Chapter 59

The woman's protest died in her throat as multiple gun barrels swung toward her.

A deafening volley of gunfire shattered the air. Screams erupted across the deck as the pirates fired mercilessly.

When the smoke cleared, only a bloody pulp remained where the woman had stood.

Evelyn felt her knees buckle. Julian's steadying hand on her shoulder was the only thing keeping her upright. She shrugged him off with a violent jerk.

"Stay still," Julian whispered urgently, his breath hot against her ear.

Swallowing hard, Evelyn lifted her gaze to the masked pirate leader.

He moved with predatory grace between display cases, examining stolen antiquities with a connoisseur's eye. When he spoke, his Valtorian accent curled around each word. "These waters belong to me now. Your jewels, your artifacts, your very lives are mine to claim."

The pirate's gloved fingers trailed over a golden chalice. "But trinkets mean nothing. Bring me the hydronium, and I'll grant you the mercy of a swift death."

Evelyn's breath hitched. Hydronium? Here?

"For every minute I'm kept waiting," he continued, tapping his watch, "another corpse will feed the sharks."

Julian's whisper cut through her panic. "What's he saying?"

Evelyn blinked. How did Julian know she understood Valtorian?

"Don't play dumb," he murmured. "You mastered eight languages by twenty-two. That brilliant mind of yours hasn't gone anywhere."

Eight languages? Twenty-two? Evelyn's head spun with fragmented memories.

The sharp report of a pistol cut through her confusion. Another hostage crumpled.

After the third execution, Evelyn couldn't stay silent. "Stop!" she called out in flawless Valtorian. "They don't understand you!"

The pirate leader's head snapped up. "Well, well. A cultured dove among pigeons." His masked face tilted. "Stand up, little translator. Unless you'd prefer I continue my count?"

As Evelyn rose, Julian grabbed her wrist. She wrenched free, meeting the pirate's gaze head-on.

The moment she stood, the pirate leader's posture shifted. He slung his rifle across his back with theatrical flair. "Bravery and beauty - a rare combination. Translate my demands accurately, and perhaps I'll spare that pretty neck."

Evelyn's voice shook as she addressed the hostages. "Stay calm. Don't move. They're after—"

Her words faltered as shadows detached from the ship's superstructure. Silent figures moved with lethal precision behind each pirate.

Steel flashed. Throats opened. Before the pirate leader could react, his men collapsed like marionettes with cut strings.

Only the leader remained standing, oblivious to the carnage behind him. "Why did you stop speaking?" he demanded, stepping closer.

The cold kiss of a blade pressed against his jugular answered for her.