Dark Tides (The Crown of the Seven Realms #4)

Chapter 1 Danica

Danica

The sharp cold of steel against my throat jolts my senses awake, and I struggle to keep my vision from blurring into oblivion. Before me stands a burly pirate, a scar slashing from his temple to his jawline, his eyes glinting with suspicion and curiosity.

"Well, well, what do we have 'ere?" he growls, pressing the blade further.

Rhyland and Erik are passed out beside me, their unmoving forms a stark reminder of the witch's cruelty. I fear she may have drained them, too, or worse.

Here I am, stuck in this absurd situation, my heart beating fast. And why, you ask? Because apparently, Captain Barbossa's long-lost brother, decided to park his pirate booty right in my way, making it impossible for me to check on my guys.

Could this situation get any more ridiculous?

Honestly, I feel like I'm in a bad parody of "The Goonies," except instead of searching for treasure, I'm trying to navigate this labyrinth of lunacy. My mind is spinning fast, desperately trying to understand how we managed to land ourselves in this predicament.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart and gather my thoughts. "Look, I know this seems strange," I manage to say, my voice strained but steadier than I feel. "We mean you no harm, I swear."

The pirate chuckles with a rough, gravelly voice that echoes across the deck. "Mean us no harm, eh? You must think we're daft." He bellows to his crewmates, "Seize 'em, lads!"

Before I can react, other pirates surround us, grabbing hold of Rhyland and Erik's unconscious bodies and binding them with thick ropes. I'm yanked off my feet, a cry of pain escaping me as my body protests the rough handling. My arms are tied tightly behind my back, the ropes biting into my skin.

Dragged through the ship, the salt air stings my neck wound, my head feels like it's about to explode, and the constant sway of the deck beneath me exacerbates my nausea.

I'm shoved into a dank, dimly lit hold in the ship's bowels, the walls slick with moisture and the air thick with the smell of salt and decay.

My brilliant plan to conjure a portal to the safety of my apartment? Yeah, that worked out spectacularly.

Instead of sipping coffee in my cozy living room, we're now standing on a pirate ship, of all places.

Bravo, me! I've really outdone myself this time.

The portal must've detoured through the land of "let's make things as complicated as possible" before unceremoniously dumping us here.

So, now the million-dollar question is: whose ship is this, and how in the world did my portal misfire so epically?

I swear, if this is the universe's idea of a practical joke, I'm not laughing.

As I struggle to make sense of our predicament, the scar-faced pirate looms over me, his breath hot and stinky. "Arr, ye better start talkin'. What brings ye to our ship, and why shouldn't we be tossin' ye to the sharks?"

I manage to lift my head, meeting his gaze through my exhaustion. "A misfire," I admit, forcing the words out. "I tried to open a portal to safety, but something went wrong. We landed here by mistake."

The pirate narrows his eyes, suspicion mixing with a hint of intrigue. "Ye expect me to believe that, do ye?"

"It's the truth," I state as my head swims. "We're trying to stop a war that threatens all realms."

"Portals don't exist, lass—haven't for a long time. Now, tell me," he snarls, leaning closer, "what sorcery ye wield?"

Wonderful. Time for another round of "Explain Yourself to the Otherworlders." You’d think the universe could just hang up a big fat neon sign saying, "Savior Incoming," and save me the trouble.

A murmur runs through the gathered pirates, uncertainty and fear flickering in their eyes. The door to the hold swings open at that moment, and a tall figure steps inside. He exudes authority and commands immediate respect from the pirates.

"What's the meanin' of this?" the man asks, his gaze sweeping over us.

The scar-faced pirate straightens, clearly addressing his superior. "Found these intruders, Cap'n. They claim to have no idea how they got 'ere and speak of some war—some great danger."

The man steps closer, his sea-green eyes settling on me. "Explain yourself," he demands.

"Look, Captain," I sigh, my words heavy with exhaustion, "I'm here to find the Aquanite Stone. There's a big bad who's trying to break through the realms, and it's up to me to stop him and save all your asses."

The Captain raises an eyebrow, "What are ye going on about, lass? What stone? And who?"

I open my mouth to give him a snarky response, but suddenly, the world starts spinning like a top. My vision blurs, and I sway unsteadily. I blink rapidly, trying to clear the spots dancing before my eyes, but it's useless. My body's decided it's had enough, and it's staging a revolt.

"Please... just listen," I whisper, my voice fading as my strength wanes.

The floor rushes up to meet me, and I dimly wonder if this is how it ends—passing out at the feet of a pirate captain. Not exactly the heroic move I had in mind.

Just before I lose consciousness, I hear the Captain bark out an order, his voice cutting through the haze. "Get the lass some medical attention, now! Move yer lazy hides!"

As the darkness claims me, I can't help but think that maybe, just maybe, I've found an unexpected ally in this mess of a situation. Or perhaps I'm just delirious from exhaustion and the lack of decent food in this floating prison.

Either way, it looks like my fate is in the hands of a pirate crew now. I just hope they're more competent than they look.

Iwake slowly, the chill sinking into my bones as I come to—dizzy and disoriented. My surroundings swim into view—dank, dimly lit, and damp. The harsh smell of salt and mildew permeates the air. I look down and see the ropes binding my wrists rough and tight, chafing my already raw skin.

I'm in some makeshift cell, surrounded by steel bars and one cell door—locked.

Panic surges in my chest. I glance down to find my daggers missing.

What the hell?

Quickly scanning the area, I spot them resting on a barrel outside my cell.

I try to summon them, hoping the rune magic will teleport my trusty pointy pals into my hands. Instead, they unceremoniously clatter to the ground.

Rude.

I heave a frustrated sigh and give it another go. This time, they actually make it to my hands by some miracle.

I waste no time and start sawing away at the rope with the dagger. It's a bitch to do, but with a bit of finesse, some awkward maneuvering, and what feels like a goddamn eternity, the ropes finally decide to cooperate and fray, setting me free at last.

Just doing that alone has my body weak, drained from the witch's magic and the blood loss.

I quickly sheath them back on my hips.

My thoughts go to Rhyland and Erik.

Where are they?

Are they okay? I can’t bear the thought of them being hurt—or worse.

"Rhyland…" I reach through our mental tether. I feel he's close, but he doesn't answer.

Anxiety gnaws at me as time passes, each second stretching into eternity. The occasional creak of the ship's hull, the sway of the ocean, and the distant murmur of voices add to my growing unease.

My thoughts drift to Lucian and the fate that awaits him. We left him behind, and now I can't shake the sickening feeling of what Azrael might do to him. The knot in my throat tightens, threatening to choke me with the weight of my fears.

What if he uses Lucian to attempt the sacrifice?

I need to get back to the Mortal Realm—fast. Every second we spend here is another second Lucian is at the mercy of that twisted asshole.

I have to believe, really believe, that we'll find a way to make things right and rescue his snarky ass.

We're obviously in Aquaria, and the weight of responsibility presses down on me, urging me to find the Aquanite Stone and end this nightmare.

But—I can't let Lucian down. I won't. I'll find a way back to him, no matter what it takes.

I can't feel my powers—that wellspring of energy usually bubbling just below the surface is eerily absent. I try to summon my fire, but not even a spark flickers to life.

What the hell did that witch do to me?

I close my eyes, trying to center myself and focus on anything but my predicament. We need to convince these pirates to help us. Moretemis's threat looms larger with each passing second.

The door creaks open just then, and a sliver of light cuts through the darkness. The tall figure from before—the Captain—steps inside, his presence casting an oppressive shadow.

"Awake at last," he remarks, his tone too neutral to be comforting. "Ye have some explainin' to do."

Disorientation floods through me as I try to gauge how long I've been unconscious. My head throbs mercilessly, each pulse sending a fresh wave of dizziness.

Slowly, I attempt to sit up, but the movement sends my head spinning even more violently. I grit my teeth against the nausea rising in my throat.

Come on, Dani, get it together. You can't afford to be weak right now. Rhyland and Erik need you. Lucian needs you. The realms need you.

With a deep breath, I force myself to focus past the pain and dizziness—one step at a time. First, assess the situation. Then, find a way out of this mess. I hope I haven't been out for too long. Every moment counts, and I can't let this setback cost us everything.

"How long—?"

"A day." The Captain quickly answers. "Now, answer me."

I lift my head, meeting his piercing gaze with what little strength I have left. "There's so much to explain. Something terrible is coming."

The Captain's eyes widen as he notices my hands, free from their bonds. "How in the blazes did you get your hands untied, lass? What kind of witchcraft are you playing at?"

I resist the urge to roll my eyes, even as the room spins around me. "It's a long story, Captain, and one I don't have the energy to tell right now. But please—just listen to me."

He crouches down to my level, his eyes searching mine. "And why should I trust a single word you say? Strangers appear outta nowhere on me ship, and you expect me to believe you ain't a threat?"

"Because we were trying to protect everyone," I say, my voice cracking with emotion. "We're fighting to keep a dark force from entering our worlds. We must stop it, or everyone—including you—will suffer."

The Captain studies me, the skepticism in his eyes wavering just slightly.

I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself and gather my thoughts. "I know this all sounds crazy. But I swear to you, it's all true. I need the stone to stop it."

The Captain strokes his beard, his expression thoughtful. "And what, exactly, does this have to do with me and my crew, lass? We're pirates, not heroes. We don't go around saving the world from ancient evils."

I can't help but laugh at that, even as the action sends a fresh wave of dizziness washing over me.

"Believe me, Captain, I'm no hero either.

I'm just a girl caught up in something bigger than herself.

But, like it or not, we're all in this together now—if the darkness succeeds, it won't matter if you're a pirate, queen, or lowly deckhand. All our asses are doomed."

The Captain is silent for a long moment, his eyes searching mine as if trying to gauge the truth of my words. "I’ll consider yer words. You’ll remain here until I decide what to do with you."

He stands and heads for the door, leaving me hopeful we can still turn this around.

"Wait, where are my friends?"

The Captain looks over his shoulder, "They've been detained."

Shit. What will they do to Erik and Rhyland? My thoughts spin out of control.

The door slams shut with a resounding thud, trapping me back in the darkness of the ship's hold. But a little thing like this won't keep this girl down for long.

As exhaustion tugs at my eyelids, I can't help but smirk at the thought of these so-called pirates, thinking they can hold me captive. They clearly haven't met the right kind of stubborn yet.

A frustrated sigh escapes my lips. As soon as my power decides to grace me with its presence again, these pirates are in for a rude awakening. They have no idea what kind of force they're dealing with.

Reaching out with everything I have, I call to Rhyland through our bond. "Rhyland...talk to me…"

At first, nothing but an eerie silence hangs heavy in the air.

But then, like a flickering candle flame, I feel the barest whisper of his presence brushing against my consciousness.

He's there, somewhere close, and he's trying to connect back to me.

Relief washes over me, knowing he's still fighting, even in his drained state courtesy of that wretched witch.

If I can find a way to recharge and tap into that inner wellspring of power again, maybe I can escape this dank hellhole and find Rhyland—get Lucian. And then, God help anyone who gets between me and saving the realms.

A part of me clings to the hope that the Captain might listen to reason and grant us a chance at freedom. I really don't want things to get ugly.

Exhaustion is weighing me down like an anchor, demanding I give in and catch some shut-eye.

As much as I'd love to fight it, my body's screaming at me for more sleep.

So I'm surrendering, letting my eyes drift closed as I desperately cling to that tiny flicker of a chance we can wiggle out of this pirate pickle.