Page 40 of Demon's Prey
Linda perked up, covering her hand with her mouth.
“What do you mean she is in danger? And why do you need a boat to save her?”
Kurse sighed and stood up.
“It’s a long story. Can you please trust me? Where is Charles, by the way?”
“He’s helping the men get underway. What are you going to do?”
Kurse hoped that both Faith and her parents would forgive him for what he was about to do. He took Linda by the hand and began pulling her along the dock. The first motion lifted her off the dock entirely while she tried to keep pace with him. She ordered him to slow down, but Kurse just ignored her.
When they arrived on their yacht, Kurse saw that Charles was dressed in all white, like a tennis player, and looked delighted to be heading out to sea. When they made eye contact, all of that delight melted off his face. The men helping him were startled backward, with one even falling into the water.
“Sorry," Kurse said, helping to fish the man out of the water. “But this is important. Your daughter has been kidnapped by Mr. Savage, and I need to use your boat to save her.”
The men who had been surrounding him stepped away. Charles noticed this and tried to rush them back. “Don’t listen to him! Get back to work. We are nearly underway!”
“Sir,” Kurse spoke, trying to keep his voice low and non-threatening. “This is the truth. Why don’t you want me to help Faith?”
The men were slowly getting back into their routine of packing the boat with supplies and detaching the yacht from the dock. When Charles ignored him, Kurse slammed one foot down as hard as he could. The wood gave way like it was made of jelly.
The aiding men screamed, a few yelping like cartoon characters. The two detaching the boat, tossed the ropes they were holding and fled. The others who were stocking the ship remained frozen, suspended between the channels of time.
Kurse elevated his lips over his teeth to show off an intimidating snarl. He opened his mouth as wide as he could, revealing extra sets of teeth, then roared in their direction. The sound was overwhelming and intrusive. It blew Charles over like an intense wind, knocking him between the yacht and dock. The rest of the men dropped their items and fled, avoiding Kurse as much as possible.
Kurse closed his mouth to end the roar. It stopped abruptly like a record had been scratched.
Kurse noticed that Linda was standing beside him with her arms crossed. She seemed unaffected by his roar and was staring down at her husband, who had the rope he had been holding between his legs.
He was on his back, settling into a turtle-like position between the dock and the boat. Kurse covered his face to hide his smile.
“What are you doing? Help me up!” Charles ordered his wife. She sighed and reluctantly offered him a hand, pulling him to his feet. He brushed off and looked up at Kurse.
Kurse felt slightly guilty that he had managed to embarrass Charles yet again. His wife did not look entirely displeased by the sight, though. Kurse scratched the back of his neck and breathed deeply.
“You weren’t paying attention. This is a serious matter.”
“Apparently, it is,” Charles looked around. “And you’ve scared off my deckhands. Great.”
He motioned toward the ramp of the boat, welcoming both Kurse and his wife onto it. Kurse walked lightly on the flimsy ramp, knowing that his excessive weight would surely snap it. Thankfully, it didn’t.
The three went to the center of the ship, where the control room and the helm were. Charles stood away from Kurse with his legs spread open and hands on his hips. Linda leaned against the controls, sipping on something she quickly made in the kitchen nearby.
“So what is this about our daughter? She’s gone missing?”
Kurse nodded firmly.
“Yes, by the people she was investigating. I know she didn’t tell you too much about that.”
Charles shook his head, then rolled his eyes, saying, “There isn’t much she does tell us. I’ll tell you that for sure.”
For a moment, there was silence, and the Kurse thought they were wasting time. He went to grab at the helm of the ship, but Charles managed to pull him away.
“Please, sir,” Kurse begged. “We are running out of time. We don’t know what they are planning to do with her.”
“Oh Faith, always wanting to be saved but never asking for help.” Charles shook his head vehemently while Linda drank behind him.
Kurse moved his eyes to Linda, pointing at Charles.
