Arcane Dropout 2 by Edmund Hughes

Author:Edmund Hughes [Hughes, Edmund]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-07-09T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 27

Lee’s first concern was not for himself, but for Tess. Some specters were more predisposed toward attacking lesser ghosts, absorbing them to build their strength. Lee had no intention of letting it get close enough to Tess to have a shot at that.

“Head upstairs,” he whispered. “I’ll handle this guy.”

“I can’t just leave you to—”

“Tess,” he said, firmly. “Fighting specters was my job before I came to Primhaven. I doubt this guy will give me much trouble.”

The specter had apparently overheard him, as it let out a low, rumbling laugh before flashing a toothy grin. It spun its pistol around on one finger. The weapon couldn’t do much damage to Lee. Even though a specter with a strong enough will could still technically make a gun fire, the bullets would usually go wide of their intended targets, lacking their normal precision.

“The boy thinks he can tussle with Captain Thames,” said the specter. “Oh, we’ll see about that, aye. Confidence be a double-edged sword.”

Lee squeezed Tess’s hand, shooting her a plea with his eyes. She was clearly wracked with concern, but she nodded and headed up the steps, crouching near the hatch to the upper level in a position from where she could still watch.

“You’re dead, Captain,” said Lee. “That’s the truth of the matter. I’m a mystic. If you want, I can save you the anguish of what you’ve been enduring since your ship ended up here.”

“Who says it’s anguish?” snapped Captain Thames. “Who says I ain’t enjoying this? No body, no worries. No crew of cowards to keep sated with loot and ale.”

“You know you’re dead, then?” asked Lee. “You’ve accepted it?”

“Aye. I’ve accepted it. I’m dead, and I’m patient, and I’ll find my opportunity to take my revenge on the dirty, lying whore who sent me up on this expedition to begin with.”

Captain Thames stalked toward Lee, swinging his saber through thin air. His hair and beard were disheveled, but he’d been a muscular man in life, which would make him that much more annoying to deal with in death.

“Hold on a second,” said Lee. “While this line of communication is still open, can you tell me if you’ve seen anyone around here recently? A tall girl with brown hair, maybe?”

“That one? She’s why I came back. I thought I’d get the drop on her and finally have another body to play around with, but she left just as I arrived. Didn’t even take the time to give me notice. Another sorceress whore, just like that conniving cunt!”

Thames shouted and took the last few steps needed to draw within striking distance. Lee ducked under an ethereal saber slash, countering with a quick, retaliatory stab of his kris dagger. Thames howled in pain, but he spun before Lee could follow up properly, landing a strike of his own as the tip of his saber slid through Lee’s thigh.

It was more of a cold, echoing pain rather than the sharp intensity that would have come from a physical weapon. Still, Lee knew better than anyone how easily the damage from specter attacks could accumulate.

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