LOGIN
Dark Water
Last Updated : 2025-03-30
16
Share:
Report
Nathaniel Hemlock was once one of the most feared pirates to ever sail the seas. His endless quest for gold and power claimed many lives but never concerned him since his heart had long hardened. That is until one day that desire took a dark turn. For power and gold he traded not only his own soul but that of his crew. Now he is cursed to sail the seas until the end of time, unless 1000 more souls are given, one a year...all must be children which was one of the only things he would never do. Present day. Lloyd has always scoffed at the legends that bring visitors to his town near the sea, and with the arrival of a movie crew it's gotten worse. Returning home one evening he sees a strange, old fashioned boat docked and curiously decides to board it. A decision he soon regrets. Once onboard he cannot leave. Nathaniel is not best pleased but there is little he can do and decides to use Lloyd as a cabin boy to make himself useful while he continues to search for another way of breaking his curse and freeing his crew. Their lives will soon become more entwined and perhaps Lloyd is the one who can warm the frozen heart.
View MoreLatest chapter
Dark Water Chapter Sixty-Eight
The power of the demon is harnessed to my very soul. I feel it is gnawing on whatever purity resided there. With each passing day, the shadows spread, but the gleam of gold keeps them at bay. I know of hidden treasure beyond the wildest dreams of other men; all the spoils are within my grasp.The crew has been silent, but I see their greed and desire grow. Their blood is intertwined with mine, and my victory is theirs.Yet, behind this, I sense some are not happy. Their souls were pledged without consent, but the riches were too tempting to refuse. They will reap the benefits, and whatever blood must flow will do so in rivers. We were bound for Hell regardless of this bargain, but the path there will be paved with gold. They should be grateful. If not, their blood can run in rivers. Whatever power the demon has, I shall match. Have I not caused the King's Navy to tremble and villages to quake as though the earth itself shifts beneath their feet?With such might behind me, I will rule
Last Updated : 2025-03-30Dark Water Chapter Sixty-Seven
Lloyd's eyes fixed on Higgin's as he silently flicked the peelings off the potatoes. The skin curved smoothly in pleasing spirals, removing sprouts and eyes before dropping to the floor with a soft splat.The pot was slowly filling with the bumpy vegetables, and the water was simmering quietly, making them bob on the surface as if trying to escape.Lloyd wondered where they all went. Since he'd been here, he'd barely seen anyone except himself eat. But day after day, Higgins performed his duty or coerced him into doing it.Nathaniel drank. There was always an ornate bottle or flash containing the sharp rum he favoured, and barrels of ale or homebrew were stacked below stairs to provide an endless source of refreshment, except for water. They had to work hard for that by filtering brine or rain.Lloyd could understand their laziness in turning to the good stuff. He smiled, the expression rippling the edges of his lips.People said that when the soul left, it remained as it had been. If
Last Updated : 2025-02-08Dark Water Chapter Sixty-Six
Lloyd debated returning to Nathaniel's rooms but decided against it.The papers had been hidden for a reason, and he wasn't sure the man would appreciate him digging them out. And he had enough of darkness and gloom. Even when lighting the lamps, the shadows swelled and twisted like ghouls.'Alas, I am but a weak mortal,' he smiled. 'I can't exist without natural light. I don't know how vampires manage. I'd go mad. Not to mention, I'd freak at being stuck in a closed coffin.'As he reached the deck, he avoided the eyes of the other men, keeping his gaze low and humming unmusically. He glanced about him, checking Nathaniel wasn't around. If the papers had been hidden, he didn't want them read, and Lloyd was sure he would receive the sharp end of his tongue, if not worse.He chose a place in the shadows, hoping it would shield him from prying eyes. He swallowed nervously, squinting to read the faded pages, the ink smeared from the damp beneath the board. Even so, his blood ran cold as
Last Updated : 2025-01-25Dark Water Chapter Sixty-Five
Lloyd was assaulted by the smell of dampness and mould when he stepped off the bottom rung and into the curtain of shadows. The thick expanse of darkness let little to no light penetrate its fibres, and what did served to showcase the glistening fungus that gnawed at the boards and made them treacherous to walk on.'Maybe this is another reason that alcohol is the most common fuel here,' he thought grimly, tentatively inching forward to secure his footing. 'There's not many reasons to stay sober.'Except Nathaniel. The thought came unbidden, and he smiled as warmth spread through his body and radiated through his amulet. It was almost as if whatever spirit the gem contained was determined to harness whatever positive energy it found."Thanks," he patted the throbbing stone. "I need all the warmth I can find."He was so focused on finding the right room without losing his footing that he didn't even notice the strange shadow seeping like tar from the wall and rising behind him in a
Last Updated : 2024-12-22Dark Water Chapter Sixty-Four
A dark aura, thick and foreboding, rolled with the mist over the deck, the two merging into a sinister shroud that enveloped the ship.Even the broad and beaming moon in the sky seemed to shrink back as it watched over the ship, pulling the tide away with it.Lloyd stepped out into the fresh air, briefly closing his eyes to savour the breeze's saltiness. After what he'd been through, this felt like Heaven.He was still weak, his legs aching and protesting as he tried to use them, and he slowly hobbled over to the rails.His mind was awash with what he had read, and he was trying to process the information that was slowly forming an intricate mosaic, a mosaic of fear, determination, and a growing understanding of the perilous situation he was in, with each piece falling into place. He looked at the churning mist, hovering like sea foam on the undulating waves."You won't feel so calm and confident soon," he whispered, a bitter edge to his voice. "All the harm you've done, all the inju
Last Updated : 2024-11-18Dark Water Chapter Sixty-Three
The repairs on the ship were slow and methodical.Despite Nathaniel's impatience, he understood the necessity of the slow pace of repairs and the potential consequences of haste. His legendary leadership became evident in his acceptance of the situation. Hasty repairs made for shoddy workmanship and usually led to a worse situation later. It was a bitter pill to accept. The whole aura of the island was not just unwelcoming, but hostile, as if the very air wanted to throw them back out to sea.It didn't dampen his temper, either. The slowness tore at his nerves, and the effort to conceal his impatience was a constant struggle.In stark contrast, Lloyd seemed unperturbed by the chaos around him. The clatter and grumbles were a mere whisper compared to the bustling restaurant he was used to. His mind was fixed on the text, and he concentrated so hard that his head throbbed as he tried to decipher the archaic script and faded lettering.'Pain is good for the soul,' he thought as he too
Last Updated : 2024-10-04Dark Water Chapter Sixty-Two
As soon as Higgins saw Nathaniel leave, he headed for Nathaniel's cabin. He came bearing gifts if one could call bread and dried meat gifts. He knocked once, then entered before Lloyd could respond. The sight of the drawn-looking form made him pause, his unease growing like a storm on the horizon.He quickly swallowed when Lloyd looked quizzically at him. He hurried to the desk, placed the chipped plate down, and scribbled a note.'Thought you might be hungry. It ain't much; I haven't cooked for ages.'"Thanks," Lloyd read the note. His stomach grumbled at the sight of the food, but he wasn't sure whether it was with need or revulsion. "And don't worry about it; food is food," he said, the lack of choice in his tone unmistakable.Higgins nodded, offering him the plate. He tried not to stare as he picked idly at the stale crust, his fingers hesitating over the harder parts, a process that seemed to stretch on uncomfortably.Even though their cupboards were never bare, that didn't prom
Last Updated : 2024-08-26Dark Water Chapter Sixty-One
Alcohol.The scourge of the earth and the source of all its joy!Lloyd had a discerning taste or liked to think he did and was always particular about what he drank. Despite his modest income, he prioritised quality, saving for a decent brand. The thought of stale beer and plonk for wine was enough to make him shudder.In some ways, it was a blessing. He hadn't wanted to go down the route of drinking cheap booze to knock himself out. There were other ways to deal with day-to-day stress. Getting drunk now and then was good enough.The rum Nathaniel had was of a strength seldom found on the streets. In fact, one probably needed a special licence to brew it that strong. It was bitter and burned his throat as it practically evaporated on the way down. But at that moment, it tasted like the sweetest honey after the hideous journey of his dreams. "Shit...how do...you stay sober?" He asked between hurried but tiny swallows, each drop making his body shudder with delight and disgust and sha
Last Updated : 2024-07-06Dark Water Chapter Sixty
Nathaniel returned to his desk. He was visibly shaken and glad Lloyd couldn't see it. Despite the younger male's belief that emotion didn't make him weak, it was hard to conquer.Emotion, whatever it was, had always been an enemy to fight.He seized three books, practically tearing the pages as he searched the lengthy paragraphs. It seemed like hours before he finally caught sight of something that could help.It was a long shot, and it was dangerous, but time was running out.'I ain't got a choice. And I ain't wasting any more time. If this works, I'll have time later to see if there's anything else to ease things.' He looked over at the bed, biting his lip.Lloyd clutched at the air, desperate for anything to help him sit up. Lying down, he felt as if a chain was wrapped tight around his chest, and someone, or something, had its hands around his throat. "Nathaniel, it's getting hard to swallow, and it hurts when I take too deep a breath." His voice sounded far away, an echo in his
Last Updated : 2024-06-02
Free Preview
Chapter One
The moon was full, clouds trailing over the silver orb like ivy about a tree, and a soft rain was in the air, made salty by the sea breeze over the docks.The docks had been abandoned long ago, but as the moonlight seeped through the cloudy curtain, the sheen illuminated the shape of a ship mast and the dark figure standing at its prow.Nathaniel Hemlock gazed emotionlessly over what seemed to be an endless sea, endless like his voyage clasping the rail with gloved fingers.He despised having to come ashore for no purpose, but it was the least he could do for his crew; unlike himself, they enjoyed the feeling of humanity about them even though they encountered no one. He owed them that, at least.He did, however, wander the lonely shores sometimes, brooding over things and wallowing in his own bitterness.Once he had owned these seas, his very name caused the bravest to pale, for he had shown no mercy when challenged. A skilled navigator of all waters and a competent tactician. He had...
You may also like
Interesting books of the same period
To Readers
Welcome to GoodNovel world of fiction. If you like this novel, or you are an idealist hoping to explore a perfect world, and also want to become an original novel author online to increase income, you can join our family to read or create various types of books, such as romance novel, epic reading, werewolf novel, fantasy novel, history novel and so on. If you are a reader, high quality novels can be selected here. If you are an author, you can obtain more inspiration from others to create more brilliant works, what's more, your works on our platform will catch more attention and win more admiration from readers.
Comments