Page 56 of Found at Sea
“You’re angry with me for my past. For killing mermaids for their hearts.” He stood from the bed and walked to the window. “I understand that anger, for I feel it every day. I am not that man anymore, but once a reputation is made, it’s difficult for people to see you as anything else.”
I stayed quiet as he talked, refraining from butting in like I wanted to do. Whatever he was trying to say was clearly hard for him.
“You told me that one day you hoped I got what I deserve,” he continued, gazing out the window.
“Kellan, I shouldn’t have—”
He turned to me, and his bangs covered one half of his face, showing only the side with his blue eye. “Do not interrupt, Fletcher. I deserve your anger just as I deserve the curse upon me. A curse that can only be broken by finding a heart.”
“The lost heart of Triton,” I said as everything connected in my brain. “That’swhy you were so interested in my story that night. And your tattoo…”
“It’s not a tattoo, but a sign of my curse,” Kellan spoke, looking down at his chest as he outlined the shell-shaped mark.
“What happens if you don’t find Triton’s conch?”
His piercing gaze held mine before he averted his eyes back to the window. “A fate worse than death awaits me.” Before I could ask him to explain, he added, “Now eat. Alek wishes to see you, but I told him not until you ate and rested.”
“I’d rather have another thing in me,” I said under my breath. Then, upon realizing what I said, I quickly looked up at him and shook my head. “Um, never mind.”
A strange look appeared in his eyes before he smiled. “Always surprising me. Now—”
“Eat, I know,” I interrupted. I held up a slice of apple to show him before biting off a piece. “See? I’m eating.”
I thought he was going to leave again and allow me to eat in silence, but instead, he continued to stand at the window. Something about the way he peered outside told me that his mind was elsewhere. I wanted to ask what a fate worse than death was and how much time he had before the curse took effect.
I wanted to ask how he felt about me.
My reservations about him were fading. There was still disgust for what he’d done. And a smidge of fear. However, I saw the shift in him. Many times, he could’ve backhanded me across the face for saying the things I’d said to him. He could’ve thrown me overboard like I’d heard him threaten to do to other men. I also doubted he could’ve pleasured me in the way he had if he’d been nothing but cruel.
Once I’d eaten, I told him I’d go mad if I stayed cooped up in that room another minute, and he—reluctantly—agreed to let me go outside.
Alek was on the upper deck near the helm. The rest of the crew was on the island, probably whoring and drinking themselves stupid, so it was quiet aboard the ship. Walking to the set of stairs leading up to him, I took them one by one.
As my footsteps sounded, he turned.
“I see you’re alive,” he said before greeting me with a side hug. “Was afraid that fall to the rocks did you in.”
“You only wish it were that easy to be rid of me.” I returned his embrace before leaning on the rail and looking out over the sea. Large rocks jutted from the water on one side, acting as a sort of barrier in front of that side of the island. “What happened after I blacked out?”
“Captain Flynn carried you back,” Alek answered with a puzzled expression. “I’ve never seen him so…” He shook his head as words failed him. “I’m not sure. But he rushed to you when you fell, and after trying to wake you, he just gathered you in his arms.”
That explained the vague memories of feeling weightless and being surrounded by warmth.
“Dax offered to carry you,” he added before chuckling. “But the captain said no. Not sure if it’s because he doesn’t trust Dax with you, or just because he doesn’t trustanyonewith you.”
“Areyouall right?” I asked.
Alek studied his hand, gliding his finger across the jagged cut on his palm. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
“Not what I was asking.”
His blue eyes flashed to me before a small smile touched his lips. “I know.” With a sigh, he followed my gaze and looked toward the rocks. “I cannot forget her words, Fletch. Even worse, I cannot fathom what they mean. I know my powers will fully come to me when I reach adulthood…at eighteen, just as she warned. But I’m not certain what she meant about me being touched by shadow. It frightens me.”
“When that day comes, I shall be here with you,” I said, placing my hand on his and leaning against him. I’d never had romantic feelings for Alek. Our relationship was more than just friends, though. He was like the brother I’d never had but often wished for. “Whatever you face, you will not face alone.”
Alek upturned his hand and entwined his fingers with mine. We stared into the distance in silence. Sometimes words were not needed in order to comfort someone. Actions like a simple holding of hands or a gentle embrace were enough.
A weird sensation reached me after a while. The tips of my ears heated and my scalp prickled. I got the feeling we were being watched.
