On his various travels, his crew had become his family—the group of familiar faces—I was one of them. Perhaps he saw me as the sister or mother-figure he never had but couldn’t voice it, since I had no obligation to stay with him.
“I couldn’t stop thinking ‘bout you, lass,” he said.
“Me neither.”
His freckled cheeks flushed red. There was more to his feelings than those of a sibling, even though I watched over him like one, while he grew into the man he was.
I was fifteen when we first met on the coast of the orange desert. His voice had a higher pitch than mine. He was still a child. We collected seashells together, and by the end of our search, he gave me his first gift—all his shells on a looted necklace. Ever since, the urge to repay him infested me and I began producing toothpaste and other remedies for him. The Virgin Wench docked at the abandoned harbour every other month, allowing us to meet many times a year. They stayed up to a week on land, to sell their goods or declare the success of their missions.
Unlike most commoners assumed, pirates were not just savages at sea but naval mercenaries. For a high fee, they captured specific ships or passengers, without asking further questions. Proving themselves worth the money with a high rate of success, they became a reliant way to control the sea. Yet only an ignorant Lord would assume that he controlled the pirates. They knew and sang so during their travels, that they were the true rulers of the sea. All one Lord could do was hope that he was the highest bidder.
Deg had told me of his adventures after every route. The lands he’d seen and the people he met. Foreigners with voices that rang inside your body instead of ears. Back then, I suspected him of exaggerating his stories to impress me or sound interesting. Understandable, since his job was scrubbing floors during that time. After meeting the Sirens, I knew they weren’t.
Memories of our past came up and I realised that I had looked at him with pity, with the urge to watch over him. But he managed well on his own. Now, he was as tall as me and I had to let go of him as a child-figure. Through all times, he was my only true friend. Companion even, as we spent weeks at sea together.
When his lips brushed mine, Captain Niklin chuckled and walked to the docks, leaving us to ourselves.
Deg tied his arms around me until we went out of breath.
As soon as our kiss ended and I opened my eyes, I found him frowning again. His nose had swollen red. “Me lass,” he said, brushing through my hair and examining the fabric of my dress.
“Aye,”
“Makin’ fun of us once again, what?”
We chuckled.
“I’m glad you didn’t change,” he said. “The clothes, they look great, but I almost didn’t recognise you. I hope next time we see each other, you’re still the same.”
“That sounds like a goodbye. Aren’t you going to stay?”
“The Countess doesn’t want us here. She let us stay overnight, couldn’t even drink right. We had to leave the old girl at their shipyard’s harbour.” His eyes teared up. “Fate brought us together one last time, it seems. Forgive me, lass, for staining you with my impure thoughts. I just… regretted not kissing you the last time. This was my last chance.”
It was better to regret an action than to regret your cowardice. I heard the signs clearly. They called for action. Everything seemed to fall into place. His presence offered one option I disregarded before, because I didn’t expect to meet him.
“Maybe not,” I said, and he shrugged his nose in confusion. “Does your Captain allow another mate to enter the crew? I could be a doctor on deck or even a cook. I can also pay.”
He lifted me up and spun around, laughing, before he stood still and asked, “But what about the academy? Your grandfather? Wouldn’t he miss you?”
“I don’t belong here,” I stumbled over my own words. There would be enough time to tell him the story, later.
“A’ight, me lass, you fit with me,” he laughed and his grin returned. “The Cap’n could always use a doctor-cook or coin. I’m sure you can stay. Let’s ask him. We’ll be leaving soon.” He seized my hand and pulled me to the shipyard, but I remained rooted.
“I have to get my bag,” I said as the grimoire was still inside my loft. Thankfully, I had prepared. Now, I just needed to grab it and run back.
“I can hold him back for an hour or two but not longer. Countess and all that.”
“Thank you,” I said, kissing him on the cheek before I sprinted uphill in record time.
23. Clarity
With a smile that reached from ear to ear, I jumped through the woods. The rising sun accompanied me and I found myself laughing—I was exactly on time, even though I hadn’t slept the whole night. All I needed was another hour and I would take my life into my own hands again.
Scenarios of the future flooded my head, I bit my lip and a drop of guilt spoiled the euphoria inside me. I had betrayed the Di Centis, the inner circle, and a God to regain consciousness and follow my personal path. I could’ve avoided it if I’d known earlier.
A lie I told myself to feel less guilty. I had suspected that Claire was an Oracle from the beginning and had done nothing but look away and obey her family’s orders. Orders that harmed her. I had known all along. Finally, I would make it right, and we both would break free from the shackles of the inner circle.
The campus remained quiet and empty after the festival, I could escape without leaving traces.
I ran up the stairs to my loft and my heart sped up at every leap—I was close.
When I stormed through the
