Chapter 10, part 4

I held my head with both hands because I felt like I was going to lose my mind.

"What are you saying Brielle?" I shouted indignantly. "Don't tell me you agreed to this!"

I felt my body burning. My heart was pounding fast, but this time with a different feeling. I was terrified. How would I make ends meet?

Brielle looked at me in astonishment. "Serena, you speak and I am not sure if you understand completely what you are talking about. Was it ever possible for me to refuse? The captain agreed to take us on his journey. He made an exception for us and I would refuse our help?" Her voice testified to her irritability.

"My help!! You mean. Not ours. I am the one who is going to through all this." I answered her, firmly clutching my fists.

She bowed her head. "Yes. You're right. Your help. But that's what I thought we should do. We can still tell him the truth and I can take your place as it should be."

I gasped. "This is out of the question," I said, thinking of the situation.

I signed defeated. Brielle was right; to everything.

I approached her and hugged her by the shoulders. "Forgive me Brielle. I just did to you what he did to me a while ago." I spoke to her in a soft voice, regretting my previous outburst. The feeling of terror overwhelmed me, making it impossible for me to control my actions.

"Oh! Is it that what you talk to me before? That means that there was another reason why you have been crying."

"Yes indeed"

"Tell me, what did he do to you?"

"He yelled at me. He said that I should have informed him immediately about Alma's condition. Fortunately, Ian was there and calmed him down."

"He was unfair with you. You see, he came to the kitchen very upset and anxious. He had hugged the girl by the shoulders and stroked her hair, telling her that everything would be fine. That she will be healed very soon and will be able to walk as before. He was very affectionate with her.

Ian also came before the captain. And he was agitated to see what had happened and to be informed about the exact condition of Alma."

"Yes, I know. Jimena was right. Everyone loves them." I ascertained, "Since we are talking about Alma I will go to see her."

"Okay, go. I will stay here waiting for you."

I left the room and went to Alma and her mother's room.

The door was open. However, I knocked to get attention. Jimena was there, by her side.

As I could see, the doctor had put a splint on Alma's leg to keep it still. That signified that her condition was severe, and Alma had to remain completely immobile.

"Come in, Serena," Jimena invited me, and I walked in. "Thank you," I replied. "I came to see you Alma and to apologize to you because Lady Brielle and I feel guilty about your accident. If we were not there you could pass and…."

"No, no," they both said to me in one voice. "Don't you ever say that thing again, Serena. It wasn't your fault. It was my fault. After so many years on this ship, I had to remember that dangerous spot on the floor." Alma assured me, and I smiled at her.

"And I, Serena," Jimena began to talk. "I would like to apologize for the way I kicked you out of the kitchen. I was so worried about Alma and I broke out on you."

"It is okay, Jimena, don't worry. I understand. I don't hold any grudge against you for this. I have already forgotten it." I told her and smiled at her confirming my words.

We were talking casually about different subjects. Basically, Alma was talking more when suddenly we heard loud voices coming from outside.

"What is happening?" I asked, somewhat surprised.

"We set sail," Jimena replied.

"Really? Do you mind if I go out there to see how is done? Or is it not allowed?"

Jimena laughed softly. "Of course you can go and see."

"Amazing!" I said enthusiastically. "Excuse me." I said and left.

First, I went from my room and told Brielle to come with me to the deck.

The men on the deck were working intensely.

Someone picked up the woods that connected the boat to the land.

"Heave the anchor" I heard the captain's voice and turned to where it was his voice heard. He was at the helm. His gaze fell on me, and I immediately turned my gaze away from his.

"Hoist the sails," he gave the following command, yelling.

We were finally leaving! I took a deep breath of relief, and my heart fluttered with joy.

I observed the men for a while, and the assumption I had made was the right one. They were the same men who loaded the boat. So, the captain doesn't pay workers for it, and I realized that was out of trust.

"Let's go there to the rail," I suggested to Brielle, pointing to a place where we wouldn't be an obstacle for the working men.

"Yes, good idea." She agreed, and we headed there. I crossed my arms over the polished wood of the handrail and rested my chin on them, admiring the magnificent view that stretched out in front of me. The sun had set, and shades of purple had painted the horizon. The sea around the sun's disk had taken on a shimmering golden red color creating a glowing path.

The sails filled with air, and the boat began to move, slipping gently on the water, while the wind hit me pleasantly on the face and the smell of salt filled my nostrils. I licked my lips, feeling its pleasant taste, and I pushed away everything that was tyrannizing my mind. I closed my eyes, enjoying the wonderful feeling of my freedom.

When I opened my eyes again, we had already approached the exit of the port. Beyond that, we would be in the embrace and at the mercy of the open sea.

I have watched the fury of the sea when the weather is harsh in winter, but I was safe behind the window of my room in the castle.

Fortunately, it was still summer, and in a few weeks, we would land again. This fact reassured me. But until then, difficult days were waiting for me on this ship.

I sighed, and my thoughts flew to the next day.

After the incident with the captain, I wished I didn't have to see him again until we reached the next port and left the ship forever.

And in the end, the exact opposite of what I wished had happened.

How would I handle it?

We stayed there until the sun disappeared completely from the horizon, and the darkness began to spread. The cold breeze made me shiver, and I suggested to Brielle to return to our room.

Protected in the room, we took off our clothes and lay down on our beds.

At that moment, I felt the value of having a hot bath whenever you wanted it. I was so tired that I didn't even realize when I fell asleep.