More shots followed. One grazed the port side.
“Damage?”
“She’ll fix,” Smee called back.
TheSirenneared the enemy, drawing their fire.Perfect.
Adrenaline surged through Hook’s veins as he turned the wheel, bringing them in closer for a shot.
“Should we fire, Captain?” Smee asked halfway up the stairs to his deck.
“Hold.” His body hummed as they drew closer. One good shot would be worth ten poor ones. This close, he could almost picture that bastard at the helm of theKraken. Bloody croc deserved a slow, painful death for all he’d done to him. His phantom hand tingled where his hook curved over a handle on the wheel.
Each victory against him fueled the coals of revenge lodged in his chest. Every time someone praised theJolly Rogeror spoke of the great Captain Hook was one less voice boosting Captain Blackbeard. Someday…someday he’d bring that bastard low.
“Captain!” Smee called again.
He shook himself.Focus, man.
“Aye! Disable them. Now!” he called back, sure Smee would pass on his orders. They had only one chance, a few minutes before the guns were focused back on them. One well-positioned blast of theKraken’s cannons could wreck them—or worse, give Blackbeard the chance to draw close and board them. He wouldn’t surrender his ship and crew to that bastard. Never.
The best chance they had was to land a solid blow and flee, for now.
Sea breeze filled the sails. The ship lurched, ripping across the water. In moments they’d slide straight past theKraken. Too close for comfort, but necessary. He only prayed theSirenkept their focus for one more bloody minute.
Cannons boomed. TheJolly Rogerrocked from the force of the blasts sailing toward theKraken. One cannonball hit the deck, sending boards splintering and men running. Another clipped the mainsail, ripping it. A grin spread across his features.Perfect.
More blasts echoed across the water. TheKrakenreturned fire. He gritted his teeth as one blast crashed against the hull.Better not have hurt my bloody ship.
His crew rushed to action. They’d handle it. He had to put some distance between the ships.
Hook’s hand froze on the wheel. His chest tightened. There, standing at the helm of theKraken, stood Blackbeard. His black attire and full, dark beard were unmistakable. Acid burned Hook’s throat. The things that man had done… He’d half a mind to steer closer, climb the rigging, swing aboard, and end things one way or another.
A strong gust blasted him in the face. Hook shook himself. No. His crew. He couldn’t risk them like that, not now. Not yet. He tore his gaze away from Blackbeard and focused on the task at hand.
TheSirensailed in the opposite direction and showed no sign of turning. Was she fleeing? He couldn’t blame them. Even from a distance, he could see the damage to one side. It was not enough to sink them, but they’d need repairs. Hopefully his ship had done just as much to their side of theKraken.
As for their sails…
“They’re lagging!” Smee whooped, throwing his hand in the air.
Aye. A grin spread across Hook’s face as he righted the wheel. The split sections of theKraken’s mainsail fluttered in the breeze, completely ineffective. The foresail bore a rip too, likely compliments of Cressida. Such a big ship needed all its sails to be effective.
“We got ’em!” Hook yelled.
The crew let up a cheer.
“Should we try to circle back?”
The bastard deserved to see his ship at the bottom of the seas, but that would have to wait. Cressida’s ship showed no sign of slowing or turning. She’d helped them, at great risk to herself, and would do no more. Even weakened, theKrakenwas a formidable foe, especially when it caught them unawares and still reeling from one storm after another.
No. The tip of his hook dug into the wood of the wheel. Captain Blackbeard would get what was coming to him another day. Hook found the ring around his neck and rubbed it between his fingers. He’d get his revenge. One day.
“Stay the course.”
As theKrakenfaded from view and the crew recovered from the battle, Smee edged closer to his captain. “Um…Captain, sir, when should we turn back?”
Ah, right. With the appearance of Captain Blackbeard, he’d forgotten to fill him in on the plan he’d concocted in thelate hours of the night. The few he could spare between his unfulfilled lust.
