Risen (Haunted Series Book 22)

we have propulsion and explosion.  We just need you to figure out how to get it to work.”
Ted lowered the monocular.  He reached into a pocket and drew out a small whiteboard.  He quickly diagrammed a weapon using the materials Mason had mentioned.  “I’ll need to cannibalize the satellite phone system to give us some control.  The beast isn’t going to simply sit back and wait to be hit by your exploding darts.”  He handed the board to Mason and prepared to catch Mia as she withdrew her wings and dropped down onto the boat.
“Well, look who’s dropped in,” Ted said, cradling Mia in his arms.  “Hello, Wife.”
Mia rested her head on his shoulder.  “Hello, Husband, Mason, Burt, and a very angry Captain Billard.”
“Who are you?” Billard said.
“Mia Martin.”
“Where is Sabine Norwood?”
“I expect Illinois.  But I don’t know for sure.”
“What are you?”
“Tired, hungry, and a freak of nature.  Give me a moment to refresh myself before you toss me overboard.”
“I should toss the lot of you over, but you saved this boat and crew by your actions.”
“Where is she?” Mia asked.
“She?”
“The monster, it’s female.”
“It dug itself into the island,” Burt reported.
“Damn.  We need to get over that reef.  This thing can move easier in water,” Mia warned.
“You injured it,” Billard claimed.
“Or did I just make it mad?” Mia replied.  “Feed me so I can be of service.  I’ve just tried to swim after a retreating Coast Guard cutter, which was stupid.”
“Told you,” Mason said.
Mia looked at Ted.  “I’ll kill him later.  I have a feeling I interrupted something the two of you were doing.”
Ted, who kept sinking into thought, snapped out of it.  “Yes, we’re going to build an explosive harpoon.”
“That’s hardly sporting,” Mia teased.  “Please put me down, I have legs.”
Ted kissed her before he set her down.
Mia’s legs almost went out from under her.  She locked her knees and hobbled towards the smell of coffee brewing.
Murphy appeared at her side.  He waited until Ted went below before he all but carried Mia to the galley.
“Thanks, Murph.  How are you guys doing on this floating Cuisinart?” she asked.
“Kevin can’t lift his head, but Fergus is in his element.”
“How are you?”
“I would feel better if I could get my feet on some solid ground.”
“Closest place may actually be part kraken.”
“Don’t know if I can draw power from evil ground?  Or if I do, will I become evil?”
Mia turned in the passageway and looked in his eyes.  “Bravo, for you thinking this through.  You’re so much better at this than I am.  You think and react.  I react and rue.”
“That’s not exactly true,” Murphy said.  “Remember, I gave the Sentential Woods demon an Energon cube.”
“Oh yeah, that was you.  Water under the bridge.  Rising and falling water…” Mia said, lurching into the galley.
Daphne spun around.  “My god, you scared me.”
“Sorry, hello, I’m Mia Martin,” Mia said, holding out her trembling hand.
“Are you an angel?” Daphne asked, looking around.
“She’s no angel,” Murphy said.
“Who said that?” Daphne asked, looking around.
“Who said what?” Mia asked.  “Oh, my stomach growled.  Daphne, let me be honest with you.  We’re in a hell of a spot here.  I’m a human with wings, a genetic freak if you will - anyway, I used up a lot of energy, and I need to replenish.  Is there anything I can eat in here?”
Daphne pulled out container after container of food and popped each one, in turn, in the microwave.  She poured Mia a mug of coffee.
Mia slid down and sat on the floor and used two trembling hands to guide it to her mouth.
“Are you cold?” Daphne asked.
“No, just spent,” Mia said, drinking down the hot liquid.  “And cold.  Yes, I’m cold and tired.”
The boat shuddered as it was hit with another big wave.
“Are we going to die?” Daphne asked, sliding down beside Mia.
“Not if I can help it,” Mia said, looking at Murphy.  “Correction.  Not if we can help it.”

Chapter Ten
Whit and his men hit the beach.  The topography of the shoreline had changed.  Whether it was the event with the beast or the coming storm, really didn’t matter.  They were silent after their hurried hunt through the cavern.  They had almost perished when the sides of the massive stone cave seemed to close in on itself.  Fortunately for them, they were at the lowest point of the place when the sides came up.  Corpses rained from the alcoves that had housed them for years.  The physical matter that fell in globs was beyond disgusting; it was nightmarish.  It had stopped all conversation and dissention in the group.  The four men had followed Whit’s lead without question.
“We need to find weapons.  Dry gunpowder, anything that will slow that beast.  Maybe blow off an arm or fifty arms,” Whit instructed.
“We have no idea how big it is.  All I’ve seen are tentacles,” Simpson said.
“Look at the size of some of those boats it pulled in.  I’m thinking 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea size beast,” Whit estimated.
Boullé tripped over a Pelican case.  He opened it and pulled off the foam protection to find an AK-47 nestled in the box.  “Great, a weapon but no…”  He pulled the case up out of the sand, and below it was two more cases.  He quickly opened them to find another AK-47 and below that a case full of cartridges.  He let out a shrill whistle that brought a crewman from the Ross Bell to his side.  “Seems like some gunrunners had a little problem here too.”
“Russian gunrunners.  Do we have to hurt this beast?  From what I’ve seen, aside from the cruise passengers, it’s doing a great job on thinning the Caribbean of smugglers.”
“Not my call, seaman, not my