I had never been on water before.
My mind had been so preoccupied with how I would get my children back that I had not stopped to think if I could travel on water. When the ship began to move, I began to feel lightheaded. It also occurred to me for the first time that with every second that passed, I was getting further away from solid land and should anything happen to this ship, it could mean the end of my life as I had never learnt to swim.
I stood up from where I lay on the bed and walked out of my cabin.
I was not sure what to blame; the fact that the ship was on water or the fact I knew because as I walked I could swear that I could feel the floor wobbling beneath me.
I walked to the deck and looked about me. There was no land in sight anymore. I had the strong urge to scream and command the captain of the ship to turn back but Reginald’s face flashed before my eyes and I stilled myself.
“It's just water,” Raven said and I muttered it too, trying desperately to convince myself that nothing could go wrong on this trip.
After all, it was Captain Thoma who steered the wheels of the ship and I knew based on his reputation that he was the lord of the sea. He had travelled several times on the sea and was still alive; that gave me some hope.
But my hope was not to last long as a huge wave crashed on the deck and the suddenness and force of it drew me backwards such that I lost my footing.
“My lady, are you hurt?” a gentleman asked me as he offered me his hand. I took his hand and found my footing.
“Thank you,” I said, forcing a smile and desperately trying not to give in to the urge to throw up.
“I take it it is your first time on a voyage?” he asked with a pleasant smile.
I was in no mood for a conversation so I barely nodded and turned to leave. However, I lost my footing again but this time the man held my hand.
“I am Fabian, it would not hurt to sit and talk to someone,” he said, he had a pleasant enough smile that seemed trusting but I still managed to find it creepy.
“Thank you but I am alright. I only need to rest awhile,” came my response as I removed myself from his hold.
I walked back to my cabin and once inside I began to retch. It was a good thing that I had not eaten anything the previous day, otherwise, my floor would be a mess. I tried drinking water but found that I could not stomach it.
*******#******
Many days passed in misery. I lapsed in and out of consciousness at intervals. I was sick and the salty air only made things worse.
Today was no different than all the other days but I was insanely hungry. I had been unable to eat anything on account that I would throw it all up but I felt somewhat better today. No longer was I lapsing in and out of consciousness but I still felt very weak.
I heard the bell ring, calling the passengers on board for their meal.
I stood up and looked at my image in the mirror. I looked just as miserable as I felt. I opened my bag and changed my clothes, then proceeded to put on some makeup and dye my hair. When my Cecille Banks transformation had been completed, I joined the others for breakfast.
“I was beginning to think that you had jumped off the ship,” the man on my left said. It was… I could not remember his name again.
“Fabian,” he said with a smile as though he had read my mind.
“Cecille,” my response was curt, letting him know that I was not interested in his friendship. Really, I wanted to be left alone.
“A beautiful name for a beautiful woman,” his smile remained pleasant. He had chosen to ignore my quiet plea to be left alone.
“Thank you,” I responded weakly.
“I can tell you have not had anything to eat in a while. You should start with the milk then and chew slowly. How's the nausea?” I wanted to ask Fabian if he was sent to me but I was too weak to be sensible about anything. I just listened to him talk while I forced myself to eat. I was hungry but I had no appetite to eat anything.
When breakfast was over, I stood up from my chair with the intention of walking back to my cabin when I saw Emily.
My eyes widened in shock and I almost lost my balance. What in the world was Emily doing on this ship? Had Uncle Napoleon been successful in joining her and Captain Thoma in marriage? I observed however that there was no wedding band on her finger. What the hell was going on?
I had so many questions but I had to hold myself back.
“That is Princess Emily, people refer to her as the cold princess. There's money on her as the heiress of the Dark Moon clan,” Fabian said to me in a whisper.
The cold princess?
I had known Emily to be a practical woman but I would never have described her as cold.
Had I been wrong about Emily?
Could I trust her?
Was she here because she had my twins or because she was looking for them?
“Nothing happens in the clan without her approval,” said Fabian.
“You sound so sure of what you say,” I looked him squarely in the eye and he gave a nervous chuckle.
“It is just talk. I apologise if I have offended you, you do not like gossip, yes?”
I ignored Fabian and focused my attention on Emily.
What was she doing here?