8 Chapter 8 (Time)

A few days have passed after I left home, I honestly feel much better since those dreams that were about to make me lose my sanity disappeared.

It is not so bad to share with men, but not that pleasant either, their conversations most of the time are about women and it really is uncomfortable. The relationship between Prince Alexandre and I has become solid, sometimes when dusk falls we can go out to look at the stars; and that reassures me a bit ... I consider him a friend.

—Do you see that star? —Alexandre asks as he points to her.

—Aha —I say as I watch her carefully.

—That star is yours, it's a gift from me —and he smiles.

—How could you give away something that doesn't belong to you? —and he gave a little laugh.

Of it, and when you look at it, that sadness fades —and smiles while looking at the star.

—Thanks. Your gift is nice— and I look at her closely.

A silence takes over the moment, we simply gaze at the stars.

—Adrean is in front of the ammunition ship— he says as he sighs.

—I know, he sent me a letter.

—I'm sorry, I tried to reason with him, but he refused —and he sits up.

—Hey easy, it's not your fault —and he took her arm.

He makes a sad face, and he stares at me. He takes my cheek as he gets dangerously close to my lips, my body doesn't stop him. We kiss, but he tore it away suddenly.

—This... this... this can't happen Alexandre —he wiped my lips and started to run.

—Please Jessabelle, he comes back —and he remains standing, facing the big full moon.

My breath is shaking, which I just did... I reciprocated a kiss from Alexandre. I start to cry desperately, HOW COULD I DO THIS TO ADREAN! How can I look him in the eye now that I made this serious mistake. I go to sleep, I still hear that Alexandre is looking for me.

I spent the night with that feeling of remorse, I couldn't help but think how disappointed Adrean would be if he found out about this, it would be the end of our love.

The hours passed and my eyes were closing little by little. Dawn falls and I go out immediately, I try to hide... the bandages are falling from my chest.

When the second button is unfastened, the soldiers start to come out. Hell, what am I gonna do? (Sigh). I try to go unnoticed.

I will need help from Prince Alexandre, but I can't see him in the eye after what happened.

—Good morning Jones— yells that man named William.

I greet you politely. It's time to make a decision. (Sigh). On my way to Prince Alexandre's office.

—Yes, Captain —exclaims a soldier and we bumped nose.

—Good morning —I say.

—Good morning, Jones —and he leaves without saying anything else.

I look at Prince Alexandre, he is worried about something.

—Good morning Alexandre —I say as I close the door tightly.

—Jessabelle —and she stares at me.

—Listen very well, I need your help —she whispered.

—Of course —and she signals me to take a seat.

—Look... I need to adjust some bandages. It is necessary because the men here are somewhat brusque.

—Yes, I understand —and smiles.

—I need you to lend me your office to do it— and I stare at him.

—Sure, but don't take too long. I have a few things to figure out before I get to Rochelle —and she stands up.

—Thank you —and I shoot him a smile.

It comes out as if nothing, what happens to it? after what happened last night he behaves like nothing. I close the door well and begin to adjust the bandages, I have the mark of these on my skin and it hurts. As I hold onto the table some papers fall, without hesitation I start to pick them up, but one catches my attention.

I can't believe it ... the town where my parents are is under attack. As I continue reading I realize that we are going to certain death. I collapsed on the ground, and I start to cry, I keep reading; The ammunition ship has not reached Rochelle, they think the pirates have sunk it.

I drop the letter on the floor, and I feel like my eyes are closing. When I open them I can see that Alexandre is leading me to the sofa.

—Alexandre— he whispered.

—Don't worry, are you okay? He asks a little worried, while he brings me a glass of water.

—Yeah... I think so— and I take a sip from the glass.

He takes my face in his hands, and he stares at me.

—You read it, didn't you?— And he makes a serious face.

I nod, he looks at me disappointed.

—You shouldn't have read my stuff— and he runs a hand through his hair.

—Sorry, I didn't mean to— and he bangs the table.

—You could ask me for anything, but that's how you pay me... reading my business— he yells.

—I already told you I'm sorry, really, I didn't want to... they fell to the ground and I... he interrupts me.

—YOU SHOULD NOT READ THEM— he exclaims.

—I ALREADY TOLD YOU I'M SORRY, I DIDN'T WANT TO— and I start to cry.

Alexandre observes me, and is acerca slowly.

—I'm really sorry, I didn't want to...— she says as he wraps her warm arms around me.

—I'm so sorry— and I put my hands on my face.

—I didn't want you to read them, for your sake— and he strokes my head.

—When do we get to Rochelle?— I ask while sobbing.

—CAPTAIN, WE REACHED OUR DESTINATION!— One of the soldiers yells.

Alexandre gives me a handkerchief, and I dry my tears.

—Now that you read those papers, you have two options; You continue with your plan or I can send you back home— he says as he stares at me.

I begin to doubt my plan, I long to return to my family... however I have to continue with this, I do not want to return empty-handed.

—I will continue, for my honor and that of my family. I stood up and placed the cap on my head.

—That's what I thought— he says as we leave.

They order us to line up to disembark, and I follow orders. Coming down he observed a large field, weapons, cannons and swords. This really is impressive.

We are getting closer and the nerves take over me, that feeling of not belonging here, the thought of wanting to return to my land and help my family, comes out of nowhere.

I can't go back, I made a decision before leaving the mansion and it's time to accept it, I have to find Adrean, he needs me.

We enter a small house and it has several somewhat small beds, and they show us where we are going to eat. Finally the place where we will train.

—We'll start first thing tomorrow morning, we don't have much time— and he leaves without saying anything else.

The boys begin to murmur about the site, some speculate that we are going to certain death and that is really true, there is very little hope I have of being able to get out of this place alive. I suppose my thoughts are normal, after having read that letter. Reading that only made me doubt even more about Adrean, is he really alive?, many questions invade my mind... unanswered questions.

The next morning, a man with an extremely thick voice makes himself heard all over the place. That man exclaims that we go to the showers, and we all doze off without buts. But I quickly remember that I can't, so I try to talk to that man.

—Everyone to the showers— the man says thickly.

—Please let me speak to Prince Alexandre— I exclaim as I try to leave.

—So much fuss over something insignificant. I want you to get in the shower right now, or I'll have to use force— he says as he takes my arm.

I try to break away from the tall, muscular man, but my strength is not enough to push him away. He directs me to the showers, but a few inches from getting wet, Prince Alexandre magically appears.

—Right now, I want you to let go of it, Stepan— Alexandre yells as he subtly crosses his arms.

—I was just following his order, everyone in the showers— and he releases me.

—I know, but not with violence, you will only create more problems than there are already— and he makes a disapproving gesture.

Alexandre gestures for me to follow him, and without hesitation a second more, I obey.

—I apologize on behalf of Stepan, sometimes it can be a bit... explosive— he says as he forces a small sideways smile.

—Don't worry— I say as I stroke my arm.

Alexandre is in total silence, I can see how his eyes observe with concern, his breathing is increasingly agitated, his hands half hidden and his lips that outline a disagreement. I don't know if I should ask his concern, or just ignore it. I'm not taking any chances, so I'd rather leave this as is. Knowing him, he would probably dodge my question or downplay what happens.

We went around, and finally we returned to the same place; the showers.

—No one should be there already, everyone should be having breakfast— he says confidently.

—You know that I can realize your anguish, right?I ask as I lift her chin with my hand.

—You don't have to worry— he says as he slowly walks away.

Something here does not convince me, what Alexandre told me I do not buy, I will find out what is happening here, I already knew that he would minimize the matter, but I want to know what he is hiding.

I finished showering, indeed, no one was in the place, so that calmed me down a bit. I go to breakfast, no one is in the place, I only see a plate with food in the distance, when I finish I go to another place... to train.

Stepano watches me closely and quickly tells me to join the training. Hours of hard physical training went by, and I was already devastated, my legs wobbled from one place to another, my breathing became increasingly agitated, and my heart, my heart wanted to get out of place. I thought I was going to collapse, but it wasn't like that, I drew strength from an unknown place and continued.

—Well, now you will learn to shoot, I warn you, if you don't do it correctly. they could hurt themselves— Stepano takes aim and shoots.

I try to position the weapon correctly, but it is so heavy that I just barely fired.

Stepano looks at me disapprovingly, I can't complete all the activities and that stresses me out, they go so fast, so abrupt that it is very difficult for me to keep up. I just sigh, get scolding, teasing and even disapproving looks. Then came dusk and dinner, the men would not stop making fun of me for my clumsiness, I just wanted to go very far, but I could not let something like that affect me, after all my mother was right, men have a lot of strength.

I was lying down and I could not help, not remember those blue eyes... my pretty Adrean, I know he would tell me to put my best effort into it, that I would achieve it, but vague memories take over my mind and tears begin to flow. I began to remember my family and it gave me more melancholy, I went out carefully and I could see a great moon, and some stars so bright that they filled me with joy.

I was so enraptured by the stars that I didn't realize there was someone next to me.

—Jones— says a soft, warm voice.

I turn around and I can see how Prince Alexandre is leaning against one of the walls smoking a cigarette.

—Alexandre, you gave me a big scare— and I look at the stars again.

For a few minutes we were in total silence, I can feel his gaze on the back of my neck, a gaze so deep, as if he was guessing my feelings.

—Jessabelle, still dressed like a man, you don't lose your charm— and she giggles.

—So, Don Juan Alexandre will begin to flatter me— and she smiled.

He laughs as he gets next to me.

—My charms don't work on you, I think I'll use my last letter.

—What is the last letter?— I ask, showing a bit of interest.

—I'll have to bewitch you to be mine.— I can't help but laugh.

—Fortunately, I have a talisman that protects me from any witchcraft— and together we laughed.

—So I think I lost, it was my last card and move.

—He lost —I say as we gaze at the stars, trying to figure out everything that happens.