The sun shone with pure beams weaving the of shadows the fluttering sails and the young man who stood confused beneath them. His morning greetings were answered with grave silence. Albert walked checking every corner but he found no one, even Vincent wasn't in his room. Things were thrown everywhere in disarray, the masts ropes were left for the wind to whistle through and the kitchen was in a mess as if a group of feral cats had raided it. Albert's heart started to beat with unease, the ship in her current state resembled a ghost ship roaming with no clear destination. There was one more place to check despite his reluctance: the command cabin where Alex and Howard direct the ship. He knocked on the door telling himself that if he found no one there as well then he'd gone mad indeed and began to imagine things but there was no way that the entire crew was stuffed in the command cabin. He knocked afraid of the silence, but the door was open, that wasn't Alex's habit. He let in his head first and looked around, like a guilty child. The room seemed empty from where he stood then, he pushed the door wide open and let in his whole body. Someone was standing leaning on the rudder with another person; his hair was cut to his shoulder just like Alex's. He sighed gladly when he saw him but after few steps, the sun beams entered the dark room through the small round windows coloring the man's silky hair merging with its bright blondness. Jeremy turned at Albert with his usual smile, yet it was slightly different this time, it was that of welcoming but to a hidden trap. Albert stood straight to conceal his confusion and demanded firmly:
" What's the meaning of this? What are you doing in the command cabin?"
" What a captain does, my dear friend."
Jeremy answered as if the question sounded strange. He didn't leave his place but his eyes quickly glimpsed quickly at the corner of the room then returned to the surprised young man who followed with fear the other's gaze falling upon a small trace of blood. He burst at the smiling man:
" You monster... what have you done to everyone?"
"Seriously..."
Jeremy exhaled as he threw himself on the captain's chair enjoying the sun light on his soft skin. He was playing with a pistol Albert recognized, it belonged to Alex. Albert bowed his head; to figure out that someone is dead, even if you didn't like them was still hateful but Jeremy went on guessing what his friend was thinking of:
" I was obliged to resort to violence but don't worry dear, no one is harmed. Although your stubborn captain didn't give up easily but in the end, there's nothing easier than stealing a sleeping ship."
Albert understood everything now, why his head fell heavy all of a sudden last night. It seems the meal which Alice had prepared and which Jeremy complimented so much was not just a heavy delicious meal, it was drugged as well. The Wilshire boy must have slipped something into the pot while befriending poor Alice. Albert sighed in frustration: while he was busy with immature feelings of jealousy and weakness, he failed to notice something so simple. Had he taken his eyes off Jeremy's arm embracing Alice, he could have noticed what was going on but instead, he sailed in his fantasies and self – doubt about his love for her and fear of rejection. What a royal officer he was, he was wrong to demand respect or recognition from the crew. He didn't deserve any. On the other hand, truly, he was glad the meal wasn't poisoned, and Jeremy's mind, till now, wasn't that twisted after all.
The new usurper captain got up and surrounded Albert friendly between his shoulder as he did before with Alice but Albert pushed him angrily:
" This is how you slipped the narcotic into the food, embracing Alice pretending to be a good man..."
Jeremy was taken aback by the angry looks he received. He huffed irritated taking Albert by his hand as he ordered another man in the room, a new face that Albert failed to recognize, to take care of the helm. He dragged him to the storeroom and opened the door half way allowing Albert to take a glimpse of his detained friends, the whole crew including Alice and Serena were tied in the warehouse. He locked the door again and said:
" See? I wasn't lying, they are all unharmed! I hate to kill if it's not necessary so I decided to leave their fate to my Iris. I'll gift the ship threatening her territory to her and she'll surely love me this time!"
Albert could not fathom why Jeremy would do this, showing him his friends to make him feel safe. Perhaps he did it to boast about his victory as an inexperienced fool or because despite everything, he still had some naivety and weakness. Albert turned around sighing in frustration:
"Now what?"
Jeremy blinked few times processing the question while looking at the royal officer's despondent worried face before he realized Albert's fears. The Wilshire boy smiled at the distressed officer a reassuring smile explaining:
"Fear not, my dear friend. I respect your noble rank. After all, we both come from a noble background, we view the world with a similar prospective. I won't degrade you and lump you in the same place as those savage beasts. Trash is always thrown together!"
He said the last part merrily winking at Albert who couldn't bring himself to laugh or smile even if he felt that he wanted to but at least, for the time being, his fears were calmed down just to rise again when he saw the unfamiliar faces of Jeremy's men. The token of criminality were all over their faces, there were certainly not of the Wilshire household, they were mere thugs Jeremy had hired with money, he could easily guess.
"So that charade with the pirates..."
"Poor men, they were brave but stupid enough to think they have a chance against the Amphitrite. Still, they fulfilled their roles splendidly, and here I am, onboard this ship! My trophy to my Iris!"
"Apparently, though coming from the same class, we don't share the same prospective!"
Albert declared with enraged eyes, his words for the first time since meeting and talking with Wilshire boy were laced with disgust and disapproval.
"They might have been some pirate scum, but they were still human, and you deceived them and lured them to certain death, knowing their fate!"
Albert went on, clenching his fists hard enough to almost draw blood from the nails pressed against the palms of his hands. Jeremy shrugged his shoulders, seeing no fault in his plan.
"They were pirates, the filth of the sea... they stole, plundered, and killed others! What is the harm of using them? I have no remorse regarding their demise. They were doomed one way or another."
The lad casually explained, though his words seemed ruthless, this was not the intention behind them. Albert feebly mumbled:
"Still... there are other ways to deal justly with them, the court..."
"Are you telling me they would have been pardoned execution? Your just court implies hanging, at least they died in battle."
Albert did not know to respond, for Jeremy's words were true. But nevertheless, there was the matter of deceit and misleading. A crime as grave in Albert's eyes as the ones listed by Jeremy. And since he could not put his thoughts into proper counter argument, he said:
"And what do you call what your doing now? Is this not piracy? Stealing a ship and deceiving the crew that "presumably" saved your life despite being an enemy?!"
At this accusation, Jeremy grew angry, gritting his teeth, chewing every word he uttered after with malice.
"Do not compare me to some common thugs! Beside, I am protecting the one I love, and my family! There is no shame in deceit, it is a tool of war and that is where we stand. Don't blame your crew's foolishness on me! Trusting me is not my mistake, but yours!"
Albert remained silent but did not bow his head down, although these words weighed heavily in his mind. Jeremy could tell easily what was going on in the royal officer's head. He offered the frustrated officer a hand on his shoulder once more, which the latter did not care to push away this time as his anger would yield nothing. Jeremy's face relaxed at the lack of rejection, his tone returned to its usual softness.
"You will be alright, same with your beloved cook. That I can promise, and that you can trust."
Jeremy tightened his grasp on Albert's shoulder before turning back to the rudder and urging his hired thugs to sail toward the Wilshire's mountainous island.
Albert was taken back to the main cabin, he was even served breakfast but didn't find any appetite as he thought of the Amphitrite crew and his own stupidity to trust someone like Jeremy. Alice is probably frightened, he thought. "Jeremy doesn't consider me much of a threat that's why he let me free, I've to take advantage of this" he told himself but what can he possibly accomplish by himself alone? Thoughts and plans were storming in his head just as the sky started to summon thunders and lightning. The sea surged, displeased about having his goddess falling prey to a band of mercenaries. Jeremy handled the helm but he wasn't skilled enough, he shouted at his men asking if someone between them knew how to direct a ship of this enormous size in such an unlucky weather but no voice was heard. He gnashed angrily trying to keep the ship out of danger but the waves kept on striking the ship from all sides, like catapults assaulting a fortified castle, shaking the walls still unable to perforate them. Everyone on the ship was swaying like toys inside a box, thrown to the opposite side the waves stroke. Albert, who was also thrown from his chair, yelled at Jeremy while trying to hold on to the table's fixed legs:
"Do something, or we'll all die here!"
" What about you? Do you know how to handle this thing?"
Jeremy asked with apparent fear in his eyes, the young boy who was raised in perfect comfort and indulgence didn't dare to let go of the helm even if he didn't know how to steer it. At this point, Albert realized that Jeremy was more reckless and foolish than twisted and deceitful. His love and urge to prove himself to his love will cause him life, as clearly he was stupid enough to believe a single pirate ship or a group a hired criminals can control the famous yet notorious ship. Albert felt sad for him but he wavered about taking the rudder. His father was a sailor, he'd taught him some essentials but they were probably no more than what Jeremy knows still, deep in his heart he found the enough bravery to hold the rudder more steadily than the trembling spoiled brat but merely imagining Alex standing in the spot where he is ought to, grasping the helm with utmost trust while guiding the ship, this was enough to make his courage and self - confidence shatter slowly and sink themselves into the bottom of his heart. Albert raised his head to answer his friend with disappointment but found him ordering one of his men to bring the captive captain at once. The man crawled outside the cabin holding to everything he came across while muttering and cursing. After a short time Alex was brought to the room. His hands were tied but he didn't seem to be treated roughly. His eyes were the same as ever but Albert got the feeling that he was enjoying seeing the Wilshire brat drowned all over in fear. Jeremy could sense this as well so he said to Alex miserably trying to hide his fear:
" Alex, I know you're capable of getting us safe out of the storm..."
"Why should I?"
Alex replied not losing an ounce of his composure. As if the skies were not roaring and the water was not hungry to devour the ship.
"Bastard, don't play with me! You will let your ship be sunk that easily?"
Jeremy screeched in panic, dropping his cool facade in a second. Alex answered without having a lid blinking:
"My ship has been already defiled, let it purify itself."
Jeremy's pupils widened in disbelief, he didn't care for the offense he'd just received. In such minutes of despair everything is dropped and nothing matters but survival. Jeremy held the cold - tempered man from his dark shirt's collar. Albert, still holding to the table's leg, looked with discomfort at the captain, fear trickling into his heart, fear from Alex who seemed serious in his refusal. In the end, Even Albert lost his temper and called to Alex angrily, it was no time to play with the Wilshire lad's nerves, as a wave hit the ship's right flank tossing them to the side assured this fact. After getting up, the scene at the room changed. Jeremy called two of his strong men pointing their guns at Alex's head saying that everyone values his own life and wish to end it without the slightest pain. Alex's expression did not agree with the Wilshire threat. He was ready to go down with his ship without any second thoughts. Until he was threatened by massacring the entire crew, did the captain gave in. The rope that tied Alex's hands was cut and the latter walked toward the rudder maintaining his balance on the shaking ground. Jeremy threw himself again on the chair sighing comfortably and sweeping the cold sweat that littered his forehead. He chided himself:
" Fear makes us forget about the easiest solutions, this is something I learned from you now my dear captain."
He went on looking at the fancy pistol and tossing his bangs away from his sweating forehead:
"I guess the thought of being unable to see my Iris one last time made me panic!"
Alex grasped the rudder; the gun that was pointed at his head was going left and right with the shaking vessel. Jeremy seemed relieved to have an experienced famous captain sailing through the storm; Albert felt the same in the beginning but then suddenly, strange images started to drown his head faster and more furiously than the water was about to drown the ship.
These images showed him an old fine ship. It was facing a wild storm; water was flowing through the holes the waves had caused and the men were screaming before they were engulfed by the darkness of the depth of the sea, only few were able to hold on strongly to the main mast but one of them couldn't... his weak hand slipped as his body did but a strong hand held him before being devoured by that darkness, the man called his saver "captain" but this memories didn't show what kind of expression the young sailor's face had at that moment, nor when a huge wave opened its mouth largely ready for the next morsel. Albert intended to extend a helping hand, he opened his mouth to yell at the captain to stop but the captain wouldn't listen. He pushed the sailor to his other friends. The raising monster from the sea didn't appreciate what the captain did, it devoured him and again, these images didn't show the expressions the young sailor had... perhaps there was none.
Albert opened his eyes, Jeremy's voice awakened him from his imaginary memory but he didn't look at him... it was like being awakened from a long night sleep to find that you've fallen from your bed while having some dream. Albert was thrown in the end of the room as he let go of the table's leg during his dream. Maybe he wasn't there and didn't witness the incident of his father's last journey but he'd always imagined things happening this way until he believed this was how it really went. His whole body was trembling with anger when his eyes fell on Alex. More strange thoughts was thronging in his head, he had the idea of taking the gun from Jeremy's men and shooting Alex or better, to drag him out the cabin and throw him to the hungry sea but even the agitated sea would drop such distasteful meal in his opinion. This time he didn't admire the man who, skillfully and professionally, was navigating the ship through the wild storm. Wasn't it his father who had taught him all what he knows now? If there was anything to admire, it was his father's skill and bravery.
Another shaking awakened him completely; actually, the ship never seemed to have stopped shaking. Alex wasn't avoiding the waves; he seemed to be crashing into them on purpose. A gang of men that had never experienced the sea before couldn't possibly stand such swinging; seeing the see agitated assaulting them from all sides was like seeing their own demise raveling in front of their eyes slowly. Jeremy left his chair like a mad man and shouted at Alex who the man terrified screams didn't stop him, the men were shouting in horror and panic like a lost herd of sheep attacked by wolves. Although Alex didn't look at Albert since he got into the room, the young man understood what Alex was trying to do. Albert looked at Jeremy who was still yelling at the silent captain, he held him from his shoulder calming him down, and whispered in his ear:
"He knows what he is doing, let him be!"
" I know what he's trying to do! He'll kill us all!"
The frightened boy panted in terror, but Albert reassured him. After few moments of tense calmness, Albert stood and said he has to go back to his room, he wanted to make sure if the water didn't reach his books since he cherished them so much. Jeremy didn't have a problem but merely warned:
" You won't do anything suspicious?"
"Of course... what can I do in this weather?"
Jeremy looked at him; he seemed like a naive trusting child when he added:
"You won't betray me Albert, we're friends... right?"
Albert smiled at him; he stepped quickly out of the room as if guilt was pushing him out, and for some stupid reason he didn't dare to look at Jeremy's face again. When he got to the deck he saw the men shouting in horror and panic, none of them remained in the place Jeremy assigned them to; even the storeroom door was left without guards. Few steps were separating him from the door but a lot of thoughts filled this short distance. First, why should he obey that man's, Alex's, order especially that he has given his word to Jeremy, but wasn't it Jeremy himself who started this play and betrayed them first? He took over the ship with a fake smile, letting some group of thugs follow them and steal the ship at night with trickery and drugs. Albert covered his face laughing at himself, he couldn't believe that he, a man that was minutes ago thinking about killing someone, was seeing things this way. He convinced himself that saving the ship was the first priority. He sneaked, rather crawled, to the door as heavy drops of water seared his body. He was hardly able to put the key, left hanging on a nail beside the door, in the lock. He opened the door carefully, the screeching sound it let was lost in the blowing wind. He was welcomed with Alice's smile and the crew's ill - favored looks. They asked him about their captain as if they suspected he'd killed him, but he calmed them down as he untied them without haste. The insulted crew dashed to the deck grasping everything they can fight with while the two girls and Vincent rushed to Albert.
"How come you weren't tied up too!"
Alice was the first to speak, relieved at seeing her childhood friend safe. Albert smiled at Alice, she was only kidding but deep down in his heart, he felt as if he really owed the Wilshire boy something. As he saw Howard rushing to the main cabin, Albert's heart swayed with unease. Few minutes later, Jeremy was pushed out of the room, his sword unsheathed in his hand and Alex got out too, also holding his sword. Jeremy turned around seeing the mess... half of the small group of men he'd brought was already sunken by the storm while the ones who remained were defeated and killed by the ship's insulted crew. He looked at Albert and laughed as if he was congratulating him:
"I see you've finally matured, my friend!"
Albert opened his mouth but no words came out. The boy truly trusted him, he turned his face ashamed of himself but he'd no other choice. Still, he was ready to beg for Jeremy's life if things were to come to this. But storms and rains, enraged waves, nothing mattered to Jeremy at that moment. He stood shaking and pushing back the blonde tufts soaked in cold water drops. Then tightened his grasp around his sword prepared for the battle ahead, but Alex didn't give him a chance to take one step toward him. Fast like the lightning illuminating the ill sky, and as loud as the thunder accompanying it, Alex charged. Serena remarked nodding her head in pity:
"Alex won't have mercy on him."
Albert could see clearly the reason Serena had said this. That proud captain would never forgive being insulted and having his ship stolen by an immature boy but Albert could sense the issue was more complex than this. Alex has intended to kill the boy from the first moment the Wilshire's crest exposed itself on his neck.
"Jeremy, stop it already... you'll never have the ship!"
Albert cried, in plea but his voice wasn't heard, even Alice felt sorry for the guy but Jeremy didn't seem to be defeated yet. He spoke with his duel opponent with ultimate trust:
"Here's another secret captain to gain your trust! My dear Iris was whispering your name while she was sleeping, I heard her when I sneaked once into her room... care to know what happened next?"
The young man accounted this seeking to provoke his enemy but Alex wasn't paying the slightest attention to the boy's romantic adventures. Alex was forcing him to fall back until he was blockaded between the waves and the pointed end of Alex's sword still, he went on smiling:
"She hates you so much she's mumbling your name while sleeping! Your head will be my gift to her then she'll be satisfied with me, she will accept my undying love!"
The infatuated lad was wishing for a lot of things but these wishes weren't meant to come true. He was able to avoid Alex's stroke only to fall to the foaming sea. Albert couldn't help himself and rushed to the edge of the ship extending his hand barely touching Jeremy's but the latter smiled one last time at "his friend" before the waves concealed his smile in the horrifying depth, as if enraged from being mocked by it. Albert turned angrily at Alex but he couldn't say anything, it wasn't Alex who killed him in the end, it was the sea he once told Albert that "a man must be sly like it to survive it." Alex didn't wait for Albert to say something. He rushed back to the command cabin taking control of the rudder again to lead the ship safely after entrusting this mission to Howard who was doing his best. The group of thugs Jeremy had brought onboard to raid the ship were all killed and their bodies thrown to the sea, led by the example of the man who hired them. Albert and Alice looked one last time at the spot where their two faced friend laid now. Unlike his cheerful face, it was so deep and dark, maybe just like his heart.