Captain Nankor paused for a moment. He was visibly affected when he took a big gulp of his beer and then let it rest on the table again with a loud thud.
Dominik, and the others around that were hearing the story braced as it seemed this part was going to be hard...Aisha's favorite color was turquoise, it combined perfectly with her skin and her eyes. She didn't like it because of that, but Iskar thought it was just perfect for her.
Anything was perfect on her.He saw the turquoise dress she was wearing that day approach one of the windows, as if she was walking around. Then she left the window and the mother got closer to it and opened it.The young man hid himself before the mother could see him, and, now, with the window opened, he could see what the conversation was about."Daughter, you're a compromised woman now. You can't just be seen by your future husband on the streets talking to a boy. Even more, crying or giving or accepting things! DoThe third round of beers was served at the table. Captain Nankov was about two thirds on the telling of his very own love story to his new friend Dominik after they were done with their dinner, which consisted of crispy cod with sauteed fresh local vegetables, straight from the market, almost as a celebration of their arrival to Sicily.That stop, where they had been for the last ten hours, marked a little more than half of their trip, and certainly a change to safer waters, which would make the trip faster too.Little by little the other crew members joined the storytelling, until they were surrounded by the whole crew.It was likely that the rest of the ship heard the story a few times already, but that was a good story, and a sailor's story, about sailing and love.
Dominik laughed and held his beer up. The story that the captain was telling had a happy ending, and, even if it ended with a small threat, it gave him hope that at some point he might successfully find his pretty girl. Captain Nankor could easily see how Dom’s eyes shone brightly, and wondered how his mood had been changing so much since they left Burgas. There was no way in which he could be communicating with her between ports, so how was he getting suddenly depressed or incredibly happy because of his lady? It seemed to occur between his sleep periods too. “Maybe it’s all about missing her, and being at sea just amplifies it… Some people are not made for that,” Nankor thought, but still, in the back of his mind stood always the feeling of ‘this is the last trip,’ because he could hardly continue to stay away
How many hours have passed until they got sleepy again?They both fell asleep with their notebooks in their hands, one drawing his lady one more time, and trying to figure out an appropriate way to tell her that she is what he wants, finally, but not finding the way to say it yet.The other one is writing him, wondering if a dying girl really needs to worry about titles, tags and protocols, when she feels that she’s loved and that love she feels makes her happy.Does she, after all, have the right…? The chance to feel that?The time for their date, and meeting spot was uncertain.He showed up first, and went into the store, thinking that maybe she was there.Diw
The telegram had arrived the previous evening with the current location of the director and private owner of the clinic, Dr. Dominik Stoev. “Currently in Sicily. Leaving soon. Hope everything ok in clinic. Let Miss. Agpalza help. She knows everything. Thanks again.” And Dr. Heron De Narra was really happy to know that he was alright, but there were many other things going on in his mind. A few days before, he finally decided to tell Miss Agpalza, that he was genuinely interested in her, and invited her to have dinner together, and besides that, he got to know that the lady was also interested in him! Besides how hard it was for him to believe it, he now needed to choose a place and time for them to sit and talk, and get to know each other a little better. His house w
Dominik’s heart had never been too open to love, but that was not his fault, and not a bad thing completely, especially because there was a good reason for him being like that.The first couple he could really see as an example, and, more than that, what he wanted to have in life, was his beloved mother, and his father.Their love would have survived everything. It is worth to say too that it even survived her death.Both of his parents were actually young and happy, and they lived that way in Dom’s memory even after the years.His mother, a true lady with light brown, curly hair, green eyes like Dom’s, fair skin and a smile that the angels would envy, as his father used to say to her, making sure she knew the way he saw her, was the first love of his d
Dominik was frowning. He tried and put an effort to understand what Onia meant with his first love," but to him, that didn’t make sense at the moment. “I don’t remember falling in love… twenty years ago?” “Yes, my dear, and there is a reason why you don’t remember… Your heart was so broken that I… did something very wrong, and I hope you can understand and forgive me… The last time you were here, before going to rescue Belle, I promised myself that I would undo what I did to you so many years ago… and I am sorry that it took me so long, but…” She stood silent for a moment, while Dom was confused to say the least, but besides that, he was getting worried about how this confession was affecting the Queen. “After all this time, do you really think it matters for me to r
They were still sitting in the tea room, Belle and Domi. “Why don’t we leave them here to have their talk, my dear? We can come back later and check if they’re alright,” King Evan had said to his wife and Queen in a whisper as the young new couple held hands. “Yes. I think you’re right, my dear. Let’s do just that, she said and quietly walked out with her husband, trying to go unnoticed not to break the moment for them. “I’m ready,” Belle had said too. “I would like to have that conversation soon… and I believe I have a few things to say as well,” she smiled at him shyly. “Then right now is probably the best time, right?” he said softly. Keeping her hand in his, he guided her to the balcony table, opened the chair for he
Domi ran downstairs following the lab employee, who went to look for him in the tea room, and kept feeling the strangest feeling of uneasiness, that he could only explain was because Belle was left alone upstairs and their conversation was unfinished… It was not really usual that he had to get into a mirror and take people out, but this one in particular sounded like an especially dangerous one. “I’m sorry that I had to interrupt you back there, but we’re pretty worried about the people trapped,” the mirror worker said as they rushed down the palace stairs. “I understand, don’t worry, but, are things so bad inside, or is it that they have been inside for too long? And by the way, what’s your name? I don’t remember seeing you here before… “ “I’m Starling,
It all came down to this moment. Annabelle had been unconscious for almost an hour when Dominik and her family arrived at the clinic, and he quickly met with the parents to get their consent for the intervention, that now was a matter of saving her life or not.“Your daughter seems to have been born with a small hole in her heart. If you try with the stethoscope, you can hear the peculiar sound it makes, very characteristic to the illness. As she grew older, the small hole got bigger, and at the point that we are, if it grows any more, it will be fatal. Besides that, her body is weakening by the minute, so the surgery is a very urgent matter now. We need to operate swiftly and carefully.”He explained the parents, and they, as the last chance, agreed, knowing that if they didn’t accept, their daughter would die any minute, if not that da
“Oh it’s true… For some reason, I thought I told you before. My name is Annabelle Archer, pleasure to meet you, Mr. Dominik Stoev,” she said, giggling and still trying to swing to the edge. “I believe, though, that we should still try to get to the edge. Do you mind if we leave the presentations for later and get out of the mirror?” Dom couldn’t believe it… And wasn’t sure if the present news was good or not. He was on the ship and less than a day away to possibly save the girl’s life. Fear was, at least for the moment, transforming into great, big hopes, and Dom was shining bright, excited and with renewed strength. “Know what? Yes, let’s try your plan, suddenly I have a feeling that it will work.” His smile
“Captain Nankov, I found him!” Lazar yelled from one side of the ship’s deck, near the stern.In front of him was Dominik, sleeping like a log, in a half-sitting position.“I don’t know how he does it. The last few days, he sleeps wherever he falls, and not even an hour later he’s walking around again… Come on guys, I think this is the good one, let’s take him back to the cabin!”“Do you think this time he’ll sleep for longer?” Lazar asked, looking at the man deeply breathing, and now frowning.“I believe so. And I hope, because we’re soon to arrive at our destination, and what he said he had to do, will need him to be awake and ready. He’s saving a girl’s life yo
The Man From Hell finally appeared near Belle. He was standing right next to her body, intently looking at her, while Dom looked at him as if saying “I’ll kill you if you do anything to her,” and, as if he knew, the Man looked up and smiled widely, showing all of his needle-like teeth. “Calm down a little, my dear, it is still good that we can see him. I tell you again, he is not what people think he is…” Onia reassured Dom, who took a seat and watched, compass still in hand. “I’ll just feel better when she’s out of that place.” “I believe that she will be very soon. Although, remember, he might be protecting her from something else, so when she’s out there, make sure that her condition hasn’t worsened.” Onia’s words hit Dom hard. He really wanted to go look for her
Belle knew that the intentions of the Wishmaster couldn’ have been for her to die trying. If anything it was part of her test.Finally it was looking like a trial, and she kind of regretted not taking her weapons with her, but maybe she was not supposed to kill the creature that was now moving fast towards her.Then, she felt something grabbing her and pulling her strongly, just in time to get her out of the water.Her body slammed against the floor as the force used to take her out of the pool was that much, and right after she fell, she saw the white-rainbowy scales of the large, round monster that closed its mouth with a loud snap up in the air and fell back to the water.“I have to say, I am impressed,” the Wishmaster said, and the smile on his face
“Possibilities and fears don’t make life. Life is made of choices,” suddenly Annabelle said.“True… Partially.”As the very, very big, white fish swam slightly closer, a white mist could be seen swimming, or maybe, more like floating, around the young woman, that could easily go unnoticed. It had not been noticed by Annabelle herself, since it was not exactly physical, but…Could a shadow be white?“But you can’t tell me, that I have known you for so long that you don’t want to take what has been offered to you. Make your family happy, and be happy yourself,” the voice said once more, and then, Belle noticed something very interesting…That thing that
Belle closed her eyes. It was not the first time that she heard the voice in her head telling her all the things that could go wrong.But now, she didn’t care much about what could happen, mistakes were made and trouble happened as part of life. Her new life in Onerea had taught her that, and, maybe her physical heart was getting weaker, but her will and character were getting stronger.An image started showing up in front of her eyes.“Do you remember, dear, when we were kids, and you met the son of our governess? I remember you liking the boy, and that boy liked you too. It took a lot from you to forget about that, even if you were just a kid.”Annabelle sat in one of the chairs of the library, where she was taught every day by her governess, a
Belle was sleeping. Her breathing was deep and calm. Her chest raised often enough, and not even the disturbances around her, people talking or even accidentally moving her, thinking that she was awake, had changed that.It was many, many hours already too, that she had been asleep. More than twelve. Almost a day, actually, of continuous sleeping, and she didn’t seem to be close to waking up. A few days before, her father received a telegram from Dr. Stoev, letting him know that, if everything went well, he’d be arriving in a week and a half to two weeks, from the day he sent the note, that was about three, four days before.Being too optimistic, in a week the doctor, specialized in his daughter’s disease, would arrive…But was it possible that she resisted for that long?
Belle felt herself falling, and falling, for quite a while. Around her, growling could be heard, but nothing could be seen. The pitch black space that surrounded her made her unsure about the speed in which she precipitated, and where she was precipitating into.“Remember what I said,” he told her, and she remembered indeed.“Eyes wide open, be ready for whatever it is,”she said to herself. “Weapons,” she remembered, checking the different places where she got the holsters, back then at the store.Happy to see that everything was in place, she wondered if that was a mirror.“He said it would be a trial… and to remember what I believe in… cryptic crazy guy… I like him haha.”