Finally! This chapter is finished (YAY!!!). I kept getting stuck but it eventually turns out and there's even a somewhat romantic scene near the end. (P.S) I finally found a name for the mysterious stranger and although it's a bit odd, I think it matches my idea of his character. Please read and try to enjoy it!!!
Deciding she wanted answers, she caught up to him so that she was only a few paces behind.
'So do you know where you're going?' She asked, expecting him to answer back in a smart manner. He didn't answer at all
'You do know you're heading straight for the front of the boat…don't you?"
He still kept silent
Orianna was now worried. She now started to question his motives and stopped abruptly in the middle of the hallway. The stranger upon hearing a cease in footsteps also stopped and turned to face Orianna.
She looked back at him with an intensity that made him look away
'Who are you?'
This question caught him unprepared. He raised his eyes to meet Orianna's and she was surprised to find him smiling.
"I thought you'd never ask"
Hold your head up high and don't be afraid, she told herself inwardly. "Oh really, please do enlighten me"
"Well since the fair lady beckons, then what else can I do but comply" he smartly answered back.
Orianna shot him an indignant look to which he only smiled.
"Since no formal introduction has been made, please allow me to introduce myself, I'm simply known as Tavis"
'Only Tavis, nothing else'
He was tempted to laugh at her curiosity but ignored her question, he continued on. "As you can already tell, I have a somewhat different part to play in this saga than you."
"Apparently" she sarcastically muttered, noticing the way he changed the subject.
It was his turn to give Orianna a disgruntled look. "If you would just hold your commentary till the end, I would like to continue."
He watched Orianna seethe silently, liking how easy it was to irritate her. "As I was saying, I have much more of a connection to the current events than you think."
Confusion clouded over Orianna's face "what do you mean... connection"
His disbelief was obvious, "you aren't joking, you really have no idea… even after all this time?"
She didn't bother to grace him with a reply.
"Well, think about it. Didn't you think it was strange how I was the only one on this boat who didn't try to draw any attention? I practically went unnoticed up till now, although I did have the curious trend of running into you many a time, once when you were questionable unconscious. Now when I think about it, what exactly were you doing in the dining cabin, at midnight, in the dark, passed out on the floor?"
Orianna caught her breath "why…what?"
He knew he had caught her at something. "Don't start acting all innocent on me now; you were up to something weren't you?"
"No…nothing, wh …why would you think such a thing." She knew she was stumbling but she had to find an explanation, preferably one that didn't mention; painting, strange light or dead mother.
"It's just too suspicious, that's all"
He had just unknowingly given Orianna her way out. "Suspicious eh"
Tavis narrowed his eyes; he knew where this was heading.
"I'll tell you what suspicious is Mr. Suspicious is why you don't seem to be worried that pirates have just raided our boat. Suspicious is why your so arrogantly confident, and yes, you did find me an a somewhat debatable situation, but the question I'm asking you is, why were you walking in there in the first place?"
"Since you clearly have something to hide and are now trying to turn the conversation around, I'll go along with it. In that room is an object that I found particularly fascinating. Why I didn't go during the day you ask? Well lets just say what I had planned for it couldn't be done when people were around. But as fate should have it, who did I find lying limply in the middle of the room? I may not be a principled man to the letter, but there are some things that I just can't overlook, and you in this case were such a thing."
For reasons unknown, Orianna felt a small sense of guilt. She knew there was no reason for it, but in her mind she knew that there weren't many people that would do such a thing, and for that, she couldn't find the anger to counter his admission.
Seeing a change in her countenance, Tavis decided to press on in another direction. "Now, about our present situation"
This caught Orianna's attention and she lifted her eyes to meet his. She found she was no longer afraid of him, still hesitant of course, but not afraid.
As he had her full interest, he continued. "You at this moment have two options. The first one is the most preferable for you to accept since the second has the tendency to lead to a somewhat hostile outcome"
The more he talked, the more confused Orianna became. It didn't escape her attention that he spoke with an unusual authority, yet the subject was what bewildered her the most. 'Options, what does he mean by options? Since when are there options? '. Her mind struggled over the issue for a few moments before a slow realization dawned upon her.
"You're one of them aren't you?" She asked hesitantly, already knowing the answer.
He let out a gentle laugh. "If you mean a pirate, then yes, I guess I am."
Orianna didn't reply, only slightly nodding her head while deep in thought. Finally looking up again, she answered, 'Well I guess that it does fit...in a peculiar way'
"How so?" he queried.
"You always seemed to be sneaking around and disappearing out of the room just a soon as you entered it. I had put it down to you either being very self-important or just shy."
"Well as you see now, it was all a part of the plan, couldn't risk giving away my secret could I?
"Even if you did, nothing could be done to stop this. As you said, it was all planned, meaning that even if you were found out, this moment now although a bit altered, would still happen"
Tavis nodded slightly "that's partly true but think about it. Given the knowledge that youse were going to be robbed, don't you think that everyone would have prepared themselves, even armed themselves against an attack?"
Orianna knew he had a point but something still irked her. "How exactly did you plan everything. I mean, although hijacking a boat isn't that original, how did you know where and when to attack?"
Tavis ran his fingers through his hair, dishevelling it even more so than Orianna thought possible, although the effect wasn't so unexpected…he looked down right handsome.
"Although I'd love nothing more than to tell a complete, somewhat peculiar stranger the innermost details of a beautifully designed plan, there's a more pressing matter to take care of first"
"What, your arrogance?"
He pretended to be wounded by her words and held a hand to his heart. "Contrary to what you think, it actually concerns yourself"
"What do you mean?" Orianna asked, now starting to feel uneasy.
"Well I can't exactly let you go; after all, you are just a passenger and as I said before, you only have two options."
"Two… options?" Orianna repeated his words, saying them as though they were forced from her.
"The first option is that I lock you into one of these rooms and give you this piece of metal" he proceeded to take out of his pocket a twisted piece of wire like material and held it out for Orianna to see. "And with this you can pick the lock and let yourself out once we have gone"
"I'm afraid to ask, but what's the second option?"
"The second option is that you decide to run, leading me to start chase and ultimately catch you. If that is the case then you will be forcefully locked inside one of these rooms without the pleasure of having this piece of metal to get you out. Personally I think option one is best, but in the end it's your choice.
"Can I assume then, that if I choose option one, I can also choose the room?" Orianna knew that his suspicions would instantly arise but a plan was already formulating in her mind that needed his co-operation.
Tavis studied Orianna's face. There weren't any signs of deceit or coyness about her; just wide, vulnerable blue eyes looking carefully back at him. "Does it really matter?"
Orianna knew she had to play complete innocence, so she skilfully tilted her head towards the floor and pretended to smooth out the imaginary creases in her dress. "Well…it does matters to me. You see, I've been on this boat for weeks and weeks so it's only natural that I've grown somewhat attached to one particular room. Since it's the first time I've ever been away from home, it's held a sense of security for me and the only place I'd feel in control in". Looking up through her lashes, Orianna silently pleaded with her eyes.
Not entirely won over by her plight, Tavis folded his arms and looked at her sceptically. "Pray tell which room is it?"
"The room only a few doors behind me, cabin number 42"
"Number 42…that wouldn't be your room now would it?"
"You're very observant, but yes, that is my room and it wouldn't be any different than locking me up in any of these other rooms would it now?"
Although still suspicious, he found himself complying with her request and he ushered her down the hallway up to where her room was. Orianna went to push open the oaken door but stopped halfway. "Before I go in, would you please hand over the metal pick lock? Nothing against your character or anything, it's just that I've always been taught not to trust criminals"
Tavis gave her an unamused look as he reached back into his pocket and pulled out the silver twisted creation. "One thing you should know about me is that I never go back on my word, never"
Orianna didn't doubt this statement but held out her hand anyway "Even so, haven't you ever heard the saying its better to be safe than sorry?"
Tavis had to smile at her frankness and slowly placed the metal piece into her waiting palm. Orianna muttered a soft thankyou before striding confidently into the room; after all, she still had her pride, right?
"What's going to happen now?" asked Orianna as she turned back around to face Tavis who was now leaning against the doorframe. "The only thing to do is to lock you in"
It was now time to set her plan in motion and knowing how far she'd have to go, Orianna took in a deep breath and slowly began to pace the room. "Before you do that, I'd just like to say….thankyou"
Seeing his confused expression, she knew she had taken the right approach.
"What are you thanking me for?" he questioned her warily.
Concealing a smile, Orianna worded what she said next carefully. "Well, for not going along with the… expected for a pirate"
"And that would be?"
It was at this stage that she felt the heat rise to her cheeks. "To put it simply, you haven't taken what you could have".
Tavis was now starting to get frustrated at her insinuations that he couldn't understand. "I didn't think there was anything else to take, unless you have a suggestion?"
"Far from it, but I've heard the stories. You know the ones. Pirates taking advantage of every situation, especially where a woman is concerned… if you get my hint"
He finally understood and taking a few steps into the room, lazily ran his fingers along a small gilded mirror half hanging on the wall. "If you're thanking me for not taking what I have a right too, than you'll be quite surprised to find that that thought hadn't actually crossed my mind…until now."
As clichéd as it sounds, Orianna felt as though her whole body was tingling with a mix of anticipation and fear. Although being virtually oblivious about the thing commonly known as a male, she had picked up enough through her eighteen years of watching the women in her town, to know that a few simple looks and movements could catch the attention of almost any man. Praying that it would work, Orianna stretched her back in a seductive, silky motion making sure that her breasts were pressed up against the bodice in order to create an outline of their curves. Relaxing her body again she tilted her head to the side and let her half tied hair fall the side exposing creamy white skin. Then gently rubbing her neck in a motion many do when tired, Orianna closed her eyes to add emphasis.
Deciding she had made her point, Orianna opened her eyes and looked towards Tavis, only to be surprised at how intently he was gazing back at her.
Blushing slightly at her boldness, Orianna turned her back to him and slightly smiled as she heard him step closer to her. Not knowing what to expect next, she felt a small shiver as his hand reached out and ran along her back, lingering on the gentle curve of her waist. Orianna's mouth went dry as her mind struggled to remain in control. Turning herself around, she found herself almost pressed up against him. It took all her courage to lift her face up to meet his and when she did, her breath caught midway. Tavis was staring down at her with a dark searching expression. Orianna was vaguely aware as he cupped her face in his hands and brought his lips to meet hers.
Caught unaware, she attempted to struggle against him but found his hold on her too strong. As his kiss became deeper, Orianna found her resolve weakening until she gave over and lost herself in the sensation, not noticing the way that he pulled her closer until she was leaning up against him. Barely any clear thoughts ran through her head except one; this wasn't a part of the plan. Orianna quickly broke away as the reality of the situation hit her. Tavis, confused at the sudden change, looked at her questioningly, smirking lazily at the way her face had flushed from the contact.
Remembering the original plan, Orianna now no longer felt guilty for what she was about to do, that smirk of his was what did it for her. She began to slowly edge backwards towards a small wooden table next to the bed. She had at first intended to get him as far into the room as possible and preferably as close to her as possible. Although through unconventional means, Orianna had succeeded in doing this, and now, as she felt the hard edges of the table press into the back of her legs, step two was in process.
Tavis took her retreat as an invitation and stepped forward, closer to her. Orianna smiled as she felt around on the table behind her until her hand rested upon a cold metallic object. Grasping the lantern firmly in her hand, she waited for him to edge a few steps closer before muttering a simple apology for what she was about to do and before he could react, connected the heavy object with his head. Orianna watched horrified as he crumpled into a heap on the floor before worrying that she had killed him. Reaching down, she searched for and felt his pulse until assured that he was still alive.