Page 106 of Heir of the Beast

“Give him a chance, princess.” And with that he leaves—to go tend to other more important matters, I’m sure.

I think my mouth is hanging open. I glance around the deck, and not once does any man on this ship even glance my way. It’s as if I am invisible.

Standing, I meekly make my way to the side of the vessel and glance over the edge. I can smell the salt from the water and the mist the wind brings.

We are high up, and I feel like I can see for miles. Miles of black waters.

A wave of nerves flash through my body, and I feel sick.

Is this Siron guy trying to win me over? Why would he do that? Unless he wants to lower my guard to take advantage of me, make me pay for my naive nature.

I rub a hand down my face, confusion clouding my brain. I need to talk to Mort fast and find out what in the heck is going on here.

I am doing Apollo no good being on Siron’s ship. I only have one month left, for Pete’s sake!

With that, I set out to find that old man and tell him I would love to go to my room, away from all this madness.

I am almost run over by several men, yelling at me to get my “~sweet ass”~ out of the way. I think I hear a “~sugar tits”~ from someone to my left, but I can’t be sure.

I make my way to the upper deck, which is massive, and I find the main navigation platform. I’m shaking, but I try to hide it. I am way out of my comfort zone here.

~Life begins at the end of your comfort zone~, I remind myself. Pull yourself together, woman.

I nearly jump out of my skin. ~It’s him~.

Siron is there wearing all black with his face almost covered. He is a towering figure, scary as hell.

My heart rate jumps to life even though I order myself to act calmly. I want to back up slowly, but he already sees me.

Double shit.

He stops what he is doing to stare at me, and an army of gooseflesh litters my skin. The man is intimidating.

He makes some hand movements to the men standing around him, then he makes his way toward me, his black overcoat flapping behind him in the wind.

My heart is pounding so hard I think I might pass out in front of everyone. I take a deep breath as he stops in front of me, making me look down, not wanting to make eye contact with someone like him.

I feel his hand touch my chin and lift it up to meet his black gaze. I can tell his eyes are searching my face, and all I can do is stare back.

“What do you want with me?” I blurt, unable to keep silent. I jerk my chin out of his hand with newfound defiance.

Easy, Nelly.

He smiles, then glances out over the ship to the ocean. I can only see his lips, and I will admit they are nice, white teeth as well. Just an observation. He is a bit of a mystery.

Siron then pulls out a notepad and writes for a few seconds, then hands it to me.

I take it with trembling fingers and read it.

~Do you know sign language?~

I glance up and answer with clipped tones. “No.”

He nods and takes back the paper to write again.

~Then you will have to bear with me~.

I see it, then nod up at him. I guess he can’t talk, which is weird because I thought I heard him laugh. Maybe he is only able to make small sounds?

---