“Like the medieval kingdom?”
“Aye. Those were some of us originally. Till they mingled with humans and lost the ability to breathe water. They kept the name, for reasons only they know. However, they were only one group of many of our tribes. At one time, we were found all over the world, in great numbers, but war and angry gods have thinned us down to only a small handful these days.”
“I’m sorry.”
He shrugged nonchalantly. “It doesn’t help that we’re a belligerent bunch, by and large. Sooner fight than do anything else.” He passed a teasing grin over her body. “Some of us, that is. I meself have that tendency. But I can be persuaded to other, much more pleasurable endeavors … if the company be right.”
This time, her cheeks heated to a volcanic level. What disturbed her most was the fact that she wasn’t offended or even all that adverse to what he was suggesting.
Indeed, she was nowhere near as mortified as she should be. And definitely not insulted. Rather, she was drawn to him against all sanity.
“I find it hard to believe you’d be belligerent, Mr. Dupree. You seem exceptionally kind and sweet.”
He slapped his hand over his heart. “Ah, lass, you wound me to me core. And call me Kalder, please. ‘Mr. Dupree’ sounds like I ought to be in some posh coat and hat, issuing orders. Me people don’t run on such formality.”
She shook her head at his cheerful play. While “surly” definitely described a certain large proportion of their crew, Kalder most assuredly was one of their more jovial members. “You seem rather easygoing to me.”
He sobered at that. “Looks are deceiving. Let’s just say there’s a good reason I was gutted.”
“Aye to that,” Rosie chimed in as he walked by and handed off his rum bottle to Kalder. “You’re on his good side, Miss Jack. Trust those of us who are permanently engraved on the bad end—you’d gut him, too. Especially in the morning. He’s a beast of a fish, then.”
She didn’t believe it for a minute.
Kalder laughed, and took a drink.
“Hey there! What’s that sound?” William cocked his head.
Cameron didn’t hear anything other than the storm—which was concurred by the others as they responded to William’s question. They heard nothing either.
Not until Simon suddenly lifted his head from where he’d been resting in the corner. “I hear it now. It sounds like … takarum!”
Bart cursed as he shot to his feet. Kalder and the rest did the same.
“Takarum?” Cameron scowled at the unfamiliar term. Since she had no idea what it was, she was much slower to rise to a battle station.
“Souls of those who’ve died at sea.” Belle and Valynda moved to stand by Zumari. “They’re here to find bodies so that they can possess them.”
“Or those they can take down to the locker to replace themselves so that they can go free and live again.” Simon crossed himself and spit.
Cameron’s hair went white. Her back began to burn as if her wings were trying to break through the surface of her skin.
They were right. Whatever was here wasn’t human.
And it was here for prey.
“Where’s Janny?” Belle glanced about for the Dark-Huntress who’d been playing cards with Sallie, Kat, and Roach a few minutes ago.
Valynda’s eyes widened. “She went to the privy.”
Unsheathing his cutlass, Simon cursed. “She’d be the one they’d want most. We have to get to her afore they do.”
Cameron was confused by that. “Why would they be after her more than anyone else?”
“Janny’s soulless already.” Belle pulled a torch from the wall and lit it. “They wouldn’t have to struggle to take her over. Nor take her to the locker. They could move right into her body and make themselves at home.” She ran for the door.
Cameron rushed after her with the men following closely behind them. She was just about to ask what she should be looking for when she saw a shadow move off to her right.
And not the way they normally did. Rather it came toward her like a vicious predator. More than that, it appeared to have dreadlocks and a skeletal form. One that developed fangs and bony fingers.
