DISCLAIMER: The author's imagination and passion are the only sources of inspiration for this novel, which is a work of dedication. Parallels between these pages and the past or present may be apparent to some readers, but they are completely coincidental. You are free to interpret this art anyway you see fit, and it is meant for your enjoyment.
Before the truth of the situation became apparent, the laughter in the courtyard had hardly subsided. Although Captain Killian Thorne's "menace" had been completely neutralized by Reinn's laughter, he is still someone to consider. Her laughing had, if anything, stabilized him. He was now more than simply a pirate; he was a visitor with something to prove.
"Dinner was delightful," Killian said, reclining in a velvet chair that seemed far too small for his large frame. He had been entertaining the kitchen crew and teaching Eyldion how to knot a "Siren's Hitch" with a silk napkin for the past hour. "But I didn't sail through a rift in space-time just for the pheasant and the company of a very grumpy Duke."
Dyierrean did not even flinch as he leaned against the wall with his arms folded. "The Duke is not grumpy. He is merely waiting for a reason to throw you back into the harbor."
Leo said, "Gentlemen, please," as he moved to the middle of the room. The harbor, where Killian's ship, The Gilded Banshee, sat blazing with an ethereal, emerald light, was projected holographically by his tablet. "We're still in the middle of a Suitor's Gauntlet. Round one was Provisioning, and honestly, it was a draw between the Duke's stew and the CEO's sashimi. But Round two... Round two is Adventure."
When Leo swiped his device, the holographic map focused on the Isle of Echoes, a little rocky island located three miles out at sea.
Leo replied, "The rules are changing," as he cast a glance at Reinn. "The 'Ex-Boyfriend' is bored with the domestic stuff. He's injected a new objective into the script. On that island lies the Compass of Desires. Whoever brings it back to Reinn earns the right to skip the next three challenges and go straight to the proposal."
Killian Thorne got to his feet, his roguish smile reappearing. "A race to an island? On the open sea? You're playing in my backyard now, Fixer."
Ji-Hoon retorted, "Not quite," as he looked at his digital watch. "My world has speedboats that can hit 80 knots. I can have that compass before your 'Ghost Ship' even catches a breeze."
With a hint of royal rivalry, Giywon said, "And my dragon-crested galley is powered by the strongest rowers in the Empire. We do not need 'breezes' or 'motors'—we have the strength of Edryyion."
With a look of both genuine concern and amusement on her face, Reinn observed them. Four men, each extraordinary in their own world, were attempting to establish their worth by pursuing a mystical treasure; this was the Mature Romance of her life.
Reinn stated, "I'm coming with you," in a tone that made no space for disagreement.
Giywon and Dyierrean both exclaimed, "What? No!" simultaneously.
"Absolutely not," Ji-Hoon continued. "It's a high-risk environment with zero liability coverage."
Reinn took a step forward, the "Lioness" fire that had made her famous flashing in her eyes. "Listen to me. This isn't just about a compass. This is my life. If you're going to be racing through a magical rift to decide my future, I'm going to be there to make sure none of you drown—or kill each other. Besides, I'm the only one here who knows how to use the 'Ink of Free Will' if the script glitches."
Killian let out a rich, deep laugh that seemed to reverberate through the atmosphere. "I like her. She's got the heart of a navigator. Very well, Lady Hylde. Welcome aboard to The Gilded Banshee."
It seemed like entering a dream as you moved from the solid stone of the manor to the deck of the pirate ship. Instead of being constructed of wood, the Banshee was composed of a glittering, black substance that resembled petrified starlight and felt like polished bone. The translucent green sails hummed with a ghostly, low intensity.
Killian exclaimed, "Welcome to my pride and joy," as he assisted Reinn in getting onto the deck. The others caught the slight, flirty flare of his hand lingering on hers for a little too long.
Giywon and Dyierrean trailed behind, appearing extremely uneasy. Dyierrean's hand never left the hilt of his blade as he scanned the horizon for threats, while Giywon was preoccupied with keeping his regal cape from snagging on the phantom rigging. Ji-Hoon was at the rear of the group, frowning while examining a portable sonar gadget.
"The atmospheric pressure is dropping," Ji-Hoon observed. "Leo, are you seeing this?"
Through their earbuds, Leo's speech cracked. "Yeah, I'm seeing it. The Ex-Boyfriend is throwing a 'Genre Storm' at you. He's mixing Nautical Horror with Slapstick Comedy. Watch out for—"
Leo was about to finish when a huge tentacled arm emerged from the sea. It was bright pink and had a huge yellow bowtie on.
With a somewhat cracked voice, Giywon questioned, "Is that... a Kraken?"
"It's the Kraken of Kitsch," Killian moaned as he pulled out his cutlass covered with emerald. "The Editor's sense of humor was always terrible. It doesn't want to eat us; it wants to juggle us."
Ji-Hoon was grabbed on the ankle by the enormous, pink tentacle as it swept over the deck. Suddenly, the wealthy CEO, who was always so calm and collected, was hanging upside down over the dark sea.
Ji-Hoon yelled, "Put me down!" as his pricey suit jacket dropped over his head. "I will sue this entire dimension! I will buy this ocean and drain it!"
"Giywon! The tentacle's weak point is the bowtie!" Reinn said, smiling despite herself.
With his golden blade blazing with imperial light, Giywon sprang into action. He cut through the yellow bowtie while performing a mid-air somersault, which was entirely dramatic and completely impractical. Squeaking like a gigantic rubber toy, the Kraken withdrew into the depths.
With a look of pure, unadulterated judgment, Dyierrean seized Ji-Hoon before he hit the deck, uprighting the CEO. "Your 'pension plan' didn't seem to help you there, CEO."
The laughter subsided as the ship navigated the "Genre Storm," giving way to a profound silence and vulnerability. The waves started to mutter in the voices of those the group had lost, and the sky turned a deep, wounded violet.
With the salt spray on her face, Reinn stood at the bow. There was someone behind her, she sensed. It was Killian. He had stopped posing. His roguish mask came off to expose a man who was incredibly lonely as he gazed out at the horizon.
Killian remarked, "You laughed at me earlier," in a voice that was almost audible over the wind. "Because I looked 'too handsome' to be real. You were right. In my world, I was designed to be the 'Dream Hero.' I never had a choice in how I looked or who I loved. But when I saw you break your script... I realized I didn't want to be a 'Dream.' I wanted to be a man."
Reinn faced him. From the mid-deck, she could see the CEO, the Prince, and the Duke observing them. Despite their differences and various "stories," they were all connected by the fact that they were all individuals whose presence had completely transformed.
Reinn remarked in a steady, authoritative voice, "This isn't a competition for a prize, is it?"
"No," Killian said, meeting her gaze. "It's a competition to see who can be real enough for you."
The Isle of Echoes, a jagged spire of rock shimmering with a golden light, suddenly emerged through the mist. However, protecting the coast wasn't a ghost or a monster.
It was a mirror. A huge, imposing mirror that revealed to each of them their fears rather than their actual selves.
Leo murmured, "The final test of the Adventure," into their ears. "To get the compass, you have to face your own trope."