AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He laughed a laugh that sent fire flashing before my mind’s eye. I longed to watch this man bleed and burn. “I’m waiting,” he crooned.
I glanced at Noah and McKenzie, who stood firmly on either side of me, before slowly removing my hood. As we stared at each other in silence across the alleyway, I waited with bated breath for Thane to release Katrina as he studied my features.
“I won’t forget that face.” His words made me uneasy, but I reassured myself it wouldn’t remain here much longer for it to become an issue. Whatever he wanted, I’d agree to, as long as he’d release Katrina unharmed. I watched him hesitate, then lift the blade above Katrina’s chin.
“Such a pretty girl,” Thane growled. Then he sliced his knife across the side of her face.
Her scream reached my ears like the sound of every failure I’d ever made crying aloud in my soul. I ran to her as Thane shoved her to the ground, but my feet couldn’t move fast enough. He turned away with his men in tow as a cloud of dust arose around us from their movements.
I locked my target onto him, reaching for the dagger at my side. I’d kill this man if it was the last thing I ever did for what he’d just done to her.
“Stay with her!” I shouted to McKenzie and Noah who followed fast behind me. Damn my conscience. Damn my soul. Damn it all. I would have Thane’s blood for this.
I turned and climbed the building bordering the alleyway, clinging to the trellis and ivy crawling up the side as I scrambled upward. Once atop the roof, I scanned the streets for Thane and his men. There were few places they could have escaped to this quickly.
My gaze roamed the alleys below. The sounds of Nassau’s usual chatter and buzz filled the air, carried along by the wind across the rooftops. But in the midst of all the laborers, sailors and drunks traveling below, I finally caught sight of them—a glimpse of that matted copper hair of Thane’s between his two henchmen walking back toward the main strip of town.
I surged forward, my legs aching as I pushed my stride to its limit, racing along the edge of houses and dilapidated buildings as silently but quickly as I could manage. I needed a good angle. Good enough to leap down and plunge my knife into Thane’s back before he even realized what struck him. I slid down to a low hanging balcony and waited overhead. They’d have to take a turn and pass by it to get back into town.
One…Two…Three…
I counted their footfalls and held my breath. I flexed my fingers around the bone handle of the knife in my grip. And just as Thane walked past below, I pushed myself from my lurking spot and pounced.
One of Thane’s men caught sight of me just before my knife reached its target. He shouldered Thane out of the way and disrupted my concentration. With a stumble I landed, but I found my footing quickly and took a stance to fight the man at Thane’s side. He drew his cutlass and swung it around toward my neck. I ducked with ease and plunged the knife into his abdomen. As he dropped to his knees, I ripped his sword from his grip. It was then that the other man—the one who I’d saved from the Lark— whirled around to come far too late to the defense. I dodged his attempt to strike me by furiously ramming my new blade into his shoulder. Hot blood spattered out, raining on me like crimson sea spray. As I realized Thane had escaped and was nowhere to be found, I heaved in anger that I’d lost him.
“Next time I suggest keeping your mouth shut,” I snarled. And as I thought of Katrina, an unconfined fury rose in my bones that I couldn’t snuff out. So, I twisted the blade as the man groaned in pain, driving him to the ground where I planned to deal him one final blow. “Tell your captain if he plans on hunting me like some kind of animal, it’s an animal he’ll find.”
“Milo! Stop it!” Katrina’s voice tore me from my rage. I shook my head and placed my boot on the man’s hip to pry him off the edge of my sword. I dislodged the weapon from his flesh, and watched him clamber up to flee, bleeding and wounded. I looked down at the body of the man left behind. Then at Katrina, who stood a good distance away, clinging to McKenzie and Noah shielding them both.
Straightening as I caught my breath, I brushed my hair back from my eyes, only to smear my hands with the blood on my face. “They hurt you.” I panted.
She watched me with uncertainty, like I was a poisonous viper. And I couldn’t blame her after what she’d just witnessed. The right side of her face was stained red with blood just beginning to dry across her cheekbone. I stepped toward her, feeling the weight of my compass and my heart.
I wanted to run to her, but I knew it wasn’t my place after what I’d just done. She’d never seen me like that. And she very well may never trust me again. But she had to know. She had to know I’d do anything to keep her safe. Past, present, or future.
Without warning, she took off past Noah and rushed toward me. She threw herself into my arms and I closed myself around her. The world around me faded. The stink of Nassau, the burning sun above, and the sweat and blood dripping from my brow. None of it mattered in her embrace.
“Don’t become like them,” she uttered into my shoulder. I nodded, squeezing my eyes shut tightly.
“This is a life long past I thought you’d never have to see,” I sighed, pulling back from her and touching her injury with my fingers. It would scar. “I’m so sorry he did this to you.”
“A scratch on my face is not our biggest problem right now. I was so afraid you were dead.” She shook her head. “We all were.” She looked back over her shoulder at McKenzie and Noah, who stepped near as she motioned for them to join.
“It’s good to have you back.” Noah rolled his eyes, but his words were genuine. “Now maybe you have some kind of idea of how we’re supposed to get back to our time?”
“I’m afraid the trident is still our only hope. If it took us here, it has to be able to take us back. But we’ll have to figure out how. But the first step is getting to it.”
“So, we just sail right back over the Bermuda Triangle again in a wooden ship?” McKenzie raised an eyebrow. “That didn’t work out so well last time.”
“I’m open to any other suggestions, but he’s right. What other option do we have?” Noah leaned in. It felt strange to hear him agree with me.
I reached into my coin purse and produced enough gold to show them. “Give me enough time to secure a ship. I have just enough money left to buy us lodging for one more night. I’m sure we’re all in need of a good night’s rest.”
We wandered into town, far enough away from the incident with Thane’s men to avoid suspicion—not that anyone would have cared. I couldn’t lead them to Codface’s tavern. He already knew too much, and I wouldn’t make us targets more than we already were.
There was another inn on the far side of town. It was a bit of a trek, but no one complained. I did find myself watching my back for any sign of Thane or anyone else who sought to do me harm, but I tried my best to appear calm and unbothered. If I was the reason something happened to Katrina or the others here, I’d never forgive myself. I couldn’t continue my father’s legacy of destroying those around him by his own mistakes.
29
