A Pirate's Agony (Legends of the Soaring Phoenix Book 3) Read Free

the hull, and below, men scrambled to cling to the flapping lines. He edged out onto the foot-rope, but then the Phoenix dipped toward the port-side. He lost his footing, but this time, he couldn’t hang on to the rigging. He fell backward screaming. Lines and sails rushed past him.
    He tensed, waiting to crash onto the deck of the Phoenix , breaking bones, but he splashed into a swirling black sea and plunged deep into the ocean. Salt water stung his eyes. He sucked in the sea. His lungs burned. He clawed and kicked his way to the surface. Air. He needed air.
    He burst through the surface and inhaled, only to have waves smash into his face. His trousers ballooned around him and weighed him down. He bobbed up and down like an empty wine barrel.
    Lightning flashed in the dark sky. The Soaring Phoenix rode up and down on the swells, moving further away.
    Men ran along the deck. Amadi waved his arms. “Ye damn fools, help me!”
    But cracking thunder blocked out his cries. He yelled again and again. But ’twas useless.
    The men grabbed lines to hold on to the flapping sails. No one looked his way. 
    The Phoenix swayed and sailed further and further away. And his hope died.
    He swam toward the ship, but it was as if Poseidon clutched his legs, determined to pull him into the dark sea. He was a good swimmer, the best on the ship, but each time he took a stroke, a punishing wave smashed into him, tossing him in the opposite direction.
    Drawing on his last remaining strength, he smacked his arms against the waves and kicked hard, but his efforts were met with water washing over the top of his back, pushing him under. He gulped for air, only to inhale the salty sea.
    An enormous swell hurled him backward. He somersaulted underwater, helpless to stop. He bashed into something hard. Pain exploded across the back of his head.
    Blackness swept over him, and he remembered no more.
    ***
    Amadi woke to the sun shining on his body. Waves foamed and swirled around him. He coughed up water and rolled to the side. Where the hell was he?
    Throbbing pain sliced from his head to his back. He pushed up, but his shaking arms collapsed. 
    He spat out bits of sand and shell and wiped his eyes. “Bloody hell.” He slumped onto his back and rested his arm on his forehead. Why wasn’t he dead? He should have drowned. Was it due to being immortal and a vampire, or something else? Could Mariah or Hannah have had something to do with it? Mariah was a witch and could have cast a spell to save him. Or Hannah could have used her telekinetic powers to keep him from drowning.
    Not likely. Hannah was the capt’n’s woman, and Mariah was William’s. Neither the Capt’n nor William would let those ladies out on the deck during a deadly squall.
    He could now say something good about his vampire powers. At least, he hadn’t drowned. That was something, right?
    Waves whirled around his legs. He rested his forearms on the wet sand and rose. Splitting pain shot to the back of his head. He winced.
    Swallowing deep breaths, he focused on the now calm, blue ocean. The sea always eased his pain. Where was the Phoenix ? He hoped safely tucked in the cove. Capt’n didn’t like to lose his men and would order a search. But where would he look?
    After such a terrible storm, the Phoenix would need repairs. If she was docked on Saint Kitts, he’d find her—in their secret cove. Two huge cliffs bordered the cove. Only one ship could enter. If any other tried, she’d be blown to bits. 
    But he had another problem. He’d been a slave on Saint Kitts.
    Amadi crawled into a sitting position, crossing his legs. This wasn’t good. He needed cover—to hide out until he could get his bearings.
    He crawled to his feet. Blinding pain slammed into his head. His stomach swirled. He couldn’t fight the nausea and spit up Cook’s dinner of salted fish and sea water onto the white sand.
    He turned his head at the foul smell and swayed on shaky legs. Refusing to fall onto