Heart of the Sea

Chapter 5 Cerylia

       Cerylia closed her eyes as they said goodnight and she laid in her bed, her mind running over the pirates and what they were doing there. She soon drifted off with her thoughts and dreamed of the pirates finding their home. Breaking in and slipping down into the moon pool and ruining everything they had worked so hard to keep safe. She woke up and sat up, running her fingers through her hair as she sighed. She couldn't get it out of her head and pushed back the sheets, hopping out of bed and going downstairs for a glass of water.

        She walked and pulled out a glass filling it with water and leaned against the counter staring out the window. She could still see the light from their campfire which was disturbingly close and she finished the glass, putting it on the counter and walked out of the kitchen when she noticed the door was slightly cracked open. She frowned and walked up to the door and saw footsteps in the sand and wend wide eyed. She ran upstairs and entered Marina's room finding her bed empty. She swore and ran into her room slipping into her own dark clothes and slipped on a jacket rushing out of the house as fast as she could while staying silent. She walked up to the edge of the circle and hesitated before walking through the cloaking and bit her lip, slipping into the bushes to hide, hunting down her sister before she did anything that could harm her.

        Cerylia didn't trust the pirates, she didn't trust anyone outside of her family and the merfolk. She walked quickly and slowed when the mumbles of the pirates were audible and crouches down searching for her sister. She frowned unable to find her and heard a rustling in the trees. She held in a groan and walked over into the trees and stood back up walking over to the rustling in her trees. "Marina what the hell do you think you're doing are you-" She whispered and paused, walking up to the figure who she assumed was her sister. She approached and frowned as she was met with someone who was far from her sister.

        She frowned and quickly cupped her hand around the man's mouth and threw him to the ground. "Who the hell are you?" She whispered viciously, removing her hand enough for him to speak and wrapped her fingers around his throat. She should have brought something to defend herself, she hadn't thought there would be more than pirates in the area.

        The man stared at her wide eyed and didn't speak, staring at her and scanning her face which was probably shrouded in darkness in the night. She could barely see his and she was lucky she noticed the shape in body figure. "I said who are you?" She repeated harsher this time and watched as he opened his mouth to speak.

        "My name is Kaine. Now can you please take your hand off of my throat it's very uncomfortable." He said and she shushed him quietly and loosened her grip. "What are you doing here? No one knows this area exists. How did you find it?"

        He continued to stare, less frightened than before. "I just stumbled upon it. I was going for a midnight walk and I found a hidden path through the trees." He said holding his hands up by his head in surrender. She hesitated before getting off of him, letting him gather himself back up on his feet as she stood next to a nearby tree keeping herself hidden in darkness. He couldn't know what she looked like, she wouldn't take any chances no matter what. "You need to leave, you don't belong here. There are dangerous men walking around this area and you could get hurt."

        Kaine chuckled and brushed off the sand from his clothes and from his hair, as he looked toward her, or where he guessed she was. He could hardly see in the darkness and he could only tell where she was from her voice. He crossed his arms and grinned, "I'm afraid you underestimate my skills in fighting."

        Cerylia frowned and crossed her arms, digging her nails into her arms to keep her on track. She had to get back to searching for Marina or else something terrible could happen and she needed to leave and be done with him quickly. "Frankly I don't know you so excuse me for making assumptions. Now if you'll excuse me I have somewhere to be now turn around and leave." She said thickly, narrowing her eyes at him as he shook his head and flashed his teeth. "I will leave you then. Goodnight mysterious lady, I'm sure we'll meet again." He turned and walked away, hands in his pockets as he walked.

        Cerylia frowned, "Like hell we will." She mumbled and turned around walking in the opposite direction focusing back on track to Marina. She followed the sounds of the pirates and hide behind trees and bit her lip as she could finally see them, all sat around a campfire. Some where passed out with empty bottles of alcohol still in their hands and others were talking and having a good time. She watched the Captain who sat quietly by himself and stared out at the ocean, not adding into any conversation and ignored when he was addressed.

        She frowned as she scanned the area around them, in any place Marina was able to hide and climbed up a tree being extra careful to not rustle any leaves as she found a higher spot to search for her sister. She looked over every possible area she could be hiding in and clenched her teeth when she couldn't find her anywhere. She didn't know where else she would go there was no where else to go around here. She knew her sister would never sneak out to go for a dip, not after she had begged her to observe the pirates. She should be here but yet-she was absolutely no where.

        Cerylia went wide eyed and froze. There was no way she would have done that she didn't know how to use the magic, there was no way Marina cloaked herself in magic to hide. Hide from her and the pirates. She bit her lip and dug her nails into the tree.