Destiny of The Vampire

by Guida, ML

  “Penelope,” he panted. “Wake up.”

  He slashed the sword down on the strand, but his effort was too weak, and the sword fell out of his hand. He grabbed Penelope’s hand and hung on tight. If she was going through that crack, he was going with her.

  Heat flashed over him. Fire sizzled the strand, and it went up in smoke. Before he knew what was happening, something clawed into his shoulders and swooped him into the air.

  “No!”

  He wiggled to get free, only to see a green dragon with a dark-haired woman riding on its back aim for Penelope.

  ’Twas Mariah and William! In dragon form, William gently picked up Penelope with his talons and flew back into the air. Penelope was safe. Mariah would know what to do.

  He looked above him to see the red belly of a dragon. ’Twas Leif.

  Poison pooled into Ewan’s belly, and blinding pain shot through him. He convulsed violently, his arms and legs flapping. His vision blurred.

  Air whooshed over him, and he fell helplessly toward the ocean. He drew on his vampire powers but couldn’t concentrate. He waited for more pain.

  Just as the ocean rushed up, Leif dug his talons into Ewan’s arm and whisked him up to the blue and white sky. Ewan parted his lips, and more dribble gushed down his chest. His gut burned as if he were on fire from the inside. He broke out into a hot sweat that stung his eyes.

  Leif flew toward a frigate with a red and black flag flapping on the mast. He knew those colors. ’Twas a red flag with a black phoenix.

  Ewan went limp. Weariness and dread soaked into his skin. Not from the spider’s poison, but from the idea of having to face an angry captain and crew. Kane would banish him from the only home he’d ever known. He’d accuse him of putting Hannah in danger and ’twas the one sin he would never forgive.

  If he’d had to do it all over again, he’d make the same choice. He’d promised Wynda he would keep Catriona safe, and he’d never break that vow.

  Chapter 14

  Leif released Ewan, and he landed on the deck of the Soaring Phoenix with a loud thud. Anguish pulsed through him, and he couldn’t breathe. He inhaled the oiled wood. The spider’s blood stuck to his skin, and he could barely move.

  Two large shadows flew overhead, blocking out the shining sun before landing at the other end of the bow. The ship tilted upward and groaned, then splashed down into the sea. Drops of water landed on Ewan’s body.

  “Captaine, Penelope has been attacked!”

  Mariah’s shocked voice pricked his soul.

  “Man the guns.” Kane ran to the port side and aimed his spyglass at the island. “The Fiery Damsel must be close by.”

  Ewan winced. If ’twas not for the spider’s blood, his guilt would be clear. He had wanted to save her—not feast on her.

  Mariah hurried toward the stairs with William carrying Penelope’s bloody form. “S’il vous plaît! William, we must take her below. I have herbs that can help her.”

  Ewan put his arm over his forehead. Mariah was a powerful witch and would help Penelope. How could he face Penelope again? He’d treated her as if she was his favorite meal. If it hadn’t been for the time spider, he’d have killed her.

  He rolled to his side, not able to look anymore. Hard footsteps pounded toward him, and he closed his eyes. He didn’t care what happened as long as Penelope was safe.

  Someone shook his shoulders hard. “Bloody hell, Ewan, what the hell happened?”

  Kane’s voice commanded an answer.

  Ewan’s teeth chattered, and he couldn’t talk with the flaring pain slicing through him.

  “Cap’n.” Mallory jerked Kane’s arm. “You’re hurting him. Killing him isn’t going to get you any answers.”

  Immediately, Kane ceased shaking Ewan. “Palmer has to be nearby. No one else could have hurt the poor lass.”

  Ewan was too afraid to tell Kane the truth. Kane wasn’t just concerned about Penelope though. He was worried about Hannah. His greatest fear would be that Palmer would kidnap Hannah and hand her over to Zuto, who would finally kill her and appease Maketabori.

  Ewan took three deep breaths before he could answer. “The...spider stung me just as I stabbed…its belly.” Spasms wrecked Ewan’s body, and he coughed and hacked up his guts. Lord, he just wanted the pain to quit. Sweat poured down his body and stung his eyes. He’d not experienced this much pain since he’d become a vampire.

  “Mallory, get Doc.” Kane lowered his voice, but not the edginess.

  “Aye, Captain.” Mallory hurried away to find Doc.

  “What is that stench?” someone asked.

  “Serves the bastard right.”

  Ewan held his gut, not wanting to look at the condemnation in the men’s faces. Men that he’d learned to call brothers. He’d be punished for disabling the Phoenix and disobeying the captain. But he’d had no choice.

  “Let me through, ye slow-witted buggers.” Doc’s voice rumbled, but there was no malice.

  Ewan opened his eyes to see concern in Doc’s dark eyes. An escaped slave, he was the surgeon of the Soaring Phoenix, and he’d learned medicine on his former plantation, where he cared for tortured and sick slaves.

  “Captain, I don’ know what dis is, but he’s been hurt. Dat’s blood mixing with this foul stuff. I’ve got to take ’em below.”

  “Aye,” Kane said. “Get him well, Doc. He’s got some answering to do.”

  Doc stood and faced the captain. Worry was etched across his weathered brown face. “But—”

  “No exceptions.”

  Kane’s cold voice sent chills down Ewan’s spine and silenced Doc’s plea.

  Kane was a fair but hard captain. His word was law on the ship. He wasn’t as brutal as Quinton Palmer, but when it came to Hannah, Kane would show no mercy, and Ewan had crossed that line.

  “Leif, take him below.”

  Although Leif and Ewan were similar in height and build, Leif was a vampire and a dragon and possessed double the strength of any man on board the ship. He had been a member of the Fiery Damsel until a month ago. Now, he was determined to prove his worthiness among the crew. “Aye, aye, Captain.” He seized Ewan’s wrist and hauled him over a hard shoulder, knocking the wind out of him. “Where do ye want me to take him, Doc?”

  “Da crew’s quarters. We need to get dis filth off him. I can’t see wid all dis black tar stickin’ to his skin.”

  “He’s a bloody traitor,” someone grumbled.

  But Ewan knew the men would carry out Doc’s request. He was more than just their surgeon. He was a friend and stitched and mended all of them—including the captain.

  Leif carried Ewan down the steps to the crew’s quarters. Each time he moved agony pulsed through Ewan. He gritted his teeth, refusing to cry for mercy or plead for forgiveness.

  The warmth of the sun vanished as they went below deck. A slight chill hung in the air, and Ewan shivered. The door was open in Kane’s cabin.

  Penelope lay stretched out on Kane’s bed, and both Hannah and Mariah hovered over her. Hannah sat on the bed and dabbed a washcloth on Penelope’s ashen face. She wasn’t moving.

  Ewan turned his head, hating himself for losing control. It would be his fault if she died. And if she died, Catriona would remain blind, or worse, be murdered.

  Leif edged down the corridor that led to the crew’s quarters. The lanterns cast shadows on the wall. Leif carefully lowered Ewan onto his feet, then draped his arm around his shoulders.

  He wrinkled his nose and disgust filled his green eyes. “Sweet merciful heaven, ye stink to high heaven.”

  Ewan didn’t answer since Leif now had the spider’s blood smeared in his dark hair. But he didn’t abandon Ewan. He dragged him into the crew’s quarters. The ship rocked and hammocks swung back and forth. Doc rushed in with two men carrying a wooden tub that was set against the wall. Cook followed them, holding a steaming hot pot of water. He poured it into the tub.

  Doc nodded to Leif. “Strip ’em down while I get my bag.”
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br />   Leif placed Ewan on the nearest hammock and stripped off his boots, then removed his weapons. Ewan wanted to argue that he could undress himself, but each time he took a breath, the pain intensified. He shuddered again, uncontrollably.

  “He’s looking pretty bad, Doc,” Leif said as he pulled off Ewan’s trousers. “Penelope doesna look much better. Good thing Isabella’s visiting her father, or there would be hell to pay.”

  Ewan grimaced. Isabella was Penelope’s older, protective sister. Ever since their mother had been murdered by pirates, she’d been acting as Penelope’s mama.

  Doc pointed. “Get him into da tub.”

  Before Ewan could utter a protest, Leif lifted him over his shoulder, then eased him into the tub. Warm water eased his aching joints and pulled muscles. Doc immediately took a cloth and washed his back and his arms. He squeezed the cloth, and black ooze fell into the tub, turning the water to an ugly gray. It stank like a swamp.

  Despite the warm water, an icy chill seeped into Ewan’s bones, and he couldn’t stop shaking.

  “Leif, I need some more clean water.”

  Ewan leaned his head back on the edge of the tub as Doc scrubbed clean the spider’s blood off his arm. Pain tingled, but Ewan didn’t make a sound.

  Doc stopped and gently examined his now clean arm. “Mother of mercy, yer skin looks burnt. Were you out in the sun without yer shirt?”

  Ewan clenched his fists at Doc’s shaming tone. “Aye.” ’Twas all he could manage to utter.

  Leif entered the quarters with a bucket of water. “Here, Doc. Mariah added some of her herbs. She said it should help clean his wound.”

  Doc dipped the cloth into the bucket, then knelt next to the tub. “Good.” He walked around the tub, then carefully padded Ewan’s shoulder.

  Anguish slammed into Ewan. He arched his back and hissed through gritted teeth.

  Doc jerked his hand away. “Sorry, but if I dona do dis, yer liable to get a bad infection.”

  “’Tis not a problem. I can handle it. But I feel like I’m on fire inside, Doc.”

  Leif shoved his thumb toward the doorway. “Doc, Captain wants me and William up on top in case the Fiery Damsel turns up.”

  Doc tilted his head. “Fine. Go. I’ve got dis. Wait. I know Mariah’s got her hands full wid da little lass, but tell her I may need her.”

  Ewan seized Doc’s hand. “No, she has to stay with Penelope.” Fear and panic echoed in his voice.

  Doc looked at Leif. “Do as I say.”

  “Aye, I will.” He quickly exited the room as if he couldn’t stand being there for another minute.

  Ewan lessened his grip on Doc’s hand. “Doc, I gotta to tell ye something.”

  Doc pulled out a bottle of rum. “Drink, dis first.”

  Ewan took a long swig, and his stomach revolted. He spat the rum onto the floor and coughed. He didn’t want rum. Hunger gripped him. His fangs elongated. Blood, he needed more blood. He gasped for air.

  “’Tis not like ye, Ewan,” Doc said as he patted his back. “Ye always been able to handle yer liquor.”

  He shuddered, and his stomach heaved again, but this time he let loose what looked like hot black steamy tar. His throat burned, and tears blinded his eyes.

  “Jaaysus,” Doc murmured. “I’ve done never seen somethin’ like dat.”

  Ewan wiped his singed mouth with the back of his shaking hand. “The...poison. Scalding my insides. Blood, I need more blood.”

  “How can this be? Da full moon isn’t until tonight.”

  “I dona know. But get word to Kane. My daughter is in danger.”

  “She’s on Saint Kitts. What makes ye think dis?”

  “I had a dream. The archangel told me. Doc, please.”

  Mariah swept into the room, her face flushed. “Doc, you needed me, oui?” Her face turned pale at the black tar on the floor. “Mon Dieu!”

  Doc motioned toward Ewan’s shoulder. “I can stitch him up, but I fear dere’s black magic at work here.”

  She knelt on the other side of the tub and studied Ewan with her violet eyes. “What do you mean?”

  As Doc quickly relayed what happened, Ewan tried to clear the fogginess from his brain. Mariah shouldn’t be away from Penelope. What if she died? The archangel would abandon Catriona. He had to get stronger to protect both Penelope and Catriona, but he couldn’t concentrate.

  She put her hand over Ewan’s forehead, then the back of her fingers on his cheek. “I fear you are right, Doc. I can sense black magic at work here. I will bring back some red wine with two drops of dragon’s blood. It will help battle the poison inside him.”

  “I’ll clean up da filth on da floor.”

  “No,” she said. “Do not touch it, Doc. I need to destroy it with herbs. Do not let anyone touch it.” She looked at Ewan as if he were a monster.

  She didn’t realize how right she was. Ewan doubted she had anything strong enough to combat the evil consuming him. “Mariah, dona worry about me. Take care of Penelope.”

  “She is resting comfortably right now. Do not worry. I put a charged blue gem on her chest and cast a spell to heal her. Hannah is with her right now.”

  “Is she awake?” Shame choked Ewan’s voice.

  “Oui, she told Hannah and I enough that I know what happened. Dark magic is at work here.” She cupped his face gently. “You are not the first person to fall under an evil spell. Zuto is very powerful.”

  Ewan remembered the Archangel’s word. “Maybe not all is lost. I am infected with the time spider’s blood. ’Tis what we wanted, true? We can use my blood to stop Zuto and find Lark, Gwen, and Cè.”

  “No, the archangel said the spider had to bite you—not sting you. There is a difference.” She slowly released him. “I will return shortly.” Her skirt ruffled as she left the quarters.

  A glimmer of hope filled Ewan’s chest that maybe he wasn’t such a failure after all and could redeem himself. “Doc cut me and see if the blood works.”

  Doc shook his head. “Not widow the cap’n’s blessin’. He’s been mighty agitated an’ I have no intention of experincin’ his wrath.” He threaded a needle. “Did you attack the poor lass because of the curse?”

  Ewan avoided looking into Doc’s merciful eyes. Shame and disgust weighed heavy on his shoulders. “I couldn’t control the hunger.”

  Doc scowled. “Tell me what happened, lad.”

  Ewan studied the dark water. “In Tortuga, the time-spider’s strand pierced my shoulder like an arrow. It had to be filled with poison. It sped up the curse. I swear, Doc, I couldna control it. Anger and hate took over me. All I wanted to do was kill.”

  A dark shadow fell across Doc’s face, and he looked warily up then back at Ewan. He clamped his mouth shut and put his hand on Ewan’s arm while he held the needle.

  Kane O’Brien walked to the edge of the tub. Ewan hadn’t even heard him approach and wasn’t sure how much he had heard. The soft glow of the lantern highlighted the scowl on his face. There was no mercy in his green eyes. “Doc, take Ewan to the brig after you stitch up his arm. I’ll not have a rabid vampire loose on my ship.”

  “Captain, listen to me. Catriona––”

  “Tonight I will send Leif to check on her.”

  “Thank ye.” Some of the anxiety pulsing through him eased. “Kane, I have the time spider’s blood rushing through me. ’Tis a way to defeat Zuto and find the others lost in time.”

  “The archangel said for the spider to bite you not sting you.”

  “You’ve been listening to Mariah.” Ewan couldn’t hide the bitterness in his voice.

  “Aye, she has yet to betray me. Not like you. Until the archangel tells me different, we’ll go with Mariah’s plan.”

  Ewan lowered his head. The trust he’d once earned from Kane was gone. He didn’t blame Kane. After what he’d done to Penelope, he wasn’t sure he could trust himself. What if he tried to kill her again?

  Chapter 15

  Penelope fluttered open her eyes
to find her blond hair spilling across her face. She slowly moved the strands away and blinked. The slight gesture required more energy than normal. Her body felt heavy, and sleep pulled her back, but she fought it. Rather than blue sky, she looked up at a wooden ceiling, and rather than a sandy beach, she was lying under the covers on a warm, feathery bed.

  Her torn dress was in a ball on the wooden floor. She moved her hand over her body and realized she was wearing a clean shift.

  Opposite from her was a wooden desk with a Celtic cross of jade that sat next to an ink well and a bunch of papers. The room seemed to sway back and forth as if she were on a ship.

  A soft sound sent her heart racing. Fear prickled her spine. The last thing she remembered was Ewan attacking her, actually trying to kill her. She clutched the blanket tight around her neck.

  “Bonjour, Penelope.” A soft feminine voice interrupted her dark thoughts.

  She slowly turned her head and exhaled a sigh of relief. Mariah Fey sat in a chair with a book in her lap. Her dark hair was curled around her face, and she gave her a reassuring smile. The Fey witches had always been friends to the mermaids, and right now, with her sisters gone, Penelope desperately needed a friend.

  The tension in Penelope’s muscles slowly subsided. “’Tis good to see you, Mariah.”

  “How are you faring?”

  “Tired. I am on board the Soaring Phoenix, am I not?”

  “Oui, you are in Captain Kane’s and Hannah’s cabin. You need to eat.”

  “I am not hungry. All I want to do is sleep.”

  “That is because you were drained. You need to build up your strength. My chakra stone cannot do all the work.”

  “Stone?”

  Mariah put aside her book. She reached over and lifted a silver chain with a beautiful cobalt stone that was draped around Penelope’s neck. Penelope hadn’t even realized it was there.

  “This stone is magically charged,” Mariah said, as she gently laid it back down on Penelope’s chest.