Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
FINLEY
The ingredients were all there. Or almost all of them.
The herbs, a piece of Amelia’s precious mirror after it had bathed in the morning sun, water from a peaceful river, and now all she needed was a bit of blood from someone who loved her.
Finley placed them one by one in a small vial feeling the weight of their importance with each drop.
She was closer than ever and she would finally be free of this curse and with Amelia.
It had to be now. Already it was too difficult to avoid Dusan and his undead army, and Finley wasn’t going to risk growing any weaker than she already was.
Even so, it was also becoming more difficult to deny the perks of traveling with Amelia.
The army was practically indestructible, and the crew had come away with more loot and treasure than they had in months.
If Amelia were to gain the throne… well…
if Finley played her cards right The Mystic could be in a profitable place indeed.
But that wasn’t the plan, and as long as Dusan was involved too, Finley couldn’t risk it.
Not to mention that Finley couldn’t stand her relatives. A fact that hadn’t stopped her from using people in the past, but it was a line Finley wasn’t sure if she could cross.
For a third time.
Ai rapped her knuckles on the door as she walked into Finley’s cabin, the bow and arrow of the Shadow Slayers strapped around her. “It’s almost time.”
It was now or never, wasn’t it? “I need one more thing,” Finley said as she pulled out a tiny needle from a desk drawer.
Sewing wasn’t one of her strong suits, but it was a useful skill to have in a pinch when a blouse had been torn in battle.
So, she always kept a small sewing kit at her desk just in case. “Can I use your finger?”
Ai looked at her skeptically but stretched an arm out anyway. With a swift movement, Finley pricked AI’s finger and let three small drops fall into the vial with the other ingredients hen slipped it into her pocket.
“Ow! What was that for?” Ai pulled her arm away and sucked on the minor wound.
Finley gave her an exaggerated flutter of lashes and smiled as sweet as an angel. “The blood of someone who loves me was the final ingredient.”
“You could have just asked.”
“I did. Sort of.”
Ai rolled her eyes and shook her head. “It’s a little odd that the last thing you needed was inspired by the deity of love.”
“Isn’t it a little odd that someone who follows the deity of love questions the power of love?” Finley countered.
Ai shrugged. “I’m not questioning it. Any of Diar’s followers could tell you that any spell or curse needs love to either succeed or be broken as it is the most powerful magic of all.
I just find it interesting it was so blatant in this instance.
Anyway, are you ready for this? About how much danger do you think this will be? ”
Finley grabbed the other two Shadow Slayers, sliding the sword into the hilt at her side and handing the knife to Ai. “Oh, I’d say the usual.”
Ai nodded and tossed the knife into the air. It flipped and she caught it again by the handle. “So, we’ll likely end up with injuries and possible death. Sounds about right.”
Side by side they marched up to the deck where everyone was preparing for their next dock. When Finley arrived, Rafe grabbed her by the elbow and pulled her aside to a secluded corner. “What are you planning to do?”
Finley yanked her arm away from him. “Don’t worry about it. I have this covered, and you’ll understand soon enough.”
His jaw clenched, and she almost saw dark shadows forming around him. “Dusan isn’t someone to be trifled with. You need to be sure you’re ready.”
As if she’d never been in a tight spot or handled strong men before. Finley looked him up and down. “I’ll be fine.”
His shoulders sank, and the shadows wafted away. “I know. I just want you to be careful, whatever it is you’re doing. I know you can handle yourself.”
She released a breath and relaxed along with him, glad because she wasn’t in the mood for an argument. “I can see the end,” she confessed. “The ingredients are all here. I just need to get past this and then… who knows?”
They locked eyes for a moment, and Finley couldn’t get herself to pull away.
She couldn’t help but relive their kisses and the way he touched her.
In spite of herself, she wanted more. More time.
More space to be alone with him. But this wasn’t the time for distractions, and if she had more Finley wasn’t sure if that would be enough.
It had been a long time since she’d considered anything longer than a few trysts or nights with someone, and Rafe was the last person she should be entertaining those thoughts with.
There was too much at stake right now, and no certain future for either of them.
“Right, who knows?” Rafe repeated. But when he said it, it almost felt like a promise.
“We need to go,” Finley said, pushing the sword into his arms, and she stepped away before anything else could happen or her thoughts betrayed her.
The disembarking proceeded with the usual fanfare of Amelia presenting her child, the supposed prince who was to take the “rightful” place on the throne.
People flocked around The Mystic as though they’d anticipated their arrival and crowded around in hopes of getting a glance at the baby. It was the perfect distraction.
Finley watched the scene from the top of the gangplank, which she still hadn’t gotten used to, but saw Dusan off to the side watching from a secluded spot near the edge of a forest area.
He turned and wandered deeper, but still in her eyesight.
She looked over her shoulder to Ai, who stood on the other side and nodded, then made her move.
Finley never liked killing from afar. It was too cowardly.
Too impersonal. If she had to take a life, and truthfully, she avoided it when possible, she preferred it to be face to face.
Let whoever it was see who dealt their final blow.
It should be an honor to be killed by the pirate queen.
But there were times, like today, when distance was still the better choice.
It was risky, but anything worthwhile held a risk.
Finley grasped one of the arrows and placed it in the bow. Archery wasn’t her strongest suit, but it was the best chance at wounding Dusan without him expecting it. She placed the arrow against her lips and took in a deep breath then released them together.
The arrow flew through the air with the straightest line and fastest speed she’d ever seen.
Even so, it wasn’t enough. Dusan’s hand shot into the air so fast Finley couldn’t see it move and clutched the flying arrow before it could strike.
He turned on his heel so slowly it was like he was on a rotating platform and looked directly at Finley, even though she was far on the other side of the crowd and still on the ship. Then, he vanished.
Finley’s heart stopped. Colma help them.
The Mystic swayed and pulled off from the dock.
From behind her, swords clashed and shouts echoed through the air.
Finley turned and found her crew had gotten to work in taking back the ship.
They’d had strict instructions to fight the zombies, but not to touch them.
Green moldy bodies were thrown off the sides and murmurs from the crowd on shore started joining in the cacophony of fighting on board.
Finley smiled. Maybe they could still get away. She crouched to the ground and took in a deep breath. She wasn’t much of a praying woman, but she did today. “Colma, give me your power one more time.”
She pressed her palm to the deck floor and worked her magic on The Mystic to lower them back into the water. Then a boot stepped in front of her.
There he stood. An ancient sorcerer who looked like a mortal man.
Except for the power that radiated off him.
Finley’s weak magic swirled in her veins, recognizing what he had stolen from her and Amelia.
Like called to like. That was one of the things with magic.
When it came from the same bloodline and was the same type of power, it recognized each other.
She hated how her magic knew his now. He had no business touching it.
“Foolish mortal,” Dusan sneered and crouched to Finley’s level. The arrow was still in his hand and he twirled it around. “You thought you could kill me and get away?”
Finley went to grab the weapon, but he pulled his arm away. “I’d rather kill you face to face anyway,” she said and with her other hand she took her dagger and swiped at his knees. Blood oozed through his pant leg and Dusan cried out and fell backwards as he dropped the arrow.
With the free moment, Finley pushed herself forward and took the arrow back then held it in her fist, ready to stab him with it if needed. But within moments, Dusan was back on his feet again, the wound closed and the bleeding stopped.
Finley knew even if he was mortal such a wound wouldn’t kill him, but it should have debilitated him for more than a mere moment.
Dusan shook his head and made a tutting noise.
“Oh Finley, it’s a shame really. With Amelia’s bloodline running through you, I thought you would have made such a brilliant recruit. If only you would just cooperate.”
Dusan outstretched his arms and a humming radiated off him. The ship shook and the bodies of the army who’d been thrown overboard rose out of the water and climbed back up onto the ship at his silent magical command.
“Finley! What did you do?” Ai screeched from the helm.
Finley spun to look at her friend who stood staring in horror at her and Dusan. Finley hadn’t told anyone she’d been planning to kill the sorcerer.
As she did, Dusan grabbed her wrist and a shock went through her.
That was all it took for Dusan’s magic to take more of hers.
But this wasn’t like the few times he’d touched her before.
A green-blue glow formed around his hand and wrapped around her arm.
Tiny droplets of water formed and bubbled out of her skin and into the light.
It was like someone was sucking her essence out of her body.
Finley sank to the ground as she dried up.
Images of when she’d used her magic flashed before her eyes.
Her dedication ceremony all those years ago and being dunked into a glowing pool then coming out drenched in water but power coursing through her body.
Dancing in a ballroom with rain falling around her.
Running away and escaping onto The Mystic with Ai at her side and how the water seemed to guide them onto the ship.
Adventures as young women with a group of terrifying pirates who made the pair prove their worth.
Finley taking her place as captain. Taking The Mystic to places she’d never been before and seeing creatures and people Finley would have never dreamed of while stuck on her island growing up. Meeting Myra and Rose and Rafe.
Darkness clouded around her vision and her head hit the ground, and the arrow fell out of her hand. With her free hand she reached out as though she could touch the water surrounding the ship if she tried hard enough. If she could call to the water one last time… maybe…
Voices shouted all around her, but Finley couldn’t decipher which was which anymore.
Shadows moved around her, and Finley tried to take in deep breaths and blink her eyes open.
But it was useless. She’d never felt so exhausted before.
It was like Dusan not only drained her magic but any ounce of strength she had left.
“Get… the… Shadow Slayers…” Finley murmured and forced her eyes open a little more in time to find Rafe before her. He punched Dusan, who fell backwards, taking the arrow; in one swift move, he stabbed Rafe in the arm with it.
The wolf cried out as someone else appeared at Finley’s side. “I’m here, I’ve got you,” Ai’s gentle voice whispered. There was more commotion but she couldn’t focus anymore and Finley collapsed onto Ai.
Someone shook Finley and took her by the arm. “We have to go.”
Was that Rafe?
Whoever it was, dragged her away, and in a whirl of darkness The Mystic vanished.