Page 18 of High Seas

The rain outside and her speed had insulated Terah from the scent, but now she couldn’t escape it. Terah’s feral eyes focused on the puddle, barely restraining herself. Her chest heaved and her eyes darkened. Every muscle in her went taut. She wanted to feed from him. The scent of his blood was too much for her.

“Terah, no,” I commanded.

She bared her teeth but obeyed, rushing from the room and off the ship, passing by the still unconscious form of Edward. He didn’t have blood enough to sate her thirst. She would find another human to ease the craving the scent of Titus’s blood sparked. I hoped that human survived her hunger.

Titus glanced at me and then looked to Eve sleeping on the bed. “Where am I? Scratch that. When am I?”

“You are on the island of Brutulo. The year is seventeen-seventeen,” I explained. “Eve said she needed your help, so Terah volunteered to find you. You hadn’t seen her?”

“No, I hadn’t. I just landed…not long ago. I… things are hazy.”

“I assumed she knew you were near. I’m certainly glad you were.”

“What happened to her?” he asked, flicking his eyes to Eve.

“She lost consciousness. I can’t rouse her.”

“When she was awake, did she act normal? For her, I mean?”

“Yes, but she exerted herself, quickly weakened, and then collapsed.” I didn’t tell him how she’d become so weak – by hunting their replicas and tossing two of their carcasses into the water below – or how she’d defended herself from my attack.

“It hasn’t been long since we landed, so it could be the strain and stress of travelling, or it might…” He crossed the room. Sitting on the mattress beside Eve, he grabbed her hand, moving it back and forth to catch what little natural light was filtering in from outside, thanks to the storm. “Has her tech been on at all?”

“I’m not certain, but I don’t believe so.”

He nodded and pressed his eyes closed. “You’re not going to like what I need to do.”

“Do you have to open her skin?” I asked, already dreading his answer. Eve’s blood, as strange as it tasted, called to me. I couldn’t be too close when he spilled it. Beyond that, I didn’t want to witness him cut her. I wouldn’t be responsible for my actions if I did. I’d kill him, and I wouldn’t feel the least bit sorry for tearing him limb from limb and throwing the rest of him into the sea.

“It’s the only way I know to reboot it, but she will bleed. It might be too much for you.” He looked from her hand to her face. “It worked last time.”

I stood up. “Why is the smell of her blood so enticing to me? I can pass by anyone with a wound, even you, without losing control. But hers is different.”

“Her blood type is the one you prefer. Mine was formulated just for Terah’s tastes, and Abram’s is Asa’s favorite flavor. Kael left nothing to chance,” he answered tiredly.

I shook my head, disgusted. “I’ll be on deck. You should find everything you need in the drawer of my desk.”

“Aye, aye, Captain,” he replied with a smirk and salute of sorts. I restrained myself and didn’t smack the back of his head.

After leaving them, I paced just outside the door, tasting the scent of her blood the moment it wafted through the doors and permeated the sky. Not even the rain could dampen the smell of her. The wind lifted and swirled, but did little more than stir it around. It never took it away.

Drumming my fingers on my thighs, I walked further away, all the way to the bow, when all I wanted to do was run to her and make sure she was okay. To smell her blood from only a breath away...

My pulse throbbed in my ears.

I tore at my hair.

Clenching the railing, the drenched wood popped and groaned under my grip. I wanted to tear another piece off just because it might ease the tension.

Titus was taking an eternity. I was losing my patience.

I pressed my eyes closed and held my breath, trying to forget her scent, the smell of her blood, and the betrayal reflected in her eyes when I tried to hurt her.

Damn it all. They claimed that Kael left nothing to chance. I wondered if he was more of a threat than Victor Dantone, or simply a puppet committed to doing the dirty work of his master.

Finally, I took a deep breath and focused on the briny aroma of the sea. I kept my mind busy by counting the waves that hit the hull.

The moment I heard Eve cry out, I threw open the door and raced to her side. Titus was visibly shaken as he cleaned up after himself, blotting her blood from where it had dripped onto the floor. The bright glow of Eve’s tech lit up the otherwise dim space. Her eyes were wide open and she spoke, but not to Titus and not to me.

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