’s response that made her cheeks glow. Instead of hate and anger, admiration flickered in his gaze, and he bowed slightly as if he were an adoring subject. She was too shocked to say anything.
Before she could jump for joy and run into his arms, the spider turned its gaze on her.
Blood dripped from one eye where Kane had shot it and splashed onto the water. It swam past Doc as if he were a forgotten guppy. Penelope backed away, realizing ’twas after her.
She flicked her finger again and only produced snowflakes.
A shriek above made the spider stop. It ducked under water as a ray of fire hit the surface.
Penelope looked up and smiled. She’d never been so glad to see anyone. Mariah and William swooped down toward the ship.
Without uttering one word of praise, Ewan sheathed his sword, then flung her over his shoulder, knocking the breath out of her.
“William, Mariah, down here. Get Penelope out of here!”
William unleashed his talons and snatched Ewan’s shoulders. Penelope cried out as she was lifted high into the air, but what terrified her more was what she could see below the ocean. A dark black creature swam underwater, faster than anything she’d ever seen. The time-spider hadn’t given up yet.
She was a danger to everyone around her. The Phoenix had almost sunk. Doc had almost perished. He’d been so kind when she was first brought on board the ship, and he was obviously loved by his crew. What if the time-spider went after someone she really cared about like Isabella, Angelica, or the twins? Zuto had promised he would kill all who she loved if she didn’t come willing. Could she really stand aside and watch those she loved die?
She wasn’t a hero, but she wasn’t callous, either.
“Penelope,” Mariah called. “Draw on your power and turn the ocean to ice, S'il vous plaît?”
Penelope was amazed at the blind faith Mariah had in her abilities. If she’d known her many failures, she would have put her faith in someone else. But not one to disobey an order, Penelope looked deep inside herself and drew on her power. She pointed at the sea, and instead of ice, snow fell onto the ocean and melted. Her cheeks flamed. Her victory had turned south.
“William, s’il vous plaît, fly into the clouds.”
William turned his head and shrieked. Penelope wasn’t sure he was going to do it, but he flew into the fluffy white clouds. Moisture sprinkled onto Penelope’s face, and her clothes stuck to her skin. They flew over an endless stream of ocean, but then a lone ship appeared––the Fiery Damsel. Fear rose up her throat like spiny sea urchins. Penelope had hoped the beast would tip it over and they’d all drown.
William started to descend and aimed for a nearby island. With no mountains and a peninsula, Penelope recognized it as the one where Ewan had attacked her. She tried to forget that and concentrate on the first time he’d kissed her. But she doubted that would ever happen again, since he blamed her for his daughter being kidnapped.
The island wouldn’t offer them any protection. Saving Doc had given her some courage. Maybe she wasn’t such a failure after all. ’Twas time to stop acting like the helpless sister and carry on her sisters’ tradition and become a warrior princess.
Chapter Seventeen
Ewan soared high into the blue sky and clouds brushed over him, leaving a sleek moisture on his skin. He loved to fly as a bat and liked the rush of air over him. But this was agony, and he couldn’t breathe.
William had dug his talons deep into Ewan’s shoulders, drawing blood that dripped down his torso and stained Penelope’s delicate hands red. She held on tight to his legs, turning her knuckles white. He’d been so angry with her for not telling him about the dream, but when she had risked her life to Doc he’d seen another side of her. She was frightened, but like Wynda, she was full of compassion and willing to put aside her fear to save another. He couldn’t help, but admire her.
Her grip loosened, and she slipped.
“Ewan!”
Her voice was filled with terror, and she kicked her legs as if trying to move herself up his body.
Despite the agony pulsing through him, he managed to grab her hand. Using what little vampire strength he possessed, he hauled her up until she faced him nose-to-nose.
“Wrap yer arms around me neck.” He panted. “I canna hold ye much longer.”
He didn’t have to tell her twice. She draped her arms around his neck tightly choking off his air. Her beautiful face blurred in front of his face, and dizziness swept over him.
“Penelope, I…canna…breathe.”
“Sorry,” she whispered into his ear. “I’m so scared. The time-spider is swimming below us, following us.”
Another shriek sent hope straight to Ewan’s heart.
Penelope wrapped her legs around Ewan’s hips. Her soft core straddled his manhood that was only too happy to feel her pressed against it.
“Is that another time-spider?”
Trying to concentrate on not passing out or thrusting his hips into her feminine folds, Ewan drew on every ounce of chivalry he’d once possessed.
“No.” He hissed the word between his tight lips. “‘Tis Leif. He’ll draw off the time-spider. Dona panic.”
“I’ll try.” She rest
ed her head on his shoulder.
He could feel her heart beating hard against his chest, and he could hear the blood rushing through her veins. His incisors grew, and he tilted his head back to keep from sinking his fangs into her flesh. The pendant warmed his chest, sending tranquility through his body, and the lust for blood dimmed. Taking a deep breath, he wrapped his good arm around her waist and allowed his other hurt one to dangle by his side.
He whispered into her ear, “Ye will not fall. I promise.”
She bit her lip and nodded, but her eyes were wide with panic.
Her hair caressed his cheek, and he concentrated on her tantalizing scent rather than the pain rippling through him.
William sailed out of the clouds, and Ewan studied the sea, looking for the time-spider, but he didn’t see a shadow or a wrinkle in the deep blue. They approached the same peaceful island that he and Penelope had been on when he’d attacked her. He vowed not to give in to the curse and promised himself he would take care of Penelope, even if he had to risk his own life to save her.
The dragon glided over the beach then unclenched his talons. Ewan and Penelope fell onto the sand and rolled together. When they stopped, Penelope lay on top of him. Her blond hair was tossed over to one side, revealing a perfect ear. She pushed her hands onto his chest, and he winced. Misery stabbed him, and he arched his back.
She immediately removed her hands. “Oh, Ewan, I’m so sorry. I keep hurting you.”
He was touched that she cared. Not many princesses cared about a lowlife pirate.
Mariah slid off William and hurried over them. “Are you hurt?”
Penelope untangled herself from Ewan. “I am not, but Ewan is.”
Mariah knelt next to him. “‘Tis the poison. I must leave with William to help Leif.” She looked over at Penelope. “You must find aloe and place it on his wound. It will help with the pain.” Mariah pushed Ewan’s hair off his sweaty cheeks. “Clutch the pendant. I wish I could do more.”
“I understand.” He turned onto his side, then gritting his teeth, forced himself to climb onto one knee. He sucked in deep breaths, then pushed himself to stand. He braced his legs apart to keep from falling. He went to take a step on his own, but not before Penelope draped his arm around her slim shoulders.
“Ye canna hold me up.”
She braced her feet so he could lean against her. “Apparently, I can. Mariah, go. I promise I’ll take care of him.”
Her strength amazed him since she was so petite, but he kept forgetting she wasn’t a woman––she was an undine.
Mariah left and rushed over to William. She climbed onto his back, and William flapped his wings, flinging a sand storm onto them. Ewan shielded his face with his arm and stepped in front of Penelope to take the brunt of the stinging debris. Bits of dust flew into his mouth and eyes and nose. He blinked and spat out sand just as William rested back onto his haunches, then jumped into the air.
Penelope coughed then gently rubbed his back. “Ewan, I do not think we should we stay on the beach. Can you walk?”
“Aye, I can.” ’Twas a lie, but he refused to admit he was a weak, pasty codfish.
“Lean on me,” she said.
“Ye––”
“We don’t have time to argue. Come on, before that thing finds us.”
Ewan reluctantly admitted she was right, and he used her slim body as a crutch as they crept toward the jungle. His shoulder throbbed, but ’twas the pain inside him that nearly drove him mad. He held onto the diamond pendant and shoved the anger, hate, and hunger brewing inside him to the farthest corners of his mind and prayed silently to the archangel.
Raphael, please help me. Keep both Catriona and Penelope safe.
But nothing happened, and he cursed. The archangel kept true to his word and said that this task wouldn’t be easy. Couldn’t he at least watch over a blind girl? What kind of angel was he, anyway?
Fine, he would find a way to control the curse. He inhaled Penelope’s fresh scent sent that made him think of spring time in Scotland.
She directed them to a thick bundle of ferns. “We need to get to fresh water. There’s a stream behind the thick jungle.”
Ewan focused on putting one foot in front of the other. Sweat trickled down his temples and clung to his back. He was suddenly aware of the dryness in his throat as if it was clogged with sand. He couldn’t swallow. On board the Phoenix, he’d refused even a spoonful of water. What the hell was different?
He fell, dragging them both onto the sand. The lush jungle seemed to move farther and farther away.
“Ewan.” Penelope patted his cool cheeks. “Stay with me.”
“Give me a minute.” He took deep breaths then pushed himself to stand.
Penelope wrapped her arm around his waist. He glanced down at the top of her head. He noticed that she possessed not only strands of blond but she had streaks of silver. He’d never seen such a beautiful crown of glory, and he swore it glowed like a halo.
He stumbled over a rock, and they crashed through the jungle. Leaves slapped him in the face, and twigs scratched his skin. He dug his heal into the soft dirt to keep them from falling down a mossy ravine, but his foot slipped, and they toppled down the ravine’s wet and soggy side. The silver chain caught on something and yanked hard, tearing into his skin. It broke, and fear sled into his heart.
Penelope cried out and tumbled away from him. She disappeared into some flowery bushes.
He slammed his shoulder into a rock in the middle of a muddy stream. Agony nearly blinded him. He took deep breaths before he could cry out. “Penelope, where are ye?”
“I am here.” She walked over. Mud coated her shirt and trousers, and she had flecks of dirt in her blond hair.
“Mariah’s…pendant.” He pointed up the hill. “It broke. I need it.”
She looked where they’d rolled down the long and steep embankment. “Ewan, there’s no way for me to find it. The bank is thick with foliage.”
He gripped her hand and squeezed hard. “Please. “
She winced. “Ow, you’re hurting me!”
His fangs elongated, and his nostrils flared at the smell of her sweet blood. “The hunger…‘tis growing stronger.”
“I demand that you release me.”
He immediately complied. “Please…I dona want to hurt ye again.”
“And you won’t. Not unless you want to become a frozen statue forever.”
Anger flashed into her voice. The ice wall that was between them had melted after she saved Doc, but now ’twas icier than ever. He sighed and watched her.
She put her hands on her hips, and a look of misery flashed across her muddy face. “Wait here.” She used both her hands and feet to climb the slick slope.
Ewan wondered if she’d make good on her threat or if she even had the power to do it. He was too damn tired to find out. He looked up to the heavens. “Raphael, please help her find it.” Bitterness swelled inside him. He didn’t know if the archangel heard or even cared.
A sharp cry jerked his attention to Penelope. She lay sprawled out on in the mud. She raised her head and mud caked her cheek. He expected her to give up and admit defeat, but she surprised him. She crawled up the embankment hanging on to rocks and grabbing ferns.
“Ewan, I think I see it.”
Surprise flooded over him. The archangel answered his prayer. He rested his head back on a grassy mound. “Thank ye, Raphael.”
“No, ‘tis rock.”
His hoped died. He should have known. He stopped listening to Penelope prattle on about what she thought was the pendant––a pebble, a leaf, a beetle. He concentrated on battling the demons within him. His muscles and blood thinned as if ’twas slowly being sucked out of his body. His throat felt as if it was turning to ash, and he couldn’t swallow.
Kill. Kill. Kill.
The thought pounded into his skull. He shook his head. “No.” But ’twas such a weak response, and his will was slowly crumbling.
Soft foots
teps squished next to him. He opened his eyes to a mud-splattered Penelope. “My God, your eyes! No, I won’t let the evil win.” She slammed a dirty stone against his chest. “Come back to me, Ewan!”
Cold power sizzled through him, freezing his evil thoughts. His body arched, and he shivered uncontrollably. His teeth chattered, and his blood chilled. He’d never felt anything like this before. ’Twas pure and cool and innocent. Like he’d fallen in a snowbank back in Scotland as he had done as a lad playing with his friends.
Penelope jerked her hand away. “What have I done?”
Ewan slowly stopped shivering, and the pain inside him subsided. Penelope had tears glistening on her muddy cheeks that turned into brown and white streaks.
He caught his breath, then clasped her hand. “Ye used yer power, Penelope, and defeated the hunger. Not even Mariah could do this.”
She laughed and wiped her face, smearing the mud. “Your beautiful green eyes are back. I didn’t do anything.” She held up the stone that she had pressed on his chest. “See, ’twas Mariah’s diamond.”
He ran his hand up her arm. “That’s a rock, Penelope.”
She furrowed her brows and studied it. “It can’t be. I don’t understand. What’s happening?”
He smiled. “It seems to me that ye’re gaining control of yer power.”
She looked at him, then dropped the rock into the mud. She tilted her head back and laughed, obviously not believing him. “Yes, if you want a snowman, I am your man.”
He slid his hand behind her neck and gently pulled her toward him. “Yer definitely no man.”
She didn’t fight him. “I’m a mess,” she whispered as her warm breath washed over him.
He brushed the pad of his thumb gently over her lips, wiping off a clump of mud. “So am I.” He parted his lips, and kissed her, tasting sand and dirt, but mostly Penelope. She was spicy, hot, and cool all at the same time. Her courage and tenacity never sensed to amaze him.
“No man makes me feel like you, but we need to stop.”
He pulled away. “Why?”
“My father says that I will lose my powers if I defile myself.”
“Defile yeself? Ye mean with a kiss?”
