Heart of the Sun

Chapter 8: The One and Only

Isabel's point of view:
I sat, my body heavy my head light. I've had no sort of nourishment since entering Hell, but I guess that should have been expected. What I did have was loneliness eating my satiny away. I've been ripped from my family and friends, only seeing the monster who took me. I only had myself to offer comfort and support but I knew that wasn't enough. I would cry but I ran out of tears long ago. Instead I picked at the dried blood on my back. Scabs were among some of the things I detested.
Despite this distraction, soft steps caught my attention. A cat with little folded ears stopped at my cell, curious. It meows, asking for attention. I stop, then call him to arm length. He purrs instantly at my touch, pushing himself closer to me. I smile despite all my sadness.
Because now I had someone special who loved me, and that would be enough.

Arthur's point of view:
Walk around the ship bored. I've already run all the maintenance checks and everyone was hard at work on something. I look out at the infinite blue water a let my mind wonder. It sure was getting repetitive lately and getting a captive sure was entertaining. I should be sure to start collecting some, after all, I am going to be sell the Fernandez off soon.
But will the others be like her? Will they fight me with every breath or just break under the pressure? Will they just rough men wearing grime like skin or delicate and exotic, dress hugging her in just the righ-NO.
I slap myself trying to shake her image out of my head. She was scum under his feet, a dirty blooded Fernandez for God's sake! I snapped up, desperately looking for something to busy myself with.

I've spent an hour wondering the ship like a madman. I felt frozen in time, thoughts of a certain woman in the ice with me. Finally I caved, rushing down to her cell to satisfy my curiosity.
What was she doing? Is she crying when I'm not there or does she sleep? Maybe she lost in though.
Slowly, I creep around the corner and I see the last thing I was expecting. A warm smile, like summer time, full of heat and sunshine. She was cuddling a cat, one of the ships mousers. I started at the cat, envious of his position. He was an ugly beast anyways, a lucky bastard that I kept around instead of throwing overboard.
Without noticing, I had been leaning in to the point I needed to take another step. A step which was a spot in the floor which moaned against my weight, altering the young woman of unseen company. She went pale the pink, flushing in embarrassment of being caught with her heart open. She grounded out a

"What do you want?"

I panicked for a second, being caught off guard myself. I settled for the first thing that came to mind.

"Whatever I want, rather what are you doing with a filthy tabby?"

Shit, I really didn't what to sound so cold. To my despair, her face steeled at the insult, full blocking out the happy girl I saw moments before. I quickly avert my eyes to hide such thoughts from being evident. They fall on the cat, who glares up at me as if knowing it was being insulted. Angry and frustrated, I swiftly turn out going straight for my cabin, away from those hot eyes that seem to burn right through me.

I sit down in my leather chair, slowing down and now replaying the events that just conspired. Her smile, it felt familiar now that I thought of it like, some days ago, somewhere crowded-. It's was in the small city of Roma. I was in the market a d caught a glimpse of a laughing woman from beneath a large hat. He had thought for a moment to approach her till he saw she was accompanied by many young men. Could it be? That lovely lady could be the same one as the one below? They seemed so different, as the other was always scowling. But of course, that one was also in captivity so why wouldn't she?
Exhausted by all the thinking, I popped open a rum bottle to taste nothing. Why is the rum always gone?
I smash the bottle to glittering shards. But even that didn't make me feel better. In no time I was at Allister's stash, no threats would ever keep me away. I relished the lightly burning liquid which was starting to consume me. But her last sentence still clung to the back of my mind.

"One day I will rip your heart out!"

What a brute.