Marcus led her to a table on the far wall and they sat down. “Don't worry, you'll stay with me the whole time we are here. I won't let anything happen to you.” He cleared his throat awkwardly as Kira flashed him a look of extreme gratitude.
She huddled against the wall, trying to avoid the prying eyes of several of the unsavory-looking men. She noticed Marcus didn't drink with the other sailors. Instead, he ordered them both some food and kept looking around the room alertly.
Kira consumed the food with a passion, realizing the predictable fare on the Reliance had grown very dull. She ate quickly, still keeping an eye on the room. When she looked up, she realized Marcus was watching her with a small smile.
“What?”
“You eat fast.” Marcus said, that irresistible glint in his eye once more.
Kira blushed and looked at him straight on. She realized she was having a meal with the gorgeous sailor, spending more time with him than she had in weeks. A slight ache filled her belly again. He was so perfect and she could feel herself wishing. Wishing she understood. Wishing he would stop looking at her like she was his sister.
“I'm hungry. It's a nice change.”
“From Malcolm's stew?” Marcus' eyes lit up good-naturedly as he smiled at her.
Kira laughed softly. “Yes. Just don't tell.”
“Oh, I wouldn't dare. I couldn't handle having both you and Malcolm angry with me.” Marcus ducked his head down slightly as his words trailed off.
“Oh.” Kira blushed. “I'm not- it's just...”
Marcus waved her words away. “It's alright. We don't need to talk about it.”
They sat there in silence, finishing their food and avoiding eye contact. Kira willed herself to focus on her plate, not wanting to meet his eyes. She knew he would see the hurt in them if she did.
As they were finishing up, a thin young man with a dirty face entered the tavern. “Captain Marcus O'Hare...?”
Marcus turned towards the door and waved the boy over. The lad had longish brown hair and wore a tattered shirt and trousers.
“I have a message for you, sir.” He handed Marcus a small note, nodded and then slipped out of the tavern. Kira watched Marcus open the note with a look of concern on his face. His features tightened as he read it, then he slipped it in his pocket and stood up quickly.
“Where are you going?” Kira felt her heart start to race a little.
For a moment, Marcus glanced at her in confusion, then looked around the room. His eyes lingered on the table full of Reliance sailors then he rubbed his head impatiently.
“Come with me.”
Kira stood up uncertainly, then followed Marcus as he strode out of the tavern and into the street.
“Where are we going?”
Marcus turned to her in the dimly lit street and rubbed his hand across his stubbly jaw. He looked uncertain. “There's an informant here with some information for me.”
Kira blinked. “Information?”
“Yes. About our safety, the safety of the Reliance. I'm not leaving you with the men.”
Kira shivered nervously. Marcus was staring at her, waiting for her to move.
“Alright.”
Kira caught up to him and followed closely as they walked down a small side street. There was a wildness to this part of the island, with trees overhanging the path on one side. Staying alert, Kira glanced around her for any sign of danger when she felt Marcus' rough hand take hers.
She glanced up, startled by his touch. His hands were warm and calloused, and they completely enveloped her delicate fingers. He looked down at her with a fierce gaze, his eyes serious and on guard. At that moment, a voice came out of nowhere.
“Captain O'Hare.”
Marcus whirled around, releasing Kira's hand as he searched the area for the owner of the voice. Kira felt tingles run up the back of her neck as she searched the darkness. She could see no one.
“Where is he?” She whispered nervously to Marcus. He glanced at her briefly then put one finger to his lips to silence her. A breeze rustled through the branches on the path and they strained to make out any distinctive sounds.
“Show yourself.” Marcus said loudly, his eyes still alert and dangerous. Kira wrapped herself tightly with her arms, her body beginning to shake from fear. Where was the informant? Why was he toying with them?
Suddenly, a loud rustling in the trees erupted from the direction they'd come. Marcus charged down the path and into the woods aggressively. Kira watched his back disappear with wide eyes when she felt a pair of strong arms grab her from behind.
“Marcus!!” She screamed when a hand clamped down hard over her mouth. She tried desperately to fight but her body was pinned against her assailant's chest and she was powerless to escape.
“Kira!” Marcus appeared on the path and stopped short at the sight in front of him. Kira was standing with a terrified look on her face, a man dressed in all black holding a knife to her throat.
She attempted to speak but the hand across her mouth felt like an iron trap. Her desperate screams were squelched and all she could do was stare at Marcus with panic in her eyes.
“Let her go!” Marcus yelled, easing himself slowly towards the attacker.
“Stop right there,” came a low voice. “Don't move a muscle or the lady loses her head.”
Kira felt chills race up her spine at the terrifying voice that boomed in her ear. She couldn't see him, she could only feel his vice grip and hear the malevolent, cold timbre of his voice. She knew in her heart this man wouldn't think twice at slitting her throat.
“Don't you dare touch her!” Marcus roared, his face curled up in rage and frustration. He stood like a caged lion, not moving from his place but looking ready to pounce at any moment.
“You have some information I want. Give it to me and the girl lives.”
Marcus' eyes darkened at the stranger's demand. His face contorted, conflict written across his features.
“I don't know what you're talking about.”
Kira felt her heart sink. She knew he had the information. Clearly, this man was a spy, looking for the secrets Marcus carried back to London. But Marcus was a principled man. Could she expect Marcus to trade state secrets for her life?
“Don't be stupid.” The stranger tightened his grip on Kira's body, removing her hand from his mouth as he pulled the blade tightly against her skin.
“Ah! Marcus...” Kira implored him desperately, panic racing through her veins at the feel of the cold blade. “Please...”
She felt his green eyes bear into hers, a look of desperation written plainly on his face.
“Here.” Marcus raised his hands slowly, pulling a piece of paper from his trousers. He waved it in front of the attacker, his eyes fixed on him sharply. “You can have it, just give me the girl first.”
“I don't think so.”
Kira could feel the heavy breathing of her assailant, his warm breath heating the side of her face. She felt her heart nearly beat out of her chest with anticipation.
Marcus nodded tersely at the attacker, then tossed the papers into the path a few feet in front of Kira. She felt the grip across her body loosen but when she tried to run she realized she was still trapped.
“Pick it up,” he whispered forcefully in her ear. Kira bent over towards the papers, feeling a pair of ruthless hands gripping tightly at her waist.
Marcus snarled at the spy, his face red with rage at the sight unfolding before him. The assailant snickered lowly, throwing a knowing glance in Marcus' direction. “It seems I've put your lady in a very compromising position.”
Marcus threw the man a furious, piercing scowl then pulled a knife from his side and hurled it into the assailant's chest. The man let out a groan and then went staggering backward, slumping into the dirt. As his hold went limp, Kira fell to her knees.
“Kira...” Marcus' hands were on her arms in a flash as he lifted her to her feet. She trembled softly and then wrapped her arms aro
und his chest. “Are you alright?” Marcus' breathing was heavy as he ran his hand softly over the back of her head.
“Please take me away from here.” Kira clung to him tightly, a warm tear making its way slowly down her cheek. Marcus pried the papers from her fingers and tucked them away, then kissed her forehead softly.
“I'll take you back.” He slipped out of her arms for a moment to make certain the spy was dead, then wrapped his arm around her shoulder as they headed quickly back to the tavern.
Marcus told the other sailors about the attack then led Kira upstairs to a room. “We'll leave in the morning.”
Kira walked slowly into the dark room, a single window facing out to the dirty street. She looked back at Marcus, his large frame filling the doorway. The darkness obscured his face and Kira felt her breath catch.
“You won't leave me alone, will you?” Kira squinted, trying to make out the features of his face. He stepped forward then, the dim light from the street illuminating his green eyes and solemn mouth.
“No, of course, I won't.” Marcus closed the door behind him and lit a candle by the small bed. Kira felt her face flush at the sudden intimacy. The room now felt tiny with his hulking frame standing a few feet from her.
“What is it?” Marcus searched her face, noting the look of alarm in her eyes. He raised his eyebrows in appraisal then smiled faintly. “I'll sleep on the floor.”
“Thank you. Thank you for saving my life. Again.” Kira looked down at the floor as she spoke.
“I'm sorry you got dragged into this. It's my fault. I never should have brought you with me.” Marcus stared at her with a guilty look in his eyes.
“You couldn't have known. Besides, I feel safer with you than anywhere else.” Kira bit her lip in embarrassment as the words slipped out. Might as well have told the man that you love him, she thought as a burning sensation flooded her face.
“Kira.”
Kira glanced up, “Yes.”
Her eyes widened as she saw the intense burning that lingered in his. She hadn't seen that look since the night he kissed her in his bunk.
“Marcus...” She whispered softly, suddenly feeling incredibly vulnerable and very, very small. They stared at each other in silence, the tension in the room growing thick.
Marcus started to speak, his voice low. “I...Kira, I...” He took one step closer, cutting the distance between them in half.
“What is it?” Kira was breathless and his closeness was doing nothing to calm her.
For a moment, he looked torn. He reached out a hand and grazed her fingers softly with his, then pulled away. His head dropped and his brows furrowed, tension obvious in his face. Finally, he looked up at her.
“Let's get to sleep. It's late.”
Kira nodded in confusion, her eyes welling up with hurt and frustration. She navigated her way around him awkwardly, then curled up on the bed. When the light was out, she heard him sigh heavily from his place on the floor. Kira pulled her knees in to her body and tried to fight the tears that threatened to come pouring down. She didn't want him to hear her sobbing.
* * *
In the dead of night, Marcus woke to the sound of Kira whimpering in the darkness. He listened closely, trying to discern whether or not she was crying. She let out several distressed noises and Marcus realized she was having a nightmare. He felt his gut tighten and he tried to quite the ache that had him longing to take her into his arms.
“Ah!” Kira let out a frightened yell and Marcus jumped up. “Kira...” Sliding onto the edge of the bed, Marcus took her by the shoulders and shook her softly. “Kira, are you awake?”
“Marcus...” She started to sob quietly in the darkness. “I miss my papa...”
Her cries were low and guttural, racking her whole body. Marcus felt his throat tighten up at the painful, broken sounds that were coming out of her. Marcus' eyes adjusted to the darkness and he slipped onto the bed and wrapped her in his arms.
“Why is all this happening to me? All I wanted- all I wanted, was for papa and me to stay together for as long as we could.” Her words came out choppily, broken up by her intense sobbing.
Marcus pulled her body close to his and wrapped his arms around her tightly. Pulling her head to his chest, he whispered softly. “I don't know. I'm so sorry, Kira.” He felt her curl up closer to him, her whole body trembling as she tried to catch her breath.
“It's going to be alright.” He tried to soothe her by running his hands over her silky hair until her breathing had quieted and the sound of her crying had stopped.
“Thank you,” she whispered softly. Marcus felt her place her hands gently on his chest and then she went very quiet. He sighed and pulled her closer. It was the most comforting feeling he'd ever known, having her lying there in his arms.
They lied there in silence until both of them had drifted off to sleep.
* * *
The next day Kira opened her eyes to see Marcus' sleeping face in front of her. She drew a breath in surprise but then remembered the events of the night before. He looked so peaceful, lying there, and Kira had to fight the urge to kiss his lips.
“Hello.”
Kira blushed when he opened his eyes to catch her staring. “Oh goodness. Good morning,” she said, scrambling to an upright position on the bed.
“I don't bite, I promise.” Marcus threw her a boyish, sleepy smile which only made her blush even more.
“I'm sorry to have put you in that position last night.” Kira ducked her head and ran her fingers through her hair self-consciously.
Marcus looked up at her lackadaisically and smiled again. “There's nothing to apologize for Kira.”
He sat up and leaned against the wall, his hair mussed from sleep. Kira glanced over at him cautiously, feeling her stomach tighten in knots at the adorable look on his face.
Was she really supposed to endure this kind of torture? She couldn't have imagined the man being more perfect if he tried.
“We've got to get going. I don't know if there are others after the information we have.” With that, he switched back to his serious tone and stood up.
They exchanged a few awkward glances from across the bed, then made their way down into an empty tavern and out onto the street. Several of the ship's sailors were already waiting, looking tired and hungover from the night before.
They made their way to the ship and Marcus started barking orders, making sure that everyone was accounted for. A few sailors emerged from below deck, having slept on the ship.
Kira felt out of place as she watched Marcus transform back into the tireless captain. She slipped below deck to avoid the curious stairs of the sailors and curled up in the bunk once more. Whatever last night had been, it was a fluke. A one-time thing. Kira knew that Marcus would have done the same for any woman in need.
Worlds Away
A month had passed with Kira hardly seeing Marcus at all. He seemed to be keeping away from the galley when she was there and Kira understood. The intimacy of that night on the island would not be repeated. One morning, Kira woke to hear the bustling sound of shouts above deck. She curled tightly into the rough duvet that covered her, thinking it was much too early for so much noise. She listened intently for a moment, trying to decipher the words of the excited sailors.
That's when she noticed that the slow and steady rocking of the boat seemed to have eased a little. Outside the window of her little bunk, there was a clamorous sound. Kira listened in slight confusion, until she realized they must be docked. Had they made it to London already?
Kira jumped out of bed in a flash, feeling a nervous excitement. Her future was a question mark, everything in her path foreign and unknown. Truth be told, Kira didn't even know where she would be sleeping that night.
She did her best to make herself presentable for the world that existed just outside her window. Visions of elegant ladies, sophisticated gentlemen and beautiful mansions filled her mind.
To her, Lond
on was the essence of all the stories she had heard as a child. Beautiful gowns and elegant horses leading carriages down proper streets lined with distinguished homes; it was all a fairy-tale to her.
A faint rustling could be heard outside the door and then a gentle knock. “Miss Kira...” Malcolm's patient tone came through the door. Kira smiled to herself lightly, this was indeed a unique occasion if Malcolm was calling her “Miss.”
Kira flattened the wrinkles on the front of her sturdy tan dress and then swung the door open with an expectant smile. “Malcolm!” she said, with more happiness than he had ever seen her wear.
His wizened face wrinkled a bit and he slid the spectacles on the end of his nose closer to his face. He looked a bit confused at her sudden transformation from a nervous, down-trodden waif to a joyous, smiling girl.
“Ahem...” he cleared his throat, with a slight smile. “I am to make sure you get escorted off the boat. And then Captain O'Hare has arranged a place for you to stay.”
Kira could feel herself starting to flush and quickly nodded her head to cover her embarrassment. “Alright,” Kira said with a congenial smile. The thought of leaving The Reliance behind filled her with mixed emotions.
She suddenly felt a strange kinship to Malcolm and reached out to hug his short neck. Malcolm stood as still as a statue for a moment, then slowly returned the hug. He cleared his throat and Kira wondered if she had made him uncomfortable.
Kira took a step back and could see that Malcolm seemed affected. He nodded at her, gave a slight smile and then stated softly, “You remind me of my daughter.”
He cleared his throat stiffly then returned to his business-as-usual demeanor. Kira felt a soft ache in her gut, wondering what had happened to Malcolm's daughter, and feeling the pain of her papa's absence all at once.
She looked around the little cabin that had become her home. The thought of Marcus moving back into this tiny haven distracted and unnerved her. She felt so close to him in this room, yet she doubted this place would ever remind him of her.
Her mind flew through a thousand possibilities, places he would go and adventures he would have, worlds away from her. She clenched her fist and bit her lip to stop the sharp pain she felt in her chest as turned to climb the stairs.