Risen (Haunted Series Book 22)

a warrior.”
“Thank you.”

Chapter Fifteen
Daniel Crocker wasn’t a tall man.  He wasn’t necessarily a strong one either.  He became captain of the Devil’s Pride because of his intelligence, expert swordsmanship, and he was the best marksman in the Caribbean.  He could shoot anything from a cannon to a harpoon and not only reach his target but hit it the first time.  Moving ships, whales, and birdmen were tricky things, but they were no problem for Crocker.  He could judge speed, wind, and intent in minutes.  Because of this, the crew had elected him captain.  He brought them riches in life, and in death, he continued to make the Devil’s Pride one of the strongest of all the ghost ships.
“Capt’n we pulled a farmer from the sea.  He says he destroyed Lucifer’s Lip,” the quartermaster reported.
“We did see a boat there when we cycled into the real world,” Crocker said.  “It’s possible this has happened.  Set course for the island, but stay in this realm.”
“I think he’s touched,” the quartermaster said and explained, “He said he’s been to Hell.”
“We’re all going to end up in Hell, but if he’s escaped Hell, then he is a most valuable commodity.  I’ll talk to him as soon as we verify that the island is gone.”
“Yes, Capt’n.”
Crocker resumed dressing for the day.  He chose an embroidered waistcoat he bought with the bounty on the birdman he had harpooned.  The demon ship The Risen paid well for these creatures.  They liked them alive, but they still paid, even if they were dead.  The demons hated the birdmen.
~
Mia had returned to her cell.  The door was kept open to let her know that she was still a guest of Abigor.  She could move freely in his castle apartments.  Mia wore his colors.  A page uniform had been adapted to fit her.  The trousers closed with four buttons, and there were no pockets.  She wore a linen shirt that she had cut two long vents into the back of.  She wore a vest that attached at her neck and buttoned in the front.  Over this, she wore the striking black and blue uniform coat of the house of Abigor.  Her boots had not been returned.  Instead, she pulled on black leather boots that someone had laboriously shined for her.
Aside from the shears that were briefly loaned to her, she had no weapons.  She contemplated secreting the shears in her boot but decided to lay them on the table in sight of all who entered the room.  She would not be caught with a concealed weapon by Abigor again.
Her white hair, that had been washed and perfumed previously, still bore the styling of the concubines.  A length of gold had been braided into the crown of her hair and fell down her back.  It was a contradiction of styles.  The knight who was also a woman, perhaps Abigor’s woman, no one would dare speak about their time alone.
“Mia, it’s time,” Altair said, standing in the doorway.
Mia turned around and glanced at the shears briefly but let them lie on the table.
“My word, what a transformation,” Altair said.  “You look like a Botticelli painting.”
“Altair, I find myself in this perpetual state of others dressing me.  I’m not a doll.”
“Would you prefer to show up in front of the fallen royalty dressed as a gutter rat?” he asked.
“At least it would be honest.”
“Aby’s women have done this because they want you to live and leave the house of Abigor.  This is a good thing.”
“Very well, lead the way,” Mia said.
They walked out of the apartment and down the stairs.  The doors were opened for them.  Mia and Altair walked the cobbled streets down past the riverfront café where she had originally met Lucifer.  They climbed the steps leading to the prison but stopped just outside the tall doors.
Mia looked up and said, “These are large enough for Godzilla to walk through.”
“Maybe a dragon or two,” Altair said indulgently.  “Mia, as with the demon court, do not raise your eyes unless asked to, and when you do, direct all your answers to Lucifer.  The others are there for decoration.”
“My knees are shaking.”
“Why?”
“There will be no Quentin to pick up the pieces.”
“I’m here.”
“I will not compromise your friendship with me or Lucifer.  I want you to stay out of this.”
“You hurt me.”
“I’m saving you,” she hissed as the doors opened inwards.
They walked through the courtyard and under an arch that adorned a tunnel.
“I’ll leave you here then,” Altair said stiffly.  “Go to the end.  There will be a barred gate.  Wait there until it opens,” he instructed.
“Thank you.  For the record, I have considered you my best friend, save one.  I need to know that, if I don’t survive this, you do.”
“Mia, you ask too much of me.”
Mia didn’t respond.  She started walking down the tunnel towards the light at the end.
~
Sabine paced the office.  Cid had alerted her to the weather situation in the Caribbean.  Together, they waited for updates from Jake.  Cid tried to work, but his eyes were constantly pulled to the big monitor that Jake was using for his weather maps.
“What if they don’t survive?” Sabine asked.
“Then we raise the boys.”
“We?” Sabine asked, surprised.
“I can’t raise magical children alone.  Mia trusts you.”
“Why, when I have to be saved like a fairytale princess?  How could she think that I could protect her children when I have to have help with my girls?”
“That’s why I’m here,” Cid said softly.  “Mia and Ted have an extensive network of entities and humans that will help us.  We aren’t alone.  But Mia has told me, time and time again, that if there is a conflict between saving her or you, that I am to save you.  She feels you would