When Whitley winds up on the top of a pirate hit-list thanks to her con-artist father, she must hide her identity and board another pirate ship, trusting in one shape-shifting pirate named Bluff to help her escape. Too bad you can never, ever, trust...
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Bluff
My limbs are shaking, weak. The energy in my chest though, is fueled by rage, as my fingers grip the wet wood of the rocking ship and pull my body up, higher and higher, thick salt water dripping off every inch. I will destroy this entire ship if I can manage. I will end every life that dares to conspire against me. Against Whitley.
I revel in the anger and in the power. I do not want to feel. I want to crush everything in my path. Luckily, there are only enemies in front of me but if the Freedom dares show its face, they'll meet my vengeance as well.
If a single soul survives this, I'll consider it a failure.
I reach the railing of the main deck, and find a place to settle. My foot rests on the bottom plank, my arms cling to the railing. I'm exposed enough it's possible I'd be seen, but unlikely. It's a risk I'll have to take, because I need to know what's happening on board before I enter.
"Your thirst for violence will be your destruction, pirate." The voice unmistakably belongs to my mother.
I twist to get a better vantage point. Two sirens stand beside a girl with blonde hair and a white dress. Her hair hangs over her face, her head sagging down like she's unable to keep it up. My stomach sinks. Anger bubbling even higher.
"Nothing wrong with a little blood lust." Simon's gravelly voice says low and steady. "Besides, it's true, no? Pain will force him here quicker."
A red headed pirate steps forward, a short narrow blade hanging casually in his right hand.
"On second thought," Simon places a hand on the pirate's shoulder. "Perhaps they are right. There are other ways to punish him without scarring the girl."
Simon steps up, right in front of Whitley. "Everything that happens to you," he tells her in a sinister whisper. "Is his fault. Remember that."
A knife twists in my stomach and I nearly lose my grip and fall back to the sea but it's nothing compared to the poison that fills my veins when Whitley looks up to Simon with red angry eyes and hisses.
Almost. The cry in my heart almost becomes audible. I have to force it down because even though this is the moment it hits me with full clarity—Whitley is gone. Everything I knew and loved about her has been taken. She's dead and there is no bringing her back— I still want my revenge. And I can't give myself away yet.
Everyone on board laughs at her hiss. They like it. They made her into a monster.
When the laughter dies down Simon grabs her by the waist, hand pulling at her dress but the air around the ship instantly turns icy cold as every siren screeches. This time there is no laughter.
