Forbidden (The Secret World Of Atlantis 2)

Chapter 11 - Tensions Rising

 “Who are you?” one of them asks. Before I even get the chance to open my mouth, Fara, the same sailor who’s kept me hidden, answers the question.

“She’s the Crown Princess. She sailed from the Academy on this ship. I found her midst way. She seemed like she needed help. And it looks like she needs it once again,” he explains to the sailor, who appears to be in charge. The said man looks at me, narrowing his eyes.

“There’s a prize on your head, isn’t it, girl?” he voices his thoughts. I freeze in horror. Oh no. I met so many people on my side on this journey, that it didn’t seem like anyone might be even considering to turn me in.

“Listen, I don’t have any jewelry on me, but when we reach the Academy, I can get you something worth double the money that you would all get, if you give me to the Guardians,” I tell the sailor, hoping that I win him over. I can see his eyes glisten at the mention of money, but he’s still frowning at me.

“How do we know you won’t trick us?” he asks in a grumpy tone. I sigh, finally pushing myself up and trying to ignore the pain I’m in.

“It’s not like I can run from you. Our destination is a small island,” I remark, realizing the sailor isn’t the brightest. I turn to Fara, who is watching the scene quietly. “When we get there, one of you will escort me to my house and I will present him with the jewelry. Is that alright with you?” I suggest. The rest of the sailors are already nodding to themselves, before their head even opens his mouth. But then his face lights up with a satisfied smile.

“Fara, show the Princess to her bed. I believe we have a spare one in the bigger cabin,” he instructs the young sailor, who goes pale. He glances between us for a while, before speaking up.

“But sir … Prince Callisto is already taking the spare bed,” he reminds his boss, who glares at him in annoyance.

“They can share it! We don’t have two spares! Now get to work, all of you! The ship won’t sail itself!” he shouts at his inferiors, who all scatter around the deck. Fara send me a sheepish look, before going below deck and I have no other choice, but to follow him. This is going to be a disaster. Two weeks ago I would be excited to be sleeping next to Eros, but now … I don’t think he’s going to be happy about this at all.

We catch him in the cabin just when he happens to be changing and I force myself to look away. No need to give him any more reason to resent me. “P-Prince Callisto, I am so sorry, but my boss ordered me, that you must share your bed with the Princess,” Fara stutters nervously. I look up to see Eros’s reaction, even if I’m already sensing it. But it shifts as soon as he sets his burning gaze on me.

“If this is how it’s supposed to be … Then I don’t think you can handle being in the same room with us,” he remarks, making my cheeks burn with embarrassment. Fara glances between us in a really awkward moment, not sure of what to say. But I’m not left speechless. I glare at my bonded.

“What he’s trying to say is that he’s going to wake you up every time he lands on the floor, for snoring too loudly,” I retort, raising an eyebrow at Eros in a challenging way. He raises a corner of his mouth upwards, turning to Fara.

“We won’t make much noise, we promise,” he continues without any shame. Now that’s it, I have enough of this.

“That’s right, we won’t. Because I’ll be sleeping on the floor,” I break up this nonsense, before things get even more uncomfortable. Poor Fara looks like he’s going to run away screaming in horror any moment.

“What she means is, that I’ll be taking the floor,” Eros jumps in again, before the young sailor is able to respond. I turn to him, annoyed with his behaviour. Won’t he just let it go?

“No. I’ll do that,” I fight him, sending him a stern gaze, that is supposed to shut him up. But of course, it doesn’t.

“As a chevalier, I can’t possibly let the lady sleep on the floor. So I insist, that you take the bed,” he addresses me directly. I sigh. This is getting so frustrating. Why can’t he just let me be? I’ve been sleeping on the floor for the past few days already. I open my mouth to disagree with him once again, but Fara raises both his hands up, to stop us.

“No need for further bickering. You can both take each bed and I’ll sleep on the floor. That’s my last word,” he concludes impatiently. I bite my tongue. It seems like we dragged him into our little soap opera without even intending to.

“I’m sorry, Fara. And thank you for your hospitality,” I tell the sailor, who just nods, before disappearing out of the cabin. I then turn to Eros, but he’s already brushing past me, trying not to touch me.

“There’s a concoction against sea sickness in the first drawer of the cupboard,” he informs me, before disappearing after Fara. I stand there for a moment, fighting the urge to rush after him and drive him up the wall, so he spits out where the problem is. But I know it doesn’t work this way with him.

He can shield his thoughts, but he can’t hide his emotions from me. Of course it hurts how he’s acting towards me. It hurts like hell, but I know why he’s like this. He gets afraid every time, that I’m near him. As soon as he senses my presence, it’s over. Everything he does, says or thinks is coming out of his fear. I would love to know what he’s so afraid of. It’s not like he’s going to hurt me again. Not while he’s in his Light form.

I shake the thoughts away and head over to the cupboard. The concoction is truly there, just like Eros said. I find myself thinking about his odd behaviour once again. He clearly cares enough to help me escape the Guardians and prevent my sea sickness by telling me where the aid is. So why does he try so hard to make me believe, that he doesn’t care?

I drink up, shuddering at the disgusting taste. Here I was, thinking how everything is going to be fine, once I save Eros from death. I look up at the ceiling, imagining the mocking faces of the Gods. “This is all just a game to you, isn’t it?” I speak up, directing the question at them. I don’t get an answer. It’s not like I’ve expected it to come. I did what they asked of me and now I can deal with the rest by myself. There’s no telling what the Headmistress is going to do with Eros. But I can bet, that she’ll try to expel him. “Not on my watch,” I mumble to myself determinedly.

After sitting on the bed for a while, I decide to get some fresh air. As I do, the first person I look for, is Eros. He’s standing by the railing, his gaze averted forward. I follow it, realizing that we’re nearing a city. It’s Gunguru. His home. I want to go over to him and ask him, if he’s going to the castle, to meet his parents, but I don’t. I remind myself, that he’s shown me he wants some space. And I’ll give it to him. No matter how hard it might be.

Just like that, his gaze locks with mine, but I turn my head away. Not just that, I even walk into the opposite direction, to talk to Fara. He’s sitting on the floor, busy with untangling some ropes. “Need some help?” I ask him politely, feeling really bad about how things went in his cabin. But he doesn’t seem mad, when he looks up at me. In fact, he greets me with a smile.

“I don’t, but thanks for the offer. Oh, I forgot to tell you about the concoction, it’s inside the first drawer of my cupboard,” he informs me.

“I know, Eros told me. I’ve already taken it. Thank you anyways,” I respond. Fara stops fiddling with the ropes and looks up at me with curiosity in his eyes. He glances at Eros for a split second.

“I don’t mean to be intruding … But he asked for your hand, didn’t he? How come you’re betrothed to Count Elara instead?” he wonders. I stiffen at the question, but it’s not like he means any harm. And he’s been kind ever since the moment we met, so it’s only fair of me to answer truthfully.

“He did … And I already accepted his proposal. But I didn’t want to make it official, until the school year ended. He was the only one, who asked for my hand until then. But as soon as my father got another offer, he accepted it,” I explain, trying to keep my voice down, so that no one else would hear, what I have to say. Fara stares at me, his eyes widened in horror.

“I’m so sorry, that you had to go through that … I hope I’m not being presumptuous, but … Do you care about Prince Callisto?” he continues asking me. I squeeze my lips, trying to avoid looking over my shoulder.

“Yes. More than I’m allowed to,” I answer Fara’s question, turning my gaze away in shame. At which point did my life take such a turn, that I’m now talking about my love life with a mere acquaintance? He already opens his mouth to answer me, when he realizes, that I’m looking across the railing. He turns into the direction of my gaze, shooting up hastily.

“You need to hide, it’s the Royal Navy! If they catch up with us, before we reach Gunguru, we’re doomed!” he panicks, already putting a hand on my shoulder and leading me towards the stairs. I look up in surprise, as I feel my bonded’s presence. He’s staring right at where Fara’s hand is resting on me. The sailor is smart enough to pull it back and only then does Eros’s tense body relax. I can barely contain myself from rolling my eyes at him. He’s trying to pretend like I don’t exist, but as soon as someone touches me, he gets all possessive.

“Move, Hercules, I don’t have time for this,” I grunt, trying to go around him, but he blocks my path. I look up at him in frustration. “What’s your problem? Do you want the Guardians to catch me?” I ask, completely flustered by his behaviour. He shakes his head slightly.

“They’re going to find you. You can’t pull the same trick twice. The only way to get rid of them, is to make them see you escaping,” he explains with a blank expression. I raise an eyebrow. Is he going to tell me how we’re going to do that or must I wait around the whole day?

“So you’re trying to tell me, that I’ll run and hide across Gunguru, until they actually catch me?” I ask, not really happy with his suggestion. He usually comes up with better plans. I can tell that he read my mind, by his expression shifting. He smirks for the first time this day.

“Not you. Fara will.”