Sleep wasn't a pleasure to the young man's heart; it brought him distant memories, memories that had really happened and others that were imagined. Whether he closed his eyes or opened them the images didn't change or go away so Albert decided to leave the bed and spent the whole night up. Books weren't that fun anymore, Alex also had a lot of books in his room too as he saw once, so what, they have the same interests?! This possibility left reading not an option for the disturbed young man. Albert left his room to ease his mind with some fresh air and unlike how things had usually been; he was welcomed with the sailor's smiles and cheering, no trace of the little incident after Vincent's rescue with Alice's effort, thinking that the sailors had already forgotten about it and had considered it a joke. Albert went to check on his friend but on his way he passed by Alex's room. He stopped thinking if he should thank him for allowing Serena to stay but if he was the royal officer then his commands were to be headed without discussion or refute still, it was kind of a politeness affair. But in truth, thanking him for allowing the woman to stay was a more bearable bargain compared to thanking him for saving his life in another way, a choice more tolerable than the other alternative. He knocked the door but no one answered... of course no one would; Alex is the captain; he's probably directing the ship. Albert thought and intended to leave but then he noticed that the door wasn't locked, he put his hand on the handle and it was opened. Albert stuck his neck inside the room; it was clean and neat yet radiated with darkness and gloominess whether it was in the middle of day and night. Albert wanted to leave before anyone comes and notices him but a picture attracted his attention, there was a book next to it, probably where it was hidden. Albert entered the room and held the picture in his hand.
"Serena?"
He wondered, half exclaiming at himself. The woman appearing in the picture had the same silky blonde hair and blue diamond eyes except that she was wearing a beautiful expensive dress and looked much happier. The sound of footsteps made the young boy turn in fear like a kid discovered sneaking into the kitchen for snacks. He found Alex standing with a frowned face behind him. Albert opened his mouth to explain his presence but he was at loss of words, he really had no excuse for this obviously unwelcomed intrusion. He never felt comfortable with that man. Alex looked at the picture in Albert's hand then moved his eyes to the boy, Albert noticed this and asked with the innocence of a child in an attempt to divert the captain's anger:
"Who is this woman? Is she Serena?"
Alex didn't seem willing to answer so Albert decided to return the picture to the table; he'd to apologize but didn't want to and without looking at the man he intended to leave the room but Alex answered with indifference as he sat on a sofa pouring himself a drink without offering the officer any.
"She's not, she's my former fiancée, Claudine."
Albert turned looking at the picture still in his hand then at him, he said the word (former) in a tone conveying that she means nothing to him but his eyes revealed the exact opposite. She was the woman Jeremy spoke about and seeing the photo, he understood why Alex never looked Serena in the eye. The young man couldn't prevent himself and asked curiously forgetting about politeness and carefulness. In fact forgetting about why he came in the first place:
"What happened to her? Why did you separate?"
"She was killed."
Although Albert didn't expect that mysterious man to answer his questions, he did for some reason. Although the boy did not know Alex well, he could tell the latter was acting unlike his usual self since he returned with that narcissus. Albert really didn't care about Alex but he felt sad for the woman in the picture. Alex speaking was a rare opportunity so he decided to gamble.
"Who killed her? She seems like a kind lady..."
"The current head of the Wilshire family."
Albert raised his head with disbelief. In a mere instant, with a single answer, everything was clear in front of him now, he understood why the famous free - willed Amphitrite had accepted a mission, this certain mission, from the king.
The sky outside frowned as the black clouds gathered releasing their anger into tears of frustration agitating the sea with them. Interrupted by the rain knocking on the small round window, the two men sat with the picture between them on the wooden table. Albert eyes were fixed on the picture, he had no words of consolation for the Alex but the latter went on as if wishing to stop this game of pretend and place Albert in his right place, a place of no further interference.
"The head of the Wilshire, Iris, stole from me the only person I truly cared for. By the time I arrived to her that night, she was already killed while Iris escaped leaving the place and her dead body covered with red roses and flowers petals."
Albert didn't move his eyes away from the picture, he asked Alex with uncertainty:
"Then, you want to avenge..."
"The downfall of her means the downfall of the whole family yet that's far from enough, I want to obliterate the very proof of that family's existence."
Albert raised his head slowly, he didn't want to look into that man's eyes, he'd no idea what expression might be drown on his face while saying this, and his hands couldn't stop shaking when his eyes finally met his. The calmness and coldness suddenly disappeared from Alex's eyes; the fire reflected on these eyes from the lanterns seemed to be emanating from them rather than being merely reflected.
"Erase the whole family, that's what you want? How do you intend to accomplish this exactly?"
"I've been travelling the seas waiting for an opportunity and now I have it, using the sacred spring."
Albert's heart bounced when heard the excuse, he gazed deeply into Alex's eyes trying to reach what this sentence was hiding. Alex continued, not ignorant of the boy's worries.
"It's sealed now but the king's younger daughter, aside from the Wilshire's priests, has the power to break the seal and make it flow forever. There are two charms for that seal which I both have. One is to safely let it spring and flow eternally and the second is to make it rage destroying everything, taking the whole island down with it."
Albert blinked twice processing what he had just heard but Alex was not joking. Determination and resolution was soaking every word he uttered the rain soaking every particle of the wooden ship. That man's spoken thoughts were more terrifying than his silence. Yet, Albert was no longer afraid. Trying to reason things before jumping into a final judgment, giving the man he hates the benefit of doubt, he struggled to control his seeping anger and asked with a firm tone:
"You intend to take the island along with the spring, the people's only hope, to have your own personal revenge? This whole mission... this ship... your men who died in the battle... you are intending to use them for your selfish revenge?!"
Albert inquired, his whole body shaking at the idea confirmed by Alex's silence. The captain had nothing more say. That was it, that was everything. It was a plan on hold for years in his mind, unable to accomplish it with a single ship, no matter how might and powerful that ship was, and without a holy power. He was using everything and everyone; the drought, his own ship, his crew, even her highness now that he had an order to take her onboard. As no effort was used by Alex to deny this truth, Albert left his seat declaring:
"I can't allow this; I'll inform the king right now!"
Alex left his seat as well, returning the picture back inside the book saying with a seriousness that was interpreted in the boy's mind as mockery:
"Do you honestly think that the king, "his majesty", care for his people? He has enough water in his palace for himself and his family. He merely took advantage of the people's need for water to get rid from the domination of the Wilshire; it was his chance supported by all the other noble families to strike. That drought you speak of and repeat like a parrot could have had no existence. They did not even try to negotiate with the Wilshire."
Albert refused to believe a word that man says anymore. He was deranged in every meaning of the word to Albert's understanding. Alex did not expect a different reaction from the young officer other than silence and weak protest. Still hovering over his last words, he added putting the book back in its place with a sneering smile.
"Even for the better."
"I can't believe this... and you sat your sails knowing this? You accepted to have your revenge risking these good men's lives? You are travelling the seas for such a pitiful intention?"
Alex didn't say anything because the answer was obvious and he didn't seem ashamed of it. Albert collapsed on the chair frustrated... he bowed his head smiling bitterly as his eyes tried hardly to hide their tears. Alex could barely hear the officer mumble to himself before his voice got louder and louder:
"I can't believe this... why would my father sacrifice his life to save a person like you, selfish and possessed by the desire for revenge? I always tried to believe that father must have seen something good in you to give up his life and abandon us for you but I can't understand... he was just as selfish too! His death had no meaning at all!"
Alex did not try to defend the man who he was still alive and breathing due to his sacrifice. Instead, without the intention, he directed the grieving son's words against him, raising an elegant eyebrow in question.
"You are just like me. Do you not hate me, despise me and wish to dispose of me in a noble revenge because I'm the reason behind your father's loss?"
At these words, Albert got up from his chair shouting similarly to an enraged madman:
"Shut up! I would never use and taint the pure water of the sea with such desires! I'd never turn its blueness into darkness! I'd chase my foe and put him on trial!"
A smile dripping with open mockery was drawn on Alex's face, he looked at Albert the way he'd look at a naïve inexperienced lad saying:
"Do you honestly believe the sea end at their shores? And there is nothing beyond their mountainous fortress but a bottomless abyss? They control the sea trade using this myth, they control everything as they are great family standing at the edge of world controlling it! Their reign of terror and lies had been far overdue!"
Albert shook his hand in disapproval just because it was Alex of all people who had the guts to admit this out loud without fear of retribution. Deep in his heart, Albert, even as a boy, could not believe in this myth. The sea was far much greater and the world hid so much wonders to end at a single shore. His doubts showed in his face despite his effort to conceal them, prompting Alex to explain further:
"That woman is a symbol for the despicable aristocracy; her family keeps on oppressing people and treats them like a nuisance so their disappearance is a victory to every weak poor person, it's in their benefit. After all, it's her noble rank that saved her from punishment for her crime. The king feared her family and so he concealed the incident forever leaving her free and unharmed!"
"Don't talk about this as if you know everything about poor people!"
Albert shouted angrily in Alex's face, he stood fisting his hands trying to absorb his vexation yet failing at he at last got to unload the burden he had been carrying for years:
"After my father died, my nobility didn't save me from hunger and need... my mother and I had to struggle to get by! But for you... we all know who your father is! A man who would spend thousands for his own amusement while looking down on everyone less than him!"
"That's all more reason for me to hate aristocracy."
Albert stepped back hearing the words. A shiver ran down his limbs at looking at the cold faced man; he was speaking about his own father with the same resentment and disdain he spoke with about the killer of his fiancé. There was no point in any further argument, Albert realized this too well, there were no more words to be said, everything was revealed like the curtain of an ironic play where the actors knows no more where this play will drag them to.
*****
The breezes of the night weren't as cold as the wind that was storming in the young man's heart. The truth he'd just come across was seizing his heart and mind like a thorny crown. And to top it all, he owed that man both, his friend's and his own life. This truth came to him like a wave toying with his sanity, reaching and drowning the beach sand then ebbing when he thinks of his friend's serious situation just to return again... playing the same cruel game. He directed his eyes at Vincent's room and saw Serena getting out. Her highness, the young princess, was also taking care of Vincent along with Alice when the latter was free. Serena noticed the officer standing alone waiting and approached him, intending to sooth his worries:
"Your friend will be fine, that's what her highness said."
Albert thought about the words for few seconds before he realized that the girl was thinking he was worried about his friend's life. He was for sure, but he knew this was not enough to kill a man like Vincent. After getting his head out of the clouds that stormed it in Alex's room, he replied.
"I'm glad to hear this. By the way, I never had the chance to thank you for standing by my side at both battles!"
" It's nothing... what you did that day was enough to repay me."
Albert caressed his nape in embarrassment, all he did was yell few words using his given authority, Serena had supported his sailing through the Triton passage getting to the sails herself and shot from the pistol he was frightened to use. He was in no position to receive thanks. The two went to the rear deck so they won't disturb the injured man the women taking care of him. Serena stood beside Albert leaning on the ship's edge with her elbows, the wind was blowing her blonde hair out of its binds. The boy couldn't move his eyes thinking how incredibly similar she was to that woman in the picture in Alex's room and when she noticed how he kept staring at her, he turned his face ashamed of his inappropriate behavior. But the woman was not annoyed the least. Apparently, she had gotten used to this. She tried to lighten the mood as she removed some hair from face tucking them behind her ear.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, I was just thinking how similar you're to someone..."
Albert replied faster than a bullet, turning redder than blood when it spills while gazing straightforward to avoid the woman's sorrowful eyes.
"So I take it you have seen the photo in the captain's room too?"
There was no point in denying this, so nodded in affirmation. Serena turned her eyes looking at the horizon wearing a black garment ornamented with the twinkling drops of rain sighing:
"We're twin sisters; however, I'm totally different from her..."
Albert looked surprised; Alex never mentioned that, Serena went on with a bitter smile despite the strength she wanted to emphasis the last part of her previous sentence with:
"My father had two twin daughters but since he was a rich noble man, he feared that the family might be divided between us and fight for fortune after his death taking sides. That's why he decided to hide one of them away and tell no one about her existence... I was the daughter he chose, the younger one. The difference of one second determined each daughter's destiny and place; one to shine, the other to dim. I was sent to live in a distant village with one of our maid and my mother and sister often paid me visits so it was not that bad."
"That's unfair!"
Albert exclaimed, he did not hesitate to share sadness with her but until that moment of their conversation she did not sound sad. Serena didn't replay on him, she was not seeking empathy. She had given up on that. She went on no advantage in finishing the story at this point.
" I have never cared about hiding my existence until that day. I was in my family's palace for a short visit when he came... he was sneaking in the garden seeking to see his love, he was so young and full his eyes were full of life and passion, sunken with dreams and sun rays... when he saw me standing at the balcony he told me a poem thinking I was her then disappeared... back at that time, he looked straight at my eyes... "
"You mean... Alex?"
"It's because of him that I started studying on my own about ships and sailing and gained some knowledge. I knew I'd find him in the seas because he was like one, deep yet transparent, clam yet mysterious..."
Albert didn't know how to respond to that; her voice and the look in her eyes were traced with admiration, a true passion ignited from a single mistake, yet despite it was a mistake that led the man to her, she never gave up on him and thus on her happiness in a way. Yet that passion and love she was speaking with about him pieced Albert's heart like thorns bleeding it with the truth he had just unveiled about that man. He felt sad for her. In the end, it was Alex's sincere passion and unmoving fidelity to her sister that turned him to what he'd become now. Serena continued, getting a chance to unload her burden just as Albert had in Alex's room few hours ago.
"He knew I was her sister when he saved me. I believed it was when he realized the mistake he had done when he sneaked into our garden, reciting the love poem to me. So, he wanted to drop me at Laria but couldn't because of the dispute between the royal family and mine after my sister's murder. He feared the princess might find out about me and start troubles so he waited until we made anchor at another neutral place. He wanted to protect his fiancé's little sister... my sister..."
Albert could not see things from the point of view the woman did after his latest conversation with the man. He did not drop her at Laria not for her own safety, bur in order not to stir a trouble that would prevent the crown princess from handing him her sister, another pawn in his game. But who was he to defile that woman's fantasies and little hope at happiness? And who was he to judge intentions? He had just proved he was the worst at that.
Serena took a deep breath cutting their sudden silence, adding in more bitterness:
"She was a home cat... she wasn't fitted to share with him his dreams! "
Her eyes that sparkled like the stars while speaking this whole time, were wrapped in the night at this addition, covering her sight in the blackness named jealousy. Albert couldn't but say to her:
"Forget about him, you deserve a better man than him..."
Serena looked at him but his arms let go of the ship's edge as he went back to his room. His head was filled with thoughts, he couldn't understand what attracted the pure heart of a young butterfly to the blazing fire, just to burn itself in the end with jealousy and grudge. But she wasn't the only butterfly attracted, was she?
" The difference of one second determined each daughter's destiny and place..."
Her words came back to him, one second determined his father's fate, dragging after it a long time of suffering and lamenting. One second snatched Alice into the Amphitrite before he could owe his own ship, and maybe one second would determine the fate of his country's people.