: Chapter 4: Feelings
and Secrets :
Just as the ship nearly fell
apart, they were finally able to reach the coast. They docked at the next city.
The ship was battered from all it had gone through during the last days –
considering the storm and the sea monsters' attacks, it actually was a miracle
that they had made it to the port. Being on shore, they all had the chance to
relax a little after the recent turmoil. Everyone was glad to be able to take a
little break – only Maeve seemed to be looking forward to other adventures of
that kind. Sinbad and Doubar had to laugh when she told them that she couldn't
wait until the Nomad would be on its way again. "Seems you've missed us!",
Sinbad said with a happy smile – only his eyes showing that he was eager to
hear her admitting it. He was just so happy that she had returned! He now knew
that he had missed her more than he had actually thought, but he felt that they
hadn't come back to their former closeness yet. All he wanted to do was to
embrace her again and again, telling her how glad he was to see her face, yet
she seemed to be a little distant. It'll come, he thought, she's been
away for such a long time… But there was this little voice whispering
inside him, telling him that she might be angry at him – and disappointed –
because he hadn't been able to protect her against Rumina, because he hadn't
been able to rescue her that day, because he had let her go… but he would prove
that he had grown and that he would never leave her again. He lost her once –
he'd do anything against losing her a second time. I won't let anything come
between our friendship again, he silently vowed.
Night had fallen. Sinbad went
on deck and noticed a lonely Bryn staring into the darkness.
"Hey", he said, as he went to
stand next to her. "Finally reached a haven, haven't we?"
"Sure." Was her short reply.
"What's up, Bryn?", Sinbad
asked puzzled.
"It's nothing", she answered,
not being able to hide the truth very well.
"Hey, come on, you can tell
me, you know that!"
"Do I?" Bryn asked back,
finding it hard to repress the tears she finally felt making their way from her
heart.
Sinbad noticed her sadness
and said with a soft voice, "Sure you do", putting his arm around her
shoulders. That was too much for her. Feeling his hand caressing her shoulder
she started to cry heavily. Sinbad wanted to take her in his arms, but she
wouldn't let him. Although that was everything she wanted she knew that there
was just too much going wrong.
"Why don't you just go back
to Maeve again? I'm sure she's feeling lonely in her bed!" That was mean. She
knew that. But she couldn't help it – she had been so frustrated during the
last weeks and now she needed to give vent to her emotions. Sinbad drew back, a
little shocked hearing such words from Bryn.
"I'm sorry." She finally
managed to say. "It's just that – since Maeve came, you've kept making such a
fuss about her. Don't get me wrong – I know she's your friend and I know that
you're happy she finally returned, but … you and Doubar and Rongar and Firouz …
you're the only family I know as far as I can remember – which isn't very far, I
know", she said with a nervous laugh. "And now there's Maeve coming back. Now
she's the one woman on board again. I guess I'm a little jealous of her – my
God, I'm being so childish! It's just now that she's back I feel so … useless!
And I don't want to be left behind."
Sinbad now understood why she
had been so quiet during the last days and he felt guilty of not having given
her enough attention.
He softly touched her cheek
and wiped the tears away.
"And you wouldn't deserve
that. Don't you know how special you are to me – to all of us?"
"As special as Maeve?", she
asked as she looked right into his eyes. Then she looked down – afraid what the
answer might be.
"Bryn…", Sinbad replied
hesitating. "I have to admit that I'm confused since Maeve returned… Still I
know that you mean very much to me – maybe even more than I want you to." Stop
it! That doesn't sound very kind. By Allah, why can't I just tell her what I'm
feeling – for the first time since we met I can't be honest to her. But what if
she doesn't feel the same way, too? What if I'm giving my heart once again to
the wrong person? Yet, this time it feels so different – so right… but that
makes it even harder. I just couldn't bear seeing her turning away from me… the
handsome sailor thought.
"Well, you don't have to
force yourself into feeling something you don't want to feel", Bryn said, being
really hurt this time and turning to return to her cabin.
"No, Bryn! You got me totally
wrong!", Sinbad tried to stop her.
"It's okay. Listen, I'm
tired. I'm going to sleep now." With that she made her way downstairs.
Damn it! I'm being really
stupid when it comes to this!, the captain cursed. He could kick himself for
bringing the conversation to such an end. Going to sleep – ha! He surely
wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.
Bryn ran downstairs, feeling
her tears bursting out once again. She only wanted to lock herself up in her
cabin, but when she passed Maeve's room she noticed a strange red light shining
through the door which wasn't completely closed. That wouldn't have been too
distracting – normally she would get curious, but in her present condition, she
would have probably ignored it, if it hadn't been for that painful evil feeling
she sensed from the other sorceress' room. It took her by surprise and Bryn found
it hard to breathe, sensing such demonic emotions inside the safety of her
home. So she decided to take a closer look at what was going on inside the
cabin. She pulled the door a little more open and couldn't believe her eyes.
She saw Maeve, completely
covered with red smoke. She was kneeling on a kind of carpet, obviously
concentrating on getting in touch with something – or someone. Bryn was so
stunned that she let out a little gasp. Maeve turned to see Bryn spying on the
door and with a look that was filled with hatred she lifted up her hand and
whispered a few words in a strange language. Suddenly Bryn felt as if a veil
had been drawn over her head. She was tired – awfully tired, and tried hard on
keeping her eyes from closing with sleep. She couldn't remember what she just
planned to do. It was something important, she thought, but she wasn't quite
sure. The only thing she knew was that she wanted to rest. So she trotted to
her cabin as if she was in a trance and immediately fell into a deep and dreamless
sleep.
In the meantime, Maeve
concentrated again and after a few seconds a devilish face appeared in front of
her. It was horrible to look at. The face looked basically human except for its
greenish color, and the mouth was disfigured by a nasty smile and red of the
blood that was running down the face's chin. The eyes were as red as blood too,
but the most horrifying thing was the glance they had. Out of them spoke true
and total hate.
"There you are, my little
one!" the grimace welcomed its servant.
"Angra, my master. Why did
you wish to talk to me?"
"Because I'm very content of
what you're doing – and of the effects of your actions."
"I'm grateful of serving you
well, master!"
"Of course you serve me well
– you're my creation, my masterpiece. Nobody realizes that you aren't who they
think you are. But listen, you have to be careful. In order to reach my aim,
this little witch has to come to me on her own behalf – yet that Sinbad indeed
grew to be a problem."
"Tell me what to do and I'll
do it."
"Oh, I'm sure it's nothing
you couldn't handle. His feelings for the witch are strong - his belief in her.
You should be a little friendlier to him. Give him what he cannot get from her.
That'll do, I think. I have been watching him. A beautiful woman like you
should be able to distract him – at least enough for me to get what I want."
"What about the rest of the
crew? Won't they interfere?"
"The rest is just a creeping
bunch of idiots. Don't worry about them."
"Yes, master."
With that, Angra's face
disappeared again and left "Maeve" alone with a cruel grin on her pretty face.