Candescent (The Opalescent Collection Book 1) (4 page)

M
y first night at sea was hard. Feeling the rock of the boat was a lot to get used to. I didn’t know what could have possibly brought my sick stomach to the dinner table that night, but I knew our first meeting on the boat was going to be important.

              I took my seat at the head of the table beside Pete, Fitzray to my right. A vampire Pete had introduced to me earlier, gone by the name Raven, started to give us an update of our plans for the voyage. I knew he was Pete’s right hand man under our alliances and foreign affairs. I recalled Pete had told me he was a commander, which he looked everything but so, except for a rigid scar on the right side of his jaw line. Pete told me that he had won several battles with a foreign enemy.

              Pete sat back and sighed, losing interest in another man who interrupted Raven. He proceeded to look across the table, his face filled with disgust. He was looking at a child who appeared to have the same expression on her face. She was looking down at her bowl of soup. I could see a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

“We should reach Alfur in about a month’s time if we don’t get caught in any storms on the way. Though during this time of the season I wouldn’t be surprised if-,”

              The girl beside him pulled on Raven’s sleeve, cutting him short, making Pete’s face twist even more to glare at the innocent girl.

“Daddy, look what’s in my soup.”

              Raven peered over to her bowl. “What’s wrong with it Lanna? It’s like the soup you eat back at home.”

“No, the soup back at home doesn’t have
that
.” She pointed a small finger at her bowl, leaning away from it.

“I don’t have time for this.” I heard Pete mumble gruffly beside me, so quiet I hoped Raven hadn’t heard.

“They’re just noodles sweetie,” he replied simply.

“But Daddy they look like worms!”

“You don’t have to eat it Lanna.”

              His face became hard, a blunt warning to his little girl that this was still his place of business. He turned back to us, glanced down at his food to avoid Pete who now held the arms of his chair so tightly I heard his fingernails scratching the old wood. I put my hand to his, pulling his fingers from the wood and held his hand lightly. I felt him relax and silently reminded him that she was just a child and did not know any better.

              Raven scratched awkwardly at his black and white hair and continued. “The weather could get bad and if we get thrown off course it could take days out of our way to get back.”

“I know the Captain of this boat,” Pete remarked, resting his elbows on the table, “he’ll get you there on time.”

“Will you be expecting us?”

              Pete shrugged. “It all depends on how well my traveling goes. I may or may not be waiting for you by the time you reach Alfur.”

“I can’t come with you?”

“No.” I knew Pete was going to leave us once we reached our first port. From there he would sail to various places, taking a different route to Alfur, and in Fitzray’s opinion, the better route.

“Why not?” He rolled his eyes over to look at me.

“I want you to stay here with this trusted Captain and my right hand man.” I knew he was referring to Raven. “I know you won’t enjoy yourself if I drag you around with me to complete deals and sign papers. I know you want to be with me,” he paused, “but I can’t be in two places at once.”

              My eyes darted away from him and I dropped his hand. That wasn’t what I meant.

“If only we could be,” Raven piped up.

              Pete leaned back starting to laugh. The conversation quickly turned into what powers they desired, including the ability to be in two places at once, which was unheard of. They started to brag about the powers they already had. This led to vivid descriptions of their poison and mostly Pete’s bragging about his mind control, which was hardly ever spoken of, but because the King himself brought it up, it was talked about like casual conversation.

              I looked over to Fitzray surprised he had engaged in the conversation as well, but then I realized he too had been drinking the plumeberry juice Pete had shared with everyone. I was convinced Pete was already addicted to the stuff.

              I stood up excusing myself, remembering I was not the only woman on the boat. I knew Raven’s wife was nearby. Lanna had left as soon as she finished eating and giving her soup one last glare.

“I’m leaving. I’ll be in my cabin if you need me.”

              Pete didn’t look up, he just waved his hand to dismiss me, almost shooing me away.         

              Before I could turn away, Fitzray caught my hand. I was amazed by his swiftness. Pete saw this, stared at his brother for a mere second with disapproval and then laughed at a joke someone made.

“You’re going so soon?”

              I snatched my wrist from him in response and turned away from all of them. I walked into my cabin, dressed into my night robe and sat on the edge of my bed to think. It wasn’t long until I heard a knock at my door and I remained quiet, hoping to be left alone. My door flew open and Fitzray swayed in, closing the door behind him with his foot. He smiled, walked over to me crookedly, putting a hand on the bed for balance.

“Are you all right?”

              He shook his head. “I had to get out of there.”

              I got up slowly and walked to the door making sure it was closed all the way. He was behind me in an instant.

“Don’t go back down to the dining room. It’s too dangerous there.” He guided me back to the bed and sat across from me on one of the old chairs.

“I want to stay here tonight. It’s too risky to go back to my cabin with that gang of maniacs running around the ship. I fear for the Captain though.”

“What about Raven’s wife and daughter?”

“They are in their own cabin. They’re safe.”

              Fitzray stared at me, quietly adjusting the collar of his exquisite coat. It was navy, and at its cuffs and around its buttons was a beautiful golden stitch. The coat’s color and style appeared appropriate for the occasion, being our first night out at sea. He unbuttoned the brass-plated buttons, to reveal a thin white cotton shirt underneath his coat. He looked more like a sailor now, more than the others did.

              He glanced up from unbuttoning his cuffs. He began to tell me about his past travels at sea with a few others, including Caspian in his past life, before reincarnation. He also mentioned how he got a navy cutlass sword for Lucian while on his journey.  He told me about the old sea legends and of the songs they had sung.

“I had a good time at sea,” he said, watching my eyes close. His voice began to blend into the sounds the boat was making until I felt close to being asleep. Before I was asleep, I heard him speaking to himself.

“Chenille, Chenille are you asleep?”

“What?” I mumbled.

“Did you hear that?”

“No.” I turned my head in his direction, keeping my eyes closed. I tried not to let his disruptive tone bother me.

              There was a scream, my eyes flew open in alarm and Fitzray was on his feet. The dim lantern that was once hanging beside the bed was now in his hand. He went for the door, turned his head, mentioning for me to stay, and left.

              I heard another scream and ran to the door, pressing the side of my face to it. I strained to hear Pete or Fitzray’s voice, but all I heard was commotion and panic. I wanted to see what was happening, but I felt forced to obey Fitzray’s command. The floorboards creaked and I could tell someone was standing in front of my door.

“Captain!”

              This was followed by the sound of bellows and demands with the occasional clash of swords. I pressed my back to the door, my hand resting lightly on the doorknob. I silently panicked with them.

“Chenille open the door!” It was Fitzray.

              The moment I opened it, Fitzray rushed inside and I closed the door. His coat was gone. His white shirt was ripped in several places, lined with his dark blood. I could faintly see bruises through his shirt. A gash was on his forearm.

“What happened to you?”

              He blew out the light in the lantern he held, got behind me with his back to the door, softly covering my mouth.

“Shh.” His breathing became lighter as the noise outside softened. When it became quiet, he slid from behind me to go back on deck and I followed him. The ship was a mess. Wood was broken and pieces of red velvet were torn from chairs. I was surprised we weren’t sinking.

“What happened?”

              There was no answer, not even Fitzray gave me a reply. It was silent. Pete and Raven came in from the dining room side by side laughing, even when they saw the mess. I imagined them as young children, arm in arm. Then I smiled amused, thinking that even children wouldn’t be laughing.

“Look, we’ve been robbed!”

              Raven said something quietly and they both laughed to some agreement.

“Old Captain is gone too!”

              I looked over to Fitzray who grabbed my hand, not wasting any more time to hear them laugh. He took me over to the one part of the boat I had never been, but where the Captain would usually be. Just beside the large, old-fashioned steering wheel, I noticed Fitzray’s jacket on the floor. A sword wedged it between two floorboards, but it was not ripped. He pulled out the sword, threw it aside and shrugged on his coat. He put his hands on the wheel, resting his head down against it.

“You’re going to sail this thing?”

“Someone has to. The Captain is gone.”

“Will you listen to yourself? You can’t sail, let alone walk straight.”

              He snorted at my joke. “I’ll get us to the next port.”

“How? Do you even know which way we’re going? Do you know if we were even thrown off course?”

              He moved his head from side to side against the wheel as though shaking his head. “I’ll get us to the next port,” he said again.

“How do you expect to do that? You’re basically drunk off that juice and you don’t know the first thing about sailing.”

“So my stories of going out to sea with Caspian and an old crew had no significance? My stories meant nothing to you?
I don’t know how to sail?
” he pressed, his head lifting from the wheel.

              I turned away from him without answering and made my way to my cabin. I didn’t know the first thing about piracy either. I didn’t know it still existed. I entered my cabin, too tired to check if anything else was stolen other than our Captain. Everything else seemed insignificant to me. It was only my first night out and so much had gone wrong. I knew there was a possibility that this could be my last night at sea because if Fitzray sailed us into a rock or some unseen port, I would never subject myself to get on a vessel again. On the off chance that we did arrive at a port, at least I could expect Pete to leave. He was no help.

              I closed my eyes and willed myself to sleep through the tension. When I fell asleep, I was out cold, and the next morning I woke calmly. Light flooded into the cabin from my now open door.

“Chenille wake up.” I opened my eyes.

              Fitzray stood in the doorway, his arm against its frame. I sat up feeling the rocking movement had subsided, suggesting that we had docked. Fitzray had darkness under his eyes showing his exhaustion. He did it. He brought us to the port. His white shirt was stained black from his scratches that appeared scabbed now. I detected a slight tremor coming from under his shirt, suspecting he was flinching from the salty air.

              I couldn’t bring myself to talk to him, not that I didn’t have the courage to, to admit that I was wrong, but simply because I couldn’t wrap my mind around the whole idea. I didn’t listen to him, at least I tried not to, but he repeatedly told me that Pete had left. That was no surprise, I knew he would, and frankly, I didn’t care. Raven would tell me everything I needed to know.   

              Raven did inform me on Pete’s absence, told me not to worry, and that he had everything under control. It appeared true. He told me everything would be figured out by the time we were at sea again. I did not completely trust this, but I did not trust him either. I could only allow myself to trust his judgment regarding where we would be staying for the night, at a rather nice inn. But of course, most of the inns here on the ports were designed to house a variety of sailors and travelers.

              Raven told me that I could wash up first while everyone else unpacked their things in their assigned rooms. Raven also told me that I would be sharing a room with Fitzray since there were not enough rooms available, even just for me to have my own. I agreed to this even though I still felt a bit annoyed with Fitzray. One of the hosts gave me a small square bottle filled with liquid, informing me it was soap.

              I stepped into the bathroom to find the bath was already filled with clean, warm water. I stepped inside to settle myself beneath the warm surface, gathered the bubbles around me and washed. There were only two thick cranberry colored candles lit, though they emitted enough light for me to see. The cozy atmosphere embraced me for a while. It felt good to get the days’ salt off my skin. Just sitting and thinking I lost track of time, remembering Raven’s wife and daughter were probably on line.