The Black Moon's Curse (The Stellara Trilogy Book 1)

by Alicia Restucci

  Suddenly she could hear the stomping of feet above them. The shouting from different men began as they prepared for an attack. “We need to help them. If there’s a storm coming and they’re being attacked, they need our help.” She said as she stumbled across the room.

  Asher shook his head as he pushed off the door frame. “No. Stay here where it’s safe. Do not leave this room.”

  With that order, he was gone and headed up to help the pirates.

  Ember just stood there stunned before she shook her head and hurried after him.

  Like hell she’d just sit here and hide.

  Chapter 25

  The crew of the Obsidian were in complete and utter chaos as Ember emerged from below deck as well. Men were racing back and forth as they prepared for a storm, and to prepare to take on a battle. Rain had started to drizzle down on them. The waves rocked the ship around fiercely instead of the usual calmness she was used to. She had to hold the side of the Obsidian to keep herself from stumbling.

  People were shouting as they tried to do what they could before the drizzle changed into a fullon down pour. She couldn’t make out Asher or Reid from the others rushing around, but she knew they were out here. Ophelia’s white coat was easy enough to spot as she helped Patch tie down what they couldn’t afford to lose. Her attention shift as she spotted Ari shouting orders while she and Ana helped get the sails secured.

  The sound of Sebastian’s voice was booming over everything else going on as he shouted one order after another from his position at the wheel.

  This wasn’t their first time handling a situation like this, she noted, as she watched how no one seemed to be panicking. Ember gripped the wood underneath her hands as the ship continued to rock. Her eyes squinted, her hand raising to cover her face from the quickly disappearing sun. She searched for any sign of the ship that had fired at them.

  Not so far off, she could spot a ship quickly catching up with them. It wasn’t how close the ship was that made her blood freeze in her veins though.

  No, it was because she knew that ship. It was King Ivan’s personal ship, the Black Eel. It was the very ship only two weeks ago she’d been hoping to see in the harbor of Iron Kress with her father safely aboard it.

  Her eyes immediately searched for Asher again, wondered if he had realized whose ship was gaining on them. She finally found him shouting his own set of orders as he and a small group of men prepared the cannons for battle. James was with him doing what he could to help. James, a child, was allowed to help, butshe’d been ordered to hide.

  There wasn’t time for her to be upset over that. She needed to see what she could do to help prepare for the attack.

  Fumbling with her footing, not yet used to the unsteady rocking of the ship, Ember made it to the stairs that led up to where Sebastian was steering the ship. Climbing, she only stumbled twice before she made it to the top. She paused long enough to realize Sebastian was having a hard time keeping a grip on the wheel. The ship was fighting against him.

  She rushed to his side, her hands laying over his as she tried to help keep the wheel from taking control from them.

  His eyes widened in surprise at her appearance before anger replaced it. “You shouldn’t be uphere. It’s too dangerous.” He shouted over the thunderous boom that echoed through the air around them.

  The Obsidian rocked hard to the right from the impact of another cannon landing in the water so close to the ship. Her footing slipped, but she quicklysteadied herself. “Don't you dare say I’m too weak to fight like everyone else here is. I’m not the same helpless girl you kidnapped back in Iron Kress. I want to help you. I’m not going to hide and let you all risk your lives.” She snapped back, her glare burning as she met his own glare that he had set on her.

  He looked as if he wanted to make another argument, but the next boom caught his attention before he could. His eyes widened as he caught sight of something. “Brace for impact!” He shouted as loudly as he could to warn his crew.

  Ember didn’t have time to realize what he meant before his arm wrapped around her, tugging her closer to him.

  Seconds later, the entire ship jolted as a cannon ripped through the wood. Men shouted, not in fear but to order new demands. This wasn’t new for them, she remembered. Even Asher and Ophelia didn’t look frightened as they each returned to their tasks.

  “Get those cannons ready to fire on my order, Prince.” Sebastian ordered, his hands tightening around the wheel as he fought against the tug from the ship.

  Ember half expected Asher to make some kind of comment, send the Captain a glare, but neither happened. Asher accepted his orders and went to work as he said something to James, pointing to the gun powder in the barrel closest to them.

  “If you’re going to help me steer, pretty girl? You’re going to have to pay attention.” Sebastian said lowly, his eyes never leaving the crew below them.

  Ember straightened, her grip tightening on the wheel as she nodded. She didn’t know how to handle a ship during a storm, let alone during a fight. She’d do nothing but get in the other’s way. At least this way, she felt as if she was helping.

  “I’m not going anywhere.” She said, her eyes flickering up to him.

  He spared her a glance then, and for a brief moment she thought she saw something she hadn’t seen before in his eyes. The emotion was gone too quickly for her to decipher what it had been. His eyes returned to the chaos around them, silently telling her to do the same.

  “It’s the Black Eel. It’s the fastest ship Iron Kress has besides Asher’s. We won’t out run them, especially not during this bad of a storm.” Ember explained, hoping to tell him anything that might help him figure out a plan.

  Before he could make a comment, Ophelia appeared at the top of the stairs. Her white hair whipped around wildly as she held her hand up to keep it out of her face. Her caramel skin looked ashen as her eyes were wide with fear. She was drenched from the rain. “They have a witch aboard their ship. She’s a powerful one too. That’s how the storm appeared with no warning. She’s controlling the it.” She shouted over the winds, her nails digging into the railings to keep herself from stumbling.

  With a look over her shoulder, Ember could see the blood fade from his face. He was afraid. It was an emotion she had yet to see on him before. “Can you do anything?” He asked, his gaze shifting between her and the enemy ship.

  From the frown carved into her friend’s face, Ember knew she couldn’t.

  “I haven’t mastered elemental magic. I’m afraid I’d only make things worse if I tried.” She said, unfortunately confirming Ember’s thought.

  She felt Sebastian tense behind her, his grip tightening around the wheel as his jaw clenched. His eyes searched his crew, a sadness in his eyes. “Then we’re going to lose. With the sea fighting against us, we’ll either be pulled under or we’ll be boarded.” He said, though it sounded more like he was just speaking his thoughts of realization.

  Ember placed her hand over his, her eyes lifting to meet his. “Then we’ll give them a one hell of a fight. I’ll fight for this ship, for my friends. You.”

  Ophelia nodded in agreement. “As will I.”

  Sebastian’s expression was a mix between grateful and surprise. With a nod, Ember knew he was accepting their help. A moment went by before he spoke again. “Then we prepare to be boarded. Ophelia, warn the crew. Ember, do not let go of this wheel. I’m hoping your bastard prince taught you how to steer.”

  A stunned expression flashed across her face before nodded. “What about you?”

  He tensed as he turned his attention to the approaching ship. He’d let go of the wheel, confident she could keep it steady, and moved around it. “I’m going to make sure we survive and make it to the island.” He said, not sparing either woman a glance.

  Ophelia stayed for a moment longer before another blast shook her back to reality. With a nod, she turned and went to warn the others. When she was gone, Sebastian only waited a minute befor
e returning to Ember’s side. “I need you to promise me something.” He said, though from the look in his eyes she knew telling him no wasn’t an option.

  “If you tell me to go hide again, Sebastian, I’ll-”

  He quickly shook his head, silencing her threat. “I wasn’t, but …. if we’re b oarded and there’s even a second of doubt of us winning? I want you to take James, Asher, and Ophelia to the row boat. I want you to get in that boat and make it to the island. Break the curse, free my brother and tell him that I …. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there to see him myself.”

  Tears swam in her eyes as she realized Sebastian was preparing for the worst. It became even clearer when he slipped the coin off from around his neck and slid the chain on around hers. “You take this for my part of the ritual. Keep it safe for me.” He said, his voice cracking the emotion he was trying to fight back.

  “You can’t be serious. You can’t-” Leave me.

  His hand cupped her cheek, his thumb stroking water away. She wasn’t sure if it was rain or tears, but he didn’t seem to care and neither did she. “Please,” She begged. Her voice sounded raw from the emotions filling her heart.

  The Obsidian jolted again, the shouting growing louder. The other ship was upon them, preparing to board as they stood there. There wasn’t any more time to spare. This fight was happening whether they were ready or not.

  Sebastian closed the distance between them, pressing his lips against hers with everything he had. Her lips welcomed the dance, her eyes closing as her fingers tightened their grip on the wheel. She wasn’t sure if it was because she needed to anchor herself, or to keep herself from wrapping her arms around him and forgetting why she was holding the wooden wheel to begin with.

  The kiss slowed, their heads resting against the other once he pulled away for air. “We will see each other again. I don’t care if it’s me as a prisoner and you as a queen or somehow on that sandy beach ready to break the curse. It might even be

  somewhere in the afterlife, but we will see each other again. I promise you that, Emberlyn

  Lethorne.” He whispered.

  Before she could even nod her head, he was turning to leave. She wanted to tell him not to go, but he wouldn’t be who he was if he let his family fight for their lives without him.

  With one last glance back, he descended the stairs as he started giving out new orders to his crew.

  Straightening her spine, she swallowed her fear as she kept the ship from taking control and steering them to their deaths.

  Fear struck her as she watched the royal guards swing from the Black Eel over to the Obsidian. Suddenly the shouting of orders turned into roars of battle cries before the sound of clashing of swords were heard. She was suddenly grateful for the dagger tucked inside of the holster around her upper thigh. She hadn’t wanted it when Ari insisted that she had it on her, but now she’d have to make time to tell her thank you for not taking no for an answer. It meant she didn’t have to feel completely defenseless up here without anyone here to save her. She could save herself.

  Hopefully.

  Chapter 26

  The sky seemed to rip open as the rain grew heavier. The wind felt harsher as it shoved the Obsidian around. The waves were crashing against them, the ocean itself taking its own prisoners. Ember could barely keep her grip on the wheel by herself, but she refused to give up. Not to prove Sebastian wrong about her, but because she needed to prove it to herself that she could do this.

  Ember let her eyes searched the deck below her. Her heart was racing as she tried to keep track of the people she cared about and even the ones she didn’t want to admit she cared about like Ari. While she couldn’t spot James, she spotted both Reid and Asher fighting back to back. It was as if they were defending the crates of rum. She had to assume James was hidden somewhere behind those crates. She hoped his monkey friend was safe from harm with all of this chaos going on.

  As her gaze continued around, she noticed Ari, Patch, and Ophelia in their own battles. The women had each other’s back as Ophelia used what magic that she could wield to knock Ari’s attacker back before they could deliver a fatal blow. In turn, Ari shouted for Ophelia to duck as she prepared to throw a dagger in her direction. The blade met its target as the man jolted to a stop before falling dead where he stood.

  Ember watched on as Ari held a hand out for the Princess to take. Ophelia didn’t hesitate before taking it, allowing the pirate to help her back up onto her feet.

  Her attention was pulled to the right as a cry of pain met her ears. Her panic raised as she searched for who it belonged to.

  Ana.

  The other sister fought alone with no sign of anyone who could come to her aid. She was fighting to the best of her ability, but she was hurt. Blood coated her wet sleeve. There was a new cut in the fabric exposing the wound up by her shoulder. Still, she let out a battle cry as fierce as any warrior Ember had ever read about as she pushed back against her attacker.

  Her eyes scanned the deck for anyone that could help Ana, but no one would be able to get there in time.

  No one except her.

  But she couldn’t leave the wheel unattended, or else the reality of them going under one of the storming waves around them would come true. Her eyes searched for anything she could use to keep the wheel locked in place.

  Her eyes landed on a mop not too far from her.

  She couldn’t give her friends a warning to hold on without warning King Ivan’s men as well. She just hoped they could handle the jolt. Ember took a deep breath before she let go of the wheel, fumbling from the suddenly jolted turn as she scrambled to reach the mop. She tried not to notice how the ship pushed away from the Black Eel. The ropes that connected the two ships popped free.

  Once it was held tightly in her grasp, she returned to the wheel. Grabbing it with every strength she could find, she righted them back on course. Her teeth gritted as she pushed against the current. The ship fought against her grip, as if it knew she was not the usual captain who knew how to sweet talk and handle the ship as if it was another woman he could charm.

  It was resisting her, but she refused to let it take back control. With a grunt, she shoved the wooden stick through the gaps. She made sure it was thoroughly stuck and unable to spin before she released it. Ember stood there panting for a moment, waiting to make sure it held. She knew the mop handle wouldn’t hold it for long, but she didn’t need hours. She just needed a few minutes.

  A clatter of metal, followed be a familiar grunt caught her attention. Rushing to the railing overlooking the deck below, Ember’s eyes immediately went to where she’d last seen Ana. The blonde had been disarmed, now fallen to the ground as the guard stood over her with his gun pointed at her. The man had every intention of killing the unarmed girl.

  “No,” She gasped, trying to think of what she could do.

  Before she could hesitate too long, she grabbed the dagger from her thigh holster and threw it with the deadly aim Asher had once taught her.

  He’d once warned her if she was going to use it, she needed to make sure she hit her target because she probably wouldn’t get a second chance.

  With his body covered in armor and his head protected by a helmet, she knew she wouldn’t have a chance of striking anything important, but his hand was outstretched holding the gun. It wasn’t covered in armor and it was the threat in that moment.

  Her dagger somehow hit its mark as it embedded itself in the back of his hand, causing him to drop his weapon as he yelled in pain. He fell to his knees as he held his wounded hand to his chest.

  Ana’s head darted up, her eyes searching for her savoir until they settled on Ember. Surprise shined in her eyes as she realized it was the spoiled lady of the court who’d saved her from death. Her head nodded just slightly, silently sending her thanks.

  Ember returned it with a mock bow, her two fingers raising high as she gave her an equally mocking salute as if to tell her it was her pleasure. Ana just shook her head, chuckli
ng as she grabbed her fallen sword and climbed back to her feet. As she raised a single finger to her, she turned and returned to the fight at hand.

  Ember turned to return to the wheel, but the sound of thunderous footsteps caught her attention. Her hero act had caught the attention of the guards who hadn’t realized she was up here by herself. Her body froze, her eyes frantically searching for any sign of another weapon seeing as the only one she had was now embedded in another man’s hand.

  “Shit,” She cursed, the stupidity of losing her only weapon hitting her.

  Her eyes darted to the door leading to Sebastian’s sleeping quarters. He had extra weapons in there, more swords and guns he’d hidden away or used for decoration. Her eyes darted back to the guards approaching, their weapons raised as they seemed to be calculating how much space stood between them and her.

  When the closest guard made his lunge for her, she darted to the side and made a run for Sebastian’s door. Quickly twisting the knob, she found herself grateful it was unlocked and she pushed through the doorway before turning and slamming it firmly shut behind her. Her fingers shook slightly as she quickly twisted the lock into place just as the fists started to beat against the door.

  Panting, she closed her eyes as her back rest against the door. Her eyes shot open as a blade shot through the area of wood beside her head. A gasp slipped passed her lips as she pushed herself away from the door. It wouldn’t keep them out for long, but hopefully it held out long enough for her to arm herself.

  Fumbling, she steadied her footing as she searched the room for anything that she could use to defend herself. Her eyes darted around for anything that caught her eye. The beating of someone ramming their shoulder into the door was white noise to her ears as she tossed aside sheets and rags and clothing that Sebastian hadn’t had time to put away.

  A deafening crack met her ears, causing her to pause as she turned her head to the door. The door wasn’t going to hold much longer. She had to hurry before her small amount of time was up. She crossed the room to his desk and sighed in relief as she saw the two swords, both sheathed in the metal display that was hanging up on the wall.