Of Blood and Fire: A Lingering Sea Novel: Book 2 by Jennifer Jenkins

Author:Jennifer Jenkins [Jenkins, Jennifer]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-09-21T16:00:00+00:00

Before

I trip as I follow my mother and many other women and children onboard the ship down another flight of stairs. “We should help them!” I call after my mother. Even buried this deep in the bowels of the ship, the blasts of gunfire deafen my ears. The thought that one of those shots might be meant for my father causes my stomach to roll over. “He needs us,” I cry.

My mother doesn’t even respond. She redoubles her grip on my hand and tows me deeper into the belly of the beast until we reach the cargo hold. Among the crates and barrels of supplies, women hug crying children looking upwards, as though they might get a glimpse of their husband or brother’s fate through the wooden ceiling of the hold.

“This way,” Mami orders, tugging me into the farthest corner, scrambling up and over sacks of grain and crates of supplies until we huddle in a gap near the outside perimeter of the hull. Once Mami catches her breath, she doesn’t waste a moment. “My mother warned me this day would come.” She pants, still trying to catch her breath.

“How could she predict—”

“Not the pirate attack,” Mami said. “The day I would regret not preparing you for your magic.”

The whole sentence defies all reason. I am too stunned to even ask my mother what she means. I am Natalia D’Angelo of Morte Straga. My mother helps run an apothecary with a friend, but she is no witch. We’d boarded this boat out of necessity because once a woman is traced to Zingari linage, even if she isn’t magical, she is assumed to have some ungodly ability. It is a ridiculous notion, since witches aren’t at all common.

“Mami, I don’t understand.”

Another boom of gunfire causes both of us to jump. “You must listen to me. We haven’t much time.”

I chew on my lip, tears welling in my eyes. First Antonio and now this? What is happening to my little family?

“Tell me what you know of magic.”

My voice shakes as I say, “Magic is passed through some Zingaro bloodlines,” I say, reciting something I’d learned from my friend Marta back in Valencia. “I’m not sure how it works, but I know there are different types.”

Esmeralda nodded. “Wind, Water, Earth, and Fire. All forces of nature connected to their ancient source—their deity—back in Zingari. What else do you know?”

Boots thump above us. The sound mingles with the whimpers of others taking refuge in the hold. I can hardly form a coherent thought. “They’re evil. Dangerous. Witches hurt people.”

Mami grips my forearms and squeezes. “No, mi amor,” she says. “There are those who use their magic for good, and those who follow the path of darkness. Magic itself isn’t good or bad.”

“Mami, we need to help Papi.”

“No!” She squeezes my arms even harder. “You must listen to me. We haven’t much time.”

I squirm under my mother’s hard grip, but don’t attempt to run.

“You come from a strong line of magic, Natalia. There is every chance that your ability will manifest at your blooming.

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