Page 44 of Pregnant With Their Babes

Abruptly, a cry of alarm rose on deck. Another followed.

A shiver raced down Dagr’s spine.

“They’re here,” Llyr said.

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“Who?” Oz demanded before another scream took both his and Dagr’s attention to the door.

“The Draugar,”Llyr murmured, his eyes wide.

More cries came from his men as he and Dagr quickly pulled their pants on.

“Stay here,” Oz instructed Llyr. “Keep searching for the necklace.”

On the way out of the cabin, Dagr reached for one of his swords and tossed another to Oz. The cloudy night swallowed up the light, making it hard for him to see. Oz heard the sounds of clashing swords and cries of battle. A gun erupted from one side, the bright flash of the gunpowder sparking in the darkness. The coming storm swayed the ship violently from side to side. When a strike of lightning threaded across the sky, it lit the macabre display spread out around them.

Time slowed.

Oz watched as he saw an unknown enemy at war with his crew.

As the rumble of thunder neared, he saw skeletal remains racing towards him, sword aloft. Not a man. A skeleton. It raced nearer, sword in hand. Oz lifted his own at the last possible moment and fended off the attack.

Dear gods.

Before he could say another word, Oz raced to his cabin and pulled out his pistols. He exited and began firing on the creatures. One by one, they fell.

Only to rise again.

Another creature raced close. Oz emptied both guns into it, but it just kept coming. Tossing away the guns, he grabbed the sword he’d scabbarded—lifting seconds before the creature struck. The villain’s strength and power shocked him as he repelled the enemy sword. Using every ounce of might he had, he forced the creature to the edge of the deck—and after long minutes of fighting—was finally able to pitch the dead-thing over into the water.

A gun fired next to him, and he spun to see Dagr holding a gun aloft. He’d felled another of the dead-things—one that had been unknowingly racing toward Oz. Before he could express his thanks, the creature stirred.

In a stunning turn, it lifted itself from the deck.

Pure dread clenched at his belly. Oz jabbed his sword into the middle of the beast, and it dropped back to the deck—but only for a moment. It clawed at Oz’s sword, murmuring guttural cries that sounded almost demonic. Another flash of lightning gave Oz a better look at the creature—and he wished he’d never seen it. Rotting flesh hung off the partially visible bones. A shiver raced down Oz’s spine at the sight. Lifting his gaze, he saw his men fighting an unending battle against a foe who couldn’t be killed.

They would perish before seeing victory.

More beasts climbed up the side of the ship, a number too great for them to wage war against. It was then that Oz recognized one of the many. His brother, Brandt, stood in the middle of the deck, gazing up at him. Oz’s stomach clenched, bile rising in his throat. Another flash of lightning hit—and he could see Brandt’s once blue eyes were white.

His skin gray.

But it was the smile filled with malice that rendered Oz all the sicker. It was as if dead-Brandt remembered the hatred he’d had after their mother’s death.

And this version of his brother would see her avenged.

Another flash of lightning hit—and Brandt was no longer there. Oz frowned, wondering if it had been a figment of his imagination or a nightmare come to life. There was no time to ponder long—he rushed to the next dead monster and fought with everything he had.

As the rains swept over the deck, Oz heard Llyr’s voice ringing out.

“I found it!”

Oz searched over his shoulder and saw Llyr behind him.

“I found it!” he gripped the pendant in one hand.

“Go back inside!” Oz roared.

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