Treasure of the sea |Lesbian story|

CHAPTER L

I lifted my eyes to the sky. "Curb your enthusiasm. This is not a game."

Hearing the rebuke in my voice, Louise cleared her throat and quickly composed herself. "No, of course."

Then I turned to Arenis: "Now I understand why you always leave ahead of everyone else when we repair the Black Star! You are teaching Louise to fight!"

"Mh", she simply replied.

"I hope the Captain is treating you well," I told Louise.

"Oh, yes!" she exclaimed. "Sometimes she is a bit too strict, but she is definitely a good teacher!"

Louise went back to talking about the moves she had learnt and the counter-attacks, not caring if that kind of conversation bored those present; she was too engrossed in everything to do so. The downpour gradually ceased, leaving behind an incredible humidity. Dinnington and I said goodbye to the two women and continued on our way. That evening, however, I met Arenis again. She knocked at the hut door after the dinner hour had long since passed. Dinnington had already gone to sleep, while I stayed up reading, with Athena resting on my lap. In my nightgown, I threw open the front door and was paralysed to see that it was Arenis. Next to her feet, on the sand, was the chest, my chest, the one that contained my family's money, all that was left of it.

"I would also like to return these to you," she said, without further explanation. She handed me the two envelopes containing the letters from my mother and Mary. I grabbed them, my fingers trembling slightly as I listened to Arenis continue: 'I have not yet found someone willing to take you to South Carolina, but I am counting on Captain Fernsby, a pirate from Nassau who will be returning here in a fortnight. He must repay me a big favour. I regret not having a ship, in which case I would have brought you back myself."

"No problem. Ahem. Thank you..."

"One last thing," Arenis resumed. "Inside the chest is not even half the money that was originally there. I spent some of the money to buy weapons and supplies, and as for the rest, it all went to the crew. I tried to give back what I could, but-"

"It's okay," I stopped her.

"No. It's not okay. I have a big debt to repay."

"It is not necessary."

"I do not tolerate objections. Miss Adler, don't you understand? I have taken you so much... When you are in South Carolina you must send me a letter with your home address on it. I will send you the money every month."

"But..."

"No. No objections, I told you."

"Very well, then."

"I note that you were going to sleep. I am sorry to have disturbed you at this hour." Arenis brought her hands behind her back and lowered her head in a sort of bow to take her leave.

"No trouble, really. I..." I spoke, but I didn't know what to say. I couldn't find the words.

"Is there anything else you want to tell me?" asked Arenis, more formal than usual.

The seconds ticked by, but the silence was only filled by my uncertain: "No."

"In that case, I wish you a good night."

Arenis turned on her heel and walked away, gradually merging with the darkness. I looked up at the full moon, which cast a whitish glow on the waves of the sea. It was a clear, star-filled evening.

I crouched down and opened the chest. Gold and silver coins shone in the soft light.

A certain warmth inflamed my heart, like a warm balm spreading through every cell. The fact that Arenis was trying to make amends affected me more than I wanted to admit to myself.