I. Shadows
Adam watched his shadow dance around the cell, stirred by the flickering light of a candle. Plumette's breathing was heavy and slow – she was asleep. Under his feet, Adam could feel the ship creek. The wood moaned and whined as the vessel was rocked by the waves. There was no silence here, everything was alive.
Adam's eyelids fluttered as he kept his gaze fixed on his deformed shadow. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, he rested his back against the bars of this prison cell. Outside the wind whispered against the ship's hull.
How I long for you, Belle.
He let himself think of her, so proud and so strong, so beautiful and so true. He let himself think of her delicate fingers caressing the back of his hand, her teeth shining in the gloom when she smiled at him, when they were alone, when they were together. Together.
She never left him. She was still by his side at this very moment, and he drew strength from her. Memories flooded his mind and he let them in.
He remembered her the first night, shivering from the cold and the fear and the anger, and how her rage had surprised him. He remembered her boldness, her chin pointed high. He remembered her stubbornness, the challenge in her voice, in her eyes.
She would survive. She would find her way home.
And he would love her fiercely, passionately, until he found her again. From his love he would draw courage and force. He would find his own way home.
He would find his way back to her, as she had found her way back to him the first time.
Rocked by the ship's slow motions, Adam found himself dreaming of nights and days in the sun. The smell of clean sheets and Belle's hair, the softest of touches, a giggle, her voice… He was making love to her, slowly, very slowly, and she was smiling up at him, her hair curling in whirlpools on the pillow. Her thighs were squeezing his hips, holding him there, oh Adam, this is heaven! And her lips trembled with pleasure, her tongue peeked out and licked at his neck, and he knew he would come undone… Not yet, not now, give me more! And he gave her all he had, heart and body and soul, he gave in to her and lost himself in her.
He woke up in the morning, just in time to see the skinny one-eyed pirate come in with their meal, as usual. Plumette was awake as well, and they both stared at the walls, not eating, not speaking, each consumed by their own shadow.
