Vanessa [A Poor Unfortunate Soul]

30. Think Lovely Thoughts

When the sun set and night consumed the world, the Christmas party began.

Vanessa did nothing but dance bare-footed on the deck with the crew. For being an old ship, the wood made for a great dance floor.

The music rippled through her like the ocean. Picked her up, twirled her around in a circle and switched partners each beat. The ship erupted with laughter, music and the sense of freedom. The fairies were invited and arrived with a pinch of pixie dust. Vanessa opted to stay on the ground.

Everyone received gifts. Mostly from their captain, but all were grateful. Everyone's 'secret Santa' was accounted for, except for one box with no 'from' tag on it. Only Jakob's name was written on a tag tied to a purple bow on the box. A bottle of his favorite apple flavored alcohol sat inside it. 

"How was your night?" Sasha asked when Vanessa snuck into her quarters to thank her.

"Unimaginable." Vanessa said with a larger smile than ever stretching over her lips. "Well you certainly looked lovely." She said and folded some fabric over her lap.

"Thank you!" Vanessa said and went in for a hug.

"Alright" she said three times. "Its late perhaps you should get to bed."

A loud splash took their attention. When Vanessa and Jane arrived at the main deck, there she stood. Crossing her arms, with her black and purple hair blowing in the cold wind.

"Nadia." Jane said.

"Oh hello." She said with a laugh.

"What did you do?" Jane growled and pulled out her sword.

"Oh, I pushed your captain overboard in exchange for this." She said and held a single bean in the air."

"What the hell is that?" Vanessa asked.

"Its a magic bean." Jane answered.

"I believe she was asking me." Nadia gloated.

Just as Vanessa had heard enough she was restrained from behind. 

"Meet my associates." Nadia said. "Sapphire, and Genevieve."

"Hello." Genevieve said, trying to sound tough. She was short, and had a high pitched voice. Her hair was black and with a darker complexion she was the more lovely of the "associates".

"Hello." Sapphire said from behind Vanessa.

"Let me go!" Vanessa demanded.

"I suppose I could." Nadia said. But you wouldn't want to hurt your beloved captain even more would you?"

"What are you talking about?" Jane butted in.

Nadia didn't answer in words. She only lifted the empty bottle of apple flavored alcohol.

"If you come even within five feet from your beloved" Sapphire whispered in Vanessa's ear. "His heart will literally split in two."

"You poisoned his heart?" Jane asked, flabbergasted.

"I'd think you would've worked that one out." Nadia laughed.

"There's desperate, and then there's you Nadia." Jane said and spat in her direction. 

"I suppose." She shrugged. "But it no longer matters. Because with this bean, all will be put right once again."

Without hesitation Jane reached into her bag, pulling out a seashell she whispered into it. 

"What was that?" Vanessa asked, before Sapphire covered her mouth with her gloved hand.

"I called for back up." Jane said and smirked at Nadia. With that the whole crew swarmed the deck.