My gaze falls to hers, and below her wheel is a place to insert her feet that’s bolted to the floor.Fuck.
My body presses against the banister as the Sea Wolf pitches violently. I hold on to the best of my ability, my body jolting into the wooden barrier when it feels like the tip of the ship hits a wall, my boots losing any footing, even while sitting down, only for my weight to then be pulledawayfrom the banister as the ship lurchesup, before seeming to even out.
Basilisk shoots me a look of pure, unfiltered hatred for the ocean, and I couldn’t agree more.
“Tempest!” Ritter shouts.
The pirate queen looks at him. “Get your sea legs, Scorpion! I called you three up here to say you can be on my ship as long as you all pledge your swords to kill any and all men on that fucking ship! Except Blackwell. He ismine! When it’s safe, you can all go below deck.”
The ship feels momentarily weightless once more, and I’m ready for it when Tempest yells for us all to brace ourselves.
“While we’re here, what’s the plan?” Ritter cries out, pressing against the rails to find a good position.
“We’re ramming Blackwell’s ship! The sirens follow us,” Tempest declares, another crack of lightning reflecting against the wetness of her leather jacket. “If we fall into the water, they will save us. Do not fear the ocean!”
Basilisk tilts his head toward her. “Did you really fuck the ocean god?”
I look at him with the same glare I throw Bones when he’s crossing lines, but to my shock, Tempest laughs. “He sired Moriganna! And he isnothappy.”
“Then why doesn’thejust crash that ship?” I shout.
“Morvock is protecting it, and Ta’Kan doesn’t take the flesh. Only on a full moon does he come to me, and Morvock sails on a nearly moonless night.”She braces herself to steer the ship before adding, “SoIwill do it.”
The ship undergoes another violent dip before rising again, and that’s when Tempest shouts for us to go below deck. We move as quickly as possible on this ship, the raging sea utterly unnerving as it surrounds us inmassiveswells.
Everything swings that isn’t fully lashed, like lanterns with no fire in them. Tempest’s crew stands with determination, as if each wash of the ocean is rejuvenating and not fucking obnoxious.
The ship begins to dip once more, and I grip a pillar as the floor is removed from beneath my feet, Ritter and Basilisk both grabbing onto what they can as we ride through this wave before we’re able to make our way to where everyone is lashing down.
I move to one of the few windows, able to see more clearly without the rain in my eyes. There aren’t many times in my life where I feel genuinely uncomfortable.
Now is one of them.
The swells are so large, so striped with white cap water, and the skies so angry and full of lightning, it’s as if eventouchingthe ocean is certain death. Ocean water sprays against the side of the ship, and I’m convinced each time the wood will break.
So muchgroaningof wood and rope.
But even then, I can see the silhouette of Darkwater, the fire at the prow seemingly out.
We’re coming, Jane.
J A N E
Bolting down the stairs, I can’t believe I’m free. I’m able to find the other Cinders, moving in a crouch position, ready to tumble or dive for support if the ship hits another wave.
I have no idea what happened to Misery but I’m not waiting to find out.
The Cinders are all shocked to see me, the loyal one starting to scream that I’m back and unbound. I go to her first, my kneestinging as it smacks into the floor, placing my hand over her chest. My well of magic is insanely low, but I’m also desperate to achieve this. Her cries become labored, and then she’s out.
I pant as I pull my hands away, feeling as if I’ve been bled.
The ship dips once more, and I grab onto her body, clinging to it as my legs fly in the air, her hair getting in my face.
“What did you do?” someone yells as the storage boxes all press against the netting.
“Subdued her!” I shout, waiting on the ship to even out once again. “No time to explain.”
As soon as I feel like there’s an opening, I rush underneath the lantern.
