CHAPTER 02

CHAPTER 02: BURNING PLEASURE

A second time, I gulped.

His eyes make me shiver with fear.

“A-ah sorry, by any chance did I-ah hurt you?” I nervously said while looking away in his eyes. If I would still stare at it any longer I might fall to the ground.

“No. Not really. Your so thin to hurt me.” he blankly criticized.

D-did he just insults me? ha!Really? How dare he!

I was about to face him but he was already gone. What the?! I look around to make sure if he is still near but I saw nothing. I sighed, now that’s creepy. He just appeared somewhere then disappeared again like a bubble. But those eyes, it’s something. For the first time, I feel nervous for that mere stare from a stranger. Ughh. This is not the right time for that mysterious man because I have a bigger problem than that. IM FREAKING LOST, fuck. Where the hell I am now? This is driving me crazy.

I jumped out of surprise when someone forcefully grabbed me in the arm. I was about to punch the culprit but instead, I was dragged.

“YOUR HIGHNESS, THIS IDEA IS BAD LET’S GO BACK TO THE CARRIAGE!” Clara shouted and then started dragging me like crazy.

I almost cry when I realized I’m saved. Thank goodness it wasn’t some lunatics.

“Why the hell took you so long Clara? I thought I got lost,  that scares me!” -I shouted at her. She chuckled.

“I’m so sorry Lady Vein, I got distracted when I heard about pirates lurking around here and then I realized I left you that is why for the last minutes I was looking at you like crazy hoping those pirates doesn’t identify you or else I’m dead.” -She said.

God. This girl is driving me nuts.

Wait? Pirates? They’re lurking here freely? Oh goodness, what are they doing in here?

“For the first time in my life, I feel like going mad. I got scared seriously.” -She murmured, I sighed. Yeah, I felt bad for Clara if I got lost. I don’t know what will my parents do to her and her family.

Thank goodness she found me. Even if I'm the princess of this kingdom, I don't have enough power to defy the King and the Queen’s absolute order.

The carriage is still there with the guards, we secretly entered as if nothing just happened. Clara’s eyes and I met, we started laughing. Well, I can’t deny that it was one of the most scariest and amazing memories that happened to me alone.

After an hour we arrived at the Shaport. The parade was amazing and we enjoyed it even if we only stayed in the carriage. Beautiful and colorful dresses of people walking together with the band. My parents are in front waving to the people, I rolled my eyes while imagining them smiling all eyes while if it is with me, they do not even lay a single glance. Tsk, hypocrite.

After a long wait, we finally descended from the carriage and when I stepped down, a cold sea breeze softly kissing my face made me smile. They smell the same.

“Uhuh? Why is the great your highness is smiling alone? Did something happen?” Clara speaks at my back.

I chuckled.

“Oh? Now you laughing, wow. Who? Who is he? Who is this man?” -Clara playfully said while fixing my already mess braided hair.

“W-what do you mean who? H-Hey! Y-you? I-I, tsk let’s go! “ I hissed and quickly followed the crowd. I heard her laughing hardly. 

What the hell is she thinking? Why would I even think of someone I don’t know?

“Oh? You’re turning red. Are you blushing? Wow. Tomato!” -She said while still laughing.

“H-HEYY!! Stop looking at me!” 

“Why? TO.MA.TO.!!” 

“STOP TEASING ME!!”

“OKAY!! YOUR SO DEFENSIVE YOUR TOMATO- I MEAN, your highness!” 

That brat. I said I’m not. I don't even know him, it's just that his smells still lingered in me. 

“Why are you late? Did you attend the parade, you should. Oh!?! My friend’s daughter is holding her 18th birthday party next week, you should think of coming, no-no you will come. “  My mom, the queen ordered when I just met her after a month. Yup a month.

“Okay. I’ll also prepare her a gift myself!” I coldly answered while still finishing the food on my plate.

As if. I’ll just let Clara decide what gift I will send to the celebrant whom I don’t know. I don’t even know the debutant’s name nor her mother’s name so why to bother.

“Good. Make sure you get along with her,” she added so I nodded and stood up.

“I’ll just get some fresh air, your grace. Thank you for the food. “ I calmly digressed and slightly bowed before leaving. I immediately walked into the exit hoping to stay away from them, some who knew me greeted me but I am not in the mood to entertain them.

I headed toward the old boardwalk where there were still some small boats resting. I can still see the manor where the party was held, I can also hear the orchestra playing. I laughed as hard as I can when I remembered what my ‘dear’ mother said.

“Seriously?! She’s more concerned with her friend’s daughter instead of her own? Ha!” I laughed and a tear escapes from my eyes. I just want her to look at me as her daughter and ask me how's my days yet the first thing she did was ordered me to attend a party filled with pretentious pigs.

“What a mess.” a deep voice said.

I jumped. I almost fell in the water in surprise thankfully I balanced myself. The voice came from the small boat that was just floating in the water. I stepped back when the guy smiled at me. He does have a wonderful smile.

“W-who are you?” I nervously asked. I gulped when he just shook his head while still smiling. His creepy.

“ I-I said who are you?!” I said while hugging myself. But he just laughed like some lunatic.

“Me?! Why would I tell you who I am? “ He communicated and crossed his hands like he owned everything in this world.

What the hell is wrong with him? Does he know that his smile is really scary? I forcibly smiled at him. 

“A-Ah you must be the owner of the boat? Did I perhaps disturb you? Well I-I’m sorry. Bye!” I stated and slightly bowed at him.

“Then I’ll go now. Take care and goodbye!” I exclaimed then smiled at him and walk away.

“Hey! Did I tell you to go??!”

Don’t listen to him. You don’t know him, you should get out and stay away from him Vienna.

“Hey stop!! I’m stuck here! Can you pull the boat back!” 

Nope. I didn’t hear anything.

“Hey, you braided cute lady!”

“What??! C’mon, you can just pull yourself you know!” I raved and pointed the rope in that was tied in the wood. But he just smiled back at me and point the rope too.

“It may look like that but it’s unbound. If I pull the rope, well you know what happens next,” he said while crossing his arm and signaling me to move.

“So please, help me a little cutie!”

Seriously?! This guy! Does he even know who I am? I sighed and walked toward the rope not minding what he just called me and to my surprise, it’s not tied perfectly. I rolled my eyes when I slowly pull him. I winced when the rope scratches my palm. Fuck. I left my gloves on the table inside the manor.

“You’re quite strong for a lady, Miss?”  he snickered. I faced him and raised my brow. Can’t he see? I’m busy pulling him.

“Why the hell are you so heavy!” I complained. And the jerk just laughed. God bless my soul.

“And it's Vienna. My name's Vienna not cutie or what!” I pointed out. 

“Well, Ms. Vienna your strong.” He stated and stared at me.

“Yeah? Shut up and just stay still. What if you fall in the water?” I wailed at him, still pulling him and my hand hurt like hell. It's completely covered with wounds from the rope now.

I continued pulling him and when the boat almost reaches the wood the rope suddenly felt light and unfortunately, it made me lose my balance. As I was waiting for my fall a hand gripped my wrist. I sighed in relief.

“That was close!!” he said and chuckled. I quickly stand up properly and punched his shoulder.

“It was your fault idiot!” I shouted at him. He seems surprised. “What if you fall while your jumping? Dude the water seems freezing!” I added while looking at him directly in the eyes. That’s when I realized, he somehow looked familiar.

He just stared at me and smiled.

“W-well you can let me go already.” I shyly started after I realized I stared at him so long. Can he just let me go now? I feel like drowning in something.

“Your hands.” he enunciated as he kept glancing at my hands. I abruptly tried to hide it but he is fast enough to stop me.

“Oh, don’t mind it,” I started when I noticed my hand that is now covered with blood. I removed his grip and distanced myself from him.

“Well, I’ll be going now!” I said, he nodded a reply. I nodded back and started returning to the manor.

“Jake!” he shouted. I stopped walking and faces him.

“My name is Jake, it’s nice meeting you. Ms. Vienna! Let’s be friends.” he said and smiled. I smiled back and wave at him.

“Okay, nice to meet you too!” – I said then continue walking.

“Jake.” -I murmured and smiled. It's nice to have you too be my friend.

“Where have you been? We need to go now! The king and queen already departed.” Clara nervously said and gripped my wrist as I’ll run away from her.

“Why? What’s wrong?!” I asked. And why would the King and Queen depart without me? Really? 

“It seems that the rumors are true.” She said and leads me to where the carriage parked. I entered as well as Clara and closed the door and closed the curtain and faced me seriously.

“What rumors are you talking about?” I asked.

“Pirates. The pirate will attack here any minute, so we need to go!” she replied.

“What do you mean to attack? How about the other people?” I nervously said.

“T-they are already departing quietly. So let’s go.” She said and ready to tap the wall but she froze.

She looks pale, I sighed and faced her.

“Why? What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I ah, I forgot something inside.”  she nervously said and looked at me.

“ I’ll get it fastly. Y-you can g-go first!” She said but her eyes are begging. Asking me not to leave.

“No. I’ll wait for you.” I firmly said.

“NO. You need to go, you need to be safe.” She said almost crying. I sighed and restrained my emotions.

“NO. You get it fastly and I’ll wait here.” I said and stared at her blankly. She nodded and closed the door.

After she closed the door, I waited for her to come back for almost 10 minutes already when something blown-up loudly. A tear escapes from my eyes. Oh, God. It’s a bomb, a canon. The pirates.

I open the curtain of the carriage while shaking and I gasped when I saw the manor on fire. I couldn’t move my feet and I couldn’t say a word.

Clara.

I automatically get out in the carriage and smokes greeted me. The coachman runs away after hearing the explosion, even the horses are panicking. I looked around and I couldn’t help myself from crying when everything I saw is already on fire. The manor, the boats, the old boardwalk, everything is on fire.

Oh Shit.

I ran fastly toward the manor and many people started running in my direction that which makes it harder for me to go inside. I need to see Clara.

“Clara!” I shouted and I freaked out when I couldn’t hear my voice.

Everyone is shouting and crying. This won’t work.

I started calming myself while looking at the burning surrounding, I saw a certain place where the fire couldn’t eat. I run myself toward there and saw Clara inside the manor looking for the exit.

I couldn’t help but feel grateful as I saw her safe, I screamed hoping that she will hear me.

“CLARA! LOOK AT ME, HERE!”  I shouted but it seems like she can’t hear me.

“CLARA HERE!!” I shouted that it makes my voice crack. I don’t care anymore even if I lost my voice, thank goodness she heard me already.

She seemed surprised. Though I couldn’t understand her expression. Why is she in pain? Why is she not happy? What the hell is wrong in here.

“I’LL SAVE YOU JUST WAIT!” I shouted again and I guess she heard me since she nodded.

I smiled at her and nodded too but before I looked away I saw her utter something.

“WHAT? I CAN’T HEAR YOU!?!” -I shouted but she just cried more. Fuck, if I can just get a little nearer to her. Damn this fire.

She pointed somewhere and when I follow where her hands go, it goes toward my direction so I turned around, and to my surprise, a group of two masked men with a sack on hand headed towards my direction.

Shit. I couldn’t move. I need to run.

My tears started streaming down my face as I fight against my fear. I started walking backward. 

“N-no go away!” I shouted at them.

“Oh? But your valuable?” the masked man said and laughed. They started chasing me.

The first man almost got me but I strongly punched his jaw and twisted his hand and pushed him.

“Wow. Amazing!” the other guy said and started laughing. I gulped when he looked at me.

“Shut up and get that fucking girl!” the other guy shouted and saluted at him.

I tripped when he started walking towards me. I couldn’t talk or shout anymore. My legs couldn’t even afford to run.

“Now, Ms. Beautiful, sleep peacefully!!” he stated and run towards me. I crawled away from but he still got me. I started kicking him but it looks like he isn’t giving up at all.

“No, get away you bastards!” I shouted and something hits my head that is making me dizzy.

Something cold flowed in my face and I can feel how heavy my body become. My eyes closed themselves and the only thing that I heard are laughter, cries, and Clara’s voice shouting my voice.

I smiled bitterly and chuckled and after that, everything went black.