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“Father’s throwing me a celebration for my birthday at the end of the month,” she replied, bright as the sun in the spring. “My twenty-first birthday! Can you believe it?”
I swallowed. She would be of age after the end of the month. That meant that her blood could open up the spirit world once again.
And once it opened, I could go home.
I couldn’t help but watch her for a moment. There was something familiar about her. I knew we had never met, but there was something warm and nostalgic that vibrated in my chest when I looked at her. What was this strange feeling? Was this what they called love at first sight?
I laughed to myself. How amusing! To fall instantly in love with the woman I needed to trade in for revenge.
It was a pity I couldn’t stay to play with her. The way she held herself straight as she talked to the store clerk showed a confident, most likely adventurous, woman. Her smile was uniquely bold, like a child who had no sense of danger.
If she had, perhaps she wouldn’t have reacted to me the way she did.
No matter. I had one of the descendants in my grasp. That was all I needed.
I will avenge you, Maria. I promise.
***
The darkest part of midnight fell.
I didn’t like being in this part of town at this time of night, but it wasn’t as if I was completely helpless. Growing up a homeless thief gave me a strange set of skills that I hadn’t anticipated to be useful.
Thankfully, pirates were easier to locate than spiritual creatures. All you had to do was follow easy money and easier spending.
I walked into the tavern, instantly squinting at the noise and strong alcohol. To think I’d have to endure a voyage of this made me nearly queasy, but I’d have to simply get through it.
I scanned the room, looking for the most arrogant individual in the place. Only captains pretended they were kings. In comparison, everyone else were just greedy dogs, waiting for the scraps of their master.
Then I saw him.
He wasn’t intimidating, but he was confident, sitting at a table surrounded by those obvious greedy dogs. There was a cheap woman on each side of him, but he was focused on his hand of cards.
“Royal flush,” he said with a smile, throwing down his cards.
The men at the table groaned in loss, while the women giggled. The captain playfully took his money from the table, as if he had no worries in the world.
I gritted my teeth.
How could the man who murdered my fiancée be so damn relaxed?
I approached the table without a word. The men at the table turned to stare, and after a delayed moment, the captain looked up at me as well.
Captain Adrian Moreau.
“Can I help you, mate?” he asked.
I reminded myself that I needed to keep him alive to get home.
“I heard you’re looking for someone who can guide you to a little red rock,” I replied.
He cocked a defensive eyebrow at me, tapping his cards against the table. His smile vanished.
“Did you come to insult me?” he asked sharply.
“I came to help you.”
It was silent as he stared at me, trying to size me up. He was trying to intimidate me. How useless.
