Page 68 of The Secrets of Jane: Reborn
And yet… we continue to slowly sail away.
It isn’t until we’re officially out in the water that we truly take in what we just did. I have to admit, this place is damn near impressive, even if the crowd we walked through were as inviting as vultures near a dead body; I can see why Dad never let me down here, let alone the Undercroft. I wouldn’t put it past some of these people to try and take a Zenith’s daughter for ransom.
I’m grateful I get to see this place before departing, at least from this angle. The amount of seagulls flying around, along with the waves, creates so much movement and life, especially with all the activity of people tending to the docks. Deep groans of the ships fascinate me, trying to imagine those vessels as the only source of “land” when in the open ocean.
Let alone during a storm.
Hells, even one of the ships has a giant hole in the side. Like what could possibly have caused that? Also, how did it make it home?
Home.
I lift my gaze to where the silhouette of the Silver District is located, then back to the empty cavern. Sure, I’m naturally freaked out by that fucker. But I’mangrymore than anything.
His selfishness ruined my life, stole my mother, and now could harm or kill those around me.
One of the men on this longship, who wears a necklace made of wolf teeth around his neck—now I’m noticing theyalldo—looks at Tempest over my head. “Are we sure he let us go that easily?”
“No,” she replies from behind. “They’re scheming something, but so are we. There’s a reason I’m mandating keeping your blades sharpened.”
Silence befalls the longboat, which rides with the waves, the power of the ocean welling around us as the cliffs of Skull’s Row become more clear. The Spiraling Stone looms high overhead the entire time. That dark castle is so vast, so many little dots lining the walls where windows are, reflecting the sun against the roughness of the walls where some have glass. They even descend all the way down to the rocky base.
Bringing the cloak around me to cut out the freezing air, my breathing halts when I recognize what I see at the base of the castle—cut out of the stone are wide open strips that are almost like balconies.
Cells.
Prisoncells.
Some have iron bars for those who are wanted alive, whereas others are wide open in case the prisoner decides to end it themselves.
My gaze falls back to my dad, to the man who connects me to every aspect ofthatworld, whose face is the one I recognize. Even if his hair is different from when I was a child, it somehow already fits him. He looks paler than I’d prefer, and I don’t know how I’ll be able to make any more blood tonics when we’re out here, or going to wherever we’re being taken. It’s sort of a luxury limited to being within the city.
Soren’s gaze is lowered, and I know that look—he’s feeling out everything around him. Deciphering every pulse of whatever it is that he senses.
Glancing over my shoulder once again, Tempest is sitting down, her dark eyes scanning the scene. I quickly notice she has her nails a different color, the reddish tone complementing thedark brown of her skin, the golden rings adorning her thinner fingers even more extravagant in contrast.
How in the hells did she get hernailsa different color?
She clears her throat and looks at my father. “You got hit easily,” she comments.
The men on the ship that belong to her all face my dad.
Dad still has the strength to glare at Tempest as if he’s willing to brawl right here in this small ass boat. “I’ve been living my life as a barkeep. You try not killing on the regular for a decade and see how well you fare.”
She smiles approvingly at him. “Glad it wasn’t fatal, Charles. And no need to worry for now, Soren—” pale eyes flash up at her. “We got wind that Blackwell is preparing ships. He can try to follow, but he will fail.” She leans back confidently. “Let Misery come, too. I can’t damage that decrepit bastard on land, but the seas will aid me.”
As we get further into the water, the frigid sprays start to seep through the wool. This longboat traverses the larger swells with ease as we sail out to a monstrous ship that looms over us like a giant among ants. A carving of a wolf’s head casts long shadows, pearls for eyes the size of my body, glinting in the sun. Its mouth hangs open, and the sharp teeth all look like they’ve been coated with metal.
Just the head alone is massive–the size of ahouse. I squint and swear I even see a few windows in the lower level of the fur. Well can’t imagine what Tempest’s quarters look like on the back end—sure enough, it’s incredibly elaborate. The carving of sirens surrounds the entire bottom of the multi-tiered back, windows inset within thick carvings. I can’t see the full backside, but even from here, I spot at least two bay windows.
It amazes me to think that there are people who were born and died in Coalfell, never leaving to see how much of the world exists.They wouldn’t be privy to this part, anyway.
The sense of importance makes me straighten my back, wanting to appear as if I belong here. I killed a Zenith, didn’t I? Sure, he was already distracted and didn’t see me coming, but I can say I did it.
All to protect my Zenithfather.
I can do this.
When we’re near the ship, ropes are dropped down with a flapping roll. Without any steering, the boats turn to the side and line up to the Sea Wolf.
