Serena Dracis

This is a scene from Salt, Sky, and Fire that I eventually pulled. It’s set in Ozora and Fraser’s past, and shows their breakup scene.

Enjoy –

***

When I brought her aboard Skirmisher she was instantly suspicious.

“Why have you brought me here?” Ozora barely stepped away from the gangway, planting her feet and dropping my hand.

“I have a surprise for you.” My quarters on Skirmisher were easily big enough for both of us, and I’d spared no expense to find her favorite flowers. Bouquets of them filled almost every flat surface. I couldn’t wait to show her.

I just knew this was what she wanted. I knew that whatever reason she had to go crying to Gordon instead of coming to me would be erased after tonight.

Her eyes darted side to side and her lips tensed.

Is she still upset, thinking I was unfaithful? I’ll prove to her that I’m hers and hers alone. “I want to show you something very special.”

“I’ve already seen all your special parts.” She twitched her lips, glancing sideways again.

I knew what she had to be nervous about.

“Hey.” I reached for her hand, but she eluded me, taking a step back. “Look. I know you’ve been worried these last few weeks but I promise you. You have nothing to worry about.”

She was still edging backward.

“I’m not worried Fraser, but you should be.” Her voice held a new, sharp edge. It sliced, just a bit. Not really enough to bleed but enough to feel its bite.

“I am worried, Ozora. I’m worried I’ll lose you over some trivial misunderstanding. I don’t want there to be anything between us.”

Her wide brown eyes stared into mine with something I’d never seen in them before.

Anger. Hate.

Correction. I’d never seen them directed at me. How far had her trust slipped because of dockside rumors and gossip? I had to do something to take away that look of disgust creeping over her.

“I love you!” It was out. There. I’d said it when I promised myself I never would.

It took away the anger and hate, replaced them with something worse.

Scorn.

Somehow that was worse than the hate.

“You love me? You?” She barked. “That’s rich. You can’t love anything, can you? I can’t believe I wasted so much time here with you.”

Shock stopped my breath for the first time in my life. All the things I wanted to tell her, to convince her couldn’t make it past the lump in my throat.

I thought my heart would stop beating with her next words.

“I’d rather mate with a diseased octopus than spend another moment in your depraved company.”

As if timed to her words, explosions detonated in the holds. Multiple booms traveled Skirmisher’s length. Her timbers shrieked and groaned as she shuddered under what sounded like mortal wounds.

Ozora might as well have reached into my chest and dug my heart out with her nails.

That’s what it felt like. My heart was gone. Cut to shreds by the woman I loved, then going up in flames with my ship. Orange, yellow, and red tentacles leaped through the hatches in the deck, devouring flames that burst through the covers.

The sound of water rushing in through her shattered hull will haunt me forever.

Ozora turned and ran, dashing down the gangway. Skirmisher lurched and the planks tore from the stone of the dock. I leapt across the deck, sure I’d see her splashing in the water, about to be crushed between stone and ship. My heart skipped a beat or two when I saw Ozora leap to the quay and run away.

She turned, looked back, and our eyes locked. Hers still dripped loathing.

My heart stopped, iced over.

Gordon stepped out and I wanted to yell at him to stop her. Catch her.

So I could drag from her the reason why she’d done this. Destroyed us. Destroyed me.

But I didn’t. I let the shout die in my throat, fading as she ran away into the city.

Every soft emotion died in me, watching her disappear. Just as my ship was dying.

***

In the end, it didn’t fit the final flow, so I pulled it. Right now, I’m editing the sequel, Wind, Waves, and Ruin and will be releasing it here on my Patreon in weekly chapters.

At some point, I’ll publish the two as a box set for sale, but you my friends, will get to read it all here first.

What do you think? When I get ready to publish the box set should I add this scene back?