Ch

Ch. 10

He stared at it for a moment, before looking up at me with a look of confusion, "Um, do I-?" My eyes widened as he looked at me and I looked away, feeling my face burn even worse, 'Do not look at me like that!' I pleaded mentally. I nodded several times quickly and thought, 'Oh please just take it and stop this!'

Stop what? It was not his fault he was currently in this situation, half-naked in front of me. I am not sure if I want to know what I meant when I thought for him to stop. In any case, he took my shawl carefully from my hands and pulled it on sloppily with one hand, keeping one hand on his pants.

I frowned in fear, for it was not good enough! I quickly grabbed the shawl and tugged it around his shoulders, tying it into place so it would cover him. I could not meet his eyes for I knew my face burned with fire, and as soon as I was done, I backed away quickly. I so wanted to hide by Captain's side as I had done when I was a child and was first allowed to leave my room. The Indians that surrounded me were so unfamiliar, even though they did not look too different from me. My hair was black as theirs were, but my skin was paler. The pale of one who had not long been in the sunlight, and my eyes were pale as well, green with grey flecks in them.

With my fear of the unfamiliar, only Captain seemed not so odd. True, he was as different looking as the others, but he had been the only one calm. The only one who looked at me with soft eyes and smiled when I had first woken surrounded by him and several of the crew. I had been so scared of the confused looking faces, of the strange language, of their odd looks and strangeness. Only Captain smiled at me calmly, and I had lunged to hide in his chest so I no longer had to see the others faces.

I could not do that this time, for Captain had walked over to retrieve a message. I took a step towards him, and chanced a look at Dr. Jekyll. He was holding the knot of my tie in his hand and staring at it. I raised an eyebrow as I felt my face cool slightly; it was not that bad now that he was covered. I did not realize I was staring again until he looked up at me.

My eyes widened, not from being caught, but from the color of his eyes. It was the same cool blue as Mr. Hyde's was! I am not quite sure why it shocked me so, for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde both shared the same colored red hair as well (though Hyde was balding and Jekyll's was still full). I think it was because Hyde was the vision of a beast, and Jekyll standing in front of me still shaking, was the picture of fear. I did not realize a beast and a man would have the same eyes…

I looked away from his confused face as I heard Captain say, "We have three days." Three days for what, to get to Venice? I was not worried, that could be considered light exercise for the Nautilus. Sawyer looked bewildered and said, "Three day?" He laughed as the disbelief showed on his face, "Can this canoe do that?" I smiled at Sawyer, though he was not looking my way and did not see. Captain saw though, and smiled a small smile back, before turning to Sawyer himself, "You underestimate the Nautilus, sir. You underestimate her greatly."

I nodded my head in pride of the Nautilus. One day the fastest and most outstanding ship in the world would be all mine. Well, not if I married, then the ship would be half my husband's. Whom am I kidding, if I were to marry, I would belong to my husband too. I shook my head to force away the thought, my smile falling. If never marrying is what it took to be free and the rightful Captain of my ship, than I would never marry. When I found the man who loved me and I him, he would be willing to swear himself to me and no other without a marriage. Yes, my true love would be willing to do so, I knew it.

While lost to my thoughts, I had not noticed the men filing out. When I came out of my thoughts, the last stragglers were limping to the door and casting wary eyes on Dr. Jekyll. Indeed, they were not the only ones leaving. Mrs. Harker and Mr. Gray had disappeared, while I just saw Sawyer's coat tails flapping as he walked out the door. Captain was saying something to Mr. Q., but before I could go and stand by his side, Skinner was in my path.

"Oi Marina, you feelin okay? You look much better than ya did this mornin'," He said, and I could see his smile traced in his white make-up. I grinned happily up at him, for he had saved me from sleeping in the hall, which I have indeed been known to do. I nodded to him, and his smile grew, "Good, would'a hated for some desperate lad to grab you while you were passed out in the hall," he chuckled at his crude joke. My face burned suddenly, and I must have looked horrified, for he started laughing harder.

It was not as though I did not know what some of the men thought of me. I was after all the only female they see when they are on the Nautilus. However, I liked to ignore it, I refused to acknowledge it. I never wanted to think of the men as seeing me as more than a little sister; thinking about being more with one of them would make things awkward. Not to mention it things went sour, I would lose a friend I have known my whole remembered life long and living on the same ship with them might become unbearable. I did not want to be the cause of someone having to leave the ship, to leave his home…

Skinner was still laughing, "Why so embarrassed, Marina? You can't tell me you really don't think the guys-!"

"-Excuse me," Dr. Jekyll's voice stopped Skinner, and both he and I looked at him, for he had stepped forward to stand next to us. "Your talk is in jest, but can't you see it makes her uncomfortable?" he asked, and it was said in such a feeble way it made my heart ache. Skinner had stopped laughing, and looked the now only slightly trembling Doctor up and down. He looked over at me with a smirk, "Do I make you uncomfortable, Marina?" He asked coyly. I glared at him and punched his shoulder. Not as hard as when we were in the Automobile, but close. 'Hymp,' I thought, 'I won't be sorry, he did deserve it, after all!' I told myself resolutely.

Skinner laughed as his shoulder was pushed back, for he moved back right before I had hit. He laughed again; "See, much better without the cap," he told me before turning away. He stopped and turned to look at the doctor, "Nice shawl, looks awful on you," he said nonchalantly. Dr. Jekyll's shakes were gone, but he was still slightly hunched, "I'm only wearing it so Marina isn't uncomfortable. I don't mean to look good or bad." Skinner's head tilted back in my direction, "huh, that so?" before he turned and walked out of the room. I felt my face heat again, for he had said my name…

Wait.

No! It was because he had caught my unease at him being half-naked, that is why I was embarrassed, and only that! It was an awkward moment as I realized Skinner had left me alone, and that Captain was still talking by the door with Mr. Q. I looked sideways shiftily, and saw Dr. Jekyll looking at the ground. I sighed and looked towards the ceiling. What was I to do now? I knew I would be the one to get him new clothes and take him to his room.

"Marina," Captain called, and I rushed forward gratefully as Mr. Q. left the room, thankful for the excuse to leave the awkwardness. Captain raised an eyebrow at my face and leaned forward, whispering, "Why are you blushing, Marina?" I made a face, and with my back to the doctor discreetly signed, "Skinner tried to say something bad." Captain's eyebrows rose in alarm, for he did not like foul talk around me, and I quickly finished, "Dr. Jekyll stopped him before it was really bad, though!"

"Did he now?" Captain said, and straightened, turning towards the doctor. I looked too, and saw he was staring at us with a lowered head. Captain stared before looking down at me, "Why is he wearing your shawl?" I turned my head and coughed a bit, knowing I would be blushing soon. "Marina-?" he said, but I rushed forward and gave Dr. Jekyll a push towards the door. I turned to give a smile full of fake cheer at Captain and signed that I would get Jekyll situated before grabbing his arm and forcing him to move faster. I could not wait to get away from Captain's laughing eyes.

Side Note:

I've made it to chapter 10 and I'm not the least bit bored with writing it! This is an amazing first and I want to thank everyone who has read and reviewed for it has been my greatest motivation and I'm very grateful! Thank you all!

WitchWhoLovesHim 3