Elara Seabrook: Heir of Blacktide Isle

Chapter 5

Elara sat amidst the group of girls at the long garden table, barely listening to their idle chatter. The sun shone down brightly, but the warmth did little to ease her growing impatience. She was doing her best to feign interest, swirling her tea in its delicate porcelain cup while nodding at the mindless conversation around her.

Across the table, Celeste Vanderlyn—Blacktide Isle's most tedious gossip—was holding court, her voice pitched with self-importance. "Oh, and did you see the lace on Margery's dress at the last ball? It was positively dreadful. Honestly, I don't know how she thought she could show her face in that."

The other girls giggled in agreement, some even casting quick glances at Margery, who was standing by the fountain looking quite lonely.

Elara exchanged a bored glance with Lilith, who sat beside her, looking equally disinterested. Lilith's pale fingers toyed with the rim of her teacup, her dark eyes rolling every time Celeste opened her mouth.

"And the shoes! Don't even get me started on the shoes," Celeste continued, tossing her golden curls over her shoulder. "They were from last season! Can you imagine?"

Lilith couldn't take it anymore. "Darling, must we go on about shoes? Surely there are more interesting things to discuss." Her voice was sweet, but the undercurrent of disdain was hard to miss.

Celeste blinked, taken aback. "Well, what would you like to talk about, Lilith?"

Lilith's lips curled into a wicked smile. "Oh, I don't know... something more exciting, perhaps." She paused dramatically, lowering her voice slightly. "Like the fact that Lady Ashcroft wasn't recovering from an illness, as she claimed, but was seen hiding a suspicious bump under her gown."

The girls gasped, eyes widening in shock as they leaned in for more.

Satisfied with the effect, Lilith stood up gracefully, taking Elara's hand. "Well, ladies, as much as I'd love to continue discussing more about Lady Ashcroft's scandalous behaviors, I'm afraid Elara and I need some air."

Looping her arm through Elara's, Lilith led her away from the table without a second glance, leaving the girls buzzing with gossip behind them.

Once they were safely out of earshot, Elara chuckled. "That was low, even for you."

Lilith smirked. "What? It's not my fault Lady Ashcroft couldn't keep a secret. Besides, these parties are so dreadfully dull. Someone has to make them interesting."

"You certainly know how to stir the pot," Elara mused, shaking her head.

Lilith's smile widened. "It's what I do best, darling."

Elara's eyes lit up at the chance to share her latest adventure. "You'll love this," she said, lowering her voice slightly for effect. "I'm going to the Ghost Isles."

Lilith blinked, momentarily caught off guard. "The Ghost Isles? What on earth for?" She shook her head, clearly unimpressed. "Why would you want to venture out to some cursed islands when you could be here, living in luxury?"

Elara leaned forward, her tone filled with excitement. "That's exactly why I'm going. The thrill, the danger... it's what I crave. You know I don't do well with boredom."

Lilith's lips twisted into a half-smile. "You and your insatiable need for danger. I can't understand it." She paused, her ice-blue eyes narrowing slightly. "So... does this have anything to do with that sailor you met at the Drunken Siren? What's his name again? Elias?"

Elara shot her a quick look, one that Lilith didn't miss. "Don't even start," Elara warned, her tone playful but edged with warning.

Lilith arched a delicate brow, her smirk deepening. "A very handsome, rugged sailor, if I remember correctly. Right up your alley, no?"

Elara rolled her eyes. "You'd love to pick him apart, wouldn't you?"

Lilith chuckled softly. "Of course. It's what I do best." Her smile lingered for a moment before she added, "But I'll behave... for now."

Elara shook her head, amused. "You'd better."

Lilith laughed, linking her arm with Elara's as they continued their walk. "Fine, fine. I won't pry. But you know, darling, you don't have to chase danger just to get attention. You've got plenty of that already."

Elara's lips quirked into a smirk. "Attention's easy, Lilith. It's the adventure that's worth chasing."

The sound of giggles from the tea party reached them again, and both girls glanced back at the table where the other girls were still fawning over the gossip Lilith had left them with.

~

That night, Elara sat by the low light of her oil lamp, the shadows flickering on the walls of her room as she pored over the scattered pages and maps strewn across her desk. Her brows furrowed in concentration as she read through the old legends of the Ghost Isles, each story more outlandish than the last. Curses, lost ships, treasures guarded by spirits—it all sounded like the kind of tale the sailors in the Drunken Siren would spin after too much rum.

Still, she couldn't shake the thrill that ran through her at the thought of the journey ahead. She had spent years listening to her father's stories of daring voyages and uncharted waters, but this... this was her chance to experience it for herself. No amount of dry legends or warnings about curses was going to change that.

Still, she couldn't shake the thrill that ran through her at the thought of the journey ahead. She had spent years listening to her father's stories of daring voyages and uncharted waters, but this... this was her chance to experience it for herself. No amount of dry legends or warnings about curses was going to change that.

Leaning back in her chair, she let the map fall from her fingers, her eyes narrowing slightly as her mind wandered. There was one thing, though, that still puzzled her: what was it about the Ghost Isles that had truly captured her father's interest? He wasn't the type to chase after legends or superstition, especially when risking a journey like this one. There had to be something more—something of true value.

Treasure, yes—but what kind? She didn't know what the real prize was yet, but she intended to find out. Her father might not tell her right away, but Elias... she'd get it out of him in no time.

A smirk tugged at her lips. She was good at getting what she wanted.

Her gaze shifted back to the stack of papers in front of her, as she skimmed through the accounts of ships disappearing into thick fogs, captains who claimed to have heard whispers in the wind that drove their crews mad. A map of the surrounding waters lay open beside her, marked with ominous symbols and warnings of treacherous currents. Her father had faced many challenges, but even he had always avoided these cursed islands.

"This is going to be fun," she murmured to herself, her fingers tracing the path they'd soon take on the weathered map. She was ready.