Temptations

ɎChapter♠TwentySevenɎ

 It'd been 3 days since she'd seen the Rear Admiral, and Rosalina already felt her head becoming more clear. She'd set sail for the first clue of the map, following along the philipines where an ancient tribe was rumored to have survived civilization's pillaging. She'd been reading books after books, taken from merchant ships, trying to find some way to communicate or work with the tribe.

Although gold and riches was always Rosalina's first priority, knowledge and information was the second. Of course shiny things were always welcome, but books always seemed to exist in excess. For some reasons, only certain cultures valued reading for what it was. An education was valued, but a consistent reading habit was considered odd.

In less than one day, Elias Keen would be deemed a traitor to the English Crown, and charged for treason. Though she knew how devastating the news was to Elias, she couldn't have felt happier. Hopefully, it would inspire somewhat of a feeling of betrayal in Her Highness, Rosalina's own little message to her, even if the Queen didn't know it came from her.

Rosalina sighed as she finished the 4th book. It had some information she could use, but nothing extravagant. She kicked up her feet on her desk, feeling her shoulders slump as she felt relaxed and closed her eyes, breathing in deeply.

But the peace and quiet didn't last long, as her fingers began tapping against the button of her coat, making a clicking sound that echoed in the otherwise silent quarters, save for the creaking of an old ship on rocky seas. She bit her lip as impatience began gnawing at her. With a quick hop, she left her chair, strolling towards the infirmary in the lower docks.

Her crew had already fallen asleep, and the eerie silence of the rocking ship broke only for the steps of her boots. She tried to quiet her movements, as to not wake her crew, but the heels had an idea of their own and stomped softly making her cringe slightly.

Slowly, she opened the door to the infirmary and closed it behind her. Elias' had his eyes closed but she knew he was awake the moment he heard her boots on the wood below her. But she didn't comment as she sat beside him and began talking, as if he was awake and well.

"Today is your last day as a non-fugitive." She said, her voice soft like a whisper. His hands clenched at his sides. "As dishonest as it sounds, I am sorry our situation has left you with this status. As a Rear Admiral I can only imagine the loyalty you have towards the Queen." He still didn't open his eyes. "If it would make you feel better, you should know she does not care. She makes herself out to be this reigning angel, sent to be the best queen you've ever seen. Kind and compassionate, beautiful and understanding, perfect; it's how she acts. But under the mask she shows her true self only to the closest in her court.

"She's the one who initiates most of the wars. She is a main donor to the slavers, even those who dabble in children affairs. She has men killed for no reason. You think you'd get a fair trial? One look at me and no one would believe any story you decide to tell. The Queen might seem good, but she is anything but."

Elias didn't look at her, but his eyes were open now, staring at the wall on the other side of the room. She laid her head on her arms, resting on the bed and let her hand trace patterns on Elias' skin. Goose bumps rose and she smiled at the affect she had. Still not a word.

"You know, I came in here because I knew you'd be awake. I was very bored earlier. I tend to get bored quite easily, unfortunately. It's why I do what I do, you know. In this line of work there's adventure and adrenaline. Sure I have a heavy conscience, but you learn to ignore it after some time." She could feel his eyes on her but she didn't meet them.

"Sometimes I wish I could have grown up normal, you know? With a nice nobel family, married off to some rich boy and live a life of ease. I could have, once a long time ago." She sighed, "but alas, the fates had something else in mind for me." She glanced up at him and smiled. "Discovery. Danger. Risk." She sat up, propping her chin in her hand as she spoke to him directly now. "What's it like being a Rear Admiral? Do you have a stick up your arse all the time? Or only when you're on the clock?" He narrowed his eyes at her but she smiled at him playfully.

"There's honor, and righteousness. Something you wouldn't know about." He snapped at her but she simply rolled her eyes.

"The world isn't as simple as you make it out to be Mr. Keen." She pulled back the sleeves on her coat, revealing the marks around her wrist one couldn't confuse. "People do bad things for different reasons. I do it for greed and my ego. But others..." She rolled them back up, but Elias was already speechless. "It's not all black and white, Mr. Keen. Even your own soldiers would visit those bad men, for something other than a simple conversation." She said, her voice uplifting despite the topic she spoke of.

"I remember this one girl, who'd hide me and take on my work so I wouldn't have to." Rosalina smiled softly gazing into a distance Elias couldn't see, her hand still drawing patterns in his skin. "We looked alike, so she pretended to be me for as long as she could. I'd hear her and whoever came for her, every night. I'd shut my ears to block it out but it never worked." Her smile turned bitter as she continued.

"When our owner discovered what she was doing she had her beat to a pulp, and had her bedridden for 7 nights, all the while still sending her customers." Her eyes snapped to Elias as she finished. "But thanks to her, before she was beaten, she gave me a chance of escape, where I snuck onto a boat and met my savior." Slowly she stood, her nails digging into Elias' skin and leaned forward, closely. "So when I tell you Mr. Keen, that you don't know anything, know that I am not lying." her voice was hard and cruel before her nails softened and a smile returned. "Good night Mr. Keen, for tomorrow you are back to work." She leaned in closer and kissed his cheek, staying a second longer than she should have before whispering in his ear, lips grazing his skin. "Let's hope you don't get into trouble again."