The Royal Flame

Catherine

My flip-flops snap against my heels with every step I take on the wooden dock. With a basket, full of groceries in my arms, unable to see my steps, I walk towards ‘Catherine’. Walking in the middle of the path, I avoid the ropes that are scattered on the dock. Many youngsters dock here to rewind, meaning to party and get wasted. Most of them are born into wealth, never experiencing any hardship besides having to travel in luxury to a place of leisure. How refined must it be to take out your own boat for the weekend to this sunny area. No worries about damages, or getting back on time.

“Nick!”

Squatting through my knees, I slowly lower myself. The woven basket imbalanced hits the uneven ground as white thick ropes lay on the dock.

From the hatch of the boat Nick appears. His curly blond locks waving up and down as the wind strokes softly over the deck.

Swiftly he climbs out on deck, reaching out his hand to me.

“If you are thinking that I will hand you the groceries like that, you must have gotten a sunstroke.”

“It’s for you to grab on.” Moving his hand impatiently in front of me.

Lifting my feet up I remove my flip flops, grabbing them tightly in my left hand.

“Why so sweet out of nowhere? The sun really has gotten the best of you.” I grab his hand, jumping on board. His skin has really gotten tanned from only these few days onboard. Flip flops in my hand I make my way to the hatch as Nick jumps on the dock to grab the groceries.

“Are you suggesting that I am not always as sweet as sugar?”

Throwing my flip flops inside, I kneel down to sit on the side of the hatch. Dangling my feet in the cool air of our cabin. Leaning back, I tilt my head to the sky. With a smile on my face, I let the breeze blow through my hair.

“I will always help you out my lady.” His words shoot my head right up again.

“My lady? You are going far today.” With a raised eyebrow, I give him a smirk.

“Well, I have and will always look out over you. I have done so since we were kids. I am not someone who breaks habits.”

“Wasn’t I the one looking out for you? You are two years older but you still peed your pants during that movie night. When was it again? Seventh grade?”

“SIXTH! And it was a very scary movie! You even hid your face in my sleeve…”

“Still I wasn’t the one peeing my pants in silence. If I hadn’t told them I spilled my glass of water on you during the film, they would have still teased you during reunions.”

“Haha Ari, my little spilling savior.”

As I climb down, Nick starts handing me the groceries one by one.

“While you were gone, I went to ask around for a new crew member. However, no suitable bloke.”

“That was to be expected with all these rich spoiled brats. They would be more of a burden than any help. And their company wouldn’t be pleasant.”

“You really dislike them huh?”

“Well if they keep expecting us women to be that easy and submissive, yeah! I liked Gil though …”

“I am sorry” Handing me a carton of milk his eyes sparkle, apology written all over his face.

“We can handle the boat perfectly with just the two of us. It has always been just us.” I give him a look up. A look he has seen more than often, similar to when my parents died in an accident and his face was all teary and full of snot. I should feel and do feel sad. But the memory also places a grin on my face. The only moment he really should have given me to be sad and process my own losses, instead I was comforting him.

“Gil was nice, but honestly I didn’t know him that well either.”

“Wasn’t he your ‘good’ buddy.”

“He was, since 3 weeks ago. Don’t blame me! He was just such a hilarious dude full of those happy hippie vibes, hard not to like him.”

“Well those vibes didn’t help him with staying on board.”

Looking back up for more groceries, Nick gives me a head shake.

“That’s it.”

I didn’t pay any attention at all while putting the stuff away. Climbing back up on deck I look over the water line as the sun starts to set.

“Wanna go for a last drink between those nasty rich before we sail out tomorrow?” Nick’s face glows in the evening sun light.

“Yes, let’s do that. Just one though, I want to set sail before the rich wake up.”

“You do know they are early birds, they wouldn’t be rich otherwise.”

Rolling my eyes, I hop off the Catherine. That’s the case for their parents, not them.

"They better not sail when we set off." Last time one of those cheesy balls almost hit us.

Catherine is moving slowly through the harbor. The sun hangs low from the sky, casting a low warm glow over the water. Fastening the sails with a painter hitch, we set sail. Nick steers us out the harbor towards the ocean, letting us glide over the glow.

A small breeze catches the sails, pulling us smoothly over the water.

“Ari! Ariel! Are you in your zone?” Nick laughs out loud, shouting over the soft sound of the waves.

“Yes!” I give him a big smile in return as I take in a deep breath of the salty ocean.

We sail for around 30 minutes, before we lower our sails. Catherine slows down, until we only bob in the water.

Next to each other we lay full out on the deck, I place my legs up in the air against the mast.

“We will soon have to lay dock somewhere for real. I need to get a job. We are slowly running out of money and this boat will not keep us afloat without the funds.”

Nick turns his head towards me as he talks. I can feel his eyes on me as I keep my eyes on the sky.

“We should both get some part time gig then.” I fumble with the amber pendant around my necklace.

“You are not planning to go back to law school?”

I quit for many reasons, but money was the biggest reason. The funds my parents left me weren’t enough. Only if I could go back in time…

“If I do, it will be with my own earned money. I know we are like siblings, however you do not have to take responsibility for me. After all, we are both adults.”

“I know, it’s just that you are the clever one out of us. I am more street smart? Its just my way of securing my future. You better take care of me later!” I don't have to turn to feel his grin.

“What if I take only pro bono cases? Haha I won’t be making what you are imagining right now.”

“I am pro bono!” Nick smirks. "But for real, you should go back. You actually have some prospect of making a future for yourself." He would as well, if i hadn't distracted him with my presence and tendency to run away.

The wind feels stronger as it tickles my feet. Stretching my toes, the wind tickles between all of my toes.

“Ari?” Nicks voice sounds doubtful with a slight hint of fear. Sitting up I turn around. In front of our boat, in the further distance dark clouds are gathering over the ocean.

“Go through it or try to avoid it?”

“I think it is too late for the latter. We better brace ourselves. Get dressed, I will prepare up on the deck.” With a nod, I quickly get on my feet. I feel a small burning feeling on the soles of my feet. I must have lightly sun burned my soles while laying down.

Down in the cabin I quickly change my shorts in longer water proof pants and water shoes, a padded inner jumper and a rain jacket over it. Making my way on deck again the dark clouds have already come upon us. The sky is filled with the fluffy greyness, blocking the sun from letting in any sun. We are sailing just on the line between the light and darkness of the storm.

The sails are lowered, storm sails up, Catherine is moving full on towards the waves. Piercing through one big wave after another.

“Nick! Get dressed quickly!” He zig zag runs towards the hatch as I grab the steering wheel. We are not even in the storm fully yet but I can feel the power against my palms as the ship wants to move into a different direction.

Men are always quicker with changing. Before I knew it, Nick is back on deck. Just before we hit out first storm wave he appears besides me.

Waves seep over the sides, soaking our legs.

“Let me take over! Go below deck!”

“No! You need me here!” He gives me a look. Only if Gil was still here, we both might have taken up each other’s offer…

Nick grabs the wheel, with both his arms around me. Blocking and securing me in as we clash against another wave.

“This is gonna get rough” he says into my ear as we both press against each other.

Another wave splashes over our whole boat. Wind gusts fiercely, piercing through our clothes. The fury of the storm releases on us. Waves come crashing down. Every time we hit one it feels like it will swallow us for good. Salty water splashes in our face, burning my throat as I keep inhaling sea water with every wave. Through the slit of my eyes I spot one of the ropes of our storm sails has come lose.

“Let me get that.” Nick yells over the storm. Quickly I place my hands over his, forcing his hand to stay on the wheel.

“Steering is too heavy for me! I will lose control the moment you let go. I will go!” Not letting him consider this. As there is no other choice I make my way to the front. Trying to catch the loose rope as its fluttering fiercely. Holding on the sail I let my hand slide downwards until I can finally reach and get a hold of the rope in my hand. I reach the base of the stay to knot the sail back secure.

The wind hits the sail, making it only hard for me to hold onto the rope. Using all the power in my arms I tighten it. Just when I release the knot a wave hits the boat. Flinging me a couple of centimeters of the deck in the air. Stumbling after I land back on my feet. A strong gust of wind almost makes me lose my balance. Regaining my balance, I look towards the front as a huge tsunami like wave appears in front of us, hoisting us up with the wave as it draws nearer.

A quick look at Nick, he clearly struggles to hold the wheel in position. As we hit the wave, the wave sweeps over Catherine, removing everything unattached off the boat. As I lose my balance I am being swept over the deck. Still the rope in my hand, my body hits the railing as the boat hits the water. Pulling on the rope for support, I lift myself back up to take a look. One look at the steering wheel. And I can see Nick quickly recovering as he was also thrown to the railing, crawling his way back to the wheel that is now spinning with an amazing speed. As he tries to take a hold of the rotating wheel, the boat moves sideways. Nick tries to steer in the opposite direction, recovering the boats course straight towards the next wave. However the next wave is already ominously getting closer. Nick is able to recover our course slightly, but Catherine is not yet corrected enough. Quickly moving crunched towards the other side of the boat, I try to use my body weight to give enough weight so Catherine won’t roll over.

Just as we the wave hits us, I realize how bad of a decision that has been. I am hanging on for my life on the rope in my hand.

“ARI!” Nicks voice can be heard over the storm in the form of a whisper. A quick look at him is soon blurred as water blinds my view. Catherine slowly rolls to the side as I am pushed by the wave over the other side of the boat. The strong waves throw my body in different directions as I lose grip on the rope in my hands. I can feel the end of the rope slipping through my fingers. As the last hope and grip on the life I had disappears. Total darkness consumes me, the current spins me around so that I am unable to distinguish up from down. Giving the water total control over my body, it pressures against my chest. However, I feel some sort of calmness come over me. This must be it.