A Pirate's Curse (Legends of the Soaring Phoenix) by ML Guida

increased. Wetness dripped from her nose and ran into her mouth. Blood. No.
    Hannah opened her eyes and jerked on her right hand, breaking through the scarf, but her left wrist turned numb, her fingers twitching. She clawed at the scarf until she was free.
    A slight rap drew her attention.
    “Yes?” Hannah answered.
    “ ’Tis Doc.”
    Doc came into the room, carrying a tray loaded with a steaming bowl of chicken soup, a teapot, and a cup. “Grand, you’re awake, lass. I thought you might have fallen back asleep.”
    The bump on the back of her head pounded and her temples throbbed. His jovial voice droned on and she tried to breath. Stay calm. Power, stay back.
    But tingles rushed over her flush skin. She sat up straight. No. Too late. The same cross fell off Kane’s desk.
    Doc frowned. “’Tis strange. Never seen this happened before. Thing's as heavy as an anchor.”
    He picked up the cross and placed it on Kane’s desk.
    Hannah licked her lips. He had to leave. What if she lost control again and moved something else and he told Kane? Her hands trembled. 
    Doc came back with a bowl of soup in his hands , placed it in her lap and patted her head. “Ah, you look like you don got da chills. Try to eat, lass.”
    If he only knew…
    She glanced at the bowl of hot chicken soup, brimming with bits of potatoes, chicken, and carrots in a yellow broth. The aroma teased her stomach, but knots twisted in her gut. “I’m not hungry.”
    “I swear you’ll feel better,” Doc said. He studied her. “Are you pain in lass?”
    Hannah blinked. “What?”
    “You don got a terrible frown an’ your face is pale.”
    “No, I’ m fine.” Tingles swished over her again. She shook her head and clutched her fists.
    Stay back.
    “You need to pick up da spoon an’ dip it into da soup,” Doc urged.  He motioned with his hand as if he held a spoon in his hand and brought it to his lips, slurping like a hungry pig.
    Hannah blinked. The tingles faded and she relaxed her fists. She burst out laughing—a tall pirate, trying to cajole her into eating soup as if she were a little child. A belly laugh took over Hannah, tears formed in her eyes.
    “ ’Tis good to hear you laugh, lass,” Doc said.
    She wiped her cheeks. “I don’t know why that was so funny.”
    He smiled. Hannah smiled, too. She controlled her power. But she couldn’t go on like this. She had to convince these men she wasn’t a threat. She frowned. But how?
     
     
     
     

Chapter Eight
     
    Zuto tightened his grip on Maketabori’s vibrating choker. He hated the damn thing. It reverberated with evil.
    Pink -colored clouds rolled across the sky as the sun slowly set on the ocean. Waves rolled onto the beach and he smiled. He strolled over to the edge of the beach and stepped onto the wet sand. Water and sand swirled around his bare feet, tugging him into the sea. He never tired of the sensation. One day, he’d be free. 
    A foul stench broke into his reverie . Tearing away from the setting sun, he gritted his teeth and stared down his beach. With their heads lowered, Palmer and his boatswain, Stephen Johnson, meandered toward him.
    Zuto glared. “You failed to locate the Soaring Phoenix .”
    Sighing, Palmer answered. “Aye. We’ve searched different ports, but have not been able to find any trace of the Phoenix . We interviewed…”
    “Liar, you tortured people. When are you going to learn torture leads to defiance?”
    Palmer straightened his shoulders. “I’ve…”
    “Idiot.” Zuto tossed the choker at him. “Here. Take this.”
    Palmer caught the gold choker in midair. Holding it up the sun, he frowned. “What is it?” He moved the choker in the rays of the setting sun, the eight diamonds changed colors from red to purple to white to pink-colored. Palmer’s eyes glittered with greed.
    Zuto folded his arms across his chest. “’Tis called a yari .”
    Palmer gazed at the yari . “A what?” He fondled each diamond and licked his