Bermuda

Chapter 2

The man that stood in front of me had an aura that reeked of authority. His hands were connected behind his back and his eyes stared deeply into my soul. By just one look at this man, you could tell that he was part of the group that other people judged 'heartless'.

Blue eyes were embedded in his eye sockets and a few freckles decorated his face. His nose was big with a Roman arch and his lips were small and thin. He had light wrinkles around his eyes, forehead and mouth. His stare was as cold as ice. I guessed his age was about the same as my father.

“Who are you?" I asked with an eyebrow raised.

“The master sent me" Was his short response.

“I will only ask once more, who are you?”

“My name is not important. Now hurry along before the master beheads us both.”

His tone made me shake in anger but what he said made me cower in fear. My father wasn't one to have a lot of patience.

I stood up and laid the book I was reading down on the red sheets of my bed.

We walked out of the door to my chamber, that lead to a big hallway that went all the way down to my father's room.

His door was made of pure mahogany, just like my sisters', and there were gentle carvings of flowers in it. The flowers were painted a darker colour than the door and it looked like they were battling for the title of the darkest colour.

The mysterious man opened the door for me and stared at me, waiting for me to go in. I looked back at him with doubt in my mind and then I looked quickly at the guards that stood next to him. I entered reluctantly and turned my head to see my father sitting on a chair that was behind a huge table that had an enormous amount of fruit on it.

In the right corner of the room was where he slept, on a bed that was as big as mine and my sisters’ combined. There were big white drapes that fell from the ceiling, hiding the bed. The sheets were similar to mine; blood red with some hints of gold here and there. The walls and the ceiling were a baby blue colour with gold accents and angels were painted on top of the colours.

When I was little, my father used to tell me that the big angel, which was painted right above the opening that lead to the terrace, was my mother. The idea was absurd. How could my mother have made it all the way from the bed where she lied ill, to the wall, which was on the other side of the room?

And the angel didn't even remotely resemble my mother. Mother had light golden hair and beautiful hazel eyes, with a kind face. The angel had dark hair, almost the same colour as coal, and green eyes with an angry face.

I don't know why, but in my little 6-year-old mind, it made sense. I guess it was better than the alternative, which was believing she was dead. My mother was an angel through my eyes and according to my little brain, so I guess that could have been another reason why I believed it.

Unfortunately, I hadn't received my mother's looks. I looked like my father. Just like him, I had dark eyes and dark auburn hair. Fortunately, I hadn't gotten the wrinkles yet. My father also had an authoritative aura, but he was kind. In his own way.

“Lea. Can you hear me?" I snapped back to reality and saw that my father had already stood up from his seat and was standing right in front of me.

“Yes, father. I'm sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry about child. Just pay attention next time.”

“Yes, father.”

“Walk with me child.”

He started walking towards the terrace and he sat down on another chair. You could tell he was getting old. I walked after him and looked out on the view; ah, London in the 1600s. Precisely: 1602. I still remember how excited everybody was 3 years ago, for the new year. A new century. Personally, I didn't really see the big deal. Everybody knew nothing would really change, but everybody was still excited. I don't know. Maybe it was the rush.

Outside I could see the hill our manor was on, my vision followed the little road that lead up to London. The nature around us was incredibly beautiful, my favourite thing in the world is taking one of our horses and just riding out into the forest. Just disappearing.

“Lea! Listen to me!" My father shouted.

“Sorry, father.”

“Did you hear anything I just said to you? Nevermind, of course you didn't. Pay attention child. I will not repeat myself again.”

“Sorry, father. I just-" I started but my father quickly cut me off.

“Listen to me child. Tomorrow morning you will take one of the horses and you will ride down to uncle William's manor, where you will stay one night. Then you will continue your journey down to the port, with uncle William's son, where you will start your journey to America on the proud lady.”

“What?! I don't want to go to America! Much less with cousin Alexander.”

"You will do as I say" My father commanded with an expression on his face that determined the discussion was over.

“But... Why me? My life is here. I don't want to leave." I cried out to my father.

“I told you that I do not care for repeating myself. You will do as I say. You are by far the best sailor of all of these t***s that don't know how to follow orders. I would trust no one else to carry out this mission. I need you two to retrieve the gold and jewels that were sold off to the Queen. One of her guards mentioned that she asked for us personally and I will not disappoint the Queen, so you will do as I say. Did you hear me for once child?" He said while sipping on his wine.

“Yes, father I heard you." I said while grinding my teeth.

“Perfect. Now run along and do whatever it is that you girls do.”

I looked at him in disbelief. I could not believe he was sending me away. With Alexander. Oh God have mercy on my soul.