Chapter Thirty-Four
ELARA
Elara was drinking tea in the dining room with Merissa, while Enzo, Leo, Victor and Santi played cards, when the door slammed open.
Adrian stalked in and straight up to Elara. ‘Is it true?’ he demanded, smashing the mug in her hand to the floor.
Enzo was already on his feet and rushing towards them both.
‘Are you the fucking Moon?’
There was a grunt as Enzo grabbed Adrian by his hair and hauled him out of the room silently, dragging the pirate who was trying to kick and punch his way out of Enzo’s hold.
The rest of the room ran out in utter confusion as dread slowed Elara’s limbs.
The shouting could be heard even on the lower level as Adrian and Enzo disappeared above deck.
‘You lied! You all lied!’ came Adrian’s shout.
‘Adrian, I am this close to killing you and commandeering your ship if you don’t lower your voice,’ came Enzo’s low growl.
Elara ran up the stairs and found Adrian kneeling on his deck, Enzo’s hand still wound in his hair.
Adrian raised his hands, eyes closed and teeth gnashing as he summoned his magick.
‘Save your energy,’ Enzo snapped. ‘Your little drowning trick doesn’t work on me.’
Adrian slumped forwards, breathing heavily.
‘I will let you go, but do not take even a step towards Elara,’ Enzo warned.
He did, and Adrian got to his feet with the help of Victor and Santi, who had followed.
‘And you’re the Sun,’ Adrian hissed, jabbing his finger at Enzo before pacing the deck. Elara gasped in shock.
‘So who the fuck is the Dark, hm? Is it Merissa? Leo?’
‘What?’ Elara spluttered, that word again haunting her. ‘No. Adrian, what do you know?’
‘A mermaid told me that the Dark is aboard my ship.’
‘A mermaid?’ Santi shook his head. ‘Adrian, did you have too much rum?’
‘No,’ Adrian hissed, whirling on his quartermaster. ‘And she told me things. Things that made sense. About my sister. The sea. Asteria.’
He turned to Elara. ‘Yes, your precious kingdom. Plagued by madness, all the shadowmancers succumbing to it. And the cause of it, she said, is ABOARD MY SHIP.’
Elara’s stomach lurched as she surveyed the ship. Enzo had paled, Merissa clutching Leo’s arm.
‘Tell me,’ he demanded. ‘Now.’
‘You’re in no position to give orders,’ Leo said.
‘Oh, really? Shall I wake my whole godsdamned crew and see who’s in a better position? Elara, tell me what the fuck you are.’
Elara fought back tears, her hands shaking. Enzo looked at her in despair.
‘What you did in the pits, all those people you killed—’
Enzo took a protective step closer to Elara, looking furtively between them. Elara began to cry.
‘I-I don’t know—’
‘Stop lying,’ Adrian shouted. ‘I know what you are.’
Seconds ticked by and Elara heard her blood rushing in her ears as Adrian’s words began to fall into place around her.
‘Because you’re not just the Moon, are you?’ he said to Elara. ‘You’re the Dark.’