Page 58 of Seven Oars
“Look at her. She just likes the colors, and these are so bright,” Eze tried again to calm the situation.
But Anske stood firm.“It’s not a children’s book. It’s a Holy Guide, and I need it back immediately.” Tired of being ignored, she plucked the glossy book from Daphne’s hands.
Daphne raised her head and fixed Anske with a look—wide gray eyes, pretty like Mara’s had been, but utterly vacant. Her mouth quivered, turning down at the corners.
“Brace yourselves,” Alyesha muttered, expecting loud wailing.
Instead, Daphne hissed like a furious cat and lunged at Anske. Her slim body launched forward with startling speed, taking the older woman down.
The Holy Guide hit the floor.
Anske screamed as Daphne bit her on the shoulder.Her deceptively thin arms broke through Anske’s defenses, clawing at her face, reaching for her eyes.
Eze scrambled behind them. Grabbing Daphne by the waist, she tried to pry her off, but Daphne gave a furious donkey kick, knocking Eze back.
“Help!” Anske gurgled. Blood stained her embroidered shirt.
Daphne’s fist closed over Anske’s face, twisting her nose and cheek as if trying to tear them off.
“Daphne, no, stop it!” Eze screeched.“Look at the yellow square. Look! And the purple!” She picked up the book, waving it around frantically. It didn’t work.
Rosamma jumped in, tugging.
Gro fell on Daphne’s legs, holding them down. Fawn grabbed her arms.
Together, they immobilized her, but not before she managed to bite Anske again.
Anske wailed, thin and pitiful.
The robot materialized in the Cargo Hold, bleeping about a disturbance.
Sassa cried out, while Alyesha cursed under her breath.
Then Phex’s broad, six-fingered hand grasped Daphne by the scruff and plucked the girl off Anske, shaking her hard.
“Please, don’t kill her!” Eze cried.
Daphne inhaled sharply and wailed with a familiar, monotone cry. Her face was blotchy red, her eyes lost. A smear of Anske’s blood stained the side of her mouth.
Phex dropped her in disgust.
“What’s going on?”Two pirates walked in—Ucai and Massar.
The women shrank back, pressing against the wall as if it could save them. Only Alyesha and Rosamma remained in the middle of the room. Alyesha stood tall, directly in the pirates’ path. Rosamma crouched over Anske, eyes darting around for something to bandage Anske’s shoulder with. She hesitated, wondering if tending the wound was worth the effort, or if the pirates would only make the damage worse in punishment.
“Hang in there, Anske.” She took her hand, wishing again that her unique ability worked on humans.
“I’m dying! She killed me…” Anske flailed her arms and legs.
In truth, Daphne’s blunt human teeth hadn’t inflicted mortal damage.
Massar seemed transfixed by the deep color of her blood.
“Tell me, defender,” Ucai said, voice soft but threatening.“Why did you mess up the female?”
Phex’s straightened.“I don’t bite females. They had a fight,” he said grudgingly.
Ucai leaned over Anske and inspected the wound.“Looks nasty. What was the fight about?”
