Page 4 of Blood Sea

“Marco?” I call as I get closer, when he looks up, his eyes are wide and wild.

“Zula?” he squeaks out. His tiny frame is trembling so hard I don’t know how he manages to speak.

“Close enough,” I reply, smiling as I grab onto his hands and pull him upright. A piercing scream rings out into the night. My hands instantly gripping Marco’s tighter, I turn my head, and spot a woman being carried off by a pirate. “Come on, we need to run!” I urge Marco, pulling him along with me. He stumbles, but he manages to keep up as I drag him away from the chaos.

At first, I'm not sure where to take him, but then an idea clicks.Please don't have run off, Blue. I need you.We reach the trees I had exited only minutes ago, despite it feeling like hours, and I quickly tug Marco into the cover they provide. I whisper a quiet prayer to the gods that Blue hasn't gone far. We pass through the trees, and there he is, waiting exactly where I left him.

“Do you know how to ride a horse?” I ask Marco, hoping to the furthest lands and back that he does.

“I rode one with my daddy,” he says nervously, as we draw closer to Blue. The tall stallion is definitely not an ideal choice for such a small child to ride alone, but our options are limited, and Blue is fast enough to get the kid to safety.

“Can you ride him yourself? If I lift you up?”

“You're not coming with me?” he asks, his eyes growing even wider. There’s a bit of accusation amongst the panic shining in them, and I try not to let it pierce my heart.

“I still have to find someone, but I couldn't just leave you there,” I explain, already moving to lift him onto Blue's back. There’s no time to waste.

“I don't know how,” he cries, thrashing slightly as I lift him.

“You can do this, just hold on tight to the reins. Blue knows the way home. You'll be safe there,” I plead, trying to calm him so he doesn’t spook the horse, and thankfully, he stops struggling. I help him scramble up onto Blue, and then I adjust the stirrups and get Marco’s feet into them. Finally, I wrap the reins tightly around his little hands, swallowing hard as I contemplate the risks of what I’m doing. He gives me such a frightened look that I almost change my mind and go with him, but the sounds of canon fire in the distance make me reconsider. I must find my father, before it’s his body I find instead. I smack Blue on his hind. “Home,” I say firmly. The horse doesn't need telling twice, and takes off in the direction of my home.

Turning around, I can’t help but notice that the sounds of screaming have begun to die down.Why does that not feel like a good thing?

Clenching my fists, I head back towards the town centre; no people are in sight anymore, all have fled or are in hiding. Buildings burn all around me, and I can see where canons have hit the edges of town that face the sea.

Blasted wood and debris are scattered everywhere, gaping holes in some of our largest buildings. In the harbour, I can see a ship with black sails, and a black flag hoisted high. A flag with a crest of white teeth, that has pointy fangs descending, dripping trails of blood down the rest of the flag. Vampirates. There is no mistaking those colours. Human pirates stuck with a variation of skull and crossbones, and vampirates used the fangs. Everyone knows that. Not that there are many normal pirates anymore, the sea isn't safe for those of us who don't bite. Sailors get compensated well for moving people are cargo between the islands, but even then, it's not enough to sway most men. Only the brave, the foolish, and those who seek to make a lot of money. Most will only sail to their nearest neighbouring port, cross the land by other means, and then sail between the next two nearest ports. Risking open waters for too long is only tempting fate against you. I worried whenever James or my father went away from Carysi.

Spotting figures up ahead coming in my direction, I dart behind a building. Thankfully, it’s one of the few not burning down to embers. I can hear voices, but not the specific words. The roaring flames from the other ruins left of my town, and the waves battering against the shore are dampening out the sound of the voices.

Pain slams into the back of my head, and I stumble. Hands grab my arms, and I feel rope wrapped around them.No!I wriggle, twisting out of their grip. I pull my pistol out and pull the trigger, pointing at their head without blinking. Nothing happens, just a dull click.Fuck, misfire.One of the main reasons I prefer a sword. The pirate grins, showing ugly, yellowed teeth. I can’t see sign of fangs, but the blood spread across his face tells me enough, and I don’t intend to wait around to see them descend. I feel bile rise in my throat as I stumble back, right into another body.

I scream, thrashing, as arms close around me.

“Azula!” my father’s voice shouts, and I freeze.

“Daddy?” I turn to face him. He smiles, resting a hand on my cheek. Suddenly, a bang rings in my ears and blood seeps through his shirt.No!He falls, and I drop with him, pressing my hand to the wound on his chest.

“Zu, you need…” he wheezes, trailing off, his eyes already closing.

“Shh, I’m here. J-just don’t stop talking, just stay with me. Please.” I choke out.

“Run.”

“I can’t just leave you,” I cry, and he opens his eyes, somehow managing to give me a stern look, as if nothing is wrong at all.

“There’s nothing left to leave, run. Go now, and don’t let them catch you, Azula. You can’t die like she did,” he stumbles over his words, forcing them out slowly, and I grip his hand tightly in mine. I keep my other hand keeping pressure his chest trying to slow the bleeding, but the blood just keeps coming.Wait, he can’t mean what I think he does?

“What do you mean?” I ask quickly.

“I love you, sweetheart. Run,” he whispers, as his eyes draw closed again.

“No, I can’t!” I say, shaking him, as I’m will him to open his eyes again. They stay firmly shut, and I lean down, hovering my head over his mouth. No breath. Tears fall down my cheeks, and I taste the salt on my lips as they seep into the corners of my mouth. Standing, I wipe the blood from my hands onto my white underskirt. I look around for the vampire who tried to grab me before, but he’s vanished from sight.

I peek around the edge of the building, and I see him and another heading back towards me, rope in hand.Damn it.I turn and run, hearing them chasing after me. I trip over a body on the ground, going flying across the dirt. I smack down hard, knocking my head on a rock. Despite an attempt at resistance, darkness wraps itself around me, and pulls me struggling into the abyss.

This is an incomplete pre-order placeholder file. Please update your copy to receive the correct one if you have received this one by mistake.

Chapter Four – James

---