Page 44 of Of Song and Darkness

Kai had resumed his position at the helm. His gaze met mine, and something warm and tingly ran down the length of my spine, reminding me of getting stung by a sea anemone, but in a good way. I crammed that feeling deep down, focusing my attention on the rise and fall of the black waves that seemed to be screaming of our impending doom.

I demanded that my shaky legs cooperate as I climbed the stairs to the helm. Cael stood by the Captain, both men strong, unmoving towers with unreadable expressions. Their serenity stood in stark contrast to my escalating terror. I chewed on my bottom lip as I gripped the railing and continued scrutinizing the monstrosity known as Dark Water. Each carcass of a sea mammal or fish that littered the water carved a notch in my heart. I couldn’t help but feel guilty for each of their forfeited lives. If only I had moved faster, done more…

“Enough,” Cael interrupted my musing with a stern expression etched across his face. “Stop worrying about things you have no control over.”

Hot tears burned behind my eyes at his words, but I refused to shed them in front of him. He spoke words of wisdom, just like my father, and I knew my fear would defeat me if I gave in now.

The ship glided seamlessly through the water, the darkness never coming closer to us.

I aimed my nervous demeanor at Kai. He stood tall and strong, unmoving like the mountainside. His eyes focused on the horizon. His expression almost seemed to dare Dark Water to try him.

“How long until we reach the Dark Hydra?” My voice trembled, betraying my fear.

“Soon enough,” Kai’s strong baritone drummed through the air, reaching into my chest and squeezing my heart.

I inhaled a shaky breath as I focused on the horizon. Gone was the beautiful casting of the sun against the crystal-clear water. Now, all we faced was darkness. Nothing dared to touch the inky black depths.

“Can I go up to Rat’s nest?” I held my breath as my eyes pleaded with his. Kai turned toward me, a look of refusal written across his features. “Please. I have to see the stretch of its destruction. I have to know.”

Kai’s eyes met mine, and I swore I saw a crack in his rough expression. With a swift nod of his head, he permitted me to go above.

“Rat!” Kai bellowed. “Help the sea demon.” There was a twinkle of mischief in his eyes that caused the heavy burden of the day to lighten ever so slightly.

Rat swooped down from the watchtower, dangling before me. “Si, Capitán.”

My lips ticked up in a smile I could not contain as Rat offered me his hand. Rat helped me maneuver each placement of my foot to ensure that I did not have a repeat of the last time I had been in his domain. With slow precision, I made my way to the top. Once in Rat’s nest, I glanced down at Kai. His gaze remained fixed on me, and I could have sworn I saw his manly chest heave as though he’d been holding his breath, but it was likely my imagination.

I mustered up my courage and looked out across the expanse of the sea. My hand flew to my chest. It felt like someone had lodged a knife there and twisted it. I expected patches of Dark Water scattered across pristine blue, but I saw a never-ending siege of death and destruction. As far as I could see, there was nothing but Dark Water.

“Oh, Rat.” I gasped.

Rat smiled, but it did not reach his eyes. “I know, Señorita.” His voice broke with emotion.

My eyes met his, and a thought skipped across my mind. Not only were the inhabitants of the oceans losing their lives and homes, but also those who sailed the seas. Everyone was suffering because of the Dark Hydra.

Rat stood behind me in silent support as I stared out into the bleakness until the sun sank below the onyx waves. The sight was so disturbing I wondered if the sun would ever rise again.

“Come, Señorita. It’s late,” Rat said as he lightly touched my elbow.

I slowly pried my hands from the railing. They cramped in protest from being in the same position for so long. Even with Rat’s insisting, I was still hesitant. I felt like a beacon in the darkness with the heart of Poseidon glowing around my neck and had the unrealistic feeling that if I took my eyes off the Dark Water, it would swallow us whole.

I wiped my sweaty palms on my pants legs before slowly descending the rope ladder. So overwhelmed by terror, I failed to notice Kai waiting at the bottom until his arms encircled my middle. He quickly lifted me from the ladder, hesitating before setting my feet back on the deck.

The salty wind whipped my fiery locks across my face, and Kai lifted his hand, tucking my hair behind my ears. The gesture was so simple, yet it struck a chord in my heart.

Kai cleared his throat. “You should get some sleep.” He dropped the hand that had reached for me to his side like he had touched literal fire. The sting of his rejection and disgust cut deeper than the claws of the siren that had ripped into my back.

I shoved my feelings and all the disappointments of the day deep into my inner chest of emotions and slammed the lid shut. After turning away from him, I walked absentmindedly toward Kai’s cabin. I reached the door and turned the knob. The lush bed called to me like a lover. I couldn’t wait to fall into the fluffy sheets, but something was nagging me. When I had asked Kai how much longer it would take to reach the Dark Hydra, his response was vague. How much longer I would have to endure this heartache? I needed, no, demanded, to know the number of days.

I walked back out of the cabin. My hand brushed against the wood rail that led up the stairs, but I stalled there. Deep, husky voices that sounded like Cael and Kai were coming from below. My brow scrunched in confusion. Since killing Flynt, one or the other was always behind the wheel, so why were they below? I turned toward the voices but stalled before going lower. I had not been to lower decks since my first day aboard the ship. Not since Kai had locked me behind those bars. Just thinking about the rank darkness had panic swelling in my breast.

I took a brave step forward and then another, determined not to let my fear overwhelm me. Kai wasn’t the same man he had been before. He wouldn’t throw me back into that cell. I stepped onto the stairs, hissing in aggravation when the wood squeaked under my feet. I froze, looking around to see if anyone heard the noise, but after a few precious seconds passed and no one came after me, I continued my descent.

The voices grew louder the deeper I went, but the words remained muffled. I came upon a room with soft lantern light glowing under the doorframe. The door was slightly ajar, so I peeked inside. It was a simple bedroom, and I immediately assumed it belonged to Cael since he was the one sitting on the meager bed in the middle of the room. Kai stood off to the side. I could barely make out his silhouette in the shadows, but there was no mistaking that voice—the one that hummed in my bloodstream every time he spoke.

“We’re going to wait here for her to show up,” Kai confirmed.

Cael’s body tensed at Kai’s words as I quietly shuffled closer. What she was he talking about, and why were we waiting on whoever she was? With Dark Water spreading further than I imagined, we did not have the luxury of waiting on anyone. The thought of opening the door and telling him just that crossed my mind, but my curiosity held me in place.

---