The Fallen Stars

Chapter 10 Damião

"Here you go, sir." Says Bodhi, setting the tray of breakfast down on the corner of my map table.
I'm standing by my wardrobe, looking for what to wear. Right now, I'm shirtless, with my night pants on.
"Grazias." I mumble, pulling a white shirt over my head.
He starts for the door, then stops in his tracks. "Oh Cap'n there's a letter for you with your breakfast." He states confidently.
"From who?" I ask.
"I think it's from the queen... sir. It came from a raven." He answers, fear creeping into his vioce.
"Grazias... get back to work." I order, seriously.
He leaves the room quietly.
I put on some black pants with black boots. I turn to the table, and I stare at the silver tray... a wooden plate with two cooked eggs, with biscuits, and a wooden cup of milk.
The milk is from a goat we catched yesterday.
And chickens we found a week ago.
Then there is the small rollled up letter.

"What the bloody hell now?" I mumble to myself.
I walk to the table.
I grab the letter and unroll it.

***

Father is on his way.
Two months.
I got news yesterday.
You better make some progress there.

~ Your sister, María.

***

"Mierda!" I curse.
I stride to the door.
I rip it open.
"THEO!" I boom over the ship.
The whole ship went quiet. They all froze at the sound of my voice.
Theo strides towards me.
"Yes Cap'n?" He finally stood in front of me.
"We have a month. One month. To get this island under María's rule. One."
I say through gritted teeth.
I point my finger at him to show one month.
"Aye, Captain... I'll go see if the spy has any news." He answers seriousness covering his face.
I nod.
"Get the rats back to work." I sneer.
He nods and walks away.
I look at my crew, confusion covering their faces.
I close the door behind me.
I look back at my room.
"Why now? Why the hell do you need to come back now? I've needed you my whole life... and what did you do? You left me... left me stranded on an island... to starve. Just to teach me a bloody lesson." I say into the air.

I walk back to my table with the tray of breakfast.
I lost my appetite, but I know I have to eat.
And so I eat.

***

It's afternoon now... I've drank three bottles of rum... I've broken a mirror and my chair.
I feel like a monster coming out of its shell.
So I put on my hat, grab another bottle of rum, and I leave my room.
I avoid making eye contact with my crew.
My ship was beached after the storm two weeks ago.
So I follow the plank down to the beach.
I woble a little when I land on the sand.
Probably, because I'm drunk and not used to land.
I walk in... I don't know what direction.
I take a sip of rum, letting the sting of the alcohol burn my throat.
I trip over a few rocks, but I finally sit down under a tree in the shade.
I take another sip of rum.
I watch the small waves covering the rocks, then trying to take them in, making a crackling sound.

"A pirate's life for me." I mumble hoarsly.
And I dose off to sleep.

***

"The captain wants you and your brother to come for dinner... in his quarters." A gruff voice said to María behind the closed door.
"What time?" She asked her small voice full of power.
"Six." He answered nonchalantly.
"We'll be there." She replies a hint of fear in her voice.
I ran towards our bed, tripping over the carpet, I fell down hard and hit my head against María's oak wood chest.
I give a screech that made María run into the room, kneeling in front of me.
She touched my head, and she brought her hand back. It's covered in blood.

"Damião... just breathe slowly, okay? I'm going to stitch it up. Can you stay strong for me?" She asked, worry covering her face.
"O..ok...ay." I stuttered from the pain, tears silently sliding down my cheeks.
She stood up, her white dress flowing with her. She walks to the drawer close to the door... she opens the third drawer and gets a needle and thread.
"I don't want to go to Father." I whimpered.
"We must... we are lucky that he wants us." She said nonchalantly.
She turns to me, and everything goes blurry. I see her silhouette she runs towards me.
"Damião? Damião! Wake up! wake up!"
She begs.

***

"Damião!" I wake up from a hand shaking me.
It's Theo.
"Maldita sea, Theo!" I curse.
"What are you doing here?" He asks angrely. It's dark, but it's full moon, so I can see partly of him.
"I got drunk... I wanted some fresh air." I answer groggly.
"You could have been spotted by the Niños Perdidos!" He scolds.
"Agh! Enough! Did you get any news from the spy?" I ask, annoyed.
He stays quiet for a few moments.
"Yes, I have." He says giving in.
"And?"
"And there is a newcomer... a girl." He states.