The next few weeks were difficult and painfully slow but soon the feelings faded and I locked what was left of them away in my heart to never be opened again. The weeks soon turned to months and soon we were in Italy.

We docked on the shores of the beautiful city late one night and were welcomed by thousands of men and women dancing, singing, and drinking, wearing masks and colorful costumes.

"It must be Carnival time." Melissa said as we walked through the crowded streets.

Food and drink were handed to us by a few of the servants that were walking about.

"Carnival?" I inquired as I took a sip of the drink that was handed to me.

"Yes the Italians celebrate it every year, parties and celebrations lasting for months. A wonderful and joyous time of year." Mockingbird continued.

As my lips touched the liquid my stomach churned and my body rejected it. I spat out the viscous fluid as Melissa said,

"It's wine Phantess; made from grapes and a touch of alcohol."

She gulped her drink down quickly and handed it to a passing servant.

"I can not drink it." I replied as I handed a passing servant my cup.

"I see... Well it is odd for a pirate not to drink but in your case, it is understandable." She replied as she took two glasses from a passing servant's tray.

She then put her nose right above each glass before handing me one and drinking one herself. I took the cup awkwardly and held it for a moment before she finally said,

"That one is water. They always have a few of those about in case someone drinks too much and needs to flush a bit of the alcohol out of their body."

At this I hesitantly put the rim of the cup to my lips and then put it back on a tray of a passing servant and then grabbing a new glass. Melissa raised her eyebrow at me as I knocked back the liquid inside the cup.

"I dare say... I do not believe that one is water." She chuckled as she gulped down another glass,sighs "I can never tell with you. You are a very tricky person, Phantess; always full of surprises."

The inside of my body began to frantically try to revolt the wine that I drank. I stood motionless for a moment, a cold sweat on my brow as I fought against my body's instincts. After a few moments, my stomach began to settle and accept my decision.

"Not half bad once you become accustom to it I suppose." I replied, a new sense of power surging through my veins along with the alcohol.

"Let us go and see all of Italy!" Melissa cried out as she and I walked arm in arm down the streets of smiling drunkards and dancers.

She stopped at the end of the street and spoke with am man then with a smile and a good bye she walked back over to me. She then handed me something that I would forever keep and treasure... A mask.

It was beautiful ebony that gleamed in the moonlight. As I slipped it on, Melissa dragged me over to a mirror and for only the second time in my life I saw my reflection.

My red eyes gleamed through the eye hole of the ebony mask. The mask contrasted every feature I had. Ivory onto ebony, blood against the night sky. I did not recognize myself at first.

"Oh you look beautiful." Melissa whispered as she took another drink of her wine.

"You must truly be intoxicated to say that." I replied my eyes locked on the eyes of my reflection.

"OH NICOLE!!! Don't be silly. You look marvelous." She replied, annoyance in her drunken tone.

I did not feel the effects of the alcohol although I drank heavily; Melissa, on the other hand, did not even drink half as much as I and soon she was passed out in the street.

"Oh Mockingbird." I breathed as I walked over to her and picked her up.

She stood dizzily next to me, leaning on my shoulder.

"I'm... alri...ght..." She said, as she tried to walk on her own.

She took one step and fell to her knees, vomiting in the street. I rushed to her and knelt beside her. After her vomiting ceased, I helped her to her and feet and truly carried her back to the ship. As I lay her in her bed, she muttered,

"Thank you Nicole. You truly are a friend... A beautiful friend."

And with that she was out like a candle in a hurricane. I pulled the covers over her and snuffed out her candle before silently leaving her room and shutting her door. I went back to my bed and lay down for a deep and dreary sleep, filled with screams and shouts of the people on the burning ship.

The last time I had dreamt of them was a few weeks after the fire and the nightmares had now returned and were as vivid as the night they had happened. I tossed and turned in agony in my bed. My heart raced and my throated began to swell as the shouts became deafening. I felt the heat of the fire and smelt the soot and ash of the burning ship. I saw my mother's body and felt the icy touch of her hands as they clasped mine. I heard his voice as she called out to me and yet no reply parted my dry and charred lips.

I felt the cool water as it flowed over me and swallowed me, pulling me into the cool murky depths. I felt the strong arms of Melissa as she pulled me from the water and began to shout in my ears.

That is when I sat up in my bed, my heart racing and by breath fast and shallow. Dawn had come and many surprises awaited me as I crawled from my bed and exited my room.

The sun beat down on my weary body, knocking me to my knees and I had yet to regain my footing.