Pirate City

Chapter 10 Changes

Luna's POV:

Secrets seemed common enough on the ship, I guess I didn't anticipate the consequences that followed breaking such a dangerous promise. I had messed things up big time and someone else suffered. I told him I would wake him in the morning for breakfast- another broken promise.

My eyes brimmed with tears as I leaned against the guard rail, the rusting metal pushing into my ribs. It was my fault; I told Angelo about the secret with Stephano right outside the door. I leaned further into the rail, pushing the steel bar further into my ribs. Why didn't I stop him sooner? Why did I wait until Angelo was lying motionless on the ground with blood pouring from his face to intervene?

The water danced with the early sun's reflection, my blurred vision made the pink light fade into one glimmering stream; it was hard to make out where the ocean ended and the horizon began. My eyes strained to keep the tears behind my eyelids; I would not let myself cry. Not this time. I didn't want to be the same modest girl I had been. I wasn't her. She wasn't me. 

I recognized the hands that found their way around my waist, pulling me back toward his warm body. He didn't say anything. He rested his chin on my shoulder and as he held me, we watched the sun climb to the clouds. 

I moved a little and felt something attached to his belt. Something hard and cold.

"Angelo." I used his full name to get his attention.

"Hm," I felt his throat move on my shoulder.

"What is that?" I stiffened in his arms. Angelo lifted his chin from my shoulder to look at me, when I faced him I saw the excitement in his eyes.

"I brought you something!" he said reaching down to his belt. I backed away a little, expecting the worst. He smiled at me eagerly, bringing his closed hand back up. He opened his fingers to reveal a blade the length of my hand cased in a black leather sheath, the dark wooden handle protruding from the leather.

"Angel." I didn't want to tell him I didn't want it; he had been so excited to give it to me.

"yes?" he looked at me energetically.

"why-where did you get this?" I stuttered.

"I got the blade from an old knife, we always have some wood lying around in the furnace room and the leather is from a worn jacket. Please just keep it on you, Steph won't like that you helped me." He turned the knife in his hands so that the handle faced me. he figured out I helped him.

"You made it?" I pretended not to hear his request. 

"A while ago. Luna keep it where you can reach it please." He was getting impatient. "I can teach you how to use it." He moved the smooth wooden handle closer.

"No, that's ok" I replied quickly, pushing it back to him. I felt bad but there was no way I could keep it.

"Please." He begged, offering the handle again. He looked down directly into my eyes, making me squirm. I looked away, I couldn't stand the thought of disappointing him.

I took the sleek, sanded handle and turned it so that the point of the cased blade pointed to the ground and my hand made a fist around the shaft, my fingers closed around the small grooves. I didn't want to admit that I liked it but it fit easily into my hand, I felt a surge of adrenaline as I twirled it around in my fingers. This thing was mine. 

"wow that was fast, have you used one before?" he asked jokingly, I didn't have to look at him to feel his gaze fixed on my nimble fingers. I shook my head, amazed by how naturally the blade spun.

I looked up at him, expecting him to scold me. There was something about him that changed when I held the dirk with such skill; some mix of pride and concern.