“BloodyChrist!” Finn churred, suddenly at my side. “Did I just see Henryrun inside?”
“Yes,” Ireplied and swallowed hard against my smoke burned throat. “There’ssomeone still in there.”
Just then, thepicture window that faced the front of the tavern exploded with anear-piercing crash, shards of hot glass spilling into the street.The crowd, like a wave, moved back and shielded themselves. Gus andour deckhands dove away and dropped the buckets as they ran over towhere we stood, huddled together.
“It’s no use,”Gus said as he coughed into his hand. “It’s beyond saving.”
“Henry’s stillin there!” I yelled and broke free of the safe cover Lottie’sblanket provided to run for the Den.
Finn yankedback on my arm. “Oh, no ye don’t! I’ll go.” He looked to Gus.“Watch them.”
And, again, Iwatched helplessly as one of the people I loved most in this worldran head-on into a buildingblazing with smoke and flame. I held my breath in wait, eyesscanning back and forth through what openings still remained. Myheart beat wildly as my lungs burned with lack of air.
Suddenly, aform moved in my vision and a bulky black figure moved toward theopening of the front door. I struggled for air as I watched,waiting, hoping. The massive figure morphed with color and shape asit met the light of day which seeped through the smoke.
Finally, itemerged, three bodies draped over one another, coughing andwrenching the smoke from their lungs and collapsed on the groundjust as the last of the structure caved in. Mister Cresley swiftlymoved to fetch an old woman from Finn’s one arm. One more burst offlames shot up in the sky and smoke billowed up in dark greypoufs.
“Henry!” Icalled and dove for the man lyingin the street. He was unrecognizable. Covered in black soot, halfhis blonde hair singed up to his ear, and unresponsive. I droppedto my knees beside him and pushed at his chest. But he didn’treact. “Henry!”
I whipped myhead up to find Finn on his knees, coughing. But he seemed alright.Our eyes met. Surely, mine full of the worry I felt fill mybody.
“I-I have to…he’s not breathing,” I told him.
“Have towhat?” His voice lowered so only I could hear. “Can you savehim?”
“Yes,” Ireplied, thinking of the reactions I’d get when people saw meperform CPR, a method unknown to this time. But I didn’t care. Ihad to save Henry. “Just keep eyes off me, okay?”
Finn noddeddutifully and moved to kneel between me and the crowd, his massiveframe surely covering me from their prying eyes. I tipped Henry’shead back, chin up, and checked for any obstructions in his throat.None.
My hands,shaking from the cold winter air and the adrenaline that coursedthrough my body, pumped his chest as my mind silently counted. Mylips around his, and I forced air into his lungs. Pump. Breathe.Pump. Breathe. I worked tirelessly on his body, refusing to giveup. Tears streamed down my soot covered face, pooling at thecorners of my dry mouth, the salt stinging the skin there.
I pumped hischest harder. “Henry, God damn it!” No response. “Please! Youpromised! Come back!”
“Lass,” Finncalled over his shoulder. “We best move. We’re too close to thefire.”
He gently tookmy arm, but I swat it away. “No! I’ll save him. I have tosave him.”
The fire ragedjust a few meters away and I could feel the heat burning my skin. Iclenched my fingers together in one massive fist and raised itabove my head before bringing it down to Henry’s chest in a finalact of desperation.
“Breathe, Henry!”
His bodyjolted to life and my heart banged against the inside of its cage.I helped him sit up as he barked a continuous stream of coughs. Hiseyes, confused and concussed, stared up at me.
“Dianna?”
I couldn’tform words; relief flooded my body and I wrapped my arms around theman. But he winced in pain and I pulled away to find that his shirtwas gone. Had been burned way by the fire that scorched his skin.Reddened and charred flesh swelled on his upper chest by hisshoulder.
“Oh, God, I’mso sorry,” I said, still trembling.
Henry grippedmy fingertips and coughed. “You have nothing to be sorry for. You…you saved me.” Despite the agonizing pain, he managed a smile andmuttered as he fell back to unconsciousness, “Again...”
“Captain,”Finn said once more. “We must leave. Now.”
My head shotup and glanced around at the onlookers. The faces ridden withdisbelief at what they witnessed me do. Despite the cover of Finn’sbody, I’d created a scene and they all watched with a mix of horrorand wonder.
Just then, aracing carriage pulled up, casting a cloud of dirt over us. Thedoor swung opened and Roselyn Wallace poked her head out.
“Get in!” shecalled to us. We all hesitated, and my crew looked to me for ananswer. “I can help him!”
“There’s notenough room for all of us,” I told the woman.
“That’s fine,Dianna,” Gus said as he came to my side. “Take Henry. I’ll makesure the rest of us gets to The Siren’s Call safely.”
“Are yousure?” I pleaded.
“Yes! Now, go!Get out of here before the questions start.” Gus and Finn helpedHenry into the carriage, and I jumped in behind him, turning to myfriends and willing them to be safe before closing the door behindme. And we were off, bound towardThe Siren’s Call with a half dead Henry in my arms and my worldturned upside down.
ChapterEleven
I sat by Henry’s bed, in some random guest room at TheSiren’s Call as he slept. Wallace had sent for a doctor who hadcome with haste to clean and wrap Henry’s burns. Finn and Gus, mybrave men, had checked in and then headed back to the docks, to ourship where our trunks had thankfully been left behind after thewedding.
At least wehadn’t lost everything, which is more than I can say for poorMister Cresley. I made a mental note to find him after this wassettled and offer our help to rebuild The Kraken’s Den. Lord knowswe had more
