* ssp47's Corner * Thanks to Alex "wa" and his many reviews and of course
thanks to Striker. Phil cracks me up, especially when he made a bowl of
popcorn while watching Rayen fight Shade. My word, that was hilarious.
And yes spelling isn't one of my strengths. -_-;; * sighs * Chapter 10!
Finally, eh? Sheesh! I'm slower than a boat to China, oh well; I might as
well try the seafood gourmet while I'm here. Oh and the next chapters may
be coming slow because I got Finals to study for this week and because of
the Christmas Holidays.
CHAPTER 10: "The Face from the Past"
The length of time they were out sea was a luxurious wait. The sea remained calm and the skies were clear and the wind strong and breath taking (literally!). With such great weather results, the deck was naturally crowded with people enjoying the activities, such as shuffleboard and sun tanning. You were free to do what you wanted without the law on your hands, but to the three warriors, this was a time no meant for pleasure but duty. They stayed clear from alcohol and the foolish parties that went on at night and kept to logical enjoyment. They swam to keep themselves fit and played volleyball to strengthen their arm muscles.
But with even the most beautiful days, the best times were spent below deck. The game room was a place on the ship that was never fully capacitated. That was all the more reason to go there in search of silence and peace from the noise and excitement on deck. Only two elderly men sat in the corner reading the paper silently. Time passed slowly down here, all the better for a chess game.
Erica moved on of her pawns forward and rested her hand on the table. She kept a straight back and stared at the pieces on the black and white checkered board. She patiently awaited her opponent's next move. Daphne silently moved her knight and captured Erica's black pawn.
"You're going to have to be more careful." She said smiling. "If you play all your pieces like that, I'll win the game quicker than you could say 'Check mate'."
"That was no important loss." Erica said smoothly taking out Daphne's knight. "Just merely a sacrifice in my strategy."
Daphne's eyes sparkled whenever she was challenged. She was very adventurous and loved proving herself but her discipline and up bringing kept that part of her hidden and humble. She smiled and, with great swiftness, moved her pawn and captured Erica's bishop. Slowly the black and white pieces disappeared from the board as the hours went by. Then the game came to a sudden death. Daphne stared at her pieces on the board. White was her color and her king and rooks were the only pieces standing against the black knights, king and queen. Any move would force Daphne to admit defeat. Her hand hovered over her king and then drew back. Erica waited for her move in silence.
Finally the Elf princess moved just as Christa entered the room. She looked around the quiet room and only seeing four people, her eyes went back to the two chess players.
"I should've thought you two would be here." Christa walked over to the table and stood watching Daphne move into defeat.
"You still could've won." The blonde remarked. Daphne stood up and stretched.
"I don't have to win every game. Besides, I enjoyed the challenge. I think I'm going to go on deck for a while. I'll see you two later." After the teen girl had left Christa shrugged her shoulders a bit.
"She's not as proper as she was when we first met her. She's not the kind of princess I expected." She turned around and watched Erica reform the board and playing pieces.
"She has a personality instead of trying to act perfect all the time. She doesn't want to be outstanding in everything." When all the pieces were in place Erica looked up at her friend and asked. "Care to challenge me?" Christa shook her head.
"I was never good at mind games. Never had enough patience." But nevertheless the blonde sat down in the spare seat.
"Do you know how to play?"
"It's chess. Who doesn't?" Christa remarked. The two sat in silence before Erica finally said.
"White goes first."
*~*
The deck was fairly quiet except for the few volleyball players in the pool. The sun was starting to set and evening was only a few hours away and already Daphne could tell that the sunset would be breath taking. She stood in front of the ship railing and watched the sea wash over the sides of the ocean liner. With nothing else to do other than admire nature, she couldn't help but over hear the conversation between and a few elderly people.
"Well I tell you one thing. You can't keep playing with that volley ball so close to the lounge chairs."
"Do you see another pool or any pool away from the lounge chairs?"
"There's one downstairs."
"We can't play a water sport inside!" Daphne's ears became alert. That voice! * It's not, it can't be. * Daphne thought shaking her head. * No, I'm imagining things. It couldn't be whom I thought. * She listened closely but the conversation had ended and the water game and started back up. The Elf looked over her shoulder and saw many eyes stare at her strange attire. She ignored their stares and looked back at the sea. She had just barley started losing herself in her thoughts when suddenly a fast moving piece Styrofoam hit her on the side of her face. The volleyball fell to the deck and was quickly picked up by a young man.
"I'm sor-" He stood still thinking over at what he was looking at. Daphne turned to him and remained expressionless. After a few minutes shock and surprise filled her face. * Oh. my. gosh. *
"Daph?" The young man asked still unsure whether the person he saw was real or a figment of his imagination. Then his face lit up and he smiled. "Fancy meeting you here."
"Jett." Daphne replied simply. "So this is where you're dreams of the outside world have taken you?"
"Ouch. Aren't you glad to see me? After all I am your only bro." Daphne shook her head.
"I don't have a brother. Only an exiled prince, one of the only heirs to the throne."
"Exiled is a strong word." Jett said with a slight grin.
"But a word not to be overlooked. Why are you here?" Daphne asked started to feel angry. "How did you end up in front of me?"
"Well I'm in front of you because I was after this." Jett held up the ball and tossed it back to the group of people in the pool. "And I'm on this ship because I work for a port and I got lucky and ended up with a free pass."
"Is that what you do? Work for a port? That's the life you wanted?" Jett frowned.
"It's better than sitting around staring at stars and meditating. The humans here are great and I like them. They're free to express themselves." Daphne turned around and gripped the ship railing.
"Where were you when we needed you? When I needed you?" Jett looked at her puzzled.
"When did you ever 'need' me? What do you mean?" Daphne shook her head.
"Don't you even wonder why I'm here?" Jett crossed his arms and leaned on the railing.
"As a matter of fact why are you here? What's up?"
"You're so naive." Daphne growled. "You have no idea what's happened in the last two years."
"What has happened? Tell me!" Daphne looked over her shoulder and saw the glances of the elderly. She took her brother's hand. "Not here. We have to go someplace quiet." Like a master leading her dog, Daphne led her brother down to her cabin and locked the door behind her.
"First class eh? Spiffy." Jett looked around the spacious room that was decorated in light blue paint on the walls and dark blue curtains and bed sheets.
"You and your one track mind." Daphne said frowning. Jett sat down and looked up at her.
"Alright I'm listening." Daphne sighed and looked at her brother and then stared at the floor.
"Hariel was destroyed. "
"What?!" Jett exclaimed leaping to his feet. "No! Impossible! It's not true."
"It is. I'm traveling with two humans to find the warriors and to impact them with the same wrath we were cursed with." Jett covered his head with his hands and shook it. "Everybody died, Jett. And it could've been prevented." Daphne said in a hard tone. "Where were you?" Jett said nothing. The last conversation he had with his father entered his mind.
~*~ "A life of adventure? The human world is dangerous." The king said shaking his head.
"I can overcome anything if you let me try, father."
"Jett you already have a life of adventure here. The greatest adventure is to watch over our people. No you cannot go. You're place is here and you will live your destiny."
"Father if I stay here I won't live any adventure. My place can't be here if my heart longs for something more."
"You were born to privilege and you will carry out the will of our fathers. That is all."~*~
But Jett didn't carry out any will. He ran away and entered the human world as a mortal and lived on his own for two years, on constant travel. Daphne shook her head in disgust.
"You can't even answer me because of the guilt you feel in your heart."
"I. " Jett uncovered his face. "I can't change what happened. What would've changed if I 'were' there?" Daphne shook her head and remained silent. "I'm going with you." Jett said standing. "I can't avenge the deaths of our people if I don't fight for them. You have to let me go." Daphne stared at her brother for the longest time and nodded slowly.
"Alright, you will come with us and repay what we lost." She stared at him and left from her pose and went to the door. "Don't forget you need a weapon and armor to fight or your death will be another wasted life." The door closed slowly and Jett stood up. Somehow his heart felt lighter than it had felt in years.
*~*
The remaining days of the ship were a lot livelier with Jett around. Christa and Erica adjusted to his full spirit quickly and grew to enjoy his company. It was also a change to have a male on the team. This added strength to the group and somehow made it tighter. Daphne was still skeptical of her brother. After all he was the one who left on the journey she would've died for. In her heart she admired him for what he did. He had a dream and he went for it, unlike her who chose to stay and live a life planned out for her.
But Jett was right about the humans. They had nothing against them and went for what they wanted without a second thought of the consequences. Daphne admired and envied them too for that freedom.
With the sound of the horn on the ship Daphne stood closer to the ship's railing and saw only a few miles away, the continent of Africa through her eyes.
CHAPTER 10: "The Face from the Past"
The length of time they were out sea was a luxurious wait. The sea remained calm and the skies were clear and the wind strong and breath taking (literally!). With such great weather results, the deck was naturally crowded with people enjoying the activities, such as shuffleboard and sun tanning. You were free to do what you wanted without the law on your hands, but to the three warriors, this was a time no meant for pleasure but duty. They stayed clear from alcohol and the foolish parties that went on at night and kept to logical enjoyment. They swam to keep themselves fit and played volleyball to strengthen their arm muscles.
But with even the most beautiful days, the best times were spent below deck. The game room was a place on the ship that was never fully capacitated. That was all the more reason to go there in search of silence and peace from the noise and excitement on deck. Only two elderly men sat in the corner reading the paper silently. Time passed slowly down here, all the better for a chess game.
Erica moved on of her pawns forward and rested her hand on the table. She kept a straight back and stared at the pieces on the black and white checkered board. She patiently awaited her opponent's next move. Daphne silently moved her knight and captured Erica's black pawn.
"You're going to have to be more careful." She said smiling. "If you play all your pieces like that, I'll win the game quicker than you could say 'Check mate'."
"That was no important loss." Erica said smoothly taking out Daphne's knight. "Just merely a sacrifice in my strategy."
Daphne's eyes sparkled whenever she was challenged. She was very adventurous and loved proving herself but her discipline and up bringing kept that part of her hidden and humble. She smiled and, with great swiftness, moved her pawn and captured Erica's bishop. Slowly the black and white pieces disappeared from the board as the hours went by. Then the game came to a sudden death. Daphne stared at her pieces on the board. White was her color and her king and rooks were the only pieces standing against the black knights, king and queen. Any move would force Daphne to admit defeat. Her hand hovered over her king and then drew back. Erica waited for her move in silence.
Finally the Elf princess moved just as Christa entered the room. She looked around the quiet room and only seeing four people, her eyes went back to the two chess players.
"I should've thought you two would be here." Christa walked over to the table and stood watching Daphne move into defeat.
"You still could've won." The blonde remarked. Daphne stood up and stretched.
"I don't have to win every game. Besides, I enjoyed the challenge. I think I'm going to go on deck for a while. I'll see you two later." After the teen girl had left Christa shrugged her shoulders a bit.
"She's not as proper as she was when we first met her. She's not the kind of princess I expected." She turned around and watched Erica reform the board and playing pieces.
"She has a personality instead of trying to act perfect all the time. She doesn't want to be outstanding in everything." When all the pieces were in place Erica looked up at her friend and asked. "Care to challenge me?" Christa shook her head.
"I was never good at mind games. Never had enough patience." But nevertheless the blonde sat down in the spare seat.
"Do you know how to play?"
"It's chess. Who doesn't?" Christa remarked. The two sat in silence before Erica finally said.
"White goes first."
*~*
The deck was fairly quiet except for the few volleyball players in the pool. The sun was starting to set and evening was only a few hours away and already Daphne could tell that the sunset would be breath taking. She stood in front of the ship railing and watched the sea wash over the sides of the ocean liner. With nothing else to do other than admire nature, she couldn't help but over hear the conversation between and a few elderly people.
"Well I tell you one thing. You can't keep playing with that volley ball so close to the lounge chairs."
"Do you see another pool or any pool away from the lounge chairs?"
"There's one downstairs."
"We can't play a water sport inside!" Daphne's ears became alert. That voice! * It's not, it can't be. * Daphne thought shaking her head. * No, I'm imagining things. It couldn't be whom I thought. * She listened closely but the conversation had ended and the water game and started back up. The Elf looked over her shoulder and saw many eyes stare at her strange attire. She ignored their stares and looked back at the sea. She had just barley started losing herself in her thoughts when suddenly a fast moving piece Styrofoam hit her on the side of her face. The volleyball fell to the deck and was quickly picked up by a young man.
"I'm sor-" He stood still thinking over at what he was looking at. Daphne turned to him and remained expressionless. After a few minutes shock and surprise filled her face. * Oh. my. gosh. *
"Daph?" The young man asked still unsure whether the person he saw was real or a figment of his imagination. Then his face lit up and he smiled. "Fancy meeting you here."
"Jett." Daphne replied simply. "So this is where you're dreams of the outside world have taken you?"
"Ouch. Aren't you glad to see me? After all I am your only bro." Daphne shook her head.
"I don't have a brother. Only an exiled prince, one of the only heirs to the throne."
"Exiled is a strong word." Jett said with a slight grin.
"But a word not to be overlooked. Why are you here?" Daphne asked started to feel angry. "How did you end up in front of me?"
"Well I'm in front of you because I was after this." Jett held up the ball and tossed it back to the group of people in the pool. "And I'm on this ship because I work for a port and I got lucky and ended up with a free pass."
"Is that what you do? Work for a port? That's the life you wanted?" Jett frowned.
"It's better than sitting around staring at stars and meditating. The humans here are great and I like them. They're free to express themselves." Daphne turned around and gripped the ship railing.
"Where were you when we needed you? When I needed you?" Jett looked at her puzzled.
"When did you ever 'need' me? What do you mean?" Daphne shook her head.
"Don't you even wonder why I'm here?" Jett crossed his arms and leaned on the railing.
"As a matter of fact why are you here? What's up?"
"You're so naive." Daphne growled. "You have no idea what's happened in the last two years."
"What has happened? Tell me!" Daphne looked over her shoulder and saw the glances of the elderly. She took her brother's hand. "Not here. We have to go someplace quiet." Like a master leading her dog, Daphne led her brother down to her cabin and locked the door behind her.
"First class eh? Spiffy." Jett looked around the spacious room that was decorated in light blue paint on the walls and dark blue curtains and bed sheets.
"You and your one track mind." Daphne said frowning. Jett sat down and looked up at her.
"Alright I'm listening." Daphne sighed and looked at her brother and then stared at the floor.
"Hariel was destroyed. "
"What?!" Jett exclaimed leaping to his feet. "No! Impossible! It's not true."
"It is. I'm traveling with two humans to find the warriors and to impact them with the same wrath we were cursed with." Jett covered his head with his hands and shook it. "Everybody died, Jett. And it could've been prevented." Daphne said in a hard tone. "Where were you?" Jett said nothing. The last conversation he had with his father entered his mind.
~*~ "A life of adventure? The human world is dangerous." The king said shaking his head.
"I can overcome anything if you let me try, father."
"Jett you already have a life of adventure here. The greatest adventure is to watch over our people. No you cannot go. You're place is here and you will live your destiny."
"Father if I stay here I won't live any adventure. My place can't be here if my heart longs for something more."
"You were born to privilege and you will carry out the will of our fathers. That is all."~*~
But Jett didn't carry out any will. He ran away and entered the human world as a mortal and lived on his own for two years, on constant travel. Daphne shook her head in disgust.
"You can't even answer me because of the guilt you feel in your heart."
"I. " Jett uncovered his face. "I can't change what happened. What would've changed if I 'were' there?" Daphne shook her head and remained silent. "I'm going with you." Jett said standing. "I can't avenge the deaths of our people if I don't fight for them. You have to let me go." Daphne stared at her brother for the longest time and nodded slowly.
"Alright, you will come with us and repay what we lost." She stared at him and left from her pose and went to the door. "Don't forget you need a weapon and armor to fight or your death will be another wasted life." The door closed slowly and Jett stood up. Somehow his heart felt lighter than it had felt in years.
*~*
The remaining days of the ship were a lot livelier with Jett around. Christa and Erica adjusted to his full spirit quickly and grew to enjoy his company. It was also a change to have a male on the team. This added strength to the group and somehow made it tighter. Daphne was still skeptical of her brother. After all he was the one who left on the journey she would've died for. In her heart she admired him for what he did. He had a dream and he went for it, unlike her who chose to stay and live a life planned out for her.
But Jett was right about the humans. They had nothing against them and went for what they wanted without a second thought of the consequences. Daphne admired and envied them too for that freedom.
With the sound of the horn on the ship Daphne stood closer to the ship's railing and saw only a few miles away, the continent of Africa through her eyes.