The Fallen Stars

Chapter 14 Damião

She looks awfully familiar, but I know I've never met her before.
She looks at me for a few seconds, then says.
"Captain, I'm not a spy! I'm new around here. They were just showing me around... I am sorry that I disturbed you... it wasn't intentional." She was gasping the last few words.

Is she crying?

"Why are you crying?" I ask finally.
She inhales a couple of times.
"I think I broke my leg. Captain." She says,  trying to focus on something on the floor before her.
"How did that happen?"
"When your crew started chasing me, I triped and fell on a rock." She explians, still focused on the floor.
"Do you want a glass of water?" I as. I  don't know what else to say.
"That would be very kind, thank you." She whispers.
"But Captain, we are pirates we aren't charity!" Says Hae breaking the silence.
I give her a warning look. "This is my ship, I can do as I please. If you don't like it, leave then... Theo, get a glass of water for her." I order, annoyed.
I turned to Abner, and I was about to give him an order when the girl inturupted me.
"Captain..." she says softly.
"Yes?" I turn to her.
"After the glass of water... could you let me go back to the clan?" She asks faintly. I walked towards her until  I was in front of her. I give her a long look.

"Get back to work." I say to the crew.
They immediately start working again, not minding us.
"I don't think with that broken leg you could make it in the jungle. Do you even know the way back?"
"Not exactly. But I could figure it out."
She says, breathing heavely.
"What's your name?" I ask after a few beats.
"Esme." She whispers.
She looks into my eyes. Damn her eyes are more beautiful than the ocean.
I immediately start to dislike her... I don't know why. She is part of the clan. That's why.

"Look, I think the wisest thing to do is to stay here for a few days. My physician can help you... we won't hurt you. Esme." She looks a bit shocked and then starts to think this through.
"I...." But her eyes start to close, and she's falling backward, but I catch her just in time.

I pick her up. "I'll take her to my cabin... Theo, get Gwen!"
"Aye." He replies.
I take her to my cabin, and I lay her down on my bed. I lift her dress a little so I can see her broken leg... it is bad. Her leg is dripping with blood from a deep cut under her knee. Her upper leg and knee are swollen and red. Her dress stained with blood.

"Where is the patient?" Gwen asks behind me. I look at her. She's in her late twenties, tanned skin, diamond shaped face. With red curly hair tied into a messy bun. She's wearing a brown skirt that ends at her knees, with a white v-neck shirt, and a black corset with golden patterns on it. Black boots.

I move out of the way so she can see.
"Ooh... that is a nasty one." She says, wincing a little.
"Will she be okay?" I ask nonchalantly.
"You were smart to get me on your crew." She states seriously.
"Now, leave, I need room to work... and you lads are in the way."

I turn to my cousin.
We both walk towards the door.
"Did she tell you where she came from before Ainsley?" Theo asks.
"No. But I bet Ainsly will." I say, looking at the clock on the wall.

"He'll be here soon."

                               ***
I was right two hours later, and Ainsley arrived.
With his green shirt and pants, bare feet. Roaming the sky.

"Damião, give her back." Ainsly demands, he's still in the air.
"Oh! My friend, you don't want to start with asking how my well-being is?" I say mock hurt.
He rolls his eyes.
"How are you?" He asks, annoyed.
I smile. " I am fantastic. How are you?"
"Seething." He glares.
"Ah, wonderful!" I say optemisticly.
""Stop the small talk. Damião."
"Oh, but we're having so much fun!"
He's silent.

"Oh, all right... she can't leave." I say bluntly.
"What do you mean? She can't be your prisoner. She's part of the clan." He says.
"Oh, you forget my friend, our treaty states... 'If either passes Corn Rock, will be a prisoner of the owner of their part of the island.'" I quote the treaty.
"She doesn't know." He says.
"Oh, and she broke her leg after her tour guides left her for dead." I say nonchalant.
He's stunded into silence.
I study him, his face, his features.

Then it clicks...

"She's your sister." I state.
He stays silent.
I smile. Yes, now I have something.
"Does she know?" I ask.
"No." He says through griited teeth.
"Ahhh, family secrets... don't you just hate those. Wicked little things. They can snap the last piece of thread just like that." I snap my fingers.

He flies down to stand a few feet away from me.
"I'm going to tell her, I just want to put too much on her at once... she's still settling in." He explains.
It's silent for a few moments.
"If you hurt or touch her... there will be war." He warns.
"Aye, I know... we'll take good care of the lass... when she's better, you can take her back."
He nods.
I watch him, debating that I'll keep my word.
"She needs to learn about the other side of her family... the pirate side, your mother's side." I say, stepping on thin ice.
"Watch it, Ladron." He warns, giving me a fumming look.
"Here... you can go see her." I move towards my door, opening in for him.
He walks in, I close the door behind him.

I walk towards the railing of the ship.
"She has to learn to love you." I whisper to the ocean.

I have a lot of news for my sister.