Instead, he was still in the clothing she’d seen him almost a week ago. His head was greasy and sticking up at odd ends from not being combed nor washed. He had a cut in the sleeve of his shirt, a white bandage underneath.
At leastNikolas didn’t let him get an infection.
“You’re clearly not the damsel in distress I assumed needed saving.” His voice was hoarse from lack of use.
Looking at the water in her hands, she wondered if he’d been drinking enough.
With a deep breath, she raised her chin up and headed over to the cell. “I never was a damsel in distress. You made sure of that when you taught me to defend myself, Asher.” She said softly as she approached his cell.
A snort rumbled in his throat, a forced grin tilting up half his face. “Are you here to butter me up with old memories so I’ll tell your new friends what they want to know? It won’t work. You know better than that, Emberlyn.”
She cringed at the use of her full name. It wasn’t often Asher used it and she found it sounded like a scolding when he did. She wondered if that was why he said it the way he had. Like it was something bitter in his mouth and he couldn’t wait to spit it out.
He was right, to a point. He’d been trained on how to handle situations like this by the royal guards. He and Theo both had during their training to join the King’s guard. Only, he was wrong in thinking she was here to interrogate him. “They don’t tell me any details of what they’re planning. I’m as in the dark as you are, I’m assuming. I came down here to see you. I brought water and food. Actual food, not the scraps I’m sure they’re feeding you.” She said, motioning to the items in her hands.
His gaze shifted to the food in her hands in disgust. “I’m fine with what I have. For all I know, that’s all poisoned.”
He truly believed she had betrayed him and switched her loyalties to the pirates. She wasn’t sure what felt worse. The look of pure hate in his eyes as he shifted his gaze up to her, or the awful words spewing from his lips. Either felt like a knife to the stomach. What made it worse was it was him being the one attacking her with it.
“I wouldn’t poison you, Asher. I’m still the girl you grew up with. I’m your friend.” She said, pleading with him to stop looking at her with so much anger.
Maybe if she hadn’t taken so long to come down here, had demanded the night they captured him to be brought to see him, this wouldn’t be happening.
The way his eyes took in her appearance made her sick. “You look like one of them. It didn’t take you long to fit right in.”
His words were full of anger and bitterness. There was no convincing him she was still the girl he’d grown up with. The one who wore pretty suffocating dresses with her hair in tight braids with a smile that never quite met her eyes.
“They’re not monsters, Asher. Not all of them. Didn’t you see what I saw on the island? Children and their mothers were on the streets starving, no homes to stay warm inside of. Your father is letting them all suffer and he’s doing nothing at all to help them.” She said, pleading with him to just listen.
The scoff he released felt like another stab. “And where do you think the fathers are? They’re pirates, Emberlyn, or did you forget that? Not all of them are as charming as your foolish Captain. If they aren’t stealing from the people who worked for their money? They’re wasting it on rum and a warm bed with a woman who I can assure you is not that poor mother starving outside. They’re a breed that needs to die out. My father is doing what is best for everyone else.”
She couldn’t believe the hate pouring out of his mouth. It made her sick to know people thought like this, that they would subject children to the horrors of dying of starvation or freezing to death because of an action of someone else. “I’d think you especially would know not to punish an innocent child because of his father’s actions.” She snarled, her anger getting the best of her.
The scowl deepened on his face, his eyes averting from her because he knew she was right. When his mother died in childbirth, the young Queen Kailani who hadn’t yet been able to conceive an heir could have tossed him out. She could have begged King Ivan to not recognize Asher as his son, but she didn’t. Instead she was kind, even loving, toward him. While he wasn’t her own son, she raised him as if he was. She loved him when she had every right to hate him.
Adjusting the pant fabric at her knees, she crouched down to his level, her hands on the bars after setting down his tray of food. “Asher, please. I’m not asking you to give away any secrets. I just…. please don’t hate me. Nikolas, he knows how to break my curse. He can save my life; I have no choice in this.” She pleaded with him to understand.
“Nikolas? You two are friendly now? Did he take you to his bed already then? How easy was it to forget my brother? You haven’t even asked if he survived the night.” He spat, the venom in his voice dripping as he refused to look at her now.
If she could have smacked him, she would have. “How dare you imply I’d be that easy to-to seduce, or that I’d forget Cassius so easily. I’m not some common whore, Asher.”
Her glare could have sent him ablaze in flames. She wished it would after what he’d just said to her. Her body felt suddenly hot, a warm glow humming as it encased her hands. Like on the pier though, it was gone almost as soon as she noticed it. Her attention snapped back to Asher when he spoke again.
“It was easy enough for me, wasn’t it?”
Her eyes widened as hurt filled her. How could he use their first kiss against her? Was this all just a game to him? Was he really that spiteful he’d throw an innocent kiss they shared on his boat in her face? She didn’t have answers to any of her questions, but she wasn’t sure she could stomach any answers he’d give her if she was to ask him now.
Swallowing the hurt she felt, she stood without another word. She didn’t move his tray of food she’d brought down any closer. Holding a hand over her stomach, she turned and headed for the stairs. She only paused when she heard his voice again.
“When I kill every pirate up there, because I will get out of here, I assure you, do not think I will spare you, Emberlyn. You are no friend of mine any longer.”
Tears threatened to fall, but she pushed them back as she held her chin up and headed upstairs.
She would not waste any tears on him.
Chapter 16
Ember didn’t leave her sleeping quarters for the rest of the day. Neither Nikolas or anyone else from the crew came searching for her. No one bothered her actually, and she wasn’t sure if that was for the best or if it hurt her feelings.
In truth, she hadn ’t tried to make any friends with the crew since the night Tomas died. None of them had reached out to her either and she wasn’t going to push herself on them. It occurred to her that the crew might insist she takes a part in the daily chores of the ship at some point, but today wasn’t going to be that day.
She did make a note to herself that she should find out how to start to pull her weight around the ship since they were down a man because of her. She had decided she had wallowed long enough and today would be her last. The world hadn’t stopped spinning when Tomas died. If they could force themselves to get out of bed and still work as if it was any other day, she should be able to as well.
She wasn’t even sure if her ‘mourning’ was more over Tomas or if it was her mourning over the life she’d lost. She would never wake up in her room and wonder what silly adventure Asher would take her and Cassius on that day. That innocent girl died when she saw her only real friend die. A friend she treated like a secret and like she was unworthy of her friendship out of fear of rumors that could spread.
Ember really was that awful royal Ana despised.
When the next morning came, she didn’t feel any more rested than she had been the day before. Instead, exhaustion filled her as she made her way up to the top deck. She’d heard the twins come to bed around 2 a.m. They didn’t keep quiet about their dislike over her moping away in their room while they did act
ual hard work. She didn’t disagree with them either.
Come the next morning, she was dressed in clean pants and a loose burgundy shirt with a brown corset belt around her waist.
Something felt different she realized.
She was embracing the fact she could wear her hair down and let the sea air breeze through it. Her brown leather ankle boots were a gift from Ari, who in her opinion was just the one unfortunate enough to have the same shoe size of her. While they were far more comfortable than any heels she’d had to wear before, they weren’t nearly as comfortable as her flats. Unfortunately, her flats weren’t practical for running or just being on a wet ship.
So, she’d been given boots.
Her eyes scanned the ship, taking in the sight of the crew preparing to dock in Stellara in just another half hour from the look of it. There were still a few faces she struggled to put a name to, but James and his fury friend Ace weren’t one of them. They were probably the only ones on this ship who didn’t glare openly at her.
Crossing the space, she approached the boy and his monkey with a small smile. She watched as Ace followed James’ hand movements and leapt up onto the ropes above them. A few moments later the monkey returned with an apple and a banana, no doubt the latter being for himself. James looked pleased as he scratched the monkey’s cheek, to which his fury friend leaned into the touch with a toothy smile on his face.
“You’ve trained him very well.” Ember spoke up, alerting them of her presence.
James didn’t look startled, most likely because he already knew she was there. He looked nervous, yes, but she knew that was only because he was shy. He held his hand to his chin before moving it forward, a silent thank you she realized.
“May I sit with you?” She asked, her eyes gesturing to the seat beside him.
He seemed hesitant to let her join him, but Ace make a noise of complaint as he tugged on James’ hair. It was as if the monkey was scolding him for considering telling her no. James waved his friend away, grimacing as he grumbled.
Her eyes widened in surprise at the realization they were communicating.
She wasn’t sure what she expected from the pair, but this definitely was not it. She found herself even more impressed by the duo. Her amazement aside, she could see he didn’t want her around. The feeling of rejection by James stung, but she tried not to take it personally. Given his history, it shouldn’t surprise her that he was wary of strangers.
She spared him the discomfort of rejecting her as she shook her head, holding up her hand to get his attention. “It’s alright, James. I don’t mind finding another spot. Enjoy your apple.” She said, giving him a small wave as she went in search of another spot to claim.
She decided on just finding a spot on the wall of the ship, choosing to lean against it as she watched the water below her. Her eyes closed, a small smile playing on her face as she soaked up the sun and let the breeze wash over her.
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were enjoying yourself over there.” Nikolas spoke, ruining her moment of peace.
With an annoyed sigh, she opened her eyes and turned to face him. “And if I was? Am I a horrible person for enjoying the sunshine and a nice breeze?”
He chuckled, shaking his head as he crossed his arms. The once over of his eyes did not go unnoticed by her. His brow raised as he took in her appearance, a smirk playing on his lips as he nodded in approval. She wished she wouldn’t blush so damn easily around him.
She fully expected him to make a comment about her clothing, but what came out of his mouth instead surprised her. “I believe young Mouse might have a new crush. He was as red as his apple when you left.”
Her eyes widened in surprise before a smile spread across her face. “He was kind to me first when he brought me food and water in the cell you caged me in.”
As if he’d forgotten that little fact, he tried to play it off as he rubbed his neck. “I let you out …. eventually. You’re out enjoying the sun now, aren’t you? You’ve got the sea breeze in your hair, and you're looking beautiful in my shirt too, might I add.”
With an eye roll, she found her desire to be out here growing less and less the more he spoke. Her gaze turned back out to the water, the faint shape of land not as far now. It wouldn’t be long until they docked. She tried not to focus on the fact she still didn’t know their plan.
“Are you ever going to tell me what exactly we’re doing here?” She asked, her gaze finally shifting from the horizon line to Nikolas.
He seemed to actually consider it and for a moment she gave herself a speck of hope that he might actually give her a clear answer to something.
Her hope disappeared as soon as he opened his mouth.
“I can’t risk you running to tell your prince friend down in the cells, pretty girl. I’m sorry.” He said as he turned to head back to the wheel were Reid was currently steering.
She knew he wasn’t really sorry. It seemed neither of the two people she needed to survive trusted her and that was a problem because even after everything either had said or done to her? She trusted them both. Maybe not completely in Nikolas’ case, but she trusted he wanted her curse broken even more than she did. He would keep her safe because of that.
Still, there was something that had been bothering her. “How did you find the underground docks that night? Not many people know about those passageways, and yet you beat us there.”
Nikolas didn’t answer right away, but she could tell he was debating how to answer over in his head. “Did it ever occur to you someone could have told us about the passageways? Or that someone could have let us into the party and told us which passageway to use to beat you to the boat? Would you believe me if I told you someone betrayed your kingdom, your precious Prince Cassius, and told us exactly when to attack?” He asked.
His eyes were studying her reaction, watching to see what she did with that new bit of information. Whether he was making this up or actually telling her thetruth, she couldn’t figure out. It didn’t make sense to her that someone would betray Cassius or their kingdom. King Ivan could be cruel, but the way Nikolas had specifically said Cassius she knew this betrayal was done by someone closer to him.
“I’d say you’re lying. I can’t think of anyone who knew about those tunnels betraying Cassius like that. The guards were, are, loyal to him.” She said firmly, her decision not to believe him made as she raised her gaze to meet his.
He looked as if he wanted to say something more as he paused at the stairs, but stopped himself. A moment passed before he turned his head to look over his shoulder. She felt her body tense as he spoke.
“I hope you’re up for a party with some royals tonight, pretty girl. Your dress is waiting in my quarters. You can grab it later after lunch.” He said.
Well, that wasn’t the response she was hoping for.
She didn’t have time to question, or even to really process, what he’s said before he spoke up again. “In the meantime, get to work on mopping up this deck. It’s disgusting.”
Her eyes widened in surprised before a smirk appeared as she nodded.
“Yes, Captain.”
And with a final nod of dismissal from Nikolas, she went to work.
Chapter 17
As she’d been ordered, she swabbed the deck until it shined before she took a break for lunch. It felt nice to contribute and start to pull her weight on the ship even if it was just merely mopping. She was happy to be put to work for once and to be no longer receiving the special treatment she knew they were all giving her before.
Whether it was because they didn’t want her there, or if they were letting her play the role of spoil brat that they’d casted her in, she didn’t care. It was over now. She was actually coated in a layer of hard-earned sweat and she found she actually loved every second of it.
That didn’t mean she had any fun in her task, but it was a start. Now, she was ready for a much-deserved bath before she got dressed for whatever party Nikolas wa
s roping her into attending tonight.
She didn’t know any details like who else was going and what the goal of this appearance was going to make. From the impression she’d be given it seemed like they weren’t exactly welcomed here in Stellara. She also assumed they were trying to lay low. Especially her seeing as they didn’t want the royal guard finding them after they kidnapped not only her, but Asher as well.
Her chest tightened at the thought of Asher. He had a point in his anger with her. She was enjoying her time on the Obsidian a lot more than she should be. She never even inquired about Cassius’ health when she finally did convince herself to go see him. She hasn’t asked Nikolas to free him or demanded he at least give him new clothes and let him bathe. He was still a Prince, bastard born or legitimized aside. He was still not just some common thief.
He was still her friend.
Pushing away the guilt she felt when thinking about her friend, she instead focused on cleaning the sweat off her skin. She refused to let her mind wander back to the nightmares that still haunted her. Malia and Tomas’s faces as they died, the haunted look on Ana’s face when she’d come to stitch her arm, or the venom in Asher’s tone as he talked to her. She especially didn’t want to think about what could have become of her friend back home. He’d been unconscious and bleeding out on the shoreline when she’d been taken by the pirates, who she was now trying to befriend.
Was she no better than the pirates?
Maybe Asher was right. Maybe she did seem to fit in a little too well on this ship.
As she scrubbed away the dirt on her arms, she found that might be the one part of this entire thing she didn’t feel guilty for. She enjoyed being out on the water, free to dress how she wanted with her wild curls loose. The feel of the sun and sea breeze on her face was something she was quickly realizing she didn’t want to give up.
Did that make her a bad person? No, she realized. It just meant she was just someone who was finally experiencing being free for the first time in their entire life.
The Black Moon's Curse (The Stellara Trilogy Book 1) Page 14
