Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 106107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106107 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 531(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
I think about that for a moment, searching inside my soul. No, I say honestly. I don’t want to hurt her, not unless she asks me to. I want to protect her with all I have. I want to carry out her revenge for her.
And so you may, it says. For you are ready.
Then, a dark, buzzing feeling starts forming inside me, and my eyes fly open. The sunshine is no longer so bright; instead, the sky has been dimmed. Abe is staring at me with an urgent expression, more excitement than concern.
“What happened?” he whispers.
I shake my head and look around at my surroundings. There’s a ship far in the distance, and I realize that everyone has been shouting and talking impatiently, but I hadn’t heard any of it. Larimar is at the bow now, Maren by her side, and she looks over her shoulder to meet my eyes, raising her brow in question.
“That’s the Dutch ship,” I say.
“It is,” Abe says. “A lot of time has passed while you’ve been in your head.”
“No one has said anything?” I search the faces of the crew.
“Oh, everyone has been giving you strange looks, but no stranger than normal.” He stares at me deeply. “Tell me what the beast said.”
“The beast said I’m ready.”
Abe breaks into a toothy grin. “Most excellent. So, pray tell, what are you going to do about it?”
I roll back my shoulders, feeling a familiar tinge deep in the muscles. Something moves under my skin, like my muscles and bones are coming awake.
Darkness spreads within me like spilled ink over paper.
It seeps into my marrow.
I submit to the shadows.
I become the beast.
I put my head back and scream as the pain rushes through my broken body. The world grows dimmer still, all sound now a hush in the background. I know people are running over to me to see if I need help; I know some are staying back because they know.
I let the beast take over.
Just a little.
Just enough for my body to change and for my blood to boil and for the darkness inside me to intertwine with the light.
No fighting anymore.
I look down at Abe and unfurl my wings. I’m taller now, and I cast him completely in shadow.
“Well, hello, old friend,” Abe says with a genuine smile and a tip of the hat.
“Hello again,” I say, as myself, as the monster. “I have something I need to do.”
I start flapping my wings, blowing back Abe’s hair, attempting flight.
“Don’t kill everyone, Aragon,” Abe chides me. “It seems it’s been a while since this crew has seen battle. Let them have a little fun. Let Larimar have her revenge. And for God’s sake, remember we need to keep some alive for blood.”
I grin at him. It must be the ugliest grin in the world.
Then, I turn around and look at Larimar, who is holding on to Maren in pure fright, Ramsay standing protectively in front of them, ready to fight me by any means necessary.
I nod at them and then start pumping my wings until I’m taking flight, soaring over the side of the boat and down over the water, gathering up extra air from the waves before I shoot straight up into the sky.
The beast lets me laugh.
No, I let myself laugh.
I’m going to avenge the woman I love.
And I’m going to love every minute of it.
Chapter Thirty-Six
LARIMAR
“Blast my eyes!” Ramsay swears in wonderment as Priest soars overhead.
My Priest, who is now the monster once more.
My Priest, who has spread his wings again, a terrible creature that has taken to the skies.
For a moment there, I thought I might die.
I had forgotten I was immortal. I’ve only been immortal for so long, it’s natural to think death is coming for you when it’s staring you in the face.
And his monster had been staring at me in the face.
But unlike the time in the church, I saw Priest in that creature’s eyes.
I saw a man still in control, a man with a soul.
A Vampyre with wings.
He flew off toward the Dutch vessel, leaving the Nightwind and its crew in awe.
And I already know what Priest is going to do.
He’s going to hunt down every man on that ship.
He’s going to make them bleed.
As scared as I am of that creature, I don’t want to miss the massacre either.
“So, that’s the monster,” Maren remarks as she stands next to me.
I nod. “Yes. That’s the one.”
She lets out a dry laugh. “He’s a lot more terrifying than I imagined.” Then, she reaches out and puts her hand on my shoulder, as if remembering what happened to me. “Are you alright?”
I give her a reassuring smile. “I think so. I certainly didn’t expect to see the beast again or so soon. But I feel better about it than I thought I would. Perhaps because he didn’t come straight for me, trying to kill me.”