Risen (Haunted Series Book 22)

ran his hands roughly over her.  She bore the indignation with a vow to get even, possibly gelding the man before she left the ship.
“Go ahead.  Be careful, they are chained, but they are still dangerous.”
Daniel opened the cage with a set of keys he pulled of a hook on the far wall.  He closed it behind her.  Mia walked up to the first of the birdmen.  She didn’t recognize him or his jailed brethren.  She pulled off her gloves and ran her hands along the broken wing as if to see the soundness of it.  The birdman jerked as a healing started.  He looked at her in alarm, and she sent a thought into his head.  “I’m Mia Cooper Martin, a colleague of Angelo Michaels.  I’m a healer.  Don’t let on.  Look at me with disgust.  Treat me as if I’m a demon.”
He did just that.  He howled in pain and spat in her direction.  The others responded in the same way as she touched them.  Mia laughed as if it were a sport.  She whirled around with wild eyes looking at Daniel.  “These will do.  I’ll send a ship for them,” she said.  “Come, let me out.  It’s time to find that farmer.”
Daniel watched as she put on her jacket.  He hung up the keys.  Mia grabbed the keys with her mind.  They silently dangled behind the pirate as she fed the man’s desire with images she planted in his head.  He stood there, mesmerized, not seeing her maneuver the keys into her hand.  Mia walked over and tossed the keys and pistol into the cage within an arm’s reach of the nearest birdman and whispered, “Take the keys and the pistol.  Leave as soon as your wings are healed.  I’ll try to disable the harpoon gun.”
During this time, in Daniel’s mind, he was kissing Abigor’s emissary.  His body was on fire.  Her eyes glowed orange as the demon in her took over…
“Capt’n Crocker,” the quartermaster called from the door.  “The Peacock is approaching off our starboard side.”
Mia moved quickly to his side.  She adjusted her clothing to perpetuate the illusion that she had fed his starved mind.
He seemed to snap out of it.  He smiled down at her and explained, “Mia, the Peacock is a slaver.  I will look over their stock and then…”
“Remember I am buying the birdmen, rotted wings and all.”
“Yes, my darling.  I will make you a good deal,” he said, climbing out of the hold.
Mia followed.  He directed her to his cabin.
Mia walked in and was surprised to see Kevin standing there with Murphy.  She did her best to not show any emotion as she looked at her friends.  “You found him,” she said.  “We’ll be departing as soon as the Peacock leaves.”  Put off by the look of contempt Murphy gave her, she didn’t tell them about the birdmen.
“I’m not leaving,” Murphy announced.
“I’ve argued with him.  I’ve told him about the toll the ghost ship realm has on his emotions,” Kevin said.  “Told him that he had a lot to lose if he stays.”
Mia pulled off a glove.  She placed it on Murphy’s heart.  She searched in vain; she could find no trace of herself in there. It was just a beating but empty heart.  “Kevin, it’s too late. I’m no longer in his heart.  But he still has regard for you.”  Mia put her glove back on.  “Stephen Murphy, this ship may give you things you can’t have in our world.  I’ll not fault you for staying, but I will warn you.  Once I leave here, I can’t return for you.  You’ll have to make your own way home.”
Murphy looked at the woman who used to be his world.  She was comely and smelled faintly of the captain and something else… feathers.  “They hunt your kind here.”
“What do you mean my kind?” Mia said acidly.  “I’m as human as you are.”
“I think your trip to Hell has changed you.  You’ve brought back some of it with you.  If I ever return, it will never be because of you.”
“Fine,” Mia said.  “Forgive me if I invent something less hurtful to tell the others.  Kevin, will you be returning?” she asked.
“I’m not a seafaring man.  I’ll say goodbye to my son and escort you across the veil.  Although, Fergus may come back.”
“It’s his choice,” Mia said, suddenly tired.
“I’m going to check on him,” Kevin said, leaving Murphy alone with Mia.
She sat down and put her head in her hands.
Murphy was puzzled.  Why was she upset?
“What’s wrong with you?” he asked.
“I’m sorry I left you behind, but I couldn’t take both you and the demon into the pit with me.  You’re a hero, you saved so many.  I hate to think of you rotting away under a boatswain’s whip.”
“I hate to think of you period,” he spat.
“Where is your axe?” Mia asked, ignoring the hurtful comment.
“I used to keep it at my side, but now it’s next to my bunk.”
“May I have it?”
“It’s spectral.”
“I still want it to remember you by,” Mia said.
“I’ll go and get it.  Leave soon before the captain fills you with child.”
“I can’t believe you just said that to me!”
“Mia, I have eyes.  I know a whore when I see one.”
Mia slapped him and slapped him hard.  He caught her arm.  She shook it free from his grasp. Mia walked over and studied her reflection in the captain’s mirror.  She didn’t look any different.  “Whatever I did, I did to save you,” she said.  “Go.  I’ll tell the captain I have no need for you.”
Murphy faltered just a moment.  He didn’t understand why her face was filled with tears or why she clutched her heart for a moment.
“Get the hell out of here!” she shouted, pointing to the door.
Murphy