22I made my way as quietly as possible through the deserted hallway, past the cabin doors. I'd recently discovered I had absolutely no sea legs whatsoever and that they were something most definitely needed for this type of voyage. Lovely…
My point was proven as a wave made the ship toss slightly and I flew head first into a wall. I curled up on the floor and slapped a hand across my forehead, cursing under my breath. But I was thankful! Thankful to be here! Nothing was changing my mind about that.
I pulled myself up from the floor and held my arms out to stop myself from tipping into the walls. Now where was the galley?
I sighed in frustration when there were no directional signs to point me in any direction. At this point it didn't matter where I was going just as long as I knew what it was called. Somehow I'd stumbled into this blasted hallway trying to find the galley but I was at a loss to where it was going.
I reached a turn and found a dead end with a small circular window looking out onto the water. Well that was most helpful wasn't it? I turned slowly and began making the tedious journey back towards the way I came. Bloody ridiculous! That was what this was! Ridiculous!
But I was thankful! Very thankful!
Deciding that the galley could wait and that someone would eventually find me down here, I leaned against the wall and tried to catch my breath.
Oh I was indeed thankful! Remembering the streets of Crystabel, the small port in the Key we'd left just a few hours ago was enough to make me thankful for nearly anything, even being tossed about in a cramped hallway in the middle of choppy waters!
Looking in as many directions as I could (a total of two) I began pushing myself down the hallway again. I read some of the names on the doors as I passed. Hunts, Pilko, Frampton, Milton, McCarthy, Teller, Rent. I paused. Rent? I had my own cabin? I stopped short in the hallway and held onto the doorknob of the door with my name on it. I didn't have a key but maybe… I began to turn the knob when something slammed into me from the other side. I fell to the floor crying out.
"Blast! I swear to God, if I fall one more time tonight I'm officially –"
"Oh I'm terribly sorry, I didn't realize that anyone was- oh… we meet again."
Clutching my cheek I looked up pathetically from my place on the floor ready to give whoever has rammed a door into my face hell for it. I gasped. A pair of green eyes took me in blankly.
"It's you!" I cried, quickly managing to make myself slightly decent as I extended my hand towards the man who'd saved me earlier.
"I never properly thanked you for before!"
He wasn't leaving without a thank you this time.
"As I said before, Miss, think nothing of it."
I frowned. I knew we were from different social standings but he could at least let me be polite! I knew I looked like a child to him as well. Fifteen wasn't much of an age where people decided to take you seriously, but I was determined!
"Katarina Rent." I quickly introduced myself before he could leave. I watched in slight amusement as he courteously took my hand and bowed his head to it. I could tell he wished he were elsewhere. Let him wallow for a moment, I figured. I owed him my company didn't I?
"Darien Teller."
I smiled graciously as he took in the name on the door across from me. I watched his eyes get wider. Ha! Not only did it appear I was, in fact, the same "rank" but he was stuck with me across from him for a whole three months! Even if I really were some rich lady, he was prejudice, something almost unforgivable.
"I apologize for… opening a door into you." He said slowly, obviously embarrassed. I raised my eyebrows and smiled.
"Oh, think nothing of it."
He looked up at me darkly. Oh the sweetness of cruel irony!
We stood in silence for a moment, me realizing I had nothing left in my inventory and he realizing that he had been terribly rude before and couldn't afford to be so again. I cleared my throat.
"Would you happen to know where the galley is?" I suddenly asked, brushing a piece of hair from my face and tucking it back behind my ear. He looked over his shoulder and glanced around.
"I'm afraid I'm not exactly sure."
I looked at the floor.
"Darn. I've been lost for about an hour now," I explained, "You're the first person I've come across. Do you know, then, how to get back onto the main deck?"
He smiled curtly at me.
"Of course, allow me."
I followed him up a small staircase and emerged on the oddly calm deck. Stars twinkled in the twilight and I couldn't hide my gasp of awe. His face suddenly broke into a natural smile and he chuckled at me. Why did people think it was so funny when I found something pretty?
"I've never seen such… a clear sky before!" I said, my hands resting on my chest.
"Well, if that's all you require, Miss, I hope you don't mind if I leave you be now."
I turned and watched as his eyes scanned over my face. They suddenly lost the natural smile and looked almost troubled. I shook my head and thanked him. He rushed away as though some invisible dog was gnashing at his ankles.
My attention was drawn back to finding the galley. Some deckhands stood over by a staircase and my stomach dropped to realize a sign reading GALLEY was stamped above it. There was just no winning now was there?
Taking a deep breath and pumping my chest up with false courage I strut towards the staircase and made to go down it. The boat suddenly lurched and, not expecting it, I went spiraling into one of the deckhands' chests. I pulled away and gasped for air, automatically brushing off my skirt. They burst into hurls of laughter.
"Well if it isn't the little galley mouse?"
I glared darkly at them, trying to appear more deadly then I could ever truly be. They could see right through it.
"Where are you off to mouse? Gonna' go flaunt yourself to Patrick again? Huh? Answer me, mouse!"
I tried desperately to stand my ground.
"I'm afraid I don't see how where I'm going is any of your business and I don't know anyone by the name of Patrick, and even if I did, "flaunting" myself to him would be the last thing I would ever do."
I began walking through the archway to the stairs. They stood in front of it like a human wall blocking my way. Damn.
"Excuse me. I need to get down there." I said firmly, my frustrated sigh seeping out like a small flame being snuffed out.
"You know perfectly well who Patrick is."
"I told you, I don't! Now I really need to –
"He told us all about how you threw yourself at him while he was loading the cargo. Little slut aren't you?"
I stood completely abashed. What on earth…? I- Patrick… oh Lord, that son of a whore! He must've been the one from earlier. I narrowed my eyes at them and crossed my arms across my chest.
"I believe I remember him now. Let me explain something to you all, your friend Patrick is the one who came onto me! I have the bruises to prove it! Now if you'll kindly let me through I am supposed to be in the galley, captain's orders!"
Just at the mention of it, the bruise on my arm and neck gave a painful twang. They reluctantly moved aside at the mention of Captain Mills. I made my way down the staircase. As I reached the bottom I heard one of the deckhands mutter, "We'll get her later." I spun around, my pulse quickening.
A hand suddenly clamped itself on my shoulder and I whipped around in surprise. Captain Mills' large smile greeted me. I sighed with relief.
"I thought you were going to be here a few hours ago."
"I got lost looking for the galley down in the cabins area."
"Ah, I see. Well no worries, I was mostly tied up with our departure anyways."
He was ushering me gently into the galley now, where a group of chefs were obviously scurrying to prepare dinner. Captain Mills looked down at me.
"Now, Katarina, the main reason I had you brought down here is because you-
"I need to help with food preparations?"
He looked surprised.
"Certainly not! I wanted you down here because you need to tell me if the clothing in that trunk over there will be suitable for you."
I frowned.
"I would've had it brought to your room, but the crew seems… well, they're acting odd about something. Anyways, they didn't have time, but I'll have it brought down there for you in a moment."
Clothing? Suitable? I shook my head in shock. I'd never owned anything new in my life! The orphanage always had second hand clothing, hand me downs from the church!
"New… I… I can't accept this Captain Mills!" I cried. He smiled and tried unconvincingly to seem annoyed.
"Oh, I didn't get them for you!" He lied, "I told you! You need to look like a passenger! You can't be seen about in… well."
I grinned and threw my arms around him.
"Thank you so much, Captain." I said. He warmly patted my back then sent me away, to sleep, he said, after a long day. A lanky kitchen boy dragged the trunk to my cabin for me. I thanked him and he smiled at me. As I was shutting the door, he quickly said, "Sorry, Miss."
When I gazed at him in confusion he quickly explained.
"Patrick Ullman… he's a brute. He's always been that way. We all heard about earlier below deck, and I wanted you to know that we're not all like that! Just Ullman's lot."
Is name was Tom. I smiled at him and thanked him.
"Its rather nice to meet someone decent here besides the captain." I said. He blushed and quickly looked away.
A few hours later, having browsed through the trunk with what I knew to be more enthusiasm then a child in a sweetshop I changed into a thin nightgown with lace at the bottom (simply sweet!) and climbed into what had to be the softest bed on this earth. I was just falling asleep when something knocked hard against my door. I jumped from bed and opened it a crack.
Mr. Darien Teller lay in a pile on the floor, cursing and holding his forehead. I couldn't help but laugh slightly. He flashed me an angry look before getting up and stalking into his room. He turned in the doorway, about to say something stark when he took in what I was wearing. I felt the blood drain from my face as too much rushed to his and he blushed.
He opened his mouth to say something, but unable to, he quickly averted his eyes and ran into his room. I shut the door and leaned against it for a moment before climbing back into bed. Blast.