Chapter 30

My body protested loudly as it collided with the deck, barely missing the sea witch's fatal blow. My deck, however, was not as lucky. The boards made of the bones of the leviathan cracked under the force.

I was on my feet in seconds, pulling Rhea along behind me as I went for the helm.

"I'll visit worse than death on you for damaging my ship!" I thundered, gripping the wheel in my sweaty palms. "Beat to quarters! Fighting trim! Clew up the main!"

The men scattered, each moving in perfect rhythm to the beat of my commands. Ropes strung through the air, and the sails shifted.

"Harpooners, tie off the darts! Run out the long spears!" I shifted at the helm, and the crew's eyes glistened with a hint of fear and excitement. This was what we lived for. The exhilaration of the chase hummed within me like a fine tune. I wouldn't feel guilty for this sea creature's death. The sea witch was anything but innocent. She wanted Rhea dead. Therefore I would use my last ragged breath ensuring that I sent her to Davy Jones's locker—or I'd die trying.

I glanced back at Rhea, half expecting to see her quaking in fear. My thunderous heart skidded to a halt when I saw she was no longer behind me. I gripped the wheel until my knuckles blanched white. A flash of auburn caught my attention below, and I breathed a sigh of relief as she dashed across the deck, helping the men prepare the cannons. Pride bubbled in my chest, and I had to shove aside the smirk that tugged at my lips. I shook my head, momentarily breaking the ever-present trance I seemed to be under whenever Rhea was around.

"Heave way!" I bellowed as another tentacle flew through the air, aiming for our main mast. The Wraith was swift, gliding through the water with haunting speed. A massive wave formed beneath the sea witch's arm as it crashed into the water, missing its mark.

"Brace!" Cael yelled as the wave hit us hard, tossing the men about like dice in a gambler's hand. Several of my men gripped Rhea, helping her stay upright. Siren or not, she was now a part of this crew, and my men aimed to prove that.

"Gunners! Make ready! Hit her with plenty of fire and load the carcass shots!" My voice carried swiftly on the wind as the men loaded the cannons with a unique concoction meant to rip holes through the worst of beasts. "Fire!"

The ship jolted beneath our feet as the cannons exploded in unison. Our aim was dead to right, but they barely put a dent in the monstrosity that swarmed in the water. She roared, spewing a heavy rain of seawater across the deck, drenching us all.

"The ocean has sent us its worst, and we're going to send it right back!" I boomed. "Ready the spears!" All eyes turned to me when the weapon was ready. "Fire!"

Massive spears with ropes tied off at the ends thrust forth from the ship's broadside, sinking deep into the sea witch's hide. She screeched, ducking beneath the water in an attempt to flee.

Rhea bounded up the stairs, eyes wide. I grabbed her and pulled her in front of me, wedging her body between mine and the wheel. The ship jarred and moaned in protest as the sea witch took off, taking us for a rough ride through the water.

"We've got her hooked. Now we'll wear her down," I whispered in Rhea's ear, enticing a twinkle of excitement in her eyes, even amidst the face of danger.

"Full sail!" I roared over the wail of the wind. "We'll make her fight the very wind until she has no more fight left in her."

The sail snapped into place, forcing the sea witch to slow her breakneck speed. I pulled Rhea tighter to my chest as the sea witch fought against our hold, lurching the ship forward. "Not so fun when your prey fights back, is it, witch?"

A shot of agony snaked through my chest, causing me to grit my teeth. The pain was so great it had the potential to bring me to my knees, but I refused to yield to it. Rhea turned in my arms, somehow sensing my hurt. Her gaze swiftly fixed on my bare chest, exposed as the wind violently ripped open my shirt. Her face flooded with concern, and I didn't have to look down to know that Dark Water was mere inches from my heart. Swallowing concern for myself, I instead focused on the imminent threat. I would see this sea witch in hell before I died. I refused to leave my crew and Rhea to face her alone.

The sea witch sharply veered to the right, yanking the ship along like a mere bobber skimming across the water. She began to spin in the water at such speed I feared the ship would lift from the very sea. In seconds, she created a massive whirlpool that swirled with her evil vengeance. The sea witch dove, snapping the line taut as she began to pull us under.

"She's going to drag us to the bottom!" Cael cautioned as he clung onto the mast to keep upright.

Rhea glanced at me over her shoulder, a flicker of fear in her irises. I scanned the condition of the ship. The moan of the boat told me that the pressure was too great and it would be crushed in a matter of minutes if I didn't do something. My crew dangled from ropes they had secured around their waists, swaying like spiders tossed in the wind.

I yelled at Rhea over the commotion. "Keep the rudder straight. If it turns, we will fall bow-first into the center of the whirlpool and be sucked down."

She nodded once in understanding and reached trembling hands to the wheel. Once she had control of the ship, I released the wheel and rushed to the ropes that anchored us to the sea witch. The boat jerked, causing me to nearly lose my footing. I glanced back, picking up speed, when I saw Rhea throwing everything she had into keeping the ship from slipping into the abyss.

Time seemed to move in slow motion as I pulled my sword from the scabbard on my hip. I sliced through the ropes one by one, each line popping and whizzing by my face as the tension released. I reached the last tether, my sword cutting through it like a hot knife through butter. The ship lurched, throwing me and the entire crew to the deck as it popped out of the whirlpool like a cork on a bottle of ale.

My head buzzed as it collided roughly with the deck, sending a jolt of pain through me. I struggled to regain my footing, but the dizzying throb in my skull made everything blur into double vision. The sea witch rose from the depths, a sinister grin pulling on her wicked lips. I forced myself to stand, but the pounding in my head and the pain in my poisoned black heart were nearly too much to bear.

My gaze cut to the helm, desperate for one last glance of Rhea before the sea witch put an end to my miserable life. I needed to see her perfect face, run my fingers through her long copper hair, and press my lips to hers—lips that seemed to be made just for me. Rhea rushed to my side, but she wouldn't make it. The sea witch polluted the salty sea air with her magic. It popped and hissed as it encompassed the ship. The water rose over the sides, entrapping us in a bubble.

The sea witch's magic reached for me, wrapping around me and squeezing. I tried to call on my sea powers, but it was useless. The Dark Water that swirled through my veins weakened me, preventing my ability to rise from the depths.

"No!" Rhea screamed as the rippling magic lifted me from the deck.

"Rhea! Stay back," I roared, thrashing against the sorcery that held me in place as she rushed to the side of the ship closest to the sea witch.

"I'll make a trade," Rhea yelled, demanding the sea witch's attention.

The sea witch threw her head back and laughed, the sound vibrating through my bones. "You have nothing I want."

Rhea stepped closer. "I offer you my father's trident!"

Everything stood still after the words left her mouth. The sea witch ceased her laughing and pinned Rhea with her harsh gaze. I crashed to the deck as the sea witch recalled her magic. Quickly, I regained my footing as Rhea rushed to my side. I plastered her body to mine as the sea witch shrank to her normal size and crawled over the railing. My trepidation rose the closer she stalked.

The sea witch rose taller in an effort to intimate Rhea. "No one can get the trident from Manta."

Rhea stepped out of my arms, closing the distance between her and the sea witch. "Have you so quickly forgotten how I got the information about the locket in the first place and where to find you?"

Something flashed across the sea witch's expression before an eerie smile settled upon her lips. "Maybe you can get me the trident."

"Oh, I can get it. The question is, are you powerful enough to meet my part of the bargain?"

The sea witch scoffed. "Your part of the bargain is that I will spare your life."

The mischievous tilt to Rhea's mouth had me momentarily awestruck. "Not for the trident. That trident is the essence of Aquarius. For something that precious, I want more."

The sea witch seemed to be considering Rhea's request. She raked her fingers through her mass of white hair, flipping it over her shoulder. "What is it you want?"

I wanted to hear this myself. Rhea had saved us once again with her quick wit and bravery. Now, I was enthralled, trying to figure out the workings of her devious little mind.

Rhea walked back over to me, placing her hand on my chest. My blood heated as her skin touched mine, but at the moment, it was not from want.

"Rhea…" I warned as my muscles pulled taut.

Rhea ignored me, never meeting my eyes. She gripped my shirt and ripped it open, exposing my black-veined chest.

Suspicion crept into the sea witch's dark eyes, and I knew she was trying to figure out why I was still alive.

Rhea turned back toward the sea witch. "Can you remove the Dark Water?"

"You care for this pirate enough to risk your kingdom's trident?" The sea witch gawked.

Rhea turned to me with unshed tears glistening in her eyes. A calm fierceness settled over her expression as she locked her gaze with mine. "Yes."

For as long as I lived, no matter how short that may be, I would never forget that look in her eyes. It soothed me, beckoning me near and tempting me to dive into those honey pools.

The sea witch smiled. "How intriguing. The siren in love with Blackheart Kai, killer of sea creatures."

The sea witch moved toward me, probing my chest with her gaze. I physically had to stop myself from jerking when she placed her cold, bony hand against my chest. Her black nails scraped against my skin as she ran her hand over my muscles, stopping when she was directly over my heart. The sea witch's black, lifeless eyes rose, boring into mine.

Rhea tensed beside me, and I gripped her hand to keep her from moving against the sea witch.

"Can you remove it, or are you just stalling?" Rhea growled.

The sea witch removed her hand from my chest, turning to face Rhea. "I can remove it." She stepped back. "The extraction spell may very well kill him, but if that's what you want, then it's yours." The sea witch shrugged.

Rhea held out her hand. "You spare the lives of everyone aboard this ship and remove the Dark Water from Kai's veins, and I will get you my father's trident."

The sea witch eyed Rhea's hand like it was a sea serpent. "Deal." She gripped Rhea's hand and squeezed.

Rhea released her hand. "We have no time to waste. Change me back into a siren, and I will be on my way to Aquarius."

"I do wonder how you ended up with legs?" the sea witch questioned.

My muscles tightened, but Rhea was quick to respond. "I'm not without my wiles, and neither is my father."

"Hmm," the sea witch responded, seemingly accepting of Rhea's lie. "Very well. I will change you back, but you're not going alone. No offense, Princess, but I don't trust you. I'll send one of my minions to escort you."

That did not sit well with me, and neither did this plan. I opened my mouth to say exactly that but was interrupted as the witch turned toward the sea.

I pulled Rhea back to my side as the sea witch's magic sizzled through the air, oozing across the water in a rippling effect. Minutes ticked by until a male siren emerged from the depths. He shook the water from his long white hair, his eyes zeroing in on Rhea. I was already plotting out his demise just from how he looked at her.

Rhea went so still that I stared at her to ensure she was still breathing. Her sun-kissed skin lost its color, paling as the blood drained from her face.