The North's Galleon

Chapter 17: Spirits

Marie was beginning to think that maybe she shouldn't have worn a corset to run away. Sure, it had been in impulse decision when the opportunity suddenly arose, but it had been made running so difficult, frequently had gotten in the way while on the ship, she hadn't gotten a break from it in days, and now she couldn't lace it back up.

Finally, she just gave up and threw it on the floor. At least her ribs would enjoy the break until she had someone who could help her.

She couldn't keep the thought from crossing her mind, I wonder if Edward wore a corset when he ran away. Edward... He must have put more thought into his escape than she had. After all, she'd had the Navy on her tail right away. He'd gotten away.

She could barely remember him. She'd been a child, only five years old, when he ran away. In fact, the first thing she remembered was his engagement, which happened just before he ran away.

According to the servants, he'd been stupidly clever. Always up to trouble, always trying to get away from them for just a moment. He usually succeeded.

She tightened her dress and stared into Gunther's full-length mirror. He seemed to have quite the arrogant streak. It didn't surprise her in the least that he had such a mirror. He probably liked looking at himself.

She paused. The door behind her was cracked open, and she could swear that was a child's face peering in.

She whipped around, to see nothing but the door, still just barely cracked open. "Come out, I saw you."

Suddenly, the lantern blew out. She flinched. "I said, come out! I don't know who you are, but I saw you, so there's no use hiding."

The door slowly closed again, latching shut.

Marie sighed and rolled her eyes. "Possum, is that you?"

The room grew cold, and Marie was starting to get anxious. "Hello?"

She turned around, just to see the mirror fog up, as though someone had breathed on it.

And then, as if there was an invisible person drawing in the fog, words began to appear.

Hello.

Marie shrieked.

Gunther kicked in the door and burst in swinging a broom. "What? What?"

Marie had one hand clasped over her face as the other shakily pointed at the mirror.

Gunther looked between her and the mirror for a moment before laughing. "Saw the 'ship's ghost,' did you?"

"There's a ghost?!"

"Nah." Gunther pulled a match from his pocket and struck it to light the lantern. "Well, maybe. I've never seen a ghost. But there are some odd things that happen around here." He shook the match to put it out. "If there is a ghost, it means no harm. It's never laid a hand on anyone here."

Marie shivered for a moment. Gunther turned back to her. "But ships are odd. Weird things happen at sea. Plus there's a lot of magic in the air right now. I doubt there's actually a ghost."

Marie brushed off her skirt. "A lot of magic in the air?"

"Mm. Storm's a brewing. Can feel it in my gut."

"What's that mean?"

"Means I get to fight monsters instead of scrubbing the deck later." He chuckled. "Just hoping I can get through bunk inspections first. These guys are filthy."

Marie stared at the mirror, Gunther's reflection specifically. In some ways, he looked just like the paintings of Edward around the castle. The bright red--not ginger, red-- hair, the amber eyes...he looked way older though, even had the tiniest bit of chin scruff to show for it.

"Why?" She mumbled, mostly to herself.

"Hm?"

"Why did you kill the prince?"

"Oh, North told me he told you about that." Gunther pulled the whip off his hip, fiddling with the royal insignia embedded in the leather. "Rest assured, it was the last thing I wanted to do."

"Then why did you do it?"

Gunther sighed. "He was selfish, arrogant, irresponsible, lazy, and entitled, and his actions almost got us all killed."

"Did you even give him a chance to fix it?"

"Many. Too many." Gunther set the whip back in its hook. "Should've killed him way sooner. Maybe I'd still have my eye."

Marie pursed her lips, and Gunther suddenly patted her on the head. "Just let it go, kid. It's been ten years. And trust me, I'm sure he preferred dying at sea over being trapped in that awful castle anyway."

He started to walk out, but paused to pick up her corset. "Want me to toss this overboard or help you get in it?"

"You know how to lace it?"

"Of course I know how to lace it. Wish I still had mine. My back would like me a lot more, and I looked great in one. Want it?"

She stared at for a moment. "No, go ahead and toss it. I don't need to make it any more obvious I'm of noble descent."

"Suit yourself." Gunther flung it over his shoulder and walked out. "I'll send one of the boys down to dump the bucket. See you on deck." The door latched shut.

Marie slumped to the floor. And then, the room grew cold again and the lantern blew out once more.

She glanced up at the mirror, to see it beginning to fog. She took a deep breath and let it out. "I'm sorry for screaming. Hello."

Hello. A small smiley face appeared in the fog as well. I'm Nexus.

"Marie...or, no, sorry. Denise."

Pleasure. Another smiley face.

"Are you a ghost?"

Yes.

"How did you get here?"

Possum.

"Possum?"

My brother.

Marie stared at the mirror. "That's right. Possum has a brother who died on the ship. That was you?"

Yes.

She smiled. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Nexus."

"Alright boys, let's get this ship moving!" Paul's voice bellowed from above deck.

Marie glanced back at the door and then back to the mirror. "Well, I should get going. It was nice to meet you!"

The fog cleared, and the lantern lit back up as Marie ran out of the room.

Nexus smiled as he wiped the fog off the mirror. No one had ever seen him before, the closest was North, who would at least knew he was there and would sit and talk to him.

This girl was interesting.