Page 41 of The Sky Pirate's Stowaway
Glancing at the water, I cringed as a huge sea serpent surfaced and dove back under. We were lower in the air now than we’d been for most of the trip, so it was easy to see it. I inhaled when I realized there was a whole school of them, jumping, swimming, and playing in the water under our airship.
It was like they were waiting for one of us to fall off.
From here, it was difficult to pick out details, but sea serpents were so big they were easy enough to spot. They were a deep blue color, and some had gray spots, but all of them had long, snake-like bodies with fins, spikes down their backs, and large crests on their heads. From here, I couldn’t see their mouths, but I knew they had many, many sharp teeth that were as long as my forearm.
They were hunters, meat-eaters, and they ruled these waters. We were deep within sea serpent territory, and I couldn’t help but shiver at the thought of being monster bait.
With one bite, I’d be a goner for sure.
I shuddered at the thought.
I’d really been hoping to see some dragons flying in the sky on this trip, but no such luck. Instead, I got to see terrifying sea beasts that were only close to us because they were hoping someone would fall overboard and become their next meal.
Willy pointed and shot me a grin. “I see it.”
At first, I thought he meant the sea serpents that seemed to be following our trail, but then I realized he was pointing off into the distance.
I leaned closer to him, trying to see what he saw, and then I gasped. In the distance, there was a dark blur surrounded by water. Since the blur wasn’t moving like a sea creature would, I knew it had to be the island.
I bounced on my toes. “Unicorn horns, I see it too.”
“We’re still thirty minutes out, I’d guess.”
Before he could speak again, Viper’s voice called out, yelling at the aeronauts to shift the rudders and start descending for landing. Ariella worked her magic, standing on the quarterdeck next to the helm and making the wind move our ship quickly through the air.
Willy tensed beside me and slouched his shoulders, trying to make himself as small as possible so Viper couldn’t see him. Since I didn’t want the captain to notice my young friend either, I stepped in front of him. I tried my best to block him from sight, hiding the sneer I wanted to aim at the evil pirate.
After what he’d done to Willy, ordering a flogging and letting Butcher hurt him until he passed out from the pain, I’d lost every single ounce of respect I’d had for the man. And I hadn’t had much before that.
I saw how Viper ran this ship—with fear. I saw how all the other pirates steered clear of the man and did their best to disappear anytime he came out of his office. I saw that no one actually respected him. They were just too scared of being thrown overboard, hit, or flogged to do anything about it. I’d even heard a rumor that Viper would cut off a few fingers or toes if he was in a bloody mood and you got in his way.
I hated the man, and I wanted to protect Willy from him.
Especially because the poor kid was still recovering from his injuries.
Luckily, Viper didn’t stay on the deck for very long, letting Reaper take over giving orders. I hadn’t even realized the entire crew had gone tense until the captain disappeared and they all relaxed.
They were scared of Reaper too, but not in the same way. It was more like they were scared of disappointing him, not that they were scared he’d murder them for daring to tie a knot wrong or slipping on the deck and knocking into another person. There was fear there, sure, but there was also respect.
It baffled me why everyone followed Viper instead of making Reaper captain and throwing Viper overboard. The only people who’d miss that evil man were the other murderous pirates in the crew.
They could throw those jerks overboard along with him for all I cared.
“He’s gone,” I said to Willy as soon as Viper went into his room.
Willy breathed out, closing his eyes as he slowly straightened. When he opened them, he sent me a sheepish smile. “Sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry about, Willy. You need to stay out of sight for a while.” It wouldn’t be long before some other poor soul caught Viper’s attention and the man forgot all about Willy. But for now, it was better to be safe than sorry.
He nodded, but we both got distracted when Hawk-Eyes came closer, peeking over the rail and said, “We’re close.” She looked at me, then at Willy. “You two are coming with me.”
I blinked at that. “We are?”
She grinned. “We’re hitting up Sea Serpents, and you’re comin’ with.”
“Uh… what?” Sea serpents? I didn’t want to see a sea serpent.
She chuckled. “Sea Serpents Saloon. They’ve got good beer, whores, and plenty of rooms upstairs, if ya get me. Most of us are going. Not cap and Reap, or Butcher’s crew, but my crew is. You’re comin’ with us.”
