Despite the two strings of work lights that were strung along the riders that made up the only structure in the large compartment, darkness consumed everything. James moved slowly down the steep stairs of the ladder, the sword held in front of him so that he could see through the mists of darkness as its etheric light split the void. Reaching up behind him, he kept his eyes on the darkness beyond as he softly closed the hatch over him so that nothing could escape.

  He swept the blade back and forth slowly through the black mist, causing it to hiss out of existence as it touched the bright aura around the blade. With each swipe, more of the bilge was revealed, the same as it had always been. Every sound was amplified and echoed as the ship creaked against the gentle lapping of the waves.

  James moved carefully, using his feet to feel for the thick wood ribs that jutted from the floor and walls. Each step was paired with a swipe of the blade as he moved towards the prow that was only a few yards away. After what felt like an eternity, the sword swept the mist clear of the keelson, revealing the front of the ship.

  The dark mist flowed in behind his attack, managing to consume the ladder in darkness by the time he reached the prow. Turning around, he advanced more quickly this time with broad strokes that sliced through the creeping mist. With each swipe, a hiss grew to a growl of pain as the ladder began to appear again.

  He shifted to the side so that he could step around the ladder that stuck down into the center of the compartment. Steps echoed off the muted wall of vapor in front of him as he advanced. With a quick swipe he stepped around the ladder, clearing out the space in front of him.

  Instead of the hiss that he had grown used to, a screech ripped through the silence from above him as a black figure leapt at him from the top of the ladder. He spun towards the screech, but wasn’t fast enough. The dark being slammed into his shoulder, knocking him to the deck. Boney hands scrambled for his throat as he scrambled for the blade that had been knocked from his hands.

  His fingers scraped along one of the ribs of the ship where he thought the sword had fallen. Thoughts escaped him as the cold grip of dead bone wrapped around his neck making him give up on the sword and shift to scrabble at his belt. The world began to fade around him as his fingers wrapped around the warm hilt of one of the steel-handled knives that had been purified by Lugh.

  He slammed the blade up into the being's torso, hearing another scream. This time, the scream wasn’t one of an attacking predator; it was a cry of pain as its body was consumed by light. Rolling free of the incinerating corpse, he held the knife up to protect himself as he stepped over the chunk of wood that had blocked him from his sword. James shifted his knife to a defensive grip in his left hand before stooping to pick up the glowing blade.

  In the depths of the black ship, three more cries of rage shot out at him before the sound of scrambling bone on wood whispered around him. After a deep breath to center himself for the fight, James advanced more carefully than he had before. The two blades swept wide, cutting through the open space, burning off the darkness and placing a well-lit empty compartment behind him.

  The first of his foes revealed itself with a rustle of cloth as it pressed itself into a corner. His sword shot out like a viper and buried itself deep, revealing his full enemy for the first time. Besides the white bone of its hands and feet, the creature was covered in a cloak of black, its hood held aloft with the same black mist that filled the rest of the bilge.

  Etheric yellow flame consumed the being as he spun to face the cry of rage that came from his left. Driving the knife into the being's misty face, he swept his sword into its chest before turning to face the aft of the ship, where the remaining mist was pulling back to. He let his two foes burn and stalked towards the last foe that had exposed themselves.

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  The mist split and shifted quickly as one of the beings escaped towards the hatch, falling prey to a quick swipe of his cutlass. Etheric flames lit the room in shimmering green and gold light as he advanced like the predator he was. The last being leaned out of the mist to expose its headless form and spoke in a hissing voice.

  “You may have won today, but you’ll never defeat the Dullahan Collective. The Magus will revive me tonight. I’ll come for you when you least suspect it, and then we’ll take this city once and for all. The light will never have a pantheon in the United States; the only gods that will rule here will rule from the shadows.”

  James stepped close as he drove his sword through its chest, pressing all the way through until the tip of the sword dug into the inner hull. His voice was a growl as he leaned in close and spoke.

  “I couldn’t care less about your Collective or the Magus. I only care that your group killed Vic. When you revive, tell that leader of yours that he made this personal, and I’m going to make him pay.”

  With a twist, the emerald and gold flames ignited and consumed the creature along with the last of the mist that filled the ship. A hard yank pulled the blade clear of the wood so that he could turn back to the silent compartment. He took one final lap of the bilge to make sure that no shadows remained before sheathing his weapons and climbing the small ladder that led back up to the lower deck.

  He paused for a moment to fix his uniform and pick up the plumed cap that he’d left sitting on the small shelf on the aft bulkhead. When everything was ready, he buttoned the collar of his jacket to cover any potential bruising before walking towards the office that he shared with his second in command. With a brief knock he opened the door and stepped in to find his friend bent over some paperwork.

  “I’m glad to see you actually work when I’m not around Carlos.”

  The young sergeant sat back in his creaky office chair and met James’s smirk with one of his own as he spoke.

  “I learned from the best Gunny. What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be on leave.”

  A grimace of sadness crossed his face at the reminder of Vic’s death, but the reality of his mission to avenge his fallen friend fought back. He moved the small distance to the single chair that fit between their two desks and flopped down in the hard plastic.

  “Vic was murdered trying to protect this command from an attack. I can’t sit at home and not act, so I decided to do something about it. I’ve requested to be reassigned to assist the team that’s trying to track down the group that killed him.”

  Carlos put down his pen and gave James his full attention. The concern in his gaze almost had a weight to it as he spoke softly.

  “Are you sure you want to do that? You and I both know that fighting while emotional is likely to get you killed. We’ve both seen that in combat and I don’t want to lose another friend after we both survived multiple tours.”

  James met his friend's gaze as he answered the concern.

  “I know. You don’t need to worry about that. That team was already in the process of bringing me on board before this happened so I’ll be able to fit in. I’ve also seen what rage can do in a fight and I promise that I won’t let it control me.”

  His friend nodded, but the concern still pulled at his eyes. Not wanting to continue the lecture, he cut Carlos off and changed the subject.

  “With me being reassigned, that’ll put you in charge of the platoon. I’ll be around, but this will be your show. I have complete confidence in you, and I’ll be around if you need help.”

  James stood and offered a hand to the man that would have to fill his shoes. Lugh had made it sound like a temporary assignment when they were talking with the commander, but his gut told him otherwise. This felt like far too big an assignment to be put on the back burner.

  After Carlos stood and shook his hand, the two NCOs saluted. Turning his back on his colleague of several years, James strode from the office and went looking for Lugh.