Ch

Ch. 14

My eyes widened and I quickly lowered my head to hide the red fire on my cheeks. He wanted to know about me, but why? I was not a part of the League, I was no one special. More importantly, I did not have anything good I could say! I cannot play an instrument, and I cannot knit or sew! What can I tell him that will not make him think of me as a disappointment?

My hand shook as I wrote, "I am not a part of the League," and after a moment of contemplation, I finished off the note with a single word that might just save me from his disapproval, "Silly." There, maybe that would assure him of my femininity, even if it made me feel foolish to write it. I handed him the book and if possible, I got redder. This was not going well, and it definitely was not how I had pictured it.

Not that I had thought about it as I tossed and turned last night, not at all… Anyway, it did not matter! Wait, what if he thinks I am childish for writing such a thing? My panic cut short as I heard him laughing. I turned my head in awe, for to hear him laugh was unnaturally pleasing. He shook his head and looked at me, a grin still etched on his face, "If you are not in the League, than Hyde is a charming lass, called Rose, from London."

I stared at him in shock, and he seemed to realize what he said, because his head twitched downward as his smile disappeared. "Forgive me, I did not mean to-"he began, but stopped as soon as I started laughing. As is my custom, I usually refrain from laughing, or at least stop it quickly. This time however, it leaked from my mouth as if it were a bleeding wound. I gripped my sides as I tried to catch breath from my diminished supply. The picture of Hyde, monstrous Hyde, in a pink corset dress and matching bow, sitting with his ankles tucked played through my mind. Like a disease, it refused to leave, and I could hear Henry laughing at me.

"I must say I never thought myself the jester," he grinned as I finally calmed down. I smiled widely as I scribbled, "Hyde, pink bows, tea time." I giggled as I handed the note to him and he smiled back, "Well, that is certainly a potent combination." I nodded in agreement, because his comment had led to me laughing in front of someone other than Captain or Ishmael. True, gut wrenching laughter. I do not think I have ever been given a greater gift.

With my note back in my hands, I smiled as I decided I could tell him about myself in exchange for his gift. It seemed fair enough a trade, after all, it was better I tell him than he learn bits and pieces from others, no?

"My name is Marina, and I have no last name, but that does not really bother me. I am an orphan, at least I think I am, and Captain suspect's that is because of pirates. I am Captain's apprentice, and will inherit the Nautilus when Captain retires."

I looked down at my writing, that should be enough to quench his curiosity, right? If he does not agree, he can ask for more. I handed the note over, trying hard to ignore the fact that I wanted him to ask more. If he wanted to know more, he must like me enough to want to know… On the other hand, perhaps he is just curious of the anomaly that is a female apprentice and will simply start ignoring me once I have told him everything…

I frowned at my pessimistic thought. I should not think like that, things seem less…bright, when I do. "Um, Marina? I hate to say it, but you've only written things I already know…" Henry said, and I stare at him confused. My name and the apprentice bit I understand, but how would he know the rest? He seemed to grow sheepish under my gaze and let out an awkward cough, "Um, well, Captain Nemo became very, articulate about you this morning…"

My eyes widened in horror, just what had Captain said? My panic must have shown, for Henry quickly picked up his slack and said, "He must care deeply for you, he spoke with nothing but pride!" I sighed and looked towards the ceiling, prideful talk, is that not the worse kind? "Captain and I must have a talk about holding his tongue." I wrote, and showed him grumpily. He smiled slightly and gave a small laugh. "Don't be too hard on him, he seems to really love you, Marina," I could not look him in the eye. Captain, love me? I suppose, as an apprentice, a helper. It was not as though he saw me as his kin, no, just as his crew. Yet still, I felt warmth spread through me. A man who did not know Captain well thought he loved me, that must count for something, because Captain's words and actions were the crews daily occurrences, I would not know he showed love towards me, even if it was obvious to others. He was just Captain, but if Henry thought so…

"I take it you're happy about that?" Henry asked, and I nodded my head, blinking. I had not noticed, but my eyes had watered. I forced the tears away and looked up. I signed to Henry, and I saw him stare with rapt attention, before writing, "What would you like to know about me?" He smiled as I showed him the note, and without hesitation said, "Was it difficult to learn your signs? When did you learn to use daggers to fight, did Captain Nemo teach you? How old were you when Captain Nemo discovered you? When-"

I threw my hands up in the air in shock. The first question I understood, but what about the others? Did he really care that much? My pessimism crawled forward, but I kicked it away, and grabbed my note.

"In the beginning it was, for I was depressed because I could remember once being able to speak, and was frustrated I could not then. Captain has been teaching me since I was seven. I was six when Captain found me atop the Nautilus, and no, I am not sure about my age. I do not remember my birthday, so Captain made it the day I was found and guessed my age from my medical report. I could be twenty for all I know."

I handed him the note and watched as he read. He looked up at me in shock, "Twenty? How old are you now?" he seemed struck dumb, and I did not know if it was good or bad. I scrawled my age of seventeen on the paper without flipping it, and his eyebrows rose. He said not a word more and I fidgeted uneasily. I was young, but I was still a woman. Did my age bother him so much that he could not speak?

Uneasily, I waved my hand in front of his face to get his attention. If I had had a voice, saying his name softly would have been so much nicer. Alas, he looked up at my waving hand and apologized quickly. I smiled slightly and shrugged my shoulders casually. I turned my note and wrote, "May I ask you a question?" he read it upside down and nodded his head. "Why are so interested? I'm not very extraordinary."

Though I tried to lighten the question with a joke, it did nothing to hide its importance to me. He grinned in reply, "You'd be surprised, it's not often you meet a female apprentice, especially not one such as Nemo." I felt like the room had imploded with me still in it. So, my pessimistic thought was right, I am just a novelty to him. I must have looked ghastly, because Henry quickly said, "What I mean is-"Only to be cut off as the roar of cascading water down the sides of the ship filled the room. His window filled with light as we surfaced, and I gloomily wrote in the note, "I'm going to the deck. If you want me to teach you anything, come along." I shoved the book in his face to hide his view of my own. It felt as if I had broken glass straight into my chest.

Come to think of it, I had not cleaned my cut hand yet. Oh well, the pain of an infection could not hurt as much as my chest did now. I pulled the book away and stood without another look. I walked to his door, and passed through it. The pain worsened, until I heard his steps behind me. Despite knowing I was just his anomaly, despite knowing he would grow tired once I was no longer a mystery, the pain lessoned. Knowing he followed me, if only for my lessons, made me happy. Is it wrong for someone to affect you like this?

I was not sure, so for now, I will leave it off my list…

Side Note:

WOOT!

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