The Fallen Stars

Chapter 23 María

I was awoken by yelling. I turn from my side to sit up right. Damião is also awake. His hair is in low ponny, and that is messed up from sleep. He's in his white sleeping shirt that is oversized, making it look like he's wearing a dress.
We have always shared a bed because Damião was scared of the dark, and it took up less room.

Scared.

Is all over his face, probably also all over mine.
Our parents never fought, sure there was a stern look here and there... but it was always happy.
But tonight, the entire Mer y Tierra can probably hear them.

Damião jumps out of the bed.

"No! We must stay!" I whisper shout at him.
He's already at the door.
Pulling his boots on as fast as he can.
"I have to see!" He whispers shout back at me.

I get out of bed, pulling my shoes on as well.
"We are going to get into so much trouble!" I say sighing... there is no point in trying to change his mind. He is always curious, and he always has to know everything!

I open the door, and it makes a screeching sound.
Damião sticks his head out to see if the coast is clear.
He walks out, and I follow. Wel walked past the Captain's courters. Our small room was built next to the Captain's courters, making a small hallway, and across the Captain's door was an opening that led to the main deck.

The yelling has stopped, and we just heard a mumble of voices.
Me and Damião look at each other.
Terrified of what is happening.
And the next thing we heard was a loud thud and then a scream.
Me and Damião we ran out to see what had happened.
Our mother is nowhere in sight.

"Papa! What's going on?" Damião asks desperately.
My father turned to look at us. Fear appears and disappears on his face..
He's wearing dark blue pants that almost look black, a white shirt, a dark red coat, black boots, and his black hat.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT HERE?" He yells in Spanish.
And I take a step back.
My father rarely yells at me and my brother.

"We heard yelling." I reply back in Spanish.
"Where is Mama?" Damião asks, looking around.
Papa sighs.
"She fell overboard. She's lost to the sea." He says nonchalantly, looking down at Damião and me.

As I saw a storm is almost on top of us, I knew my mother would never keep me safe again
Damião strides toward the railling to look over for Mama.
Papa comes closer to me.
"She jumped. She didn't want toblive anymore." He whispers nonchalantly.

I stop breathing.

***

And then I wake up, gasping for air.
Connor's hands are on my shoulders, shaking me.
"MARÍA! MARÍA! CAN YOU HEAR ME?" He yells at me, but it sounds so distant. My vision is blurred.
"I can hear you." I whisper, but it was quite strained.
"Thank God!" He says, letting go of a breath.
I sit up slowly.
My eyes adjusted to the surroundings.
We are in the training room.

I look around.
The room is lighted by the two wooden chandeliers.
One wall that is behind me has a lot of hooks built into it to hold my swords and daggers.
The wall next to that on my left has a few odd things hanging and resting on some shelves.
Like rope, pieces of wood, candelabras, basically anything small that you can use to defend yourself.
And the wall on my right has some rope hanging from the wall to practice of pulling myself up, upper body strength is important.

And right in front of me is... Connor.
Wearing a very worried look on his face.
He's wearing a white shirt, with rolled up sleeves and a dark blue vest, with cream pants and brown boots.
His hair is a mess.

"What happened?" I ask calmly.
He searches my face, confusion is now on his face.
"You were climbing the ropes, then you fainted and hit the ground... have you been trouble sleeping lately?" He asks desperately.