Page 125 of The Secret of Drulea Cottage
The vulnerable look on Lucia’s tearstained face was more than Santiago could bear. He drew her into a tight hug and held her as if his life depended on it. When he pulled back, there were also tears in his eyes. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. I just know I have to keep you safe. I’m sorry for not being a better brother, but I’m afraid this is all I can do.”
Lucia gave him a small smile and gripped his hands in hers. “You’ve been a better brother than I’ve given you credit for. Try to forget what I said last time. I love you.”
“And I love you. Now, let’s go.” Without giving her the chance to say more, Santiago pulled her out the door, Rodriguez close behind.
They scurried across the deck toward the rowboats, neither man daring to turn back and risk catching the captain’s eye. The world was a cacophony of sound as cannonballs shot through the air and men raced about in every direction. No one paid attention to the three of them since each sailor had his own tasks to worry about.
Suddenly, a cannonball hit the ship’s rigging, sending wood and rope flying in all directions. Santiago ducked out of the way just in time as one of the sails fell to the deck. His heart lurched to see his ship falling apart—again—but there was no time to stop and assess the damage.
“You two, hop in!” Santiago all but threw Lucia into the nearest rowboat as they reached it, and Rodriguez jumped in behind her.
Santiago had just set about lowering them with the davit[36]when he heard Lucia ask, “And Andreas wants me to do this?”
“Aye, it was his idea.” Santiago forced himself to nod in a manner he hoped was convincing before deploying the small boat into the water with a splash.
He breathed a sigh of relief, though he still felt his chest tighten at the thought that what may have been his final words to his sister had been a lie.
He turned back to the battle, his gaze scanning the horrible aftermath of the captain’s foolhardy decision. Santiago’s crew, ship, and sister’s life were all at risk because of this man’s choice to fight rather than surrender.
No more.Santiago was tired of letting Andreas Costa make the rules. And with Lucia now out of the way, it was time to change things.
His green eyes shifted upward to the captain just as his hand reached back to grab his gun.
CRACK!
Lightning burst forth from the sky, hitting the water between the two ships with such force it almost seemed to make theSão Nicolaushake.
What in the w—
Everyone’s attention was snagged by the unexpected bolt. The fear among his men, hovering just below the surface before, seemed almost palpable now. Even the sailors on the other ship, trained men of war, couldn’t conceal the anxiety on their faces.
There was no possible explanation for the sudden shift in weather. Not when the sky had been clear of a single cloud only moments ago.None except—
But before Santiago could fully process the thought, a second sound reached his ears. It started as a low hum over the waters, barely audible over the blood pounding in his ears. A soft, sweet sound that rolled like the waves themselves, building in volume as it seemed to spread over his entire being and grab hold of his very soul. It wasn’t words per se but a musical cry that moved up and down in a haunting melisma.[37]
A sound that could only be made by a human voice.
Nay, not entirely human. Briony?And that was Santiago’s final thought before all connection to reality fractured into a dozen pieces. Pieces that his dazed mind couldn’t bother to pick up when it could instead just fall deeper under Briony’s spell.
He didn’t even notice that all the people around him had done the exact same thing, all wrapped up in the haze of the enchantment. Young and old, ally and enemy, all forgot the battle around them and merely strained their ears to hear more.
And the sea itself, usually a tumultuous, untamable force, sat quietly as it, too, drank in the beautiful sound of one of its favorite creatures: the song of the selkie.
*
Briony peered down from her spot in the crow’s nest, shocked that her song had actually worked. All the commodore’s sailors stood still, vacant expressions on their faces as they stared at her. When she glanced over at theSão Nicolau, the men there were the same, all frozenly looking her way as though waiting for what she would do next.
She drew back from the edge, uncomfortable with so many eyes on her at once.Now what? I brought the battle to a halt, but I’ve no idea how long the effects o’ the song will last.
Will they just go back to killing each other? Santiago is the only other human I’ve used my powers on, and according to him, the effect was only fer a moment. If I’m going to do something, I have to do it fast.
Briony turned her attention to theSão Nicolau. There, with his hand on the wheel, stood Captain Costa. As soon as she laid eyes on the man, the ache in her chest intensified, reminding her of what he’d done the last time they’d seen each other. And next to him was none other than her lost merchant, looking up at her like she was water in a desert land.
“Captain Costa! Turn yourself in!” she shouted.
Within seconds, the captain, his face still blank, began moving toward the edge of the ship. He said nothing as he grabbed a rope from one of the yards attached to the closest mast and swung himself over to the other ship.
Briony climbed down to the deck, anxious to make certain the man followed through with her orders. But as her feet hit the wooden planks, she thought she heard—
