Page 36 of The Sea of Zemira (The Zemiran Chronicles 1)

For a short moment, her mind drifted to how it had happened.

She had to make herself taller to look into his eyes. She had not noticed how towering he was before—as tall as her father, maybe more. He had a strong jawline and perfectly sculpted cheekbones as if whoever created their kind had taken time on such a beautiful masterpiece. He had changed into a black blouse, with the top buttons undone, showing off his chest. Her eyes could not help but stare at his strong muscles under his shirt. Despite the scowl he wore over his seductive pink lips, his eyes looked gentle as he glared at her. He was not wearing a hat like the other pirates on the ship. A wavy brown hair fell slightly over his eyes. She wanted to reach out and brush it away.

Nola stepped back instinctively, but Boots gripped her arm in a tight hold, making her wince.

“Boots, let go of her,” Captain Lincoln ordered, “It’s not like she can escape from the ship if she were to run.” The corners of his eyes crinkled.

An unsettling feeling hit Nola straight in the gut. The man was right. There was no escape, even if she wanted to. Though she was a siren, she had not used her tail since she was a few months old. She could not risk sinking to the depths of the sea.

As Boots released his grip on the girl, the captain’s first mate tossed him the jewel.

“Mazie, what is this?” he asked.

“We found her in the supply closet downstairs. She offered us that,” Boots answered for her, gesturing to the jewel and not bothering to mention the coins he pocketed for himself.

Lincoln stared keenly at the ruby and blew out a whistle. Nola swallowed and focused on the hard lump pressing against her throat. There was a small moment at the tavern where she thought she had seen only a man—one who called her name beautiful. However, the man before her was a pirate who had her life in his hands, and he could do whatever he wanted, and no one could save her.

“Well, isn’t this the finest piece of pirate booty I’ve ever laid my sight on?” he said. His eyes glinted on hers, and not the ruby. Her stomach jumped as he drew his lower lip between his teeth.

Lincoln closed his fist, gripping the jewel firmly. Unlike the other pirates on the ship, there was no hint of a smile or kindness on his face. He glared at her with malice. She took another step back as his eyes darkened.

A slight unreadable grin pulled at the side of his lips before he said, “Pull out the plank.”

All the color drained from Nola’s cheeks while a cold tremor ran through her body.

“You—you are to kill me?” her voice stammered.

She planted her feet as Boots’s fingers wrapped around her arm in a firm grip. She quickly looked up, fixing the captain with an incredulous, unblinking stare. “I paid you, you bastard,” she added boldly, but only a wry smile tugged at his mouth as he waved a hand in the air.

Boots glowered at him. “Captain?” he said, releasing some of the pressure he had on Nola’s arm.

Mazie stepped in front of the captain and tried to place her hand on his shoulder, but he slapped it away.

“Captain Lincoln. What are you doin’?” she asked. Her voice was authoritative to match his own.

Lincoln scolded her. “Step away, Mazie. She doesn’t belong on this ship!” he said through gritted teeth.

The female pirate looked at Nola with apologetic eyes and shrugged. She then nodded at Boots. He started to pull her away from the crew and towards the ship’s broadside.

Nola squirmed her body, trying to free herself of the pirate’s grip. “Please,” she pleaded, “don’t do this!”

Every muscle in her body tensed. She planted her feet again, trying to wiggle her body from Boots’s grasp, but he was stronger—much stronger.

Once they reached the starboard side, Big Red and Hill grabbed the wooden plank. The red-haired pirate tried to hide the shimmering tear at the corner of his eye before Nola, or his mates saw it. Then Hill stretched the plank outward towards the sea and secured it to the deck.

“Get on,” Boots said, his voice cracked.

“Tell me what I must do to change his mind,” she pleaded, her skin shivering with fear. “I’ll do anything!”

Nola’s eyes swam with tears. Despite her encounter with the guards and the night at the tavern, it was the first time Nola had cried since she left her home. In fact, she had not shed real tears in years. The siren girl fled because she wanted to save Zemira, but all that planning, training, and running would have been for nothing. She could not fail her people, especially at the hands of a pirate.

Boots swallowed nervously while tightening the grip around her arm. “You’ll do as—”

“Captain!” Kitten shouted, “she paid us. Let us just take ’er where she needs to go. Look ’ow terrified she is.”

Kitten placed her hands on the captain’s chest, but he shifted to the right causing her to drop her arms to her side. Boots rushed Nola to the slim board and pushed her out. She stood there, looking at the horizon, trying not to lose balance.

Suddenly, a loud shot rang over the deck. Nola, unable to turn and see what was happening, clasped her hands over her ears to muffle the sound. The captain stomped lively towards the stowaway girl and onto the plank until he stood near inches from her. Lincoln turned her around. Her knees trembled, barely able to keep herself from balancing on the board. She blanched as he lifted a pistol, pointing at her forehead. He threatened to end her life right there.

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