Chapter 10. In His Eyes

The Black Siren had been docked in Spain for a little over a week. Anneliese didn't know where in Spain they actually were, only that it had taken them two weeks to get there. Julian told her they would have gotten there sooner if the ship hadn't been damaged in their last battle. It frightened her how casually he said this, as if damage to the ship were a normal occurrence. She hoped to be long gone before it happened again.

That is, if she ever got off this ship.

Nearly two months had passed since her kidnapping. She had seen no evidence of a rescue party coming for her. Of course, she spent most of her days below deck, but Julian would have told her if there had been a ship following them. At least she hoped he would.

The other option, though she hated to entertain the thought, was that her parents hadn't sent a rescue party at all. That they had given her up for dead the moment she was out of her brother's care and on this wretched ship. Back home, where there was no water for pirates to sail, tales of how truly horrible the brutes were rather well known among the people. She blushed furiously recalling what some of the stories said about the deplorable things they did with women. She was truly thankful that Captain Drake was a woman herself otherwise she might have preferred death.

Anneliese knew that if she ever was rescued no amount of bribery and doctor's assurances could salvage her reputation. She would be seen as a used woman, tainted by the touch of the rouges that stole her away from her intended. Perhaps that was why she hadn't been rescued. The scandal of her life would be a far greater challenge to overcome than that of her tragic death. She quickly blinked back the tears that stung her eyes.

"Princess?" Julian was suddenly right there in front of her. "Princess, are you all right?"

She faked a smile. "Of course." Her voice quavered. "Why wouldn't I be?"

He stared at her for a moment, no doubt trying to decide if he was going to say something about her terrible attempt at lying or not.

"If you say so, princess." He finally said. She let out a sigh of relief. "Oh, and I wanted to let you know that the repairs to the ship are almost finished. We should be sailing again by the end of the week."

Anneliese was not moved by information. Why had he told her that? "Oh, I see. That's um, good."

"Yes. I suppose it is. It's such a shame we couldn't stay longer. Spain is a beautiful country, princess. So full of history."

Anneliese nodded along as he spoke. She was often surprised by the knowledge he possessed. The stories she had heard back home told how pirates were anything but intelligent, that they stole what they needed to make up for a lack of proper skills. She had learned rather quickly that the Black Siren and its crew were nothing like the stories. Captain Drake alone proved that much. And her second in command as well. Julian probably knew just as much, if not more than her tutor back at home. Yet unlike her tutor, she could listen to the lieutenant speak for hours. He did so with such passion it sparked something buried deep inside of her these past two months. Anneliese loved learning and she wondered what new things he could teach her if she let him.

"…don't you think so, princess?" She flushed when she realized he was still speaking to her. She simply nodded. "Would you like to see it?"

Anneliese's eyes widened. He wanted to take her off the ship? He couldn't be serious. Julian noticed her expression.

"Only if you would like to, of course," he assured. "I have to pick up something in town and I wouldn't mind some company."

"Why me?"

Julian smiled. "I thought you might like the chance to walk on dry land for a few hours. Being stuck on a ship is rough when you're not used to it."

Anneliese waited for him to take it back, to laugh and tell her it what a marvelous joke it was. Frederick had done that to her often when they were children as well as on several recent occasions. But Julian's expression never changed. He continued to watch her with those kind eyes the color of ice and that smile which made her heart hammer against her ribs.

"I'd love to," she heard herself saying before she realized it.

Julian's smile grew. "Wonderful! Let's go."

"Now?"

"Yes."

"I still have work to do here."

"It's fine, princess." Julian said. "Timothy can handle it. He knows what he's doing."

"All right." Anneliese stepped out from behind the counter, still unsure about this. The promise of being on solid ground, even if it was only for a few hours, was too tempting for her to resist. She took Julian's outstretched hand, trying to ignore the flock of butterflies that rioted in her stomach as he led her off the ship.

The city was bursting with life. Anneliese watched the people on all sides of them with a mixture of fascination and fear. She squeezed Julian's hand so not to lose him in the crowd. He chuckled and pulled her closer, linking their arms as if they were a courting couple.

"Is this better, princess?"

She could only nod. Her heart was racing.

Julian smiled at her and they began their journey through the streets. She listened with rapt interest as he rattled on about the town's history. He would point out a particular building and tell her exactly how old it was and what it was used for before the present time. Again she marveled at his knowledge and was further confused as to why he had chosen the life of a pirate. Their stops in various shops were almost as frequent as his little history lessons. Although she understood none of the Spanish he spoke with the shopkeepers, apparently repairing the ship was a complicated endeavor.

It was well past noon when Anneliese decided she'd had enough of traipsing about town and informed Julian that she was exhausted and wished to return to the ship.

"We just have one more stop, princess." He said. Anneliese groaned. "It's on the way back. And I promise you'll like this one."

She was about to protest that she had in fact enjoyed the entire outing when he stopped abruptly.

"Here we are."

Anneliese eyes the small shop warily, trying to figure out what they were picking up here for the ship, but to no avail. She huffed and let Julian pull her inside.

"Hola Señor." Greeted the woman behind the counter. "Cómo puedo ayudarte?"

"Ah, sí. Estoy aquí para el fin Capitán Drake puso hace varios días."

"Sí sí. Un momento, señor." She disappeared into the back.

Anneliese looked at Julian for any indication as to what was going on, but his face remained unchanged. She huffed and he chuckled.

The woman returned, placing a rather large box tied off with a ribbon on the counter. "Aquí tiene señor."

Julian turned to Anneliese. "Open it."

"What?" She looked at him confused. "Me?"

"Yes, princess."

She knew he wouldn't leave until she did as he said. And she was rather curious as to what was in the box. She undid the ribbon and pulled off the lid. She gasped.

"Do you like it, princess?"

Anneliese couldn't find her voice. She stared inside the box transfixed. Absentmindedly, she ran her fingers across the soft brown velvet of the dress. Hot tears stung her eyes.

"I do apologize for the color. Anything else would-" She threw her arms around his neck. She felt him stiffen. "Is everything all right, princess? You're crying!"

"I-I'm fine," she choked out, still clutching him. "I just- You didn't have to-"

"It was no trouble, princess. My cousin placed an order for some fabric and I simply added to it." His eyes held a spark of mischief and he was smiling again; that smile that made her heart lurch painfully.

The shopkeeper muttered something in Spanish and Julian gently pried Anneliese off of him. He glared at the other woman.

"Cuánto te debo?" His voice was hard, angry. It made Anneliese flinch. He paid for the dresses, tucked the box under his arm, and stalked out of the shop without another word. Anneliese ran after him.

"Julian, wait! I can't go that fast!"

He stopped walking. "I'm sorry, princess. I didn't mean to leave you like that. Forgive me?"

How could she not when he looked at her so sincerely? "Of course, Julian. What happened though? What did that woman say to make you so angry?"

"Nothing you need to concern yourself with, princess." His voice went hard again.

Anneliese nodded. Neither spoke another word until they returned to the ship. She stood outside the door of her cabin, her new dress draped over her arm.

"Julian," she whispered staring at the floorboards, not trusting her voice. "Thank you. And not just for the dress. For everything."

"You're welcome, princess." She dared to look up at him. There was something in his eyes; something that made her breath catch and her pulse quicken. Without telling them to, her lips parted. "For everything." He walked away from her then, no doubt to return to his duties as second in command of the ship.

Anneliese let out the breath she had been holding. She quickly retreated to the safety of her cabin, firmly shutting the door behind her, and vehemently denying that she had very much wanted him to kiss her.

...

Isn't Julian the sweetest? I think Anneliese thinks so too. ;) Don't forget to tell me what you think! Ps. If you review, I'll tell you what the shopkeeper said. It's beautifully horrible and I love it.