Page 26 of Daughter of the Dark Sea
The fog rushed up to greet her—and a memory flashed from the darkest depths of her mind.
She’d once savoured the wind on her face. Had enjoyed it immensely as she’d gently plummeted through the lavender and blue skies. Laughter filled her ears, her body caressed and protected by the wind, as though it were alive with the warming presence from—
Her knees collided with Jack, his body collapsing to the deck as she landed on his back. Her right arm lifted to defend herself with her lethal dagger as her left hand whipped down to grip his neck like a vice, pinning him down.
“Can’t get away from me that easily,” she purred. He wrestled against her.
“Silas—don’t do it!”
Jack heaved against her weight, and Kora tightened her claw-like grip. Her head whipped towards Silas, who stood holding Finlay by the neck with inhuman strength. His feetdangling as he desperately clawed at Silas’ hands wrapped around his throat.
And behind them, laid Blake’s . . . body—his body.
A gaping wound gushed through his torn jerkin on his side. Kora froze, unable to tear her eyes from Blake’s unbreathing, still body. His blood steadily flowed, stark against the onyx deck.
Finlay choked, spit flying from his mouth as his face turned crimson.
“Let go of the lad.” Samuel emerged through the fog. Anger hardened his expression, deepening taut lines across his brow. He seemed unaware of Blake shrouded a few feet away—or did he refuse to acknowledge . . .Blake’s body?
Kora shook vehemently. Thiscould notbe happening.
Shecould nothave lost control this quickly.
Shecould notlose Blake.
Samuel edged closer to Silas. Twice the width of the pirate, he towered over him, as he did with everyone. “Aye, listen to me. Let go of the lad. You’ve put yourself in a sticky spot here.”
A growl vibrated from Silas, and he tightened his fist around Finlay, who violently kicked his legs, clutching for air—for life. Kora’s focus tunnelled on Blake, his chest unmoving, his face deathly pale.
“What are you doing?” Jack wheezed beneath her pressing knees. “This isn’t the plan!”
“Fuck the plan!” Silas snapped.
“Captain!” Samuel’s rough voice penetrated her shock and she vacantly blinked in response, reluctantly dragging her eyes away. “I’ll say it one more time,” he threatened Silas. “Drop him, before it gets messy.”
Silas laughed, the sound grating against Kora’s ears.
Jack violently pushed up, heaving her off with an unnatural strength like his twin. She catapulted to the side, crashing on top of the brig hatch, pain reverberating through her bones. Jackscrambled for Blake’s sword, discarded by his motionless side, and Samuel leapt towards him, wrestling for the weapon.
“Save him!” the voice invaded Kora’s mind with force, and she gasped at the vociferous sound and overwhelming urge swelling within her. For the first time, it was urgent, desperate, andloud. She unsheathed her second dagger. “Save him, now!”
Jack wielded the empire-branded blade in his hands, cutting through the fog like liquid flame as the lantern’s golden illumination reflected off the lethal curve. Samuel grunted, rolling away from the blade, as Finlay thrashed in Silas’ chokehold, suffocation branding him purple.
Who am I supposed to save?
Her heart hammered as she rapidly glanced between her comrades, with Blake’s deafening,stillpresence between them. Roaring rushed in her ears, drowning out the sounds of the struggles.
Samuel dodged Jack with a roaring shout towards Kora, trying to bring her around, and Jack lunged forward, the sword slicing Samuel’s braided beard and chest. She aimed her daggers at Jack’s back, the fog and her overwhelming grief threatening to hinder her senses. She had to save Samuel before he was killed. That’s who the voice meant.
“Silas, stop this now! Enough!” Jack pleaded as Samuel dodged another attack.
For a second, Finlay locked eyes with her, and the veins in his head throbbed as he mouthed two words from his swollen lips.
“I’m sorry.”
“Fine.” Silas casually shrugged. “Let’s stop.” He squeezed—snapping Finlay’s neck, and the sound cracked through Kora’s skull.
Finlay’s dazzling dark eyes faded into a black lifeless void within a second. Silas opened his hand, dropping Finlay, his lipscurled in disgust as if her friend were no more than a bilge rat. His limp body landed with a sickeningcrunch.
