“She’s asleep again.” Laryssa whispered. They stood outside the girls' door, the brown wood a thin barrier against loud noises. Laryssa’s whispers were in vain, noise bounced and echoed all over the ship. The sailors and maids off duty enjoying the merriment of their evening. How anyone could sleep, Sebastian had no clue. “I tried waking her, but her body is still recuperating. One would suspect she never used magic before to be this badly ailed.”

“she admitted to using wood magic, so that’s obviously not the case.” Sebastian grumbled. He wanted answers and he wanted them now. Laryssa gave a shrug and headed down the corridor, towards the noise. She obviously wanted to join in with the drinking. Sebastian took a deep breath before exhaling as he opened the door.

He stepped inside; the room tiny in comparison to the rooms he usually visits within the ship. Just a bed and side table sat inside the room, pushed against the corner near the port hole. Taking just two steps he reached the stall next to her bed, a bucket lay next to it. Thankfully it had been emptied before he arrived. He could hear her soft breathing as the girl slept, her back huddled in the blanket facing him. A candle sat on the table with a glass and jug of water; the light giving a warm glow to the room behind the jug. It reflected through the water onto the walls as it gently swayed with the ship, creating a tranquil atmosphere.

Sebastian had planned to jolt her awake, splashing water if he must. He needed answers, and he needed to get back to planning his rebellion. Sebastian’s time was limited, he might have weeks, or months at best before he was face to face with war. He could not spend days waiting for this slip of a girl to wake and give him answers.

He did not know, or really understand what was in that box. But he could feel the power as soon as they destroyed the barrier around the tower. It contained something magical and ancient, an obviously powerful relic that could aid him and his people. This was all but confirmed when the girl blasted them all with her blinding power. That was true power, true magic in work. Not just the borrowed gifts the elves were born with. Sebastian thought the contents of the box was powerful, but the sheer magic that poured from the girl was phenomenal. It also hummed with the strange ancient undertones that the box faintly echoed in comparison. She said she knew nothing of the box, but as soon as she unleased her magic it was confirmed that she had some ties to whatever lay within its confines.

Now he wasn’t as sure of himself. If the girl was as strong as before, he would be able to sense it, he would feel the thrum of her white magic. But as he watched her sleep, the covers gently rising and falling in time with her soft breathing, Sebastian second guessed himself. Nothing of the same power remained, coming from her or the box. It was a mystery he had to figure out.

However, as he sat in her cabin, he felt tranquillity he hadn’t felt in years. The weight of a fallen crown and ten years of rebellion lifted from his shoulders as he breathed in time with the girl. He hadn’t felt this peaceful, alone with his own thoughts since he was a child. For a while Sebastian became lost in those memories of a time long past, of a family he craved to hold once again. Of a beach covered in powder sand and rustling palm trees, and gentle turquoise and sapphire waves.

Sebastian wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but the girl stirred, turning to face him while she still slept. He could see her face clearer now. In the darkness of the tower, and the hood which covered his identity but also obscured his vision, he could not see the soft curves of her face. Now it was framed by peach hair that lay as a halo against her pillow. Her skin appeared warm gold under the candle light; catching on the high points of her round cheeks as her thick lashes fluttered gently in light sleep. He scanned her face, noting the small nose which delicately slanted downwards to the button peak. Her lips were a coral pink, slightly cracked with dehydration but still appealing in colour. Her chin a soft point at the end of the face.

He glanced back up to hover his gaze at her lips before mentally pulling himself away to look out of the porthole. He appreciated her beauty, but he must not fall to weak charms when he spoke with her. He must have answers.

The girl started stirring again, the brows knitting together as she brought her hand to rub her eyes. Sebastian sucked in a breath. Suddenly very aware he had spent god knows how long sitting in a dark room with a young maiden while she slept, and would be caught in the act. He did not think this plan through during his ire, and was too peaceful when he sat here. She dropped her hand as her eyelids fluttered open and Sebastian saw her eyes.

He was stunned, and it seemed they both were as they locked gazes. He assumed for very different reasons, for her it was probably due to the shock of waking to find a strange man watching her sleep. But for Sebastian, he was besotted with the beauty of her eyes. The closest he could come to describing them would be to say they mimicked a forest reflected in a moon-lit lake. The silver of her eyes shone in the candle light, glowing from within; but dark moss-green ringed her pupils and flecked out to meet the silver towards the edges of the irises.

Jessica’s face was full of shock and confusion as she gasped and whispered “Ocean eyes.”

It seems Sebastian wasn’t the only one appreciating the others beauty. He wanted to be smug, and give a self-satisfied smile. The innately primitive part of his elvish nature wanted to puff-up his chest as he flirted with the girl before him. Normally he would’ve done just that; but he felt the pointed tips of his ears burn and his cheeks flush in embarrassment as he realised the situation before him. At this point he wasn’t sure if it was because of being caught watching her, or because she was as equally infatuated with the depths of his eyes as he was with hers; or possibly due to the fact she brazenly complimented his eyes. He came to the conclusion it was a mixture of all three.

No matter how much satisfaction he felt in that moment, male pride overridden the pride. The embarrassment turning into shame as his temper rose. “What?” He snapped. He could barely form another word. Part of himself was furious, not due to the shame, but because he suddenly became defensive with the girl. But the more rational part started to remember this girl was his prisoner, and he needed answers.

All of a sudden, her eyebrows snapped together in a frown, and she sat upright in her cot with a snap. Her back pressed firmly against the wall as she moved to put as much space between them as possible within the tiny room; as if the moment between them never occurred. Her cheeks also started to blaze, but hers in anger. “You.” She hissed. Her voice was strong and feminine to his ears, even while venom laced the tone.

“Me?” Sebastian rose a thick brow.

Jessica fisted her hands in her blanket as she focused on the man before her, all her fury aimed at him. “You. Your voice. You barged into my home to steal. You threatened to kill me. And now you’ve kidnapped me. What do you want with me?” She demanded as she mustered all her strength into her words. Surprisingly she didn’t stutter or pause, or even shout considering the anger shaking her body. Luckily, she didn’t add the fact he obviously was watching her while she slept to the list, or maybe she didn’t care considering the previous offense.

“Yes, I did. And I want answers. My sister asked you some questions earlier but it seems you’re being uncooperative.” He tried to keep as calm as possible.

“I’ve told her all I know.”

“Stop lying.” Sebastian was bordering on shouting.

“I am not.” Jessica’s voice had also risen.

“I know you are!” Now Sebastian was shouting.

“I do not know anything.” Jessica roared, flinging her hands into the air in frustration. The action caught Sebastian’s eye as he noticed the black and yellow bruises on her wrists. They were both silent for a moment as Jessica clocked onto where his gaze had settled. In a defensive manner she hid her hands under the sheets, cradling them near her gut. Breathing heavily, she looked out to the porthole. Darkness greeted her; she could barely make out the ocean to put her mind off the man in front of her.

As Sebastian watched her, he noticed three things. Firstly, he could make out the soft movement of thumbs as she gently stroked her own wrists under the blanket, and was doing the most minute of rocking motions with her upper body. As if she was trying to comfort herself. It was odd coming from a grown woman who looked to be in her early twenties.

Secondly, as she looked out the porthole, her eyes glistened and spoke of haunted memories. The full weight of the emotion couldn’t be put into words, it was something much deeper than sorrow.

And thirdly, her last statement was the truth. Something in his gut told him he whole heartedly believed that she had no idea what had happened, or knew the contents of the box.

He didn’t know which of the three things made him pity her more, but none of it sat well with him. The same woman who had the bravery to throw a shard of porcelain at him with excellent aim, the same woman who had just shouted at him and brazenly met his gaze, refusing to back down. Sebastian couldn’t remember the last time someone spoke to him in a such a manner other than his sister, someone who wasn’t fearful to challenge him. This same woman now looked small, and utterly shattered. She was an enigma, and he wanted to uncover her.