Chapter 11
How to be sneaky on a ship
Part II

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You too? I thought I was the only one."
― C.S. Lewis

There were only two coherent thoughts inside of Arianna's mind the moment she saw the guards. First one involved a thought along the lines of 'come on, silly, they won't recognize you'. The second, however, was a bit more pessimistic and much, much, stronger, being 'you've gotta run, you've gotta run NOW'.

She couldn't, though. No matter how much she wanted, she couldn't make her single muscle move.

Panic began to strike her. What if they recognize her? What if they recognize her and stop?

Well, the optimistic and logical part of her brain thought, they'll stop chasing after G and Giotto.

The other, pessimistic and paranoid part, retorted, "They're going to recognize you, grab you and forcefully take you back home. You stand no chance, missy."

Arianna shuddered.

No matter what, she could not allow that to happen. But it was too late now. Both guards – she recognized Vannuci, Daniel's constant escort – had spotted her and had now stopped running after the other two.

Vannuci was nice, she remembered. Arianna liked him simply because, for a guard, he wasn't built like a boxer or anything alike to that. He was scrawny looking, short – only an inch or two taller than Arianna – and he was pretty much a jovial person from what she got to see. Even though he was short and scrawny, he was pretty strong, she recollected, remembering how Vincent tried and failed to beat him in arm wrestling.

Arianna couldn't move, couldn't think. All she could do was stand still, staring at Vannuci. Somewhere along the line, the guard had stopped moving completely and stared back at her. The other one tried to get him to move, but Vannuci refused.

"Miss Harland?" he asked.

Arianna literally felt her face drain of color. She stood rigid, trying to think of a way to get the hell away from the guard. Her brain wasn't functioning, though, and for a first time she simply didn't know what to do.

"Vannuci, what are you-?" the other guard started, but Vannuci raised his hand.

"Miss Harland?" he repeated in English this time, worry etched in his face.

It snapped Arianna out of her fit. She tried to smile, but it looked more like a grimace, she assumed. Suddenly she knew what she had to do and how she was supposed to do it. There was a plan in her mind and the sudden urging in her muscles to move made her twitchy. Finally, she swallowed.

"Good afternoon," she said sweetly and, with a polite nod, she turned to flee.

She hadn't even finished turning when a hand (Gosh, he must have great reflexes, a small part of Arianna's brain thought), grabbed her by the elbow. It was nothing hard or painful, just enough to stop her from moving, but it surprised her. The closing in and the sudden pressure pulling her back surprised her a lot, but what surprised her even more was the scream that had left her throat.

She wasn't the only one surprised, though.

Vannuci looked as if he had been slapped and he immediately released her, but clearly, it was too late.

Only second upon Arianna's release, a fist came crashing down on Vannuci's face, successfully having him take a few steps back. G was standing perhaps a foot away from her and was looking rather frustrated.

"Nella, come on," Giotto's voice came from the other side while Arianna was staring at G with her eyes wide open. She hadn't even noticed that Giotto had already taken care of the other guard before he called her, but she didn't dwell on that. She didn't even wait for him to call her the second time. She just swallowed and let him lead.

Vannuci and this other guard, however, were quick as well. Soon enough, they were up on their feet and running after them.

Arianna then became rather aware of her surroundings, the confused people, scared children and curious spectators around them, as well as the two guards that were running after Giotto, G and her.

They caught up way too quickly.

"Nella, go find Asari," said Giotto, stepping between her and Vannuci. "We'll take care of them."

"I… all right," muttered Arianna and, with a quick nod, rushed away.

With the first possible turn, she had taken it and then continued turning until she found herself on the back side of the ship, the peaceful one. People there were all having their own conversations, not paying any attention to the winded girl.

Trying to calm her heart-rate, Arianna walked back inside. She knew how to reach the cabins from there.

She wasn't sure what to do, however, for she had left G and Giotto to take care of her matters. In a way, that made her a coward… And she did feel like a coward. On the first sign of trouble, she hadn't kept her cool. She had panicked, gotten scared and let the others deal with her own troubles. She despised herself for that. She knew G and Giotto could take care of themselves, but where was the logic in having them protect her all the time?

She needed to become stronger, she realized. It wasn't just learning how to fight. She needed to learn how to be brave, courageous and quick-thinking in situations like these… but that usually isn't taught. You're either born with it or you aren't and Arianna clearly wasn't born with it.

Still, she's going to learn. She'll learn how to use her brain even in situations like that… even if it were the last thing she learned. Though it probably wasn't going to be, the intelligent part of her speculated.

Arianna ignored it.

Determinedly, she had begun marching towards the cabins when something grabbed her from behind. Before she even opened her mouth to scream, a hand landed over them, successfully suffocating her every attempt in voicing her displeasure.

Feeling something sharp on her back and being simply unable to stand up to the force of being pushed somewhere, Arianna relented and walked obediently. As she had opened the door of the cabin that most certainly wasn't hers, she thought, I better not let this become my habit.

When she got to see where exactly she had ended up, every logical thought simply fled from her mind. "Oh, god!"

Asari had slowly taken to being worried about his friends. Giotto and G had taken off for lunch and Arianna insisted she needed a time alone. He wasn't going to be the one to take that away from her. Still, as frustrating as it was, it would've been nice of them if they had just told him where they were going to be.

He had already visited the restaurant, the deck and he'd been even in the upper levels and all he had gotten to hear was that something big happened but no one said what. With a sigh, he decided it would be the best to return to the cabin. The chances were that his friends had already gotten back.

However, as he approached the cabins, he could hear G shouting, and from the sound of the voice he was rather frustrated.

"-here and stay here and now she's not here and neither is Asari!"

Asari decided not to think much of that. Instead, he approached and opened the cabin door, calmly walking inside with a slight smile. "I heard you calling, G."

It took both G and Giotto by surprise, but the first question they asked wasn't something Asari had expected.

"Good. Now where has that goddamn brat gotten to?" G, of course, demanded to know.

"I haven't seen Nella since she had gone for a walk," replied Asari, now beginning to worry slightly. "Is something the matter?"

And they told him. They told him of the Reno guards and helping Arianna escape.

"In the end we had to completely knock out those pipsqueaks, they had gotten so darn frustrating!" G contributed. "You wouldn't believe it. It's like suddenly they've gotten all strong and crap." He snorted. "As if. Pipsqueaks. Not even a bit stronger than they used to be. I swear I miss those times when we got to pulverize them daily."

Giotto seemed rather amused at the remark, but he amended, "That was the Walsh, G. Still, I must admit that it feels good to throw a solid punch once in a while."

G snorted. "Understatement of the century. You had him rolling from one side of the ship to another, despite the closed doors."

Asari chuckled at the mental picture. "I take it we'll have to get off the ship with the first chance we get."

"Unfortunately," sighed Giotto. "Will there be any pauses or breaks? I heard Genoa being mentioned earlier, but I'm not sure in what context that was."

"Well, there should be a break in Genoa," said Asari thoughtfully. "If you want, I can go ask the captain about it. I'm certain he would be nice enough to give me the answer."

Giotto smiled. "Yeah, you do that. In the meantime, G and I are off to find Arianna. Seeing as she hasn't arrived here, or perhaps she had arrived while there was no one, she could've probably gone out on her own. I don't even want to imagine in what trouble she could get into if I'm right."

"Or she could've fallen over into the sea and got eaten by sharks. I'd say that would be a good turn of events for us," reprimanded G.

Asari nearly chuckled, but decided to tease G instead. "I take it this about us having more money if that happens or…?"

"Or we don't have to deal with that ruddy brat!" hissed G.

Asari couldn't help it; he chuckled.

Giotto, who stayed genuinely neutral during the discussion, now seemed as if he was fighting a smile as well. However, it didn't appear so in his voice when he spoke. "Fortunately for us, all we have to do is take her to Britain, not deal with her. I think even proposing a deal could end up with us being on the wrong side of it. She is an aristocrat."

Asari now outright laughed.

G hissed defiantly, "Not helping, Giotto!"

"Well, we still have to find her if we want any scenario at all," replied Giotto and stood.

Glaring at Giotto, G muttered, "Please make her fall overboard, please, please make her fall overboard."

Asari again chuckled. This was becoming ridiculous. "Be nice, G, not sadistic. You know you would, just as Giotto and I, jump after her if that were to happen."

"More likely I'd be the one to push her over," muttered G. As an afterthought, he added, "With my luck, she'd just grow wings, fly back and have me dye her goddamn hair again."

"Well, your luck does seem to be increasing lately," Asari pointed out. He had to instinctively dodge a fist headed for his face, but seeing G so frustrated totally made up for it. Giotto obviously shared the thought.

Taking G by the elbow, he dragged him out, shouting out to Asari, "Do tell us what the captain said."

"Of course!" Asari shouted back. He watched the two head over towards the deck and with a sigh, Asari turned to stroll towards the captain. Sure they had decided to view the bright side of the matter, but it was a fact all three had been aware of; Arianna just may be in more trouble then they initially thought.

They had no idea how exceptionally right – or wrong, depending on how one takes it – they were.

Arianna stared at the room before her wide-eyed, only a small fragrance of her mind wondering who the lucky princess staying there was.

The rest of it was still trying to take in how simply amazing the cabin looked. From the sheets that were most obviously the finest linen damask that could be found in the world, to the large collection of the dresses in all colors that were just splendidly fantastic. Even the collection of the hats – accessory which most definitely was not one of Arianna's favorites – was magnificent.

For a moment, she cursed herself for allowing Asari to go and buy the tickets instead of her. She would have most definitely taken the first class instead of the rags they were sleeping in.

Not that she was that much of a materialist, really; she did spend several days sleeping on the ground, after all. She wasn't picky. And it's not as if she'd have the dresses and hats to fill the cabin with, but that totally didn't matter.

The room, aside from a four-poster bed held a couch and several comfortable looking armchairs, all around a small coffee table and turned towards the window from where the waves could be seen.

Assuming that the one holding her – that had now moved the hand from her mouth – was the owner of the room, Arianna started considering that instead of punching them as she had first intended, she should probably give them a hug and then punch them. Still, the only thing she had managed to do so far was mouth a 'wow', almost soundlessly.

She felt the grip on her wrist lessen and her kidnapper spoke, "I take it you like it here. Go ahead and choose a seat. I haven't gone through all this trouble to have you feel imprisoned, after all. Besides, restraining is so much harder than it looks."

Arianna almost felt like laughing. The keyword being almost. She knew it was useless now to turn and attempt to break out by force. Sure, she could try, but since her 'kidnapper' turned out to be a woman, she couldn't really consider herself being kidnapped. It wasn't Victoria. Nor was it anyone else whose voice she recognized.

With a sigh, Arianna nodded softly and chose to sit in one of the armchairs from which she could get a view on the waves. She had always liked water… and snow… and ice… and anything even mildly water-related. It just always had her drawn to it. It made her feel free. And that's in a way the reason why she had turned towards her capturer in completely calm manner.

However, she was completely taken aback at the sight. The woman now sitting in the armchair opposite of Arianna was gorgeous and her every move reeked of elegance and grace Arianna had only ever seen in her mother. Her hair was long, wavy and blonde, her features delicate and eyes probably even a deeper blue than her own. Her figure was slim, as if delicately crafted and more than that. It was obvious that the Italian aristocratic families appreciated beauty and elegance far more than the British ever would.

For a second, Arianna regretted not listening to her mother about her stances, head position and all the other crap.

In the other second, she wanted to rip the unknown girl apart. That red dress was undoubtedly hers! And, oh god, it fit her better than it ever would to Arianna.

Her anger and envy must have been obvious on her face, though, for the girl inquisitively raised an eyebrow. "Is something the matter?"

Arianna considered spitting in her face. Even the voice was gracious if a voice could ever be! She wondered how that never occurred to her before, but it didn't matter.

She wrote the option of spitting in her face out, for she didn't know whether the lady was a friend or a foe in her intentions, but in everything else, the moment Arianna had seen the dress, the girl had become a foe. God damn it! Why couldn't her dress look so damn nice on her?

However, she replied in frustrated voice, "Other than you literally forcing me to come here? No, I wouldn't think of anything else. While we are at that, why, in fact, am I here?"

The mystery girl seemed amused by Arianna's attitude which served to infuriate the raven-haired girl even more.

"Oh, I have my reasons. One of them is that I, for the most part, hate mysteries."

It seemed as if she wanted to add something, but Arianna refused to even consider listening to it. "And I'm connected to this mystery of yours how, exactly?"

"Well, I wouldn't say you were connected, really, seeing as you rather are the mystery. Besides, it is not as if I have any malevolent intentions towards you. I just wish for answers to several of my questions. I do not believe that to be so much of a problem," she said.

Arianna was about to disagree, but then changed her mind. "How in the world could I be a mystery to someone I have never even seen in my life?" she asked.

"Let's just say I've been observing and, really, there is no much you can do on a long journey," replied the girl with a shrug. "Oh, and so silly of me, I didn't even ask for your name."

Arianna frowned. "Is that supposed to make me say it?"

"May you please share your name, Miss?" the girl retorted skeptically. At Arianna's raised brow, she added "I assume you are pleased now."

"How about your name in exchange?"

The beauty blinked incredulously and then sighed. "Elena."

Arianna nodded. "Nella."

"Pleased to meet you," said Elena.

"While I most certainly would give a polite reply to that, at the moment I don't feel all that pleased. After all, I'm the one being under interrogation here."

That seemed to have managed in backtracking Elena a little and only for an instance, she looked distraught. "I haven't exactly intended it to turn out this way. I was just curious of some things."

"Curiosity killed the cat," said Arianna nonchalantly.

"But satisfaction brought her back." Elena smirked.

"You know, I do have an appreciation for the people who remember the other part of the proverb," Arianna said, much against her better judgment.

Elena laughed. "Yes, yes. And here I thought I was the only one."

Arianna smiled genuinely. Maybe she was insane and furious, but sometimes it was interesting to dispute with the people who didn't have a necessity to yell at her, like G, for instance. Heavens knew Arianna just loved frustrating people and having ludicrous arguments with them, but sometimes too much was way too much.

Elena, though, was a whole different kettle of fish, one which might as well be able to put up a very good argument… and perhaps even win in the end. Well, Arianna then probably had to try and win anyway.

"So, what is it that you want from me, exactly?" she asked.

"Oh, just to answer me some simple questions, really," said Elena with a shrug. "For instance, who were those two that had beaten up Daniel Reno's guards to protect you?"

Arianna's mouth hung open. She wasn't sure whether to be worried about Elena working undercover for Daniel, or whether Elena was actually interested in G or Giotto. As much as the latter thought made her wanna laugh, she still prayed that it was that what this was about. Besides, there could be no aristocrat from Sicily or Italy in general that has not at least heard of Reno family.

Forcefully, Arianna sneered. "That is all you have brought me here to talk about? I can't believe this… Have you ever heard of introduction? Or perhaps courting? Or conversation? I'm sure that would've helped you much more than kidnapping me."

Elena didn't seem all that pleased with her answer. "For your information, my fiancée is waiting for me in Marseilles," she bit off. "However this may seem – I am the one who had chosen him. What I am attempting here is simply get the information they aren't sharing."

Whoops. She messed it up and they both knew it.

Arianna could, with satisfaction boiling inside of her, see how the girl had bitten her tongue. Still, Arianna pitied her, if only a little. She had yet so much to learn – not that Arianna was the one to speak. After all, sometimes she couldn't hold her tongue even to save her life. Maybe that is how she dragged Giotto and the others into this whole business of helping her. They couldn't refuse to help someone to save their life.

That thought actually had her laughing hysterically.

Elena did not look pleased.

Though, that probably was the understatement of the week.

Arianna forced herself to stop laughing and said, "I'm sorry, really. It's not you I'm laughing at. A thought just occurred to me… Anyway, if you aren't interested in courting them, why, exactly do you want to know anything?"

Elena, whose cheeks had gone a bit pink (though it only added up to her look), bit out, "I have already told you that I hate mysteries. Then there he comes out of nowhere, stalking me up on a ship. Is it wrong if I want to know if I should be worried? So far I can't possibly read him! On one side, he's nice and polite, on the other, he keeps avoiding straight answers! Then he comes with a ridiculous story and I am simply not able to see through him!"

Arianna listened through the story, not at all sure what to say or do. On one hand, this whole situation was ridiculous to her. She was going to get into a fit of laughter and there would be no way for her to control it. On the other, she couldn't help wonder exactly who was the 'he' that Elena was talking about. Of course, Arianna could only assume it was Giotto – for G could never, for the life of his, be nice to someone – but she still had no confirmation. And besides, how arrogant could a girl be, thinking that any man would be obsessed with her?

Still, she did find it that she was sympathizing with Elena. If only one tiny little tidbit.

Partly congratulating herself, partly cursing everything she could think of, Arianna said, "You know… I could help. Assuming you tell me the name, of course, and what exactly is that is bugging you about him. Still, I can straight out guarantee that none of them are stalking you."

Elena glanced at her in a way Arianna couldn't possibly figure out.

"Thanks for solving the mystery for me."

Obviously, she wasn't thankful at all and suddenly, it all clicked in Arianna's head.

"So wait, this was all about you entertaining yourself whilst trying to solve a mystery which even you knew wasn't a mystery?"

"God, no, you're making me sound pathetic!"

"Well, judging by what I've heard so far, you are, if a little bit, pathetic."

"Splendid."

"Hey, at least I'm honest."

"I don't see how you are being honest, Miss Arianna Rosemarie Harland."

Arianna gaped.

"Yes, that's what I thought," said Elena dismissively. "Did you think I didn't know you were lying from the beginning, Nella? Oh, please. Anyone who knows about Daniel Reno also knows about his wife's missing sister. At least those who had attended the wedding."

Arianna wanted to say something, anything, but she had no idea what. Her mouth were opening and closing and she had an idea that she very much resembled a goldfish – or any fish in general.

Elena didn't stop there, though. "I'm just wondering if your friends know about this secret identity of yours… I didn't really figure anything out until I overheard those guards saying something to Don Reno and he stormed out of the restaurant. Getting his wife to speak was ridiculously easy, so to speak. I think she's still in shock. They thought you were dead or in Britain already."

She sighed a little when no response came from Arianna. "Don't tell me you're worried about me ranting you out to them?"

Arianna looked up, not entirely certain what to think anymore.

Elena laughed. "Please, I said I hated mysteries, and your face just confirmed that I had solved one. Why would I rat you out now?"

Well that, Arianna thought, was a fair point.

"Tea?" Elena offered.

Not exactly clear on why or the how, Arianna found herself nodding. The next thing she was aware of was that she was laughing and chatting with Elena on how great collection of her dresses was and how silly of her it was to think that Giotto of all people was a stalker.

Arianna found herself about two hours later, walking towards her cabin. She expected G was going to yell at her for taking so long and Giotto and Asari were going to be worried, but it's not as if she'd done anything wrong.

She was kidnapped.

The part where her kidnapper, who turned out to be the Sicily princess Elena Eterno, turned out to know everything about her mission that was supposed to be a secret, that wasn't her fault! The part where she befriended the said kidnapper wasn't Arianna's fault either!

They were just… oh damn it. Was I that desperate for a female company to befriend a kidnapper, a blackmailer and a manipulator? Life works in funny ways sometimes.

When she had reached the cabin and prepared to knock, she learned she wasn't sure if she wanted to face G's wrath right now. She wasn't in the mood. She was emotionally exhausted and shaken because there was no way a person could be comfortable when somehow, some random princess that is so goddamn better than her knows something no one aside from the three sitting behind those door should know… and to top all that, she still envied Elena on the goddamn suite of a cabin.

Yes, life definitely worked in funny ways sometimes.

She could only confirm that thought when Giotto opened the door and she didn't even knock.

"Nella?" was all that got out of his mouth before G begun yelling.

"Where the fucking hell have you been?!"

Arianna just looked at them flatly and shook her head. She noticed Asari was also inside, looking at her worriedly. She tried to grin but she was certain that it was more of a grimace than anything even alike to a grin.

It was funny, though. She wasn't sulking. She had nothing to be sulking about. She made a first female friend in months and she had had a lot of fun. What in the world was there sulk about?

"Nella, are you all right?" she heard Giotto ask as he closed the door behind her.

She laughed, but it sounded more as if she choked. What the hell was up with her today?

"Oi, brat, what's up with you?" demanded G.

"Did something happen? Where were you?" asked Asari.

At this, Arianna actually laughed. Giving them all a look that made it clear that at this point, everything had become hilarious, she said in a sing-song voice, "Oh, you are not going to like this."

"Nella, what in the world-?" Giotto asked, but she cut him off.

"Elena said hi."

"Oh…" though he didn't seem to understand a thing.

"And before I continue, I do have one demand from you, guys."

"A demand?" G asked skeptically. "You've been missing for hours and now you come back with a freaking demand?"

"Yep."

"Let's hear it," said Asari, who apparently realized that nothing permanently damaging happened. At least he thought so. Arianna was pretty certain she was going to be scarred for life.

She sighed. "Kill me now."

And then she just lay on the bed, ignoring any silly question she was asked.

"You know, I just might take you up on that," said G in the end when both Giotto and Asari stopped talking, realizing she was pretending to sleep.

Arianna countered, "Oh, you wouldn't. Not when I'm so willing to agree, anyway."

G frowned slightly, but nodded.

Asari looked at Giotto curiously. "Is there something we are missing here? I'm quite certain G and Arianna didn't speak the same language and I'm pretty sure I can't understand a thing of what they are saying."

Giotto, worry still etched in his face, shrugged. "She mentioned Elena… I can only guess where that had gone over by now."

"I told you that woman was insane. Now she'd turned this brat even crazier than she had already been," reprimanded G. He then hissed something in his chin that sounded very much like 'just my luck'.

"Oh she's one ruddy kidnapper, blackmailer and one fucking manipulative bitch," snapped Arianna and begun laughing again. "Just kill me now and cut my torture short. You won't ever believe how god damn frustrating Italian aristocrats can be."

Asari laughed and there was even a trace of a smile on Giotto's face as he said, "If you want us to understand a thing, you'll have to start from the beginning. Just so to confirm if I owe G a five or not."

Arianna raised an eyebrow, somehow not finding it in herself to be surprised. "You guys were betting on me?"

A collective nod.

Arianna opened her mouth, closed them and opened again, before saying, "I thought it was Asari who liked making bets here."

"Oh, he's already gotten his five. He said you'd come back acting as crazy as usual," muttered G darkly.

"Hey! What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means; where the hell were you this whole afternoon?!"

"Oh, all right, all right, I'll tell you. Just tell me we're getting off this ship as soon as possible otherwise I'm gonna go insane."

"You're already mentally disturbed!"

"Listen to a pink-head talking."

"Why you-!"

"G, please. Anyways, it seems luck's on your side, though, Nella. We're getting off the ship in about twenty four hours," said Giotto.

Arianna blinked, looking at the blonde, bewildered. "Err… what?"

"Genoa. A break for the ship to resupply and then head towards Marseilles. It'll last for more than a day so we can get a look around the city," explained Asari.

"Just enough time for us to get off the ship before Reno figures out everything," added Giotto.

"Why do I feel as if you guys are putting much more thought in this than I am?" asked Arianna skeptically.

"Because we are," G snorted. "Now pull your ass together and start the goddamn story before I throw you out through the window."

"As if I would let you do that," retorted Arianna.

"Don't test me."

"All right, fine, okay. I'll tell you… under one condition."

"I'm not a fool to negotiate with the likes of you."

"Giotto?" Arianna looked at him innocently.

"Fine, let's hear the condition," said Giotto exasperatedly.

"You won't let G throw me in the sea, kill me or in any way antagonize me?" she asked.

"I think that much is already a given," G snorted.

Giotto laughed. "Of course I'm not going to let that happen."

Arianna nodded, accepting it. Then she sighed and, calmly, told them everything. Needless to say, G almost did throw her out through the miniature cabin window. Lucky that Asari and Giotto had fast enough reflexes to stop him before the glass actually broke.

That evening, Arianna went to sleep in a rather disturbed condition and dreamt of sharks, goldfishes, G and Elena grinning at her wickedly while signing a pact that was most definitely going to be the end of her and goldfishes singing her a requiem. She woke up nearly screaming her ass out before she realized it was all just a dream.

Asari, like G, probably came to a conclusion that was insane.

Arianna was thankful that she had failed to fall asleep again. Having Asari sign the contract as well really would have driven her insane – more than she already was.