Pirate's Ransom

Chapter 19

She got that he didn't completely trust her..and that was fine, but to treat her like that in front of the entire crew... Well it had embarrassed her. She'd retreated to the confines of the cabin knowing that eventually he would come and collect her when they docked. Taking off her boots she crawled up onto Arus's bed and leaned against the small sill of the window. The breeze blew wisps of her hair around her cheeks, tickling her. In the small glass jar sat the cricket that she'd been kidnapped with. The little guy had hung on, she wasn't sure for how long he would though. 

He chirped less and less now and it made her sad. She made sure she fed him every day and got little bits of water. Her attachment to the bug was probably ridiculous to Arus but he never said anything about it. Some days he even brought a small piece of fruit to leave for him. 

"Hey little guy," she said softly as she tapped on the glass. The little cricket looked up at her and cleaned his face as if he was afraid she'd see a smudge. 

"I'm sorry you're stuck in the jar. I promise I'll make it up to you. I know what it's like to be cooped up against your will," she heard the sadness in her own voice. "But don't fret. You've come this far and you're obviously strong enough to handle the rest."

A small chirp emanated from him. 

She set her forehead down next to the glass. God, she was talking to a cricket, and too much of her advice sounded like she was giving it to herself. 

"Unlike me, you will soon be completely free to do as you please. This will just be a chapter in your life." She ran her finger up the glass and the little guy watched her. 

It wasn't the first time she'd come into the room to have a small conversation with the insect. She supposed that was a testament as to how lonely she was. Stuck on a ship filled with people and yet she was still utterly alone. Or at least, alone enough that she had to resort to having conversations with a bug. 

Pressing a palm to her head she felt the beginnings of a headache. Her thought to stay on the ship was utterly selfish. Her father was sick, and he would die, and if she didn't go back to him she'd regret leaving him alone for the rest of her life. Guilt would chew her up and spit her out. How could she tell her father that though he was dying she'd still rather stay with a bunch of pirates? No. She couldn't do that. Her father meant the world to her and a few tender moments with Arus had obviously messed with her mind for a bit. Clouded it. It was clearing again and she knew that her father would see her again. She would make sure of it. 

She thought of her father. There was no doubt in her mind that he was bed ridden by now. Perhaps he'd even passed on and she had no idea. The thought sent a crippling sadness to her chest and her vision grew blurry with unshed tears. With a sniffle she said "Pirate's and crickets don't cry."

"No. They don't." 

Isabella pinched her eyes closed when she heard a voice come from the door. With a deep breath she tried to compose herself before he came around and saw the tears swimming in her eyes. If she tried to wipe them away he'd know. 

She felt his footsteps, rather than heard them and before long he stood by the bed watching her. 

"But Ladies do," his soft voice said as he sat down on the edge of the bed. 

Isabella curled her feet under her and kept her gaze on the cricket. "I'm not one of those either." What am I then? A hint of irritation could still be found in her voice. 

"No. You're something much more special." 

That caught her off guard and she lifted her head to look at him, expecting him to laugh because he was only joking.  But his head was tilted to the side, his stunning emerald eyes peering at her through dark lashes. The look in his eyes told her there was no joke in what he'd said.