Tidal --- Nikolai Lantsov

7

The next few days were filled with excruciating boredom. I could feel the water moving around the boat that told me we were still moving west. I laid around in silence most of the time waiting for someone to come let me out. I heard from outside the door that Genya had tried to come talk to me but the guard sent her away saying I was to have no visitors. If my brother wanted my forgiveness than this was not the way to get it. At least I know now where his priorities lie. 

There was suddenly a strong shift in the current around the boat as I could feel it come to a stop. I heard the guard leave from outside the door as well as felt a handful of bodies leaving the ship. One of them being my brother. 

I tried the door again. It still won't budge. I raise my hands to summon to attempt to break the lock when I heard footsteps coming down the stairs below the deck. I freeze with my hands still prepared to summon. If he thinks he is going to have one of his guards come down here and man handle me he has another thing coming. 

I hear the lock click open and the door began to creek opened. I immediately shoot my hand forward to stop them in their tracks. 

The door swings all the way open to reveal Sturmhond frozen in place. His hand out from pushing the door and his eyes were stuck wide in shock and fear. 

"What are you doing here?!" I ask him not letting go of him. When he seems to struggle I realize that he can't answer if I don't let him go, "Oh, sorry hold on." I drop my hands and his whole body almost flops to the floor but he catches himself.

"Is that how you treat your knight in shining armor?" He says looking up at me wincing in pain, "I was honestly expecting showers of praise, flowers, saying  'oh my dear sweet Sturmhond, how can I ever repay you?'. Maybe make me into a living saint–"

I cut him off again my holding my hand up to freeze him once more. His jaw left hanging open. I walk up to him and give him a fake smile scrunching up my nose slightly. When I reach him I lift my other hand, taking my index finger and gently flicking his chin up causing in to close. 

"Thats much better." I say shortly before sliding past him and out the door. 

I didn't let go of the tension in my hand before I was just about to step onto the deck of the ship.

"Hey! Wait." I hear his footsteps quicken behind me as he strides up to the stairs to me. Looking out on the ship I see only a few of the crew  milling about the  doing various tasks and chores. I walk up to the left side of the ship and take a deep breath smelling the fresh salty air and clean breeze. I can see the shore meaning we must have reached Novyi Zem and my brother had left with some people to go capture Alina again. 

I felt a presence approaching me, "Thank you, " I say turning around to face him, leaning against the railing of the ship, "But why did you let me out? The second he gets back on the ship you know he is just going to lock me back up again. It's what he does now." 

"No he won't." He replies looking at me sternly. For a second he looked angry but then his expression softened up, "This is my ship. He has no control over me and who is a prisoner on my ship."

"Oh please, as if you would go against him."

"You did. Am I wrong? Or were you locked up simply because of your big mouth?" 

"That's different. He would never actually hurt me." I truly did believe that he still cared about me. Even if I wasn't his top priority anymore. He still wouldn't hurt me. "But you? Some random pirate he hired to bring him to his prize. He would not hesitate to kill." His gaze was torn from mine off into the distance.