12
"Captain Tesla."
Tesla looked up from his charts and glared at his first mate. The captain was absolutely frightening when he was angered, and right now, he seemed to be in rather the foul mood. There was darkness about his eyes, making the scarlet irises look intense and dangerous. His shoulders were taut, and in his right hand, making a distinct metallic sound against the wooden table, was a silver dagger. He twisted it irritably and then pounded his fist on the table.
"What is it you want, Ryant? Speak quickly!"
"I believe there is a storm approaching, sir. You may be needed at the helm."
"Go get the ocean prince to call the storm away," Tesla sneered, eyes glowering into the man before him.
"So this is what your anger is about? Is Lord Vorian becoming too much for you?" Ryant asked, somewhat mockingly.
Tesla stood up, nearly towering above the man.
"She walked out on me, Ryant, and went straight to him. What man would not be angered by that?" Tesla hissed.
"And your intentions were strictly honorable, of course?" Ryant snorted.
Tesla growled and then stepped towards the first mate, making the man step back uncertainly. There was a glow in his captain's eyes, a fire that he had seen several times and knew to fear.
"You dare to defy me, Ryant?" Tesla asked coolly, stopping only a few short inches before the cowering man.
"No…no sir," Ryant stammered uncomfortably.
"I didn't think so," Tesla sneered and then turned towards the cabin door.
He left the room, and Ryant let out a great sigh of relief.
Tesla made his way to the helm, walking with stiff steps. He took hold of the helm and then gazed out across the ocean and sky. The waves were beginning to get choppy and uneven, and the sky was covered with menacing black clouds. A vicious wind was blowing from the east, making the sails flap loudly.
"Call every man to the deck," Tesla ordered Pintel, and the one-eyed man promptly obeyed.
XxXxX
A violent jerk awoke both Trinity and Evelyn, and both women gasped as they began to slide off their bed, pulling their blankets along with them. Trinity nearly fell off the bed, and she grabbed hold of the bed sheets to keep herself from hitting the floor.
"What's happening?" she asked, her stomach churning as the ship rocked in the opposite direction.
A crash of thunder interrupted the silence in the room, and Evelyn gasped sharply, slipping off the bed.
"I'd say we have a storm," Evelyn groaned, trying to clamber to her feet.
Trinity stumbled across the room and grabbed hold of a bathrobe. She threw it on over her nightgown and then struggled to stay on her feet as the ship continued to rock. She slipped as the ship went over another large wave, and she fell across the room, slamming into one of the cabin's walls.
"Oh!" She groaned.
"Trinity! Evelyn!" Vorian's voice shouted from outside the cabin door. "Are you all right?"
"Vorian! Help!" Evelyn called, moving aside as a large lamp hurtled through the air and then crashed into the wall.
"Unlock the door!"
Trinity dropped on her hands and knees and crawled away from the wall. She dodged several rolling objects as she moved towards the door, and when she reached the wooden structure, she grabbed hold of the handle with all of her might and hastily unlocked it.
Vorian immediately opened the door and stepped into the room, drenched to his skin.
"Come!" he ordered breathlessly, struggling to remain on his feet as the ship rolled. "I need to bring you below deck."
"Why below deck?" Evelyn asked, closing her eyes as seasickness began to consume her.
"It's safer there," Vorian said, reaching down and grabbing hold of Trinity's hand.
He helped Trinity to her feet and then wrapped a strong arm around her, holding her up as her stomach also began to twist. He then reached out for Evelyn's hand, and she took his offered hand without question and let him pull her to him, holding her securely against one side while he held Trinity against the other.
"We're about to go on deck," he spoke, calm even in the midst of such a terrifying event. "You are going to get wet, but all you need to worry about is holding on to me as tightly as you can. Can you do that?"
"Yes," Trinity croaked, feeling completely sick.
"Evelyn?"
Evelyn didn't answer, but buried her face in his shoulder, trying to keep steady as her stomach churned.
"We're going," Vorian spoke, and then stepped out onto the deck, both women held tightly against him.
The storm was monstrous, and both women closed their eyes tightly as Vorian led them towards the hatch that led into the hold. Thunder roared above them and lightning flashed in all directions. Rain pelted down on them like rocks, and waves washed violently across the deck, pulling several sailors along with it and beating them against the ship's railings. Tesla stood securely at the helm, shouting orders and vicious threats at his men. The entire crew was on deck, struggling against the violent nature that so fiercely attacked them. Several of the sails were torn, and loose sail ropes flew recklessly through the air, swinging about like whips.
Vorian got the women safely below deck, into the kitchen, and then helped them to the floor. Trinity immediately let go and turned onto her side, taking in deep gulps of air to try and soothe her fears and her unsettled stomach. Evelyn clung to Vorian's soaked shirt, her eyes shut tightly and her face pale.
"What is going to happen?" she whispered sickly. "This storm is terrible."
"You will be safe, I promise," Vorian said, taking her hands gently in his and pulling them away from his shirt. "I must got assist the sailors."
"No!" Evelyn said abruptly, opening her eyes. "You might get killed!"
"I know the ocean and the waves know me. I shall be quite safe. Lay down, my darling, and rest."
Vorian pulled away from Evelyn and then looked to Sanji, who was standing, quite calmly, peeling potatoes.
"I'll take care of them," Sanji said easily, and then placed a metal bucket next to each woman.
The women didn't ask what the buckets were for, but both promptly took them and held them close.
Vorian looked at the two, lying weakly on the floor. It was difficult for him to leave them, but he knew that they would be as safe as they possibly could be in the kitchen, and he was needed on deck.
He turned away from them and left the kitchen, moving quickly towards the stairs leading to the deck. He climbed the stairs quickly and then opened the hatch to the deck. He stepped onto the water-soaked deck and struggled towards one of the sail ropes that was flying about wildly in the wind. He caught the rope and then began to pull it towards its appropriate place. He smiled faintly when Tesla arrived next to him and also grabbed hold of the rope.
"Secure the line!" the captain snarled, pulling the rope with Vorian.
Together, the two managed to tie the line down, and then, quite suddenly, Tesla turned to Vorian, an ugly scowl on his face.
"So, prince of the water," he snarled, eyes boring holes into Vorian. "This is what I get for a safe voyage so far? This is my reward for bringing you and your companions aboard my ship? You call upon the waters to destroy the Morning Star?"
"I cannot command the ocean. There is only one that can do such a thing," Vorian said, startled by the captain's sudden viciousness. "I simply request things of the sea and it heeds my requests."
"Then request that it stop storming immediately!" Tesla shouted, ignoring the panic that his crew was in.
"I cannot."
"And why is that? Weak, are you?"
"It's too late to stop it!" Vorian said calmly, trying to keep his head. There was a vicious storm raging all about, and now the captain was personally insulting him. What had he done to deserve this? This was all about…Evelyn…wasn't it?
"Listen," Vorian said gently. "I am sorry that I cannot stop the storm, but I will help you in any way that I can to protect your ship against it."
"I suppose I shouldn't have expected you to do such a thing," Tesla said, dangerously calm. "After all…you are 'only a man' as you yourself so truthfully said."
The captain turned away from Vorian and made his way back to the helm, entirely ignoring the turmoil of his men. There were men sliding uncontrollably across the ship, ramming into railings and being hit by loose ropes and rolling cargo. They were shouting fearfully, calling to their captain for help, but he would not heed them. He wouldn't so much look at their distress.
Wilburus was on deck, struggling with a sail rope and calling to the captain.
"Captain Tesla! We can't hold up much longer!" he shouted, pleading for mercy from the captain. "And my hands are burnt by the rope! Perhaps we should simply let the storm take its toll and leave it be!"
Tesla cruelly ignored him. He continued to shout orders at the men, not encouraging them, but threatening them.
Wilburus let out a sigh of discouragement and then opened his mouth to speak again. The words never came out of his mouth, for a great wave suddenly swept across the deck, filling the lad's mouth and nostrils with cold, stinging salt water. Wilburus gagged and dropped his rope, trying to breathe and get the water out of his nose. Another wave coursed across the deck, this time grabbing hold of Wilburus and washing him overboard along with it. The boy landed hard in the violent waves, and he cried up to the ship.
"Captain! Captain! Help!"
"Man overboard!" Was shouted across the ship, and Vorian promptly dropped the rope he was holding and ran towards the railing. He looked over to see Wilburus struggling in the water, gagging fiercely on the water and quickly growing weary of fighting the storm.
"Captain Tesla!" Vorian shouted up to the cold captain. "Wilburus needs assistance!"
"It's too late!" Tesla snapped. "Surely you would know that, of all people! In a storm such as this, nothing can be done for those tossed overboard! As it is, we've lost five men! We cannot afford to lose more just trying to save one boy!"
"Captain, I'm demanding that you…"
"No!" Tesla roared. "For once, Vorian, just shut it! I am the captain of my ship and a water prince that cannot even control the waves will not order me about! And don't even start about the Goblin King!" he raged on. "I am the captain of this ship and I will not be challenged! If you don't like what I say, then get below ship and cower like the ladies!"
Indignation and fury rose up inside of Vorian, but he wasn't one to simply release all of his anger and frustration verbally, so he fought his natural feelings and walked over to the edge of the ship. He rebelled against all of his proper protocol, and without the captain's orders, he climbed up onto the railing and then dove off, spiraling gracefully as he did so. He landed in the raging water and immediately began to swim towards Wilburus.
"Wilburus! I'm coming!" he shouted above the waves, and the boy gagged as he tried to respond, tried to keep swimming.
The current was pulling Wilburus under, trying to drown him, and while the boy knew how to swim, only one who knew the ocean and her currents, knew them like they were dear friends, could possibly survive in such a storm. Wilburus began to go under, shouting for help at the top of his lungs before he was entirely submerged. He couldn't see a thing beneath the water. He could only hear the crashing of the waves against his tiny, insignificant body. Water began to fill his nostrils again, and he panicked, struggling with all his strength to get to the top of the water and failing miserably.
Strong hands, powerful and secure, suddenly reached up out of the darkness and grabbed hold of the boy. His arm was promptly flung around someone's muscular shoulders and neck. An arm was wrapped around his back and a hand was moved to his waist.
With a mighty push, Wilburus' head emerged from the water, and he gagged viciously and then gasped, gulping in air like a thirsty man drinks down water.
"Hold on, Wilburus!" Vorian's voice, deep and safe, sounded in the boy's ear.
Wilburus didn't have to be told twice. He clung to Vorian with a death grip, grateful that he had such a strong person to hold onto. He didn't ask how he and Vorian were going to make it onto the ship. He knew they would. He trusted Vorian and honored him, so much that he believed the Fae could do anything.
Vorian held Wilburus above the water and then pulled him onto something fluid, yet somehow solid.
"Hold tight!" he instructed, and Wilburus clung more tightly to the powerful man.
Vorian wrapped his arms tightly around Wilburus and clung powerfully to the Talistide's mane. Wilburus had no idea that he was sitting on such a magnificent creature, and he had no understanding of what happened next.
The Talistide stallion, with a great thrust of his hind legs, surged out of the water and sprang, as gracefully as a deer, onto the deck of the ship. A great wave swept over the boy and the Fae lord, washing them gently off the water horse's back and sweeping the Talistide back into the water where he belonged.
Wilburus collapsed onto the deck, and Vorian immediately picked him up. He stepped past Tesla, ignoring the dirty look the captain was giving him, and brought Wilburus into the kitchen.
Trinity and Evelyn were both completely sick, and so they were unable to care for Wilburus, but Vorian had no intention of leaving the boy, so he placed Wilburus on the floor and promptly began to dry Wilburus' face off with a towel.
Wilburus recovered quickly and was soon sitting up on his own. He smiled bashfully at Vorian and then said humbly, "Thank you."
"You're welcome," Vorian smiled, rubbing Wilburus' auburn hair so that it stood on awkward ends.
"Why'd you save me?"
"I couldn't just let you drown," Vorian said gently. "That would be no way to die."
"You know, Captain Tesla hates you," Wilburus said. "I don't really understand why. I think it's because of Miss Evelyn. He's probably mad that you jumped in to save me. If he didn't give you orders to do so, then you went against his will and therefore made him angry."
"I don't care about what Tesla says if someone's life can be spared," Vorian said firmly. "As for Miss Evelyn…He hasn't been treating her altogether well."
He looked over at Evelyn lovingly and then stood up and moved to her side.
Wilburus watched as Vorian bent down next to the woman he loved and gently brushed some sweat-soaked hair out of her face. She was conscious, but just barely, and she and Trinity both let out an occasional groan as the ship rocked.
To put it plainly, Wilburus admired Vorian. The lad had never known life outside of Tesla and his men, had never known what it meant for someone to actually be nice to him. And saving his life? Well, Tesla or the rest of the crew probably hadn't even thought that of. But Vorian…Vorian had gone against orders and rescued him. He had rebelled against Tesla, Captain Tesla himself, to do what was right.
Wilburus also had quite the liking for Trinity. As far as he was concerned, she was the most beautiful person he had ever seen, and she was so nice! She taught him to sing songs and just enjoy being a boy! He'd be a man soon enough, and with the way he had spent all of his life, he had never had much time to just be the child that he was. She laughed at his jokes and listened to everything he had to say. He was pretty sure that he loved the young woman, be she engaged to the Goblin King or not.
And Evelyn was the woman Vorian loved. Because Vorian loved her, Wilburus also, in a small sense, admired her. Truly, she must have been terrific if a man as awesome as Vorian cared so much about her!
Wilburus shifted uncomfortably in the towel Vorian had given him, and Vorian immediately looked towards him and smiled.
"Are you all right, Will? You look a little uncomfortable."
"You know…" Wilburus said, clearing his throat and looking to the floor, "You, Miss Trinity and Miss Evelyn have been the nicest people I've ever known. No one else would have thought twice about saving me, but you actually jumped in and pulled me out of the water."
"That's what friends do," Vorian said kindly.
"I haven't been much of a friend," Wilburus sighed.
"Oh yes you have, Wilburus," Trinity said weakly from the floor. She opened her eyes and looked over at him. "You've been a great friend."
"No, I haven't," Wilburus said, his eyes filling with tears. "Lord Vorian," he said quietly. "I…I have to tell you something, but I don't want anyone else to hear. Miss Trinity will hate me if she hears."
"She won't hate you," Vorian said, moving so that Wilburus could whisper in his ear.
"Lord Vorian," Wilburus whispered, struggling to say what it was he knew he needed to say. "Captain Tesla isn't really a merchant ship captain."
"Oh?" Vorian asked, confused.
"No," Wilburus said and then gulped. "He's a pirate."