Can we trust him? Cassian tracked the black dot on the horizon. 

He’s turned on his master once. If the asshole’s word is to be trusted. Could these miserable three months form some nefarious snare? A man might say anything to save his life. Especially with my sword dancing at his throat. 

He gripped the helm tighter. Boundless ocean surrounded them, waves heaving between them and the far ship that spoiled the horizon. 

“Sir?’” A smaller voice spoke, startling him out of his dark storm. He looked at the scrawny cabin boy. 

“What?” he barked.  

Toby trembled but stood still. “I say’d that the Cap’n wants ye in his cab’n,” Toby repeated clearly. 

Neptune’s wrinkled ball sack, even the kid can’t look me in the bloody eye. Ever since Marina vanished, the men had walked on eggshells around him. It was beyond infuriating. 

Cassian took a moment before nodding. He handed over the wheel to the bosun. 

He stormed toward his father’s door, each heavy footfall echoing through the hall. The scowl carved across his face sent sailors scrambling back to their duties before his temper could find a target. 

Bursting into the quarters, he found the one person he didn’t want to see pouring over the articles of The Code and signing it. 

What in Orcus is he doing here? I didn’t know he could read. 

“Ah. You got my request,” Captain Aquilla smiled up at his first mate. Cassian didn’t bother to reply; his eyes fixed on Darius, who signed his name with a flourish. 

Stupid little asshole. Writes like a pansy. 

” I, Darius, solemnly swear to give my life…” Darius put up his hand to swear the oath. 

He betrayed his own crew; what makes the Captain so sure about him? ‘Solemnly swear’ my ass. I bet he wouldn’t give his life to save his mother. Cassian’s dark thoughts continued to swirl as he took in the man, his dark scowl and ire-lit eyes never leaving Darius’s form. 

Darius had been an unexpected acquisition when they abducted, or rather, persuaded with coin, the town’s doctor. The doctor didn’t want to leave his patient, so he bartered to bring the injured prick with him. 

“…this I vow on Neptune’s locker.” Darius finished the oath. 

I’ll vow to send you to Neptune’s locker myself. Cassian almost allowed himself a smile at the image of pushing Darius into the sea. 

“Darius, you’re dismissed. You may go swab the deck.” Captain Aquilla ordered. The instant the door shut, Cassian turned on his father. 

“You trust him?” He demanded, eyes flashing in pent-up frustration, anger, and worry. 

“You’ll not speak to your Captain in that manner.” Cassian knew the tone meant business; he was nearing a dangerous situation, yet he would not submit. 

“I’ll speak my piece,” he snapped. 

“My view of the future is as cloudy as yours,” Captain Aquilla admitted. “But right now,  he’s our best lead.”  

“His loyalty is to no one!” Cassian paced, desperate to prove his point to his captain. 

“His loyalty is to us since we saved his life. He owes us a life debt and sealed it in blood.” Captain Aquilla’s eyes flashed, but Cassian answered him with equal rage. 

“He’s still a danger to the ship.” 

“Cassian,” Captain Aquilla’s tone warned that his patience was thinner than a gangplank. “He signed the code. How many times must I say, if we can’t trust a blood oath, there’s no source of truth we can rely on.” 

I bet he sealed his loyalty to Lucian in blood, too. “I’ll keep saying it! The man has no loyalty!”  

Cassian prepared to continue to argue, but his father slammed his palm onto the desk. “Cassian Perseus Aquilla. My word as captain is final. When you’re the captain, you can make the calls. Until I breathe my last, you are the first mate.”  

“Or if you’re hurt. I was captain then. Or did you forget the six weeks you were at Orcus’s gates?” Cassian retorted. 

“And during that time, Lucian slipped right under your nose and stole your wife.” The admonition brought flames to Cassian’s face, but his father pressed on. “Clearly, you aren’t as ready for command as I thought.” Captain Aquilla pinched the bridge of his nose. “What does Darius have to do for you to trust him as your crew member?” 

”Die,” Cassian hissed. 

Captain Aquilla lunged toward his son as if to test such theories, but a knock at the door froze him before the blows could land. Toby entered, still trembling, with his eyes as far from Cassian’s as he could manage. “We’s gots the ship, Sir.”  

Cassinan seethed as he rushed to the top deck. I’ll show you I’m right. You’ll see.  

Already at the prow, Darius recognized the Regina Diaboli without a spyglass, but Cassian had to verify its identity for himself. 

“It’s her, alright. Unmistakable,” he confirmed to his father.  

Captain Aquilla nodded. “Good, then give the orders. Neptune, fill our sails with your breath; Mars, guide our weapons so that they may bring you glory; Minerva bring us victory in your honor,” Captain Aquilla mumbled the same prayer he said before they overtook another ship. 

Cassian straightened his spine as his determination etched into his face. By Mars, I vow that if Lucian touched Marina, or worse, Orcus will be filled with blood. Make me strong so I can bring you glory.  

“At my call, steady…hold…” The cannons rumbled as the men rolled them into place. “Aim!”  Time dragged into a thousand heartbeats while he waited for the boson to lock Lucian in their crosshairs. “FIRE!”  

Cracks and booms rang as long-range rifles fired at the other crew and crewmen worked to hook the ships together. 

“Mind the sails! Bring her about to the port side!” Cassian roared over the smashing waves as they pulled alongside the Regina Diaboli. Sailors scrambled to obey as Captain Aquilla stood at the wheel 

Just hold on, Marina. I’m coming.  

Lucian’s crew returned gunfire. Men dropped like herring fillets from both sides. Bullets flew in every direction, and hooks swung between the decks. Bullets missed their mark in the frenzy, thunking deep into masts instead 

“HIT THE MEN UNTYING THE HOOKS, YOU BASTARDS!” Cassian moved amongst his force. Eventually, the men got the hooks secure, pulling the ships closer. 

Mars, how did I get such a crew? Do I have to do this entire thing myself? Neptune’s shit hole, I’ll see the locker before I see my Marina.  

“Prepare to board!” Cassian called as he checked his pistol and readied his sword. Grabbing a rope, he swung over to the other ship. 

Marina is the only thing that matters.

Cassian’s crew followed, and the clash of swords sang above the roar of the sea. The sides fought for dominance, and the battlefront crept across the deck. Black smoke choked the air. Guns popped, bringing enough glory for all the gods. The men danced between the small fires that had ignited between the forward and aft decks.  

The melee pressed on, claiming the ship an inch at a time. The sailors progressed through the holds, securing prisoners as they surrendered. After hours of slow progress, Cassian’s crew overtook the opposing force.  

“Round them up and bind them. I want every man alive, tied and on the deck,” he ordered his exhausted sailors. 

A prisoner with a jagged scar along his face thrashed as a crewman bound him to the mast. “Our lord took his time with her, you know. Days it was. Locked away in his cabin. I couldn’t be sure, but I think she liked it.” 

Fuck! The sick bastard. Probably has…. Cassian couldn’t finish the torturous thought, but the dark part of his mind envisioned the boundless tortures that Lucian could inflict on his beloved.  

Fury beyond measure fueled Cassian’s movements as he raced to Lucian’s cabin. Wood splintered with a sickening crunch when his boot kicked the door open, smashing it into the far wall. He burst in, weapons drawn. “LUCIAN, YOU BASTARD!”  

His rage carried him forward on the attack. But his sword found nothing. His face flared scarlet and his nails pressed crescent moon shapes into his palms. Kicking over an ornate chair, he stalked out of the cabin. 

He returned to the upper deck and paced as the last of the guards were bound. He held his tongue and let the madness in his eyes beat them down until the weakest among them trembled. 

“I’m only going to ask one question. One of you will answer. If it is truthful, I’ll be lenient. You lie, you get thrown overboard. Your choice.” 

The guard with the scar spat at Cassian’s feet. 

“Looks like we have our first volunteer!” Cassian smiled. Two of his men pulled the scarred man out of the group and forced him to the deck in front of their commander. 

“Where is your master?” Cassian asked. 

The man spat directly into his face. Cassian nodded and his men hauled the brute to the railing. 

“Wrong answer.” Cassian wiped his face with the back of his hand. “Have a nice swim.” With a splash, the man went into the inky water.  

Cassian turned to the others. “Anyone else want to go with him?”  

For several tense minutes, no one moved, but no one protested, either. 

“Let’s continue. Where is your master?”  

Another captive squared his shoulders against the ropes. “Vivat rex Lucianus!” He yelled, drawing cheers from his mates. 

“Pirates care nothing for kings.” Cassian hissed. “Where is Marina?” He demanded again. 

“A wild one, that girl was. Screaming our lord’s name. I would give my soul to Neptune to have a taste of her. Lucian’s a lucky bastard that he took her with him.” The guard grinned, sick pleasure on his face. 

Cassian clocked him with the force of three months of panic. The man’s jaw cracked and his teeth scattered across the deck. Turning on his heel, he stormed back to his ship. 

With his boots on the right deck, he nodded to his father that they were done. 

“Burn and sink her, men,” Captain Aquilla ordered. Thunder rolled as the sailors sprang into action, sinking the Regina Diaboli into Neptune’s locker and sending her bound crew along with her. But Cassian couldn’t bring himself to watch. 

He stomped down into the bowels of the ship, in pursuit of a much–needed bottle of rum, radiating anger and dark promises to anyone who dared to speak to him. He reached the galley and growled when he saw Darius cleaning the table and cooking area. 

He knew. The shithole had to have known she wasn’t there. This is his fault. 

“Cassian.” Darius greeted Cassian with a smile before his fist collided with the right side of his face. Darius scrambled, but Cassian pinned him to the wall by his neck. 

“What’s in it for you?” Cassian demanded, drawing so close he could taste the lies on his foul breath.  

Confusion squished Darius’s forehead. His hands flew up in befuddled surrender. “I don’t know what you mean.”  

Cassian looked at him for a moment. The madness in his eyes turned to disgust when he realized that Darius wasn’t even fighting him. He let him drop to the floor. Then he grabbed the nearest bottle of rum and stalked back to his cabin. 

Editor: Shannon Hensley