Chapter Six

Gone:

The sun rolled across Ariadne’s bed and she groaned slightly shifting trying to get away from it. She wasn't ready for another day. She didn't want to dive into the stress and the papers upon papers. She didn't want to have to think about the fact she was failing her parents. She groaned again, kicking the covers off of her. She thought it was too late. She had already begun. She could feel the tightness in her chest from her thoughts as her feet touched the wooden floor of her bedroom. She stretched before standing. Maybe she could just take some time off from her thoughts and work today, she missed Danica and how she always seemed to make everything feel lighter. They hadn't spent much time together recently. She walked to her bedroom door and stepped out into the hall. She glanced at her sister's door which was shut. She approached it and knocked softly.

“Dani. Dani are you up yet?” Ariadne called softly through the door. 

No answer came, Ariadne shrugged and headed down stairs letting her sister sleep more. Getting into the kitchen she felt her chest tighten as she looked at the piles of paper. She shut her eyes and took a deep breath in. Holding it for a second she slowly released it. She did that once more and then opened her eyes. She frowned seeing the papers. She went to the chair in the corner of the room. She took the light weight blanket off the back of it and walked over to the table. She very carefully unfolded the blanket and placed it on top of the papers.

“There!” She smiled hoping it would make her feel better.

Not seeing the mess she felt better but in the back of her mind and heart she could feel the nagging painful feeling trying to sneak up. She rolled her head back and forth trying to get rid of the headache trying to form in the base of her neck. She needed air. She went to their door shutting her eyes as she reached for the handle. She could feel the invisible string the paperwork had on her pulling and tugging at her. Trying to pull her back so she couldt leave. She felt frozen as she gripped the handle tighter. The pain in her head started to creep up the back of her neck. She turned the handle and her chest tightened. She was feeling shaky and light headed as she tried to open the door. 

A loud two knocks on the door startled her and interrupted her descent into a panic attack. She blinked a few times thinking she may have made it up. A third knock occurred and Ariande slowly pulled the door open. She stared confused looking at the man who stood ignorant of her. Dani had chased him off the other day...his name was Patrick she thought. 

“Can I help you?” She asked him.

“Are you ok? Do you need something? You look very pale and like something is wrong.” Patrick asked concerned.

“I..I..no I am ok. Can I help you?” Ariadne said regaining herself.

She then realized she was still in her night dress. A sense of panic flashed over her as she slammed the door in Patrick's face. Patrick stared at the door confused as he wasn't sure whether he should leave or stay there. He waited several minutes as he debated knocking again. He heard a bunch of moments inside and he decided to just wait. A few minutes later Ariadne reopened the door fully dressed.

“Can I help you?” She said as if nothing happened before.

“Um I...I..”

“You?” Ariadne asked, confused, cutting him off.

“Sorry, I guess I didn't think this far ahead. I got to the part of coming here but then I didn't really know what to say.” Patrick said, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Ok well let me let you know that we are not interested in whatever your father and you are thinking about offering.” Ariadne said, starting to shut the door.

“Wait.” Patrick said, sticking his arm in the way of the door closing.

The thought of slamming the door on his arm passed through her mind and a small smirk came onto her face. Danica would definitely have approved. She sighed looking at him waiting for him to continue.

“I came to help.” He said shortly.

“Help?’ Ariadne said, opening the door slightly.

“Aye. I don't think what my father is doing is right.” Patrick said quietly.

“Right and I'm just supposed to believe you.” Ariadne said.

“I don't know how to convince you. Believe me I would love to have the business but I believe in doing things right and fair. I don't want to steal and take things out from under others. That business will be mine one day and I want it to stand for something and not just be some mindless machine that does whatever it takes to make a dollar.” Patrick said passionately.

Ariadne studied him while he spoke. She wasn't sure why but she felt  like she could trust him. She studied him for a moment but couldn't bring herself to listen to her gut. She thought it was crazy that she wanted to trust him. He just wanted to see the insides working of how they were planning on stopping them. She gritted her teeth and shook her head.

 “Thank you for the offer but you should go.” Ariadne said firmly as she waited for him to move his arm.

Patrick frowned at her and slowly took back his arm. He stared at her for a moment before slowly moving his arm away from the door opening. Ariadne's stomach felt sick as she slowly shut the door on him. She stared at the back of the door unmoving as she waited to hear his footsteps walking away. Patrick for some reason felt hurt as he stared at the door. He wanted her to trust him but he understood. He was the enemy and why would she trust him. He sighed deeply as he walked away from the door trying to figure out what to do next to prove that he was in fact trustworthy.

Ariadne let out the breath she was holding as she heard him start walking away. She couldn't believe that. Why would he want to help them when his  father was doing everything he could to destroy them. She shook her head. She had to go tell Dani. She needed to see what she thought. She headed back up stairs and to Dani’s door. She opened the door and stepped in starting to talk as she did.

“Dani, you would never believe what just happened. The Smith-” She started to say as she realized the room was empty. 

She glanced about, Danica’s bed didn't look like she had slept in it at all. She turned about the room her closest door was left open. Ariadne walked to the closest door confused. Getting to the closest she realized a good portion of her clothes were gone. Her stomach dropped.

“Danica, I swear if you did what I think you did.” Ariadne growled talking openingly to the room.

She quickly turned on her heels and raced down the stairs. She didn't stop as her feet reached the lower floor. She walked across the kitchen heading to the door with intent. She flew open the door and marched down the path leading to the docks. She was almost running as her feet hit the rocky path. She almost tripped and fell as the dock came into view. The dock seemed empty as Her eyes scanned the ships as her foot hit the word. She began counting in her head. The Morning Star was gone with her parents, Auntie Claire and Uncle Jack had The Evening Star, Orion had Andromeda, The Crown was sitting in the dock, along with Ophiuchus. She walked down the dock. She knew one was missing, she counted the ships. Which one was gone? She thought grumbling as she did to herself as she walked down the dock nearing the end of them.  Seeing the empty spot she gritted her teeth. The North Star was gone. She clenched her hand in fist at her side. Several different emotions rolling through her, anger how dare she leave her! Worried that she would be ok. She felt herself shaking.

“Miss?” A man’s voice said coming up behind her.

“Aye.” She said angrily as she turned to see the man.

She recognized him as one of the men from the crew of Ophiuchus. He stepped back a little bit taken back by the amount of anger in her voice. He cleared his throat before speaking again.

“I have something from you. Two notes, one from your brother and the other is from your sister.” He said quietly holding them before out to her.

She nodded slightly and took them. She stared down at the paper swallowing hard. She was almost worried about reading both of them. She glanced at the man and smiled weakly. He nodded and walked off. She inhaled opening Orion’s note first, taking the one she could probably handle the best.

“Dearest Sister, I have good news and bad news. I received your message about The Smith’s and I am returning home as quickly as possible. The good news is the deal went through and the bad news is I had to negotiate down very much due to the Smiths reaching them as well. They are also trying to go east. Lucky are standing relationships with the east trading post held out. Although the amount I am bringing back is not enough. I will see you soon. - Orion.”

Ariadne sighed, her heart sank a little bit, she had hoped the Smiths wouldn't dare venture east, It was uncharted territory for most. How were they getting all this information ? She gritted her teeth. There had to be someone telling the Smiths all of their plans and moves. She shook her head staring down at the note in her hand from Danica. She closed her eyes, taking a breath in before unfolding the paper.

“Ari, I’m sorry. I had to do this. I can’t sit by any longer seeing you work so hard. This is the only thing I could think of. Please don't hate me. I have taken  Jacob and Adam with me so I have good men who have been out to sea several times. Don't worry we can do this. I will return with what we need. You keep doing what you're doing. I know you will find a way to stop them. You are the smartest person I know. In the meantime I will find a way to find us funds. I love you- Danica”

Ariadne sighed deeply, running her hand over her face. Her first instinct was to take a ship and go after her sister. She couldn't, she was the only one left here. She shook her head looking  towards the horizon. Her family was going to be the death of her. She shook her head. She took another deep breath in as the ocean air rushed over the dock. The wind on her face and running through her hair felt. Part of her wanted to run away. She wished she could do just what Danica did, hop ship and just leave. She was slightly annoyed and almost angry that her parents left. She didn't blame them, they didn't know this was coming and no one had sent them word that they were in trouble. They did deserve the getaway. She sighed once more before starting to leave the dock