Crown in The Mist (ENGLISH)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

The cold bite of the wind made me shiver as I stood in the dock. I was wearing thick clothes to fight off the cold but it seems like the cold still finds a way to seep in. I bristled as I looked at the ship I will be on tonight. I can't help but be amazed at how a connected person like Ares Magnussen can easily pull off a ship. Being so influenced surely has its perks. And I stood face to face with him as I let the breeze fly my hair. It was once auburn, easy to attract attention. But I dyed it black. Maybe the moment I dyed it black, that was the sign. The sign that everything will change from then on.

Ares just stood there, hands on his pockets, his face unreadable. If he was happy or regretful about how things ended up, he doesn't show it. Well, for the short time we've been together, he's always been like that. One can't read what's going on in his brilliant mind. The only time I saw the emotion on his face was that time he felt frustrated and that time ... on the cottage—no, I shouldn't be thinking about that. 

I took a shaky breath and inserted my hands into the pockets of my coat. I didn't wear gloves but I should have worn something thicker tonight. It will be a lot colder in Carnes once I arrived. 

"So this is it," I mumbled as I shrugged as if it doesn't matter to me. But it was more like shrugging the feeling of attachment off. Somehow, I've made friends from his circle, something I shouldn't have done. But I wouldn't say I regretted it. They saved me and has been kind to me when I thought I had no one else left. 

He did not say a word and he just stared at me. And so did I. It's not that I can't form any words. It's just that I don't want to break the moment. He was looking at me, expression unreadable. 

"Tonight marks the last time you're going to help me. After this, you don't know me, Ares. And I don't know you. If we ... if we somehow meet each other in the future, given I'm still alive, I don't know you and you don't know me." I said as I risked looking at his stormy gray eyes. I could have sworn I saw something flickered in his eyes but it was gone as soon as it came. 

"Of course," he merely said. 

I gulped and stepped closer. "Thank you for all the help you've done so far," I said, almost a whisper as I fidgetted on my hands. 

Then I looked at him. "Can I...Can I hug you as a way of thanks?" 

His eyes narrowed into slits and I gulped harder, fighting the heat creeping on my face. "I promise it won't go farther than that," I said shyly as I remembered what I've done on that cottage. 

I heard him chuckle, "I wasn't thinking about that, silly," he said and much to my surprise, he took out his hands from his pockets and opened it in front of him, inviting me. I blinked, not really expecting he'd abide but he just raised his brow to me as if asking what am I waiting for. So I took another step closer and hugged him one last time for all the help he has done, for saving my life.  

He felt so warm, so comfortable that for a moment, I didn't want to step away. I felt him hug me back. But then the owner of the small ship announced the ship was ready to sail. I cleared my throat as I stepped away from him. It took some of my self-control not to step back into his arms. 

"Farewell, Prince," I said as I turned and walked away. I didn't turn back to see what his face looked like. I walked straight ahead even as I stepped on the small gangway, even as I settled inside the ship. And that night, as I felt the ship sway with the gentle wave, I have forgotten Ares Magnussen, and grinned at the Lazuli Diamond now shining in my hand. 

"He didn't even notice my hand earlier," I mumbled as I checked the jewelry. When I confirmed it was the same Lazuli diamond I sold to him, I smiled. Now I have the money he paid me to buy the diamond, the money I borrowed, and the Lazuli diamond I sold. 

"Sorry, Prince. You're rich, anyway. A piece of this cheap stone won't be too much of a loss," I muttered as I rolled on my bed. He even provided me a very nice ship. I roamed my eyes around and nodded in approval. The ship was big enough. Enough for me. And I'm ready to execute my plan tonight.  

I marched out of my cabin bringing the small bag I have with me. The sea became a bit violent as it rocked the ship. I watched the dock as we keep on sailing far and far from it. The breeze touched my skin and I bristled, hugging my coat tighter. All I have now is a piece of stolen jewelry, and a huge amount of money, half of it coming from Ares Magnussen. My stay at his cottage also granted me access to some of the valuable things I found. I looked inside my bag and found an antique pocket watch. It wasn't the same as the one he brought that night I first stole from him, but this one I have right now is also pretty. I bet this would sell a lot. I grinned to myself. I figured this would happen so might as well bring some items with me. I'm sure he'll understand. And besides, this isn't much compared to what he has. I heard the items jingling inside my bag. 

I wonder when will he notice the things missing in his cottage and the Lazuli diamond now missing from his pockets. Would he chase me to the ends of the world to get these things? I just hope not. Making him believe I was harmless and had stopped stealing was part of the plan. A second plan. If ever his plan wouldn't work out, I had planned to run away. I was actually planning to steal something in the palace but things didn't go well as planned. But I guess, stealing some valuable things from him was enough. If he decides to chase me then he's very welcome to do so. But I will make sure to never see him again. I wonder what his face would look like if he sees the note I left in his cottage. 

But there's a lingering feeling inside me that regrets what I have done. That's why when I wrote that note, I did something I never do when I steal something. I said sorry. I wrote it just below the note, slightly hoping that he would understand. It was small, as small as the hope I had that he would forgive me for what I did. 

I shook away the thought. We're far enough from the docks, I smelled the air. Filling my lungs with it as I try to calm my nerves from what I'm about to do tonight. 

There's another item I stole from Ares Magnussen's cottage. I fished it out from my bag and walked towards the cockpit. The boat owner was smoking when I found him. Maybe to fight against the cold. He didn't notice me behind him and only did when I c****d the gun loud enough for him to hear. He froze. 

"Turn around," I said calmly, coldly. 

"But the ship--"

"Turn.around." 

He slowly turned and raised his hands up when he saw the gun pointed at him, his cigarette was on his lips. 

"Leave this ship," I said and tossed a bag of money in his direction. He looked at it then to me. He then looked at what's behind me. 

"We're quite far from the docks now," he said. 

My brows furrowed. "What do you mean?" I asked but he just shook his head. 

"I was instructed to execute you 30 minutes after we leave the dock but it seems like I'd do it a bit earlier," he said and before I could even analyze what he meant, his cigarette was already flying in my direction and the moment I avoided it, he already had his gun pointed at me. 

He removed his hat and puffed a smoke before he stepped closer to me. He's a middle-aged man and judging from the huge scar on his forehead that was covered by his hat earlier, I can already tell he's bad news. I took a step back, still unable to process what's happening. Or rather, I don't want to believe that little part of me shouting at me what is happening. 

Ares Magnussen betrayed me. 

"Your Prince was pretty generous." The shipowner shrugged. "He said I'd kill you then I get to give you to the Queen and I get my price. Other than that, he said you have a certain amount of money in you and a very ... valuable treasure that belongs to the Queen." He gave me vicious smile. But I stopped hearing everything. I stopped seeing what's in front of me. I didn't even avoid his fist when it connected with my stomach. I kneeled on the ground, gasping for air. He grabbed a fistful of my hair and forced me to look up. 

"What, you can't believe what your Prince just did?" He laughed. Whatever he was saying, I didn't care. All I could think about was why. Why did Ares do this? He even hugged me earlier. Was that all a front to his plan? Do I even have the right to feel betrayed when I stole from him? I guess this makes it fair. 

The shipowner's palm connected with my cheeks and I tasted blood inside my mouth. 

I couldn't think of anything at that moment. I couldn't even think of how to escape from him. I didn't know it was possible to stop feeling everything but I just did. All that's in my mind was since when did Ares plan this? Did he plan to sell me out once the agreement was over? Why? Does it serve him a purpose? Was it because he doesn't want to make Carnes his enemy? Was it because I am a criminal and that he should do the right thing and send me where I should belong? After all, I was supposed to be dead that day he found me. 

I would never abandon you. 

I scoffed. 

I should have known. His offer was too good to be true. All this time, I've been dancing on his palms without knowing he was playing its tune for me to dance along. Ares Magnussen is a manipulative bastard. Now that I'm useless to him, he throws me into the sea with a bounty hunter to bring my head to the Queen. Is that it?  Those frustrations, those emotions he showed--were they even true? 

I felt my nails digging into my palm. 

Bastard. Bastard. Bastard.

I heard the man clicked his tongue as he crouched down in front of me. He gripped my chin and forced me to look at him. Another slap on the face and I fell face-first on the floor. This time, I felt my nose bleeding. "Poor you. You thought that Prince was your savior, didn't you?" He dragged me by my collar and forced me to stand. 

"Newsflash! He's the one who sold you out." He laughed but before he could even open his mouth for another insult, I spat on his face. Blood and saliva went straight to his face. Before he could process what just happened and slap me again, my knee connected with his groin. He crouched down and I took that as a chance to pick up my gun and hit the side of his face with its hilt. 

I winced in pain and immediately pointed my gun back at him and didn't hesitate to shot him in his leg. He groaned and knelt on the ground. I shot his arm causing him to lose grip of his gun. He lied on the floor, trying to reach for his gun but I stepped on the wound on his arm. He screamed in pain. I shot his other arm clawing at my leg and another shout of pain from him. 

I couldn't think of anything else aside from the fact that Ares Magnussen betrayed me. And I couldn't feel anything other than pure rage. How could I be so stupid? II should have stolen everything in that cottage. Damn him.

"I'll leave your other leg untouched so you can swim back to that Prince and tell him this," I crouched down pressing my foot harder on his leg. Another shout of pain. "Tell him that if he thinks he can play with me, I'll show him what playing really means. Tell him," I trailed, pointing my gun to his head. "to hide if ever we see each other because I wouldn't hesitate to shoot him dead," I said, blinking the tears away. "And tell your Queen, she can f**k her throne for all I care."

I stepped away from his arm and jerked my head to the side. He immediately stood up, groaning from his wounds. He walked limply to the side of the ship while looking at the gun pointed at him. 

"You are a dead woman walking. Wherever you go, the Queen will find you," he said before he jumped off the ship. I walked to the side of the ship, looking down where he jumped off. I don't care if he reaches the shore or not. If he reaches the shore, good. If he doesn't, then better. 

Ares will know. 

He will know that he lost. And he will know I am coming for him. 

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