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“Fine.”
“I will find you when the sun’s down,” Nicola assured.
Ruby lined up the creatures, tied them up, and somehow still managed to eliminate their weight and visibility. Admiration coursed through Nicola as she assisted the witch up to the door, then retraced the steps where any incriminating evidence could be found. Again, she altered the scenario, adding a few more broken cages into the mix and erasing all her prints. She paced near the door a little bit, then doubled back and studied the remaining creatures at a distance until she had tics and some behavioral patterns memorized.
Some hours later, coolness shifted around the space, signaling that it had turned dark outside. She risked another peek, sighed in relief at the glowing moon, and made her way to the deck by hiding in between whatever shadowy space she could.
Halfway through her exit from the ship, footsteps padded lightly on the floorboards. She would have hidden again, but the pain that punctured her shoulder returned with a vengeance, rendering her motionless as it traveled down her neck…then, the rest of her body. With a rough exhale, she jerked her sleeve back and stared at the part where the ice hit, where a black-green bruise had started to form trail marks down every inch of visible skin.
Poison,her mind connected.
Then her consciousness turned hazy.
Chapter 14
“Hey. Would you happen to know if there’s a prison cell with a better bathroom around here? Not that I’m complaining, but it’s quite disappointing how a pirate lord like your boss would have such low-quality accommodations for guests like me. There should be a toilet, a sink, and hot water. There should be offers thrown at me and a banquet served—”
The pirate snaked a hand in between the cell bars, swinging for his face. Isaiah was ready, waiting until the last second to jerk his head to the side, grab the man’s head, and slam it on the bar as hard as he could. When the man crumpled to the ground, he patted around for a pulse, then a key, and groaned.
“Great. I goad the only guard who doesn’t have a key around this goddamn place.”
But there was a knife in the man’s pocket and some needles.
“Great! A drug user. That’s a bad trail to take, mate. Doped-up pirates are the worst. You know what? I’m going to do you a favor and get rid of all those needles.”
He made do with the clump in his hand and picked on the lock, then carried the man to a hidden corner. He explored the other cells next, frowning when he didn’t find Moon or Maddox in any of them. At the door to the ship’s basement prison, he crouched as low as he could and pushed slowly, eyes latching on to a few boxes ahead. Then legs blocked the rest of his vision.
“Nice try. But not good enough.”
He recognized that hostile voice anywhere and was prepared for a kick—but not for the butt of a weapon slammed against his head. He fell down the ladder and to the ground, then scrambled away when footsteps drew closer.
“You are one mean fucker. I only wanted to talk. Can’t a man just ask for conversation around here?”
“Then talk.”
Isaiah’s body stilled at the sound of Ven’s voice. He rubbed his head gingerly and winced at the spot of blood, then glanced at the man.
“Ven. What a surprise.”
“Have you decided to give me the information you know?”
“I was about to give it to you back there even if you didn’t manhandle me.”
“You came willingly, as far as I remember,” the man mused, humor crossing his features.
Only because you took my two mates, you bastard,his mind screamed. Outwardly, he maintained his calm.
“Maybe. If I tell you, would I be able to see my crewmates?”
“Maybe the boy. Not the other one. I’m not sure I like you having that kind of weapon available.”
“He’s not a weapon. He’s a friend and just ensuring youdid nothing bad to me. A fat lot that did. Anyway, can I see the boy now?”
“No.”
He wanted to wipe that smug look off, but he had no advantage here. Isaiah mulled it over and sighed.
“You know, my other crew mates are probably looking for us now. My missing would be the talk of the Sky soon enough. If you want this to remain civil, perhaps you could offer me a drink or two. Better accommodations, too. Surely that’s not much for someone of your caliber? Unless there’s not much to offer, after all….”
