The Black Moon's Curse (The Stellara Trilogy Book 1)

by Alicia Restucci

  It didn’t escape her attention that it seemed Ophelia had picked up the knowledge and ability as Ember noticed her making conversation with the small pirate the other night while they were enjoying dinner.

  Reid had leaned over and explained to her that Ophelia was asking James about Ace and if he would mind if she shared some of her bread with him. The young boy had very excitedly given her permission to do so.

  The sight warmed her heart and she knew she wasn’t the only one who would have happily agreed with her.

  Another realization that hadn’t missed her attention was the fact she’d barely spent any time with Asher. It wasn’t entirely on purpose either. Either they both were busy with their tasks for the day, or Asher made a point of avoiding her.

  If she was on the deck chatting with the others? He was down below catching up on some much-needed rest. If she was being honest with herself, she knew she wasn’t making much of an effort to find him either.

  It was easier to ignore the elephant in the room than it was to acknowledge it.

  He’d been so cruel to her that day she’d come to see him down in the cells. He’d just assumed she’d switched loyalties and had left him and their home in the past. The fact that he accused her of being easy to seduce had hurt her more than anything else. He had also accused her of letting the first man who’d showed interest in her get under her skirts and that she’d let him do the same thing. It was no different than if he had called her a pirate wench.

  The poisonous lies he’d said to her, what he had suggested, it wasn’t easy for her to forget and forgive.

  Ember knew she wasn’t ready to talk to Asher, not about what he’d said to her anyway. It wasn’t just that conversation she wasn’t ready to discuss with him though. She knew she needed to ask him about her father and Cassius too.

  She needed to know if her father had ordered him to come find her, or if he’d only brought the royal guards as back up. Maybe Cassius had insisted he’d bring them when Asher reminded him that he couldn’t leave Iron Kress because of his injuries. He didn’t want Asher to go alone without backup. She wanted to believe that mostly because it would mean Cassius was alive and well enough to give the order.

  She tried not to worry about her friend back home too much. She’d considered sending him a letter while they were docked at Stellara, but she couldn’t risk it falling into the wrong hands. If King Ivan or her father were to find out their location, or where they were headed and what they were going to do? It wouldn’t end well for anyone. She’d be a prisoner again in her home, only to be used for breeding and to ensure Cassius’ reign over Iron Kress go well.

  The crew of the Obsidian would likely be killed. Their Captain would be taken prisoner so he could live out his days with the guilt of their deaths and his failure of saving his brother.

  What would happen to Ophelia now that she had joined their mission? Ember doubt she’d be sent home, but instead she’d be used as an example.

  A war would be started between Iron Kress and Stellara, much like before between her home and the pirates. There was no doubt the cards would be in King Ivan’s favor because of the blood her mother had spilled for him all those years ago.

  So, the letter she’d written to Cassius was still hidden under her pillow.

  A letter she knew would never be sent or seen by anyone else.

  No one would read of her worry over her best friend, asking him how he was recovering and how she wished he could be here with her. He would have loved to see the city of Stellara and all its beautiful land surrounding it. No one would read how she described her confusion over everything that was happening.

  Cassius wouldn’t get to hear how guilty she had felt over Tomas’s death, or the anger she’d felt when Sebastian had told her James’ story. He wouldn’t get to read about her conflicting feelings toward the pirate captain who’d lied to her from everything, starting with his name and ending with why he was really taking her on this journey.

  Maybe it was a blessing in disguise? Fate intervening? She wasn’t sure, but she wasn’t going to argue with it.

  Ember was currently sitting on her cot rereading the silly letter she’d written to her friend during one of the nights she couldn’t find sleep. After writing the first letter, even if she never sent it, she found a great comfort in getting her feelings and thoughts out on paper. So, she kept writing. Her letters to Cassius seemed to be the only things keeping her sane the past few days.

  A sad smile slipped across her face as she read over the part she’d written about Reid and James and how they reminded her of Asher and Cassius when they were young boys.

  A knock on her door alerted her of someone’s presence. Wiping her cheek, she hurried to hide the pages underneath her pillow before standing. “What do you want?” She asked, though her tone came out ruder than she’d meant it to.

  The door opened, and to her surprise, it was Sebastian on the other side. “I suppose I earned that cold greeting.”

  Startled, she fumbled around before settling on holding her hands together in front of her. She was so used to being able to flatten down the wrinkles in her skirts in attempt to do something with her nervous hands, it was almost a

  subconscious action now. “Wh-what are you doing here? Reid said I was fine to come down here and relax until dinner.” She said defensively, her shoulders tensing as she kept as much space between them as she could.

  Her actions, from how she stood then to the tone in her voice did not go unnoticed by him, she realized as hurt flashed behind his eyes. “You are. I’m not here to ….” He paused, no doubt debating what he would say next.

  “Look, I just thought it was time we talked about what was said at the party. I gave you space to process everything that was thrown at you that night, but I” He paused again. “I just think it’s time we cleared the air.”

  He had a point, even if she didn’t want to admit it.

  With a heavy sigh, she nodded in agreement. “I think so too.”

  Ember tried not to be insulted when she saw the surprise appear on his face. Was he expecting her to throw a fit and say no? Well, he was wrong to assume she’d stomp her foot and demand he’d leave like some spoiled little girl.

  He seemed to need a moment to get his thoughts together. It only confirmed he hadn’t actually thought she’d agree with him.

  She raised a brow as she crossed her arms as if to tell him she was waiting.

  “Have I told you how much you look like Ari when you make that face? It’s absolutely terrifying.” He said, his eyes flickering to her briefly as he took a seat on Ana’s bed.

  Ana and Ari shared a bunk bed, no doubt because of how small their sleeping quarters were. Even if they did have a bathing room to themselves, it only made the room seem smaller than it was. Now with Ember’s cot stuffed in here with her things, it was even smaller.

  “You wanted to talk about what the Queen said?” She said with a pointed look, reminding him to stay on topic.

  Clearing his throat, he nodded in

  understanding. “Right. Um, oh! I’ve got an idea. Why don’t we, you know, start over? Fresh introductions and all that?”

  A look of disbelief crossed her face. He had to know it was going to take a lot more than a simple fresh introduction to fix the damage that had been done to their small amount of trust. “You’re kidding, surely.” She said as she leaned back against the desk.

  Shaking his head, he stood and crossed the small space until he stood in front of her. He was wise enough to keep a good foot between them. “No, I’m absolutely serious. Ember, just give me-”

  “Nikolas,”

  The name slipped from her lips before she could catch herself. Her spine straightened, her body going tense when she realized her mistake.

  Her gaze refused to meet his, but she knew he was giving her that sad look again. Sebastian reached forward and took one of her hands in his. “It’s Sebastian. Sebastian Smoak, though there should be a Captain in there
somewhere.” He said, his tone hopeful that she’d take the offer of peace he was giving her.

  Ember rolled her eyes. “This is ridiculous.”

  The grin on her lips told him she didn’t mean it.

  He raised her hand to his lips, pressing them against the back of her fingers. “You’re a terrible liar, Lady Emberlyn.”

  Turning her head, she refused to let him see her blush. “I thought this was supposed to be an introduction do over? I haven’t told you my name yet, Captain. Though, I’m not entirely sure you’ve earned it.”

  There. She’d given him that opening to start to rebuild the trust he’d blown apart.

  It was a start.

  A chuckle erupted in his chest when he remembered her saying something similar during their first meeting. A teasing grin spread across his face as he nodded.

  He held his hands up in apologies. “My mistake. How does one earn the privilege of learning your name then? I’m up for the challenge.”

  She couldn’t hide the smile from him this time. Even when she should hate him for the pain that he’d caused her, he still was able to make her laugh. “You know, besides my father, you’re the only one that isn’t a servant who calls me

  Emberlyn. It’s always been Ember, Em, Starfish, but never Emberlyn unless it was my father.” She said as her fingers played with the loose string hanging from her sleeve.

  His snort caught her attention. “Someone actually calls you Starfish? That’s incredibly cliché.”

  A blush spread across her cheeks. “Asher thought it wasnice.”

  The scoff huffing from his lips caused her to raise a brow. He waved her curious glance off as nothing. “Well that explains everything.” He said, his eyes rolling in annoyance.

  “Don’t tell me you’re jealous, Captain?” She laughed, the easiness of their friendship coming back as if nothing had happened.

  That was probably the part of this

  conversation she feared the most.

  That everything would be swept under the rug and they wouldn’t talk about the important issues they should be talking about. She wondered if this was what he was hoping for when he made the suggestion of reintroducing themselves.

  “I choose not to answer that question.” He said, his chuckles slowing to a stop as his hand twisted the medallion around his neck.

  A nervous tick she could spot easily enough seeing as she did the same thing when she was uncomfortable. “Did the coin belong to your brother?” She asked, nodding to the ornate coin between his fingers.

  His eyes widened in surprise. “Why would you assume that?”

  Her fingers went to her own locket hanging around her neck. She never took it off, especially on this ship where it could easily go missing. It wasn’t a risk she wanted to take seeing as the necklace was the last thing she had of her mother. If she closed her eyes, she could imagine what her mother had looked like. It wasn’t a real memory, but she had an idea of what she had looked like from the portrait her father had in his bedroom.

  Her eyes lifted, her fingers tightening around the locket as she debated what she was aboutto reveal to him. “This was my mother’s. My father told me it’s been passed down each generation of my family. I’ve had it since my sixteenth birthday when my father thought I was old enough to take care of it. I hardly ever take it off. It’s the only thing I have of hers.” She said, her voice soft as she studied the vines that encased the ruby-colored heart in the center.

  Inside, she knew she’d find a picture of her mother holding her as a baby. It was the only picture that was saved of her mother, and it was no doubt because her father didn’t know what was inside the locket. He never bothered to open it when he found it hidden in her nursery.

  “This was the first piece of treasure Klaus had ever found. He kept it as a reminder that hard work was worth the trouble. He gave it to me when he left to rescue you and your mother. I was afraid he wouldn’t come back for me. He said I was being silly, but if it helped relax my fears? He would leave this with me because we both knew how important it was to him. He’d return for the coin and me. I made the mistake of believing him.” Sebastian confessed as he studied the coin resting between his fingers.

  Ember felt guilt filling her lungs when she saw how cracked his heart was. The reason his brother had never returned was because of her family. King Ivan sacrificing her mother hadn’t just ruined her family, but Sebastian’s family as well. “It would seem he was wrong in assuming it’d be him returning for his treasure then. Instead it’ll be you returning it to him when we rescue him and break his curse.” She said, her voice so quiet she wasn’t sure he could have heard her from across the room.

  From the way his shoulders tensed, she knew he heard her.

  A moment of silence fell over them before Ember cleared her throat, her finger brushing her loose hair behind her ear. “The Queen mentioned there were other items needed for the ritual. What are they?” She asked, returning them to a safer topic.

  It took Sebastian a moment to respond. “You already know you and the b astard are needed. Ophelia needs to be the one to perform the ritual apparently, and it has to be done on the night of the black moon, according to the Queen. The last two items are something beloved that belonged to the cursed. Klaus’ coin, I’m assuming would fit his part. Where it’s your entire line that’s cursed, it’s safe to assume we’d need something that was sacred to your family.” He explained, his eyes flickering to her briefly.

  Her breath caught when she realized what he meant, her fingers tightening around the jewelry in her hand. “My locket,”

  A nod from the pirate just confirmed her fears.

  Ember felt her heart drop into her stomach. She couldn’t part with the only thing she had left of her mother. It wasn’t just a silly necklace passed through the generations to her. It was the only thing that kept the image of her mother fresh in her memory. It was her way of having her close, no doubt the same reason Sebastian held onto his brother’s coin. He had to understand why she couldn’t give her locket up.

  Her eyes darted over to him when he cleared his throat and shifted around. “Unless you have some other heirloom hidden up those puffy sleeves of yours, it’ll have to be your locket, Ember. There’s no breaking this curse without it. I’m sorry.” He said, knowing she wasn’t comfortable with giving it up any more than he was with his brother’s coin.

  To save her, her descendants, and his brother, she’d have to. They both had to.

  Deep down, she knew he was right, but she didn’t want to admit it.

  Instead of giving in, she chose to change the subject. “Is there anything else you haven’t told me?”

  Her eyes raised to meet his, but his expression gave nothing away. There was no flicker of guilt, no sadness or even relief. His emotions were trapped behind a wall he’d put up. “I told you everything I can.”

  When he didn’t give her anything more, she knew this conversation was coming to an end.

  Chapter 24

  A silence had fallen over them. Neither wanted to discuss the ritual any longer. Nor did either want to leave and end the conversation entirely. She wasn't sure what she was hoping he'd say, but a part of her still felt as if she had so many questions to ask him.

  Ember rubbed the back of her neck, her eyes lifting to study him. “Did you ever meet my mother when she was seeing your brother?”

  The question threw him off, she realized from the surprise on his face. That was probably not even a question he thought she’d ask him. He didn’t have an answer ready for it as the seconds turned into minutes before he spoke. “Not that I can remember. I was a young boy when he left. Most of my memories from before that are hazy at best, nonexistent at worse.”

  Disappointment flashed across her face. “Understandable given how young you were. It was a silly question to ask.”

  Sebastian shook his head before he crossed the space between them. Ember watched as he turned and leaned against the desk beside her. “He ha
d a drawing of her he had done. At least I always assumed it was her. Your mother was the only woman he ever mentioned to me. Klaus always kept the sketch on his person. She was beautiful, your mother. Wild red curls, beautiful golden eyes, and a smile that lit up the night sky. You could be her twin.” He said, his voice low as he tried to remember the picture that he’d seen his brother hiding in his coat pocket.

  Ember found herself hanging off every word coming from his mouth. She often wondered what her mother was like before she was forced to become a proper lady of the King’s court in Iron Kress. “It sounds like your brother loved her.” She said with a sad smile.

  “He did. I think almost as much as he did the sea. I don’t think he ever truly got over her rejecting him. When the Queen tracked him down and asked him to rescue you and her, I think it just gave him hope. He had this idea in his head that they’d live happily ever after and you and I would grow up to be best friends. Could you imagine a world where you, I, and Ophelia had grown up together? It would have certainly been interesting.” He said with a sad chuckle as he imagined the whatif life.

  His smile fell as reality returned to him. “My brother was a fool for believing he could pull the rescue off by himself.”

  Ember could see the pain behind his eyes. It wasn’t just her that lost someone important that day. He’d lost his brother and had to grow up alone while Klaus suffered on the island.

  At least he still lived.

  There was still a chance Sebastian would get to create more memories with his brother once they broke his curse and freed him from Cane Island.

  Ember knew so little about her mother and it broke her heart to know the only way she’d find out more would be from strangers who knew her when she younger. She’d never get a chance to meet her mother and get to know her on her own. She was gone forever because of some silly curse.

  How different would it be if her father hadn’t found her mother on Stellara? What if Klaus had convinced her to run away with him before her father had tracked her down? Or if Queen Esmeralda had been able to keep her safe?