Treasure of the sea |Lesbian story|

CHAPTER XXVII

I was totally dizzy, like I had taken a blow to the head.

Was there something fishy about all this? Was it all a trap?

Yet, when I contacted Captain Jenkins, what Arenis had said turned out to be true. He was heading north, more precisely to New York. Jenkins was not a pirate, but a corrupt merchant who sold stolen goods.

"I can work. I've worked as a sailor, as a deckhand, as a cook's helper. I can do anything. Please."

"Do you have any money?"

"Yes."

We agreed on the price and finally he told me the time and day of departure. He couldn't take me directly to South Carolina. I'd be disembarking in New York and would have to make my own way from there.

"It's not a problem," I said. All I wanted was to escape the Black Star.

I spent the night before my departure sleepless. Anxiety twisted in my stomach and my mind kept showing me every possible scenario. I was afraid. I feared for my fate. It was all so unpredictable and risky. I hoped with all my heart that this was the last night I would spend in that dark, narrow cabin.

When Arenis came knocking at my door at five in the morning, I got up. I took my money purse and my jacket.

"Leave your jacket here."

"But how will I manage in the north if-?"

"It's 100 degrees in this place. They'll get suspicious."

"All right."

We had our lesson like every day. I tried harder than usual. I wanted, at least for once, to overpower her. After all, this was my last chance. Arenis seemed to have the upper hand, but I knew how to defend myself and was able to parry most of the attacks. I waited patiently for the right moment and, taking advantage of a slight smudge in my opponent's guard, I disarmed her. With a feline gesture, I pointed the tip of my sword an inch from her throat. We stood for a few seconds, staring at each other. Arenis looked at me smugly. With her fingers, she lowered the tip of my blade.

"It's not fair," I sighed. "You let me win."

"I did not."

"Don't lie. You left the guard uncovered on purpose."

Arenis rolled her eyes, exasperated. "I wanted to give you the satisfaction, at least this once."

"Don't ever do that again."

"As you wish," she retorted. "In any case, you did well. Excellent action. You watched your opponent and as soon as you saw an opportunity you took it without a second thought."

I nodded my head in thanks, a little uncomfortable. It was the first time she'd ever complimented me.

The sun rose over the horizon. Its light flooded everything, making the slightly rippling surface of the sea shimmer.

We had no conversation at breakfast that day either. In fact, everything seemed even quieter than usual. When Arenis left me in the hands of Jackie Jay and Dilthey, she looked me in the eyes one last time and then left, disappearing into the crowd at the port.

I convinced Dilthey and Jackie Jay to spend the day lounging in the market and the nearest tavern. There was an incessant buzz of people filling the streets. We ate anything and everything. We stopped in front of the stalls, where they sold grilled pork, marinated with spices and herbs, lobster served with butter sauce, stews of all kinds, fried pastries, grilled vegetables, fruit, so much fruit....

"I swear, if I eat any more I'm in danger of throwing up," Jackie Jay announced at one point. "I say we go take a nap somewhere."

The market was thick with people. The crowd surrounded us, frantic and agitated. A great jumble of voices echoed from all sides. When Jackie Jay and Dilthey stood in front of a stall selling chewing tobacco, I took advantage of that moment of distraction and slipped away.