Chapter 36
Chapter Thirty-Six
I turned the hourglass over.
Sunaria had convinced me of the wisdom of remaining composed and staying focused on getting Jacob back. Together, we’d flown to the docks, the place where Ricardo admitted having taken Jacob.
We scoured the port and soon confirmed that Jacob had been seen with a lone sailor. Ricardo had sold Jacob to him for pennies. More money had changed hands here in the admiral’s office.
Glaring at the portly, middle-aged man, I stared him down as sand trickled through the narrow timer, pooling into the base.
“By the time it’s empty,” I said, pointing at it, “you’ll have told me where the boy is.”
The admiral coughed. “As I’ve already told you, I have no idea where he is now.”
My gaze fell on the hourglass.
He stared at Sunaria, beads of perspiration spotting his brow.
Meager maritime furnishings revealed the gentleman’s profession. A fire roared in the fireplace, flames licking the grate.
I turned the hourglass over once more. “This time when it’s empty, I’ll kill you.”
Hooves clipped below just outside the window. Foreign accents drifted in from the sailors working late into the night. This was business as usual for the bustling dock.
But not in here.
From where I stood, I could see the vast, white sails of The Pride unraveling as it sailed out of the harbor.
The Admiral bolted for the door.
In an instant, he was in my grasp. With my teeth buried in his neck, I tried to extract the information I needed, but I was so full of panic, I had trouble focusing. I saw a mishmash of images, though nothing definitive.
The mariner slumped to the ground, staring up at me. “What the hell are you?”
“Which ship is he on?” I yelled.
“Why should I tell you?”
“Because our next stop will be at your home.”
His face became paler. “The Pride,” he mumbled.
Sunaria loomed over him. “Where’s it heading?”
He was taking short breaths, saliva trickled down his chin. “Portsmouth.”
She knelt beside him and grasped his head with both hands firmly positioned on either side. I heard a sharp crack as she snapped his neck.
Then there was no other choice but do the unthinkable – leave Spain and face the uncertain journey to England. Within an hour, we had found a ship with space for two more passengers.
Sunaria knew the wisdom of saying nothing.
Aboard the British vessel Godisgrace we leaned against the balustrade and stared out at the port of Palos. Sunaria wrapped her arm around mine and rested her head upon my shoulder. From the port side, we had a good view of the other passengers boarding.
I broke the silence. “Please tell me we’ll find him.”
“I’m certain of it,” she said.
“I should never have let Jacob out of my sight. This is my fault entirely.”
“How could we have known of a child’s treachery?”
I followed her gaze to the crew preparing for our launch.
Sunaria sensed my anxiety. “First class tickets ensure our privacy.”
“We won’t appear suspicious?”
The wind caught in her hair, and she swept a few strands out of her face. “You maybe, but not me.” She squeezed my arm, trying to get me to relax.
We needed to mingle, and any sign of tension would not go unnoticed.
The last few pieces of luggage were carried aboard. Our two large trunks were amongst them.
Farther down the dock, heading for the boat, were three men, their hoods pulled well over their heads, obscuring their faces. Not men.
Sunaria clutched my sleeve. “Creda!”
“The elders?” I asked.
They were disguised as mortals, and they approached with eerie swiftness.
My heart raced. “What will they do if they catch us?”
Her fingers grasped the balustrade, and I sensed her fear.
“Can you swim?” I asked.
Two crew members reeled in the ropes that secured the ship to the dock.
“We have to jump.” I grabbed Sunaria’s arm, ready to take her with me.
With a jolt, the ship was launched.
I let her go. “Talk about timing.”
The three vampires lingered on the edge of the dock, their hollow stares locked on us. For a moment, I thought they’d dive in and answer my question about whether vampires could swim.
The ship gently rocked, sailing off through the harbor.
“Why do I have a sense that there’s more going on with your wily friends than you’ve previously let on?” I muttered.
A merchant officer signaled to us.
“Our cabin’s ready.” She turned to me. “And they’re not my friends.”
We strolled after the officer tasked with escorting us to our quarters. A flash of guilt swept through me. Up until now, Alicia and Miranda had been reliant on me. Although they had access to finances, I felt terrible leaving with no word.
Once in our cabin, I paced the small space, trying to calm down, miserably eyeing the two wooden trunks pushed up against the far corner. I climbed into one of them to try it out. No matter what position I got in, it was uncomfortable. I closed my eyes and tried to imagine a week of sleeping in it.
Thoughts of Jacob’s terror caused me to strike the inside of the trunk. He’d have no idea what was happening or why. A jealous cousin’s betrayal would never even cross his mind.
Strange thoughts took me to a place where my hands were wrapped around Ricardo’s throat, strangling him, squeezing out his last breath. My fists clenched with the idea.
Sunaria lifted the lid and peered down at me.
“I refuse to sleep in this,” I said.
She raised her eyebrows and let go of the lid. It slammed down, just missing my head.
I climbed out. “How long have they been chasing you?”
She peeked out of the porthole.
“Sunaria?” I pushed.
“For a while.”
“Why?”
“I left without permission.” She turned to face me. “The Creda owned me.”
“You were sold to them?”
“I was given to them.”
“By whom? The one that turned you?”
“No, I killed him, remember?”
I gestured for her to continue.
She looked grim. “The vampire that turned my master heard what I’d done.”
“Why have you never talked about this before?”
“Because I want to forget.”
“What happened?”
“After several years of fighting in the coliseum—”
“Roman coliseum?”
“Yes.”
God, you are an ancient creature, teetered on the tip of my tongue. I was grateful it stayed there.
“When I refused to fight anymore, he punished me.”
“You hated your master for what he made you do?”
“He drew me in with the promise of a glorious life. Immortality.”
“And the fact that you never died, the audience, they didn’t catch on?”
Her expression told me she was remembering her past. I wondered if she could still hear the cries of the crowd.
“And when you killed your master?” I finally said, breaking her trance.
“I had, after all, been taught to fight bloody.”
“The Creda gave you that tattoo?”
She nodded. “It’s meant to be a mark of distinction. An honor to serve them, but I’ve never really been one for following orders.”
“I’ll talk with them.”
“They don’t negotiate.”
“I’ll buy you off them.”
“It doesn’t work like that.”
“Everyone has their price.”
“The Creda don’t care about money.”
“So you’re meant to go back to them and—”
“Serve.”
“Is there something else you’re not telling me?”
“Like what?” She avoided eye contact.
I tried to read her, reach into her mind and extract the truth.
She peered up. “I belong to you now.”
“We belong to each other.”
She approached her trunk, opened the lid, and peered inside.
“What did it feel like fighting in the coliseum?”
“You mean apart from the blood, gore, and endless death?”
“Why didn’t you run away at the start?”
“Why do you ask so many questions?”
“You could have broken the chains, escaped. What did they have over you?”
Her expression changed as she daydreamed; she was somewhere else, somewhere far off.
“I love you.” I tried to smile. “And no matter what happens, I’ll protect you.”
She held my gaze. “And I promise you that we’ll find Jacob.”