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Their footsteps faded. Another restarted seconds later, and she brandished her sharp nails until recognition hit. Nicola rounded the corner and covered Wheeler’s gasp with her hand, then evaded the knife he swiped her way.
“Holy shit, Nic. I nearly killed you.”
“Well, you didn’t.”
“Color me impressed. You got away, too?” Before she could reply, he was already shaking his head. “We need to do something. Create a diversion. Get Moon and Maddox out of there.”
“No. That would harm everyone. Come on.” She dragged him to the edge, checking out the other ships. “Empty. That was his crew.”
“Really? How do you know?”
“No time for that. Wheeler, I need a favor.”
“I don’t know why you would need a favor now—what are you doing?”
“Cover me. I will be back.”
“Nic, are you insane—Nic!”
Wheeler kept his hiss to a minimum, then eventually quieted down as she jumped off the railing and used the hull to crawl her way from outside. She found some rope and lassoed it to another ship’s lower window, then shimmied her way to the other end. Inside, she confirmed that it was indeed a remote ship, like the one chasing them before.
She jumped to another ship manned by a solo pirate, then to a third one. The moment she landed on the deck, a shudder went down her spine, and her senses went on high alert. She trailed after the feeling, leading her inside what appeared to be the prison cells. Trepidation formed in her belly, expecting an army hiding in wait, but all she found were two men standing guard and one tugging a chain aggressively. She blurred and knocked them down within seconds, then snatched the keys and slipped into a cell.
A cloaked figure sat inside, facing a small window that had a direct view of the other ships. Nicola inched closer slowly, awareness leading her steps but refusing to let it swallow her with nerves. Still, she jumped at the voice, not coming from the center but somewhere else in the cell.
“Who are you?”
She peeked cautiously, then inwardly gasped when she spotted a woman huddled in a dark corner. The woman’s hands glowed, but the chains were so quiet against her neck and limbs that Nicola hadn’t heard her move at all. When Nicola took a step forward, the woman trembled, hands raised in a threat. But it felt more defensive than malicious.
“I’m not one of them,” Nicola said, pushing through until she could crouch in front of the woman. A bruised face gawked back at her, wariness brimming. “How long have you been imprisoned here?”
“Why? Are you planning to gloat?”
At least there was still some sass there. Nicola made her decision.
“Fly us out of here. Do that, and I will guarantee your safety.”
A frown marred the woman’s lips.
“They made promises, too, and look where that got me. You pirates are all the same. You have no honor.”
“Not all of them are like that, surprisingly. Also, I’m not one.” She bared her teeth, letting her fangs show. The woman’s eyes widened. “But I am a guest of a crew who takes care of a teenage boy, and the captain who took you just challenged that boy to fight to the death. I’m assuming you are the one controlling these other ships?”
In response, the witch held up her chains, where the bruises were even more visible on her wrists. Nicola banked down her fury, then tried to figure out where the holes were so she could insert the key. When the last lock wouldn’t budge, she growled and gripped a rusty part of the chain with both hands, then yanked hard until they shattered.
“Damn bastards. Are you in pain?”
“Not anymore.”
“Any more excuses?”
The sass returned as the woman sniffed.
“They will find out you freed me and come after you.”
“They will think it was you,” Nicola smirked. “You will leave behind traces to make sure of that. Trust me on that one…oh, and please keep this to ourselves.”
“You freeing me?”
