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.
With a whispering rattle, it reached for her.
Kat grabbed her and pulled her back, out of its reach. “Don’t let them swarm you. That’s how they claim their victims and drag them down. If they pull you from the light, you’re done for!”
“Stay to the light!” William warned.
Rosie used a torch to scatter the takarum back into the crevices of the ship. They made a peculiar scurrying sound that was similar to that of bat wings and rushing rodents, and yet unique to the beasts. “Aye to that! They fear light and fire. It’s the only thing we have to fight them with.”
Yet a takaru doubled back through the shadows, and grabbed another sailor who was at their rear.
With a scream, he was pulled into the shadows and then vanished as if he’d never existed at all.
Only a faint image of his screaming face was left behind as an impression in the dark wooden walls, and the faintest of outlines of his body.
Cameron froze as she realized he really was gone. Completely. Those … those things had dragged him away quicker than she could blink.
The others scrambled to light the corner, but it was too late. “Is there any way to get him back?”
Belle shook her head. “It’s done. Whatever you do, lass, don’t let them sink their claws into you.”
“Janice!” Simon shouted, rushing past them. “Can you hear me?”
More of the takarum crept across the boards, reaching out for them like insidious puffs of smoke that only the light could disperse.
Valynda handed Cameron a torch. Cameron swung it as one of the shadows reached for her. She twisted out of its reach.
Bart tried to open the door, then cursed. “We’re sealed in with them.”
William scowled at those words. “What do you mean?”
“I mean we’re locked down here.” He kicked at the door as hard as he could. It rattled on the hinges, but didn’t give at all. “Someone’s latched it from the other side.”
William tried the handle. “What the hell?”
Zumari shoved them aside so that he could try it, but as when they’d attempted it, it didn’t budge. The anger in his eyes said that he was about to have a fit to make a toddler proud.
Cameron felt her cheeks growing warm as she tried to think of a way out of this mess. The room grew darker and darker as more shadows closed in on them.
The torches began to dim.
What new hell was this?
Suddenly, she heard her brother screaming outside, in the hallway.
Her jaw went slack. “Paden?” She headed for the sound.
Simon caught her by the arm.
Fighting against him, she tried to get free. “It’s me brother!”
“It’s a trick.”
“Nay! I know his voice!”
He picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder, refusing to let her go. “’Tis their cruelty, lass. Trust me. Your brother’s not there. It’s a lure they’re using.”
It didn’t feel that way.
Nay, she even smelled his cologne. “Paddy!” she called. “Is it you?”
“Cammy-belle? Where are you? Help! I need you!”
“It’s him!” Cameron fought with renewed vigor against Simon’s hold.
And she’d almost succeeded in gaining her freedom when something struck the ship so hard, it knocked it off keel, tipping it dangerously to the starboard side. They all stumbled, fell, and rolled to the starboard wall.
Everyone paled as objects skittered across the boards and slammed into them. Several sailors screamed out as the takarum reached from the shadows and claimed them.
Valynda and Belle combined forces to form a shield wall while Bart and William were forced to extinguish their torches or risk setting the ship on fire.
“Where’s the captain?”
No sooner had Roach asked the question than a booming voice answered. “On deck! Now! All of ye! Move your sorry arses!”
There was no missing the fury in Captain Bane’s tone as he ripped open the door that was no longer locked.
He and Marcelina came into the room and helped them up, and then one by one they left the room until they were outside in the rainstorm.
The ship finally began to right itself so that they could stand on deck and not risk being swept overboard.
“Stay out of the shadows,” the captain ordered them. “Sancha, head us due north toward the Quella.”
“Aye, aye, Captain!” She ran to obey him.
As he started below again, Cameron stopped him from his descent. “They have me brother, Captain.”
He paused to meet her gaze. “Nay, lass. I fear something a lot worse than the takarum has your brother. Now stay here and let me clear them.” He gave her a gentle push back toward Marcelina before he vanished through the hatch.
She turned toward Mara and scowled. “I don’t understand.”
Marcelina handed Cameron the medallion she’d loaned to Thorn. “Paden’s been seduced by the darkness, child. He’s no longer the man you knew him to be. Rather, he’s someone else entirely.”
Nay, Paden wouldn’t have done that. She knew better. “I don’t believe you.”
Thorn came up on deck, not far from them. “Believe it. I did everything I could. I’m sorry, Cameron.”
Nay …
Nay! This wasn’t right. Cameron could feel it deep in her soul.