Celeste

22.

Eli stands taunt at the crows nest.

His fingers burn with the constant climbing up and down, legs begining to shake. He steels his nerves, keeping a face in his minds eye.

Celeste's father might have given up after finding the dress and losing his arm, but Eli knows deep down that she is out there. But she is not marroned on a spit of land, not trapped on a ship.

In Eli's mind, he is positive that she has turned into a mermaid. The ship's crew might laugh at him, roll eyes at every suggestion he makes. Call him crazy.

But he knows. In the past people have disappeared, clothes being found and not much else. But they came back. Usually they just walked home, sodden, wearing strange salty clothing that hangs off them wrong, walking like a drunkard.

It's legend, sure, but it's true. It has to be. He met a couple at Ironbridge, who said that they saw a man walk home in strange clothes, soaked through, staggering about. The family had left, and he just sat beside the house, crying, before running for the beach, jumping into the sea, and disappearing.

Sure, they were drunk at a brewery when they told him, slurring, whispering half words. But it's true. Celeste couldn't just...

Another face pushes hers away, batting eyelashes and blowing kisses. Samantha. She made him laugh when he wanted to cry, and yet she wanted more.

"I know you are still waiting for her, but I'm waiting for you."
Her words buzz into his mind, and a slight smile at the memory that a girl was waiting for him. This girl wouldn't run away, wouldn't dream of leaving him.

Yes, the father had sniffed in disapproval at first, but soon learned that Eli was being promoted, and the sniff became a smile. Samantha seemed out of his status, but they became close ever since the funeral.

Eli fingered the ring in his pocket, torn. It would be several months before he saw land again, and he had lots of time to look for Celeste, but it had been almost a year now. The town would be hosting a memorial and he didn't want to be there, not when she could be alive.

A flash in the distance sets his heart racing. But it's only a dolphin shooting out of the waves. Disappointment smothers him, and a thought is cemented in place.

If I don't find Celeste by the time I return home, I will propose to Samantha.
Eli thinks, taking the ring out to look at it again.

It's a simple enough band with studded green emeralds surrounding a big diamond, twinkling in the light. The hot sun makes it sparkle like the sea.

The hot sun is also hot, and Eli can't stand it. Securely pocketing the ring, he clambers down the rope, years of practice and muscled limbs helping him land safely on the deck.

"Crow boy. Any sign of a mermaid? Or perhaps a sea dragon?" The first mate addresses him, smiling.

"No, sir. Just a dolphin." Eli replies, cheeks burning.

"Sure it's not a mermaid?" He asks, laughing.

Eli says nothing, simply, walking to the hull of the ship, deep shade welcoming him.
He's not the only one down here, to tell by the loud snores and quiet card games punctuated by a gasp or a curse.

In a lonely corner, next to smelly mops and sloshing water barrels is his hammock. On the wall there is two engravings, one of Celeste, one of Samantha. Someone has carved "mermaid lover" in the wall and he sighs before sitting in the material.

He lays down with ease, and the rocking of the waves should lull him to sleep, but it doesn't.

Instead Eli stares at the ceiling, blissfully unaware of the boat on the horizon headed their way.

The first indication that he has fallen asleep is when a sudden lurch sends him sprawled out on the floor, groaning. Shouts make its way to his ears and one word is clear enough that it sends a cold shiver down his spine.
"Pirates!"

The hull is empty save for a rat who darts into the shadows. They've taken all the weapons. Panic enfolds Eli as a gutteral cheer of victory is heard. They've taken the ship.

Cursing, Eli stumbles to his feet and makes his way out of the hull, peering out of the deck. Pirates swarm the deck and one turns his way, dark eyes twinkling in victory.

Eli runs back the way he came, hearing delighted laughter and heavy boots follow.

Eli hides in the best place he can find, hunched behind barrels of clean water, willing his heart to stop beating so fast as silence descends in the hull.

A heavy this means the door has closed, and Eli really panics.
"Come out, come out where ever you are..." A voice says.

Eli says nothing, knowing that if the pirate finds him he will be dead.

"I won't hurt you, I promise."

In the dark hiding spot, Eli can hear a sharp intake of breath.
"Mermaid lover? Is this your bunk? Such pretty pictures-"

A cold silence takes place, and a soft boot tread makes his way over. "Gotcha."

Eli screams in shock as the barrels are knocked out of the way, a figure marching through to grab his shirt and shove him against the wall. He grunts in pain, staring wide eyed at the pirate, who shoves a picture in his face.

"Where is she?!" The pirate thunders. Eli looks Breifly at the picture of celeste. His eyebrows crease in confusion. "what-"
The pirate slams him into the wall again. "don't make me ask again. Where is she!?"

"I don't know! I was looking for her! she disappeared about a year ago, f-f-from rosewood!"

The pirates eyes narrow. "you lie."

"no, no, I swear it, i-" Eli chokes as the pirate begins to strangle him. Desperately, eli kicks out, gasping.

One leg makes contact, and the pirate gasps, loosing his hold. Eli ducks out of the way and darts for the entrance, supprised when no one else is on deck, most on the other boat.

A angry yell prompts eli to grab a loose board and leap over the railing, into the sea.