Silence

Chapter 9

Tom

I have to resist the urge to pull my hair as I continue pacing around Wag's room thinking of a way to explain the situation without scaring him. I know he's scared anyway and luckily Jordan isn't going to make him interact with the pirates but I need his help on this. When I started this conversation, I hadn't expected an argument to start but that didn't work out as that's all we've been having for the past few minutes. A few ideas spring into my head to try and persuade him, I take a breath before choosing which one to say.

"Look you don't need to come, I just need a potion or an item I can use to break through magic," I need something to help when the trap is set off, anything that'll break it. I haven't told him about the trap, it'll scare him and that might end with him considering coming himself which I don't want. I just want a way to turn it off. I'm not going to let the pirates see him with how he reacted when I told him their names, not with the risk of something happening to him.

"They'll have questions and she might recognise my magic," I try not to sigh since I know it makes sense that people could recognise his magic, it's beautiful with a slight red and silver glow on every spell he does. I think it's beautiful anyway. I do still need the magic though, maybe telling him the truth is going to be the only way to do that. I just need to calm myself down. Say it calmly and it won't seem threatening.

"I just need something. Dianite's set a trap and he's... he's planning to use it to kill one of the Ianitees," My throat dries by the time I reach the last part. Even with the knowledge that the trap is only dangerous if we take too long to stop it. Knowing though, knowing still hurts, especially since they'll still go even I tell them about the trap.

"I thought Dianite wanted Capsize alive," He has a right to be confused about that, I did show him the poster Dianite gave me yesterday. Honestly, the whole thing freaked me out with how treated it. Capsize didn't seem to care at all until her brother got hurt and for whatever reason Jordan didn't have a reaction. When I showed Wag the poster, he stared at it for ages before giving it back to me with a few red blotches on the paper. I did have to ask if he recognised her.

"The trap isn't for her," I don't really know what will happen if she gets in there first but I know it'll be nothing good, maybe better than if one of the others trips it but not enough for me to risk it. I don't want anything bad to happen to any of them for no reason. That and, with how badly he wants her, I doubt Dianite would treat her very nicely. "He wants to use it on Jordan or Redbeard, he didn't say what would happen if one of the others spring it instead of them."

"Use this," He says, handing me a bracelet off a shelf. I examine it in my hands, a golden base with a few gems that glow with Wag's magic. I didn't think he'd already have something but it does mean I don't have to worry about it being ready in time and I can hide it until I need it. "It can break through magic, slowly but it's better than nothing."

"I don't get it," I admit about the situation, attempting to get my mind around it. After all that resistance he already had something. Why did there need to be death involved? "What did happen with the pirates? You don't want them to be hurt but you're scared to go near them."

"Tom I," He looks down, obviously not wanting to look me in the eyes. He laughs under his breath as if the story is so unbelievable that I'd never believe him. I place a hand on his shoulder hoping to get him to at least look at me. Slowly he speaks again. "She was my best friend."

Flashback - James

I try not to laugh as Capsize draws on my arm knowing from experience how sensitive she is about her artwork due to her treatment by the other children on the island. Sometimes I wish I could break the contract and give them a taste of their own medicine but I know I'd get in trouble for that (and Capsize probably would get upset about it too). She doesn't understand that they're wrong, though she has at least been listening when I've been telling her that her drawings are good. Yet even knowing how nervous she always it about it, it's hard not to twitch when she touches the pen against my arm.

"I think it's done," Capsize says, shuffling back to look at her picture. I twist my head to look at it without using magic (as amazed as she always is when I use it, I know Capsize is a little scared of it). There's browns and blues on it though the shape is a bit of a blur due to the angle. "It's a boat, like when we first met!"

"It's great, Capsize," Even though I can't see it properly, I'm sure I'm not lying. All of Capsize's drawing have been great so this one won't be any different. She laughs slightly, playing with her hands. She gets like this a lot but today seems slightly different. She looks at me.

"Dad says he's going to get me some paints next time he's in a port that sells them."

"Really how soon do you think that will be?" I always like hearing about Capsize's family. I like knowing they'll be someone here looking after her when the contract is done. I'm not sure what I would have done if not, maybe bring her back (if I got permission first). If I wouldn't get in a lot of trouble for it, I'd have probably tried to meet her family by now.

"I'm not really sure but-"

"Capsize!" Before she can finish a yell that's become familiar cuts across the beach. I know I should be disappointed that I've failed again but it reminds me again that she's got people who care about her. I go to once again give her the offer I have to but before I can she grabs my arm, a smile on her face.

"I want to tell you a secret," She says, leaning close to me without asking if I want to hear. I wouldn't say no if asked so I don't mind, even if this is a result of everyone but her thinking I'm not real. "My real name is Katherine Delaney."

It's as if a bolt of lightning has struck the moment she says that. Time starts to slow as she runs off and I don't even realise I've teleported back to my dull bedroom decorated with her gifted drawings until I'm kneeling on the stone floor. She's the one I was looking for, Capsize is the one I was looking for. I can't do this but I have to, I can't break the contract, not again. I'm sorry Capsize, I didn't want to do this. I wish it wasn't you but... I'm sorry.

A/N:

I honestly am not sure how I got this chapter out on Christmas (it's probably just one of those things where it's the evening so it feels less like Christmas now but still). This is sort of an odd one for me to write since I only realised a sort of link between the flashback and the present part of the chapter after I finished writing it but I'm sure that's fine.

I'm not going to ramble too much since I sort of want to play on the switch game I got so I'm just going to say, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and Merry Christmas (or just general happy feelings if you don't celebrate Christmas). :D