The ship lurched forward with a bone-jarring force, sending Jaffle careening into the ship’s railing. She gripped the cold wood, her palms stinging from the rough texture. The sea air burned her lungs, a sharp reminder of the wild ocean beneath them. She glanced out at the horizon, the sun dipping lower and casting an orange hue across the sky.

  Then, the first arrow struck the side of the ship with a sickening thunk, right beneath her feet. The violent impact vibrated through the wooden planks and through her body. Jaffle froze, her heart skipping a beat. The air was thick with a metallic scent of saltwater and fear.

  Before she could move, the second arrow zipped by her, so close that she felt the breeze of its passage brush against her cheek. Her pulse hammered in her ears, drowning out everything else as her breath caught in her throat.

  Shouts rang out across the ship. The merchant crew screamed, running frantically in all directions as a massive pirate vessel crashed into the prow of their ship with a loud crack! The collision sent a shockwave through the entire deck, and Jaffle staggered as the ship rocked dangerously. Chaos erupted. Pirates clambered over the sides of their ship, swinging down on ropes with the practiced ease of experienced raiders. The merchant guards scrambled to take up arms, but there was no hope in their desperation. Pirates with wicked grins and bloodstained swords flood the deck, cutting down anyone who dared to resist.

  Jaffle’s instincts screamed at her to move, but her feet were rooted to the spot. Her eyes locked on Jade, whose face was a ghostly mask of shock and fear. The pale moonlight seemed to reflect off her wings, which she pressed tightly against her back, trying to make herself as small as possible.

  “Jaffle!” Jade shouted, grabbing her friend’s arm. “We need to go! NOW!”

  Jaffle’s grip tightened in return, and they bolted for the hatch leading to the lower deck. The battle raged around them, and Jaffle’s heart thudded painfully against her chest as they ran. The sharp clang of swords against shields rang out as a guard was struck down mere feet from them. Blood splattered the deck with a sickening spray. Jaffle caught eyes of the guard’s body. His throat slit from ear to ear. His lifeless eyes made contact with hers, sending shivers down her back. The girls kept running, trying to dodge the fighting and flee.

  The two girls reached the door and rushed below deck, slamming it shut behind them. The sound of the battle continued above them, distant yet deafening. The deck trembled above them as pirates overtook the crew, their cruel laughter carrying through the ship. Jaffle’s breath came in shallow gasps as she collapsed against the wall, pulling Jade down beside her.

  They huddled in the dim shadows of the hold, the air thick with the scent of salt and sweat. Sea lanterns flickered around them, casting dancing shadows that seemed to mock their fear. All around them, the sounds of the battle above grew muffled, but they could still hear the clashing of blades, the shrill screams of sailors and merchants alike. Each new cry made Jaffle flinch, her pulse quickening. She couldn’t stop her hands from trembling, her mind struggling to hold onto the fragments of calm she had left.

  Minutes bled into what felt like hours. The weight of the silence after each clash made it seem as though they were trapped in some eternal nightmare.

  Finally, the noise started to die down. The thundering of boots, the clinking of swords - it all began to fade, leaving behind a heavy, ominous silence. Jaffle’s chest tightened as she listened intently, wondering if it was safe.

  “Do you think it’s over?” Jade whispered softly, trying to rise to her feet. She barely made it up before the door to the hold crashed open, sending a shockwave through Jaffle’s body. She grabbed Jade’s wrist and pulled the avian back down to the floor. She froze back up, her heart leaping into her throat as the sound of heavy boots echoed from the top of the stairs. She tried to make herself as invisible as possible. Every muscle in her body screamed for her to run, but she knew there was nowhere to go, no escape.

  “Kreance! Hurry and inspect the cargo!” A voice boomed from above. It was harsh and commanding. “We haven’t got all night!”

  “Yes, sir!” a gruff voice responded. The footsteps began to move, the sound of them growing closer with every passing second. Jaffle’s breath caught in her chest as another set of heavy footsteps joined the rhythm. Three pirates. She could hear them moving across the deck, their boots clacking loudly against the wood. They muttered under their breaths to each other.

  SHIT, she thought, her mind racing, please don’t come over here.

  The pirates didn’t seem in a hurry, though. Jaffle could hear the creak of crates being opened, the grating sound of wood scraping against wood as they rummaged through the cargo. Every inch they moved brought them closer to the hidden.

  Jaffle’s chest tightened, and her palms grew clammy as her heart thudded painfully in her ears. Then, she felt it – the heat of someone standing behind her.

  The creak of a crate above them caused both girls to stiffen. Jade could almost feel the pirate’s breath on her neck, and she quickly curled her feet to her chest, praying they couldn’t see her or Jade. The moment carried on until the pirate moved the crate from the stack.

  “Well well well, look what we have here.” The pirate said, his voice was cold and amused, dripping with malice. A rough hand grabbed Jaffle by her hair and yanked her to her feet, pulling her with such force that she yelped, her scalp burning from the tight grip.

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  Jaffle’s eyes widened in panic as the pirate’s face came into view – hard eyes, a crooked grin stretched across his scarred face.

  “Another crew member?” he sneered, his voice cruel. “Think the Captain will like this one?” He chuckled, turning to his fellow men. Terror rippled through Jaffle as the pirate pulled her closer. The ship rocked underfoot, the creaking of the wood echoing in her ears. She tried to jerk away, but his grip was like Iron.

  Then, Jade was moving.

  Before anyone could react, Jade surged to her feet, her face flushed with fear yet determined. She reached for her waist, her fingers quick and precise as she drew the dagger she’d stolen weeks prior. The blade gleamed under the faint light from the lanterns, but Jade’s hand was steady, her stance firm.

  “Release her!” Jade shouted, her voice wavering, yet her blade stayed still in her hand. “We don’t want any trouble! Just let us go! We aren’t part of this crew!”

  Another pirate stepped forward, chuckling darkly. “Is that so?” he drawled, his voice thick with mocking amusement. “And why should we listen to you?” He placed a hand on the hilt of his cutlass.

  Jaffle’s heart pounded so violently she thought it might burst from her chest. The air in her lungs was sharp and ragged as she stared down at Jade’s dagger – small, barely enough to defend herself, let alone fight off three fully grown pirates. And yet, there Jade stood, feet planted firmly, determination lighting her eyes despite the tremor in her voice.

  But determination alone wouldn’t save them.

  Jaffle swallowed hard and did the only thing she could – she struck.

  With a sharp intake of breath, she reached for her own dagger, fingers curling around the hilt before she drove it upward into the stomach of the pirate gripping her. Warmth flooded over her fingers, and the pirate let out a choked cry, his hold loosening just enough for her to stumble free. He staggered backward, clutching the wound.

  Their victory was short-lived.

  Before Jaffle could take another breath, strong hands grabbed her from behind, yanking her off balance. Another set of hands caught Jade, who shrieked as her dagger was torn from her grasp. Their captors wrenched their arms behind their backs, forcing them forward. Jaffle kicked out wildly, her boot catching one pirate in the shin. He cursed and struck her across the face, sending a white-hot explosion of pain through her skull.

  The deck was a mess of chaos and blood. Merchant bodies littered the planks, their spilled blood painting the wood. The ocean lapped hungrily at the ship’s hull, dark waves carrying the remnants of broken crates, abandoned weapons, and the occasional body. The scent of salt, sweat, and death clung thick to the air.

  Heavy footfalls pounded toward them. Jaffle’s knees hit the deck hard as she was thrown down beside Jade, who gasped, clutching her side. The pirate who had dragged them dropped their stolen daggers onto the deck with a clatter before straightening.

  “What is this?” A voice spoke deeply, rough with an edge that sent ice racing down Jaffle’s spine.

  Jaffle forced herself to look up – immediately regretting it.

  The man who approached was impossible to mistake as anything but their captain. He was tall, broad, and powerful, moving with the confidence of someone who knew they were in control. His bare chest revealer sharp, jagged scars along his light grey skin. Behind him was a tail – a thick, shark-like appendage that lashed the air behind him in agitation.

  Beside him, another man stood with his wings tucked neatly against his back. A faint shimmer of heat radiated from him. It felt as though simply touching him could make Jaffle ignite in flames. His wings lit on fire, his piercing gaze flickered between them, unreadable. Jaffle quickly glanced back down at the wood.

  The pirate who had thrown them down stepped forward, jerking his chin toward Jaffle. “Captain, we found these two hiding in the hold, and this one” – he gave Jaffle a sharp kick, making her grunt– “stabbed Paiqin in the gut.”

  The Captain’s expression darkened. His grip on the trident in his hand tightened, and before Jaffle could react, he brought it down with a violent slam. The prongs of the weapon embedded themselves into the wood just inches from Jade’s face. She flinched, gasping sharply as she curled into herself.

  “Listen!” Jade’s voice was high and desperate as she lifted her hands in surrender. “We aren’t part of this merchant crew! We just wanted passage! You can take whatever you want!”

  The metal prongs of the trident lifted, and the Captain straightened, hi attention shifting.

  Jaffle glanced back up. The second she locked eyes with the Captain, she felt the heat of his fury. There was something terrifyingly familiar about the way he stared at her, his glare laced with seething hatred.

  “Well look at this. The prodigal daughter returns.”

  Jaffle felt her stomach drop.

  The trident swung up, its sharp prongs stopping mere inches from her face. Jaffle went rigid, her breath catching in her throat. “How are you alive?” His voice was rough, disbelieving, but it quickly twisted into something venomous. “You should’ve died with him.”

  “Captain, that’s not part of our code,” the winged man interjected, his hand catching the Captain’s arm before he could move any further.

  The Captain growled, his tail flicking violently. “Fuck the code.” His voice was razor-sharp as he snapped his head toward the winged man. “She’s his daughter.”

  Murmurs rippled through the surrounding pirates. A few stiffened, their gazes darting toward Jaffle with something resembling recognition.

  “We all remember what happened,” the Captain spat.

  Before Jaffle could force words past her lips, another voice cut through the tension.

  “Haacenel, enough!” A young man stepped forward from the mass of pirates. His voice held authority, but there was something else beneath it –a warning.