9. Hali
CHAPTER 9
Hali
F ear spikes through me from the frantic hum throughout the ship. The finding of the man's body sent a scurry of chaos throughout—as though they’ve never had a man killed while aboard.
As the captain and I make our way to the deck, my eyes scan faces, searching for Kai among the countless nameless men.
I work hard to keep up with him as he moves past his men, taking several steps for every one of his strides.
Coming to an abrupt stop in front of an older man, he barks. “Has he been found, Grimy?”
I startle from the anger in his voice.
The old man, Grimy, glares at me as I stand behind the captain. He assesses me with scrutiny before answering. “No, Captain. We are working on collecting the crew who fits the description.”
“And the whore who saw him?”
“There, Captain.” His chin tips behind us and we both turn, finding a scared woman standing by a large barrel. She looks dirty and unkempt, and for a moment I wonder how she possibly could have seen Kai carrying a man's body from the cages where the others are being held. She hardly appears coherent, her mouth mumbling her desires for more green gala.
As though reading my thoughts, the captain’s head whips back to Grimy. “We’re taking her word on the matter?”
“We are, Captain,” a man who I recognize from when I first came aboard—Kalis, I believe his name is—says as he joins us. His eyes dart over to me as Grimy’s did, and I lower my gaze to the floor, remembering what Captain Erickson said about keeping my tongue to myself while I was out here.
I’m still not sure why he asked me to come along. Maybe he enjoys having me by his side, like a trophy everyone keeps swinging their heads to look at. Whatever the reason, I don’t complain. The longer it takes me to find Kai among the crowd, the deeper the fear settles.
As I subtly look for Kai, I catch sight of my hair in the reflection of the moonlight. The long, red strands shine brighter than they did just hours ago. The effects of the shift's magic are becoming stronger, and I realize my time is both running out and about to begin.
My only hope is that the Captain doesn’t notice the changes of my body before I can get myself to solitude and prepare for the shift to happen. Once the time turns to midnight, the shift is instant and I must be in the water.
A commotion toward the bow of the ship catches our attention and seconds later, a few crewmates step forward with two men in shackles.
“Line them up,” Captain Erickson barks, and the men do as they’re told, positioning their prisoners in a straight line.
Moments later, two more men join them in the line-up.
Exhaling a breath, I turn back to the captain, expecting him to give more instruction to his men. His gaze is already on me, so I give a weak smile, as fake as it feels to do.
There is nothing happy about this moment.
Innocent men are awaiting their fates in Captain Erickson’s hands.
Kai is nowhere to be found.
The captain has made me his prey.
And the shift is looming, and while it should be exciting, it suddenly feels very bittersweet.
“Aye, got one mo’, Captain!” someone yells from a distance. Heavy footsteps follow, and the crowd parts, exposing another man in shackles being led by the one who shouted.
Gasping, my hand flies to my mouth. My eyes widen as they drag over Kai’s body—beaten and bloody.
He must have resisted. Put up a fight to protect himself, but somehow, he was overpowered.
Kai must have heard my gasp because his eyes look up at me from where his head hangs, connecting with mine. The moment they do, he straightens, and his face morphs from anger to fear, and dare I say confusion.
Distracted by my presence, Kai falls to his knees on the deck as the man leading him pushes him to join the line. Fury burns within me, the powerful emotion mixing with my magic that is swirling inside as it waits to reignite. I have to clench my teeth to keep from acting out. Kai must see it, because so subtly, I see his head shake.
“Are we awaiting any more men?” Captain Erickson growls at Grimy and Kalis.
Grimy purses his lips, while Kalis takes a look at the line of prisoners in front of him.
“This should be the lot of them, Captain.”
“Very well.” Stepping forward, his hands join behind his back and he takes slow, calculated steps as he walks past the five men, moving up and down the line, assessing them each carefully. “One of you has killed a man on my ship. An action that was not assigned to you, and because of this, the perpetrator will walk the plank.”
Not a single prisoner dares to speak or protest. Slowly, Erickson turns to look at me, then turns his attention to Kalis.
“WHORE!” Kalis shouts to the woman still huddled by the large barrel nearby. “Address your captain.”
Scurrying forward, she curtsies low in front of Captain Erickson, averting her glazed eyes as she hangs her head low in respect. “Captain, thank you for allowing me to?—”
“Which of these men did you see carrying the body, whore?”
Straightening, her eyes rake over each man while we all wait with bated breath.
I feel like I can’t breathe.
The shift must be close—with every passing second I feel my magic grow, and the need to be in the water calls to me.
From my peripheral, I can also see the men on deck feel the effects of my magic—of my siren song. The way they look at me and the other woman is different from how they were looking at us prior. A few even reach down to adjust themselves behind their trousers.
Looking at Kai, I can see the effects of the shift settled on his features as well. His skin is smoothe, the coloring in his irises more vibrant.
Walking the plank would not be the worst fate he could meet tonight, but I fear the weight of the heavy chains on his hands would hinder his shift. What if he can’t break free? What if the shift happens too soon, and he drowns before his tail appears?
Stalling is my only option. I must draw out the selection until I can be certain the shift is imminent.
“Out there, you keep that wicked tongue to yourself. Or else I’d have to punish you in front of my men.”
The Captain’s words cause me to hesitate as I think of a way to buy more time, but unfortunately the seconds cost me.
“That one,” the woman says, cutting off my thoughts. My eyes snap to where she points, and my heart falls. “That man right there. He’s the one who carried the body, my Captain.”
Kai.
“You’re sure?” Captain Erickson confirms, and the woman shakes her head jubilantly. His eyes narrow at her for only a moment, before he turns to give orders to his men. “I want his feet bound, and his neck collared. See to it that he sinks to the bottom of the ocean after he walks the plank.”
Two men rush forward and attach more metal and chains to Kai’s body. A whimper builds in my chest, but I hold my breath, not allowing it to manifest in fear of the attention it may bring.
“And the rest of the men, Captain?” Bridger asks, ready to follow his lead.
“They can spend the night in the prisoners' quarters. We’ll find suitable punishment for them in the morning.”
“Captain, these men have done no wrong,” Grimy speaks up, and I’m a little surprised by his brazenness. He must be close with Erickson to dare disagree.
A wicked gleam flickers into the captain's eye, his lips turning up in a smile. “No, but they were suspects.”
He doesn’t elaborate, and I fight the shiver that builds at the base of my spine.
“And as for you,” Erickson bellows so that all can hear. Drawing a dagger from its sheath, he walks over to Kai and prods his back with the tip of the weapon. “You will walk the plank. MOVE.”
Our eyes meet before Kai gives me his back, turning to face where the wooden plank protrudes from the side of the ship. He steps onto it, and once again Captain Erickson prods his back with his dagger, until Kai has moved far enough on to the plank to evade it.
“WALK THE PLANK!” a crewmate yells from behind me, starting the ritual.
Before long, every man on deck is yelling in Kai’s direction, and some begin to chant.
“Walk the plank!”
“Walk the fucking plank!”
Kai doesn’t turn back to look at me, but it doesn’t matter. The shift is soon. I can feel the magic itching at my skin, so close to breaking free when my true form can finally come out. He must be feeling the same. He must know his magic is just beneath the surface.
With sure steps, he inches forward to the end of the plank, but he doesn’t allow himself to fall over.
Shifting his head, he looks at Captain Erickson with a menacing glare that would have any ordinary man trembling. But not the captain. No, the captain simply smiles at him with a cruel, cold smirk.
“Walk the plank, sailor ,” Erickson mocks.
Turning further, Kai meets my gaze briefly, then turns back to the captain. “Fuck you,” he spits, then he takes the final step and falls feet first into the ocean with a splash .
The sight steals my breath. Cheers erupt from the crew. Squeezing my eyes tight, I beg for the shift to happen. Let the clock strike midnight and allow Kai full use of his magic.
He will break free of the chains, Hali. This is Kai . He’ll be fine.
I jump when a hand connects with my lower back. My eyes fly open and I see the Captain staring at me, his gaze soft. Quickly, he asks, “Was that too much for you?”
His concern is disconcerting, and I cannot find the words to answer. Shaking my head, I force myself to look away. His actions and his words conflict, and it confuses me.
Confusion is the last thing I should be feeling when the shift is moments away.
At least, I hope it’s moments away.
Kai , my brain cries, but the words are shut firmly inside me.
Around us, the men begin to celebrate. Boisterous songs of the sea erupt from all around, the men dancing and demanding the lower crewmates to fetch them drinks and whores.
Swallowing thickly, I take in the commotion before staring out into the sea. My feet guide me to the edge and I look out to where Kai jumped. Seeing no disturbances in the water makes my heart feel as though the chains were shackled around it, and not Kai.
The sea is dark. The moon hidden behind a passing cloud.
“You are an empath,” the smooth, deep voice of the captain sounds from behind me.
I’m about to answer, my body turning in place to face him, when a searing spark penetrates through me. My body physically jolts, the sensation so strong I know exactly what is about to happen.
Eyes widening, I step onto the plank, my only thoughts of how I must get to the water.
“Red?” Erickson questions in concern, but it’s too late.
Another jolt blasts through me, this time eliciting a moan to pass over my lips. My magic has been restored, the sharp tingles radiating through me. My skin takes on a glow.
“It can’t be,” he growls.
“One more truth,” I breathe out, the pain and pleasure of the shift mixing into one. My emotions are frayed, but I feel the strength in me, and I’m certain of what needs to be done. I look over my shoulder at him, my voice hardly above a whisper as he gapes at me. “Revenge is harder than I thought it would be. Forgiveness is possible, but it doesn’t erase the price of your mistakes. And it would have been easy, Captain Erickson. It would have been easy to fall into you.”
Behind him, the merriment grows louder, the sounds of glass shattering and boards splintering while rowdy men whoop and holler.
An apology is at the tip of my tongue, but as I look at Captain Jack Erickson one final time— really look at him—I can’t bring myself to apologize.
I have nothing to be sorry for.
Clara’s beautiful siren form fills my mind and I smile, missing my sister so wholly the only thing I can feel in the moment is love. Love, and the burning, consuming need for revenge.
My eyes meet Erickson’s at the same moment he takes a step onto the plank, his arm reaching out as though he means to grab me, and I swan dive off it.
As I descend, I hear him scream “Fuck!”, and then I breach the ocean.
Cold, delicious sea water envelops me and with the most perfect of timing, my body shifts into my true form—my siren form, and for the first time since stepping on board the Trident, I feel like I can finally breathe again.