Pirate's Ransom

Chapter 26

The week spent on Eagle's ship had torn her mind and soul to pieces. At least she felt that way. Isabella sat on a small cot in an even smaller room. One she suspected was meant to house the mop buckets. Though, there was no point in complaining when she was sure Arus was in much worse accommodations. Not that she would know. She hadn't seen him since he'd discovered that she had a key around her neck this whole time.

Fingering the case he'd given her to protect she wondered what kind of document could be so important. She didn't even know if the key she had opened it. When she was first thrown into the room, Eagle had looked at the case with an interested gaze, and like an idiot she'd tried to hide it behind her back. Instead he'd ripped it from her grasp, after throwing her against a wall, knocking the breath from her. The burly man asked her what was in it but she said nothing. He'd even backhanded her across the face, splitting her lip, but she still didin't answer. He'd only laughed and said she'd heal before they returned.

Eagle spent five minutes trying to break the seemingly delicate lock open. She prayed that it wouldn't open and sure enough, it didn't. Finally, frustration took over Eagle. After bashing it against the door frame, stomping it, and attempting to pick the lock, he finally pulled out his pistol and shot the lock. The bullet ricocheted off and put a hole in the side of the ship only a foot away from her head. She didn't bother to move, or even flinch. Her ears rang but it was something for her to focus on other than the thought of Arus hating her.

Finally the man flung it at her, slamming into her stomach. He left mumbling that it was "too damn light to be gold or silver."

But for some reason, it was more precious to Arus than gold or silver. 

The days drifted by. Her only notion of the passing of time was due to the hole his bullet had left. It was the only way she saw light, in her dark room. There were no windows, no oxygen. There were even times when she thought that she might pass out from lack of air but placing her mouth near the hole, and breathing in the fresh sea air helped stave off her growing claustrophobia. 

Food was always delivered to her and in the beginning she refused to eat. After a few days the weakening of her body was too much and death was just too stupid of a demon to let win. Was Arus being fed? Was he sick? Had his wound become infected? The thoughts swirled in her head for the past week leaving her feeling sick herself. She was sure when they docked he wouldn't speak to her, wouldn't look at her.

She'd been so stupid for not showing him the key. At least, it seemed stupid now. Before it had seemed rational. The way to ensure she got to see her father and for Arus to get what he wants. 

Laying back on her cot she watched the dust float through the beam of light coming from the wall. The sun's ray shot through to land on the floor nearby. Every once in a while she would touch the light to remind herself that there was an end to this journey. There was a sun out there. When the door to her room, if it could even be called that, opened, she laid very still, as if she didn't care.

"Git up, woman." Woman... "We're gonna be hittin' land soon. Clean up."

He dropped a bucket of sea water onto the floor and latched her door closed again. Bathe. She hadn't been given anything to clean up with the entire time she'd been on this ship. Her hair was a matted mess, and she was sure she smelled horrid but the scent of her room wasn't any better. Somewhere in her gut she just knew Arus wasn't given the same option of bathing, so instead, she kicked the bucket over. No. She wouldn't bathe. She would show her father what the sea barbarians had put her through. The very men sent to "rescue" her. 

She heard shouts through the small hole and knew she was close to home...home. Was it even home anymore? No. Home was where she felt safe. Felt comfortable. Where she was with Arus.