The princess stepped to the altar where a small key made of white wood into the shape of a magnolia was laid. It was left on the altar with no charms of protection or guards, offering the prosperity it promised only to the purest of hearts, that was the sole protection it needed. Not any person could take hold of it. Funny that it pertained to the Wilshire family, everyone thought to themselves. Her highness grasped it saying:
"It really is here, I can tell it's the key we need."
Albert smiled proudly of himself while Alice whispered to him as her doubts were washed away and her worries relieved:
"That guy was really honest with us!"
"I told you, I know what I'm doing!"
Albert boasted, with a smile who was longing to wear for a long time. Just then, a loud voice like the crumbling of a mountain spread over the place. Everyone turned and saw Jeremy standing outside the temple's doorstep, he chortled at their surprised faces while a huge stone like a door was being closed separating between him and the group. He announced his presence and his departure at the same time:
"This is a Wilshire territory and I know it like the palm of my hand, though deserted and forgotten! There's a small hole in the end of this chamber, soon the tide will drown the place and you'll die like rats trapped in hole!!
He finished with another laugh while avoiding Alex's pistol who then rushed trying to grasp the Wilshire boy but the stony door closed separating between them and protecting the boy from the captain's iron grip. Alex turned at the other young man, Albert, who couldn't defend himself this time but Alex merely said:
"Fool!"
Albert turned his head and sat on the ground covering his face with his hands and cursing his stupidity which led the others to this situation but the sound of the approaching water made him spring to his feet again. Alex looked at the terrified faces the others had, he never wished to see anyone of his crew die like trapped rats as the Wilshire boy had expressed.
"I'm sorry everyone, this is my entire fault! I was naïve and thought I could I trust that man..."
Albert lowered his head apologizing sincerely but Serena waved the matter away:
"It's not your fault; no one can blame you for the goodness of your heart."
"But..."
Albert protested frustrated with himself, what Serena called "goodness of heart" was nothing but foolishness and a failure to learn a lesson until a placating voice rose.
"Please, there is no need to panic, everyone."
Of course, the voice belonged to the royal princess whom everyone turned at. The princess did not fail to maintain her calmness this whole time; she went on checking the place with her eyes:
"People used to worship and priests used to stay in this place in seclusion, they couldn't have risked the tide danger every time they came here. They must have built a hiding place."
"You're right!"
Alice agreed and started searching for a hidden door or room with the crew, men and Albert joined them out of guilt using what little light streamed feebly through the hole Jeremy spoke about. The princess looked at the altar with careful eyes; there was a small ring beneath the key's place, covered with dust and grass. She pulled it and the altar began slowly to split in two revealing a hidden room under it.
"That's it!"
Alice exclaimed happily, they all rushed inside the dark room which was closed again when the water drowned the place.
"That was an easy escape!"
Serena expressed her relief to lift some of Albert's guilt, with a soothing smile but that was not truly the situation.
"So what? We're still trapped here and can't go outside!"
Alex remarked and the princess nodded agreeing while the others bowed their heads depressed. Albert wanted the find them a way out of this cave to correct his mistake but couldn't think of anything useful because his mind was too confused. The princess groped the walls in the darkness, there were lanterns hanged on them, she noted:
"There are lanterns, but they didn't light when we entered although they most likely have to. That boy must have turned them off; he probably didn't want us to uncover something of we were to figure a way out about that little altar chamber."
"Like what?"
"A way out of this place but it's so dark and I can't see anything. I can feel transcriptions on the walls, they might be useful..."
Albert asked in a hurry and the princess answered, for the first a hint of frustration tainting her royal visage. She did not wish for anyone's harm and she could help them out, but the darkness prevented her. The hopes that started to rise quickly went down as they had nothing to start a fire with. All what they could do was sit and wait a miracle to happen. Alice sat by Albert's side trying to console him and share the burden of his mistake, as she was responsible just as him to trust Jeremy. She stared at the darkness drowning the place and her heart started to beat with fear. She needed something to forget the darkness engulfing them so she started recalling her first meeting with Albert.
"Do you remember when we intended to make a small ship? We gathered wood from the forest and lopped them... it was never finished..."
Alice embraced her knees close to her chest with her arms, leaning on Albert. Even in the darkness, the young man could still see the bright these memories brought to her eyes. She spoke with such fondness. Maybe up until working on the Amphitrite and meeting Alex, this was the only happy memory she had and thus treasured with love and care. Albert raised his head to allow her tired one more space on his shoulder. He finished the memory.
"That's right... night fell fast and we got frightened and ran back to our homes..."
Albert bit on his lips, that time they were also surrounded with similar darkness but they had a home to run to, this time there was no place. After moments of solemn recollection and regret, something went across his mind. The key to the spring was wooden, also, Serena was leaning on a wooden stick she had collected from the forest to aid her in keeping pace with the men. He sprang to his feet all of a sudden, frightening Alice, and asked the girl for the stick. Serena showed it to him thinking he wanted something to lean on, but after a quick blind inspection with his hands, he asked her to hold it while he unsheathed his sword.
"What are you going to do?!"
Serena asked withdrawing her fingers, but Albert promised he won't hurt her. He was sweating already, but did not dare to ask anyone for help, feeling the weight of their lives on his shoulders. He knew he should ask Alex as he was far more experienced with the sword, but he was determined to amend for his own mistake with his own hands. Serena did not want to add to his shame, so she held the stick steadily yet keeping her fingers as far from the sword as she could. She was a genuinely nice woman, Albert thought. Her and everyone else of the crew deserved to be saved and the guilt he preferred to not think of Alex's presence right now. Slowly he cut a groove in the wooden forest stick.
"What are you planning to do?"
Serena asked again, and Albert explained:
"I am lighting a fire! Your highness, would you please give me the key?"
Alex frowned but the princess did as she was asked without questioning the boy. Albert touched the key, its end was pointed and hard as he needed... for once since the start of this journey, the god began stood standing by his side! He rubbed the key's tip up and down the groove as the others watched with hoping eyes at the fire that started to ignite the place. Albert inspected the key praying, it was solid enough that not even a dent was caused or a harm was done by the fire. He quickly returned the key to the princess.
"Albert, you are amazing!!"
Alice exclaimed running to his side, but her smiled at her shyly and said as he pressed on her hand.
"If you have not reminded me of the small ship I would have never had thought of this..."
Alice smiled at him, holding his hand more tightly. The fire lightened the dark room; there was nothing special in it, it was not even a room, it was just a cave with one wall carved with ancient scripts. Everyone peered into the shapes and letters and failed to make sense of them. It was either some dead language or a secret one. Serena wondered sighing, as their trial did not seem to reach its end yet.
"Is that what he did not want us to see?"
"He was being just too careful this time. As if any of us can read these
scribbles!"
A sailor commented in desperation, the efforts were in vain. But the smile stepped toward the wall investigating the writings carefully before saying:
"Follow me; I'll lead out of here."
All heads looked surprised at her but then realized, she was a priestess too, and probably had knowledge about these ancient scripts. They followed her through rough paths designed as a labyrinth and finally, a door similar to the one which closed on them was opened with a charm the princess chanted. They all felt relieved to be able to see the sunlight again. Alex approached the princess and said humbly:
"Thank you princess Selene for saving my men's life."
The princess nodded in acknowledge to his pride while Serena turned her face; he probably does not consider her of his crew. After this very brief exchange, Alex's face darkened completely, he loaded his guns and went in the direction leading to the cave entrance. They all followed him knowing what he was planning.
Jeremy was there waiting to see the success of his plan. He couldn't wait until he returns and tells Iris about Alex's death even if she were to scold him again like the first time before he made an attempt on his life and ship. He heard approaching steps from him and his face turned ashen white when he saw Alex followed by the others. He stepped back as if he'd seen a ghost and mumbled:
"But how... you're supposed to be... there's no way you could have escaped!"
His mind couldn't figure out how they discovered the escape path but when he noticed the princess among them, he wetted his mouth like a wild animal among a herd of more furious beasts commenting on his lack of insight:
"It's you, the priestess princess! I should have taken care of you first!"
He rushed at her with his sword but was countered with Alex's bare grip which blocked the sword, gripping it from the blade not caring for the blood oozing from his cut hand, pulling both the sword and his wielder down. The boy fell in terror; that man was determined to kill him at any cost and he wasn't willing to die yet knew he could never win against that monster of a captain. Alex had to release the sword in order not to deepen the cut and so Jeremy took the chance and flew on his feet like a shooting star, and started running for his life through the forest.
Alex got out his two pistols and ran after him angrily, the others followed them and Albert ran faster than them all.
"Wait, Albert!"
Alice shouted fearing a confrontation going wrong. Albert heard her but didn't stop, he was so mad as well to be fooled twice because of the kindness of his heart and easy sympathy. He dashed like an arrow and soon he was face to face with Jeremy, even before Alex could reach him.
"Jeremy!"
Albert yelled in rage, but the Wilshire boy did not turn, not till Albert drew his sword did he stop and faced him.
"You want to kill me... can you do this?"
Jeremy spoke through panting breaths. His tone did not reveal whether he was pleading right now or mocking the officer's gentle nature but Albert insisted sternly:
"You have fooled me twice, I cannot forgive you!"
"I only did this for my Iris! No matter how much that woman humiliates me I can't but fulfill her wishes even if she doesn't ask them of me! And I know that it is her greatest wish to see the end of your ship and its captain!"
Jeremy explained with a bitter expression. His passion has left no qualms over his treachery or dirty methods, manipulating people he calls friends but it was not strong enough to prevent him from shaking in fear at the idea of losing his life.
"Well your beloved had prevented her own kingdom's people from the endless water she possesses, so it's only fair we fight for it!"
Albert retaliated unmoved by the infatuated cousin words. The sound of approaching footsteps interrupted them; they knew it was Alex followed by the others. Albert saw a primal fear in the young man's eyes. This time there was no escape for him, he was dead for sure. Even if Albert went lenient on him, nothing could save him from Alex's wrath.
"Albert... we're friends, aren't we?"
Frightened like a scared cat he said adjuring the officer, falling at his knees:
"Please Albert! You won't let that crazy man kill me! You're the royal officer... you're assigned by the king... you can stop him if you want to! Please! Take a prisoner, a hostage... but don't kill me!"
Albert could not help but feel pity and sadness for the boy, he was around his age and wanted to fulfill his lover's desires... he just couldn't bring himself to hate the young man. Albert knew himself to be a fool, yet he chose the peaceful option and the best possible outcome. He calmed him down without showing a lack of will to punish him in his voice:
"I can, don't fret! But you've to promise me you won't ever try to harm my friends!"
"I do! I got sick of this! It's the second time I'm about to lose my life... you promise me too you won't let that mad man kill me!"
Jeremy spoke in plea, begging with his hands gripped together in front of his, throwing promises and words like a broken machine.
"I give my word, no one will harm you. Your life is safe!"
Albert said with the point of his sword still in Jeremy's face to hold him up to his promise. The scared boy nodded obediently and sighed in relief while Albert began to sweat, he wasn't sure if he could really stop Alex who arrived with the others.
"Out of the way!"
He ordered Albert who didn't move from his place, standing between the Wilshire boy and the angry men, his sword still unsheathed.
"It's enough Alex! We survived the place and obtained the key... there's nothing we should fear now! I gave him my word for a fair trial!"
Alex's didn't seem willing or interested to hear and Jeremy realized this. The Amphitrite's captain was bent on killing him for the humiliation, twice delivered .To that man, Albert's words meant nothing and held no power... it was obvious even if the latter was sincere in his intention and promises. Slowly and carefully he got out a small pistol from the back of his belt intending to take the officer as a hostage securing his escape route but a bullet from Alex's pistol which passed near the officer's face and penetrated the spoiled boy's body put an end to his plans. Alice hitched a breath, while Serena watched the boy fall down in a pool of his own blood. As for the princesses, she merely whispered a prayer.
Jeremy's eyes widened for one last time as he saw her...
"His Iris".
She was standing in the main hall arranging some flowers which she had picked earlier that day near an opened window, he was standing there too. Recalling her whispers last night when he snuck into her room, he couldn't but ask her:
"Dearest Iris, do you have something you wish for?"
Iris looked carefully at the flowers she was sorting and picked a rose saying:
"I wish for the demise of a certain person."
She looked at Jeremy holding her rose and smiling. The young infatuated cousin left the pane he was leaning on with the words withheld in his mind. he said with slight hesitation:
"And if someone were to fulfill your wish, what would you give him?"
Iris laughed returning to her beloved roses. She closed her eyes replying with the utmost trust and self - confidence:
"Luckily, I've enough power to fulfill my wish on my own."
"But if someone were to do it for you..."
The younger man insisted, stepping closer to her nut not daring to touch her after last night incident.
"Jeremy, are you willing to become my thorns?"
She asked him eyeing him secretly while still playing her flowers, unsatisfied with her first choice of arrangement, then deciding on keeping the fresh newly blooming roses to her room. Jeremy turned leaving the room saying:
"For you I'll become anything, Iris."
Iris stood straight as she watched him leaving and wanted to say something but didn't. He didn't know if she wanted to warn him or to prevent him from following his whims and sullying the family's name. The falling man stretched his hand to his beloved but he was engulfed in the beams of light coming through that opened window before he could reach her.
A smile of satisfaction mixed with hidden bitterness was drawn on the dead young man's face. Despite everything, no one seemed happy for the lad's death except for Alex who put his pistol back in his holster ordering the return to the ship.
"Wait..."
But Alex ignored the young officer's order and went on as always but stopped and turned at him when he shouted again:
"I said to wait, you damn monster!"
Alice whooped terrified. Albert was holding Jeremy's pistol with two shaking hands, his whole body was shivering as he pointed the muzzle in the captain's face.
" I told you I gave him my word yet you still killed him! I promised him we won't harm him and you ignored me and killed him! But this is not new to you... being a cold - hearted murderer! How dare you take my words lightly and break my promise and my word?! If it weren't for my father you wouldn't be even standing here now, you cursed bastard! Damn you Alex Walcott... damn you to hell!"
"Albert!"
Alice cried but it was too late. The sad eyes shedding tears of bitterness and pain, the disturbed heart bouncing with anger and malice, the occupied mind flowing with confusion and loss, they all burst at the same time as the shaking hand pushed the trigger shooting for the first time ever.
"Captain! "
The shooting sound rebounded all over the place. Everyone stood in their places petrified; Alex was holding the faithful sailor's hand as the latter collapsed on the ground.
"Walter... you..."
Alex could barely speak as he watched one of his crew bleed and collapse to protect him. Albert felt as if the bullet he'd shot went through his veins. The gun's sound was too loud that it deafened his ears. He'd finally fulfilled his long kept desire but he felt no joy, his eyes were still shedding tears although he'd shut his father's killer but it was a whole different scenery when he fully opened his eyes and saw that man safe... the sight didn't clam his heart either... there was another man lying injured with the bullet he'd shut. Albert watched the blood flowing from Walter, a sailor from the crew he'd celebrated with before and shared precious time, time that was all blown away in an instant. Alex rushed like a mad man and held the young officer angrily from his collar delivering a powerful slap enough to push to a raging bull. Albert collapsed without words, he was crying...the two other crew members were patently enraged, and had expected the captain to kill the royal officer for their friend's death but they were surprised as Alex delivered his slap and ordered the return to the ship. They remained unmoving considering taking the matter to their own hands, but the royal officer was clearly taken by the same emotion, rage at himself as well. They knew it was a mistake, but nonetheless, a costly one. Alice rushed them to follow the captain, hinting at the situation between him and the officer and why the latter could not control his impulsivity as she took them away, to help Alex carry the body, clearing Albert from the ill intentions the best she could. Selene followed her silently. Serena approached the broken officer and commented in sympathy that was still laced with unfamiliar coldness:
"Do you realize the meaning of the gun you are holding?"
She was referring to Jeremy's gun, but Albert was not dumb. He understood Jeremy was attempting to take him hostage, even killing him perhaps, once more breaking his promise. Also, it meant Alex did not fire out of disrespect for his authority, but to protect him, once again saving his life.
Albert had cried a lot of times during his life but this time it was different. The tears that flew down his cheeks were those of a severe truth, they were like the early morning raindrops reflecting purely what the sky hid deep within its grey clouds.