A Pirate's Curse (Legends of the Soaring Phoenix) (25 page)

Jacques and
his two lackeys blocked the only exit, pistols drawn. Kane shoved Hannah behind him. Shots rang out. The buckshot whizzed past him and Hannah groaned. Bloody hell, had she been hit? Jacques darted to the left. Kane grabbed his pistol, but hot pain scraped his temple, the pistol slid through his fingers, and he crumpled to the ground, dizzy with pain.

Hannah screamed.

Hands grabbed him. But he could do nothing, his head throbbing with agony.

“Strap him to the breaking wheel,” Jacques demanded.

Kane gritted his teeth as they dragged him across the floor to the breaking wheel with stained jagged spikes. Jaaysus.

“No, Jacques,” Hannah begged, the fear in her voice
pushed him to move. Kane struggled, but the debilitating pain shot through the side of his temple once again. The two men slammed him onto the wheel. He screamed. 

“Kane,” Hannah sobbed.

Kane tightened his jaw and forced himself to breathe slowly, but every time he moved, the wheel creaked and the spikes tore into his flesh. Clamping his mouth tight, he counted to one hundred.

For the first time, he was glad for the curse.
His blood thinned. He wished he could turn faster, rip his chains apart and kill every last man in this dungeon. When the sun sank, Jacques was a dead man.

Forcing his voice to remain steady, he said, “
Hannah, tonight’s a full moon. D’ye know what that means?”

“Yes, yes,” she whimpered.
“Jacques, please don’t hurt him.”

He winced at her shaky voice.
He wished he was a man. But if he’d been a mere man, he’d be dead or slowly dying.

“Aye, no matter what D’Aubigne does to me,” he panted. “Don’t give into his demands, savvy?”

“We’
ll see about that,
Capitaine
.”

Kane shuddered.
His heart pounded, sweat poured down his face. He wanted to be stronger, stronger for Hannah, to help her keep her fear under control. Jacques strolled across the room the light of the lantern lengthened his shadow on the wall. He waved his hand in the air and the shadow looked like a shadow bat flying across the room. Ironic.

“You
r cowardly friends are nowhere to be seen so both of you are quite at my mercy, no?” 

Kane clenched his fists.
His men understood their orders. Stay clear.

“I’ll show you how I treat my guests, starting with you,
Capitaine
.”

Jacqu
es sauntered behind him. Kane braced himself. He clamped his jaw tight, refusing to scream. He inhaled, detecting Hannah’s scent – jasmine. Sweet.

“Jacques, no please
,” Hannah begged.

A whip lashed down
on Kane’s chest. He lurched off the table, and his shackles bit into his wrists. Another slash scourged him again. The wheel creaked around and the spikes tore deeper into his thighs. Agony gripped him. He tightened his jaw and threw his head back. Jacques could rot in hell.

“Jacques,
please stop!”

Kane struggled to peer over his shoulder.
Two men held her arms, her hair hung in her face and her doe eyes glistening with tears.

“You don’t like the whip, Hannah?” Jacques said, his voice oily, slick. “I’ve other toys to teach your rescuer a lesson. Of course, he’ll not survive.”

The
two men snickered. Kane panted, trying to catch his breath. Being immortal was a living nightmare. He wished the sun would set faster and he’d become Jacques’s living nightmare.

“No, please, I’
ll do anything.”

Kane sucked in his breath.
“No, Hannah. ’Tis fine, Hannah,” he mumbled. “Calm. Your. Fear. The moon. Remember…the…moon.”

She nodded her head, but her face paled.
  

Slow footsteps echoed in the room.
Jacques’ long shadow fell over Kane. He held his breath. Jacques spun a mallet in his hand. Kane’s resolved crumpled. He turned his head and exhaled. Sweet merciful heaven.

“No
,” Hannah screamed.              

Kane
held Jacques cruel gaze and refused to flinch, but his stomach churned, bile rising up his throat. Jacques swung and the mallet crushed Kane’s arm, pain seized him, taking his breath away and blinding his vision. Kane arched his back, released a strangle cry.

Jacques strolled around him.
“
Capitaine
, we have only just begun, no?” He raised the mallet again and smashed it into the other arm. Extreme anguish gripped him. Between clenched teeth, Kane spat, “You’re dead, D’Aubigne.”

“Tsk, tsk, I don
’t like your attitude.” Jacques swung, crushing one of Kane’s kneecaps. Agony swept over him. His blood thinned again. The sun was a half hour away from setting. He’d be a bloody mess. Jacques swung the mallet again and smashed Kane’s other kneecap. Sweat poured down Kane’s face. Dizziness swirled in his vision, but he fought passing out. “Bastard.”

“Jacques,”
Hannah whispered. “I’ll do anything if you please stop.”

“No,” Kane
panted, his puny voice failing to rise above Jacques’ footsteps. His breath came out sharp and fast. His incisors elongated, his tongue rolling over them. “The moon’s coming.”

“But Kane ’tis
not the full moon.”

“No,” he said, “But ’tis
almost full. Trust me.”

“
I don’t understand what your fascination is with the moon, O’Brien, but no matter.” Jacques chuckled. “The beauty’s mine. Leave us.” Jacques ordered. “Stand guard at the top.”

His
men nodded and left.

Kane chewed his cheek.
“Leave her alone.” He moved his wrist and agony shot down his arm.

“Take off your clothes,” Jacques
commanded.

Kane wanted to rip his heart out, but he was powerless.
Useless. Worthless. A slab of tuna on a wheel. “Hannah, listen to me. You don’t have to do this. I’ll heal. Remember?”

“I’m sorry, Kane,” she sobbed.
“I can’t bear to see you hurt anymore. I…I…”

“Silence,
chere
, or I’ll hurt him again!”

Kane tensed.
Her whispery voice was filled with unsaid emotion. Was she going to say how much she cared for him? Was this why Jacques was angry? 

Clothes rustled behind him.
Jacques whispered. “Why
chere
, you’re beautiful. To the victor goes the spoil, no
Capitaine
?”

Kane said evenly, “You’re dead, D’Aubigne.”

“I do no
t think so,
Capitaine
. Tonight, I’ll be in heaven.”

Hannah
whimpered like a terrified young girl. Soft sobs filled the dungeon and each one hurt him more than the pain in his mangled body.   

“So, you
’re still a virgin? But not for long.”

Glanc
ing over his shoulder, Kane grimaced. Hannah was naked before Jacques. The wretch sucked on Hannah’s breast and she stared up at the ceiling like a sorrowful Madonna. His hands explored her trembling body and Kane could smell her fear. The bastard.

“You taste sweeter than a succulent peach,
chere
,” Jacques moaned. “Spread your legs wider so I can explore what’s rightfully mine.”

Hannah
yelped.

The wheel creaked, preventing
Kane to see what was happening. But his ears were perfect. 

“You’re so tight,” Jacques said.

Hannah whimpered, “You’re hurting me.”

“Your punishment for betraying me.”

She cried out, not in pain, but in sorrow.

“Jacques, you bastard,” Kane growled.

But he only received a wicked chuckle from Jacques and desperate sob from Hannah.

The light from the lantern cast their shadows on the wall. Jacques was feasting on her womanly folds. “Cream, so sweat.
You should taste her
Capitaine.
” 

Hannah released an anguish cry, her body pressed against the wall.

“I swear I’ll kill you,” Kane promised.

“I think not. I want you to hear every cry she makes, every moan she makes to know what you’ll never have.”

Kane’s rage pumped through him. His fists ached to pound into Jacque’s leering face. The man dared to touch his woman. He’d never wanted a woman like he did Hannah, and Jacques was soiling her, terrifying her, hurting her. The bastard liked pain. He’d give him pain.

Kane’s blood thinned
once more and his heart slowed. The dying hunger filled his soul. The moon had risen. “This is your last warning,” he growled.

The wheel creaked around and Kane
sucked in his breath — powerless to do anything but watch. Jacques had dropped his breeches, his cock erect. He pinned Hannah’s shoulders against the wall. “Now O’Brien, her legs are wide, waiting for me to plunge into her, take what’s mine.” He grabbed Hannah’s hair and she cried out. “Get ready, bitch.”

The door slammed open.
The two guards tumbled down the stairs.

“What’
s this?” Jacques snarled.

“No, no, they
’re back,” she whispered.

“Get away from her,”
Doc snarled. Kane smiled. Finally. His men had arrived. Revenge was his.

“
Mère de Dieu
.” Jacques fumbled pulling up his breeches and he nearly fell. He wobbled to the cell and braced himself against the wall.

“No,”
Hannah yelled, “Leave him alone.” She rushed to Kane’s side and grabbed the mallet off the floor.

“Hannah,
êtes-vous fou?
” Jacques shouted. “They’ll kill you.”

S
he stood naked with her legs shoulder length apart and held the mallet over her shoulder. She was a wild Amazon, ready to fight for him. He wanted to grab her and kiss her. “Stay back,” she warned.

“Hannah,
’tis me, Doc.”

“Doc?”
She still clasped the mallet in her hand.

“Aye, lassie,” Sean said. “
’Tis us.”

“Hannah
, look at me,” Kane said, “’Tis the full moon.” 

She
glanced at him. Kane held his breath. Her eyes grew wide and her lower lip trembled. The same hollow feeling gripped him. She wore the same repulsive look William gave him.

Monster
. Demon. Vampire.

“Mother of God,” she whispered.

She edged away, still clutching the mallet. “Give me a minute. I can’t think. Your eyes. They’re like Palmer’s when…when his men murdered my father’s crew.”

Kane tensed.
“Doc.”

Doc
ran over to Kane. “Where are the damn keys?”

Kane tilted his head.
“He’s got them.”

“Stay away from me,” Jacques begged.

Amadi stormed over to Jacques. “Give me da keys or you’re dead.”

“Here!
Take them.” Jacques threw the keys at him. Amadi unlocked the shackles and pulled Kane to a sitting position. The jagged spikes ripped through his flesh as he moved. Kane gritted his teeth. Pain gripped him with every breath he took.

Her breasts heaving up and down,
Hannah stared at him, her back against the wall. She held the mallet in front of her.

Sean shook his head.
“Mary Mother of God, what the hell happened to you, Captain?”

“D’Aubigne had his way with me,”
Kane whispered. “Need blood.”

Hannah gasped.

Kane slumped
against Sean who held him upright. He’d been here to protect her, but now that she’d seen his true monstrous form, he’d lost her. Sean lifted Kane off the wheel. Kane panted and wanted to cry like a wee lass, but he hardened his face and stayed immobile, trying to block out the agony. He dangled from Sean like a broken puppet. The hunger gripped his stomach and his mouth grew thirsty. This was just the beginning.

“I’ll get ye food, Capt’n,” Amadi promised.
He marched into the cell where Jacques cowered in the corner, grabbed his shirt, and hoisted him off the floor by the back of his neck.

Jacques
wiggled and kicked. “I gave you the keys now get away from me. No!”

“I don’t think so,
maaasssttteeer
,” Amadi said.

“
Amadi?” Jacques stammered. "No. Please…”

Amadi
hauled him over to Kane and exposed Jacques’ neck. Kane glanced at Hannah. Her face paled and her mouth widened. He didn’t have a choice. The curse demanded to be satisfied.

Ignoring Jacques’s pleas
and Hannah’s revulsion, Kane licked his lips at the blood pulsing through Jacques’s veins. Kane’s fangs lengthened and he sunk his teeth deep into the salty flesh, sucking hard on the sweet, nourishing liquid. A surge of strength filled his body and the pain lessened, the broken pieces of bones fell into place, his muscles mended, but he needed more, much more. As Jacques’s heartbeat slowed, he forced himself to stop. This time, he didn’t lap Jacques’ wounds clean like he usually did with his victims. He wanted him to remember. “We’ll meet again D’Aubigne but next time we meet, I‘ll kill you not as a vampire but as a man.”