Ship Wrecked

Chapter 4: Hideaway

"Charles, I'm freezing down here" Maribella whispered. She rubbed her arms and moved closer to him. Charles glared at her and looked back at the door. It was true, the wine barrel room was very cold. No candle was lit and there wasn't even a single quilt in the storage space. Barrels upon barrels of wine, ale, and other beverages were stored for trade. Jules licked her lips and looked over at the wine barrels. "Papa, I am thirsty," Jules murmured. Maribella nodded her head in agreement. Charles looked at both of them; exasperated. "No. It will give us away and I have no clue which barrel is which. I am protecting us from a killer and you want WINE!" Maribella and Jules jumped a little. "Honey, it is okay. We were just wondering, now let's keep the voice level down," Maribella whispered.

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"Nick, Nick, are you okay," Jules said. Nick reached up and touched her face. She held his hand, leaned in, and kissed his lips. He opened his eyes and saw his crew looking at him. Nick jumped back. "Captain, we are searching for the royal family, but... ," John said. "But," Nick replied. "But we can't find them," John said. Nick's face turned red and grabbed John's throat. "What do you mean you can't find them," Nick stammered out. "None-of-us-could" John heaved. Letting go off his neck, he sighed. He walked out of the room and felt raindrops on his face. He looked over the side of the ship and saw the waves moving rapidly. "Well, the mythical serpent is coming soon," Nick replied.

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The royal family was in a deep sleep except the king. He sat on a barrel with his sword out of his sheath. Then a creek behind him sounded. Jumping up from his place, he saw a little set of eyes. He shook the shoulder of his wife and daughter and they saw the eyes too. Jules almost screamed, but Charles put a hand to her mouth. Seeing in the blackness, a dark brown hand extended from the shadows.

Walking out of the shadows, a black and bruised boy stood before the royal family. Wearing only a chicken feed sack, he was very slim and skinny. Jules curiously looked over her parents shoulders. She pushed through her parents and Charles grabbed her wrist, but Maribella touched his shoulder. Jules walked to him with a curiosity and reached out to touch him. The little boy jumped with a stammer in his voice, "Don't hurt me!" Jules retracted her hand away and sat down in front of him. "What's your name?" Jules asked. He peered up into her violet eyes. "My name, um, is Zan... Zankari," he said vaguely. Maribella and Charles looked at each other with surprised looks. Whipping her loose braid over her shoulder, she glanced at them. "What," she questioned. "Um, well Nick said something about having another crewmate that would never be seen. I think Zankari is that unnoticeable crewmate," Maribella replied. Touching his shoulder of Zankari, Jules pulled him close to her. Zankari's eyes never held tears, but water leaked out of them. Jules caressed his cheek and hugged his skinny body. His eyes shot open. Pulling away, he smiled at them. Jules' nose cringed as she saw Zankari's teeth; yellow, black, and brown, they were very unhealthy.

"Well, enough of sweetness. I'm going to go look," Charles declared. Briskly walking to the wooden door, he peeked through the keyhole. What he saw was alarming, men that held lanterns filled with fire. Standing up, he walked over to his family, grabbed Maribella's shoulder, and he whispered, "We have a problem." Zankari looked over Jules' shoulder and started to panic. He clutched Charles's hand and pulled him to a pile of barrels. Charles grabbed a barrel and pushed it quietly against the wall. All the barrels were removed to the side of the wall.

Zankari pulled a rope and a trapdoor opened up. Bowing his head to Jules, he went first down. Jules immediately followed then Maribella. Charles looked around the room and back at the door. Moving the barrels around the door, he grabbed the rope. Maribella crawled up the ladder and touched his hand. "Sweets, what on earth are you doing? Come down here," Maribella whispered. Charles looked at her and started to weep. Maribella looked at him and realized what he was about to do. "Honey, I might return with Nick's blood on my hands or you will see me in another world. Tell Jules that she can marry whomever she wants," Charles slobbered out. Maribella looked at him with tears, kissing his lips with kindness and love. Charles pulled away and kissed her hand as she went under. Pulling the rope the hatch closed, and he turned away. Moving the rest of the barrels over the hatch, he never felt so guilty in his life.