Siren by R.J. Lewis & A.R. Rose

Author:R.J. Lewis & A.R. Rose [Lewis, R.J. & Rose, A.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-05-17T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 32

James

I keep Briggs standing outside her door as she sleeps when I make it out first thing in the morning.

It’s still dark as we approach the island, so we decide to anchor for several hours. I don’t want to dock in the dark. I need the sun. Morda doesn’t operate on electricity; only the rich can afford that luxury, and this place is the end of the line for the desperate. Even at a distance, I can smell the smoke from fires, and catch flickers of candlelight along the shore. Distant music plays even as dawn approaches, and every so often there’s a scream or a rowdy bellow of cheers. I don’t want to know what’s happening.

On Morda, when the sun goes down, anything goes.

We’ve hung lanterns up the mast and then along the perimeters of the ship. The last thing I need is to blend into the darkness and have a vessel collide with us. The damage would be too astronomical now that the Trident is fighting for breath. At the same time, we’re visible now, which is always a risk. Luca stays above deck with me, keeping an eye out for marauders and passing ships.

None of us speak unless we have to. We’re exhausted from the attack. From the mental and physical toll. Mostly, we’re rattled that it even happened. Briggs is blaming himself. Wouldn’t even talk to me this morning when I told him to guard Aria. An apology was at the tip of his tongue, but I silenced him with a shake of my head. “As Captain, it was my fault.”

He didn’t seem to think so. “She’s okay?”

I hear the wretched tone in his question. “She’s okay.”

He looks relieved.

Even Luca tells me later that he’ll fix Aria breakfast. That she needs to take it easy. The boys have taken a liking to my siren, and on this matter, I appreciate it.

Finally, the sun comes up, and so does the anchor.

We approach Morda at the speed of a snail. The scene is apocalyptic. Plumes of smoke billow from all over the island. There’s crying in the distance. Deep in the jungle. Some kind of shit fuckery went down, but it seems to be the status quo. There are residents on the shore going about their lives like fire and wailing is all part of the island’s anthem. Some are pushing off on their tiny boats, fishing gear and nets stacked in chaotic order. Others are gathering driftwood or starting little fires. I can smell charred fish and burnt dough.

We’ve spent the majority of the day hauling everything below deck, stuffing what we can in the safe room and coffin rooms. The rest of the bad food we accumulated over the storm has been thrown overboard, which has attracted the sea creatures. Luca reeled up an octopus and has it on a burner, passing out the tentacles for a taste.

I’m not sure Aria approves.

I’ve barely looked at her. But I sense her just the same. That fucking tether pulsing despite her quietness.

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