A Siren at the Helm

Chapter XXVI: With a Bounty Laid Upon You

Questions were flung about her mind like splintering wood after a cannonball had hit a deck. How? How could the knews have gotten to the mainland so fast? Is that even where Felipe had gotten the poster? What was she to do if it had already reached her island?

Her thoughts were all chased away by Felipe's dry voice, leaving her head as empty as an abandoned conch shell, "What is this?" His hand was shaking, one finger pointed at the paper.

Amina sprang into action. She grabbed Felipe by the arm and stuffed the paper into her pocket. Then she ran. The owner's reprimands when Amina left the door open as she left the tavern, were ignored. Felipe was towed behind her as she bolted for the docks, there would not be anyone there at this hour. However, Felipe ripped himself from her grasp before they could reach the sea.

"Amina!" He half-hissed-half-shouted.
She stopped to look at him in fear, "How many people have  seen it?"
His face was stone as he watched her squirm.
"How many?"
"Almost everyone on the mainland," came the flat answer.

"Oh no. No no no no no," Amina's hands flew into her hair as she ducked into a side alley. Felipe followed stiffly.

She removed the poster from her pocket again. Her eyes poured over it and over it again, but unlike she hoped, not a single word would change. The picture wouldn't fade and her name wouldn't erase itself.

WANTED:
Dead or Alive
For Piracy & Looting

Her picture wasn't a very good likeness. The face was so serious and the artist had attempted to make her look cruel and dangerous. The description must obviously have been given by Breakwell. She did not know of anyone who harboured a grudge against her like he did. She read on:

The Notorious Tempest O'Brien
A Bounty of ONE HUNDRED POUNDS
will be paid to any person who can surrender the aforementioned pirate

"So it is you then?" Felipe's question was more of a statement.
Amina didn't answer. She continued pacing back and forth over the cobblestones.

"I cannot believe... I cannot believe," Felipe's tone made it clear that he was barely restraining himself. "You have been lying to us all this time? To everyone!" He choked. "Good heavens Amina! And the Evanses. How could you do that to them? All this time they've been so kind. They took you in. They cared for you! And all that while you were lying to their faces every single day.
They let a murderer, a pirate into their home without even knowing it! And you let them. You took advantage of them. And me! And everyone else on the island!
You... you..." Felipe realized that she had stayed quiet.

"Well? Justify yourself! Explain! Tell me how you could lie about your identity and your actions without feeling an ounce of remorse... Go on! Or don't you feel the need to elaborate? Is that it? Should I just except that you have enjoyed being a fraud since the beginning? Have-"

"Because I was afraid!" She interrupted. "I still am. Do you think anyone would have accepted me if they had known what I really was?" In the back of her mind she tried to imagine what Felipe would do if he found out she was a siren as well. If this was how he reacted to her being a pirate, how would he react if he ever found out about the rest?

"Well that's just the point isn't it? By lying to us you have put us all in danger-" Felipe began before he was interrupted once more.
"Danger? How is anyone in danger because of me?"
"You are a pirate, are you not? Pirates murder and steal and-"
"I have never purposefully killed anyone!" Amina hissed.
"And how can I believe you?" Felipe countered, "You have done a very good job of lying to me so far."
"Oh you honestly cannot believe I am capable of all that, could you?" Amina's voice was laced with disbelief. "Not here. Not towards anyone on this island."