Page 51 of A Curse of Salt

I couldn’t choose which world I’d rather be trapped in, not when all I wanted was to be free. Bane wasn’t there to save me, but he was there. A chance – I just didn’t know what it might cost to take.

‘Don’t think ye’re gettin’ outta here alive,’ Golde gritted out, impatience getting the best of her.

Bane smirked. ‘Don’t think you can stop me, love. I’ve been doing quite well for myself, if you hadn’t heard.’

Golde drew her sabre. The sound was like lightning in an empty sky. ‘Ye’re a traitor,’ she spat. ‘And ye’ll die like one.’

‘I’ve only ever had one goal,’ Bane said, his tone suddenly serious. ‘And I never turned my back on that. I’ve promised a better life to those who side with me, and I plan to give it to them. We’ve taken more from Oren than he’s ever given us, and we’ll keep going ’til he has nothing left.’

His eyes flickered over to me again. My heart dropped into my stomach, a cold sweat erupting over my skin. He didn’t look so harmless now.

‘Give me the girl,’ he said.

‘She ain’t goin’ anywhere,’ Aron growled.

I wanted to believe him, I realised. Wanted this world over Bane’s. But it had to end one way or another. And when the ash settled and the blood dried, there’d only be one side left standing. The question was, which?

I took a deep breath. ‘I—’

A deafening roar drowned me out.

A sudden tempest of water swirled into the sky above the Blood Rose. From the crest of a soaring wave, a colossal form reared its serpentine head. A deluge flooded over the ship, drenching those closest to the edge.

Swords screeched in their scabbards as the beast towered over us. It was like nothing I’d ever seen, its skin slick and its limbs snake-like, each as large as the creature I’d seen the night of that first battle and edged with spikes. Scales clung to its angular skull, bones protruding sharply from the sides of its reptilian head as it stared down at us through yellow, slitted eyes.

Tentacles as thick as masts snaked out from the creature’s slippery hide as more seawater surged over the deck. I choked back a scream as it slammed into the planks, splintering the wood right in front of my feet.

I stumbled back into Sebastien’s chest and he pulled me behind him, striding forward with his broadsword raised. Which of his foes he was shielding me from, I didn’t know – I’d lost sight of Bane amid the chaos of both crews. I could only watch in horror as the monster opened its cavernous jaw and unleashed a jet of fire.

My cry of warning died in my throat. Sebastien darted back, narrowly missing the flames as they engulfed the mizzenmast. Pirates surged into action, their figures flickering through the blaze as they advanced from every angle, but they were too slow. The monster turned its face and seared them from the deck, leaving nothing but scorch marks behind.

I whirled around in panic, heart slamming against my ribs. This was wrong. Mors had assured me the creatures of the deep were harmless, that they wouldn’t hurt those who ruled the surface. But this one seemed to have every intention of taking us under.

Golde seemed to be wondering the same thing. ‘The hell’s goin’ on?’ she roared over the chaos. ‘Why’s it attackin’ us?’

The King shook his head in dismay, wiping ash from his face as he raised his sword. He pushed forward again, blade slicing through the air as he lunged from the quarterdeck, slashing the nearest tentacle clean off. Steaming black liquid sprayed from the open wound, sending him staggering back once more.

The two crews were impossible to distinguish as they barrelled forward, blades brandished, war cries burning in their throats. Leading the charge on the main deck, Bane bellowed for his crew to retreat as he swung an assault against the monster’s hide.

The crackle of burning flesh stoked the chaos and I gagged at the stench of smouldering blood. Pirates collapsed on both sides, their screams paring the air. They convulsed, writhing as they burned, their bodies blackening to coals.

Bane continued to bark orders over the spitting flames, darting between clusters of the injured and dying.

‘Abandon ship!’ he boomed.

Bane’s command rang through me. Last chance, I realised, watching as his crew hurled themselves over the divide between the ships, racing for safety. Even the Blood Rose couldn’t survive this, and if she was going down, I wasn’t going with her.

Run.

Flames roared up the masts as I hurtled down the stairs, bolting for the opposite side of the deck where Bane stood, watching me run. Around me, pirates cried out for release as the monster flailed above them, its limbs tearing through the ratlines.

Fire swept across the ship, blocking my path. I staggered back as pirates barrelled past me, their swords raised at the creature above. Bane’s crew were retreating, but his face swam before me through the dazzling inferno.

‘C’mon,’ he hollered. ‘Keep running!’

My feet clung to the planks, like I’d melted to the spot. Because suddenly I was afraid of the fire dancing in Bane’s eyes. Not the flames – the fury.

When he saw that I wouldn’t move, he made to dart forward, to reach through the blaze and grab me. The flames leaped higher, chasing him back. Bane cursed, staggering after his crew towards the edge of the deck, away from me.

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