Fabled Dreams || Book 1: Truth

Chapter 6

I was shaken awake by a girl who gave me a disapproving, annoyed look, "You shouldn't be sleeping!" The girl scolded me.

I pushed myself up, rubbing my eyes childishly, and yawned largely like a cat, "Sor...ry... Ma'am..." I mumbled sleepily trying super hard not to come off rude.

She let out an exasperated breath shaking her head, "Look, I was sent up here to tell you Capt'n Roth wants to see you."

I gingerly got up and nodded, "Err... got it." I was not looking forward to climbing down from the Crow's Nest. I turned backside facing the ladder, gulped, squeezed my eyes shut, and mumbled, "Tally ho!" Quickly shimming down it before I could get cold feet. I knew I would feel so much better when my feet were on solid ground. Well, technically solid ground seeing as I was on a ship. I only relaxed my tense muscles when my feet touched safely on the deck. I opened one eye trembling slightly and turned to face the girl, whom I didn't know the name of, "Err... who are you by the way?"

"Scarlet. Scarlet Bauregaurd." She replied stiffly.

I sighed softly, "Are you always this..." I searched for a polite way to put it, "...Uhm... this... uh, cold...?"

She gave me a raised eyebrow, "Are you always this impertinent?" She paired.

I grinned, "Touche." I nodded and finally, she showed a small smile.

"And... we have arrived. She is through there." Scarlet pointed at a set of rather ornately decorated double wooden doors.

"Thanks, Scarlet." I thanked her quietly before being a tad unnecessarily dramatic as I pushed open both doors and marched through, "Captain? You wanted to..." My confidence and dramatics faded alongside my voice. Two oddly familiar boys stood with Elizabeth.

"Arianna!" They both cried out in excited relief as they saw me. I stared at them blankly confused then glanced over at Elizabeth who had a slightly infuriating smirk on her face. The kind of smirk that betrayed that someone knew something that no one else did and took great pleasure in tormenting those who did not know. Yet, there was a sparkle of sympathy and pity as well.

"Uhm... Capt'n? Who are these... boys?" I asked.

"They were once your companions at the very beginning of your journey to Faen it seems." Elizabeth's voice was soft as if this news might shatter me. Like I was fragile glass, "Their names are Shadow and Damien." She indicated to each boy when she said their corresponding name.

"So... she really does have amnesia. Well, that's a bummer." The boy who was named Shadow pouted.

"Shadow!" The boy named Damien scolded then he turned to me with a gentleman like smile, "Excuse him. He... has no manners."

"Uh, yeah... K..." I say super awkwardly. Then, I frowned as a thought dawned on me, "Uh... how the hell did they get on the ship? They weren't here when I got on... were they...?" I asked furrowing my brow more in absolute confusion.

"We picked them up about seven hours before I found you," Elizabeth informed me.

"Ah. K." I nodded and bit my bottom lip, "Can I go now...?" I asked hopefully, feeling super out of place and I wanted to get away from this situation.

"Hmm... I suppose." Elizabeth smiled and waved me permission to go. I nodded thankfully and turned hurrying off and out onto the deck.

I was greeted by a thunderous storm. The gale-force winds ripped past me blowing my hair and clothes around. I could barely hear over the roaring wind. Sleet and rain battered against me almost instantaneously soaking me through. I spluttered on my waterlogged hair that had been whipped into my mouth by the wind, "Bleh!" I exclaimed in annoyance as I hurried into the cabin I was staying in, shut the door on the storm, and collapsed on the bed. The door and walls seemed to dampen the noise of the storm. Enough at least so that I could barely hear the roar of the wind and the precipitation. I closed my eyes falling instantly asleep, cold and weary from battling my way through the storm, the talk with the boys and the captain, and sleeping in a high place I did not want to be in. I was also possibly getting sick.