Chapter 17
*Beep beep*
I turned off the alarm clock. Last night, Mr. Hynderpan set off to Mr. Tiny's lair. If Mr. Tiny didn't sense anything suspicious, we would start gathering provisions and set sail the day after.
I got dressed and went downstairs to the dining room, where I made myself a bowl of cereal and some toast. Today was Saturday, and my family usually slept in. Sometime later, Mr. Crepsley walked in, smoothing down his unkempt hair. "Good morning." He said, yawning, as he started to make himself breakfast. "Morning, Mr. Crepsley!" I replied. "So, what time will we be meeting Mr. Hynderpan?"
"After breakfast. He is a sailor, so he will be up early." Mr. Crepsley sat down across from me. "Look, KayLi, I know you must have been surprised at my outburst yesterday, and I am sorry again about my outburst." He said, looking down on the table top. "It's okay, , I know how it must feel to feel that way. I felt the same way when my parents died too. Like, it was somehow my fault." Mr. Crepsley looked up then, looking pained, and he opened his mouth to reply something when the toast sprung up. He shook his head and slowly stood up to get the toast.
Later, we went off to find Mr. Hynderpan. He wasn't at the shop, though. We found him on the dock, carrying cargo on to a ship. We stood there in silence for a few minutes before he noticed us. "Ah, you're here. Meet my ship, 'The Amanda'. " It wasn't a particularly large ship, but it was magnificent. It was mostly white, but it had some cobalt blue stripes. The decks were clean, and everything seemed to be in order despite the long break from sailing Mr. Hynderpan took.
Mr. Crepsley and me helped Mr. Hyderpan to move the cargo. As we worked, Mr. Crepsley and Mr. Hynderpan discussed the coming trip. "How many weeks provision do you think we need?" Mr. Crepsley asked. Mr. Hynderpan replied that he contemplated this last night and we should need 2 weeks minimum, 5 weeks at most. "After all," he said, "The Isle should have some fruits that we could eat."We worked for a while before I asked:" Mr. Crepsley?" Mr. Crepsley was carrying a particularly large box then, so he set down the box before answering. "Yes?" "Well," I started. "I was wondering how come you know so much of sailing and islands." He laughed at that. "Well, KayLi, surely you did not think I stayed in Vampire Mountain for hundreds of years! I did my fair bit of travelling before Darren and I settled in Vampire Mountain. In fact, I had only settled a couple of years before Darius brought you to Vampire Mountain."
We took a break for lunch, and after that Mr. Hynderpan instructed me and Mr. Crepsley to go shop for some supplies. As I looked at the shopping list, I thanked the gods that being a half vampire had trained me not to be queasy of what I eat, as the sailing rations contained of salted meat and canned food mostly. " What will I tell my parents?" I asked Mr. Crepsley, as the thought struck me. They had seemed attentive, despite the fact Mr. Tiny "brought them back from the dead" as Mr. Crepsley had said.
"Hmmmm…..what if I bring you 'camping'? Your parents would not mind, plus they will know I will be looking after you." Mr. Crepsley replied. We shopped for the huge load of food, and dropped them at Mr. Hynderpans, as my parents would have been shocked if me and Mr. Crepsley had come home with more than a few weeks worth of food.
At dinnertime, I asked my parents for permission. "Mum, dad? Since the holidays are here, Uncle Larten had offered to take me camping. Can I go?" Mr. Crepsley looked up too. "Why, sure, honey, of course you can go!" My mum said. "You look after her now, Larten!" My dad winked at Mr. Crepsley. Mr. Crepsley laughed. "Of course, brother, I will look after her with my life."
The next few days passed with us getting ready for the voyage. Mum got stuff like bug spray and other typical things someone needed for a camping trip. Finally, the day of the voyage arrived.
We started at the break of dawn. Mr. Crepsley had told my parents that we would be taking a taxi to the camping spot, so we rented a taxi. "Bye mum, bye dad." I hugged my parents goodbye as Mr. Crepsley and the driver put our stuff in the trunk. This might be the last time I ever see my parents. Tears started welling up as I imagined losing them both again. "Don't worry, KayLi, you'll be back before you know it! Besides, Uncle Larten will look after you." My dad said, wiping my tears away and kissing me on top of my head. I managed to smile at them. " I love you!" I waved as I got into the taxi. The taxi pulled away, my parents both waving at the doorstep.
"It is always hard." Mr. Crepsley said next to me. "It never gets easier." When we reached the dock, Mr. Hynderpan was waiting by 'The Amanda'. "Ahoy there!" He yelled when he saw us. " Get on board!" Despite the fact we were sailing to a dangerous location, I think I detected some excitement in Mr. Hynderpan as he sailed his ship for the first time in a long time.
"Go to sleep, KayLi." Mr. Crepsley appeared behind me. He led me to one of the cabins, putting my bags on the floor of the cabin. " I'll wake you if something happens, I promise." I nodded, getting on to the bed. I was asleep almost immediately. As I fell into a slumber, I heard the soft click of the door as Mr. Crepsley quietly closed the door.
Haha. Sorry. It'll pick up in the next chapter, I promise!